Kaieteur News

McDonald paints grim picture of school system

…cites hungry children in classrooms, underpaid teachers, violence among students

By Zena Henry budget 2023 perpetuates

in classrooms hungry and increases

The disrespect underpaid teachers and don’t know where their next that has been meted out to Opposition Member of hungry children in mealiscomingfromwhilein teachers has added another Parliament (MP) and classrooms, adding that the and out of schools, students layer to their plight, the General Secretary of the education system is plagued arefightingteachers,parents Opposition,”MPsaid. Guyana Teachers’ Union by violence in schools and are fighting teachers and Shereminded,thatitwas (GTU) Coretta McDonald the burning of the learning studentsagainstteachers. Education Minister Priya called for better treatment of institutions. “Education in “Teachers are reporting Manickchand some years the country’s teachers as she crisis,” the MP and union for duty under stress ago, who told teachers in withheld support for the leader said She told everyday…theycan’tafford New Amsterdam to leave 2023 budget when the parliamentarians that every to pay their rent; it is too their jobs if they don’t like debates continued on dayschoolchildrenarebeing high. Teachers are left to theirpay “That’sverycaring

Thursday found with various weapons struggle through the month and concerned,” McDonald

McDonald told the when their bags are with low salaries as they said sarcastically She said National Assembly that searched, children are sitting watch other workers get teachersinthesystemcannot

turn to the education environment where labour ministry for help because it laws are not being enforced, has become politicised, and workers can’t get where friends and favourite assistance from the ministry are given preference. She officers. She said workers said professionals are being arebeinglaidoffwithoutany sidelined while “the full course for redress. “Given Peter principle is in effect.” the anti-working-class The most incompetent she nature of this government, continued, are rising to the workers do not expect any top. improvement in the fiscal Burning of Schools yearofspending,”theGTU-

On the issue of the General Secretary said. She burning of schools, said the fundamental flaw of McDonald said the the budget as it relates to Opposition condemns such labour lies with the acts but insisted that every g o v e r n m e n t n o t time the current government understanding the ultimate is in place, there are fires at liberation of the workingschools She said the class. “And this liberation question must be asked why does not lie with handouts they are burning before andanincreaseof$3000and suggesting that the schools $4000 in their salaries,” do sit on prime lands. The McDonald opined. She said union leader pleaded for the small man and woman measurestobeputinplaceto must be able to feel whole. stopthefires.“Dosomething “The only way that can be to convince us that you care done… is through equity and that you are concerned,” Nowhere in the budget is the theMPsaid.Shesaidschools word equity mentioned in a are also economic zones for significant way,” McDonald smallvendorsandoperators. said, adding the right of Labour Pains workers to the collective

Asitrelatestolabour,the bargaining process is also General Secretary said the absent. The MP said that sectorisinastateofdisrepair workers’ wages must not be as workers have become subjectedtothe‘whimsand sacrificial lambs in an (Continued on page 3)

Education MinisterPriya Manickchand

Coretta McDonald, GTU General Secretary

New oil policies coming

...Along with more audits, robust regulations,

strengthening of technical skills for contract negotiation in 2023 - Min. Vickram Bharrat

By Kiana Wilburg

outlining how the industry is guidance on the transparent implement guiding policies to be regulated to ensure and effective upstream oil forthepetroleumsectorwith

Natural Resources Minister, Vickram

The Ministry of Natural sustainable economic and gas legislative and a focus on the rate of Resources will be pursuing a development. institutional changes needed extraction and the proper suite of activities for 2023, The policy is also for Guyana; outline the abandonmentofwells. all in an effort to ensure regarded as crucial since it is pathwayformodernizingthe

Bharrat

Furthermore, he said better management of expected to address the full licensing and contractual stakeholders can look Guyana’s oil resources spectrum of exploration, regime oil and gas forward to there being more According to Natural development, production operations in Guyana; sensitization outreaches on Resources Minister, and decommissioning of oil develop and standardize a oilandgas-relatedtopicsand Vickram Bharrat, some of and gas resources. It is also transparent fiscal regime for the continued support for the these works will include the needed to establish a firm upstream oil and gas LocalContentSecretariat. implementation of an basis for putting in place the operations which attracts

Significantly,hesaidthat UpstreamOilandGasPolicy necessary legislation, investment and generates there will be the completion andStrategy regulationsandotheraspects revenue for the country; and of at least one cost recovery This document is of the institutional establish measurable audit this year It should be premised on a broad framework required for the initiatives to improve noted that there are two objective of attracting and efficient development of the t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d outstanding audit reports: securing investments in sector accountability 2012 and was finalised and entails the development of one for the audit of upstream exploration Additionally, the policy Work on the Upstream approved in the third quarter technical skills in contract ExxonMobil’s US$460M activity, and effectively is supposed to provide Oil and Gas Policy began in of 2014 by the Donald negotiations along with pre-contract costs and the Ramotaradministration.The improved fiscal policies. He audit its US$7.3B bills for Commonwealth Secretariat saidtoothatgovernmentwill theperiod2018to2020. provided assistance, from endeavour to encourage Bharrat was also keen to the inception, for the more exploratory seismic note that the ministry has document which was studies within the Guyana developed its Strategic Plan launched in January 2015, Basin. The foregoing falls for the period 2021 – 2026. mere months before the under the government’s This document focuses on General and Regional programme to promote and the interrelationships of Elections were held in May support the exploration, trends in the expansion of that year The policy saw d e v e l o p m e n t , a n d natural resources sectors, further work after the production of petroleum new emerging sectors, and discovery of oil was resources by regulating and changes in environmental announced and the David managing the industry to andsocialconditions. Granger administration ensure that the resources are K a i e t e u r N e w s assumedofficein2015too. d e v e l o p e d i n a n understands that the

Rystad Energy says T&T Conference used “unfinished draft” of Stabroek Block overlapping into Venezuela’s waters

Senior Vice President of the Stabroek Block leverage their resources as a Rystad Energy, Schreiner extending into Venezuelan united block to meet the Parkerhassoughttoclearthe territorial waters. He added, world’senergyneeds. air on an erroneous map that “This projection is incorrect Kaieteur News’ team, was used during the recently and has been corrected in the which included Publisher concluded Trinidad and final version of the Glenn Lall, observed that a Tobago Energy Conference presentation.” portion of the block was 2023. He categorically stated overlapping Venezuela’s

That map had shown that Rystad Energy does not maritime borders Efforts Guyana’s Stabroek Block consider the Stabroek Block weremadetobringthistothe overlappingintoVenezuela’s to extend into Venezuelan attention of the panel during territorial waters. In a letter territorialwaters.Parkersaid the discussions but to no addressed to the President of it is the position of Rystad avail.Lallsaiditisimportant the Energy Chamber, Dr Energy that the Stabroek thatthismatterberaisedwith Thackwray Driver, the Block is wholly contained organisers as more than 700 Rystad official explained within Guyanese territorial individuals were being that the version of the map waters. Parker also asked misled. used was an unfinished one that Driver and his team at More importantly, he fromhiscompany. the chamber dispose of the noted that Guyana and

Hewrote:“Ithascometo previous unfinished draft Venezuela are before the our attention that an and recall any emails, InternationalCourtofJustice unfinished draft version of correspondence or any other wheretheformerhaslaidout the presentation prepared for reference to this map which an irrefutable case on the the Energy Chamber was contained the projection parameters of its territorial made available to certain error sovereignty He said the map individuals outside of Itwas Kaieteur News that being shown or featured in yourself and your immediate first highlighted this error the backdrop of discussions teamattheEnergyChamber while in attendance at the aboutTrinidad’seagernessto In this unfinished draft conference. It was identified harness Venezuela’s gas presentation, a slide was after Driver had asked for it resources is “distasteful” to shownwhichincludedamap to be used in the backdrop of saytheleast. showing the Stabroek Block a panel discussion on how With President, Dr inGuyana.” Trinidad and Tobago, Irfaan Ali’s intervention, the Parkersaidtheprojection Venezuela, Guyana, organizers accepted that the used during the creation of Suriname, Barbados and map was incorrect and thismaperroneouslyshowed other territories may apologizedforsame.

In addition to this policy, economicallyviablemanner Strategic Plan for the period Bharrat said 2023 will see Towards this end, Bharrat 2021-2026 has been guided the enhancement of the said the ministry is expected by cornerstone initiatives nation’s regulatory to receive a financial such as the Low Carbon framework with modern commitment to the tune of Development Strategy 2030 legislation and the GY$1.09Bwhichwillcover (LCDS) and the Sustainable identification and utilization re-current and capital Development Goals (SDGs) of scholarship opportunities expenditures. that allow the ministry and to build local content K a i e t e u r N e w s its sector agencies to capacityinthesector understandsthattheministry successfully execute their His 2023 to-do-list also will also seek to develop and mandates.

McDonald paints grim picture of school...

From page 2 present and former students burnt schools like Christ fancy’of the government to as they head toward Church, St. George’s and decide what ‘freck’ to dish liberating education at the others will be rebuilt and out here and there UniversityofGuyana. extendedinGeorgetown. McDonald said that budget She told the House that In Region Five, the 2023 ought to represent the major works are scheduled government minister said people of the country but forthesectorwithnumerous universal secondary nowhere does it mention the schools set for repair while education has already been return of their right to new schools will be achieved, while in Region negotiate for better wages constructed, inclusive of Six and Seven, a school will andsalaries. dormitories and other eachbebuilt.

Free University relatedfacilities. In Region Eight, the Education As the government government will extend In her presentation on works closer to universal dorms,oneschoolinRegion Wednesday, Minister of education, Manickchand Nine and extended E d u c a t i o n - P r i y a saidthatfourschoolswillbe accommodations while Manickchand reiterated her built in Region One, one of Region 10 will see the government’s manifesto which was destroyed by rehabilitation of all promise that they would be arson, in Region Two, one multilateral schools making tertiary education school will be finished, Teachers’ quarters and free of cost in the next five while in Region Three two dorms are being built across years. news schools will be built. the country also, the

She said that it was the In Region Four, the minister minister said as she blasted g o v e r n m e n t ’ s said the Yarrowkabra and thepreviousgovernmentfor announcement that it would Good Hope schools will be being unable to start and find a pathway to remove completed, as well as a complete any school in their the debt currently held by school at Prospect while five-yearstint.

Senior Vice President of Rystad Energy, Schreiner Parker

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor-In-Chief:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

GUYANA EPA

Many Guyanese shrink and shudder when they read, think of, have to deal with another development from this country’sEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA). Rather damaginglytotheinterestsofthisnation,thelocalEPAisa lostsheep,acastratedbull,atoothlessguarddog.

It is neither incompetence nor indifference nor negligence of the people in the executive, managerial, and otherranksofadebonedanddefangedStateagencythathas led to this weakened condition. It is about the means and measures, the attitudes and objectives, of destructive politicians who are the worst of leaders, the most horrible decision makers that could be found anywhere, possibly at anytime.

In the United States, a nation advanced in learning, the tools of technology, rules and regulations, policies and procedures,andwithlayersofoversight,theEPAtherewas inducedintoacomatosestate. TheUSEPAtoiledunderthe crushing weight of “depleted staffing levels, persistent fundingchallengesandapreviousadministrationthatleftthe agency neglected and scientifically compromised” (“Depleted under Trump, a ‘traumatized’ E.P.A struggles withitsmission”-NewYorkTimes,January23rd).Withouta doubt,shortageoftherightpeopleinkeypositions,shortage of money to initiate and deliver on key programs, and shortageofleadershipbacking,areallguaranteedtocripple any government entity, any business, regardless of the endeavor, the responsibility Any one of those three would betraumatictoanorganization,buttohaveallthreeatwork at the same time is enough to paralyze even the best institutions.

All three are what occurred during President Donald Trump’stimeatthehelmoftheUSGovernment.Morethan 1200 scientists and policy experts left the EPA during Trump’s time. The inevitable disastrous result is that America’sEPAisstrugglingtorecover,crawlingonitshands and knees to get back on its feet, however unsteadily The EPA’sworkloadisoverwhelming,andastheNYTnoted,the agency’senforcementunitis“prosecutingfewpollutersthan atanytimeinthelasttwodecades.”

The reasons behind these troubling circumstances are clearcut. PertheNYTarticle,“Mr Trumptriedeachyearto slash the E.P.Abudget by at least 30%; it is a funding state that no organization can cope with successfully This became particularly unmanageable after a 2016 law significantly increased the agency’s duties, but Trump did notapproachCongressfortheaccompanyingresourcesthat wereurgentlyneeded.

WhatthenPresidentTrumpdidwasthathe“dismantled scienceadvisorypanels,disregardedscientificevidence,and weakenedprotectionsforpollution.”

Somebody, some subgroup, in Guyana’s PPP/C Government has done a good imitation of Donald Trump, through what has been inflicted upon our own EPA. Guyana’s EPAis not even a shell of what could be called a self-respecting State agency, but a caricature of the kind of genuine environmental sentinel that this country needs immediatelyandcompletely Wecanspeakatlengthofthe long and sorry record, as recently compiled by Guyana’s EPA, and hammer its management and people for their glaring failures. But that would be barking up the wrong tree,andwastingenergiesinthewrongdirection. Thetruth isthattheEPAhasbeenconvertedintoacrippledcreatureof the PPP/C Government, so that its parties in crime can be givenfreerein.

What the PPP/C Government has done in outstanding fashion is clear the regulatory way, and remove any human obstacles, so that ExxonMobil and its offshore partners can run whatever rackets they please out of sight. Moreover, with a gutted and paralyzed EPA politically hobbled and prevented from taking charge of its crucial duties, ExxonMobil’s downstream, land-based corporate vendors, are given the greenlight to construct and operate whatever hazardous facilities may be necessary After all, such materials and such facilities are an integral part of the upstreamoffshoreoilbeastthathastobefed.

The Opposition will keep running and hiding

DEAREDITOR,

Thethingaboutbullying, if it is not addressed it gets worse. All of my life, I am certain I have never possessed a violentstreak in me.

I am hesitant to express certainthingsherebecauseit is the truth and people read and take it personally The examples I give to drive homeapoliticalpointarenot meant to disrespect people I have known or have associated with in my life’s sojourn.

The PPP/C is blatantly bullying people of African descentinGuyanaandifwe donottakeastand,itwillnot stop,itwillgetworse.Iwasa diminutive child that possessednotevenaniotaof mischievousnessinme.

In fact, I wanted nothing

to do with fighting. I got afraid and ran away when fightsbrokeout.

The boy that constantly bulliedmewaswellbuiltand hadanastytemperament.

There was no time and place for the bullying, it happened anywhere and at any time even in front of girls.

Thereissomethingabout the male species that cause them to become feral if they are insulted, embarrassed, assaulted or challenged in the presence of the feminine gender

It was in such a setting thathepointedhisforefinger inmyfaceandusedthesame protruding finger on my foreheadcausingmyheadto archbackwards.

I walked off and picked upasolidpieceofwoodand

funnily he laughed probably thinking I was bluffing. I swung with all the energy I had and he dropped to his knees. Iwantedtorunaway so badly but the girls were watching so I widened my eyes in a fierce manner, wrenched up my face and raisethewoodagain.Heran away Thebullystoppedlike it had never started or happened. When I looked at whatishappeningtoAfrican Guyanese under the PPP/C; theextrajudicialkillings,the mistreatment and disrespect of our constituents, the economic genocide and the newphenomenonofviscous attacks on our women as seeninMocharecently,rage course through my being. Thebulldozingofhomesand the burning of residents personal belongings and

livestock as happened in Mocha must not be allowed topasswithoutjustice.

When I saw our women wailing and taking a courageous stand in the face ofpolicewithguns,therage coursedthroughme.

WhenIsawthemthrown into the mud with handcuffs onbutstillremaineddefiant, theragecoursedthroughme. The Leader of the Oppositionwillnotreachfor thatproverbialpieceofwood andwillremainadiminutive figure in the face of the sufferingmasses.

Hewillcontinuerunning andhidingfromthebullying and it will continue and get worst.Hemustgo!

Sincerelyyours,

NormanBrowne Social and Political Activist

DEAREDITOR, The Commissioner claimed, rather cynically, that I ‘embrace double standards aimed at serving mypurpose.’

As is the norm, Mr Alexander’s view and conclusioninrespecttowhat he considers ‘the illicit creation of a post and an irregularappointmenttothat post’atGECOMarenotonly misinformed, but woefully misplaced.

In his letter, Mr Alexander sought to link, andatthesametimejustify,a misdeed carried out under his watch in 2014 to the situation currently at hand. In case he missed it, Mr Alexander failed to realize thatthemisdeedhewasparty to,andtheonehenowclaims to be ultra vires nine years after,placeshimintherealm ofhypocrisyandpractitioner ofthesamedoublestandards heaccusesothersof.

In retrospect, the selfserving double standard which Mr Alexander is unquestionably guilty of, is perhaps, an extension of the uncivil behavior that was displayedbyhiscomradesat the Ashmins building at Hadfield and High streets, Brickdam on Thursday, March5th,2020.

ThestandMr Alexander has adopted now in relation

tothemattercurrentlyunder consideration at GECOM is preciselythestandheshould have adopted at the time when he sat approvingly in support of the misdeed committed at GECOM in Augustof2014.

Minutes of a GECOM meetingheldinAugust2014 showthatMr Alexanderwas totally involved in the discussions which led to Vishnu Persaud being shortlistedforinterviewsfor the position of DCEO. The professed Mr ‘Clean’ Alexander did not oppose Persaud’s candidacy for the position then However, subsequently, he foolishly chose to oppose Persaud’s candidacy which cost him a substantial sum of money Apparently,hehasnotlearnt thatoverreachingcomesata cost.

Mr Alexanderpurposely overlooks the point that Persaud’srivalwasgivenan unfair advantage when appointed to act as Voter Registration Manager (VRM).

Itwasonthebasisofthat unfair advantage that the much favoured individual was confirmed in the position, since she was seen as the ‘only one with the required experience.’ It is quite obvious to many, that all the noise being

We recognise that Guyana’s EPA has become a national punchingbag,butitisnotofitsownmaking. ThelocalEPA has been muscled into that battered state by a scheming, possibly compromised, PPP/C Government, and the covert political dirty work that is its handiwork, and what now characterizesGuyana’soilmanagement.

orchestrated by Alexander and company on this matter, is aimed at achieving a specific objective with another of their favoured candidatesinmindtofillthe vacancy for a substantive DCEO.

Fromallhehaswritten,it is clear that Mr Alexander represents those who (often vehemently) profess to be supportive of transparency and accountabilitybut at the same time, consider them useless in pursuit of their partisan political and antidemocraticobjectives.

And just in case Mr Alexanderisnotawareofit, Guyanese who uphold the fundamental tenets of a modern democracy including transparency and accountability f a r outnumber those who choose to engage in illicit activitiesaimedatthwarting thewillofthepeople.

The Latin name for humans is Homo sapiens, which means, “man intelligent.” Since this may not be an appropriate appellation for Mr Alexander,wemightinstead refer him as “Homo struthio,”theLatinfor“man ostrich.”

My point here is not to getpersonal,buttopointout thatthereareindividualslike Mr Alexander in our midst whoareso insulated intheir thinking that they tend to assume that anything or anyone outside their political/ideological universe is suspect, if not downrightundesirable.

This is precisely Alexander’s disposition in respect to the matter c u r r e n t l y u n d e r consideration at the Commission.

Experience teaches that whenever individuals adopt a stubborn stand against a particular matter, it’s probably because they simply do not want to confrontthefacts,asaresult, theseindividualsarelikelyto find themselves facing similarsituationsinfuture.

Mr Alexander refuses to admit that his views are misplaced and the position hehasadoptedonthematter at GECOM is extremely foolish and shortsighted, his escape route is to justify his action by discrediting the solution.

The bulk of Mr Alexander’s response to my missive, I consider, as fluff and the regurgitation of his opinion to which he is entitled, but he must bear in mindthat‘nomanhasaright tobewronginhisfacts.’

As regard my ‘warped experiential background’, I would like Mr Alexander to consider his judgmental assessment in relation to his association with a party that timeandagaineitherwholly or partially, sought to deprive Guyanese of their righttoelectagovernmentof theirchoice.

Mr Alexander can do nothing but live with that badge of dishonour forever andever Amen! Yoursfaithfully, ClementJ.Rohee

Alexander has tried without success to refute what I said in my missive

Tenders for security services and others

DEAREDITOR,

I wrote on this subject sometime in the past. It would appear that our system for the process of tendering for any kind of government services and contracts is based on the lowest tender I therefore wish to use the opportunity to articulate on this ‘to open up the eyes’ of persons in authority and those responsiblefortenderstoget a grip of the realities of low orlowesttender

I am more familiar with security and therefore most of what I will say would be based on security due to the fact that I am a security practitioner in this country for almost four and a half decades.

Ihaveobservedinrecent timesourcompanyhasbeen losingseveralcontractsandI am not complaining nor criticizing nor attacking except that I am trying to highlight a problem in the system of tendering. It goes also for construction-

construction of bridges, dams, schools, roads, etc., etc.

We have seen recently, large awards went out to persons who build roads, especially roads in communities where the government budgeted large sums of monies to bring convenience and joy to people.Itisapainfulthingto seeaschoolconstructedand not too longer after construction it begins to collapse.

It is painful to purchase school furniture and to find later that they are of poor quality,itispainfultobuilda wharforstellingandforitto floataway Recently,wesaw the Hon Minister Juan Edghill of the Ministry of Public Works having had to stopmanyroadconstruction projects due to timelines factors, due to poor quality construction, due to u n r e l i a b i l i t y o r commitment, due to not paying the sub-contractors and employees. We know

thattheHon.JuanEdghillis a“nononsense”person.

The same goes for security services, persons tendering at the lowest rates and at times some of the newer guys on the block wantingtomakeasmuchas they can and even some older ones constantly tendering below cost. Our company recently lost a majorsecuritycontractbutit went to the lowest bidder But when we did the math, we found that it was grossly below cost taking in to account the national i n s u r a n c e c o s t s , administrative expenses, transport, uniforms, licenses, etc. So how do these companies manage to survive? Some do by unethical and in dishonest ways.

I will highlight some pointshereunder:

1. The Theft of NIS (National Insurance Scheme)hasbecomeamajor revenue earner for some security services and other

businessesaswell.

2. The theft of the VAT (Value Added Tax) or underpaying the VAT as if givingpartofitasadonation to the government in an attempt to “pull wool over their eye” from the accurate job that they have to do in thisarea.

3.Stealinglargesumsof the PAYE taxes and again giving a donation to GRA rarelyeverpayingcorporate taxes.

In the case of NIS, the theft of NIS is such a criminal act in my opinion. To steal employees NIS, whichhasbeendeductedand tofailtopayyourTwo-thirds (2/3) as an employer is a ‘mighty killing’ for a dishonest employer Some companies are known to be payingforasmallamountof employeesinordertoobtain the compliance to tender The same for the GRA‘pay forasmallamounttogetthe compliance’. The theft of VAT hampers the country’s development. In addition,

Who created the sugar industry’s dark hole?

DEAREDITOR,

I have noticed for quite some time, that some illinformed letter writers and columnistsinthemediakeep harping a total lie about the previous government being responsible for the present dismal state of the sugar industry

I will now give you undisputedfactsofthestory

From back in the 70s to the early 90s, which I know about, the sugar union GAWU which was once led byanowdeceasedpresident of Guyana, called numerous strikesintheindustry,which lasted for, not days, but weeks.

Ontopofthat,therewas never a strike without arson of the canes in the fields. Then the corporation had to give in to whatever was demanded by the union Manystrikeswerecalledfor frivolous reasons Plus, whenthoseworkerswenton strike, they could afford to stay home, while their unemployed relatives went andworkedasscabs.

When the fires were set in the fields, the security personnel would try to go to the locations to arrest arsonists, to no avail,

because the trick used by these scoundrels, was that theyjoinedtwolongcandles andlightthemwithdrytrash at the bottom and when the fire starts, they are long gone.Thentherewerelotsof stealingofvaluablevehicles parts by factory and workshops workers; plus sabotageinbothplaces.

Acurrenttopofficialwas a chief instigator of strikes.

Thetruthhasbeenhiddenby the union and its sympathizers for too long. They cannot be so shameful to deny these facts. Sugar’s present hole was dug a long timeago.

Whatever is being done now to resuscitate sugar is totally owed by this government to the sugar industry GAWU should prop up the industry with

theirownfunds.

I personally don’t like politics, because the meaning is disgusting. Poli means many or plenty, and tics are blood sucking insects.

Whatdoesthatsayabout the current crop of politicians Dark hole indeed.

Regards, NameProvided

offer them no insurance coverage, the salarylooksattractivebutin time the employed persons gets no protection under the National Insurance Scheme. This is a very unethical practicebycompanies.

Attimes,Iwonderifthe group or the department responsible for awards of contracts; security and otherwise if they do the math, whether they would realize that it is the Government of Guyana and the employees of the contractors would be the ones ultimately taken advantage of Whenever there is tendering below cost,itisalwaysthecountry and the employees who will suffer Employees suffer in the form of manipulation of overtime, wages, weekend premium, annual leave etc.

Many Ministries and Departments become alarmed and are confused when they see new security companies without an established record in the industry being awarded security contracts for their sensitive locations because they now feel they have to become security tutors to trainthesenewpersons. AllIamadvisingisthatit shouldnotbethatthelowest tenderwins the contractand that other factors should be taken in to consideration whentheawardsofcontracts are being done. From the above points that I have raised, the fact has been clearly established that tendering below cost would be catastrophic to a number of projects and to lives and properties of the people of Guyana/Government of Guyana.

Sincerely,

HajiDr RoshanKhan

UnwrappingmajorsalaryhikesfortheHealthSector

DEAREDITOR,

There first of all appears to be a preference for Midwives and Pharmacists. Initially however, reference is made to 5,000 medical professionals starting with Medical Interns whose respectiveminimumsalaries havebeenraised.

Next Specialists Doctors havealsobenefitted.

Those specified include:

G y n a e c o l o g i s t s , N e u r o s u r g e o n s , D e r m a t o l o g i s t s , Orthopedicts’.

Meantimeitisnotcertain whether the following are included:

Grade10 MedicalOfficer

Senior Departmental Sister

Senior Analytical

ScientificOfficer

Grade9

Junior Departmental Sister

SupervisorGumClinic

SurveillanceOfficer

MedicalRegistrar

Grade8

SeniorVeterinaryOfficer

PublicHealthInspector

T r a u m a t o l o g y Technologist

With respect to the Nursing Sorority, one wonders whether the following positions have been included in the special adjustments.

Grade10

Matron1&11

Senior Departmental Sister

Grade9

Junior Departmental Sister

Grade8

WardSister,asisMedex. Then it is uncertain whether the following are deemed eligible for the additionaladjustment.

Grade7

Environmental Health Officer

SocialWorker(Health).

Andaretheseincludedas AlliedHealthWorkers?

Grade6

DentalTender

Medical Laboratory

Technician

DormitorySupervisor

Grade2

LaboratoryAide

MortuaryMaid

SeniorHospitalPorter HospitalGateman.

ButtheHealthSector,so glibly mentioned, is more comprehensive an organisationalstructurethan isportrayed.

How many know of a) Policy Development and Administration, that is staffed from Chief Medical Officer (Grade 14) to RegistryOfficer(Grade6)

b)DiseaseControl.

D i r e c t o r o f Communicable Diseases (Grade 12) to Tuberculosis FieldSupervisor(Grade6)

c) Family Health Care Services

Deputy Chief Nursing Officer(12)toMedex(6)

d) Regional Clinical Services.

Manager, Regional Clinical Services (9) to

Admin Assistant (6)

Coordinator Health Promotion (12) to Medex (6). e) Then there are in Health Services, Education, Standards & Technical Services; Disability and Rehabilitation Services, a

comparable range of competencies, above all of whom one must enquire whether they were considered eligible for comparable salary adjustments.

What emerges as a very fundamental policy of all administrations is that there isnointentioninthefutureto create a compensation system that recognises and reward individual

performance.

Human beings have become merely as bulk producers, with their constitutional rights to be represented by Unions that have become irrelevant, albeit in an environment which indicates minimal competencies related to compensation management. TheuseofSalaryScaleshas been comprehensively ignored and become totally mythical. It was Sir Fenton Ramsahoye who would caution that ‘there’ are two thingsamandoesnotknow Oneisthathedoesnotknow thathedoesnotknow? Does that observation apply to the teachers in the most critical education sector where teachers train the future of the Health Sector

Sincerely

E.B.John

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Hess making more money than Guyana

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Hess has only a partial share in Guyana’s oil, but it is making more money than Guyana, which owns all of it.

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US$2B from three ships only!

Guyana got just over US$1B last year, and everything belongs to us.

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Isn’t this robbery, criminality, and stupidity?

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Govt. to use portion of US$44M World Bank loan for workforce, skills gap audit

Guyanese authorities recommendations of the sectors of the economy environmental stewardship recently disclosed that part of study will be available including climate-resilient and climate change, the US$44M World Bank within four months of the agriculture, low-carbon integrated into social studies loan will be used to hire a commencement of contract technology, and digital and science for grades 7 and consultanttocarryoutarapid to be awarded by the development Activities 9 The project will also assessment of the nation’s EducationMinistry under the project are finance textbooks for grades current work force as well as K a i e t e u r N e w s expected to benefit at least 7-11 to support the rollout of an analysis of inherent skills understands that the World 60,744 students and 2,128 the new curriculum and the gaps and any potential Bank loan will fund a range teachersandprincipalsatthe urgent need for learning migrantlabourneeds of activities for the Guyana secondary level At the recovery following the principals. vocational training, which

The consultancy will be Strengthening Human TVET level, a minimum of pandemic. In light of the learning will include transferrable carriedoutbasedondeskand Capital Through Education 600 students and 140 Increased support for losses caused by the skills to equip students for a field research, primary data Project. That initiative will secondary and post- teachers and principals is COVID-19 pandemic, changing labor force, through interviews, and focusonexpandingaccessto secondary TVET trainers also envisioned under the projectactivitieswillinclude i n c l u d i n g d i g i t a l consultations with key quality education at the w i l l b e n e f i t f r o m project This includes establishing an early competency skills. It will Guyana authorities, private secondary level, as well as professional development training teachers on the new warning system to help also strengthen the enabling sector representatives, improving technical and activities. curriculum and how to teach teachers and principals environment for TVET and academia, and civil society. vocational training (TVET) Furthermore, the project students with different needs identifyandsupportstudents improve the quality and The consultancy is expected to meet the needs of the will support the piloting and - including students with at risk of dropping out. relevance of training to be completed within six labour market. The funding national rollout of a new d i s a b i l i t i e s . O t h e r General secondary schools options.Theprojectincludes months. The preliminary aims to prepare Guyanese curriculum for grades 7-9, interventions include the will also be built or encouraging apprenticeship, c o n c l u s i o n s a n d citizens to excel in emerging w h i c h e m p h a s i z e s coaching and mentoring of rehabilitated to improve the a digital platform providing teachers to support learning environment for information on training continuous professional students, as well as opportunities, and the development and the improving infrastructure, preparation of a new TVET d e v e l o p m e n t a n d climateresilienceandaccess policy that will set the implementation of an toeducationforallstudents. direction for the sector’s instructional leadership and The project will also medium- to long-term managerial program for support technical and development.

Pumping at breakneck speed

Foreigners are cheering Guyana’s high acceleration programme to explore, produce,andcapitaliseonits oil bonanza. While other countries take 15 years to reach the production stage with their oil, Guyana only takes4years. Guyanamust have the wisest decision makers in the world, or it could be that those making the decisions on oil are so cluelessthattheydonoteven know the perils with which theyplay Speedhasitstime and place, when there are supporting circumstances; butspeedatthealarmingrate which Guyanese leaders have embraced is cause for dire concern. Breakneck speed means just that because it usually leads to suchahorriblesituation.

Rushing forward uncaringly at breakneck speedsisaracetodisaster,an invitation to potential tragedy of some kind, including the financial, or environmental. The odds are increased, and they are notinGuyana’sfavor When consideration is given to the fact that the biggest priority of oil companies is profits, then this only adds another worrying dimension to an already distressing set of circumstances Because when oil companies think

and dream of profits, it alwaysalongtheselines:the maximum profits that could be had in the shortest time that is possible, and at the least cost. American oil supergiant ExxonMobil is a champion in this field. To makemattersevensmoother and richer for ExxonMobil, it has found the most cooperative and helpful partner that could be had anywhereintheworld,inthe form of the PPPC

Government, and its supportingcastofsellersand betrayersoftheinterestsand prospects of the Guyanese people.

Tolopoffalmost75%of the time normally required by countries to arrive at the production stage in their oil sector is an amazing achievement by any petrostate What makes matters even more unbelievable, there are the underlying circumstances, which all Guyanese, and the rest of the world, know that Guyana labors with to its tremendous disadvantage Guyana does not have the human resource capacity to oversee and handle its oil wealth to the best of its ability Guyana does not possess the technology and equipment to follow and learn the progression (ins

andouts,andnutsandbolts) of its massive oil asset Guyana does not prioritize the development of updated oil laws that would empower it to stand over its oil endowment and speak with power and authority thatthisisthewayitisgoing tobe. AndGuyanadoesnot position itself, and protect itself, with the range of robust regulations that would enable it to get the most,theverybest,outofits underwater fossil fuels treasure house In the saddest of summaries, Guyana is nowhere near the level of oil wisdom, oil c a p a c i t y, a n d o i l sophistication that are all compulsory,ifthiscountryis to exploit successfully what itowns.

B u t t h e P P P C Government has made runaway speeds its standard ofmanagement,itmantraof operations Breakneck speed it is, and breakneck speediswhatitwillbe,come what may, and regardless of who says what in the local environment. This is not only dangerous, it is height of foolishness For breakneck speed when we know so little, or are such babe in the treacherous oil woods, can only be to ExxonMobil’s interests

The faster Guyana allows it andpartnerstohustleahead, themorehustles(tricks)will come to be the order of the dayinouroffshoreoilfields.

Experts gather in Trinidad and use Guyana as an example for others to follow What does Guyana know that others don’t, especially when it knows so little? Whatishappeningat thecrux,isthatleadersinthe PPPCGovernmentarebeing used and they are only too

willing to play along. They are being spurred on to maintain the reckless breakneck speeds, with so manyaspectsoftheoilworld (exploration, production, marketing and sales, and the trading of oil) still largely unknown to us, and likely to our detriment.

This is more than governmental foolishness and recklessness. We call this racing forward at

breakneck speeds for what they are. It is nothing but governmentalandleadership madness,andinspades.

(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.)

Le t m e b e incandescent in my words to follow I was trained in history when I first entered university I cherish the opportunity to write on history and to compose notes that leave questions thatmustbeansweredabout history Ihavepreservedthe willingness inside of me since I became a UG freshman in 1974 to probe the past, to examine people, places and events that need toberevisitedbecausethere may be dimensions that form gaps in history that must be filled. Revisionism is important to history if subsequent generations are spared the deceptions of the past.Ihavetriedinmylifeas an academic and media operative to be both revisionistandiconoclastic.

Ibelievetherearehidden

Returningtoclassandcolouroneyearafter

aspects of important personalities that when the revisionist and iconoclastic pen probes, history is made richer Two gaps arouse my interest – Martin Carter and WalterRodney

Myiconoclasticnoteson MartinCarterrevealsidesto his politics that continue to be deeply buried. It is an incredible mystery that a man in the anti-colonial struggle in the 1950s could declare himself a Stalinist, picketed the Queen’s relativeonanofficialvisitto British Guiana and was expelled from the anticolonial movement for being a communist extremist could find a highlevel job in the British colonial office and in the Bookers plantocracy No! Something is not right here.

Carter’s political life needs extensive researching I

believe Carter was a Jekyll and Hyde in Guyanese politicsandremainstheonly such person in Guyana contemporarypolitics.

In relation to Walter Rodney,Iamnotconvinced t h a t h e w a s t h a t quintessentialworkingclass revolutionary class champion that his biographersmakehimoutto be. Two recent books on Rodneydescribeanincident attheUniversityofTanzania in 1971 that revealed a Freudian, Afro-centric instinct in Rodney that bordered on racist feelings. For more on this see pages 170-171ofLeoZeilig,“The Water Rodney Story: A LegacyofOurTime,”

In Guyana, Rodney’s praxis was centered in an ambience that was filled with middle class elitism devoid of in-depth and consistent groundings with themassesandanavoidance of political socialization with the Indian rural peasantry.

Theexpected1979mass uprising against Burnham that failed was determined by that kind of class

limitations.

Ireturntoraceandclass one year after I visited that theme because race and class will be the key issues as oil revenues lead to consolidation of the PPP’s electoral prospects in the comingyears.

Last year at this exact time,theseweremyarticles;

1-January 26- “The Walter Rodney family and Kit Nascimento: Notes on ClassandColour.”

2 - J a n u a r y 2 7 , “Burnham and Kwayana: Iconoclastic notes on racism.”

3 - J a n u a r y 2 8 , “Kisssoon, Gaskin and Roopnaraine: More Notes onRaceandClass.”

4-January 30, “My music choice disqualifies me from being an unbiased human.” The March 2020 e l e c t i o n f i a s c o demonstrated in volcanic ways that Sigmund Freud exists in all of us. Humans carry Freudian repressions and Freudian sublimations in them throughout their lives Then a situation unfolds and Freudian rivuletsrunintotheriver As

2023began,Isaw F r e u d i a n underpinnings

and I knew I was right about the power of race and class in the history this country I have a d m i r e d t h e s o c i o l o g i c a l scholarship of Percy Hintz whom I first met as a UG freshman. I thought his exposure of the entitlement d e m a n d s o f t h e Mulatto/Creole class was incisivescholarship.

Recently in 2023, the professorwrotethesewords:

“When people ask me what I am, I reply that I am a Guyanese creole. This is howmyidentitywasforged, and where my interactions have been, and continue to be,mostintense.”

What happens to class belongings when people ask you about your past? I am East Indian. I was born into a w o r k i n g - c l a s s environment in the south Georgetown ward of Wortmanville. All I knew from age 5 until I was liberated in my early 20s was poverty I am

compelledbytheforceofmy psyche to answer the question as to who I am the way Hintzen answered it. The difference between Hintzen’s response and mine is form and not content. Here are the words copied from Hintzen with one word missing that I have substituted. Do you think you can spot that word: “When people ask me what I am, I reply that I am a Guyanese proletarian. This is how my identity was forged, and where my interactions have been, and continue to be, most intense.”

(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

Govt. completes national action plan to phase out mercury in mining industry

- says 10-year Mineral Policy Framework & Plan in draft mode

Minister of Natural began in October 2013 in ratification in September the development of a Resources, Vickram Bharrat Japan, when Guyana made a 2014 was the formative National Action Plan (NAP) hasconfirmedthatanational global pledge to control and action taken in recognition for Artisanal and Smallaction plan to phase out the addresstheuseofmercuryin of its dedication to Scale Gold Mining in use of mercury in the mining mining. We shared too, our sustainable development Guyana. He explained that i n d u s t r y h a s b e e n commitment to protect the through responsible mining. the development of the NAP completed. environment and human Bharratsaidthisundertaking through a consultative

Bharrat told this health from the adverse and led to the development of process that involved miners newspaper that his ministry potentially fatal effects of Guyana’s Minamata Initial and mining organisations isacutelyawareofthehealth mercury use,” expressed the Assessment in 2016 to help has ensured that the plan and environmental risks that minister to understand, identify and responds accordingly to mercury use poses to people He recalled that also confirm the mercury concerns and realities, as andnature. government signing onto the landscapeinthecountry expressed by the main

“You may recall the Minamata Convention on The minister said this stakeholders (artisanal, journey to curb mercury use mercury and its subsequent assessment was followed by small- and medium-scale m i n e r s , m i n i n g communities, gold traders, local and regional-level l e a d e r s , m i n i n g Bharrat said the mining Mining Act 1989. In this organisations and key sector can advance regard, he said, “There is a agencies). economic diversification need for an updated

Bharrat said the ministry andthecreationofjobswhile legislative regime that views this consultative enhancing sustainable e n a b l e s i m p r o v e d processasanecessarystepas investments in health, governance and the government creates policies educationandinfrastructure. d e v e l o p m e n t o f a and plans for the natural He said these positive responsibleminingsector.” resourcessector benefits are difficult to Towardsthisend,hesaid

He was keen to note that achieve in the absence of a the Guyana Geology and the strategic objectives, strong policy framework. It M i n e s C o m m i s s i o n intervention areas and isforthisreasonBharratalso (GGMC) has been tasked actions outlined in the NAP shared that his ministry has with identifying legislative provide a clear roadmap that drafted a 10-year Mineral gaps and prioritising those willguidethegovernmentas Policy Framework & Plan amendments that will it works with the various which is aligned with the address the loopholes and agencies to support the Government’s vision challenges facing the phased reduction of the use Following the presentation Commission in fully of mercury in ASGM and adoption at Cabinet, he executing its mandate. In practices and the overall said the Guyana Geology 2023, he said the ministry protection of the miners, and Mines Commission will will continue to work with mining communities, their continue implementation in the GGMC to ensure the livelihoods and the 2023. legislative framework environment. Additionally, Bharrat supports the current social, W i t h i m p r o v e d also noted that work is e c o n o m i c a n d governance and practices, progressing to improve the environmentallandscape.

Budget 2023 “deficient in poverty reduction strategy”

- Vinceroy Jordan

Budget 2023 fails to outline a poverty reduction strategyalthoughlabeledthe country’s largest budget witha41.4percentincrease, Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Vinceroy Jordan said on Wednesday during the third day of budgetdebates.

“Sir, some are worrying about how is it that a government can be so uncaring in its plans, News article, Jordan pointed Improving Affordability of policies, and programmes, to the United Nations’Food HealthyDiets”. while some worry about a n d A g r i c u l t u r e “That report also states when they will get out of Organisation (FAO) Mr Speaker that 50 percent poverty in this much touted statistical report which of the people living in our oil economy,” Jordan told shows that 43 percent of country live in poverty, they Speaker of the House, Guyanese cannot afford a went on to specify that half ManzoorNadir healthy diet while five of the country’s population

Opposition Member of Parliament, Vinceroy Jordan

The MP said that a percentareundernourished. is surviving on less than sizeable cross-section of The report was released US$5.5centorGY$1000per Guyanese is concerned earlier this month and is day,”theMPsaid. about their survival titled “Regional Overview Jordanmaintainedthat Quoting from a Kaieteur O f

:

Mercury

Brothers busted with marijuana during raid of Tuschen home

The marijuana found at the brothers’ Tuschen residence.

Two brothers were on Thursday arrested while being cautioned, told ranks, ‘’Is just a by police after a quantity of marijuana was smallportion,Icandealwiththat.” found in their Tuschen, New Housing During a search of the hallway, another Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) home transparent plastic bag containing suspected during a raid. According to police, an cannabis was found on a table. The brothers intelligence operation began at around were told of the offence and Patrick De’Cruz 05:30h and ranks working in Region Three, repliedtoldpolice‘’Ismething,isalilthing.” acting on information received, visited the Thetwowerearrestedandescortedtothe home of 24-year-old Kevin De’Cruz and 25- Leonora Police Station along with the year-oldPatrickDe’Cruz. suspected cannabis. On arrival, and in the

Asearch was conducted on the premises, presence of Kevin De’ruz, police said the in the presence of the brothers. During a suspected cannabis was weighed and search of Kevin De’Cruz’s bedroom, police amounted to 54.5 grams while the other said they found one large transparent Ziploc portion was weighed in the presence of plastic bag containing several smaller Ziploc Patrick De’Cruz and amounted to 13.3 bags with suspected cannabis under his bed. grams. The man was informed of the offence and Investigationsareongoing.

Security guard arrested after police find shotgun in his camp

The 12-gauge shotgun that was found.

A35-year-old wooden and tarpaulin camp Police reported that the securityguardof a short distance away from security guard under caution

Phase One ‘B’ theEssequiboRiver told the ranks, “Officer, I Wisroc,Wismar,Lindenwas The ranks proceeded to hunt with this gun to make on Wednesday arrested by the camp where they me lil side hustle on my lil police in Region 10 after a observed the man, who security work, I get 12-guageshotgunwasfound identified himself as a $200,000 what y’all can do in his camp located at securityguard. forme?”

Amaila’s Falls, Upper During a search of the The security guard was EssequiboRiver. camp,theranksobservedthe immediately arrested and According to police, shotgun wrapped in a taken to the Mackenzie ranks led by a Detective hammock. Police Station along with the Sergeant, were on patrol Upon examination, one shotgun and cartridge where duty at 28 Miles Amaila’s 12-gauge cartridge was itwaslodged. Falls access road when they found in the firearm which Investigations are observed a make-shift hadnoserialnumber ongoing.

Guyanese attorney to participate in prestigious foreign attorney programme

Attorney Chevy Devonish

Attorney-at-law and Practice areas include from the Attorney General’s universitylecturer,ChevyA. international corporate law, officesaidonThursday Devonish, has been selected international financing and “These are areas of bymultinationalfirmArnold internationalarbitration. increasing relevance and & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP It is expected that Mr importance, due to the to take part in the Firm’s Devonish will be an active unprecedented commercial prestigious ‘Foreign member of the firm’s growth prompted by oil and AttorneyProgramme’. international corporate, gas exploration and

Devonish is the first financing and, time development in Guyana. I Guyanese to be selected for permitting, international look forward to learning thisprogramme,whichisnot arbitration practices at the from Arnold &Porter, and a government initiative Firm’s Washington, D C returning to leverage that Recruitment and vetting are office until July 2023. Since knowledge to assist handled exclusively by the Mr. Devonish is not licensed Guyana’s development. Firm. to practice law in the United Arnold & Porter is an ideal Arnold & Porter is a States,hewillnotfunctionas place to develop these skills m u l t i n a t i o n a l f i r m anattorney-at-lawduringthe as the Firm routinely employing almost one program, but will, among represents sovereign states thousand (1000) attorneys other things, actively in these areas,” Devonish practicing in approximately observe and participate in said.

forty (40) areas in fourteen cases along with Arnold & “Ialsolookforwardto (14) offices across the globe. Porter attorneys, a statement (Continued on page 24)

Arrested, Patrick De’Cruz

Arrested, Kevin De’Cruz

By Zena Henry

‘Keep citizens poor and you will have a security problem’ -

Chandan-Edmond tells Parliament

Shadow Minister for Public

The MP noted that the Chandan-Edmond on $58.6B allocated for ‘public Wednesday reminded the safety and public security’in government that economic the 2023 budget represents security and public safety go an increase of $7.1B from hand in hand. During her last year’s budget. In 2022, fact that crimes are hardly perpetratorofcrime.” presentation on the third day government allocated reported. Today, she said ‘choke of budget debates, the $51.5B for public safety, but

Security Geeta

“Wecannottrustthisdata and rob’ crimes are almost Opposition Member of according to the Opposition because it flies in the face of daily and Guyanese simply Parliament(MP)warnedthat MP, not much improvement what we experience every do not feel safe just walking the country’s security wasseen. day,” the MP said. She said, among each other The MP situation will remain a She promised to lay over “If a $52.5B could not make spoke of extrajudicial problem once citizens are to the House the ‘crime rate us safe in 2022, it is safe to killings and bold gunmen unable to access basic bycountry2022report’from conclude that $58.6B cannot that execute in daylight and necessities and continue to which she submitted that do the trick, with no plan to intheviewoftheirfamilies. feel like the country’s Guyana has the eighthaddress these serious issues. The Opposition MP resources are being handed And “if the people cannot She opined that Budget h i g h e s t c r i m e r a t e It is safe to conclude that opined that private security outtoaselectedfew a f f o r d b a s i c d a i l y 2023 did not consider worldwide of 68.74, and a money is not the problem, firms continued to pop up Chandan-Edmond told necessities, there is no situational analysis, theories murder rate of about four theproblemliesinthelackof and suggested that the the National Assembly that security when the price of or general philosophies that times higher than that of the economic security and the situationspeakstothelackof the country’s security bora has increased by over speak to the current plight of UnitedStates. feeling of general insecurity confidence in the State to situation has reached its 50percent”. citizens. She posited that the Withthesestatisticsfrom inthiscountry.” providesecurity worst levels. She said the The Opposition MP said money allocated in the an independent source, the

The MP related that the “The number of high- government has failed, in its thatitoughttobedifficultfor budget has been primarily MP questioned the police Opposition’s manifesto had powered weapons in the 2023 budget, to cater to the government to speak of directed to infrastructure reports which she said were taken into consideration the streets is another worrying economic security and ‘prosperity for all’ while projects While she isn’t compiled by police She promoting of people’s safety concern ” Chandan general security to all noting that Budget 2023 against such projects, called for the release of their through economic security Edmond reported, as well as citizens.

“leavesalargesectionof our Chandan-Edmond insisted sources of data collection, as it understood that, “if a the ease with which firearm Shesaidthatifthereisno populationwiththeviewthat on balance so that the methods and sampling and man cannot find food, he is licencesareacquired“fora economic security for all, the prosperity is only citizenry could indeed questioned whether they

on page 20) lives will not be improved. availabletoaselectedfew”. prosper took into consideration the

Minister Robeson Benn

Shadow Security Minister Geeta Chandan-Edmond

Villagers to assist in identifying “undiscovered” wild rabbits at Rupununi

Re s i d e n t s o f environment and culture of stated.

Karaudarnau the Rupununi through In order to identify the V i l l a g e , c o m m u n i t y – b a s e d species, SRCS has decided

R u p u n u n i , conservation, environmental to collaborate with Region Nine will be trained educationandresearch. Karaudarnau Villagers. The to assist scientists in This new project it has residents will be trained to i d e n t i f y i n g s o m e embarked on is reportedly “capture and sample the undiscoveredspeciesofwild being supported by Field rabbits” before their genetic rabbits native to their museum, located in the materialisanalysed. “Based farmlands, the South United States of America on the results, we will then Rupununi Conversation (USA).

work together with Society (SRCS) stated on According to SRCS, for Karaudarnau Village to find Wednesday decades, the residents of out more information about SRCS, dubbed the Karaudarnau Village have these mysterious rabbits,” initiative as “a New Project found a population of wild addedtheSRCS. to genetically identify Wild rabbits on their farmlands. Rabbit Population in “ Currently, the species Rupununi”. SRCS is a non- remain undiscovered to the governmental organisation scientific community with founded since 2002 with the no knowledge about which sole of obhectiove of species it is or if it is a new preserving wildlife, species entirely,” SRCS

A little girl from Karaudarnau Village cuddling a wild rabbit (SRCS photo)

A night shot of a wild rabbit at Karaudarnau Village (SRCS photo)

‘Belfield woman was killed during row over money’

- hospitalised after telling cops he ingested a poisonous substance

Deonarine Sawh who Belfield Squatting Area, Kaieteur News had by members of the Guyana abandoned house at was captured on Wednesday East Coast Demerara (ECD) reported that 65-year-old Police Force (GPF). Sawh, Mahaica,RegionFour after he was wanted in has since confessed to Sawh called “Boyzie” was of Hope Estate, ECD and After being captured, relation to the murder of chopping the woman to arrested on during a pre- CrabwookCreek,Corentyne Sawh was taken into police Nazaleen Mohamed of death. dawn operation carried out Berbice, was captured at an custody where he admitted

-murdersuspect confesses

to the woman’s murder This was confirmed by Crime

Chief Wendell Blanhum

Kaieteur News understands that Sawh told investigators that the deceased had called and asked him for some money and he left his home and went to her at Hope Lowlandswheretheymet.In his confession, he said that he did not have enough money which led to an argumentbetweenthem. He admitted to police that he chopped the woman several times about her body with a cutlass, which he walked with and she fell into the canal along with her purse and cellphone. He also claimed the cutlass fell into thecanal.Afterchoppingthe woman about her body, he related that he went home and subsequently proceeded to an abandoned building at Mahaica where he drank a poisonous substance. This publication was informed that Sawh is currently receiving medical treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Kaieteur News had reported that the body of 47year-old Mohamed, a housewife was on Monday found floating in a canal, with several wounds about her abdomen. The police in their initial statement had disclosedthatthesuspecthas been identified as the dead woman’s ex-partner It was reportedthatthewoman’s (Continued on page 19)

Dead, Nazaleen Mohamed

Captured, Deonarine Sawh

‘Belfieldwomanwaskilled...

From page 18 ended.Itwasstatedthatafterthewomandid body was discovered around 15:00h in a notreturnhome,theneighbourleftinsearch canalatHopeLowlands,facingupwardwith ofher woundstoherhead,ear,neckandabdomen– While walking along Hope Lowlands, withherintestinesprotruding. Railway Embankment, the neighbour came Kaieteur News understands that the across Mohamed’s motionless body in the woman was living at Belfield Squatting canal. Area, with her daughter and reputed The police were immediately husband, who was at sea on a fishing boat at summoned,andthescenewasprocessedand thetime.ReportsarethatMohamedwaslast photographed. seen alive about 07:00h on Monday, by a Thewoman’sbodywastakentoafuneral neighbour, while she was leaving her home home awaiting a post mortem examination and heading to her brother’s residence at (PME). Investigation into her death is still Hope Lowlands Reports indicate that ongoing. around08:05h,thewoman’s32-year-oldson The police were immediately received a call from his mother’s cellular summoned,andthescenewasprocessedand phone. When he answered, he reportedly photographed.Thewoman’sbodywastaken heard a male voice (whom he identified as to a funeral home awaiting a post mortem the suspect) and also his mother’s voice examination (PME). Investigation into her shouting for her phone – before the call deathisstillongoing.

Appeal Court reserves ruling in case of appointment of parliamentary secretaries

The Court of they were appointed thesubstantiveissues. had relied on Attorney A p p e a l h a s parliamentary secretaries- She said nevertheless the General vs Morian, which reserved its who are non-elected Court of Appeal is still to wasfirstdecidedbynowlate

decision in the members of the National determine whether it is Chief Justice Ian Chang. case filed by the government Assembly bound by its earlier decision Justice Chang’s ruling was challenging Chief Justice, During a sitting on in the case of the Attorney appealed to the Court of Roxane George –Wiltshire Thursday, Justice of Appeal, Generalv DesmondMorian. Appeal, where Justices SC (ag), ruling which Dawn Gregory, said the Browne and Ramkissoon Gregory, Rishi Persaud, and nullified the appointment of matter was reviewed; it was w e r e a p p o i n t e d Franklin Holder adjudicated Sarah Browne and Vikash found that the Court of Parliamentary Secretaries to and made a certain ruling. R a m k i s s o o n a s Appeal, at the time, affirmed the Amerindian Affairs and Giventhatshewasoneofthe parliamentarysecretaries. the decision of the late Chief Agriculture Ministries judges who heard the appeal Both Browne and Justice Ian Chang, and in respectively against Justice Chang’s R a m k i s s o o n w e r e doing so, took into In cancelling the pair’s decision, Justice Gregory candidates of the PPP in the consideration not only the appointment, acting Chief said she would revisit that last general elections, yet issue of jurisdiction, but also Justice George-Wiltshire decision to determine what position she and the court hadtaken.

ParliamentarySecretariesdo meant for so-called Attorney General, Anil not have the right to vote in “technocrats” or those who Nandlall, had moved to the theHouse. were not candidates in the Court of Appeal to “stay” or It was Jones, who on elections. put on hold the April 21, December 22, 2020 Jones’ case was that the 2021 decision of the Chief challenged the lawfulness of Constitutional legal Justice. the appointment of the principles in relation to the Nandlall wants Browne Parliamentary Secretaries appointmentofTechnocratic and Ramkissoon to continue He argued that Browne and Ministers (those who are not sitting in the National Ramkisson, by virtue of political candidates in an Assembly until the matter is being candidates, were election) are identical to the determined, arguing that debarred from being in the a p p o i n t m e n t o f there could be no harm to National Assembly as ParliamentarySecretaries. Christopher Jones, the ParliamentarySecretaries. Browne and Ramkisson Opposition Chief Whip if The Chief Justice had were sworn in on September this happens since the ruled that the positions are 15,2020.

‘Keep citizens poor and you...

From page 16 Home Affairs Minister, that the police have been s m a l l f e e w i t h n o Robeson Benn in his charged with a new background checks,” she contribution to the budget approach, one that is more claimed. debates said that there has empathetic and that the

The Shadow Security been a reduction in crime. police should take a less Minister said that the Basedonhisstatistics,Benn lethal resort while engaging Opposition, while in said that crime in 2017 was thepublic. government,proceededona 143whilein2022,itwas76. With respect to the fire path of a professionalized Burglary reduced from 177 service, Benn said they will police force and brought in 2018 to 108 in 2022. receive seven more back some level of public “Break and enter reduced firefighting assets Three confidenceafteryearsunder from 926 to 496”, the modern ambulances are the vice grip of phantoms, ministerreported. slated and the programme ghosts and the drug Overall, Minister Benn “Increase the peace” which underworld. said there was a decrease in was started under former

Today, she said, the crime noting that statistics Minister Clement Rohee hearts of past and current between the years 2015 and wouldbegettingontheway officers bleed for the 2022 show a 20.6 percent Additionally, Benn said Guyana Police Force as decrease. that there has been a incident after incident, the “We have reduced total dramatic increase in the credibility of the Force is robbery, serious crimes, seizure of narcotics, more called into question. She murder and violence by arrests relating to other noted that the US State average figures of 20 illegal activities and a Department, in its report, percent”,Benncharged. tremendous increase in the ‘2021 country reports on He said tackling public prisonpopulationbyover14 human rights practices’: safety has a lot to do with percent.

spoke to credible reports of support to the Police Force New facilities are slated unlawful or arbitrary with the provision of new for Lusignan Prison as well killings, including vehicles, new training with a new female prison and a extrajudicial killings. Now, new efforts in respect to release programme called shesaid,thecountryisfaced crime and violence and the “fresh start” to rehabilitate with an incompetent Home preventionandmitigationof those incarcerated back into AffairsMinistry same. The minister said too society

Parliamentary Secretary Vikash Ramkissoon.

Parliamentary Secretary Sarah Browne

Double R Enterprise purchases new 8 X 4 Sinotruk Twin Steer from Jumbo Jet Auto Sales

Do u b l e R Enterprise is the latest company to purchase a new 8 X 4 Sinotruks from Jumbo Jet Auto Sales. The owner of Double R Enterprise Ramdial Ramotar and his driver received the key for thenew8X4SinotrukTwin SteerattheOgleShowroom.

In an interview at the Ogle Showroom Ramotar explained,“Wewereexcited to increase our fleet with new trucks to enhance our business. My wife is now diversifying a bit to keep up with the growing economy Guyanaisdefinitelymoving at a very fast pace and we needtokeepup.Todoso,we need the newest technology andequipmentonthemarket to have a chance to stay currentandcompetitive.”

Thebusinessmansaidhe has supported Jumbo Jet Auto Sales for about 20 years and never had any issues.“So,thisiswhyIurge my fellow contractors and associates to buy new equipment to avoid unnecessary downtime that

can hamper execution of projects within the allotted time.”

Double R Enterprise is a well-established family business in the community

ofBathSettlement,Berbice.

It employs some 30 community members and supply customers West Coast and West Bank Berbice customers with

constructionmaterial.

Meanwhile, Jumbo Jet Auto Sales in a statement said that its newly formed franchise deal with Sinotruk has proven to be successful.

The entity said that its “first batch of units were completely sold out in two weeks with customers already booking units from thesecondshipment.”

“

Because of the overwhelming response for 8X4Twinsteersandthe6X 6Howoheavydutydumpers Jumbo Jet has already confirmed another shipment coming in approximately two weeks to satisfy the growing demand,” the companysaidinastatement. The company, owned by Nasrudeen Mohamed, has traded on its service and reliability for the past 30 years as the preferred supplier of heavy-duty machines, dump trucks and vehicles.

“ S i n c e t h e introduction of Sinotruk to Guyana and the aggressive marketing done from Jumbo Jet Auto Sales the demand for these units is extremely high To avoid the waiting periods between shipments customers are urgedtobooktheirunits. Over 9 units from the second shipment have alreadybeenpre-bookedand the interest is continuing to peak for these trucks,” JumboJetAutoSalessaid.

The dictatorship of distance: President Ali should listen

benefit all of it, if for only one moment of oneness

By GHK Lall

A l e a d e r w i t h considerable global standing, a man respected (and condemned) by many, shared a few thoughts and wordsduringanengagement recently

I think that they have resonance and depth, which isthereasonthatIlaythemat thefeetofmyowncherished leader, His Excellency, PresidentAli.

He is cherished because he is still my brother, warts and all My hope is that President Ali will listen, and that those in his cabinet of a particular persuasion (two women in particular),andotherswithin his team, one I know well, would summon the courage and integrity to assist the leader by recommending that he takes what is shared toheart.

Guyana can only

The thoughts and ords of that international esence that stirred the mostnowfollow

“Even though they say hecriticizedme,fine,hehas the right Criticism is a human right.” Then, “If it’s notlikethis,therewouldbea dictatorship of distance, as I call it, where the emperor is thereandnoonecantellhim anything.

No, let them speak because ... criticism helps you to grow and improve things.”

Further, “You prefer that they don’t criticize, f o r t h e s a k e o f tranquility” Still further, “But I prefer that they do it because that means there’s freedomtospeak.”

And finally, “The only thingIaskisthattheydoitto my face because that’s how weallgrow,right?”

The Speaker was Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church during a recent interview

withtheAssociatedPress.

I am Roman Catholic, andsocialjusticeissuesare paramount in our belief system For the Pontiff, immigration, poverty, e n v i r o n m e n t , a n d homosexualityarepriorities. For me, they are unity, equality, integrity to duty, andmore.

The Catholic Church has not dealt in truth with destructive issues, and engaged in cover-ups Though it pains to say so, thereisnochoice,ifIamto betruetomyself.

I put all these before President Ali because I believe that they are i n v a l u a b l e to his leadershipjourney

But only if he listens, not at anything religious, but what is of the majesty o f f r a n k n e s s a n d fearlessness, because both a r e i m m e r s e d i n truthfulness

My own President bristles when he is criticized, with plenty in thatstorehouse Nolistisnecessarysince

he and his people know full wellwhatisinvolved.

As the man from the barrios said, “criticism is a human right” and “criticism helps…to grow.” When I disagree with President Ali and his indefensible postures, I will go down battling that it is based on what is the honest record, and if it were present would bepersonallyappealing,and nationallyinspiring. Igrow; hecanalso.

One burden, a trial, of being a leader, is that he or she does not get to decide u n i l a t e r a l l y a n d tyrannically what is constructive, what should be said, and what should be acceptedorrejected

Before Guyana’s head of state, I bring this humble reminder: it is of the hallmarks of democracy, a trulyopensociety,thatthere is the right to differ, however obstreperous such m a y b e , h o w e v e r obnoxious

For my part, I admit to being sharp, scorching, and piercing at times, and for

thatIflagellatemyself Iknowbetter

For, if there is neither courage nor wisdom to differ, then all that we have leftiswhatwasbestsaidby the Pontifex Maximus: we w o u l d h a v e “ t h e dictatorship of distance” and “no one can tell him [leader]anything.”

Thereisnogrowing.

Respectfully, I submit that this is what our dear PresidentAliprefers,works assiduously to nurture, wouldhavenootherway.

If the President is

offended, then I am offendedthatthisistheonly reaction that the wellintended, and the wellgrounded,caninspire

As national leaders ( s p i r i t u a l o n e s unexempted), and as lowly private citizens, there must be learning and embracing of the good with the bad, and labouring endlessly to do better with the former, and attract lesser of the latter

When one smart untruth, one little falsehood,

one tiny deception is delivered in the national arena, then a long, devastating line of untruths and falsehoods and deceptions must follow to bolsterthefirstsmallone.

That is, unless the personal strength, the indomitableindividualwill, the leadership (and citizen) light stirs to say: not anymore, not one more of what exposes further and embarrassesfurther.

I leave my leader, President Ali, this little nugget for him to ponder.

The late Cardinal George Pell reportedly wrote and circulated a memorandum inside the Vatican that called Pope Francis a “ d i s a s t e r ” a n d a “catastrophe ”

The Pope’s response was,“hehastheright.” My besttothePresident.

(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.)

Double R Enterprise’s representative receives the key to the brand new 8 X 4 Sinotruk Twin Steer at Jumbo Jet Auto Sales Ogle Showroom (Photo courtesy of Jumbo Jet Auto Sales)

US shuts down major ransomware network Hive

US officials say Hive ransomware network extorted more than $100m from victims in more than 80 countries around the world.

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.

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.

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

Seamstress, Tailor, Block maker & 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.

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.

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

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

Urgently need one female Bartender and Kitchen Assistant to work in the Interior. Ages 25-35 yrs. Call 6985526.

VACANCY

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

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

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.

Cashiers, male and female Supermarket Attendants and Drivers needed. Apply with written application/ CV and passport photo to Survival 16 Vlissengen Road, Newtown Kitty. Persons to install outdoor carpet. Call: 615-9132.

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.

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.

Aljazeera - The United States has seized the website of a major ransomware network, the US Department of Justice announced, accusing Hive ransomware actors of extorting more than $100m from more than 1,500 victims around the world.

In a statement on Thursday, US Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Department of Justice had dismantled “an international ransomware network responsible for extorting and attempting to extort hundreds of millions of dollars from victims”.

The victims included hospitals, school districts, financial firms, and critical infrastructure, the statement said.

“Cybercrime is a constantly evolving threat. But as I have said before, the Justice Department will spare no resource to identify and bring to justice, anyone, anywhere, who targets the United States with a ransomware attack,”

Garland said.

A US government advisory last year said Hive ransomware actors victimised more than 1,300 companies worldwide from June 2021 through last November, receiving approximately $100m in ransom payments.

The seizure is the latest effort by the Department of Justice to tackle the scourge of ransomware, in which hackers lock up or encrypt victims’ computer networks, steal data and demand large sums.

The issue spurred national attention in the US after a cyberattack using ransomware forced a major American pipeline operator offline in 2021. The targeted company paid a multimilliondollar ransom that the US government largely recovered.

In Thursday’s statement, the Department of Justice said the FBI infiltrated Hive’s computer networks beginning in July 2022. The FBI captured decryption keys, which were then circulated to victims worldwide to help them avoid paying $130m in ransom, it said.

Budget 2023 “deficient...

From page 14 the budget as presented by Senior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh failed to propose measures that will alleviate poverty.

EDUCATION

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

ENTERTAINMENT

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

“Mr. Speaker, while this budget is some 41.4 percent larger than that of 2022, it is very clear that it will not be able to address the previously mentioned situations in Guyana nor will it address the financial insufficiencies of the citizens. Mr. Speaker, this visionless government while proposing to spend $781.9 billion has failed to propose any measures that will indeed address the high inflation rate and general cost-of-living,” the MP said.

He added, “Sir this budget is deficient in a poverty reduction strategy, a crime prevention plan and a permanent job creation strategy.”

It was reported by this publication that as part of measures highlighted in bud-

get 2023, Dr. Singh had announced a $10,000 increase in the income tax threshold, $3,000 increase in public assistance and another $10,000 hike for parents with children attending schools between the nursery and secondary levels.

At a recent press conference hosted by the Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton, the Economic Adviser attached to the Office of the Opposition Leader, Elson Low had noted that despite the yearly increases in the budget, the cost-of-living relief sum remains minimal.

Low had said, “This $5 billion is less than half of a percent of the national budget which is $782 billion and during the biggest cost of living crisis for the past 40 years; the government has decided to give less than a percent of this budget towards the cost of living mitigation.”

VEHICLES FOR SALE

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

ACCOMMODATIONS

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

SERVICES

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Repairs at affordable price: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezer. Call: 610-5846 or 661-8158.

FOR RENT

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

Two-bedroom apartment for rent in Nandy Park, E.B.D. Preferable couple, $50,000 per month. Contact: 6683413.

He had asserted that, “Budget 2023 confirms that the Government is uncaring, and anti-poor. Budget 2023 confirms that the government has no national development plan …will not eliminate poverty, will not ensure that families can live comfortable and happy lives, and will not build world-class social services in health, education, public utilities, public safety, justice, and a clean environment. Budget 2023 confirms that the PPP is incapable of using our vast oil wealth to transform the lives of the Guyanese people.”

PEN PAL

Tensions soar in Haiti’s capital after police officers killed

Protesters erect burning barricades in Port-au-Prince as anger bubbles over following recent killings by Haitiangangs.

Aljazeera - Angry demonstrators have roared throughthestreetsofHaiti’s capital, blocking roads and shooting guns into the air to protest a slew of killings of police officers by Haitian gangsoverthelastweek.

Haitian news outlet Le Nouvelliste reported that angry scenes erupted in several neighbourhoods of Port-au-Prince on Thursday, and barricades of burning tyres were erected in the centreofthecity

Public transportation was interrupted and several schoolswereforcedtoclose, i t s a i d “ A r m e d demonstrators posing as

police officers tried to enter the courtyard of the prime minister’s official residence beforeheadingtotheairport road,” Le Nouvelliste reported.

Gang violence has been on the rise across Port-auPrince in recent months, after the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise worsened widespread political instability and created a powervacuum

The United Nations said in November that armed gangs controlled approximately 60 percent of the capital, where they were carrying out a campaign of murder, kidnappings and sexual violence in an effort to expand their influence and “terrorise”residents.

Guyanese attorney to participate in prestigious...

Frompage15 exploring ways in which I can employ the skills I have accumulated in journalism, lecturing, and legal practice in Guyana to the benefit of Arnold & Porter Guyana is developing, but Guyanese have much to offer the world,”Devonishadded.

Arnold & Porter’s F o r e i g n A t t o r n e y Programme is designed to allow foreign attorneys to understand, firsthand, the variety of services the firm provides for its clients Foreign attorneys observe and participate in US law firmpractice,andlearnabout various legal proceedings. They also attend seminars andtrainingprogramsonUS legalissuesandinternational legal issues, and actively observe and participate in cases in their areas of practice,includingattending client meetings, hearings, strategy sessions and reviewing relevant case documents. The participants alsoundertakelegalresearch and writing, and work collaboratively with Arnold &Porterattorneysonvarious matters.

“Both the Attorney General’s Chambers and the University of Guyana are immensely proud of Mr Devonish as he proceeds on this endeavor, and look forwardtohisreturn,”ajoint statement by the Attorney General’s office and the UniversityofGuyanasaid.

Devonish graduated as valedictorian of the Hugh Wooding Law School’s graduatingclassof2019,and was admitted to the Bar in Guyana in November 2019.

Hewas thenappointedState Counsel at the Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs in February 2020 where he has since performed with distinction, being appointed to various cases of national significance, including Election Petitions 88 and 99 of2020.

Devonish, with the Attorney General’s approval, also resuscitated the Chambers’ liaison system, and conceptualised, i m p l e m e n t e d , a n d coordinated the Chambers’ LLB internship initiative, which saw several LL B students benefitting from internships at various State entities, including the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Ministry of Natural Resources Mr Devonishhimselfhasserved as liaison to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a n d I n t e r n a t i o n a l Cooperation.

He has also assisted in the coordination and implementation of the S u m m a r y C o u r t s ’ Prosecutors Programme, which has seen the training anddeploymentofthirty(30) LLB holders into Guyana’s Magistrates’Courts.

Additionally,sincebeing admitted to the Bar in Guyana, Mr Devonish has lectured and or tutored in Public International Law, J u r i s p r u d e n c e , Administrative Law, Constitutional Law, CriminalLaw,RealProperty, andPoliticsattheUniversity ofGuyana.

Mandiesaftercanoehitbyspeedboat

A60-year-old labourer presently in custody assisting with traveling in the vicinity of Church was on Sunday killed the necessary investigations Hill, Karawab. The brothers soon after a speedboat Shivbarran noted, however, that realized that they had hit a small

powered by a 15 HP investigators will have to release wooden canoe but when they outboard engine knocked over his them on station bail because his looked back in the river, they did wooden canoe in the Pomeroon ranksareonlyallowedtokeepthem notseeanyone. River,RegionTwo. incustodyfor72hrsandthattimeis Kaieteur News understandsthat

The dead man has been almostup. the boat was left floating but there identified as Harold Edwards of Nevertheless, investigations wasnosignofEdwards.

KarawabVillage, Upper Pomeroon will continue to determine whether The brothers continued on their River Edwards’ Canoe was they are responsible for Edwards’ journey and reported what reportedly struck by the speedboat death. happened to a relative. It was later around19:45hrs. The arrested brothers alleged discovered that Edwards was in the According Police Commander thattheywerereturninghomefrom boatatthetimeoftheaccident. of the Region Two district, watching a cricket game at the The matter was reported police

Khemraj Shivabarran, Edwards Makasima Playground located in and a search was launched for detainedandtheirboatlodgedatthe Meanwhile,anautopsydoneon was reportedly fishing in the river the upper Pomeroon River when Edwards. CharityPoliceStation. Edwards’bodyshowedthathedied whenhemethisdemise. theaccidenttookplace. His body was discovered on Edwards’ canoe was recovered from blunt trauma to the head. He

Two men, identified as the Theyrecalledthattheirboathad Monday when police fished it out tooandtherewasvisibledamageto alsodrowned. boat’s captain and his brother are struck something while they were of the river The brothers were oneside. Investigationsareongoing.

The Pomeroon River

CWI President Skerritt lauds Windies players named in ICC Teams of 2022

SportsMax - Cricket West Indies (CWI) has lauded the West Indies players named in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Teams of the Year for 2022.

Three West Indies players were announced by the ICC on Tuesday in the annual awards.

Captain Kraigg

Brathwaite was picked in the Test Team of the Year, while wicket-keeper/batsman Shai Hope and fast bowler Alzarri

Joseph earned spots in the One-Day International (ODI) Team of the Year. Brathwaite averaged 62 in seven Tests

during the last calendar year, scoring two hundreds – a monumental 160 against England at Kensington Oval in March and an outstanding 110 against Australia at the Perth Stadium in December, on the eve of his birthday.

Hope maintained his consistency in the ODIs, averaging 35 with three centuries from 21 ODIs.

He was among only seven players to pass 700 runs for the year.

The highlight was his knock of 115 in his 100th appearance against India at Queens Park Oval in July.

Joseph was also among the leading wicket-takers in ODIs for the year, with 27 wickets at an average of 25 runs per wicket from 17 matches and featured in all three formats.

“Captain Kraigg Brathwaite continued to lead from the front with a number of world-class batting displays, which characterize his composed and courageous style of play,” said CWI President Ricky Skerritt in praising the West Indies Test captain.

“The major achievement was leading the team to victory over England to capture

Ann, Wiltshire dominoes set for Sunday

the Richards Botham trophy which brought glory to West Indies fans.

“Shai Hope also demonstrated his immense talent in front the stumps and agility behind the wickets.

He too showcased an exceptionally high level of skill, and a great sense of occasion, with a remarkable century to mark his 100th appearance against India in Trinidad.”

In his praise of Joseph, Skerritt said, “Alzarri I Joseph emerged as the leader of the bowling attack in ODIs and was consistent and persistent all year in all three formats.

will be hosting their dominoes competition on Sunday at Transport Sports Club starting at 14:30hrs.

Entrance fee is $12,000 with $100,000 being added to

Another fourteen-year old benefits...

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.

From page 28 counties of Guyana have already benefited from three junior gear bag, two trophies, three arm guards, nineteen bats, two boxes, three helmets, seventeen pairs of cricket shoes, eleven pairs of batting pads, one thigh pad, one bat rubber and sixteen pairs of batting gloves.

In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area benefited from two used bats. Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenaam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also received one box of red cricket balls each while RHCCCC received two boxes, fifteen white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicket keep-

Squash Association...

From page 28 committee voting system from the current one-year term to two-years system, also they will see the addition of a players commission: a single player that sits at the board as a representative of players. A system that is currently used by the professional squash association and they would also be installing an immediate past-President system: a past-president that sits on the board one year after his/her tenure and also the usual voting-in process.

The current executive members of the GSA are; VicePresident David Fernandes, Treasurer Garfield Wiltshire, Secretary Lorraine Ince, Assistant Secretary Annabelle Singh, Chairperson of Club Committee Robin Low, Chairperson of Competition Committee Deje Dias, Chairperson of Junior Affairs Juanita Fernandes, Chairperson of Fundraising Suzanne DeAbreu.

ing gloves and a set of stumps and bails. The Essequibo Cricket Board and the Town of Lethem also benefited.

Cricket related items, used or new, is distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills,

discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Talent spotting is being done across the country and club leaders also assist to identify same. Progressive and well managed clubs with youth programmes will also benefit.

Friday January 27, 2023

Tracey Ann and Mark Wiltshire

the prizes.

The competition has attracted the support of Traceann Todd who contributed towards the prizes. Teams can contact Wiltshire on 659 8672.

Mark Wiltshire collects the cash from Traceann Todd.

Squash Association Annual General Meeting to be held on February 9th

The Guyana Squash Association(GSA)Annual General Meeting (AGM)

will be held on the 9th February, 2023 at 7:00pm. This meeting will be held virtuallyonZoom. The current President oftheassociationisformer

CEO of Guyana Office for Investment (Go-invest), Owen Verwey The GSA has had a considerable amount of success in the past,underthestewardship of Verwey The GSA won both junior and senior Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) championships, while other players produced noteworthy performances a t i n t e r n a t i o n a l competitions.

Voting and everything in relation to meeting will be done on the before mentioned platform (Zoom) To avoid any discrepancy occurrences, theassociationadvisedthat theyshallbea‘onevoteper device’ system for each GSAmember However,to beamemberoftheGSA,A subscription fee of $2,000 for adults and $1,000 for juniors,thisistobepaidto any GSA executive

member You can also contact Lorraine Ince for further information regarding such or for any issue relating to this year’s AGM. Lorraine Ince is alsothepersonresponsible foraddinganyonedesirous of being included to the meetinglist.

One must be on the list tobeallowedintotheAGM

Zoom meeting Persons abroad can be on the list andpaylater

Meanwhile, on the agendafortheGSAgeneral meeting, the association plans to introduce additionalcommitteestobe a part of the association, theyalsoplantochangethe current executive

(Continuedonpage27)

fourteen-yearoldbenefitsfrom“Cricket GearforyoungandpromisingcricketersinGuyana”

Lakeram Singh, a fourteen-year old lefthanded all rounder from Adelphi Settlement, East Canje, Berbice is the latest youth to recently benefit from this joint initiative of Kishan Das of the USA and AnilBeharryofGuyana.The Canje Secondary School student represents the fast risingRoseHallCommunity Centre Cricket Club and is currentlyparticipatinginthe Berbice Under15 trials

B a s e d o n r e c e n t performances, Singh has a very good chance of representing Berbice in the upcomingGCBInterCounty Tournament.

At a simple ceremony held recently, the young player was the recipient of onepairofcricketshoes,one pairofbattingglovesandone pair of batting pads. He expressed thanks to the initiative and promised to workhardonhisgamesoas tomaximizehisresults.This initiative is happy to be part ofthedevelopmentofyoung and talented cricketers in Guyana.

A cash contribution of $20,000 was donated by a friend of cricket (name

withheldasperrequest).The funds were used to assist to purchasetheabove.

Total cricket related items collected so far: $310,000 in cash, two trophies, thirteen cricket boots, twenty one pairs of batting pads, twenty five bats,eighteenpairsofbatting gloves, twenty thigh pads,

one pair of wicket keeping pad, three arm guards, two boxes, six cricket bags and three helmets. In addition to theabove,$600,000worthin gear was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former National wicketkeeper/batsman.

Todate,fortynineyoung playersfromallthree

(Continuedonpage27)

Another

Antonio DeFreitas left, Singh, centre and Manoj Beharry, right at the presentation.

Owen Verwey

GBI supports tonight’s ‘Basketball Bounce Back’ at Burnham Court - Linden,

Georgetown ready to reignite rivalry

Guyana Breweries Inc. (GBI) pledged their support for tonight’s ‘Basketball Bounce back’activity at the Burnham Basketball Court, featuring players from Georgetown, Bartica, BerbiceandLinden.

Bartica and Berbice will collide in a U21 match-up from 6:00 pm, while Linden andGeorgetownwilllookto reignite their age-old rivalry in the sport in the night’s secondmatchat8:00pm.

The event is a collective effort by the associations affiliated to the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), and GBI’s Country Manager, KelvinSingh,saidtheentity is happy to play its part in helpingtosustainthesportof

basketball in Guyana. With the distribution of a widerange of products, GBI is known for their sponsorship ofmanysportingeventsand national athletes. President of the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA), Rawle Toney, and presidentoftheGeorgetown

Amateur Basketball

Association (GABA), Jermaine Slater, were on h a n d a t G B I ’ s Beterverwagting Head Office to receive the trophies.

They were grateful for GBI’s contribution and highlighted the company’s usual support for local basketballovertheyears.

Meanwhile, Linden will be led by senior men’s team

National Players Yannick Tappin, Terron Welch, Harold Adams, Orlon Glasgow,ShaneWebsterand CaptainStantonRoseJr

Quincy Easton Dennis Niels, Juel Webster, Vibert Benjamin, and Daniel Benjamin are the other members of the team coached by Kevin Joseph, JuniorRodneyandAbdullah ‘Zico’Hamid.

The Georgetown team will depend on players such asDominicVincent,Nikolai Smith, Jude Corlette, Shamaar Hunt, Travis BelgraveandElijahDavid.

Ravens’ Marlon Rodrigues and National Coach Junior Hercules will dictate the bench for the ‘CityBoys’.

Singh (153) spurs Hibernia Strikers to victory in ESCL’s over-40 competition

Left-handed opening batsman Dhanraj Singh slammed a brilliant 153 to inspire HiberniaStrikerstoacomfortable48-runwin over Sunrisers Masters last Sunday in the continuation of the Essequibo Softball Cricket League’s (ESCL) over-40, T20 competition.

AtZorgBeach,RegionTwo(PomeroonSupenaam), Singh plundered 14 sixes and seven fours as Hibernia Strikes raced to a formidable 253-6 from the 20-overs Sunrisers Masters, in reply, were all out for 205inthe16thover

Apart from Singh, Sidique Ramjohn made 41 as Shivsankar Ramjohn grabbed 237fromhismaximumfourovers.

For Sunrisers, Avinash Narine struck a fighting 69 and 30 from Bissoon as Ramkissoon Seeram snatched 4-35 off four overs.

Atthesamevenue,InvadersMastersbeat Devonshire Castle Sports Club by a convincingseven-wicketmargin.

Devonshire Castle batted first and only managed an inadequate 180-9 from the allotment of 20-overs while Invaders, the formerchampion,surpassedthetargetinthe 15thover

Experienced batsman Fazeer Khan led the way with 68 and Gopaul Deen also with 68. For Devonshire Castle, Latchman Singh and Wayne Moore scored 43 and 26 respectively

Davanand Madho captured 4-24 from four impressive overs and Deen proved his all-roundcapabilitybysupportingwith2-19

alsofromfourovers.

In the other fixture, reigning champion Caribbean Cricket Club 2 got a walk-over fromQueenstownTigers.

However,theactionissettocontinuethis weekendwiththreematches.

Devonshire Castle will clash with Queenstown Tigers at Queenstown facility while Invaders Masters and Sunrisers MasterswillmeetupatAiryHallgroundand Caribbean Cricket Club 2 will take on HiberniaStrikersatthesamevenue.

Dhanraj Singh

Stanton Rose Jr. Travis Belgrave

BCB launches Roy Baijnauth Memorial Primary School Tournament Baijnauth

-SitaLumberYardlatest donortoKiddiesproject

The Berbice Cricket Board on Wednesday last launched another cricket tournament as it continues preparation to play cricket for the first time at the primary school level. The boardwithsponsorshipfrom BaijnauthSawmillwouldbe

hosting The Roy Baijnauth Memorial Primary School Tournament for schools in theUpperCorentynearea.

BCB President Hilbert Foster, Secretary Angela Haniff and Competition Chairman Leslie Solomon visited the Sawmill at its

Crab Wood Creek office to launch the tournament with George Baijnauth, younger brother of Roy, who passed awaythreeyearsago.

The tournament would be played among sixteen schools from the Upper Corentyne and Black Bush

Polder area. It would be played using the Tapeball format and is part of a countywide tournament where a winner would emerge from four inter-zone championships. The four winners from West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, LowerCorentyneandUpper Corentynewouldthengoon to play for the overall Berbicetitle.

Among the teams that would play in the Upper Corentyne tournament wouldbeLeeds,CrabWood Creek, New Market, No56 and Yakusari Primary Schools.

BCB President Hilbert Foster stated that at the end of the historic tournament, the BCB was confident that several exciting talents would emerge to join the different youth teams in the area He expressed confidence that the tournament would be a success and would play a major role in the continued

developmentofthecounty’s cricket.

Roy Baijnauth served as President of the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association for many years and was also a long serving executive with the BCB. He served many years as aVice President to the Late Leslie Amsterdam before taking overafterthelatter’ssudden death.Heservedseveralone year terms before being defeated by Malcolm Peters forthePresidency,hewasan outstanding administrator and under his leadership, Upper Corentyne won several major cricketing titles. Baijnauth also served formanyyearsastheMayor of the township of Corriveton.

Mr George Baijnauth stated that he was delighted tosponsorthetournamentin memoryofhislatebrotheras itwasthebestwaytouphold his legacy He also congratulated the BCB on the excellent work it was

doing to promote the game acrossthecounty

Meanwhile, the BCB’s planstoassistalltheprimary schools in Berbice with kiddies cricket equipment, receivedamajorboostwitha donation of flannel balls from Sita Lumber Yard of Crab Wood Creek The donation was obtained by community activist MS Indira Jafferally from Managing Director Sita Gumani,whostatedthatshe was very pleased with the effort of the BCB to make sure that every school in the county benefits from the project.

Close to seventy schools in Berbice would benefit from donations of taped flannelballsandbatsforthe u p c o m i n g c r i c k e t tournaments and coaching programmes of the board. Mrs Gumani stated that her company would continue to supportinthefutureasthere is no doubt that Berbice cricketisonthemove.

BCB Executives Angela Haniff and Leslie Solomon receives sponsorship from George Baijnauth, while a staff member looks on.

Mrs Gumani hands over sponsorship to BCB Secretary Angela Haniff in the presence of Leslie Solomon.

Brian Lara to assist Cricket West Indies as Performance Mentor

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) yesterday announced that former West Indies Captain and batting legend,BrianLara,hasagreedtoassistCWI asaPerformanceMentor–workingacrossall international Teams and with input into the WestIndiesAcademy

Lara’s new role will be to support the various Head Coaches in providing players with tactical advice and improving their gamesense,aswellasworkingcloselywith the Director of Cricket on ICC World Cup Tournamentstrategicplanning.

JimmyAdams, CWI Director of Cricket said, “I am really looking forward to Brian making a significant contribution to our cricket system by providing invaluable guidance and advice to our players and coaches. We are confident that Brian will help to improve our high-performance mindset and strategic culture that will bring us more success on the field across all formats. Everyone is excited to have Brian involvedinsupportingourplayers.”

BrianLarasaid,“Havingspenttimewith the players and coaches in Australia and in discussions with CWI, I really believe that I can help the players with their mental approachtothegameandwiththeirtacticsto be more successful. I’m looking forward to joining the group in Zimbabwe and the opportunity to work with other West Indies

CastrolStrikerstoogoodforGDF

Things are heating up in Demerara Volleyball Association (DVA) league, currentlyongoingatNationalGymnasium.

25-23. However, GDF put-on an abysmal performance in the third match, losing 1325.

Brian Lara (CWI)

In their latest matches played, Castrol StrikershandedtheGuyanaDefenceForce (GDF)theirsecondlossofthetournament, whentheyoutgunedthe‘Army’3–1.

The GDF team came strong in the first match, winning 25-20, but their defence was not enough as Castrol Strikers tore through their line to win the second match

The GDF had a notable performance from Travis Stanley (15 points), while Castrol Strikers’ Stephon Norah stole the show with 25 points, helping to propel his teamtovictory

The tournament continued last evening whereStrikerswerelookingtosecurebackto-backwinsagainstAlphas.

teamslaterintheyear.”

Lara’s first assignment will be with the WestIndiesTestsquad.HehasjoinedtheTest squadinZimbabwewherehewillassistinthe team’s preparations ahead of the first Test MatchinBulawayoon4February2023.

Babar named ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year, Stokes wins Test award

SportsMax - Pakistan

captain Babar Azam has beennamedtheICCMen’s CricketeroftheYear,while Ben Stokes landed theTest Cricketer of the Year award

Babar was outstanding with the bat in 2022, scoring 2,598 runs in 44 matches at an average of 54 12 and raking up eight centuries

The prolific righthander was the only player to reach the 2,000 landmark in the calendar year across all formats and led his side to the T20 World Cup final, which they lost against England at the MCGinNovember

It was the most successful year of Babar’s career, earning him the Sir Garfield SobersTrophy

Babar was also named the Men’s ODI Cricketer oftheYear

Stokes also enjoyed a

yearthathewillneverforget, making a huge impact after being appointed as England Testcaptain.

The all-rounder could not have wished for a better start to a new era with him as skipper and Brendon McCullum head coach, turning England’s fortunes around with an i n c r e d i b l e

transformation in a short spaceoftime

England had won only one of 17 Tests when Joe Root stepped down, but secured series wins over New Zealand and South Africa, beat India in a

rearranged Test and

c e l e b r a t e d a n

unprecedented 3-0

whitewash of Pakistan awayfromhome Stokes led the side

b r i l l i a n t l y a s a n

aggressive brand of

cricket paid dividends, while the all-rounder produced another matchwinning innings to seal a

victory over Pakistan in theT20WorldCupfinal.

Hescored870runsatan average of 36.25 last year and took 26 wickets at an averageof31.19.

India run machine Suryakumar Yadav is the Men’sT20I Cricketer of the Year, having scored 1,164 runs in 31 matches at an average of 46 56 and a strike-rateof187.43.

Nat Sciver also starred for England in 2022 and wasonThursdaynamedas the winner of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for the ICC Women’s CricketeroftheYear

All-rounder Sciver scored 1,346 runs and claimed 22 wickets from 33 international matches, starring as England were runners-up in the Women’s Cricket World Cup2022,

S c i v e r m a d e a magnificent unbeaten 148 from only 121 in a defeat againstAustraliainthefinal.

Rybakina and Sabalenka set up Australian Open final showdown

MELBOURNE, (Reuters)E l e n a Rybakina won a duel of Grand Slam champions to reach her first Australian Open final and will battle ArynaSabalenkaforthetitle after the Belarusian

shrugged off her semi-final hoodooatthemajors.

Rybakina claimed a 76(4) 6-3 victory over twice championVictoriaAzarenka in the first semi-final yesterday,endingthechance of an awkward allBelarusian decider for

organisers, who banned the nation’s flags early in the event.

Fifth seed Sabalenka beatMagdaLinette7-6(1)62 in the late match at Rod Laver Arena, reaching her first Grand Slam final after falling at the semi-final

hurdlethreetimesbefore.

The title match will pair two big-serving, baseline pounders with contrasting personalities.

Russian-born Rybakina is the quiet achiever who switched allegiance to Kazakhstan as a 19-yearold and won the central AsiannationitsfirstGrand Slam title at Wimbledon lastyear

T h e a n i m a t e d Sabalenka has long been seen as a Grand Slam contender but has been a slave to her emotions on thebiggeststages

Rybakina’s “noncelebration” on court after beating Ons Jabeur in the Wimbledon final was repeated on Rod Laver Arena yesterday as she walked calmly to the net without so much as a fistpump to shake hands with thevanquishedAzarenka.

“For me this time I wouldsayitwasabiteasier a l s o c o m p a r e d t o Wimbledon when I was playing for the first time quarters, semis, final,” the 23-year-oldtoldreporters.

“Everythingwasnewat Wimbledon.NowImoreor less understand what to expect ”

It was Rybakina’s third victory in succession over a Grand Slam champion, having knocked out world number one Iga Swiatek and Jelena Ostapenko in thepreviousrounds

It was far from easy, though.

MESSYTIEBREAK

Rybakina had to come back from a break down in the first set against the f e i s t y 2 4 t h s e e d Azarenka, who was chasing her third title after winning back-to-back in2012-13.

The Kazakh, seeded 22nd, held her nerve as Azarenka foundered in a messy first set tiebreak, then roared on to a 5-2 leadovertheBelarusianin thesecondset.

Though suffering a wobble as she served for the set, Rybakina was gifted three match points when Azarenka doublefaultedinthenextgame

Azarenka saved one matchpointbutherbidfora thirdtitleatMelbournePark endedflatly,withabackhand

hammered into the net, one of27unforcederrors.

“It’s kind of hard to digest,obviously,”agloomy Azarenka told reporters, wearing sunglasses at her p o s t - m a t c h m e d i a conference.

“ObviouslyIhadquitea few chances that I gave myself. “I cannot really say I’m really proud of how I played.”

COLDSTART

Sabalenka joined Rybakina in the final aftera coldstartonachillyevening, notching her 10th win in succession, including the warm-upAdelaidetitle.

Sabalenka said she had s t o p p e d u s i n g a psychologist in the offseason and decided to take her head-game into her own hands.

“I was trying to scream lessaftersomebadpointsor someerrors.Iwasjusttrying to hold myself, stay calm, just think about the next point,” she said of the semifinal

“Actually, I’m not that boring,Ithink I’m still screaming ‘comeon’andallthatstuff.I don’tthinkit’sthatboringto watchme.

Ihopeso.”

Brokeninthefirstgame, Sabalenka pressured Linette’s serve to take the tiebreak before racing away inthesecondset.

Unseeded 30-year-old Pole Linette would have been far from pretournament predictions of who would reach the semifinals and was happy with herrun.

“It’s really been so rewarding for all the sacrifices, all these years on tour, so many Grand Slams. Itwasmy30thattempt,”she said.

POLITICALISSUES

Geopolitics has been ever-present at the year’s first Grand Slam, with organisers making the unprecedented decision to ban Russian and Belarusian flags from the event after a complaint from the Ukraine embassyinAustralia.

Police questioned four fans with “inappropriate flags and symbols” at Melbourne Park following Wednesday’s quarter-final between Novak Djokovic andRussianAndreyRublev

Australian Open organisers on Thursday issued a reminder to players and their entourages about the policy after a video showing NovakDjokovic’s father posing for pictures with fans holding Russian flags was widely shared on socialmedia.

Serbian Djokovic, who plays American Tommy Paul in the men’s semifinals on Friday, did not commentonthevideo Asked by reporters whether it was difficult to focus on tennis with the politics rumbling in the background, Azarenka lostpatience

“I don’t know what you guyswantustodoaboutit,” shesnapped.

“These incidents that in my opinion have nothing to do with players, but somehowyoukeepdragging playersintoit.”

Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina celebrates winning her semi final match against Belarus’Victoria Azarenka. (REUTERS/Hannah Mckay)

Stage set for opening rounds of the 2023 West Indies Championship in Antigua and Grenada

ChampionsBarbadostofaceGuyanainfirstround; WindwardstohostT&T;LeewardstohostJamaica

ST JOHN’S, Antigua –Cricket West Indies (CWI)

yesterday announced the match schedule and venues forthefirsttworoundsofthe West Indies Championship, the region’s first-class fourday red ball tournament, which will be played in Antigua and Grenada. The tournament will open with the Windward Islands Volcanoes hosting the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force at the Grenada National Stadium (GNS)

This match will start on 31 Januaryandwillcontinueon 1to3February

In Antigua, defending champions the Barbados Pridewillstarttheirbidfora third straight title when they faceGuyanaHarpyEaglesin the feature match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (SVRS) on 1 to 4 February

Thethirdcontestwillseethe Leeward Islands Hurricanes hosting the Jamaica Scorpions at the Coolidge CricketGround(CCG)from 1to4February

Thesecondroundwillbe playedfrom8to11February when the Barbados Pride

will meet the Jamaica Scorpions at CCG; Trinidad & Tobago Red Force travel to face the Leeward Islands HurricanesattheSVRS,and the Guyana Harpy Eagles take on the Windward Islands Volcanoes at the GNS.

The third round of the West Indies Championship resumes on 15 March with the final round concluding on 1 April when the 2023 Champions will be crowned and presented with the Headley Weekes Trophy

The final three rounds will allbeplayedinTrinidadand the venues will be announcedatalaterdate.

Roland Holder, CWI’s Manager of Cricket Operations said: “We are happytoannouncethematch schedule and venues for the first two rounds of the West Indies Championship, our flagshipregionaltournament on the annual calendar The six teams have been preparing diligently for the upcoming season and we expect to see keen competitionthisyearasthey battle for the Headley

Weekes trophy From the tournament, the best performers also have the reward of playing for Team Weekes and Team Headley in the new tournament announced by CWI scheduled for April and May.”

The new Headley Weekes Series will follow t h e W e s t I n d i e s Championship and will feature three matches and three teams. Team Headley andTeamWeekeswillselect from the best performers in the 2023 West Indies Championship and players outside the starting West IndiesTestXI.ThenewWest IndiesAcademywillprovide the third team in the new Series.

Team Headley andTeam Weekesarenamedinhonour of West Indies pioneers and legendary batting greats George Headley and Sir Everton Weekes, whose names are also honoured on theTrophyforthewinnersof t h e W e s t I n d i e s Championship All three matcheswillbeplayedfrom 18Aprilto6MayatCCGin

MCYS to hold National Sports Conference tomorrow

Representatives

from the various s p o r t s disciplines, media and other related personnel will converge on the National Cultural Centre on Homestretch and Mandela Avenuesfrom9:00am-4:00 pm when the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) stage the 2nd edition of the National Sports Conference tomorrow(Saturday).

The event will be held undertheprincipalthemeof ‘The Science for Sports Development’.

The forum, which is the brainchildoftheMinisterof Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr, was the first of its kind on local soil and will consist of fourpanel discussions with a plethora of representatives from various national

associations/federations.

The panel discussions scheduled are: shifting of training to a science base, inculcat ing a win n i

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson

Jr.

ng mindset, the business of sport - generating more revenue, and minimum standards for traveling nationalteams.

The National Sports Conferenceemanatedonthe heelsoftheidentificationof

Antigua.

Every West Indies Championshipmatchwillbe streamedliveontheWindies Cricket YouTube channel. Fans can follow each and every game from their mobile devices, computers orconnectedTVs,including access to live ball-by-ball

s c o r i n g o n t h e Windiescricket com live matchcentre.

2023 WEST INDIES

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH SCHEDULE

Allmatchesstartat10am EasternCaribbeantime(9am Jamaicatime)

GNS–GrenadaNational Stadium,Grenada

SVRS – Sir Vivian RichardsStadium,Antigua

CCG – Coolidge Cricket Ground,Antigua

ROUND1:

31Januaryto3February

-Grenada

Windward Islands

Volcanoes v Trinidad & TobagoRedForceatGNS

1to4February-Antigua

BarbadosPridevGuyana HarpyEaglesatSVRS

Leeward Islands

Hurricanes v Jamaica ScorpionsatCCG

ROUND2:

8 to 11 February –

GrenadaandAntigua

Windward Islands

Volcanoes v Guyana Harpy EaglesatGNS

29 March to 1 April in Trinidad - Venues to be confirmed

Trinidad & Tobago Red ForcevJamaicaScorpions

Guyana Harpy Eagles v LeewardIslandsHurricanes

Barbados Pride v WindwardIslandsVolcanoes

Headley Weekes TriSeries

Allmatchestobeplayed atCCG,Antigua

Match 1: 19 to 22April: TeamHeadleyvWestIndies Academy

Match 2: 26 to 29April: Team Weekes v West Indies Academy

the 12 core sports and is a critical arm of the MCYS’s attempt to formulate the National Sports Policy It also is a vital component of the government’s long-term vision for the development ofthelocalsportssector The inauguraleditionwasstaged on October 2nd, 2021, and afforded the opportunity for information to be d i s s e m i n a t e d t o representatives of the 12 core sports on how the Ministry’s Sports Academy, which comprises the three pillars of nursery, tournament, and elite training, would function following its eventual initiation.

The core sports selected are: athletics, badminton, basketball, cricket, football, hockey, lawn tennis, rugby, squash, swimming, table tennis,andvolleyball.

Leeward Islands

Hurricanes v Trinidad and TobagoRedForceatSVRS

Jamaica Scorpions v BarbadosPrideatCCG

ROUND3:

15 to 18 March in Trinidad – Venues to be confirmed

TrinidadandTobagoRed Force v Guyana Harpy

Eagles

Jamaica Scorpions v WindwardIslandsVolcanoes

Leeward Islands

HurricanesvBarbadosPride

ROUND4:

22 to 25 March in Trinidad - Venues to be confirmed

Trinidad & Tobago Red ForcevBarbadosPride

Guyana Harpy Eagles vs JamaicaScorpions

Leeward Islands

Hurricanes v Windward IslandsVolcanoes

ROUND5:

Match 3: 3 to 6 May: Team Weekes v Team Headley

SQUADS(Rounds1and 2)

Barbados Pride: Shane

Dowrich (Captain) Camarie

Boyce, Shamarh Brooks, Jonathan Drakes, Keon

Harding, Chaim Holder, Akeem Jordan, Nicholas

Kirton, Jair McAllister, Shayne Moseley, Zachary McCaskie,ShamarSpringer, Kevin Wickham; Vasbert

Drakes(HeadCoach)

Guyana Harpy Eagles: Leon Johnson (Captain), Veerasammy Permaul (Vice Captain), Chandrapaul

Hemraj, Matthew Nandu, Kemol Savory, Tevin

Imlach, Anthony Bramble, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith, Ronsford Beaton, Akshaya

Persaud, Ashmead Nedd, Shamar Joseph; Ryan

Hercules(HeadCoach)

Jamaica Scorpions: Paul Palmer jr (Captain), Jamie Merchant, Alwyn Williams, Aldaine Thomas, Leroy Lugg, Kirk McKenzie, Romaine Morris, Abhijau Mansingh, Patrick Harty, Akim Fraser, Marquino Mindley, Gordon Bryan, Ojay Shields; Andrew Richardson(HeadCoach) Trinidad & Tobago Red Force: Darren Bravo (Captain), Amir Jangoo, Imran Khan, Jason Mohammed, Terrance Hinds, Jyd Goolie, Jeremy Solozano, Yannic Cariah, Bryan Charles, Vikash M o h a n , U t h m a n Muhammad, Tion Webster, Khary Pierre; David Furlonge(HeadCoach) Windward Islands Volcanoes: Alick Athanaze (Captain), Jerlani Robinson, Kavem Hodge, Keron Cottoy, SunilAmbris, Justin Greaves, Tevyn Walcott, Kenneth Dember, Preston McSween, Teddy Bishop, Daurius Martin, Kimani Melius, Nicklaus Redhead; ShirleyClarke(HeadCoach) Leeward Islands Hurricanes (provisional squad): Jahmar Hamilton (Captain), Mikyle Louis, Kieran Powell, Colin Archibald, Terance Warde, Jeremiah Louis, Keacy Carty, Ross Powell, Kofi James, Damion Williams, Kelvin Pitman, Hayden Walsh jr , Rahkeem Cornwall; Stuart Williams (HeadCoach).

Castrol Strikers’Stephon Noah going for the ‘kill’ during his outstanding performance in his team’s win over GDF in the DVALeague. (Rawle Toney Photo)

Devon Dover, GBI’s Trade Marketing Executive, making the presentation of trophies to GABApresident Jermaine Slater and LABApresident Rawle Toney.

Brian Lara with Kyle Mayers during training. (CWI)

Brian Lara talks with Tagenarine Chanderpaul. (CWI)