Kaieteur News

EPA Law restricts public engagement on Exxon's oil projects -Jackson

Since the discovery of oil in 2015 in Guyana's Stabroek Block, the public has over time become more conscious of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its processes, particularly as it relates topermitsandlicences.

Taking this into account, there has also been a building consternationoverthescheduleand time slots being given for members of the public to scrutinize the voluminous stacks of technical data, such as that which is included in Project Summaries and E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t Assessments(EIAs).

The EPA, along with Esso Exploration and Production G u y a n a L i m i t e d ( E E P G ) E x x o n M o b i l Guyana on Wednesday, along with their consultant, Acorn International LLC, met with members of the public at the Umana Yana, for a disclosure sessionfollowingthecompletionof an EIA for ExxonMobil Guyana's fifth planned project in the StabroekBlock,Urau.

During that session, the consultants in their presentation n o t e d t h a t a m o n g t h e recommendations proffered in relation to the proposed oil field development,saidthatthereshould in future, be an increased public engagement.

Itwasrecognizedtooduringthe session the information being provided to the public was in fact a significant quantum of technical information and as such, a summary of the more than 3,000 pages of information for those presentattheUmanaYana.

Wednesday's meeting marked the last of the public disclosure sessions for ExxonMobil's Urau development with members of the publicbeingaffordedanotherweek ending on March 9, to submit any queriesorconcernstotheEPA.

Addressing the gathering at Umana Yana, Dean Slocum, of Acorn International, in going through the information contained

…Operators obligated to adhere to Govt. Policies & Directives

in the EIA, pointed to the stakeholderengagement.

“Whatwehaveheardfromalot of people is we want more opportunity to engage with a two wayengagementwiththecompany andsowhatwehaverecommended is looking for additional opportunities to create that engagement.”

This he said, should not be limited to the EIA process but beyond.

Following the initial presentations by the consultations, EEPGL and EPA representatives, the oil operator and regulator were asked to respond to the recommendation to increased publicengagements.

Anthony Jackson, the ExxonMobil Guyana Project Manager, responded by pointing to the fact that the oil company was onlyworkingwithintheparameters assetoutbytheEPA.

He told the gathering, “…the realityis,weasoperatorsarebound to adhere to the government policies and directives on how we produceanEEA.”

Jackson went further to say the bestpracticewouldnotbetoadvise the government on consultation periodsforthepopulace.

He used the occasion to stress that EEPGL would have

Missing man found dead in Westbury Canal

continuous engagements with the EPA aimed at reviewing previous undertakings to ascertain what would have work best in relation to the varying demands on the oil operator

He used the opportunity to concede that there have been repeated calls for more time during the engagement process and was adamant that the EIA process as spelt out in the laws is not just for the oil and gas sector but for broad rangeofeconomicdevelopmentsto behadincountry

When it comes specifically to the oil and gas industry, Jackson conceded that the amount of technical information being presented to the public in the EIAs, “isalotinformationtodigest.”

According to Jackson, this is why the information was summarized which would allow persons to hone in on areas of interest to them when engaging withtheoperatorandregulator

To this end, he indicated that timing as part of the engagement process will form part of the dialoguetobehadwiththeEPA.

Aretha Forde of EPAwho gave a presentation outlining the EIA process and fielded the questions for that agency told those gathered, “we are following what is stated in the Environmental ProtectionAct.”

That statue, she noted would have dictated the varying time

periods for stakeholder engagements.

The EPA led disclosure meetings with the public commenced eight separate two and a half hours sessions across several of Guyana's 10 administrative regions beginning on February 20 at the Flavio's Hall, Santa Rosa RegionOne.

Another session was held in Region One, this time at the Regional Democratic Council's (RDC) Office in the Mabaruma sub-district.

The following day the face-toface sessions headed to the Anna ReginaTownHallontheEssequibo coast where another meeting was held.

With the following day being a National Holiday, the subsequent session was held on February 24, this time venued in Region Three, where another session was completedattheLeonoraTechnical Institute,WestCoastDemerara.

On February 27, the sessions then moved to the Mahaicony Technical Institute, East Coast Demerara (ECD) after which the session moved to the Latchman Singh Primary School, West Coast Berbiceforback-to-backevents.

The following day, February 28, the penultimate session was held at the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Training Centre,PortMourant,Berbice.

The final session was held on

Wednesday at the Umana Yana in Georgetown, representing the only session to be held in the largest populatedregionofthecountry

The Umana Yana is in Region Four,Demerara-Mahaica,whichas of 2012, was recorded at 313,429 that accounted for 41.71 percent of Guyana'spopulation.

In Region One, Barima-Waini where there were two disclosure meetings, the population size was registeredatjust26,941persons.

As it relates to Region Three, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, that accounts for 107,416 Guyanese, while Region Five Mahaica/Berbice has a populationofsome49,723.

Region Six, East BerbiceCorentyne, records 109,431 persons.

As such, it would mean that a two-and-a-half-hour session to address the EIA and EIS was set aside for the large majority of the Guyanesepopulation.

Altogether, a total of two and a half hours was set aside for 42 percent of the country's entire population while reserving, 17 and a half hours for the rest of the country—minus Regions Seven, Eight, Nine and 10—or for 340, 321personsacrossfiveregions.

With the exclusion of Regions Seven,Eight,Nineand10,itwould mean the exclusion of 94,134 Guyanese from the engagement process.

EPA Environmental Officer, Aretha Forde

EEPGL Projects Manager, Anthony Jackson Acorn International's, Dean Slocum

The four volumes of the EIA displayed by the team that the Guyanese public was provided limited time to scrutinize

A man who reportedly disappeared over the weekend was on Tuesday found dead inside the Westbury Sea Dam Canal, on the Essequibo, Coast RegionTwo.

The dead man has been identified as 44-year-old

Jonestown Squatting Area,

Westbury, Essequibo Coast. The discovery of his remains was made around 12:00hrs by a search party and it was not too far away from where he was last seen alive. No marks of violence were seen on the body but it appeared as if species of fish might have eaten off his mouth, according to police. Investigations areongoing.

Govt. reviewing CGX plans to relinquish 25 % of Corentyne Block

Canadian oil explorer, CGX Energy Inc. recently disclosed that plans are moving ahead to relinquish 25 percent of the CorentyneBlock.

In its latest financial statement, CGX said it has submitted its p r o p o s e d 2 5 % a c r e a g e relinquishment as required by the Corentyne Petroleum Agreement to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). It is now awaiting the agreementoftheseagenciesonthe acceptance of the proposed relinquishment and final instruments.

OnJanuary23,2023,CGXand its joint venture partner, Frontera Energy Corporation, had announced the spud of the Wei-1 well, approximately 200 kilometres offshore Guyana. The joint venture also announced that the Government of Guyana approved an appraisal plan for the northern section of the Corentyne block which commenced with the Wei-1well.

Following completion of Wei1 drilling operations and upon detailed analysis of the results, the partners may consider future wells per its appraisal programme to evaluate possible development feasibilityintheKawa-1discovery area and throughout the northern section of the Corentyne block. They said any future drilling is contingent on positive results at Wei-1 This newspaper understands that the joint venture has no further drilling obligations beyond the Wei-1 well The

appraisal programme was approvedforaperiodof24months from June 29, 2022 to June 28, 2024.

The original Corentyne Petroleum Agreement was awarded in 1998, following which CGX began an active exploration programme,howevertheactivities were suspended due to a border dispute between Guyana and Suriname.In2007anInternational Tribunalconfirmedthat93%ofthe original Corentyne Petroleum Production Licence was located in Guyana'sterritorialwaters.

The original Corentyne Petroleum Agreement was extended to June 2013 The company drilled the Eagle well in 2012 which was declared as a dryhole. On November 27, 2012, CGX received the current Corentyne Petroleum Agreement, offshore Guyana, renewable after four years for up to six additional years.

After commercial production begins, the Company is allowed to recovercontractcostsasdefinedin the Corentyne agreement from “cost oil” produced and sold from thecontractareaandlimitedinany month to an amount which equals 75% of the total production from the contract area for such month excludinganyhydrocarbonusedin petroleum operations or which is lost. The company's share of the remaining production or “profit oil”is47%.

Additionally, CGX in its financial statement said it has US$155M of recoverable contract costs brought forward from the

original Corentyne licence. This cost can be recovered against any futurecommercialproduction.

ItshouldbenotedthatFrontera holds257,475,469commonshares in CGX Resources Inc , representing approximately 76 97% of the issued and outstanding common shares on an undiluted basis. Frontera therefore has the voting power to influence the outcome of all corporate

transactions or other matters requiring the approval of CGX's shareholders,includingamerger,a businesscombinationorthesaleof all or substantially all of CGX's assets.

Kaieteur News understands that this influence may limit the price that investors are willing to pay for common shares or discourage third parties from making a tender offer or takeover

bid to acquire any or all of the outstanding common shares. In addition, there exists the potential that Frontera may sell its common shares in the public market (commonly referred to as “market overhang”), and these shares as well as any actual sales of such common shares in the public market, could adversely affect the market price of the common shares.

GCCI flays Central Bank “inaction” over foreign currency shortage

Amid a deepening

s h o r t a g e o f foreign currency in Guyana, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) said it is dissatisfied with the Bank of Guyana's (BOG) lack of action, vision and modern financial policies to improve access to financing for local businesses.

But the Central Bank said theGCCI'senergieswouldbe better spent engaging either the banks or the bankers association, who are also members of the private sector, with a view to better understandingthefactorsthat influence the availability and pricingofforeigncurrencyin thedomesticmarket.

In a sharp statement issuedonThursdaytheGCCI

saidthecountry'seconomyis one of the fastest-growing in the world, with oil revenues generating hundreds of millions of US dollars annually The business body said according to its own statistics, the Bank of Guyana has failed to intervene in the ongoing foreign currency shortage issue, despite the Private Sector complaining of a lack ofUSdollarssince2019.

“Therefore, the Chamber views the Central Bank's inaction to activate mitigating strategies to address the foreign currency situation as a disregard for business.

The GCCI will continue to advocate this cause in hopes that a thorough, independent investigation is

...bank says chamber ignorant about what influences availability and pricing of foreign currency

Bank of Guyana

with a clear mandate defined by law and in keeping with international norms and standards for central banking.

conducted in order to uncover the root cause. An independent intervention is needed since the GCCI has lost confidence in the leadership of the Bank of Guyana or its capacity to implement policies that will

guide Guyana's financial sector to support growth being experienced in the real sector,”thestatementread.

Meanwhile, in a sharp responsetheBankofGuyana (BoG) said it is an independent central bank

“Its objectives include fostering domestic price stability through the promotion of stable credit and exchange conditions. ThelawestablishingtheBoG also stipulates that the Guyana Dollar is a freely floating currency, traded in a market whose prices are determined by prevailing market conditions, that is to saydemandandsupply.”The bank said the GCCI appears to be of the mistaken impression that the BoG exists to ensure that foreign currency is available to their membership at the times that they demand and at prices

that they demand. “This is simply not how an open market economy operates, andissimplynothowforeign currency availability and pricingaredeterminedwhere floating currencies are concerned The GCCI's energies would be better spent engaging either the banks or the bankers association, who are also members of the private sector, with a view to better understanding the factors thatinfluencetheavailability and pricing of foreign currency in the domestic market. The BoG remains committed to discharging its mandate and to engaging with the private sector on matters of concern to them in a mutually respectful manner.”

Map showing the location of the Corentyne Block and the Wei-1 well

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor-In-Chief:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

SHAMS AND SCAMS

We suspected it, came to know it, and said it. We have saiditrighthereandoften,sothatourfellowcitizenswould havetheclearestideaofwhatisatworkwiththeirwealth. At least, how it is managed, with the shafts and scams that are laid on the head of naïve, gullible Guyanese. Now a companyfromJapanopeneditsmouthandspoketothetruth ofthewaythingsreallyareinGuyana’soilsector

Theproject’s“fundamentalsaresostrong,thatsanction by ExxonMobil and its partners on the prolific Stabroek Blockareseenasaformalityonceregulatoryapprovalsare inplace.”

ThecompanyisMODEC,aJapaneseFloaterSpecialist, over which Mr Takeshi Kanamori, is President and Chief ExecutiveOfficer(‘ApprovalofExxon’s5thoilprojectonly aformalityforus-FPSObuilder’,KNMarch1). Ifanybody doesknowaboutwhatisactuallyhappeningwiththe5thoil project,Uaru,thenitisMODEC andMr Kanamoriwhoare bestpositioned. TheyknowmorethanwhatmostGuyanese know,andwebelievethatthecompanyisabsolutelyrightin expressingconfidenceinpublicthatapprovalfortheproject isamere“formality.”

Thishastobeajoke,abig,runningjokebeingplayedon theownersofthiswealth,theGuyanesepeople. ThePPPC Government pretends that there is careful weighing of the pros and cons of the 5th project, when all that is happening behindthescenesisacombinationoffarceandfolly Forthe company to be this bold, already on the move with preparations, it means that strong assurances have been giventhatthereisnothingtoworryaboutsincethereisnone ingovernmentalcornersholdingthingsup.

It confirms what we at this paper have been saying all along.

First,itisthatongoingpublicconsultationsareapretense at giving the Guyanese people a say in their oil business. Second, that the approval process of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an exercise in impotence and trickery Andthird,thatthepronouncementsofgovernment officials are not to be taken seriously because they lack credibility

Allofthesegamesareintendedtodonothingbutmock theGuyanesepeople,givethemalittlehopethatsomething is going on with their benefit in mind, and that government andleadersshouldbetrusted.

Thiscannotbe,isnotwithwhatishappening;notwhen the checks and protections, through honest and diligent official efforts, are not being thought through, and not worked through to the finest detail. Instead, what we have distils to “formality” as was said very clearly by foreign sources. It is even more insulting to Guyanese, more contemptuousoftheirinterests,whentheirowngovernment andleaderslackthecouragetosharewiththemthetruthsof howouroilpatrimonyisbeingmanaged.

The irony, the mockery, is that we have to depend on foreigners for information on developments in our rich oil sector

Asaddedproofofwherethingsstandinthiscountry,itis ExxonMobilthatisinformingGuyanesethatitwasissuedall thatisrequiredforitsextensiveandcontinuousworkinthe Demerara River, relative to the laying of pipelines to the Wales gas-to-energy terminal. ExxonMobil was kind enoughtosharewithcitizensthatGuyana’sEPAhadreleased the necessary permit on November 25, 2022. As we thank ExxonMobil for this rare openness (self-protective, to be sure),wewonderwherethelocalEPAis,andfromwherethis informationshouldbecoming-infact,shouldhavebeenwith Guyaneseoverthreemonthsago.

This is the ugly, unhappy state of affairs with Guyana’s fabulously rich oil sector Guyanese scrap around for information so that they can have some clarity regarding whatisgoingon,andthishastocomefromforeigners.

The livelihood of our fisherfolk, welfare of our communities areat stake, and this is the level of disrespect thatisdealttoGuyanesebytheirownpeople,thoseinplaces ofauthorityandtrust. WithagovernmentlikethePPPC,still worseshouldbeexpected,forthereisnotruthinit.

This Parliament intended to muzzle the opposition?

DEAREDITOR, I have seen publications ontheawardingofcontracts by the Central Housing and Planning Authority, via the Ministry of Housing and Water and have a few concerns:

1 Budget 2023 was passed on February 2, 2023, less than four weeks and already the Ministry has signed contracts, totaling $54B.

My concern is that the analysis, scrutiny and awarding of these projects were quickly done Something seems off here. I guess the competent authority,beingtheMinistry of Housing and Water can provide explanations to taxpayers. 2. Many of the contracts signed favour one ethnic grouping. In some cases, one contractor received several contracts. Editor,howcanthisbefair?

The breakdown of these awardsconfirmstheanalysis and findings byAttorney-atLaw, Mr Nigel Hughes and

Financial Accountant, Mr. NigelHindsetal.

3. I have noticed several new contractors in the list published Like many Guyanese, I would like the MinistryofHousingtomake public: names of the principals for these new companies, when were they registered, list all projects done by these companies (this should include sums, period and for which executing agency), for the lastfiveyears.

4 What procurement systemwasusedinselecting these contractors? I am requesting that the Ministry makepublictheprocessthey followed,andcriteriausedto awardthesecontracts.

Editor, as a Member of Parliament,Iamaccountable to my constituents and should be able to answer queriesofthisnature.

The PPPC’s lack of accountability of our resources must come to an end and they must be reminded that the funds

released by the Ministry of Finance are not from the party’sslushfund.

U n f o r t u n a t e l y, Parliamentary sittings are farcical,theydonotallowfor answers to queries of this nature Questions and motions submitted by Opposition Members of Parliament, are amended, or disallowed with little or no prior consultation by the PPPCSpeaker,Mr Manzoor Nadir, MP For example, recently,mycolleague,Hon. Catherine Hughes, MP submitted questions on the very controversial “gas-toenergyproject.”

S p e a k e r N a d i r disallowed the questions, stating that “Mr Winston Brassington, who heads a department overseeing this project, has provided information at the just concluded, oil and gas conference.”

Editor, I have found the actions and decisions by Speaker Nadir to be partial andbiased.Questionsraised

pertaining to releases made against budgeted items are also usually disallowed by the Speaker Is this Parliament intended to muzzle the opposition? The modus operandi reeks of undemocratic parliamentary conduct.

Several months ago, I publicly requested Hon CollinCroaltomakepublica chronological list of lands allocated since August 2, 2020 to support his outrageous propaganda about land allocations. To datethisinformationhasnot beenmadeavailable.Editor, I hope that in the name of transparency, accountability and good governance Mr Croal will acquiesce to my request.

I also take note of the PPPC’s attempt to mislead the public, again, with their misinformation about the reasons behind EITI’s temporarysuspension.

Sincerely,

AnnetteFerguson MemberofParliament

Has the Pre-Occupation with Exxon Oil Contract Unwittingly Squeezed Out Constitutional Reform from center stage?

DEAREDITOR,

The innumerable letters and commentaries on the Exxon & Partners’ oil contract has unwittingly thrownconstitutionalreform (CORE) to the periphery of the political landscape, despite Guyanese becoming amenable to reform since 2001.

Prior to this, Guyana ‘s e x p e r i e n c e w i t h constitutional reform has beenoneofdistrust,asitwas manipulated to (I) remove a political party (PPPC) from government (in 1953 and 1964) and (ii) catapult another political party (PNC) into government (in 1964) and allowed it (PNC) to consolidate state power (1980) and abolished all referenda(1978).

The constitutional reform process that resulted in the enactment of 200+ amendments in 2001 in accordance with the

CARICOM brokered Herdmanston Accord has neutralized distrust for CORE.

However, this change in attitude has not given rise to any significant momentum for constitutional reform

withinthelast8years;rather thepositionofCOREonthe political radar has been overtaken by the relentless pounding of the Exxon oil contractbyanalysts,writers, andcommentators.

Notwithstanding, this departure does not necessarily signal a lack of interest in constitutional change; rather it forces a reordering of priorities and shows how the public’s perception could shift depending on their interpretation of social reality

Civil society groups, politicians, and individuals believe that constitutional reformincertainareascould lead to good governance, improved national development, less societal tension, and fair distribution ofnationalresources.

This is how one nonpartisan group, RISE describes the need for constitutional reform: “if implementeditwouldleadto executive accountability, racialharmonyandpolitical, economic and social inclusivity.”

Here are multiple and d i v e r s e v i e w s o n

constitutional reform that have been generated from focused interviews on a sampleofGuyanese.

These views do not necessarily reflect those of the wider Guyanese population.

It is expected that intensive community engagements would determine which, or any of these, would subsequently translate into constitutional amendments.

( 1 ) H o w w o u l d constitutional reform improve the level of governance and expand inclusivity?

political choice at a referendum be preserved?

(6) Would constitutional change aid in the promotion of One Guyana and fairness in allocation of resources?

(7) Would there be any consideration for the restoration of a bicameral legislature that is a common feature in CARICOM countries?

(8)Wouldelectiontothe second chamber (senate) be on a first past the post system?

Hereareotherissues:

(

2 ) Wo u l d a n y consideration be given to powersharing?

(3) What type of civil sanction should be imposed for breaches of the constitution, and should there be established a Constitutional Tribunal to oversee constitutional compliance?

(4) Should the people have the right to recall p a r l i a m e n t a r y representatives despite the listmethodofvoting?

(5) Would the people’s right to exercise their

(9)Giventhedisparityin judicial sentencing, would anyconsiderationbegivento the establishment of sentencingguidelinesforthe courts?

(10) Aren’t the existing libellawsstiflingfreedomof expression and the freedom ofthepress?

(11). Why should the Chancellor of the Judiciary and the Chief Justic sit as official members of the J u d i c i a l S e r v i c e Commission where they decide who would become one of their colleagues (a Judge)? Isn’t this a conflict ofinterest;whycan’ttheir

(Continuedonpage6)

Donald Gajraj behaved foolishly

DEAREDITOR,

OnWednesdaylastweek (22ndFebruary), an ugly partisanconfrontation,which saysnothinginfavourofthe principals involved, took place between the Chairman of Regional 4, Mr Daniel Seeram, and the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Mr Donald Gajraj, at an event at what was supposed tobeanon-partisannational event in celebration of Mashramani.Whatoccurred was filmed, widely transmitted on Facebook, subjecttoanumberofloaded letters in the press and, very sadly, represents the abject failure of some of our leading politicians to understandtheconsequences of their actions and the damage that they do to our people and our country in dividingus.

In absolute contrast, when enjoying an overnight last Friday at Splashmins, after dinner,I watched a combined group of about 20 nurses and teachers together playing games around a bon fire They were from Berbice. They were both Indian and African Guyanese For me, they represented who we really are. They were the epitome of what PresidentAli means when he speaks of ‘One

Guyana’.

Needless to say, what occurred at the Region 4 Mashramani event should neverhavehappened.Tohis credit,Mr Seeram,speaking asChairman,spokewell.He spoke first of “social cohesion” He spoke of Region 4 as a diverse communitytranscendingthe boundaries of race, religion and the background of the varying political parties. He recognized the present and past Minister of Health who werepresentatthemeeting. Hewentontosaythathe detested “petty politics, immaturepoliticsinthisday and age”. He said he shakes thehandsofallstakeholders who are willing to work together to make Guyana better. He made a call for us all to shake hands and work together

Hecalledforeveryoneto walk in the same direction. Hemadethepointthatifwe are all in the same boat and paddleindifferentdirections we would be going nowhere very quickly He recognized representatives from the government and from the opposition under what he described as “this big tent”.Heclaimedamantraof unity and pledged that as long as he was there they would work through their

d i ff e r e n c e s w h i l e recognizingthat“democracy ismessy”.

Itwastherightspeechfor therighttime.

Mr Seeramthenwenton to claim credit for consultation leading to decisions, but it was shortly after making that point that he, in fact, as my enquiries later revealed, departed entirelyfromtheprogramme agreed upon between himself and REO Gajraj, doingexactlytheopposite.

Having concluded his speech and thanked everyone, Seeram suddenly and surprisingly sought to introduce Parliamentarian Cathy Hughes to speak, offeringtheexcusethatthere was no female on the programme, introducing an unscheduled political advocatefromanopposition party to which Mr Seeram happenstobelong.

Immediately, Mr Gajraj, whowasstandingbehindMr Seeram, stepped forward to take the mic from Mr Seeram who held on to the mic and stepped away, resulting in the most unseemlyexhibitionofthese two senior politicians wrestling over its possession Gajraj clearly intended that Cathy Hughes should not speak Not

s u r p r i s i n g l y, t h e APNU+AFC has sought to make political mileage from theincidentclaimingthatthe REO’s action was the antithesis of ‘One Guyana’, and,indeed,itwas.

It transpires, however, that this is not the first time that Mr Seeram has sought to “hijack”, according to the PPP, an agreed agenda for political purpose Mr Donald Gajraj, instead of rising above the political gamesmanship,losthiscool, took the bait and behaved foolishly

What might otherwise have been a truly commendable national event, proved to be yet another example of the intolerablefailureofsomeof ourpoliticalleaderstograsp the opportunity for putting nation and people before partypolitics.

I suspect that neither the leadershipofthePPPnorthe PNCwillagreewithme,that both Seeram and Gajraj should bury the hatchet, apologize to each other, shake hands and follow the example of the nurses and teachers I enjoyed watching just being Guyanese around the bon fire living and playingtogether

Yourssincerely, KitNascimento

Are fishermen to be simply ‘collateral damage’ to the oil companies and contractors?

DEAREDITOR,

Please allow me to respond to ExxonMobil Guyana’s Media Advisor, KwesiIsles,whoyouquoted in your article ‘Surveys in Demerara River approved byEPAforpipelineworks–Exxon’in KN on March 01, 2023. I appreciate that the capital-intensive nature of thepetroleumsectorforcesa ‘hurry, hurry’ approach, exacerbated in Guyana by the insistent call by Vice PresidentBharratJagdeofor even faster exploitation of the non-renewable offshore resource.

The riskiness of this approach makes even more serious the continued illegality of the operations becauseoftheabsenceofthe full liability coverage r e q u i r e d i n t h e environmental permits issued by Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency

Thisillegalityextendsto the Gas-to-Energy project. The EPA permit issued on November 2022 (reference number20210528,postedto the EPA website only on January 15 2023 and to the www petroleum gov gy

websiteonJanuary102023) requires in section 119 the provision of one or more legally binding agreements for full liability coverage by the parent company or affiliate companies No such agreement has apparentlybeenmade.

Let us contrast the areas being placed off-limits by MARAD Notices to Mariners number 30 (2023) = 70 square nautical miles, andnumber31(2023)=802 square nautical miles with the figure 9.1-22 Fishing pointsusedbytheLaGrange onboard supervisor, page 946ofvolume1oftheEIAfor the Gas-to-Energy project, November2022.

This figure also shows the fishing area used by just this one fisherman from La Grange,aportwhichhad22 registered artisanal boats (GY-EITI report for 2018). Clearly,theexclusionsbeing imposed by MARAD to satisfy ExxonMobil greatly exceed the actual area requiredtotrenchforandlay the12-inchdiameterGas-toEnergy pipeline which is described in the 3-volume EIA.ThisEIA,preparedby (Continuedonpage6)

International Labour Conventions and Guyana’s Labour Policy

DEAREDITOR,

Itwouldbeappreciatedif youkindlypublishthisletter, calling attention for the observance of international labourconventionsaspartof Guyana’s labour laws, particularly at this time with the establishment of many new foreign and local companies in Guyana. It is the responsibility of Government’s Ministry of Labour and state agencies, Trade Unions and their organizations, and Employers and their organizations to observe in practice the requirements of international labour conventions ratified by the Government of Guyana since1966whenitbecameof Member of the UN International Labour Organization.

The International LabourConventionsofthe UN International Labour Organisation ratified by Guyana,areintegrallypart

of in Guyana’s Labour policy. Guyana has international treaty obligations to bring its laws and practice (where this has notbeendonealready)inline withallratifiedConventions andtohonourtheobligations ofitsmembershipinkeeping with the Constitution of the International Labour Organisation. The following ratifiedConventionsaddress the fundamental principles and rights at work; employment and decent income; social protection; and tripartism and social dialogue.

Convention No. 29 –Forced Labour 1930: Calls forthesuppressionoftheuse of all forms of forced or compulsory labour except for five categories of work under certain conditions and guarantees – compulsory militaryservice,certaincivic obligations, prison labour, work in case of emergency, and minor communal

services.

Convention No. 87: Freedom of Association and Protection of right to organize,1948:Providesfor workers’ and employers’ right, freely exercised to form and join organizations of their own choosing to further and defend their interests.Such organizations have the right to write their own constitutions and rules, elect their representatives or executives, administer and manage their own programme of activities without restriction and interference by public authorities in the lawful exerciseoftheserights.

Convention No. 98 –Right to organize and collective bargaining, 1949: Calls for adequate protection for unions exercising their right to organize, and the promotion of voluntary collective bargaining to regulate terms and conditions of

e m p l o y m e n t T h i s convention does not deal with the position of civil servants;theyaregiventhese same rights under ConventionNo.151.

Convention No. 100 –Equal Remuneration, 1951: This Convention requires the application of principle of equal remuneration for women and men for work of equal value It defines equal remuneration for work of equal value as remuneration e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h o u t discrimination based on sex, andwhichrequiresobjective appraisalofjobsbasedonthe worktobeperformed,asone ofthemeansofgivingeffect to this Convention with the co-operation of employers’ andworkers’organizations.

Convention No 105 –Abolition of forced labour, 1957: Calls for the prohibitionoftherecourseto forcedorcompulsorylabour in any form in the following

Arefishermentobesimply‘collateraldamage’to...

Frompage5

Resources Management consultancyandpublishedin November 2022, has numerousreferencestofish:

Volume 1, main text, 1418 pages, 339 references tofish

Volume 2, appendices A to T, 2714 pages, 297 referencestofish

Volume 3, management plans, 1886 pages, 180 referencestofish.

One of the subcontractors for the EIA, E a r t h & M a r i n e Environmental Consultants – EAME, in appendix F (November2021)ofvolume 2 of the EIA on page 1089, wrote that ‘the pipeline construction and operation may affect fishing in this zone…shouldbeconsidered in any ESIA undertaken for the project’ Has that happened?

Inpart,yes. Manypages in the main text, chapters 5 and9involume1oftheEIA, draw on data from previous EIAs for the Stabroek Tract licensed to EEPGL by the Production Sharing Agreement in 2016. These pages argue that the disruption to the fisheries around the estuary of the Demerara River will be mostly temporary and associated with the pipelaying work, but do not provide assurance from information from similar operationsinothercountries that effects of laying a 200kmpipelineonandinthesea

bedwillbeonlytemporary

The EIA recognises that there will be disruption and states that ‘EEPGL will establishaclaimsprocessto d e t e r m i n e t h e appropriateness of

compensation …’ (page 26 in Appendix T Stakeholder Comments of volume 2 of the EIA). This appendix T also writes that ‘The Consultantsareawareofthe challenges faced by the fishing sector’ (page 51). This seems to repeat a previous exercise: ‘Fishermen to meet over possible guidelines for ExxonMobil compensation’ (KNMarch19,2022).

Comment #120 (page 23 in Appendix T. Stakeholder Comments of volume 2 of the EIA) recordsthisexchange:

“Q:Willfishermenthat areexcludedfromthearea around the pipeline be compensatedforthatloss?

Draft response: Should Project-specificimpactson fisherfolk or fishing grounds access occur, the appropriate compensation framework will be developed to address these Project-specific impacts. This will be developed under the advice of the Guyana Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries Department. Sections 9.1.5, 9.1.6, 15.2, and the ESMMP (Section 3.2.2.3) have been updated to include additional information provided in thisresponse.”

So we could expect considerable attention to fishing and fishermen in the EPA’s environmental authorisationfortheGas-toEnergyproject? Whatdowe find? On both EPA and Petroleum websites we can find only fuzzy printings of this Permit – which cannot beword-searched. Thereare only two relevant sections 140and141:

“140.ThePermitHolder shall augment the ongoing stakeholder engagement process (along with relevant authorities) to identify commercial cargo, commercial fishing, and subsistence fishing vessel operators who might not ordinarilyreceiveNoticesto Mariners and, where possible, communicate with themregardingmajorvessel movements.[myitalics]

“141.ThePermitHolder shall proactively engage with nearshore artisanal fisherfolk in advance of construction and advertise a cut-offdateforallfisherfolk toremovefishingequipment from the nearshore Project ExclusionZone.”

‘Where possible’? – a company earning around USD 20 million gross per day from the two FPSOs only needs to communicate with fishermen ‘where possible’?

T h e F i s h e r i e s Department has the names and addresses of the boat owners when they annually register, and the names and locations of their customary

defined cases as a means of political coercion or education; mobilizing labour for purposes of economic development; as a means of labour discipline; a s p u n i s h m e n t f o r participating in strikes; and as a means of racial, social, national, or religious discrimination.

Convention 111 –

D i s c r i m i n a t i o n (Employment and Occupation),1958: The Convention requires the promotion of equality of opportunity and treatment in relation to employment and occupation and calls on statestodeclareandpursuea national policy designed to eliminate all forms of discrimination;defines discrimination as any distinction, exclusion or preference based on race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin

affecting equality of opportunity or treatment in employment and occupation; and covers access to

fishing grounds The Fisheries Department also hasthenamesandaddresses of every registered jackman or crewman. The Fisheries Department has the names and addresses of everyone who registered for the government COVID-related handouts to fisherfolk in 2022. Why should we be appalled at the casual treatmentoffisherfolkinthis EPA-issued Permit? Coastlandershaveoneofthe highest protein intakes from fish in any country, an average of 29.5 kg/person recorded by FAO in 2013, the last year surveyed. And there are about 15,000 fishermen (in 2014, according to EITI; https://wwwgyeitiorg/fishe ries). Exxon can contact every registered person and compensate each one. The number of fishermen is about the same as the number of GUYSUCO employees in 2015, so why should the fishermen be given less attention by the Government than the sugar workers?

And when can the excludedfishermenreturnto their traditional grounds after the pipelaying? Not a word in the EIA, not a word in the EPA Permit. Surely the Government can ensure that the fishermen are not simply ‘collateral damage’ to the oil companies and contractors?

Yourstruly,

JanetteBulkan

vocational training, employment, and terms and conditionsofemployment.

Convention No. 138 –

Minimum Age, 1973: The Convention calls for the abolition of child labour and emphasizesthatschoolisfor children, not work, (normallyanychildunder15 years of age); for the m i n i m u m a g e f o r employment to be not less thantheageofcompletionof compulsory education (normally not under 15 years);on states to pursue a national policy designed to abolishchildlabour;onstates to progressively raise the m i n i m u m a g e f o r employment consistent with the full physical and mental development of young persons;statesarealsocalled to ensure that the minimum age shall not be less than 18 years for any type of work which is likely to jeopardize the health, safety, or morals (or 16 years under certain conditions of protection of healthsafetyormorals,with

(Continuedonpage19)

HasthePre-Occupationwith...

Frompage4 expertise be tapped as exofficiomembers?

(12) To avoid future controversy, shouldn’t consideration be given for the setting of an upper limit on how many political appointees an incoming government can hire? (13)

With the rapid influx of migrants into Guyana, shouldn’t the existing citizenship qualifications be reviewed? (13)With respect to general elections would the appointment formula for the GECOM chair be revisited,aswellasthestatus of Guyanese voters who are residentoverseas?

An implied expectation o f c o n s t i t u t i o n a l amendments like those of 2001, was that these would have made it easier for opposition political parties and others to become involved in the decisionmaking process of the state. A central issue, inclusivity, did not bring them closer to the result they had intended.

At the political level, the mainoppositionpartyPNCR lost the 2001 general and regional elections as well as the 2006 elections, and in their frustration, they began to clamor for further constitutional changes to allow for such provisions as sharedgovernance(orpower sharing).

Despite political parties’ rhetorical flourishes on constitutional reform, the

drive in this regard has continued to subside since 2015 Besides a report generated by the coalition’s Constitutional Reform Consultative Commission (CRCC) after two years in office, no other important constitutionally related eventoccurredduring20152020. And after 2 years in office,thePPPCgovernment passed legislation in the expectation of moving forward the constitutional p r o c e s s w i t h t h e establishment of a 20member Constitutional ReformCommission(CRC). However, this move has not ignited any momentum for constitutional reform, while the Attorney General (AG) blames APNU+AFC for non-cooperation.

Mr Anil Nandlall concedes that if the Parliamentary Opposition does not get on board, the Government cannot proceed withconstitutionalreform.

Several challenges have emerged now for political parties such as: “would constitutional reform necessarily play to their advantage?” and “would constitutionalreformentaila re-calibration of their political strategy?” Finally, would LGE 2023 (Local Government Election) scheduled for June 11th be thecatalystforconstitutional reform?

Regards, Dr.TaraSingh

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AWAY WITH THE POLITICAL GAFFE

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Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo is back and today he will be hosting a news conference - his first for the year.

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We here at Kaieteur News hope that the briefing will address serious issues affecting this country and not the usual political gaffe and gamesmanship the VPmay want to engage in.

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At the moment, more and more Guyanese are growing concern about the lopsided ExxonMobil’s oil contract and this government’s reluctance to renegotiate it, even in the face of a mountain of reports warning this nation to take stock of the oil industry.

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Serious attention must be given to the industry and the government’s management of it.

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Guyanese are tired of the political posturing, tell this nation what they want to hear, which is how our oil resources will better their lives.

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Guyana yet to put system in place to verify beneficial ownership information

Arecent report on G u y a n a ' s vulnerability to money laundering has highlighted the absence of s y s t e m s t o v e r i f y information on the true beneficiaries of registered companies.

The report notes that beneficial ownership is clearly defined within the nation's Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) legislation, adding that competent authoritieshavethepowerto requestthisinformation.

Despite having the legislative backing, the report notes that the

Commercial Registry is incapable of effectively carrying out its duties in this respect.

The report states that the registry is still in the process of establishing an up-to-date electronic Beneficial Ownership database/register that can be accessed by competent authorities, reportingandotherentities.

Further, it was noted that Guyana's business sector e n c o m p a s s e s unincorporated familyo w n e d b u s i n e s s e s , incorporated medium and large corporations owned and operated by mainly locals and to a lesser extent regional and international

- does not enforce $40M fine, three year jail sentence for non-submission of data – Report

investorgroups.

It states that there has been an increase in annual registration of businesses with3,474entitiesregistered in 2016; 3,876 in 2017; 7,688 in 2018; and 13,892 in 2019.

Section Two of the AML/CFT Act defines beneficial owner as having ownership of at least 25% of the total shares Section 470(A) of the Companies Act was also amended to empower the Registrar of Companies to request

beneficial ownership information for companies.

The Act also gives investigators the power to request information on corporate structures, shareholders and legal entities.

K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that an AML Unit was established within the Commercial Registry to capture and maintain beneficial ownership information for legal entities.

Beneficial ownership information collected by the Commercial Registry includes individual names, addresses, national and tax identification details and percentage of beneficial ownership, which can be requested in writing by Competent Authorities, Reporting Entities or other entities operating within Guyana or from abroad and the information is provided

onceavailable.

The report states that there is currently no system in place to verify beneficial ownership information prior toincorporation.

T h e b e n e f i c i a l ownership information only becomes available after filing/incorporation or registration of a business.

Moreover, while the legislation provides for a fine of $10M-$ 40M and imprisonment of up to three years for non-submission of information; the report states that there is no strict enforcement.

A survey of reporting entities also revealed that it is “moderately difficult” to obtain such information

Under the AML/CFT Act, lawyers and other legal professionals, accountants and real estate agents, as reporting entities, are required to adequately identify and obtain

beneficial ownership information from their clients.

However, there is no indication that this is being done,thereportstates.

Asitrelatestoactingasa nominee, the document states that lawyers and other legal professionals, accountants and real estate agents, are not required under the law to disclose to the company's registry that they are nominees, and the identity of the person who nominatedthem.

Thereisalsonoevidence received to suggest that a criminal was identified as a beneficial owner of a legal entity, however, there is currently inadequate electronic databases of criminal records and beneficial information. In light of this, the report states that sufficient checks may not have been carried out or could not be carried out on beneficialownershippriorto the registration of their interest in new or existing legalentities.

It therefore means that the possibility exists that an individual with a criminal background can be a beneficial owner of a legal e n t i t y w i t h o u t t h e knowledge of the competent authorities and reporting entities.

THE GEORGETOWN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS BLUNDERED AGAIN!

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) is at odds with the Bank of Guyana. The GCCI has expressed dissatisfaction with the Central Bank’s “lack of action, vision and modern financialpoliciestoimprove access to financing for local businesses.”

This is strong and unfortunately misplaced criticisms.WhiletheBankof Guyana does have a role in determining monetary and exchange rate policies, to accusetheCentralBankofa lack of vision and modern financialpoliciestoimprove access to financing for local businesses have nothing at all to do with the present situationinwhichbusinesses are finding it difficult to sourceforeignexchange.

From its statement, it is clearthattheGCCIdoesnot haveaclueabouttheroleof the Central Bank. As the Bank of Guyana has rightly pointed out, “The GCCI appearstobeofthemistaken impression that the BoG exists to ensure that foreign currencyisavailabletotheir membershipatthetimesthat they demand and at prices that they demand. This is simply not how an open market economy operates, and is simply not how foreigncurrencyavailability and pricing are determined wherefloatingcurrenciesare concerned.”

ThepurposeoftheBank of Guyana is spelt out in the BankofGuyanaActof1998.

According to the Act, “the Bankshallbeguidedinallits actions by the objective of fostering domestic price

stability through the promotion of stable credit and exchange conditions, as well as sound financial intermediation conducive to thegrowthoftheeconomyof Guyana.”

The promotion of stable credit and exchange conditions,doesnotgrantto the Bank of Guyana the powers to intervene as it pleases in determining the exchange rate Guyana operatesafloatingexchange rate which is subject to market forces and market conditions – demand and supply In fact, the Bank of Guyana Act states that the Bank of Guyana shall determine the rates of exchange by reference to marketrates.

But while the country’s exchangerateissupposedto be determined by market forces,thisdoesnotpreclude the government from intervening in order to stabilize the exchange rate, and, as has been done in the past, to intervene to address concerns with the exchange rate Such concerns obviously would have to address issues relating to shortages.

Therightfulplaceforthe

Dem Boys Seh...

GCCItolobbyforvisionary intervention should be the MinistryofFinance.Itisthe Ministry which will have to see answers as to why foreign currency has suddenly difficult to obtain andtoalsodecidewhattypes of intervention need to be made.

In doing so, the government must not close itseyestothepossibilitythat thecurrencymarketsmaybe subject to manipulation by forces outside of the government. Nothing must beruledout.

An analysis of the foreign currency receipts and sales as well as the repatriation of overseas earnings by exporters, including gold exporters, maybehelpfulinidentifying the causes of the present problems. The possibility of someone cornering the markets to make a windfall profit must not be ruled out, asshouldcapitalflight.

There should be no intervention on the part of government without first there being an analysis as to the cause of the present situation. Giventhepowers of the Bank of Guyana to demand information from those banks and non-bank financial entities that deal withforeigncurrency,itmay be best placed to undertake such an analysis and to recommendpolicyactionsto thegovernment.

STRAY DOGS GAT RIGHTS TOO!

Itlooksasifdenationalcensuswillhave a problem dis year Deh gat just as many dogsindecountryaspeople.

Deh gat some people nah gat none and somehavedogs indemyard.Dogsgetting hireassecurityguardsineveryotheryardin Guyana.

Some people gat dogs as pet. Some peoplegatdogsaspredators.Debreedingof dogsisbigbusinessinGuyana.Certaindogs cancostmorethan$100,000.Anddatisfuh depuppy

But de problem is not with de domesticated dogs. De problem is with de amountofstraydogsindecountry Yuhgat plenty stray dogs all over de place. And someofdemlookwell-fed.

Longago,demusedtohaveastraydog catchinsquad.

Dem used to drive around and pick up dem stray dog and carry dem away Don’t

askdemboyswahdemusedtodowithdem stray dog. Dem can’t do dat these days because dogs gat just as much rights as humanbeings.

Onetimeamanisdrivingdownderoad when a stray dog came straight in his path. He swerved to avoid hitting the dog but ended up driving his vehicle into a trench. He sustained major injuries and had to be takentothehospital.

Hecalledhiswifefromthehospitaland in a weak voice told her, “Hey baby, I was drivingtoacoffeeshoptomeetMarywhen allofasudden,astraydogcameintheway I wasforcedtodriveintoatrench.Thecaris totaled. I have a broken leg, broken jaw, dislocated shoulder, and several injuries on myhead.”

Therewassilenceonthephone,thenthe wifeasked,“WhoisMary?” Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

As much as the GCCI statement constituted a misguided attack on the Bank of Guyana, it is not outside of the remit of the Bank of Guyana to seek to analyze the reasons for any instability in the country’s exchange rate or indeed for that matter instability in the availability of foreign currency

The government has intervened in past when it felt that the spread between the buying and selling rates of the US currency were too

great The APNU+AFC government had placed a $3 capon‘spreads’.

But the PPPC has unfortunately removed this cap and in the process may have been too liberal in loosening controls on our local foreign currency market Having market

forces determine the exchangeratedoesnotmean the absence of regulation or that market forces must be allowed to entrap the currency market That is something which both the

GCCI and the Bank of Guyananeedtounderstand.

(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.)

OP:ED

By GHK Lall

It was good to read of the encouraging d e v e l o p m e n t s coming out of the IDPADAG standoff between the PPP Government and the entity dedicated to serving the interests of an umbrella of BlackGuyaneseentities.

I absorbed the tempered mannerandmeasuredtoneof the Hon.Attorney General in s i g n a l i n g t h a t t h e government is readying to go tothenextstep.

That is, conversations between the two parties on the way forward; it is a far cry, a welcomed one, from where the two warring groups were, and still are Though through the m e c h a n i s m o f a intermediary, there is a the hope that stirs in that a mutually acceptable one would be found, and that some movement and closure to an open wound would occur

Some people waiting in

Good to see openness to conversation

the streams of Guyanese life need it urgently It is time to put a stop to this seeking of opportunity to rage, unsheathe daggers, and twist theknife.

I commend the senior jurist for her stance, her words intended to urge to a place of reducing this ugly rift,oneofhealing.

It took the firm, guiding handoftheChiefJustice(ag) tolaydownwhatisexpected, it is what I have said more times than I care to remember

Itisofwhathasprovedto work time and again, and in manysituations,oncethereis genuine trying, bolstered by theessencesofgoodfaith.

Attheendoftheday,after all the impassioned verbal salvos and potshots and s n i p i n g , m e n a n d countries and those at loggerheads have to gather around a table and put their heads together to arrive at some form of compromise.

I repeat for whatever it is

worth to passionate and prejudiced Guyanese (on both sides): conversation is a start that helps to a state of consensus that is sourced in compromise which, in turn, leadstocooperation.

Not necessarily of the fullest, but of better than whatwastherebefore.

If and when we see no logic in that, can even find reason to shrink from that, then what we have is not a country mined only with diversepeoples.

Whatwehaveisasociety bentonperpetuatinghostility and malice, and the results of those, which we know all too well, for having lived with such since we became a nation.

Reciprocal hatreds are what is nurtured and given every infusion for those to flourish.

Separately, to be candid, and sharply so, I think that theAG was given a dirty job to do, that of cleanup officer Isaythiswiththeregarddue. The fact is that his senior did

not speak well, and in a roiling way, which led to the matter being taken to the courts, with this default situation,thishalfwayhouse, resulting.

I have always said that if the people at IDPADA-G engaged in any hanky-panky with the monies entrusted to them, then the book must be thrownatthem.

To this date, not even a hint of such action has been indicated; or, as I sense, dare toshowitshead.

This confirms for me that there was nothing there to begin with on that accusation about money being misused, asinfraudcommitted.

Months have elapsed since the diatribes that raged were uttered; since then, there have been some ineffectual pawing, grasping for straws, by the PPP Government.

The leadership has come up with smoke, hence the willingness of theAG, likely atthebehestofhiscomrades, tocloseoutthismatter

Though there is stillafarwaytogo, the important thing to note is that there is some clearing of the throat, and leaningsintheright direction. Because all the while, the p e o p l e t h a t IDPADA-G serves arelefthangingina position that is far fromheartening.

As also said before, I would exhort the man bringing suit, Mr Vincent Alexander of IDPADA-G, to c o n s i d e r b e i n g m a g n a n i m o u s , a n d withdrawing same My point, my vision, is that we are too much eyeball to eyeball,andyankingouteach other'stongue.

This is not sustainable; it is definitely not in the best interests of Guyana for us to keep being pitted against eachotherinhostilebunkers, with nothing but a heavily mined no man's land separating.

There would be no better hand of statesmanship; I venture to say of friendship. Indeed,somehardandheated things were said, and some abrasive wrongs inflicted. Still, I urge letting bygones bebygones. For if and when we can't do so, then all we live with is the circling following the same dispiriting and divisive track.

I trust that early closure willfollowinthislamentable matter, so that some state of normalcy in IDPADA-G's organization and operations could resume, so that the waitingcanbeassisted.

GHK Lall

Exxon hopeful Govt. will grant fifth production

licence within two months

- Plans to proceed “full speed ahead”

Ex x o n M o b i l Guyana plans to proceed “full speed ahead” following the grantingofitsfifthPetroleum Production Licence (PPL), hopefully within two months by the Government of Guyana.

Thisdisclosurewasmade by Exxon's local subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), in-country Projects Manager, Anthony Jackson, during the final public disclosure meeting on its fifth project (Uaru Development), which was held at the Umana Yana in

Kingston, Georgetown, on Wednesday

Exxon currently has four operations with regards to development in Guyana's StabroekBlocknamely:Liza I,II,PayaraandYellowtail.

TheUaruprojectistheoil major's fifth project in the prolific Stabroek Block which has 11 billion proven barrelsofoil.

The Uaru field which holds over 1.3 billion barrels of oil is expected to cost Guyana over US$12B and 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 since2015.

Given that Exxon has already applied for an EnvironmentalPermitforthe project, a mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was conducted before Guyana's Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)candetermine whether it will authorize the project.

On Wednesday, Jackson reiterated that the Uaru is Exxon's fifth proposed project and explained that they have not been granted a P P L a s y e t b y t h e

Governmenttomoveahead.

“That (production license) is going to be a part of the EIA and receiving environmental permit is part of that process and then we will engage with the government following the environmental permitting process…”Jacksonsaid.

H e c o n t i n u e d , “Hopefullyinthenextmonth or two we will achieve the production licence for the Uaru development and we will proceed with the project fullspeedahead.”

Kaieteur News had reported that the Uaru discoveryinvolvestwoparts.

I n J a n u a r y 2 0 2 0 , ExxonMobil announced that Uaru-1 was their 16th discovery in the Stabroek Block. The well encountered approximately 94 feet (29 meters) of high-quality oilbearing sandstone reservoir and was drilled in 6,342 feet (1,933meters)ofwater

ExxonMobil said last April that Uaru-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 oilequivalentbarrels.

Drilling at Uaru-2 encountered approximately 120 feet (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 of the Uaru-1well.

I n J a n u a r y, t h i s publication reported that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in its

December 2022 study emphasised that Guyana's oil and gas industry is moving too fast for the country's limitedskilledworkforce.

It was reported that while Guyana's oil resources have placed it among the top petroleum producers in the world, the country's lack of technical expertise and workforce capacity continue tobeabugbear In May 2022, the Government gave Exxon the green light when they issued a production license for Exxon's fourth project (US$10B Yellowtail Development) With Government persistent in accelerating the industry –the ILO reports states that such a move can end badly forGuyana.

Importantly, the deadline for the review of the Uaru Development Project EIA is on March 9, 2023 The document can be found using t h e f o l l o w i n g l i n k : https://epaguyana.org/downl oad/uaru-eia/

Police want help to identify body found at Bee Hive

TheGuyanaPolice

Force (GPF)

w a n t s t h e public's help to identify the body of a man found on February 23 last, along the EastCoastDemerara(ECD) Highway in the vicinity of BeeHive.

Police believe that the dead man might be between 50 and 55-years old. He measures five feet, two inches tall and is slimly-

builtandofmixed-race.

H i s b o d y w a s discovered, clad in a multicoloured plait shirt, a white Hollister branded T-Shirt along with a pair of black pants. Relatives or anyone with information that may assistinidentifyingthedead man are asked to contact the Cove and John Police Station on Telephone numbers 229-2019 or 2256411.

EEPGL in-country Projects Manager, Anthony Jackson

Wildlife Trader gets three years for trafficking Venezuelan men

Wildlife Trader, Feezal Shaw who was found guilty last month of trafficking in persons, was on Wednesday sentenced to threeyearsimprisonmentforthecrime.

Shaw,ofSoesdykePublicRoadappeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty and was also ordered to pay $2,127,000 in restitution to the survivor. This restitution request was presented by a senior officer attached to the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security's Counter-Trafficking in Persons Unit as the Unit continues to support survivorsofthisegregiousact.

It was reported that the businessman is accusedoftraffickingtwoVenezuelanmento workonhisfarm.

According to a release issued by the Ministry of Human Services, the Ministry has been closely following this case since 2018. Representatives of the Ministry have appeared at every hearing and supported the survivors The convicted businessman broughtthevictimsfromanothercountryand forcedthemtoworkonwhatiscalleda'local zoo.'

The conditions in which the survivors were forced to work can only be described as inhumane and subjected to substandard livingconditions,theMinistryshared.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud said, “The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security's Counter-Trafficking in Persons Unit has been actively working to ensure personswhoengageinTraffickinginPersons facethefullforceofthelawandtodayweare

satisfiedthatthereisnotonlyaconvictionbut restitution has been awarded to the victim to see The Ministry is serious when it comes to humantrafficking.”

She added that her ministry has also been doing a lot of countrywide and specialized sensitization to heighten awareness and encouragereportingofcasesoftraffickingin persons. The minister said too that support is providedtovictimsoftraffickinginpersons.

“Therestitutionisasignificantstepinthe right direction and I believe it will definitely letthepersonaffectedunderstandthatjustice isservedandIampleasedtoknowjustice

(Continued on page 24)

Man dies after crashing into culvert at Belle Vue

A Stanleytown man on Thursday died after crashing his car into a culvert at Belle Vue, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

Dead is Samlall Mohess, age 38, popularly known as 'Romesh'.

According to police, Mohess was speeding north along the western side of the BelleVue Public Road when he lost control of his White Toyota Axio motorcar and slammed into the culvert. The impact reportedly toppled the vehicle and it ended up in the trench. Cell

phonerecordedvideosofthe aftermath of the crash showed that public-spirited citizens did their best to save Mohess's life. At the scene, rescuers quickly got into action and pulled the car out of the trench, while a few men took off their clothes and plunged into the trench to pull him out of the vehicle andfromunderthewater

K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that Mohess was unconscious at the time and was still breathing when they took off with him to the West Demerara Regional

H o s p i t a l H e w a s pronounced dead on arrival atthehospital. Doctorsthere reported that he had sustained severe injuries to hisheadandbody

Dead: Samlall Mohess

The mangled car belonging to Mohess after it was pulled from the trench. (Photo credit: Guyana Chronicle)

Jailed: Feezal Shaw

Guyana paying over $320M daily to rent four drill ships in Stabroek Block

American drilling company, Noble Corporation is being paid over $80M (US$400,000) daily for each of its four drill ships that is being utilised in the Stabroek Block,byExxonMobilGuyana.

Owing to the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) Guyana signed onto with Exxon – all of the company's expense will be recovered. Under the deal, Exxon receives profits after 75 percent is withdrawn to cover operational expenses. In Noble's latest results review, the company disclosed that their day rate per rig is low-to-mid US$400,000, which is $80M Guyana Dollars or more. For every day that the four drill ships work, Guyana will have to foot the bill of $320M.

This is as a result of contract that Exxon awarded to Noble during the fourth-quarter of 2022, for an additional 7.4 rig years for ultra-deepwater drill ships Noble Tom Madden, Noble Sam Croft, Noble Don Taylor and Noble Bob Douglas to work in Guyana until November2025.

However, it should be noted that market-based day rates are reset twice per year (March 1, and September 1 each year) to the projected market rate at that time. On Wednesday, this publication contacted ExxonMobil Guyana to ascertain the exact rate the company is paying Noble for the four drill ships and how many days will each drill ships be working each year Up to press time, no response was received from the oil major

The rig market has been experiencingarevivalafteryearsof

doldrums and Noble is eyeing a big payday as it expects an increase in thedemandforultra-deepwaterrigs of between 12 and 15 units around the globe within the next 18 months, especially in places like BrazilandGuyana.

Noble's operating highlights and backlog revealed that the company marketed fleet of 16 drilling rigs was 91 percent during

the fourth quarter of 2022. This included seven ultra-deepwater rigs added following the merger that ended with Maersk Drilling. It was stated that Tier 1 drill ships area commanding increased day rates,aroundUS$400,000,andthat the company secured since early November 2022, 24 months of additional work for four sixth generation (6G) and seventh

generation (7G) drill ships at an averagerateaboveUS$420,000per day – the company did not mention ifthefour 6G and7G drillships are the ones deployed for Exxon's Guyanaoperations.

Commenting on Noble's outlook, the company's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Robert Eifler stated, “We continue to see a very promising fundamental setup

for the offshore drilling business, governed by increasingly tight industry utilisation, robust customer economics and demand growth visibility and, not least, rational capital allocation in our industry As the market improves, we remain focused on execution across all facets of our business, and are committed to returning capitaltoshareholders.”

Injured landscaping contractor sues Energy Ministry

Daily Express - A legal claim has been brought against the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries by a landscaping contractor who was seriously injured in an explosion at the National Petroleum Marketing CompanyLtd(NP)in2020.

The reason for the action was because the contractor, Sahadeo Khoon Khoon, said the ministry has refused to disclose to him the investigative report into the incident On Monday Justice Avason Quinlan-Williams granted permission to Khoon Khoon to file aclaimforjudicialreview

His contention is that he had been working as an independent contractor with NP for 16 years before the incident took place on December 11, 2020.At the time he was removing gasoline from a storagetankusingapumpandhose when the tank exploded, resulting in him suffering severe burns to his body Then-minister of energy

Franklin Khan stated that an investigation would have been carriedoutintotheincidentandthat

once completed, the report would havebeenmadepublic.

In June 2021, Khoon Khoon made an application under the Freedom of Information Act (FIOA) asking that the report be madeavailabletohim.

In his court filings, Khoon Khoon's attorneys, led by former attorney generalAnand Ramlogan, SC, said the report would help heal his psychological scars and was also necessary to assist as he intended to file separate litigation

forhisinjuries.

“The disclosure of the report will give him this peace of mind as he expects that it would address the dangers to the health and safety of workers which presented itself at the material time and make recommendations to prevent a repeatofthisincidentandminimise the risk of recurring,” the filings stated.However, in response to his first request, Khoon Khoon was informed that the report had not yet been completed Several months later he made another request but was again informed that the investigation was still ongoing.In Maylastyear,theinvestigationwas completed and the report was prepared. But in spite of this, it still wasnotdisclosed.

The ministry subsequently claimed the report could not immediately be disclosed as it was intended for submission in Parliament In the court filings, Khoon Khoon's attorneys argued that the ministry could not seek to rely on an exemption under the FOIA after Khan announced it

wouldbemadepublicfollowingits completion “The public has an interest in having investigative reports into explosions on state-run fuel entities provided for scrutiny and observations as to what went wrongandwhy,”thefilingsstated.

It went on to add that Khoon Khoon was frustrated and depressed by having to wait for such a long period of time to be furnished with the report but with nosuccess.

The attorneys said because of the injuries, their client's life has drastically changed since he is no longer gainfully employed given that he is physically incapable of working He is seeking a declaration from the court that the decisionoftheministrytowithhold the report was illegal and unreasonable.

In addition to that, he is also seekingtocompelthecourttoorder theministrytohaveitdisclosed.

The four Noble drill ships being utilised by Exxon in Guyana (Photo credit: Noble Corporation)

AppearingalongsideRamlogan are attorneys Jayanti Lutchmedial, Kent Samlal, Natasha Bisram, and SheldonSookram.

Armed bandits snatch $5M from woman

…accused arrested and released followingprotest byrelatives

A31-year-old m a n a g e r a t C a b a n a Marketing located at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and also of 1188 Eccles, East Coast Demerara (ECD) is reportedly a victim of armed robbery which occurred on February 27, 2023.The victim has been identified as Lois Lezama. According to Police, the robbery occurred at approximately 19:00h at the Jackpot and Lounge located atPortMourant,Berbice.

It is alleged that the robbery was committed by two identifiable males that were armed with small hand guns and was dressed in dark clothing.Lezama told police that for the past year, she along with other workers would visit Berbice business locations that have the jackpot machines to collect cash.

She alleged that around 19:00 hrs, she and two workers from the Cabana Marketing Company visited the Jackpot and Lounge Bar owned. The woman said she checked and collected a sum of $1.1 M and placed it into a black haversack with other cashtotalling$5,246,240.

Lezama said she exited thebar and was attemptingto enter her company vehicle thatwasparkedinfrontofthe business when she was pounced on by a male armed withablackhandgun.

He grabbed the bag from her hand but she held unto it, this resulted in the perpetrator dealing her three lashes to her right hand with the gun. The bag with the money was eventually taken and the perpetrator made goodhisescape.

Lezama said she made contact with the owner of the bar as well as her boss. The policewascontactedsome45 minutes later where a report was made. Upon the police's arrival, the area was canvassed for CCTV cameras to assist with the investigations Several persons, including Romel Thomas, were arrested' Meanwhile, following the arrest and detainment of RomelThomascalled'Govo', dozens of residents from Rose Hall Town, East Berbice Corentyne staged a peaceful protest along the Rose Hall Town Public Road yesterday over his arrest for the alleged robbery committed on Lezama at Portuguese Quarter, Port Mourant on February 23, 2023.

They also protested the manner in which the police c o n d u c t e d t h e i r investigations.

Thomas and other suspects were arrested on the night of the robbery following raids by the police. However, the residents along with relatives said that the accused was wrongfully arrested because he was not in the area when the crime wascommitted.Accordingto them, Thomas is innocent. Thomas's mother, Barbara Harry told Kaieteur News, while protesting, that her son returned home around 19:00 hrs and shortly after a friend visited and they both left to purchasefood.

"They leff and go by Sha Vehtobuyfood,thattimethe robbery done happen and dem int even know about robbery but the police go just so and pick up my son," the womantoldKaieteurNews.

The following day, Harry said she visited the police station where her son was heldandwasmadetowaitfor hours. She said she left and returned around 14:00h and was told that Thomas would beplacedonbail.

Shortly thereafter, Thomas was taken to the Albion Police Station where an identification parade was done.

After the police procedure at the Albion Police Station, Thomas was escorted to his mother's house.Whilethere,thepolice reportedly ransacked the property in search of stolen moneyandfirearms.

"Dem carry me son home and if you see what them do with my place, all the sugar, flour, everything dem dash way, he ask fuh lil water and the police knock way the waterfromhehand.Mewant

justice and me want dem to release my son because he na involved in that," the woman said.Meanwhile,afewhours aftertheprotest,Thomaswas released from police custody and the protesters left the PublicRoad.

Thomas, who spoke to KaieteurNewsviatelephone, saidthatheislefttraumatized from his experience of being arrested.

He maintained his innocenceandwentfurtherto state that he was never involved in criminal activities.

The accused explained that he was heading home from work around 7:00 PM on Monday when he saw a policevehicleparkedinfront thebusinessplace.Hesaidhe

passed the area and went home before leaving to purchasefoodwithafriendat a restaurant and bar located

opposite the business place wheretherobberyoccurred. Though thankful for his release, Thomas told

Kaieteur News that he is concerned that he could be chargedandjailedforacrime hedidnotcommit.

Residents and relatives of Romel Thomas peacefully protested his arrest along the Rose Hall Town Public Road

Romel Thomas mother, Barbara Harry (right – pink blouse) along with supporters stand on the Rose Hall Town Public Road on Thursday during a peaceful protest for his release from police custody.

St Lucia adopting CCJ as final court of appeal as court

CMC – The St Lucia ParliamentonTuesdaynight gave the green light for the island to have the Trinidadbased Caribbean Court of Justice(CCJ)asitsfinaland highestcourt,replacingitthe London-based Privy Council.

All 13 government legislatorswhowerepresent when the vote was taken supported the motion Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet, who had earlier walkedoutoftheParliament during a debate on another matter, did not participate in theCCJdebate.

The government needed a three-fourth special majority of the 17-member Parliamenttoamendthrough the Constitution of St Lucia Amendment Bill 2023 and, according to the Speaker Claudius Francis, the requirement was met when all 13 government members

voted in support of the motion that had been tabled by Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre Two government legislators are out of the countryonofficialbusiness

“It is a sad day that a former prime minister is not in the House to debate this bill,”Pierresaid,addingthat it showed the “scorn and contempt”Chastanethadfor thepopulation.

But speaking on a radio programme earlier, the United Workers Party (UWP) leader defended his decisiontowalkout,saying thatherepresentsthousands of people and would not be “silenced” by a “biased” Speaker

“People want to hear a different opinion and I am b e i n g d e n i e d t h e opportunity to speak,”

Chastanet told radio listeners

“Iamnotgoingtoallow

the voice of the Leader of the Opposition to be marginalised ” “There needs to be a challenge to what’s going on with the CCJbutIcan’tdoitalone,” he added, urging the population to express their feelings about the situation as well as the need for a r e f e r e n d u m . B u t government legislators, including former prime ministerDrKennyAnthony who drafted the CCJ legislation when he served asthecounselgeneralofthe Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat in Guyana, brushed aside the call,sayingthattheStLucia Constitution makes no requirement for a referendumbeforeacceding totheCCJ

Prime Minister Pierre said he intends to write the British government providing an update on the

move towards the CCJ in keeping with the agreement reached when the island a t t a i n e d p o l i t i c a l independence from Britain 44yearsago.Inaddition,he said he would also be informing former Jamaica prime minister PJ Patterson,

w h o i n e a r l i e r

correspondence had expressed confidence in St Lucia’s move and the experience of Anthony to helpguidetheprocess Hesaidhewouldinform Patterson that “Kenny did give us a lot of his

knowledge and we did pass thebill”.

Pierre said passage of the legislation made St Lucia “part of history, and the history books will record that on the 28th of February,StLuciabrokethe shacklesofcolonialism”

International Labour Conventions and Guyana’s Labour Policy...

Frompage6 adequate and specific instructions or vocational training) of young persons, the representative social partners having been consulted.

Convention No. 182 –

The Worst Forms of Child

Labour, 1999: The Convention is applicable to allpersonsunder18yearsof age, and requires ratifying states to take effective and immediate measures to prohibit and eliminate as a matter of urgency the worst formsofchildLabourdefined as “All forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, suchasthesaleandtrafficking ofchildren,debtbondageand serfdom and forced or compulsory labour, including forced or compulsory recruitmentofchildrenforuse in armed conflict;The use, in procuringorofferingofachild for prostitution, for the production of pornography or f o r p o r n o g r a p h i c performances; The use, procuringorofferingofachild for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs; “Workwhich,byitsnatureor thecircumstancesinwhichitis carriedout,islikelytoharmthe health, safety or morals of children”(Article3)

This Convention further calls for international cooperation among states in eliminating the worst forms of child labour; effective measures to implement and enforcetheprovisionsofthe Convention; the recognition of the importance of education in eliminating child labour; and special

measures to identify and reach out to children at risk, and to take account of the specialsituationofgirls.

Convention No. 151 –Labour Relations (Public Service)1978:Provides for the protection of public employees’righttoorganize and collective bargaining, procedures for dispute settlement through negotiations, conciliation, mediation, and arbitration. (This Convention confers similar rights flowing from ConventionNo.98).

Convention No. 94

Labour Clauses (Public Contracts), 1948: This Convention requires minimumlabourstandardsin the execution of public contracts involving expenditure of public funds awarded by central government authorities to contractors for the carrying out of any public workThis Convention alsoprovides for measures to ensure fair and reasonable conditions of health,safety,andwelfarefor workers, for a system of labour inspections, sanctions for breaches, and for measures to ensure that workers receive wages to whichtheyareentitledThese conditionsarealsoapplicable tosub-contractors

Convention No. 172 –Working Conditions (Hotels and Restaurants),1991: This Convention applies to workers employed within hotels, restaurants and similar establishments providing food, beverages, or both, and provides for basic conditions of work. Ratifying states agree to

adoptandapply,inamanner appropriate to national law, conditions and practice, a policy designed to improve the working conditions of workers in this sector; and ensure that the workers concerned are not excluded from any minimum national standards including social securitybenefitsforworkers ingeneral.

Convention No. 150 –Labour Administration, 1978: This Social Policy Convention calls for an effective system of labour administration whose f u n c t i o n s a n d responsibilities are properly coordinated with the participation of workers and employers and their organizations.Thefunctions and responsibilities include national labour policy and labour standards; industrial and labour relations including social dialogue and tripartism; labour and O S H i n s p e c t i o n s ; employment, manpower planning, and employment services; research, labour statistics, and HRD; and regional and international affairs.ConventionNo.81–Labour Inspection, 1947and C o n v e n t i o n 5 5 –Occupational Safety and Health. These Conventions togetherprovideforasystem of regular labour and safety inspections of commercial, industrial, and agricultural w o r k p l a c e s a n d undertakings The inspections are intended to secure the enforcement of legal provisions relating to conditions of work and the p r o t e c t i o n o f

e m p l o y e e s T h e s e Conventions also deal with the organization, structure, and functioning of inspection services; the responsibility of the central authority; and the functions of labour inspectors, for effective inspection services in industrial, commercial, a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l undertakings.

Convention No. 144 –Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards), 1976: This Convention calls for effective and meaningful consultation among the representatives of government, employers and trade unions on international labour standards and related matters Specifically, under this Convention, tripartite consultations are required on items on the agenda for the annual International Labour Conference;considerationand submission of ILO c o n v e n t i o n s a n d recommendations to the competent authority with a p p r o p r i a t e recommendations; reexamination of conventions, and recommendations for appropriate action; reports on ratifiedconventions,andother reports to the ILO; and proposals, if any, for denunciation of ratified conventions.

Convention No. 149 –Nursing Personnel, 1977: This Convention concerns employment and conditions of work and life of all categories of nursing personnel providing nursing care and nursing services

Ratifying states are required to adopt and apply, within national context, a policy concerning nursing services and nursing personnel, to promote the quantity and quality of nursing care necessary for the highest possible level of health for the population; and provide appropriate education and training, employment, working conditions, career prospects and remuneration that are likely to attract and retain nursing personnel in line with the conditions set outinthisConvention.

Convention No. 155Occupational Safety and health,1981.ThisConvention requires a coherent policy of occupational safety, and occupational health and the working environment This Convention applies to all branchesofeconomicactivity and to all workers including the public service employees and requires the enactment of appropriate laws and regulations

Regional and Other International Instruments on Labour MattersAs a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Guyana is committed and obligated to observe the labour policies of CARICOM as set out in its CharterofCivilSociety,andits

Declaration of Labour and Industrial Relations

Principles,1999

ArticleXIXoftheCharter of Civil Society provides for the right and protection of every worker tofreely belong to and participate in trade union activities;negotiate and bargaincollectively;betreated fairlyattheworkplace,andto

enjoy a safe, hygienic, and h e a l t h y w o r k i n g environment;reasonable remuneration, working conditions,andsocialsecurity; andto utilize/established machinery for the effective conductoflabourrelations

CARICOMDeclarationof Labour and Industrial Relations Principles outlines the general labour and industrial relations policy to which the CARICOM states aspire TheDeclarationreflects ILO Labour standards ( C o n v e n t i o n s a n d Recommendations). These standards relate tofreedom of association, collective b a r g a i n i n g , n o ndiscriminationinemployment and occupation, employment policy, labour administration, industrial dispute settlement, consultation,andtripartism

T h e U n i v e r s a l Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 of the United Nations, Article 23 states thateveryonehastherightto work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment; Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work; Everyonewhoworkshasthe right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity,andsupplemented,if necessary,byothermeansof social protection; Everyone hastherighttoformandjoin trade unions for the protection

Withthanks.

SamuelJ.Goolsarran

The Caribbean Court of Justice building in Trinidad – FP

PNC evicted from state property in Lethem for unauthorised use

WANTED

Wanted: Experienced Cashier, Cooks, Counter Person, Supervisor and Labourer. Apply @ Shanta's, 225 Camp and New Market Sts or WhatsApp: +592-6541361.

Cook and Domestic needed. Call: 223-5273/ 223-5274.

General Domestic needed to work in Herstelling, ages 35yrs and older. Call: 6970157.

Skilled Mason needed to do fine work, $10-12k per day. Call: 623-2900.

Clerical Assistant needed at Build Smart Construction & Supplies Ltd. 298 Kamoa St Lamaha Gardens. Age-18-55 yrs. Call: 226-9768, 225-7528.

Experienced Excavator Operator and Land Dredge workers wanted. Must have knowledge of chain saw. Call: 684-1030 between 8am4pm.

PORTERS WANTED FOR PVC CEILING. APPLY@ WHY PAY MORE TRADING, 7 PUBLIC RD HOUSTON E.B.D WITH APPLICATION.

Lorry Driver needed. Apply to RP'S Enterprise Area "K" Le Ressouvenir E.C.D. Call: 220-2818.

Domestic needed at East Coast Demerara, Enmore area. Call: 648-7868/ 6785764.

Reputable transportation service is seeking experienced Chauffeur with mini bus and hire car licence and also contract vehicles needed. Call: 645-0025.

Reliable male and female Security Officers and Supervisors needed! Military background will be an asset. Contact: 603-5140.

Experienced Pit Workers, Utility operaters (must have valid driver's license) and Cooks wanted for mining operation. Call: 697-2533.

Washbay Workers needed at Nandy Park. Call:2335227/682-1616.

Driver needed, ages 25 yrs and older. Must have a valid driver's license. Call: 6766379.

Elderly bus Driver wanted for route 32 and 31. Call: 678-1610.

VACANCY

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

Merchandisers and Receptionist needed. Email: info@ vegeworld.net or Call:2277714/ 223-3448.

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

Gardener / Handyman and Security Guards (day shift) needed. Call: 227-1961, 2271964, 623-6383.

Bike Rider needed to work in Georgetown. Call: 2237301-3 or email: info@ splashmins.com

Room attendant, Receptionist & Desk Staff needed, 2550 years old at 233 South Road Lacytown. Call: 2250198.

Live-in Caretaker, farm Workers, Labourers, Office Assistant, Fabricator/ Welder & Semi-skilled Worker. Call: 621-6969/ 615-7784.

Water Delivery Driver and Porter needed for E.C.D. Call:676-1363/ 692-6768.

Security Guards needed. Interested persons can make contact on tel #701-4000.

Female Cook needed for a cook shop in the Interior. Call/ WhatsApp: 698-5526/ 689-4461.

Female needed to work in a bar/ shop in the Interior. 6985526/ 689-4461.

One Massagist/ Physiotherapist needed. Call: 6159132.

One Clerk for TSI Eccles office. English & Mathematics, grade one or two, email application to: techserigy @yahoo.com or Call: 6159132.

Maintenance Guy needed, 25-50 years old at 233 South Road Lacytown. Call: 2250198.

SERVICES

Khemraj & Sons Landscaping specialize in selling, planting, trimming, treating, moulding plants, cutting down trees and spraying weeds, etc. Call: 627-5969/ 668-4964.

Elevate your brand with our professional Graphic design services. Call: 619-0007, 6295526.

VEHICLES FOR SALE

One CRV Honda, $3.3M negotiable and 1 Toyota Allion, $3.350 M, fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage . Contact: 649-0956.

New, American luxury, fully loaded Toyota Tacoma pick-up trucks and Nissan Frontiers pick-up trucks 2014-2017. Call: 693-4420, Email: cdmobileultrasound @gmail.com

PNCR meets US Officials over Region 9 office demolition

PNCR MP and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Amanza Walton-on Thursday met with US Embassy Officials to register the party’s anger and disgust at the recent State-sanctioned demolition of its office in Lethem, Region 9.

In a statement, the PNCR recalled that in the early hours of Thursday, Government agents, along with Police, descended on the PNCR Office, assaulted its officers and proceeded to begin the demolition of the building that had been occupied by the Party for almost 50 years.

In light of these events, MP Walton-Desir conveyed to the Diplomatic Community that it could not stand by and condone such political thuggery and State sponsored terrorism by the PPP Regime and that the Community had a duty to require that the PPPC Administration operate within the bounds of the law.

FOR RENT

4 acres of river side land & 18 acres of road side land on the E.B.D for rent/ lease. Call: 623-1615.

Two bedroom concrete, bottom flat. Call: 630-0961 after 5 PM.

One bedroom house for rent at 18th Av Diamond, E.B.D. Call: 657-2951, 612-9697.

One bedroom apartment for working couple/ single person $32,000 & $35,000 monthly, light & water included and one month security. Call: 623-0076.

Trump can be sued for Jan 6 riot injuries, Justice Dept says

AP — Former President Donald Trump can be sued by injured Capitol Police officers and Democratic lawmakers over the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the Justice Department said Thursday in a federal court case testing Trump’s legal vulnerability and the limits of executive power.

Although a president enjoys broad legal latitude to communicate to the public on matters of concern, the department wrote that “no part of a President’s official responsibilities includes the incitement of imminent private violence.

tial criminal liability for Trump or anyone else.

The Justice Department lawyers also wrote that they take no view on a lower court judge’s conclusion that those who sued Trump have “plausibly” alleged that his speech caused the riot. Nevertheless, the department wrote that that an appeals court should reject Trump’s claim of absolutely immunity.

in relation to the Capitol riot. Pence says he will fight the subpoena.

Trump is appealing a decision by a federal judge in Washington, who last year rejected efforts by the former president to toss out the conspiracy civil lawsuits filed by lawmakers and two Capitol police officers.

FOR SALE

One double Lot 80x160 on the east side of Friendship Public Road, $12M GYD neg. Call: 626-4234/ 6286212.

4 black & white pure breed German Shepard, fully vaccinated, 8 weeks old. Call: 626-0953/ 650-9998.

Pure breed German shepherd pups for sale. Call: 680-1828, 632-9022/ 639-4966.

SERVICES

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

For low cost repairs for AC units, refridgerators, freezers, gas stoves, washing machine, dryers, etc. Call: 629-4946, 225-4822.

By definition, such conduct plainly falls outside the President’s constitutional and statutory duties.”

The brief was filed by lawyers of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and has no bearing on a separate criminal investigation by a department special counsel into whether Trump can be criminally charged over efforts to undo President Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election ahead of the Capitol riot.

In fact, the lawyers note that they are not taking a position with respect to poten-

An email seeking comment was sent to an attorney for Trump on Thursday. Trump’s lawyers have argued he was acting within his official rights and had no intention to spark violence when he called on thousands of supporters to “march to the Capitol” and “fight like hell” before the riot erupted.

The case is among many legal woes facing Trump as he mounts another bid for the White House in 2024.

A prosecutor in Georgia has been investigating whether Trump and his allies broke the law as they tried to overturn his election defeat in that state. Trump is also under federal criminal investigation over top secret documents found at his Florida estate.

In the separate investigation into Trump and his allies’ efforts to overturn the election results, special counsel Jack Smith has subpoenaed former Vice President Mike Pence, who has said he will fight the subpoena.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Trump’s words during a rally before the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol were likely “words of incitement not protected by the First Amendment.”

The lawsuits, filed by Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., officers James Blassingame and Sidney Hemby, and later joined by other House Democrats, argue that Trump and others made “false and incendiary allegations of fraud and theft, and in direct response to the Defendant’s express calls for violence at the rally, a violent mob attacked the U.S. Capitol.”

The suits cite a federal civil rights law that was enacted to counter the Ku Klux Klan’s intimidation of officials.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

House & land for sale in East Patentia river side, 50x100. Call: 619-8626.

Besides investigating Trump, special counsel, Jack Smith, has subpoenaed former Vice President Mike Pence about his actions and what he might have witnessed

They describe in detail how Trump and others spread baseless claims of election fraud, both before and after the 2020 presidential election was declared, and charge that they helped to rile up the thousands of rioters before they stormed the Capitol.

The lawsuits seek damages for the physical and emotional injuries the plaintiffs sustained during the insurrection.

MP, Amanza Walton-Desir with Mr. Brian Hall, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission (and Political and Economic Counselor), and Mr. Howard Chyung, Political Officer.

GWI looking to spend $257M to drill more wells in Regions 7, 8 & 9

Du r i n g t h e presentation of this year’s budget, Senior Minister of Finance,Dr AshniSinghhad announcedthatanallocation of $1.4 billion will be spent to further upgrade and extendwatersupplysystems and construct wells in several hinterland communities of Regions

One, Two, Seven, Eight and Nine For hinterland communities in Regions

Seven, Eight and Nine, the government is ready to drill

Drilling

new wells at an estimated costof$257million.

This is according to this week’s opening of tenders, which revealed that the GuyanaWater Inc. (GWI) is seeking contractors to drill potable water wells at Paramakatoi in Region Eight,Westerbeck and Daag PointinRegionSevenandat threelotsinRegionNine.

Kaieteur News had reported during this week thatatadifferentopeningof tenders, GWI is looking to spend some $484 million to

drill new wells in Regions Four and Ten With the constructionofnewwells,it is the Government’s aim to ensure that all communities

across the country will have access to potable water by 2025.

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

SupplyandinstallationofmainsandfittingsalongEast BankPublicRoad,Grove,EastBankDemerara,Region4 forlots1to4.

MinistryofHealth Supplyanddeliveryofvehicles.

SupplyanddeliveryofARVdrugsforNAPSProgram2.

Supplyanddeliveryofbreast milksubstituteforprogramme3.

Supplyanddeliveryofwoodenpallets.

Supplyanddeliveryoftabletsenvelopesandziplockbags.

MinistryofEducation

Supervisionservicesfortheconstruction ofbuildingatKarasabai,Region9.

Designandsupervisionforconstructionofamodernschool building/complexandadormitorytohouse720studentsin classrooms,210pupilsinthedormand25teachers.

GuyanaWaterInc.(GWI)

potablewaterwellsinParamakatoi,Region8.

DrillingpotablewaterwellsinWesterbeck andDaagPoint,LowerMazaruni,Region7.

DrillingofpotablewaterwellsinRegion9forLots1to3.

Labourer drowns in Perseverance Canal

A54-year-old

l a b o u r e r reportedly fell into a canal at Perseverance, Essequibo Coast, Region Two and drowned on Thursday

The labourer has been identified as Gharbaran Rampattie.

Reports are that Rampattie met his demise between 01:00h and 06:30h and that his body was

discovered by a vendor who wasonherwaytowork.

Meanwhile, Rampattie's relativessaidthathesuffered from epilepsy and was a heavydrinker

His wife recalled seeing himleavetheirhomearound 01:00h in his bare underpants.

He was reportedly seen pushing his bicycle towards a dam. Investigations are ongoing.

PNCevictedfromstate...

Frompage21 said, rights arising from international treaties ‘shall berespected…’”

The psychologically toil and financial consequences have been heavy for the victims Civilised society must therefore condemn these barbarity not look the other way. Forde said there can be no justification for this barbarity irrespective of our political or apolitical involvement. We are all Guyanese and in unison should resoundingly condemn and distance ourselves from President Ali’s brutish directives. As citizens of this beloved country in light of what’s

India G20: Bitter divisions over Ukraine war mar talks

BBC-Angryexchanges overRussia’swarinUkraine have dominated G20 talks, with host India saying the disagreements mean there willbenojointstatement.

happening we must also concern ourselves with the questions:- “What kind of society are we building? What standards are the PPP setting for younger Guyanese and Guyana’s future?”

Forde said Attorney General and Minister of LegalAffairs,Anil Nandlall SC.,M.P,,shouldinformthe nation whether he advised the head of state these actions are legal, permissible, in compliance with good governance, and representative of Ali’s ‘one Guyana’doctrine. Guyanese must ask who is next? None is safe from the gnawing clutchesofthePPP

Wildlife Trader gets three...

Frompage15 was served in this case.”

According to the media release, Head of the Unit, Tanisha Williams-Corbin saidthat“WeattheCounterTrafficking in Persons Unit are quite committed to our cause, we are committed to advocating and ensuring victimsofhumantrafficking getthenecessaryjusticethey deserve.

We are satisfied the perpetrator was brought to justice and also elated that the survivor will be compensated.”

In conclusion, the Ministry reiterates and encouragespersonstoreport allsuspiciousactivitiestothe hotline on 227-4083 or 6235030. For Spanish speaking persons, contact can be madeto624-0079.

TheUSsecretaryofstate said the meeting had been marred by Russia’s “unprovokedandunjustified war”.

Russia’sforeignminister accused the West of “blackmailandthreats”.

India had wanted to focus on other issues affecting developing nations, but it said the

Mr Blinken met Mr Lavrovforabout10minutes onthesidelinesandtoldhim the West would stand by Ukraine “for as long as it takes”, a senior state department official said. Mr Blinken also pressed Russia to rejoin the New Start nuclear arms control treaty that it recently withdrew fromandabidebytheterms.

Russian officials denied any negotiations had taken place. Earlier, Russia also accused the West of “burying” a deal to allow some Ukrainian grain

Modi had opened the session, warning that global divisions were putting sustainable development at risk.

“Many developing countriesarestrugglingwith unsustainable debts while trying to ensure food and energysecurity,”hesaid.

“They are also most affected by global warming causedbyrichercountries.”

It was a rare address by Mr Modi in English - a sign of how seriously he wanted hismessagetobetaken. He made no direct

participantshadbeenunable to reach a joint statement. Russia and China were the only states which refused to agreetocondemnthewar But India did succeed in its main objective of raising avoicefortheGlobalSouth and Mr Jaishankar said that “on the bulk of issues we were able to get an outcome document”.

There are still several months left for diplomacy before G20 leaders meet in September and Delhi will hopeititspresidencydoesn’t endonadisappointingnote.

differences over Ukraine “couldnotbereconciled”.

“We tried, but the gap between the countries was too much,” India’s foreign ministerSJaishankarsaid.

TheG20,whichincludes the world’s 19 wealthiest nations plus the European Union, accounts for 85% of global economic output and two-thirdsofitspopulation.

The group’s foreign ministers - including Russia’s Sergei Lavrov, Antony Blinken of the US andChina’sQinGang-were meeting in Delhi under India’spresidency Itwasthe first face-to-face meeting of the top US and Russian diplomats since the war began,justoverayearago.

exports - but the US countered by saying Moscow was hampering Ukrainianexports.

Meanwhile Russian officials said Moscow and Beijinghadagreedtooppose what they called Western blackmail and threats - but this hasn’t been confirmed byChina.

“We speak about manners. Well, our Western counterparts have gotten really bad with these,” Mr LavrovsaidafterThursday’s talks.

“Theyarenotthinkingof diplomacy any more; they now only deal in blackmail and threatening everyone else.”

Indian PM Narendra

reference to the war in Ukraine but acknowledged that discussions would be affected by geopolitical tensions.

Thursday’s schedule included sessions on food security, development cooperation, terrorism and humanitarian assistance - a reflection of India’s priorities while it holds the G20presidency

Beforethetalksaformer Indian diplomat told the BBC India would have to “do something special” to make delegates overlook their differences on the war Strained relations between theUSandChina,whichhas refused to oppose Russia’s invasion,werealsoexpected totestIndia’sabilitytoforge aconsensus.

In the end Foreign Minister Jaishankar had to present what’s called a chair’s summary after Thursday’s talks, meaning

Experts say Delhi also had the delicate task of balancing its non-aligned policyonthewarwithpleas toothernationstofindways toworktogether India has resisted pressure and continued with its strategy of not directly criticising Russia, which is India’s largest supplier of arms.

Ithasregularlyabstained from voting on UN resolutions condemning the war in Ukraine, including a vote held at the UN General Assemblylastweek.

It has also defended its decision to increase its oil imports from Russia, saying ithastolookaftertheneeds ofitspopulation.

But it has talked about the importance of “the UN Charter, international law, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrityofstates”initspast statementsonUkraine.

Mr Modi addressed ministers in English - a sign of how seriously he wanted his message taken

UDCA’S T20 continues tomorrow as Royal Champions head points standing

The Upper Demerara Cricket Association’s (UDCA) organized Inter Club T20 competition, which is primarily being played in the mines area in Linden, will continue tomorrow, Saturday weather permitting.

The competition which began last month has been battling the rain, but after three completed matches, Royal Champions have jumped into the lead with five points from three matches having won two and a drawn result in the other game.

Seven team are contesting this competition and as Royal Champions are leading with five points they are followed by Aroiama, West Watooka

and Yariah Young all on two points after two games, but Young Achievers who also have two points have played three matches, as Malali have one point after one game and in the cellar spot presently are Coomacka without a point from two games played.

In results from matches played so far, Royal Champions defeated Young Achievers by four runs after their rain delayed match started the competition. Sent in, Royal Champions made 145 for 2 from 12 overs as Cleon Adams and Sukraj Fredericks each hit 32, while Mall Richards chipped in with 25, as extras were credited with 17 runs.

Timothy Peters took 4 for

Friday March 03, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

Today your brain is supercharged, Aries. If you've been thinking about doing some writing or have put off analyzing a particularly tricky problem, this would be the perfect day to get started.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

With today's planetary energy, you'll find yourself a little more extraverted than usual, Taurus. You'll finally be able to say what you really think about things.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Today you're unstoppable! You're a very hard worker by nature, and with the current planetary alignment you'll be able to accomplish even more than usual.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

Discard those items from the past for which you really no longer have use. As much as you like to surround yourself with objects of sentimental value.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Intimacy will be in the air over the next few days. Loved ones suddenly want to spend more time with you, and you'll want to invite friends over every night! By all means, do.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

Feeling unusually adventurous, Virgo? You're often motivated by your idealistic expectations, and the planetary configurations today .

13 off three overs and Hershey Niles 2 for 24 from 3 overs. Young Achievers fell short making 141 for 6 off their 12 overs as Tyric Ettienne top scored with 78 not out and Marlon Fredericks 10 as extras accounted for 27.

Dereck Richards took 2 for 26 from three overs and Michael Fredericks 2 for 33 bowling for the winners.

Royal Champions, who won the toss and sent Coomacka in to bat, bowled them out for 91 off 12 overs as Gary Suavings got 39 and extras accounted for 21 runs. Replying, Royal Champions hit off the runs making 92 for five from 8.5 overs, as Michael Fredericks knocked

GBA to send Coach Blake...

up 26, Mall Richards 24 and Rastaf Oselmo 15.

Young Achievers then beat Yariah Young Warriors by one wicket after Yariah batting first made 140 all out from 18.1 overs, as Marcus Lorrimer hit 37, Deron Jones 26 and Leon Jones 12. Bowling for Young Achievers, G. McDonald took 4 for 21 off 4 overs, Marlon Fredericks 3 for 26 from his four overs and Eon Reynolds 2 for 24 from 4 overs.

In reply, Young Achievers won, scoring 141 for 9 from 19 overs as Tyric Henry top scored with 44, Ray Peters 32 as extras accounted for 37 runs. Yariah’s best bowling was recorded by Leon Jones with 2 for 15 off four overs, Delon Jones took 2 for 16 and Kishan Jones 2 for 27.

From page 32 increase the pool of specialists around the world as well as to broadening the knowledge of coaches, doctors and physiotherapists about hand wrapping techniques and facial injury care of the athletes,” the release stated.

Following the removal of head-guards, IBA states that the importance of experienced cutmen to assist boxers cannot be understated. Thus, the world governing body crafted a course that will train and equip cutmen with the requisite aptitudes to prepare combatants before, during and after fights. The examination process comprises four sections. Theoretical sessions will be conducted for one day, while practical training will

last for the duration of half a day. Continuing in the same vein, the written examination will encompass a period of an hour, whilst half a day will be required for the practical assessment.

GBA President Steve Ninvalle said he anticipates that Blake will emerge successful from the arduous examination which will equip him with the necessary knowledge to further aid in the development of the discipline. “Similarly, his participation highlights the association’s unrelenting commitment to the development of not only its athletes but its technical officers, who are vital to the advancement and evolution of the sport,” Ninvalle said.

Motorcycle for Rawle Toney...

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

The celestial energy signals a pleasant change for you today, Libra. Finally, the overpowering emotions that have been surging from your relationships will subside. You are now beginning a more contemplative phase.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

This is a good day to devote time and thought to spiritual pursuits, Scorpio. Do something inspirational that instills a sense of wonder deep in your soul.

SAGIT (Nov.22–Dec.21)

A new phase in your life is beginning, Sagittarius. The previous phase could be interpreted as having taught you to be serious and devoted to professional responsibilities.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

Today's aspects might clear up some rather sketchy ideas about your professional future, Capricorn. If you long for a change, such as daring to undertake a more artistic pursuit.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

You have acquired some sound confidence in yourself, Aquarius. Now it is time for you to show everyone else by actually putting it to use in your life.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

Today's planetary energy should compel you to commit certain acts of self-affirmation that are needed to define your territory and protect your rights.

Yariah Warriors then defeated Coomacka by 68 runs after Yariah batting first made 135 for 4 off 15 overs with Nick Estwick top scored with 56, Dale Jones 54 and Marlon Jones 15. Replying, Coomacka fell for 67 off 9.3 overs with S. Griffith making 32 as Kesh Jones took 2 for 11 off 2.3 overs, Derion Jones 2 for 8 from 2.2 overs and Wendell Courtman 2 for 14.

Then Royal Champions versus Malali game was washed out as Malali posted 125 for 6 off 15 overs as Keno Fiedtkou got 29, Orlando Williams 25 and D. Pollard 24. Bowling for Royals Champions, Mall Richards took 2 for 22 from 3 overs. Replying, Royal Champions made 22 for no wicket from 2.2 overs when rain interrupted play. Mall Richards was 17 not out and Michael Fredericks yet to score.

Malali and Royal Champions because of this shared the points with one each.

The next game was between West Watooka who won their game against Aroiama. Winning the toss and batting first Aroiama made 73 for 7 off their allotted overs as Glenrick Lyte hit 25 and Kellon Phillips 10. West Watooka’s best bowling was from Julian fortune 2 for 9 off 2 overs, Clayton Vanhurst 2 for 13 from 2 overs and D. Sears 2 for 20 off two overs.

West Watooka reached their target, getting 74 for 7 from 10 overs as Clayton Vanhurst made 20 not out and M. Austin 16. Aroiama’s best bowling came from Glenton Lyte 4 for 2 from 2 overs.

Weather permitting two more games are scheduled for tomorrow when Yariah Young Warriors meet Malali at 9.30am and Malali clash with West Watooka from 1.00pm.

From page 33 on the company’s support of the just-concluded Legendary Cup Futsal tournament, where they presented a motorcycle to the MVP and a lucky patron. “We’re more than happy to support the Rawle Toney 3x3 Classic, and we’re looking forward to what the tournament brings to basketball in Guyana, Ross said.

Meanwhile, the company

will also sponsor a Dunk Contest on March 19, with the winner pocketing $25,000. Looking ahead, Toney said all systems are in place for a successful tournament. He added that the overseas teams are finalizing their arrival, while the locallybased teams and players are anxiously awaiting the start of the country’s premier 3x3 tournament.

RampantRabadabowlsSouthAfricatovictoryoverWestIndies

AFP - Kagiso Rabada picked up six for 50 to bowl South Africa to an 87-run victory over West Indies in the first Test at SuperSport ParkinCenturionyesterday

After bowling out the hostsfor116inthemorning, West Indies needed 247 to win but were dismissed for just159.

The only resistance of note came from Jermaine Blackwood who made a gutsy 79 before being ninth manout.

The match hurtled to a conclusion with more than two days to spare as the fast bowlers of both teams held sway on a pitch of variable bounce.

West Indies’ Kemar Roach dominated the morning as he took five for 47asSouthAfrica,resuming on 49 for four, lost their last sixwicketsfor67runs.

Wicketscontinuedtofall whentheWestIndiesbatted.

Kraig Brathwaite was caughtdownthelegsideoff Rabada in the only over beforelunch.

Rabada had first innings top-scorer Raymon Reifer caughtbehindforeightsoon afterlunchandMarcoJansen took two wickets in his first over Tagenarine Chanderpaul was caught off a top-edged pull and Roston Chase was

bowledfirstball.

When Gerald Coetzee had Kyle Mayers caught at first slip by Dean Elgar for nought,WestIndieswere33 forfivewiththreeofthetop sixoutforducks.

Blackwood played aggressively as he and Joshua Da Silva added 58 for the sixth wicket before Rabada had Da Silva caught at third slip by Keegan Petersen for 17 shortlybeforetea.

There was more resistance from Jason Holder, who scored 18 in a 37-run stand with Blackwood before Rabada struck again, having Holdercaughtbehind.

Blackwood alone took the fight to the South Africans, hitting eight fours and a six in an aggressive half-century that came up from just 51 balls

Playing with the tail, his scoring rate slowed as he made his way to 79 when he became a fifth victim for Rabada, fending a lifting ball to Aiden Markram at second slip

Fromthefinalballofthe same over, Rabada trapped Kemar Roach leg before wickettowrapupthematch.

-DaSilvarecord-

Wicketkeeper Da Silva

earlier held seven catches in the South African second innings to equal the world Test record for dismissals in an innings, joining Wasim BariofPakistan,BobTaylor of England, Ian Smith of New Zealand and fellow WestIndianRidleyJacobs.

South Africa’s troubles started early when Heinrich Klaasenplayedaloosedrive against Jason Holder and wascaughtbehindforseven in the third over of the morning.

First innings centurymaker Markram took his overnight score of 35 to 47 beforehewascaughtbehind off Roach’s first ball of the day

South Africa slumped to 80 for eight, with the West Indies bowlers seldom giving the batsmen a chance to play an attackingshot

New cap Gerald Coetzee made a spirited 20 off15balls,includingasix and four off successive balls from Gabriel before Roach wrapped up the innings

Scores: South Africa 342 (Markram 115, Elgar 71, Joseph 5-81) and 116 (Markram 47, Roach 5-47) beat West Indies 212 (Reifer 62, Nortje 5-36) and 159 (Blackwood 79, Rabada6-50)by87runs

Kemar Roach is a relieved man after picking his 11th Test five-for. (AFP/Getty Images)

Powell’s quick-fire 64 key to Peshawar Zalmi’s 24-run win over Karachi Kings in PSL

SportsMax - A blazing half-century from Rovman Powell helped lift Peshawar Zalmi to a 24-run victory over Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League at RawalpindionWednesday

Powell smashed six fours and four sixes in a 34ball 64 that propelled Peshawar Zalmi to 197-5 fromtheir20overs.

The final score was testament to a remarkable recovery after Mohammad

Amir had dismissed MohammadHarisandBabar Azam for ducks in the opening first over and Saim Ayubforoneinhissecondto have Peshawar Zalmi reeling at 3-2 in the third over

The repair work began with Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Haseebullah Khan who counter-attacked with

aplomb, the latter racing to aneven50fromjust29balls fromwhichhehitfourfours and three sixes during their partnershipof82.

He was eventually dismissed by Tabraiz Shamsi, which brought Powelltothecrease.

The Jamaican picked up from where Khan left off plundering the Karachi Kings bowling during a partnership of 85 from 51 balls before Amir had him caught behind in the 19th over. By then Peshawar Zalmi has recovered to 1695. Aamer Jamal and Kohler-Cadmore added 28 from the last nine balls to what turned out to be the winning total KohlerCadmoreremainedunbeaten on 56 while Jamal got his unbeaten 13 from just five

balls.

Mohammad Amir was the pick of the bowlers taking4-26.

TheKarachiKingsmade apropergoatthetargetwith opener Matthew Wade scoring 53. However, they lostwicketsregularlywhich slowed their momentum despiteanunbeaten57from Imad Wasim, who clubbed 10 fours and a six in his 30ballknock.

AzmatullahOmarzaiand Jamal did the damage for Peshawar Zalmi with hauls of 3-28 and 3-43, respectively that ripped apart the Karachi Kings middleorder

Mujeeb Ur Rahman played his part dismissing Wade and Irfan Kkan to return figures of 2-28 as Karachi Kings ran out of ballsat173-8.

DaveWestIndianSupermarket isuniformsandkitsponsor forWIO50sMasters

P o p u l a r s p o r t s enthusiastandentrepreneur extraordinaire, Dave Narine, has once again decidedtosupporttheWest Indies O50s Masters team in a huge way as they embark on their biggest journey to date- The O50s CricketWorldCupinCape Town, South Africa featuring14countries.

Dave has been a major sponsor of cricket, both in New York and Guyana for several years at all age group levels and is very knowledgeable and passionate about the game intheWestIndies.

In addition to sponsoring tournaments in Guyana and North America,Davehasassisted several ambitious youngsters, senior and masters cricketers to fulfill their dreams and aspirations to represent Clubs, Counties, national and regional teams and is always willing to lend a helping hand to promote such programmes and activities.

Dave West Indian Supermarket is the premier

grocery outlet in North America for all the major Guyanese and West Indian delicaciesincludesalltypes of Caribbean seafood, spices, fruits, vegetables, coconut water, peppers and sauces allowing you not to miss your homeland when inNorthAmerica.

Uponbeingapproached by the Commercial Affairs Committee of the Cricket West Indies Masters Association (CWIMA)

Dave readily agreed to be the uniforms and kit sponsor for the O50s masters, outfitting them all with a brand new design of themarooncolours.

In appreciation of his generosity,theentiresquad braved the unkind weather in NY and paid a courtesy visit to Dave’s retail outlet on Liberty Avenue where they mingled with the management and staff of the prestigious North Americanfirm.

The full 18-man West Indiessquadis:

1.ZaminAmin-Captain

2.NarineBidhesi

3.SudeshDhaniram

4.SunilDhaniram

5.RajendraDilraj

6.IanDrakes

7.KennyGirdharry

8.FareedHosein

9.WilliamLashley

10.IshwarMaraj

11.DelroyMorgan.

12.AzadMohammed

13.BasilPersaud

14.RichardRamrekha

15.AnthonySahadeo

16.VejaiSeonarine

17.BalwantRoySingh

18.ChanderpaulSingh

Coach-AllisonJohnson Managers-Raj Singh & DaveNarine.

Immediately after visitingDave’sWestIndian Supermarket, the Windies squadwerethenhostedtoa sumptuous lunch by Rockaway Roti Shop on RockawayBlvd.

Mr HafizAli - CEO of Rockaway Group Of Companies,wasonhandto welcome the squad and mingleandwishedthemall the best in their quest to placetheircollectivehands ontheWorldCup.

MrAlihadalsoassisted a few of the players financially to ensure their participation in this World Cup.

Powell smashed 64 from just 34 balls.

FIFA appointment of supermodel Lima ‘baffling’ - ex-Council member Dodd

(Reuters) - FIFA’s appointment of supermodel Adriana Lima as its global fan ambassador in a Women’s World Cup year is “baffling” and sends the wrong message to players and fans, former FIFA Council member Moya Doddsaid.

Brazilian Lima will “develop, promote and participate in several global initiatives”inherroleasFIFA’s firstglobalfanambassador,the governing body said in a statement on Monday Australian Dodd, a former international player who served on the committee for

AustraliaandNewZealand’s successful bid to co-host the World Cup, said the Lima’s appointment less than five months before the tournamentwas“tonedeaf”.

“Attheoutset,themodel’s publicimagelookedanoddfit for an organisation that says it wants to empower girls and women,”Dodd,oneofthefirst women to serve on FIFA’s decision-makingbody,wrotein a post on LinkedIn on Wednesday “I asked

w h e t h e r t h e F I FA

ambassador will be deliveringmessagesonbody image, wellbeing and healthy eating. “What will

this ambassador represent to the large and growing population of aspirational #womensfootball players and fans who love the game because (it) shows us what empowerment and equality canlooklike?”

Dodd, a member of the FIFA Council from 2013 to 2016, also referred to comments Lima made in a 2006 interview with the magazine GQ in which she said abortion was “a crime” FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment

Lima’s publicist, Laurent Boye,saidthemodel’sstance

Bowlers roar on Day Two at Providence

had changed in the 17 years since she made those comments “We can proudly say that Ms Lima has been promotingahealthylifestylefor several years and like many people, her position on many LGBTQIA+andwomenissues has evolved and she is consideredanally,”Boyesaid inastatement

Dodd, a prominent women’s soccer advocate, represented Australia 24 times from 1986-95 and played in FIFA’s women’s invitational tournament in 1988, three years before the inaugural Women’s World Cup.

Day Two of the GCB Men’s Senior Inter-County

FourDaycrickettournament

First round match between Essequibo Men and GCB Selected XI continued yesterday.Bothteamswould havelosttwosessionsonthe first day, due to rain.

Essequibo Men returned to the crease at 57-4, adding 140 runs to their overnight score. Essequibo Men made 197and97-3,GCBSelected XI 102. Essequibo took a lead of 188 runs at stumps yesterday

Malcom Hubbart top scoredEssequibointhefirst innings and also grabbed 325 from his 4 overs. He batted for 111 minutes; scoring 51 runs from 73 balls, hitting eight fours. DemetriCameron4-49from 12oversinthefirstinnings.

GCBSelectedXIwentin tobatinthefirstinningsand were eventually dismissed for 102 from 26.3 inside the thirdsession.

At stumps Essequibo finished 93-3 from 21 overs with Kemol Savory and Malcolm Hubbart unbeaten on 30 (41) and 16 (19) runs respectively

Day Two started with SavoryandKeemoPaulwho had a brief partnership, contributing 20 before Paul fell to the bowling of Demetri Cameron, and followedbyRicardoAdams, Savory and Quintin Sampson in quick succession They were eventually bowled out for 197 runs from 51.5 overs. The last wicket to fall was Neiland Cadogan for 39 runs, including four 4’s and three6’s.

Selected XI could have restricted Essequibo to a smallertotal,hadtheytaken their chances in the field. Hubbart was dropped four times during his innings before going on to make 51 not out inside the lunch interval.

However, GCB Selected XI came in to bat and were bowledoutinjustundertwo hours.TheGCBSelectedXI lost three wickets. First was Rajendra Ramballi, followed by Alvin Mohabir andJonathanRampersaudin quick succession. Rajendra Chandrikawasnexttogofor 24 runs; having his off stumps knock back by Keemo Paul, Selected XI now47-4.

Keemo in his next over picked up his second wicket

pealing the edge of bat of Carlos La Rose; out caught at third slip Select XI plunged further into trouble with the score 58-5. As Essequibo’s pacemen pushed the Select XI batters on the back foot. Adams bowled a couple of tidy overs before tea, as they reached76-6.

After the break, Essequibo picked up two wicketsinthesecondsession beforeplayerswereforcedto leave the field due to some light showers. Select XI 878.

Play resumed around 15:30hrs as Select XI managed to put on another 15 runs before they were dismissed for 102 runs in 26.3overs.

Meanwhile, Essequibo batting for the second time yesterdaywithafirstinnings lead of 95 runs, posted 93-3 from 21 overs Avinash Persaud came out in an aggressive frame of mind opening the batting with Kevin Boodie. Persaud took control of the innings; playing some nice shots for four in his knock of 23 runs beforehefelltothebowling ofSylusTyndall;flashingat a ball outside the off stump. He was out caught behind, taking the total 30-1 Essequibo lost both their openersearlyon;firstwicket oftheafternoonwasPersaud then Boodie, followed by Ronaldo Renee, Essequibo now 68-3. Kemol Savory joinedHubbertatthecrease, thepairbattedthroughtothe endofplayonDayTwowith Savoryunbeatenon30runs, while Hubbart 16 not out. Tyndall, Cameron and Rampersaud finished with one wicket a piece for the GCBSelectedXI.

Play will resume at 9:30hrs today at the same venue for Day Three of the second, first round match of the Senior Men’s InterCounty Four Day cricket Tournament.

Malcolm Hubbart at the end of day two.

2023 West Indies Championship… Harpy Eagles on top ahead of third round

Four-day matches resume March 15

Less than two weeks remain before the resumptionofthe2023West Indies Championship fourday first-class Tournament that has the Guyana Harpy Eagles in the lead after the completionoftworounds.

The third round of the tournament is scheduled to bowl off on March 18 and wrap up on or before March 21 in Trinidad and Tobago. However, the venues for the three matches in the upcoming round have not been announced by Cricket WestIndies(CWI).

Inthethirdround,Harpy Eagles will meet third place holder,TrinidadandTobago Red Force, while Jamaica Scorpions face off with Windward Islands Volcanoes and Barbados Pride meet Leeward Island Hurricanes.

Currently, Guyana commands the board with a tally of 28.6 points ahead of defending champion, Barbados, who are second with23points.Trinidadand Tobagositinthirdwith20.6 points with Windward Islands on their heels with 19.4points.

Leeward Islands are in thepenultimatespotbutstill marginally within striking distance of the title on 17.4 points while Jamaica are in the cellar with 10 points on

theboard.

In round two, Barbados weretheonlyteamtosecure a victory while Guyana, Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and the Windward Islands all secured drawn results as Jamaica conceded the only defeat.

In the opening round, Harpy Eagles was the only teamtoemergevictoriousas Red Force, Scorpions, Hurricanes and Volcanoes played to drawn results and Pridechalkedupaloss.

At the end of the first round, Harpy Eagles led with 20 points, Red Force were second with 10 2 points, Volcanoes had 8.4 points, Hurricanes had 7.4 points, Scorpions were on 6.2 points and Pride had 4.8 points. Meanwhile, the remaining three rounds of the five-round tournament are fixed to unravel in the Twin Island Republic, but the venues are also yet to be confirmed. Round four is scheduledforMarch22–25 whilethefinalroundisbilled forMarch29–April1.

Bravo & Jordan atop batting&bowlinglists

Trinidad’s Darren Bravo and Barbados’ Akeem

Jordan have asserted themselves to the top of the batting and bowling lists, respectively, following the

completion of the two rounds.

Bravo leads with 261 runs from four innings with two even centuries of 100, oneofwhichwasunbeaten.

AlickAthanazeissecond on 244 runs from the same amount of innings with a highscoreof141thisseason while teammate Kimani Melius is third with an accumulated score of 204 runs. Melius has a top score of192thisseason.

Guyana’s Matthew Nandu is also on 204 from four innings with a high score of 126. The top four batsmenaretheonlyplayers this season to have scored a century

I n t h e b o w l i n g department, Jordan has picked up 12 wickets in two matches and surged to the topoftheMostWicketslists with consistency across the four innings he played. He has recorded 4 – 65 as his bestfiguresfortheseasonso far

The veteran, Guyanese Veersammy Permaul, sits in secondwith11wicketsfrom fourinningswithabestof4–53. Bryan Charles (T&T), Rahkeem Cornwall (LIH) andRyanJohn(WIV)areall tied on ten wickets each while Shamar Joseph (Guy) andPatrickHarty(Jam)have ninewicketseach.

FIFA extends TTFA Normalization Committee to 2024

SportsMax - According to reports emerging from Trinidad and Tobago, football’s world-governing body FIFA has extended the mandate of the T&T Football Association (TTFA) normalization committeeuntilMarch31,2024.

Thedecision,reportssaid,was“duetothe challenges that the TTFA continues to face and to ensure that the mandate of the normalizationcommittee.

The mandate includes a revision and amendment and statutes and conducting of the election of a new TTFA executive, the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian reported yesterday

FIFA first appointed the Normalization

Committee in March 2020 following a FIFA/Concacaf fact-finding mission to assess,togetherwithanindependentauditor, thefinancialsituationofTTFA.

The mission found that extremely low overall financial management methods, combinedwithamassivedebt,haveresulted in the TTFA facing a very real risk of insolvencyandilliquidity.Suchasituationis putting at risk the organization and development of football in the country and corrective measures need to be applied urgently,FIFAsaid.

The life of the normalization committee wasfurtherextendedinDecember2021until March2023.

Darren Bravo produced two centuries in Red Force’s second match this season. (Photo: Wired868)

P&P Insurance Brokers’ Annual Sport Shooting Competition fires off G.S.S.F. 2023 calendar

The Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation’s Steel

Challenge Section commenced shooting activitiesfor2023onSunday 26th February, 2023, when they hosted the 8thAnnual P&P Insurance Brokers & Consultants sponsored Steel Challenge Match at t h e G D F C a m p Stephenson,Timehri

Opening remarks were made by Match Director, Captain Roul Bhudu who welcomed participants, identifiedtheofficialsforthe afternoon session and declaredtheMatchopen

The three stage match consisted of sanctioned S.C.S.A.

stages, namely Accelerator, The Pendulum and5ToGo.

With safety and efficiency in mind, shooters wereorganisedinashooting order and took turns on each stage which gave rise to a lot of tense moments

as spectators and competitors were treated tosomepingingfun

The competition requirementswereassimple as the scoring: the shooter

would assume his/her position in a 3 feet square shooting box with hands above their shoulders, upon the beep of the electronic timer, he/she would then drawtheirfirearmandshoot atthetargets,thetimerstops when the shooter hits the stopplate.

The competition also featured a Wildcatdivision with the start position being the shooter aiming at a stick in the ground some distance away

The Stats Officer for this match was Dr Pravesh Harry, who released the resultsasfollows:

LimitedDivision

1st – Ryan McKinnon (61 82seconds)

2nd – Pravesh Harry (63 40seconds)

3rd – Vidushi Persaud-

McKinnon (101 27 seconds)

ProductionDivision

1st – Imam Baksh (91 70seconds)

2 n d – R o m a i n M u n i r a m ( 1 0 7 4 6 seconds)

3rd – Roul Bhudu (108 80seconds)

After the presentation

of trophies, a special announcement was made as to a decision made to award medalstotheshootersinthe unclassified beginner category,therebygivingway tothefollowingresults: U n c l a s s i f i e d Division

1 s t – R o m a i n M u n i r a m ( 1 0 7 4 6 seconds)

2 n d – M i k a i l

Qualander (140 14 seconds)

GBA to send Coach Blake to IBA Cutman Technician Course in India

With an emphasis on empowering and certifying its technical officials, the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) will afford three star Coach Sebert Blake the opportunity to participate at the IBA Cutman Technician Course, which is being conducted at the Women’s World Championship in New Delhi, India from March15-31.

Blake, who is part of a small cadre of three star coaches in the Caribbean, is the first ever Guyanese to partakeatsuchanimportant seminar He will also serve as the trainer for Caribbean Junior Champions, siblings Alisha andAbiola Jackman, at the prestigious competition.Therisingstars were also successful at the recently concluded Patrick F o r d e M e m o r i a l Championship.

The course is only eligible for officials affiliated to the national federation and who are already registered for the

impending Women’s World Championship in the capacities of team coaches, d o c t o r s a n d / o r physiotherapists.

According to an official correspondence from IBA, which was signed by Development Officer Chris Roberts OBE, the primary objectiveofthecourseisthe development of the Cutman Technician in each national

3rd – Imran Khan (146 49 seconds) Match Director for this event

Captain Roul Bhudu expressed appreciation to P&P Insurance Brokers fortheircontinuedsupport to the promotion and building of the sport in Guyana The Board of Directors wishes to commend the Match Directors, Range Master, Stats Officer, Range Officers and the shooters for ensuring an efficient event Special thanks also to the Guyana Defence Force, Chief of Staff,

CommissionerofPolice,OC andtheranksofTSUandthe Guyana Police Force, Mr Mathhew Phang, Captain JohnSeepaul,theMediaand GSSF members for their support in promoting practical shooting locally andAquafina Water and Ice Inc. Match Director, Capt. Roul Bhudu expressed appreciation to the Management of P&P and especially to the Executive DirectorofP&P,Mr Vikash Panday The Foundation expresses its thanks once again to Chief Executive

Officer, Mr Bishwa P a n d a y a n d P & P Insurance, who unhesitatingly came on board to support the sport shooting fraternity for the eight year For more information on the G.S.S.F please visit our website wwwGuyanaSportShooting .com.

TheGSSF,anaffiliateof theSteelChallengeShooting Association (SCSA), will continue to host this actionpacked shooting sport for local pistol shooters by organisingsuchmatchesona regularbasis.

Joao Mendes: Ronaldinho’s teenage son joins Barcelona’s academy

BBC Sport - Brazil legend Ronaldinho’s son

Joao Mendes has signed a contract with Barcelona’s youthacademy.

Joao Mendes with his father Ronaldinho.

team which will provide the pugilists with the essential treatment to avert and manage injuries such as hematomas, lacerations and nose bleeds. It will also reducehandinjurieswiththe mastery of hand-wrapping techniques.

“The main objective of thecourseistohelpdevelop ourCutTechniciansand

(Continuedonpage27)

The 18-year-old striker follows in the footsteps of his World Cupwinning father, who had five successful seasons at theCampNou Mendes terminated his contract at Brazilian Serie B side Cruzeiro to join Barcelona’s Under-19 teamontrial.

He had kept the identity of his father a secret until he secured a tria

Cruzeiro Ronaldinho, 42, n o w w o r k s a s a n ambassador for Barcelona after retiring from football

in 2015. The flamboyant former forward, a Ballon d’Or winner in 2005, helped the Catalan giants win a Champions League and back-to-back La Liga titles during his spell at the

club. Mendes will be part of Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy, which has produced icons such as Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique and current boss Xavi

Steve Ninvalle (right) and Sebert Blake. (File photo)

P&P 2023 Prize Winners - Prize Winners of P&P sponsored GSSF’s Steel Challenge Match. From left: Mikail Qualander, Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, Pravesh Harry, Ryan McKinnon Winner of Limited Division, Imam Baksh Winner for Production Division, Roul Bhudu, Romain Muniram Winner of the Unclassified Division and Imran Khan.

Karateka Keith Beaton lands Industrial Safety

Supplies Inc. support for SVG Open

Thanks to the generosity ofIndustrialSafetySupplies

Inc. ASK Guyana Karateka

Keith Beaton is set to representGuyanaalongwith other teammates at the SVG Open Karate Competition organised by the Hairouna Karate Federation and set to take place, on April, 6-9, 2023 at the West St. George Secondary School, Saint Vincent&theGrenadines.

On Wednesday of this week,Beatonwaspresented with a cheque to cover his expenses by the Office ManagerofIndustrialSafety Supplies Inc. Ms. Crystal

Kallu at their Camp Street, headoffice.

Beaton, a veteran of 33 years in the sport, is a Second-Degree Black Belt, and informed that he was more than elated to be once again able to compete for Guyana, thanks to the support of Industrial Safety Supplies Inc He shared that ASK Guyanaisaimingtosenda totalof10athletestoSaint Vincent for the SVG Open

w h i c h w i l l s e e competition in the Kata andKumite

”I would like to thank

Mr. Hemant Narine for his kindsponsorshiptofacilitate metoattendthistournament of which I’m very confident that I would win a medal or two.

This is an honour to go and represent my country afterfouryears.Onceagain, I’m very thankful to Mr Narine and his company for thiskindgesturetoshowcase mytalent.”

Kallu, on behalf of her company, wished Mr Beatonandtheteamthatwill travel to represent the Golden Arrowhead, every success.

Motorcycle for Rawle

Toney 3x3 Classic MVP

…RockAutoTransandSparePartscreateshistoryinlocalbasketball

Lyon 8-for gives Australia hope in third India Test

AFP- Nathan Lyon took eight wickets yesterday to give Australia a glimmer of hope of beating India in the third Test — provided they can avoid another calamitousbattingcollapse.

Onadramaticdaytwoin Indore, Australia’s batting imploded only for the tourists to fight back and bowl out India for 163, giving them a victory target of76.

Cheteshwar Pujara topscored with 59, caught brilliantly at slip by Australia captain Steve Smith, with Lyon taking figures of 8-64 on a treacherous spinning wicket.

Having skittled India for just 109 on day one, Australia resumed on 1564 but collapsed to 197 all out before lunch, their last six wickets tumbling for just11runs.

one, sending the lefthander’s off-stump cartwheeling towards wicketkeeperSrikarBharat.

I n a d i z z y i n g disintegration, Alex Carey then departed for three, lbw to Ashwin, seamer Umesh bowled Todd Murphy for a duck and Nathan Lyon was cleaned up by Ashwin for five.

Ashwin took 3-44 and Umesh3-12.

Indiasensedtheirchance and openers Rohit Sharma andShubmanGillsurviveda tricky 10 minutes before lunch.

But after the break, Gill was beaten for spin as he tried to hit across the line and was bowled middle stump for five by Lyon.

Indiareeling.

In the final session, Iyer madeanentertaining26that included two sixes before being caught brilliantly by Usman Khawaja at short midwicketoffStarc.

Bharat was bowled by Lyon for three and Ashwin fell for 16, lbw to Lyon for his fifth scalp, Australia successfully overturning a not-out decisiononreview

In what is said to be a first-of-its-kind for local basketball,RockAutoTrans andSparePartswillgivethe MostValuablePlayerforthe March 18-19 Rawle Toney 3x3Classiconemotorcycle.

Yesterday at the company’s Charlotte Street location, General Manager Yolandia Ross and Public Relations Officer Wayne Griffith made their presentation of the motorcycle to organizer Rawle Toney for his third

installation of the tournament which will be held at the Burnham Basketball Court. “As a former player and journalist covering basketball for almost two decades, I don’t recall a motorcycle or any other form of transportation presented to a player locally,” Toney said as he praisedRockAutoTransand Spare Parts for their contribution to the tournament.

According to Toney,

“This is huge for local basketball! Imagine 64 players, and only one will rideoffwiththismotorcycle onMarch19.Ithinkthiswill set a standard for marquee basketball tournaments in Guyanawhichwillmotivate our players.” Meanwhile, Rock Auto Trans and Spare Parts’ General Manager, Yolandia Ross, highlighted that this is their first basketball sponsorship in basketball. Rossreflected

(Continuedonpage27)

Cameron Green and Peter Handscomb did well to survive the first hour on a pitch with unpredictable bounce, the tall Green using his long stride to neutralise India’s spin attack.

But after the drinks break, Handscomb departed for 19, caught by ShreyasIyeratshortlegoff Ravichandran Ashwin, having added 12 to his overnightscore

Soon afterwards Green fell for 21, trapped lbw by Umesh Yadav, who then bowled Mitchell Starc for

SkipperRohitwasthen trapped lbw by Lyon for 12 Virat Kohli looked to t a k e o n M a t t h e w Kuhnemann, who took five wickets in the first innings, cutting the spinner for a glorious four, only to be trapped lbw the followingballfor13.

This sent a hush around the rowdy Indore groundbutPujaragavethe home crowd something to cheer about, reducing the deficit by smashing Kuhnemannforasuccession ofboundaries.

Lyon though proved a handful, particularly for Ravindra Jadeja, who was out lbw for seven just before the break to leave

Marnus Labuschagne dropped Pujara off Kuhnemann when he was on 50, diving to his left at short cover, getting two hands to the ballbutfailingtokeephold of it Pujara battled on, making the Australians work hard before captain Smith took a brilliant diving catch to his right at slip off the bowlingofLyon

The very next ball Umesh was given out lbw off Lyon but was reprieved on review

The ball after that Umesh slogged to the boundary where he was caught just inside the rope by Green

Soon afterwards, Lyon clean bowled Mohammed Siraj to give the Australian his eighth scalp, and the haplessIndiannumber11his secondduckofthematch.

Scores: India 109 & 163 (Pujara 59, Lyon 8-64) lead Australia 197 (Khawaja 60, Jadeja4-78,Umesh3-12)by 75runs.

Industrial Safety Supplies Inc. Office Manager Ms. Crystal Kallu presents the sponsorship cheque to Mr. Keith Beaton in the presence of her colleagues, Accountant Ms. Nyeesha Joseph, and Customer Service Rep. Ms. Mechaela Hohenkirk.

(L-R) Rock Auto Trans and Spare Parts’ PRO Wayne ‘Harry’ Griffith (first from left) and General Manager Yolandia Ross presenting the keys to the motorcycle to organizer Rawle Toney

Kagiso Rabada celebrates after sending back Raymon Reifer. (AFP/Getty

Dave West Indian Supermarket is the uniform and Kit Sponsor for the WI O50s Masters.