Kaieteur News

T&T eyeing more revenues for auctioned blocks

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

Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Keith Rowley, on Monday announced that the evaluation of bids received foritsmostrecentgasblocks auction will be disclosed in threemonthstime.

More importantly, he noted that the twin island will be pursuing improved fiscal terms during the negotiations process Trinidad, with over 100 years of oil production expertise, is among other things, well known for its stanceonjustfiscaltermsfor its people. At the opening of the nation's three-day EnergyConferencehostedat the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain on Monday, Rowley announced, “Government intends to maintain the momentum of upstream exploration through

improved fiscal incentives and the availability of acreage both on land and offshore. Accordingly, we will continue the dialogue with upstream companies on the incentives required to stimulate activity for the exploration of upstream resources.”

During his address to participants at the 2022 Energy Conference, Rowley had said that T&T would be pursuing an aggressive bidround programme for the e x p l o r a t i o n o f i t s hydrocarbon resources. This programme was initiated withadeep-waterbid-round, in which four bids were received by a consortium of BPand Shell. These bids are currently the subject of negotiations between the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries and the Consortium.

The deep-water bidround was followed by the 2 0 2 2 O n s h o r e a n d Nearshore Competitive Bid RoundwhichopenedonJuly

- PM Rowley

8, 2022 and closed on January 9, 2023. The nation received 16 bids for eight of the 11 blocks that were offered “It is the most s u c c e s s f u l Onshore/Nearshore BidRound to date surpassing the Onshore/Nearshore Element of the 2005/2006 Bid Round in which eight bids were submitted for six of the eight blocks offered,” The Prime Ministerpointedout.

The success of the recent bid-round, according to him, is a testimony to policies i n t r o d u c e d b y h i s Government, including constant engagement with stakeholders to encourage upstream investment both onshoreandoffshoreandthe confidence of industry participantsinthegeological prospectsoftheTrinidadand Tobagoprovenance.

The team from the Ministry of Energy and

Energy Industries, led by subject Minister, Stuart Young, is presently evaluating the bids. These results are scheduled to be announcedinthreemonths. This bid round will be followed by a shallow-water bid-round slated to be opened at the end of the first quarter of this year Rowley saidthattheEnergyMinistry invited and received nominations from upstream operators for the 23 eligible openshallow-waterblocks.

“TheMinistryofFinance in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, will be continuing the engagement with upstream companies to assess and determine any reasonable and necessary additional fiscal stimuli which might be required to ensure that Trinidad and Tobago remains an internationally competitive hydrocarbon provenance,” heexplained.

In Guyana, Politicians

have refused to correct the lopsided Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) the countrysignedwithoilgiant, E x x o n M o b i l T h a t agreement has been describedasoneoftheworst in the entire global industry While the People's Progressive Party (PPP) Government agrees that the contract is lopsided, it will not change the deal. It said future contracts will have bettertermsthatensuremore benefittothecountry

Nigeria seeking to overturn US$11 billion judgment to company that told court it lost profit in failed gas project

Nigeria is now l o o k i n g t o o v e r t u r n a US$11 billion damages judgment that was awarded to a company for the loss of profits as a result of a failed gas project in the African nation.

A lawyer representing Nigeria told London's High Court on Monday that Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID), a British Virgin Islands-based company obtained the gas project contract, “by telling repeated lies and paying bribestoofficials.”

Thelawyeralsosaidthat Nigeria was a victim of a campaign of bribery and deception.

According to Premium T i m e s , t h e P & I D controversy dates back to January 2010, when the companysignedagassupply and processing agreement with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources on behalf of the Nigerian government Under the terms of the agreement, P&ID was to build and operate an Accelerated Gas Development Project –while the Nigerian government was to source

natural gas from oil mining leases operated byAddax Petroleum and supply to P&ID to refine into fuel suitable for power generation in the country

However, it was stated that the company alleged that after signing the agreement, the Nigerian government d e f a u l t e d o n i t s

o b l i g a t i o n a f t e r negotiations. P&ID said that the failure to construct the pipeline system to supply the gas f r u s t r a t e d t h e construction of the gas project, thereby depriving it ofthepotentialbenefitsfrom over 20 years' worth of gas supplies.

The company had filed a lawsuit against Nigeria and had won a US$6.6 billion judgment.

However, with interest the judgment debt has now reached US$11 billion –which is around 30 percent of Nigeria's foreign

e x c h a n g e r e s e r v e s , accordingtoReuters.

Premium Times reported that on Monday, at the start of an eight-week trial in London's high court, Mark

H o w a r d , a l a w y e r representing Nigeria, told thecourtthatP&IDobtained its contract “by telling repeated lies and paying bribestoofficials.”

As a result, the lawyer c l a i m e d t h a t P & I D “corrupted” Nigeria's l a w y e r s t o o b t a i n confidential documents during the arbitration,” Reutersreported.

Howard noted in court documents that P&ID paid bribes and relied on false evidence “to dupe (Nigeria), the tribunal and this court into giving P&ID an extraordinary amount of

money on the back of a campaign of bribery, corruptionanddeception”.

The company, however, said the gas processing agreement was “a genuine contract which P&ID genuinely wanted to perform”.

In court documents, P&ID lawyer, David Wolfson, said Nigeria's loss in the arbitration “had nothing to do with any corruption” Notably, Wolfson made opening arguments on behalf of P&ID on Tuesday In his arguments, Wolfson rejected Nigeria'sbriberyclaims.

While Nigeria is seeking to overturn the U S $ 1 1 b i l l i o n judgment debt as a result of a failed gas project – Guyana is pursuing a US-multibillion Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project with American oil giant, ExxonMobil.

While industry experts have raised concern about the project – Guyana's President IrfaanAli, as well as Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, have touted the project as 'transformational' for theGuyanesecitizens.

Importantly, while the projectisoneofthelargestin Guyana's history, multiple questions linger over the project.

Just recently, this publication reported that the Irfaan Ali Administration has said that the cost for the GTE project, to be set up at Wales, is US$759 million.

But what it has not been frontal in saying is how much of this massive sum will be funded with a loan.

The Government intends for $134.7B (US$646M) of the cost of this project to be

handled through foreign financing, specifically from the United States of America, according to budgetdocuments.

Notably, little is said about the additional work to be done that will drive the costupfurther

Some $24 6B was expended to meet start-up costs associated with the projectlastyear.

T h i s y e a r , t h e Government budgeted $43.3B for the project. It plansformostofthistocome from the monies it will approach the US for Construction on the project isexpectedtobeginthisyear on the US$2B project. The Government hired CH4Lindsayca to handle the naturalgas-firedpowerplant and natural gas liquids plant. ExxonMobil subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), is responsible for the pipeline, which will cost more than US$1B, to be fundedwithcostoil.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), after reviewing the Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA),hasgiven thegoaheadtoallparties.

Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley addressing the T&T Energy Conference

London High Court

Hess posted blockbuster

profit in 2022 fourth quarter

Am e r i c a n o i l producer, Hess Corporation, announced on Wednesday that it achieved a net income of US$624 million or US$2.03 per common share, in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared with net income of US$265 million, or US$0.85 per common share, in the fourthquarterof2021.

H e s s s a i d t h e improvement in adjusted after-tax earnings compared with the prior-year period was primarily due to increased sales volumes in Guyana in the fourth quarter of2022.

Hess noted that the increasedvolumeswasdueto the onset of a second ship comingonstream.

It was also pleased to announce a significant oil discovery at the Fangtooth SE-1 well on the Stabroek Block,offshoreGuyana.

The Fangtooth SE-1 well encountered approximately 200 feet of oil bearing sandstone reservoirs The well was drilled in 5,397 feet of water by the Stena Carron and is located approximately 8 miles southeast of the original Fangtooth-1 well, which had encountered

approximately 164 feet of oil bearingsandstonereservoirs.

Further appraisal activities are underway Fangtooth will add to the block's gross discovered recoverable resource estimate of more than 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent resources and has the potential to underpin a futureoildevelopmentonthe StabroekBlock.

A t t h e S t a b r o e k concessionwhereHessholds a 30% working interest, the company said net production fromtheLizaDestinyandthe Liza Unity floating production, storage and offloading vessels (FPSOs) totaled 116,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared with 31,000 bopd in the prior-yearquarter.

The Liza Unity FPSO, w h i c h c o m m e n c e d productioninFebruary2022, reached its production capacity of 220,000 gross bopdinJuly2022.

In the fourth quarter, Hess said it sold 10 cargos of crude oil from Guyana compared with three cargos in the prior year quarter It said net production is forecast to be approximately

A woman and her son were on Tuesday beaten, stabbed and robbed by a lone bandit just as they were about to enter the Valmiki Vidyalaya Hindu School's premises located at Lusignan on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).

The woman has been identified as the school's'CanteenLady'andthishasbeenthe third time she has been attacked and robbed by bandits. Previous attacks were at her home, which is located, just few houses away from the school. Those attacks were not so severe but the third and most recent onewasbrutalandcouldhaveendedherlife. Accordingtoinformationthe'CanteenLady' and her son were attacked around 05:30hrs onTuesday

One of the school's administrators told this newspaper that the woman makes her living by selling snacks, food and beverages at the school's canteen and would normally arrivearoundthathourtoopenupthefacility and prepare for her day's work. She was just following her routine on Tuesday morning

100,000bopdin2023.

Hess said too that the third development, Payara, will utilise the Prosperity FPSO with an expected capacity of 220,000 gross bopd, with first production expected by the end of 2023. The fourth development, Yellowtail,wassanctionedin April 2022 and will utilize the ONE GUYANA FPSO with an expected capacity of 250,000 gross bopd, with first production expected in 2025.

A fifth development, Uaru, was submitted for approval to the Government of Guyana in the fourth quarter

Pending Government approvals and sanctioning, the project is expected to have a capacity of approximately250,000gross bopdwithfirstoilanticipated attheendof2026.

“Our strategy is to grow our resource base, deliver a low cost of supply and generate industry leading cashflowgrowth–andatthe same time maintain our industry leadership in environmental, social and governance performance and disclosure,” CEO John Hess said during the company's

and was accompanied by her son when they were attacked by the waiting bandit armed withaknife.

He reportedly held them at knife point and demanded that they hand over all their cash. The woman reportedly gave the attacker all they had but he demanded more. Afternotreceivinganythingelsehebeatand stabbed the woman and her son before escaping.

The woman was reportedly stabbed to thefacewhilethesonreceivedinjuriestohis body They were both taken to the hospital and treated. Concerned about her safety, the school's authority have since advised the womannotshowupattheschoolaroundthat hour

The administrator who spoke with Kaieteur News explained that around 05:00 to 05:30hrs the school's security guard would complete his shift and leave the school's premises. It is believed that the attackermighthaveknownthisanduseditto hisadvantagewhenlaunchinghisattack.

earningscallyesterday

He added, “Our successful execution of this strategy has uniquely positioned our company to deliver significant value to shareholders by both growing intrinsic value and growingcashreturns.”

Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief

TheUnitedStatesEmbassyinGuyana will conduct several activities to commemoratethe20thAnniversaryofthe U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDSRelief(PEPFAR).

In a press release the embassy said U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Caribbean Regional Office Director, Dr Emily Kainne Dokubo, will join U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch and Guyana MinistryofHealthofficialstoconductsite visits at key government and private health facilities supported by CDC/PEPFAR and participate in speakingengagements.

President George W Bush launched the President's Emergency Plan forAIDS Relief on January 28, 2003, with the visiontocreatearesponsetoaburgeoning globalepidemicofHIV

From the time of its inception to present, the U.S. government through PEPFAR has invested over US$100 billion in the global HIV/AIDS response, the largest commitment by any nation to

address a single disease in history, saving 25 million lives, preventing millions of HIV infections, and accelerating progress toward controlling the global HIV/AIDS pandemic in morethan50countries.

Since 2004, PEPFAR has provided Guyana with over GYD $37,800,000,000 for HIV prevention, care, treatment, and laboratory services, including approximately GYD $14,000,000,00 through CDC to fund construction of the National Public Health Reference Laboratory in 2008 along with increased HIV testing capacity, and staff engagement.

Improvement of data management systems for MOH and provision of data protection and storage was also supported. CDC has also provided Guyana with over GYD $95,000,000 to enhance capacity to respond to COVID-19 and other health threats. The United States is committed to supporting Guyana to strengthen its health systems and improve health outcomes. Through PEPFAR, CDC is working in partnership with the Ministry of Health to achieve HIV epidemic control in Guyana and theCaribbeanregion.

CEO of Hess Corporation, John Hess

Kaieteur News

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

ROBOTICS SUCCESS

We give a big, hearty round of applause to our budding, young Guyanese students of science, technology, engineering,andmathematics,whoparticipatedsowellatthe recent Caribbean Science Olympiad. Well done, champs! Andweatthispaperareproudofeachoneofthem,aswellas those who spent likely countless hours bringing these youthfulchargestothisstage.

Time, patience, commitment, dedication, effort, and sacrificeallhadtobeessentialaspectsofwhatwentintothe preparationprocess,andwhatresultedinthehonorsthatthe two teams earned for themselves and, by extension, all Guyanese.

Somuchcanbehadwhenwetightenourbelts,focuson firstthevision,andthenthepossibleprizesthatawait. Itisa lesson of life that the more that is put into an endeavor, a cause, a calling, the more is what is gotten out of it. When thereistirelessandsustaineddevotiontothetaskthatstands before, then success usually comes, no matter how long it takes. Then, the world is at our feet because the dues have beenpaid,thesacrificesmade.

It is inspiring that we have these small teams of top-tier students from a top institution of local learning leading the way,keepingtheGuyanaflagflyingattheheights. Guyana belongs there, at the ramparts and summits, and like never before. These kinds of students, with the caliber that they havealreadymanifested,arewhatisurgentlyneededbythis nationatthistimeofitsexistence.

Weneedscientists(Geologists,Physicists,Geoscientists, and such), we need Engineers in more numbers and of all varieties (Reservoir Engineers, Petroleum Engineers, Chemical Engineers, and others), we need students who are expertswiththerevolutionaryandsophisticatedtechnologies that have become the groundbreaking developments of our world(computerintelligence,artificialintelligence,systems analysis, and the whole dazzling lot), and we need Mathematicians by the droves (Statisticians, Computational Mathematicians).

Weareasmallnation,butonewithadifference-wehave hit it big. Our citizens have to think big, venture into areas thatcallforabigheartandbigmind,andharborthebiggest visionspossibleofwhatcouldbe. Currently,thereissomuch thatislackinginthenationalenvironmentandscheme. Our punishing shortages range from the broadest and deepest of quality academic foundations, to the kind of courageous character that is now vital, and to the degree of energy and effortthatweemploytowrapourarmsaroundthegiftsthat havecomeourway

ThesetwoteamsofyoungGuyaneseoffivestudentseach representasmallstarttowardsthelongjourneyofwhatweare mostinneedof,soastogetwherewemustgo. Wenamethem and hold them out as examples for other Guyanese, both youngandold.

Hatsoffto:LateishaMcArthur,JoshuaMcArthur,Raphel Shaw, Akaia Griffith of the Robotics team, and from the Tweak Titans team, Zionara Lawrence, MahirRajkuhmar, Aquila Whyte, Yeshua Hutson, and Nikel Persaud. All are worth their weight in gold to us, and we take a bow before them.

TheymustcometostandaspioneersforotherGuyanese, those carving out a space and serving as models for other students,sothatwecanhavemorescientistspursuingmany disciplines,moreofthetechnologyorientedandskilled,more of a knowledgeable and respected engineering cohort, and moreinthefieldofmathematics.

Thesearealldemandingfields,butofwhichthiscountry musthavemore,andintheshortesttimepossible. Thisisso that we can put ourselves and country in a position to know thefullrichnessofwhatwehavebeforeus,andwhatwemust dotogetthemostfromwhatbelongstous. Wecannotdepend on foreigners, for they have their own visions, and their priorities, which are not necessarily what is most rewarding forGuyana.

WeneedGuyanese,andintheirnumbers,whoknowtheir onions, can stand their ground with confidence, and be flagbearers for this nation. We have long been rich in potential,itistimethatliveuptoit,proveit.

That word transformational

DEAREDITOR,

Anewmeaningoftransformational was bandied about during the budget debates. It is difficult to accept that closing sugar estates and placing thousandsofworkers,theirfamiliesand communities in a dark hole could be

considered transformational. Even after the closure of the estates and displacement of workers no transformationalplanemergedtouplift workers and communities out of their stateofhopelessdespairandstagnation. So much for transformational

Transformation is been seen with the squatters issue, as the authorities work with them to improve their lives and living conditions. Giving people hope andconfidenceistransformational.

Regards, ShamshunMohamed

City Council needs modern fleet of garbage trucks

DEAREDITOR,

Nowthatwehavehadthe national budget read and analysedandfoundtohavea focusonimprovinglivesand creatingopportunitiesforall Guyanese, the citizens of Georgetown now have to await and we hope for not m u c h l o n g e r, t h e presentation of the city budget to see what the municipality has in store for us.

If I could make a few recommendations in the meanwhile as there is never any consultation with the citizenry,ontheexpenditure side, I would like to suggest that they consider rehabilitating and refurbishing the municipal slaughterhouse on Water Street, so that it could be transformed into a modern abattoirandmeatprocessing factory where scientific and hygienic slaughtering of animalswilltakeplace,with proper waste management, and in compliance of environmentallaws,soasto ensurethesupplyofsafeand hygienic meat to the Guyanese consumers and even for export, with minimummanualhandling.

DEAREDITOR,

Taking one’s grievances totheCourtofthislandisthe rightthingtodobecausethe Court has the constitutional responsibility to adjudicate in issues where one or more parties are involved in dispute. But the decision of this Court on the matter of the eight Members of Parliament(MPs)bringsinto question whether judges are guided by laws, precedents and time-honoured principles or are driven by self-interest and/or political persuasion.

When good persons in this society continue to silently murmur and allow ourjudgesandmagistratesto butcherourConstitutionand laws and deny citizens, it comes a time when those charged with the nation’s responsibility to dispense justicemustbetoldwehave had enough Many have complainedtomeabouttheir

Second, they should allocate funds for the construction of a municipal swimming pool. Swimming poolsareimportantfacilities for exercises, such as swimming laps and water aerobics Pools provide opportunitiesforeducational purposes, swimming lessons, lifeguard training, swim teams and various competitions.

Municipal pools also serve the needs of persons whohavemedicalconditions and/orinjuries.Poolsoffera means of social interaction, relaxation and stress relief. Pools have the ability to bring diverse groups of peopletogether

A lot of Guyana swimming stars got their start at a the Luckhoo pool which existed for some 25 years.Ithinkweshouldlook forward to the Ubraj Narne pool being built this year, which would reduce the recent spate of drowning incidents at creeks and beaches.

Third, the Council shouldputasidesumsforthe purchaseofamodernfleetof garbage trucks so that they could return to providing

refuse collection and disposalservicesthemselves andstopwastinghundredsof millionsofdollarseachyear on high priced contractors.

This would lead to considerablesavingsandthe provisionofsuperiorservice likeitwaswhenGeorgetown wasa‘GardenCity’.

Fourth, the municipality should allocate monies in 2023 to restoring the City Police Training Centre. The CityPolicearebadlyinneed of training to be better prepared emotionally, physically,andtechnicallyto meet the herculean challenges of modern-day lawenforcement.

Fifth, monies urgently needtobeallocatedtosaving the Stabroek Market wharf fromatotalcollapseintothe DemeraraRiver

Sums also need to be allotted to restoring municipal Day Care services, stray animal control, installation of new street lighting and repair or replacement of old dysfunctionalones.

A large chunk of the budgetneedstobeallottedto rodent, vector and mosquito control, road building and

repairs, weeding of parapets and clearing of drains, toward automating and computerizing of their services to change from the current archaic procedures that require persons to go inline rather than being allowed to go online to receivethem.

And sixth, but certainly not least, financial provisions ought to be made for the transformation of the cemeteriesfromtheircurrent inaccessible, scary, dangerous jungle like state into facilities that would allow relatives to visit their deceasedlovedoneswithout having to take along a chainsaw, armed security andportablebridges.Should they present a budget to address those issues, and guaranteecitizensthatevery dollar received and expended would be subjected to external auditing, then I am sure everyone including the business and governmental sectors would be happy to pay up their property rates andothermunicipalfeesina mosttimelymanner

Withthanks, RileyMatthews

dissatisfaction with some members of the judiciary However,theyhaveoptedto remainsilentoutoffearthat should they one day appear before the court the magistrate or judge could hide behind the law to exact vengeance When our societyhasreachedthestage where citizens, with known political persuasion dissimilartothegovernment orperceivedtobe,mustfear the Court will not dispense justice then the Judiciary must be mindful they could no longer be perceived as beinganindependentarbiter ofjusticebutanextensionor validationoftheExecutive’s lawlessness.Thissocietyhas seen the Director of Public Prosecutions withdraw charges against Irfaan Ali, Anil Nandlall, Ashni Singh and Winston Brassington without justifiable explanation.Thisisthesame judiciary that has upheld the

decision of the Government Members of Parliament and appointed- Speaker to deny the eight MPs the fundamental right to natural justice (to be heard) and turned around and slapped each with the hefty cost of $350, 000, to be paid within threeweeks.

Somethingiswrongwith that scenario. Members of theJudiciarymustnolonger feel they are sacred cows whentheyareoperatingina manner that would not only undermine the integrity of theCourtbutforcesocietyto believe judicial recourse is meaningless. Members of theJudiciarymustnolonger seethemselvesisolatedfrom the society and think the duplicitous decisions they handdowncouldnotimpact the order, peace and cohesionofsociety

The Judicature of Guyana is not separate and apart from the reality of

Guyana.Itisanindependent branch of Government and thatisasfarastheseparation comes on matters relating to Guyana. As interpreters of ourConstitutionandLawsof Guyana the Judiciary ought to be aware that the very Constitution said any law thatconflictswithitshallbe deemednullandvoid.

I strongly disagree with theCourt’srulingtodenythe eight MPs their right to be heard No Parliamentary Standing Order and/or Privilege Committee’s decisioncouldsupercedethe constitutional right to be heard,likewisethejudgment thathidbehindthosetodeny theMPssaidright.

One of man’s most basic rights, in the upholding of justice, is the right to be heard.Itisdisturbingthatthe learned Justice could have deniedthis.

Regards, LincolnLewis

I strongly disagree with the Court’s ruling to deny the eight MPs their right to be heard

The working poor and vulnerable are no better off in the oil and gas economy

DEAREDITOR,

Christmas/New Year’s period is behind us, and the working class (the working poor) is being forced to confront the harsh cost of living, as Government presentedaNationalBudget, $781.9 billion, representing more than 41 percent spending than last year, but

workersseenodirectbenefit on their standard of living, nor saw any amelioration p r o g r a m m e f r o m Governmenttothiseffect.

TheGuyanaTradeUnion Congress(GTUC),likeother progressive international organisations, is more concerned with the Human Development Index (HDI) than the Gross Domestic

We had no money

DEAREDITOR,

The latest narrative coming from The APNU, becausetheywerethemajor entity in everything governmental,TheAFCwas only a servile lackey to their commands,wasthattheyhad nomoneytoworkwith.

Theyareputtingforward the argument that central financing was not available to them to carry out the start far less completion of any major project. Interesting! The asininity of that statement,simplyput,isthat nothing by way of financial supportwasinthetreasuryto help them fulfill their obligationasagovernment.

This is the very same campaign rhetoric they trumpeted to the nation before they entered office, that the PPPC Government had raided the treasury and bleditdry,nomoneywasthe crythen.Buttheyhavefailed to realise that after two monthsinpower,theyraised their salaries and emolumentsby50%,andthe question rings clear where didthatmoneycomefrom?It did not drop out of the clear blueskyitwasmoneyleftin the treasury by a prudent management team called ThePPP/C.

So, there are no excuses, absolutely none, that they couldcomeupwithtoprove toanyonethattheycouldnot have carried out capital projects safely through to completion? It was just a case of the fulfillmentof the proverb(CaribbeanVersion) “peeing in our eyes and callingitrain.”ThePNChas to face up to the facts that theywerebusy“thiefing”an election as well as stealing from The People of Guyana andforthattheymustatone.

Even more distressing is thefactthatJordanmustgive us answers to the whereabouts and/or use of ourfirstoilmoney Whereis the $18M US Jordan? We want it! It is our money not thefoolishnessyougavethat youthoughtthatitwasagift to your party? And must I

Product (GDP), as a measurement of growth as the former places people at thecentreofdevelopment.

returning to

Bank,October2022).

add,wearecomingafteryou to get it. Don’t you, like Mingo when he was rigging theelection,feignhighblood pressure or diabetes or the other sickness that brings looseness of bowels, we want our sovereign wealth andwearegoingtogetit!

So,inclosingthatfoolish talking of The APNU not having funds to get work doneneedstobewipedclean out of their thoughts. The People of Guyana are not fools we can see straight through their evil transgressions.

Respectfully Submitted, Neil Adams

HumanDevelopment IndexvsGrossDomestic Product GovernmentboastsGDP growthin2022ofover60% (IMF figures), more than 41% increase in spending in 2023, revenue from oil and gasandroyaltywillclimbto US$1.63 Billion, but these have seen no comparative improvement in the lives of the working poor and vulnerable, nor any indication on Government’s part how this could be made possible.

Deterioration in HDI is borne out in the reports of several international organisations that pointed out in spite Guyana is growing at an extraordinary rate, poverty is increasing (49%ofthepopulation),and health and education outcomesarelaggingbehind Latin America and Caribbean low-and-middle countries even though Guyana is ranked the wealthiest economy (World

GTUC continues to bemoan Government’s disregard for these indicators, who from all appearances, is steering Guyana into the path of the Dutch disease and its attending social ills. GTUC notes the Government’s flagrant disregard for the wage and salary earners in the middle- and lowerincome brackets, even though they comprise most of the working class, which suggests the government is not only uncaring but unmindful of widening the gulf between the rich and poor

Flagrantviolation ofrights

It remains of concern to thelabourmovementthatthe constitutional rights of workers and citizens continuetobeassailedbythe Irfaan Ali/Bharrat Jagdeo regime We must ask ourselves why in a land of plenty, Government continuestoignoretherights of some workers to collectivebargaining

(Continuedonpage6)

DEAREDITOR,

A letter written by Jermain Johnson titled ‘City Officialsneedtostepupand do their duty, Tuesday, February 24, 2023’ Mr Johnson clearly is missing the central issue related to the woeful plight of the Capital City and its citizens. The key issue known to all citizens is that like every otherCityorTown,thereare twovitalrequirements.

One,propermanagement and two, enough money to provide the City or Town withasatisfactoryservice.

The fact is since the PPP assumed control of Government they have denied Georgetown Mayor and City Council these two vitals, money and management.Thesearefacts knownforallandsundry,so what is Mr Johnson writing about. The example he gave of the flooding of the Charlestown/Albouystown areasisacaseinpoint.Ihave checked and neither the Mayor nor the Engineers attached to the M&CC were

consulted about the works purportedlycarriedoutatthe PrincesStreetKoker.Idon’t know what experience the Contractor had or what knowledge he has of structuressuchasthePrinces Streetandtheothercanals.

To the best of my knowledge and Dear Editor, you can check not many persons are alive and knowledgeableaboutsluices and kokers constructed centuries ago to protect this City, so like big bad bullies, theMinisterandtheNational Drainage and Irrigation

Authority (NDIA) proceeded to execute works resulting in the calamity last week. What Johnson should ask, but which I now do respectfullyask,whodidthe estimates for these works and whether the contract provides for the recovery of money paid to this Contractor who is of an unknown entity These are questions that the public shouldgetanswersto.

YoursSincerely, EricMoseley,M.S.

Since

office the PPPC Govt. have denied Georgetown Mayor and City Council resources

National leaders should never take our people for granted

DEAREDITOR, National Leaders should never take our people for granted. With the advent of technologyandsocialmedia platforms, information is easily accessible to everyone, to citizens everywhere.

LastWednesday,January 18, 2023, Mr Irfaan Ali conductedanoutreachinthe Yarrowkabra community on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway Whatstoodoutfor me is the boldness of a female resident, clearly a critical thinker who, armed with information, asked questions pertinent to the standard of living faced by ordinary Guyanese The well-informed and polite citizen asked “we have oil,

billions of dollars’ worth of oil and yet people are given $25,000.…. why can’t we getbetter?”

Rather than being a leader who listens to what peoplehavetosay,Mr Aliin his usual arrogant and abusive manner did not allow her to complete her questionsbutinterjectedand went off on his usual tirade about the Coalition

Government’s performance during2015to2020.

Itissadandpainfulwhen leaders try to score cheap political points by not presenting the context and the whole truth to constituents.

Editor, I publicly applaud that young woman forherboldnesstochallenge

Mr Aliaboutthespendingof our oil wealth. I believe Guyana has many more like her, but because of the spirit of fear and intimidation

perpetuated over this nation bythePPPC,manyareafraid to stand up for their rights, lest they share a similar fate of being dismissed from

theirjobslikeMs.Ellisfrom Mocha Arcadia. I say to Guyanese, it is your constitutional right to speak freely

Be bold and speak truth topower

Sincerely, AnnetteFerguson MemberofParliament

The working poor and vulnerable are no better...

Frompage5 (Article 147), denying the constitutional right of some tradeunionstoparticipatein the nation’s economic developmental thrust and managementoftheeconomy (Articles 38 and 149C), the exclusion of the major political Opposition and other stakeholders even though the constitution outlined the principal objective of the political system should be that of an “inclusionary democracy” (Article13).Further,onlyan uncaring Government will continue to transgress the constitutional right of Guyana’s children to free universityeducation(Article 27). A right is a right and shouldnolongerbedeferred. GTUC reiterates the call for the reinstitution of free education at the University of Guyana. At the same GTUC advises the public whereastheGovernmentlast yearwithheldthesubvention to the Critchlow Labour College it freely dispensed the workers’ money to foreignuniversitiesandtheir staff to educate Guyana’s

childrenonprogrammesthat couldberunhereandensure employment and economic opportunitiesforGuyanese. Socio-economicbenefits andremovalofPAYE

Cash grant is another sore concern, for whereas President Ali misled the nationintothinkingacallhas been made to pay each citizen$1million,asagainst ahousehold,thegovernment engages in various forms of cashgrantstosectionsofthe society as others are denied. Wemustquestiontherefusal to pay universal cash grants to every Guyanese household.

Whereas GTUC notes thereductionoftaxesforthe businesscommunity,thecall is reiterated for the removal ofPAYEforworkers.Inthis oil and gas economy, where theGovernmentisgarnering other revenue streams it is time to lift this nation’s economic burden from the workers’ backs The National Insurance Scheme (NIS), the country’s only safetynetforworkersandthe retired, needs urgent attention. Governmentmust

move with alacrity in retoolingthisorganisationso it can serve those who have dulycontributedandmetthe qualifying requirements Therunontheschemeisnot only criminal but inhumane. NIS’ debt must not only be a b s o l v e d b y t h e Government,buttheScheme must get the deserving injection of resources (financial and otherwise) to ensure its sustainability well into the future. For most workers this is their only investment. The time is also opportune to examine Unemployment Benefit to alleviate the economic dislocationforthelaidoff. Youthinvolvementand disregardfortheelderly Thereisgrowingdespair among the young who are eitherleavinghighschoolor university, qualified but finding it difficult to match employment with their education, as others need supportforasecondchance. Young people must be assuredtheybelong,through involvement, proper training/education to c o m p e t e , employment/economic opportunities, and investment in their retirement. Regrettably, if wecontinuethetrajectoryof increased prices and decreased value in income thefuturelooksbleakandthe indigenous labour force will respond through migration, allowingfortheinvasionofa new labour force with no kinship to Guyana and

whose desperation may allow them to accept substandard wages and standard of living. Our eldersarebeingmadetofeel their investment in Guyana, now that they are in their goldenyears,meantnothing. Their small pension has not kept pace with inflation nor are they being justly rewarded for their contributions to nationbuilding How the Ali/Jagdeo regime sees this vulnerable group is summed upinthewordsofaMinister of Government who said “old age pension was not meant to ‘mind’anyone, it’s justapension.”

Guyanesenotbetteroff 2023 finds the workers worse off than they were before The HDI indices show Guyanese are not better off Workers, unsupported, are struggling with runaway cost of living, reduced purchasing power, and are spending more for less.Inflationratehasmoved from a 2.09 in 2019 to a 9.4 per cent in 2022 (IMF figures).Withinthelastthree years the Government did not pay wages/salary increase in 2020, paid a 7% increasein2021,and8%in 2022. Workers continue to turnthewheelsofproduction for a Government that cares not for them and has no qualms flaunting their contempt.

At the macro level, fear, extra-judicial and execution style killings have returned. Effortsarebeingtostiflethe righttobeheardandfreedom of expression, among man’s most basic of rights. PAHO reports on Guyana said noncommunicablediseaseshave increased, suicide rate is among the highest in the world, and maternal death has increased. USA Travel advisory has Guyana at a Level3,informingvisitorsto reconsider travel to Guyana due to crime In 2021 Guyana declined on the Global Hd1. Buildings and infrastructures are not indicators of development; people and their quality of life, including their safety andprotectionoftheirrights are Given the data the majorityofGuyanesearenot betteroff.

Regards, Guyana Trades Union Congress

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

Another oil project pushed for approval

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

The fifth oil project is still pending.

Yet Exxon already moving for approval of the sixth one.

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

The fifth will happen, and so will the sixth project.

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

Exxon dictates to this country, commandeers Guyana’s leaders.

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

This can’t be a national sovereignty.

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

Guyana has to be a ghetto, Exxon’s toy and football to kick about.

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

Opposition submits documents for criteria and

procedure for demarcation of boundaries at GECOM

As the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) continues it preparation for the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE), Opposition Commissioner, Vincent Alexander, has submitted to the Election body documents dictating the criteria and procedure outlined for the demarcation of boundaries.

Last December, GECOM had cause to reverse the demarcation of constituency boundaries after recognizing that the Local Government Minister, Nigel Dharamlall, did not have the power to make such changes. It was noted therefore that the Minister's actions would affect the voters list since GECOM, as the elections body responsible for issuing the List of Voters, could not provide same based on the constituency boundaries changed by the minister

Alexander had said then that GECOM would need to go back to itsavailableprocessandthecriteria used for the kinds of mapping on which the list should be issued. As part of the process, Alexander had said that party representatives as well as registration officials would

goonthegroundandtogetheragree on boundaries where GECOM would have the last say on those demarcations. Alexander told the newspaperyesterday,thataspartof the criteria however, GECOM is to take into consideration, geography, communitiesandtheirpopulation.

The Commissioner told this newspaper however that he had cause to deliver to GECOM documents that speak to the said criteria and procedure for demarcation, since the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Vishnu Persaud has informed the GECOM thathecouldnotfindanydocument to show the criteria and procedure used by GECOM in this regard.

“Thiscriteriainvolveswhattolook for; geography, community and population as factors to divide up constituencies,” Alexander highlighted The Commissioner said that since the CEO said he could not get the requisite documents, he (CEO) disclosed that he would have used his own methodtocomeupwiththedivided constituencies.

Alexander said that Opposition Commissioners rejected the CEO's explanation insisting that there are

procedures and criteria that have to be used To not follow the necessary procedure leaves the door open for citizens to be disenfranchised if for example, a communityofparticularsupporters is split, or if supporters of a particular party are bunched with supporters of another party, Alexander explained. He said that criteria usually entail fairly similar numbers of persons in a constituency and other factors that contribute to a balanced configuration within the boundaries. To that end,Alexander said he committed to bringing the documents with the outlined GECOM methodology to be provided to the CEO. This he said was done yesterday morning and the body, now awaits the next step onthismatter

Onanothermatterofconcernto Opposition Commissioners in particular, is the hiring of the Commission's Information Technology Manager to the temporary administrative post of Operations Coordinator to perform the duties of the vacant Deputy Chief Election Office (DCEO). A decision on whether the IT

Govt. paid off $470M in NIS arrears for T&HD staff

During the third day of the Budget Debate on Wednesday, it was disclosed t h a t t h e C o a l i t i o n Government had owed some $470 million in National Insurance Scheme (NIS) arrears, for staff of the Transport and Harbours Department(T&HD).

This is according to Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, who noted that since assuming office, this current Government has been able to pay off the arrearsowed.

“When we came to Government Sir, the Transport and Harbours Department was one of the departments that were struggling,”hesaid.

The Minister went on to explain that for the period 2015 to 2020, no NIS contributions were made for the staff of the Harbours Department.“Iampleasedto announce to you today Mr Speaker, that arrears of $470 million have been paid off and any staff of Transport and Harbours Department could now get their benefits,” the Minister announced.

Not only the NIS arrears were paid off he said, but money deducted from the staff's salaries for Union dues and Pay As You Earn (PAYE)werealsonotpaidby

thepreviousGovernment.

The Minister stated yesterday “Mr Speaker, not only was NIS not remitted, not even the Union dues that were deducted were paid the Union. Mr Speaker, we are pleased to announce that all the arrears of Union dues havebeenpaidupandweare nowoutofthered.”

Minister Edghill further announced that while PAYE wasdeductedfromthestaff's salaries, it was not paid over to the Guyana Revenue Authority(GRA).

When asked about the amount that was owed in Union dues and PAYE, the Minister related to this publication yesterday that the PAYE outstanding

amount is $524,070,297 for theperiodDecember2014to December2020.

While the Union dues amounted is $1,259,920 for the period August to December 202o. He also shared that the Transport Credit Union is $15,703,125 for the period May 2017 to December 2018 and the Public Service Credit Union amount is $7,089,593 for the period February 2018 to December2018.

“I am happy to announce that we have been paying the backlog. We are current and up to date and the people of the Transport and Harbours could now get their records in order,” Edghill mentioned inhisdebatepresentation.

Manager, Aneal Giddings should remain in the temporary post was supposed to be made on Tuesday, but Alexander said that the Chairwoman Justice (retired) Claudette Singh claimed to have had an emergency and deferred the matter to another date. This is despite both Government and Opposition sides of the Commission seeking to have the chair address the matter,Alexander clarified. The matter is an issue for the Opposition since they say the Chair acted outside of her power to second the IT Manager for the temporary post Alexander in pointing to the law showed that the power to hire senior staff permanent or temporary lies with the Commission and not the Chair alone. He argued too that the IT manager is not suitably qualified forthepostashelackstherequisite experience and as an applicant for the DCEO post, he is given an unfair advantage over applicants as he is now doing the DCEO job under another title. Alexander said theChaircouldnottakeituponher own either to second the IT Manager for the senior post on request of the CEO, who said that

he was burdened with work for LGE in the absence of a DCEO. He said that Giddings' appointment is another contrived situation where persons were being employed by the Commission without following the available procedures Opposition Commissioners want the temporary post rescinded and the DCEO post filled immediately since for months, Alexander claimed applications were sitting withtheCommissionandtheChair continued to push back the appointment giving the LGE precedence.

The Commissioner found it strange however that Giddings was picked to assist the CEO over the more suitable Assistant Chief Elections Officer He said too that while Giddings' appointment was deemed important given the CEO's work load, he is currently on a two weekleavecommencingthisweek.

Caribbean must first tackle hunger, inequality to be global leader in food and agriculture - FAO

Latin America and the Caribbean “can and must step up” to address increasing hunger and inequalityrates in the region, a role that would move them “to the forefront of global food and agriculture” – this was the message conveyed by the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, to regional political leaders hereonTuesday

Qu's speech to the 7th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin America and Caribbean States (CELAC), presided over this year by Argentina, was delivered by FAO Chief Economist,MaximoTorero.

CELAC is an intergovernmental mechanism for dialogue and political agreement designed to support regional integration programs and comprised of 33 countries that are home to around 600 million people. Its role is important today as recent years have seen a weakening of collective efforts towards regional and g l o b a l i n t e g r a t i o n “Multilateral institutions need to innovative” to r e s p o n d t o c u r r e n t

u n p r e c e d e n t e d a n d overlapping crises, said Qu, who will sign several letters ofintenttopursueprojectsin the region during the meeting.

“We live in the most unequal continent in the worldandonceandforallwe must undertake a process leading to equality,” said President Alberto Fernández of Argentina in his opening remarks.“Itismucheasierto achieve such results working together.”

Qupointedtokeypriority areasthatintegrationthrough CELAC would facilitate, highlighting the need to expand food supply in the Caribbean, where healthy dietsareexpensive,investing in water infrastructure and food production initiatives in Central America, where droughts and outmigration are persistent trends, improving food exchange between countries in the Andeanregion,andfostering a large regional programme of infrastructure for production, storage and transportation of food to facilitate intra-regional trade andexports.

While prioritizing the protection of national economies is natural, it is

important to note “we are all together on this small planet and the measures taken in one country affect all the other countries, ” the Director-General said, citing the worldwide experience of the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of the value and importance of international collaboration FAO can efficiently provide support for the implementation of CELAC initiatives and goals of all Members if their concerns are made clear and the tangible and sustainable solutionsagreed,henoted.

Transform agri-food systems to reboot SDG agenda

Latin America and the C a r i b b e a n w a s a n outperforming region in termsofreducinghungerand poverty in the decade up to 2015. Yet, despite being the world's largest net food exporting region, it has faced major setbacks lately Between 2019 and 2021, the number of people suffering from hunger increased by 30 percentto56.5million,while those enduring poverty also increased.

That could represent a setback of a decade or more intheefforttoreducepoverty

- Minister Edghill

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill

Access to education is not an assurance of quality

f

Education must not get confused There is a difference and distinction between access to education andqualityofeducation.

Access to education is measuredquantitatively The quality of education is a qualitativemeasure.Thefact isthatitisquitepossiblefor there to be access to education but this education is substandard. In Guyana’s primary education, there is universal access. But it is obvious that the quality of education is extremely poor with more than half of the studentswritingtheGrade2, 4 and 6Assessments failing inthecoresubjects.

Access to education however is important from the pointof view thatunless education is available and accessible,onecannotspeak about quality But you can have access and very poor quality. Access does not guarantee quality, has never done. In its Manifesto, the PPPC promised to improve access to education at every level from nursery to university but also to raise the quality of education acrossalllevels.Sowhereis theplanforthelatter?

The Government is spendingalargershareofits education budget this year on capital works But comparing this percentage withwhatoccurredunderthe

A P N U + A F C i s disingenuous because the resources are now available toallowforagreaterportion of public expenditure on capital spending. To invert capital and recurrent spending under the

APNU+AFC regime would have been disastrous. There would have been spanking new schools, with no benches,chairs,teachersand educational materials. What goodthenwouldaccessbe?

Throwing shade at the APNU+AFC and engaging in comparisons between what was done under the APNU+AFC – does not fix the myriad of problems within the education sector The PPPC used to make mockeryofDavidGranger’s plans to provide buses and boats to take children to school Now they are boasting about expanding the number of buses and boats in 2022. The Minister in her address failed to adequately address the fundamentalconcernsofthe educationsystem.Howdoes the education Budget addresstheissueofensuring universal secondary education? The failure of Guyanainthethirddecadeof the 21st century to have universal secondary education is an indictment. But will building new schools guarantee universal secondary education in

2023?

Or is it intended to expand accommodation for theschoolsthatarepresently bulging at the seams and to rebuild schools which were either destroyed by fire or had to be closed because of their poor conditions In other words, to what extent arethenewschoolsgoingto increase access versus s i m p l y i m p r o v i n g accommodation.

The empirical data does not suggest the need for a massive drive to build new schools. The nursery school population is projected to remain about the same by 2025 And in terms of enrollment, there is only likelytobeabout1,000more nursery school children in 2025 than there are today Primary enrollment is projectedtoincreasebyfive percent but accommodation has to be made for the fact that an increase in private primary school enrollment may ensure about the same levelofenrollmentinpublic schoolsin2025asitistoday And secondary school enrollment is actually projectedtodeclineby2025.

The problem of overcrowding and catering for future increases in enrollment may have been better addressed by improving the school placement system. Building newschools,maynotbethe

answer to overcrowding or catering for the relative small overall increases in enrollmentthatareprojected inthenear-term.TheBudget also does not appear to addresstheissueofthelarge number of students who are not completing secondary school Surely resources s h o u l d h a v e b e e n apportioned to study this problem and to arrive at policies to address it. It is serious indictment against the education system that so many students are not completing their secondary education. So what is the plan?

The PPPC likes to boast

that it restored the school’s cash grant. But this grant is universal – it is given to everyschoolchildregardless of economic status and regardless of whether the child has a good or poor attendance record. Rich and poor,millionaireandpauper, allbenefit.TheAPNU+AFC didremovetheschool’scash grant.Butitdidpromisethat if it was reelected it would provide an educational cash grant but this would be linked to attendance. This is afarmoresensibleapproach since it would provide an incentive for parents to ensure that their children attend school. This is what

happens in Brazil. And if it costing the Government $237,000 per child to provide education, would it not be cheaper for the Government to pay private educational providers to providetheservice?Itwould save the billions that are going to be spent by Government to increase educationalaccess.

(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.)

The Minister o

Guyana, the country that perhaps sunk the lowest in 2022

As I look back at 2022 in this country, I am wondering if economic development is not moving so far ahead of moral progression that by the next five years, the population will easily define what m o d e r n i z a t i o n , infrastructure, oil revenues are but, will have not the remotest idea what moral rightsare.

T h e h a r d e n e d obliviousness to justice, fairness, equality by the population was so pronounced last year that Guyana is slowly becoming perhaps the only country where even an elementary understanding of what conscience means does not exist.

Ilookbackatmycountry in2022andIcannotfindone instanceinwhichvoicesand pens were raised against some of the most egregious manifestations of wrong-

doing. I go back over 362 columns last year, and I c a n n o t f i n d a n y m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f redemption.

I remember a few years back when it was revealed that veterinary surgeons at theOgleAirportwerekilling dogs because owners had to produce a birth certificate forthepetsandiftheydidn’t thepetswerekilled.

The Kaieteur News and the state-owned Chronicle founditunbearableandthey covered the tragedy Just to digress. I will answer a writerinthisnewspaperlast Monday that wants to know where Frederick Kissoon is. Justsomebriefwordsabout theresponse.

I b e l i e v e a n y government leader that allows their officials to murder lovely dogs without intervention is a philistine thathasnorighttobepartof ongoingsociety I remember when I

investigated the story of the APNU+AFC government secretly burying foreign prisoners locked up at the Diamond Police Station there was an outpouring of outrage. People volunteered to help That kind of conscience was completely absentin2022.

Wheretostartisdifficult becausetherewereso many examples of wrongs in this society that proved we are moving to the point where people in this country will have only biology and not psychology

1-Adam Lynch told me andLeonardCraig,formerly of the AFC, that a certain man with extensive state contacts was helping him with his gun license. On the day of the conversation, he left to pick up the permit at the Police Commissioner’s office.Onhisarrival,hewas arrestedandkeptincustody fortwodays.

\When released on bail,

he went home and committed suicide. I told oneofthemostseniorpolice officers that I would reveal thenameAdamgavemeand Craig but not on the phone. Theofficernevergotbackto me.Adamisdead.Hisstory leftuntold.

2-Banks DIH in the presence of my wife, ordered me out of the building because I furiously complained that the companyhadnorighttoline the public parapet from Meadow Bank to Mandela Avenue with traffic cones. I took the Traffic Chief and his senior ranks to Banks DIH. The company’s senior officersrefusedtomeetwith them and then hours after, replaced the cones with permanently implanted “no parking”signs.

3-Acompany with close affiliationtothegovernment heldaholidayconcertonthe MovieTownecarparkfrom 8 PM until 5 AM the next

morning disturbing t h o u s a n d s o f residents from

Liliendaal, Pattensen, Turkeyen, Cummings Lodge and Industry It wastodatethemostgraphic manifestation of the banana republic syndrome in Guyana.

4-Commercial banks demanded that people cashingchequeshavetopay a service charge if the cheque recipient did not have an account with the bank. Only in Guyana this depravitycantakeplay The purposeofachequeisforthe depositor’sbanktofacilitate itscustomer.Thatiswhythe bank offers cheque book facilitiestoitscustomers.

5-The constitutional advisor to the President, ProfessorRandolphPersaud gave me permission to publish a conversation betweenhimandMr Anand Persaud, the editor–in-chief of the Stabroek News

B efore printing the revelation, I called Mr Persaud for verification. He stood by what he told Dr Persaudandinformedmehe will not discuss the issue withme.

W h a t w a s t h e conversation about? Dr Persaud complained his letters were not being carried Mr Persaud informed him that they will not be carried if they continue to castigate civil society organisations that are critical of the government.

These examples are just a tiny cluster of samples from the disturbing year of 2022inwhichasocietywent into a dark and menacing direction that holds frightening consequences forthefuture.Buttherewas no response from the society ButGuyanasociety in2022waslikeafish.

Afishswims,itdoesfly Don’t expect it to fly Don’t expect dead souls to have a conscience.

(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.)

FrederickKissoon

Guyanese among crew abandoned onboard Surinamese vessel

By Shervin Belgrave

Acrew of six men is looking for their employers who allegedly disappeared and left them stranded onboard a Surinamesevesselanchoredinthe EssequiboRiver.

Members of the crew have not been paid by their employers and have reportedly been stranded for more than 22 days without any cash and food onboard the vessel. Kaieteur News was told that it is a Surinamese-owned tow boat called the 'The Pearl of the Atlantic'. It is anchored in the Essequibo River, a fair distance awayfromtheParikaStelling.

The stranded crew onboard is made of Guyanese, Surinamese and Venezuelan men. After their food supplies ran out they turned to the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) for help. An official of MARAD has since confirmed that agency's crew welfare department met with men and has taken some food supplies forthem.

Speaking with Kaieteur News one of the crew members, a Guyanese, Orin Riddle, related that their Surinamese employers th had employed them on the 24 of November last year to go on a month-long voyage to Trinidad andreturn.

A client of the employers had reportedly chartered the vessel to tow another vessel from Skeldon inBerbice,Trinidad.“Wewerenot paid any advance but we were promised that we would receive our salaries in full when we return fromthetrip,”Riddlesaid.

They had set sail a few days later for Trinidad and had only returned on January 3 last. The vessel anchored in the Essequibo River and the employers disembarked the 'Pearl of the Atlantic' and left for Parika Riddle explained that crew stayed behindbecausetheywerenotpaid asyet.

At first they were not worried becausetheybelievedthatthemen wouldreturnforthevesselandpay themoffbuttheiremployersnever returned.Noonereportedlycalled

them and as the days turned into weeks and the food supplies started to get low, the crew started to become worried that they were abandoned.

According to Riddle he was able to make contact with one of the employers, a Guyanese man who lives in Suriname but was not given any assurance of payments ontheirreturn.

“He say how he ain't got no money on he now and how the peoplethatchartertheboatentpay them nothing”, Riddle told KaieteurNews.

The man's words to Riddle reportedly “frightened” the crew becausetheyareallfathersanddid not leave much cash with their families for the Christmas holidays.

Riddle said, “some of the men had lil savings that they left home, others borrowed small loans from the banks and courts just to leave their family with lil security while they were away for Christmas. To gohomenowwithoutnomoneyis pressure”.During their meeting with MARAD, agency officials

assured them that an investigation has been launched. An order was obtained to prevent the vessel from leaving Guyana's waters for Surinameuntilthecrewispaid.

“the MARAD people was calling them but like they ain't getting in contact with none of them.Liketheynahanswerthem”, Riddleadded.

Kaieteur News was able to sourcetheirnumbersandreachout

aswell.

One of the employers answered but he explained that he isnotreallyinchargeofthevessel. He provided this newspaper with anothercontactforanothermanhe claimed is the one totally responsible for the now abandoned tug's operations but calls to that number went unanswered Investigations are ongoing.

Two cops and mason on drugs, ammo charges

Sheldon Benjamin, a 32year-old mason of Vigilance, East Coast Demerara along with two police constables, 29-year-old Albert Beresford and 22-year-old Julius Cambridge was on Wednesday charged jointly for marijuana and ammunitionpossession.

The charges are: possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking and possession of ammunition without licence. They appeared at the Cove and John Magistrate's Court on Wednesday before Magistrate Fabayo Azore, where the charges were read to them.Theyallpleadednotguiltyto the charges and were remanded to prisonuntil2023-02-28.

Kaieteur News had initially reported that the two members of the Guyana Police Force were arrested at a roadblock, after a quantity of marijuana and ammunitionwerediscoveredinthe motorcar they were in. Police had reported that around 02:30 hours

on January 16, 2023, a party of ranksfromRegionalDivisionFour 'C' were conducting a road block ontheCoveandJohnPublicRoad, East Coast Demerara (ECD) , when they stopped a silver-grey Premio motorcar (PAB 7863) whichthesuspectswerein.

It was stated that the trio was observed acting in a suspicious manner and as such, a search was conducted on their person. The motorcarwasalsosearched,in

Photo taken on Wednesday of the stranded crew onboard the vessel

Police Constable, Julius Cambridge

Sheldon Benjamin

Police Constable, Albert Beresford

Man accused of killing E.C.D. woman captured in abandoned house

Murder suspect, 65-year-old Deonarine Sawh called ‘Boyzie’ who was wanted in relation to the murderofhisformerpartner, was arrested on Wednesday during a pre-dawn operation carried out by members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Sawh, of Hope Estate, ECD and Crabwook Creek, Corentyne Berbice, was captured at an abandoned house at Mahaica, Region Four,onedayafterthePolice issued a wanted bulletin for him for the murder of NazaleenMohammed.

This publication had reported that the body of 47year-old Nazaleen, 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's ex-partner It was reported that the woman's body was discovered around 15:00h in a canal at Hope Lowlands, ECD, facing upward with wounds to her head,ear,neckandabdomen – with her intestines protruding.Kaieteur News 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

Two cops and...

From page 12 their presence. During the search, a grey and black bag was found which contained two parcels and a container with leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis. After the items were shown to the suspects, they were

told of the offence, cautioned, arrested and escorted to the Cove and John Police Station A further search was carried out in the motorcar, and two .38, two .40 and 11 9mm rounds of ammunition were discovered.

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(whomheidentifiedas the suspect) and also his mother's voice shouting for her phone – before the call ended.Itwasstatedthatafter

the woman did not return home, the neighbour left in searchofher Whilewalking along Hope Lowlands, Railway Embankment, the neighbour came across Nazaleen's motionless body inthecanal.

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

Captured, Deonarine Sawh called 'Boyzie' Murder, Nazaleen Mohammed

Navigating the emerging oil & gas economy for Indigenous communities

By SydneyAllicock, Dr. Carolyn Walcott and Dr Terrence Blackman

The indigenous p e o p l e s o f Guyana, known locally as Amerindians, comprise nine distinct groups, each with their own unique culture and traditions, three in coastal areasandsixintheforestand savannah areas of the interior

The indigenous peoples, Arawaks, Wai Wai, Caribs, A k a w a i o , A r e c u n a , Patamona, Wapixana, Macushi, and Warao, are approximately 90 thousand strong and are the fastestgrowing population of the sixethnicgroupsofGuyana.

There are over two hundred and fifteen Amerindian villages and communities.

Amerindian life in Guyana is governed by the Amerindian Act established in 2006, and both past and present administrations have acknowledged Amerindians by granting them legal land ownership.

As a result, Amerindians are the second largest land and forest owners after the GovernmentofGuyana.

The Amerindian way of lifeisbasedonsubsistence,a cooperative approach, living in harmony with nature, and following the laws of nature. Amerindians believe that there are four elements of true life: fresh air; pure water; sunlight; and common sense; without this, n o t h i n g s u r v i v e s Amerindians do not sell land;thelandistheirmother, and many Guyanese Amerindiansstillspeaktheir nativetongue.

The Arawak, the largest indigenousgroupinGuyana, located mainly in the country'scoastalregions,are known for their pottery and basket weaving. The Carib are known for their traditional lifestyle, closely tied to the natural environment. They have a strongconnectiontotheland and the rivers and are known for their fishing and hunting skills. The Wai Wai, located in the remote southern regionofGuyana,areknown for their self-sufficiency and close relationship with the naturalenvironment.

They are also known for

their traditional hunting and fishing practices and their knowledge of medicinal plants.

The Warao, located mainly in the northern regions of Guyana, and known for their traditional fishing, hunting, and agriculture practices, have a rich cultural heritage that includes traditional music anddance.

Finally, the Makushi are located mainly in Guyana's central and southern regions and are known for their traditional farming practices and knowledge of medicinal plants.

The National Toshaos Council represents all the Indigenous peoples of Guyana, and theAmerindian Purposes Fund, which still lackscompletefunctionality, issupposedtodobusinesson behalf of Guyana's Amerindiancommunity

With the development of oil and gas reserves in the country, these indigenous communities have been and will continue to be affected positively and negatively In this essay, we explore the challenges and opportunities thatindigenouscommunities in Guyana face in the emerging fossil fuel extraction economy The p a n e l i s t o n G B J ' s

Transforming Guyana Episode VII: Guyana's Indigenous Peoples and the Oil and Gas Economy serve toinformourreflections.

Guyana's recent sale of 30 percent of its carbon credits to Hess Corporation to the tune of US$750 million and the allocation of 15 percent of the proceeds from that sum to the indigenous communities acrossthecountryisthemost recent manifestation of the intersection between the oil and gas economy and Guyana's Indigenous Peoples. The sale of carbon credits is a mechanism that countries and companies will use to offset their greenhousegasemissionsby purchasing credits from other countries or entities that have reduced their emissions below their targets.

Guyana has vast rainforests which act as a carbon sink, and the Governmenthasbeenselling carbon credits to companies t o m o n e t i z e t h e

environmental services providedbyitsforests.

K e y A m e r i n d i a n stakeholders, however, question the capacity of the indigenous communities to absorb and harness the resources effectively to the benefit of the community without an existing menu of prerequisites.

While many have a c k n o w l e d g e d t h e coordinating role of the National Toshaos Council in advancing the aspirations of Guyana's indigenous

training in the service and agricultural industries, where the essential components of local content engagement with the oil and gasindustryarelocated.

They have proposed the establishment of an indigenousbankandtraining inenvironmentalandnatural resources conservation as critical educational components that must be facilitated through direct involvement of the state, private sector, Hess, and members of the Diaspora if the actual capacity is to be met.

Florence Alexi La Rose, a local Consultant on indigenous development, has proffered a micro-level approach to building local capacitythroughmeaningful engagement.

Shepositsthateducation, training, and access to critical information on availableopportunitiesinthe oil and gas sector are precursors to the inclusive engagement of hinterland communities. Even with the Local Content Act's institution, La Rose has suggested that members of the indigenous community across Guyana can be excluded from opportunities due to a lack of awareness, and linguistic barriers only further compound the situation for the indigenous population.

One of the most significant challenges facing the community today is the need for meaningful consultation with companies and governments about developing projects in their communities.

significant opportunities is the potential for the development of Indigenousowned businesses connected totheoilandgasvaluechain. For example, suppose Indigenous people can increasingly own and operate companies that provide various services to the fossil fuel industry, from exploration and production to pipeline construction and operations.

In that case, they will be able to provide employment opportunities for indigenous p e o p l e a n d h e l p communities generate revenue from the fossil fuel industry In addition to these I n d i g e n o u s - o w n e d companies, various Government and Private Sector initiatives can help Indigenous communities deploy existing cultural assets to benefit from the fossil fuel extraction economy These initiatives could include targeted tax incentives, capital access, and other technical support for Indigenous-owned businesses. The emerging Oil & Gas economy is a complex system that has existedforcenturiesinmany parts of the world, including Guyana. This system has significantly impacted indigenous communities globally, and we can expect the same in Guyana, both positively and negatively Guyana's stakeholders must be intentional in their engagement with the Amerindiancommunity

c o m m u n i t i e s , t h e y simultaneously cite the lack of training interventions, particularly within Guyana's most populous indigenous regions, as potentially undermining sustainable development and inclusion ofindigenouscitizens.

K e y i n d i g e n o u s stakeholders believe that Guyana's First Peoples may beunabletooptimallyderive the benefits from the carbon credits and wider oil sector without additional technical capacity and the appropriate

S t a k e h o l d e r intentionality around substantive consultation is likely to preempt the emergence of issues these communities face in adapting to the already evident broader impacts of the new Oil & Gas economy on the larger Guyanese society, i e , changes in prices, employment opportunities, and access to services.

Despite the potential challenges the new Oil & Gas economy poses to indigenous communities in Guyana, there are also opportunities for these communities to benefit from theindustry

One of the most

We have outlined some challenges and potential o p p o r t u n i t i e s t h a t Amerindians in Guyana face and will continue to face and some strategies they can use to navigate Guyana's emerging oil and gas economy

The Oil & Gas economy will inevitably have an impact on Amerindian communities, and it is essential to ensure that Amerindians, in all their communities,areadequately consulted and supported to ensure that, as a community, they benefit from the industry

We close by reiterating the Amerindian maxim: The four elements of true life are fresh air: pure water, sunlight,andcommonsense, without which nothing survives.

Dr. Carolyn Walcott

Former Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Sydney Allicock

Dr. Terrence Blackman

AgricultureMinistersays: Rose Hall Sugar Estate to be

reopened in time for next crop

...ShadowAGwantscashtransfers,housing andotherpolicestobepartofsocialsafetynet

Mi

n i s t e r o f

Agriculture, Z u l f i k a r Mustapha, has described the performance of the country's non-oileconomyas“credibly e x c e l l e n t ” h a v i n g contributed some 11 5 percenttothecountry'sGross DomesticProduct(GDP)last year, of which agriculture contributed, nine percent The Agriculture Minister during his presentation to the 2023 budget debates, highlighted a number of positives he said is taking placeinthesector

The Minister informed that by the next crop, the closed Rose Hall Sugar Estate will be reopened and some 1500 workers will be re-employed.

The Minister further pointed out that several thousand hectares more of rice lands will be cultivated, several crops and animal raring trials will continue, while those completed will be developed and that there will be improved and added infrastructureforthesector

Mustapha's first swing was aimed at previous presenters on the opposition side who heavily criticized the Government's multibillion dollar contribution to a sector that continues to

bringnoprofittothecountry.

The Minister opined that whiletheOppositionclaimed to have been “right-sizing” the sugar industry, they would have caused its declinesincetakingoffice.

“We have seen what happened and who destroy this industry,” the Minister posited.

He said in 2014 when the current Government left office the Guyana Sugar Corporation(GuySuCO)was producing 216,352 metric tonnes of sugar By 2019 that numberhadmovedto92,256 mt. In 2015, he said the Skeldon Sugar factory produced 39, 157 mt while in 2016produced31,783mt.In 2017, he said production fell to 14,000 tonnes, “and that wastheendofSkeldon”.

In 2016, four estates were abandoned and thousands of workers left withoutajob.

Today, the Minister said, the Government has employed approximately, 1500 of those dismissed workers and “...later on this year, the second crop of this year, Rose Hall, one of the estates they closed... will be reopened...”

The Agriculture Minister said that the Opposition increased drainage and

irrigation and land rental costs by 6000 percent having increased the sums from $3,500 to $15,000 but now speakofriceproblems.

He claimed that the former Government lost the lucrativeVenezuelan market, and abandoned farmers exporting rice to Panama causing the current Government to now work to recuperate monies still ownedtolocalgrowers.

To further boost the sector, Mustapha said that rice will increase by 170,000 hectares which will be planted this year as well as increased yields in rice varieties.

The Minister noted that Region 1 for example has been declared the area where all the country's spices will be produced as that location is expected to be a main producer of cocoa, nutmeg, and ginger, which will then be exported from the region to Trinidad and Tobago and other Eastern Caribbean countries.

He reported too that by 2025, Guyana will be selfsufficient with its soya bean and corn production as this areacontinuestodevelop.

He said that the Black giant bird has increased production and mentioned

Govt. exploring additional measures to relocate Cameron Dam squatters

The Ministry of Housing and Water-Central Housing and Planning Authority will be exploring some new measures, which will aid 42 families of Cameron Dam, West Bank Demerara in their relocationprocess.

On Monday the 42 families were reengaged during an outreach, which was led by Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal and Community Development Director, Mr Gladwin Charles The agency's Community Development Department holds direct responsibility for the relocation and regularisation of informal settlers, a press release from theMinistrysaid.

During the meeting, Minister Croal explained to the families that they will be able to benefit from the Government's Steel and

Cement Housing Subsidy programme, as well as, the H o m e C o n s t r u c t i o n Assistance Facility Under the first programme families can receive cement and steel to advance the foundation of their new home, while under the second initiative, for those interested in building their homes this can be facilitated through a loan from a commercial bank and construction will be supervised by the Ministry Additionally, the Ministry will be offering support to familieswhoareinterestedin having their existing structures relocated to their newhouselots.

Already the 42 families have been allocated residential lots at the Lusten-Rust Housing Scheme and have commenced payment for same. In total, 46 families have been

the importation of breeding bulls to up supply to the beef market.

Like other Opposition Members of Parliament (MP), when the Shadow Attorney General (AG), Roysdale Forde, SC took to the podium, he waded into the Government for not addressing cost of living and quality of life issues for citizens despite the increases garnered from oil revenues.

Specifically, the ShadowAG felt that the Government's claims against oil cash transfers due to affordability has no basis in evidence, “...other than the partisan desire to keep poor, vulnerable persons from benefitting from our oil wealth therefore increasing thepovertygap.”

Forde said that cash transfers must not only be delivered to the poor and vulnerable based on needs, buttoeveryhousehold.

He said that despite an abundance of oil resources, the Government has failed to expand and overhaul the socialsafetynet.

He said that the Government “must at once provide unemployment grants, establish a social safety net that addresses the circumstances of young people, elders and women in oursociety.”

Forde pointed to Government's “persistent” failure toward livable wages and salaries and the constitutional right to

occupying Cameron Dam which is a reserve between CanalsNo.1and2.

Also, during Monday's outreach the representatives from the New Building Society were facilitating interviews for persons interested in securing a loan. The Ministry first engaged Cameron Dam residents back in September 2022, where residents were told of planstohavethemrelocated.

Forty-two of those families readilytookuptheMinistry's offer for legitimate residentiallots,twoareinthe process of finalising their allocation and two other families were found to have been previously allocated.

Monday's meeting is a result of President Irfaan Ali's direct intervention, as residents reached out to him during his recent outreach to Region3.

collective bargaining for all unionized public servants or where the Government is a shareholder

He suggested that the administration act now and move to the bargaining table with the trade unions for increased wages and salaries and improved conditions of work reflective of an oil and gaseconomy

Forde added that the 50 percent increase as c a m p a i g n e d b y t h e Government has not been given to workers. Instead, “unilaterallytossinglessthan 20 percent increase in wages and salaries to public servants in three years “is as discriminatory as it can get”.

Forde noted that in 2020 public servants got no increase, while a seven percent taxable increase was tossedin2021andin2022an eight percent taxable increaseannounced.

“What is needed for the small man in this country,” Forde suggested, “is a helping hand up, not the Government's boot on his neck.” He said development

by the Government is meaningless if all citizens cannotaccessbenefits.

He said the Government is overseeing the massive transfer of state wealth and providing large contracts to the identified 'One Guyana' while disregarding public workers and the vulnerable. He said policies continue to miss the mark on efficiently benefittingcitizens.

Forde opined that in the world's fastest growing economy, “the Government ignores that 49 percent of the people are living in poverty, 48 percent of the population is existing on less than G$1200dollarsaday

And it is in this Guyana that pensioners are expected to survive on $33,000 per month with today's cost of living”.

The ShadowAG insisted that these groups which represent the majority of Guyana get no direct benefit from the fastest growing economy, only “that special 'One Guyana' is benefitting from this growth.”

Elderly man killed in CottonTreeaccident

A 74-year-old man was killed WednesdaymorninginanaccidentatCotton Tree Village Public Road, West Coast Demerara.

Dead is pedal cyclist, William Johnson, of Railway Line, Rosignol Village, West BankBerbice.

In a press release police said that the accident occurred at about 10:30hrs. It involved a minibus BRR 1805 driven by a 64-year-old man of Zorgen Hoop Blairmont Village, West Bank Berbice and the now deceased74-year-oldman.

Enquiries disclosed that minibus BRR 1805 was proceeding west along the southernsideofthesaidroadatanormalrate of speed. The pedal cyclist, who was

proceeding west along the northern side of the said road, is alleged to have suddenly turned south into the path of the minibus resulting in a collision, police said in the release.

As a result of the impact, the pedal cyclistfellontotheroadsurfaceandsuffered several bodily injuries. Johnson was picked up unconscious and taken to the Fort Wellington Public Hospital, where he was pronounceddeadonarrival.Theman'sbody is presently at the Bailey Funeral Home, awaiting a post-mortem examination. A breathalyser test was conducted on the driver,anditshowednotraceofalcohol.

The driver remains in custody as further investigationsareongoing.

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha Shadow Attorney General, Roysdale Fordea

WANTED

Driver, Salesman & Porters required to work in warehouse. Must have experience, attractive salary offered. Call: 696-4444.

Driver/ Salesman, Bakers, Pastry Makers, Puri /Roti Makers & Receptionist. Back to Eden Bakery, 85 David St, Subryanville. Call: 613-0475/ 613-0385.

Driver and Expediter/ Security required. Call: 2235273/ 223-5274.

Welders and Security required. Call: 687-5814/ 688-0417.

Dump Truck Driver required. Call: 223-5273/ 223-5274.

Handyman and Porters needed. Call: 223-5273/ 223-5274.

Waitress and Bartenders required. Attractive salary offered, Call: 223-5273/2235274.

Male & Female needed to work in factory. Apply to RP'S Enterprise Area, "K" Le Ressouvenir E.C.D. Call: 220-2818.

One male able-bodied Clerk required. Call: 231-2029, 6938462.

One Female able-bodied Worker required. Call: 2252313/ 658-8559 or 226-1497.

Wanted: Experienced Supervisor, Cashier, Counter Person , Cooks and Labourer. Apply @ Shanta's, 225 Camp and New Market Sts.

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

Two Goldsmiths required at Percy Nurse, Lot 15 First St, Alexander Village. Contact: 225-8411/ 661-7341.

Male Porters & females to work in supermarket in the Interior. Females must know to cook. Call: 687-7638/ 6609093.

One hauler truck Driver and licence Excavator Operator needed, must have at least 3 years experience. Call: 6447088/ 624-7248.

Experience Sales person needed at Courtney's Boutiques. Stall ‘B’ Bourda Market. Contact:227-3407.

Reputable transportation service is seeking experienced mini bus and hire car Drivers. Call: 645-0025.

WANTED

Seamstress, Tailor, Block aker & Carpenter wanted. Call/ Whatsapp: 691-1918

One Puri/ Roti Maker and two Kitchen Assistant needed at Rabbies. Call: 648-8279/ 231-6591.

Skilled Carpenters, Masons and Labourers. Call:602-9469 or 615-7526.

One Domestic needed for residence. Call: 223-5273/ 223-5274.

Iran blacklists more European officials as tensions rise

The foreign ministry in Tehran blacklists three entities and 22 individuals from the EU as well as a think tank and eight officials in the UK.

VACANCY

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

Delivery Clerk, Office Assistant, Sales Clerk & Labourer needed at Lens Hardware. Call: 227-1511/ 645-1613.

Vacancy exists for Salesgirl and Porters at Best Buy Food Supplies, Lot 1 ‘E’ Dennis and Middleton Streets C/ville. Apply in person with written application.

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

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

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

Receptionist and Room Attendant needed at 233 South Road, Lacytown, ages 25-50 yrs. Call: 225-0198.

Payless Variety Store is now hiring Sales Representatives and Porters. Location: 42 Wellington St, Georgetown. Call: 658-4494.

Administrative Assistant required. Must have CXC Maths & English along with experience using Quickbooks. Send resume to info@rstruckinggy.com

Vacancy exists for two experienced Dispatcher at Confidential Cabs. Call: 695-1961 /231-5784.

VACANCY

Car wash Attendants, ages 18-28, (preferably from E.B.D) to work at Vintage Car Wash in Eccles. Call: 617-2027.

Hotel Attendant required at Hick's Ville Hotel. Call: 6400673, 231-0951, 227-7714, 223-3448. Email: info@ vegeworld.net

Inventory/ Data Entry Clerks required at Survival Shopping Complex, 173 Sheriff Street. Call: 6092995. Email applications: survival.humanresources@ gmail.com

Western Union CSRs required @ Survival Shopping Complex, 173 Sheriff Street. Call: 609-2995. Email: survival.humanresources@ gmail.com

Supermarket AM & PM Sales Representative required @ Survival Shopping Complex, 173 Sheriff Street. Call: 609-2995, Email: survival.humanresources @gmail.com

Experienced Accounts Clerk required @ Survival Shopping Complex, 173 Sheriff Street. Call: 609-2995, Email: survival.humanresources @gmail.com

Driver and able-bodied Handyman/ General Helper needed. Must have at least 5 years experience. Email: ateeyyeaali@gmail.com/ mandaitwaru@gmail.com Call: 225-9409, 502-9466.

Servers and Office Manager required. Manager must be willing to organize and coordinate administrative duties. Email applications: ateeyyeaali@gmail.com/ mandaitwaru@gmail.com or Call: 225-9409, 502-9466.

Experienced Kitchen Assistant, Cashiers & Roti/ Puri Cook. Apply @ Hack's Restaurant 5 Commerce St.

One female Cleaner needed. Apply at Lens, 136 Sheriff Street C/Ville, Georgetown. Contact: 227-1511/645-1613.

Truck Driver, Excavator Operator, Loader Operator, Motor Grader Operator, Roller Operator & Bulldozer Operator required. Call: 700-8131/ 600-6073.

Welder, Carpenter, Mason, Labourer, Heavy Duty Mechanic, Engineer, Engineer Assistant, Secretary& Paver Operator needed. Call: 7008131/ 600-6073.

FOR SALE

Houses for sale. Location: Tuschen, Providence, Diamond/ Little Diamond and Haslington. Call Pacific Development Inc: 6736210 /227-8274/ 917-7715202.

Six Black & Tan German Shepherd pups, fully vaccinated. Call: 650-9998/ 6260953.

CAT 320 excavator buckets, CAT 320 idler, road painting machine.Call: 275-0367/ 6837225.

Ton and a half - Dragline Hammer, Steel Traylor 16ft, 2ft, 8ft. CAT 215 Excavator parts. Call: 275-0367/ 6837225.

Prime property located in Prashad Nagar. Call: 6540200/ 685-3342/ 691-1153.

Mud for sale on the East Coast. Call: 619-0007, 6193153.

(Al Jazeera) – Tehran has introduced more sanctions on European officials and entities for “supporting terrorism” and “fomenting unrest” in Iran. Its Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday blacklisted three entities and 22 individuals from the European Union in addition to one entity and eight officials from the United Kingdom.

Within the EU, it targeted Radio J, a Paris-based Jewish community radio station; the European Friends of Israel within the European Parliament; and the Heberger Construction Company for “participation in construction of factory equipment” allegedly used for creating chemical weapons deployed in the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s.

It also blacklisted several members of the European Parliament, city officials, police and military commanders, and three executives of the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, which recently published a string of caricatures mocking Iranian leaders.

Two Dutch far-right political leaders, Rasmus Paludan and Edwin Wagensveld, were sanctioned for “insulting the holy Quran”.

In the United Kingdom, Tehran blacklisted the Henry Jackson Society think tank in addition to the prosecutor general, several senior current and former military and intelligence officials, and a prisons authority chief.

The new measures are similar to several rounds of previous sanctions announced by Tehran, the latest of which came last month.

EDUCATION

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

ACCOMMODATIONS

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

Visa

VEHICLES FOR SALE

One CRV Honda, fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage $3.3M negotiable. Contact: 649-0956.

Elevate your brand with our professional Graphic design services. Call: 6190007, 629-5526.

Repairs at affordable price: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezer.

Call: 610-5846 or 661-8158.

Indian overseas male seeks female, age 35-40 and must be educated. Call: 602-9975.

Afro-Guyanese male seeking single female for business and exciting adventures. Ages 47-50 yrs. Text/ Call: 676-5516.

From page 8 and hunger in the region and beyond and stymie efforts to reduce inequalities as called for by Sustainable Development Goal 10, FAO’s DirectorGeneral said. While the FAO Food Price Index has been declining, offering some respite, recovery has yet to be established and more challenges are inevitable as the world’s agri-food systems operate under risks and uncertainties, including those stemming from the climate crisis and economic slowdowns, he added.

Qu called for urgent collective action now to focus on the social and economic consequences of the pandemic, rising food insecurity, rising prices of staple foods, fertilizers, and other agricultural inputs, the climate crisis, erosion of biodiversity, deforestation and water scarcity, and persistent poverty and rising inequalities that are especially impacting rural populations, women, youth and the most vulnerable.

FOR RENT

2 and 3 Bedroom fully furnished luxury apartments for rent, short term and long term. Tel:# 682-2585, 6911432.

ENTERTAINMENT

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

Two bedrooms apartment for rent in Nandy Park, E.B.D. Preferable couple, $50,000 per month. Contact: 668-3413.

“All FAO teams in the region are ready and fully committed to providing all the Organization’s technical expertise and capacity to Governments to assist them to face the current challenge of food security,” he said. “No one can do it alone.” The best way to do this, regionally and globally, is to transform agrifood systems to make them more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable, he said. “It is critical to achieve our common goal of the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all,” he added.

PEN PAL

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

SERVICES

Guyanese in for a “rocky road” with

handling of oil industry

Warning that the Government's secretive nature in running the oil industry places Guyanese in great danger, Opposition MemberofParliament(MP), Shurwayne Holder has called on citizens to be more vigilant in helping to police the sector as well as the ambitious US$2B gas-toe n e rg y p r o j e c t t h e administrationhasembarked on.

Holder made the points during his contributions to the ongoing budget debates on Tuesday Questions continue to swirl about the financial feasibility of the project, which Government has largely ignored. There hasbeennopressconference t o a d d r e s s s e v e r a l outstanding issues about the project,evenastheIrfaanAli administrationhasrefusedto conduct a feasibility study to determine the economics of theventure.

Government said the venturewilllowerelectricity costsby50percent,however independent analysts have said this may not be possible duetotheincreasedpricetag oftheproject.

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

In addition, Guyanese remain in the dark regarding key aspects of the controversial initiative, in clearviolationofthenation's laws. Each application made to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeking Environmental Authorization or a Permit to start up a project must be shared with the public as per t h e E n v i r o n m e n t a l Protection Act. Part VII of the Law, that speaks directly t o ' I n v e s t i g a t i o n s , Prosecutions, Civil Proceedings' makes it pellucidatSection36(1)that “It shall be the duty of the Agency to maintain, open to the public, registers containing particulars of- (a) each application for an environmental authorization

made to the agency, including the name and addressofthepersonmaking the application, and the location at which any activity is proposed to be or is undertaken pursuant to the e n v i r o n m e n t a l authorization.”

Holder reminded the House that it was under the Coalition Government that an initial feasibility study to assess the value of a pipeline anditsbestpotentiallocation was done. He said once they got into Government, they toreuptherecommendations of that study, situating the pipeline at Wales, which he said will cost the country at least an extra $100 million USD, because it is far from the most ideal location. “If thatweren'tbadenough,they have refused to conduct an updated feasibility study, even though the cost of the pipelinehastripledsincethat study was conducted In what world does a major infrastructure project triple in cost and a Government proceeds without urgent reassessment?”

As such, Holder asserted that it is clear that the ruling P e o p l e P r o g r e s s i v e Party/Civic (PPPC) is not

interested in sober decisionmaking and thoughtful planning The Opposition MP posited that the ruling party prefers chaos because in confusion there can be secrecy He asserted: “there are so many secrets in the GastoEnergyprojectthatit's hard to keep track.” To this end, the Opposition MP asked, “What is the unit cost of the gas the pipeline will supply Guyana? Where is the agreement between the Government of Guyana and ExxonMobil for the constructionofthispipeline? What is the final cost of this pipeline and what provisions are in place to address any costoverruns?”

He further contended: “it would seem to me to be utterly crazy to invest over $2billionUSDinanyproject without basic questions like these being answered.” On that note, he said that these questions needed to be asked.

“I understand Mr Speaker that a contract for consultancy services has been signed between Engineers India Limited and Guyana Power and Gas Inc., but what is “Guyana Power and Gas Inc.? If this

company is intended to operate the plant why has Guyana Power and Light been bypassed? In fact, what is the scope of this new company'spowers?”

Besides, Holder noted that the biggest act of “eye pass” to date is the Government's claim that it intends to finance a stake in the gas to shore pipeline directly from cost oil. He said “Mr. Speaker this arrangement bypasses the very House we stand in, rendering the National Assembly irrelevant when the Government seeks to finance major infrastructure projects The Public Procurement Commission, Auditor General, and Public Accounts Committee are all s i d e l i n e d i n t h i s a r r a n g e m e n t T h e Government is violating the Guyanese Constitution and the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act of Guyana in a casual, cold, maliciousway.”

Fear

Holder said the PPP has turned a bumper year for oil revenues into one of fear aboutthemanagementofthe oil industry. The MP

believes that the issues now a l l o w G u y a n e s e t o understand the PPP/C's shady tactics and disdain for t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d accountability “Guyanese are starting to understand that they are in for a rocky road when it comes to the oil industry, that nothing can be taken for granted and that constant vigilance will be a necessity.”

Exxon expenses

He added that “Even basic things, like auditing Exxon's cost-oil expenses, became the source of public outrage and concern. Recall that the PPP allowed the audit window for over $7billion USD of cost oil expensestolapse,soclueless were they about the proper management of an oil and gasindustry.”

On the other hand, Holder noted that the Government has refused to enforce the requirement for full coverage insurance that ExxonMobil has signed onto in Guyana's development permits; raising the spectre of an unmitigated disaster should there be a major oil spill. He said: “we saw Guyana's first oil spill last

yearaswell,andnoreporton it has been publicly ventilated so the nation better understand the risks it faces.

These are the types of concerns that keep vigilant citizens awake at night. We know that oil is a tricky man to manage and have seen many nations fall foul of poor governance in the sector.”Heasked“Will2023 bringmoreofthesame?”

“Sadly,” he said this is likely to be the case as the PPPisstilltomakepublicthe new model Production Sharing Agreement. ” “Already, they have started the year off on the wrong foot. There is still time for thePPPtogetitsacttogether in the interest of all Guyanese. We urge them to put their country first,” he added.

Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Shurwayne Holder

Women’s IPL franchises fetch $572 million for Indian board

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) - The world’s most affluent cricket board, India, got further richer by $572.72 million after unveiling five franchises for an Indian Premier League-style T20 tournament for the women yesterday.

Since 2018, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) has been staging a three-team Women’s T20 Challenge alongside the hugely popular IPL for the men and faced demands to start a full-fledged women’s tournament. The owners of IPL’s Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore franchises are among the five entities who purchased teams in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), which will be played in March. The Adani group made the highest bid of approximately $158 million to buy the Ahmedabad franchise, while Capri Global Holdings Private Limited agreed to pay $92.84 million for Lucknow. “Today is a historic day in cricket as the

bidding for teams of inaugural WPL broke the records of the inaugural men’s IPL in 2008,” tweeted BCCI secretary Jay Shah. “This marks the beginning of a revolution in women’s cricket and paves the way for a transformative journey ahead not only for our women cricketers but for the entire sports fraternity.” The BCCI has already sold the tournament’s media rights for the next five years to Viacom 18 for $117 million which translates into per-matchvalue of $870,393.

“This is a historic moment for Indian cricket, and we are delighted to be a part of it,” said Nita Ambani of Mumbai Indians, which also owns teams in men’s T20 tournaments in South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Former India captain Mithali Raj predicted “exciting times” for women’s cricket, while England batter Danni Wyatt and former Australia allrounder Lisa Sthalekar also took to Twitter to welcome the new tournament.

Thursday January 26, 2022

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

You will experience an intense amount of energy today, Aries. Your dream state will be more active than usual, and you will find that people are drawn to you like moths to light.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

You should enjoy the intense energy of today, Taurus. The mud is finally beginning to clear away. Expose the truth in every issue and get ready.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Today marks the beginning of a new cycle for you, Gemini. Collect and consolidate your recent ideas and focus them outwardly. The time is right for you to act. Improve your surroundings.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Take a cold shower to jumpstart yourself today, Cancer. It's fine if you laze around a bit in the morning, but by evening, you should be working at full capacity.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Today may start out sluggish for you, Leo, but by the end of the day the energy will move fast and furious. Your thoughts will be buzzing around your head like bees around a hive.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) Enjoy the calm morning, Virgo, because things are going to get crazier and more energetic as the day goes on. Emotions will run high, and people will be more opinionated than usual.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Things are moving your way, Libra. As the day progresses, you will find that the energy intensifies. Conflicts may arise near sundown, but don't worry about it too much.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

It's time to get up and get moving, Scorpio. You have tremendous ideas and vision for the future. You have all the information you need. Now all you have to do is act.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

The early part of the day might find you sluggish and indecisive, Sagittarius, but later you should be psyched up and ready to go. Today marks the beginning.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

Today's energies will get progressively more intense as the day goes on. In the morning, you may be in an easygoing, dreamy state, Capricorn, but you will be itching to take action by nightfall.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

For the past several weeks you've felt like you've been dragging your heels, Aquarius. Decisions may have been hard to make and people may have seemed wishy-washy.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

The morning might find you sitting like a stick in the mud, Pisces. People might be getting down on you for not contributing, but tell them to be patient. You will be raring to go by nightfall.

The shadow of a man falls on a backdrop with the logo of the India’s cricket board BCCI before the start of a news conference to announce its cricket team’s coach, in Mumbai, India, August 16, 2019. (REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas)

RockLegendaryCupFutsalChampionshipofficiallylaunched

The inaugural Rock Legendary Cup Futsal Championshipwasofficially launched yesterday at the main sponsor’s store and kicks off on Saturday, February 4, at the National Gymnasium.

Organiser, Wayne ‘Harry’Griffith,andGeneral Manager, Yolandia Ross of Rock Auto Trans and Spare Parts and Back Circle representative Selwyn Williams,weretheattendees ofthesimplelaunch.

Ross, whose company is located on Charlotte Street between Albert and Light Streets, stated, “It’s a pleasureforRockAutoTrans to be promoting our first Futsal Tournament. This is aneventthatweplantohost everyyeargoingforward.”

She added that the company, which opened its door approximately two years ago, is quite aware of their social responsibility and wanted to honour the sport the proprietor has followedasayoungster

T h e k n o c k o u t

Tournament will feature 24 teamsvyingforthetopprize of$500,000whiletherunner up will have to settle for $250,000. Third place takes home $150,000 while the fourthplacefinisherpockets $100,000.

Griffith revealed that the event has already been sanctioned by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and will have six playing dates; February 4th, 7th, 11th,14th,18thand25th.He also thanked the Ministry of Culture,YouthandSportand the National Sports Commission for the support they provided. The Most Valuable Player in this tournament will ride away with a brand new motorcycle, compliments of Rock Auto Trans and Spare Parts, while a lucky fan that attends the finale will also ride away with one new motorcycle. More support hasalreadybeguntopourin for the tournament with the likes of Fireside Grill and Chill, Colours Boutique and Trophy Stall coming

onboard The organising team welcomes any other person or entity that wishes tohoponboardtoassistinthe staging of their maiden voyage.

The Fixtures from the firsttwodaysareasfollows: Day–1

Leopold Street vs Campbellville-19:45hrs

Berbice All-Stars vs TigerBay-20:30hrs

BV vs Tiger Bay21:15hrs

Pike Street vs Linden All-Stars-22:00hrs

BackCirclevsMelanie22:45hrs

Sparta vs Upsetters23:30hrs Day-2

StabroekBallersvsWest Side-19:45hrs

Future Stars vs Mocha Family - 20:30hrs Gold is Money vs Albouystown21:15hrs

Conquerors vs Avocado Ballers-22:00hrs

Showstoppers vs AlexanderVillage-22:45hrs

Bent Street vs Vryheid’s Lust-23:30hrs

Last dance awaits India’s Mirza as she reaches mixed doubles final

MELBOURNE, (Reuters)Sania Mirza, India’s greatest women’s tennis player, stayed on track for a fairytale farewell after she reached the mixed doubles final at the AustralianOpenyesterday.

MirzateamedupwithRohanBopannafor her final Grand Slam in Melbourne, having announced her desire to step away from the sport after next month’s Dubai Tennis Championships.

Mirza, who won the women’s doubles crown at the 2016 Australian Open, and Bopanna defeated the third seed pairing of Desirae Krawczyk and Neal Skupski 7-6(5) 6-7(5)10-6inthesemi-finalsyesterday

For Mirza, there was no change of approach heading into her final major, with

the 36-year-old focused on competing at her bestlevel.

“Iplayeverymatchtryingtowin,whether it’smylasttournamentormylastslamormy first slam. For me, competitiveness is in my blood,”Mirza,thefirstIndiantowinaWTA singlestitle,toldreporters.

“EverytimeIsteponthecourt,Iwantto winregardlessofwhetherit’sgoingtobemy lastslam,whetherit’smylastseason...

“It’sspecialinmanyways.It’semotional in many ways.The approach to every match remainsthesame,thesameprofessionalism, warmup, routine, sort of will to win. That doesn’treallychange.”

Mirzawillplayinthemixeddoublesfinal on Friday, 18 years after she first made her majordebutatthesametournament.

Organiser Wayne Griffith (left), General Manager Yolandia Ross (centre) and Back Circle representative Selwyn Williams take a photo op at the launch of the Rock Legendary Cup Futsal Championship.

Djokovicrompsontowards10thAustraliantitle,LinettestunsPliskova

MELBOURNE, (Reuters)

N o v a k

Djokovic continued making his quest for a recordextending 10th Australian Opentitlelooklikeawalkin the park by demolishing Andrey Rublev to reach the lastfouryesterday

The Serb, still wearing a thigh strapping but looking supreme, raced to a 6-1 6-2 6-4 victory with a performancethatwouldhave beenuncomfortableviewing forAmericanTommyPaul.

Unseeded Paul won 76(6) 6-3 5-7 6-4 in an AllAmericanquarter-finalclash against 20-year-old Ben Shelton to advance to the semi-finalsofamajorforthe firsttime.

A disbelieving Magda Linette continued her dream Australian Open run by stunning former world number one Karolina Pliskova to set up a semifinal against Aryna Sabalenka.

FifthseedSabalenka,the only top-10 seed left in the women’s draw, earned her spot in the semi-finals by outmusclingDonnaVekic63 6-2 in a ferocious battle of big hitters on a baking Rod LaverArena.

Djokovic is making a mockery of the theory that the second week of Grand

-

Slam tournaments get tougher In the last 16 he dropped five games against home hope Alex de Minaur and he was just as ruthless againstRublevashemadeit 25 successive wins in succession at the Australian Open.

Fifth seed Rublev has now lost all seven Grand Slamquarter-finalswhichhe contested.

“Iwouldrankthisasvery close to the performance of two nights ago,” Djokovic said on court. “I’m playing very solid from the back of the court and really love theseconditions.

“The scoreline maybe in the first two sets tonight didn’tshowtherealityofthe match. But all the important moments I found my best tennis.”

Paul is only the third active American man to reach a Grand Slam semifinal, joining John Isner (2018 Wimbledon) and Frances Tiafoe (2022 U.S. Open) but will have to registeraseismicshockifhe istogoanyfurther

“I’mreallyexcited,man. It’s really cool. I think it’s even cooler if I do play Novak,” the 25-year-old Florida-basedPaulsaidafter hisvictory

“To play Novak here in Australia would be

awesome Obviously he’s pretty comfortable here in Australia. It’s going to be a challenging match. But I’m playing some of my best tennis.”

Paul, the first American man to reach the semi-finals in Melbourne since Andy Roddick in 2009, withstood someferociousservingfrom Shelton who banged down 24aces.

“Ben’s tough to play against and he’s going to be in many matches like this,” Paulsaid.

Paul is not the only unseeded player in to the semis The unheralded Linette, ranked 45th in the world, played wonderfully controlled tennis to wrap up athoroughlydeserved6-37-

5 victory over powerful CzechPliskova.

Linette, who had never been beyond the third round ataGrandSlamandhadbeen expected to play second fiddle to fellow Pole Iga Swiatek at Melbourne Park, will now face Sabalenka on Thursday to decide who meets either Victoria AzarenkaorElenaRybakina inthefinal.

“It’s so much and I can’t really believe it,” the 30year-old said. “I will never forget this I’m breaking throughsomereallydifficult things for me.This will stay with me for life. So I’m reallygrateful.”

MISFIRING

SERVE

Sabalenka later took her chances in a physical one-

hour first set littered with break points before running away with the second to reachherfourthGrandSlam semi-final, but first in Melbourne.

Vekic had held a 5-1 career record against the Belarusianbutwasunableto match the level of the new, improvedSabalenkawith13 doublefaultsnothelpingthe Croatian’scause.

Sabalenka also made plentyoferrorsbutheroncefragile serve was largely solid, and when she got her explosive forehand going it wasalwaysgoingtobehard forVekictocope.

Two double faults as Sabalenka served for the match were a sign of nerves but the 24-year-old saved

threebreakpointsandsealed thewinwithahugeforehand thatstrucktherunningVekic inthebody

“I think it was because I wascalmandIexpectedthis gamefromher,soIwasable tostayinthegamenomatter what.Thatwasthekey,”she saidofhervictory

Linette had no problems serving out her quarter-final against twice Grand Slam finalist Pliskova, whose 36 unforced errors sabotaged yet another bid to win a first major

“She really played well from the baseline,” said Pliskova. “I just didn’t find any space in the court to go for my winners. Obviously theservewasnotgreattoday atall.

Unstoppable Shiffrin extends her record to 84 wins

(Reuters) - Mikaela Shiffrin took a recordextending 84th women’s Alpine skiing World Cup victory yesterday by completing a back-to-back giant slalom double in the ItalianresortofKronplatz.

Still fizzing from Tuesday when she moved clear of retired compatriot Lindsey Vonn with a record 83rd win, the unstoppable American kept her calm to

dominate the first run and thentriumphbyahefty0.82 seconds.

Norway’s Ragnhild Mowinckel was second and Sweden’s Sara Hector finishedthird.

Shiffrin, 27, is now only two wins short of the absolute record of 86 wins rackedupbySwedishmen’s slalom great Ingemar Stenmark in the 1970s and 1980s.

“I think between the second race in Kranjska Gora (Jan 8, when she equalled Vonn’s record) and these two races yesterday and today it’s the best GS skiingIeverdid,”shesaid.

“I feel so good with it. I lovethefeelingIhaveonGS skisrightnow It’sapleasure to race but for sure it’s also stressful. “After yesterday I wasquitetiredtodayandI’m onnotthebestmomentinmy monthly cycle so I’m like emotionalandtiredandIjust wanttosleep.”

The victory took Shiffrin’s career World Cup giantslalomtallyto19wins, one short of retired Swiss great Vreni Schneider’s women’s record of 20 in the discipline. She can tie Stenmark at the weekend if she wins two slaloms in the Czech resort of Spindleruv Mlyn but the record will have to wait until after the world championships on French snow in Courchevel

andMeribelfromFeb6-18.

Afifthlargecrystalglobe for the overall World Cup winneralsolooksinevitable, with Shiffrin now on 1,517 points to Swiss rival Lara Gut-Behrami’s906.

She had explained after yesterday’s first leg that breaking the record had madeithardtoswitchoff.

“It was a really nice evening and so nice to see messagesfrompeopleandso much support and so much excitement about the race. I was definitely looking a lot atallofthatandthentriedto go to bed and have a good nightofsleep,”shesaid.

“But I was awake at midnight, I was awake at three, then I was awake at five.Iwashungryallnight.I waslike‘Ohmygosh,I’ma mess’.” The crowd at the finish area would not have recognised that description assheshowedherrivalsonce againthedepthoftalentthey areupagainst.“Attheendof

the day it’s really just two runs that are one minute long,”shesaid.“Youalways haveenergytodothat.”

Shiffrin added that she did not have a goal in terms of numbers. “This season I was thinking if I could get four wins, five wins, maybe six, then that’s the most I couldpossiblyget.

Andthatwouldbeagreat

season. And now it’s nine I think.

That’s actually enough forme.Idon’tneedmore.

“But I really like skiing this way, so I’m going to keep pushing. When I’m in the start gate on the second run, I’m like ‘I don’t need it butIwantitandsoI’mgoing totrymybest’.That’showI feelmentally.”

Mikaela Shiffrin of the U.S. in action.

(REUTERS/Lisa Leutner)

Mikaela Shiffrin of the U.S. celebrates on the podium after winning the race. (REUTERS/Lisa Leutner)

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates winning his quarterfinal match against Russia’s Andrey Rublev. (REUTERS/Jaimi Joy)

Poland’s Magda Linette celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova. (REUTERS/Carl Recine)

Kevin Sinclair joins RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Team to pay it forward

“This club teaches each one of its cricketers the importanceofgivingbackto those less fortunate, to believe in the god we serve andtorememberthatthebest way to serve god is to serve humanity We are taught to

assist others to climb mountains when we have reachedoursummit.Today,I would like to pay it forward to some of my younger teammates by giving two of themacricketbateachwhile I would like to support the

Namilco Thunderbolt team to assist another member to move into a new home.” Those were the words of Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club all rounder Kevin Sinclair as he joined his team mates in making a positive difference to three clubmates.

Sinclair, who has been a memberoftheRHTYSCfor over six years, donated a cricketbateachtotwoofthe club’s most promising players. Those benefitting were Romesh Bharrat and TamehwarDeonandanofthe club’s under17 and under13 teamsrespectively Bharrat in 2023 would captain the under17 and has already represented Berbice at the under15, 17 and 19 levels.

Deonandanisthecaptain of the RHTYSC Poonai Pharmacyunder13teamand hasalsorepresentedGuyana

and Berbice at the same level.

Sinclair, who has to date represented the West Indies i n t h r e e O n e d a y international matches and six 20/20 matches, also joined his Namilco Thunderbolt teammates to assistafemalememberwith several pieces of household

and kitchen items The presentation assisted the femalecricketertomoveintoa newhomewithherfamily

RHTYSC Organising SecretaryRobbyKissoonlall stated that the different cricket teams of the RHTYSC are mandated to assistyouths,theelderlyand less fortunate via a wide

range of activities under the subheadings of culture, sports, charity, educational, social, youth development, community development and anti drugs among others Members who havegone on to the highest levels are also encouragedtopayitforward by assisting upcoming promisingmembers.

Mohamed Enterprise donates $1M to the GYMMAF team to Serbia

Acheque for the sum of $1,000,000washandedover totheGuyanaMixedMartial A r t s F e d e r a t i o n (GYMMAF) yesterday morning to assist with the travel expenses for our local athletes to compete at the International Mixed Martial Arts (IMMA) world championship in Belgrade, Serbia.

Afive -member team is expected to travel to Serbia, for the event which unfolds from February 12-18 The Federation expressed

their appreciation to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mohamed Enterprise: Mr Nazar Mohamed in a brief ceremony which took place at the Mohamed Enterprise buildinglocatedonLombard Street,Georgetown. Also at the gathering were President of the GYMMAF Gavin Singh, Sherwin Sandy – VicePresident of the GYMMAF and Dr Sawan Jagnarain –Executive Member of the GYMMAF

President of the GYMMAF Gavin Singh expressed big thanks to Mohamed Enterprise for their involvement in the sport.

He stated, “In honouring their (Mohamed Enterprise) commitment in supporting the National team to attend the second International M i x e d M a r t i a l championship. I want to say a special thank you for presenting us with this chequetoday.”

He went further to say, “Guyana will be the only country representing the C a r i b b e a n a t t h e championship this year, it willbeoursecondtimeatthe IMMAchampionshipsothis is indeed a privilege for us here.”

The President of the GYMMAF is hopeful that our athletes that will be taking part of this year’s championship will bring us some success at the upcoming IMMA world championshipinSerbia.

The athletes being t a r g e t e d f o r t h e tournament hail from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) team, fighters are Ijaz Cave (middleweight), CarlRamsay(heavyweight), T r e v o n C l a r k e

(welterweight) along with overseas coach Lazaro Axme-Ocaras will be travelling to Belgrade, SerbiaonFebruary11totake part of this year’s World Championship.

Speaking on the preparation aspect, leading up to this competition, the President of GYMMAF explained; “A lot of hard work and energy has been put into preparing for the

World Championship. The main aim is putting our country on the world map. We (the federation) remains committed to growth of the sportshereinGuyana”

Guyana would have competed in their first I M M A w o r l d championship in Abu Dhabi last year and also participated IMMAF Pan Am Championship last JuneinMonterrey,Mexico,

in which we were able cop two silver medals in that competition.

T h e G Y M M A F President also hinted to the small gathering that; hopefully in the near future wewillhaveourownMMA championship right here in Guyana.

Thereismuchinstorefor thesporthereinGuyanabut we intend to take it one championshipatatime.

Azruddin Mohamed (left), President of GYMMA Gavin Singh (centre), Nazar Mohamed (right).

Carl Ramsay (right) and Ijaz Cave (Left).

RHTYSC Members pose after handing over the household items to their colleague.

Kevin Sinclair poses with the two youths after handing over the bats.

Rising Stars plummet by 95 runs in final match Rising ICCWomen’sU19WorldCup…

The West Indies Women Rising Stars’ inaugural

International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup campaign came to an end yesterday when they lost their final Group 2 match againstEngland.

P l a y i n g a t Potchefstroom in South Africa, England prevailed by95runsaftertheyposted 179 – 4 in their allotted overs then restricted the opposition to 84 – 8 when theoversexpired.

In West Indies’ pursuit,

Djenaba Joesph accounted formorethanhalfofthetotal assheendedunbeatenon44.

Asabi Callender partnered with Joseph for a few overs butfellfor17.

She was the only other West Indian to reach double figures.

Ellie Anderson was the chief destroyer in the English attackassheended with 5 – 12 from four overs, one of which was a maiden.

Anderson was supported by Alexa Stonehouse (2 – 15) and Sophia Smale (1 – 17), who accounted for the other wickets.

Earlier, England’s assault with the bat was led by Grace Scrivens’top scoreof52.

Her half-century inning wascraftedoff43deliveries and featured five fours and twosixes.

Well put together cameos were turned in by the unbeaten pair, Charis Pavely (29) and Smale (28), and Niamh Holland(21).

West Indies’ bowling attack also gifted the opposition 23 muchwelcomedruns.

The captain, Ashmini

Woeful West Indies Women lose by 10 wickets to South Africa

SportsMax - Another poor performance with the bat resulted inanotherembarrassinglossforthe WestIndiesWomen,thistimeby10wickets against South Africa in the ongoing TriNationSeriesinEastLondonyesterday

Batting first, the West Indies Women crawledto97-6fromtheir20overs.

As has become the norm, the Caribbean womenstruggledearlyslippingto29-4inthe 10thoverwithRashadaWilliams(1),Britney

Matthews scored 34 in another losing cause.

Captain Hayley Matthews and Shabika Gajnabistitchedtogether61-runpartnership butittook53-ballstoachieve.Gajnabioffthe first ball of the final over for 33 with Matthews following two balls later for a top scoreof34.TumiSekhukhunewasthebestof the South African bowlers with 2-24 NonkululekoMlabareturnedmiserlyfigures of1-7fromherfourovers.

WheretheWestIndiesWomenstruggled, South Africa’s Women seemed at ease cruising to 98-0 from 13.4 overs. Tasmin Brits was unbeaten on an even 50 at the end while her opening partner Laura Wolvaardt wasnotouton42.Scores:SouthAfrica98for 0(Brits50*,Wolvaardt42*)beatWestIndies 97 for 6 (Matthews 34, Gajnabi 33, Sekhukhune2-24)bytenwickets.

Munisar, was the most effective bowler as she ended with 2 – 32 while AbiniSt.JeanandCallender supported with a wicket each.

This defeat was the Maroon ladies’ third consecutive loss as they ended in the penultimate position in Group 2 of the SuperSixeswithtwopoints. England and New Zealand topped the Group with eight points, Pakistan (4) was third,Rwanda(2)wasfourth and Ireland (0) occupied the cellar.

Meanwhile, India, Australia, Bangladesh and South Africa finished on top of Group one, in that order,withsixpointseach.

Sri Lanka (2) and United Arab Emirates (0) occupied the other two stops in the Group. This meansonFriday,January27,

IndiawillfaceNewZealand in the first semifinal while Australia will lock horns with England in the match

that follows to see who entersthehistoricfinale. The final is billed for Sunday,January29.

Cooper (10), Shermaine Campbelle (1) and ShenettaGrimmond(5)allbackinthehutch.

Djenaba Joseph plays a shot during the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup 2023 Super 6 match between England and West Indies at JB Marks Oval (Getty Images)

Tazmin Brits made 50* to carry South Africa to victory. (Getty Images)

Mohamed Enterprise donates

team to Serbia to

Members of the launch party for the inaugural Rock Legendary Cup Futsal Championship display the two motorcycles up for grabs at the conclusion of the event.

Nazar Mohammed (centre right) makes the presentation to Carl Ramsay while Executives of the Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Federation and members of Mohamed’s share the moment.