Kaieteur News

DemeraraBanksignsloanagreementwith St.Vincent&theGrenadinesfor50prefabhomes

Demerara Bank Limited

executed on January 20,2023,signedaloan agreementwiththeGovernmentof Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to finance the purchase of 50 prefabricatedtimberhousesfroma supplierinGuyana.

The agreement was signed in SaintVincent&theGrenadinesby General Manager of the Bank, DowlatParbhuandPrimeMinister, Dr RalphGonsalves.DBLsaidthis collaboration will see the creation of an important model that will fosteranenvironmentforincreased regionaltradebetweenGuyanaand theCaribbean.

The prefabricated houses, built by Duravilla Homes, a local

companyinGuyana,consistofone, two and three-bedroom models, andareengineeredtowithstandup tocategoryfourhurricanes.

The houses are expected to be delivered in March 2023 and will greatlyaideffortsbytheVincentian government to rebuild and repair communities that were devastated bytheeruptionoftheLaSoufrière volcanoin2021.

The Prime Minister mentioned at the signing that almost 20 percent of the population was displaced by the eruption and that thegovernmentispurchasingthese homestoreplace,freeofcost,those houses that were damaged. He further stated that to his knowledge,thisisthefirsttimethat

the government will be accessing financing from a local indigenous bank in Guyana and thanked the Board and Management of Demerara Bank Ltd for their support.

Parbhu related that the Bank is deeplyhonouredtopartnerwiththe governmentofSt. Vincentandthe Grenadines in its recovery efforts. Hesaidthatthefacility,whichwas grantedoversevenyears,isoneof many opportunities that the Bank

will explore to foster and enhance trade & investment within the region.

Demerara Bank opened its doorstothepublicin1994andhas served as a catalyst for growth in Guyana’seconomy Itcontinuesto focus its strategies on providing a differentiated customer experience and leverages on sustainable long-term relationships to support major developingsectorsinGuyana

The Bank recently announced that a $900 million revolving fund was established with the Government of Guyana to support the forestry sector, and shortly beforeinkedanAgreementwiththe Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) through their Trade Finance Facilitation Programme (TFFP)foraUS$7millionLineof Credit Facility to support shortterm international trade financing requirements.

Dowlat Parbhu of Demerara Bank and Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves (right) holding signed copies of the loan agreement.

Hess set to make over US$2B annually in Guyana on 3 ships alone

ByKianaWilburgreporting fromTrinidadandTobago

Americanoilproducer,HessCorporation announcedyesterdaythatits2023capitaland exploratory budget totals US$3.7 billion. Importantly,morethan80%ofitwillgotoits high-quality,profit-makingassetsinGuyana andtheUSA.

Infact,HesssaidUS$1.45billion(39%) will go to keep production activities going, US$1.7 billion (46%) will be for offshore Guyana developments and US$550 million (15%) will go to exploration and appraisal activities.

Expoundingonhowtherevenueswillbe spent in Guyana, Hess said US$90 million willbepluggedintotheLizaPhaseOneand Phase Two developments on the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana. Both projects are currently operating at a combined gross production capacity of more than 30,000 barrelsofoilperday(bopd).

The company said too that US$1.21 billion has been allocated for the developments on the Stabroek Block, specificallyatitsPayara,YellowtailandUaru fields.ItshouldbenotedthatPayara,thethird project in the Stabroek Block, is on track to comeonlinein2023withagrossproduction capacity of approximately 220,000 bopd. Hesspreviouslynotedthatfromtwooilships alone, specifically the Liza Unity and the Prosperity, it would make a clean US$2B. It also gets a handsome take home from revenuesearnedfromtheLizaDestinywhich operatesattheLizaPhaseOneProject.

Additionally, Hess said Guyana’s YellowtailProjectisexpectedtocomeonline in 2025 with a gross production capacity of approximately 250,000 bopd. It said the moneywillbeinvestedtoensurealltimelines for this development are adhered to Meanwhile,Uaruisexpectedtocomeonline at the end of 2026 with a gross production capacity of approximately 250,000 bopd. Thatprojectisstillbeingscrutinizedbylocal authorities The process for a sixth developmenthasbeeninitiatedtoo.

Additionally, Hess said US$250 million

was allotted for front-end engineering and design work for future development phases ontheStabroekBlock.

Significantly, Hess said US$150 million issetasidefortheGastoEnergyprojectwith firstgasexpectedbyyear-end2024.Kaieteur News previously reported that Hess, along with CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited and operator of the Stabroek Block, Esso ExplorationandProductionGuyanaLimited (EEPGL), are helping the Guyana government with the project. They are responsibleforbuildingthepipelinethatwill transportabout50millionstandardcubicfeet of gas from the Liza Phase One and Liza PhaseTwo projects to onshore facilities that willbebuiltattheWalesDevelopmentZone. The partners have said the pipeline will cost approximatelyUS$1.3B.

In terms of expenditure for exploration andappraisal,HesssaidUS$550millionwill beusedtodrillapproximately10exploration and appraisal wells on the Stabroek Block, twowellsintheGulfofMexico,andonewell offshore Newfoundland, Canada. Funds are also included for seismic acquisition and processing in Guyana, Suriname and the deepwaterGulfofMexico.

Intermsofitsbudgettoboostproduction activities, Hess said US$1.1 billion will be used to fund a four rig programme in the Bakken, USA.The company also expects to drillapproximately110grossoperatedwells andtobringonlineapproximately110wells

in 2023 Funds are also included for investmentinnonoperatedwells.

Additionally, Kaieteur News understands that US$225 million has been allotted for production activities at the North Malay BasinwhereHesshasa50%stakeaswellas the Malaysia/Thailand Joint Development AreaintheGulfofThailand.

Hess also noted that US$125 million for production activities in the Gulf of Mexico, including drilling two tieback wells and seismicacquisitionandprocessing.

“Our capital programme reflects continuedexecutionofourstrategytoinvest only in high return, low-cost opportunities within our portfolio,” Chief Executive Officer(CEO)JohnHesssaidinastatement yesterday

He added, “More than 80% of our 2023 budget is allocated to Guyana, which is positioned to be one of the highest margin; lowest carbon intensity oil developments in the world, and to the Bakken, our largest

operated asset where we have a robust inventory of high return future drilling locations.”

AsforChiefOperatingOfficerGregHill, hewaskeentonotethatintheBakken,Hess planstooperateafour-rigprogramme,which will enable it to maximize free cash flow generation, optimize our in-basin infrastructureanddrivefurtherreductionsin its unit cash costs. In Guyana, Hill said the company’s focus in 2023 will be on advancing high-value oil developments and continuing an active exploration and appraisalprogrammeontheStabroekBlock.

As it stands, Hess’net production in the Bakken is forecast to average between 165,000and170,000barrelsofoilequivalent per day while its Guyana net production is forecast to average approximately 100,000 barrelsofoilperdayin2023.Netproduction is therefore forecast to average between 355,000and365,000barrelsofoilequivalent perdayin2023.

CEO of Hess Corporation, John Hess

- to invest 80% of its revenue in country, USA this year

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

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor-In-Chief:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

MESSY CIRCUMSTANCES

Some people with convictions trapped in messy

marriages find ways to get out of such relationships, and to their advantage. Others who are constricted by shabby jobs take matters into their own hands,andcutallties,neveroncelookingback.Stillothers, who are convinced that they have been left holding the ‘wrong end of the stick’in a business partnership will not sufferthatfortoolong.Oncetheycandosomethingaboutit, they make their moves to level the scales by squeezing out betterforthemselves.

Wenote,however,thatmorethanstrongconvictionsare requiredtoliftoutofwhatismessy,andsticky Whatmust alsobepresentisself-esteem,courage,skill,andstrengthto clawone’swayoutfromundertheyokethatreducestothe powerless.WetrulythoughtthatVicePresidentJagdeowas suchaman,suchaleader,onewhopossessedmost,maybe all,oftheaboveattributesandstatesofmind.

Thatis,heisonewhohadwhatittakestogetoutofthe messy 2016 oil contract that the Coalition APNU+AFC signed with ExxonMobil, which essentially condemned Guyaneseintoslavery

Unfortunately,thebestthatVicePresidentJagdeocando istohurlinsultsandblameattheCoalitionforthemessy(in his own words “sh**ty) oil contract. He has made a fine political living cursing the previous APNU+AFC Government for it horrendous failure in that regard, with whichweabsolutelyagree. Ontheotherhand,Mr Jagdeo cannot expect to get anything out of ExxonMobil, once his focus is on the past, and he does not make renegotiation of theoilcontracthiscauseandcalling.

Cursing and blaming the APNU+AFC certainly makes forgoodpoliticaltheaterandgoodnewspapercopy Butthe Vice President is going to have to get off that toilet throne beforelong;hecannotbeatforeverwhatisnowadeadhorse. What Bharat Jagdeo has to do is make renegotiation of the “sh**ty” oil contract his signature issue, his leadership cornerstone,andthedrivingforceofhisvisions. Mr Jagdeo has to stop playing these useless games, cease coming up withthesecomedicdistractions. Thepastisthepast,anditis bestthathemovesawaywisely,purposefully Now,anditisalreadylateintheday,Mr Jagdeohasstand uptoExxonMobil’speople,andmanifestthatheisthesame manthatdrawstheline(mostlyforthewrongreasons)with Guyanese who challenge him, or stand in his way Mr Jagdeo has accumulated a record of getting in the face of those who provoke him to anger, and prompt him to sharp andheatedstandoffs.

In the instance of the repulsive oil contract, today’s frightened and retreating Bharat Jagdeo must be an apparitionofthepast,withtheoldassertiveandaggressive leaderremergingtoleadthechargeagainstExxonMobiland its criminal contractual handiwork. If he has to get in the face(abusive)tothelikesofthosefromExxonMobilthattell Guyanese how much the American oil giant has done for them, and how good they have got it, the we are firmly behind him, and got his back. If he has to tell the nifty American Ambassador, Sarah Ann Lynch that her charm school initiatives have lost some of their earlier luster that, too,wouldbewelcomed.

Twistitorturnit,ExxonMobil’s2016contractisamessy, sh**ty, dirty, ugly monstrosity that belongs in the garbage bin. Thecriminalcontracthastobe,mustbe,renegotiated andrenegotiatednow

All this hemming and hawing do nothing for Guyana’s larger prosperity, and these red herrings about the APNU+AFC’s incompetenceandblameworthinessallplay rightintoExxonMobil’shands.

WewonderifExxonMobilhasnotputhimuptothis,so thatitbuysprecioustime,allowswigglingoutofhavingto do any renegotiating of the contract. Guyanese are struggling,theyneedmorefortheirwealthgivenawaydirt cheap.

ThePPPhadchoicewordsforanyonewhodefendedthe contractbefore. Jagdeomustnowputuporgetout. Itistime thathestartsfighting(renegotiation),andstoppussyfooting aroundExxonMobil.

As a man, I stand with harassed and victimised women in the workplace

DEAREDITOR,

The headlines of two letters this past week have gotten beneath my skin and today I want to publicly declare that I stand up for equality and do not support any form of abuse against women in the workplace. I would like to also use this mediumtocallonallmento stand up for our women, we aren’t stronger together as males looking out for each other, we are stronger when weuniteandspeakupforthe womenwhoneedusmost.

Last week, a letter by a patron at a coffee shop caught my attention, the individual whom I presume is female spoke about a conversation she overheard atthesaidcafeaboutwomen from a Government Commission, who were

India

DEAREDITOR, Guyana celebrates republic day onThursday as part of its 75 years of independence (1947). There are significant reasons –economicandsecurity—for g r e a t e r G u y a n e s e engagement with India Guyana has had close relations with India even before independence in

d i s c u s s i n g a m o n g themselves the abuse they face at the hands of a senior manager I became enraged because just last year my sister and I were browsing through the newspapers whenasimilararticlefroma staff indicated that she was belittled and by a manager withinthesamecommission.

A year later, that’s an entire year, editor, why is harassment at the same commission a topic in the news? Has the Chairman or other Commissioners not seen it? Did the Minister responsible for the commissionnotnoticeitand launch an investigation? What about the Opposition representatives on the commission, do they not have a say about issues of this nature?And what about

1966; India was the only developing (or so called Third world) country to establish an office (albeit cultural mission) in British Guiana and that relationship has grown and expanded over the decades With today’s globalization and interdependence, that relationship should be strengthened especially now

themalestaffthere,arethey siding with their male colleague? Why isn’t there an issue from one of the manywomenrights’groups, who raise their heads only when a woman is beaten or dead! Why the silence?

Whoeverthispersonis,does hebelieveheisuntouchable? Who is protecting him and whyaretheyprotectinghim?

I a m a y o u n g professional,withtwosisters and a mother who work within the public system. Publicsystememployeesare offering a service to the people of this country and, by extension, representing the Government of Guyana. Why then can’t the Government represent them?

Another brilliant piece was published, just a few

days ago, kudos to that individual for speaking out and calling on relevant bodies to represent women, the person also called on men. So here I am, a lone voice for now saying to our women,thatyouareworthy, beautiful and deserve all the respect We are your protectors,onlycowardswill abuse and harass you to feel validated, only cowards will come after you to satisfy theirego.

The ‘Men on a Mission’ was an excellent initiative started by Dr Irfaan Ali. I wish to implore on him to make the abuse of our women a topic at the next meet-up. Men, why are we failingourwomen?Weneed todobetter

Sincerely, J.Persaud

that India has been rising economically and militarily and has assumed the Presidency of G-20 nations fortherestofthisyearwitha summittobeheldinDelhiin November

It should be noted that India surpassed Britain last year as the world’s fifth largest economy India is gearing up to reach US$5

TrillionGDPbyendof2025 and$7Tby2030.Itisonethe fastest growing economies among G-20 and is vital for global trade and investment. Everydevelopedcountryhas beencourtingIndiafortrade treaties Security and politicalpactshavealsobeen signed with major western powers.Guyanamustfollow (Continuedonpage5)

Contract employment - a Govt. gift horse biting workers

DEAREDITOR,

During the Jagdeo presidency, contract employment was birthed in the public service on the premise that workers were not living long enough to inherit their gratuity Contract employment had offeredtheworkingclassthe luxury to inherit their gratuity biannually as they live and work. This was an appealing idea since the unions were seen as enriching themselves with the workers’ contribution and not delivering anything of substance to workers’ cause.

Immediately after assisting the politicians to get rid of the colonial masters through industrial action,allgovernmentssince then saw the unions as their enemy and have sought to get rid of them. There have beenrumoursofunionheads being thrown from a helicopterintoanettoobtain

their passivity as the government froze wages in the face of inflation. That kind of physical repression has now moved into the realm of covert action - like theofferingofagovernment scholarshiptounionleaders. Presently, teachers are concerned that their annual uniform allowance has not movedfrom$8000in8years - much less than their total union dues for a yearcollective bargaining is dead. The surviving unions havetoacceptthat.

Contract employment becametheknightinshining armour for governments to shunthetradeunionsandthe private sector was swift to followsuit.

N o w c o n t r a c t employment, the last hope thatcouldhaveofferedsome sortofsolacetotheworking class after the demise of trade unionism has taken a dangerous turn. Employers are asking workers to sign

contracts without reading what they are signing up for and the main essence (gratuity)isbeingleftout.A recent perusal of two contracts, one from the Ministry of Legal Affairs (MOLA) for a driver, and a labourer from the Eccles NDC, which comes under auspices of the Ministry of Local Government shows some damning differences whereitreallymatters.

While the MOLA driver gets a month salary to go with his 14 days leave and a gratuity of 22 percent biannually on his earnings, the NDC labourer gets nothing for his annual leave andnothingasgratuity This is a sad state of affairs, two ministries, one offering the fullpackagetoitsemployees andtheothernothing.Isthis theexamplethegovernment wants the private sector to emulate? From all indications, they have alreadydoneso.

This is a tragedy The NDC labourers, getting a measly$32,000perfortnight to work in the most bacteria infestedconditions(cleaning drainsinwhichtheresidents’ septic effluent is being discharged) and not getting any remuneration (gratuity) for their services. This is gross discrimination, and it paints a picture of the government’s neglect of the poor working classwideningofthegapbetween the“haveandthehavenots”puttingtheaspirationofOne Guyana in jeopardy This state of affairs is too big for the Ministry of Labour to rectify Anationalconsensus spearheaded by the President, Parliament, Opposition and the private sector is needed to enforce the binding principles of contract employment as it relates to workers remuneration(gratuity).

Yoursrespectfully, KrantiLall

has done much for Guyana, it has not been treated well

DEAREDITOR,

On 13th January 2023, every Guyanese regardless of age, ethnicity or political persuasion suffered another tremendous loss after the inferno which completely gutted the Christ Church Secondary School in Georgetown.

Asconsequence,another batch of over 500 secondary school students and their families are swimming against the tides to reorient themselvesandcopewiththe increase in financial costs and logistics of travelling to the Cyril Potter College of Education, Cummings Lodge in pursuit of an education with hopes of fulfilling their dreams of acquiringtheirbestresultsat the upcoming Caribbean

Secondary Education

Certificate Examination and beyond.

Compounded with the physical infrastructure losses are teachers, administrators and students’ academicresourcesanddata and memories which are irreplaceable.Whocantruly tabulatethecorrectvaluelost inthisinferno?

Howcanapoliticalparty or a politician articulate his or her gains now that it’s all down to ashes. Further, I oftenwonderhowagroupor anindividualcanbesoeasily m a n i p u l a t e d i n t o committing acts of crime in pursuit of political mileage andgainsforone’spreferred partyorleader

I also wonder what positivegainsweremadefor

this nation since the 1960’s and repeated until today as properties of businessmen, academic institutions and government buildings were set ablaze. I also wonder why, with the endless budgetary allocations, advancement in technology andintelligencegatheringby theprofessionalservices,the masterminds and cohorts of these plots are never identified, charged and broughtbeforethecourts.

Howmuchlongercanthe small, medium and large taxpayers, students and educatorsanddecentminded citizensofthisnationbeheld at ransom and forced to endure the trauma and monetarylossesasaresultof politicallymotivatedactions inGuyana?

Rohee continues his

It must be completely understood that state property does not belong to any government The governing body is only the custodians of such state assets.

The real owners are the taxpayers and together we have a right to protect and preserve what truly belongs tothenation.

Thetimehascomeforus to call upon the actors of all those with whom we have entrusted with our lives, livelihood, and resources to act and adopt all measures necessary to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice in an effort to curb thisdisdainfulcycle.

Respectfully, NazarMohamed Businessman

bobbing and weaving, ongoing inconsistencies

DEAREDITOR,

EsteemedCommissioner of GECOM and Former Minister of many portfolios, Mr Clement Rohee, has taken to the media, according to a News Room reportofJanuary21,2023to ‘onceagainrebuffmyefforts to dictate to GECOM’. His major contention is Mr Alexander consistently fails to make distinction between policy decisions made at the statutory meetings of GECOM and internal administrative matters in relationtostaffatGECOM`s Secretariat with the o r g a n i s a t i o n ` s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l

responsibilities This accusation is quite ironic. Mr Rohee,duringhistenure as Minister of HomeAffairs insisted on personally interviewing every overseas applicant who required and applied for a Work Permit. Apparently, to determine whether an applicant meet the requirements was a policy determination, rather than an administrative determination. He certainly showednoappreciationthen for his now proclaimed “internal administrative matters” Against that warped experiential background,Mr Rohee

(Continuedonpage6)

India has done much for Guyana, it has not been treated...

Frompage4 thecourseofothernationsin its relations with India by strengthening linkage that will lead to significant economic and security benefits for both countries. Errorsofthepastshouldnot berepeated.

It will be recalled that Desmond Hoyte closed the Guyana mission in Delhi duringthe1980s.

Although India was the source of much funding and financial assistance for Guyana since 1966, the Hoyte regime closed the India mission but retained other useless missions around the world that were not beneficial to Guyana. When Guyana was in dire economic straits during the 1980s, India was the source of financial assistance Guyana ended up owing India tens of millions of American dollars by the 1990s. As promised in New York at a GOPIO meeting, President Jagan re-opened the mission in Delhi post 1992 and also visited India (1994) resulting in an

improvement of ties. Jagan was successful in getting debt cancellation. All the Presidents, saved, Janet Jagan, made state visits to India seeking economic assistance Guyanese Americans lobbied Prime Ministers Atal Biharri Vajpyaee,ManmohanSingh, and Narendra Modi for increased assistance to G u y a n a . I n d i a n governments responded positively.Largeamountsof financial assistance flowed to Guyana during the presidencies of Bharrat Jagdeo, Donald Ramotar, David Granger, and now underIrfaanAli.ButGuyana hasnotalwaysbeengrateful and,infact,Guyanahasbeen lukewarm to Indian overtures on trade and business relations – India was not awarded important contracts like building the Skeldon factory and hydrodams that went to another Asian power India was also rebuffed in its commitment to purchase all of Guyana’s oil at market prices. Guyana would not have had to pay a

commissiontoselltheoilas India was willing to purchase the crude directly at source. Guyanese media reported that Saudi Arabia was granted the contract to market the oil when India offered to directly purchase it.Anotheroilgiant(BP)was awarded the contract last November to sell Guyana’s share of the oil. Guyana should re-think this policy especially if India retains an interest to purchase Guyana’soil.

On oil development, it was welcome news when PresidentAliannouncedthat India has agreed to build an oil refinery in Guyana and alsopartakeininvestmentin other manufacturing activities.PresidentAlimust be lauded for winning over heartsandmindsinIndiaand getting several business deals signed during his

week-long visit This hopefully, would be a turningpointintherelations between the two countries. Vice President Jagdeo will traveltoDelhinextmonthto completenegotiationsonthe oil refinery and other largescale investment and sign contracts.

The VP should look at o t h e r e c o n o m i c opportunities to strengthen ties with India’s large manufacturing sector – like inpharmacyandotherhealth care products, by-products of refining oil, urea, by products of sugar and other aspectsofagriculture,etc.

India cannot and must not be ignored. India has become a major and an increasingly important global power Almost every country, including the poorest ones in Africa and Latin America, has a large

mission in Delhi to promote ties and lobby for India’s assistance Recognizing India’s growing importance, St. Vincent opened a High Commission last year in Delhi Guyana’s High CommissioninDelhishould beupgraded—withaTrade RepresentativeorCounselor or Commercial Director to boostbusinessandtradeties.

And with the recent challengesfacingGuyanain the area of national security, there should be a representative or advisor in Delhi on political and security matters With Guyana’s growing demand for technology and

educational advancement, a representative on cultural and educational affairs would also help to provide greatertrainingtoGuyanese. Althoughhavingstoodin solidarity with British Guiana freedom fighters sincethe1950sandprovided large amounts of assistance to Guyana since 1966, the two countries should take every measure to cement economic,security,political, and cultural ties. Such measures should have rare bipartisan support in parliamentbythetwomajor parties.

Yourstruly, VishnuBisram

There is no political mileage from destroying what belongs not to government, but the people

spinning,

We don’t have capacity or capability, why hasten with gas pipeline?

DEAREDITOR,

CRG has previously expressed concern over the gas pipeline that has been proposed by the current administration. The cost is exuberant and, given the alternatives available, the need for it is unnecessary What is even more alarming is that there has been no substantial nor in-depth discussion on the cost to maintain and upkeep the pipeline.These hidden costs can be very substantial as seen in Venezuela and other parts of the world. Guyana currently does not have the in-housecapabilitiestowork on the pipeline and we will need to depend on the contractor for some time to come.

We must remember that the government has yet to improve the operations of GuySuCo, which is an industry that we know well. The Skeldon power plant is not fully operational at its intended level, and the local management of GPL had resulted in numerous

blackouts.Forthesereasons, we should be very cautious in undertaking such a risky and expensive venture Focusing on the use of sea vessels for the transport of the gas, and leveraging the current high overseas demandforsaleswouldbea preferred first step into the industry The earnings from thesalescanbeusedtoboth build the power plant and subsidize the cost of electricity

The government must show the needed focus and illustratetotheNationthatit can be successful in the b e f o r e - m e n t i o n e d undertakings. This will help build confidence in and support for the newly proposed ventures CRG brings this option forward f o r t h e c u r r e n t administration to seriously consider so as to reduce the risktoournationaltreasury

Withconcern, Mr.JamilChanglee Chairman

T h e C o o p e r a t i v e RepublicansofGuyana

Frompage5 arrogates to himself the authority to determine what is in the realm of policy engagement as opposed to administration. In doing so, h e d e s c r i b e s t h e Commission`sconstitutional responsibility as an internal administrative/secretariat responsibility This is quite apposite to his own conduct as a Minister He clearly embraces double standards aimedatservinghispurpose inthespecificcircumstance.

Article 161A. (1) of the Constitution states: The Elections Commission shall be responsible for the efficient functioning of the S e c r e t a r i a t o f t h e Commission, which shall comprise the officers and e m p l o y e e s o f t h e Commission, and for the appointmentofallstafftothe offices thereof …” This articlespecifiesthreethings: (i) It clearly states that the Commission is responsible for all staffing related mattersoftheSecretariat;(ii) It specifies ‘ensuring efficiency’asakeyaspectof th e C o mmis s io n ` s responsibility; and (iii) that reference to the Secretariat meansstaffandemployees.

On November 9, 2022 the Chief Elections Officer wrote to the Chairperson of GECOM stating the following: I hereby request your approval for Mr Aneal Giddings, IT manager, to be seconded, with immediate effect, as ‘Operations Coordinator’ within the Operations Department of t h e C o m m i s s i o n ` s Secretariat to carry out the responsibilities that would normally fall within the list of duties of the DCEO. In this regard, it is proposed that Mr Giddings be paid a monthly duty allowance of

Three hundred Thousand Dollars (300,000). He also stated that Mr Giddings is the most suitable Senior Manager who can be relied upon to manage with the required level of efficiency Any such correspondence should be addressed to the Commission through the Chairperson, especially since no such position and accompanying job description existed However, the Chairperson signed granting approval on the said day, without any referenceordeferencetothe Commission, which is responsibleforstaffing.

Since no such position existed in GECOM’s organizational chart, its creation can only be considered to be a matter of policy.

To wit, the Constitution specifies that the Commission has the responsibility for the efficient functioning of the Secretariat, yet the Chairperson and now the Honourable Clement Rohee aredeemingtheactionofthe Chair to be an internal administrativematter Italso begs the question: Why did theCEO,theAdministrative HeadoftheSecretariatfindit necessary to seek the Chairman‘s approval for whatisnowbeingdescribed as an internal administrative matter?

The Chairperson has no authoritytodeterminepolicy matters, unless the law clearly specifies or the Commission delegates Neither caveat is applicable, inthiscase.Eveninthecase of emergencies or expediency, if the Chairpersonactsonbehalfof the Commission, such actions should be reported soonest, for ratification. In

this instance, the Commission became aware two months after the illicit appointment Many meetings and other opportunitieswerenottaken toreportonthematter

Mr Rohee also cites a previously unauthorised appointment as the basis for turning a blind eye to yet anothersuchact.Itshouldbe notedthattheCommissionat that time reprimanded the officer who perpetrated that act. Rohee‘s resort to that case as justification flies in thefaceofallthatRoheeand his ilk are saying about transformation of GECOM and the electoral apparatus.

C l e a r l y, t h e y a r e unprincipled and embrace whateversuitstheirpurpose. That such is the case will become manifest as this matter and related matters, such as the appointment of theDCEOunfolds,sufficeto say that the position of DCEO was advertised in December2018.

Four years has elapsed withnoroutineactiontaken, orurgencybeingattached,to filling the vacancy, notwithstandingshortlisting, and calls for the position to be filled. However, in the meantime, a job description is in development, the position of Operations

Coordinator (DCEO approximate) created, and a so-called ‘secondment’ effected, under the radar, with no disclosure to the Commission for over two months.

Notwithstanding the irregularity surrounding this matter, Mr Rohee sees my enlightened position as an attempt to dictate. In that regard, he either does know of, or understand, the constitutional provisions; or intended to facilitate nonadherence while deeming justifiable reason, constitutional stipulations, and good governance practices to be dictatorial. His call for a vote on an irregular creation of, and appointment to, a position is his notion of democratic action.

Mr Rohee also raised unrelated matters, in his letter, in his attempt to have hispositionandhimselfgain

public acceptance. For the innocent and non-partisans, here are some facts for your consideration.

1. He refers to unproven and an erroneous allegation against Mr Vishnu Persaud in his attempttopaintmeasracist. Fortunately, no such allegations can be honestly and evidentially levelled against me, in relation to public offices that I have occupied.

With specific reference to Mr Persaud, I said and maintain that when he was appointed to the position of DCEO,hewasnottheholder of a requisite first degree. The court never dealt with that matter What the court dealt with was whether I accused him of creating the pretextforhisemployment.I never did, nor intended to, since I was quite aware of who created the pretext. Go read the judgment. It will revealeitherRohee’ssinister use, or misinterpretation, of thejudgment.

2. Similarly, I argued that Roxanne Myers‘ academic qualification was superior to that of Mr Persaud, when they competed for the position of DCEO.Roheereferencesthe ERC‘s conclusion that Mr Persaud had a higher score. That is true, but politicized scores are no reflection of objectivecomparison.

Ms Myers‘ average grade for her Master‘s is B. Mr Persaud‘sisD.Thoseare not gradation of ethnicity, they are comparative academic performances. In that regard, Rohee did not reference the more fundamental conclusions of theERC,thatis there are no institutional rules or practices in GECOM which a l l o w s f o r e t h n i c discrimination in hiring, and the six Commissioners are all vigilant to ensure that no such discrimination can be practicedwithoutchallenge

Rohee‘s attempted spin cannot change any of the facts that are out there. Nor can it make his case for the illicit creation of a post, and an irregular appointment to thatpostacceptable.

Yourstruly, VincentAlexander

‘Oil revenue budget will only benefit the elites’ - Opposition MP

Opposition Member of

Parliament (MP) Ronald Cox, said thepresentationofthecountry’sfirst ‘oilbudget’proveddisappointingfor the masses During the first day of budget debates, Cox said that Budget 2023, as presented by Senior Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, was devoid of economic strengthfortheordinaryman.

Referencing a news article that spoketothehardshipsthatordinary Guyanese face with the existing inflation, Cox who hails from Region One said that while the government boasts about measures implementedtocushiontheeffects

ofinflation,thosemeasuresarenot beingfelt.

“Mr Speaker, this government must not come to the National Assembly and boast about what benefitsafeweliteswhilethelargest mass of the Guyanese people continues to struggle,” the OppositionMPsaid.

CoxcalledontheGovernmentto pay attention to its weaknesses and address them so that those at the bottom of the economic ladder can alsobenefit TheMPalsochallenged the government to implement programmes that will assist and benefit Guyana’s indigenous

peoples instead of wanton distribution of money without a plan.

“Our communities seem like a well-regurgitated script from previousbudgets Itisaknownfact thatGuyanaispoisedforeconomic takeoff and the extent to which we can do so is dependent on the choiceswemakeandourabilityto collectively harness the skills and talents of our people in a bid to a c h i e v e p r o g r e s s a n d development,”hestated.

Turning his attention to the issuance of government scholarships, Cox accused the

government of only providing scholarships to persons who have access to ministers and senior governmentofficials.

He gave a personal example applying for the government scholarship Hesaidhesubmittedan application but he had to call the Ministerforassistance Coxsaidthat it was after meeting with the Minister that the scholarship was approved.HeispursuingaMasters DegreeinEducation.

“They don’t have the privilege like me to call the Minister on her phone to help facilitate a scholarship; so they wouldn’t be

getting any (scholarship) because they can’t do that (call the Minister).“Isthatwhatwehaveto getat?”Coxquestioned.

CoxalsotoldtheNational

APNU+AFC Member of Parliament, Ronald Cox

Sugar is at death’s door

ThePPP/Chasfailedthe sugarindustry Noamountof spin-doctoringbyitslackeys inthesugarindustrycansave thatindustry

ThePPP/Chadpromised torevivetheindustrybyfirst bringing it to break-even pointandthenrestoringitto profitability Isnowherenear bringing the industry to break-even point even with policies aimed at emphasizing the sale of packagedsugar

Yesterday, during the debate on the 2023 Budget, the Leader of the Alliance For Change decimated the PPPCpolicies.Itwasagood performance which shows that once the Opposition stays away from discredited narrativessuchas“apartheid state” and “installed government” it can be effective in exposing the mediocrity of the PPP/C’s economicprogramme.

During his presentation, the Leader of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan noted that the PPP/C had already injected G$10B into the sugar industry and was now returning to the National Assembly for a further $4B. WhattheAFCleaderdidnot state is that the PPP/C has publishednowhitepaperon restoring the sugar industry tobreakevenstatusandthen toviability Soallwehaveis an unpublished plan and, as such, there can be no certainty that the PPP/C’s planwillwork.

The Leader of the AFC also revealed that the sugar corporation was advertising

for workers but was not attracting the workforce it anticipated.Thiscolumnhad long argued that when sugar workersleavetheindustry,it is almost impossible to get them to return. The work in the fields is back-breaking and unrewarding and with each generation, fewer and fewer persons want to engageinfieldwork.

Buttherealspokewhich has been placed in GUYSUCO’s plans has originated outside of the corporation. Jagdeo’s parttimejobsplanwillsoundthe death-knell of the industry

With part-time workers earningahandsome$40,000 permonthfortendayswork, the opening of the Canje Estateisnowvirtuallydead.

Thepart-timejobswhich are provided by the government will further destroy the sugar industry Becauseofthenatureofcane cutting,mostworkerscannot workeveryday Theirbodies simply cannot withstand the arduous strain of working fiveorsixdaysperweek.Itis toomuch.Thisiswhy,there is usually such a poor attendance record on the estates. It is not that the workersdonotwanttowork; it is that the workers need recovery time after a few days’exertionsinthefields.

The part-time jobs have been like free money The outputofmanyoftheseparttime workers is poor Some ofthemdoalittlesuperficial weeding and cleaning but they are making no significant impact on their

Dem Boys Seh...

communities. Many can be seen malingering under the officesoftheNDC’s,mostof which lack the resources to properlydeployorsupervise theseworkers.Otherscanbe seen loitering around the hospitals to which they are assigned The part-time programme, which is now going to be expanded, is a colossalwasteofmoney

Why would any cane cutterwhocanearn$40,000 per month for working ten days doing light work, want to sign on to work again for the sugar industry where he would have to wake up beforedaylight,gooutonthe roadswhileitisstilldark,be transported miles into the cane fields on treacherous dams and engage in backbreaking work, when there is light work available and which guarantees $40,000permonth?

The government, by expandingthepart-timejobs programme is going to destroy the very industry which it wishes to save. But even without the part-time programme,thegovernment willbeunabletosavesugar

The APNU+AFC government had spoken about right-sizing the industry But it makes no economic sense for a sugar industry which once producedmorethan400,000 tonstoproduceonly150,000 tonnes.

Producing less means that you will not enjoy the economiesofscaleneededto lower production costs. The PPP/C’s answer to this was

Shine rice losing its sheen

De times changing. Lang ago, on Old Year’s Night was blackeye peas cook-up riceusedtobubbleindempot.Nowadaysis a different variety Nuff people like de red beans cook-up. Dem claim it does gat a bettercolourandgivedefoodaniceflavour

Last OldYear’s Day, dem boys decide fuhtryitout.Butdemboysdidnothaveno red beans in de house, and dem boys did rememberitusedtosellfor$360perpint.So dem boys pick up a $400 and went to de market.

Dem boys had to turn back because de priceofderedbeanspeaswas$800perpint, morethandoubledenormalprice.Butdem boysfeelwasbecauseofderushfuhdeOld Year’s dat dem vendors decide fuh to tek advantage.

So dem boys settle fuh de traditional blackeyepeascook-uponOldYear’sNight. And it cut good with de ‘obstacles’inside. NowisdefourthweekofdeNewYearand demboysdecidedatdemganbubbleapotof redbeanscook-uprice.

Sodemboyswenttodemarket,fuhbuy deredbeansandwassurpriseddatdeprice wasstill$800perpint.

Sodemboysdecidedemcan’tafforddat sodemgangattobubbleanochrocook-up. Dem boys was in fuh a rude awakening. Ochrosellingfuh$300albanddemlookas ifdemreturningfromdewarinUkraine. So dem boys decide dem gan gat to try something with cabbage. Big mistake! De cabbage bin seen better days but dem vendors still want $400 per lb. And de plantain was does go pon de side was retailingat$240perlb.

Dem boys decide fuh economize and settle fuh shine rice. But de price of a baby coconutisnow$100anddemboysganneed 3 of dat fuh de family-sized pot. Now dese things are grown locally, so dem can’t be affected by the supply-chain crisis. So dem boysganwaitandhearwhatdefoodsecurity man gan gat to say about dis in de parliament.

Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

that it would concentrate on selling branded and packaged, rather than bulk sugar The APNU+AFC never achieved that revised target under its right-sizing. The PPP/C appears to want to outdo the APNU+AFC when it comes to declining sugar production. Last year, only 47,000 tonnes were produced. It makes no sense continuing with sugar

production, much less to invest billions more in reopening an estate which has little prospects of allowing GUYSUCO to triplesugarproduction.

Butdonottellthattothe PPP/C. Manifesto promises are meant to be kept, even when they constitute a terribledragontheeconomy and will result in billions being pumped into an

industrywhichcannolonger berevived.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s affiliates.)

FREDDIEKISSOONCOLUMN

PresidentAlimustlookatwhatPresidentBidendid

Since colonialism ended with formal Independence, the US and Europe have shaped Third World (TW) economies to benefit both Europe and the US One of the ugliestvulgaritiesthatcharacterises theWest’seconomicdominationof the TW is the West’s demand that TWgovernmentsmustcurtailstate spendingandabolishsubsidies.

Whatisuglyaboutthatisthatthe very West spends heavily on state projects and carries out widespread subsidies Thesethingsaredonenot outofgenerositybuttoweakenTW competitionintheglobaleconomy It was sickening to hear the then, PresidentGrangertellaforumthat the state cannot provide employment.

The state spends an unimaginable sum in capitalist countries The New York subway systemisownedbythecityofNew

York The Government of France hassubstantialsharesinAirFrance TheEuropeanUnionasamatterof policypracticestatesubsidiestoits farmers. Those are only three tiny examplesofstateownershipunder capitalism.

TheUSPresidenthassignedinto law the Inflation Reduction Act in which prodigious subsidies will be offered toAmerican companies So alarmed was the EU that the GermanychancellorandtheFrench president had a dialogue to work outwaysfortheEUtohavesimilar legislation.WhentheEUcomesup with its version of the American legislation, subsidies are going to runwildinthecapitalistWest.

Here in Guyana and the Third World,theIMFwillbelikeavulture watching the TW economies to see howthestatespendsmoney Icannot prescribeapolicyforTWcountries

on how to counter the West’s continuinghegemonyovertheTW butIcanwritefreelyaboutmyown country

Here is an example about something crazy that is going on in Guyana Threeidenticalflavoursof ice-cream are on the supermarket shelves The flavours are manufacturedinGuyana,Suriname and Trinidad. The flavours from Suriname are $900 for a one litre cup at the Chinese supermarket up the road from where I live. The Guyanese version is $1800 at the same supermarket. That is double the price. The Chinese store does notcarrytheTrinidadianline.

At Massy across the road from me, the Surinamese varieties go at $1000 for a one litre cup The Trinidadian ones, that is, identical varieties and same volume fetch a price tag of $1200 But the Guyanese ice cream is stable at $1800. Which ones do I buy? The onesfromtheChinesesupermarket thatsaveme$900foreachcup.

Sorry, I love my country but I cannot spend $1800 for a one litre tub of ice cream when the same flavours, the very same flavours withthesameamountaregoingfor $900less

It is impossible for Guyana to export the same flavours because it will cost more than their local counterpartsinothercountries The

strategyinGuyanashouldbeto lower drastically the cost of electricity and for state subsidies for our dairy farmers.

Itisajoketothinkthatmilk products from Suriname and Trinidad sold in Guyana cost less than our locally produced ones Guyana is larger than Suriname and Trinidad combined One dairy farm in Guyana can be larger than Barbados and Singapore respectively

Guyana must follow Europe ratherthanhavetheEUandtheIMF dictating to us about subsidies I once read a lecture that former UK PrimeMinistergavetoaprestigious forumandheremarkedthatwestern stability was stabilised through President Obama’s rescue of corporateAmerica.

He was referring to the US government’s multi-trillion bailout of Wall Street during the financial crisis of 2008 In contrast, millions (not hundreds of thousands but millions) lost their homes due to mortgagedefault.

The ghost of state subsidy is whatitis–aghost Thisfictionhas been used by Western countries to shape TW economies to the advantage of their own interests In the transformation of the General Agreements on Trade and Tariffs

(GATT) into the World Trade Organization (WTO), there were no financial experts from the TW thatparticipatedinthecomposition ofthedocument.

The WTO was the work of Western governmental bureaucrats andtheleadersofcorporatepowerin theWestanditisabodythatfavours theeconomiesoftheWest Iendona note that is going to give you a stroke Do you know which countriestookinmostrefugeesfor last year? None of the Western countriesareamongthem.Highon the list is Jordan and Turkey Guyana now has oil income. It should no longer follow IMF diktats.

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

FrederickKissoon

CARICOM calls for “consensus agreement” to resolve Haitian political stalemate

T h e C a r i b b e a n

Community (CARICOM) on Tuesday called on all Haitian stakeholders to “come together in their search for a consensus agreement” aimed at ending the country’s protractedpoliticalstalemate.

“CARICOM urges all stakeholders to come together intheirsearchforaconsensus agreement,” CARICOM said inastatement.

In the statement to the media issued by the CARICOM Secretariat, the regionalbodysaidthatitnotes

the efforts made by various groupsofHaitianstakeholders to negotiate political accords since 2021 to contribute to resolving the protracted politicalstalemate.

Those efforts include the latest agreement that was made public by the Interim Prime Minister on December 21,2022.

“The Community remains willing and ready to assist in achieving this goal and in that regard had commenced soundingHaitianstakeholders overthepastfewweeksabout

their willingness to attend a meeting in a CARICOM country,” the brief statement said.

After the assassination of Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021 by unidentified gunmen, the interimPrimeMinisterClaude Joseph assumed control as acting president but then yielded the presidency and prime ministership to prime minister-designate Ariel Henry

On December 21, 2022, H e n r y a l o n g w i t h

representatives of political parties, civil society organizations and private sector signed an agreement to hold the general elections in 2023, with the new government taking office in February2024.

Henryhasbeenaccusedof being involved with Joseph Felix Badio, one of the main suspectsintheassassinationof PresidentMoïse.However,the primeMinister–designatehas dismissed the allegations of his involvement in the killing ofMoïseas“fakenews”.

Basil Williams loses appeal to be struck out in libel suit by Prithima Kissoon

Former Attorney General (AG), Basil Williams SC is not entitled to any immunity that can prevent him from being sued in his personal capacity This was essentially the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Tuesday in the case which Williams challenged the determination of the GuyanaAppealCourt.

The Guyana Appeal had thrown out Williams' application for special leave to appeal a decision that was made essentially in favour of Prithima Kissoon, the former Deputy Solicitor General in the Attorney General's Chambers who had sued him fordefamationin2017.

Kissoon sued Williams andGNNLfor$25Mforlibel over what she considered false and malicious reports published in the Guyana

Chronicle.

In the determination on Tuesday, CCJ President Justice Adrian Saunders said that Mr Williams may not have expressly couched hisargumentsinthiswaybut, essentially, what he is claiming is that the Act has the effect of immunising him personally from suit on account of his then status as Attorney General. “That is a fallacy No one is above the law,”Williamsadded.

ThedisputearoseasBasil Williams, while holding the office of Attorney General, believed that Kissoon was sympathetictotheopposition political party and these sympathies extended to deliberately undermining court cases involving the

opposition.

After the appeal, Attorney General v Jagdeo, which was under Ms. Kissoon's care and control, was dismissed, Williams ordered Ms. Kissoon off all political cases. According to Ms Kissoon, Williams abused and vilified her in the press. Ultimately, each of them published in the press

Budget 2023 dismal

…Opposition Chief Whip chides Govt. over poor governance practices

Opposition Chief Whip, Christopher Jones has described Budget 2023 as dismal while noting that it is a true reflection of the People's Progressive Party Civic's (PPP/C) inability to s u b s c r i b e t o g o o d governance.

J o n e s m a d e h i s comments on Monday during the first day of Budget 2023 debates being held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Lilendaal. Senior Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh last week revealed a $781. 9B budget the country's largest budget But according to Jones, the government has no interest in ensuring the equitable distribution of wealth amongstallGuyanese.

He said that the true test of good governance is determined by the ability to deliver on human rights, civil, cultural, economic, political,andsocialrights.

“We don't have good governance in Guyana Corruption flourishes and too many Guyanese do not enjoy the protection of the law Often our security forces seem to believe that they are a law unto themselves at a time when the framework of the law must apply to the entire society especially as it relates to the oil and gas

sector we seem, sir to r e t r o g r e s s i n g i n t o lawlessness and a mal administration,” Jones said in his rebuttal of Budget 2023 The APNU+AFC Member of Parliament (MP) also pointed to the b r e a k d o w n i n t h e

parliamentary functions as evidence of the PPP/C's lack of interest in good governance.

“There is a clear need for us to make parliament stronger and more effective buttheoppositeisoccurring. There has been irregular holding of parliamentary committees and the scarcity in sitting the National Assembly,” he said with the support of his colleagues banging their hands on their desks. He continued: “The

their side of this sorry episode resulting in the proceedings. Williams was joined to the proceedings in his personal capacity as first named defendant He objectedtothisandappliedto the High Court of Guyana to have the case struck out against him. On 9th April 2019, the High Court dismissed his application but gave permission to Ms Kissoon to amend her claim to add the office of the Attorney General as a third defendant,whichshedid.

On 5th June 2020, the Attorney General applied to the High Court for an order striking out the claim against Williams in his personal capacity It was contended thatthejoinderofWilliamsin his personal capacity breached the State Liability and Proceedings Act Cap 6:05 ('theAct'). On 26th June 2020,theHighCourtgranted this application and struck, Mr Williams out from the claim.

incorrect email address, therefore he did not learn of the decision until 13th April 2021.

On 28th April 2021, Williams filed an application for leave to appeal the decisionoftheFullCourttoa judge in chambers in the Court of Appeal This application was filed outside of the fourteen-day time period and so he also filed an applicationtoextendthetime to lodge that appeal. This application was struck out by thejudgesittinginChambers on the basis that he did not haveanyjurisdiction.

Williams then moved a full Panel of the Court of Appeal seeking leave to appeal the decision of the Full Court and an extension of time to lodge that appeal.

decision.

parliamentary oversight committeeonsecuritywhich is chaired by the Prime Minister of Guyana has never met; the standing orders committee and the instrument committee have allnevermet.”

Further, the Chief Whip said that the changing of the quorum of the Public Accounts Committee has resulted in the Committee not meeting on several occasions.

“Questions, motions, bills ad petitions brought to this house by the Opposition have never seen the light of day or never made it to the Order Paper,” Jones said alluding specifically to the petition taken to the House by Deputy Speaker Lennox Shuman to ask for a deferral of the passage of the Natural ResourceFundBill.

"That petition was never read by this House, we were told that it would be read at another sitting but to date, it was never read," Jones posited while accusing the PPP/C government of forcefully attempting to control every aspect of governance.

The Chief Whip posited thatgoodgovernancecannot exist unless there is a productive relationship between the Government andtheOpposition.

Ms Kissoon appealed thisdecisiontotheFullCourt of the Supreme Court of Justice, which comprised of three judges, one of which was Kissoon's brother-inlaw The Full Court of the Supreme Court allowed Kissoon's appeal and restored Mr Williams as first defendantintheproceedings. The decision was delivered to the parties via email on 31st March 2021, but Mr Williams alleges that the decision was emailed to an

Williams relied on the fact that the decision was sent to an incorrect email address and that he did not learn of it until 13th April 2021. The full Panel dismissed the appeal and found that the intended appeal had no merit as the provisions of the Act didnotpreventapersonfrom suing Williams in his personalcapacity

Williams applied to the CCJ for special leave to appealthedecisionofthefull Panel of the Court ofAppeal.

He argued that the compositionoftheFullCourt justified him being granted special leave to appeal the decision of the full Panel of the Court of Appeal which affirmed the Full Court's

In respect of the constitutionoftheFullCourt, the Court considered the authorities relating to bias and the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct The Court found that the judge of the Full Court ought to have recused himself given his close relationship with Ms. Kissoon,theappellantbefore him.

Nevertheless, the Court found that this issue was not determinative of the application for special leave because this Court must still assess whether Williams has otherwise met the test for being granted special leave, that test being whether the intending appellant demonstrates a realistic prospect of the appeal being successful.

The intending appellant may do so if for example there appears to be an egregious error of law or there was a possible miscarriage of justice but in thisinstancewasnotproven.

Opposition Chief Whip, Christopher Jones

Former Attorney General, Basil Williams SC

Deputy Solicitor General of Guyana, Prithima Kissoon

Offshore drill contractors set to cash-in big

positioned to cash-in big with their rates to lease a drilling rig to oil and gas companies currently standing at more than US$400,000 a day, the WallStreetJournal(WSJ)recently reported in an article headlined 'The Offshore Oil Business Is GushingAgain Rigs that haven't beenusedinyearsaresettingoutto sea as demand for energy surges. 'Everyonestarteddrillingagain.'

The WSJ is an American business-focused, international daily newspaper based in New York City and is one of the world's leading daily financial newspapers.

The WSJ said that the hunt for offshorepetroleumhasresurfaced, fuelled by a surge in global demand for energy, supply disruptions triggered by the war in Ukraine and crude prices that remainaboveprepandemiclevels.

Notably, while the oil giants saw record-shattering profits last year amid the Ukraine war, there are other beneficiaries in the oil and gas industry who will also to seebigprofits.

InDecemberlastyear,Oilprice reported that the stocks of offshore drilling contractors such as

…chargingoilcompaniesmorethanUS$400,000 perdaytoleaserig - Wall Street Journal

Transocean, Valaris, and Noble Corp were skyrocketing amid robust demand for their services, with day rates for drilling rigs surgingaswell.

Now,theWallStreetJournalis reporting that rates could top US$500,000 per day, up from aboutUS$400,000atthemoment, with offshore drilling picking up everywhere as demand shows no signsitisabouttostartdeclining.

Notably, in 2022, the contractors were charging the oil companies around US$300,000 a day and less than US$200,000 two years ago to lease a drill rig daily

Thelastoffshoreoilboomhad come to an end in 2014, when oil prices crashed due to a surge of supply from U.S. shale oil producers and a refusal by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) cartel to cut its petroleum output. Manydrillerseitherwentbankrupt or had to restructure their debt. However, with oil prices soaring and the demand for petroleum the drillers are now making their comeback.

“Over the past year and a half, everyone started drilling again offshore, and they want to use the most efficient rigs and all of a

sudden, bam!” Noble Corp chief executive Robert Eifler told the WallStreetJournal.

“Aftereightyearswebasically havefullutilizationofthehigh-end drillshipfleet.”

According to oilprice, a roundupofthebiggestdealssigned intheoffshoredrillingindustrylast year reinforces the perception of a strongrevival.

The biggest deal was QatarEnergy's contract with

A drill rig (Transocean photo)

in2022.

Analyst expectations about the offshore drilling market appear to be upbeat. Oil prices are higher thantheywerein2019,oildemand is strong, and offshore drilling contractors are turning a nice profit Deepwater drilling is particularly attractive since that's where most of the world's untappedoilresourcesare.

According to data from Westwood Global Energy Group, some 90 percent of the world's offshore rigs were contracted to work or were already working as oflastDecember

That's up from about 60 percent five years earlier, the WSJ notedinitsreport.

Moreover, this surge in demand for offshore drilling, especially in deep waters, has also revived demand for drillships that were put offline during the pandemic and the industry downturnitcaused.

The Wall Street Journal highlighted too that offshore drilling is booming in Brazil, Guyana, and Suriname as well. It was stated that Guyana is enjoying the results of a string of offshore discoveries that have boosted the nation's oil exports by 164 percent

Drillships cost about US$100 million to put back online, and owners are demanding most of the moneyupfront.Itwasreportedthat their clients are paying it: the WSJ notes a deal between Valaris and Equinor for a drillship that was sent to drill in the deep waters offshoreBrazil.

Talks ongoing for extension of local content requirements to mining sector nd-GMSA2 VicePresident

By Shervin Belgrave

Talks are ongoing to have the country's local content policy, which is exclusively for the oil and gas sector, be extended to the mining and other sectors, second Vice President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), Dr. Vishnu DoergasaidonTuesday.

Doerga was at the time addressing a Jamaican delegation led by the Island's Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Aubryn Hill, during a “Doing Business in Guyana Session”heldattheMarriotHotel.

The Jamaican Delegation is currently on its second trade mission to Guyana and is focused on the construction, technology, tourismandfinancesectors.

Theteamisalsolookingtolend support to Guyana in the identified areasthecountryneedstrainingin.

A member of the visiting delegation asked Dr Doerga if Guyana's Local Content requirement is needed for sectors outsideofoilandgas.

The GMSA second VP responded that at the moment,

Guyana's local Content policy is onlyfortheoilandgassectorwhile adding “but there are talks about getting some of these local content requirements extended beyond oil andgas,perhapsinmining”.

Guyana'sLocalContentlawfor its petroleum sector requires that foreign companies wanting to do business in Guyana must partner withalocal.Thelawalsomandates that the local partner must own at

least 51 percent shares in the joint venture and 75 percent of the managerialstaffmustbeGuyanese.

None of these requirements, however, are needed for the mining industry or any other sector

Although foreign mining companies working in Guyana would employ a large number of Guyanese, they still rake in majority of the profits because the mining concessions are fully ownedbythem.

Last year, calls were made for the government to extend local content requirements into the mining sector and other industries but Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeodismissedthosecalls.

In July 2022, Kaieteur News hadreportedthattheVicePresident was asked at GMSA mid-year dinner held at the Princess Ramada Hotel whether his government would consider extending the local content requirements into the mining, bauxite and other major industries.

In response, Guyana's VP had said “Right now, that is not on the cards We promised in the manifesto that we will do it for the oilandgasindustrybutifwedothis ineverysectoroftheeconomythen

we can kill the national momentum that we have and right now the answerisno,wearenotplanningto do that for any other sector at this pointintime”.

To support his point of view, Jagdeo explained that as it is, the government is having a difficult time administering the local content laws in the oil and gas sector, because it is now in the processoflearning.

HehadnotedthatGuyanahasto build its capacity and pointed out that the government also needs to takeintoaccountthatthecountryis part of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the C a r i b b e a n C o m m u n i t y (CARICOM).

With that said, Jagdeo reasoned that it is not desirable to implement thelocalcontentlegislationinother sectors because it can create a reciprocal behaviour for Guyanese investors abroad or alternately the foreign countries can put up trade barriers, countervailing taxes to prevent Guyanese products from goingintotheirmarkets.

“So it's not desirable but for the oil and gas industry, we thought it was necessary because frankly speaking, these oil and gas

companies have a pattern of behaviour that they find it very convenient to work with big companies, and often foreign companies.

They don't make the necessary or the effort or additional effort to grow local companies and we believe the law has to force them to do that,” the Vice President had explained.

McDermott for expanding the production capacity at the North Field, which McDermott said is oneofthelargestsingledealsinits history

Second Vice President of GMSA, Dr. Vishnu Doerga

Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

Guyana beats industry approval rate for BREAK NECK SPEED!

gas projects by 11 years

By Davina Bagot and Kiana Wilburg (reporting from Trinidad & Tobago)

-Rystadofficial

Hururu Toshao denies misusing funds

…accuses 'small group' of villagers of stirring up trouble in community

Residents of the UpperBerbiceRivervillageof Hururu are accusing their Toshao Mark Gomes of financial malpractices and are calling on the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to seriously investigate the allegations. But the Amerindian said his accusers are persons with personal grouses againsthim.

Gomes is accused of unilaterally spending hundreds of thousands of dollars without the consent or knowledge of the council and by extension, the village.

The community recently received a $5M contract for the construction of a road, however more than half of the funds were allegedly misappropriated to purchase a tractor “The tractor is notworking,can'tuse,theroadisn't finished and so we are here asking questions.

No public meeting was called concerning the purchasing of the tractor and why he decided to purchase it. When questions were asked, he said the minister told him

to use the money,” one resident complainedto Kaieteur News

The community receives millions of dollars in grants as well as royalty and other income generating systems. Residents said those funds are being misused. When questions are asked, they are being verbally abused by the treasurer

“She does tell you, shut up and you stupid and these things, hollering up on you and all these things,”anotherresidentalleged.

They claimed that the financial records are not updated and cannot be openly scrutinized. In fact, the Toshaoisbeingaccusedofnotonly misappropriating funds but borrowing as well from the Council's Treasury without consent.

“One time, we find out he borrowed $200,000 and when we asked, he said, he gon pay it back. Up to now, we don't know if it pay back.”

Residents are concerned that thecommunitycannotadvanceand development cannot occur if actions are not taken to ensure

proper accountability for the funds. Last week, the council called a meeting for consideration of the village's 2023 budget. However, residents are adamant that discussions concerning the previous budget and grants that were misused must be done before. “We ain't see no report and the money them spend out and we are saying that for the last quarter last year, for October, November, December and whole financial report wrong, so we need to clear that up before we move on to this year.”

Personal Vendetta

In response to the allegations, Toshao Gomes said since his appointment in 2021, he has been dealing with a small group of villagers who has a “personal vendetta” against him and are trying to tarnish his character He said politics is destroying the community, but believes that a large percentage of the village is pleased with his performance Relative to the purchase of the tractor, he said when he assumed office, the village was indebted to

Jumbo Jet to the tune of $20M for heavy-duty equipment. However, because the equipment was not in working condition, a decision was made to purchase a tractor instead, which decreased the debt to $13M. Following a discussion with Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill, a decision was made to purchase the tractor with the funding, instead of expending fundstorentone.Hesaidthetractor is not working because the very personssabotagedit.

He said no funds were borrowed for personal use but to offset emergency expenses such as the purchasing of transformers so that the community can receive electricity Hururu is one of the outlying communities that receives close to $2M monthly from RUSAL and royalties from forestry

That money he said is strictly budgeted for and reports of spending are at the Village Council for perusal. He said an audit was completed in 2021 and everything was intact and the Ministry is welcomed to execute another audit

atanytime.“Theyarejustouttoget me, is just a few of them trying to corrupt the village. I am trying my best. Since I am in office, I made a lot of development happen like the road and the ICT hub and so forth. Most times I have to go into my own pocket to offset expenses but I willkeepdoingwhatIamdoingfor thecommunity,”hesaid.

Rystad Energy's Senior Vice President and Head of Latin America, Shreiner Parker during his presentation at the T&T Energy Conference

Toshao Mark Gomes

Queen’s College robotics teams receive silver and bronze medals at Caribbean Science Olympiad

Ex-lover wanted for murder of E.C.D. woman

TheGuyana PoliceForce (GPF) on Tuesday issued a wanted bulletin for 65-yearold Deonarine Sawh called “Boyzie” for the murder of his ex-partner Nazaleen Mohammed.

Two Queen's College robotics teams represented Guyana successfully at the C a r i b b e a n S c i e n c e Olympiad, a virtual event that saw the participation of teams from across the CaribbeanRegion.

The team, consisting of twogroups,theTweakTitans and Robotastic, competed in the level one and level two categories,respectively

The Robotastic team, led by STEMGuyana's Lateisha McArthur and featuring Joshua McArthur, Raphel Shaw, Akaia Griffith, and Jayden Smith, were awarded thebronzemedal.

The Tweak Titans team, led by STEMGuyana's ZionaraLawrenceandMahir Rajkuhmar, and featuring Aquila Whyte, Yeshua Hutson, and Nikhel Persaud, receivedthesilvermedal.

According to a statement issued by StemGuyana, the

twoteamspersevereddespite s o m e c h a l l e n g e s encountered “The young engineers from Queen's College demonstrated grace and maturity throughout the event. Their success at the C a r i b b e a n S c i e n c e Olympiad is a testament to their hard work, dedication, andinnovativethinking,”the statementsaid.

S t e m G u y a n a i n commending the students s a i d t h a t r o b o t i c s competitions are not just about engineering and technology, they are also a b o u t t e a m w o r k , c o l l a b o r a t i o n , a n d determination. “These competitions require sacrifice and the ability to r e s o l v e c o n f l i c t s respectfully, as well as the engagement of talented mentors who can contribute to the mission.”Meanwhile, STEMGuyana's Director,

KarenAbrams, who is proud of the members of the Queen's College STEM club has announced plans to work with the Ministry of Education to take robotics clubs to as many schools as possiblethisyear

“The success of the Queen's College robotics teams has made the nation proud and serves as an inspiration to other students across Guyana, ” the statementsaid.

STEMGuyana has also announced a national robotics competition in late April that will see more than 100 teams from across Guyana competing for the top 10 spots. These 10 teams will represent Guyana at the annual IYRC robotics challengeinKoreainAugust 2024. With this level of e x c e l l e n c e a n d determination, Guyana's futurelooksbright.

This publication had reported that the body of 47year-old Nazalene, a housewife of Belfield Squatting Area, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was on Monday found floating in a canal with several wounds about her abdomen The Police in their initial statement had disclosed that the suspect has been identified as the dead woman'sex-partner

In a wanted bulletin, the police listed Sawh's last known address as Hope Estate, ECD and Crabwook Creek, Corentyne Berbice. Thepoliceareaskinganyone with information about the whereabouts of Deonarine Sawhtocontactthemon2256940,225-8196,226-7476or thenearestpolicestation.

It was reported that the w o m a n ' s b o d y w a s discovered around 15:00h in a canal at Hope Lowlands, ECD, facing upward with woundstoherhead,ear,neck and abdomen – with her intestinesprotruding.

K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that the woman was living at Belfield Squatting Area, with her daughter and reputed husband, who is presently at seaonafishingboat.

Nazaleen was last seen alive about 07:00h on

Monday, by a neighbour, while she was leaving her home and heading to her brother's residence at Hope Lowlands,ECD.

Reports indicate that around 08:05h, the woman's 32-year-old son received a call from his mother cellular phone. When he answered, he reportedly heard a male voice (whom he identified as the suspect) and also his mother's voice shouting for her phone – before the call ended.

Itwasstatedthatafterthe woman did not return home, the neighbour left in search of her While walking along Hope Lowlands, Railway Embankment, the neighbour came across Nazaleen's motionlessbodyinthecanal.

T h e p o l i c e w e r e summoned, and the scene w a s p r o c e s s e d a n d photographed. Nazalene's body was escorted to a funeral home awaiting a Post Mortem Examination (PME).

Man drowns while swimming in Ituni creek

A West Bank Demerara (WBD) man reportedly drowned on Monday around 16:00hrs while swimming in the Kamakabra Creek, Ituni, Region10.

The dead man has been identified as 31-year-old Patrick Lord of Vive-LaForce, WBD Investigations revealed that around 06:00 hrsMonday,PatrickLord,his brother Paul Lord, and their co-workers went to Silicone G r e e n S a w m i l l a t Yarrowkabra on the S o e s d y k e , L i n d e n Highway.LateronMonday,at about 11:00 hrs, they left for UNAMCO Road, Upper Berbice River, and had stoppedinLindenforfueland food.

They arrived in Ituni at around 15:30 hrs and made another stop at Rankin Shop to get supplies. While there, they drank a bottle of El Dorado 5-year-old rum after which they continued their journey

However, they stopped

again at Kamakabra Creek where they went for a swim. Patrick Lord was seen swimming near a koker, but reportedly went under and failedtore-surface.

His brother and other coworkers then started to look for him in the water They frantically searched for about ten minutes, after which Patrick's brother, Paul Lord felt him under the water and pulledhimout.

They rushed him to the Ituni Health Centre, where a Medic checked him before transferringhimtotheLinden Hospital Complex, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Investigations are ongoing.

Tags: drowns, swimming, Ituni, Linden, Patrick Lord, KamaKabraCreek

Lead: A West Bank Demerara (WBD) on Monday reportedly drowned around 16:00hrs while swimming in the KamaKabra Creek,Ituni,Region10.

Two Queen’s College robotics teams represented Guyana successfully at the recently concluded Caribbean Science Olympiad, a virtual event that saw the participation of teams from across the Caribbean Region. (Photo courtesy of STEMGuyana)

Wanted, Deonarine Sawh called “Boyzie”

Dead, Nazaleen Mohammed (Travis Chase photo)

New hospital for Bartica

…as Govt. continues mission to fix broken healthcare system-Min.Anthony

Ha v i n g b e e n allocated some $84.9B from the National Budget, the Minister of Health, Dr Frank AnthonyonTuesdaysaidthat among the projects they are looking to execute this year, is the construction of a hospital at Bartica and the introduction of new telediagnostic services, which can cause the turnaround time for samples sent to the labs be much shorter

The minister made these announcements during the second-day of the Budget Debates which is being held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. Minister, Anthony during his presentation called out the former government on a number of projects they had promised to execute during their tenure that they did not fulfill.

“I want to go back in 2015, Mr. Speaker; we saw a litany of promises that were made by theAPNU/AFC and in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and up to 2020, there were

budgets that were presented and in each of those budgets, the then Minister of Finance made statements what would be done in the health sector.”

The minister asked, “and I want to ask the Honourable members over there, where aretheseprogrammes.”

According to him, his government's task now is not only to fix the system which the former government has left broken but also to transformitintoaworldclass healthcaresystem.”

Minister Anthony said that his government in fixing the primary healthcare system between 2021 and 2022hasupgradedmorethan 250 health centres and health posts in every region of the country

He explained that they have collaborated with the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) and develop a comprehensive package of services where they would be able to deliver more than 216 interventions at health centres and health postsacrossthecountry “Mr Speaker among these

'Oil revenue budget will only benefit...

From page 8

Assembly that many Indigenous persons have been unable to benefit from thescholarshipsbecausethey do not have internet in their communities.

However, Public Service Minister Sonia Parag who spoke immediately after Cox rebuttedtheOppositionMP's statements.

“My cellphone number is on my Facebook available to all Guyanese, so it's not just Mr Cox that can call me and get through. Any Guyanese can call me and get through and that is how our government has operated fromAugust2tonowandwe willcontinuetodoso,”Parag stated Parag said it was during one of her community meetings engaging with people in Mabaruma, North West District that she met Cox about his scholarship. She told the National Assembly that in 2022, 167 Region One residents received Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarships while 558 persons received scholarships from Region Two; 1,429 from Region

interventions would be m a t e r n a l a n d c h i l d healthcare, we would be working to put better diagnosis for infection diseases,”henoted.

Among some of their interventions, the minister listed that during the last year, they distributed some 4,500 spectacles to communities in the hinterlandforfree.Morethan 500 persons across the country were screened and given hearing aids and that thisyear,theyareplanningto distribute some 1,000 more.

“Mr Speaker to deliver the services at our health posts and health centres because under the APNU not much training was done for health personnel and over the last two years alone, we have trained more than 200 communities health workers so much so that in every health centre and health post in Regions Nine and One, there are at least two communities health workers at each of those centres,” he revealed.

In addition, Anthony

stated that over the last two years, the ministry would have provided to hinterland communities at health centres and health posts approximately 31 ATVs, 14 ambulances, 24 boats and nine motorcycles “so that we can improve transportation of the medical personnel and movingofpatients.”

“Mr Speaker all that I just spoke about was fixing the things that they broke, what we have been able to do because as I said, we want to transform what we are doing from the rudimentary to a world-class system and to do this, it requires innovation anditrequirestheapplication of technology,” the Health Ministermentioned.

This year, according to the Minister, they are planning to expand the Remote E medicine clinic which was implemented last year

This programme allows medical personnel in the hinterland areas to connect with doctors in the city to deliver healthcare services to theirpatients.

Minister of Health, Frank Anthony

Three; 3,090 from Region Four; 635 from Region Five; 894 from Region Six; 191 fromRegionSeven;46,from Region Eight; 143 from Region Nine; and 527 from Region10.

Minister Parag disclosed that her ministry will surpass the 20,000 targets this year, with possible increases leadingupto2025.

She said that in addition to the GOAL scholarships, the government continues to invest heavily in the provision of Public Service Scholarships. She noted in 2022, some 420 public servants were actively c o m p l e t i n g t h e i r scholarships at various institutions including the UniversityofGuyanaandthe Carnegie School of Home Economics.

The minister disclosed that 1,221 government employeeswillbecontinuing theirstudiesbeyond2022.

According to Parag, with $1.8B allocated to advance the GOAL scholarship initiative, the Government is well on its way to achieving its five-year target this year, with24monthstospare.

Another plan is the additionofaseventhhospital to the six that were announced last year As reported on, the government has awarded contracts for six brand new regional hospitals to be built in the country “Eachofthesehospitalsis75 inpatients beds, modern theatres, newA&E unit, new imaging suites including CT scanssothatwecandobetter imaging, in addition to these six hospitals, we will be adding a seventh at Bartica and already we have started the design for that hospital and it would have similar amenities,”hehighlighted.

He went on to state that apart from these hospitals, they would be introducing new type of services,

including what they called t e l e d i a g n o s t i c o r teleophthalmology, or t e l e r a d i o l o g y a n d telepathology

And this he shared would causetheturnaroundtimefor samples sent to the labs to be muchshorter

In closing, the Minister announced,“Mr Speaker,we are also working on our oncology suite, new cardiovascular services, we are also going to introduce n e w g u i d e l i n e s f o r diabetes in another month or so you would see new national guidelines for diabetes and starting in the first quarter of this year, we would be training 1000 nurses for the health sector ”

Brazilian police identify alleged mastermind in Amazon murders

A gang leader is accused of organising the 2022 murders of Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and journalistDomPhillips.

Aljazeera - Federal police in Brazil have identified a Colombian fish trader and gang leader as the mastermind behind the dual murders of British journalist D o m P h i l l i p s a n d Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, a crime that drew international attention to the Amazonrainforest.

On Monday, Alexandre Fontes, the head of the federal police for the Brazilian state ofAmazonas, said that his investigators had a “strong conviction” that Ruben Dario da Silva Villar was behind the June 2022 slayings.Pereira, 41, and Phillips, 57, were last seen on June 5, 2022, when they took a boat through the Javari Valley Indigenous area on the western edge of Brazil, close to the border withPeruandColombia.

The two men were doing research for a book on

sustainability in theAmazon thatPhillips,ajournalistwho had worked with The Guardian and the New York Times, had hoped to write. But their boat never returned.The disappearance of the two men renewed concerns about the threats t h a t r e p o r t e r s , environmentalists and Indigenous leaders receive while working in the region, where illegal miners, loggers, poachers and narcotics traffickers all compete for resources and territorialcontrol.

After 10 days, the search for the men came to a close when a fisher named Amarildo da Costa de Oliveira confessed to killing them.HeledBrazilianpolice to a burial site concealed about 3km (1.8 miles) in the f o r e s t P e r e i r a , t h e Indigenous expert, had previously clashed with local fishers, particularly as an employee of Brazil's f e d e r a l a g e n c y f o r Indigenous affairs, FUNAI. He had received threats and

wasknowntocarryagunfor safety AfterleavingFUNAI, Pereira continued to work with Brazil's Indigenous populations, teaching local people how to monitor illegal activity and collect photographic evidence of crimes.On the day of his and Phillips's disappearance, Pereira was reportedly carrying evidence of criminal behaviour to a u t h o r i t i e s i n t h e municipality of Atalaia do Norte. He had been doing inspections of illegal fishing operationsinthearea.

Both he and Phillips were ultimately shot to death.Prosecutors have said thatPhillipswaslikelykilled “only because of being with Bruno [Pereira], in order to ensureimpunityfor theprior crime” Three men, includingthefisherOliveira, werechargedinJulyfortheir rolesinthemurders.

US politics, Canada's multiculturalism, South America's geopolitical rise we bring you the storiesthatmatter

Villar — the gang leader identified by police on Monday and known by the nickname “Colombia” — is accused of running an illegal fishing network in the Amazon, one that suffered financial losses due to Pereira'swork.

Police said he financed impoverished locals to illegally fish in the Javari Va l l e y I n d i g e n o u s territory.Villar was already in police custody at the time of Monday's announcement, as he faces additional charges for allegedly using a falsified Brazilian birth certificate, as well as fake Peruvian identity papers, to carryoutillegalactivities.

D u r i n g a p r e s s conference in Manaus, the capital of the Amazonas state, federal police accused Villar of providing the ammunition used to kill Phillips and Pereira Officials also said that Villar called the confessed killer both before and after the shootings and paid for his lawyer

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14companiessubmit bidtosupplystationery toHealthMinistry

Fourteencompanieshave submittedbidstotheNational Procurement andTenderAdministrationBoard(NPTAB) office to supply stationery to the Ministry of Health.

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OnemoreCOVID-19 death recorded

Guyana has re corded another Covid-19 death taking the toll to 1,294, the MinistryofHealth(MOH)has confirmed.

All Guyanese are being encouraged to continue to observe the public health measures set out by the Ministry of Health.

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Thedeceasedisa62-yearold woman of the Essequibo Islands West Demerara region. “The MOH expresses sincerest condolences to the family of the deceased and willmakeeveryefforttoprovideallthenecessarysupport during this difficult time to render any assistance needed,” a statement read.

The ministry is also appealing to the general public to respect the confidentiality of the deceased and her familyandtoallowthemtomourn their tragic loss in peace.

PENPAL

Indian

Thepublichealthmeasure encourages the: the need for everyone five (5) years and older to get vaccinated against COVID-19; the need foreveryonetogetaCOVID19boosterdoseaftercompleting the primary vaccination series; the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintainingasafedistanceof six feet from others and; the need for good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

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Corruption benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor Say no to it.

MinistryofHealth Supplyanddeliveryofstationeryforprogramme1-8.

OP:ED African Guyanese existence again systematically targeted, continually eroded

By GHK Lall

ThePPPGovernmentand leadership can either be congratulated or condemned f o r i t s r e l e n t l e s s commitment, its premediated visions, to target African Guyanese communities, interests, ways of life, and then systemically erode all three.

The latest involves cooperatives and idle lands (Demerara Waves, January 23), as presented by the Hon. Minister of Labour On the one hand, I go out of my way to congratulate the PPP brain trust for coming up with yet another perverse scheme that indicatestheenergiesthatare devoted to delivering the vindictive, vengeful, and vicious thrusted again at the breast of African Guyanese. On the other, there can only b e t h e h a r s h e s t denunciations, the sharpest curses, at the latest expression focused on coops and lands left idle, which does nothing but strip a people,layerbylayer,oftheir dignity, their presence, and a respectful belonging. From my perspective, the message from the PPP to the African Guyanese community is simple as it is telling: deal with us on our terms, step

over to our side, or this is whatisgoingtohappen,with more planned, and more to take shape in their implementations.

It takes a considerable amountoftwistedthinking,a doggedly calculating mentality, to drum up, then come out, with such an objective now laid at the feet of a besieged segment of Guyana's population. Amid all the breathtaking things, it is enlightening about what burns in the soul of the PPP, when it unveils this development involving cooperatives and idle lands. However looked at, from whatever angle or elevation, theconclusionisimmovable: there is a sinister and ominous vision harboured that has as its sole destination, the reduction of the African Guyanese community to that of chattels and dependents, subject to the ruthless dictates of a PPP Government that keeps venturing into territory best slowly and patiently cultivated, rather than consumed by the official unsheathed sword. I recall that there were some people, and a government over in Europe just under a century a g o , t h a t t h i s P P P Government now eerily

resembles when things like these surfaces I invite Guyanese to do the comparisons, see how close theycomeintheparallelsthat targeted jobs, strongholds, and culture, until there was nothing left, as all were decimatedtotheboneandthe bitterness of ashes that linger to this day Those who are keen students of history know that that can be taken literally

As is the norm, the PPP has a cover story, and it has the usual ring; at least, on the surface, and within limited confines According to DemeraraWaves, the Labour Minister said, “those that w a n t t o w o r k f o r development, we will work with them but what we will not continue to have happenpeople utilising the farcical umbrella of coop societies when they have government land in their possession and I have no apology to make. The action, as I have said, is either they resolve these matters or they will be dissolved.”

“Work for development”, it is. Who defines that, using what clear, consistent standard? Regarding “the farcical umbrella of coop societies”, there are those, but my interpretation is that

that could be a smokescreen for what usually turns out to be the camouflage and subterfuge for draining away pockets ofAfrican Guyanese presence to the advantage of the PPP Government, through clever visions and objectives harboured. The matterofIDPADA-Gandthe unilateral cessation of the bulk of its funds came about under a similar nebulous development. It was about use of funds, fraud alleged, audit reports ignored and discarded, and an African Guyanese group left hanging by a fingernail, and with every intention that it is gutted and left swinging in the wind. City Hall accused of mismanagement and corruptions, only for more corruptions to be added through Central Government i n t r u s i o n s a n d manipulations; the capital city and Region 4 (with its kind of people) now existing as occupied territories. It is why I connect this parallel of “farcical umbrella of coop societies” to the precedent of IDPADA-G and City Hall, the conditions to which they have been reduced, and all that has followed since. I discern a continuum of crises manufactured, then smartly exploited.

It would have encouraged for the Hon Minister to speak of ideas to support the coop sector in the same manner done in the interior involving corn and soya; inspiring to hear plans in his ministry to address the humiliations of Guyanese oil workers, throughmoniesfordozensof Labor Inspectors and occupational safety must haves. Instead, the Minister was steely in his resolve, in the contemptuously dismissive nature of the PPP Government, this of the 'One Guyana'declarations,“Ihave no apology to make.” His President must be proudly cheering on the sidelines since it is a song straight out ofhisownsongbook.

I am thinking of Mocha, IDPADA-G, City Hall, and now coops and idle lands (all involving primarily African Guyanesewelfare),andthere are some alarming questions that reasonably follow in the washofthose.

W h a t n e x t i s contemplated by the PPP Government with African Guyaneseinterestsinmindto be undermined? Who and where, and under what tent,

GHK Lall

would another plank in the way of life of African Guyanese be selected and then first weakened, then extinguished? There is a certain compelling, inarguable logic to these questions,asbolsteredbythe p r o g r e s s i o n ( o r deterioration)ofeventsinthe last two plus years. And though particularly so in the now widening harrowing experiences of African Guyanese, it doesn't stop there.

At least, not for anyone with a conscience, with a mind unfettered by tribal distortions, with what is constructive and progressive for this country Instead of ultimatums like resolve or be dissolved, I urge partnering forenhancing.

Rather than dismantle and decimate, I exhort building up and the believing that comes from such action. Thatcouldleadtotheelusive 'One Guyana' said to be envisioned.

Missing migrants in the Caribbean reached record high in 2022

anted man,

Oneil 'Hot Skull' Benn was on Monday night involved in shootout with police at a road block set up atLewisManor,Corentyne.

Benn was wanted by police in connection with a number of armed robberies. The shooting incident occurredatabout21:00h.

K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that police actingoninformation,setup a roadblock along the Lewis Manor, No. 19 Public Road and attempted to intercept a black Toyota Fielder Wagon when Benn, an occupant of the said vehicle opened fire onpolicerankswhoreturned fire.

The wagon was driven by a 32-year-old man from Lad Lane, New Amsterdam, Berbice and there were three passengers in the vehicle.

However, wh

n the occupants of the vehicle saw thepolice,theytriedtomake a U-turn in a bid to escape th

officers.

B e n n , w h o w a s reportedly shot during the exchangeofgunshots,exited the vehicle and police gave chase on foot Police followed a blood trail and recovered a gun with ammunitionnearby

According to police, Benn ran into a nearby rice field with plans of evading them but was eventually captured.

The Toyota Fielder Wagon is stationed at the Central Police Station, New Amsterdam along with the firearm, a Lorcin .380 pistol withamagazineandtwolive rounds.

The other occupants of thecarwerealsoarrested.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM)'s Missing Migrants Project documented at least 321 deaths and disappearances of migrants in the Caribbeanin2022-thehighestnumber recorded since the project started in 2014, and a drastic leap compared to 180registeredin2021.

Outofthetotal,66werewomen,64 men, and 28 boys, girls, and adolescents, while 163 remain unidentified.

“Over 51 percent of the people who died on migration routes in the Caribbean last year could not be identified,” said Patrice Quesada, IOM's Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean. “This means hundreds of families have no news on the whereaboutsoftheirlovedones.”

Most of the migrants who died or went missing were from Haiti (80), Cuba (69), the Dominican Republic (56) and Venezuela (25). The main cause of death was drowning, mainly due to bad weather conditions that make navigation difficult, and the use of makeshift vessels in poor condition ornotdesignedtocrossthehighseas.

A significant number of the recorded incidents occurred on the routes that lead to the United States, fromtheDominicanRepublictoPuerto Rico, from Haiti to the Dominican Republic, and from Venezuela to several Caribbean islands. Julio César, a Cuban migrant and the only survivor among six of a shipwreck, recently recounted the terrifying experience of migratingonthesedangerousroutes.

“The boat capsizes five times, they lose their meager supplies, and panic and cold overwhelm them,” he said. “Fear reaches the bones, clothes soaked, the vertigo of the waves (...) I sawthemfromabove,whenIwasatthe tip of the wave, until the water swallowedthem.”

IOM calls on governments in the Caribbean and across these migration routes to enhance regional cooperation to ensure the safety and protection of migrants, regardless of their status and at all stages of their journeys. The prevention of migrant deaths must begin with the regular migration pathways, defending the right of families to stay together, and responding to the needs of migrants in vulnerablesituations.

VekicouttoavengeBencicafterendingteen'sMelbournerun

Australian Open of Linda Fruhvirtova in the fourth round on Monday then eyed "revenge" against her lasteight opponent for knocking out her good friend Belinda Bencic The 64th-ranked Croatian overcame the 17year-oldCzech6-2,1-6,6-3.

She now faces Aryna Sabalenka for a place in the semi-finals at Melbourne Park, after the Belarusian fifth seed ousted 12th seed Bencicinstraightsets.

Sabalenka's win upset the plans of Vekic, who had been looking forward to m e e t i n g B e n c i c o f Switzerland in the quarterfinals."All of our matches have been really tough, so I'msurethenextonewillbe, as well," she said of the last-

eight clash with Sabalenka, who is emerging as a title favourite having not droppedasetin2023.

"It's a big match for us both I'm sure she'll be feelingitaswell.Iwilltryto take revenge for Belinda," shesmiled.

"Really sad it's not Belinda. But I'm sure she'll givemesometips."

She may not need them.

Vekic has played Sabalenka six times on the WTA Tour and holds a 5-1 advantage in matchwins.

-'Keepfighting'-

She beat Sabalenka in three sets when they last played, at San Diego in 2022.She also knocked the Belarusian out of the Tokyo Olympics, coincidentally wonbyBencic.

"I have a great head-to-

head record with her. All of ourmatcheshavebeenreally tough, so I'm sure the next one will be, as well," said Vekic.Thelast-16matchwas

Wednesday January 25, 2023

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19

Some disturbing news couldcometoday,Aries.This isn't likely to concern you directly. It's apt to be something about the world situation that might eventually reflect indirectly onyou.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20)

A rise in your income c o u l d l e a d t o a transformation in your values, Taurus, particularly wherebusinessisconcerned.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Stress, strain, and a little conflict within a business, romantic, or creative partnership could have you toyingwiththeidea of ending it,Gemini.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

Today,Cancer,youmight feel a littleinsecureaboutyour state of physical fitness You coulddecidetomakeupforany lack of exercise over the past fewweeks.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

A friend may be going through some pretty big changes,Leo,andcometoyou for a sympathetic ear The problemisthatyoumightbea little stressed yourself and notfeelmuch..

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)

Too many demands placed onyoubyotherscouldhaveyou feelingused,abused,andstressed, Virgo Youmightcomecloseto losingyourtemper

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Today you might have thoughts of expanding your horizons, perhaps on a monumental level, Libra You might consider traveling or even moving to a distant place.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

You're going through a period of major evaluation andassessmentofcertainlife projects Today's energies bring much of that tension into focus, Scorpio, and put it.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Relations with partners of all kinds - business, romantic, creative - might be somewhat strained today, Sagittarius.Youandtheother parties involved may have beenunderalotofstress.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Stress due to overwork mightbecausingyourenergy to flag somewhat today, Capricorn.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)

Today you could feel a rush of sensual passion and desire, Aquarius. You may want to get together with a love partner in the evening, but not be able to do it right now

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

Some problems might arisewithequipmentthatyou use at home or with the structureofthehouse,Pisces. Appliances might go on the blinkortheplumbing.

uncharted territory for the C z e c h R e p u b l i c ' s

Fruhvirtova, the youngest playerleftinthedraw

Theteenagerreachedthe secondroundofthe2022US Open on her Grand Slam debut.Her run in Melbourne was more proof of her rich promise, especially as she fought back from a set down to play her part in a terrifically entertaining 2hr 7min tussle at Margaret CourtArena.

"I didn't really feel like I had much control in the second set to be honest, but I just had to keep fighting and hoping and believing that I will win," said the 26-yearoldVekic.

Vekic extended her own win streak to seven matches, after being unbeaten in three matchesattheUnitedCup.

Sabalenka's stands at eight The 82nd-ranked Fruhvirtova showed all the fighting spirit and talent that has marked her as a future Grand Slam champion when she romped to the second set in35minutes.

But it was the more experienced Vekic who was able to go the distance, althoughsheneededtobattle t h e n e v e r - s a y - d i e Fruhvirtova for another 53 minutestoedgetovictory

“It definitely showed me that I can be in Grand Slam quarter-finals, " said Fruhvirtova."IthinkVekicis in really good form right now, but it was about a few points. I was really good in therallies.Itwasclose,butit definitely showed me what to work on next and come backstronger."

Rybakina rules in...

From page 28 minutes while the roof was closed. Rybakina led 3-1 and was holding a break point before the delay. On return, Ostapenkosavedthefirstbreak point, but Rybakina broke on hernextopportunitytogoup41andwonthefirstset6-2.

In the second set, Ostapenko was up a break but Rybakina leveled with a break of her own. It came on her first break point when Ostapenko hadbeenunabletoconvertfour inthepreviousgame.

Rybakina, who beat topseeded Iga Swiatek in the fourth round, set up match pointswithaces,bothofwhich were saved by Ostapenko. But she clinched the match with another ace, her 11th of the match and a tournamentleading35overall.

“I was nervous in the last game, but I managed my emotions and played very well.”Rybakinasaid.

“The conditions were different after the roof was closed. But it can happen here, you never know, on the morning one weather and later itchanges.”

Rybakina will play the winnerofthenightquarterfinal between American Jessica Pegula, at No. 3 the highest women's seed remaining, and two-time champion Victoria Azarenka.

In men's quarterfinals, 22year-old American Sebastian Kordaplayedthenextmatchat Rod Laver Arena against No. 18-seeded Karen Khachanov In a night quarterfinal, thirdseededStefanosTsitsipasplays JiriLehecka.

The winners of those matches will play each other in thesemifinalsonFriday

AAG hosts first Development...

From page 32

Abie Edwards win in a time of 5:57.90s in the 14 – 16y category while Ivern Murphy ran 5:56.62s to win in the 1719y category Odessa George was the only athlete to compete in the 3000m run and she stopped the clock at 13:29.96s.

Amrist Hector leaped to victory in the Girls 17 – 19yrs Long and Triple Jumps while Renata Liverpool (Javelin –17-19), Kizzy Wrong (Javelin – 14 – 16), Leoni Adams (TripleJump-20+)andShelly Sampson (Triple Jump – 14 –16) were all victorious in the fieldevents.

AFP - Donna Vekic

Donna Vekic ended the fairytale Australian Open of Linda Fruhvirtova.

Dominant India completes 3-0 sweep against New Zealand

INDORE, India (AP) —

Powered by centuries from openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, India beat New Zealand by 90 runs yesterday to win the third one-day international and sweeptheseries.

Gill scored 112 runs off 78 balls and Sharma struck 101 off 85 as India piled up 385-9in50overs.

“I have been batting well and just wanted to go that extra mile today," Sharma said. “The pitch was really goodforbatting.”

In reply, Devon Conway scored 138 off 100 but it wasn't enough as New Zealand was bowled out for 295 runs in 41.2 overs at Holkar Cricket Stadium Shardul Thakur (3-45) and

Kuldeep Yadav (3-62) did mostofthedamage.

The Black Caps lost the three-match series 3-0. India won the first ODI in Hyderabadby12runsandthe second ODI in Raipur by eightwickets.

India became the topranked ODI team with the win. Former No. 1 New Zealanddroppedtofourth.

“In the last six games, we have done most parts right and that is the key in 50-over games,” Sharma said. “We havebeenconsistent.”

Put in to bat, the Indian openerssharedanimpressive stand of 212 runs in 26.1 overs.

It was the highest firstwicket partnership in ODIs against New Zealand,

exceeding 201 runs by Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir for India in 2009.

Sharma reached 100 off 83 balls, his second-quickest ODI century India's skipper hitninefoursandsixsixesfor his30thODIhundred.

At the other end, Gill scoredathirdODIhundredin four innings. He hit 13 fours and five sixes to reach the landmarkoff72balls.

Overall, Gill scored 360 runs in three innings against New Zealand. It was the joint-highestforanybatsman in a bilateral three-match ODI series along with Pakistan's Babar Azam againstWestIndiesin2016.

Gill was named player of theseries.

“It feels nice to perform throughout the series," Gill said. "My approach didn't change after the double hundred (208 in the first ODI). It's all about getting a start and converting every gameifpossible.”

India then lost both openers in 12 deliveries, and continued losing wickets at regularintervals.From230-2 in 28 overs, its last seven wickets added only 155 runs in22overs.

Hardik Pandya held anchorwitha38-ball54after Virat Kohli (36), Ishan Kishan (17) and Suryakumar Yadav (14) were out cheaply onabatting-friendlypitch.

Jacob Duffy took 3-100 in10overs,andBlairTickner finishedwith3-76.

Chasing 386, Pandya bowled Kiwi opener Finn Allenforatwo-ballduck.

But Conway held his end to propel New Zealand's innings. He scored 50 off 41

balls, and then accelerated to 100 off 71 balls, including sevenfoursandsevensixes.

Conway's 138 was New Zealand's third-highest ODI score against India. Overall, he hit 12 fours and eight sixes. Henry Nicholls scored 42 off 40 balls to put on 106 runsforthesecondwicket.

Thakur struck a double

blow in the 26th over to remove Daryl Mitchell (24) and Tom Latham (0) off successive deliveries He alsodismissedGlennPhillips for 5 to break New Zealand's resolve.

Contributions from Mitchell Santner (34) and MichaelBracewell(26) were not enough to trouble India's

score A three-match T20 series between India and New Zealand starts Friday in Ranchi.

Scores: India 385 for 9 (Gill 112, Rohit 101, Pandya 54, Tickner 3-76, Duffy 3100) beat New Zealand 295 (Conway 138, Nicholls 42, Thakur 3-45, Kuldeep 3-62, Chahal 2-43) by 90 runs.

Rybakina rules in Australian Open quarterfinal vs. Ostapenko

rts – Associated PressE, Australia

Elena

6-2, 6-4

– Wimbledon

Rybakina advanced to the Open semifinals with a

former French Open champion Ostapenko.The match on Rod Laver featuredarareraindelayofabout20

Elena Rybakina

Devon Conway plays a slog sweep. (Associated Press)

Shardul Thakur, Hardik Pandya and Washington Sundar celebrate a wicket. (BCCI)

Hales, Rutherford lead Desert Vipers to comfortable seven-wicket win over MI Emirates despite fifties from Pollard and Pooran

SportsMax - Unbeaten halfcenturies from Alex Hales and Sherfane Rutherford led the Desert Vipers to a comfortable sevenwicketwinovertheMI Emiratesin theirDPWorldILT20fixtureatthe Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabiyesterday

The Emirates' innings got off to the worst possible start with openersMuhammadWasim(5)and Vritiya Aravind (3) being removed within the first three overs after the Vipers won the toss and elected to fieldfirst.

Grenadian Andre Fletcher and former West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran then combined to puton43forthethirdwicketbefore Fletcherfellintheninthoverfor21 toleavethem53-3.

Captain Kieron Pollard then joined Pooran at the crease a n d t h e p a i r b a t t e d e x c e l l e n t l y, e v e n t u a l l y bringing up their 100-run h partnership in the 19

over, the same over which saw Pooran bring up a wellcompiled50.

Pollard brought up his 50, his second in a row, in the previous overwithatrademarkstraightsix.

The partnership reached 116 when Pooran was finally dismissed, bowled by Tom Curran inthefinaloverfor57.

In the end, the Emirates closed their innings 169-5 off 20 overs with Pollard not out on 67 from 39 balls including one boundary and sixsixes.

The Vipers chase was rocked early when Trent Boult removed Rohan Mustafa for one in the first over to bring captain Collin Munro tothecrease.

Hales and Munro put on a partnership before Munro was removed by a spectacular catch from Kieron Pollard for 41 in the eighthover

One brought two for the Emirates as Samit Patel got his

second wicket in the over, removing Sam Billings for just one to leave the Vipers 76-3 bringing SherfaneRutherfordtothecrease.

We need answers

At the halfway stage of the chase, the Vipers were 101-3 with Hales (34) and Rutherford (18) goingsmoothly

GCB selectors?

Dillon Heyliger are vehemently questioning the omission of the left-arm orthodox spinner Antony Adams from the national team for this year's regional four-day tournament which isslatedtobowloffFebruary 1.

According to Ramnauth and Heyliger, both who of whomwentontotorepresent Guyana at the youth level, aredisappointedandseeking answers from chairman of selectors Ravindranauth Seeramandhispanel.

Guyana Harpy Eagles will open their campaign against defending champion Barbados in Antigua and Barbuda Recently the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)releasedthesquad.

They have opted to rely o n V i c e - c a p t a i n Veerasammy Permaul with the same bowling style and Ashmead Nedd, another young and promising leftarmspinner

“Why was Antony Adams not selected?What is the real reason behind his non selection?, asks

Heyliger

Ramnauth believes that Adams should have gotten

the nod ahead of Nedd based on their pre-tournament performances.

“ N e d d , w h o w a s selected, only took three wickets in both matches.

Adams'YOYO Fitness score was 50, while Nedd's score was only 30,” Ramnauth revealed.

Both players, who are currently residing in Canada and with Heyliger a steady memberoftheCanadianside that features internationally, have requested an answer also from the Essequibo Cricket Board. They feel the board could have played an instrumental part to see that Adams being selected to play

He would have justified his position more so with the absence of left-arm spinner

and seasoned campaigner Gudakesh Motie who is in Zimbabwe with the West Indies senior team for a twomatchtestseries.

Many have expressed shockandsurpriseaswellon Social Media that the EssequibianAdamshasbeen unlucky because it keeps happening year after year d e s p i t e c o n s i s t e n t impressiveperformances.

“We want the ECB, the GCB and the selectors to SPEAK UP!” they added that politics is too much in the cricket and continues to stiflesometalentedplayers.

M e a n w h i l e , t w o Essequibo players Kemol Savory, a batsman and fastbowler Ronsford Beaton have been part of the travellingcontingent.

The pair continued along and Hales brought up his fifth score th of 50+ in a row in the 15 over th before a single in the 16 over brought up Rutherford's 50 off just 26balls.

The match was ended in the th17 over when Rutherford hit a boundary and then a single to lead theViperstotheirfourthwininfive

games.

Hales ended up unbeaten on 62 from 44 balls while Rutherford faced29ballsforhis56.

Hales'knockincludedsixfours and two sixes while Rutherford hit fourfoursandthreesixes.

Scores: MI Emirates 169-5 from20overs, Desert Vipers 170-3 from17.3overs

Former Essequibo players Devon Ramnauth and

Antony Adams

Nicholas Pooran made a half century, but was floored by a Tom Curran yorker in the final over. (ILT20)

Charles 'Lilly' Pollard returns as Slingerz FC Head Coach

Decorated former

National player, Charles 'Lilly' Pollard, has returned totheSlingerzFootballClub a s t h e ' We s t S i d e ' Champion'sHeadCoach.

Pollard, 49, served as Head Coach from 2013 –2014,wherehewontheWest D e m e r a r a F o o t b a l l Association (WDFA) League and the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) BanksBeerCup.

A former National Captain and one of the most feared defenders during his long and illustrious playing career,Pollard,followinghis transition to coaching since retiring as a player, has had considerablesuccess.

Apart from leading Slingerz FC to several titles, he also won the recent GFA League as Head Coach of Western Tigers Football Club.

The former Caledonia AIA, San Juan Jabloteh and

NorthEastStarsCaptainand TT Pro league winner is the Golden Jaguars' assistant coach.

Pollard said he's “...extremely grateful for the opportunity to lead Slingerz FC in battle against some of the top teams and players in Guyana.”

“I've been here before, and I will be looking to continue adding to the club's legacy of being successful,” Pollardsaid.

Pollard will be leading the team following their fruitful return to football last June after stepping away fromthesportin2016.

The team's former Head Coach, Vurlon Mills, will serveasPollard'sassistant.

Meanwhile, Slingerz FC president and founder Javed Ali lauded Pollard's return to theclub.

Ali noted, “Pollard is rejoining the team at a critical time since we're also

nurturing some of the best youngtalentsinGuyana.Itis important to have someone as accomplished as Pollard leading the team since the youths can learn from someone who is a true professional and a very accomplished player and coach.”

“Pollard played an important role in the success of Slingerz FC before we regrettably stepped away from the sport and his return is to also help the club reclaim the top spot in Guyana's football once again,”Alisaid.

Apart from capturing the first edition of the GFF Elite/National League, Slingerz FC won the Bank Cup (2013-2014), West Side Mashramani Knockout tournament (2013 & 2014), WDFA League (2013, 2014, 2022), Mayor's Cup (2015) and the Kashif and Shanghai tournament(2015).

Tsitsipas subdues Lehecka to reach Australian Open semi-final

M E L B O U R N E , (Reuters) - A commanding Stefanos Tsitsipas reached the Australian Open semifinals for the fourth time as the Greek saw off rising CzechJiriLehecka6-37-6(2) 6-4yesterday

The third seed dominated theopeningsetafterbreaking a nervy Lehecka early on but was pushed hard after that against the 21-year-old who has enjoyed a breakout tournament.

Lehecka, who had never won a Grand Slam match beforearrivinginMelbourne, used his powerful baseline game to stay withTsitsipas in the second set but the Greek raised his game to ease throughthetiebreak.

Tsitsipas was forced to save three successive break pointsat3-3inthethirdsetas Lehecka threatened to extend theRodLaverArenaclash.

The 24-year-old then pounced with Lehecka serving at 4-5, reaching match point with a searing backhand pass and wrapping up victory as his opponent nettedabackhand.

Tsitsipas will face

Russian Karen Khachanov in the semi-final when he will again enjoy strong support from the many Greek-origin fansinMelbourne.

"I can say it was a fair d i n k u m t y p e o f performance," Tsitsipas said on court. "It felt different this time from the other time we playedbutIfoundasolution.

"I had to deal with groundstrokes that were coming at me heavy and deep. I put my heart out there."

Lehecka, who enjoyed impressive wins against seeded players Borna Coric, Cameron Norrie and Felix Auger-Aliassime during his run,willruenottakinganyof eightbreakpoints.

His big chance came when Tsitsipas doublefaultedtogo0-40downat3-3 in the third set, but he was unabletoconvertanyofthem and after that the writing was on the wall.Tsitsipas loves the Melbourne fortnight and has looked in top form this year, winning four of his five matches so far in straight sets withonlyJannickSinnerable to extend him in a five-set

clashinthelast16.

He began aggressively against Lehecka and broke theCzech'sfirstservicegame at the fourth time of asking, hoisting a lob on the stretch that proved too awkward for hisopponent.

It gave him a flying start but after he took the opener there was little between the players as Lehecka, whose hard-hittinggame looks to be modelled on Czech former player Tomas Berdych, pushedTsitsipastothelimit.

He got to within two points of taking the second setbutTsitsipaswastoogood inthetiebreak.

Despite defeat, Lehecka's run here marks him out a player capable of flying up the rankings from his current 71.

"When I think about it, of course, I mean, if somebody has told me before the tournament that I would play quarters here, I would take it forsure,"hetoldreporters.

"Now it's bittersweet because I can't still enjoy the success. Now it's hard for me to say how happy I am about it.

Azarenka beats 'fears of failing'...

From page 31 there's nobody better than Jess, she just doesn'tmiss."

Pegula was immediately put under the pump by the relentless groundstrokes of her opponent."I think she did exactly what she wanted to do," a downcast Pegula told reporters.

"ShewasjustexecutingitIfeelprettywell tonight. Hitting the ball deep, taking it early, changing the direction on the ball, doing thingsthatIusuallyliketodotopeople."

Azarenka sped into an early 3-0 lead then forced Pegula to save six break points in an attritional 10-minute fourth game. She saved two set points on her serve to get to 3-5, two more in the next game, broke back to 4-5 but eventually succumbed after 64 relentlessly physicalminutes.

Early breaks were exchanged in the secondsetbeforeAzarenkamadethedecisive move.She broke for 3-1 and held her own service game, with an increasingly frustrated Pegulacomplainingtoherplayer'sbox.

"I don't know what to do. The ball's not goinganywhere,"shesaid.

Serving for the match, Azarenka brought up two match points but only needed one as shepoweredthroughin1hr33min.

Shesaidshewas"excited"tofacethe"big challenge" of getting past Wimbledon championRybakinatoreachthefinal.

"She's an incredible player," said Azarenka."Herrankingobviouslydoesn'ttell the full story."She's very powerful. Big serve. She's in the semi-final, so she's obviously playing amazing."It's going to be a big challenge.I'mexcitedaboutthat."

Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates winning his quarter final match against Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka. (REUTERS/Loren Elliott)

BCB hosts highly successful coaches' refresher and captaincy seminars as the developmental programme expands

Th e B e r b i c e Cricket Board on S u n d a y l a s t hostedtwohighlysuccessful seminars at the Albion Sports Complex as the board expands its developmental programme The first seminar was a refresher course for the cricket coaches attached to the BCB outreach campaign and the second was for youth captains in the county BCB Secretary Angela Haniff hailed the two sessions as surpassing the objectives of the board and praised the work of the three level three cricket coaches who conducted the seminarsEsuan Crandon, Julian MooreandWinstonSmith.

The coaches attached to t h e B C B c o a c h i n g programme were in attendance at the seminar which was scheduled to last for three hours but was extended to over six hours. Three hours was spent in the class with the facilitators in an effort for the coaches to fully understand their role especially their management

ofplayers.

The next session on the all weather court was an extensive one as the coaches were involved in the art of batting especially batting stance, bat grip, foot movement and how to play the different shots including thepulls,drivesanddefence.

C r a n d o n , t h e m o s t successful regional first class cricket coach and former Berbice captain, urged the coaches to be committed to their work and to develop a working relationship with their charges.

He spoke of the importance of players respecting their coaches and noted that the BCB was on t h e r i g h t p a t h t o development by investing at thegrassrootlevel.

BCB President Hilbert Foster committed the board to organising similar programmes in the future in anefforttomakesurethatall the coaches are working from the same song book.

Among the coaches present were: Nicky Latchman,

Captains involved in a presentation during the seminar.

Junior Blair, Gregory Crandon, Balram Samaroo, Shamal Angel, Leslie Soloman, Tremayne Smartt andRyanAlgu.

Overseventycurrentand potential captains at the youth level attended the captaincy seminar which was conducted by five-time

winning regional youth coach Julian Moore. The threehoursseminarinvolved a lot of group work with the players focusing on improving their captaincy skills and knowledge of the game.

Among the numerous topics covered were the role

of a leader, player management, personal discipline, leading by example, field placement, communication and public speaking Coach Moore stated that he was very impressed with the involvement of the captains and noted that their

contribution in the five groups surpassed his expectation.

BCB President Hilbert Foster in a passionate opening remark to the attentive youths urged them tograspasmuchinformation aspossible.

Themainobjectiveofthe investment was to make sure that the county has the best leadership on the cricket field.

Foster stated that leadership was the most important part of an entity a n d t h e b o a r d w a s determined to have the best of the best to follow in the footsteps of Rohan Kanhai and Alvin Kallicharran, former West Indies captains. He also urged the players to develop a habit of reading in an effort to learn as much as possible about the game. NationalandBerbiceplayers Isaih Thorne, Gourav Ramesh, Matthew Pottaya, Sohail Mohamed, Tomai Ceasar, Zeynul Ramsammy, Jonathan Rampersaud, Romesh Bharrat, Leon Cecil andDamionCecilattended.

Azarenka beats 'fears of failing' for first Melbourne semi in 10 years

AFP - Victoria Azarenka reached her first Australian Open semi-final since winning the title in 2013, then opened up yesterday about overcoming "anxiety" and "fearsoffailing"oncourt.

TheBelarusian,whowonbackto-back Australian Opens in 2012 and 2013, knocked out third seed JessicaPegula6-4,6-1yesterday.

The 24th seed outlasted her American opponent in a marathon 64-minute first set before running away with the second to set up a last-four encounter against Wimbledon champion Elena RybakinaatMelbournePark.

Asked about her battles with nerves and anxiety, Azarenka detailed what she had been through

in recent years and how it had held her back from winning another major."Idon'tthinkyourecogniseit right away I think it builds up until you hit kind of a pretty bad spot where nothing kind of makes sense,"shetoldreporters.

"You feel kind of lost. I was at the point where I couldn't find anything that I feel good about myself,notlikeevenonesentence."

Asked what her biggest worries were, Azarenka gave a blunt answer."Fears of failing is a big one. To not be able to do what I want to do," she said. "I've had panicattacksbefore."

The Belarusian said she now has a process to cope when the nerves rear up, and she has cut a

noticeably calmer figure at MelbourneParkthisyear

"I kind of tried to take it more simple. Kind of working through it,"saidthe33-year-oldAzarenka.

"I'm pretty happy that the process that I'm going through makes me feel confident about myself, happy about myself, and helps me to be more open, be more accepting,becompassionate.

"'Compassionate' was a very hardwordformetounderstand."

Pegula was in her third Australian Open quarter-final and had never reached the semi-finals ofaSlaminfourpreviousattempts, failingtowinasetinanyofthem.

It was a sorry statistic that was tobeextendedundertheroofatRod

6-1.

Laver Arena."Well, it hurts to beat herbecauseIalwayswanthertodo well," said Azarenka, who is close friends with Pegula."Today I knew

Ihavetoplayfast,Ihavetonotgive her opportunity to step in, I have to mixitupbecauseifyoudon't

Participants of the captaincy seminar with coaches after the session.

Victoria Azarenka (left) knocked out third seed Jessica Pegula 6-4,

AAG hosts first Development meet for the 2023 Season ...Eron Leitchbagsfour victories

This past Sunday the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) gave their athletes their first chance of

the season to compete when they hosted the first Development Meet of 2023 at the National Track and Field Centre in Leonora, on

theWestCoastofDemerara. The event, geared to aid i n G u y a n a ' s j u n i o r performers' development, also featured an Open

Division (over 20 years old) forboththeMenandWomen.

In the juniors' bracket, Nalicia Glen,Attoya Harvey, Amrist Hector, Rehana Williams, Marissa Thomas, Mortimer Nascimento, Kaidon Persaud, Ezekiel Newton and Eron Leitch were the standout athletes t h a t e a c h s n a g g e d consecutive wins under their belt.

For the 20+ Division, Nicholas Dehnert with the Men's sprint double, was the only athlete to achieve the feat of claiming two consecutivewins.

A number of regular suspects decided not to show for the season opener but are expected to turn out in the coming weeks as they intensify preparations for upcoming International engagements.

The Men…

On Sunday, Newton clocked the fastest time with 10.50s in the Boys 17 – 19 100m dash. The Bladen Hall Secondary student won ahead of De Neilson Gill (11.24s) and Emmanuel Pyle (11.51s).

Newtonalsoturnedinthe fastest 200m time when he stopped the clock at 21.81s. Finishing behind Newton were Upper Demerara's Omar James (22.39s) and BladenHall'sKwesiTumbler (22.67s).

Other 100m Boys winners were Christopher Semple (13 & under) with 13.32s,RyanAllmon(14-16) with 11.48s and Denhert, with the day's second fastest time of 10.77 in the 20+ Division.

Other winners in the Boys 200m races were

Nalicia Glen

Nascimento (13 & under) with 28 10s, Christopher Goddette (14 – 16) with 23.47sandDenhert(22.57s).

The 400m Boys winners were Nascimento (1:07.60s), Malachi Austin; 14 – 16yrs (52.33s), Enock Munroe; 17 – 19yrs (52.15s) and Lennox Douglas, who clocked a blistering 50.02s in the 20+ Division, the quickest in that distanceonSunday

In the 800m run, wins were claimed by Eyon Glasgow; 13 & under (2:57.04s), Kaidon Persaud; 14-16yrs (2:15 30s), Kosi Thomas; 17 – 19yrs (2:07 87s) and Trevor Morris:20+yrs(2:09.71s).

Persaud (4:42 29s), Odida Parkinson (4:21.97s) and Royston Fordyce (4:23.95s) were the winners of the Boys 1500m 1416yrs, 17 – 19yrs and 20+ yrs,respectively

The 14-16y Boys 3000m

was won by Melvern Leitch in a time of 10:36.00s while C l e v e l a n d T h o m a s dominated in the 17+ 5000m run with a time of 16:39.75s. Meanwhile, Eron Leitch claimed the Long Jump and Javelinthrowwinstotakehis tallytofour

The Women…

The Girls Divisions featured more competitive races but the standout athleteswereinalaneoftheir own.

Nalicia Glen clocked times of 12.29s and 25.39s to win the Girls 17 – 19y 100m and 200m races while Marissa Thomas stopped the clock at 1:01 45s and 2:43.02s to win the 14 – 16y 400m and 800m races and Harvey turned in times of 1:00 72s and 2:32 52s to claim the 17-19y 400m and 800mraces,respectively

Other 100m victors included Rehana Williams; 13 & under – 14.73s, Akeela Dover; 14-16y – 12.89s and Leoni Adams; 20+yrs13.84s.In the 200m races, Williams, who competed alone for all three of her events, stopped the clock in 30.49swhileTiannaSpringer won the 14- 16y Division withatimeof24.82s.

Williams finished her 400m dash in a time of 1:17.10s while Keliza Smith turned in the fastest female 400m time in the 20+ Division when the crossed thefinishlineat57.14s.Ruth Sanmoogan with 59 63s finished second and was the onlyotherfemaletocrackthe oneminutebarrier

Thetwo1500mracessaw

Attoya Harvey

Formerathletegivesbackto sportheparticipatedin

...Anthone

wins birthday athletic road race in Canje

Wright

Young and upcoming

distance athlete Anthone Wright onSundayeasilywontheLochan “Barry” Singh road race held in honour of the former athlete's 51stbirthday Wright, making a comeback after injury, showed that he is fit and ready to take on his opponents as he outdistanced the rest of the field to win the three miles road race which was held alongtheEastCanjehighway

The event, which was sponsored and organized by the former distance athlete and his family, was held from the Rose Hall Estate in East Cane to Gangaram Village also in East Canje, covering villages such as Rose Hall, Reliance, Adelphi, Goed Bananen Land, Betsy Ground and Gangaram. More than20athletesstartedtheevent.

Trophies and cash incentives were distributed to the first four finishers and other outstanding runners.

Wright, who also won the sprint prize which was available, madealltherightmovesasheran most of the race all alone. The sprint prize was for the first runner to reach the Side Line

Dam at Reliance about a milefromthestartingline.

Placing second was Prison Officer and veteran runner Adrian Thomas with 15 years old Gavin Kisten coming in third and Zakeer Mohammedfourth.

There were also a number of incentives for other outstanding athletes with Wright winning the sprint prize, with Dhanraj Sham second and K Bissondyalthird.

Winner Antone Wright, centre with two trophies, and other prize winners pose with their silverware alongside organiser and sponsor Lochan Barry Singh stooping front left.

There were incentives also for the oldest and youngest finishers with 67 years old Kissondyal Bhemar running away with that award. National U15 cricketer, 13 years old Adrian Hetymer showed his allround skills as he won the category for the youngest finisher while there was also an incentive for 14 years old Kenel Marshall.

Lochan, who resides in Gangaram and works at the Rose Hall Estate, taught it fitting to do something memorable for his birthday With the pandemic beingaroundlastyearhetaughtit wise to do something tangible

this year to remind those of his days on the track, road and cross country.

Barry,asheismorepopularly known, is hoping that his injection can rekindle some interest in cross county and road racing like it occurred years before.

He is also hoping that the government and the co-operate community could take up the slack.The route from Rose Hall Estate to Gangaram was chosen because Lochan is an employee oftheRoseHallEstateandLives at Gangaram. The event was open to all.

(Samuel Whyte)

Young Achievers hand GDF first defeat in DVA League

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) picked up their first defeat in the on-going Demerara Volleyball Association (DVA) League, after going down to Young Achievers 3 – 2 at the National Gymnasium.

It was a comeback win for Young Achievers, who, after winning the first game 25 – 22, went down in back-to-back lossestoGDF23-25and17-25.

Young Achievers then regained their

confidencetowinthefourthandfifthgames2515 and 17-15, led by Creston Rodney with 15 points,KlondykeRodney(13),andGenoCarrol (10).

The GDF side had Omari Joseph leading their scoring with 13 points, followed by 12 from Jahleel Roberts and Tyrece Farley 11 points.

TheactionintheDVALeaguecontinuedlast evening, where GDF were down to face Castrol Strikers.

Cross country race winner Anthone Wright receives his accolades from organiser Lochan 'Barry' Singh.

Youngest runner 13-year-old Adrian Hetmyer.

Charles 'Lilly' Pollard Charles‘Lilly’ Pollard returnsas SlingerzFC HeadCoach

– Slingerz

Head Coach