Kaieteur News

Venezuelan boat en route to Guyana missing with passengers, one found dead

The area where Persaud’s floating body was found.

ByShervinBelgrave

ThebodyofOrvinPersaud,a 25-year-old dual citizen of GuyanaandVenezuelawasfound floating in the Tucupita River, Venezuela two days after he departedforGuyana.

Venezuelan police have reportedly found Persaud’s body whileinsearchofaboaten-route to Charity, Essequibo Coast, Region Two. The boat occupied by several passengers has since disappeared.

Persaud had reportedly boarded the boat described as a small wooden ‘ballahoo’ with at least six other passengers from a portinBarrancas,Venezuela.

He was expected to arrive in Guyanathefollowingdaybutthe

boatneverreacheditsdestination.

Persaud’srelatives,whowere anticipatinghisarrivalinGuyana, became worried and raised an alarm. The man was reported missingandhisfamilypostedhis photograph across the various socialmediaplatforms.

Itwasafterseeingthemissing person post, that persons in Venezuela began suspecting that the boat might have encountered some difficulties on its way to Guyana.

Kaieteur News understands that relatives of two more passengers have since come forward and reported them missing.

The Venezuelan authorities are unable to provide clarity on whattranspiredcausingPersaud’s

death and the disappearance of the boat with the passengers and captain. However, it is believed thattheboatmayhavecapsizedin theOrinocoRiver

An investigation has since been launched and the Venezuelan lawmen are on the look-out for possible survivors andthemissingboat. However, Persaud’s relatives believethateveniftherewereany survivors, it would be difficult to find them because travelling through the Orinoco River to Guyana, is an illegal route Persons who traverse the ‘back track’ route usually hide from lawmen.

Nevertheless,hisrelativesare callingforafullinvestigationinto thematter,becausetherouteisnot

only i dangerous.

Mea

Kaieteu

President de la Comunidad

Venez organisation represents countr Antonio isunsafe. boatmishaps theriver explain suffered illegal mistreated by some national

Hecalled

Continued on page 3

DEAD: Orvin Persaud

India can cash-in on relinquished portion of Stabroek Block

...AS GOVT. CONSIDERS OFFERING INDIA ACREAGE OUTSIDE AUCTION

ByDavinaBagot

ExxonMobil and its partners-HessandCNOOCwillsoonberequiredtogive back to the State 20 percent of the lucrative Stabroek Block,whereinexcessof11 billion barrels of oil has alreadybeendiscovered.

This relinquished portion, which was unexplored by the operator, will not be auctioned but in fact will be secured by the State for bilateral agreements. Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo who is presently in India made the revelation, hinting that the South Asian state may very well benefit from a portion oftheprolificoilblock.

According to a report from Indian news agencyLivemint, the two countries will in fact be signing a M e m o r a n d u m o f

Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the oil and gassector.Thereport,which wassharedbyJagdeoonhis Facebook page was also confirmed by local state media entity, the Department of Public Information (DPI) which reported Jagdeo as saying, “We also explored the possibility of India examining the abundant resources that we’ve had outsideofthose(oilblocks) thatareonauctionnow.”

Presently, 14 of the nation’s resource sweet spots are on auction, comprisingsome11shallow areas and three in the deep water zone. It is the rich Stabroek Block however, that India may be able explore According to

Jagdeo, “Next year, ExxonMobil will have to give up 20% of their holdings. So, all of those will be available for some form of bilateral engagement,wherewecan actually see joint productionorexplorationrelatedactivities.”

In an interview with the Indian press on Friday, the VP said Guyana is ready to sign the MoU to boost cooperationinthepetroleum sector and is awaiting the approval from India’s Cabinet.TheformerHeadof State said, “We don’t want India’s involvement only in defining our gas policy, but also from an investment perspectivetodevelopthose resources.”

It was reported that Guyana is looking to recruit skilledworkersfromIndiato help develop the local gas sector President Irfaan Ali alongwithahigh-levelteam wereinIndiaforaseven-day triprecentlyandenteredinto severalnewagreementswith the Indian state for collaboration in other sectors, inclusive of manufacturing and power generation among others. It is the VP however, who manages the petroleum sector that will be handling thosearrangements.

President Ali had met with India’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Housing and Urban Affairs,ShriHardeepSPuri in Delhi, India, where the leaders discussed “direct G o v e r n m e n t - t oGovernment cooperation across the oil and gas spectrum, including

Venezuelan boat en route to Guyana...

Frompage2 of Guyana to clamp down on the use of the route for those desirous of entering Guyana. Further,Antonio called on the relevantauthoritiesofGuyanatoestablishaflightroutefrom Puerto Ordaz, a City inVenezuela, to the Euguene Correria International Airport in Guyana so that Venezuelans and Guyanese returning home can legally and safely enter the country

TravellingthroughtheOrinocoRivertogettoGuyanais one of the “most dangerous back track Routes” that VenezuelansusetoenterTrinidadandGuyana.

Itcontinuestobearouteusedforsmugglingcontraband inandoutofVenezuela.However,therecenteconomiccrisis brought the neighbouring country to its knees, and this resulted in an increase in the smuggling of Venezuelan refugeesthroughthedangerouswaters.

increasedlong-termofftake, participation in exploration and production activities in Guyana, technical cooperation in the midstream and downstream sectors and capacity building, as well as the synergies which exist between the two countries,” a release from the Head of State detailed. It was also noted that the two countries haveagreedtosetup

Continuedonpage27

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo (right) meets with India’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor-In-Chief:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

INFLATED COSTS

The Government is being provided a constant stream of information on the oil sector Government leaders cannot complainaboutalackofknowledgeonthecrookedwaysof oilcompanies.Onitsown,thePPPCGovernment,itsleaders, its insiders, and its wisemen know enough regarding how collusive and corrupt oil companies can be.Yet there is this yawningindifferenceastohowthiscountryispossiblybeing robbed by the foreign oil companies, with not much effort expended to get to the bottom of things, by checking and verifyingconstantly

Inflated production costs are one way through which oil companies have cheated host countries. Hidden costs for executives and other workers; items never bought nor delivered;andbillsthatdonotbelongtoaprojectareastart. Thelistofsuchcostlypracticesisendless,withoilcompanies very creative. They have an ugly history of these kinds of sordid practices, and do so until caught. By that time, the resourcefuloilcompaniesalreadyhaveanothertechniqueor tactic to rollout on an unknowing host country, lacking in technology, human resource skills, and political will. In the world of regular commerce, savvy businesspeople always havesomenewschemetopullfastonesovertheauthorities, throughinflatedprices,phonyinvoicing,andothertricks.

In the oil business, more crooked practices have been compiled (in unwritten form, of course) on how to squeeze host countries using a variety of mechanisms. Transfer pricingisonewaythatoilcompaniesmakeringsaroundnew oilproducingcountries.Itisthepracticeofbuyingandselling by oil companies in the normal course of business, but involvingcompaniesunderthecommoncontrolofthesame parentcompany

Through an artful repricing of items supposedly bought andsold,costs,profits,andtaxesareallreengineeredtothe advantage of the parent company Transfer pricing has its meritswhencleanlyexecuted.When,however,theintentisto employwhatisnothingbutaccountingclevertrickstoevade taxes,ortocheatabackwardcountrylikeGuyana,thenthere is only what is condemnable. This is especially from the perspectiveofoilproducingcountriessincethereisnothing beneficial in a partner out to trick and cheat due to superior informationorposition.

This is the unfortunate position in which Guyana finds itself. We know very little about oil, but we compound matters by racing ahead with rapid production, while ExxonMobil’s accounting could be of the funny variety. Often,variousrespectedinternationalwatchdoggroupshave warnedustobecareful,towatchforcertainredflags,onlyfor the PPPC Government to give them the back of its hand. ChathamHouse,theNaturalResourceGovernanceInstitute, and Oxfam, among others, have shared insights with us, about what to look for, and how to watch our backs. Their advice includes that parliamentarians can press for information, and so can citizens as a whole. What has been offeredisaproductoflongexperience,andasgatheredfrom otherindustryobservers;yettheGovernmentofGuyanahas been the picture of unconcern, with less than negligible interest. It as if to tamper with anything that ExxonMobil couldbeengagingin,wouldbetamperingwiththeinterests ofthePPPCGovernment.

Also,theleadersofthePPPChaddenouncedthe2016oil contract as a heinous crime, which means that its author, ExxonMobil, come across in the poorest of lights. Now, the same leaders skip along joyfully by the side of the same ExxonMobil that can do no wrong. Here is an oil company withahistoryofcorporatewaviness,oneoperating120miles fromland,incurringbillionsofAmericandollarsinexpenses against our oil, and the PPPC Government thinks that it has found the most trusted of oil partners. If ExxonMobil was such a real partner, there would be no 2% royalty abomination,andthoseothercontractprovisionsthathelped ittoourwealth.

Today,Governmentanditsleadersareonlytoogladtobe inbedwithExxonMobil,andtheydon’tcareaboutcautions or guidance. The standard is, let ExxonMobil do what it wants,aslongasthePPPCissecure,nothingelsematters.

Let us shatter to bits the evil, corruption and lowering of standards threatening Guyana

DEAREDITOR,

After an examination of the National Budget and the waythesemassivefundsare being farmed out, these words of Omar Khayyam cametomind-

“Ah Love! could thou andIwithFateconspire

Would not we shatter it tobits—andthen

To grasp this sorry SchemeofThingsentire, Remold it nearer to the Heart’sDesire!’

The sentiments were expressed at a different time but may well be the feelings of the majority of Guyanese today Some months ago, when the PPP , Ali-Jagdeo administration was accused ofeconomicapartheidwitha tincture of ethnic inequality, there was outrage expressed insomequarters.

Below are but samples whichmayjustifythosewho accuse the government of formsofdiscrimination.

In 2021, eleven licenses to extract gold were issued. Nine went to Indian Guyanese and two went to AfricanGuyanese.

Theironyofthisisthatit was the Manumitted Africans fleeing from the horrible memories of the plantation who first discovered gold in what we earlier called the ‘bush ’ These brave men made it over rapids and mountains

and were known as ‘Porknockers.’

The further travesty is that gold is being harvested by large foreign entities. Let mestatethatevenbeforethe advent of the PPP government in 1992, I expressedtheviewthatIdid not support the contention thatthelargecompanieshad the technology to go deeper, toextractgold.

I was the lone voice contending that gold don’t rust and leave it for succeedinggenerations.

The result today is that our rivers and streams are being polluted and irreparabledamagehasbeen done to our ecosystem, our fauna,floraandwater.

This debauchery continued even as we talked aboutbeingchampionofthe earth Next with great fanfare, we are being told thattheMinistryofHousing andWaterhassigned$56.8B worth of infrastructural works, and a Contractor received $1 6B for infrastructural works at Palmyra.

There is one redeeming factor, after much pressure last year I know of two Contractors outside of the familyandfriendscirclewho have been awarded Contracts, but beyond that Editor, there exists the worrisome situation, where

we can find no evidence apart from words from the Minister, and I emphasize words,thatthereisacredible systeminplacetoensurethat people in various communities are the main beneficiaries of these billionsbeingspent.

Let me share my own experienceforashortwhile; I was made Chairman of the CHPA and responding to complaints I visited purported houses completed on the East Bank and found with one exception shabby work done by certain contractors who were all fullypaid.

Leaky roofs, kitchens going in one direction to the rest of the house, nonfunctionalseptictank.Inone case, even extensive repairs could not make the house habitable.

When I called in the Engineer and asked why it was that houses were being separated,Iaskedifsoiltests were done to ensure that the land where the houses were tobebuiltwassuitable.

He said that there were no soil tests done but they were instructed by the then minister to proceed apace to havethehousesconstructed. Reports exist to substantiate mystatementsabove.

Let us hope therefore, as we outlay these massive sums that the government

would have learnt from previous missteps and that we don’t have roads that crumble and are reduced to potholes after a few rainfall seasons,housesthatleakand foundations that are uneven. Parliament, that is the Government’s side and the Oppositionshouldinsistthat credible measures are put in placesothatthepeopleinthe communities are the main beneficiaries of good work beingdoneineacharea,each schemeandineveryproject. Parliamentinparticularlythe Oppositionshouldinsistthat ineachandeveryprojectthat therearepersonsofrectitude who cannot be bought to monitor the expenditure of thesemassivesums.

Knowing Guyana as we do,thisshouldbeacampaign ledbytheOppositionandthe Civil Society to see that this tier of monitors is neither venal nor party political sycophants. To some of my friends who feel that such advent is unlikely to bear fruit I’llremindthemofthis old Latin Proverb “ Vox Populi,VoxDei”-Thevoice of the People is theVoice of God. Let us shatter to bits the evil, corruption and lowering of standards threatening our beloved Guyana.

Regards, HamiltonGreen Elder

Removing the seeds of doubt in

DEAREDITOR,

There aren’t many citizensthatwouldbeableto conceptualise ‘The Green Revolution’, a period of technology transfer initiatives that enabled the high productivity of crops through various adapted measures like the increased area under farming, double cropping:plantingtwocrops rather than one annually, adoption of a high-yield variety of seeds, highly increased use of inorganic fertilizersandpesticides,and improved drainage and irrigation among other farmingtechniques.

Paradoxically, the pervasive use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides has been known to have a negative impact on the ecosystem and the physical well-being of our human resources.

the agricultural sector

Therefore, it behooves the farmers to apply this formula with a great deal of common sense and wisdom toquellthedegreeofadverse counter-production.

Earlier this month, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) advised farmers that while implementing protective measures for their rice crop, they must simultaneously endeavor to protect the European market by complying with the Maximum Residue Limits (MRL)forvariouspesticides at different levels set by the E u r o p e a n U n i o n Notwithstanding, the advisory contained a terse statement on the impact of pesticides on the ecosystem that would have missed the averagereader Thoughtheadvisorywas timely, the GRDB appeared

to be more consumed with securingtheEUmarketthan preservingtheecosystemfor thegoodofhumanity

Thebrightsideoftheuse of this strategy is that ever since Guyana embraced the ‘Green Revolution’ also known as the ‘Third Agriculture Revolution,’ in thelate1980s,therehasbeen an exponential growth of agriculturalproduction.

The GRDB warned that pesticide residue can possibly remain in rice grains and eventually pose a seriousthreattobiodiversity andhumanhealth.

What the GRDB did not state is that if the MRL is above the EU’s threshold, there may be further debilitating impacts on biodiversity and promote adverse human health risks inGuyana.

Notwithstanding, the

reluctanceoftheGRDBand other relevant agencies to p r o v i d e p e r t i n e n t information; cursory observation of the impact of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides offers mixed reviews.Mostinterestedlyis the negative impact of pesticides on the rice industry

The average farmer does notfollowtheintegratedpest management (IPM) guidelines. Consequently, a variety of pesticides are introducedintothefields.In some areas, inorganic weedicides are also indiscriminately used on landandwatertocontrolthe growthofweeds. These chemicals have devastating effects on the ecosystem For example, coot,anaquaticbirdthatwas commoninthepaddyfields, (Continuedonpage6)

IcommendChairmanSeeramforthe maturity,strength,andclasshedisplayed inhisresponsetothiscrassact

DEAREDITOR,

Kindly allow me to extend Republican Greetings to you, your team and by extension my Guyanese brothers and sisters This Republic observance was made possible by the Late LFS Burnham who in February 1970, led Guyana to Republicanstatus.

Thisyear’sthemeforthe fifty-third anniversary celebration is “Mixing and Mashing as One Guyana.” Editor,Ihavestatedthenand will say again that the pushing of this ‘One Guyana’ concept is not workingforallGuyana,only a few, who are closely affiliated to the PPP/C regime The question I continue to ask myself, is why is the regime no longer comfortable with our inclusive National Motto, “One people, One nation, Onedestiny”?

Whatisworrying,isthat some Guyanese are getting caught up with this FARCE of a ‘One Guyana’, when

every day the regime expressesblatantdisdainfor somesectionsofthesociety Editor,Iamdisgusted!There is a video in circulation, which exposed the conduct of Regional Executive Officer, Mr Donald Gajraj of the Demerara/Mahaica Region, towards Chairman of the Demerara/Mahaica Region, Mr Daniel Seeram. At the Region’s Republic Anniversary celebration on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, the microphone was rudely and aggressively pulled from the hand of the Regional Chairman This unprofessional and disrespectfulactwasdonein the presence of other regional officials, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony,schoolchildrenand specialinviteesincludingthe media.

It is now almost three years since the PPP/C government was installed and throughout this time their discrimination, lack of inclusion and blatant acts of racism have been the

Is the IDPADA-G a political organisation?

DEAREDITOR,

government.

highlights of their time in office Ancient Moral Philosopher, Socrates, stated, “To understand ethics, one must distinguish good from evil, right from wrong, and to establish that, you must dig deep into the crevices of the human mind.” I can say without successful contradiction, that the PPP/C government hasdistanceditselffromthis philosophy Their ‘One Guyana’themeismerelythe theme of their propaganda media tour It bears no resemblancetounity

I conclude by reiterating that the attitude and action by the REO, DemeraraMahaicaRegiontowardsthe Regional Chairman was WRONG and call on the Regiontotakethenecessary action I commend Chairman Seeram for the maturity, strength, and class he displayed in his response to this crass act. Well done ChairmanSeeram.

Yourssincerely,

AnnetteFerguson MemberofParliament

The pointed question is asked, is the IDPADA-G a political organisation? I am puttingforwardthequestion to the directors of this organisation I further question, what are the primary functions of this organisation or grouping, whateveryouwouldwantto call it? Is this grouping meant to be what the name suggests, that is, an organisation that receives public funds earmarked to benefit or uplift peoples of African descent? Which is it?

Ifitisanorganisationfor Coloured Peoples, then it behoovesustobelievethatit should be a philanthropic organisation,oranapolitical non-profit, organisation that utilise donated assets and income to provide social, useful services of a specific race.

An institution such as this operates for specific purposes to augment or help intheaffairsofthosepeoples of African descent, which means that it is also exempt from taxes from central

Seeingitisapublicnonprofitorganisationandauser ofpublicfundsitmeansthat allworkdoneforandbythis organisation must be publicly accounted for And herein lies the problem, when questions are asked of their stewardship, what the public gets in return is a political hopscotch of reasons why they cannot legally fulfill the requirements of their responsibilities.

Such political verbiage would lead anyone to the conclusion that there are many flaws associated with this institution. From its inceptionin2018therearea numberofglaringanomalies that can be attributed to this organization.

F r o m i t s e a r l y beginnings, the foundation and leadership has much to bedesired,itisheadedbyan active political figure heavily aligned to the PNC/APNU Party This is a definitenowhenitcomesto leadership of a supposedly apolitical organisation. As such there is no doubt the

intentions of the likes of a Vincent Alexander being installedthere.Soonafterthe 2020 elections, The Chairman of IDPADA-G wrotetoTheChairwomanof CARICOM to come to Guyana to look into the resultsofthatelection.Prime Minister Mia Mottley then gathered five prime ministersofCARICOMwho came to Guyana to quell the dispute.

But before I speak to the coming together of five Prime Ministers of CARICOM, permit me to peruse certain excerpts of Alexander’s letter In his diatribe, “He beseeched them to look beyond elections.”

The PNC, or its extension IDPADA-G are representativesofTheBlack RaceinGuyana,andIdonot wantthemtocomeremotely close to anything Black or representationofTheRace.I must make this point abundantly clear! I think I am not alone in this call as I restmycase.

Respectfully,

Neil Adams

There are many lessons to learn from the Swiss

DEAREDITOR,

The conservative Swiss economy has done exceptionally well during the current financial crisis that has hurt world markets with double digit inflationarypressures.

There are many lessons the current administration canlearnfromtakingaclose look at what has been working well in the Swiss economy DuetotheSwiss’ import exposure they have pursued a strong currency policy,whichhasmadetheir currency a safe haven for investors.

Atlessthan4%inflation, which is the highest level it has been at in decades, their currency has gained buying power vs. the US dollar and the Euro whose inflation ratesaresignificantlyhigher

OurpegtotheUSdollar has served us well for decades, but we must now consider increasing our exposure to Swiss Francs in our currency reserves, and we must pursue a Swiss Francpegasweincreaseour GDPpercapitaandshiftour economic model to one of value added products. This brings me to the second key element of the Swiss economy They have created many successful luxury brands that are resilient to price pressures. These value added products remove the risks associated with a highly dependent commodity market. Guyana must also seize the

Int’l Energy Conference & Expo hails Scotiabank Guyana participation

DEAREDITOR,

opportunity to produce high value items such as jewelry instead of exporting the diamonds and gold at the commodity level. Similar to thetraininginweldingthatis being pushed in support of the oil industry, we need to also create courses in jewelry design and jewelry making so as the extract more value from our gold anddiamondresources. His Excellency has charted a course for home ownershipandfoodsecurity There is however an opportunity to further strengthen the Guyanese Family

Making available larger lots with adjacent agricultural land will allow families to not only produce items for an area of focused exports where we can attain acompetitiveadvantage,but itwillalsoalloweachfamily to provide land upon which futuregenerationsmaybuild andstrengthentheirfamily’s legacy The production of organic food products is a ripeopportunitythatGuyana is well positioned to take advantageofduetothelarge amounts of virgin land and clean water available for agriculture.

We must commit ourselves to its pursuit Strength of commitment is also needed to ensure we have institutions that embrace honesty and integrity in its daily business. This, comrades, is the most important element

in any strategy we pursue to build a strong economy. Corruption and corrupt officials must be removed from the Guyanese way of dealing with each other, and once removed it should never be given the opportunity to take root again in our society Unless thisisdone,thetruevalueof our products will not be achieved.

Business relationships arebuiltontrustandwithout it, even if you have the best products whether it be for ecotourism or for the export market,buyersandinvestors will look elsewhere to do business.

The eradication of corruptionalsogoeshandin hand with zero tolerance for crime. By achieving best in class personal safety levels for our citizens, our country will also attract high net worth immigrants whose presence will help sustain our economy and help the country regain a global reputation for hospitality andahighqualityoflife.

O u r n a t i o n a l developmentstrategywould benefit from incorporating these fundamental elements of economic development, which if successfully pursued will provide a stronger financial foundationforallGuyanese.

Bestregards,

Mr.JamilChanglee Chairman

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

TheInternationalEnergy Conference and Expo is hailing the exemplary contribution from

Scotiabank Guyana as the lone financial institution to sponsor the Conference and Expo this year Scotiabank Guyana came on board the eventasasilversponsor

Kurt Baboolall, Chief Executive Officer of the IECEG 2023 said “The aforementioned is fully alignedwithoursecretariat’s and government’s vision, as such, we are happy that Scotiabank chose to participate at this year’s ConferenceandExpo.

Their participation is evidence of their continuous contribution to Guyana’s economy and support of driving the energy conversationforward.

The Secretariat looks forward to their long-term support and applauds their decision to be the first Bank

in Guyana to take a significant position sponsor.”

TheBankhasoperatedin Guyanaforover55yearsand has four branches strategically placed throughout the country Scotiabank continues to offer a complete range of retail and commercial banking services, including electronic cash management andmerchantservices.

The Bank also offers business banking services to small and medium-sized enterprises Ambica Bissessar-CountryManager (Ag.), Scotiabank Guyana indicated “We were pleased to be a part of this year’s ConferenceandExpo.

Itwasagreatopportunity for us to connect with customers face-to-face, and establish new relationships with the business community

We remain committed to providingthehighestlevelof

customer service here in Guyana and are actively working on introducing someenhancedproductsand services,includinganewand improveduserexperienceon ScotiaOnlineBanking.”

Scotiabank Guyana joined a range of other local companies that have signed on for the second edition of the Conference and Expo whichincludedExxonMobil Guyana, GTT Business Solutions,HessCorporation, CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, and Digicel Business. The Conference and Expo was ableto garner support from the Guyana Office for Investment (GOI N V E S T ) a n d t h e GovernmentofGuyana.

The event attracted over 30 sponsors, almost 200 exhibitorsandsawover1000 attendees to the Conference andExpodaily Regards, Tagman Media for IECEG2023

Removing the seeds of doubt in...

Frompage4 completelydisappeared,and likewise, there is a significant decrease in freshwaterfishintrenchesin areaswherericeisgrown.

I r o n i c a l l y, t h e applicationofagrochemicals has contributed to both economic growth and environmentalstress.

This poses a small challenge and we must somehowcreateabalanceto ensure that economic gains are not erased by unsafe agriculture practices and crophusbandry

It is incumbent upon the central government to establish and enforce clear IPM guidelines throughout

the agriculture sector The MRLofpesticidesshouldbe established for all grains, ground provisions, fruits, and vegetables sold in our markets since too many of our farmers are only interestedineconomicgains while neglecting the basic tenets of food safety Based on the available evidence, one can reasonably assume that the scarcity of freshwater fish is indicative ofwaterandsoilpollutionin the rice cultivation zones. Undoubtedly, there is a high presence of pesticide and weedicide residue in these communitieswhichoughtto have prompted the relevant authoritytourgentlyconduct

astudyontheuseandimpact of agrochemicals on the e n v i r o n m e n t Agrochemicals are responsible for the predatorprey imbalance we are experiencing in the agriculturesector As a counter-productive strategy, rice farmers must relentlessly combat paddy buginfestationineverycrop season. Thesefarmersmust alsoenforcetherequirement of appropriate protective apparel during these exercises in order to counteract exposure to a litany of diseases and other healthissues.

As a nation, ensuring food security will be an arduousendeavorshouldwe fail to address the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals and other pertinentissues.Further,our commitment to providing food security to the CARICOM community while satisfying the ‘Sustainable Development Goal # 2,’ ending hunger through improved nutrition, while promoting sustainable agriculture will be challenged.

The custodians of the agricultural community, farmersincollaborationwith officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, must endeavor toremovethe‘seedofdoubt’ planted within the agriculturalsector

Sincerelyyours, LelonSaul

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HOW OIL COMPANIES CHEAT - PART IV

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Massive marketing fees is a big rip-off umbrella.

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It is a soft expense with a hard, sharp edge.

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Tens of millions in marketing expenses that add up.

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Countries don’t know what they are paying for.

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Countries like Guyana don’t care, given our politicians.

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Oil companies romp, we get jumped.

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We either get smart, or we will be made into suckers.

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Golden Grove manslaughter accused granted $500,000 bail

Thirty year-old Aquiella

AbramswasonTuesday released on $500,000 bailonchargeofmanslaughter The womanappearedbeforeMagistrate FabayoAzoreattheCoveandJohn Magistrates’Court

In October 2022, Abrams stabbed and killed her reputed husbandMichaelWilson.

The woman had initially appeared before Magistrate Azore when she was charged with Wilson’s murder, which occurred during a domestic dispute at their Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara(ECD)home

However,basedontheDirector of Public Prosecution’s, the prosecutor withdrew the murder charge and instituted the lesser countofmanslaughter As aresult, attorney, Tuanna Hardy applied

for the woman to be granted her pre-trialliberty Hardy said that her client was involved in an altercation with her partner which resulted in her sustaininginjuriestoherbody

She said Abrams sustained three stab wounds to her stomach withabrokenbottleandwhilethere

were reports that the deceased had multiple stab wounds, the post mortemsaidthathesustainedonly one stab wound Hardy argued too that manslaughter isabailable offence.

Afterconsiderationofthefacts of the case and the lawyer’s submission, Magistrate Azore granted Abrams, who gave the court her address as Onion Field, La Bonne Intention (LBI), ECD, bailinthesumof$500,000

The young woman who was said to unemployed at the time of her arrest was remanded to prison sinceOctober14,2022.

ItwasreportedthatonOctober 10,2022,atLot109SidelineDam, Golden Grove, ECD, she stabbed 40-year-oldMichaelWilsontwice to his abdomen causing him to die

According to the Police, the coupleoftenhaddomesticdisputes over allegations of infidelity levelled against the woman by her reputed husband. This, according to Police, had previously led to physical and verbal abuse against thewoman

Investigatorssaidduringoneof

their arguments, the woman told the man that she was ending their relationship and would be moving backintoherparents’home

However, on the day in question, the couple had another argument as the woman was packing her belongings to move out of the house Police said the man armed himself with a knife and assaulted the woman, causing her to receive injuries to herforearm

The woman eventually succeededindisarmingWilsonand reportedly dealt him two stabs to hisabdomen.

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) were summoned and the man was taken totheGeorgetownPublicHospital where he died whilst receiving treatment.

DEAD: Michael Wilson

CHARGED: Aquiella Abrams

THE OPPOSITION CAN ATTEND BUT NOT SPEAK AT NATIONAL DAY EVENTS

Guyana’s political system is fundamentally patterned after the Westminstersystem.Despite G u y a n a h a v i n g a Presidential system, the political system of the country is still based on the British Westminster system where the government rules andtheOppositionopposes.

This means that it is the g o v e r n m e n t w h o administers the country In so doing, there are certain norms and protocols which attend to the hosting of national events such as Independence and Republic Dayanniversaries.

Foreign governments deal with governments, not the Opposition When foreigndignitariesvisit,they are met at the airport by government officials. It is not the practice or the protocol for the visiting dignitary to be met by members of the Opposition and such members have no claim to be present or to participate in the receiving line.

The visiting dignitary may request to pay a visit to theLeaderoftheOpposition. But such a visit does not constitutepartoftheofficial activitiesassociatedwiththe Visit.

This does not mean that the Opposition is relegated

tobeingapoliticalspectator

InaWestminstersystem,the Opposition has its role. Its role is to scrutinize and question the actions of government, to hold it

accountable, offer alternatives to government policies and to present itself

a s a n a l t e r n a t i v e government-in-waiting This roleisprimarilyexercisedin the legislative assemblies and also in the media and at public meetings but not at national commemorative events.

When there are national events, these are addressed bygovernmentofficials.For example, the annual flagraising ceremonies associated with Republic Day, are usually addressed by the high government functionaries, not a member oftheOpposition. It would be highly unusual for an Opposition politician to be asked to address such a gathering. Nationalobservancesshould not become a partisan platform and for this reason while members of the Oppositionmaybeinvitedto the event, they are never asked to address the occasion. This is solely the government’sprerogative.

Desmond Hoyte, as Leader of the Opposition, oncewalkedoutofanational

Dem Boys Seh...

event held at the Cultural Center, because he felt Dr Jagan was being partisan in his comments It is noteworthy that Hoyte did notinvokeanyclaimedright to respond at the event. He chose to leave instead. He understoodprotocol.

Atarecentregionalflagraisingceremony,anelected regionalofficialattemptedto have an Opposition politician address the event. This was rightly rebuffed because this should never happen An Opposition politician should not be asked to do this because it increases the chances of comments being made which do not reflect the government’s position or policies.

Barbados recently became a Republic. And it opted to do so at a national observance It was a momentous announcement. But suppose the Opposition hadbeeninvitedtothatevent and opted to criticize the decision. This would have been an embarrassment to the government This illustrates why Opposition leaders can be invited to national day events but should not be allowed to addressthegatherings.

When Guyana observed its 50th Independence anniversary,thegovernment

Nuff people want adopt de baby!

Was a sad situation! Somebody call de policeandalertthemtosomething.Whende policecheckdemfindagiftbag,withanew born baby inside. De reports seh de baby look like it just born because it still had de afterbirth.

Destorybussyesterdayandisdetalkof dewholecountry Whatcouldforceamother to abandon she baby? We don’t know It happen before here and other parts of de world.AndithappenyesterdayinGuyana.

Deauthoritiessayhowdemlookingfuh de mother With DNA testing and good investigation, dem should be able to positively identify de mooma. But what aboutthepoopa?Whereisheandhowcome henahaskingfuhdebaby?.

Nuffwomenwantdebaby Demsehdem gan adopt de baby Women who could mek baby asking fuh de baby Women who pass birth-making age also want de baby Everybody feel sorry fuh de baby and want toadoptdebaby

But dere is no love like a mother’s love and de best person fuh have de baby is de mother Wenahknowwahcauseshefuhdo what she did but it could not be an easy decision.Weneedtofindoutwhathelpshe needsandgiveherdathelp.

All of dem wah lining up fuh adopt de babyshouldseehowtheycanhelpdemother sodatshebabycangrowupcomfortablein delovingandprotectivecareofdemother

Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

opt

ite the Opposition Members of Parliament to the main ceremony held at Durban Park. The Opposition, led then by Bharrat Jagdeo, decidedtoattendbecauseof the significance of the occasion. When they turned up, all together, they were humiliatedbyseatsnotbeing provided for them They were forced to stand in the aisle. They therefore left, and rightly so. They were invited to attend but certainly not to make any speeches. This is the correct protocol.

Lastyear,theOpposition was not invited to the Republic Day flag raising

ceremony The government admitted that this was a mistake. It does not mean that having invited the Opposition, they would attendbutatleasttheLeader of the Opposition should be invited.

When Guyana became

Independent, Forbes

Burnham was Prime Minister His government invitedthethenLeaderofthe Opposition to the flagraising ceremony in the NationalPark.Buttherewas nowaythattheLeaderofthe Oppositionwouldhavebeen allowed to speak at that event.

It was therefore highly irregular for an Opposition

politiciantohavebeenasked to make remarks at a flagraising ceremony held in honourofthe53rdRepublic anniversary This should neverhavehappened.

(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.)

Eccles resident caught redhanded trying to sell house lot

Thirty-year-old Andre Defreitas, a resident of Lot 159 Cow Pen Street, Eccles, East Bank Demerara(EBD),wasonTuesdayarrestedafterhe was caught in a sting operation collecting money underthepretextthathewasabletosecureahouse lotforsomeone.

Defreitas, who collected $100,000 in marked money,wasarrestedonRegentStreetforobtaining money by false pretense. The man alleged that he hasacontactattheMinistryofHousingthatcould assisthimingettingahouselot.

KaieteurNewsunderstandsthatthe30-year-old

man claimed to be the owner of a company called ‘PrimeInvestments’.

Followinghisarrest,Defreitaswastakentothe Brickdam Police Station where he is being questionedbylawenforcementauthorities.

Investigationsintothematterareongoing.

Police, Child Care Agency trying to locate mother of newborn abandoned at Recess, Mahaicony

TheGuyanaPoliceForce (GPF) and the Child Care and Protection Agency are working together to locate the mother of the newborn baby found abandoned at the

Recess, Mahaicony seaside on Monday

Police in a statement said that acting on information received, ranks from the Mahaicony Police Station went to Recess where a

group of persons were seen gatheredatanareabytheseaside. One of the officers, who visited the area, saw the baby and readily picked him up and wrapped him in a towel The

baby’s ‘after-birth’ was still attached and he was found in a multi-colouredgiftbag

The infant was taken to the Mahaicony Public Hospital where he was examined by a Doctor on

duty who reported that the child is ingoodhealth.Thebabyhassince been admitted to the hospital’s maternity ward and is under observation.

Investigationsarecontinuing.

ExxonMobil Corporation’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) will be hosting public consultations today on its fifth development project at the Uaru field in the Stabroek Block.ThissessionwillbeheldattheUmana Yanafrom17:00hrs.

The Uaru project is expected to produce over 1.3 billion barrels of oil over a 20 year period and is expected to cost Guyana over GY$2.6T (US$12B). The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) together with the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project is with the Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) for evaluationand recommendations.

Kaieteur News understands that face-tofacesessionswillbeheldwithinformationon the project, the environmental authorization processandthefindingsoftheassessmentto supportpublicawareness.

In an invited comment, Kaieteur News

ExxonMobil holding public consultations on 5th project today at Umana Yana Y

cartoffthenation’soilresources.

“Weneedtoknowwhatisthereforuson everybarrel.Soguysyouneedtogothereat 5pmtodayandmakeyourdemands.Thereis

an old saying that goes: don’t cry tomorrow when you didn’t do anything yesterday to safeguard and protect your future,” the KN Publisherconcluded.

Publisher, Glenn Lall urged all citizens to attend and participate. He said the meeting offersallstakeholderstheopportunitytoask questions about the environmental safeguardsinplacefortheprojectsuchasfull coverageinsurance.

“AllGuyaneseshouldturnupandhavea sayastowhatwewanttoseewiththisproject such as ring fencing, full environmental protection, more royalties and profits, decommissioning costs being under our control.Thosearethethingsweneedtohear about.Weneedtohearwhowillcompensate the fishermen, their families and all of Guyana with the destruction of our seafood industry…,”thebusinessmanstated.

Hesaidthenationneedstoknowifthere isanoilspillandtheregionisaffected,who willprovidecompensation.

Lall said the foregoing, among other issues, is what Exxon needs to address and not how many tankers would be coming to

No-Confidence Motion passed against Region #4 REO

The Region Four Regional Democratic Council (RDC) on Tuesday successfully passed a No-Confidence Motion against itsClerkofCouncilandRegional Executive Officer (REO) Donald Gajraj.

Following the decision at the statutory meeting, the Council informed Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall of the resolution and requested thathetakethenecessaryactions.

In its resolution, the Council listed several reasons why they havenoconfidenceinGajraj.

According to a copy of the resolution seen by this publication, the REO refused to implement multiple directives, motions,anddecisionspassedby the Regional Democratic Council.

It was stated too that Gajraj, refused to submit requests for virements and program changes to the Regional Finance Committee as directed by Council, and refuses to present

detailed financial reports of Agency 74 in accordance with councildirectives.

Notably,itwasalsostatedthat the REO refused to send the Bill of Quantities, Contract Copies, and Weekly Progress Reports to the Works Committee and approvespaymentstocontractors without Works Committee review

Also listed was the recent

incident at the RDC’s Flag Raising Ceremony Kaieteur Newshadreportedthatitwashigh drama at the Flag Raising Ceremony on Wednesday, February 22, when the REO grabbed the microphone from RegionFourRegionalChairman, DanielSeeraminabidtostopan impromptuspeechbyOpposition Member of Parliament (MP), CatherineHughes.

A copy of the letter that was sent to Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall

Regional Executive Officer (REO), Donald Gajraj as he was about to grab the microphone from the Regional Chairman, Daniel Seeram

CDC, Health Ministry grilled at PAC over missing details in COVID-19 supplies contracts

Members of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) faced a series of questions when they appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday The questions were in relation to nine contracts that were highlightedinaperformance audit.

PAC member and Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Gail Teixeiraraisedtheissuewith CDC and a team from the MinistryofHealthwhowere present at the meeting Teixeira noted that key information was missing from the CDC contracts set for the delivery of COVID19supplies.

Shepointedout,“WhatI find strange is that contracts weredonethatdidnotabide with the procurement laws these contracts are missing with key elements includingdatefordelivery,a

performancedateandsoon. There were no penalty clauses. ” Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health Malcolm Watkins sought to answer the question.

He said, “The general informationthatwegotfrom the persons that managed thisperiodisthatbecauseof the circumstances of the COVID-19 period, they

were forced to be lenient withthedeliveryperiods.”

Teixeira noted that nonetheless that this issue being raised by the Auditor General in the report had to do with why the contracts lacked key details. The Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs noted t h a t t h e N a t i o n a l Procurement and Tender Administration Board

(NPTAB) has standard guidelines for sourcing goods.Assuch,shesaidshe finds it strange that documents were done in a manner that could result in wideprocurementlosses.

Teixeira also flagged the late and non-delivery delivery of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) even though, large sumsofmoneywaspaidfor

them. Watkins responded, “wecannotfullysaythatthe pandemic was only reason for the late delivery of the suppliesatdifferenttimesin the pandemic there were someotherchallenges…”

Also in response to the question, CDC Director, Colonel Ret’d Nazrul Hussain noted there was a global shortage in PPE which affected the supply

chainlocally.Pressedonthe issueastowhythecontracts lacked key details, the CDC said he could not give an exact reason except that it couldbeanoversightbythe staff in preparing the documents. He noted that whenhetookovertheCDC, hispredecessoraswellasthe other accounting staffers who would have drafted the contractslefttheagency TheCDCwaspreviously investigated by the Audit OfficeofGuyanainanaudit t h a t f l a g g e d mismanagement of the distribution of COVID-19 supplies. Focusing on the period March to August 2020, the Audit Office had investigated the more than $1billionspentbythePublic Health Ministry and the CDC to buy COVID-19 equipmentandsupplies. For instance, Auditor GeneralDeodatSharmahad Continuedonpage29

The CDC panel and Ministry of Health team before the PAC on Monday

Law places no restrictions on money laundering convicts obtaining oil licences – Report

Guyana’s oil laws apparently place no restriction on money laundering convicts obtaining oil licences. In fact, the law does not require that convictions against companies or persons applying makesuchdisclosures.

Financial Action Task Force (FATF)whichrequiresallcountries on an ongoing basis, to identify, assess,andunderstandtheirmoney laundering and terrorist financing risks.

specificallyasitpertainstomoney laundering. The report states that Guyana’s oil laws are not only outdatedandweakbutofferseveral loopholesforabusebyschemers.

(NRA) Report

This loophole was highlighted in the country’s second Money Laundering/ Terrorist Financing (ML/ TF) National Risk Assessment

AccordingtoAttorneyGeneraland Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall SC, the NRA report was done to ensure compliance with international obligations of the

The exercise had commenced in December 2019 and was conducted by a Working Group (WG) of over 70 persons representing public and private sector agencies in Guyana. The report was made available for publicperusalonOctober31,2022.

In that document, it highlights that the oil and gas industry is vulnerable to corrupt actors,

In terms of restriction to the grantoflicence,thereportsaysthe following: “Section 9 of the (Petroleum) Act prohibits the issuance of a licence to an individual,unlessthatpersonisa citizenofGuyana;andtoabody orpersons,unlessitisacompany or corporation. There seems not to be any restriction by the Act against persons or corporate entities which may be convicted

of criminal offences, especially those offences which are related to ML/TF. Also, there is no

provision in the Act for the disclosureofsuchconvictionsif Continued on page 23

Edghill in Suriname to advance discussion on Corentyne River Bridge

Approval for Exxon’s 5th oil project only a formality for us -FPSOBuilder

Takeshi Kanamori, President and Chief Executive Officer of MODEC

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill in Suriname with the Dutch Minister of Public Works (OW), Dr. Riad Nurmohamed (Dagblad Suriname photo)

MinisterofPublicWorks,JuanEdghillis currentlyinSurinameforaplannedmeeting withhiscounterpart,Dr RiadNurmohamed, in relation to the proposed Corentyne River Bridge.

According to the Ministry of Public Works Facebook page, Edghill landed in Suriname on Monday Minister Edghill is accompanied by his Ministry’s Chief Transport Planning Officer, Patrick Thompson.

The Corentyne River Bridge, which is a project being embarked on by both the Governments of Guyana and Suriname,will be constructed using the Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Maintain (DBFOM) model.

This means that the company that will buildthebridgemusttakecareofthedesign, construction, financing, operation and maintenanceofthebridge. Itwillbedonein a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

The Corentyne River Bridge project involvestheconstructionoftwobridgesand a road across Long Island from Guyana to Suriname The bridge, will span the Corentyne River from South Drain in Suriname to Moleson Creek in Guyana, and isslatedtohavealifespanof100years.

DagbladSurinamereportedthatMinister Dr Nurmohamed previously stated: “For a good future, it is of paramount importance that you take the right steps early on. The bridgebetweenSurinameandGuyanaispart ofabroaderdevelopmentvision.

Itispartofthelargeinfrastructuralplans of the Santokhi-Brunswijk government, which will be implemented structurally and planned. Difficult times don’t always last. The outlook for Suriname is particularly positive. In that context, the bridge over the CorentyneRiverwillplayaprominentrolein thejoint,sustainabledevelopmentofthetwo countries.

The positive spin-off effects that such a project will entail are enormous: employment,amajorboosttoregionaltrade and industry, stimulus for Surinamese companiesandalargesalesmarket.Lastbut not least, the tourism industry will get a big boost.All this indicates that the bridge over theCorentyneRiverwillnotonlyconnectour twocountries,butalsothepathtothegolden futurethatwewillallbuild.”

Back in May 2022, Minister Edghill, alongside Suriname’s Minister, Dr Nurmohamed, inked the contract for the feasibilitystudyanddesignofthebridgewith consultancyfirm,WSPCaribbeanLimited,a TrinidadianFirm.Thecontractwasawarded to the Trinidadian firm to the tune of US$2 million.

The PublicWorks Ministry reported that the bridge is one of the first agreements betweenPresident,IrfaanAliandSuriname’s President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, with both Heads previously underscoring the critical role the bridge across the Corentyne River would play in advancing cooperation, creatingmoreopportunitiesfordevelopment forbothcountries.

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) ExxonMobil Guyana—is yet to make a formal announcement on a Final Investment Decision (FID) and the Guyana Government is also still to provide relevant approvals fortheUarudevelopmentin theStabroekBlockbutthisis beingseenasaformality,by at least one top tier contractor TheUarudevelopmentis thefifthproposedoilfieldto bedevelopedintheStabroek Block by ExxonMobil Guyana as the operator It has since contracted JapaneseFloaterSpecialists, MODEC to build out the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel for that oil field According to reports on M o n d a y b y ‘upstreamonline, ’ the Japanese company has already selected a Chinese Contractor for key topside worksonthevessel.

Additionally, MODEC has also moved to secure yard space for building the topside modules for the FPSO to be deployed. t was notedthattheUSsupermajor is expected to make its FID bytheendofthefirstquarter of this year To this end, it wasreportedthatMODECis already in possession of Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) studies, for the FPSO and that the project’s “fundamentals are so strong, that sanction by ExxonMobilanditspartners on the prolific Stabroek Blockareseenasaformality once regulatory approvals areinplace.”

The Japanese company had first announced the FEED Contract in November last, when it had inked the agreement with ExxonMobiltobuildoutthe fifthFPSO.

Atthetime,thecompany said, the FEED contract award relates to the initial funding by ExxonMobil’s

subsidiary,EssoExploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), to begin FEED activities related to the FPSO design and to secure the second hull for FPSOservice.

Itdidnotethatfollowing FEED and subject to government approvals in Guyana of the development plan, project sanction i n c l u d i n g F I D b y ExxonMobil, and EEPGL’s release of the second phase (EPCI) of work, MODEC is expected to construct the FPSOandinstallinGuyana.

MODEC said, it is also anticipatedthatthecompany would operate the FPSO for an initial duration of 10 years,withpotentialoptions forcontinuation.

According to MODEC, theFPSOwillbedesignedto produce 250,000 barrels of oil per day, will have Associated Gas treatment capacityof540millioncubic feetperdayandwater

Continuedonpage29

An artist impression of the bridge across the Corentyne River

Surveys in Demerara River approved by EPA for pipeline works -ExxonMobil

ExxonMobil, through its operator Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) recently embarked on a series of surveys offshore Guyana, but even though these could disrupt fish habitats, there was no s i g h t i n g o f a n E n v i r o n m e n t a l

Authorization by the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA).

The matter was flagged by environmental activist, Janette Bulkhan who urged government to address the situation urgently, given the potential dangers to fishermen’slivelihoods.

Exploration and

Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), commonly referred to as ExxonMobil Guyana, in an invited comment clarified on Tuesdaythatthesurveysare being conducted for the naturalgaspipelinethatwill be used to transport the resource onshore, from the Liza Fields in the Stabroek Block off the country’s coast. A Permit has already been granted to facilitate theseactivities.

ExxonMobil Guyana’s Media Advisor, Kwesi Isles explained, “The surveys, being conducted by EEPGL’s contractor, Van Oord as part of the Gas-toEnergy project, are covered b y t h e a p p r o v e d Environmental Impact

Assessment and the

E n v i r o n m e n t a l

Authorisation EEPGL received via the EPApermit which was issued on Nov 25, 2022. The permit is publicly available on the EPAwebsite.”

I n J u l y 2 0 2 2 , ExxonMobil awarded a contracttoSubsea7andVan Oord, two international

companies, to assist in the pipeline project. The scope covers the project management, engineering, and installation of approximately 190 kilometres of pipeline, with an associated shallow water portion and onshore approach.

Meanwhile, the Permit issued to the operator states

at Section 15 “The Permit Holder shall ensure that the pipeline and NGL (Natural Gas Liquids) Plant constructionandinstallation are guided by geotechnical studies.”

T h e M a r i t i m e Administration Department (MARAD)inapublicnotice published in the daily newspapers advised that on February 24, 2023, EEPGL w i l l c o m m e n c e a g e o t e c h n i c a l a n d geophysical survey in the vicinity of the Demerara Main Ship Channel and off theWest Coast of Demerara in the vicinity of Plantation Best.

According to the notice, “The survey site is situated approximately 01 05 nautical miles (1 96 kilometers) off the Coast of Guyana, and covers an area of 70 08 square nautical miles (240 40 square kilometers.”

The exercise scheduled to wrap up on November 1, 2023. This notice did not indicate the purpose of the surveys.

Research done by this newspaper indicates that a geotechnical survey involvestestingthephysical properties of the soil, to provide recommendations forfoundationrequirements, excavation stability, drainageandburiedconcrete design.

It would be apposite to note that the survey process involves drilling several boreholes from which samples are collected and thentakenforanalysis.

Ageophysical survey on the other hand involves measuring the physical properties of the seabed and determining the presence of any feature or change in a materialcomposition.

In another notice, MARAD said EEPGL is conducting a ‘Multibeam Hydrographic Survey’ approximately 08.27 nautical miles (15.32 kilometers) off the Coast of Guyana. The site covers an area of 802 44 square nautical miles (2752 30 squarekilometers).

T h e a c t i v i t i e s commencedonFebruary23, 2023andaresettoconclude onJuly31,2023.

A Multibeam survey is done to gather detailed information about the features on the seabed by measuring multiple depths from a single transducer arrayathighresolution.This process produces is a highly accurate 3D picture of the seafloor

Bulkhan highlighted her concerns regarding the offshore works in a letter to thisnewspaperpublishedon theFebruary28,2023,since therewasnonoticefromthe EPA pertaining to the

ongoing activities, even though they could have potentially impact the environment.

In her letter she said, “The Environmental Protection Agency has an obligation under the EP (Environmental Protection) Act 1996 to require an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for such potential disturbance of the populationsoffishonwhich our fishermen depend and which contribute greatly to the protein in the diet of coastlanders.”

According to the Environmental Protection Act, each project to be pursued that will affect the environment must be subjected to the approval of theEPA.

An application must be madetotheEPA,whichthen triggers the screening process, where officers of the regulatory body assess the likely impacts on the environment and human health.

The decision on whether an EIA is required is then published by the regulator which then activates a comments period in which the public can oppose this decision.

There was however no such engagement or notices onthepartoftheEPA,since theactivitiesarecateredtoin thePermitalreadygranted.

FI.WR.60s 16M Georgetown Clonbrook Holm

Map showing the location of the survey sites in the Demerara River (highlighted in red)

Natural Gas concerns among key reasons for Suriname’s delayed oil production - TotalEnergies

Neighbouring Suriname hasbeentoutedasanoiland gas producer in the coming years but despite the

discoveryofsome6.5billion barrelsofoil,initsBlock58 offshorefield,theamountof Natural Gas being

discovered in addition to othercomplications,suchas amismatchinunderstanding its surveys has led to

repeated delays in production.

One such operator in Suriname TotalEnergies

—recently reported a string of dry wells and subcommercial discoveries in Block 58, which sparked

considerableconcernforthe company Among the most recent was the August 2022 announcement that the Dikkop wildcat well had struck water-bearing sandstonebuthadtocapand abandon it That was followed by Awari exploration well drilled in the northwest of Block 58 wheretheoildiscoveredwas deemed to be noncommercial.

At the end of last year, TotalEnergies’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Patrick Pouyanne had said the poor drilling results combined with conflicting seismic data saw the company baulk at proceeding with the Final Investment Decision (FID) during 2022, as originally anticipated, until further testingwasconducted.

“Alack of confidence in understandingthereservoirs discoveredtodate,drivenby a mismatch between what seismic data shows and the results of the delineation wells,”hesaid.

As it relates to Natural Gas concerns, it was noted that in addition to the stated uncertainties there are large amountsofnaturalgasbeing found in many of the discoveries, which complicates things further.

“Environmentallydamaging flaring, which is a major industry producer of carbon emissions, is not an option for emission-sensitive oil companies seeking to significantly reduce damagingcarbondischarges from their operations. For that reason, TotalEnergies, astheoperator,mustfindan alternatemeansofdisposing of the gas produced adding tothecostsandcomplexities associated with developing aswellasoperatingoilfields inBlock58.”theCEOsaid.

It was noted that rising uncertaintyastothevolume of commercially exploitable oil in place and growing complexitiesassociatedwith field development are weighing on whether a FID will be eventually made by TotalEnergiesandApache.

Those concerns are amplified by the fact that will take up to US$10B to bring Block 58 to production, which is a significantinvestmentforan unprovenoffshoreregion.

It should be noted that while Suriname treats with Natural Gas as a reason for concern, Guyana is forging ahead to develop an industrialzoneat

Continuedonpage30

Law places no restriction on money...

From page 18 conviction occurs after a licencewasissued.”

While the law appears deficient in this regard, the report does note that the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has a compliance regulatory programme which is overseen by two of its officers Kaieteur News understands that this programme would serve as part of the due diligence w o r k d o n e b y t h e commission on prospective explorers.

Guyana's existing legislative framework for the oil and gas sector includes the Petroleum Act, Cap 92:01 (1930), which works to regulate the importation,saleandstorage of petroleum; the Petroleum ( E x p l o r a t i o n a n d Production) Act, Cap 65:04

(1986), which deals with the regulation for prospecting andproductionofpetroleum and licensing (PPL); the Petroleum (Production)Act, Cap 65:05 (1939), which vestsinthestatetheproperty in petroleum and natural gas within Guyana; (q) The Petroleum Regulations (1930), the Petroleum ( E x p l o r a t i o n a n d Production) Regulations (1986); and (r) The Petroleum (Prospecting and Winning) Regulations (1967).

Ancillary legislation for the sector comprises of legislation relating to revenue, tax and customs; environmental protection; maritime administration and occupational safety and health(OSH).

The most recent pieces of legislation for the sector are the Natural Resource

Fund Act and the Local ContentAct.

There is also the Petroleum Commission Bill of2017thatwastabledinthe National Assembly but is currently being revised by the government The Petroleum Commission Bill will make provision for the establishment of a Petroleum Commission to serve as a regulatory agency for Guyana's oil and gas industry and related matters. This new regulatory agency will also see several oversight duties for the oil sector moved from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission.

The Government of Guyana, acknowledging that it is important for the sector to be insulated from political interference, has undertaken to table the Bill during13thParliament.

India can cash-in on relinquished portion of Stabroek...

From pag 3 technical teams to advance these discussions. Reuters reportedthatAliwhenasked if Guyana would offer blocks to Indian companies through direct negotiations said, “Apart from the auction, we are discussing G o v e r n m e n t - t oGovernmentpartnershipina number of areas including exploration.”

In the meantime, Opposition party Alliance

For Change (AFC) has signalled its support for the move by government to

engage in bilateral agreementsforitsoilblocks. Thedealsbrokeredhowever, accordingtothepartyleader, Khemraj Ramjattan must be madepublic.

Accordingtohim,“there shouldnotbeanysecrecy about it, it should be open andthatismypositionatthis point.”

He was keen to note that

the Opposition will be looking forward, at the very least, for the details r e g a r d i n g s u c h arrangementstobesharedin theNationalAssembly For several years, this newspaper has been at the forefront of calls for there to be a thorough, independent investigation into the award oftwoblocks–Kaieteurand Canje – since several industry stakeholders who examined the matter,

concluded that they were awarded under suspicious circumstances.

The Canje Block for instance was awarded by the D o n a l d R a m o t a r administration on March 4, 2015, days before that year's General and Regional Elections, to a local company, Mid-Atlantic Oil andGas.

Similarly, the Kaieteur Block was awarded onApril 28, 2015, just two weeks

beforetheelections,andlike the Canje Block, it was done based on the advice of former Minister of Natural Resources,RobertPersaud.

S u c c e s s i v e Governments of Guyana have come under heavy

criticisms for their

managemen t o f t h e country's nascent oil and gas sector From the giving away of oil blocks

to the signing of a lopsided contract with

ExxonMobil, citizens do not feel they will ever benefit fully from the resources. One significant area that has come under scrutiny is the awarding of oil blocks – something which industry experts said should have been put on a public auction in the first place.

It took the country more than seven years after it discovered oil, to move towardsitsfirstauction.

By GHK Lall

I thank the Hon. Minister of Education for recognising that a serious and most sensitive incident occurred at the Woodley Park Secondary School in West Berbice. By her own words, there is at least acknowledgement that what happened was of a raciallyobnoxiousnature.

I commend her for that, and as she said there is an investigation still underway, and that one person will be charged. The proofs from that investigation will be the pudding that confirms that thismatterisbeingtakenwith the genuine seriousness, as it should be, and that no other designsareatwork.

The first question that comes to me is focused on what the charge is going to

The Woodley Park incident

be? Then, is it going to be a single charge, such as assaulting a child, resulting in some measly fine of a few thousand dollars? Is one of theobjectivesthateverybody breathes out deeply, in the quickest time possible, the matter deemed dealt with properly, and that's it? If this is the plan, this is going to be the case that unfolds, then I assert that it is not good enough, and an injustice would have been done, addinginsulttoinjury.

From what I have heard and seen from the audio and video evidence making the rounds, the unacceptable and the combustible did take place in Woodley Park ManyinGuyanashouldhave seenandheardthatevidence, and to date, there have been no claims of fake news, or

doctored evidence What unfolded in Woodley Park wasamaleadultwithawood in his hand in an area that ought to be out of bounds. This is even when allowance is made for an absence of malicious intent, which appeared to be very much present.

Itdoesnotmatterwhohe was, Black, Brown, or otherwise; even if it was a woman, the same standard applied. We are talking about a school with children, and we have had too many savaging incidents that have been harmful to the physical wellbeing of teachers and the peaceofonlookingchildren.

Worse still, the audio evidence of the incident is sharp and could not have been clearer It was racist, repugnant,andunacceptable.

When we start speaking in hostile terms about whose area this is, and who doesn't belong lines are crossed. To make this more grassroots, it is that they (a certain kind of people) should neither be seen nor heard, nor have any right to be in Woodley Park. This was in public and to the face, and not the safety of Facebook.

This could have deterioratedinthecustomary Guyanese fashion, with reciprocal name calling, taunting, and insulting leading to what and where is anybody'sguess. Exceptthat it would not have been what ishelpfulandhealthytogood relations between the races, withonly the ugly surfacing. A whole community could have been sucked in, with matters taking on a life of its

own, as these thingsdo.

I will now go further since I believe that it would open the eyes of my fellow Guyanese. We are not in a good place as a society; never h a v e b e e n , certainly not now. There is no choice but to take off the gloves and be brutally frank. We, in Guyana, are sitting on a powder keg. I urge doubters to get a glimpse from social media platforms, which presents Guyana in all of its rawness and rancidness Many things, official and unofficial, are supplying the ingredients to what is a precarious situation. This is my assessment, my conclusion.

I t i s w h y t h e development(s) at Woodley Parkmustnotbesweptunder the carpet in a cloud of soothing language that means nothing, other than to make the matter go away in theshortesttime.

It goes without saying thatiftheaggressorandracist degrader was from the other side of the harsh political divide, then this matter at Woodley Park involving children would have been used, manipulated, and leveraged for the maximum exposures possible. There

GHK Lall

would have been an uncontrolled frenzy going on in cyberspace, with the endless cursing that is now ourchiefclaimtofame.What I sense is that a man (not necessarily one) lost control of himself, and let the worst in his nature reveal its nasty face. To make myself clear, whatgoesforonemustgofor all In other words, no exception, no protection, no rush to minimisation, however carefully managed and controlled. No different folks, different strokes, please.

Once again, the Minister of Education is due a word for lending a moderating voice, adopting the right tone, and manifesting the politically correct response to what others would labelan incendiary situation; which could have degraded to one. I think that there is more work to be done, and more that should be forthcoming, especially with the nature of the charges laid. We wait to beenlightened.

GWI to spend $484M to drill five more wells in Regions 4&10

Having been allocated $17.7 billion from this year’s budget, the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) is looking to spend approximately $484,866,427 of its allocation to facilitate the constructionofpotablewater wells in Regions Four and Ten.

Thiswasrevealedduring the opening of tenders on Tuesday at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office The Guyana Water Incorporated, according to information

received, is slated to construct wells in Region FouratCentralRuimveldtto thetuneof$146.4million,at Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Garden of Eden Complexfor$128.3million, and another at Shelterbelt, Georgetown at an estimated costof$137.8million.

In Region Ten, the two areas identified for the drilling of wells is at Bamia which is estimated at $36.1 million and at Rockstone which is pegged at $36 million.

B e l o w a r e t h e companiesandtheirbids:

GuyanaWaterIncorporated(GWI)

Constructionofpotablewaterwell atCentralRuimveldt,RegionFour

MinistryofPublicWorks

FarmAccessroads2023-Rehabilitation/ ConstructionofIR3toAbary(Phase3).

ConstructionofpotablewaterwellatGuyanaPowerand Light(GPL)GardenofEdenComplex,RegionFour

ConstructionofpotablewaterwellatBamia,Region10.

Constructionofpotablewater wellatShelterbelt,RegionFour

Approval for Exxon’s 5th oil...

ConstructionofpotablewaterwellatRockstone,Region

CDC, Health Ministry grilled at PAC over missing details in COVID-19 supplies...

Frompage17 documented in his report thatthereisnoprovisionin the Procurement Act of 2003 for emergency public procurement.

According to the Auditor General,publictenderingis mandatory

Despite this, the Auditor General noted that 18 contracts valued at over $424 million were awarded by the Public Health Ministry and CDC, before approvalwasreceivedfrom NPTAB. However, it was explained by then CDC Director General, Kester Craig that as a matter of urgency, efforts were made to expedite the purchase of theseitemstomeettheneed for Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), which aroseduetotheCOVID-19 pandemic A similar e x p l a n a t i o n w a s forthcoming from the then

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, who explained to auditors that with reports of the Coronavirus being contracted in humans and spreading rapidly from Chinatootherneighbouring Caribbeancountriesatafast rate, Guyana was put in a state of readiness before it could spread to Guyana.

“Subsequent to a meeting held in this regard, a list of equipment and medical supplies were put together tobeprocuredimmediately for the Georgetown Public Hospitalinorderforthemto be prepared for such case. Assuch,theMinistryhadits Procurement Department carry out a procurement processinordertoascertain which suppliers had these items readily available on ground to be delivered immediately,”theynotedin thereport.

Frompage19 injection capacity of 350,000barrelsperday The FPSO will be installed in a water depth of about 2000 meters, using a SOFEC SpreadMooringSystemand willbeabletostorearound2 million barrels of crude oil.

“We are extremely honored and proud to be selected to provide the FEED services for an FPSO for the UARU project, ” commented

Takeshi Kanamori,

President and Chief

Executive Officer of MODEC, at the time of the signing of the contract. “We are equally proud of our robust track record of successful project deliveries intheSouthAmericaregion, and we look forward to cooperating closely with the client and its partners to makethisprojectasuccess,” he said. The FPSO will be MODEC’s first for use in Guyana. Additionally, the French company, Vallourec hasalsosecuredthreemajor contracts for works in Guyana, namely to provide the items for the oil

company’s upcoming Yellowtail and Urau projects,aswellastheGasto Energy venture set to bring natural gas from the seabed toland.Inapressrelease,the French company announced in December last that it had wonamajorLine-Pipeorder fromExxonMobilGuyana.

“Vallourec has secured a third major order in the framework of the Long-

Term Agreement (LTA) signed last year with ExxonMobilGuyana.Under the contract, Vallourec will deliver line-pipe for ExxonMobil Guyana’s deep-water Uaru project,” thecompanysaid. The Uaru project which is still pending necessary approvals is located in the Stabroek Block, a 26,800 km2 strategic basin located off Guyana’s continental shelf, where several important discoveries have been made since 2015. The Uarudiscoveryinvolvestwo parts In January 2020, ExxonMobilannouncedthat Uaru-1 was their 16th discovery in the Stabroek Block.Thewellencountered approximately 94 feet (29 meters) of high-quality oilbearing sandstone reservoir andwasdrilledin6,342feet (1,933 meters) of water ExxonMobil said last April that Urau-2 added to the previously announced gross discovered recoverable resource estimate for the block, which is currently e s t i m a t e d t o b e approximately 9 billion oilequivalent barrels. Drilling at Uaru-2 encountered approximately120feet(36.7 meters) of high- quality -oil bearing reservoir and was drilled in 5,659 feet (1,725 meters) of water and is located approximately 6.8 miles (11 kilometers) south oftheUaru-1well.Thetotal project cost is yet to be identified.

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Natural Gas concerns among key reasons for Suriname’s delayed oil production...

VEHICLES FOR SALE

OneCRVHonda,$3.3M negotiable and 1 Toyota Allion, $3.350 M, fully loaded immaculate condition,lowmileage.Contact: 649-0956.

From page 22 Wales, West Bank Demera using Associated Gases pipedtoshorebyExxonMobil Guyana. In Suriname, it was reported by TotalEnergies that taking into account the complications there, the plannedfirstoilfromBlock58 has been delayed by at least twoyears,withanalystsestimating it will not occur until 2027,comparedto2025inearlierforecasts. Additionally,it was noted that there is also the potential for the growing riskssurroundingBlock58to derail Suriname’s oil boom and much anticipated petroleum windfall altogether Pouyanne, in the company’s

February earnings report, indicatedtheFIDmaynoteven bemadeduring2023because of the substantial risks identified, especially with earlier appraisal drilling not finding thevolumesofrecoverableoil anticipated.

“If that occurs, it will potentially herald the end of Suriname’s nascent oil boom before it truly begins.”

Another of the oil company’s principals did note however, however, it is not all doom and gloom with ApacheindicatingthatBlock 58 potentially possesses the substantial oil potential initiallybelieved.

Earlier this month, the

U.S.baseddrillerannounced the second successful flow test at the Sapakara South oil discovery in Block 58. The Sapakara South-2 appraisal wellencountered118feet,or 36meters,ofnetoilpaywith flow testing indicating a resource of over 200 million barrelsofoilinplace.

Apache CEO, John J Christmann in his reaction, said,“ResultsfromtheSPS-2 drilling and flow tests are consistent with our pre-drill expectations, confirm our geologic, geophysical, and reservoirmodels,and,importantly, add substantial resources towards a potential development”

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GRPAlaunchesnewHIVcareandtreatmentservices

The Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) has announced the launchofitsnewHIVcareand treatment services to People livingwithHIV(PLHIV).

TheGRPAjoinsthehostof other healthcare entities across GuyanatobecomeanHIVcare and treatment site with the support of the Ministry of Health -National AIDS

Programme Secretariat (MOH/NAPS).

“We are pleased to do our part to support the World

Health Organization’s Sustainability Developmental

Goal to eliminate the

HIV/AIDSepidemicby2030,” GRPA said in a press release. Persons who are newly diagnosed and are ready to commence treatment, and persons who have been diagnosed and would like to join the entity’s private and family-oriented clinic can now

access treatment services among others at the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association.

The HIV Care and Treatment service will be a c c e s s i b l e t h r o u g h appointments and walk-in duringouropeninghourswhich isMonday-Thursday,8:00amto 4:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am to 3:00 pm for more information, persons can contact us on 2274743or225-0731

GRPA launches HIV/AIDS care and treatment services

West Indies fight back after Markram century for South Africa

AFP-Aiden Markram hit acenturyonhisreturntoTest cricket but the West Indies mounted a strong fightback on the first day of the first Test against South Africa at SuperSportParkyesterday

Markram made 115 in a South Africa total of 314 for eight.

Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph spearheaded the West Indian bowling attack, taking threefor60.

SouthAfricalookedsetto take full control when they reached221foroneafternew captain Temba Bavuma won thetossanddecidedtobat.

But they lost seven more wickets before the close whileaddinganother93runs, with the West Indian bowlers finding swing, lateral movement and more

consistencywiththeoldball. An opening partnership of141betweenMarkramand former captain Dean Elgar (71) was followed by a stand of 80 between Markram and newcapTonydeZorzi.

The left-handed De Zorzi was looking comfortable beforehewasrunoutfor28.

De Zorzi punched a ball from Joseph through the covers and completed a comfortabletworuns.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul made a good sliding stop and De Zorzi was sent back after setting off for an unlikely third.

Chanderpaul's throw was off target but wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva cleverly flicked the ball into the stumps.

Alzarri Joseph's scorching yorker knocked over Aiden Markram. (AFP/Getty Images)

Joseph two balls later and Joseph struck again when he yorkedMarkram.

Markram was dropped last year after a poor run of form in which he went 15 innings without a halfcentury,withonlytwoscores above30.

He had not made a hundred since scoring 108

against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in February 2021.

After a watchful start, he was soon into his stride, hitting 18 fours in a 174-ball innings, studded by his trademark cover drives and powerfulpullshots.

balls.

Two of Elgar's 11 fours were ramp shots over the slipsbutintryingtohitathird boundary in that fashion he fell to a leaping catch by Jermaine Blackwood at third manoffJoseph.

Blackwood earlier put down a sharp chance at third slipoffKyleMayerswhenhe wason10.

The South African team showed five changes from the side that played in the thirdTest of a losing series in Australia in January with De Zorzi and fast bowler Gerald Coetzee both handed their firstcaps.

Bavuma, on his first appearance as South Africa's first Black African captain, was leg before wicket for nought to a full ball from

Wednesday March 01, 2023

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19

Today rethink all the social values you take at face value. Like the rest of us, you learned them at an early age a n d a c c e p t e d t h e m unthinkingly

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20)

Today is an ideal day to shop foranewwardrobe.Youmay find your usual style too c o n v e n t i o n a l o r uncomfortablytrendy

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

The topic of the day is knowledge and learning. Did you study the field you really wanted to? Do you feel bad about not having attended such-and-such school or program?

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

The planetary alignment is favorable, and you're in the process of reaping the benefits, Cancer It was only a matter of becoming aware of and settling certain matters.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

You may feel hemmed in by the role models society currentlyoffers.

Asyoustruggletoreachyour own definition of the truly innovativeachiever

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)

The results of the recent planetary influence are coming home to roost, Virgo If everything went according to plan, you gained someinsightintoyourego

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

A small crisis is still a crisis, isn'tit,Libra?Youcanexpect one in your personal life today Since you aren't the kindofpersonwholetsissues go unresolved, you won't be able to put off dealing with yourproblemsanylonger

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

Something has to change. You knew it as soon as you woke up this morning Your mirrorprovidestheimpetusfor importantresolutionstoday

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

The only good thing about being on an emotional roller coaster is that you never feel thesamewayforlong.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

You might want to check your alarm clock to be sure it really woke you up this morning Yourtendencytoday willbetostayinthecocoonof your little dream world, deep inyourownthoughts

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)

There's something in the air pushing you toward change or renewal. Is it time to change your wardrobe or redecorateyourhome?

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

The good news is this - it gets better. There could be some trying times in store, Pisces. If you're a parent, the children will ask for something every fiveminutes,andyoumayfeel p r e s s u r e f r o m a l l sides nurturingheart.

Elgar, who was stripped of the captaincy after South Africa were heavily beaten on tours of England and Australia, made 71 off 118

The West Indies made onechangefromthesidethat beatZimbabwebyaninnings and four runs in Bulawayo earlierthismonth.

L e f t - a r m s p i n n e r Gudakesh Motie, who took 13 wickets in the win in Bulawayo, had a back injury and was replaced by fast bowlerKemarRoach.

Scores: South Africa 314 for 8 (Markram 115, Elgar 71, Joseph 3-60) vs West Indies.

NewZealand edgesEngland...

From page 38 without facing a ball — to slip to80-5.

Brook's wicket was crucial after he made 186 in the first innings for his fourth century infivetests.

RootandStokesseemedto have repaired the England innings but Wagner's double blow to dismiss them both in consecutive overs was yet another turning point. Foakes' diligent innings ensured a thrilling finish as the upper hand in the match passed moment by moment from one team to the other Even England's Barmy Army of fans was largely rendered silent as they watched the action in almost breathless tension.

“It's obviously very disappointingtogetalosshere with the great winter we've had,” Stokes said. But “to be able to come away and win four out of five away from home is something we'll take greatpridein."

Scores: New Zealand 209 (Southee 73, Broad 4-61, Anderson 3-37) and 483 (Williamson 132, Blundell 90, Latham 81, Leach 5-157) beat England 435 for 8 dec (Brook 186, Root 153*, Henry 4-100) and 256 (Root 95, Wagner 462, Southee 3-45) by one run.

Excellent bowling performance from Kevin Sinclair as Bramble rush to 51* to set up a comfortable win for Berbice

Berbice Men took first round points in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Senior InterCounty Four Day cricket tournament after defeating the Demerara Men yesterday at the Guyana National Stadium Providence. Berbice won by six wickets, inside the second session on the fourth and final dayofthematchastheDemerara batting crumbled to the bowling ofKevinSinclair

Perhaps Berbice Men got the start they were looking for, picking up seven wickets in the first session. Then returned with the bat in the second innings; blastingto110-4in14.2overs.

Anthony Bramble unbeaten on 51 runs (26) to help the Berbice Senior Men cross the line. Chris Barnwell finished 328fromhissevenovers.

Day Four of the GCB' Men's Senior Inter County Four day tournament, under humid and overcast conditions play started withBerbicespinnersleadingthe way Berbice had an excellent first session; making early inroads into the Demerara' second innings on the final day Demerara's Men were dismissed for 157 from 64.4 overs with Sachin Singh top scoring with a well constructed 66 runs from 173balls(224minutes)andLeon Johnson34(94).

Kevin Sinclair 'the star of the day'hadanexcellentearlymorning spell; picking up 6-43 from 19 overs,bowlingsevenmaidensatan economy rate of 2.26 to put the Berbice Men in control on the final day

The first session of the day saw Kevin Sinclair ripping Demerara's middle-order apart; claiming four

of his six wickets (Barnwell, Mohammed, Looknuath, Nedd) in hislastthreeoversofthedaybefore seeinghissidecrossthelineonDay Four This exceptional bowling performance earned him the Manof-the-Match award for his 8 wicketsinthegame.

With a target of 109 runs to win from 60 overs, Berbice returned afterthelunchbreak.

Opening for the Berbice Men in the second innings were Javid Karim and Adrian Sukhwa, both batters fell cheaply to Chris Barnwell firing-in for the Demerara side. Barnwell struck inhissecondoveroftheday,first removing Karim with a beautiful off-cutter Karim was caught fishing out the off-stump edging it through to Akshaya Persaud standing at second-slip position. Berbice Men now 2-1 as the century-maker KevlonAnderson joinedSukhwaatthecrease.

Anderson didn't spend too long at the crease after he was dismissed for one run to a swing deliveryfromQumarTorrington; having his leg stumps rattled out ofthesurface.

Next over, Sukhwa was trappedLBW;offeringnoshotto a fast in-swinging delivery from Barnwell. Berbice now would have lost three of their top order batters with only 3 runs on the board, as Anthony Bramble joinedJonathanFooatthemiddle to set up a comfortable win for theBerbiceMen.

Berbice needing 106 runs to win from 55 overs; Foo and Bramble led the attack to Torrington, who seemed to be struggling with his length early on He (Torrington) was punished by the Berbice batters going for 19 runs in his second over as Foo and Bramble looked to 'up the tempo,' moved quickly to 43-3.

Foo was later dismissed by Barnwell for 31 runs; out caught at mid-on, trying to hoist the bowler backoverhishead.

The Berbice Men plunge further to 61-4 but with Bramble still at the crease there was no chance for the Demerara Men as

Bramblecontinuedscoringrapidly, hitting the Demerara spinners for a couple of sweep-shot for fours to helphissidesecureanearlywin.

In the end, it was Bramble finishing 51 (26) with nine fours

and a six, while K Sinclair unbeaten on 13 saw Berbice side home. Berbice crossing the line with a flamboyant reversed-sweep shot for four runs off the bat of Bramble.

Rupununi confirms participation in Golden Mile

Pr o m i n e n t indigenous leader, Mark Rodrigues, has confirmed that several athletes from the Rupununi will be traveling to Georgetown to compete in the upcoming Golden Mile that is scheduled for Sunday March 12 at the National ParkCircuit.

Inapressreleasefromthe Jefford Track and Field Classic, speaking from Region Nine, Rodrigues said that both junior and senior athletesarecomingoutofthe region to compete in the prestigious event. He said that he is getting support from the Region to make this effortareality.

"We are waiting on the

confirmation of some athletes from the Deep South (of the Rupununi) and once we confirm those, we will be coming out in advance to get sometraininginatthevenue. We are looking forward to this event because we know our athletes can make a big impact,"Rodriguessaid.

Traditionally, athletes from the Rupununi have dominated middle distance and distance events in Guyana Several of them have gone on to represent Guyana regionally and internationally In addition, several of the athletes from Region Nine are prominent performers in the annual N a t i o n a l S c h o o l s ' Championships.

"Our athletes have been asking for opportunities such as this to come and showcase their talents to the nation and we are happy that Jefford is providing it for them. We know that our athletes will 'give them a run for their money'. As it is now, we are looking at eight athletes coming out, but we will confirm the exact numbers whenweregisternextweek," Rodrigues continued Monday

The Jefford Track and Field Classic organisation is leading the resuscitation and rebranding of the Golden Mile. It is being called the Jefford Classic Mile because of the customary fanfare and hype that is associated with

athletics events that Jefford organises The event has received the blessings and support of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG).

Founder of the Jefford body,EdisonJeffordsaidthat visionoftheeventistocreate apremierplatformformiddle distanceathletes.Hesaidthat the AAG has committed to using the Professional Meet Management System and its timing system to enhance the administration of the competition. In addition, the event is expected to be live streamed.

"We will have all our mechanics in place, live entertainment; our finish line willbeprofessionallydonein

line with International standards; we will have branding and decor; we

believe that we are putting Guyana on show and our athletes on show so e v e r y t h i n g w i l l b e professionally done; we will leave no stone unturned," Jeffordsaid.

He indicated that the aim is to create an event that is second to none in Guyana. Jefford said that the experience for the athletes must be memorable, including how they are rewarded and compensated. According to him, athletes will be competing for training grants, educational grants, vouchers, hampers and medals. Jefford said that the athlete that breaks the four-minute barrier in the Milewillwinaspecialprize.

Anthony Bramble after his match winning knock of 51 not out.

Kevin Sinclair (right) receives his Man of the Match award form Collin Stuart.

Mark Rodrigues

Munroe, Pilgrim leads nomination for GOApresident

-

Dr Karen Pilgrim (A.A), and president of the Guyana Table Tennis Association, Godfrey Munroe are listed as the frontrunnerstocontestforthepositionofPresident oftheGuyanaOlympicAssociation(GOA).

Yesterday was the deadline for nominations from Associations affiliated with the GOA, ahead of their crucial March 14 elections, where, for the first time in almost three decades, the important sports institutionwillhaveanewpresident.

Dr Pilgrim, who served as Vice President of the GOA since 2008, was recognized in 2017 for her sterling contribution to sports in Guyana with a National Award – the Golden ArrowofAchievement.

ADoping Control Officer since 2009, Dr Pilgrim is currently a Member Country Representative for Guyana on the Caribbean RADO;apositionshehasheldsince2015and was elected to the post of RADO Executive CommitteeMemberin2016.

Pilgrim is a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine and functioned as Chef de Mission at several Commonwealth and Olympic Youth Games and the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, Munroe, who holds a Master's in Sports Management from the University of Louvain, like Dr Pilgrim, is a servingVicePresidentoftheGOA.

AProject and Administrative Manager at theMinistryofEducation,Munroe,knownas athree-timenationalTableTennisChampion, was elected president of the GTTA in 2012

Rockaway Group of Companies supports Young Warriors Sports Club

Rockaway Group of Companies has thrown its support behind Young Warriors Cricket Club of Berbice.

The entity's CEO HafeezAli has delivered on his promise to sponsor uniformsfortheclub.

Ali handed over the uniforms to the club Captain Suresh Dhanai at a simple ceremony held on Sunday

Ali said that he was approached by members of theclubtorenderassistance and he is delighted to contribute towards the club'sdevelopment.

He urged the cricketers to remain committed and to supporteachother

Dhanai expressed gratitude toAli and said the membersaredelighted.

after acting in the capacity following the death of former Commissioner of Police, Henry Green, who was at the time of his passing, heading the local table tennis governingbody

When contacted by Kaieteur News, a number of associations confirmed either Munroe or Pilgrim as their choice for president, while several other notable sports personalities and administrators were nominated for other positions within the GOA.

TheMarch14electionsaresettobeoneof the most anticipated in the GOA's history since an age-limit clause in the new constitution prevents current president Kalam-Juman Yassin from seeking reelection.

The GOA's general council, on June 16, 2022, after much deliberation, voted 29 – 13 to include the 70-year age limit for Executive Committeemembers.

The decision ultimately ended the 75year-old Yassin's reign as GOA president, a positionhehasheldsince1996.

Yassin currently serves with Charles Corbin, Dr Karen Pilgrim and Godfrey Munroe as his Vice-presidents, with Hector Edwards as Secretary General and Assistant SecretaryDeionNurse.

Archery Guyana's new Board...

From page 36

Beverages Inc, Samuel Arjoon, and to the general management of Guyana Beverages Inc , International Business Services, Mr Courtleigh Rodrigues, Ms Roshini Boodhoo,

Woodpecker Products, The Board of Directors of the Muslim Youth Organisation,, Massy Distribution (Guyana) Inc., General Manager of the National Stadium, Mr. Azad Ibrahim, the Media and allofitsmembers.

Ali has over the years supported sports across Guyana.

French

prosecutors open rape investigation into PSG's Achraf Hakimi

AFP-Frenchprosecutors on Monday opened an investigation into alleged rape by Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi, a sourceclosetothecasesaid.

A24-year-oldwomanhas accused the Moroccan international of raping her at hishomeinaParissuburbon February25.

According to the source, confirming an article in the Parisien newspaper, the woman reported the incident at a police station on Sunday butdidnotfilecharges.

The public prosecutor's office handling the case in

comment, but complained to AFP that "information already made public" in the media "undermined the necessary investigations to findoutthetruth".

Hakimi was part of the Morocco team that finished fourth in the World Cup in Qatar

And late Monday he was at the FIFA Best awards ceremony in Paris, where he was named in the FIFPro men'sworldteamoftheyear

On stage to collect the award he stood alongside another award winner, his PSG teammate and close friend,KylianMbappe.

Mbappe's France may haveendedMorocco'sWorld Cup adventure but Hakimi had spoken of their friendship before the competition: "We are two youngmenwhohavelikethe same things, we chat about music,videogames,wegoto restaurants," he told the Parisien.

Born in Madrid, his penalty secured a 3-0 shootout win over Spain to steer Morocco into uncharted territory, with the north African side going on to become the first from the Arab world to reach the last fourataWorldCup.

Nomination closed yesterday; Elections set for March 14

GOA Vice President, Dr. Karen Pilgrim

Suresh Dhanai receives one of the uniforms from Hafeez Ali.

Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi

GOA Vice President, Godfrey Munroe

Archery Guyana's new Board of Directors elected after 2023 Annual General Meeting

TheAnnual General Meeting ofArchery Guyana Inc. was successfully held at the National Resource Centre, WoolfordAvenue, th Monday 27 February, 2023

where members were given an opportunity to discuss the activities and plans for the way forward to promote the Olympic sport ofArchery in Guyana.

At the AGM, outgoing President, Mr Mohamed Gamal Khan delivered a detailed report and b a c k g r o u n d t o t h e membership, from its

establishment in August 2014 to date This was followed by the delivery by the outgoing SecretaryGeneral of a comprehensive Annual Report on all of the activities of the Federation whichwaswellreceived.

TheElectionsforthenew Board of Directors then commenced under the duly elected Returning Officer, Attorney-at-Law and Honorary Counsul to Japan, Mr. Kashir Khan, who officially released the following information after the democratic and transparentelectoralprocess.

Members of the Board of Executives elected to serve fortheperiod2023-2027are:

President - Mrs. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon

Secretary-General - Mr NicholasHing

Treasurer - Mr Robert Singh

TheFinancialReportwas presented to the membership and duly approved Two Motions were unanimously passed to amend the Constitutionaccordingly

Thankswereexpressedto the following persons and entities who assisted in one wayortheotherforreporting

period: Honourable Minister

Charles Ramson Jr -

Ministry of Culture,Youth & Sport, Director of Sport Mr

Steve Ninvalle - National Sports Commission, Mr

Ryan McKinnon - Neutrino

Inc , Mr Julius Simon, Commissioner General Mr

Godfrey Statia - Guyana

Revenue Authority, Mr.

Harryram Parmesar -

Parmesar Accounting Firm, Members and the Board of Archery Guyana Inc , Guyana Beverages Inc., Mr Umasankar Madray, Mr Robert Singh, Mr. Ray Beharry, Seven Seas, Massy Industries,BrandManagerof Guyana Beverages Inc, Raymond Govinda, General ManagerofGuyana

(Continued on page 35)

Devonshire Castle Sports Club beat Invaders Masters in ESCL's Over-40 semis

Devonshire Castle Sports Club defeated Invaders Masters by a thrilling one-wicket win last Sunday at Queenstown ground, Essequibo Coast, Region Two in the second semi-final of the 2023 Essequibo Softball Cricket League's (ESCL) Over-40, T20 competition.

Devonshire Castle Sports Club will now clash with defending champions Caribbean Cricket Club 2 on March 12th at the same venueinthefinal.

Invadersbattedfirstandonlycompiledan insufficient 132 all out off 17.2 overs while Devonshire Castle Sports Club, in response, surpassedthetargetwithtwoballsleft,losing ninewicketsintheprocess.

Experienced batsman Anthony Persaud led the way with a responsible 32, while ManojLallcontributedavital22.

Raj Rambarack and Richie Bishop claimed two wickets for 20 and 25 respectivelyfromfouroverseach.

For the former trophy-holder Invaders Masters, Roy Persaud hit a top-score of 22 while extras was 24. Darshan Persaud grabbed three wickets for 15 runs from 2.2 overs while Lall proved his all-round capability by snatching three wickets as well butconceded28runsinhisfour-overspell.

Meanwhile, this year's tournament is

Lall

being played in memory of Dave Tajeshwar who was an avid softball fan and supporter His siblingVoTajeshwar continues to be one ofthemainsponsors.

According to Chairman of the ESCL Wakeel Layne, the championship game is set toberiveting.Headdedthatthewinningside will pocket $100,000 and a trophy Other handsome prices are up for grabs both collectivelyandindividuallyaswell.

Manoj

From left: Secretary-General Mr. Nicholas Hing, President Mrs. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon and Treasurer Mr. Robert Singh.

GFF receives official decision from independent disciplinary committee on McArthur case

- Expresses disappointment findings came out before their release

New Zealand edge England by 1 run in test cricket thriller

AFP - WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Tim Southee'sNewZealandteam earned two places in international cricket history with its dramatic, one-run comeback win over England inthesecondtest.

It was only the fourth team after England (in 1894 and 1981) and India (in 2001) to win a test match after being forced to followon and only the second after the West Indies to win by a marginofonerun.

New Zealand also was part of one of the most tense final days of a test match when at various times both teams had victory in their grasp and even a rare tie seemed possible.At the start ofDay5,aNewZealandwin seemed the most unlikely of all possible scenarios: it had lost the series-opening match by 267 runs and been forced to follow-on 226 runs behindinthesecondtest.

New Zealand was depleted: its bowling lineup dependedheavilyonthenew ball pair of Tim Southee and

MattHenryintheabsenceof Trent Boult and Kyle Jamieson.

Neil Wagner had been demoted from the new ball rolehehadinthefirsttestbut itwasthepugnaciousbowler whohadtheforemostroleon the last day when he took four wickets and held three catches.

New Zealand now can rest after saving its unbeaten run in test series at home which stretches back to 2017.

England will return home to regroup for the Ashes series against Australia in July But it no longer is heading into that s e r i e s w i t h a l m o s t juggernaut momentum after coming to the end of a sixtestwinningstreak.

On a day of constant twists and turns yesterday, Joe Root scored 95 in a partnership of 121 with Ben Stokes (33) which appeared to have secured England's victory and a 2-0 win in the two-matchseries.

RootandStokeswereout

within a run of each other with 56 runs still needed and the match which had been headingEngland'swaytilted

Badminton Association elects new executive

back in favor of New Zealand with seven wickets down.

Wicketkeeper Ben Foakes then made 35, facing down the New Zealand attack and shepherding the tailenders to get England within seven runs of victory before his dismissal triggeredanothertwist.

No. 11 James Anderson clubbed a boundary off Wagner which left England two runs from a match and series victory Then in the last, dramatic moment, Anderson was caught down the leg side by a diving Tom Blundellfromthebowlingof Wagner

In a defining comeback for Wagner and his shortpitch bowling, he returned figures of 4-62 and was instrumentalinthewin.

“It's a special win this andwe'llcelebratewhatisan amazing achievement,” Wagner said. “I think it's just thecharacteroftheteam.We love to fight for one another, findawayandkeepondoing thehardyardsoutthere."

The grassy banks of Wellington's Basin Reserve were crowded on a workday Tuesday to see the denouement of an already extraordinarymatch.

Forthesecondtimeinthe series, Stokes made an assertive first innings declaration with England 435-9. England then bowled out New Zealand for only 209 to take a 226-run first inningslead.

Stokes chose to enforce the follow-on with his attack having bowled 53.2 overs and the second innings

became an ordeal as Kane Williamson made 132 and New Zealand batted more than 160 overs to post 483, settingEngland258towin. England came into the final day at 48-1, still needing 210 runs but with the odds on its side and 103 overs in the day Under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum and the so-called Bazball approach to the game, England has won six tests while chasing, notably scoring 378 to beat India at Birminghamlastyear

But when New Zealand took four wickets in the first hour, the equilibrium of the match was disturbed England lost nightwatchman OllieRobinson,BenDuckett and then Ollie Pope and HarryBrook--runout

(Continued on page 33)

GCUC name committees

The first Executive meeting of the GuyanaCricketUmpiresCouncilwasheldon 20th February, 2023 and the following committeeswerenamed.

The Guyana Badminton Association held their Biennial General Meeting on February 24, 2023 at the Guyana Olympic House, Plantation Lilliendaal, Georgetown and electedanewexecutivetoserve forthenextyear

Following the various reports and other discussions, the election of office bearers was the high point of their agenda.

The Management Committee elected to serve from 2023-2024 are:

President

VicePresident

Treasurer

AssistantTreasurer

Secretary

AssistantSecretary

CommitteeMembers

-EmeliaRamdhani

- AyannaWatson

- DarrellCarpenay

- MarlonChung

- PriyannaRamdhani

- ShivanniePersaud

- ErnestooChoo-A-Fat RyanChang AkiliHaynes

Fund Raising committee: J. Persaudchairman,I.Johnson,S.Devers,V Ritney,W Dhanraj,A.Bakar,S.Hussain,C.Persaudand S.Josiah.

Disciplinary Committee: Z. Moakanchairman,S.DeversandC.Alfred.

Training and Examination Committee: S. Crawford - chairman, N. Duguid, I. Moakan, R. Banwarie, Z. Zakier, C. Alfred, N. Shivsankar, J. Persaud, W Dhanraj and S. Hussain.

Selection Committee: Z Zakierchairman,Z.MoakanandV Ritney

The President Dawcha Nagasar and Secretary, Zaheer Moakan are part of all the Committees.

Left to right sitting: Priyanna Ramdhani, Emelia Ramdhani, Ayanna Watson, Dr. Shivannie Persaud, standing: Ryan Chang, Darrell Carpenay, Marlon Chung, Akili Haynes.

New Zealand players celebrate their historic win. (Getty Images)

Kitt, Dashing Dons & Divas superb at USATF NY Youth Association Championship

There seems to be no slowing down for niney e a r - o l d U S - b o r n

Guyanese Sean Kitt, as the New York-based track and field athlete turned in another eye-catching performance over the weekend.

C o m p e t i n g f o r 'Dashing Dons and Divas' at the USA Track & Field (USATF) New York Youth

A s s o c i a t i o n

Championship, Kitt, competing in the Boys 9 –10 Division, finished sixth overall in the 400m and fourthinthe800m.

Kitt's time of two minutes, 52.18s (2:52.18) saw him finishing fourth in his heat, while his teammate Justin Murray was fastest on the day with atimeof2:38.69.

In the 400m, Kitt clocked 1:16.02 and Murray, once again, was the fastest of the flock with 1:09.17.

Kitt played the anchor roleinthe4X200mrelayas he led Dashing Dons and

Divastoacomprehensivevictory in a time of 2:15.76, finishing ahead of Tailwind (2:34 78), Ocean Breeze Wave Runners (2:36 35) and Ocean Breeze WaveRunners(2:41.30).

Overall Dashing Dons and DivaswerewinnersoftheBoys9 – 10 Division, amassing 57 points - four points more than second place Prospect Park Youth Running (53) Metro Eagles Track & Field Club was thirdwith41points.

(RawleToney)

Major Horse Racing event th rescheduled to 12 March, 2023 due to inclement weather

The inaugural first Horse Racing eventfor2023'The Opening Day Stakes' was officially rescheduled to the th12 March, 2023 by the host, Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred RacingCommittee.

The much-anticipated race, which was originally h carded for Sunday 26 February 2023, was expected to be the launchpad for the 2023HorseRacingcalendar Stableownersandjockeys wereexpectedoutinfullforce competing for the glorious trophies, cash and bragging rights.

Whena thorough checkof theRisingSunTurfClubtrack was completed by the management team the decision was made to postpone.

The committee was not in a position to allow the race to continue while running a high risk of horses & jockeysbeinginjured.

For 2023 the JJTRC has placed particularemphasisintoanareathatwasa sorepointforour2022events.

Parking and traffic management was one main topic and for this upcoming race

there will be free internal parking for all in attendance.

The Guyana Police ForceTrafficRankswillbe out readily available to ensure a smooth flow is achieved.

When reached via cell phone Mr Nasrudeen 'Juniour' Mohamed of the JJTRC indicated, “We are in the final stages of our plans to build a state of the art facility with an allweather track that is guaranteed to attract a much higher international patronageofhorses.

As you know we've spent millions on Rising Sun in 2022 for Guyana Cup to bring it to a higher standard but weather is beyondourcontrol.

I know many stables have put in the work to prepare for Sunday hence the reason why we choose the soonest possibledate.

We have a lot of surprises planned for 2023 andthisisjustthetipoftheiceberg.

So keep up the hard work as we all come together to build the sport and provide entertainmentfortheentirefamily.”

The Dashing Dons and Divas athletes after competing at the NY Youth Association Championship.

Sean Kitt Jr after competing at the NY Youth Association Championship.

Nasrudeen Mohamed jnr

West Indies fight back after Markram century for South Africa

New Zealand edge England by 1 run in test cricket thriller

Joshua Da Silva effected a run out. (AFP/Getty Images)

New Zealand's Neil Wagner, center, celebrates the wicket of England's James Anderson, left, for the win by 1 run on day 5 of their cricket test match.

(Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)