Kaieteur News

press reports calling for renegotiation of Stabroek Block deal Investors concerned about Guyana

- Hess says Govt. has assured contract will remain untouched

Media reports documenting the unrelenting calls by various stakeholders for changes to some of the poor terms in the 2016 Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) have caught the attention of i n v e s t o r s f o r H e s s Corporation- one of ExxonMobil's partners operatinghere.

At the 51stAnnual Scotia Howard Weil Energy Conference yesterday, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), John Hess was asked to address these calls for renegotiation and the risk

theypose.

Though there have been calls for an increased royalty and for the inclusion of provisions that would close avenues for abuse, Hess said emphatically that investors havenothingtoworryabout.

“Ithinkitisimportantfor everyone to know that President (Dr Irfaan)Ali and (Vice President) Bharrat Jagdeo,theyarepro-business andtheyhavebeenveryclear to us and Exxon that they are going to honour the PSAthat wehaveinthecountry

They want us to develop their resource as fast as possible so that they can

develop the economy and ensure economic prosperity for the Guyanese people,” Hesstoldinvestors.

The CEO noted that while they will “hear noise from time to time about the PSA”, Hess and Exxon which run the Stabroek Block alongside CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited havebeenreassuredtimeand again that the contract will remainuntouched.

“They want us to go as fast as possible so they can taketheoiltreasureandmake it the people's treasure,” the CEOstated.

ExxonMobilCorporation

through its subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) is operating in the nation's waters at historicspeeds. It is not only breaking records with the pace at which it receives approval from government for its projects but it is also to do expansive explorationprogrammes.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently reviewing Exxon's environmental plans for a fifth project called Uaru in theStabroekBlock.

The oil giant has also commenced the process to draft its Environmental

Modern bill to help recover funds from defaulting foreign companies set for National Assembly

Anew bill which w i l l h e l p Guyana recover r e p a y m e n t s f r o m international companies on thesuccessful completionof litigations if no assets are available locally, is set be presented to the National Assembly Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C revealed during his Facebook commentary programme, “Issues in the News,” that government plans to modernize the Reciprocal Enforcement of ForeignJudgmentBill.

“Our legislation in that regardisarchaicasIsaid.We are taking that new updated one to the Parliament,” the AttorneyGeneralsaid.

“The legislation will allow judgments from one country to be enforced in another country And once that company has assets in that country, then you recover the proceeds of your judgment in the same way as if the company had assets in the country in which the judgment was granted,” he added.

The disclosure comes on close heels of a recent judgment Guyana won against a Trinidadian company Last month, the A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l ' s chambers revealed that they secured an ex-parte

ImpactAssessment(EIA)for a sixth project called Whiptail. Government has already set aside money to cover the cost of reviewing thatdocumentlaterthisyear

Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall,

due course,” the Attorney Generalsaid.

S.C

j u d g m e n t a g a i n s t Trinidadian company, Davis EcolifeLimited.

Trinidadian Company, Davis Ecolife Ltd in an application brought by the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) through the Attorney General's Chambers.

On the 31st January 2023, NDMA filed an amended Fixed Date Application (FDA) seeking several reliefs including an order for restitution in the sum of $6,159,325, constituting an advance payment made by the claimant to Davis Ecolife Ltd for which there were no worksdone.

T h e Tr i n i d a d i a n company failed to file an Affidavit in Defence to the application and failed to

t

o occasions The Court therefore granted judgment

in the sum of $6,159,325.00 and costs in the sum of $500,000 in favour of NDMA.

The NDMA is a body corporate established under t h e N a t i o n a l D a t a Management Authority Act Cap. 27:13, Laws of Guyana and is responsible for data processing and information systemsinthePublicSector

The Attorney General emphasized that there has been a push to update and modernize several pieces of legislation given Guyana's economic trajectory due to the booming oil and gas sector

Meanwhile, in the case involving Davis Ecolife, Nandlall said existing law permits Guyana to enforce this judgment in Trinidad and Tobago, a sister Caribbean Community (CARICOM)state.

“That we will pursue, in

The process typically involves submitting a requestforrecognitionofthe foreign judgment to a court in the country where enforcementissought.

This request must demonstrate that the foreign judgment is final and conclusive, was made by a c o u r t w i t h p r o p e r jurisdiction, and does not violate public policy in the country where enforcement issought.

If recognition is granted, the foreign judgment can be enforced in accordance with thelawsofthecountrywhere enforcementissought.

This may involve taking additionallegalstepssuchas filing a lawsuit, seeking an injunction,orseizingassets.

The AG's chambers had c o m m e n c e d l e g a l proceedings against several companies to recover monies that were paid out in contracts under the A Partnership for National Unity+AllianceForChange (APNU+AFC), wheregoods or services were not delivered.

The matter at reference has to do with the nondelivery of three mobile motion scales bought by the APNU+AFC government for a whopping $72 264 million back in December 2016.

In the meantime, Exxon has approached the EPA to review a 35 well programme intheStabroekBlock.Thatis expected to commence this year should the company receive the requisite authorisation.

T h i s n e w s p a p e r understands that the exact locations of the 35 wells comprising the project have notbeenfinalised.

While some of the wells willbedrilledforexploration purposes, it is also possible thatsomeofthewellsmaybe

drilled as appraisal wells within the proximity of p r e v i o u s l y d r i l l e d exploration areas. Onshore logistical support facilities and marine/aviation services will be used to support the project.

EEPGL has also said it will use proven and good international industry p r a c t i c e s a n d h a s i n c o r p o r a t e d m a n y embedded controls into the overall project design to reduce environmental and socioeconomic impacts Kaieteur News understands that it could take several years to drill the wells, currently scheduled from the third quarter of 2023 through 2028.

Hess Corporation CEO, John Hess

Publisher: DR. GLENN LALL - TEL: 624-6456

Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS

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

HYPOCRITESWITHULTERIORMOTIVES

Guyanesewhocourageouslystandaspatrioticadvocates for a better oil deal with ExxonMobil are “hypocrites” with “ulterior motives.” These are the vibes coming not from soulless, rapaciousAmerican oil superpower, ExxonMobil, butfromGuyana’sownleaders.

To urge, insist, and persist with calls for a fair contract transformGuyanesecallingforthatintopariahsandfrauds. Thoughsaidindifferentwords,andindifferentways,thisis where this country’s President and Vice President are, how they lash out at the few citizens standing up for better than whatGuyanahasnowwithitsExxonMobildeal.

Guyanese refusing to buy-in to the doubletalk and twofaced nature of the PPPC Government and its leaders are branded as dishonest and lacking principle, by those who havecompiledsomerealuglyandbarbarousrecordsoverthe years. Leaders who have not engaged in the clearest and straightest kind of talk with citizens over their vast natural resources wealth are now content to cast aspersions on the motivesoftheircontemporaries. Therecordisanopenbook, and it points to who are the hypocrites and who are dishonorable and deficient with truths, small and large. In thiscountry,itisabadgeofhonortobelabeledsonervously, sotremblingly,bythosewhoseemenacingshadowsbehind every curtain, hear frightening sounds behind the rustle of everyleaf.

Inlife’smanyjourneys,workersarealwayspressingtheir unionstofightforbettertermsandconditionsofemployment for them, even when well compensated. Or, are always themselves approaching those in charge for more favorable consideration, and again, this is even when they have been cared for well. In Guyana’s oil contract, the rawest of raw deals, the dirtiest deal, to applaud the pittances that this countryreceivesistheequivalentofaperversitybyitself. No Guyanese should be so shameless, none so barren of selfrespect,ofevenbareboneswisdom,soastostaysilentbefore what is a robbery repeated daily, with every barrel of our preciousbloodsuckedfrombelowtheseas.

But from their sharp words, and their twisted postures, silence is what His Excellency President Ali, and Vice President Jagdeo expect, now demand, from all Guyanese. Tospeakupforwhatisourownisnowsubversive. Totakea stand for what belongs to us, and over which we are being skinnedandsuckedbyavampirishExxonMobil,amountsto unforgivable treason. The logic, if there is any in the shrill andchildishabuses,isupsidedown. Itmakesmattersworst for President andVice President, makes both of them come across as less than they are capable of, smaller than they actuallyare.

The furious vehemence of President and Vice President only draws more attention to their feeble defenses of ExxonMobil. Their distortions of reality, of the integrity of others, have now become the defining characteristic of leaders trusted to fight the foreigner exploiters for our benefit.Theylackthecouragetofighttheforeigners,lackthe straightnessthatisrequired,sotheyfighttoweakenthefew Guyanese calling for corrective action against those same exploiterswhocondemnthemajorityofGuyanesetoslavery andpoverty

PresidentAli,VicePresidentJagdeo(correctly)neverhad agoodwordtosayaboutthe2016oilcontract,andtheymade surethattheyheldalltheirpeople,ministersandsupporters, tothatline. Today,thosewhohammerawayatthecontract, andcallforitsrevisitingandrestructuringaredenouncedin vileterms. ItisfordoingwhatthePPPitselffoundfaultwith, cursed. This paper was and remains the media leader in laying bare the atrocities of the 2016 oil deal, and presents more than anyone, where local and foreign individuals and groupsstandonthesamecontract. Whattheyarecallingfor, but which both President and Vice President shiver in their trousersinthinkingwhatwaitstobedone.

The weak-kneed shout “hypocrites” at those speaking honestly Thosewithahistoryofchronicconcealmentsnow barefacedly accuse patriotic Guyanese as having “ulterior motives.” Who are bigger hypocrites, and have darker, deeper“ulteriormotives”thanthosewhocherishtodaywhat theycursedbefore?

Barbados Prime Minister wrong to omit contributions of Forbes Burnham to theAfrican Liberation struggle

DEAREDITOR,

It is surprising that the PrimeMinisterofBarbados, Hon. Mia Motley, would haveleftoutthecontribution of Forbes Burnham to the liberation of Southern Africa.Surprisingbecauseit is unlikely that Ms. Motley would be unaware of what Guyanadidfortheliberation struggle and its fighters in the1970sandthe1980s.

This was a time when Guyana led the Caribbean withregardtosupportforthe struggle for the liberation of SouthernAfricaandthiswas well publicized throughout the region No other Caribbean country can match Mr Burnham’s and Guyana’scontributiontothe liberation of Southern Africa. The facts speak for themselves.

The liberation of Africa and in particular Southern Africa was a major plank of the policy of the People’s National Congress (PNC) whichMr Burnhamfounded in 1957. The Party therefore celebrated Ghana Day on a regular basis. But it was the struggleforhumandignityin Southern Africa which elicited not only principled supportbutalsosupportofa materialnature.

Ms. Motley mentioned

thebanningofSouthAfrican goodsin1958.Mr Burnham made one of his major presentations in the LegislativeAssemblyinthat year calling for the banning oftheexportationofgoodsto South Africa. This policy was adopted by the then British Guiana government.

F o u r y e a r s a f t e r independence, at the NonAligned Summit in Zambia, Mr Burnham announced an annual contribution to the liberation fund of the OAU liberation committee of fifty thousand US dollars (US$50,000).

A f t e r t h i s , M r Burnham’s Party embarked on a more systematic relationship in offering assistance to the liberation struggle in Southern Africa. Mr Burnham dispatched over a hundred public servantsofvaryingexpertise to help Zambia to withstand the attacks it suffered from the white regimes in Rhodesia and South Africa. Additionally, he created the national service association which brought the national servicesofZambia,Tanzania and Guyana into an institutionalrelationship.

Andwhileallofthiswas going on, Mr Burnham offered scholarships to the

students of Southern Africa at the University of Guyana andallowedmanyliberation fighters, some of them famous today, to use Guyanesepassportstotravel tovariouspartsoftheworld. In terms of actual political diplomatic support, Guyana was vocal in supporting the liberation struggle in all of the major international fora such as the UN, the NonAligned Movement and the Commonwealth. The forum fortheliberationofSouthern Africa which Mr Burnham held in 1981 was a major mobilizing exercise for the support of the liberation struggleinSouthernAfrica.

It is well known that its liberation fighters could not obtain passports from the white Rhodesian or South Africangovernments.

Inastatementofthiskind it is virtually impossible to list all of the contributions made by Mr Burnham and Guyana But of all the omissions made by Ms Motley, the one that is most noteworthy is where she made reference to those countries which facilitated the movement of Cuban troops to Southern Africa and omitted Guyana. It is a well-knownfactthatGuyana was instrumental in this

exercise and attracted the hostility of the then Secretary of State of America, Dr Henry Kissinger

Guyana’s contribution was well known by the frontlinestatesofAfricaand was acknowledged by them. It was President Mwalimu Julius Nyerere of Tanzania whoacknowledgedthateven though Guyana was not geographically situated on theAfricancontinent,itwas, by virtue of its contribution to the liberation struggle, considered a “frontline state.”Also,manyleadersin the liberation struggle, such as Robert Mugabe, Joshua Nkomo, members of the ANCandthePAC,allvisited Guyana in the 70s and the 80s.

One of the crowning achievements of Mr Burnham’s contribution to the liberation of Southern Africa was the petition calling for the release of Nelson Mandela which was amply supported by the population at large. Along withthis,MandelaAvenuein Guyana’s Capital, Georgetown, was named for thegreatman.

Regards, Peoples National CongressReform

DEAREDITOR,

As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2023, I write as an Indigenous Wapichan woman to add my voice on the sale of Carbon Credits and Food Insecurity Attending the United Nation’s Climate Change Convention Conferences COP 26 and COP 27 has allowed me to gain more knowledge of how the United Nation’s Framework Convention for Climate Changeworksandthereason foritsexistence.

I have also heard other indigenous peoples from across the globe share similar experiences and challenges from what is happening in their communitiesandcountries.

The lessons I have learned from those experiences have helped me see Guyana’s rushed sale of carbon credits for what it is.

Itisnotthegraciousboonto indigenous peoples that the governmentwouldlikeusto believe it is. In fact, it is far from it. The sale of these credits which are only available because indigenous peoples in Guyana have protected our l a n d s s i n c e t i m e immemorial is an a b d i c a t i o n o f t h e Government’s duties to respect the rights of Indigenouspeoples.

A top-down decisionmaking approach by the Government:

Therealityisthis-despite the growing mountain of researchshowingthatacross the world indigenous people are best stewards of forests, on the ground our rights are continuously disrespected These are the rights that empower us to be effective stewards of our forests. I shared this point at COP 27 with two of my colleagues

when we presented our proposal to partner with the Government to manage our traditionallands.

B u t i n s t e a d o f collaborating with us, the Government of Guyana decided to use the healthy forests on our land to make money Rightfully, the moneybelongstous.

The Government’s commitments to abide by international law, enshrined in our Constitution, create obligations for the Government to respect our rights. Our rights have been violatedbytherecentsaleof carbon credits. Article 3 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which Guyana has signed,speaksofourrightas Indigenous Peoples to selfdetermination, and to determine a relevant development according to our worldview The reality however, in Guyana is that

the process has been topdownwards, driven by the Government and not by our communities.

Moniesaregivenforour villages, but previous experiencehastaughtusthat thisdoesnothelp.Irecallthe example of COVID Relief Grant which was given to communities but was not effective. If the women are asked if they have benefited from those grants given to communities, one would be appalledbytheanswers.We have seen that the Government has a hand in determining where these moniesgo.

Whydotheynotsendthe monies directly to our own villages and organizations? We already have established institutions on the ground where these funds can be facilitated.

Continuously, we have seenpoliciescreatedand

(Continuedonpage6)

AnAmerindian woman shares lessons learned on sale of carbon credits, indigenous lands and Food Insecurity

End victimization and discrimination, be comfortable with dissent,work for genuine unity

DEAREDITOR,

I am saying from the outset that the contents proffered in this missive are not meant to offend anyone, whetheringovernmentorin opposition or any organization or individual. Rather,itisintendedforallto have a mature discussion on the problems facing the country and its present and futuredirection.Facts,truth, and our conscience, and not falsehoods or parochialism should be our guide in a frankandseriousdiscussion.

As Guyanese, we have been blessed by the creator withanabundanceofnatural resources more than all the countries of the Caribbean combined.Along with gold, bauxite, timber, rice, sugar, and pristine rainforests, Guyanaissanctifiedwiththe recent discovery of huge reserves of oil which has dominated the economy and has increased its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to a level never seen before in the country or in the Caribbean.Withoilrevenues averagingoverUS$1billion annually, metaphorically speaking, the country seems to be operating on all its cylinders. Lest we forget, Guyana is also a land of many waters, six races and boaststheKaieteurFalls,the single highest waterfall in theworld.Thatsaid,inunder three years, President Ali’s government has provided more than 20,000 house lots to the residents, built more than1000housestofirsttime homeowners, and it seems that the 50,000 jobs promised by President Ali during the campaign will be achievedonorbefore2025.

Additionally, the government has succeeded in attracting foreign and local investments and is in the process of modernizing the age-old infrastructure, building new roads, improving education and health care, and has furnished rice farmers with free manure and more acreage of land to increase their yield and reap a bountiful harvest. But more importantly, as announced by the Minister of

Agriculture, Mr Zulphicar Mustapha, the Rose Hall Sugar Factory which was shuttered by the Granger administration is scheduled to reopen in October 2023.

With these countless achievements, coupled with the huge discoveries of oil, there is no doubt that President Dr Ali, Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips,andthecabinethave placed Guyana in a unique position globally and have made it the envy of the Caribbean and its Latin Americanneighbors.

While many have applauded the government for all its accomplishments, yet some have sensed that something is amiss in the country, especially since there has been a massive exodusofqualifiedyouthsto greener pastures in the Caribbean and North America.

Statistics have shown that some 12,000 persons, including 85 percent of youthswithdegreesfromthe University of Guyana are leaving or have left the shores of Guyana annually Many have cited the low wages/salaries paid to workersasoneofthereasons forthebraindrainneverseen before in Guyana, not even during the reign of the PNC when there was a ban on toiletriesandkeyfooditems to sustain life Another reasoncitedbytheyouthsis t h e n a s c e n t a n d unfashionable victimization and discrimination based on raceorethnicity

It should be clear to all and sundry that our youths arenotpreparedtoacceptthe discrimination and victimization meted out to t h e i r p a r e n t s a n d grandparents decades ago because of their race or political affiliation. It is my conviction that these issues must be addressed to allay the fears of our youths who are 66 percent of the population.

Weareinthe21stcentury andthereshouldbenoplace in society for victimization, discrimination, and petty politics. These decades-old issues cannot be ignored or

swept under the rug. They must be addressed to ensure peaceandtranquilityprevail in the country This is the gut-wrenching reality all of usmustfacetohelppromote unityandPresidentDr Ali’s ‘One Guyana’ initiative. As Guyanese,wemustbetrueto ourselves and not apportion blame on any organization, group, or person, but e n d e a v o r t o e n d victimization and discriminationandstrivefor unity

It is said that no country canbedevelopedwithoutits most precious youths who arethefutureofthecountry. While the time has come to reconcilewhatishappening, many of our youths felt restricted and left out of the politicalandpolicydecisionmaking process. Others are of the opinion that political power has changed the civil dynamics in the country and that they are being dictated to, frowned upon, talked down to, and ostracized by some in authority In a democracy, people, regardless of race, ethnicity orpartyaffiliationshouldbe free to express their views andvoteforthepartyoftheir choice without fear of reprisals or victimization

The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted in 1948 pronounced in Article 21thateveryonehastheright to vote for a party of his or her choice without fear of reprisalsorvictimization.

We must acknowledge thatwearefirstandforemost Guyanese and as such, we are our brothers and sisters’ keepers But most importantly,weareallGod’s children created in his own imageandlikeness,soaspart of the human family lodged inGuyana,Iamappealingto all to please stop the victimization and discrimination and unite, love,andrespectoneanother as one people, one nation withonedestiny

Sincerely,

Dr.AsquithRose

Please investigate these matters

DEAREDITOR,

I have been following your newspaper’s reporting on the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (COI)andIamremindedofa childhood story character, Rumpelstiltskin,animpwho possessedthemagicalability tospinstrawintogold,inthe Germanfairytaletoldbythe BrothersGrimm.

Many of the voluntary witnesses before the COI have produced lots of straw butfew,ifany,nuggetsandit remains to be seen if the Commission’s abilities can a p p r o x i m a t e Rumpelstiltskin’s.

I am more intrigued, however, with your reporting that AttorneyGeneral Nandlall, who also gave testimony before the COI,hasvowednottoletthe several fraud charges broughtagainstsomeformer election managers and opposition political party agentsabouttwoyearsagoto fallaway Thechargesrange from misconduct in public office,conspiracytocommit fraud, forging a document and forgery relating to the conduct of the March 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Attorney General Nandlall explained that the government was an important stakeholder interested in the outcome of these charges and, as a citizen who prioritizes his voting rights, I consider myself not nearly as important but equally interestedinthismatter

I also share his concern as to why these cases have not progressed with the alacrity and seriousness that they demand and that all citizenshavearighttoknow

The report, some time ago, that several boxes containing Statements of Poll (SOPs) and Statements ofRecount(SORs),foreach defendant, had been delivered to the court had forewarned that this matter would not be expedited, nor couldit.

The publicly known fact that almost all SORs c o n t r a d i c t e d t h e corresponding SOPin every

district (1-10) and that fraud is not alleged in every case, in every district, and against all Returning Officers raises the question as to the relevanceofthisinformation to the prosecution

Moreover, the SORs were prepared under a different electoral system, and by different election officers, and is under dispute in a highercourt.

What seems to be ignored, deliberately or otherwise, is the supposed existence of significant numbers of SOPs that contradicted the SOPs used by District 4 Returning Officer,Mingo,tostealvotes fromthePPP/C.

The leaders of at least 5 politicalparties(ANUG,CJ, LJP, PPP/C, TCI) that participated in the elections hadpublicly,andrepeatedly, claimed to possess actual physicalevidenceofelection fraud, i e , SOPs that reflected very significant increases for APNU+AFC andcorrespondingdecreases for PPP/C, the sum total of whichreflectedadivergence ofover22,000votes.

We cannot forget that it was the alleged existence of competing SOPs (not SORs), and the virulent demandsforverificationthat led to the disruption of the tabulation of results for District 4 and derailing of a final declaration; the storming of GECOM’s Command Centre and the harassment of election officials;violent,destructive and deadly street protests; many legal challenges; amendment to the electoral laws and the overturning of valid election results and to ignore such powerful, potential evidence is irresponsible, contemptuous and suggestive of misconduct in public office, anddemandsanexplanation. Otherwise, reasonable, and reasoning, minds could conclude that such wilful ignorance is because the

authorities know these claims to be A Big Lie and that no such SOPs exist, or everexisted,andthatnosuch fraud was committed by the persons charged, and ultimately, that the PPP/C did not gain office legitimately;thatitwasonly a ruse to discredit, disrupt, dismantle and substitute valid election results and unseat a legitimate government.

Where, I wonder, are all those self-styled “Defenders of Democracy” who exuded vigilance and outrage, and demanded verification or else,then;don’ttheywantto see the proof of fraud now, instead of baseless and bombasticsloganeering,and those responsible held accountable?

I wish to applaud the Attorney General for his dedication to duty and the interests of the citizens he serves and respectfully suggest that he, or some other important and interested party, should enquire whether the DPP or Policehasinterviewedthese parties and sought to obtain such crucial evidence and hopethathiseffortswillshed much needed light on this matter.

I believe that if they had done so this matter would perhaps have been concluded by now. Clearly, the Presidential COI clearly has no ability, or interest, in enquiring into this matter and is not the vehicle, I believe, to lay this matter to rest. The Guyana Elections Commission seems even more recalcitrant, then and now, in seeking out these spectralSOPsthathadsucha determinative effect on the outcomeoftheelectionsoris it that some important stakeholders are satisfied that these phantom SOPs have served their intended purpose and been permanentlyretired.

Sincerely,

OscarDolphin

The average cost per barrel of oil produced by Exxon is questionable, unacceptable

DEAREDITOR,

Since oil has been extracted and exported from Guyana, no EEPGL financial statements have been made available to the public.

More particularly, no financialdataontheaverage cost of a barrel of oil has been publicized, given that this is an important nonrenewable resource in Guyana’spatrimony

This is a serious concern for the Guyanese people because the best that we can infer about the cost of a barrel of oil is based on a false profit calculation that links total cost with total revenue(TR),suchthattotal cost (TC) is equal to 75 percentoftotalRevenue:TC = 0.75TR. (Note: TR = PQ, wherePispriceandQisthe number of barrels of oil sold).

The Bank of Guyana 2021 Annual Report (page 21)confirmsthattheaverage price(P)forabarrelofoilis $40.00in2020;andtheprice increased in 2021 to an average of $70.48 per barrel (Table1).

Table 1: Average Price andAverageCostofaBarrel ofOil

Employing the total cost formula(TC=0.75TR)and dividing by the number of

barrelsofoil(Q)extracted,a fake average cost per barrel of oil (ACBO) is US$30.00 in2020and$52.86in2021,a massive increase of 76.2 percentinthecostofabarrel ofoilinjustoneyear This elevated cost will continue to climb anytime the price of a barrel of oil increases. Of course, when the price declines the averagecostperbarrelofoil will decline; but this typically does not occur, giventheincreasingdemand for gasoline, oil shortages due to the current war, and the actions of major producers, including the 13 countries that are members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Recognizing that the formula for calculating the averagecostofabarrelofoil is: ACBO = 0 75P, this EEPGL methodology is palpably unacceptable becauseitisatvariancewith thecostcategoriesidentified by other oil producing countries.

For example, the production cost for a barrel ofoilbyseveralcountriesdo not include the price of a barrel of oil in the cost function,asitisemployedin Guyana. Instead, in these countries, the cost function

only considers gross taxes, capitalspending,production costs, admin. and transport costs(Table2).

Table 2: Oil and Gas Barrel Production Cost US$ March2016

reviewofthecostdatain Table2willshowthatSaudi Arabia,followedbyIranand Iraq are the lowest cost producers, with the cost per barrelofoilrangingbetween US$8.98toUS$10.57.

In contrast, Venezuela, Brazil and the UK are the high-cost producers with costs per barrel ranging between US$27 62 to US$44.33.

Whilecost data for 2020 and2021forthesecountries are not available, a comparison will show that Guyana is unmistakably a high-cost producer at US$52.86perbarrelin2021.

In fact, Guyana’s cost per barrelisevenhigherthanthe cost in the UK of US$44.33 perbarrel.

Additionally, since Guyana is advertised as a low-cost producer, given thatithassweetcrudeoilthat is in high demand (https://en wikipedia org/wi

ki/Sweet crude oil) ), together with only 2 percent royalty, this relatively highcost outcome for a barrel of oil in Guyana is indeed surprising.

Consequently, the Government must fix this inequity imposed by EEPGL; and exclude total

revenue from the cost function; otherwise, the cost of barrel of oil produced by EEPGL will continue to increase as the price of a barrelofoilincreases.

Sincerely,

Dr.C.KenrickHunte Professor and Former Ambassador

AnAmerindian woman shares lessons learned on...

Frompage4 decisions made for indigenous peoples at the national level. This topdown approach is very concerning since we are the oneswholiveontheselands and whatever decisions are made will affect us in the future.ALack of Free, Prior andInformedConsent:

A key aspect of selfdetermination is the requirement to seek and obtain the free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) of Indigenous peoples before undertaking any project or activitythataffectsus.

These forests are on our lands, whether titled or untitled.Again,theproposal that the Wapichan people have made to the Government would make sure that FPIC is followed. This was, however, not the casewiththeHessdeal.The “informed” part of FPIC is seriouslylackinginthiscase. Most of my people have not been as fortunate as me to attend international

conferences with other indigenous communities. Furthermore, working with women in the communities of the Wapichan Territory, listeningandbeingawareof the struggles and challenges faced by women, I am very concerned about the implications of these decisionsonourlives.

Most of us do not fully understand and grasp the concepts of carbon and carbon trading, even though wetryourbesttograspthese developments.

T h e d i f f e r e n t mechanisms that govern carbon markets and the benefits and implications of carbontradingareextremely complex,andthe“informed” requirementofFPICcan’tbe fulfilled via a short information-sharing session on the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) In addition, evidence and stories have shown that the different carbon trading mechanisms in fact have more failures

thansuccesses.

For example, even the REDD+ scheme has not showndemonstrablesuccess over the 15 years of its existence. Often, these projects’successexistsmore on paper than in practice. In reality, carbon trading mechanisms can have serious consequences for inhabitants of the land, like indigenous peoples Hence,we must be fully informed about these consequences, not just the potential benefits of selling carbon credits The Government,ART,andsome commentators have claimed that the National Toshaos Council’s (NTC) resolution endorsing the Government’s plan was sufficient to constitute the consent of all of Guyana’s Indigenous peoples That cannot be allowed Nothing in international or Guyanese lawimbuestheNTCwiththe authority to exercise rights guaranteed to indigenous peoples.

A Need for Balanced Development:

Our way of life, the way our society functions, our knowledge, is inherently rooted in respect for the environment and for everything that it provides forus.

As custodians of the environment,wecontinueto live in harmony with nature and everything around us. Therefore,wefeelwearyand defeated when others reap the direct benefits from our actions, while we are only offered a few crumbs. Look atwhatishappeningwiththe extraction of oil in Guyana, foreigners are undermining oursovereignty

Now we’re facing the samesituation,thistimewith our forest and natural resources.

Are we going to stand and allow this to happen? I don’t think so! We women fromtheSouthRupununiare determined to continue asserting our rights The Government often speaks

highly of the development that is taking place across Guyana.

Yes, infrastructural development is happening but the gap within the coast andhinterlandstillexists.In Region9currentlythereisan acute shortage of food. Our staple,cassava,isnotwidely available and as a result we cannot make farine which is an essential part of our diet. As women, one of our roles is to ensure that we can provide food for our families.

If we are to receive money for the work we’ve done to protect our forest, I feel that the money that is nowavailableshouldbeused to counter the rising food insecurity in our region. It therefore adds injury to insult our leaders who are tasked with creating’’ development projects’’ to receive the small sums of money that our traditional practices have earned this country

One of the primary

driversofclimatechangehas been the reckless exploitation of resources without regard for future generations.

Andnowwearetoldthat the solution is the exploitation of one more resource: the carbon credits generatedbyourforests.We have not caused climate change, but the world dependsonusandourforests to stop it. The Government must let us set the terms of that process, instead of taking shortcuts to manufacture an artifice of consent.

Iftheydon’t,thenwhatis to stop this practice from ballooning out of control into a system of de facto carbon colonization, in the name of fighting climate change? Is the UN supporting this form of colonization? Do the Guyanesesupportit?

Respectfully, Immaculata

Casimero, WapichanWoman, Aishalton

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WHO JAGDEO SPEAKING FOR?

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Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo reportedly told a conference in Texas this week that “Guyanese are now more open to ExxonMobil and others.”

We wonder who Jagdeo speaking for- must be his cabinet members and a few of his party’s die-hard supporters.

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Incidentally, Guyanese women were out on the streets yesterday protesting the lack of full liability coverage for Exxon’s Stabroek Block operations.

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Guyanese are generally fed-up of Jagdeo government’s refusal to renegotiate the lopsided oil contract even as most of them ‘catching their tail’with the high cost of living.

Ironically, at the same conference, Jagdeo was reported saying he was banking on the ‘goodwill’ of oil companies to get more benefits for Guyana.

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So we move from Guyanese being open to Exxon, to our leaders hoping that the oil companies will smile on us and give us more benefits.

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But this is the Jagdeo we have come to know over the years - someone who speaks with a forked tongue.

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Former Reg.9 REO charged for threatening contractor, damaging property

Former Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region

Nine, Carl Parker, 59, of Lethem Agriculture Zone, Hiowa Creek in Central R u p u n u n i w a s o n

Wednesday charged for allegedly threatening a contractor and damaging a property which all occurred inthetownshiplastSaturday

According to the police, Parker who was represented by Attorney-at-law Darren Wade made his first court appearance before Principal Magistrate Allan Wilson at the Lethem Magistrate's Court, where the charges were read to him. Parker

pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleges that on March 4 last, he threatened Dale Kennedy, a 51-year-old Contractor of Tabatinga, Lethem. The defendant was granted self-bail for this charge and is expected to return on March 22, 2023 for the continuation of this matter

The police noted that on Wednesday too, Parker was charged for a second offence alongwithGodfreyWilliams called 'Cut Mouth', a 55year-old miner of Tabatinga Village, Lethem. Parker and Williams were charged with MaliciousDamageto (Continued on page 9)

to pay at least

supervise construction of $1.7B Karasabai School

Having turned the sod for the construction of the $1.7 billion Karasabai Secondary School in Region Nine the Ministry of Education is currently seekingasupervisoryfirmto oversee the construction of thebuilding.

At one of the recent opening of tenders at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office, it was revealed that three firms have applied to provide this service.

ThefirmsthatbidareGR Engineering Company who bid $44,100,000, CB & Associates Inc who bid $48,796,750 and Caribbean Engineering Management Consultants Inc. who placed a bid of $61,000,000 for the job.

Kaieteur News had reported that in the next two years, no longer will there be primarytopsintheKarasabai District, as the Ministry signed the contract for the construction of a brand new

modernsecondaryschoolfor thearea.

The contract which is worth $1,773,930,690 was signed by the Ministry and the Contractor, Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal Inc Kaieteur News had reported that Avinash Contracting was among 20 contractors who had placed bids for the project, when it was opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office last month.

According to the NPTAB information,theministryhad estimated this project to cost $1,797,001,868.

The modern school complex will be fitted with ten buildings, which would include the main

teaching block and

a l l i e d l e c t u r i n g

f a c i l i t i e s , m o d e r n science laboratory for Physics, Chemistry and Biology, TVET Centres, combined Home Economics and cafeteria area, teachers' quarters and an outdoor sittingforecourt.

It was reported that the designsofthebuildingswere completed in November 2022, after a series of consultations.

The ministry had stated that once completed, the facility will house and will cater for 500 students in the classroom, and 250 students inthedormitories.

In a release from the ministry, the construction of this school means students will no longer have to traverse rough terrains daily to receive an education they rightlydeserve.

Students from Karasabai and all other neighbouring villages will have the opportunity to pursue a sound secondary education. Students in the Karasabai s u b - d i s t r i c t f r o m communities such as Tiger Pond, Cracrana, Tsushima, Kokshebai and Yurong Paru are currently either not receiving a secondary education or are being educated in primary tops, a secondary dept in a primary school.

Govt.

$44M to

Former REO of Region Nine, Carl Parker

INDIA’SHELPWILLNOTSOLVEOURSUGARWOES

The government’s planning is haphazard. This isoneofthereasonswhythe President had to make a big fuss about the signing of an agreementwithMountSinai Hospital for digitization of health records, and now the Vice President is hinting at the possibility that India is likelytoassistsinceithasthe expertise and has done this work and is likely to do this cheaper

Did the government not knowthiswhenitrushedinto a commercial arrangement withMountSinai?Diditnot explore bilateral options before inking that deal or was it more concerned with the optics in the health sector?

T h i s i s P P P C ’s governance. The failure to planistoplanforfailure.

Without any bilateral programme, India is already impacting on the country’s healthsector Butitisdoing so in the private health system and not the public health system Indian’s doctors and nurses are providing excellent services locally, with the nurses showing a vastly superior work ethic than has ever beenseeninGuyana.Indian nurses are lifting the standards of healthcare services without any intervention on the part of the government. But why does Guyana have to go to

India for management and building capacity in the health sector? Indian nationals have not been the only foreigners who have cometoGuyanaandmadea vast difference in public healthcare. The Cubans are doing so also. They have a top-notch record when it comes to medical research and management of health facilities.

C u b a h a s b e e n exceedinglykindtoGuyana. Under Jagdeo’s Presidency, hundreds of Guyanese were able to qualify as doctors, complimentsoffreetraining providedbytheGovernment of Cuba. So why should we notbereturningthefavor?

Why not bring the Cubans and give then total control over the 12 new hospitals which Jagdeo says are going to be built this year?Whynotgivethemthe opportunity to upgrade the technical capabilities of the public health systems? Is it not time that we repaid the Cubans for the all years of kindness and generosity whichtheyhaveprovidedto our people, including training hundreds of doctors?

At his last Press Conference, Jagdeo also spoke about India assisting with increasing productivity inthesugarindustry Butthis hasbeentriedbeforeandhas not worked. What possible

assistance can India lend to Guyana which will help the beleaguered sugar industry, and industry which was ailing but which was placed in intensive care after that failedbehemothatSkeldon?

Noattemptisbeingmade to ask the Chinese government to fix that beleaguered factory The APNU+AFC had asked the said Chinese government to fix problems with the Convention Center which Jagdeo had built with assistance from China. That country spent hundreds of millions fixing the Center Chinadoesnotwantawhite elephant to tarnish its reputationinGuyana.Itwill willingly examine what are the defects and take action. But there has to be some reason why the PPPC has been unwilling to engage China on this issue. Not so long ago, we heard that the Guatemalans were likely to assist in reviving the local sugarindustry Thatseemsto have fallen off the radar, as this column had rightly predicted. The government isyettolayaWhitePaperon its plans for the sugar industry It wants the Guyanese people to have faith it its promises. But when it comes to sugar, the promises by the PPPC years ago to have a turnaround plan caused the industry to turn back rather than

Former Reg.9 REO charged...

Frompage8 Property,committedonthe Government of Guyana, which occurred on March 4 at Lethem Central Rupununi.

Both men pleaded not guiltytothecharge.Bailwas granted in the sum of $30,000 each The matter

was adjourned to March 22 also for statement. Kaieteur News understands that both menwerechargedafterthey were arrested for their actions in relation to the dispute over the PNCR office in Lethem which the Governmentdemolishedlast week.Itwasreportedthatthe

Dem Boys Seh...

Is all around yuh go in dis country is dogsyuhseeing.Someyardsgatfiveandsix dogs.EverystreetinGuaynagatstraydogs, even dem big-shot gated community gat straydogs.

Deh gat dog fight wah does be keep in secretondeEastCoast.

People breeding dogs as a moneymakingventure.Andsomeofdembredding them fuh fight… with other dogs. Dogs fetching higher price than dem Hush Puppies wah used to sell at Fograty’s in de oledays.

Dog food now creating employment. Deh gat people mekkin money supplying meat fuh dem dog food vendors.And dem dogfoodvendorsmekkin’adecent‘change’ whendeafternooncomewithdogfood.

Some people nah gat de energy after work fuh go home and cook dog food. So

People National Congress Reform (PNC/R) Party was evictedfromthepropertyfor theallegedunauthoriseduse of a government building. Following several notices to vacate, the Regional Administrationhadtakenthe step to have the building demolished.

dembuyingdebagsofdogfoodwahselling atdemroadside.

Butsomeofdemdogsmekkinstylepun dedogfood.

Demturningupdemnosepundefood.. Demseeingotherdogsinhousegettingfood wah buy in animal store and supermarket. Anddemnahwanteatderoadsidedogfood. Evendemrice-eatermekkinstylepunfood desedays.

Demusedtosehdatadogisman’sbest friend.Butdendemwomencomeupwitha newslogan.

Demclaimthataspouseisaman’sbest friend.Wandayamandecidefuhtestwhich oneistrue.Helockhewifeandhedoginde car trunk and drive around fuh one hour When he open de trunk, guess who was happytoseehim?

Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

turnaround.

Now we are learning about more plans to benefit from technical assistance from India to improve sugar and the health sector But what is Guyana giving in return?

It is known that India is keentotakeGuyanashareof profit oil at market prices. But India is also a giant in

solar energy? So why does Jagdeo not put on hold the gas-to- energy plant and ask the Indians to come to see whether there is a cheaper alternative in the form of solar energy? That is not going to happen. But we are going to have technical cooperation in healthcare and sugar, two areas where Indian’s expertise cannot

surpassthatofCuba.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s affiliates.)

T&T Professor calls for strengthening of EPA …saysthiscriticalinensuringclimatechangeobjectives

If Guyana is to achieve theclimatechangeobjectives it has set out, the country will n e e d t o e n s u r e i t s

Environmental Protection

A g e n c y ( E P A ) i s strengthened to monitor the petroleumsector

This was one of the key points highlighted by Professor Anthony Bryan, who is also an Honorary Senior Fellow with the Institute of International Relations at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. Dr Bryan who is also a SeniorAssociate of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C was a panelist on the Guyana

Business Journal and th Magazine's 10 edition of its online series that seeks to bring awareness to the local industry Wednesday's discussion focused on 'Unlocking Guyana's Oil and Gas Potential: Balancing Energy D e v e l o p m e n t a n d Environmental Stewardship'. It was founded on a study done by Guyana's Dr Ulric Trotz, who is the Deputy DirectorandScienceAdviser f o r t h e C a r i b b e a n Community Climate Change CentreinBelize.

In his presentation, Professor Bryan said Dr Trotz spoke of strengthening institutional capacity to monitor and regulate the oil

and gas industry “I think he has pointed out that the focus that needs to be on providing the EPA in Guyana with the capacity to provide Guyana with oversight to ensure that the gas and oil operations do not in any way compromise the integrity of fragile ecosystems to the extent that it disrupts livelihoods and negatively impact the lives and wellbeing of the citizens ofGuyana.”

The Trinidad and Tobago expert who is a leading scholar and an independent consultant on energy development (oil and natural gas), believes: “there needs to be a great deal more oversight in managing oil projects and in managing the

resources that come from there.” He said he has taken note of the protests and c o m m e n t s f r o m environmentalists in Guyana pertaining to the permitting p r o c e s s f o r t h e s e developments as he urged Guyana to ensure its “fantastic natural resources”, particularly oil and gas, does not negatively impact climatechange.

The local EPA has been handing out Permits to A m e r i c a n o i l g i a n t ExxonMobil to harvest the resources discovered offshore.At the same time, it has been struggling to keep up in terms of monitoring the sector. Strides have been made slowly in this regard,

aremet

especially since a US$20 million World Bank project was shelved. The loan was takenbytheformerCoalition government to boost the

c a p a c i t y o f t h e environmental watchdog group, responsible for monitoring and regulating thesector

The US$20M project has

f o u r c o m p o n e n t s :

C o m p o n e n t A –

Enhancement of Legal

Framework and Stakeholder Engagement: (US$3.20 M), Component B – Capacity

Building of Key Institutions: (US $10.70 M), Component

C – Enhancement of Fiscal Management Systems: ( U S $ 3 . 5 0 M ) , a n d

Component – D. Project Management & Project Preparation Facilities: (Cost $2.60M).

T h e i n c u m b e n t administration has so far said that a portion of the loan will go towards consultancy services in the Review and Evaluation of the Field Development Plans (FDP) for the fifth offshore projectUaru. More recently, the Ministry of Natural

Resources reported that another portion of the World Bank Guyana Petroleum Resources Governance and Management Project (GPRGMP) US$20M loan, will be used to support capacity building within the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC)- the agency expected to play the lead role in the pertinent PetroleumCommission.This World Bank loan had been secured by the previous administration since 2019 to immediately boost Guyana's capacity in managing and advancing the position of its lucrativeoilandgassector

Republic Bank and BPD Associates continues to champion women entrepreneurs

In an effort to further its focus on building sustainable S m a l l a n d M e d i u m Enterprises(SMEs),Republic Bank is partnering with B u s i n e s s & P e o p l e D e v e l o p m e n t ( B P D ) Associates Limited, a locally based Business and People Developmentorganisationfor the Entrepreneurs Business Builder(EBB)programme.

The initiative, which falls under the Bank's Power to M a k e A D i f f e r e n c e programme will focus solely on the women entrepreneur with the aim of empowering them to grow technologyenabled, future-proofedprofitablebusinesses.

The bank said in a press release that, given the strategicimportanceofBPD's support for SMEs and developing business communities, together with the success of the first cohort last year, this partnership continues in 2023.The first cohort consisted of 2 phases with 93 participants completing phase 1 in March 2 0 2 2 a n d 1 9 w o m e n progressing to Phase 2, who graduated in a virtual ceremonyyesterday

The 2023 Entrepreneurs

Business Builder, launched on International Women's Day, has adopted a different structurefromitspredecessor A maximum of 80 Caribbean women entrepreneurs with a minimum of two years of entrepreneurial experience willnowhavetheopportunity to apply for the four-month, self-paced online learning programme. Participants can also qualify to receive up to 80% scholarship funding, the r e l e a s e a d d e d T h e programme adopts a systematicapproachtoensure that the learnings, strategies and tactics implemented will generate long-lasting personal and business results for all women entrepreneurs involved. It is expected that by the end of the programme, the participants will be more confidentandhavebusinesses that are tech-enabled, robust and demonstrate accelerated growth The registration processwillendonFriday24, March and all applicants will beinformedoftheoutcomeof the selection process by May 2023. Registration will be s t r i c t l y o n l i n e v i a https://www republicpromoti ons com/entrepreneursbusiness-builder-programme/

T&T Professor, Dr. Anthony Bryan (Photo credit: Caricom Energy)

PAHO and partners launch campaign to reduce maternal mortality in Caribbean

Washington DC, March 8, 2023 (PAHO/WHO) - The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) together with other United Nations agencies and partners on Wednesday launched a campaign to encourage countries in Latin American and the Caribbean to reduce maternal mortality, which increased by 15% between2016and2020.

Around 8,400 women die each year in the region from complications in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. High blood pressure, severe bleeding, and complications from unsafe abortion are the most common causes However, nine out of ten of these deaths are preventable through quality care, access to contraception and by reducing inequities in access tocare.

"Too many women, particularly indigenous, Afro-descendant, migrant, low-income and less educated women, continue to die during pregnancy and childbirth," Dr Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO Director,

said during the launch of the campaign on International Women's Day "It is time to urgently invest in maternal health and change this unacceptablereality."

Zero Maternal Deaths. Prevent the Preventable seeks to accelerate progress towards the regional goal of less than 30 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births

outlined in PAHO's Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas. Last year, the maternal mortality ratio (i. e., the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births) in Latin America and the Caribbean was 68 per 100,000livebirths.

T h e C O V I D - 1 9 pandemic caused a 20-year setback in maternal health in the region, with a 15% increase in maternal mortality between 2016 and 2020, following a 16.4% reduction between 1990 and 2015.

"Ifwewanttogetbackon track with reducing maternal mortality we must address the socioeconomic, gender, ethnicity, education and geographical inequities that lead to the death of so many women," Suzanne Serruya, Director of PAHO's Latin American Center of Perinatology, Women and

and respectful of the rights and particularities of expectantmothersisalsokey to reducing maternal mortality "The reversal in the pace of maternal mortalityreductionisaharsh and unfortunate reality in Latin America and the Caribbean," Susana Sottoli, Regional Director for Latin

of giving birth becomes a tragicreality."

ZeroMaternalDeaths.

P r e v e n t i n g t h e

Preventableis an initiativeof the Regional Task Force for the Reduction of Maternal Mortality (GTR). The campaign will focus on the dissemination of social mediamessagesandcountryspecific actions throughout May It also includes a call for action to all of society to p r o t e c t w o m e n a n d newborns The campaign launch ended with the signing of a joint declaration toreducematernalmortality

Other participants at the event included Nayeline Medina,fromtheNetworkof Afro-Latin American, AfroCaribbean and Diaspora

Minister of Health and Health Surveillance of the Ministry of Public Health of Paraguay.

Maternal mortality in Latin America and the Caribbean,2020*

Approximately 8,400 women -almost 3% of the global total - died from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth in Latin AmericaandtheCaribbean.

Of those, 1,300 were in theCaribbean.

Between 1990 and 2015, maternal mortality in Latin America decreased by 16.4%, but increasedby 15% between2016and2020.

Reproductive Health (CLAP) said "Doing so requires the involvement of allsectorsofgovernmentand society."

Accessible maternal health services, as well as professionals who are available, trained, equipped

America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) s a i d " We c a l l o n governments, civil society, the private sector and communities to put an end to the situation of thousands of womenforwhomthemiracle

W o m e n ; D e b o r a Bossemeyer, Vice President of Global Programs and Operations of Jhpiego, Frank Anthony, Minister of Health of Guyana, José Manuel Matheu, Secretary of Health of Honduras,Julio Borba, MinisterofPublicHealthand Social Welfare of Paraguay, and Lida SosaArguello,Vice

13 countries had a very low maternal mortality rate (20 or less maternal deaths per 100,000 live births); 26 reported a low rate (less than 100), and 6 had a high or moderate rate (between 100 and499).

In PAHO's Sustainable Health Agenda, countries of the region have committedto achieve a maternal mortality ratio of less than 30 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.

...every hour, a woman loses her life in the region due to complications in pregnancy

Anniversary celebrations continue!!

Digicel launches 16 iPhone 14 Pro Max16 DAYS Promotion

Digicel Guyana said yesterday that their 16th anniversary celebrations will continue as it launches another grand promotion dubbed “16 iPhones in 16 days”. Sixteen customers will be walking away with an Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max at the end of the 16 days period Digicel customers are in for an exciting 16 days as Digicel gives them the opportunity towinoneofthelatestpieces oftechnology

Qualifying to win an iPhone 14 Pro Max is easy!

Both prepaid and postpaid customers can participate to

winanAppleiPhone14Pro Max daily for 16 days beginning March 9th and ending on March 24th

Prepaid customers can enter by simply topping up with $1,000 or more (Electronically or by Scratch Cards). Every top up of $1000 or more gives them one entry in the draw for that day For postpaid customers, all they need to doispaytheirFebruarybill infullandtheirnumberwill be entered in the draw for the entire promotional period. Winners will be randomly selected daily and called live during the

is called and their phone is off or the call goes unanswered, they will have until midnight to answer their call or make contact with Digicel on

690-5444 If that customer doesn't answer within the time frame, then another random winnerwillbechosen.

Digicel said it would like to remind customers that this is the only promotion that is currentlyrunningandnot to answer WhatsApp calls claiming to be Digicelortogivetheir4digit codes or pin numbers.

All calls for this promotion will come from 226-7453/4 (Kaieteur Radio 99.1FM) or 660-1000.

Digicel Group is a total communications and entertainment provider with operations in 31 markets throughout the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific. Digicel also runs a host of community-based initiativesacrossitsmarkets, i n c l u d i n g D i g i c e l Foundations in Haiti, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea and Trinidad and Tobago which focus on educational, cultural and social developmentprogrammes.

Digicel Morning Rush radio show on Kaieteur Radio 99.1FMat7:45am!

Ifforanyreasonawinner

Suspected bandit nabbed with two guns before committing crime

A suspected bandit was on Tuesday night nabbed by ranks of the Tactical Service Unitwithtwoloadedgunsin Queenstown, Georgetown

According to information reaching Kaieteur News the suspectedbanditwaswithan accomplice when the ranks pulled up on them around 21:00hrs in the vicinity of Irving and Laluni Streets, Queenstown.

Upon seeing the police, the suspects fled to avoid beingcapturedandwhilethe ranks managed to arrest one of them, the other escaped. In his possession police found two illegal firearms l o a d e d w i t h l i v e ammunition.

K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that the TSU ranks were alerted of the men's presence in the area

after they were seen acting suspiciously Fearful that they were about to commit a crime the

police swooped down at the location to make the arrest.

Speaking with Kaieteur News on Wednesday, Crime

Man freed of charge for Campbellville double murder

The High Court has acquitted the man charged with the gruesome murder of a Pandit and his son in Campbellville in July of 2018.

Orlando Douglas, of Campbellville was set free by Justice Joann Barlow at t h e H i g h C o u r t i n Georgetown, after she directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty for him, based on a no-case submission which she upheldonhisbehalf.

Douglas had faced a charge which read that between July 7 and July 10, 2018 at Craig Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, he murdered Deonarine Liliah, a Pandit and his 28year old-son Gopaul Liliah during the course of a robbery

Deonarine Liliah, a 61year-old Pandit and businessman, and his 28year old-son Gopaul Liliah were found dead in their Lot 2 5 C r a i g S t r e e t , Campbellville home with multiple stabs wounds about theirbodies.

The father and son were discoveredafteratenantwho lived downstairs made a report at the Kitty Police Station. Neighbours had also complained about a stench coming from the upperflatofthehome.

Police arrived at the scene and found Deonarine Liliahlyingonhisbackinthe

Dead: Pandit Deonarine Liliah and his son Gopaul Liliah

kill Deonarine Liliah and his son to avoid repaying a US $40,000debt.

Chief, Wendell Blanhum said that detectives are interrogating the suspect to find out if he and his

accomplice had any plans to commit a crime in Queenstown that evening. Detectives are doing a

background check to see if hehasanycriminalrecord. Investigations are ongoing.

Acquitted: Orlando Douglas

living room. He was clad in white long pants and his face was covered with a multicolouredtop.

Policehadalsodetaineda businessmanwhoisbelieved tohavehiredthedefendantto

Investigators say that after the butchering of the father and son, the killers conducted an unsuccessful search for a document that the mastermind had signed regarding the money that he owed. Their actions were reportedly recorded by hiddenCCTVcamerasinthe house. An autopsy revealed that the victims had been stabbed66times.

Police reportedly recovered CCTV footage, w h i c h s h o w e d a n unidentified male jumping the western fence and entering the home, through thenorthernfrontdoor

The guns found in the suspect's possession

Captured with illegal guns in Queenstown, Georgetown.

Jagdeo banking on 'goodwill' of oil companies to get more benefits for Guyana

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo is of the view that oil companies that wishtooperateinGuyanawoulddo extremely well but the future of the imminent prosperity would have to be shared and that this would require those operators to “work withusabitmore.”

Hemadethedisclosurethispast week during a public engagement at the annual CERAWeek, Oil and Gasforum,heldinTexas,USA,and organised by S&P Global. That entity's Vice Chairman Daniel Yergin, during the interview was toldbyJagdeo,“webelievethatthe companies that come to Guyana would do extremely well and we have to share the future of this prosperity.”

To achieve this however, he saidthiswillrequire“companiesto workwithusabitmore.”

Expressing optimism on that front, he reminded that when the country began pressing for Local Contentlegislation,therewasahue and cry from the oil companies which complained that they were skeptical and were afraid that such a move would shut down the business.

Jagdeo said, this did not deter the government and since its implementation it has seen numerous opportunities being directedtowardslocals.

The legislation, he said, has since changed the dynamics

Addressing the initial perception that had been associated with the nascent industry, Jagdeo was quick topointoutthatthegoodwillforthe industry has skyrocketed from when the time where persons viewed the operation as operating inanenclavicmanner Hesaid,this wasamongthereasonsgovernment was looking to build local capacity as more and more opportunities in the oil and gas industry become available. Jagdeo was adamant that the development of the industry locally should not be done where expatriates operate in an enclave and reiterated: “we are

determined to see the benefits flow across the country.” This he said, would require a more peopleoriented approach towards the development of the industry as againststrictlybusiness.

Having already condemned the conditions under which the lopsided arrangement that Guyana has tied itself into with the first Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed with Esso Exploration and Production GuyanaLimited,Jagdeowas ofthe view that the country will in future see better returns. He at the time told the S&P Official, “we will build the capacity in future years but it's not there now, and we can't await the development of that capacity to move the industry along.” Qualifying his position, Jagdeopointedtothepaceatwhich the industry is moving along to which is forcing the administration to keep apace on the regulatory side. The Vice President Jagdeo was quick to remind that even at a Net Zero target achieved in the world, oil and oil products would still be required. To this end, he pointed to the upcoming bid round orpublicauctioninwhichthereare some 14 offshore oil blocks up for offer

Recognizing that this would be the first time in Guyana's history, auctioning oil bocks, it has since retained the services of International Consultants, HIS Markit, “to help us through this process.”

Heexpoundedfurtheronthe14 blocks offshore oil blocks up for offer and noted that the process is open and that any company can bid onanyofthem.Jagdeodidspeakto a caveat, in that any successful bidder would only be allowed to secureuptothreeoilblocks.

The reason, he said, was directly linked to the limited window within which the country can fully benefit from its resources and as such, “we want multiple companies exploring at the same time, we believe there is a window

now.”

With the upcoming bid round on the Horizon, the former President now Vice President told the S&P official that the country is stilllookingtofinaliseanewmodel Production Sharing Agreement which would be beneficial to all parties Playing up Guyana securing a bigger take under a new PSA, he spoke of planned consultations with the oil companies in finalizing that document. To date a number of international companies have already indicated an interest in bidding for those available oil blocks.

This publication understands that the auction of offshore oil explorationblockshasluredatleast 10 companies including Shell, Petrobras and Chevron. Some 14 offshore blocks are up for offer in an attempt to speed economic development and reduce an Exxon Mobil-led consortium's dominance of its oil sector. Winning bidders are expected to be picked next month.Companiesinterestedinthe April round have paid for seismic data to evaluate the blocks and decide whether to submit offers, accordingtothegovernment.

They include six big international producers, Energy Minister Vickram Bharrat has said, withoutidentifyingthecompanies.

None of the companies has decided on bids as they wait for the government to release contract terms, the people familiar with the mattersaid.Guyanaestimatesithas up to 25 billion barrels of oil and gas in place off its coast A consortium that includes Exxon Mobil, Hess and CNOOC operates the country's most important area, the6.6-million-acre(26,800sqkm) Stabroek Block, with more than 30 discoveries to date Exxon, QatarEnergy, Shell, Chevron and Petrobras are among the oil giants that have paid $20,000 for the geologic information available on the 11 shallow-water and three deepwater blocks, the people familiarwiththemattersaid.

Chevron's main interest is to gain access to Guyana's geological data, with the company already in possession of oil blocks in neighboring Suriname and Venezuela.

Exxon and QatarEnergy have said they are waiting for the full contract terms to consider a bid. Shell said it is evaluating the

offshore lease sale to determine a possibleparticipation.

Chevron and Petrobras are yet t o m a k e a n y p u b l i c pronouncements.

The country has planned to issue a new PSA model for leasing offshore blocks by the end of this month, several weeks late. A draft proposal that would go through a two-week public consultation earliermisseditsFebruary13,2023 deadline with the auction is set for April14.

The proposed terms is expected to nearly double the government's take from oil production to 27.5 percent including royalties and profit oil, plus a new 10 percent corporatetax,comparedtoExxon's maincontract.

The new agreement also will require producers provide more inform The oil model also will set stricter terms for tendering and procurement, covering everything from production vessels to drilling suppliers. However, the terms will notaffectExxon'sStabroekBlock.

"We are not renegotiating Stabroek," Vice President Jagdeo has reiterated on numerous occasions.

…tells Texas conference “Guyanese now more open to Exxon and others”

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo (at right) in discussion with S&P Global's Vice Chairman, Daniel Yergin

Women take to the streets to have full liability coverage from Exxon

AsGuyanajoinedtherest of the World in observing International Women's Day yesterday, a group of ladies took to the streets with their placards, demanding government secure full liability coverage for ExxonMobil's oil and gas operationsoffshore.

The grassroots women who are part of the NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO), 'Red Thread', protested outside the Office of the President on V l i s s e n g e n R o a d , Georgetown.

Just over a dozen women were at the event with placards that read: “Show us the signed insurance documents” and “Who will pay the clean-up cost in case of a disaster? “Guyanese tax payers?”

One of the leaders of the women's organisation, Wintress White told this newspaper that the members are “mad” and “furious” that Exxon has been proudly reporting the billions it has been earning thanks to Guyana's resources, while the nation is yet to make sure a parent company guarantee is secured to cover costs if there were to be a large oil spill. “We were out there because we are concerned andweareangryandwemad that they take they eyes and pass us and we fed up of this eye pass because they on the one hand reporting how much billions they are making in oil profits from Guyana and yet they eyes so pass us, that they are not offering us full liability coverage,”Whiteargued.

She said the multinational oil corporation has

accelerated the rate of production activities in Guyana's waters, hinting that an oil spill can occur at any time. Be that as it may, she said Exxon has refused to fully secure its operations to put the Guyanese public at ease According to her, “Everybody knows once you aredoingdrillinganddrilling at the rate that they are drilling at, there will be an accident and when that occurs who will pay? Not ExxonMobil! They are not prepared to pay and the operation what they put up as they have- their assets can't offset that so that is why we wereoutthere.”

White explained that she believes an oil spill can cost Guyana as much as three times its national budget. “We are worried because as you know we are grassroots women,meaningwearepoor and everything runs on us. If Guyana has a spill, the amount of insurance coverage that ExxonMobil is prepared to offer us cannot offsetthat.

It is three times our national budgets and budgets varyfromyeartoyearbutthe thought is scary that a spill could cost three times our national budget and the money that Exxon is offering us and the parent company is not even near,” the woman pointedout.

This means that the burden will be placed on tax payers' backs to foot the bill associated with cleanup White said: “We are mad and furious because at the end of the day is poor people and theirchildrenwillhavetopay so that is why we were out there to send a strong message that they must pay the full liability cost for

drilling we oil.” The woman explained that since the production activities commencedin2019,thelives of the poor have not become any easier but in fact has b e c o m e e v e n m o r e challenging. “None of the oil benefits is coming to us directly Yes, the government might argue that they are building roads and schools but poor people cannot eat roads and if we can't find food to give our children, I won't even say nutritional meals because we can't even afford to eat properly We eat what we can to full our stomachs meaning whatever we grab, we cook,” she said. Even though the country claims to be earning revenue from a significant source, the women organisation said the cost of living is so high that rent and food has gone up by almost 100 percent. As the largest producer of oil in the

country, 'Red Thread' said ExxonMobil must provide full liability coverage for its operations.

Oil spill insurance?

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), the operator of the Stabroek Block and Exxon's subsidiary has committed a US$600 million insurance policy per oil spill event in the Stabroek Block The company said it also has assets worth just over US$5 billion, should those be needed to cover cleanup costs.

Meanwhile, the parent company ExxonMobil is yet to supply a company guarantee to assure it will cover costs that exceed the limitedinsurancepolicy.This parent company guarantee is required as outlined by the Permit it received from the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA).

By Davina Bagot

Scenes from the protest outside Office of the President yesterday

Skeletal remains of female found at Zeelugt

Electrical fire leaves family homeless

A family of three on Wednesday lost their home due to an electrical fire at Enmore, East Coast Demerara, despite valiant efforts by neighbours who hadformedabucketbrigade to assist firefighters in extinguishingtheflames.

The fire reportedly started around 14:11hrs

According to reports received by Kaieteur News, the occupants who were at the time sitting in the yard saw smoke emanating from

the building and raised an alarm The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) was alerted and fire tenders from the Mahaica and Melanie Fire Stations were sent to scene immediately Cell phone recorded videos showed neighbours assisting the firefighters to extinguish the flames while the occupants triedtosavewhattheycould from the burning building. TheGFSstatedthatbuilding w a s d e s t r o y e d b u t firefighters were able to

U.S. Embassy hosts workshop for Caribbean YLAI Fellows

Thirteen Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellows from Curaçao, St Maarten, Guyana, and Suriname met in Willemstad, Curaçao last week for a two-day U.S. Embassy pre-departure orientation workshop to prepare Fellows for their upcoming 2023 YLAI Fellowship Programme exchange.

The workshop provided Fellowswiththeopportunity to meet and engage within their cohort to build a strong cohort identity, discuss their expectations ahead of the fellowship, and network withotherfellowsandYLAI Alumni, the US Embassy in Guyana said in a press release.

The 2023 Fellows were joined by four alumni from Guyana, Suriname, Aruba, and Curaçao to expand their l e a d e r s h i p a n d entrepreneurial skills and network. These remarkable entrepreneurs will join a group of 270 fellows from across the Caribbean, Latin America, and Canada who were chosen out of more than 1,800 highly qualified

prevent damage to a nearby building Following investigations conducted fire investigators learnt that the blaze was caused by an electricalfanleftpluggedin.

The skeletal remains of a female were on Tuesday found inside a house at Zeelugt on the East Bank of Essequibo(EBE).

Police suspect that the remains might be that of the owner of the home, 55-yearold Basmattie Seenanon called'Savitree'.

Seenanon was reportedly last seen alive around July or August last year but no one knew she was missing. On Tuesday last, her nephew went to Zeelugt to play phagwah and decided to visit

his aunt since he was in the area. At around 10:00hrs he enteredherhouseonlytofind a skeleton lying on her bed surrounded by garbage Police have since questioned neighbours and learnt from her brother-in-law, a resident ofZeelugt,thatSeenanonhad sufferedfrommentalillness. He claimed that she would distance herself from family members and would be abusive to people around thecommunity Investigations are ongoing.

applicants. The Caribbean participants lead businesses that span multiple sectors, including economic innovation and growth, health, education, and civic engagement. Following the predeparture orientation, the Fellows will travel to the United States to participate in a four-week fellowship in cities throughout the country

Launchedin2015,YLAI is the Department of State's flagship programme to e m p o w e r e m e r g i n g entrepreneurs from the Western Hemisphere to enable the full economic potential of the region's citizens.Combiningayearly fellowship program, an active and open online network, and ongoing engagement from U S embassies, YLAI fosters prosperity, inclusive d e v e l o p m e n t , a n d democratic values. YLAI also promotes U.S. business models, increased trade, and job creation. The YLAI Programme is sponsored by theU.S.DepartmentofState withfundingprovidedbythe U.S.Government.

The GFS said the fan overheated and ignited the fire which was further propelled after spreading to nearby combustible materials.

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Colombia, Ecuador work to protect Indigenous people from attacks

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South American states launch a joint alert system as Awa communities come under attack by armed groups.

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(Al Jazeera) Colombia and Ecuador have launched a joint alert system meant to protect Indigenous Awa communities from attacks by armed groups in the border region between the two countries.

At a news conference on Tuesday in the Colombian capital Bogota, human rights ombudsmen from the two countries announced the new system, which is designed to alert government and military officials in each country about potential attacks.

“The presence of illegal armed groups and organized crime in the cross-border area of Ecuador and Colombia has caused humanitarian consequences, especially against the nearly 29,000 members of the great Awa family who live in the area,” the office of the Colombian ombudsman,

Carlos Camargo, said on Twitter. As illegal business activities like mining encroach into areas that Indigenous communities call home, violence and intimidation by armed groups and criminal organisations have often followed.

Camargo said Awa communities have suffered killings, forced displacement and the threat of landmines.

Children are also a target for recruitment by the armed groups.

He said that 14 Indigenous community members were killed last year and about 10,000 had been subject to displacement or confinement as the result of the violence.

Armed groups — including dissidents from the nowdisbanded Revolutionary

Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and rebels with the National Liberation Army (ELN) — operate near the border with Ecuador, as do drug-trafficking groups.

In Colombia, leftist President Gustavo Petro has pursued negotiations with armed groups, including the ELN, after decades of internal conflict.

“The possibility of carrying out their operations along a porous border — with gaps in state presence — favours the interests of illegal groups,” Camargo said.

He called on the armed groups to end the violence and stop attacks on Indigenous communities.

“We want to warn the Colombian state and the Ecuadorean state about these

human rights violations … so that the necessary urgent measures are taken to avoid violations continuing,” said Ecuador’s human rights ombudsman, Cesar Cordova Valverde.

Across Latin America, Indigenous communities with long histories of violent persecution continue to face threats from a variety of actors.

In Brazil, federal authorities recently conducted operations to clear illegal miners from the lands of the Indigenous Yanomami community.

As illegal businesses muscled their way into Yanomami territory, residents have been subject to violence and displacement as well as disease and malnutrition.

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Illegal gold mining operations, like this one in Colombia, have helped fuel violence against Indigenous communities [File: Fernando Vergara/AP]

World’s largest cricket stadium in India with link to Trump

AFP - India will host Australia from today at the biggest cricket stadium in the world for the fourth and final Test.

Prime ministers Narendra Modi and Anthony Albanese will be in attendance, with huge billboards of the pair erected at the ground.

AFP Sport takes an indepth look at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where a bumper crowd is expected:

- How big is it? -

The stadium has a capacity of 132,000. It has never been full for cricket, but it set a record for a cricket match in May last year when 104,859 saw the Indian Premier League final between Gujarat

Titans and Rajasthan Royals. The stadium is in the western state of Gujarat.

- What’s the history? -

It is named after the current Indian prime minister, who will be there on Thursday with his Australian counterpart for the first day. The stadium was built in 1982 but then reconstructed, enlarged and renamed several times. It opened in its current form in 2020 but crowds were initially restricted because of the Covid pandemic.

- What’s it like? -

The latest rebuild of the circular venue cost an estimated $100 million and provides unobstructed views from every seat. There are two tiers, with the top of the up-

per tier under cover, and seats are in the blue and saffron of the Indian team. The site includes an Olympic-sized swimming pool as part of a multisports complex. There are 76 corporate boxes.

- What’s the Trump connection? -

The latest incarnation of the stadium hosted a rally in 2020 for then-US president Donald Trump. An estimated 100,000 were in attendance as Trump emerged in the sweltering stadium, to the strains of the Village People’s “Macho Man”, as Modi went all out to welcome the US leader to his home state.

- What do the players say? -

Thursday March 09, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

A large weight should lift from your shoulders today, Aries. The air has started to clear, and the winds of communication have started blowing again. Listen closely to the buzz in the air.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

People may be abrasive today, Taurus, but you will find after careful assessment that they don't mean any harm. More than likely they aren't fully informed.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Don't criticize the situation until you've come up with a better solution, Gemini. Be creative. You can accomplish much if you approach the situation confidently.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

Your thoughts may have a dreamy quality today, Cancer. You will find that things are less stable than they have been for the past few days. Don't get discouraged by pessimistic people.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Your emotions are soaring, Leo, and you should feel free to indulge in your greatest fantasies. Take a break from reality for a while. Let your inner child play.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

Reward yourself with two desserts today, Virgo. Take a bubble bath. Share your fantasies with others and express yourself fully. Don't feel like you have to say yes.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

Organisers have not said how many tickets have been sold, but Australia’s players are relishing the prospect of what could be a crowd of more than 100,000. “It’s a good chance it will be a pretty cool atmosphere,” stand-in skipper Steve Smith said. “Lots of guys haven’t seen the stadium before, they all walked in today and it’s huge — it holds 130,000 — if we get somewhere up around that number, it will be unbelievable, the atmosphere.”

The weightiness of the past few days seems to be lifting. You will find a slight breeze building that will help fuel your fire, Libra. By building a solid foundation, you've created a reliable.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

Now that you have a solid grip on your situation, unexpected things may come along that change the rules again, Scorpio. It may feel like the chair you just got comfortable.

.

SAGIT (Nov.22–Dec.21)

Use gadgets and electronic devices to make life easier today, Sagittarius. Why take the time to chop food by hand when you can use the food processor.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) The

Be careful of the information that comes your way today, Capricorn. People may make unwarranted claims and false accusations. The day has a dreamy, innovative quality to it that asks you to venture out on a limb.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Maintain an air of detachment, Aquarius. Feel free to delve into your fantasy world and let your emotions carry you to another realm. Today is one of those days when you might come up with a new invention.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may find that things are much lighter than they were the past couple days, Pisces. This is a good time to let your physical body take a rest.

The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Netherlands stun Cuba in World Baseball Classic opener

AFP - The Netherlands shrugged off nerves to stun Cuba 4-2 in the opening game of the World Baseball ClassicyesterdayinTaiwan.

The Dutch scored three runs in the sixth inning in Taichung to sink Cuba, who featuredplayersfromMajor League Baseball on their teamforthefirsttime.

Didi Gregorius and Josh Palacios each scored a run for the Netherlands, who finished fourth at the two previous editions of the world tournament, while Chadwick Tromp notched two.

“It’svery,veryimportant to win the first game — it takes a monkey off your back, it relaxes everybody,” said Netherlands manager HensleyMeulens.

“We know we have the talent. Until you win that first game though, it’s like a nervouswreck.”

Palacios broke open a tiedgamewhenhegrounded anRBIsingleupthemiddle, beforeTrompfolloweditup

with a hit that fell between two Cuban outfielders to increase the Netherlands’ lead.

ThewingivestheDutch, whoserosterfeaturesseveral players with MLB experience such as Gregorius and San Diego’s Xander Bogaerts, the early edge in a Pool A that also includes Taiwan, Italy and Panama.

“It’s 12:00am over there in Aruba but my whole family is up watching the game,”saidTromp.

“They’ve always been there for me, and they’re thereformeagainthisyear.”

Cuba, who finished runners-up in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, scored both their runs throughYadilMujica.

Cuba are allowing MLB playerstorepresentthemfor the first time, but they enduredafrustratingday Chicago White Sox slugger Luis Robert Jr had onehitinfourat-bats,while his Chicago teammate Yoan

Moncadawashitlessinthree visitstotheplate.

Twenty teams are participating in the fifth edition of the World BaseballClassic.

There are four firstround groups hosted at venues in Taiwan, Tokyo, Arizona and Florida before the bulk of the knockout rounds get under way in the UnitedStates.

The tournament was last staged in 2017, with the United States finally winningthetitleforthefirst time with victory over Puerto Rico at Dodger StadiuminLosAngeles.

Thepandemicforcedthe postponement of the tournament in 2021, meaning the United States areonlynowlaunchingtheir title defence with a team bristling with stars from MajorLeagueBaseball.

TheyplayBritainintheir openinggameonSaturdayat Chase Field in Phoenix, the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Real Madrid could lose Vinicius Junior for free after Brazilian refuses contract extension: report

FourFourTwo - Real Madrid could lose one of their star players at some point in the next year, with Vinicius Junior reportedly refusing to sign a new contractthatwouldkeephim forlongerattheclub.

The Brazilian winger’s currentdealisduetoexpirein thesummerof2024,andwhile that’s still over a year away, Real certainly won’t want to lose a prized asset on a free transfer

The club is no closer to coming to an agreement to keep Vinicius Jr at the Bernabeuforlonger,though

Accordingtoreportsfrom SpanishoutletElDesmarque, Real Madrid have been

attemptingtotiedownthe22year-oldtoanewcontractfor an extended period of time, but their efforts have so far proved unsuccessful With both parties struggling to come to an agreement, ViniciusJrcouldthereforebe settoleaveRealinalittleover 12monthstimeonafree

The rest of Europe’s top clubs will likely be on high alert as a result, with the Premier League’s elite, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain undoubtedly allinterestedinhisservices

The report suggests Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is trying his best to make a breakthrough in negotiations, but he has so

far come unstuck with ViniciusJr’scampunwilling to lower their demands Despitescoring18goalsand making nine assists in all competitions so far this season,though,RealMadrid have grown increasingly frustratedwiththeBrazilian. His lack of defensive diligenceissaidtohinderthe squadonthepitch,whilethe constant noise surrounding his future off it is unwelcome.WithViniciusJr potentially on the way out, this could pave the way for Kylian Mbappe to finally make the move to Real Madrid that has looked on the cards for so many years now

The Netherlands shrugged off nerves to stun Cuba 4-2.

Hamilton wants Mercedes engineers to ‘own up’

ahead of Saudi Arabian GP

issues.

SportsMax - Lewis

Hamilton urged Mercedes engineers to “own up” for their performance issues after a slow start to the season.

The seven-time world champion finished fifth in theopeningraceofthe2023 Formula One season in Bahrain, behind both Red Bull cars, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Ferrari’sCarlosSainz.

Any hope that Mercedes would be able to compete at the front of the grid following a woeful campaign in 2022 is already on the back burner, with the zero-pods concept

continuing to attract criticism.

Team principal Toto Wolff admitted on Sunday that “radical” changes are needed,aviewthatHamilton clearlyshares.

Major improvements for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix later this month are unlikely, but Hamilton is keenfortheengineerstoown uptotheirerrors.

“Last year, I told them the issues that are with the car,” he told the BBC’s ChequeredFlagpodcast.

“Like, I’ve driven so many cars in my life, so I know what a car needs, I know what a car doesn’t

need.

“And I think it’s really about accountability, it’s about owning up and saying ‘yeah, you know what, we didn’t listen to you, it’s not where it needs to be and we’vegottowork’.

“We’ve got to look into the balance through the corners, look at all the weak pointsandjusthuddleupasa team,that’swhatwedo.

“We’re still multi World Champions you know, it’s just they haven’t got it right this time, they didn’t get it right last year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get itrightmovingforwards ”

Memphis Grizzlies lose to in-form LA Lakers in second game without Ja Morant

BBCSport-TheMemphisGrizzlieslost a second consecutive game without Ja Morant, falling 112-103 to the LA Lakers, who continue their late surge for a play-off place.

Morant is being investigated after a video emerged appearing to show him holdingaguninaColoradonightclub.

Team-mate Dillon Brooks offered his support, saying “Whatever help he needs we’rehereforhim”followingtheloss.

“Just be around family and come back stronger,”Brookssaid.

“I just told him that whatever you need from me, as a brother, as a team-mate, as a friend, as family, you can hit me up wheneveryouwant,butIhaven’tspokento himsince.

“And just keep being himself,” Brooks added.“Don’tloseyourselfinallthismedia anticsandallthisstuff.”

All-Star guard Morant has apologised followingalivebroadcastonhisInstagram page on Saturday and has been suspended for“atleasttwomatches”,whilebothPolice andtheNBAareinvestigating.

Anthony Davis scored 30 points and a season-high 22 rebounds in the Lakers’ victory, with LeBron James still sidelined withafootinjury Elsewhere, Eastern Conference leaders the Milwaukee Bucks, who were without Giannis Antetokounmpo through illness, beatOrlandoMagic134-123toextendtheir winningrunontheroadtoninegames.

KyrieIrvingscored33pointstohelpthe Dallas Mavericks overcome the Utah Jazz 120-116 with Luka Doncic adding 29 points,10reboundsandsixassists,whilethe Brooklyn Nets won a third consecutive match,beatingtheHoustonRockets118-96.

Lakers pay tribute to former player Gasol

Former Lakers star Pau Gasol was honouredathalf-timeoftheirmatchagainst theGrizzliesashisfamousnumber16shirt wasretired.

TheSpaniardjoinedtheLakersin2008

t

n to win two NBA Championships playing alongside fellow Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicoptercrashin2020.

Lewis Hamilton urged Mercedes engineers to “own up” for their performance

Florida’s DeSantis urges Biden to let unvaccinated Djokovic enter US for Miami Open

(Reuters) - Florida

Governor Ron DeSantis has called on U.S. President Joe Biden to allow Novak Djokovic to compete at this month’sMiamiOpendespite the world number one being unvaccinated for COVID19.

Djokovic, one of the most high-profile athletes unvaccinated against the virus, applied to the U.S.

government last month for specialpermissiontoplayat ATP Masters events Indian Wells, which begins on Wednesday, and the March 19-April2MiamiOpen.

The Serbian, 35, formally withdrew from Indian Wells on Sunday Florida Senator Rick Scott said that U.S. officials had deniedDjokovic’srequest.

“This denial is unfair,

u n s c i e n t i f i c a n d unacceptable,” DeSantis wrote in a letter to Biden on Tuesday

“Iurgeyoutoreconsider It’s time to put pandemic politics aside and give the American people what they want-lethimplay.”

Republican DeSantis signed a law in November 2021 banning schools, businesses and government entities from requiring vaccinationagainstCOVID19, drawing condemnation from health experts and Democraticleaders.

The U.S. currently bars unvaccinated foreigners fromentryintothecountry,a policy that is expected to be lifted when the government ends its COVID-19 emergency declarations on May11.

Djokovic, who missed last year’s Australian Open after being deported from that country due to his

vaccination status, has said he would skip Grand Slams rather than have a COVID shot.

He won his record-tying 22nd Grand Slam at the Australian Open in January. He has not played at Indian Wells or the Miami Openwhich together comprise the “Sunshine Double” - since 2019.

Last week, Scott and fellow Republican Senator MarcoRubioofFloridaalso wrotetoBidenurginghimto grantthewaiverrequest.

Indian Wells tournament director Tommy Haas, the United States Tennis Association and the U.S. Openwereamongthosealso hoping Djokovic would be allowedtoenter.

“The only thing keeping Mr Djokovic from participating in this tournament is your administration’s continued enforcementofamisguided, unscientific, and out-of-date COVID-19 vaccination requirement for foreign guests,”DeSantissaid.

Impressive Pogacar wins 4th stage to lead Paris-Nice

AFP - Two-time former Tour de France champion TadejPogacarclimbedtothe overall lead of Paris-Nice after an impressive performance in yesterday’s fourthstage.

The Slovenian pipped David Gaudu by one second with Gino Maeder third 34 seconds behind in overcast conditions in central France

Pogacar, 24, overtook Magnus Cort in the general classification to take the yellowjerseyofthe‘Race to the Sun’ which ends on Sunday on the Cote d’AzurinNice.

“Itwasn’tmyplantotake the yellow jersey today but you should never say no to yellow,” said the UAE Emiratesteamrider

“It’s great to find this colour again,” he added France’sGauducommented: “Hewasstrongerthanmein thesprint.

I’m second but it’s secondtoPogacar!”

Last year’s Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard was dropped by Pogacar on the

finalclimbuptoLaLogedes

Gardes ski resort at

1,077m altitude and the Dane now sits 44 seconds

b e h i n d i n t h i r d overall Vingegaard had tried to slip the peloton aroundfourkilometresout, with that break leaving little in the tank to challenge in the decisive dash fortheline

“When he went off I said to myself he must feel reallystrong soIthinkhe

must have just collapsed a bit (at the end),” said Pogacar Groupama-FDJ’s Gaudu is sandwiched between Pogacar and Vingegaard, 10 seconds behind the 2020 and 2021 Tourchampion

Today’s fifth stage is a 212 5km ride from SaintSymphorien-sur-Coise to Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux with four testing climbs as the peloton heads to the foothillsoftheAlps.

Two-time former Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar climbed to the overall lead of Paris-Nice yesterday.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in action during his quarter final match against Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz. (REUTERS/Amr Alfiky)

MIA - The baseball question and the GOA election?

Elections, especially those of a national nature, provide an avenue to consolidate power often based on empirical evidence of a developmentalagenda,orserveasa catalyst for change owing to a dearth of visionary latitude and policy

The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) electoral forum, which is finally pencilled for March 14 at the entity’s Lilliendaal headquarters after months of delay, provides that aforesaidelectoralcontrast.

Whilethecompelledexit,based on the recently adopted statute on age limit (70), of Chief Magistrate Kalam Juman-Yassin, 75, from office following an uninspired occupancythatwasbirthedin1996, seized initial headlines, the tussle for the helm between Guyana Baseball League (GBL) President, Robin Singh, and Guyana Table TennisAssociation (GTTA) Chief, Godfrey Munroe, has captured nationalaudiences.

Though not a fan of the fistic endeavour of boxing or the emerging alternative of Mixed Martial Arts, the specific vernacular, ‘the tale of the tape’, seems rather applicable as a basis for analysis of the proverbial combatants.

A l t h o u g h m u c h i s acknowledged, and has been pronounced and written on the exploits of Munroe, who is presently a Vice-President of the GOA, the baseball principal remains a comparatively unfamiliar element within the sporting landscape, and expressly amongstcasualreaders.

Inthepursuitofclarity,Singhis credited with an extensive b a c k g r o u n d i n s p o r t s administration specifically in the realms of cricket, tennis, and baseball.

However, perspective is pivotal! While one is unsure of Singh’spossiblecontributiontothe evolution of the res cricketandtennisfraternity ishisinputorlackthereof the development o baseball that comes under the figurative microscope.

Let’s not try to explain away or even justifytheelephantin the room Does baseballevenexiston localshores?

Is the GBL a functioning entity? When was the last time the association conducted elections and present auditedfinancialstatements?

Continuingin the same where is the sport’s developmental manifesto to chart its local introduction and eventual evolution?Werelocalcompetitions everconducted,andifso,whenand wherewasthepreviousevent?

Bythesametoken,hasGuyana ever been represented on the international stage by way of participation in a regional tournamentorgame?

Theaforementionedarehumble enquiriesandsalientquestionsthat should be asked of an esteemed presidential hopeful, who wants to commandthedirectionofGuyana’s Olympicaspirationsandambitions. It must be stressed here that our

criticism of qualification is in no way synonymous with criticism of character

Solet’snotbeaversetofactsor venerate and glorify mediocrity

There are many questions, and no answers,but expectedly f e w

arguably the most important local sportingentity?Isthisarecurrence orasecondcomingofanerathatis expected to conclude? Is this a return to a previously experienced state of normalcy? I guess old habitsdiehard.

After all, it would do the GOA no good to have the captain of its fer from any form of the out at the trough’ ndrome, or equally detrimental, treat the association as one’s personalfiefdom.

Interestingly, baseball which unofficially debuted at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St Louis, USA, and was contested at the 1912 edition in Stockholm, S w e d e n a s a d e m o n s t r a t i o n discipline,onlybecamean ficial sport in the 1992 iterationinBarcelona,Spain.

e xcuses w i l l certainly emanate to justify the paucity of the sport’s reality on localshores.

How can one be expected to developthemajorityofthesporting fraternity, the Olympic sporting caucus to be exact, when a track record of development for an Olympic sport of which he is the leader,isessentiallynon-existent?

It raises the inquiry, given the absence of a recent developmental track record, as to how can any association nominate such an individual to be the helm of

The sport was eventually pp from the Olympic Programme following the 2008 games in Beijing, China, though a revival occurred at the 2020 iterationinTokyo,Japan.

However,therevivalwasshortlived,asithasbeendiscardedonce again for the 2024 Olympics in Paris,France.Itisexpectedtomake areturninthe2028editionowingto the games being staged in Los Angeles,USA.

Comparatively, table tennis debuted at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, and has never looked back, easily eclipsing the status of America’s favourite pastime on the summer

gamesprogramme.

Ironically, baseball’s eventual absence from the Olympic charter for several cycles seemed to coincide, rather ‘unfortunately’ or ‘prophetically’ with the GBL’s disappearance from the sporting fraternityfornearlyadecade.

Joseph Joubert, the famed Frenchessayistoncesaid,“Theaim of an argument or of discussion shouldnotbevictorybutprogress.” That is the central point of this missive.

ThisisnottosaythatMunroeis withoutcriticism.

Several former players and administrators have voiced their respective disapproval of his leadershipoftheGTTAatdifferent junctures, which is a fundamental right afforded to contrasting views andisarealityandanoccupational hazard for anyone occupying public office. However, Munroe’s body of work is evidence of his sportingcontribution;arecordthat can be examined and scrutinised, andthatshouldserveastheprimary and principal basis of his possible succession or eventual failure. No such record exists for baseball’s chiefadministrator IstheOlympicconclavesimply expected to elect based on a promise or whisper and not on evidenceandoutcomes?

Is this a process to substitute one failed administrator with another? Certainly, we have seen thisepisodebefore.

Yassin’s impending departure, which was public knowledge for months, has seen ‘notable’ administrators coming out of the woodwork.

Let’snotbelongonbrawnand

2024 Women’s Gold Cup set for Feb. 17-March 10, 2024 - Jamaica must beat Canada to qualify

SportsMax - The 2024 Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup will be played between February 17 – March 10, 2024, in the United States, Concacaf announced yesterday

This new and exciting tournament is the region’s premier competition for women’s senior national teamsandisakeypartofthe “Concacaf W” women’s football strategy the Confederation launched in 2019.

The tournament will include a six-team preliminary round and a 12team group stage, followed by a three round knockout

stage.TheFinal, on Sunday, March 10, will crown Concacaf’s best women’s national team and will conclude a cycle of elite women’s football in the region, which also included the 2022 Concacaf W

Qualifiers and 2022

ConcacafWChampionship.

The 12-team W Gold CupGroupStagewillconsist ofeightConcacafteamsand four CONMEBOL guest teams.

Thus far, the United States secured a berth by winning the 2022

C o n c a c a f W Championship

They will be joined by

thewinneroftheConcacaf Olympic Play-In (Canada or Jamaica) and a further six Concacaf teams who qualify through earlier rounds.

The CONMEBOL guest participants have been determined based on the 2022 Women’s Copa America

“This new Concacaf W GoldCupwillbetheflagship event for women’s national team football in our region and will showcase some of the very best women’s football in Concacaf and the world,” Concacaf President and FIFA Vice President VictorMontagliani.

“The tournament will be acelebrationoftheworkwe have done so far, hand-inhand with our federations,

least through the performances of the record six Concacaf teams who have qualified for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Australia and New

Jaamaica must beat Canada to qualify for the 2024 tourney

Motie leads West Indies fight back against South Africa in 2nd Test

AFP - Aiden Markram helpedSouthAfricaracetoa strong start before the West Indies fought back on the firstdayofthesecondTestin Johannesburgyesterday

Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, however, picked up three wickets as South Africa closed on 311

for seven, having slipped from their formidable teatime position of 247 for two.

AidenMarkram(96)and Tony de Zorzi (85) were mainlyresponsibleforSouth Africa’s healthy position before the hosts struggled afterthesecondinterval.

Five wickets fell while only 63 runs were added in 27.2oversbeforetheclose.

Jason Holder bowled a tight spell after tea and claimed the wicket of South African captain Temba Bavuma,whoplayednoshot andwaslegbeforewicketfor 28 to a ball which cut back

sharply De Zorzi, playing in his second Test, batted fluently to be on 75 off 124 deliveries at tea but could add only another 10 runs off 31 balls before he wasbowledbyMotie He was drawn forward and beaten by a flighted delivery which spun back and hit the top of his off stump

Motie finished the day withthreefor75 Ryan Rickelton was caught behind for 22 off Alzarri Joseph and Kyle Mayers claimed two wickets with the second new ball late in the day, bowling Wiaan Mulder and having Simon Harmer caughtbehind

Motie earlier had Dean Elgar caught at short fine leg for 42 off a ball which was outside the lefthander’s leg stump, then denied Markram a second century in successive matches when Markram attemptedascoopshot.

The ball looped off his batandJermaineBlackwood

ran around from slip to leg sliptoholdthecatch.

Markram had been in imperious form, striking 17 boundariesoff139balls.

Elgar and Markram put on 76 for the first wicket after Bavuma won the toss and chose to bat on an unusually docile Wanderers pitch. At a venue with a tradition for pace and bounce, a dry surface gave some assistance to the spin bowlers on the first day, seemingly justifying South Africa’s decision to choose twospinners.

GCBSeniorInter-Countyfour-dayTournament

Th e G u y a n a Cricket Board (GCB) Senior

Male Inter-County four-day tournament will continue on March 9-12, 2023 with the second round fixture between Berbice and Essequibo being played at Enmore,whiletheDemerara and GCB Select XI match will run from March 11-14, 2023atGCC,Bourda.

The tournament began on February 25 with Berbice defeating

Demerara by six wickets while Essequibo thumped the GCB Select XI by 271 runs

Those first round matches were both played attheNationalStadium.The third and final round will be played on March 19-22 at GCC and Everest The Guyana Harpy Eagles

players selected to participate in the West Indies Championship are unavailable for the second and third round of the GCB Senior Inter-county fo

Teams: Demerara squad: Christopher Barnwell

Persaud, Raymond Perez,

Ushadave Balgobin, Akshaya Persaud (ViceC a p t a i n ) , S h a m a r Yearwood, Travis Persaud, Ronaldo Ali Mohamed, RichieLooknauth,Ashmead Need,StevenSankar,Qumar Torrington, Sachin Singh and Sachin Balgobin. The ManagerisPuneetJaigopaul and Head coach is Quasen

Nedd Essequibo squad: Kevon Boodie(Captain), Ricardo Peters, Sheldon Charles,GulcharanChulai, Neland Codogan, Ricardo Adams (Vice- Captain), Bruce Vincent, Quentin Sampson, Ronaldo Renn, Leon Swamy, Avinash Persaud, Malcolm Hubbard, Wazim Mohamed, Garfield

Markram in a free-scoring second-wicket partnership of 116 off 164 balls for the secondwicket.

TheWestIndiesregained a measure of control after Markram’s dismissal, with De Zorzi and Bavuma battingatamoresedatepace beforetea.

Then,inapatternsimilar to the first day of the first Test at Centurion, the West Indies dominated the last session.

Scores:SouthAfrica311 for7(Markram96,deZorzi 85, Motie 3-75) vs West Indies.

Peters.

The Manager is

Yogeshwar Lall and Head Coach is Nandkishore

Andrews

Berbice squad:Junior

Sinclair (Captain),

Tomanni Caesar, Javed Karim, Garfield Benjamin, Seon Hetmyer, Alex Algoo, JasonSinclair,NigelDeodat,

Guarav Ramesh, Seon Glasgow, Suresh Dhanai, Kwesi Mickle, Shamal Angel, Keyon Sinclair Manager is Travis Harcourt and Head Coach is Julian Moore. GCB Select XI squad:RajendraChandrika (Captain), Alvin Mohabir, Jeremiah Scott, Carlos La Rose,OswinBlair,Rajendra Ramballi, Nathan Persaud, David Williams, Mark Gonzales, Demeter Cameron, Jonathan Rampersaud, Zeynul Ramsammy, Sylus Tyndall andKevinUmroa.

The Manager is Ravindranauth Seeram while the Head Coach is Clive Grimmond Live streaming will be available for both matches of each round which would be shared on the GCB Facebookpage.

Junior Sinclair Christopher Barnwel

Kevon Boodie Rajendra Chandrika

Aiden Markram and Tony de Zorzi get together. (AFP/Getty Images)

Jason Holder celebrates after trapping Temba Bavuma lbw. (AFP/Getty Images)

Anisha Gibbons doubtful for CARIFTA Games

ByRawleToney

Double CARIFTA

Games gold medallist

Anisha Gibbons, though being listed as one of the 18 athletes for theApril 7 – 10 event in The Bahamas, is now labelled as ‘doubtful’ for the Caribbean’s largest and most prestigious youth and junior track and field Championships.

Gibbons, Guyana’s National Record Holder in theJavelin,isafreshmanat New Mexico Junior College, competing in the National Junior College

Athletic Association (NJCAA)

However, speaking to Kaieteur News yesterday, president of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), highlighted the difficulty in getting

Gibbons and other

Guyanese athletes in the

collegiate track and field system to compete at the CARIFTAGames.

Hutson and the AAG are faced with this challenge over the years and this time around is no different, as the local track and field custodian added, “Coaches don’t want to release their athletes As much as we let them know the importance of the CARIFTAGames.Butthisis something that we’ve been dealingwithforyears.”

The CARIFTA Games is the hunting ground for colleges seeking the best talent from the Caribbean, with many athletes from the Region, particularly Guyana, moving on to havingexceptionalcareers

Meanwhile, the final team selection will be released sometime next week, but it is expected that

several of the country’s top athletes that would’ve made the qualifying standard is headingtoTheBahamas.

Jamaica-based Seon Booker and Wesley Nobel, hailing out of the USA, are expected to join South American U18 silver medallist Ezekiel Newton, along with Javon Roberts, Ezekiel Saul and Tamera Harvey

Attoya Harvey, who had an exceptional outing at the CARIFTA Games lastyearwheresheclaimed gold in the 1500m (4:45 75), silver in the 3000m (10:51 40) and bronze in the 800m (2:14 08), will make her r e t u r n t o t h e championships looking replicateherdebut

Asked about the team’s preparation, Hutson said allsystemswereinplaceto

short range championship

The national rifle shooters believe that they have the ability to win the short range title at the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Championship whichissettobeheldfromMay8-14,2023 at the Crabbs Ranges inAntigua & Barbuda withonlytheshortrangetitleupforgrabs.

LennoxBraithwaite,whoistheSecretary Treasurer of the Guyana National Rifle Association(GNRA)andwithresponsibility fortraining,highlightednumerousmeasures thattheteamhavebeenworkingontoinsure victory

When asked what is the team doing to improvetheirperformanceintheshortrange shooting Braithwaite said, their full focus is on short range shooting as preparations startedsincethelastweekendinJanuary He noted, they first examined all of the equipment so they can identify all areas that needmaintenanceandservicing.

Afterfailingtoproducethescoreneeded to win the short range last time, they have started practicing early on short range shootingsothateveryoneontheteamcanget enoughpointstotakethemthrough.

The full focus is on the 300 range, bringing every shooter to that acceptable levelbydoingsomerecordshoots,individual shoots also followed by some team practice which they will try to make highly competitive,Braithwaiteexplained.

Braithwaitewentontostatethattheguys are very confident in their ability to beat the restoftheCaribbean,knowingtheirstrengths and weakness which they will use to full advantage.

They would also look at their

performances previously so they can have a betterunderstandingtowheretheyfelldown andtoimprovesame.

Whenaskedhowhasthetrainingsessions have been going Braithwaite informed that, practice sessions commence on weekends andtheywouldhavehadpracticesessionsfor everyweekendleadinguptothetournament with the full focus on the 300 short range shooting. On the question as it relates to adequate amounts of ammunition for training, he mentioned that they have ammunitionthatisofgoodquality,similarly to what will be used in the competition and there are no problems with equipment or ammunitionastheyheadforward.

give the athletes the best chanceoflandingamedal

Hutson praised the local coaches for the work done with the athletes throughout the season, but as usual, he pointed out the bugbear of securing the funding needed to get the teamtoNassau,Bahamas

“Tickets alone will run us close to $5M, and we’ll start our campaign to get the funds needed We’ve sent out our annual budget to the GOA and the Government of Guyana, but now we have to apply forthefundingspecifically for the CARIFTA Games,” Hutson said The longserving track and field administrator told Kaieteur News that he’s confident of s u p p o r t f r o m t h e Government, pointing out, “When you look at the economy, and how well it is

doing, when you look at the Government’s investment in sports through the recent budget, I think we’ll be fine and getting the money needed for the CARIFTA Games.”At the 2022 games in Jamaica, Guyana ended their participation with seven medals– two gold, threesilverandtwobronze–while finishing fifth in the medal standings behind

Trinidad and Tobago (23), British Virgin Islands (7), The Bahamas (17) and Jamaica(92).

While Harvey (1500m) and Gibbons (U20 Javelin) wongold,thecountry’sother medals came from Narissa McPherson – silver (U17 400m), Javon Roberts –silver (U17 1500m) and AdrielAustin–bronze(U20 800m).

-Hutsonanticipates18-member teamforTheBahamas

Rifle shooters fully confident in their ability to win

Lennox Braithwaite

AAG President, Aubrey Hutson

Anisha Gibbons during her gold medal performance at the CARIFTAGames.