Kaieteur News

Lively scenes at Berbice Mash

After a two-year hiatus, the Mashramani festivities returned to BerbiceonSundaywithacolourful float parade with revelers from the various government departments andagenciesinBerbice.

Thousandstrampedthroughthe streets of the township with excitement, donning their creative and colourful outfits to coincide withtheday’sactivity Thecreative costumes and floats were on show as they made their way along Main Street with spectators both adults and children, looking on and even gyrating to the sweet rhythm of Soca, Dancehall and Chutney music. This year’s event saw some fourteenfloatstakingpart.

Foodvendorsfromsomeofthe (Continued on page 3)

“Silica City” by Central Housing & Planning

Guyana Police Force float

A section of the crowd on Main Street, New Amsterdam.

Two years after approval…

GuyanayettoauditUS$9BPayaracosts

-countrymayhavetoacceptbillasis,duetocontractualobligations

wo years after

TAugust 2020, it asked Payara, with Dr Mangal a p p r o v i n g Canada to assist it with the explaining that proper

ExxonMobil’s review That consultation reviews require large teams

US$9B budget to resulted in former Alberta of technical experts and may produce 600 million barrels Premier, Alison Redford, take many months, even ofoilfromthePayaraproject being accepted to lead the years. in the Stabroek Block, review of BayPhase’s work. Followingthereview,the Guyanese authorities are yet She worked with a team of Ministry of Natural to commence a critical audit technical Resources laid out new that would ensure the experts, funded by stipulations for the handling country is not paying more Canada. Despite questions of environmental issues that thanitshould. aboutRedford’scapabilityto plagued the first year of

T h e P P P / C review field development operations at the Liza

Administration had plans (FDP), as well as Destinyvessel. approved the project on ethical concerns fuelled by A new penalty was September 30, 2020. But her political history, the instituted for gas flaring even before this was done, administration allowed her beyond the commissioning ExxonMobil Corporation’s tocompletethereview. period. There were also subsidiary, Esso Exploration

Experts, including stipulationsforthedischarge and Production Guyana Petroleum Consultant, Dr ofproducedwatertobedone Limited (EEPGL) was

J a n M a n g a l , a n d in accordance with already signing key International Lawyer, international best practices. contracts to ensure the Melinda Janki, had spoken Thegovernmentstatedthatit project’s scheduled start-up against approving Payara so is committed to managing this year experienced no rapidly, in less than two and harvesting Guyana’s delays. monthstobeexact. resources in keeping with

Vice President, Bharrat

They had said that internationally recognised Jagdeo was asked recently Guyana should take all the acceptable environmental about the projected start of time it needs to review standardsandtransparency the audit, but he indicated various types of pipes and day Duringtheearlystageof that he was not aware of the hardware Kaieteur News production operations, the stateofplayonthisfront.He understands that the subsea FPSO is anticipated to directed this newspaper to facilities allow the oil from produce up to an average of seek further clarity from the the wells to be gathered and approximately 5,700,000 to Natural Resources Ministry moved to the surface of the 6,600,000 barrels of crude

The 2016 Production ocean for further processing. oil per month These Sharing Agreement for the EEPGL will then install estimates are preliminary Stabroek Block only otheroilproductionfacilities andaresubjecttochange. furnishes the government on a vessel that floats on the FDPREVIEWS with a two-year deadline to surfaceoftheocean. Guyana’sreviewofField complete critical audits of

The vessel is called a Development Plans for Exxon’s expenses. If it fails Floating Production, Payara spanned two to do so, it would have to Storage, and Offloading administrations. The former acceptcostsasis. (FPSO).

According to documents

D a v i d G r a n g e r

It will be moored on a d m i n i s t r a t i o n h a d s u b m i t t e d t o t h e location in approximately contracted the UK firm, Environmental Protection 1,800-1,980m (5,900-6,500 Bayphase, to review it Agency (EPA) by EEPG), ft) of water depth and will despite ExxonMobil the Payara development will remain on location forming part of Bayphase’s be located in the eastern area throughout the life of the clientele. of the Stabroek Block which facility EEPGL said that oil

The former Government is approximately 190 km production facilities on the had expected the review to ( 1 1 8 m i l e s ) f r o m

FPSO will further process be completed in early 2020, Georgetown. The operator the oil extracted from below but the contentious General notes that oil production theseafloor and Regional Elections took from Payara is expected to The operator also stated centre stage and prolonged last at least 20 years with the that the FPSO will have the government’s approval of startup of the facilities capacity to produce theproject. e x p e c t e d t o o c c u r approximately 180,000 to

When the Irfaan Ali approximatelyinmid-2023.

LivelyscenesatBerbice...

From page 2 out and about in all the popular food spots along vulnerable spots and within with beverage giants, Banks thecrowd.

Further to this, EEPGL saiditwillinstallsomeofthe oil production facilities on t h e s e a f l o o r a t approximately 1,500 -1,980 m (4,900-6,500 ft) water depth It said that these subsea facilities include

220,000 barrels of oil per administration took over in EEPGL noted that it will drill approximately 35 to 45 wells offshore to support the extraction of the oil from below the seafloor It said that each well will be drilled using a floating drill ship. Also, each well will be directionally drilled to specific reservoir targets generally 4,000 to 5,500 meters (m) below the sea level.

In the lead up to the day, Limited, clothing vendors, much planning was done arts and craft vendors along with vendors and stall w i t h m a n y o t h e r s holders booking their complimented the day roadside spots with the which was graced with Mayor and Town Council excellent weather. The early floats and costume revelers Many of the vending assembled at Tacama Turn, spots were set up and New Amsterdam and operating from as early as gyrated their way down to Saturday The event was Stelling Road, New celebrated under the theme Amsterdam. “Mixing and Mashing as Security for the day was OneGuyana.”

DIH, Demerara Distillers

Liza Phase 2

GUYANA Georgetown

Liza Phase 1

STABROEK BLOCK

Payara Development

24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams

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

Go back to your own country

“Go back to your own country!” Part curse, part insult, part slur, it always seems to boil down to this degrading of colouredmenandwomenincountrieswhereCaucasiansare thedominantpresence. ”Gobacktoyourcountry”waswhat was hurled in hateful terms at Nikki Haley, an American political star of Indian extraction, when she dared to announce her run for President of the United States of America. It is the sameAmerica where a Black man, a half Black one, did succeed in rising to the top of the American political establishment. In Barack Obama’s time, he attracted the wrath of the bigots, nativists, and diehard racists. Now it is Nikki Haley’s turn, and the ordeals of her higherpoliticaljourneymaybejustbeginning.

Nimarata Nikki Haley has plenty going for her that makes her an asset to America, so one would think that throwingherhatintheraceforpresidentwouldberesponded to with favour, and open arms. She is a college graduate, a former governor of not just any State in the Union, but of South Carolina, the first to lead in the rupture towards secession and the American Civil War She was an ambassador to the United Nations for just under two years. To top it all off, her spouse is a WhiteAmerican. If anyone should qualify as overachieving, a poster child of firstgenerationimmigrantsuccess,andanAll-Americanwoman, itisNikkiHaley

But the best accolade that she could earn is the scarring slur of “Go back to your country!” It serves as confirmation ofthesecretfearsandhateofmanyinAmerica(andEurope) that no matter how much, no matter how high, the coloured man or woman scores, the only ingredient that counts is the colour of their skin. It is doubtful that the same would have been pelted at an American of Irish or Italian or German heritage. We at this paper put the plight of a politically ambitious Nikki Haley in the public domain to make a few simplepoints. Theyriseupinoverflowingragetochaseout oftheircountry,inpushingto“gobacktoyourcountry”,but to what? What kind of country they hurry to when they are donewithwhatwasonceheldcloseashome? Inthecontext of Guyana, the “they” could be English or Canadian or Spanish, and most definitely American. For how quickly they (the shameless nativists) forget how their great wealth andrichlifestyleshavebeenbuiltonthebackofpoorpeople of colour the world over How easily they (the classless bigots)forgetthebloodandsweatshedbythoseinnonwhite populations that are robbed and drained of their rich patrimonies. And how conveniently they (the unspeakable racists) in developed countries fail to remember, that their standinginlifewaserectedonthepainandtearsandanguish of people who had everything, and were plundered of everything,leavingnothing.

The public faces and the poisoned tongues that speak for the smarter ones in their midst (those who keep their heads low and their silence), should know of their warriors and statesmen and diplomats who travel to rich, but backward, countries and strip them of wealth first, then dignity This is whattheyrelishsendingtheNikkiHaleysintheirmidstback to,aftertheyhavepillagedandgouged.

The ExxonMobil(s) and Schlumberger(s) and Tullow(s) of the civilized world have been of what is barbarous to the lives of those who are mainly darker skinned, and unschooled to their savaging subtleties, their sophisticated exploitations. They do not anything of the kind in countries where the people share their own colour, religion, language, culture. Worse still, in the manner of Cortez and Cook, they turn the coloured people against one another with betrayals for beads and bits of their wealth given back to them to keep them quiet. Study our own Guyanese, and from perverted politicians to the traitorous in the local population, it is of whatservestheinterestsofschemersandvagabonds. Thisis what they send Nikki Haley to; this is to what Guyana is condemned.

Poverty, racism and discrimination in America are real

negligible factor in the the destiny of other thought of the world, and it countries, but they have stands in danger of being refused to eradicate the last

DEAREDITOR, Moorland founded the exterminated. According to vestige of racism, which has February every year has Association for the Study of Woodson, the American become the black man’s been designated as Black Negro Life and History in Indians left no continuous burden and the white man’s History Month in the United 1915,topromotethestudyof record They did not shame. It is an unhappy truth States and a few other black history as a discipline appreciate the value of that racism is a way of life in countries, which also and to celebrate the tradition and heritage; and America—it is a disease that coincides with Guyana’s achievements of African where are they today? The permeated the whole body republic celebrations. Black Americans. Jewsappreciatedthevalueof politic as several states with History Month is an annual In 1926, Woodson both tradition and heritage, Republican governors, most c e l e b r a t i o n o f t h e launched the “Negro History as attested by the Bible and notable Florida, have passed achievements of African Week” to bring attention to even though they were laws in their legislature to A m e r i c a n s a n d t h e his mission and to bring persecutedaroundtheworld, restrict the teaching of Black recognition of their role in awareness to the issue their views and cultural culture.

U.S. history The origins of Woodson chose the second historybecameagreatfactor Today, America is the Black History Month lay in week in February because it inmoderncivilization. most segregated country in early 20th-century when comprised both Frederick As Black History Month the world but many whites historian Dr Carter G Douglass’ birthday on comes to an end, I as a believe that time would heal Woodson’s desire to February 14 and Abraham naturalizedAmerican citizen t h e p r o b l e m o f h i g h l i g h t t h e Lincoln’s birthday on felt compelled to highlight discrimination and racial accomplishments of African February 12. His message the massive poverty and injustices and the disease of Americans. spread quickly as the racialinjusticesthatconfront poverty faced by blacks, yet Woodson who earned a demand for African the vast majority of African they continue to spread the Ph.D. from Harvard Americans teaching Americans across the myth that in order for blacks University had noticed that materials increased and country. The tragedy is to rise out of poverty, they historians had left out the spurred the formation of America is considered the have to do what whites did, achievements of African several black history clubs. greatest and wealthiest that is to lift themselves up Americans from the Woodson contended that the country in the world, yet by their own bootstrap narrative of American teachingofblackhistorywas millions of African However, those who felt that history and that African essential to ensure the Americans go hungry to bed blacks must lift themselves A m e r i c a n s w e r e physical and intellectual everynight,andmanydonot up by their own bootstrap underrepresented in the survival of the race within have a proper home, savings have never stop to think or literature that shaped the broadersociety AsWoodson or healthcare.The travesty is realize that no other ethnic study of American history putit,ifaracehasnohistory, that several American group has been slaves on To correct this flaw, it has no worthwhile Presidents have spent much Americasoil;thatthenation Woodson and Jesse E tradition, it becomes a of their time trying to shape (Continued on page 5)

Norton seeking relevance: can’t separate courtesy from full-fledged engagement

DEAREDITOR, It must be seen as an the ensuing headline, would with an earful of perceived A brief, casual, on the embarrassment that one on lend to the scoring of woes was totally wrong and sideline,courtesyinteraction the international stage, politicalpoints. out of place. Better sense did not constitute a full- seeking relevance, cannot It was left to the and decorum should have fledged engagement where decipher the basic difference Honourable Prime Minister prevailed, especially when matters relating to the between a casual, courtesy and Chairman to set the the display is on the political situation in a encounter and one of a record straight that the very international stage. Is it any country could be properly formal nature But the short interaction was not wonder such a faux pas discussed or ventilated twisting of the brief with him as Chairman but would come on the Such an engagement would encounter to suit narrow rather as Prime Minister anniversary of the March have required the following purposes of supposedly (Demerarawaves March 4). 2020electionsfiasco? and adherence of protocols, informing the regional bloc The time and place of Sincerely, proceduresandstandards. ofourinternalsituation,with accosting the Prime Minister Shamshun Mohamed

GTT responded after I complained in the press

DEAREDITOR, cause me to pen my opinion ransom, but regardless, I company. Is that normal? I

As long as I can recall, of them either advising strongly support them and would like to thank the PR I’ve strongly supported local against using or with the advise many to use their for GTT Ms. Jasmine Harris and strongly defender my intentionofimprovement. service after evaluating and the staff for their choice against those Editor, my recent similar services provided by assistance with my situation, opposing, especially against experience with GTTcaused others. but I am are still concerned certain imported stuff me to vent my anger via the As a matter of fact, about other customers who Regardlessofwhateveryone newspapers after repeatedly Dwayne Thom came to me facing other issues and not is saying about the various trying to resolve the issue by seeking advice and I beingabletogetitsortedout, energy drinks available, I’m numerous phone calls. The instructed him to take the especially using the means I yet to taste one. My choices very day my missive was GTT Fibre service, and two did. of drinks are from Banks printed, various staff called months later, he is one of the There are many issues DIH and DDL, and my to rectify the situation and lucky winners of a car from that could be resolved easily, favourite being the local within two days, it got their recent promotion, with but I cannot understand why lemonade, even though rectified even though I am that being first time for him they aren’t Management many saying various not completely supportive of using any service from GTT should really address these negative things about it. I’ve the methods used. GTT has Over one month after, he lapses, instead of the similarviewsregardinglocal serious issues with their received his car, and to date, company losing customers companiesandproducts,and various methods with regard hecannotreceivehisnumber and deterring potential whilst I support local, along to dealing with customers plate and documents that customers. the line, I’ve periodically and in my opinion, they are were supposed to be Regards, encounteredproblemswhich holding consumers at provided by the auto sales Sahadeo Bates

Jagan’s ideas are becoming increasingly relevant, not only for Guyana but the world at large

DEAREDITOR, imposed a new electoral global order was adopted by respects was ahead of his March 6, 2023 marks the system of proportional the United Nations General time Perhaps his most 26th death anniversary of representation. Assembly Dr Jagan was a enduring legacy was his former President Dr. Cheddi The new system paved passionate advocate for debt indomitable fight for a Jagan, widely regarded as the way for the coming to relief, the creation of a democratic, peaceful, the Father of the Nation and office in 1964 of the PNC- regional development fund progressive and prosperous thearchitectoftheliberation UF coalition. Since then, all and the Caribbean as a zone Guyana for which he struggleinGuyana. elections were rigged until of peace for which he was dedicated his entire adult

Few men in history had October 1992 when Dr described by one regional life. achieved as much in a Jagan was again elected to leader as the ‘Dean of Guyanese owe a debt of lifetime as Dr Jagan did. He office after being kept out of Caribbeanpolitics’. gratitude to Dr Jagan for the was instrumental in bringing officebythePNCregimefor ItwillberecalledthatDr sterling role he played in the an end to British colonial nearlythreedecades. Jagan had repeatedly urged country’s development. And rule and was the first elected As we drift further away the industrialized countries even as we celebrate his life Premier of the then British from the passing of Dr to compensate Guyana for and work, we cannot but Guyanafollowinghisparty’s Jagan, his ideas are the preservation of its reflect on the contributions victory in the first becoming increasingly standing forests, something made by his wife Janet democratic elections held in relevant, not only for that has now become a Jagan who, as fate would 1953 under universal adult Guyana but the world at reality under the current have it also passed away in suffrage. He was removed large. PPP/C administration, with the month of March from office after a mere six Hewasastrongadvocate Guyana becoming the first Together, they have months in office following for a New Global Human country in the world to contributedoveracenturyof the suspension of the Order which in essence benefit from the payment of dedicated and selfless constitution, but went on to called for a more equitable carboncredits. struggle to the cause of a win consecutive elections in distribution of the world’s Without a doubt, the late betterGuyana. 1957 and 1961 until the resources. It is to his credit Dr Cheddi Jagan was a Regards, British Government that his brainchild of a new visionary who in some HydarAlly

Poverty, racism and discrimination in America...

From page 4 himhewasfree. subsidies from the U S evident that all men are made the black man colour a However, they did not government not to farm, but created equal and that they stigma. Beyond that, they give him/her any money for these are the very persons are endowed by their creator never stop to grasp and a bus ticket to get home or who are telling blacks that with inalienable rights that acknowledge that the debt anyclothestowear they must lift themselves up among these are life, liberty, they owe blacks who were This is the same way bytheirownbootstraps. and the pursuit of happiness. slaves for more than two and America has treated the It is a cruel gesture to tell B u t i f b l a c k s a r e ahalfcenturies. slaves, except to say that a bootless man that he ought discriminatedagainst;hehas

I n 1 8 6 3 , t h e they were free, but left them to lift himself up by his own nojobandnomoney,thenhe Emancipation Proclamation pennilessandlandless. bootstrap. has neither life nor liberty signed by President At the same time, they The roots of racism, nor the possibility of the Abraham Lincoln told weregivingawaymillionsof discrimination and poverty pursuit of happiness He blacks that they were free, acres of land in the West and are very deep in America, merelyexists. but they were not given any Mid-WesttoEuropeans. and everyone must do Thestruggleforequality money or land to make their Not only did they give everythingtogetridofthem. inAmerica is real. But as the freedom meaningful and land to Europeans, but also Since we are all God’s late Dr. Martin Luther King worthy. taught them how to farm, children, we must demand said, “we shall overcome”

It was like locking up a and provide millions of that the government address and as the Roman statesman person for several years in dollars to them at low the problems of racism, and philosopher Lucius jail and suddenly discovered interest rates to mechanize discrimination and poverty Annaeus Seneca has said thatthepersonwasnotguilty theirfarms facedbyBlacksandasstated “timewilltell.” of the crime he was Today, thousands of in the Constitution, we hold Sincerely, convicted of, but they told white farmers are receiving these truths to be self- Dr Asquith Rose

Do something now about cruelty to animals

DEAREDITOR, andviolencetowardhumans. I write this letter to make Ample research backs up the ahumblepleawithyoutouse finding that there is a direct your office to commence link between acts of cruelty training of the members of to animals and violence the Guyana Police Force to toward humans This deal with reports of animal includes child abuse, crueltyandabusethroughout domestic violence, elder thelengthandbreadthofthis abuse and other violent beautifulnationofours. behaviour Alandmark1997

Oftentimes we witness study by the Massachusetts some of the vilest acts of Society for the Prevention of cruelty being meted out to Cruelty to Animals and animals, both companion Northeastern University and food animals, without foundthatanimalabusersare any repercussions from the in fact five times as likely to responsible authorities alsoharmotherhumans. Wheneverareportismade,it Another study found that either is not taken seriously 16% of offenders started ornottakenatall. abusing animals and I want to believe that graduated to violent crimes some of the officers are not againsthumans.However,in au fait with the Animal many circumstances, WelfareActofGuyanawhile offenders start by hurting some are oblivious to its other humans and then existence. When these progresstoharminganimals. incidents of abuse are made Both because animals public and there is an themselves need protection, abundance of public and because of the link condemnation, only then between cruelty to animals appropriate actions are taken and cruelty to humans, bytherelevantauthorities. violence against animals

A b u s e i s a b u s e , must be taken seriously irrespective whether it’s underthelaw animal or human abuse No form of abuse should People who hurt animals be tolerated in any society don’t stop with animals Helpustohelpthevoiceless. There is an established link Regards, between cruelty to animals

Anurama Ramgobin

CANU flags increase of smuggled drugs in barrels, boxes

…sayspersonscanberewardedforreportingtraffickingofillegalsubstances

The Customs Anti such illicit items through again advises all such In Januar,y it was Narcotic Unit (CANU) personalconsignments.” persons dealing in or reported that CANU reported on Sunday that OnlyonFridayMarch3, contemplating engaging in d e s t r o y e d 1 4 0 6 there has been a recent GRA’s Law Enforcement such illegal activities to kilogrammes(kgs)ofseized increase in cases of persons and Investigation Division cease and desist therefrom. cocaine and 454.7 kgs of attempting to smuggle conducted an operation at The Revenue Authority seized marijuana The illegaldrugsintothecountry t h e C h e d d i J a g a n continues its plea to the destroyednarcotics,totaling through barrels, boxes, International Airport General Public to report any 596kgs, are from cases that packages, containers and (CJIA), Timehri where a illicit, unlawful or have been concluded in the evensuitcases. quantity of suspected smuggling activities on Magistrates’Court.

This increase has been cannabis and refined telephone number 227- The street value for the flagged by the Guyana marijuana was found in a 6060, Extensions 3201, destroyednarcoticsvariesas Revenue Authority (GRA) passenger’s luggage on an 3204, 3205, 3211, 3212, or they were seized at ports of t h a t p o l i c e s t h e s e incomingCaribbeanflight. 3408 All information entry to countries like the consignments at ports of The passenger was provided will be dealt with UnitedStatesandtheUnited entryintoGuyana. arrested and has been strict confidentiality and Kingdom.

Accordingtoastatement handed over to CANU for such persons may be In 2022, 3.7 tonnes of from CANU, “GRA further investigations and rewarded in accordance marijuana and over 124 kgs continues to observe possible prosecution, while with the provisions of the of cocaine were seized from alarming cases of increased the drugs have been seized Customs Act, Chapter various ports of entry and efforts to smuggle refined bytheAuthority 82:01,” CANU said in its through operations narcotic drugs and other “The Authority once missive. conductedbyCANU.

Commonwealth

urges immediate action on climate change and loss of biodiversity

Collaborative Commonwealth at the action is vital to Commonwealth Heads of

p r e v e n t t h e Government meeting in runaway effects of climate Rwanda last June, joining change and loss of alongsideTogo. b i o d i v e r s i t y , t h e It is now one of 56 Commonwealth Secretary- countries representing 2.5 General, Patricia Scotland billion people, of which over told a conference of global 60%areundertheageof30. leaders and experts last The Secretary-General Thursday used her speech to commend Speaking at the One Gabon for its world-leading Forest Summit in Libreville, work on the environment, Gabon, the Secretary- and from which other General said it is clear a Commonwealth countries regenerative and inclusive canlearnfrom. approach is needed to tackle Gabonis88%coveredby the burgeoning issues. She forests, making it at the urgedHeadsofGovernment, forefront in the fight against Ministers of State and world global warming and the experts to utilise co- protection of biodiversity It operation and partnership to has pledged to protect its work together on finding the land and ocean areas and is solutions needed to build a makingstridesinmonetising stable, peaceful and carboncredits. prosperous future for She also thanked and subsequent generations. She praised President Ali Bongo added: “It is clear [that and President Macron for reversing biodiversity loss] their decisive leadership on is going to take a the issue and their heartfelt regenerative approach and it partnerships with the isalsoclearthatitisgoingto C o m m o n w e a l t h takeallofus.

Biodiversity is particularly

“If you look at what the i m p o r t a n t f o r t h e experts have been saying – Commonwealthasitishome they have all been saying the to to 23% of the world’s land same things. Number one, area, 8.8 million km² of that we need to collaborate forest land, nearly one third more, number two, we are of all oceans and critical not going to be able tackle biodiversity ecosystems like these crises unless we really the tropical forests of Papua understand the data, and New Guinea and keystone number three that solutions species like savanna are going to demand the elephants. inclusion of every sector and TheCommonwealthalso a multilateral, multinational includes 400 endemic approach. species – those restricted to

“So, I am glad that most geographical areas. Nearly a of the countries who have third (29%) of the world’s spoken at the Summit are megadiverse countries are m e m b e r s o f t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e Commonwealth family We Commonwealth, with many have56countries,2.5billion intropicalregions. people – 60% of whom are The Commonwealth under the age of 30 - but the helps member countries rest are our friends, and we protect their environments need our friends to solve this and use their natural crisis.” resources sustainably

The conference, held by through programmes such as the President of Gabon, HE The Blue Charter, The Ali Bongo Ondimba, and the Living Lands Charter, the President of France, HE Commonwealth Sustainable President Emmanuel Energy Transition Agenda Macron, seeks to secure and the Commonwealth commitments around the Climate Finance Access protection of vital forest Hub, which helps countries ecosystems like the Congo unlockclimatefinance. Basin, and see the inception As of January 2023, the of initiatives to reverse the initiativehasunlocked$67.5 global loss of biodiversity million US dollars, and an Gabon became the 55th additional $2.9 million US m e m b e r o f t h e dollarsinco-financing.

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The Gauze

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There is something frightening about our healthcare system, particularly in the public sector, where billions of tax dollars continue to be pumped into.

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The recent highlighted cases of gauze being left in the uterus of women who gave birth at hospitals must be a cause for great concern.

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What is even more alarming is the fact that one doctor told one of the women that he had to attend to similar patients coming from the GPHC. This is sickening in this oil economy our leaders boast about. They tell us they are building 12 massive hospitals and investing in healthcare, but the service is piss poor and frankly Guyanese have to really count their lucky stars when they leave the public hospitals better than when they went in.

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But the issue is not only the medical staff. Look at this country, despite the increase in revenues from oil and taxes, our nurses and doctors are leaving in droves because the system is broken. They are fleeing in droves to other jurisdictions where they are paid better and treated as real health professionals, while President Ali makes much noise about paying a midwife a minimum salary of $169,438, Staff Nurses $169,438 and Staff Nurses Midwives $195,000.

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Another U.S State seeking

higher royalty from oil companies

Ohio’s commission in proposed nomination statute. “Firstly, I think that c h a r g e c h a i r Ry a n generate up to US$84M in produced,” Stewart told charge of new rules for process whereby interested should be something that Richardson with lobbying newannualrevenue. committee members. “We leasing state lands to oil and companies select and pursue gets a bid on as opposed to lawmakers to increase fees The bill is co-sponsored want school kids to get gas companies will be agivenparcel. havingjustafixednumberin for nominating and bidding by three Albuquerque 25%.” The bill is now in the pushing for increased Muskingum Watershed statute,” Warnock argued, onaparcelaswellasaltering Democrats, Senators Bill Senate Tax and Revenue royalty rates to at least Conservancy District “Havingit,Ithinkit’s12.5% the royalty structure to set Tallman and Harold Pope, Committee. But it will likely 12.5%. Nick Evans for the (MWCD) Executive right now, making it at least 12.5%asthefloor and State Representative be tabled there temporarily Ohio Capital Journal Director, Craig Butler, 12.5% so that’s kind of the Last month, Kaieteur DebbieSariñana. for later review alongside reportedthatthecommission encouraged the commission minimum.” Picking up on News reported New Mexico TheJournalreportedthat other bills to consider their will seek legislative tweaks tolookattheiroperationas a that idea, Commissioner, a state in the Southwestern Tallman told committee collective fiscal impact to award leases through model,butnotnecessarilyan Michael Wise asked land U n i t e d S t a t e s , h a s members in the February 7 before sending them to a bidding and to allow for approach to replicate manager Nate Wilson from introduced a bill that could hearing that increasing the floor vote, Tallman told the more lucrative royalties completely One aspect theMWCDwhattheycharge increase the current 20% royalty rate, which hasn’t Journal. If approved, the bill Ohio is a state in the commissioners picked up on in royalties. “We always try royalty the state receives changed since the 1970s, could generate between $50 MidwesternUnitedStates. is how the district handles to get the most we can,” from oil and gas companies would put New Mexico on a million and $84 million in The Ohio Oil and Gas royalties — a share of the Wilson said, “so our leases to25%. par with Texas, which new revenue annually, L a n d M a n a g e m e n t operators’ income handed rangefrom18to20%.” The Albuquerque charges25%. starting in fiscal year 2025, Commission introduced its overtolandowner “As we have it right Journal reported that the “Ourroyaltyratewaslast according to the Legislative standard lease form at a A m o n g p o t e n t i a l now,” Wise said, “we’re legislative initiative by New updated 50 years ago, but Finance Committee’s fiscal meeting in February It was legislative changes, probably leaving dollars on Mexico could not only raise Texas has been at 25% since impactreport. reported that public lands Commissioner Matthew thetable.” the royalty rate for oil and the 1990s,” Tallman said Importantly, apart from a d v o c a t e s v o i c e d Warnock criticized setting Before adjourning, gas produced on state lands adding, “… It doesn’t make raising the current royalty frustrations with the the royalty percentage in commissioners agreed to but could potentially sense to prohibit the state rate, it would also impose from charging market rates royalties for the first time on onourresources.” natural gas wasted through

The media entity venting, flaring or leaking. reported that the State Land But revenue projections on Office is backing the bill, t h a t p r o v i s i o n a r e which would raise the rate unavailable because a new only for leases on state law prohibits venting “premium” land offered in and flaring going forward in competitivebidding. order to reduce methane

That refers to the most emissions to just 2% by productive tracts with the 2025 According to the highest oil-and-gas Journal, if the bill advances reservoirs in terms of out of Tax and Revenue, it’s volume and value, or the boundtofacestiffopposition “best of the best,” said Land from industry and from O f f i c e D e p u t y Republicanlawmakers. CommissionerofOperations This move by New SunaleiStewart. Mexico,andOhiocomesata

“Regular,” or less time when American oil productive tracts, would giant, ExxonMobil- the remainat20%,andonlynew operator of Guyana’s premium leases would be StabroekBlockwhichhasan affected,notexistingones. estimated 11 billion barrels

It was explained that all ofoilpaysamere2%royalty additional revenue would tothecountry flow into the state’s Land The 2016 deal Guyana Grant Permanent Fund, signed onto has been heavily which provides the lion’s criticised as being lopsided share of trust-based funding and civil society groups and for New Mexico’s public citizenshavebeencallingfor schools. a renegotiation of the

“Companieswouldgetto contract but their calls have keep 75% of the resources fallenondeafearsthusfar.

Firefighters save home after gas stove starts fire

Firefighters on Saturday reportedly saved a one flat wooden and concrete house at 97 Hadfield Street,Werk-enRust, Georgetown, after an unattended gas stove started a fire,theGuyanaFireService(GFS)statedonSunday

The fire reportedly started around 17:12hrs and according to the GFS, water tenders from the Central and West Ruimveldt Fire Stations were immediately sent to the location.

“Firefighters managed to put out the fire, saving the building and its contents, which suffered no damage”, the GFS has stated, while adding that the fire was caused by a lightedgasstovethatwasleftunattended.

Citizens are being advised by the GFS to exercise caution and follow the necessary safety measures to avoid firesintheirhomes.

At least 21 fires have been recorded in 2023 so far with morethanhalfofthembeingelectrical.

The PNCR and the AFC cannot reinvent themselves

Th e P N C R operated as if it was living in a different stratosphere. Just why it believed that it could have gotten away with benefiting from rigged elections is hard to comprehend.

The fact of the matter is that the PNCR was quite divorcedfromtherealitiesof regional and international policiestoexpecttogetaway with such a stunt The consequenceforthisattempt is that the party is going to struggleelectorally

The only possibility whichthePNCRhasofever returningtopowerisforitto either win significant crossovervotesordowhatitdidin 2015 and align itself with a force that could steal votes away from the PPPC

Throughout its history, the PNCR has not proven itself able to win significant crossover voters and the reasonforthishastodowith ethnic polarization and the blatant dishonesty of the party is rigging the 1968, 1973, 1980 and 1985

electionsandthereferendum of 1978. The AFC can no longercountitselfascapable ofluringPPPCsupportersto vote for it. In that respect, it isdeadmeat.Neithercanthe PNCRandtheAFCreinvent itself so long as it has in its power structure, persons who continue to pedal and defend the narrative that the general and regional elections of 2020 were rigged. Untilandunlessthe PNCR and the AFC can rid themselves of the defenders of electoral rigging, there is no possibility whatsoever of these parties reinventing themselves. The PPPC is going to sweep the local government elections this year That is a forgone conclusion. The PNCR is likely to retain control of Linden, Georgetown and NewAmsterdam.Therewill be a toss-up for Bartica and Madhia The PPPC will s w e e p t h e o t h e r municipalities – Mabaruma, Lethem,Anna Regina, Rose Hall Town and Corriverton andisgoingtoretaincontrol of the bulk of th

neighbourhood democratic councils. It is left to see is how strong will be the turnout in the PNCR constituencies The AFC draws its support from all across the country but is incapable of winning any neighbourhood democratic councilormunicipality

The PNCR and the AFC would have suffered fallout from the 2020 elections The keyquestiontobeanswered–and it really cannot be fully answered in local government polls – is the extent of this fallout If the turnoutinPNCRstrongholds islessthan30%,thenitwould be clear that the party would have suffered a major fallout fromtheelections.

There are forces who believe that the PNCR is implodinginternallyandthat the present Leader may not surviveasleaderforthe2025 elections Those persons who stake this claim do not understand the PNCR, what is taking place within the PNCR and they certainly underestimate Aubrey Norton.AubreyNortonisno

political pushover He is a s

experience in mobilizing on th

has experience in managing the internalaffairsoftheparty–he was once the General Secretary of the party He is trained diplomat and is no intellectual minion. There are serious divisions within the PNCR. There are even calls for some of those persons who have been shunted aside to return to greater visibility There are evencallsforDavidGranger toreturntoleadtotheparty The calls for the return of Granger are becoming

strongereachday

Butthatisjusttheinternal dynamics within the party

When it comes to elections time, the membership will rallybehindthepartybecause thereisahistoricalhatred,and in some quarters utter contempt,forthePPPC

ThePNCRwilllosesome supportasaresultofthatsilly attempttobenefitfromrigged elections in 2020 But the baseofthePNCRisnotlikely to depart en masse from the party come 2025 What is at stake is whether without the AFC, whether the PNCR wouldbeabletomustermore than40%ofthevotes Itisnot likely to But it does then all

hope is lost for Guyana becausetheonlyhopeforthis country has to come from a commitment to democratic politics This is why if the PNCR hopes to have any chanceofreturningtooffice, it has to dump those who continue to pedal discredited narratives. And it has to rebuild with fresh leadership. But where will thatleadershipcomefrom?

Guyanese

A 68-year old Guyanese man identified only as Rabindranauth avoided prosecution in a Surinamese court after he reportedly agreedtopayaheftyfinefor entering the country with more than US$10,000

According to a Surinamese media entity, GFC Nieuws, Rabindranauthwasdetained around13:30hrsonMarch2, by Surinamese customs officers at South Drain, Suriname moments after he

man fined for

entering Suriname with more than US$10,000

d i s e m b a r k e d t h e

Canawaima ferry - the ferry used to shuttle passengers fromGuyanatoSuriname. Travellers are permitted to enter the country with no more than US$10,000 and because Rabrinauth had more than the stipulated amount in his possession, without any plausible explanation,hewasarrested for violating the Suriname Foreign Exchange Act

Kaieteur News understands

Dem boys seh...

that Rabindranauth reportedly told the lawmen that the money was to purchase a small excavator inFrenchGuiana.

He was reportedly handedovertothecountry’s fraud department for investigation and was reportedly given the opportunity to settle the matteroutofcourtbypaying aheftyfine.

(Information taken fromGFCNieuws)

The promise which cannot be kept

Nuff people who did contribute to ensuring democracy survived in Guyana during the 2020 elections are getting on in age.Someofdemhaveeven passed on, like Owen

Arthur And yet de government is still to honourthosewhodefended democracy

Nolessapersonthande President had promised that there would be an Order of Democracy But de award hasbeenstillborn Andsome people saying is because of Kaieteur News During de attempt at rigging de elections, Kaieteur News

tookadecisionthatitwould notcondonesuchconduct It took a principled stand that thisnewspaperwouldnotbe used to pedal any false narratives or to mislead the people It issued many scathing front page comments The person behindthisprincipledstance by the Kaieteur News was the publisher of dis newspaper It gan be hard fuh de government fuh honour all dem people who dem seh defend democracy and leave out Kaieteur News anditspublisher Demboys believedisisdereasonwhy

dem can’t keep dem promise fuh have de Order ofDemocracyaward.Disis demboysopinion.

So instead of honouring the true defenders of democracy, de government decide to commemorate de 3rd anniversary of the elections of March 3rd by a buse-out of the PNCR And yuhnahgattoaskwholedthe chargeinthismatter

De man like an Everreadybattery…hejustkeep going on and on about de rigging.Well,hehadtoseh something and that is what hesaid.Andwhovex,vex! Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

Updatedpetroleumbill tobemadepublicsoon – Attorney General

The new petroleum production bill to update and modernize Guyana’s existing legislation will be

in the sector are taken on made public shortly This is board so that they could play according to Attorney a role in the updating and General and Minister of modernizing of the Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall legislation. S.C. who made this known

In addition to Nandlall’s during lastTuesday’s edition disclosure in the petroleum ofhisweeklyshow,Issuesin legislation, a recently theNews. published Ministry of

Guyana has a Petroleum Natural Resources brief, the Exploration and Production Petroleum (Production) Act Actwhichwasenactedinthe Petroleum (Exploration and 1980s. Production, E&P) Act was

Nandlall explained that l i s t e d a m o n g f o u r the Petroleum Act was legislations that were enacted when the country identified for review and was not a petroleum gassector enhancement. producer and since Guyana ”We have acquired

It was stated that the has moved successfully into under our belt, two years of Government seeks to that sector, the current piece experience as an oil and gas modernize its legal and of legislation has become producer, operator, and regulatory framework as it outmoded and cannot be a exporter and I believe now relates to the petroleum p r o p e r r e g u l a t o r y weareataparticularvantage sector,toaddressissuessuch framework for the current point where we can now as oil revenue management, sector. review our experience and licensing, Production

“Wehaverecognisedthat starttoworkonmodernizing Sharing Agreement models, a long time ago, and we are and making adjustments to local content, and Health, working on a brand-new bill the local content law,” the Safety, Environmental, and that will take into account Attorney-Generalsaid. S e c u r i t y ( H S E S ) and will address the modern Nandlall noted that management. realities of Guyana as an oil Guyana has now had the According to the and gas producer So, that is Local Content Act enacted ministry’s brief, the result in the pipeline and that will for some two years and said would be maximizing the be made public shortly,” he that as more experience is economic benefits to the said. gained, it will be subject to c o u n t r y, i m p r o v i n g

- Ram VP Jagdeo dodging insurance responsibility by shifting it to EPA

Attorney-at-Law and provisions must be approved Chartered Accountant, by the Minister of Natural Christopher Ram believes Resources.Itstates,“Subject Vice President Bharrat to the Minister’s approval, Jagdeo, who has overall which shall not be responsibility for the unreasonably withheld, the petroleum sector, is dodging Contractor, notwithstanding thatresponsibilitybyplacing the provisions of Article t h e o n u s o n t h e 20.2(a), shall have the right Environmental Protection toself-insureallorpartofthe Agency (EPA) for ensuring aforementioned insurances that ExxonMobil complies inArticle20.2(a).” w i t h i t s i n s u r a n c e Ram noted that selfobligations. insurance has been taken off

The Attorney told this the table and replaced with newspaper that the full insurance supported by Petroleum Exploration and the guarantees from the Production Act grants to the parent company and Minister responsible for affiliates of the Stabroek petroleum the power to issue Block. pointedoutthat“theultimate Production Licences subject When asked how responsibility falls on the to such conditions as he Guyanese can get the elected Vice President to ensure that thinksfit. leaders to play their part in ESSO honours the terms and

Additionally, Nandlall reviews.

management of the related that there are some The Attorney-General technical, environmental, otherrelatedlegislationsthat committed to the continual social, and financial risks the government is working review of the legislation and linkedtothesectorand on as it relates to the oil and ensuring that lessons learned (Continued on page 18)

T h e r o l e o f t h e s a f e g u a r d i n g t h e conditionsofitsLicence.Itis Environmental Protection environment, the Attorney misleadinganddisingenuous Agency is to consider the said that this may very well fortheVPtosendMr Lallin impact of any project on the be an issue which Lall may the wrong direction. It is environment and as part of want to have adjudicated by Jagdeo who must do it theapprovalprocess, itis the the Court According to because he is the person responsibilityoftheMinister Ram, the Natural Resources delegated by PresidentAli to to take account of any Ministry for which the VP oversee the petroleum recommendations by the bears responsibility, ought to sector,” the Attorney EPA,heexplained. have stepped in a long time explained. While the Licence may ago. The 2016 Production havebeensignedbyMinister In fact, the Ministry Sharing Agreement (PSA) Vickram Bharrat, it is the should not have allowed any signed between the Vice President who is production to begin until all Government of Guyana and a s s i g n e d o v e r a l l theconditionsweremet. ExxonMobil states atArticle responsibilityforpetroleum. “Ultimately, it’s very 20.2 (a) “The Contractor Ram is convinced that unfortunate that President shalleffectatalltimesduring Jagdeo’s response during his Irfaan Ali is not stepping up the terms of this Agreement, press conference on Friday to the plate when it comes to insurance as required by to the Publisher of this protecting Guyana and the applicable laws, rules, and Newspaper, Mr Glenn Lall Caribbean.Thefactisthatan regulations and of such type was a deliberate attempt to oil spill is not going to affect and in such amount as is mislead the public. Lall had Guyana alone. An oil spill c u s t o m a r y i n t h e asked the VP whether can affect all neighbouring international petroleum Guyana has acquired full countries and the good industry in accordance with liability coverage from r e l a t i o n s h i p h i s good oil field practice ExxonMobil, when Jagdeo Administration enjoys with appropriate for Petroleum explained, “I told the EPAto them” he explained, in Operationsinprogress…” get (it), they have to get the pointing to the urgent need Article 20.2 (b) of the parentcompanyguarantee.” for such critical mechanisms PetroleumAgreementmakes In this regard, Ram beputinplace. it clear that the insurance

Three schools to be constructed in Reg. One

Soon the students in the Barima-Waini Some ten acres of land were made Region will benefit from three new schools available for the construction of the school. as part of the Ministry of Education’s effort Pupils from the villages of Huradiah, toachieveuniversaleducationintheregion. Cabrora, Acquero and Rincon will benefit These schools will be constructed in fromthisnewschool.

Huradiah in the Moruca subdistrict, Meanwhile, a new secondary school will Waramuri and Kwebanna, The Education be built atWaramuri.The modern secondary Ministryhasdisclosed. school will house 400 students. The school

Following a consultation with residents will be equipped with Physics, Chemistry of Huradiah village, Moruca Sub region, a and Biology laboratories along with new primary school will be built in the Information Technology, Home Economics communitywhichwillcaterfor250pupils. and Industrial Technology laboratories, staff

To receive an education, pupils in the room, auditorium and teachers’ quarters to village travel across the Moruca River to house10teachersandwillbesolarpowered. attendtheSantaRosaPrimarySchool,which Students from Waramuri and Haimacabra is currently overcrowded, the Ministry of areexpectedtobenefitfromtheconstruction Educationsaidinapressrelease.

(Continued on page 19)

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs

Anil Nandlall S.C

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Third FPSO set to arrive in Guyana before the end of first quarter

Third FPSO set to arrive in Guyana before end of first quarter

Prosperity, the third Floating Production sector,”Mrs.Alisaid.

Paul Slowe flags “drivers’ licence fraud” as major contributor to road deaths

Retired Assistant mightbemissingthepoint.

Commissioner of Police, In his letter he wrote, “It PaulSloweinaletterpenned isclearfromthepressrelease to the Stabroek News on that the Ministry of Home Sunday posited that corrupt Affairs is clueless when it practices in the issuance of comes to the real reasons for Unit, Julius Wright and it driver’slicencesisoneofthe themadnessontheroadsand revealed that some 397 main causes behind the the measures that should be persons did not write the recent surge of fatal road implemented to address the driver’s exam but received accidents. carnage.” pass marks. Another 79 did

Storage And Offloading (FPSO) vessel that

ExxonMobil’s Senior Vice President of will operate in the Stabroek Block offshore Deepwater Hunter Farris praised the level of Guyana is expected to arrive in country collaboration among multiple companies in before the end of the first quarter The ship several countries that went into making the leftSingaporeinFebruaryofthisyear project a reality He also highlighted the

First Lady, Mrs Arya Ali is the benefits that will arise from having a third godmother of the vessel. She went to vesseloperatingoffshoreGuyana. Singapore in February and performed a ”Prosperity reaffirms ExxonMobil’s longstanding maritime tradition which commitment to Guyana. A third vessel identifies a woman to bestow good luck and operating offshore will further contribute to protection over the vessel and those who sail Guyana’s transformation, creating new aboard. business and employment opportunities over

“This vessel offers another avenue to thelifeofitsoperation,”saidMr Farris. prosperity, an opportunity to build a future Prosperity will be utilized on the Payara for our people, a future they deserve. development, ExxonMobil Guyana’s third Prosperity is more than just a symbol of project in the Stabroek Block. Start-up is development though; she is a physical expectedlaterthisyear manifestation of the hard work and It will have an initial production target of collaborative relationship between the 220,000 barrels of oil per day and an overall people of Guyana and the collection of storage volume of around two million companies doing business in our oil and gas barrels.

The Ministry of Home According to Slowe, the not register for the exam but Affairs on February 21 last “real problem” is the corrupt still received pass marks via a press release expressed system that exits when it while21receivedpassmarks concern over the “growing comes to the issuance of before even writing the number” of road fatalities drivers’licences. exams. thatoccurredsofarin2023. “I will posit that

Slowe also quoted a few

According to the accidents are the end results news articles where police Ministry, 16 persons were of a corrupt system, Slowe ranks and Guyana Revenue killed in road accidents from wrote while adding, Authority (GRA) employees January 1 to February 18, “Corruptly providing a were arrested and charged 2023, a 100 percent increase d r i v e r s ’ l i c e n c e t o forbeinginvolvedindriver’s when compared to same unqualifiedpersonsisakinto licencefraud. periodlastyear. providingthosepersonswith

He noted that the

The ministry attributed alicencetokill”. evidence suggests that the the increase to reckless To back up his view that system is corrupt and “needs driving, speeding, driving there is wide spreadcompellingattention”. under influence and total corruption in the country’s Apart from the evidence disregard for the Five ‘Cs’ driver learning programme put forward by the retired and noted too that stringent for the issuance of driver’s cop, it should be noted that law enforcement will be licence, Slowe provided GRAearlier this year issued needed to ensure drivers some stats from a letter a stern warning against the followtheroadrules. published Stabroek News falsification of documents

However, the retired backin2022. especially to obtain a commissioner believes that The letter was reportedly driver’slicence.Inapress th

penned by the Head of the

(Continued on page 13) authorities and the ministry Force’sAudit and Inspection

Lindeners turned to celebrate Mashramani 2023

out in their numbers

Lindeners turned out in their numbers yesterday to be a part of their Mashramani 2023 celebrations. Costume Bands and revellers took to the streets of the mining town totrampandfreeupaftertwoyearsoflockdownasaresult oftheCOVID-19Pandemic.

ChippingandtrampingtothepulsatingsoundsofSoca music coming from the various music trucks, revelers immersed themselves in the cultural displays of fun and revelry, after hard work. Spectators also lined the street takinginthesightsandsoundsofMash23Lindenstyle.

It was indeed a vibrant and colourful celebration that wasenjoyedbyall.

“Licensed

Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Paul Slowe

Devin Sears’ Facebook Page

Tanker carrying over 200,000 gallons of crude sinks in Philippines’ water, still to be located

* Officials says over 36,000 hectare of coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass possibly affected by oil slick

* Bans swimming and fishing

Scenes from the ongoing cleanup of Philippines oil spill (DENR photos)

Atanker carrying authorities scramble to and marine habitats that Mindoro and Caluya, communities. operations, site assessments, over 200,000 containthespill. could be impacted. “The Antique that can be A n e m e r g e n c y and surveillance to gallons of crude According to the possible contamination potentiallyaffectedbytheoil coordination meeting and determine the exact location

s u n k i n Philippine Coast Guard, the might actually affect the slick. briefing was convened by of the sunken tanker, and Philippines’ water last vessel encountered engine viability of these systems,” Secretary Loyzaga is in D E N R Ta s k F o r c e protection of marine Thursday, putting at risk trouble on Tuesday due to Loyzaga warned in a talks with the Secretaries of C o m m a n d e r ecosystemsamongothers. several municipalities and overheating and drifted due recordedmessage. the Department of Social Undersecretary, Marilou DENR Environmental over 36,000 hectares of the to rough sea conditions The Secretary met with Welfare and Development Erni which was attended by Management Bureau country’s coral reefs, However, it is not clear what Naujan Mayor Henry Joel (DSWD), Department of the National Disaster Risk MIMAROPA continues its mangroves and sea grass. caused it to sink, but all 20 Teves and representatives I n t e r i o r a n d L o c a l Reduction and Management cleanup operations using This is according to crew members were rescued from the Provincial Government (DILG) and Council (NDRRMC), locally available oilPhilippines Department of by a passing vessel before it G o v e r n o r ’s O ff i c e , Department of Labor and Department of Health absorbentmaterials. Environment and Natural wentdown.

Department of Agriculture- Employment (DOLE) to (DOH). Notably, each Inarecentupdate,theUP Resources(DENR). Reuters reported, Carlos Bureau of Fisheries and finalize arrangements on the agency provided updates on Marine Science Institute The tanker, MT Princess PrimoDavid,undersecretary Aquatic Resources, and the augmentation for the cash- its individual operations on forecaststhattheoilspillwill Empress that was en route to at the environment ministry, Philippines’ Coast Guard on for-work scheme for the site and the joint efforts on reach other areas in about a Iloilo province was carrying saiditwascrucialauthorities March 3, 2023 to assess the clean-up teams in the local s h o r e l i n e c l e a n u p week’stime. about 800,000 litres find the tanker soon, as there extent and potential impacts (211,338 gallons) of could still be a large volume of the oil spill from the industrial fuel oil The of oil inside. “If we can sunken MT Princess environmental officials plan recover it that will help us a Empress. to use a multibeam survey to lot in containing the spill,”

TheDENRisperforming locate the sunken vessel he said in a media briefing, disaster forensics in before it causes more adding, “Bear in mind that collaboration with the damage to the country’s the cleanup will be more U n i v e r s i t y o f t h e ecosystem. difficult if more oil reaches Philippines-Marine Science

T h e t a n k e r s a n k coastalareas.”

Institute (UP-MSI) to assess southwest of the capital Environment Secretary immediate actions to protect Manila and has prompted at MariaAntoniaYuloLoyzaga mangroves, sea grass, and least seven coastal towns to said a rapid assessment was over36,000hectaresofcoral banfishingandswimmingas being undertaken of coastal reefs in Bulalacao, Oriental

PaulSloweflags“drivers’ licence... PaulSloweflags“

Early morning accident on Corentyne Highway leaves two dead

Police are investigating an accident that occurred on the Bramfield (No 19) Public Road yesterday morning, which resulted in the death of a hire car driver andafemalepassenger

thoughSlowemightbehittingthehammeron statement, the Authority had said that the right nail when it comes to fraudulently “persons guilty of such unlawful actions are issuinglicencetounqualifieddrivers. liable on summary conviction to fines and It is the retired cop’s view that these imprisonmentofuptoasmuchassixmonths, unqualified drivers might be playing a major depending on the nature and severity of the role in the sharp rise in the number of road offence.” fatalities that has been taking place in the

From page 12

The Authority’s warning came just a few country days after one of its employees was arrested In order to address the situation, Slowe for selling a bogus driver’s examination pass suggested, “the current traffic situation in paper – a document needed to apply for a Guyananeedsacomprehensivereviewofthe driver’slicenceatGRA–tothelabourerfrom entire process, including the process to BushLot,EssequiboCoast,RegionTwo. acquire a driver’s licence, certification of Kaieteur News had confirmed that the motor vehicles, disqualification of drivers, GRA staff has admitted to selling the suspension of drivers’ licences, traffic document to the Essequibo resident for educationandenforcement”.

$50,000.

“It is time for the government of Guyana

He claimed that he had gotten the fake toestablishaDepartmentofTransportationto document from another individual but deal with the acquisition of drivers’licences, according to police, he has been withholding guidelines for operating driving schools and theidentityofthatperson. the qualification required for becoming a

With GRA’s recent warning, it seems as drivinginstructor”,hesaid.

The dead persons have been identified as Shelliza Alexis London, 26 and Qualis Crawford, 40 Crawfordwasdrivinghiscar with London in the front passenger seat and two others in the back seat, when

Qualis Crawford

“When I got there, I see theaccidentoccurred. he and the female both lying

Theothertwopassengers her that he was in an dead. On the right hand side, survived the deadly crush accident. it had a dead cow and like he that saw the vehicle flipping Sometime after, she got hit the sand that was on the and turning turtle, ending up another call from a female right side too and the car inatrenchnearby friend, who disclosed that flip...”

Reports are that the Crawford had died in the Crawford and London accident took place at accident. were taken to the New approximately 03:00 hrs

April said when she got Amsterdam Public Hospital yesterday morning. Wife of to the scene, her husband’s where they were both the dead driver, Malissa body along with the female pronounced dead on arrival. April said she was awoken who also died were still

with a phone call from her there. underway husband’s friend, relaying to

Shelliza Alexis London

800SophiaresidentsconnectedtoGTTFibreservice

- company targeting 18,000 homes in Berbice

More than 800 residents future.Iamsohappythatthe inSophianowhaveaccessto future is in your hands GTT’s high speed Fibre because you are going to service as the company havehugeopportunities”the officially announced that it CEO told a batch of Grade hasconnected50%ofhomes Six students who will be in the country with the utilising the room to prepare service. for the upcoming NGSA CEO of GTT Damian examination, GTT said in a Blackburn made the statement. The room is fully announcement during the equipped with a projector, launching of a smart desktop computer, printer classroom donated by the and scanner directly company to the Sophia connected to GTT’s Fibre Primary School last Friday service. The company also He said that more than donated a number of 120,000 homes now have stationary items to the access to the service and the school.

better with money that is strengthening communities, “Teachers will be able to to wait a long time to stream company is investing in “ S t r e n g t h e n i n g being generated from oil and supporting your education engage in meaningful high quality videos or wait a Guyana’sfuture. Communities” gas and maintaining our and giving you access to the lessons. Children will be long time for websites to “Guyana is going

“Thecountryisinvesting forest At GTT, we are technology available to the able to go online and have load when you are doing through a lot of change right inyouandinvestinginlotsof ensuring we play our part by restoftheworld,”Blackburn accesstomoreinformation.I research”. now and you are Guyana’s things to make your life

said Blackburn also love the venture and I know Thakurdin disclosed that encouraged the teachers of we will be working together the company will be making the school to use the internet withGTTtomakeourschool Fibre available to more than as a tool to continue to asuccess”. 18,000 homes in East improve their methods and In addition to Sophia, Berbice – Corentyne expandtheirknowledge. GTT launched Fibre in the (Region Six), before the end

“I hope this smart community of Hague on the of the year. Last weekend it classroom is not just used by West Coast of Demerara last launched the service in you to learn new things but weekandalsopartneredwith Fyrish on the East Bank of also by your teachers. Your thatcommunityintheareaof the Berbice River to benefit teachers will have to learn education. The company morethan1200homesinthe new skills. So, it’s very donated a desktop computer area. important at this moment in completed with a printer and Othercommunitiesinthe Guyana that you are given scanner, a chalkboard and Region that have received accesstothelatestthingsthat stationery to the Hague the service this year, are other children can get in Primary School which has a No.2, No.7, No.11, No.19 , othercountries.” small population of just 65 Palmyra, Seawell, Sheet

“Investing in the Future” students The school is Anchor and Susannah Headteacher of the already provided with villages on the East Bank of Sophia Primary School internet connectivity the Berbice River The Audrey Sue, said she was through the Ministry of villages collectively account surprised when the school Education. for more than 2200 homes in was contacted by GTT to “More Opportunities” the Region that will benefit develop a smart room COO of GTT’s Home f r o m t h e u p g r a d e d “When I heard that GTT Solutions and Fixed connectivitysolution. wantstomakeaclassroomin N e t w o r k s , E s h w a r Additionally, GTT has our school into a smart room Thakurdin, said that the been directly engaging with I said wow, I am going to company is making a its customers through doorwelcome it with open arms. massive effort to reliably to-door representatives to Weknowthisistheerawhen connect its customers and listen to their needs and children are born into provide them with best-in- provide the necessary technology and GTT has class service. He said Fibre guidanceandsupport. placed a spark in our hearts isalargepartofthesolution. Thakurdin added that the byinvestingintheirfuture”. “Fibre allows many company will be pushing

Theheadteachersaidthat devices to be connected to ahead aggressively with its the school’s curriculum the same wifi and you can agenda and creating more includes the use of the still have very strong opportunities along the way internet and the smart room connection, it still moves as it positively impacts the is a plus for the students. very fast and you don’t have livesofitscustomers.

CEO of GTT Damian Blackburn, Headteacher of Sophia Primary School, Audrey Sue (right) and COO of GTT’s Home Solutions Eshwar Thakurdin, are pictured with pupils of the Sophia Primary School

A teacher of the Sophia Primary School instructing pupils during a demonstration

CEO of GTT Damian Blackburn, COO of GTT’s Home Solutions Eshwar Thakurdin (right) and Headteacher of the Sophia Primary School Audrey Sue, is pictured during the launching of a smart classroom and the donation of stationery to the school.

Pres Ali, Jagdeo flay advocates for better oil deal …callthem“hypocritesdisguisingasenvironmentalists”

Amid mounting calls for this country to be more prudentinitsstewardshipof the oil and gas industry, Guyana’s top political leaders have likened local advocates championing a better deal for citizens as hypocrites, insisting that they will not budge and will continuetheirprogramme.

Following the signing of the lopsided contract between the Guyana G o v e r n m e n t a n d ExxonMobil, Guyanese at home and abroad have been callingforarenegotiationof the deal to secure greater benefits for citizens. And althoughwhileinopposition the PPP/C Government had promised to renegotiate the contract, which was signed by the APNU+AFC Government,onceitgotinto government it has changed itstune. Speakingata sod turning ceremony last Fridayfortheconstructionofa new stadium at Palmyra, President Irfaan Ali said “hypocrites” is the ideal term todefineGuyanesewhohave been critical of his government’smanagementof the oil and gas sector and its stewardship of the environment Heclaimedthat environmentalists who have soughttosteerhisgovernment in the right direction are attemptingto“poisonandstop thebloomingpetroleumsector inthecountry”

President Ali spoke just after his Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo who insisted that such persons with

“ulteriormotives”shouldstop hidingbehindthetitlessuchas environmentalists and biologists He said: “It’s not easy dealing with those who want to sap our energy in negativity Itisnoteasytrying to deliver them from their ignorance especially when they are deliberately ignorant because they have an ulterior motive.Ifyouhaveapolitical ambition, announce it, and come in the political arena. Don’t hide under different faces You must be honest to tell the people what your true intentionsare”

The President said the People’s Progressive Party andhisgovernmentbelievein this principle and have outlined its intentions clearly in its Manifesto “We stated howwearegonnabringback agriculture, how we gonna save the farmers and every single one of our commitments, we have stayed true to - every single one of our commitments we havedeliveredtoyou Weare notconartists,”henoted

He went on to tell those gathered at the event: “make no mistake, this is not a governmentofconartistsbut I know many of them out there who disguise themselves in all kinds of ways - environmentalists, biologist, propagandists - all forms they come in Very important point, imagine someonecallingthemselvesa patriotandgoingtoacourtto stop you from the revenue thatbelongstoyouthepeople of Guyana in the oil and gas

sector” Ali said Guyanese haveevengoneasfartowrite the country’s neighbours to say they must stop Guyana fromproducingitsoil,dueto thepotentialdangersofanoil spill The President argued however that these same neighbouring states have developed their petroleum sector for 100 years “They call themselves patriots and lovers of our country They are nothing short of being hypocrites! Nothing short of being hypocrites and let me be very clear, there is no government in this region who has the environmental credentials of this government.”

The President said the PPP came back to office in 2020 after leaving a Low carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) which was abandoned by the former administration.Hewaskeen to share with the Berbice crowdthatthisProgrammeis

now earning the country revenueforitsforests.

No insurance But while Guyanahasearneditstitleas a carbon sink, meaning it takesoutmorecarbondioxide thanitproduces,theoilsector has been moving at a rapid pace in the absence of full liability coverage Presently, approximately 360,000 barrels per day is being produced offshore in the Stabroek Block at the Liza One and Two fields A third project, Payara, will also startup this year, adding another 220,000 barrels per day Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL),theoperatorofthe Stabroek Block has committedUS$600millionin insurance for each project it develops This however has been deemed a meagre amountconsideringthelosses experienced by other oil producingstateswhenaspill occurred To this end, the

parentcompanyExxonMobil isrequiredtosupplyaparent company guarantee in accordancewiththePermitit received from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) After more than three years, this provisionisyettobeadhered to.Itisintendedtosubjectthe parentcompanytocoverany expenses above the capped insurance policy. This newspaper has reported that ExxonMobilhadbeatdowna US$5billionCourtjudgment for fishermen to US$507 million following a 50million-barreloilspill1989in Alaska, United States In February, members of a civil society group wrote to TrinidadandTobago’sPrime Minister (PM), Dr Keith Rowley,puttinghimonguard about the potential oil spill dangersofGuyana’soffshore projects Theletterwhichwas signed by Alfred Bhulai, Andre Brandli, Janette Bulkan,DarshanandKhusial, Mike Persaud, and Charles Sugrim all of whom are members of the Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN) was issued on February8,2023tothePM’s office

The OGGN members were keen to note that they are concerned citizens of Guyana and inhabitants of theCaribbean.Theystressed that Guyana’s oil reserves, totalling some 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent resources in the Stabroek Block, underpin grave oil spill concerns for Caribbean

citizens What is also troubling for them is that ExxonMobil Corporation, through its subsidiary, EEPGL,currentlyplanstodrill 158 wells in six oil fields by 2030inthesoutheastcornerof the Stabroek tract alone “Prime Minister, we enclose themappreparedbyERM,the consultancy firm that has conducted all but one of Exxon’s Environmental ImpactAssessmentstodatein Guyana Thatmapshowsthat the northwesterly currents of the Guyana territorial sea would push even a small oil spill to the eastern coasts of Trinidad and Tobago Even a smalloilspillwouldspoilthe CaribbeanSeaandthreatenthe livelihoods of fishers and the tourism industry, not to mention the harms to marine life and ecosystems,” the OGGN members wrote In lightoftheforegoingandother critical points listed by the group,theyurgedPMRowley urge the governments of the Caribbean to evaluate the scale,intensityandrisksposed totheentireCaribbeanbythe ongoing high velocity oil explorationandproductionin Guyana’s waters. “We hope you will assess the deeply inequitableandneo-colonial arrangements between the government of Guyana and petroleum companies, in which the public wealth of Guyana is privatized and negative environmental harms to both Guyana and the Caribbean are socialized,” the members wrote.

President Irfaan Ali during his address at Palymra, Berbice (Photo credit: Office of the President Facebook page)

WANTED VACANCY

Clerical Assistant needed at Build Smart Construction & Supplies Ltd. 298 Kamoa St Lamaha Gardens. Age18-55 yrs. Call: 226-9768, 225-7528.

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.

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

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.

One Nanny needed for special needs child. Call: 6397980.

Man missing after boat capsizes in Bonasika Creek

FOR SALE

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 double Lot 80x160 on the east side of Friendship Public Road, $12M GYD neg. Call: 626-4234/ 628-6212.

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.

145 Acre Prime Agriculture Transported land @ second dept Spring Gardens, Essequibo Coast. Call: 2336218, 654-3864.

A 17-year-old farmer of Bonasika creek is feared dead after the paddle boat he was in sank on Saturday in the Essequibo River at Bonasika Creek.

The missing farmer was identified only as “Chino” of Region One.

According to police, the boat capsized around

21:00hrs, while Chino and two other occupants were paddling to Bonasika. The two occupants made it to safety and were identified as Mark La Cruz 24, of Upper Bonasika and Antonio, 29, another farmer of Region One.

Police investigators learnt that the three of them were reportedly drinking alcohol in

the boat as they paddled to their destination.

Along the journey, one of the teenage farmers began rocking the boat causing it to capsize. All three of them ended up over board. La Cruz and Antonio swam to shore, but Chino could not be found. Investigations are ongoing.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Aracari hotel located at WBD (Versailles, Vreeden-Hoop)- A/C, all amenities and breakfast included, from $63USD. Call: 2642946-9.

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.

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.

ENTERTAINMENT

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

AFC calls on govt. to release the GYEITI 2020 report

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

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

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

PROPERTY FOR SALE

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

SERVICES FOR RENT

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

One 2 bedrooms upstairs Apt in Providence, fully furnished with A/C and pressurized water system, $2200 USD neg. Call: 658-7891.

Two 2 bedrooms Apt in Eccles, fully furnished with A/C and pressurized water system, $160,000 GYD neg. Call: 658-7891.

One 2 bedrooms Apt in Eccles, fully furnished with A/C and pressurized water system, $140,000 GYD neg. Call: 658-7891.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) said it is concerned that the government has not made any credible efforts to release the overdue GYEITI report.

In a statement, the party said that last month, the public was informed via Stabroek News that Guyana had failed to meet the extended deadline to submit its 2020 report to the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI).

It added that President Irfaan Ali used his Facebook page to blame the MultiStakeholder Group (MSG) with explicit reference to two civic members of the group as being responsible for the delay. Since the publication on his Facebook feed, the two accused membersVanda Radzik and Mike McCormack have given their views on the situation. However, it appears that political

attempts were being made to dictate some of the report’s content, which runs contrary to the standards and practice of EITI, the AFC said.

“This is not the way to encourage public confidence in the administration of our public affairs. Furthermore, the AFC had previously warned that the current leadership of GYEITI could not carry out the organization’s mandate and called for reinstating elements of the previous administration. We still believe that changes are necessary to fulfill the organisation’s mandate,” the party said in the statement.

The AFC also called on the diplomatic community to insist on releasing the report.

“It is in everyone’s interest for Guyana to comply with its obligation of membership and for public interest transparency. The silence of the ABCE missions on this matter is of

concern since, over time, they have been quick to pronounce on issues of national import.”

The AFC said it noted, however, that in November 2017, the Trump administration withdrew the US from EITI. At the time, the US Congress removed the ‘resource extraction rule’, which required companies like Exxon Mobil to disclose taxes and other fees paid to a foreign government. For example, if this rule remained, EXXON would have had to reveal ALL payments made to the government of Guyana. The AFC said at the time of the US withdrawal, Senators Ben Cardin and Dick Lugar, republicans, had described the move as favourable to ‘Big Oil and Gas – money and Influence’. The AFC calls on President Ali to insist on releasing the GYEITI 2020 report, which is overdue.

Updated petroleum bill to be made...

From page 10 building the capacity to engage effectively with investors.

The other legislations to be reviewed and enhanced include the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission Act, the Mining Act, and the Environmental Protection Act Occupational Safety and Health Act. Also mentioned were the Upstream Legal Requirements for Petroleum and a Model Production Sharing Agreement.

Former Finance Minister, Winston Jordan last year warned that “Accelerated production in the absence of modernized laws and the strengthening of institutions is what I would consider a fatal flaw in the management of the sector. I see why they want more oil production because of high prices and to monetize the resource quickly…”

In December 2020, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) released a brief

pointing out the glaring loopholes in Guyana’s legislative framework which essentially weakens the shield of protection that is needed for the oil sector. According to the Bank, Guyana’s Petroleum Exploration and Production Act and the Petroleum Commission Bill, in their current state, do not contain any clauses that guarantee the independence of any regulator that is appointed for the sector nor do they ensure adherence to industry norms.

Bonasika Creek, Essequibo River.

Teenager accused of rocking boat before mishap

OP: ED The Great PNC Building Demolition Mystery: whodunit?

By GHK Lall

Not a day passes in this wonderful land that the great and small do not take place in some elaborately crafted fashion. For now there is this riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma, as Sir Winston would have described what happened. What we have now is this Great PNC building demolition mystery. For the sake of overall group and national tranquility, I hope that it doesn’t deteriorate into another of those cold cases that remains suspiciously warm to the touch. The story has taken some surprising twists and turns, which I peer past to see if I could end up with a party of interest.

Right off the bat, the PPP said that the building is not the PNC’s, but belongs to the

State. It is the equivalent of a man starting off by singing bawdy songs in a solemnly mourning wake house. Why even go there? Was that really necessary, considering the rawness and abruptness of still developing overnight circumstances, also still smoldering? Nevertheless, in a blink, the PNC’s counter came. Not so fast, it is ours, has been for donkey years, and the proof is available. Somebody has something wrong here, and it is not I, folks. As Friday crept towards the murk of twilight that world-class Guyanese figure of more murkiness and mystery, the Hon Vice President came out of the woodwork with a regal declaration in a manner that Queen Victoria would have been primly proud. According to the Vice President,

don’t look at the PPP Government, don’t even think of trying to pin that tail on this turtle.

Since the People’s Progressive Party and the PPP Government are one and the same, then my conclusion is that the Vice President is signaling something: both party and government are free of taint. By process of arithmetic, this only leaves three suspects standing.

First, there are those demolition men, who could have been acting on their own, as hard as that is to digest.

This is notwithstanding their work relationship and that up the ladder linkage to the heights in this country. Let me say this differently: it is largely one kind of people, with one kind of affiliation

Monday March 06, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 211pr. 19)

There's an extra spark in your eye that people won't be able to ignore. Today's a good day to get your point across, because you'll find people more open and receptive to new things than usual.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Take yourself on a mental adventure today in which you explore new aspects of your world. Discuss philosophy and religion. Get to the core of a matter that seriously interests you.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Today is your day, Gemini, so live it up! If it seems like things have been rather intense lately, don't worry, they're apt to lighten up quite a bit today. Feel free to be your usual jolly self,

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

Be careful that you aren't acting in a way that you dislike in others, Cancer. You could find that you're slowly taking on the traits of the people you despise.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

The day's general mood should fit quite well with your agenda, Leo. There's no need to fixate on the negative. Keep things light and upbeat and worry about the consequences later.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

You may need a translator to get through to people today, Virgo. It could be hard to make decisions, but not impossible. Today's tip is to err on the side of adventure.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

Use your power resources today, Libra, as you have a great deal of dynamic energy at your dispo sal. You have the ability to transform and conquer anything now.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

You could be asked to make some spontaneous decisions today that you might not feel entirely comfortable making, Scorpio. You could feel you don't have enough facts.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Emotionally, you may feel as if you're running up against a brick wall, Sagittarius. It could be that your first reaction is to drown your sorrows in drink. Escapism is only a temporary remedy.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) The

Your emo tions could be extra powerful today, Capricorn, although something may not feel as if it's sitting right. It could be a feeling of manipulation.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Take hold of this day as if it's your own and use it to grow your dreams, Aquarius. You'll find a great deal of power and dynamism in the air urging you to take the adventurous route.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

There's a fiery tone to the day that can't be ignored, Pisces. You may find that adjustments need to be made in your own plan of attack in order to get on the same page with other people.

that comes into these levels of business results with taxpayer dollars doing the trick. Those kinds of relationships inspire untroubled entities to engage in dirty tricks, if only to prove themselves, on occasion. Who could connect dots to whom then? But, this is where the current trail grows skimpy. There is the beauty of ‘plausible deniability’ which I think was what all Guyana just heard from the highest place in this land, the VP. Sticking around for some more with the destroyers of the PNC property and peace, I confess to falling short on a major and sensitive score. Why would men with sledgehammers and other wrecking tools even bother to cart away PNC paperwork in the middle of the night, as in its record of membership and other such sundries, like objections? I mean people are constantly short, but nobody is that short in Guyana (as yet) to stoop to pilfering paper. Now things are looking up, and they don’t look too favourably in the direction of Lacytown.

I could understand the 11 barrels of stuff containing basics, but to remove PNC membership records, and objections, takes the cake. Is somebody kidding? So, now I think that my whittling away at this demolition haze has brought me to two places, neither of which will be looked upon favourably in some circles. I point a first finger at possibly rogue elements in the ruling PPP acting on their own, who could be the covert intellectual authors of this deplorable and unpardonable act. If that sounds like the American Embassy, then it is

a new and dubious honour with which to live. Concerning rogue PPP elements (the wink and nod variety), I offer the Vice President this pass: he may pretend to not have ownership, but something is still sticking stubbornly.

So, who is left, after all this sifting through the pile of wood, the bigger piles of missing paper, and scorched feelings? As hard as this is to put in the public domain, I still am duty bound to upstairs to do so. There is only the PNC. If everyone else claims clean hands and innocence, by default, there is only the PNC left with eyes fixed on it. What could it be up to, if the cap fits? If help is needed, I recommend a PPP Government minister, who has a well-earned reputation in the demolition field; I suggest seeking some expert help from

him to get to the bottom of this Great PNC building demolition mystery.

I leave these three gifts for Guyanese. When the dominant PPP advances, it does not walk back. Second, I discern hurried diplomatic overture: going too far. Last, the PNC has reoccupied the building, its version of a line drawn in the sand.

From page 10 of this school. Similarly, a modern secondary school which will cater for 500 students will be constructed in Kwebanna. Like the school at Waramuri, this complex will be equipped with Physics, Chemistry and Biology laboratories along with Information Technology, Home Economics and Industrial Technology laboratories, staff room, auditorium and will be solar powered. In addition to catering for 500 students in the classrooms, a dormitory will be built to house 250 children.

It also comes equipped with teachers’ quarters which will house 30 teachers. The school will serve the villages of Kwebanna, Santa Cruz, Waikerebi, Chinese Landing, Kokerite, Kariako, Warapoka, Assakata, Unity Grant. The primary school at Kwebanna is currently being extended to comfortably accommodate the school’s increasing population.

Three schools to be constructed...

Deshana Skeete’s brilliance helps New Mexico Junior College to NJCAA National Indoor title

ByRawleToney

DeshanaSkeete,overthe weekend, continued the Guyanese women’s complete dominance across the various collegiate track andfieldspectrumwhenshe helped New Mexico Junior College to another National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)

Division One National Indoortitle.

Held at the WashburnIndoor Athletic Facility in Topeka, Kansas, New Mexico College, one of the top NJCAA D1 institutions behind Skeete and the other top athletes, stormed to the Women’stitleafteramassing 116 points, finishing ahead of Cloud County (84.5) and SouthPlains(83.5).

Skeete showed her brilliance in the women’s 400m, where she finished second (54.44s) just behind w i n n e r V i m b a y i Maisvorewa (53 4s) of Cloud County, but ahead of her New Mexico teammate DejonaSimpson(54.6).

The former McKenzie High School (MHS) outstanding student-athlete then turned her attention to the women’s 4x400m relay where she teamed up with Simpson, Michaliliah Vassell and Calisha Taylor and ran the anchor leg to

clock three minutes, 40.4s (3:40 5) to outshine the competition, setting a new ‘FacilityRecord’.

Skeete’s performance in the women’s 4x400m also saw her setting a new Personal Best in the event, bettering her 2022 showing at the Sports Performance Center in Texas, where she also anchored her team to a timeof3:46.6s.SouthPlains College’s Safhia Hinds, Success Umukoro, Leticia Quingostas and Rushana

Dwyer finished second (3:42 12), while Cloud Count College with Vanessa Mercera, Passion Crews, Miracle Thompson and Vimbayi Maisvorewa ran 3:46.9stofinishthird.

In2017,asa15-year-old, Skeetewrotehernameinthe annals of track and field in Guyana when she became the first and only Guyanese to win gold at the South American Youth Games, doingsointhe400metres.

Skeete is known for her dominance over the years at the National Schools Championship, where she competedforDistrict10and in 2021, she accepted a full scholarship to New Mexico JuniorCollege.

Since her departure, the 2018 CARIFTA Games 400m bronze medallist has

enjoyed a successful collegiatecareer With the Indoor season completed, Skeete’s focus now shifts to the Outdoor season with the NJCAA Number One-ranked track and field programme Meanwhile, following her timeatNewMexicoCollege, Skeete will move on to represent the University of Kansas, where she will join fellow Guyanese Aaliyah Moore at the NCAA D1 institution. Moorerecently claimed the NCAA BIG 12 800mtitlefortheUniversity of Kansas, registering a Personal Best time of two minutes,05.11s(2:05.11).

JuniorNationalHockeyteam...

Frompage23 thesmallthingstheyneedtodotobeatthese teams,”Fernandessaid.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Junior Pan Am Hockey Championships will mark the first time the country will have a female team at the competition, as Fernandes labelled their participationas“anexcellentsteptowardsthe developmentofthefemalegamelocally.”

“AlotoftheformerNationalplayershave gottenolderormovedontodifferentthingsin life and this age group, especially girls who are looking for scholarships overseas and so

on,thesearethegirlswe’llwanttofocusonat thistime,”Fernandesnoted.

Fernandespointedoutthatalatedecision bytheGuyanaHockeyBoard(GHB)tosend the team to the Championships meant that they will have a late start to preparation, “They’ve been together a little over two months, but I think the experience will be greatforthem.”

Former National player John Abrahams will be Fernandes’ assistant Coach for the tournament that serves as a Qualifier for the 2023JuniorWorldCups.

Guyana’s Deshana Skeete is all smiles with the NJCAAIndoor National title trophy.

Junior National Hockey team up the ante on preparation for Pan Am Championships -CoachFernandespleasedwithteam’sprogress

ByRawleToney

Guyana will compete in the Men’s and Women’s Junior (U21) Pan Am Hockey Championship in Bridgetown,Barbados,April 10 – 17, and according to coach Robert Fernandes, based on the teams’ preparation, a good result is expected.

The men’s side will be groupedwithBarbados,the USAandCanadainPoolB, while the women’s unit is set to face Barbados, CanadaandChileinPoolB oftheircompetition.

Pool A for the men’s competition will come from Argentina, Chile and Brazil. In the women’s tournament, the USA, Argentina and UruguayareinPoolA.

WhiletheGuyanesemen will feature on the tournament’s opening day against the USA, the women’s side take the field on Day Two (April 11) againstCanada.

Also on April 11, Guyana’s men’s team will play their game of the tournament, facing off with Barbados.

A clash with Canada on April 13 will wrap up the men’s team group play, where they will hope for a positive result that will see them being one of the two

teamstoplayinthefinalson April17.

The women will play Barbados on April 12, followed by their final Pool B game on April 14 against Chile. Appearing on Hits a n d Jams

things, because of a lot of these players, although they are very athletic and very talented, they had some technical flaws in the beginning,”Fernandessaid.

A c c o r d i n g t o Fernandes, “They had to learn to play as a unit, which is always difficult when you’re pulling together a side of youngsters who are accustomed to playing againsteachother

So we have to go through the group dynamics of people who are accustomed to being adversaries, working together for a common goal ”

1 Boom FM Radio yesterday, Coach Fernandes said the level of preparation thatwentintothemen’steam should see them being considerably successful in Barbados.

Fernandes highlighted that the team has been in preparationmodeforalmost two years while pointing to their December tour of Barbados,wheretheyplayed four games against the ‘Bajans’, drawing three and winningtheirfinalgame.

“The early part of the preparation focused on the developmental side of

Fernandes pointed to the team’s stint in Barbados last year,addingthat“ithelpedto expose them to the actual conditionsthatthey’regoing tofacenextmonth.”

With the men’s team groupedwithtwoofPanAm Hockey’s powerhouses in Canada and the USA, Fernandessaidhisplayersare notfearfuloftheiropposition “Thegroupofplayers,wehad tobringthemdown(toearth), becausetheythinkthatthere’s no other team in the world thatcouldstopthem.

Sowehadtonarrowtheir focuson

(Continuedonpage22)

Shaquka Tyrell cops NJCAA Athlete-of-the-year award

ByRawleToney

FormerChristianburgWismarSecondary School standout student-athlete, Shaquka Tyrell, is having an amazing collegiate season with Monroe College For her brilliance, this season Tyrell was named the NationalJuniorCollegeAthleticAssociation (NJCAA) Indoor Track and Field Women’s Athlete-of-the-Year(AtlanticRegion).

At the national Indoor Championships, Tyrell would fail to qualify for the finals of the women’s 1000m as her time of three minutes, 09.27s (3:09.27s) was not fast enoughtoadvance.

However,theGuyaneseFreshmanwould returnintheWomen’sDistanceMedleywith Kayla Johnson, Kahliyah Smith and Zothile Mbhamalitofinishthird.

Tyrell ran the third leg of the race where they stopped the clock at 12:35.98, shaving nearly17secondsofftheirseedtimeintheir bronzemedalrun.

The two-time CARIFTA Games 1500m bronze medallist who hails from Linden, is continuing a rich tradition of Guyanese womenexcellingintrackandfieldatMonroe College,withmanyusingtheJuniorCollege asalaunchpadtohavingexceptionalNCAA D1careers.

National Basketball player Kevon Wiggins, now competing for Division one university, Morgan State, also attended MonroeCollege.

Representing Linden, Tyrell dominated the mid-distance races at the National Schools Championship, even owning a few nationalrecordsofherown.

National U21 Hockey Coach – Robert Fernandes

Guyana’s Shaquka Tyrell displaying her NJCAAWomen’s Athlete-of-the-Year (Atlantic Region) award.

2023 Milo U18 Schools Football Tournament… Chase’s Academy makes a solid return

-Ann’sGrove,Westminster,Charlestownalsoclaimwins

Day two of the Petra-organised 2 0 2 3 M i l o Under-18 Secondary S c h o o l s F o o t b a l l Tournament was contested yesterday at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground, where Chase’s Academy made good on their much anticipatedreturntoschools’ football in one of the four

matchesonthecard. Westminster squeezed pastAnnandale, 3 – 2, in an intriguing encounter to start t h e a c t i o n i n t h e Nestlé/Massy Distributionsponsored event yesterday then Charlestown secured a comfortable, 3 – 1, result against Berbice Educational Institute, Chase’s Academy blasted seven past Dora (7 –

0), who had no answer, and Ann’s Grove reigned supreme against Queen’s College,5–2.

Thisweekend,March11 – 12, the tournament is scheduled to resume at the same venue with another eight matches to be unraveled.

Saturday, Cummings Lodge is billed to meet

Rosignol, Vryman’s Erven tackle Bishop’s High, Christianburg/Wismargoup against West Demerara Secondary School and Dolphin clash with St StanislausCollege.

The following day, New Amsterdam spring into action against Santa Rosa, Charity collide with New Central High, Mackenzie High meet President’s College and West Ruimveldt challenge Vergenoegen

In yesterday fixtures, Chase’sAcademyrecorded the victory with the largest margin as a complete team effort had Wendell Pickett (20’, 27’) scoring a double while Jude Daniels (69), Justin Alcindor (9), Manasseh Anderson (58’), KerstynGonsalves(63’)and Neeiaz Baksh (65’) each supportedwithagoaleach.

Charlestown also had a comfortable win as

Andrew Carto (21’), JermaineTaylor(27’)Tyler Lyle (31’) all pierced the u p r i g h t s o n c e t o o v e r s h a d o w t h e consolation goal from Berbice Educational Institute’s T’Jon Reid, whichwasscoredinthe35th minute.The opening game was one that became a nail biter near the end between Annandale and Westminster as the latter established a three-goal lead by the 60th minute compliments of Harod Haynes’(48’, 58’) double and Samuel McAllister’s 19th-minutestrike.

However, a goal from the opposition’s Osafo Brown (61’) and Jayden Harris (86’) along with a few minutes left to play caused Westminster to tighten up on defense and seal the win when the regulation time whistle sounded.

Ann’s Grove put forth a solidperformancetosecurea commanding win over Queen’sCollegeintheday’s finalmatch.

Theeventualvictorshad NaronJerrick(4’,7’)leading the way with a brace while Daniel Murphy (2’), Leroy France (58’) and Joshua Perreira (68’) accounted for the other goals Jerrick assisted Queen’s College withanowngoalinthe17th minute then they added one of their own when Menelek Ferreira found the back of thenetinthe50thminute.

This,thenintheditionof thetournament,issponsored byNestlé(Milo),sanctioned bytheMinistryofEducation and Guyana Football Federationandsupportedby Massy Distribution, Guyana Industrial Minerals Inc (GINMIN), General Equipment & Supplies, Inc. (GENEQUIP) and MVP Sports.

Daniel Murphy, Naron Jerrick, Leroy France and Joshua Perreira were responsible for Ann’s Grove victory.

Mangal records back to back wins

MikeMangalwasaforce to be reckoned with as he walked away with the TrophyStallgolftournament title Despite the rains showingitsfaceatsomepart of the day, he stood firm against 19 other talented players and in the end came outontop.

The results for the tournamentwereasfollows:

0-36 Flight 1st Mike MangalHC68Gross76Net 682ndShanellaLondonHC 10 Gross 80 Net 70 3rd Gavin Todd HC 21 HC 91 Net 70 Best Gross Mike Mangal- 76 Nearest to Pin and Longest Drive- Rakesh Harry Speaking on his second consecutive victory, MikeMangalsaid,“Interms of today’s game I am very happyasIplayedwelltoday anddidbetterthanlastweek.

As it relates to the points systemIhave20pointsnow, so I am working hard to be selected to go to the Suriname Open. The course was tough today, especially with the rain that came. But in the end it was okay and comenextweekIwilltrymy best to make it three tournamentsinarow.”

Sharing his view as well was LGC PRO Paton George,whonotedthatithas been twenty years that Trophy Stall has been sponsoring tournaments at theclub.

He explained that the clubisextremelygratefulfor the continued support as he relatedthatitissponsorslike TrophyStallthatencourages other sponsors to come on boardattheLGC.

Trophy Stall is a

longtime friend to golf and all sporting activities in Guyana. The sponsor is

Rockaway Group of Companies presents uniforms to Laluni Sports Club

Rockaway Group of Companies recently presented a quantity of uniforms to the Laluni Sports Club of Linden

SoesdykeHighway

The entity’s CEO

Hafeez Ali delivered on his promise to sponsor uniforms for the club and made the presentation at his residence at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara

Ali said that he was approached by members of the club to render assistance and he is delighted to contribute towards the club’s development.

H e u r g e d t h e cricketers to remain committed and support each other as they look to take the sport to another levelintheirarea.

Members of the club expressed gratitude to Ali and said they are looking forward to his continued support Ali has over the years supported sports across Guyana and also hosted a numberofcharitableevents.

committed to continuing to beapartofthegrowthofgolf in Guyana. Trophy Stall is

the leading seller of a massive variety of trophies and sporting memorabilia in Guyanaandmorerecently,at anewstoreintheboroughof Queens,NewYork.

CEO of Rockaway Group of Companies © and members of the club display one of the uniforms.

The Winners row.

Mike Mangal won his second consecutive tournament.

Chase’sAcademy’s scorers: Jude Daniels, JustinAlcindor, Manasseh Anderson, Wendell Pickett, Kerstyn Gonsalves and Neeiaz Baksh.

Guyana’s National U21 Men’s Hockey Team