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Exxon's 6th project Sunday Edition NEWS should not be approved without full liability coverage for oil spills - AFC AIETEUR

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January 14, 2024

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ExxonM boasts to shareholders of low payback period on investments as Guyana ignores advice to

ring-fence Stabroek Block projects Oil and Gas is a catalyst for Guyana's development – Pres. Ali 20 Air Traffic Services staff resigned within 12 months …at least a dozen more expected to join their colleagues overseas

Stopping all mining at Chinese Landing is Govt.'s way - Former of punishing Indigenous Opposition people for speaking out MP

No independent meters 4 years later to monitor ExxonMobil's oil production unacceptable - Norton

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Kaieteur News

Sunday January 14, 2024

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 14, 2024

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ExxonM boasts to shareholders of low payback period on investments as Guyana ignores advice to ring-fence Stabroek Block projects United States (U.S) oil major, ExxonMobil in its Corporate Plan Update recently informed its shareholders that its capital expenditure is expected to be repaid in less than 10 years.

Exxon said last month, “The company now anticipates total annual capital expenditures and exploration expense of $23 billion to $25 billion in 2024 and $22 billion to $27 billion annually from 2025 through 2027, generating an average return of approximately 30%.” It was keen to note, “Greater than 90% of the capex has payback periods less than 10 years.”

The oil company assured its shareholders that its capital allocation approach prioritizes competitively advantaged, highreturn, low-cost-of-supply, valueaccretive investments that enable ExxonMobil to lead the industry now and through the energy transition.

ExxonMobil is the operator of Guyana’s lucrative Stabroek Block. The company holds a 45% interest, while Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30 percent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 percent interest.

Already more than 11 billion barrels of oil has been discovered in the Stabroek Block by the c o n s o r t i u m . To d a t e , t h e Government of Guyana (GoG) has sanctioned five projects with three already in operation. A sixth development is presently pending approval.

Each project has an estimated

life of 20 years. In normal circumstances, the repayment of a project would commence after oil production starts, however, ExxonMobil Guyana has been shortening Guyana’s share of profits in order to finance projects in the Stabroek Block before they start oil production.

It was reported in July 2023 that ExxonMobil deducted millions of USdollars in decommissioning costs, to clean up the third and fourth developments in the Stabroek Block, even though these projects were yet to commence oil production.

NO RING-FENCING In the absence of a ring-fencing provision, Exxon has been utilizing the revenues generated from the oil producing projects to fund projects that are yet to come on stream as well as its exploration campaign across the Block.

Flagging what he described as “short-sightedness” on the part of the government for failing to ringfence the Stabroek Block projects, prominent Attorney-at-Law and Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram said Guyana is haemorrhaging US millions.

Ram last year during a radio appearance on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/ 99.5 FM argued that no competent leader would allow such an abysmal act to continue. A ringfencing provision would mandate that each oil project pay for itself

only. In this manner, once the project has been repaid, Guyana would benefit from 50 percent of the earnings there. Ram during the radio programme however argued that Guyana has failed to ring-fence the Stabroek Block projects, allowing the currently producing projects to pay for a number of other costs in the Stabroek Block, such as exploration activities for instance.

The lawyer was keen to point out that Guyana not only allows for one project to pay for other costs, but these payments are also unrestricted or unlimited. Ram told listeners, “Now nobody in their right mind, nobody who understands the concept of a production sharing agreement would allow that but our government does, so we lose millions and millions of US-dollars in money that should have come to

us, helping Exxon and their friends to explore for oil so that by the time they have to relinquish anything, they have already used up the entire area.”

The lawyer concluded that Guyana is being “conned” by the multinational oil corporation.

According to the lopsided PSA Guyana signed with ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC, the Contractor can deduct up to 75 percent of the revenues generated each month towards the recovery of cost while the remaining proceeds are split as profits equally with Guyana.

The government’s position is that the projects will not be ringfenced so as to ensure investment continues in the Stabroek Block to fast track production.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had explained to reporters during a press conference: “We admitted that we are foregoing revenue now

in exchange for massive future income because it’s going into new projects that will increase production, and so even with the same share of the 50/50, plus the two percent royalty that the future income, because of the bigger scale will be massive in Guyana’s case and we are deliberately foregoing that in this period for that purpose and then trying to grab this bone now could cause you to lose all the bones, the bigger bones too in the future.”

Jagdeo continued, “If there is no ring-fencing, therefore it would take a bit longer to get revenue, so it comes back in the end, more revenue but it comes from a larger production so the revenue increases dramatically if the money that would have come in earlier gets reinvested…because if you end at one project and you ring-fence and you collect and there is no new investment well then you will not get any additional resources in the future.”

Guyana has been repeatedly advised by independent international experts to ring-fence its oil projects to ensure the country benefits from its resources early on, as this would help to improve the nation’s education, infrastructure and health services among others.

This is particularly important for Guyana, a new-comer to the sector, as the world transitions to cleaner sources of energy, causing a decline in oil prices.

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: DR. GLENN LALL - TEL: 624-6456 Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Darren Woods has spoken ExxonMobil's Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Darren Woods, spoke recently. It was a thing of beauty, the kind that makes little old ladies empty their piggy banks and invest in ExxonMobil's shares. All the right notes were struck by Mr. Woods as he went on a tear with high-return, low cost-ofsupply projects. Here is a public secret: the substance of Mr. Woods plans has origins in Guyana's oil. For sure, there is the Permian Basin, and some low fliers elsewhere, but there is nothing cheaper (low-cost-of-supply) than Guyana's giveaway contract, and low breakeven per barrel of oil produced in Guyana. Mr. Woods, therefore, can beat his drum about higher earnings now, and greater returns for shareholders now.

This is the CEO of ExxonMobil speaking with power and conviction. His people must get more, and they will add to what they have already been receiving, which is nothing short of generous. Mr. Woods can pronounce without the slightest trace of arrogance about the best in industry, and if he wanted to introduce a tad of verbal Texas swagger, he could have spoken without missing a beat about world class, which is where ExxonMobil belongs. Regardless of how Guyanese, or anyone, looks upon ExxonMobil it has that world class standing in terms of technical savvy, managerial sophistication, advanced systems, and the deep pockets to match.

Now we at this publication assert that much of Mr. Woods's visions and objectives about higher earnings and greater returns for his shareholders have roots in Guyana's oil. Guyana's oil is up there relative to quality, it is as cheap as a flea market offering, and there is a Production Sharing Agreement that is all tilted in ExxonMobil's favor. Forget about signs, portents, and oracles, there is also another hard reality. ExxonMobil basks in the glow of the incomparable advantage of a pliant government, and a political Opposition that is understanding and helpful, to say the least. For these reasons alone, ExxonMobil in Guyana lives in a perfect economic arcadia. Peace and stability as buttresses to burgeoning production, which is why the CEO could do more than dream. He can count his chickens before they are placed in the incubator, which is how far advanced the company is with regard to significantly enhancing rewards to its people. From shareholders to workers to suppliers, the ExxonMobil gravy train is on the move, with momentum shifting power.

We salute Mr. Woods as difficult as it is, if only because he is pushing for, and doing, what is right for his people. We wish that we could say the same thing of our own people, our leaders, our civil society, our private sector, our professional class that they all have what it takes to lineup under the Guyana flag and carry that standard through any challenge, any battle, for better for Guyanese. Darren Woods is all about getting more for his company now, more for his people now. What happened to CEO Ali, CEO Jagdeo, and CEO Norton of Guyana? Why are they not fighting tooth and nail over every inch of space for what is good and right and fair for Guyanese right now?

Why is Guyana's leading oilman, Bharrat Jagdeo, pontificating about maximizing future revenues, when half of Guyana lament their gritty existence? Why is Aubrey Norton going along to get ahead in this naked oil game? The major shareholders of this oil are Guyanese, but are strangers to a decent living now. Why is that so for the people who own this oil on which ExxonMobil rests so comfortably? As to the few who speak out against oil (ExxonMobil) injustices, they are branded in the most reprehensible manner. ExxonMobil and Darren Woods are celebrating now; Jagdeo is preaching about the future; and Guyanese are living with indignity on their knees.

What does Jagdeo and Norton have to say about this?

We would like to applaud both leaders, like we did Darren Woods. But on what basis, and from what leadership essence? Guyanese need now, Guyanese want their rightful share of greater returns in hand now. Will somebody, Jagdeo or Norton rise up and make this happen now? Again, are they up to the task that cries for action right now?

Sunday January 14, 2024

Kaieteur M@ilbox Send your letters to Kaieteur News, 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com

Houthis: Solidarity Not Terrorism by Donald Ramotar Dear Editor, Since late last year the Houthis of Yemen have taken actions in solidarity with the besieged Palestinian people.

At a time when the whole world looked on at the carpet bombing of Gaza, the blowing to smithereens of human beings and people stood helplessly looking at their T.V screens.

The UN Security Council and General Assembly were paralyzed by the US use of their veto power to derail all the resolutions that called for a cease fire.

Indeed, so distressing the situation had become that one wondered where were decisions of the US administration taken in regard to the Middle East, in West Jerusalem or in Washington?

The US administration at times appeared to be the junior partner in its relationship with Israel.

In these conditions the Houthis began to take measures to halt the

indiscriminate killings and massive destruction of property. They began firing missiles into Israel.

This had little effect on Israel's aggression since many of their rockets were shot down by US warships in the Red Sea and by Israeli's Iron Dome anti-missile defense system.

Instead of halting the attacks the Israeli Defense Force became even more aggressive in their acts of destruction.

That forced the Houthis to hit where it hurts most, that is at Israel's economy. It began to target ships going to and from Israel and ships owned by Israelis.

This caught the attention of the world as now more than one country would be affected because it began to affect International Trade.

The hope here was that this pressure would have resulted in Israel rethinking its murderous policies and relent on the killings of innocent civilians.

It appears that they thought that other countries

would join to pressure Israel to halt the genocide and push Israel to the negotiating table.

Unfortunately, it did not, instead led to the US and UK bombing Yemen.

They chose to use their power, not to get negotiations going but to prevent solidarity to the Palestinians in Gaza from succeeding.

There are those who criticize the Houthis on the ground that their action in attacking ships would carry up the cost of goods imported in various

countries. The narrowness of this view is unbelievable.

This, in a sense, is putting a “little inconvenience” by consumers above human lives. I am sure that some who have that view, did not see it that way, however that is precisely where the logic would lead to.

What the Houthis are doing is paying with their blood for the support they are giving to stop the massacre in Gaza.

This is genuine solidarity and should be commended not condemned!

Donald Ramotar

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 14, 2024

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Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox Exxon and Partners Allude to Tax Fraud in Guyana Dear Editor, The Laws of Guyana C o r p o r a t i o n Ta x A c t imposes a 40% corporation tax on chargeable profits for commercial companies and 25% for non-commercial companies. The law defines commercial activity as “an activity carried out by a company trading in goods not manufactured by it” and non-commercial activity would be anything not covered in this definition.

One could argue that income produced from selling crude oil, a raw natural resource, for export into the global oil market, constitutes commercial activity. The Laws of Guyana Corporation Tax Act does not exempt ExxonMobil Guyana, Hess (soon to be Chevron), or CNOOC, from corporation tax and it does not allow its government officials to pay the oil companies' tax bills. The infamous 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) suggests otherwise, contractual terms that have placed Exxon and its affiliates above the laws of Guyana.

PSA Article 15.5 explicitly states that the Government of Guyana will not only pay the oil companies' corporation tax, but it will also require the Guyana Revenue Authority which enforces the tax laws of Guyana, to issue a tax receipt stating that the oil companies paid tax. This tax receipt is then used to obtain a tax credit from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS). To reiterate, the Guyana Revenue Authority does not collect corporate income tax revenue from the oil companies but provides certified tax receipts for payments that are never made by ExxonMobil

Guyana, Hess, or CNOOC. These tax receipts are then used to obtain a tax credit from the IRS. The Attorney General recently made statements that implied the stability clause in the PSA cannot subvert Guyana's laws, stating, “It is a very rudimentary principle of law that if a contract conflicts with a Statute, the Statute s h a l l p r e v a i l . ” seehttps://www.stabroekne ws.com/2023/12/31/news/g uyana/nandlall-disputesclaim-that-nrf-overstatedby-billions/.

It is evident that these oil companies do not fulfill their duty of corporate citizenship under the tax laws of Guyana and their enablement by the decision-makers alludes to tax avoidance and tax evasion.

The publicly released 2022 audited financials of Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) were audited by TSD Lal&Co., see https://corporate.exxonmobi l . c o m / /media/global/files/location s/guyana-operations/emguyana-annual-report2022.pdf. The auditor's

opinion was that the financial statements were free of material misstatements. These financial statements are prepared by Exxon's senior financial team and used in the preparation of their U.S. corporate income tax return signed off by tax partners.

EEPGL's 2022 statement of profit has a GY $59B income tax expense line item. The notes in the financial statements declare that the income tax expense is to be paid by the Minister of Natural Resources and is also to be included as income for Exxon. How does one incur an expense that is never paid, recognize income that is never earned, or give an impression to U.S. federal tax authorities that foreign income tax was paid to the country of Guyana? Only the auditors and Exxon's financial leaders who claim integrity and ethics in their accounting practices can answer these questions.

The IRS administers foreign tax credit laws that mitigate double taxation.

IRS auditors would require proof of such payments that (Continued on page 6)

The falsehoods penned

by Leyland Roopnarine Dear Editor, There was a letter in the KN of Saturday, January 13 from a Leyland Roopnarine, highly critical of me. It is revealing that Roopnaraine had nothing to say about what I had written on free speech since I assume he could not disagree with what I had to say.

But he was angry that I wrote in defence of Bharat Jagdeo.

First and foremost, Bharat Jagdeo does not need me or anyone to defend him and to polish his considerable stature in Guyana, the Diaspora and globally. In this note, I will not respond to any namecalling that the anti-Jagdeo usual suspects apply to me.

In any case, name-calling is not my forte and I usually leave it to those who need that approach, instead of dealing with facts. I have better things to do, working every single day in the various communities of the

country of my birth that I love so very much. Many of the usual suspects when they need me, they know where to find me, they usually find me in one of the communities working and I am always respectful and always offer my help, something none can dispute.

As promised I will only deal with the falsehoods, Roopnaraine referred to.

He wanted to know what happened with the specialty hospital money which the PPP Government mobilized when I was Minister to build the specialty hospital.

Actually, he is asking the wrong person. Mostly, the persons that he need to direct that question to are his friends in the former David Granger-led APNU/AFC Government which include Leyland's friends, such as Ramjattan, Nagamootoo, Jordon, Volda Lawrence, George Norton and Karen Cummings. In 2010, on a trip to India, President Bharat

Jagdeo had requested me to prepare a concept note for a specialty hospital. It was agreed that the Indian EXIM Bank would fund the project at a cost of $US54M. It took a while to finalize the agreement and with various budget cuts and rejection in the Parliament when the APNU/AFC used it's oneseat majority to sabotage the project and the development agenda, a contract was not signed with Surendra until 2013, at a time when I was then the Minister of Agriculture.

In 2014, clearing of the land, just east of where MovieTown is presently located and site preparation began. The funds for site preparation in 2014 was from the regular budget.

In 2015, all Leyland's friends were now responsible for the project.

In fact, the new government, with Leyland's friends, terminated the contract and (Continued on page 6)

Kaieteur News

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Sunday January 14, 2024

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox The falsehoods penned by Leyland Roopnarine From page 5 abandoned the project. They then negotiated a different use of the EXIM Bank's funds, focusing on primary health care.

To this day, we cannot determine how they used those funds because there is no visible evidence of improvement or building of any health center, no improvement in any of the various districts or regional hospitals that occurred between 2015 and 2020.

No specific project was developed that targeted the EXIM Bank Fund.

Most of the work they started in the health sector were incomplete in 2020 and most could not be completed for the purpose construction started.

Almost $300M was expended to build a maternity wing at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

In August 2020, the building was a shell, windows, doors, floors, still to be completed. The operating room area needed total redesigning and new construction because each of the rooms had pillars spreading across the middle of the room, leaving no place to fit functional operating room tables.

In Suddie, they started building a $45M OR suite that was never designed for an operating room, that was incomplete and leaking badly. On January 12, 2024, Minister Anthony

commissioned a new NICU in that space. In August 2020, after spending more than $1.5B, and after commissioning the former Ocean View Hotel as a new Infectious Disease Hospital for COVID-19 twice, we discovered an unfinished building, with major sewer problems, no beds, no equipment, no oxygen, with incomplete electrical work.

This is the kind of disarray that Leyland's friends foisted on our people that should make all of us angry.

Those who defend the 2015 to 2020 record in health are callous and have no interest in the welfare of our people.

In October 2020, President Irfaan Ali agreed that the EXIM Bank money would be added to funds which will go toward building new hospitals to replace West Demerara, Suddie and Bartica Hospitals.

To our great chagrin, we discovered that the APNU/AFC government had squandered most of the money, with just $US15M remaining.

This money is what is being supplemented to build the new Bartica Hospital, the design of which has been completed, with construction starting before June 2024.

I encourage Leyland to take some time and ask his friends in APNU/AFC to account for how they

expended almost $US40M. I left the Ministry of Health in December 2011.

Even his friends in the PNC/APNU/AFC conceded that my leadership was transformative, stating openly that “one must give Jack his jacket”.

We gained national, regional and global recognition for the work we did in health.

E v e r y t h i n g , Roopnaraine stated was false. Far from being in disarray, the health sector was being transformed, resembling nothing we had before.

The statement that the sector was suffering from major medicine and medical supplies shortage is appropriate for 2015 to 2020 when his friends were in charge.

At the beginning of 2012, the sector was providing reliable supplies to all health facilities between 95% and 100%. From an essential medicine list with about 140 medicines in 2000, the essential medicine list bulged to almost 1,000, with no developing countries matching our list.

Cancer medicines, antiretrovirals for HIV, hepatitis, heart disease, medicines were all being provided for free. From a time when Guyana could not guarantee people a simple HB test result, Guyana was providing at GPHC and all Regional labs diagnostic

testing that included all the regular tests that doctors requested. In 2020, none of this was any longer true.

Shortages had returned with reliability at only 35%.

In August 2020, we were forced to dispose of $11B of expired medicines and estimated that about $50B of medicines and other supplies had accumulated over the five year period.

This is the legacy of Leyland's friends.

The number of surgeries increased. In fact, from the cataract backlog which was about 20,000 in 2001, Guyana eliminated the total backlog and by 2006, we were searching for patients to help for free cataracts in Suriname and the Caribbean.

We also introduced, for the first time, modern cataract surgery, such as phacoemulsification and laser surgery.

Surgery for glaucoma was introduced, for the first time in Guyana.

Laparoscopy which is a minimally invasive surgery technique, moving away from large incisions (cuts), was introduced also before 2006.

Today about 30% of our surgeries are using laparoscopy at GPHC, New Amsterdam and Linden.

Open heart surgery at GPHC was introduced in 2006.

Dialysis was introduced in 2005.

Radiotherapy, CT and MRI were brought in

between 2002 and 2004 via a public/private partnership.

New training programs were developed. Guyana had no post-graduate training program when I became Minister of Health.

The first post-graduate program was in general surgery, together with McMaster University and with support from several top US universities.

Today, Guyana offers training in 18 different specialties for doctors and five for nurses.

More than 300 specialist doctors, children of fishermen, cane cutters, farmers, miners, children coming from all ten regions, are our specialists.

We have our own cardiologists, our own neurosurgeons, our own hip and joint specialists, our own burns care doctors. We have become the transplant center for CARICOM, using totally Guyanese staff. These represent only a short list of our accomplishments.

The results speak for themselves. In 2001, life expectancy was 64. In 2011, it had reached 69, almost

touching the elusive 70.

Maternal mortality which was over 200/100,000 in 2000 had fallen to 80/100,000 by 2008. Child mortality which was about 48/1,000 in 2000 had fallen to 27.

HIV overall rate which had reached 3% of the adult population and 8% among pregnant women had dropped to less than 1% overall, including among pregnant women and mother-to-child transmission had almost disappeared.

From more than 120,000 cases of malaria, by 2010, we were recording less than 10,000. From between 170 to 200 suicide deaths, were between 140 and 170 by 2010. Incidentally, in 2023 it was 129.

There is a long story to tell.

But I will resist the temptation. It does not bother me what names the usual suspects apply to me.

But I do hope, as an intelligent person, people like Leyland Roopnaarine are better informed.

Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

Exxon and Partners Allude...

From page 5 support foreign tax credit claims. If the tax receipts produced by the Guyana Commissioner General were indeed used to satisfy Exxon's claim for foreign tax credits, Exxon would have not only avoided a GY $59B corporation tax, but they would have also evaded a U.S. corporate income tax liability of US $282M. This notion of foreign tax credit fraud would also apply to Hess.

In their 2022 country-bycountry income tax reporting, Hess declared a US $230M income tax expense paid to Guyana.

There is one group that should be held accountable for the issues unraveled by the PSA which have been intentionally unaddressed, and that is the political party currently in office.

The current political party has inexplicably reversed its pre-2020 election stance: the PSA has robbed the nation of its patrimony and a promise that it will be renegotiated.

If the government does not protect the integrity of Guyana's laws, it defeats the purpose of upholding any legal system here in Guyana.

Citizens and external observers can automatically presume that the precedent in this country is a system that lacks order and one that subscribes to corruptive behavior at the highest level.

Such a standard would be reflective of some of the most tyrannical and oppressive countries in the world.

Is this what the people of Guyana voted for?

Regards, Candice Dorwish

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Sunday January 14, 2024

Kaieteur News

The human right to freedom of speech is under threat in Guyana.

Journalists are no longer free to carry out their duties over fear of intimidation.

The disrespect at press conferences is ripe by those in high offices yet they boast of Guyana being a free country.

The government is doing all it can to save face as the country attracts global attention for its newfound oil wealth, dismissing critical remarks by the Opposition and even members of civil society - attacking those who seek truth.

The truth is that even a house wife these days are afraid to speak against the government of the day as she fears her children might be victimized.

This is the nasty and painful truth, just check the 2021 Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Report.

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sKaieteur weN ruetNews eiaK

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Sunday Monday January May 02, 14, 2022 2024

Exxon's 6th project should not be approved without full liability coverage for oil spills - AFC Opposition spokesman on the oil and gas industry, David Patterson says Whiptail, the sixth development project being pursued by an ExxonMobilled consortium in the Stabroek Block, should not be approved by the government without full liability coverage for oil spills in place.

At a recent press

conference held by the Alliance For Change (AFC), the politician said categorically that the government's acceptance of a mere US$2B parent company guarantee for oil spills is tantamount to a slap in the face for Guyanese. He said this is especially the case when one considers that the US$2B would have to suffice for unmitigated spills that

occur for any project in the block.

What makes the situation even worse, said Patterson, is that Guyanese have not seen proof that the meager policy is with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Patterson said, “Granting a licence for the sixth oil project without having full liability coverage, obviously that's not something we in the

Unemployed man remanded for armed robbery An unemployed resident of School Street, Diamond East Bank Demerara (EBD), was remanded to prison on Friday after he appeared at the Diamond/ Golden Grove Magistrate's Court and charged for armed robbery.

The accused, 29-year-old Kevin Batson, also known as 'Kero,' was charged on Friday with the offense of robbery under arms which was committed on Joshua Singh on January 4th, 2024 at the Diamond Public Road EBD. Batson was also charged with armed robbery committed on Rajesh Ramlakhan at the Grove Housing Scheme on January 7th, 2024. He was remanded on both charges by the magistrate and will make his next court appearance on February 2, 2024.

Kevin Batson called 'Kero'

AFC support. We have called for full liability coverage since the Liza Phase One Project and onwards…”

He added, “The reality is that the more floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSOs) you bring into operation, the risk of a spill increases proportionately.” Guyana currently has three FPSOs on stream producing just about 560,000 barrels of oil per day.

When that increases to six FPSOs in operation, Patterson said the oil spill risk increases by 100 percent.

“Obviously, US$2B for oil spill coverage across those projects is inadequate,” he said.

The opposition parliamentarian also bemoaned the fact that Guyanese are yet to see proof of the US$2B parent company guarantee. “…I can't see why we have not seen it. Seeing it would demonstrate that the government and Exxon obey the laws of this country as well as the orders of the court,” Patterson said.

Kaieteur News previously reported that two

hidden costs associated with an unmitigated spill from one or more projects in the Stabroek Block.

On May 3, 2023, High Court Judge, Justice Sandil Kisson ruled in favour of the litigants and ordered the EPA to secure an unlimited parent and/or affiliate company guarantee for oil spills. To circumvent compliance with that order, Exxon and the EPA through their lawyers, appealed and were successful AFC Executive Member, in staying Justice's Kissoon's David Patterson decision. Pending the final outcome of the appeal, Guyanese who have made Justice Persaud ordered numerous requests through Exxon to lodge a US$2 t h e i r l a w y e r s t o s e e Billion parent and or affiliate ExxonMobil Guyana's US$2 company guarantee. billion parent company Since that order was guarantee. These requests issued on June 8, 2023, the follow on the heels of their litigants said their lawyers initial case filed back in which include Seenath September 2022. In that case, Jairam SC, leading Melinda the litigants, Frederick Janki and Abiola WongCollins and Godfrey Whyte, Innings have been unable to p u s h e d f o r t h e secure a copy of the said Environmental Protection guarantee for perusal.

Agency to be ordered to The litigants are now secure from Exxon Guyana, going through the courts for a a n u n l i m i t e d l i a b i l i t y summons to see the US$2B coverage for oil spills. In so guarantee. The hearing on doing, Guyana would be that matter will be heard this fully protected from any week.

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 14, 2024

PAGE 09

THE CORONATION IS SET FOR MAY The PPP Congress will be held, finally, in May of this year. The Congress should have been held since 2019, before the onset of the pandemic. The failure to hold the Congress, as per due date, demonstrates the stranglehold that the Executive Committee has on the party.

That stranglehold will have to be moderated by C o n g r e s s . T h e postponement of Congress cannot be left simply to the Executive Committee or to the Central Committee and it is for the delegates to the Congress to remind the

leadership of the party that the Congress is the highestdecision making organ of the party and cannot be made subordinate to the decision of either the Executive Committee or the Central Committee.

In 1968, Cheddi Jagan sounded a warning to the party. He warned against deviations to both the left and the right. Since his demise and that of his wife, the party has swung totally to the right. This has been no deviation; it has been an about-turn. In the process the party has ditched the working class orientation

upon which it was established and which it has consistently championed.

In his address to the 15th Congress of the party, Jagan had called for a more ideologically sound and well-disciplined party and would be armed with the ideology, theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism.

For all of Jagan’s efforts to instill socialist values and virtues within the party, no sooner had the PPP won power in 1992, there was a mad rush at self- enrichment by many within the leadership of the party.

The corruption

CANU, police seize 204lbs of cannabis at Crabwood Creek …one arrested

During a joint operation on January 12, 2024 at Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the police seized 204lbs of cannabis from a boat which two males were loading at the time.

CANU stated in a release that upon noticing the presence of CANU Officers, the two men attempted to flee the scene. “One of the suspects was successfully apprehended by officers, while the other managed to escape,” the anti-narcotics agency said.

A subsequent search of the boat revealed several

bulky parcels of suspected cannabis. “Anthony Sugrim, of Crabwood Creek, who was previously arrested by CANU on the 11th August 2023, was arrested and

e s c o r t e d t o C A N U ’s Headquarters along with the suspected narcotic,” CANU said.

Investigations are ongoing.

CANU ranks observed two men loading bulky parcels onto the boat seen here, at Crabwood Creek, Corentyne Berbice on Friday.

Dem Boys Seh...

Get yuh pillows and sleeping bag ready!

Budget Day is tomorrow!

And judging from previous years, Budget Day is like de Olympics of insomnia, where de only medals awarded are for endurance and ability to stifle a yawn.

De reporters, bless their souls, not taking chances anymore – dem packing sleeping bags and pillows like dey heading to a slumber party.

Who needs coffee when you got a cozy corner on de Parliament floor?

Back in de day, all dem reporters needed was a pen and a notebook. But oh no, not with dis incumbent!

Dis man got a gift of gab dat could make a patient on sedatives look like Usain Bolt.

Now dem reporters gotta be prepared for a 6-hour plus marathon reading of de Budget, longer than a day’s play in a cricket match.

Last year, one of dem parliamentarians fell asleep. When he wake up, he looking for his toothbrush and asking if breakfast ready – probably thought he was at a luxury resort, not Parliament.

Dem Boys Seh, dis Budget got more power than Gee Pee Hell.

Imagine, we on de brink of having de Caribbean’s first trillion-dollar budget.

Trillion, not million nor billion – dis ain’t monopoly money we talking ‘bout.

Dis budget so big, it got its own gravitational pull.

And as for de parliamentarians, well, dey better stock up on snack bars.

Who knows, dis Budget might be so long, dey start thinking dey in a Marriott instead of de hallowed halls of parliament.

De Budget speech ain’t just a speech; it’s a lullaby for grown-ups.

By de time de Finance Minister reaches de end, de audience gan be too sleepy-eyed to applaud – it’s like de whole place turning into a giant nap zone.

So, meh people, get ready for Budget Day – de day when de national budget becomes a bedtime story, and de only thing missing is a lullaby.

May your pillows be soft, and your snoring harmonious as we embark on another journey into the land of financial dreams – or nightmares.

Dem Boys Seh, brace yuhself for de trillion-dollar yawn-fest!

Talk Half! Leff Half!

contaminated the party. And this led to the ultimate apogee of the party ditching Marxism-Leninism. The references have remained but have been rendered ineffectual by the alignment of the party with the bourgeois class, its pursuit of neo-liberal policies and its open embrace of imperialism.

The failure of the party to adopt a stronger position in r e l a t i o n t o I s r a e l ’s aggression against Palestine is a direct reflection of its ideological shift from left to the right. And this shift that party informs Venezuela’s recent acts of aggression against Guyana. The PPP is no longer seen as a leftist party and is perceived in Caracas as a tool of US imperialism.

However, there is not much chance of the party returning to its ideological roots. Being on the left no longer implies embracing Marxism-Leninism. Lula of Brazil is still considered as leftist but he is not MarxistLeninist.

The PPPC however is firmly in the bourgeois and imperialist camp. The local bourgeois class is most likely to bankroll the Congress of the party and they would prefer to hear the usual cussout of the PNC than any serious discussion of the

ideology of the party.

The old guard was supposed to be the wardens of the party’s ideological roots.

But their numbers have been depleted by age and death. The old guard of the party no longer has the numbers or the moral authority to question the extant ideological disposition of the PPP. The old guard in fact can be said to have complicit in the party’s about-turn to the right.

There was a period when the party seemed ideologically sterile. But that stage has long passed. The party is now entrenched within the local bourgeois class – the wealth that some of its modern leaders possess is simply mind-boggling.

The party is also now in bed with US imperialism and this is why has refused to renegotiate the oil contract.

This is also why imperialism is keen on inflaming tensions between Guyana and Venezuela.

The Congress will have the unenviable task of either rubber-stamping the present alliances of the party or having someone brave enough stand up and denounce what is taking place within the party and the government. That person will have to be prepared to be

ostracized from the party.

But who will that person be?

No candidates seem in sight.

The May 2024 Congress will thus likely see the delegates being silent on the ideological thrust of the party while shamelessly proclaiming that the PPP remains a party of the working class.

They will do so while eating the free lunches being provided by the powerful bourgeois class.

The Congress is also likely to witness the virtual coronation of Bharrat Jagdeo as the supreme emperor of the party.

His grip on the party will remain unchallenged, solidifying his position as its undisputed leader.

And with that coronation will see the extinguishing of any hopes of the PPPC returning to its ideological roots.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Sunday January 14,2022 2024 Monday May 02,

BY GHK LALL

H@RD TRUTHS BUDGET 2024 – MY HOPES HK

BY G

B

S

UTH

D TR

HAR

L

LAL

udget Day is tomorrow. In a country bustling with some much activity, standing on the cusp of so much, having in hand so much more (no I am doing public relations work for Alistair Routledge), this should be a day of high anticipation and excitement for all Guyanese.

Especially those who conclude that the oil wealth is there, but it is not for them.

Still, I encourage my fellow Guyanese at the bottom of the economic barrel to be watchful, be involved, be strong, and not surrender to despair. I urge them: pay

attention to the 2024 budget, for there could be something in there. No matter how minor or maagah, it is still something from this fantastic wealth.

I readily admit that the greedy foreigners take the biggest share, and then the beastly Guyanese ruling group and their cronies grab the next best pieces for themselves. What has been left so far in record budgets has been the paltry, mangy, and ugly.

We have had record budget after record budget.

The contractor class (PPP corruption camouflage) has snared hog, cow, and duck.

Check the numbers. Those billions don’t lie. They award it to themselves, and then share it among themselves. Guess who has been left out?

Billions here and billions there for everything under the sun, and down-at-theheels Guyanese waiting, wishing, hoping for some word about $25,000. At today’s prices, that is a barrel and a half of oil per Guyanese family yearly, which is very rich. I thank Pres ident A li for his generosity.

From my perspective, many mistakes have been made, but it was more about

refining the method to the seeming madness than about addressing the many budgetary mistakes. For the more that is put out for infrastructure, the more the sweet opportunities to pull off a bank robbery here with that procurement, and a train robbery over there with that road.

Now for the 2024 budget. My first prediction is a record one, hands down.

The second is that the contractor class will be a runaway winner (again).

The third is that the emerging defense establishment will come into its own: the first s y m b o l s o f G u y a n a ’s military-political complex.

Fourth, the Office of the President, meaning less the office, will double down from GY$5 billion to GY$10 billion for standby funds.

In America that is called a slush fund. The CIA calls that the Black Budget.

Whether OP or CIA, I have an unprintable word for such. Fifth, there will be some money to keep the indigenous quiet, some to keep the youths properly aligned, and some to fund the management of

n a y s a y e r s , dissenters, and parasites. Regarding how the medicine man will present these is just hours away.

Somewhere along the line, there will be something for the bottom feeders of Guyana, aka the ‘Great Unwashed.’ Cost-ofliving relief is on the way, so I hear, with Christmas for the masses in January. What will it be? Some cash for the kids, so that some more stealing can occur. Some pittances for pensioners, which I believe is already settled.

The monthly increase is the cost of the tissue that Alistair Routledge blows his nose into; one sheet of Kleenex equals one month increase for one pensioner.

Why give them more? To buy what? I can’t wait to absorb this so-called costof-living relief. It might take some sort of socialist turn: planned markets, price management (not controls): return to some form of GMC, give them some lowcost goods and greens, and it will be more than made up elsewhere. If anybody is thinking tax relief, think threshold and no more.

Dese guys just mean to keep Guyanese on a thin string and dependent.

I think that moneyman Singh would have put his last two budgets side-byside for a postmortem.

Where were the wrong priorities emphasized?

Where should get less, who should get more. Cut this crap out about multiplier effect and all that book business: trickledown is kicking down and keeping down.

Present a package that gives citizens sustained relief, comrade doctor. Slim down a bit on building and give the poor people some financial ‘builders.’ There would still be enough billions for the boys to have a feast and still plenty leff to teef and grease the upper chambers of the ruling apparatus, plus the machinery that presides over and processes these things.

Don’t worry about what I know. Just eavesdrop on the conversation of ordinary Guyanese and there is a directory of the persons of interest in Guyana, starting with the Cabinet. Just as how the media is being used to demonize and criminalize conscientious Guyanese, so national budgets, Mr. Scholar, are seen as a tool of oppression. And, naturally, political collections.

Go ahead. Prove me wrong. Make me eat crow.

Make this budget different, boss.

Make meaningful provisions for the masses of Guyana. It can be done, as there are enough resources.

Show us how caring and considerate this government is. Don’t worry about those with their charts, graphs, and tables; they are looking for a big job. I am looking for some dollars (not tokens) for the small Guyanese. Make the 2024 budget a song of joy for them. They are Guyanese, not Venezuelans.

There is so much even Venezuelans could get their slice. I hope that’s not treasonous. Shalom.

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

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 14, 2024

PAGE 11

BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCY! In case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part of our 2 0 2 0 , J a g d e o h a s commandeered the public continued effort to channel positive changes in our country, our relations for his government, publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our Page Seven to be making useless the Minister “BLUNT” about on-going indecencies in our land that should matter, of Public Affairs- Kwame MCcoy- who we know is not only to us at this publication, but the entire nation.

S UNDAY – JANUARY 07, 2024 Oil meters and VP Jagdeo Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo is running from ins talling independent meters on the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels to verify the number of barrels being produced by ExxonMobil.

Four years after oil production, with three projects now producing oil and the country is still nowhere close to confirming the production rates being reported by Exxon.

The country can be losing thousands of barrels of oil daily from underreported figures from this company, yet the politicians are comfortable without meters on the

FPSOs. Instead of moving swiftly to rectify the situation, the chief policy maker for the sector wants to use Exxon’s cable to verify the production rates to “independently monitor” the company.

Can someone explain the meaning of the word ‘independent’ for the VP? MONDAY – JANUARY 08, 2024 Ask Vick or wait until 2025 Journalists these days are prepared for two responses when attending press conferences hosted by Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and his opponent, Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton.

W h e n t h e d i ff i c u l t questions are asked

pertaining to the country’s rapidly developing petroleum sector, the VP instructs that the questions be put to Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat who is not only clueless on the issues, but has to date only hosted one media engagement.

On the other hand, Norton is waiting until the next elections to reveal his master plan for the management of the sector.

TUESDAY – JANUARY 09, 2024 Govt. ministers can now speak After three years in office all of the government ministers are now holding press conferences since Vice President Bharrat decided to lift a gag order on them.

Since returning to office in

only capable of pelting faeces on government critics.

So from since December last year, Jagdeo has been rolling them out one-by one to host their own news briefs.

Some of them have been shut up for so long that they sound and look rusty before the press.

WEDNESDAY – JANUARY 10, 2024 Ministers kicking off elections campaign at press conferences Ministers appointed by the People’s Progressive Party had a three year rest and are now crawling out from their holes to open their mouths as the time draws nearer to National Elections.

The Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo has announced voting will take place in November of 2025.

One of the world’s wealthiest men set to indirectly benefit from Guyana’s oil wealth In October 2023, Chevron acquired Hess for US$53 billion, which granted the U.S. supermajor access to one of the most promising prospects in the global resources industry – Guyana’s vast offshore oil reserves.

Market Insider reported that, one of the world’s richest men, Warren Buffett is set to gain indirect exposure to Guyana, the world’s fastest-growing economy and an emerging oil superpower, thanks to Chevron’s acquisition of Hess.

Market Insider correspondent Theron Mohamed, last year reported that Hess’ portfolio includes a 30% stake in the Stabroek Block, an oil reservoir off the coast of Guyana where operator Exxon Mobil has discovered the equivalent of more than 11 billion barrels of oil so far.

In a press release, Chevron hailed the oilfield as an “extraordinary asset with industry leading cash margins and low carbon intensity that is expected to deliver production growth into the next decade.”

B u ff e t t ’s B e r k s h i r e Hathaway conglomerate owned 123 million Chevron shares as of June 30, giving it a 6.4% stake in the energy giant. The position is worth about US$20 billion, based

One of the world’s richest men, Warren Buffett (AP Images) on Chevron’s current stock price (at that time) and assuming Berkshire didn’t alter its position.

As a result, the famed investor’s company stands to gain from the Chevron-Hess merger and the profits it generates from Guyana, if they boost the value of Chevron stock or the company returns them to shareholders via dividends or buybacks.

The rush to tap into Guyana’s oil reserves, and develop the South American nation into one of the world’s largest crude producers, helped fuel unmatched real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 62% in 2022, per the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The fledgling petro state is set to grow another 38% this year to about US$16 billion in annual GDP — roughly one-seventh of Buffett’s personal net worth of US$113 billion.

Guyana — home to a mere 800,000 people — was forecasted to produce over 400,000 barrels a day by the end of 2023 and 1.2 million by 2028, or 1.2% of the global supply, per the International Energy Agency.

If Berkshire doesn’t raise its Chevron stake, it’s set to

be diluted to 5.5% as a result of the company issuing about 317 million shares to fund its agreed transaction.

Hess shareholders are set to receive 1.0250 Chevron shares for each of their shares.

It’s worth emphasizing that Chevron is just one stock in Buffett’s roughly US$350 billion equity portfolio, which itself accounts for just over a third of Berkshire’s US$1 trillion of assets.

However, Chevron was one of its five largest stock positions in the third quarter of last year, and Berkshire owns a sizeable stake in the group. As a result, Buffett will likely be paying close attention to the ChevronHess merger and the Guyana venture, given he’s poised to have a not-insignificant amount of money riding on it.

Essequibo Coast labourer remanded for murder An Essequibo Coast man was remanded to prison on Friday after he appeared at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court where he was charged for the murder of another man on January 7, 2024.

The accused, 20-yearold Elroy Matthias called “Chinee Boy,’ appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam, when the charge was read to him. The man was charged with murder

committed on 25-year-old Ricardo John also known as ‘Cardo,’ at Lima Sands Essequibo Coast.

The accused was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded to prison after bail was refused.

He will make his next appearance on the January 24, 2024.

According to reports, John was at a shop imbibing

when Matthias, who is J o h n ’s e x - g i r l f r i e n d ’s reputed husband, approached him and an argument ensued. Matthias, who was armed with a cutlass, allegedly dealt John a chop to the chest and then made his good escape.

The victim was picked up and rushed to the hospital in a critical condition. He later succumbed to his injuries.

With only a few months left, the citizens of Guyana are at a loss for information regarding the management of the respective sectors since there has been not a single post-Cabinet press briefing since the PPP took office and no press conferences by some of the key subject ministers.

T h e o i l M i n i s t e r, Vickram Bharrat for instance only held one press conference last year that was nothing short of a disaster as the media were limited in their questions. We await more of the political gimmickry as the voting clock ticks.

SATURDAY – JANUARY 13, 2024 For 2024 budget, Opposition must be formidable in pursuit of transparency and accountability As Guyana braces itself for the critical unveiling of the 2024 budget on Monday, January 15, the political

opposition faces a crucial test. It’s time to demonstrate unequivocally to the nation, their ability to deliver insightful, sharp, and strategic critiques of the government’s spending plans.

The people demand thorough analysis, meticulous preparation, and the courage to ask probing, hard-hitting questions during the debates.

It’s a moment for the opposition to assert t h e m s e l v e s f o r c e f u l l y, proving to their supporters and the entire nation that they are a formidable force, fully capable of relentlessly holding the government accountable for every cent of the taxpayer’s money.

This is not just about fulfilling a role; it’s about proving to your supporters and the entire nation that you are a true opposition, unwavering in the face of governmental power and unyielding in your pursuit of transparency and

Sunday January 14, 2024

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

No independent meters 4 years later to monitor ExxonMobil’s oil production unacceptable- Norton “We should not rely on Exxon to give us information. To me that is unacceptable. I’ve said that before, I want to make it clear here again.”

That was the position of the Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton, shared with journalists on Thursday during his weekly press engagement.

Norton while responding to a question from this newspaper regarding his position on the lack of independent meters to verify the production rates being reported by American oil giant, ExxonMobil shared the view that Guyana must have its own mechanisms in place.

“I believe we need our own meters so that we can monitor and know what is happening,” he said.

When asked about his views on Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo’s plan to use a cable from Exxon’s Control Centre to monitor the offshore activities, Norton urged that the country instead develop its

own systems to monitor production. He reasoned, “I believe Guyana has to establish its independent capacity to monitor oil and gas and it should not be relying on Exxon.

The only time I think they must be relying on Exxon is when Exxon is preparing the bills for the audit. I have consistently said I am concerned we are not developing the capacity to monitor and audit what is happening so in that regard I think I’m clear.”

Recently, a Trinidadian Consultant who gained 30 years of experience with BP TT pointed out that for Guyana to reap the true benefits of its rapidly developing oil and gas sector, the country must implement an independent system that aids in the verification of the daily rate of production by American oil major, ExxonMobil.

ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) is the operator of Guyana’s oil rich Stabroek Block. More than 11 b i l l i o n b a r r e l s o f

Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton resources have been discovered offshore by the company since 2015.

Production activities officially commenced in December 2019.

The company now has three Floating Production Storage and Offloading

(FPSO) vessels in operation, producing an average 500,000 barrels per day; however, Guyana is yet to put measures in place to verify the daily rate of production.

C o n s e q u e n t l y, t h e country accepts the

production figures reported by the company and allows for its resources to be exported without robust verification techniques in place.

Former Head of Maintenance and Reliability at BP Trinidad and Tobago, Kuarlal Rampersad in an interview with Kaieteur News strongly urged that Guyana avoids the mistakes made by the twin island republic.

The Consultant warned that in the absence of this, the company can provide its own figures on the number of barrels leaving the country which cannot be disputed by Guyana. Read m o r e h e r e : https://www.kaieteurnewso nline.com/2024/01/01/govtmust-install-independentmeters-offshore-lab-forguyanese-to-benefit-fromoil-bonanza-tt-consultant/ Meanwhile, VP Jagdeo when asked about the government’s intentions regarding the monitoring of ExxonMobil’s production during his end of year press

conference in December said plans are advancing with the fiber optic cable to link Exxon’s onshore facilities to the Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels (FPSOs) in the Stabroek Block.

Interestingly, Jagdeo said that once Exxon’s headquarters in Ogle, East Coast Demerara, is completed, it will enable real-time monitoring and possibly control offshore production activities.

Jagdeo explained that while government is hopeful to get a connection with the cable, he indicated plans for the government to establish its own means of monitoring, using satellite technology.

“Right now, we are in discussion with a couple people but most likely [government] will have to go to tender for a system using s a t e l l i t e t e c h n o l o g y.

Because we don’t have that cable as yet, but later we can probably use the same cable to the things that you’re saying,” the Vice President said.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Sunday January 14, 2024

20 Air Traffic Services staff resigned within 12 months …AT LEAST A DOZEN MORE EXPECTED TO JOIN THEIR COLLEAGUES OVERSEAS As Guyanese continue to search for greener pastures overseas, at least twenty staff members attached to the Air Traffic Services of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) resigned from their posts within the past 12 months.

At the same time, the GCAA is likely to lose additional air traffic staff, as many are eyeing opportunities overseas, with the aim of joining their colleagues.

Currently, the Cayman Islands aviation body is expanding its airport operations and as much as 12 positions are expected to be filled there. Given the current atmosphere at the control tower at Timehri, Guyanese air traffic controllers are eyeing the posts.

When contacted for a comment on Saturday, Director General of the

GCAA, Lt. Col. Egbert Field said he has to obtain “the entire background “of the issue before offering a comment.

When pressed further on if he is aware that staff are leaving the aviation body, he said in any organisation there are “individuals who for one reason or the other would tend to leave” either for a higher salary or a change of career, among other reasons. He said he does not have the figures as regards how many employees have resigned from the tower.

Air Traffic Services play a critical role in the operations of flights within the airspace, providing safe transit for aircraft within the airspace. The service rakes in millions for Guyana annually.

Training of staff takes several months and recruits undergo rigorous hours of

study, with no room for mistakes. In addition, staff undergo training to advance in various levels of the profession. It is against this backdrop that the air traffic staff believe their concerns are being ignored and/or taken for granted by the hierarchy of the GCAA. LIST OF RESIGNATIONS The list of resignations from the tower at Timehri falls under the Air Navigation Services (ANS) department of the GCAA. In addition to air traffic controllers, the list also includes ATC assistants and aeronautical information services (AIS) officers. As recent as December, the GCAA’s supervisor of the AIS department at the tower at Timehri resigned to take up a new job in the Cayman Islands.

Reports are that while some of the people who

resigned are pursuing new career paths, most of those who resigned have taken up new jobs with the civil aviation bodies in Caribbean islands leaving a huge void in the operation at the tower.

“Most of those who resigned worked at the tower in Timehri,” a former staff member related last week, noting that the controllers and other air traffic staff believe their skills and contribution to the operations of the GCAA are not appreciated, or respected by management or the administrators of the aviation body.

Earlier this year, the GCAA published advertisements for people to fill the vacant positions of Air Traffic Control Assistants as well as Aeronautical Information Management Officers, roles which have left vacant at the control tower at Timehi.

Current employees at the tower related that the resignations are taking a toll on the operations there.

They complained that they “are stretched,” adding that the facility, which provides service to aircraft on the ground and in the air, is operating below its full complement. This has resulted in controllers working “a lot of overtime,”

The Air Traffic Control tower at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at Timehri. a situation which can lead to fatigue, given the critical nature of the job.

STAFF UNDERPAID One of the main reasons behind the resignations, former and current ATC staff told this publication, is tied to the staff at the tower being underpaid. According to former employees, an air traffic controller who resigned last year was paid a gross salary of $300,000 monthly. In the Cayman Islands, the controllers who took up jobs there are paid a minimum salary of $1.1M. Kaieteur News was told that the former supervisor of the AIS department at the tower was being paid around

$260,000 monthly; he is paid more than five times that amount in his new role overseas.

COMPLAINTS FELL ON DEAF EARS It was noted by staff members that annual appraisals which are conducted on staff at the tower have been ignored by the GCAA’s management for years. However, their colleagues at the body’s head office are promoted regularly and their salaries also increase incrementally based on appraisals.

Reports are that the issues and concerns of the ATC staff were raised with Continued on page 50

Sunday January 14, 2024

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

A haven for book lovers

s l l a f r e t a W Business owner, Holly Yumelle Daniels

The

Yum Elle: Holly Daniels’ culinary dream blossoms

Young Entrepreneur, Samantha Stanwick

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 14, 2024

Akilah Fredericks

PAGE 18

Meet the adorable Akilah Fredericks, the reigning ‘Miss Guyana Teen with a Purpose’. The petite 19-year-old Guyanese beauty is an optometric technician on the path of becoming an Optometrist. In her capacity as a teen ambassador, Akilah aspire to not only to become a better version of herself each day but also to be an inspiration and a role model for all young girls. The teen shared some words of wisdom…Akilah says, “I can’t think of any better representation of beauty than someone who is unafraid to be themselves.

Perseverance and great determination is the most certain way to succeed.”

Sunday January 14, 2024

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

ACTION ON CRIMINAL GANGS AND GUNS IS URGENT

By Sir Ronald Sanders

(The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own.)

Ecuador, once celebrated for its tranquillity, now finds itself at the epicentre of a distressing surge in gang violence, its streets marred by the ominous shadow of armed groups fuelled by the trafficking of illicit drugs.

On January 7, President Daniel Noboa deployed the nation’s armed forces to clean up prisons from which gang leaders were directing their criminal activities. This desperate response came after days of unrest, during which two formidable gang leaders escaped from jail, prison guards were held hostage, and explosive devices wreaked havoc in cities across the country.

These events starkly illustrate a broader crisis, one that extends its menacing grip across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Ecuador, nestled between the world’s two largest cocaine producers, Colombia and Peru, faces the dire consequences of its geographic vulnerability.

The United Nations Global Report on Cocaine 2023 reveals a record surge in cocaine production, with Ecuador serving as a tragic victim of its easily accessible coastal routes.

However, Ecuador ’s plight is not a solitary narrative; it is a haunting prelude to a region-wide symphony of chaos.

The issue of gangs, guns, and violence cannot be confined within borders.

Governments are now awakening to the problem, but it has already spiralled out of control in some nations, while others are teetering on the brink.

The Caribbean, in particular, stands as a sobering example, with four of the five most murderous countries and territories in the region in 2022 being the Turks and Caicos Islands, Jamaica, Venezuela, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Disturbingly, there were no reliable figures for Haiti, leaving a void in understanding the full extent of the crisis which, in any event, is known to be completely unmanageable.

Statistics for the region

reveal a grim reality; eight out of ten countries with the highest homicide rates in the world are located in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The average homicide rates, according to 2021 data, stood at 9.3 per 100,000 for South America, 16.9 per 100,000 for Central America, and 12.7 per 100,000 for the Caribbean.

The Caribbean also grapples with a dual challenge: an influx of illicit firearms primarily sourced from the United States, and a decrease in funding for crucial security initiatives.

The United States, despite being a major source of the region’s illicit firearm woes, paradoxically reduced its budget for the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative by 11.8% in fiscal year 2022.

This initiative provides vital aid for border and port s e c u r i t y, a l i f e l i n e desperately needed to combat the influx of weapons. The alarming prevalence of Americanmade guns in the hands of Caribbean gangs has spurred heads of government to call for stronger U.S. efforts in curbing arms trafficking. In June 2023, Bahamas’ Prime Minister, Philip Davis, emphasised to U.S. VicePresident Kamala Harris, the urgency of reducing the flow of illegal guns entering his nation from the United States. However, the U.S. account of the meeting made no mention of this serious concern, not because the Biden government is not troubled by gun crimes, but because it is a domestic political issue in the U.S. Hence, not enough is being done to stop the flow of illegal weapons into the Caribbean.

Even as these nations grapple with the inflow of illegal firearms, their capacity to intercept and prevent such activities remains a significant challenge. Ports of entry often lack the necessary interdiction capacity, and limited enforcement resources hinder their ability

to curb the tide of arms.

The traffickers exploit the short distances between Caribbean islands, utilizing go-fast boats and yachts to move weapons seamlessly across the extensive coastlines.

Efforts to control and combat this phenomenon have been ongoing since the late 1990s.

Despite these efforts, gangs continue to proliferate, fuelled by drug traffickers who arm their criminal enterprises.

Recognizing the urgency and gravity of the situation, during my term as President of the Organization of American States (OAS), I placed the topic of “Guns, gangs, and violence” on the agenda of the Permanent Council.

An expert panel, convened to address the growing crisis, proposed approaches to tackle the root causes and consequences of criminal gang violence, particularly gun-related violence. The resulting Resolution, adopted on December 12, emphasized the necessity for greater collaboration between governmental agencies. It acknowledged that no single state possesses the capacity to match the formidable resources available to organized criminals operating across borders.

The resolution underscored the links between transnational organized crime, criminal gangs, and the vital importance of a crossb o r d e r, c o l l a b o r a t i v e approach.

We strongly proposed that the matter be addressed at the upcoming OAS general assembly in June, with the objective of establishing practical systems of collaboration between Latin American nations and Caribbean states. The criminals are organized; if governments and their law enforcement agencies fail to follow suit, the consequences will be more disastrous than they

already are. But this alone, while a start, is not enough.

Much more needs to be done.

At the regional level, collaboration is paramount, as no single state can confront the vast resources of transnational organized crime independently.

At the national level, robust legislation, effective implementation machinery to punish drug traffickers, and prison reforms to prevent them from becoming recruitment centres are imperative.

Equally important is raising awareness among communities about the

d a n g e r s , consequences, and s a n c t i o n s associated with membership in criminal gangs and the possession and illegal use of firearms.

A s t h e Caribbean confronts this multifaceted crisis, the imperative is clear: collective, resolute action is not just an option but an absolute necessity.

The path forward demands a commitment to national, regional and hemispheric action.

Sir Ronald Sanders Gangs, guns and lawlessness now threaten every person – the examples are too many to ignore.

Responses and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsanders.com

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Kaieteur News

Sunday January 14, 2024

Sunday January 14, 2024

Kaieteur News

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Guyanese author launches her 2nd published book In an interminable cycle, mankind’s obsession with physical wealth has led to the continuous struggle for the acquisition of material possessions that are believed to lead to lasting happiness, satisfaction and generational wealth. While material things may lead to a satisfactory life on a surface level, it’s the things that money can’t buy that offers a person true and lasting joy.

In her new book, ‘Submission’, Guyanese author and speaker, Alicia Martin challenges her readers to take a step back and examine the true meaning of a fulfilled life.

A book deeply rooted in her Christian beliefs serves as a roadmap to help readers navigate the path to living a transformed life by true wisdom, wealth and abundance.

The book which was launched on Saturday is Martin’s second installment of her published work. Her first book, ‘Slay in Purity’ published in 2021, is a guide to experiencing a spiritually fulfilling lifestyle.

The first book was specifically addressed to Christian Ministers of the Arts.

In her second book, Martin follows up with faith-based material and delivers guidelines on how submission to God—the Creator of all things can unlock one’s divine purpose and lead to a truly wholesome life.

As the author explains “This book is my loving contribution to helping you develop the mindset and practices needed to live a life of submission to God. In this book, I delve

into areas that will help you ignite flames of perseverance, willpower, and wisdom necessary for submissive living in accordance with divine guidance.” She added, “It is my hope and belief that this book will help you to shift trajectories, break generational curses and provide an opportunity for transformation in all aspects of your life. Physical and spiritual wealth is absolutely achievable.”

Martin is as a Minister of Dance, the director and founder of the Royalty Dance Ministries, the visionary behind the Arise Dance Workshop, and the host and producer of a series for dance ministers, titled, ‘The Vessel’. She is also a dance instructor.

She is the holder of a Bachelor’s Degree and Diploma in Communication Studies from the University of Guyana (UG).

She possesses a Certificate and Diploma in Dance from the Institute of Creative Arts and the National School of Dance, and a certificate in TEN Pageantry from the Eagles International Training Institute, Guyana.

Martin is a motivational speaker and a purpose-driven young woman who strives for excellence in all that she pursues. Anyone desirous of attaining a copy of the book can do so by contacting the author via her Facebook page under the name Alicia Martin; v i a email a t a l i c i a m a r t i n publicfigure@gmail.com; or on her cell number on her cell number, (+592) 693-5664

Guyanese Author, Alicia Martin on the flyer promoting the launch of her 2nd book.

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Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Get a Lip Color that lasts all day with the best korean lip tint Source: Asian Beauty Essentials by Lauren Petrullo Hello, lipstick lovers and lip tint enthusiasts! Are you ready to pucker up and dive into the vibrant, longwearing, highly pigmented world of Korean lip tints?

Fasten your seatbelts, because we’re about to embark on a colorful journey that will leave your lips looking luscious, longlasting, and utterly irresistible.

So, whether you’re a seasoned beauty guru or a makeup newbie, get ready to laugh, learn, and fall head over heels in love with these game-changing products.

And who knows? You might even find your new holy grail lip tint!

What are Korean lip tints and why is everyone obsessed about them?

Korean lip tints are a type of lip product that’s designed to stain your lips with a lasting wash of color.

Unlike traditional lipsticks that sit on top of your lips, lip tints penetrate the skin, providing a natural, long-lasting hue that can withstand eating, drinking, and even smooching!

And why is everyone going gaga over them? Well,

aside from their impressive staying power, Korean lip tints are known for their lightweight formula, making them comfortable to wear all day.

Plus, they come in a wide range of colors and finishes, from matte to glossy, allowing you to switch up your look depending on your mood.

The Best 9 Korean Lip Tints Ready to meet the different lip tints that are destined to be your soulmates? Let’s dive into the best Korean lip tints!

Peripera Ink The Velvet Lip Tint This product is a gem in the world of lip tints and is quite popular among beauty enthusiasts: the best Korean lip stain!

Known for its high pigmentation and longlasting formula, this lip tint is your ticket to bold, beautiful lips that last all day.

One of the standout features of the Peripera Ink The Velvet Lip Tint is its smooth and velvety texture.

It glides onto the lips effortlessly, providing an even and comfortable application.

And the best part? You can wear it matte or add gloss over it for a shiny finish.

But what makes this lip tint truly special is its weightless feel.

Despite its bold color payoff, the Peripera Ink Velvet Lip Tint feels light as air on your lips. Plus, it’s gluten-free and parabenfree, making it a great choice for those with sensitive skin.

This lip tint also stands out for its moisturizing properties.

It’s blended with jojoba oil, hyaluronic acid, and marine collagen, all of which work together to keep your lips hydrated.

So not only do you get a stunning lip color, but you also get a mini spa treatment for your lips!

With a wide range of colors to choose from, including amazing shades of lip tints for dark skin, the Peripera Ink The Velvet Lip Tint offers something for everyone.

Whether you prefer a classic red, a soft pink, or a daring nude, you’ll find a shade that suits your style.

2. Etude House Dear Darling Water Gel Tint This k beauty lip stain is a game-changer in the realm of lip stains and has been making waves in beauty circles.

The Dear Darling Water Gel Tint is known for its

fruity, juicy, moist, and vivid coloring.

It’s like a refreshing splash of watercolor for your lips that instantly brightens up your whole look. And the best part?

It’s inspired by the delight of summer and ice cream, bringing a sweet touch to your makeup routine.

One of the things that sets this lip tint apart is its hydrating formula. It’s packed with minerals and vitamins from soapberry extract, providing not only a stunning color but also a healthy boost to your lips. So you get a lip tint that looks good and does good!

But it doesn’t stop there.

The Dear Darling Water Gel Tint is also long-lasting and does not dry out easily.

This means you can go about your day without worrying about touch-ups.

Plus, it spreads easily and smoothly for a flawless application.

3. Rom&nd Juicy Lasting Tint This versatile product combines the best features of a lip gloss, lipstick, and lip tint in one. It offers a candycoated gloss that intensifies over time, providing a clear and syrupy finish with vibrant colors.

This lip tint is renowned for its ability to effortlessly achieve plump lips with vivid tints offered in fruity shades.

It promises a glossy look without leaving a heavy or sticky feeling on your lips.

The highly pigmented color stays on all day, giving your lips a juicy shine.

One of the standout features of this product is its texture.

When first applied, it feels like a liquid jelly that dries down comfortably. The more you apply, the darker the tint becomes.

This allows for customization of color intensity based on your preference.

4. Peripera Ink Airy Velvet Lip Tint If you’re in search of a lip product that offers both color

and comfort, look no further than the Peripera Ink Airy Velvet Lip Tint.

This lip tint is renowned for its smooth application that leaves a vibrant hue on your lips.

Its velvety texture aids in retaining moisture, resulting in a creamy finish that feels as good as it looks.

What makes this lip tint unique is its lightweight formula. It provides true color payoff with a matte finish, yet feels hydrating.

The Peripera Ink Airy Velvet Lip Tint boasts a formula that harmoniously blends vitamin E, cotton seed oil, green tea oil, and mango oil.

These ingredients not only contribute to the high color result but also lock in moisture, keeping your lips soft and healthy.

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Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Sunday January 14, 2024

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g stin s... e r e e r Int eatu Cr

Female mosquitoes - the deadliest predator on the planet

By Shervin Belgrave A common Guyanese saying, “Lil axe does cut down big tree”, is the perfect phrase to describe the female mosquito, a small insect that does not grow bigger than one centimeter but claims the lives of more than 750,000 persons every year and that number does not include the larger predators that appear scarier than this tiny animal.

While many might be more afraid of venomous snakes or an aggressive 570 pound lion or perhaps a 660 pound Siberian Tiger with huge scary fangs, it is the female mosquito that they should dread. I am stressing “female mosquitoes” because according to scientists, they are the killers and not the males.

The deadliest animals in the world are not measured on ferocity, scary looks or huge size but by the number people they kill each year and mosquito is by far the most fatal creature on the planet.

These little creatures, according to Statista- a global data and business intelligence platform with an extensive collection of statistics, is responsible for around one million annual human deaths when compared to 100,000 deaths from snakes and 250 from lions. That is a huge gap between the insect and much larger animals.

Title of deadliest creature Mosquitoes have earned the title of the deadliest creature in the world because they transmit a number of deadly diseases, the worst of which is malaria. Statista reported that Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite that results in fever, chills, headache, vomiting and, if left untreated, death. Malaria disproportionately affects poorer regions of the world such as Africa and SouthEast Asia. In 2020, there

2023 stat table comparing human deaths caused by predators were around 627,000 deaths from malaria worldwide.

In 2022 mosquitoes claimed the lives of one million people and last year these creatures reportedly 750,000 more.

Other deadly mosquito borne diseases include, the West Nile virus dengue viruses, Zika, yellow fever, etc.

Mosquitoes transmit these diseases to humans and animals by feasting on their blood and according to scientists, it is only the females that require a healthy diet of blood.

While male mosquitoes feed mostly on the nectar from flowers, the females require blood to lay their eggs.

While she is feeding on the blood, her saliva is transferred to the host during the bite, and can cause an itchy rash. Some species of these female mosquitoes such as, Anopheles, Aeded and Culex leave more than just an itchy rash. These blood-feeding species can ingest pathogens (disease carrying organisms) while biting, and then transmit them later to its hosts. Those deadly pathogens include vectors of parasitic diseases such as malaria and

filariasis, and arboviral diseases such as yellow fever and dengue fever.

If these facts about mosquitoes scare you should know that these creatures reproduce more when

stagnant water is around.

Scientists say that mosquitoes like to lay their eggs in dirty and nonflowing water.

Other interesting facts about mosquitoes are that they prefer to feed more at dusk and dawn, can fly up to three miles per hour and are attracted to carbon dioxide and heat-So if you don’t like to bathe then the mosquitoes are coming after you because these creatures tend to bite persons that are sweaty and breathing heavily.

Sources of information: https://www.statista.com/sta tistics/448169/deadliestcreatures-in-the-world-bynumber-of-humandeaths/#:~:text=Malaria,%2 C%20if%20left%20untreate d%2C%20death. https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Mosquito#:~:text=Mos quitoes%20have%20a%20sl ender%20segmented,additio n % 2 0 a d a p t e d%20to%20drink%20blood

The deadliest creature on earth

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redefines celebration with affordable, quality, and eco-friendly flair Sometimes, it can be discouraging to have a small part of your investment tucked away, but it’s a risk party stores have to take because you have to cater to the public and what is in demand.”

To stay ahead, Amelia said that she consistently engages with her audience through social media.

Regular posts, interactive stories, and customer feedback play a pivotal role in shaping Party Prime’s offerings.

The young business owner shared, “For the trendy aspect…When the Barbie movie came out, everything was pink Business owner, and had to be Barbie-themed, Amelia Persaud and while this was great for party stores, other themes that were

By Renay Sambach just as popular became slow-selling.”

Amelia shared that the highlight of melia Persaud embarked on ‘Party Prime’s’ journey so far has been her entrepreneurial journey Mother’s Day 2023. Selling over 150 with a simple yet profound balloon sets in just a few hours, both motivation: to make party supplies online and walk-in customers flooded the accessible and affordable. Tired of the store. hassle of traveling to Georgetown for her From her experience, Amelia said that party needs, Persaud saw an opportunity people also prefer intimate gatherings to fill a void in the market on the East which results to small scale purchasing.

Coast of Demerara. Her online store, As her business evolves, Amelia ‘Party Prime’, was born out of a desire to shared that one noticeable shift she have offer cost-effective alternatives without saw in the supply industry is that persons compromising on quality. are becoming more environmentally During an interview with The aware. “This resulted in a demand for ecoWaterfalls, Amelia shared that in a friendly and biodegradable items. This is saturated market, ‘Party Prime’ the same for compostable decorations and distinguishes itself through key principles even reusable items.” of affordability, customer service, quality Recognizing the global trend towards products and uniqueness. sustainability, ‘Party Prime’ actively “One of the main things that set my incorporates eco-friendly products into its business apart from others is that it is inventory. Amelia ensures that the affordable for everyone. Customers are suppliers she collaborates with adhere to amazed when they come by and grab environmentally conscious practices, whatever they need and realize they don’t meeting the rising demand for have to break their pockets for party biodegradable and compostable party supplies.” supplies.

Amelia added, “Just because party As ‘Party Prime’ continues to thrive, supplies are either disposable or reusable Amelia envisions a future with multiple doesn’t mean they need to be of poor locations and an expanded inventory. Her quality.” goal is to cater to a broader audience, Launching ‘Party Prime’ came with its meeting the diverse needs of her growing set of challenges. The balance between customer base. trendy, classic, and seasonal items posed a Amelia hails from a business-oriented significant hurdle. However, Amelia background. Growing up in a family of navigated these challenges with patience business owners, her journey from a travel and strategic marketing effort to consultant to the founder of Party Prime is overcome the variation in demand. a testament to her dedication and “For the seasonable aspect, you have entrepreneurial spirit. to know that after the seasonal period, for For aspiring women entrepreneurs, example, Christmas, you will have items especially in the party supply industry, remaining that must be stored away. Amelia offers sage advice. She said

A

passion, commitment, and resilience are the cornerstones of success.

“Don’t be afraid to start somewhere.

Your financial means may be small, but it grows over time…Celebrate your small wins because starting a business involves lots of highs and lows, and the smallest achievements will keep you motivated for the next.”

Amelia’s ongoing efforts to reshape the party supply experience serve as an inspiring tale for budding entrepreneurs.

Her journey exemplifies the transformative influence of passion, resilience, and the unwavering pursuit of one’s aspirations.

“I have gained so much experience, met many wonderful people, and had many challenges, but I am all in for the long haul. I am deeply proud to say I, Amelia Persaud, am the owner of ‘Party Prime’.”

To connect with ‘Party Prime’, you can visit Lot 9 Kersaint Park, La Bonne Intention, and Lot 1 Strathspey, East Coast Demerara or connect on Facebook (partyprime.gy), Instagram (partyprime.gy), and TikTok (partyprime.gy), reach out via email at partyprime.gy@outlook. com or call/WhatsApp +(592) 620 3737.

Sunday January 14, 2024

Kaieteur News

A model dons a patriotic design of one of Ranette Simpson’s outfits

Sunday January 14, 2024

PAGE 29

Simpson also designs outfits for men

Young mom turns her love for crochet into a budding business

job again, and the reason was similar to that when she lost her first job. “I was pregnant in 2021, I also got fired from he sits with her materials, my job again, and then I said, you know crocheting, or as many what, I should turn this thing G u y a n e s e w o u l d s a y, {crocheting} into a business”, she “knitting” the threads of her newest explained. product together. Sometimes you may Turned to social media see Ranette Simpson sitting in a popular Simpson said as she continued to eatery, twirling her fingers over her make her designs, she decided to utilize hooks and yarns as she sews a new social media to market her products. outfit.

She created Facebook, Instagram and Such was the first encounter the Tik-Tok accounts and she also Waterfalls Magazine had with advertised her products on Facebook Simpson, a mother of two and Marketplace. budding crotchet entrepreneur. At She said her business kicked-off the time, she sat inside the Demico and her customer base, which House snackette downtown, sewing comprised of mainly females at the her threads as she killed time one time, grew. afternoon last week. “That would be Simpson designs a variety of lovely,” Ranette exclaimed when outfits. She designs gowns, evening asked if she would like to be featured dresses, beachwear, baby outfits in the Waterfalls Magazine this including baby hats, hats for men, weekend. ruffle hats for ladies, bags, among According to the ambitious other items. “Crochet in so many young woman, she deems herself an forms, it is beyond the imagination,” “exclusive” crotchet designer. She she said of the various styles she said she always had a “like” for masters. designing. “I always wanted to Some of her most sought-after crochet,” she said. products are the evening gowns.

Back in Fourth Form Simpson said she took part in a Miss It all started one day when she East Bank Demearra pageant and was in the fourth form of secondary according to her, for the evening wear school during a free period. At the segment of the pageant, she donned time, Simpson said she gazed in one of her own, handmade evening amazement as her friend sewed gowns. The outfit was a hit and people together a centre piece fabric for a were calling her frequently, requesting table. “Knowing that I always wanted to learn to do this, I took that Ranette Simpson takes a break from crocheting various styles of gowns.

To master her skills, she said she opportunity that day to learn a few watches hours upon hours of YouTube things from her,” she said.

Noting that she was very attentive later, she was laid off from her job. “I videos. “So that is how I have learnt a that day as her friend demonstrated the was fired I should say,” she said. But lot, especially the name of the stitches, sewing process to her, Simpson said she Simpson took that opportunity to follow the name of the hooks, the yarns as well. tried to catch on quickly. However, she her heart. “So, I took that time, and I I did not know these things until I started said she wasn’t getting it right at the would crochet baby dresses, I did following the videos,” she said.’

She said it may be challenging when time. “Mind you only that day alone she blankets and in that same year my father showed me, and I went home and I asked me to crochet some bathing suits. a customer makes a request. “Customers practiced,” she said. But she grew I practiced and they came out nice,” she may see something online and they would send it to me. Remember I want frustrated that she was not mastering the said.

Simpson said in 2021, she lost her Continued on page 30 art of sewing the threads at the time.

By Alva Solomon

S

Simpson said her beachwear outfits are a hit

“I still wanted to learn the skill. I still felt like, I had a love for it,” she said. But the love was still there. Whenever she passed crochet items, Simpson’s heartbeat increased because she knew she had a hunger for mastering the art of crocheting.

Fired from the job She recalled that at age 19, she became pregnant with her first child and

A model on the catwalk wearing one of Simpson’s designs

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Sunday January 14, 2024

Young mom turns her love for...

From page 29 the job and I may not know the direct pattern, but I try my best to give them what they want,” she said.

S i m p s o n s a i d crocheting, “is something very technical. It is done by hand, everybody uses different stitches, not all time you may be able to look at a photograph and know what stitch is being used and sometimes your final product turns out different from that in the photograph. So, you have to

loosen it out and start all over again.”

With a smile, she said “crocheting is not for the weak.”

It can be done anywhere Simpson said one of the many reasons she loves crocheting is that it can be done anywhere. “You can be travelling in a vehicle, and you can do your crochet, you could be sitting in the mall, anywhere. You just take along your hook and your yarn and you sit and crochet,” she said.

The young woman noted that on occasions when she has projects to complete and she isn’t finished, she would take her materials along with her, board the bus and since she lives on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, she utilises the one-hour drive to the city to complete her designs. She said crocheting is also “very relaxing.”

“It can relax the mind, because when you are crocheting you have to focus on what you are doing,

especially when you are working with patterns because your mind cannot be anywhere else.”

To this end, she said if one makes a mistake, “you have to loose it out and there is this excitement in seeing your finished project.” She also loves the fact that “crocheting is such a colourful art. You can use so many colours.”

Simpson said as time goes by, she is learning to make new styles and designs, and she plans to

A model wears a hat woven by Simpson

expand her business in the months ahead. “I just love to crochet,” she said with a smile.

Besides crocheting, Simpson also has a knack for learning and trying new things. “I love to learn new things, I love cooking, I love baking, I also have a love for sewing with the machine but not as much as crocheting,” she said with her symbolic

smile.

The ambitious Simpson defines herself as resilient, ambitious, and courageous.

Anyone who is interested in Simpson’s designs can contact her and view her products on Facebook Stancolacrochet, on Instagram at stancolacrochetgy, and on T i k - T o k a s Stancolacrochetgy.

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 14, 2024

Ariana Grande addresses relationship scrutiny in new single

Singer, Ariana Grande

TMZ.com - Ariana Grande has been the focus of a lot of gossip as it pertains to her romantic relationships lately — something she tackles head on in her new single ... in raunchy terms.

The pop star dropped her new single, ‘Yes, And?,’ Friday ... and it’s stirring up buzz for many reasons — but one of the biggest takeaways fans are noticing right away is the fact that she addresses all the scrutiny over her split with Dalton Gomez/hookup with Ethan Slater.The lyrics kinda speak for themselves here ... AG sings this during the bridge, “My face is sitting, I don’t need no

disguise…Don’t comment on my body, do not reply Your business is yours and mine is mine Why do you care so much whose d**k I ride?” The chorus is also telling in terms of how she deals with all the noise aimed her way, with her crooning ... “‘Yes, and?’ Say that shit with your chest, and Be your own fuckin’ best friend …Say that shit with your chest …Keep moving like, “What’s next?’”

Of course, her words here reflect what’s been a whirlwind romance for her and her new Broadway boyfriend — which dovetailed with her divorce

to Dalton ... all of which came together somewhat messily last year. Despite that, AG’s apparently tuning out the haters.

Now, the track itself is quite solid — an upbeat dance-friendly, ’90s-esque bop ... and it’s certainly a good introduction into her solo comeback ahead of her new album dropping.

However, even on the musical front ... there are some heads turning over what some think is a familiar sound here — namely, the fact that the beat feels very ‘Vogue’-coded, if not a

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Dancehall Artiste Aidonia welcomes 2nd child with his wife

A picture shared via the singer’s instragram

rendition of it. As far as we can tell, Ari didn’t sample Madonna ... but damn, it is similar.

Anyway, it’s just a footnote of analysis of the song — by and large, everyone is digging it.

It’ll be interesting to see if other tracks of hers on this project touch on the Dalton/Ethan drama any further. Ya gotta imagine she’ll open up about it more ... she’s usually quite honest in her art, and she hasn’t shied away from namedropping exes in old songs either.

Dancehall artiste, Aidonia and wife Kimberly Megan recently welcomed their second child together.

Aidonia during his performance at Yush in December announced that his wife had given birth on December 18.

The artiste shared the heartwarming photo of himself smiling, while he is holding his almost month-old son swaddled in a blanket.

Aidonia in late December announced that he would be taking a break from recording music for a few months to focus on his family.

The couple tragically lost their first son Khalif Lawrence, in December 2022, after a three-year battle with cancer.

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Your health Matters

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): It may be the cause of your discomfort

By Dr. Zulfikar Bux, Emergency Medicine Specialist I am back! It’s been a little over a year since I did my last health column.

Unfortunately, life threw me some curveballs which made it challenging for me to continue to share weekly health developments with you.

However, I could not continue to ignore the many requests, so here I am today, resuming my weekly health column with the hope of sharing information that will impact your health and life in a positive way.

Today, I wish to discuss Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS); a condition which is often undiagnosed and causes discomfort for many.

IBS affects approximately 1 1 % o f t h e Wo r l d ’s population but only about 30% of persons having symptoms, will consult with a physician for their symptoms. Often, those affected will go years with pains and discomfort which cannot be diagnosed by testing. Patients sometimes go from physician to physician but cannot find the help they need. Data has shown that persons diagnosed with IBS are highly likely to have other functional diseases and have more surgery than the general population.

However, with dietary and lifestyle changes, life with IBS can be more fruitful and comfortable.

What causes IBS? Science has not been able to determine exactly what causes IBS. It may have something to do with over activity of part or parts of the gut within the digestive system. The cause of overactivity in parts of the gut is not clear. One or more of the following may play a part: * Overactivity of the nerves or muscles of the gut. It is not known why this may occur. It may have something to do with overactivity of messages sent from the nervous system to the gut. Stress or emotional upset may play a role. About half of people with IBS can relate the start of symptoms to a stressful event in their lives.

Symptoms tend to become

worse during times of stress, depression and anxiety. * Intolerance to certain foods may play a part in some cases. Foods such as dairy, wheat and those termed High FODMAP play a great role in this. * Infection and germs in the gut. IBS is not caused by an ongoing gut infection.

However, in some cases, the onset of symptoms seems to follow a bout of a gut infection with diarrhea and vomiting called gastroenteritis. So, perhaps a germ may sensitize or trigger

months, and at least two of the following are true: * The pain is relieved by having a bowel movement. * The pain is linked to a change in how often you have a bowel movement. * The pain is linked to a change in the look or texture of your stool.

Because there are no structural problems in the intestines of people who have IBS, some people may think this means that the symptoms “are all in their head.” This isn’t true. The pain, discomfort, and

the gut in some way to cause persisting symptoms of IBS. * Oversensitivity to pain. Persons with IBS feel more pain when their gut is expanded than those without IBS. They may have a lower threshold for experiencing pain from the gut. * Gut Microbiome. In recent years there has been increasing interest in the links between the gut microbiome, the brain and IBS. The microbiome is the combination of bacteria and viruses that are found in the gut. Patients with IBS have a different microbiome pattern to those without IBS. What are symptoms of IBS? The main symptoms of IBS are abdominal pain with constipation or diarrhea along with any of the following associated symptoms: * Changes in bowel movement patterns. * Bloating and excess gas. * Lower abdominal pains. * Mucus in stools. * Body pains and fatigue. * Heartburn.

You are more likely to have IBS if you have these symptoms and they have lasted at least 6 months, you have had belly pain at least 3 days each month for at least 3

bloating are real.

How can IBS be managed?

IBS can be successfully managed with treatments which are tailored to the individual; since the IBS trigger varies according to the individual. Your doctor will often recommend identifying and avoiding triggers. Treatment options may include: * An increase in dietary fiber, together with clear fluids * Moderating common gas-producing foods, or undertaking a diet with a trained dietician, such as a low “FODMAP” diet and avoiding dairy and wheat as much as possible. * Anti- Diarrhea medication, such as loperamide – for those with diarrhea-predominant IBS * Laxatives for constipation for those with constipation-predominant IBS * Antispasmodic drugs, which may ease cramping – examples include mebeverine, hyoscine and peppermint oil or tea. * T r i c y c l i c antidepressants – These are effective in treating pain, bloating and bowel frequency in IBS. Use of these medications does not mean that IBS is caused by

depression or anxiety. * Psychological therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy administered by psychologists. * Behavioral and pelvic floor therapies. Often symptoms of IBS can be caused by inability to

effectively defecate, trained pelvic floor physiotherapists can treat this effectively. * Probiotics - There are some advocates that recommend the use of probiotic rich foods or supplements to help balance the gut microbiome in some IBS patients.

If you are one of the many that experience these unexplained symptoms, ask your doctor about IBS. Life with IBS is confusing and discomforting, but with careful planning and lifestyle adjustments, a normal and healthy life is very achievable.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday January 14, 2024

Sunday January 14, 2024

Kaieteur News

PAGE 35

Kaieteur News

PAGE 36

The Pied Piper of Hamelin BY JOHN D. BATTEN A piper is forced to take revenge when some villagers break a promise.

Hamelin is a sleepy little town upon the Solent shore.

Sleepy as it is now, it was once noisy enough, and what made the noise was—rats.

The place was so infested with them as to be scarce

worth living in. There wasn't a barn or a corn-rick, a storeroom or a cupboard, but they ate their way into it. Not a cheese but they gnawed it h o l l o w, n o t a s u g a r puncheon but they cleared out. Why the very mead and beer in the barrels was not safe from them. They'd gnaw a hole in the top of a wine cask, and down would go one master rat's tail, and when he brought it up round would crowd all the friends and cousins, and each would have a suck at the tail. Had they stopped here it might have been bearable. But the squeaking and shrieking, the hurrying and scurrying, so that you could neither hear

yourself speak nor get a wink of good honest sleep the livelong night! Not to mention that, Mamma must needs sit up, and keep watch and ward over baby's cradle, or there'd have been a big ugly rat running across the poor little fellow's face, and doing who knows what mischief.

Why didn't the good people of the town have cats? Well they did, and there was a fair stand-up fight, but in the end the rats were too many, and the pussies were regularly driven from the field. Poison, I hear you say?

Why, they poisoned so many that it fairly bred a plague.

Ratcatchers! Why there wasn't a ratcatcher from John o' Groat's house to the Land's End that hadn't tried his luck. But do what they might, cats or poison, terrier or traps, there seemed to be more rats than ever, and every day a fresh rat was cocking his tail or pricking his whiskers.

The Mayor and the town

Junior page

council were at their wits' end. As they were sitting one day in the town hall racking their poor brains, and bewailing their hard fate, This Quilled Hot Air who should run in but the Balloon Craft is perfect for town beadle.

“Please your Honour,” kids young and old! Brilliant says he, “here is a very queer for exercising fine motor fellow come to town. I don't skills and encouraging creativity.

Materials:1. Quilling Papers.2. Quilling tool.3.

Craft papers.4. Glue.5.

C a r d s t o c k p a p e r. 6 .

Scissors.7. Pencil.

Instructions Step 1: Take a quilling strip of your desired colour.

The length of the strip depends on the size of the hot air balloon's heart shape. The strip I used is 5 inches long.

Step 2: Use the quilling tool to roll the strip into a quilled coil.

Make sure the coil is tight.

Step 3: Similarly, make more colourful coils.

Step 4: Cut out the heart shape using the template.

Step 5: Start gluing the quilled coils on the border of rightly know what to make the heart shape.

Step 6: Glue quilled coils of him.”

“Show him in,” said the all around the heart's border.

Step 7: Now make two Mayor, and in he stepped.

A queer fellow, truly. For loose coils and glue them there wasn't a colour of the inside the heart shape. rainbow but you might find it in some corner of his dress, and he was tall and thin, and had keen piercing eyes.

“I'm called the Pied Piper,” he began. “And pray what might you be willing to pay me, if I rid you of every single rat in Hamelin?”

Well, much as they feared the rats, they feared parting with their money more, and they would have higgled and haggled.

See in next edition on Sunday

FUN WITH POETRY

I love to go to school

By Uncle Roy There was a time I was not so sure If school was the place for me, But now I know, apart from home, There is nowhere I'd rather be.

The many friends I meet each day, All help to make me happy; We talk and play and have so much fun, On leaving each day I feel sorry.

Our teachers are so kind and keen, As they help to make me learn; I know I have to work some more To do my best in turn.

I feel so good about going to school, I know I will pass the test; When the time comes when I have to leave, It will help me to become my best.

Sunday January 14, 2024

Quilled Hot Air Balloon Craft

Step 8: Fill up the heart shape by gluing one more loose coil inside the heart.

Step 9: Cut out the hot air balloon's basket from the template.

Make a brown (the basket's colour) loose coil and glue it on the top corner of the basket.

Step 10: Fill up the basket with more brown loose coils.

Step 11: First, prepare your card. Then glue the quilted heart on the top side

of the card.

Step 12: Then leave a 3centimetre gap and then glue the basket on the bottom side of the card.

Step 13: Take a black (or any coloured) quilling strip and glue it on the side of the heart to the side of the basket.

Step 14: Similarly, glue two more strips, one on the middle and one on the other side. That's it, you have your completed Quilled Hot Air Balloon Craft.

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 14, 2024

PAGE 37

TEEN TIME Continue with this effort to improve yourself in this New Year in each of your personal qualities Try to improve your work in some way every single day, even in the smallest manner. Little by little this will show great progress over time.

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

Eat the right foods, so that your body is properly nourished with all it requires to grow and perform its functions more efficiently. Teenagers tend to like fatty foods, which add unnecessary weight to your body, block proper digestion and retard brain function.

SOCIAL Act in such a way as to be an example to those who may be looking up to you. I am sure you can identify younger persons in your

Achieve your Dreams with Passion You are the driver of your destiny, Passenger of none, In control and looking forward To things that must be done.

You are the captain of your ship, Destination you must control, Plans to help you get there, And the passion to bring you home.

You are the pilot of your airplane; Fly as high as you want.

The flight is what you make it, So follow your preconceived plan.

Hopes and dreams are yours to decide, Motivation to help on the way.

A journey you are passionate about, Moving forward each day.

Direction is always forward; Backwards only to learn.

Discover your authentic self, And work for your goals to earn.

family and neighbourhood, and some related to you or your friends who are looking to you for some guidance. If in no other

way, you can just be an example in proper behaviour to them, and this can go a long way in helping them, as well as get to add more value to your own life.

Smile at strangers, be polite to everyone, respect your elders and generally develop a cheerful disposition. You can never tell when someone you meet on the street will have to help you in some way at some later time. Even without this, courtesy and a happy attitude will get you liked by everyone and make you develop a good mood always.

SPIRITUAL Try to do the right thing always, even though it may mean some cost to you.

Knowing you take pains to follow your conscience will make you feel worthy, and inspire you to do the same always. You may not always see immediate results when you push yourself to act right, but be sure that whenever you follow your conscience good will follow at some time. Whether you practise a religion or not, remember that you can do much more with the help of God. Take some time for prayer every day, and your life will become more fulfilled and productive.

Remember each week to read, and maybe discuss with others, the various ways we will be proposing to keep you improving yourself.

Enhance each quality given.

Develop talents with which you were blessed, Transform your heart into one of gold, And try always to do your best.

For every earnest start there is a finish.

Do not give up as you move day by day; Keep moving passionately to fulfil your dreams, And success will certainly come your way.

Continuous self-improvement will ensure that you get the most from your life.

Solutions to last week’s

Back to School

Ripple Puzzles

T

he heavy lines indicate areas called cages. Fill each cage with unique digits, counting up from 1.

For example, a 1-cell cage must contain the number 1, a 2-cell cage contains 1 and 2, a 5-cell cage contains 1 through 5, and so on.

These numbers may appear in any order within the cage.

If two identical numbers appear in the same row or column, at least that many cells must separate them.

For example, if two 3s appear in the same column, they must be separated by at least three other cells that do not contain 3.

Slitherlink

PAGE 38

6 Benefits of Oil Pulling This article looks at some of the science-backed benefits of oil pulling and then explains how to do it in order to maximize its effectiveness.

1. Can reduce harmful bacteria in your mouth There are approximately 700 types of bacteria that can live in your mouth, and up to 350 of them may be found in your mouth at any given time.

Certain types of harmful bacteria can contribute to problems like tooth decay, bad breath, and gum disease .

Several studies have shown that oil pulling could help reduce the number of harmful bacteria in the mouth.

In one study, 75 adolescents either used an antibacterial mouthwash or did oil pulling with sesame oil daily.

After 15 days, both the mouthwash and oil pulling significantly reduced the number of harmful bacteria found in the saliva and plaque .

Another study found similar results. It had 60 participants rinse their mouths using either mouthwash, water, or coconut oil for 2 weeks. Both mouthwash and coconut oil were found to reduce the number of bacteria found in saliva.

Decreasing the number of bacteria in the mouth can help support proper oral hygiene and prevent some conditions.

2. Could help reduce bad breath Halitosis, also known as bad breath, is a condition that affects an estimated 50% of the population .

There are many potential causes of bad breath.

Some of the most common include infection, gum disease, poor oral hygiene, and tongue coating, which is when bacteria become trapped on the tongue (9).

Treatment typically includes the removal of the bacteria, either through brushing or by using an antiseptic mouthwash like chlorhexidine.

Interestingly, one 2011 study found that oil pulling was as effective as chlorhexidine at reducing bad breath.

In the study, 20 children rinsed with either chlorhexidine or sesame oil, both of which caused a significant decrease in levels of the microorganisms known to contribute to bad breath .

Though more research is needed, oil pulling may be used as a natural alternative to reduce bad breath and could be as effective as traditional treatments.

3. May help prevent cavities Cavities are a common problem that stems from tooth decay.

Poor oral hygiene, eating too much sugar, and a buildup of bacteria can all cause tooth decay, which leads to the formation of holes in the teeth known as cavities .

Plaque can also cause cavities. Plaque forms a coating on teeth and is comprised of bacteria, saliva, and food particles. The bacteria begin to break down the food particles, forming an acid that destroys tooth enamel and causes tooth decay .

Several studies have found that oil pulling can help reduce the number of bacteria in the mouth, preventing tooth decay.

4. Seems to reduce inflammation and improve gum health Gingivitis is a type of gum disease marked by red, swollen gums that bleed easily.

The bacteria found in plaque are a major cause of gingivitis, as they can cause bleeding and inflammation in the gums .

Fortunately, oil pulling may be an effective remedy to improve gum health and reduce inflammation.

While more evidence is needed, these findings suggest that oil pulling may be an effective supplementary treatment to prevent plaque formation and promote healthy gums.

5. May have other benefits Although proponents of oil pulling claim that it may benefit a wide variety of other conditions not mentioned above, research on the benefits of oil pulling is limited.

That said, the anti-inflammatory effects of oil pulling may have a beneficial effect on certain conditions linked to inflammation.

Furthermore, there is anecdotal evidence that oil pulling could be a natural way to whiten your teeth.

6. Cheap and easy to add to your routine Two of the biggest benefits to oil pulling are how simple it is to do and how easily it can be incorporated into your daily regimen.

Additionally, it requires just one ingredient that can be found right in your kitchen, so there's no need to buy anything.

Traditionally, sesame oil has been used for oil pulling, but other types of oil can be used as well. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-benefits-of-oilpulling#bottom-line

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 14, 2024

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 14, 2024

PAGE 39

Business owner, Holly Yumelle Daniels

Yum Elle: Holly Daniels' culinary dream blossoms

By Renay Sambach

H

o l l y ‘ Yu m e l l e ’ Daniels, the visionary behind Yum Elle’s Kitchen traces her culinary aspirations back to her childhood.

During an interview with The Waterfalls, Holly shared that despite life’s ‘twists and turns’ her passion for cooking remained unwavering.

“My friends from childhood can attest to this, I have always professed to them that one day I would like to have my own restaurant, but you know, life happens, and you get older, you have a family, and that dream seems far-fetched.”

Holly started a career as a receptionist and, after a few years, earned a promotion to the role of supervisor. However, she was asked by one of her children’s teacher to make pastries for a school event.

This rekindled her love for the kitchen. Encouraged by positive feedback and a growing demand for her delectable creations, Holly took a leap of faith, resigning from her job to pursue her culinary dreams.

Since then, Yum Elle’s Kitchen, a culinary haven has been enchanting taste buds for the past five years.

What began as a modest Friday night offering of black and white pudding in her West Ruimveldt community soon blossomed into a weekend tradition and, eventually, a full-

fledged culinary venture.

Holly expanded its menu to include an array of mouthwatering dishes like fish and chips, cakes, cheese straws, and pastries, garnering a loyal customer base.

Yum Elle’s Kitchen boasts a diverse menu, featuring traditional pastries, patterned cake rolls, fruit tarts, croissant sandwiches, and much more.

“My mother, Rose Daniels, played a huge role in this as she was able to help me secure those items without any hassle. What at first felt like a mountain soon became something I could climb because of the community and support I have been offered along the way; there were so many helping hands that I am grateful for.”

E v e r y e n t r e p r e n e u r ’s journey has its peaks and valleys, and Holly is no exception. Reflecting on her journey, Holly talked about the perpetual learning curve of entrepreneurship. While she cherishes the positive moments, she acknowledges the challenges.

“I cannot afford to be complacent or think that I know everything because I am a student of life and having a business teaches me so much about life, about myself, how to tend to my customers, creating values and principles I want to serve and cater to everyone with, acknowledging when I am at capacity but above all else, having the confidence in myself and what I do and trusting God

to always give me the strength to conquer each day.”

She shared that it’s her clientele support and collaborations with fellow entrepreneurs that keep her inspired.

“When I first got into making cakes, it took me a while to find my own rhythm as I am a self-taught baker and cake designer. I made a few mistakes at first before getting it right.”

Since then, Holly has even had the privilege of creating a cake for the Honorable Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson.

Holly’s long-term goal involves giving Yum Elle’s Kitchen a physical space of its own – a restaurant where patrons can savor her culinary creations in a relaxing atmosphere. She envisions creating a space where her customers can unwind after a long day or enjoy a delightful break from the office.

Yu m E l l e ’s K i t c h e n encapsulates more than just a culinary adventure; it represents the triumph of passion, determination, and the pursuit of one’s dreams.

Holly was born and raised in Georgetown, Guyana. She is a mother of two beautiful girls, who not only pursued her culinary dream but also her passion for technology, which led to her acquiring a computer science course. She also received training in business management.

For those eager to indulge in Yum Elle’s culinary delights, Holly’s business is located at 530 West Ruimveldt Hibiscus Place.

Operating hours are from Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Saturdays from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm.

You can connect with Holly through social media on Instagram (@yum_elles_kitche n) and Facebook ( Yu m E l l e s Kitchen), or reach out via email at yumelleskitchen@g mail.com. Contact Holly directly at (592) 618-0152.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday January 14, 2024

neur

pre Young Entre

A haven for book lovers “I believe young entrepreneurs do play a vital role in our society and have the ability and platforms to turn their diverse, vibrant ideas into reality, which can not only contribute to their own personal growth, but also the growth of our country.”

Young Entrepreneur, Samantha Stanwick

By Allyiah Allicock

Some of the books you can find on the shelves of ‘The Book Barn’.

I

f you are the one that tend to get lost in the pages of a good book, then ‘The Book Barn’ ‘is just the place for you.

Featuring various genres of books such as romance, self-help, thrillers, fantasy, etc., The ‘Book Barn’ is a business which started during the midst of the pandemic, back in November 2021. It is pioneered by Samantha Stanwick, a young woman who hails from the county of Berbice. Stanwick, a young entrepreneur is also a social worker by profession, and a parttime lecturer.

In a recent exclusive interview with this magazine, Stanwick said her bookstore started off as a way to make in-demand books accessible and affordable to the local population. “As, at the time it was difficult to access such books in a timely manner, especially in Berbice, where I hail from,” she added.

She related initially the business commenced as an online bookstore, but has since grown and items are now available at two physical locations, being Zim and Mo’s Investment which is located in New Amsterdam, Berbice and at Collage which is located on Sheriff Street, Georgetown.

In addition to having books readily available to purchase, she disclosed that the business also sells accessories such as pens, bookmarks, bookshelf decor and other related items. Customers also have the option to order books through the business that are not currently in stock, she related. It should be noted that the bookstore caters for both adults and children.

The ‘Book Barn’ which just recently passed its two-year mark in November has been thriving from the tremendous support it

received over the months. According to the young woman, her family and friends have played a huge role in supporting and promoting the business. “We have also received tremendous support from other small businesses such as Beauty District 101, Artsycraft, Crafty Guy Gy, etc, and the collaborative spaces we share, being Collage and Zim and Mo’s Investment, who have played a vital role in assisting our business to grow,” she mentioned.

Stanwick shared too that having took part in locally organized popup shops and annual events such as Monster Mash and the Berbice Expo and Trade Fair the support and feedback has been instrumental in the growth of the business.

Apart from the support, she mentioned that the business had its hurdles along the way. She recalled one of the main challenges that the business faced in the beginning was getting products delivered to persons out of Region Six at an affordable cost. “However, thanks to collaborative spaces such as Collage, this problem was alleviated and persons were now able to access items more conveniently in and around Georgetown,” she stated.

“We still currently face some challenges getting items to customers out of regions 4, 5 and 6, however, those are being worked on and we hope to have strongholds in the other regions in the near future,” she added.

When asked if the pandemic at the time affected her operations, Stanwick commented that it actually had a positive impact on the business, as people were more interested in accessing products online, and many people now had the time on their hands to participate in leisure activities such as reading.

Ready to conquer the challenges that may arise with her business, the entrepreneur said moving forward it is her dream that ‘The Book Barn’ evolves into having a physical location of its own and becomes one of those businesses that are easily recognizable and popular amongst households.

Stanwick who is already making a meaningful impact in society through her business, said that young entrepreneurs are vital since they too contribute to the growth of our country. “I believe young entrepreneurs do play a vital role in our society and have the ability and platforms to turn their diverse, vibrant ideas into reality, which can not only contribute to their own personal growth, but also the growth of our country,” she said.

She is of the view also that there are many things that can be done to boost or promote small businesses locally. She related that making events more accessible and feasible for small businesses to take part in and promote their product, and making funding for startup business more attainable can help small businesses to grow.

If interested in the product, ‘The Book Barn’, you can contact them through their online platforms using the handle thebookbarn.gy on Instagram or The Book Barn - Guyana on Facebook. Persons can also access their products at Zim and Mo’s Investment - located at Strand, New Amsterdam (Opposite J’s Supermarket on the waterside) or at Collage - located at Lot 50 Sheriff Street, Campbellville (Between Duncan and Williams street).

You can also contact directly or on WhatsApp through telephone number (592) 666-9542.

Sunday January 14, 2024

Kaieteur News

PAGE 41

Stopping all mining at Chinese Landing is Govt.’s way of punishing the Indigenous people for speaking out - Former Opposition MP A shot of the mining grounds in dispute.

Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai

Former Opposition MP, Mervin Williams

By Shervin Belgrave Former APNU+AFC Member of Parliament(MP) and Advisor to the then Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Mervin Williams believes that the current government’s move to stop all mining at Chinese Landing, Barama River, Region One is a move to punish the indigenous people who occupy the area for speaking out.

“That is vindictive. That is deliberate in its vindictiveness it’s the kind of action that seeks to punish the entire village of Chinese landing… “, Williams told Kaieteur News in response to recent claims made by the Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai at a press conference held last Tuesday.

Sukhai said that the Government stopped all mining activities in the Amerindian village because its people complained to the I n t e r- A m e r i c a n Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).

According to Sukhai, the Chinese Landing Residents were the ones who asked the human rights body for mining to stop because it was affecting them and all the government did was comply.

“…the government has addressed all the conditions that the IACHR has listed including the call [for mining to stop] by the Village Council who has allegedly took this matter to the IACHR for redress. The government adhered in the call to stop all mining,” Sukhai said after a reporter asked her for an update on the “Chinese Landing Fiasco.”

However, Williams said that Sukhai’s claim is totally false. “The petition to IACHR contrary to what Pauline Sukhai is suggesting never asked for the cessation of mining totally in Chinese Landing,” he told Kaieteur News while pointing to a section of the petition to the IACHR which states that, “…it says that the village is asking for the suspension… I am quoting here… the suspension of all mining activities in Tassawini until the land rights of Chinese Landing Village are finally determined and until a participatory environmental and social Impact Assessment described above is completed.”

Williams explained that requests were made for mining to cease in Tassawini alone and across the entire village. Further, he noted

that when the government stopped all mining- the main source of income of the indigenous people- did not outline a plan for alternative means of income for the residents of Chinese Landing.

Sukhai indirectly pointed fingers at the Amerindian Peoples’ Association (APA), the organisation that represented the villagers in their petition to the IACHR. “I have been warning advocates of Amerindians don’t ever make complaints to stop mining in Amerindian areas because Amerindians also thrive on mining, unless you have an alternative to offer them as an economic significant venture,” Sukhai said while hinting that the Village Council has the power in its hands to have the ban on mining lifted. “ … S o t h e Vi l l a g e Council can change that if they need,” the Minister told reporters but did not say if Tassawini will be returned to the people of Chinese Landing.

Sukhai reminded that though the Village Council can approve mining, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) is the only legal authority that can grant the mining licenses.

GGMC had granted the mining licenses for Tassawini to an individual identified as Mr. M.V and the indigenous people objected and this resulted in the village and government being at loggerheads for a number of years now over who has the rights to mining

lands.

The Chinese Landing residents in previous interviews iterated that Tassawini is critical to their livelihood and that Mr. M.V has prevented them from working and hunting on their

title lands by force.

They alleged that they received death threats and were assaulted. There were also claims of sexual assault and harassment.

Vi c e P r e s i d e n t , D r Bharrat Jagdeo at a past

press conference explained that a recent court ruling on the same land issue had established that although the indigenous people own the lands, they do not own the minerals found within them.

Oil and gas is a catalyst for Guyana’s development – President Ali

President Mohamed Irfaan Ali

P

r e s i d e n t D r.

Mohamed Irfaan Ali on Saturday said that the country’s oil and gas sector is a catalyst for its development. He was at the time speaking at the commissioning ceremony of a wharf facility for GAICO at Nismes on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD). “…Guyana is not about oil and gas, oil and gas is the catalyst through which we will expand other aspects and segments of our economy to be strong, resilient and sustainable”,

stated Ali in response to criticisms that his New Year’s Day message did not speak to the oil sector.

“When one analyze the President’s New Year’s speech and say the president missed oil and gas that assures me that my speech was understood,” Ali said before explaining how his government will make use of the country’s oil and gas sector.

The Head of State said the government will use the industry to help develop Guyana’s infrastructure with

highways, parks and various facilities and also to boost the country’s manufacturing capabilities.

“You will then have the opportunity to select from new roads, depending on where you want to go, you will have the gas to shore facility, you will have a manufacturing and industrial hub here in Wales, this development zone,” Ali listed among other aspects of development.

K a i e t e u r N e w s ’s Publisher Glenn Lall in one of his Tik Tok videos captioned “President Ali’s New Year Message” said that Ali had failed to mention anything about Guyana’s oil and gas sector.

Lall said, “He pledged to improve the lives of all citizens by getting more money from rice, sugar, aquaculture and food production in 2024 but said nothing, absolutely nothing about this US trillion dollar oil, gold, timber and other resources we have in this country.”

Kaieteur News

PAGE 42

Sunday January 14, 2024

$38M retrofitted NICU commissioned at Suddie Hospital The upgraded Aurora Health Post on the Essequibo Coast.

(Photo courtesy, Ministry of Health)

The $38M expansion of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) has been completed and was on Friday commissioned by Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony.

The expansion of the NICU means that the hospital will no longer have a three-bed NICU but a 10-bed unit.

The NICU is said to be fully equipped with backup oxygen lines and modern equipment including paediatric and neonate ventilators, infusion (IV) pumps, incubators and radiant warmers.

At the brief commissioning ceremony, Minister Anthony stated that the expansion to this NICU forms part of a US$500,000 extended project to all regional hospitals that will soon undergo upgrades to their NICU facility. He stated that this expansion will help save a number of premature infants and provide quality care to infants in all regions of Guyana.

Kaieteur News understands that last year, some 1000 babies were delivered in Region Two, of which 86 were admitted to the NICU for specialised care and treatment.

At his Ministry’s year-end

press conference in December, Dr Anthony said that in 2023 six neonatal units at six regional hospitals across the country were upgraded and equipped.

Meanwhile, during his visit in the region, the minister also stopped at Aurora Village where he commissioned the newly renovated Health Post.

According to the ministry, the one-flat building which has been out of commission for over five years was renovated at approximately $5.4 million.

The fully staffed and equipped health facility will now provide maternal and child health, antenatal, outpatient and chronic disease services to residents in the community.

It was reported that the Health Ministry in 2023 expended approximately $2 billion to upgrade 271 health facilities including staff quarters across the country.

Commissioning the newly expanded Unit on Friday was Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony. Minister and his team along with Regional officials were on the Essequibo Coast on Friday visiting several projects ongoing and undertaken in the health sector.

The newly expanded and retrofitted $38 million Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Suddie Hospital.

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 14, 2024

PAGE 43

GNBS IN FOCUS

ENSURING MEASUREMENT ACCURACY – GNBS TO CONTINUE ROUTINE VERIFICATION OF INSTRUMENTS IN 2024 I

n the realm of measurements, precision and reliability are paramount.

Whether in research, industrial processes or everyday life, accurate measurements form the bedrock of informed decision-making and quality assurance.

The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) plays a crucial role in regulating measurements in trade by regularly conducting routine verification and monitoring of instruments. Over33,000 measuring instruments were verified last year and with the expansion in commerce more will be done in 2024.

In the coming week, the Bureau will commence the mobile verification of all weighing and measuring instruments used at markets and shops countrywide. The verification of these instruments prevents

consumers from receiving inaccurate measurements for items they purchase.

The GNBS conducts mobile verification every six months (twice yearly).

By virtue of the 1981 Weights & Measures Act, the GNBS is mandated to verify all scales, masses, measures, storage tanks, flow meters, measuring rules, electricity meters, petrol pumps and all other measuring instruments used in commerce.

With the commencement of verification of these instruments, consumers are being urged to check for the GNBS approval seals when making purchases. For easy determination, the GNBS affixes an approval seal to any measuring instrument it has verified. For verified masses and measures used in retail, these are stamped G.N.B.S. The GNBS’ commitment to ensuring measurement accuracy is vital, not just

because it instills confidence in buyers and suppliers, but also because it contributes to the overall reliability of transactions.

Accurate measurements are the cornerstone of countries industries, positively impacting areas such as manufacturing, healthcare, environmental monitoring, and trade.

O n t h e c o n t r a r y, inaccurate measurements can lead to sub-optimal processes, compromised product quality, and even safety hazards. Recognizing this, the GNBS takes proactive measures to guarantee the precision of measuring instruments through routine verifications by trained inspectors using calibrated working standards.

The GNBS will continue to utilize its mobile stamping bus to conduct the verification of measuring instruments at key markets

and other publicized locations. The mobile approach enhances efficiency in the delivery of verification services by allowing for minimal interruption in business transactions of users of measuring instruments while maintaining an environment conducive for inspectors to conduct verification.

Verification commences on Tuesday, January 16 at the Stabroek Market, Georgetown followed by the Bourda and Kitty Markets later in the week.

Advertisements indicating the schedule for mobile stamping are being published in local newspapers, on radio, television and on the GNBS Facebook page.

Ve n d o r s a n d shopkeepers and other users of weighing and measuring instruments are urged to submit their instruments for verification. Instruments can

also be submitted for verification at the GNBS Head Office, Sophia and the various sub-offices.

I m p o r t a n t l y, a l l instruments must be fully metric and must be very well painted, clean, sprayed if

necessary, and in good condition before stamping.

F o r f u r t h e r information, please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0064, 2190069 or our WhatsApp number: 692-4627 (GNBS).

PAGE 44

From page 14 Housing Scheme. As they approached the Ruimveldt Police Station the bus crashed into the Honda Vezel which, according to police flipped its way into their path.

Police said, “Preliminary investigation revealed that motorcar PAD 2018 (the Honda Vezel) was proceeding south on the eastern lane of the Ruimveldt Public Road, allegedly at a fast rate of speed.”

Police continued that while in the vicinity of ‘Top Point Store’, the driver of the car, Seecharran, “came into contact with a pile of sand on the eastern side of the road” while “negotiating a slight bend”. His car then crashed into a bridge and flipped several times before finally landing in the path of the couple’s minibus which was heading in the opposite direction.

Rawle Mckenzie, the driver of the bus, could not slow down and ended up crashing into the already mangled car. The aftermath, according to the cell phone recorded videos seen by this media house, was horrific. Wilson the now dead woman was seated in the front passenger ’s seat beside her husband who was left pinned. A rescue team from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) was dispatched to the scene. Cell phone videos showed fire fighters cutting open parts of the minibus to free the victims.

The GFS stated, “Firefighters had to extricate both drivers who had become trapped in their vehicles due to the collision”.

The two drivers, including Wilson and the three passengers were all rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in an ambulance.

Police said that Wilson was pronounced dead on arrival while her husband and the driver of the SUV, Seecharran were admitted in critical conditions. Seecharran reportedly sustained severe head injuries while Wilson’s husband, Rawle McKenzie suffered injuries to his legs and other parts of the body. This newspaper understands

that one of his legs was so badly damaged that doctors were forced to amputate it.

Hours later he died while receiving treatment for his injuries.

The other victims were treated and reportedly discharged.

Investigations are ongoing.

WEDNESDAY Several generations will be denied their rightful inheritance with govt.’s refusal to ring-fence Exxon’s projects - remains one of the most detrimental missteps since PPP assumed office - AFC Opposition Parliamentarian and Shadow Minister for the Oil and Gas Sector, David Patterson maintains that the government committed a grave mistake when it rejected his recommendation to include ring-fencing provisions in the Petroleum Activities Law. That legislation was debated and passed last year August.

In an interview with Kaieteur News on Tuesday, Patterson said the position of the Alliance For Change (AFC) is that all of ExxonMobil’s current and future projects must be ring-fenced.

Unlike the Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton who is still weighing the pros and cons of ringfencing, Patterson said he is quite certain that such an approach would be in the country’s best interest. In fact, Patterson said several generations of Guyanese will be denied their rightful inheritance with the government’s refusal to ring-fence Exxon’s projects. It is because of his belief in the benefits of ring-fencing that he insisted on having it enshrined in law last year.

Patterson said, “I called for several changes to be enshrined in the law, rather than in any production sharing agreement which could be adjusted at any time by the minister. Enshrining same in the law governing all petroleum activities provides a safeguard for future generations irrespective of the party in Government.”

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 14, 2024

Patterson also noted that having ring-fencing provisions in the law would ensure that Guyana reaps more financial benefits on the Liza Phase One and Liza Phase Two Projects currently producing 400,000 barrels of oil per day from the Stabroek Block. He also rejected the government’s excuses for not ensuring the ring-fencing of oil projects.

Patterson said, “The government is parroting Exxon and other oil companies’ excuses - that without ring-fencing that the oil industry would not be competitive; that no ring-fencing encourages investment. However, by not having ring-fencing, the PPP is depriving the nation of billions of US dollars annually.”

He continued, “A prime example is the Liza One and Two development. Despite Exxon having fully recovered their entire production costs (totalling US$7.3B), the 50/50 formula has not kicked in as yet.”

If the ring-fencing formula was in place, Patterson argued that Guyana would have been benefiting from about an additional 110K barrels (US$8M) per day. He said these monies could have been addressing several social ills as well as cost of living challenges. It is with this understanding in mind that Patterson contends the government’s refusal to ring-fence Exxon’s projects remains one of its most grave missteps since assuming office.

To date, ExxonMobil leads a consortium in the Stabroek Block in which 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent resources have been unlocked in the deepwater concession offshore Guyana. Three oil projects are in operation with an output bearing 600,000 barrels of oil per day this quarter.

organisations (and) certainly tied to the overall drugs and narcotics trade that exist in the Region.”

Erikson therefore indicated that the US government is focused on addressing those challenges, providing additional prosecutorial assets to investigate and prosecute cases of illegal firearms trafficking in the Region. The Top US Defence official is on a two-day visit to Guyana geared towards maintaining and advancing the strong defence ties, which the countries share. Stemming from the official visit, Erikson said a robust suite of activities will follow this year to develop and modernize the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

For instance, the DASD said additional visits from training teams, increased information sharing, high level discussions and capacity building in the area of cyber security can be expected.

According to the US Defense official, “we do recognize that Guyana’s at a turning point in terms of its own economic development in terms of the regional role that it is capable of playing and so we want to make sure that our defence relationship with Guyana continues to meet the times as the situation in Guyana continues to evolve.”

Meanwhile, Erikson also hinted at collaboration between the two countries as it regards developing Guyana’s defence assets. He said, “Guyana is also seeking to modernize its defence capabilities, which will overtime imply additional purchases or assets that they seek to acquire. We are in conversations with Guyana about what the scope of that development capability should be and one thing is of interest to us is ensuring that as Guyana looks to increase its defence capacities it does so through a plan that is strategic, that is nested in its overall defence institutions and that’s sustainable overtime.” The US official noted that in the future, Guyana may very well seek to expand its maritime and air assets beyond its current capacity as there is already an (Continued on page 45)

US assessing need for military base in Caribbean - concerned about illicit firearms trafficking The Government of the United States of America (USA) is

Shadow Oil and Gas Minister, David Patterson assessing the need for a military base in the Caribbean in light of organised crime and ongoing terrorism activities.

This was relayed by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense ( D A S D ) f o r t h e We s t e r n Hemisphere at the U.S. Department of Defense, Daniel P. Erikson on Tuesday. Erikson was at the time engaging with local members of the print media at the U.S Embassy in Georgetown, Guyana when he explained, “The United States views the challenges posed by transnational organisations that are not just military challenges but are also legal and law enforcement challenges and therefore require the whole of government response working with our partners in the region.”

He continued, “So at this juncture we are not foreseeing any changes in terms of what our overall posture is in this region but you know we continue to assess the situation as it evolves.” While responding to another question on regional security and the influx of illegal firearms from the United States, the DASD acknowledged the concern. He said, “We recognise that this is a big concern throughout the Caribbean because it is tied to illicit criminal networks, transnational criminal

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali (center) with DASD for the Western Hemisphere at the U.S. Department of Defense, Daniel P. Erikson and other officials from Guyana and the US. (Photo credit: Office of the President)

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 14, 2024

From page 44 interest in this regard.

During his visit to Guyana, Erikson met with President, Dr. Irfaan Ali to discuss areas of mutual interest. In a statement, the President said these included regional security, food security, climate change, information sharing, narcotics monitoring and disaster risk management. Also participating in the discussions were Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall; Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, Chief of Staff of the GDF, Omar Khan; Commissioner of Police (ag), Clifton Hicken, National Security Advisor, Captain Gerry Gouveia and the Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), Colonel Sheldon Howell.

US Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission Adrienne Galanek, Joint Staff Deputy Director for Policy, Plans, and Programs, Western Hemisphere, Brigadier General Gregory Krane, Caribbean Director for We s t e r n H e m i s p h e r e Affairs, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Amon Killeen and other US representatives were also part of the engagement.

THURSDAY For his strong views on renegotiation, ringfencing Exxon projects Norton boots Patterson from oil portfolio Former Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, who was assigned Shadow Minister of Natural Resources in the National Assembly has been reassigned by Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton reportedly over his views on

AFC Member of Parliament, David Patterson the lopsided ExxonMobil contract.

Patterson confirmed his reassignment to the public infrastructure portfolio by Norton with Kaieteur News on Wednesday. He said the decision was made following a virtual meeting with Norton on Tuesday.

Patterson was assigned to the oil and gas portfolio in September 2020. He said he is still unsure of what his new shadow portfolio would be though he suspects he would be placed in Public Works.

He said the Leader indicated that he would be formally updated soon via a correspondence.

The National Assembly is expected to resume on Monday for the presentation of Budget 2024. Shurwayne Holder, Chairman of the PNCR is tipped to be the new Shadow Minister of Natural Resources. He became a Parliamentarian in 2020 and was assigned to the Energy, m i n i n g a n d Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s portfolio along with two other MPs. Patterson said he was not informed of a reason for the shift but is awaiting the official announcement to share his thoughts. When

Senior Counsel Seenath Jairam of Trinidad and Tobago

asked if he believes his comments do not align with the position of the Opposition Leader, Patterson stated: “no matter what happens, I will remain speaking on oil and gas on behalf of the Alliance For Change.”

Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament (MP) was asked whether the Opposition Leader had previously expressed concerns over statements made by him on the sector.

To this end he noted, “We always had a bit of contention, he never raised it with me, he raised it with Khemraj Ramjattan (AFC Leader) about my questioning renegotiation which were all agreed previously, but he never raised this with me personally, he raised it with Khemraj.”

Patterson said about four other MPs will be reshuffled.

Contacted on the issue, Ramjattan said he does not believe the changes will affect the MPs ability to scrutinise any of the sitting ministers or MPs. “I do not regard it in any event that someone from his (Norton’s) party is going to speak on oil and that is going to deny in any way, or we must expect Patterson not to speak on oil.

We are there, and our points can be made; if questions have to be asked, they will be asked,” he said. Ramjattan reasoned that even though he was not assigned to Public Security, he would still ask questions to the subject minister occasionally in the House.

Regarding concerns raised by Norton pertaining to statements made by Patterson, Ramjattan noted, “he may have been concerned. Sometimes he gets concerned about statements I make we are always concerned

PAGE 45

Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton sometimes about each other’s statements. We might want to disagree on how it is put, the tone it is put and so on but we have to allow a liberality of views and that is how I draw it out to my AFC people and also that is the distinctness I want to bring o u t i n t h e partnership…where there is an organisation of men and women you will have disagreements.”

The AFC has publicly stated its support for a renegotiation of the 2016 oil contract with ExxonMobil.

The APNU however has a different view on the matter.

While Norton believes in engaging the company for greater benefits for the country, he previously expressed reservations about the term ‘renegotiation’.

The APNU and AFC also share different views with regard to ring-fencing the Stabroek Block projects. Be that as it may, Ramjattan told this newspaper he does not recall the Leader raising any concerns with him in this regard.

Efforts by this newspaper to contact the Leader of the Opposition on We d n e s d a y w e r e unsuccessful.

Govt. given until next Friday to respond to summons demanding proof of Exxon’s US$2B parent company guarantee The Court of Appeal on Wednesday held a case management conference and granted time for Attorney for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Sanjeev Datadin, to file an affidavit in response to the summons to see the US$2B parent company guarantee lodged oil giant, ExxonMobil Datadin was instructed

by Justice of Appeal, Rishi Persaud to file an affidavit in

reply on or before this Friday. The Court therefore adjourned the hearing until next week Thursday at 11:15am.

The summons was filed b y A t t o r n e y s - a t - L a w, Seenath Jairam, SC, leading Ms. Melinda Janki and Mrs. Abiola Wong-Innings on behalf of Frederick Collins and Godfrey Whyte.

The litigants had filed a case back in September 2022 so that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can be ordered to secure from Exxon Guyana, unlimited liability coverage for oil spills. In so doing, Guyana would be fully protected from any hidden costs associated with an unmitigated spill from one or more projects in the Stabroek Block.

On May 3, 2023, High Court Judge, Justice Sandil Kisson ruled in favour of the litigants and ordered the EPA to secure an unlimited parent and/or affiliate company guarantee for oil spills. To circumvent compliance with that order, Exxon and the EPA through their lawyers, appealed and were successful in staying Justice Kissoon’s decision.

Pending the final outcome of the appeal, Justice Persaud ordered Exxon to lodge a US$2 Billion parent and/or affiliate company guarantee.

Since that order was issued on June 8, 2023, the litigants said their lawyers have been unable to secure a copy of the said guarantee for perusal. A summons was subsequently filed on November 1, 2023 for orders directing the EPA and Exxon to produce a copy of the US$2 billion guarantee. Attorney-at-Law, Wong-Innis confirmed with Kaieteur News that the hearing would be on January 9, 2024 at 10:00hrs.

Apart from filing the

case as a means to securing full oil spill protection for Guyana, Collins and Whyte were not pleased with the existing US$600M insurance package the EPA accepted from Exxon to cover per oil spill incident.

This matter was also addressed by Justice Kissoon when he had issued his landmark ruling back in May. In fact, Justice Kissoon found that the country does not have an insurance package from Exxon that meets international standards. This is despite the fact that Exxon tried tirelessly to convince the court that Guyana was in receipt of a credible insurance package from ANCON UK Ltd., an ExxonMobil subsidiary. The Energy Package Policy covers the Liza Phase One and Phase Two Projects.

Justice Kissoon was keen to note that such a policy, which is noted in the press to be US$600M per oil spill event, does not satisfy the stipulation and obligation set out at Condition 14:5 of the Environmental Permit (Renewed and issued on May 31, 2022). Justice Kissoon said the permit for the Liza Phase One Project imposes an express and specific obligation on EEPGL to obtain environmental liability insurance of a certain criteria.

Justice Kissoon said, “It does not constitute what is considered environmental liability insurance ‘as is customary in the international petroleum industry’ and for the petroleum production operations under this Permit.

Further, the insurance has not been obtained by the Permit Holder from an insurance company of standing that equates to Grade A Plus.”

The Judge further noted that Condition 14.05 of the permit stipulates as to the type of insurance mandated under this Permit, i.e. “environmental liability insurance of such type and such amount as is customary in the international Petroleum Industry for Petroleum Operations in relation to this Permit… It shall include but may not be limited to insurance in respect of: loss or damage to all assets used in the project; environmental damage caused in the course of the project for which Exxon will (Continued on page 46)

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PAGE 46

From page 45 be jointly and severally held responsible; loss or damage to property or bodily injury suffered by any third party in the course of the project for which Exxon is liable; the cost of removal of wreckage and clean-up operations required as a result of an accident occurring in the course of permitted activities; Exxon’s liability to its employees engaged in the project; and any other requirements made by the agency.

Justice Kissoon said too that the EPA failed and/or omitted to take any step to hire an independent insurance consultant to guide its actions and conduct as it relates to the quality, type and nature of the insurance demanded by the permit. He said, “The Agency has further abrogated its function by simply issuing a letter to Esso and to acknowledge receipt of the copy of the insurance. The business of the agency is not a clerical one.” Given the EPA as well as Exxon’s disagreement with the said findings of the court, appeals were promptly filed. Hearings on their appeals are also set for 2024.

FRIDAY Guyanese tax dollars standing cost of gas project until loan approved - Jagdeo Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday admitted that the highly touted Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project has been delayed; however this was not as a result of the lack of financing for the venture.

He told reporters during his weekly press conference that while the Government of Guyana (GoG) awaits the approval of a US$646 million loan from the United States Export Import (USEXIM) Bank, the project is being funded by the national coffers.

“It hasn’t been approved but we are paying for it from the treasury; we are meeting all of our commitments to the contractor. We haven’t stalled the project or say hold on the project until the loan is approved,” he said.

Jagdeo went on to point out, “I explained here that the loan will be approved, it will be retroactive financing and secondly we have alternatives should this not be approved but right now

we had good engagements with EXIM Bank and we expect it will be approved.”

Meanwhile, with regards to the cost of power generation, he said there have been no changes to the 50 percent reduction in consumer bills.

The GTE project entails three components - a pipeline being financed by ExxonMobil, as well as the Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) plant and the 300 megawatt power plant.

Attorney-at-law and civil society activist, Elizabeth Deane-Hughes in a letter dated April 22, 2023 to the US-EXIM Bank flagged seven discrepancies in the project, requesting that the loan being sought by the government to fund the initiative be blocked.

Her points were raised with the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the institution, Reta Jo Lewis. According to the missive seen by this newspaper, that was also brought to the attention of US Ambassador, Sarah AnnLy n c h , D e a n e - H u g h e s objected to the loan application by the GoG given the lack of a feasibility study.

The activist in her objection to the loan application pointed out that to date no financial and/or any feasibility study for this project, which involves approximately 25km of onshore pipeline, has been sighted by the people of Guyana, despite repeated requests for the same.

Further, she advised that a civil court case numbered 456/2023-FDA has been filed in the judicial system, challenging the Environmental Permit (EP) issued to Exxon for the pipeline aspect of the project, on the basis of lack of adherence to the rule of law as is stated in the Environmental Protection

Act and its guiding regulations.

Jagdeo had responded to her efforts to block the loan during a news conference last year, urging he is certain the bank would not be influenced by the “naysayers”.

It must be noted that even with the loan application still pending, Exxon is also still to make a Final Investment Decision (FID) for the project, more than a year after it received regulatory Permits.

An FID is a crucial stage in mega energy projects as it’s the final stage to decide whether to go ahead with the project or not. In other terms, it is the final stage to determine if the investment in the project would be beneficial or not.

The company is however progressing with the construction of the pipeline that carries a price tag of US$1B. Norton denies removing Patterson from oil and gas portfolio over comments on ringfencing, renegotiation O p p o s i t i o n L e a d e r, Aubrey Norton has dismissed the view that Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament (MP) David Patterson has been removed from the Oil and Gas portfolio due to his differing comments on renegotiation and ringfencing.

On Thursday during his weekly engagement with media, Norton was grilled on his decision to reassign Patterson. Norton not only confirmed that the AFC MP has been removed from the portfolio but also verified information shared by sources that the Partnership for National Unity (APNU) MP, Shurwayne Holder will be his replacement. Holder has been a Parliamentarian

Sunday January 14, 2024

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

since 2020 and according to the Opposition Leader he is a “competent engineer”.

Norton said that since he assumed functions of Opposition Leader, there have been discussions regarding a reshuffling of the portfolios to ensure greater efficiency. To this end, he outrightly stated, “This talk about not engaging MPs on what they should do is not true...there are a number of issues that had to be dealt with, as Leader of the Opposition I had to deal with it.”

He went on to note that he has not seen articles suggesting that Patterson’s reassignment had to do with his comments on the Oil and Gas sector, nor does he recall sharing any concerns with the AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan in that regard.

Patterson in an interview with Kaieteur News on Tuesday was asked whether the Opposition Leader previously expressed concern over statements made by him on the sector.

To this end he noted, “We always had a bit of contention, he never raised it with me, he raised it with Khemraj about my questioning renegotiation which were all agreed previously, but he never raised this with me

personally, he raised it with Khemraj.”

Norton however said, “I didn’t see those comments and Mr. Ramjattan could tell you, I had no discussion as far as I’m aware with him about what Patterson said on oil and gas. Some of these things seems to be figments of people’s imagination but I can tell you from a factual standpoint, I did not raise t h a t i s s u e w i t h M r.

Ramjattan...I didn’t see these articles that you are talking about, and these comments, but if they did emerge, I would say to you, I don’t recall doing any of that that is suggested there.”

The Opposition Leader was keen to note that Patterson will be better suited to shadow the Public Wo r k s M i n i s t e r, J u a n Edghill. He explained, “I said Patterson was put back in Infrastructure because he has the institutional knowledge...I recognized that Patterson has expertise in oil and gas which we need but he is au fait more than any one of us including Edghill as to what has happened, is happening and should happen and therefore in my opinion, he is best suited to lead us in Public Works while at the same time, having the authority to deal with oil and gas matters.”

Norton defends decision The Opposition Leader defended his move to r e s h u ff l e t h e S h a d o w Cabinet Ministers, insisting that the decision is intended to boost the efficiency of the Opposition MPs. Additionally, he noted that the Regional MPs will be afforded an opportunity to better perform its functions.

Four other Opposition portfolios have been reshuffled as part of the Opposition Leader’s plan, including Geeta Chandan-

Edmond from Home Affairs to governance, while former Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan takes on the home affairs shadow portfolio. Changes were also made to the portfolios held

by Coretta McDonald from the labour to education sector, while Jermaine Figueira has been removed as the Shadow Minister of Sports, Youth and Culture.

Figueira’s post will now be held by APNU backbencher, Nima-Flue Bess.

Responding to concerns regarding the removal of Figueira due to his handshake with President Irfaan Ali, Norton said FlueBess has been selected for the post as she meets the requirement of an “activist oriented person”. In fact, he said he never instructed any of the MPs not to shake the President’s hand.

He informed that the MP is qualified in Sport, is currently involved in the sector and has contacts to be effective as a Shadow Minister of Sports, Youth and Culture. According to him, “Somebody called me this morning and said only when they read the article, they recognised that Figueira was the Youth, Sport and Culture Shadow Minister.”

SATURDAY Guyana not a rich country yet but Govt. will help those in need - Jagdeo

By Shervin Belgrave With Guyana currently producing some 560,000 barrels of oil per day and ExxonMobil raking billions of dollars yearly in profits, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday said that the “the country is not rich yet” to totally alleviate poverty.

Notwithstanding, the Vice President assured that his government is willing to help those in need, especially parents who cannot afford to send their children to school.

Jagdeo was at the time responding to a question posed by Kaieteur News at his weekly party press conference, on his 2024 plan to address poverty in the country. Kaieteur News asked the Vice President what he would say to persons who can cannot afford to pay a bus fare to send their children to school and highlighted that just last Monday, a parent who lost his son to an alleged school (Continued on page 47)

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 14, 2024

From page 46 bullying incident revealed while pleading for justice on Kaieteur Radio that when the boy was alive, he would have to walk approximately one mile from his home to get to school.

The child also assisted his parent with selling icicles to make ends meet and have some pocket money to do his assignments.

In response Jagdeo said that there are still pockets of poverty in Guyana.

“We never claimed that we have ended poverty,” Jagdeo told reporters while adding “and we are not a rich country as yet if you look at our financial programme…”

The Vice President said that although Guyana continues to be a poor country, his government deserves some credit for significantly reducing the number of persons living below the poverty line. Jagdeo was quick to point to media reports that state “Guyana is oil rich and still poor” but one must take into consideration that the country is still in its infancy stage of oil production.

J a g d e o a rg u e d t h a t h i s government’s long-time goal to eradicate poverty is to provide more jobs and end unemployment.

“So when I dealt with this matter I explained that if we work hard we will get wealthier and we would be able to end unemployment in Guyana totally,” the vice-president opined.

On the issue of children having to walk school, Jagdeo admitted that this problem does not only exist on the coastland but also in the hinterland areas. He recalled that during one of his campaign trips to Mathews Ridge, North West District, Region One he saw children walking along a hot, dusty road to school.

He agreed that his government

has to do everything it can to alleviate this but pointed out that it is also the parents’ responsibility to make sacrifices to send their children to school and not leave all of it on the government.

The Vice President noted that his government is willing to help those individuals in need.

“If there is any specific person that needs help we would help them… they could go in and seek help for their children, kids we have a program like that,” Jagdeo said.

Guyana is on track to becoming a major player in the global oil and gas but with a bad ExxonMobil contract condemned by Jagdeo himself, the country will not receive maximum benefits from its oil wealth. Despite knowing that the country is at a disadvantage, Jagdeo and his government have refused to renegotiate the oil contract and to include ring-fencing provisions that allow the country to earn more revenues.

Govt. has no excuse for failing to set up register of beneficial owners - AFC The Alliance For Change (AFC) on Friday called out the Government of Guyana (GoG) for failing to establish a register of beneficial owners as required by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

The party in an invited comment by Kaieteur News, during a press conference said the administration has no excuse for not fulfilling the requirement of the global watchdog body.

EITI requires all implementing countries, including Guyana to implement a register of the beneficial owners of the corporate entity (ies) that apply for or hold a participating interest in an exploration or production of oil,

PAGE 47

deals and vague beneficial ownership given out under the PPP, that’s why we joined the EITI,” the former Minister of Public Works reasoned.

He believes that hile government may argue the lack of legislation is preventing the register of beneficial owners from

beneficial ownership to monitor corruption in government.

The road map established under the previous administration is inclusive of two phases. Phase One includes capacity building on beneficial ownership and implementation requirements with key stakeholders, assessment of institutional framework to collect BO data, and work with stakeholders to define key terminologies, including the beneficial owner, politically exposed persons, and determination of thresholds for EITI reporting.

Phase Two includes the collection of BO data and ensuring data quality, development of reporting templates, and public access to BO information. The Beneficial Ownership Roadmap is available on the GYEITI website.

The 2021 Report indicated that the COVID-19 Pandemic presented challenges that affected Guyana’s ability to implement the roadmap fully. It said, “GYEITI had several engagements with stakeholders, including the Deeds and Commercial Registry

being established, this cannot be accepted. He contended, “If somebody is saying to you that we don’t have the legislation that is irrespective. You joined and support the EITI and one of their requirements are you should have the beneficial owners, the names and everything like that should be listed for particularly anybody who is given an extractive license in this country.”

In the recently published GYEITI Report for the year 2021, it was explained that since 2018 Guyana approved a roadmap to implement beneficial ownership.

The report explains, “Owning more than a certain percentage of shares certainly gives a meaningful indication of beneficial ownership (BO). However, in identifying the beneficial owner, the focus should also be on contractual and informal arrangements.”

EITI places great emphasis on

Authority and GRA, to identify opportunities to disclose BO information fully.”

The Report also indicated that Guyana has disclosed some BO information in its 2019 and 2020 EITI reports using the country’s BO definition.

Last October, the MultiStakeholder Group (MSG) approved the Terms of Reference (TOR) to recruit a consultant to implement the BO Roadmap approved in 2019. The Report said this year’s Work Plan has laid out activities to support the full implementation of the roadmap, including BO disclosure on GYEITI official website.

On January 7, 2024, the Ministry of Natural Resources invited Requests for Proposals for ‘Individual Consultancy Services for the Support for Guyana EITI in the Implementation of Beneficial Ownership Roadmap in Guyana.’

Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo gas or mining licence or contract.

EITI decided to crack down on the absence of public registers because its position is that hidden identities in the extractive sectors only help to feed corruption and tax evasion. It said that people who live in resource-rich countries are at particular risk of losing out, when faced with systems that are not transparent, as extractive assets are too often misallocated for corrupt reasons.

Guyana became a member of that body in 2017.

According to the 2019 EITI Standards, countries are required to maintain a public register of beneficial owners that demonstrates the level of ownership and details about how ownership or control is exercised.

The 2019 EITI Standard requires that, as of January 1, 2020, implementing countries request, and companies publicly disclose, beneficial ownership information.

Four years after the timeline set out by EITI, Guyana has not yet developed a register of beneficial owners that hold lucrative mining licenses in the extractive sectors.

The AFC’s David Patterson on Friday said Guyana may very well “fall foul” of the body again for failing to abide by this requirement.

Last year, Guyana was suspended temporarily from EITI in February for failing to complete and publish its 2020 EITI Report. The suspension was lifted in June 2023 after the country published the report.

Patterson said, “I think we will fall foul of them once again; it (EITI standards) dictates that the beneficial owners of any mining concessions or licence must be (published), legislation or not.”

He pointed out that the register is crucial to the Guyanese population since there remains concerns regarding the award of mining concessions prior to the National Elections in 2015.

“You could remember prior to 2015, there was all sort of strange unknown concessions with vague

PAGE 48

Sunday January 14, 2024

Kaieteur News

Amerindian Ministry to distribute 25 more land titles this year

WANTED

VACANCY

FOR RENT

Looking for a honest & reliable single female, ages 40 years & older. Must be working to live in. Call: 227-2321.

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Excavator & Bobcat Operators, Live-in farm Workers, Cleaner, Labourers and Maintenance Workers required.

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Titling (ALT) Project was one that commenced in 2013 and sought to have land titles issued and demarcation processes completed in all Amerindian villages that submitted requests.

In her address to the media, the minister said that in terms of land titling, her ministry has made tremendous success in this area as compared to the previous government. The minister said that for the three years government has been in office,

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The Government of Guyana intends to distribute 25 land titles to Indigenous Communities this year. This is according to Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai. The Minister was at the time speaking at her year-end press conference last week.

Only six titles were distributed last year.

The Amerindian Land

FOR SALE House lots & commercial plot for sale available at Blankenburg W.C.D. Call: 652-0251/ 650-0402.

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LEGAL NOTICE 1 NOTICE APPLICATION FOR MONEY LENDERS CERTIFICATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 4 OF THE MONEY LENDER’S ACT. I, RAVI HOOBLALL of Lot 139 New Road, Vreed en Hoop, West Coast Demerara, Guyana hereby give Notice that I have applied to the Magistrate of the Georgetown Magisterial District for a Certificate under the Money Lenders Act, authorizing the grant to me of a Money Lenders License to carry on the business of a Money Lender under the title of TIGER’S PAWN SHOP, at Lot 139 New Road Vreed en Hoop, West Coast Demerara, Guyana.

NOTICE of any objections to the application should be sent forthwith to the CLERK OF COURT OF THE WEST DEMERARA MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT and a copy of any such Notice should be sent to the subscriber RAVI HOOBLALL, Applicant.

Dated at Georgetown, Demerara. This 7th day of October, 2023.

it has been able to establish a functioning unit that takes seriously, the titling of lands for Amerindians.

“Last year we titled 6, and 25,677 Amerindians residents across our country basically are much more land secured,” the minister said. Minister Sukhai said from the current census data, it shows Amerindian population is about 10 percent of the country’s population and that they occupy 16.48 percent of Guyana’s land mass. She added that this is a commendable move from 6 percent over the past years.

In 2022, the minister said five titles were issued.

However, this year Minister Sukhai said her ministry is to distribute 25 more, of which 22 villages are seeking approval for their land extensions and three villages are first-timers for titles.

The Indigenous villages that received their titles last year were Four Miles Village in Region One, Capoey, Akawini, Wakapoa, and Mashaboo village all of Region Two, and Paramakatoi of Region Eight.

“An application comes in but it is not necessarily that we just sign off on it. We have to go down to the ground, do consultations with various stakeholders, with national institutions, national commissions, then complied reports with findings and recommendations. This would be then examined at a technical level then be examined at the ministerial level before I approved of the matter going forward,” she explained of the process.

Minister Sukhai noted that investigations for 18 of the 23 applications for land tiles have completed. The others are expected to be completed in short order.

Additionally, the minister disclosed that 39 demarcations are to be completed this year.

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 14, 2024

PAGE 49

Budget 2024 will reflect commitment to improving lives of Guyanese – Min. Singh DPI - Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh has said that the 2024 budget will reflect an unwavering dedication to the implementation of policies that improve the well-being of Guyanese.

He reminded that the P e o p l e ’s P r o g r e s s i v e Party/Civic Government’s manifesto was meticulously crafted using a peoplecentred approach.

These manifesto promises, he said, will

continue to guide the policies in each budget.

“Everything that we do in our budget revolves around the objective of improving the lives of every single Guyanese citizen,” he opined during a pre-budget interview with the National Communications Network (NCN) on Friday evening.

Wi t h i n t h i s s c o p e , maintaining high economic growth remains a policy goal for the government, as well as continued strong i n v e s t m e n t s i n t r a n s f o r m a t i v e

infrastructure, which is integral to the short and longterm well-being of the country.

“A more modern and integrated transport network also means an environment that is more conducive to investment, because people are better able to set up factories, warehouses, and commercial office spaces, because it is easier to do business,” he said.

He also pointed to the investments in energy infrastructure, through projects such as the Amaila

AFC wants more time to scrutinize 2024 Budget

Falls Hydropower Project and the Gas to Shore pipeline, to further illustrate this point.

According to the minister, these are examples that manifest a commitment to improving the well being of people.

The building out of community roads, for example, which is an essential project that the government has embarked on, has empowered countless Guyanese with improved connectivity and transportation links.

“It may look like an investment in a road, but it goes to the core of the wellbeing of people. It may look like an investment in a hospital.

You may think ‘If I’m not a doctor, what does that have to do with me?’

Well, it has nothing to do with you until you are ill and

need the services of the hospital, and then you will discover that it has everything to do with your well-being to continue working and being active in your family, and your wellbeing to continue being an active member of society,” Dr Singh reasoned.

Continued investment in social services, and support for vulnerable groups will also be embedded in the 2024 budget.

Last year, the finance minister presented a $781.9 billion budget, the first to be partially financed by revenue earned from Guyana’s historic sale of carbon credits.

Presented under the theme Improving Lives today, Building Prosperity for Tomorrow, the 2023 budget brought to the forefront several large-scale projects to support Guyana’s

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh

i n f r a s t r u c t u r a l transformation, critical investments in boosting the agriculture, education, and health sectors, and a strong focus on increasing disposable income.

That trend is set to advance in this year ’s budget, the finance minister affirmed.

Unidentified man found murdered at Bootway Backdam

A

Schedule of the consideration of estimates for Budget 2024 shows that only 10 minutes have been allocated for each agency

A

h e a d o f t o m o r r o w ’s presentation of Budget 2024, the Alliance For Change (AFC) has pointed to the need for additional time to scrutinize what is likely to be the country’s first trillion-dollar fiscal plan.

Shadow Minister of Finance, Juretha Fernandes during a party press conference on Friday told members of the media that the Opposition expects additional time to be granted.

She reasoned, “With more money being budgeted for expenditure, the opposition expects to be given more time in the consideration of the estimates, as it is unreasonable to expect any real scrutiny of a budget over one trillion dollars to be done within the same time frame that was used to scrutinize $200 billion budgets.”

In a subsequent telephone interview with this publication, the Shadow Finance Minister said she

believes at least two and a half hours per agency is necessary. She pointed out that previously, each agency was allotted one hour, however that has been changed to 10 minutes (see table attached).

Fernandes argued, “They only give 10 minutes for each constitutional agency, each of those should be at the very least 30 minutes. No real scrutiny can be done in 10 minutes.”

During the press conference, Fernandes highlighted that the enthusiasm Guyanese had for the first oil budget has deflated over the years as the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration continue to present budget after budget with no real tangible benefits for the ordinary citizen.

She noted that Guyanese still have basic expectations from the government for budget 2024. Included in the 13-point list of expectations shared by her were free education from Nursery to

n unidentified Amerindian m a n w a s reportedly found murdered at Bootway Backdam, North West District, Region One and police need help locating his relatives.

Police said that the man was murdered on January 3, 2024.

He was reportedly found around 17:30 hrs lying motionless on his back on the muddy surface of a road at the Backdam, and bleeding from a stab wound to the left side of his chest.

He was clad only in blue short pants and green boxers,

police said.

Persons in the area told investigators that the dead man goes by the aliases “Terrible and Alex” but nothing else is known about him.

Investigators learnt that he was allegedly murdered by a miner identified as Kenrick Joseph called Jacko of the same area.

The dead man’s body presently lies at the Port Kaituma Hospital Mortuary.

If anyone knows his identity they are asked to contact the Region One Police Commander on telephone number 608-1771 or the

The unidentified man murdered at Bootway Backdam. nearest Police Station.

Man drowns in Aruka River Shadow Finance Minister, Juretha Fernandes University; increase in the income tax threshold to $150,000; increase in the minimum wage by 50%, and associated adjustment along the public and private sector.

She also said there should be a reduction in vat; increase in old age pension to $70, 000; higher resources for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM); investment in provision of Public Transportation; removal of cost of residential house lots and monetary provisions for first time home builders.

A

2 7 - y e a r- o l d man is feared dead after he fell into the Aruka River in the North West District late on Saturday afternoon.

Relatives of Kenroy

Persaud said the man was in a small canoe when he toppled over and fell into the river, close to his home at Waikarebe in the Aruka River sometime after 17:30hrs on Saturday.

They said the force of the water pulled the father of one downriver and efforts to find him proved futile.

Residents will continue searching for the man’s body on Sunday.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 50

Sunday January 14, 2024

Pro-Palestine protests held around the world as Gaza war nears 100 days Tens of thousands of demonstrators are marking a ‘global day of action’ in cities around the world.

Protesters shout slogans outside the U.S. embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia [Dita Alangkara/Reuters] ALJAZEERA Hundreds of thousands of people are taking to the streets across the world to protest against the war in Gaza, as it nears the 100-day mark, and to demand an end to Israel’s offensive.

At rallies on Saturday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, people gathered at the United States embassy to send a message to Israel’s staunch ally. The US has vetoed United Nations resolutions backed by a vast majority of the UN Security Council calling for an immediate ceasefire.

“We’ve spoken to people here who say they’ve come to show solidarity with Palestinians. People are holding up placards that read: ‘Stop the genocide’, as well as ‘Bombing children is not self-defence’,” said Al Jazeera’s Florence Looi, reporting from Kuala Lumpur.

The demonstrations are part of a “global day of action for Palestine” and to call for an end to the

bloodshed that has killed 23,843 people and wounded more than 60,317, according to Palestinian health officials.

Israel on Friday rejected accusations of genocide in Gaza during a public hearing at the International Court of Justice, claiming the case filed by South Africa with the top UN court was a distortion of truth that amounted to libel.

Its arguments were based on its alleged right to selfdefence following the attack

by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7, which killed 1,139 people, as well as what it said was a lack of genocidal intent against the Palestinian people.

Last month, Malaysia’s government said it would no longer allow Israeli-owned ships to dock in Malaysian ports.

It also said any vessel en route to Israel would not be allowed to unload cargo at any Malaysian port.

The protest movement in Malaysia, organised in collaboration with dozens of

NGOs, said it aimed to educate people not only about the atrocities that are happening in Gaza, but also about the history of the occupation.

Thousands of people also gathered outside the US embassy in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, waving Indonesian and Palestinian flags and holding signs that read “Boycott Israel” and “Ceasefire Now.” US ‘complicity’ In Johannesburg, South Africa, demonstrators gathered outside the US consulate. Al Jazeera’s Fahmida Miller said many in the crowd accused the US, which has supplied Israel with thousands of tonnes of military equipment since the war started, of “complicity in the bombardment of the Palestinian people”.

The protest has been bolstered by South Africa’s case at the ICJ, Miller said.

Roshan Dadoo, a leader of South Africa’s Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement, who attended the protest, said: “We’re going

‘Little Amal’, a puppet of a Syrian refugee girl, has become an international symbol of human rights [File: Tom Nicholson/Reuters] to be here until we can make sure there is a ceasefire and sufficient humanitarian assistance for Gaza.”

Meanwhile, massive rallies have kicked off in world capitals including London, Paris, Vienna, Berlin, Amman and Washington DC. Jeanine Hourani, a member of the Palestine Youth Movement attending the march in London, said protesters are angry over the injustice in Gaza and determined to keep marching for Palestinian rights.

“The sentiment is one of rage and frustration,” she told Al Jazeera. “We have been taking to the streets every week since October 7.”

Hourani said that while the British public largely supports a ceasefire in Gaza, “the UK’s politicians have continued to fund and support the genocide.”

“Ultimately, we know that in the grand scheme of things – in the long arc of justice – we are winning,”

she said. “We are going to continue taking to the streets, continue applying pressure, until Palestine is free.”

Thousands gathered at Bank Junction in central London, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) said. Husam Zomlot, Palestine’s ambassador to the UK, joined the protesters calling for a ceasefire.

The seventh National March for Palestine also featured an appearance by Little Amal, a giant puppet of a Syrian child refugee, joining a group of Palestinian children.

“Little Amal”, a 3.5 metre tall puppet of a young Syrian refugee girl, arrives at St Paul’s Cathedral, as part of its 8,000 km tour across Europe from Turkey to Britain to raise awareness for the plight of young refugees The 3.5-metre puppet, whose name means hope in Arabic, became an international symbol of human rights after she journeyed 8,000km (4,970 miles) from the TurkishSyrian border to Manchester

in July 2021.

About 1,700 officers are on duty to police the march in London, the Metropolitan Police said.

Meanwhile in Washington DC, demonstrators marching in solidarity with Gaza are expressing their dissatisfaction with the Biden administration over its handling of Israel’s war, calling for a ceasefire and an end to escalating US attacks in Yemen.

“There’s a lot of heckling going on against Joe Biden, they’re calling him ‘Genocide Joe’, they’re chanting ‘we will remember in November,’” Al Jazeera correspondent Kimberly Halkett reported from Washington, DC. “A lot of angry voices out here, certainly, this is not going to bode well for the president,” she added.

Elsewhere on Saturday, smaller protests also took place in India in cities like Hyderabad and in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo’s Kollupitiya neighbourhood.

20 Air Traffic Services staff resigned within 12...

From page 16 Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill when he visited the tower to partake in International Civil Aviation Day celebrations back in December 2021.

“We told the minister that we are the ones who are doing the work and that we are not being paid properly, he acknowledged it but nothing is being done,” a source related.

In addition, the concerns of the staff were raised with the directorate of the GCAA. T h e s t a ff m e m b e r s questioned what plans the administration of the aviation body had in place to address staff retention.

“They made a lot of promises.

We told them you can promote people because we have lots of vacancies at Ti m e h r i , i n c r e a s e o u r salaries and allowances,” another source said.

Last November, a senior official of the GCAA was expected to provide staff with a feedback on promises made to address staff retention.

To date management has said nothing to the staff.

HEAD OFFICE STAFF FAVOURED One of the biting issues which has been affecting staff members at the tower is related to the treatment

meted out to them by the GCAA’s administration in the city.

They believe that the staff members at the aviation body’s headquarters are “favoured” and it was noted that those personnel are frequently offered training opportunities overseas.

They noted that aviation inspectors who are based at the body’s head office travel out of Guyana as much as thrice annually to pursue training opportunities .

On the other hand, the air traffic controllers and other ATC staff at Timehri are most times confined to virtual training here.

In the past, air traffic

controllers who are qualified enough to advance their careers, could have applied to fill vacant positions at the GCAA headquarters.

That was ground to a screeching halt and according to a former controller; those roles are sometimes filled by overseas applicants, some of whom resign to pursue other jobs here.

“We have the staff right here who can fill those positions, yet they said we cannot apply,” a former staff member related.

“They don’t want us to work in head office although we the controllers bringing in the revenue for the

GCAA, we are the ones who are doing the work,” a former staff member noted.

In addition, the controllers at Timehri noted too that the employees who are hired to work in the aviation body’s head office are paid “super salaries,” which are sometimes higher than that earned by controllers, who are highly skilled, technical personnel.

Lack of basic amenities While concerns about better pay are aplenty, the staff at the tower told this publication that there are basic issues which they believe the government should address.

“There was a time when

to get simple things like Lysol, we would get that at Timehri. Not now, but if you go into the head office on High Street, you can find all of those things in all the washrooms,” a former staff member told this publication.

In recent weeks, the affected employees noted that if their concerns are not addressed by the authorities, it may lead to industrial action which would affect the operations of the GCAA as well as flights across Guyana’s airspace.

They are calling on President Irfaan Ali to intervene and address their plight.

Sunday January 14, 2024

Kaieteur News

PAGE 51

PAGE 52

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 14, 2024

Kaieteur News

Sunday Thursday January November 14, 2024 24, 2022

Smith keen to tackle new challenge head...

From page 57 move to parachute up the order has been in the pipeline for some time.

“I mean, there’s been conversations happening for a little while,” Smith said on Fox Cricket.

“Obviously, knowing that Davey was gonna finish up in Sydney and I know they were keen to get Cameron Green back into the fold as well.

“For me, it was a conversation saying, ‘I’m keen to go up to the top. If

you were thinking about Greeny up the top, he hasn’t done it at all’. (Green) bats four in Shield cricket.”

Before the start of the Pakistan series, Cam Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw were the three names in contention for Warner’s spot.

However in the last couple of weeks, Smith’s name started to be tossed up as a potential option.

U l t i m a t e l y, G e o rg e Bailey and the Australian selectors decided to give

Smith a chance with Usman Khawaja at the top with Green back into the side at number four in the order.

In somewhat of a surprise, Bancroft and Harris were omitted completely from the squad for the West Indies series while Renshaw was picked as a reserve option.

Smith, who averaged just over 38 in five innings against Pakistan, says the move allows the Aussies to play their “best six batters”.

“Since Marnus has been

Sunday January 14, 2024 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Some images deriving from dreams or visions might provide inspiration for ideas to redecorate your house, Aries.

You might spend some time perusing books in order to find ways to put your ideas to work for you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) A powerful romantic attraction might lead to creative or artistic inspiration. You should be feeling especially passionate today, Libra, and your passions are likely to spill over not only into your relationships but into your work as well.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Plans for social events to take place in your neighborhood might have you spending a lot of time on the phone today, Taurus. Or you might be running around in the car taking care of various errands.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) A project initiated by a group with which you're affiliated could keep you very busy today, Scorpio. You might have to spend a lot of time on the phone or running around in the car to libraries and bookstores obtaining information.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) New information regarding opportunities for career, business, and personal expansion might shake up your value system today. This is a positive development, although it may be a bit disconcerting for you now.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) New ideas that you have been studying over the past few days might have turned your mind in a different direction.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your logical mind might try to make rational sense of the strange metaphysical ideas that are popping in and out of your head today, Leo. Some of them might be conclusions drawn from books you've been reading.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) A growing sense of intimacy with a close friend or love partner is likely to stem from mutual interests. The two of you might even discuss taking a long trip together, perhaps to a distant state or foreign country.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) New ideas and concepts regarding the way you make your living might come your way today, Sagittarius, which could cause a bit of a shakeup in your value system.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Group activities and social events excite your passions today, Capricorn. You'll meet lots of new people, take on some interesting new projects, and, if you haven't already, you might even fall in love.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Some projects requiring a lot of thought, which you may have been working on for a long time, could well be completed today. Your efforts are definitely going to be appreciated by those who matter.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Inspiration stemming from other places and other cultures might direct your passions to a new creative project of some kind, Pisces. Your mind is quick and resourceful, so you'll probably have a busy day.

back playing at No.3, I’ve been waiting to bat for quite a long period of time,” Smith said.

“I don’t like waiting to bat, so I thought why don’t I put my hand up and have a crack up top? That way, you can get Cameron Green in and you’re playing your best six batters.

“I am (excited). I like facing the newer ball. If you look back to the 2019 Ashes, I was in pretty early there most of the time where I was facing the new ball.

“I batted No.3 from a number of years as well and was in early and did pretty well against the new ball.

“So it’s nothing new or foreign to me. I enjoy getting in there and getting amongst it and I’m looking forward to that challenge.”

PAGE 53 19

Caribbean RADO Holds...

From page 55 the 18, here in Aruba for the three-day workshop. When they go back to their countries, they can share the message of why it is important, not only for our athletes but also for coaches, parents, the community in its totality. It doesn’t stop with the athletes. We all want a world without doping.”

Meanwhile, during the official opening, Isnardo Faro, Chief of Staff in the Aruba Ministry of Education and Sports, highlighted Government’s commitment to supporting all anti-doping related matters.

“The Government of Aruba gives yearly financial contributions and support to the National Anti-Doping programme and the education programme through the Sport Subsidie Aruba (SSA). Under the UNESCO Convention Against Doping in Sport, we have responsibilities which we are working very hard to comply with,” said Faro.

“We can now say that we are in the final phases of establishing a National Anti-Doping Compliance Platform to make sure that Aruba complies with the requirements of the UNESCO Convention. The purpose of the World AntiDoping Code is to protect the rights of the clean athlete. It is for this purpose that the Aruban Olympic Committee, the UNESCO National Commission, with the support of the Minister of Sports and Education has established this collaboration,” he added.

Participants were also visited by the Sports Minister himself, Hon. Endy Croes on the opening day at the Hyatt Place Aruba Airport Hotel.

The training will empower participants to train new education officers in delivering World Anti-Doping Agencycompliant anti-doping education programmes as well as confidently plan, prepare and deliver anti-doping educator training courses, develop sustainable values-based education programmes at all levels, and support future succession planning across the region.

The eleven countries represented during the session are: Antigua and Barbuda, hosts Aruba, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Grenada, Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday January 14, 2024

The falsehood of persons involved in horse racing is killing the sport

By Samuel Whyte A s t h e m a n y controversies continue to swirl around the horse racing circle, there seems to be no end in sight. The many disputes that gripped the sports over the years continue and are getting grimmer, while some are very optimistic that the issues will be settled shortly.

Others are less enthused.

As the wrangling continues, horse owners, punters and turfites are giving their views as to reasons why the sport is not progressing. Some say that the continued staging of horserace meets by private persons is the major reason why the problems persist.

One question is, ‘under whose auspices are horse racing being held? For the year 2023, it was not certain if races were held by the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) or Private promoters. With such uncertainty, it is no wonder that confusion continues to rain. Some owners say they will not be racing as long as the races are promoted by private promoters because when there are problems, you have no one to rectify that issue with. The ‘Private man’ will often make and break his own rules to suit himself. Horse owners are urged to decide.

According to some owners, if one participates in

the ‘private activities’ then you must be prepared to take what is thrown at you.

Persons must understand that they can’t eat their cake and have it.

With persons being optimistic that the Legislation will be passed shortly, they are advised to wait and don’t get carried away.

Several experienced stables including Poonai, Oudit, Elcock, Haroon Night Eyes and Slingers among others have shifted allegiance to Jamaica. Most said that they would not be racing under any private promotions and worst yet until the passage of the Horse Racing Legislation. This publication is aware that several others are making preparations to leave.

According to veteran horse racing personality, Mrs. Chan Kennard, some people are really mashing up the sport. They are masquerading as trainers, owners, promoters, judges, stewards and everything else. These persons are acting in a conflict of interest, she intoned.

She added that, in all her years in the horse racing industry she has not seen anything so crude. She said that they should stop fooling people and get on with the job of unifying the sport for the benefit of all and not just a few, because more persons will leave and go overseas.

Brathwaite ‘quite clear’...

From page 56 well during the game - something Pakistan were unable to do during their Test series, which may have cost them the Melbourne Test.

“Catching is very important, especially here in Australia,” Brathwaite said. “The pitches get quite a bit of bounce so especially the slip fielders have to be sharp. That’s something the fielding coach speaks about, [but] we’ve got to keep working hard.”

West Indies arrived in Adelaide on December 30 so have had the rare opportunity of spending two weeks in the same city to prepare for the opening Test, which this year will be a day game rather than Adelaide’s traditional day-night fixture with Brisbane instead hosting the pink-ball contest.

“Having the time to practice here in Adelaide, get accustomed to the pitches and stuff, think that was great for us,” Brathwaite said. “As a team we are very pleased. The facilities here are outstanding and the boys made good use of them.”

West Indies’ squad is missing a host of senior players including former captain Jason Holder and allrounder Kyle Mayers who opted to play in T20 leagues.

Sunday January 14, 2024

Kaieteur News

PAGE 55

Caribbean RADO Holds Anti-Doping Educator Instructor Training in Aruba

Participants at the Opening Ceremony of the Regional Anti-Doping Educators Instructor Training The Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organization has held its first ever Regional Anti-Doping Educator Instructor Training.

The workshop, which is being coordinated in partnership with the Aruba Olympic Committee and the Aruba Anti-Doping Commission, runs from January 11-14th 2024 in Oranjestad, Aruba.

The three-day face-to-face session is being facilitated by trainers from United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) and United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

Caribbean RADO Chairman Patrick Werleman says the workshop, which is the culmination of years of discussions, building partnerships with UKAD and USADA, has come at the perfect time.

“We have put education as a priority. This year is an important year for our [World AntiDoping Agency] tier-four countries because of the upcoming World Anti-Doping Code Compliance evaluation. An important requirement of compliance is having a good education programme. This year is also an Olympic year. Athletes who will be going to the Olympic Games in Paris need to be educated and made aware of the risks and

dangers of doping,” says Werleman.

Selected participants, who are experienced in the delivery of anti-doping education, have been drawn from among the Caribbean RADO Member Countries. The main objective of the advanced-level workshop is to build capacity in anti-doping education programmes throughout the region with participants gaining international-level certification as Anti-Doping Education Trainers.

Wanda Broeksema, President of the Aruba Olympic Committee, says they are happy to coordinate and host the workshop, particularly considering the importance of anti-doping awareness and education in the sporting movement.

“We must say that without the help of Olympic Solidarity, this would not be possible. We are very happy that every time we have a training or a workshop for whatever topic which involves the enhancement and improvement of sports, Olympic Solidarity is always there. Equally, we are happy to see that we have ten [Caribbean RADO] member countries out of (Continued on page 53)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 56

Sunday January 14, 2024

Brathwaite ‘quite clear’ on his XI for first Test against Australia (ESPN Cricinfo) - West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite is “quite clear” on the XI he will take into the first Test against Australia next week, which will include at least three debutants, and praised his largely inexperienced team with making good use of their warm-up match in Adelaide.

Across the three days against a Cricket Australia XI, made up of players without BBL deals, a number of the top order spent useful time in the middle with wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva hitting a century on the final day while Kavem Hodge struck 52 and 99 and

Justin Greaves was twice in the runs.

The bowlers were able to knock over the CA XI for 174 in their first innings with an eye-catching performance from quick Shamar Joseph who is in line for a debut next week along with the senior pair of Kemar Roach and Alzarri Joseph. “[I’m] quite clear on the XI,” Brathwaite told reporters. “Very happy with how all the guys went about the camp [and] went about this game. This time next week it’s about making West Indies proud.”

While Brathwaite did not divulge further details of how West Indies will line up,

if the warm-up game is an indication it will see Hodge and Greaves making their debuts at No. 5 and 6 respectively along with Shamar.

Left-armer Gudakesh Motie, who took 13 wickets in the match against Zimbabwe a year ago, would appear to be the frontline spinner although allrounder Kevin Sinclair may have given selectors something to ponder.

West Indies shuffled their batting order in the second innings with Da Silva, one of the players who was part of the Test series in Australia last time around, making the most of his

Cross-Country slated for next Sunday in Berbice Athletes in East Canje/ New Amsterdam areas and the wider Berbice will have a chance to show off their fitness test their preparedness when former Distance athlete Lochan “Barry” Singh stages his second cross-road race along the East Canje public road.

The event which is sponsored and organised by Singh and his family along with Anil Karim will be held on Sunday 21st beginning at 08:00 hrs. The athletes will race from the Rose Hall Estate in East Canje to Gangaram Village also in East Canje. The race will pass through villages such as Rose Hall, Reliance, Adelphi, Goed Bananen Land and Betsy Ground.

Cash, trophies and other incentives will be up for grabs for the top placers in the event.

Incentives will also be presented to the outstanding performers in the different categories and age groups including the oldest and youngest finishers. There will also be sprint prizes available.

The first event was won by young and upcoming distance athlete Anthony Wright.

Singh a former distance athlete himself said he thought it fitting to continue the event he started last year to remind those of his days on the track, road and cross-country events.

The former athlete who resides in Gangaram and works at the Rose Hall Estate is hoping that what he is doing can help to rekindle some interest in sports, especially athletics and bring it back to what it was years before.

The event is open to all. (Samuel Whyte)

chance with a hundred while Brathwaite was pleased with how Hodge twice made contributions. “[Da Silva] took it with both hands, the opportunity to open, and he batted for a long period which is what you want In Test cricket so that was good to see,” he said. “Very pleased with how [Hodge] showed he [could] come again in the second innings and do it. That’s what we want.”

Brathwaite (87 Tests) along with Roach (79 Tests) will have key roles to play in showing the way while Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alzarri were also on the previous tour. “[You can talk about]

Joshua DaSilva spent useful time in the middle. (CWI Media) different spells you would have faced, how the pitches played, there’s a lot of information shared,” Brathwaite said. “Obviously Kemar Roach leading the young bowling attack with

experience of similar, how the Kookaburra ball reacts off these types of pitches, the lengths, especially with the new ball is very important.”

West Indies also caught (Continued on page 54)

DCC commends Imlach on Windies ODI call-up Traveling reserve on the Test squad when India visited in July 2023 and in the next Test series for West Indies, Tevin Imlach earned a maiden call-up for the tour to Australia, being one of seven uncapped players, also one of five players from Guyana in the squad.

Soon after Cricket West Indies announced the One-Day International squad, Imlach was named one of two players who got their maiden call-up.

In a release to the media on Saturday, Imlach’s boyhood club, the iconic Demerara Cricket Club, commended the wicketkeeper-batsman for his

accomplishments and elevation to the senior West Indies set-up.

“Continue to be a testament to the rewards of hard work and certainly a role model to other young players that success comes when one is discipline and inputs the long hours in training”, the club stated.

Should Imlach debut in either format, he will join an exemplary list of players from the ‘Home of the Legends’ who have played international cricket.

The 27-year-old, who captained the Guyana Harpy Eagles at the recent Super50, has played 17 First-Class and 24 List-A matches.

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 14, 2024

DCB/SVC Senior Inter-Associations T20 Tournament…

All-round Barnwell keeps GCA Panthers at the top of food chain Georgetown Panthers continued to pick off the competition while WDCA Jaguars earned a hard-fought victory as part of yesterday’s double-header played at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) Ground.

GCA Panthers beat EBCA Eagles by 9 wickets After restricting the Eagles to sub-par 104 all out in 18.2 overs, thanks to spin twins Devon Lord (4-17) and Steven Sankar (3-23) who mopped up the majority of the batsmen during their brilliant spells. Former Guyana allrounder Christopher Barnwell led the seamers with classy figures of 2-12.

MVP from the last game Rickey Sargent (28x24) hit 4 fours and a six to finish as the top scorer, with Damian Va n t u l l ( 1 9 ) , S h a m a r Yearwood (12) and Leon Swammy (12); capping off an ordinary batting exhibition from East Bank.

Almost playing at the same pace while match scores, Raymon Perez (43*) and a returning Barnwell (43*) who had a superb day on his home turf ground, clobbered their team to an

PAGE 57

Steve Smith (AP Photo)

- WDCA Jaguars hand Upper Demerara 17-run defeat

MVP Danny Ross (left) emphatic win, as Georgetown rushed to 105-1 in just 7.5 overs.

In-form opener Perez was ultra-aggressive hitting three fours and four sixes in his 18-ball knock while Barnwell, who was adjudged match MVP, finished with similar boundary stats, but required 24 balls.

WDCA Jaguars defeat UDCA Scorpions by 17-runs Skipper Akshaya Persaud smashed a brisk 43 off 27 with 5 big sixes and a

four. Sheldon Alexander hit 43 off 27 and mirrored similar stats to that of Persaud’s, adding 70 with Richie Looknauth (26).

Opener Ushardeva Balgobin, who gave West Demerara a brisk start with his 29 from 19 (3x4 2x6), provided all the extra momentum alongside Persaud, as the pair shared a foundation 61-run partnership which all laid the platform for the scary 186 all out which they made in 19 overs.

UDCA bowling was led

by Nicholas Lawson who was a bit expensive, going for 50 but returned 4 wickets.

Shaquille Williams supported almost evenly with 3-17. Despite winning the MVP award in a losing effort, Daniel Ross stole the show for a moment, blasting a 25-ball, unbeaten 55 with 5 fours and a trio of sixes, batting at number 7.

His lower-order fightback, included an 85run partnership with from Romeo Deonarain (31*), opener Alvin Mohabir (35) and Williams who returned to score 20, toiled but the almost 200-run target was daunting and the Scorpions folded for 169 in 20 overs.

In the end, the WDCA duo Kishaun Tracy grabbed 2-33) and Mahendra Dhanpaul (2-29) had gold outings which in turn aided their team’s win.

Shaun Massiah presents GCA Panthers all-rounder Chris Barnwell with the Man-of-the-match trophy following yesterday’s win.

Smith keen to tackle new challenge head on (Fox Sports) - New Australian Test opener Steve Smith has expressed his excitement over moving up the order ahead of Wednesday’s first Test against the West Indies.

Smith will replace the retired David Warner at the top for the Aussies. Smith opened the batting for the Sydney Sixers in their BBL win against the Sydney Thunder, but failed to fire, dismissed for a golden duck.

Speaking to Fox Cricket before the game, Smith said the (Continued on page 53)