Kaieteur News

Man allegedly confesses to dumping grandma’s body after accidently hitting her

The grandson of He then fetched her the murdered downstairs and placed her in

C h a r l e s t o w n anoldfridgeandwaiteduntil woman, Patricia Bovell, 88, noonewasaroundtheareato has allegedly confessed to dump the body in an empty dumping her body in the lotoppositethehouse. empty lot opposite her house On Sunday night when afteraccidentlyhittingher his cousin visited and asked Bovell’s grandson, for Bovell, Gilpin reportedly Yonick Gilpin, 27, is in said that he took her to a city police custody for her death h o s p i t a l a f t e r s h e and he told police that he complained of feeling might have accidently killed unwell According to her around 04:00hrs on detectives, after relatives Sunday He told police that could not find her at the he was in the bottom flat of hospital, they reported her his grandmother’s two- missing. storeyhomewhenhehearda Police launched an tumbling sound coming investigation and had from upstairs Gilpin detained Gilpin for allegedlywentupstairstosee questioning and he what had happened and maintained that he had taken heard his grandmother his grandmother to the shouting “murder, murder, hospital in a taxi. Bovell thief,thief”. could not be found at any

He claimed that he hospitalsopolicereturnedto entered and found his the area and learnt from grandmother naked and neighbours that they heard sitting on the floor with her screamsofmurderduringthe dentures beside her Gilpin wee hours of Sunday They alleged that he made some even told the cops that checksbutsawnooneinside Bovell’s screams lasted for his grandmother’s apartment some ten minutes before it and as he was about to leave wentsilent. his left foot hit the woman’s T h e d e t e c t i v e s head while he walked pass reportedly interviewed her Gilpin a second time about Bovell, according to the whereabouts of his Gilpin, fell on a rug and hit grandmother but he her head again. She became maintainedhisstory. motionless and failed to Gilpin only confessed to respond. dumping the woman’s body

Gilpin told police that he after it was discovered on became afraid at this point Wednesday morning some and wrapped Bovell in a two days after she was sheet. allegedlykilled.

The empty lot where Bovell’s body was found Bovell’

Wales gas plant hearing met with fierce protest by residents

By Davina Bagot sessions to be streamed scrutinizedthedetailsshared To this end, she acquisition of lands for the Radzik explained, “To virtually as well, despite byeachpresenter contended that the waiver of pipeline component of the not require a separate EIA

The Environmental requestsweremade. Appellants an EIA in this case is project. would be a violation of the AssessmentBoard(EAB)on The appellants had all First on the floor to share therefore a breach of the Radzik told the EAB, EPA Act and an attempt to Thursday heard the appeals asked the Chairman, Dr their concerns were Vanda EPA’sstatutoryduties. “Gas-fired plants and NGL use an unacceptable backfrom citizens who believe Mahendar Sharma to resign Radzik and Elizabeth She also reasoned, “We facilities and the pipelines door premise to deny the300megawattcombined- from the post since he is a Deane-Hughes. The women feel that the EEPGL’s Gas to that feed them are stakeholders the right to cycle gas turbine (CCGT) Director at the Guyana in their 40-minute-long shore permit on the whole is notoriously dangerous access all necessary power plant that forms part Power and Light Inc - the contribution to the session unlawful and again was Peoples’ lives, livelihoods information through EIAs as of the US$2 billion Gas-to- agencythatwillbefedpower argued among other things issued in breach of legal and lands are at risk. Toxic set out in Guyana’s Energy project must be fromthenewgasplant. that the EPA has no legal requirements and again we gases, chemicals and Environmental Act Fifth subjected to a thorough Dr Sharma is also the basis to waive the impact q u o t e f r o m t h e hazardous wastes are Schedule...”

Environmental Impact head of the Guyana Energy assessment for the gas (Environmental) Act generated along with She said that an Assessment(EIA). Agency (GEA) and the project.

Regulation 17:2 of the substantialemissionssuchas explosion is likely at the

The Environmental husband of Mrs Nadir Radzik pointed to the Environmental Protection flaring that pollute the facilityandcancauseserious Protection Agency (EPA) in Sharma, Director of the recent ruling handed down Authorization regulations environment and affect the injury, loss of life and a Notice published on Guyana Power and Gas byHighCourtJudge,Justice made under the Act that healthofhuman.” devastate the environment, January 6, 2023 announced Incorporated,theagencythat Nareshwar Harnanan, who requiresanapplicationforan She pointed out that yet the EPA thought it that the project will not has applied for an said, “The EPA has a environmental authorization research shows burning appropriate to exempt a require the study, citing environmentalpermit. statutory duty to require an and that it shall contain the fossil fuels at power plants separate EIA for the power severalreasons. Ignoring these concerns, EIA to ensure that any following proof that create emissions of sulfur plant.

Two objections were theChairmanmaintainedhis activity which may cause an applicant either owns the dioxide, nitrogen oxide, The activist said at least received by the EAB to appointed role. Thursday’s adverse effect be assessed facilityorhasaleaseorother particulate matter, carbon seven communities, appeal this decision. The hearing commenced with before such an activity agreement with the land dioxide and other pollutants according to ExxonMobil’s EAB, though its credibility presentations from the two should be authorized as owneroroccupier.” that lead to respiratory and EIA, are within a mile from and independence was appellants, Vanda Radzik per The Act taking into The appellants said this cardiovascular problems, thepowerplantandtheNGL constantly under question and Elizabeth Deane- account the avoidance and was not evident prior to the and other health issues such plant site, thereby placing from the appellants, on Hughesand,DanutaRadzik. the precautionary principles EPAgranting a Permit to the as cancer and other immune thesecitizensatdirectriskof Thursday listened to the Subsequently,theproject within that Act and any oil company for the pipeline system damage.As such she air emissions, dust, soil concerns of the citizens at a developer, represented by others. The application of and Natural Gas Liquid asked, “Why would an EIA erosion,noise,earthtremors, Public Hearing at Cara Winston Brassington, these environmental and (NGL). notberequired?” lost access to agricultural LodgeinGeorgetown. presented an overview of the social principles precludes The Permit was granted Radzik also invited the lands and could potentially

The process did not project, after which the EPA the EPA from permitting a on November 25, 2022 but EAB to consider these experience a boiling liquid allow for Guyanese in the explained its decision to dangerous activity or the Government of Guyana impacts as they can also vapourexplosion,jetfireora Diaspora and far-flung waivetheEIA. potentially dangerous between January 4 and 6 this affectadjacentcommunities. flammablecloud. locations in the country to Each presentation was activity or project based on year commenced the Meanwhile, Danuta These risks all highlight participate as there were no followed by a questions the developer’s mere issuance of Orders in the Radzik in her presentation theneedforathoroughstudy provisions made for the segment, in which the EAB assurance.” Official Gazette for the firstlyhighlightedherlackof to be done according to confidence in the EAB’s Radzik since the Exxon ability to host a fair hearing study does not adequately into the appeals made for the explain each risk and offer waiver of the EIA, due to the mitigation measures conflict of interest that Moreover, she said there is abounds. no estimate as to the She nonetheless made casualties from explosions, her presentation insisting jet fires, or other explosions that an EIAfor the project is fromthepowerplant. required. According to her, “Itisthereforeinaccurate “In three different to state that impact will be paragraphs, this GTE EIA moderate to low...the fact has stated that it does not that these communities are cover the gas-fired power c o n s i d e r e d s o c i oplant in any detail save and e c o n o m i c a l l y a n d except when addressing e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y cumulative impacts as such disadvantaged seems to it cannot act as a substitute make them even more for a separate power plant acceptableassacrifice EIA.”

(Continued on page 13)

Appellant of the EIA waiver for the power plant, Vanda Radzik (standing) makes a point before the EAB

(from left) Chairman of the EAB, Dr. Mahendar Sharma with EAB members, Dr. Garvin Cummings and Joslyn McKenzie

Citizens in the EAB hearing with their placards, demanding an independent Board be installed

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

Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS

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

INVESTORS CONCERNED ABOUT PRESS REPORTS

Foreign investors have expressed concerns over localpresscallsforrenegotiationofExxonMobil’s vile2016oilcontract. Thispaperisproudtolead the way with continuous calls for renegotiation of this ExxonMobilcontractthathangslikeanooseovertheheadof everyGuyanese. Thiscontractissuffocatingthelifeoutof Guyana’s citizens, many of them hungry and hopeful. It is whywehaveadutytospeakathighvolumeontheradio,in cyberspace,andtowritecopiouslyinthisnewspaper,about allthatiswrongandcriminalaboutthiscontract,andwhyit must be renegotiated. It must be renegotiated now, when ExxonMobilisproducingmoreandmorebarrelsofoildaily from Guyana’s oilfields, and earning profits like never before.

We have no issue with foreign investors and their concernsaboutthestateoftheirinvestmentsinGuyana. Itis thewayitshouldbe,andtheirbusiness. Bythesametoken, we are surprised, definitely appalled, that foreign investors couldbringuprenegotiationtoMr JohnHess,CEOofHess Corporation,andapartnerwitha30%stakeinGuyana’soil, consortiumduringanenergyconference.

WhattheGuyanapressmakesapriorityinthiscountry,a heartfeltpartofitsservicetoallcitizens,isitsbusiness,and its right. We at this paper have made renegotiation of ExxonMobil’s crippling 2016 oil contract our calling, our guiding work, and our right. To one and all, we have this little message: we will not be deterred, we will not be intimidated, we will not allow ourselves to be second guessedbyanyonefromanywhereatanytime. Letthatbe known all over, for it is written in stone, for we are not budgingfromthismantra.

On his behalf, Mr Hess has been loud to the point of drooling about how well his company has done in Guyana. He has been similarly boastful and lavish in his profit expectations for the future, and again from Guyana’s dirt cheapoil. Mr Hessinvestorshavedoneverywellfromthe oil that belongs to the Guyanese people But notwithstanding that, they want the already overloaded Guyana gravy train to continue with still more riches from Guyanapackedintoit.

Again, we have no quarrel with what foreign investors wantforthemselves,butwhattheywantforthemselves,the richesofouroil,wealsowantforourselves.

We,theownersoftheseoilriches,havebeentrickedand cheated with pittances, the equivalent of beads for our oil worth billions inAmerican dollars. We do not take kindly with foreign investors wanting one thing (amazing returns) forthemselves,butscorningwhatwewantforourselves. A level playing field is a start, with more protection, more royalties, and more profits, as our share. Are these selfcenteredandcallousforeigninvestorssoblind,sodeaf,that they cannot see, never hear, that everyone pays their fair share,someshare,oftaxeseverywhere?

TheplightandstrugglesofGuyanesemaynotmatterto them because their dividends are fatter, and their ExxonMobil and Hess Corporation shareholder news is all about what is bright and beautiful in Guyana. We wish, however,toassureallofthemthroughouttheUnitedStates, Canada,Europe,andwhereverelsethattheymaybethatall of this matters most urgently to us. We want and we must have more for our wealth, some of which were specified above.

We cannot go on like this, the laughingstock and poster childofaweakandwoefulpeople,becausewearecontented with the scraps that the ExxonMobil contract gives to us. Andbecausewearesupposedtobehappythatthisenriches thesameforeigninvestorstablingtheirconcernsaboutpress callsforrenegotiationofthisdeformedmonstrosityofanoil contract.We are most unhappy, very angry at this repulsive contract. MoreGuyanesenowsharethesameragewiththis contract. It must be renegotiated, and it will be, in some form,regardlessofwhosayswhat.

We mean business in this country, and the leaders of ExxonMobil and Hess Corporation better get that in their heads. Renegotiateorremovefromhere.

Why Is the GHRAbeing singled out?

DEAREDITOR,

The following is a preliminary response to the releasebytheDepartmentof Public Information (DPI) alleging that the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) has been in breach of the law under which it is registered for the past forty years, creating a debt of someG$38,649,600owedto the Guyana Government

The GHRA roundly rejects thisallegation.

In view of the public manner in which this charge hasbeenmadeinyourname, it would be equally in the public interest for your response on the matter be given a similar level of publicity,particularlyforthe b e n e f i t o f o t h e r organizations that may be vulnerable to comparable

treatment.

Whatstepsweretakenby the Attorney-General’s Chamber in 1991 or more recently to ensure that all of the companies and organizationsontheoriginal Companies Register were adequately informed of the changes they were required to make to remain compliant? This is particularly relevant given that NGOs such as the GHRA were forced to register under the original Companies Act due to the absence of legal recognition of the concept of ‘nonprofit’. Registration of the GHRA was undertaken by thelateMilesFitzpatrickQC andAshtonChaseQC.

The first audited accounts of the GHRAwere fortheyear1980andthelast

for2020,alongwithallforty yearsinbetween.

What steps has theAG’s Chambers taken to address thelegionoforganizationsof e v e r y d e s c r i p t i o n functioningwithoutauditsof any description, including officialbodies?

Since the alleged breach was never raised during the 23 years the PPP were in office during 1992-2015 what factors prompted the currentsearchthatproduced one single non-compliant organization?

What steps has the Attorney-General’s Chambers taken to legally recognize the category of non-profit organizations in order to put an end to the l o n g - s t a n d i n g dysfunctionality

As you are aware, a

fundamental requirement of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) states that “stakeholders, including but notlimitedtomembersofthe multi-stakeholder group mustbeabletooperatefreely and express opinions about the EITI without restraint, coercion or reprisal”. (EITI Standard 1 3(e) iv) The current action against the GHRA smacks of ‘reprisal’ and dispelling such impressions requires convincingevidencethatitis routineratherthantargeted. The GHRA looks forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

MikeMcCormack

Co-President f o r E x e c u t i v e Committee,GHRA

In Search of Comparable Skills and Competencies

DEAREDITOR,

How manypersons alive today would recall the name ‘Jim’Adams, more formally registered in the 1960s as JEH Adams whose professionalcareerstartedas an Assistant Labour Officer in Guyana? Jim migrated to British Honduras, where he rose to the position of CommissionerofLabour

He subsequently was invited to Trinidad and Tobago to occupy the same position; then was transferred to that of PermanentSecretary,asifin preparation for his appointment as the first Chairman of the newly created Industrial Court at a timeoftumultuousindustrial relations activities in Trinidad&Tobago.

One does not recall whether such a creative institution was ever replicatedinotherCaribbean countries.Forcertain,itwas notincitedinGuyanawithits own record of explosive industrial relations. But it wasinthoseverytimesthere was the consensus reached between Personnel Officers ofPrivateCompaniesandof Government Ministries to construct a pioneering National Personal Officers Association which was legallyregisteredin1965.Of thefirsteightmembersofits Executive Committee four were Public Servants Interestingly our meetings were held at Red House, the former official residence of the Chief Secretary (to Governors) It had been

TrainingOfficer

The NPOA itself organised its own range of developmentalprogrammes, convened mostly on Saturdaysatwhatisnowthe HotelPegasus. There was such crowded attendancebymanagersofa wide range of professions that they demanded membership – which was formally accepted, resulting in the Association being reregistered as the Guyana Institute of Management in 1972.Noteworthyisthefact that its first Executive Committee members

included representatives from as far as Berbice –actually the Hospital Administrator of the New Amsterdam Hospital and then Georgetown Public Hospital – the highly qualifiedChetramSingh–to where training programmes stretched.

Indeed, several of the programmeswereconducted by invited lecturers — from as far as the United Kingdom.

But outstanding as the first ‘Guest’ lecturer was noneotherthanJEHAdams, who was also Chairman of

theimaginativeRegistration, R e c o g n i t i o n a n d Certification Board of Trinidad & Tobago To confess that I had never exploredtherationalefor,or implementation of this legislation, but given the current enquiries about the plethora of ‘newborn contractors’ the following actors may wish to explore theconceptthatinformsthat legislation; and hopefully confront the issue of the frailty of the Registration, R e c o g n i t i o n a n d Certification–ofsuspect (Continuedonpage5)

Part 2 of the review of the Draft Model PSA

DEAREDITOR, Section 3 of the Draft Model PSA focuses on the C o s t s , E x p e n s e s , Expenditures and Credits of the Contractor There are several items in this section that would benefit from further review and consultation with the Audit Office of Guyana Some examplesarethefollowing:

In section 3 1 (Costs Recoverable Without Further Approval of the Minister)

I n c o m e t a x i s recoverable for permanent employees (section 3.1) (b) (vi). With the establishment of a local Exxon Head Office,weshouldrevisitthis benefit for the inclusion of taxes.

Especially if expatriate status is no longer in place andthecompanyisnolonger providing tax equalization

for their employees in Guyana.

In section 3.1 (e) (g)

Insurance and Losses, “Costs, losses and damages incurred to the extent not madegoodbyinsurance,are recoverable”. If this section is allowed to remain as is while inadequate insurance coverage is in place, the country will be exposed to significant financial loss in theeventofamajoroilspill.

The PSA must ensure very stringent and extensive insurance coverage to prevent the financial downside that this section allows.

In section 3.1 (e) (i) training costs are recoverable This is counterintuitive and reduces thebenefitof what had been stated earlier in the PSA, wherethefundingoftraining is provided by the

Contractor This essentially makes the training costs borrowed funds that will have an interest rate associatedwithit,whetherit is the market rate or the internal rate for the Contractor Making these fundsnon-recoverableinthe PSA would be a better approach in support of the development of local content.

In section 3 2 (Costs Recoverable only with ApprovaloftheMinister)

D o n a t i o n s a n d c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o organisations in Guyana (section 3 2) (b) are recoverable.This should not be recoverable, but instead betaxexempt.

Bestregards,

Mr.JamilChanglee Chairman

ofGuyana

We must end the racial divide in the country

DEAREDITOR,

Many of us in Guyana andtheDiasporahaveheard thenameJimmyCliff,oneof Jamaica’s most famous reggae stars whose most popular melody “Many RiverstoCross.”

The lyric in the song is indicative of what is happening in the country, that is we have many problems to overcome, but we believe that the most pressingisforallofustostep upandhealtheracialdivide and hatred that have permeated our society and have ripped the nation apart fordecades.Governmentsin the past have tried but with little success because the problemstilllingerson.

We can no longer bury our heads in the sand or pretendlikesomeofushave and continue to do that racismdoesnotexist.Itdoes anditisdeep-rooted!

Those of us who are in denial that racism does not exist are only deceiving themselves.

And to prolong the problem hoping that it will

be solved by a future generationisludicrous.

Racismisanevilthathas embolden some at the expense of others and the claim that only time will solveitisabsurd.

The Greek poet Menander,wholivedaround 300 B.C. said, “Time is the healerofallnecessaryevils.” While Menander is correct, we as Guyanese must act nowtoendracismbecauseit hasbeenafeatureinsociety for decades with no end in sight.Itislikeanunattended sore and if not attended to wouldfesterandgrow.

However, the belief by some that racism can be solved through civil discourse and education which is the corner stone of society should be explored. Since returning to office in August2020,theMinisterof Education Ms Priya Manickchand and her team havedoneanoutstandingjob in making education available to everyone in the country

And based on statistics from the Ministry of

Education, school dropouts have reduced significantly, especially in the populated areas of the country and in the hinterland, CXC grades have improved, and students’ performance have beenexceptionalinEnglish, mathematics, and other sciencesubjects.

Wemustcongratulatethe Minister and her team for s u c h a m a z i n g accomplishments, but there is need for an expanded curriculum to include the teaching of racism and its negativeimpactonsocietyat all levels, from primary to post-secondary.

The truth is racism is detestable and has no place insocietyinthe21stcentury. But it does not exist in Guyana only, it is a worldwidephenomenonandwhile some are uncomfortable to addressit,wemustfindways to eradicate it from our society

The United States, Canada, Britain, and the western countries have prided themselves on being considered the bastions of

WPA’s Ogunseye needs to be held accountable

DEAREDITOR, Heal Guyana is calling for WPA’s Executive member, Tacuma Ogunseye tobeheldaccountableforhis divisive and racist remarks duringapublicmeetingheld in Buxton, where he called on the Afro-Guyanese membersofthearmedforces to wage war and advocated for a day of national resistance and African uprising, during the u p c o m i n g L o c a l Government Election (LGE).

“It has been nearly two weeks since reports of Mr TacumaOgunseye’sheinous public utterances shocked the nation Countless messages of condemnation have since been published f r o m c o n c e r n e d organisations and private individuals across the country, including the Chairman of Guyana’s Joint Services, Brigadier Godfrey Bess,whohasunequivocally reaffirmed the force’s commitment to remaining apolitical and upholding peace in the service of all Guyanese. “How has the unapologetic Tacuma Ogunseye not been held accountable?” asked Sharon Lalljee-Richard, Founder

andChairpersonofthelocal non-profitHealGuyana.

“Within our country, everyday,wehaveAfroand Indo Guyanese working together to build themselves and secure a better life for their families. Within the communityofBuxtonitself, there are many decent, hardworking residents who arefightingthegoodfight,to raise their children with sound values and to be able to educate them despite being surrounded by negative influences. Under the guise of caring forAfroGuyanese, selfish, powerhungry politicians who go into these communities and incite violence and racehatred, contribute to the difficulties these families face by raising crime rates, adding stigma, and making the environment unsuitable forchildrentoberaisedwell.

No politician or person who genuinely cares about you would encourage you to do somethingillegalthatwould jeopardiseyourliberty Look for and follow those who positively advocate for the development of your children and community

They are the ones who truly careaboutyourwell-being!”

Lalljee-Richardadded.

democracy,yettheyhaveall failed to deal adequately withracismandinequalityin theirsocieties.Manybelieve thattheremaybereasonsfor their failure to deal with racismandinequalityintheir societies, but some have assertedthattheyarefearful of being accused of opening “Pandora’sBox—anartifact in Greek mythology that means something that creates a new set of unnecessary problems that were not expected. Today, we have a golden opportunity to jettison racism from our society and not pass it on to future generations. We cannot and must not look back to the decades of disappointmenttoresolveit. Wemustmoveforwardwith

pride,dignity,andagenuine senseofresponsibilitytoend thisevilfromsociety All in society must confront racism through civic discourse and education Studies from severalsocialscientistshave shown that racism breathes hatred that could lead to lonelinessbecausewhenone isdeemedtobearacist,itis likely that the individual is shunned by society and becomesanoutcastand,asa result, becomes lonely which if not tended to or guarded could lead to depression which in turn could trigger selfdestruction and or the devastationofothers.Suchis the temperament and intensity of racism in our intransigentsociety

We must preserve our national pride and not allow racismtosaturateoursociety or else we will perish as a nation as there will be no hopeforus.

It is time for all of us to puttractiononPresidentDr Ali’s vision of “One Guyana” and at the same time call on the powers that be to increase the wages of civil/public servants to withstand the high cost-ofliving and to make tertiary education available to all freeofcost.

Our leaders will be showered with praise for takingsuchboldstepsandit will be a blessing to our beloved country and its citizensfarandwide.

Sincerely,

Dr AsquithRose

In Search of Comparable Skills and...

Frompage4 ‘contractors’ in Guyana: Attorney General, Minister ofPublicWorks;Ministerof Labour; and the Guyana Revenue Authority – to be vetted by the Auditor General.

President - E A

Richards – Industrial Relations & Training

Advisor, Booker Group of Companies. Vice-President

– E. B. John – Assistant to Chief Personnel Officer

BookerSugarEstates

Committee:

ChetramSingh:Hospital Administrator, Georgetown Hospital

Daphne L McWatt: Secretary, Londsdale-Hands GuyanaLtd.

Since its inception in December 2017, Heal Guyana has been actively involved in peacebuilding efforts aimed at promoting ethnic unity. During the previous general election, the organisation worked with the presidential candidates and executive membersofseveralpolitical parties which were contesting in the election to issue statements that called for a peaceful, violence-free election. Guyana’s current president, Dr Irfaan Ali of the PPP/C, Brigadier David Granger of the APNU-AFC Coalition, Ralph Ramkarran ofANUG, DrAsha Kissoon of TNM, Lenox Shuman of the LJP, and Rondha-Ann LamoftheTCIwereamong thoseleaders.

Sincerely, HealGuyana

But to return to our energetic past, those who have survived must surely pause to reflect when and whereagainwecanembrace one another – as public and privatesectorprofessionals–to brainstorm the Strengths, Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats currently obtaining in our society For certain, all must recognise the urgent need for the most comprehensive SWOT analysis ever So that amongst other things we, including our women (of NPOA-GIM), can verify how better we need to coalesce as EQUALS into ONE (multi-ethnic) NATION The Annual General Meeting of 1969 appointedthefollowingtobe the NPOA’s Committee of Management:

Secretary - L.A. Muss –

PersonnelOfficer,Demerara TobaccoCompany —

Asst Secretary

Barbara Y Osman

–Information Assistant, Demba.

Treasurer - T Pooran Singh – Senior Training Officer, Public Service Ministry

Members of the

C. R. Dyal: Personnel Officer,Sprostons.

H. I. London: Properties Officer,Demba.

W O N o b l e : Management Training Officer,Demba

The foregoing text comes from the lasting Executive Committee OfficeroftheNPOA–GIM. Regards, E.B.John

Falsehoods in the US Department of State Report

DEAR

EDITOR, The United States (US) DepartmentofStateGuyana 2022 Human Rights Report which records that as of October 2022, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) did not investigate allegations advanced by interdicted S e r g e a n t D i o n Bascom pertaining to the killing of Ricardo Fagundes called Paper Shorts, is palpablyerroneous.

Section 4 of the Report titled ‘Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government’ specifically highlights an allegation made by interdicted Sergeant Dion Bascom in August2022,claimingthata businessman bribed members of the Guyana Police Force to “foil” the investigationintothekilling ofRicardoFagundes.

TheReportnotedthatas of October 2022, police had not investigated interdicted SergeantBascom’sclaims.

It is a matter of public record that the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR)oftheGuyanaPolice

Force(GPF)inAugust2022 conducted an investigation intothematterwhichand a report of the same was senttothe Director of Public Prosecutions(DPP)forlegal advice Interestingly, Bascom had refused to participate in the probe or provide any evidence to s u p p o r t h i s allegations.Additionally,the Government of Guyana requested assistance from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Regional Security System (RSS) to investigate the said allegation.

The investigative team w a s h e a d e d b y a former Detective Chief I n s p e c t o r o f t h e MetropolitanPoliceService, Serious and Organised Crime Command (United K i n g d o m ) U p o n completion of the investigation, a report was issued and published in the mediaonSeptember 10,2022.Thefindingsof the report include the following:

1 T h e b r i b e r y allegations made by SergeantBascomagainstthe GPF, namely, that Detective Supt. Caesar and Inspector Stephens in an attempt to cover up the unlawful killing/ homicide of Fagundes were hearsay havingnoprovenance.

2 Sgt Bascom has alleged that the GPF has tried to cover-up the unlawful killing/ homicide

ofFagundes.

However, there is evidence that the GPF has diligently sought Regional and International assistance insolvingthiscase.

3. Sgt. Bascom alleged thattherewasadeviceinthe possession of the police which identified Mark Richmond’s cell phone as being at the scene of the unlawful killing/ homicide of Fagundes when it h a p p e n e d

However, the GPF’s technical officer ASP Rodwell Sarrabo has confirmed that the Police Forcedoesnothaveanysuch technology and that Sgt. Bascom was never at the crime scene with him Itisstandardpracticethatthe Department of State would issue questionnaires to various government agencies when conducting their research in preparation fortheirreport.

The questionnaires submitted to the State were returned in the accordance with the stipulated deadline which was September 12, 2022.

Significantly, the Guyana Police Force was notengagedinrespectofthe death of Ricardo Fagundes or interdicted Sergeant Bascom’sallegation by those who prepared thereport,asisthepractice.

It is unclear where the Department of State gathered its information from in relation to the allegation made by

interdicted Sergeant Dion Bascom.

However,whatisclearis that the information published in relation thereto ispatentlyfalse.

The Government of

Guyanawillsoonengagethe Department of State in respect of the inaccuracies highlightedhereofaswellas other mattersco ntained in the said

Reportwithaviewofhaving suchfalsehoodscorrected. Regards, Hon Mohabir Anil Nandlall,SC,MP Attorney General and MinisterofLegalAffairs

DEAREDITOR, Kaieteur News editorial yesterday wished well for the new Ethnic Relations Commission.Theneedfora balanceERCcannotbeoveremphasised Already this body is stacked with PPP loyalists Guyanese will have major challenges in having confidence in this important body The editorial failed to a c k n o w l e d g e t h i s unfortunate situation Separating partisan views from that which is expected for a fair Commission will not happen. The ERC is a non-political constitutional body,itremainsamysteryto see how this will be done. The nation hopes that the newERCdoesnotfollowthe narrativethatPPPisthehero and the opposition the villain.

Notonlywastheprocess toobtaintheCommissioners contrived for an outcome that will see PPP party supporters flooding the Commission, but now the selection of Chairman and Deputy Chairman is

troubling. I read with much interest that a Chairman and Deputy Chairman were appointed. In addition, the news reported that two Commissioners were not presentandwillbeswornata later time. The law states “The Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the E t h n i c R e l a t i o n s Commissionshallbeelected byandfromthemembersof the Commission, other than the members mentioned in paragraph(1)(b),usingsuch consensual mechanism as the Commission deems fit”. The law is clear on the composition. At the time of this decision, two Commissioners were not sworn in other words, they havenotbeengiventhelegal instrumenttoactthatwillaid theproperconstitutionofthe ERC.

Therefore, the ERC should not have gone through and select persons for those positions. It also disenfranchised the two incoming Commissioners from contributing to this decision. But this is not all.

NCN 6 o clock News reported that Mr Charles Ogle was not present but he was selected as Deputy Chairman Why would Commissioners vote in absentia for a candidate that is not even legally on the job? One can only imagine the corruption, confusion and illegal steps that will emerge from this body, if it continues to act in this manner

FromthePresident’slive page, opposition member Ms Tabitha Halley was present, and therefore I call upon her to present her take on this obvious hijacking of the ERC. In the same breath of praise, Kaieteur News is called to investigate this obvious and glaring misapplicationofthelaw

TheoppositionMembers of Parliament on this subcommittee have failed this nation by not adequately supervising the entire process; from selection of candidates to determine a Chairman.

Regards,

R.Singh

The new ERC is already stacked with PPPloyalists

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AMERICAN AMBASSADOR LYNCH AND SANCTITY OF CONTRACT - PART 3

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Ambassador Lynch praises contract sanctity.

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Ambassador Lynch: what about Guyanese who are hungry?

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Ambassador Lynch: hungry Guyanese are angry Guyanese!

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Ambassador Lynch: don’t let matters deteriorate, please!

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Please, not to:Yankees, go home!

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Guyana’sdebttoIDBaloneclosetoUS$1Bwithoutinterest

Guyana’s debt to (loans, guarantees, and communities, extend (MSMEs), the bank noted. It t h e I n t e r - grants) On Thursday coverage of diagnostic added that in November A m e r i c a n Kaieteur News had reported exams and medical 2016, the IDB approved

Development that it was disclosed in the consultations, advance US$9,000,000toGuyanafor Bank (IDB) is pegged at bank’s 2022 financial telehealth services, and Enhancing the National close to US$1 billion statement that Guyana increase access and Quality Infrastructure for c u r r e n t l y T h e borrowed US$335 million efficiency of the public Economic Diversification aforementioned sum does fromtheIDBin2022. health system. “This project and Trade Promotion. The not include the interest the According to the is expected to benefit over Government of Guyana countrywillbepayingonthe document, the loans Guyana half of Guyana’s population requested additional loans. borrowed from the IDB falls including the Indigenous financing to support its

A perusal of the bank’s under the sovereign people with interventions in priorities of a more R e f o r m u l a t i o n a n d projects government has

Annual Report 2022: guarantee portfolio It all 10 of the country’s diversified and productive Additional Financing been borrowing to finance Financial Statements has should be noted that prior to regions,”thebankstated. base. program and the program to them despite earning over revealedthatasofDecember 2018, the document stated

The second loan titled IDB warns against StrengthenPublicPolicyand US$1 billion in the oil 31, 2022, Guyana owed the that Guyana borrowed ‘Support Climate Resilient ‘excessive’borrowing Fiscal Management in accountforlastyear bank US$787 million US$552 million from the Road Infrastructure Back in January, the IDB Response to the Health and Loans signed Adding the US$205 million IDB.Statedinthereportalso Development’ will provide had released a report Economic Crisis Caused by with IBD for 2023 in loans Guyana recently is Guyana’s credit rating US$100 million to upgrade cautioning Latin America COVID-19. On March 8, 2023, signed off on with the IBD, withthebankwhichisaB-. and expand the quality of and Caribbean (LAC)

Guyana’s Finance Guyana signed three loans brings the total loans The loans Guyana took roads and utility service countries against ‘excessive’ Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, with the IBD totaling borrowed from the bank to from the IDB were for along the East Bank borrowing and urged during his 2023 budget US$203 million, to US$992million. severaldifferentprojectsand Demerara corridor This governments to bring their speechhaddisclosedthatthe strengthen the country’s

As required by the by- programmes such as: involves financing a 25.5 debts down to more prudent country’s total public debt healthcare system, build lawsoftheIDB,theBoardof h e a l t h c a r e n e t w o r k kilometer two-lane roadway levels. stood at US$3.6 billion, an r o a d s a n d e n h a n c e Executive Directors is strengthening, a programme with modern and innovative In its report titled, increase by 16.9 percent infrastructure. requiredtosubmitthereport. to support climate resilient approachesthatwillimprove ‘Dealing with Debt – Less fromlastyear. The IBD’s President, The Annual Report consists r o a d i n f r a s t r u c t u r e access and safety, including Risk for More Growth in the This publication had Ilan Goldfajn, and Guyana’s of a printed volume entitled, development, ‘Enhancing forvulnerableroadusers,the Latin America and the pointed out that almost all of Finance Minister Dr Singh ‘The Year in Review’, the National Quality banksaid. Caribbean’ the IDB its recently announced signed the three loans during containing a review of the I n f r a s t r u c t u r e f o r

The third loan is titled disclosed that debt has risen public infrastructural the XI Annual Consultation Bank’s operations in 2022 C o m p e t i t i v e n e s s ’

‘Enhancing the National and stands at some US$5.8 of Caribbean Governors that Quality Infrastructure for trillion which is 117 percent was hosted in Trinidad and C o m p e t i t i v e n e s s of the Gross Domestic Tobago. programme.’ Under this Product(GDP)intheregion.

In a press statement, the programme, Guyana will “Given the dangers of IDB said the first loan reformulate and access excessive debt, the current captioned: “Healthcare additional funding of situation in Latin America Network Strengthening in US$8,000,000 to enhance and the Caribbean is Guyana operation” is for a the National Quality worrisome,” the IDB said. total amount of US$97 Infrastructure’s capacity to IDBsaidpublicdebtservesa million. This loan the bank promote the adoption of critical role for countries to saidwillexpandthecapacity quality standards among pursue public investment of seven hospitals in both Guyanese Micro, Small, and projects,implementcounter coastal and inter

THE PPP/C IS BACK TO ITS OLD WAYS!

Is it mere coincidence that the government has discoveredsuddenlythatthe Guyana Human Rights Association is not in good standing under the CompaniesAct? Or is this a case, as is being suggested by the Guyana Human RightsAssociation(GHRA), thatthePPP/Cisengagedin anactofreprisalagainstit.

Isitperchancethatmere weeks after the government sought to blame two civil society representatives –including one who is part of theGHRA–forthecountry’s failure to submit its 2020 EITIReportontime,thatthe government has suddenly discoveredthattheGHRAis non-compliant under the CompaniesAct?

Isitbyaccidentthatthis discoveryabouttheGHRA’s non-compliance with the Companies Act is taking place days after the GHRA criticized the award of the contract for the new integrated electronic nationalidentificationcard?

It does appear that the government has suddenly awokenfromalongslumber Since 1992, the government did not seek to enforce this provision under the Companies Act but now suddenly has decided to do so The GHRA has legitimately questioned this suddendiscoveryonthepart of the PPP/C government. It has said that the actions of the government stink of a reprisal and it has queried what action the government

has taken in relation to the many other organizations, including government bodiesthatmaybesimilarly non-compliant.

The GHRA is quite in order to demand to know whether it is being selectivelytargeted.Itisleft to be seen whether the government would indicate whetherotherorganizations, including government corporations, have been compliant with the very provisionswhichtheGHRA is being accused of breaching.

The actions of the government are reminiscent of the vendetta which the government launched against the Guyana Cricket Board.Thesameaccusations about lack of accountability that are now being leveled against the GHRA were leveled against the Guyana Cricket Board The government went as far as seizing the financial records and other documents from theBoard’soffice.

The actions of the governmentinrelationtothe GHRA are suspicious. It comes days after a damning revelation in the US State Department 2022 Human RightsReport.

The Report expressed concerns over what it deemed as ‘credible’reports of unlawful or arbitrary killings, including extrajudicial killings; the non-enforcement of laws that criminalize consensual same-sex sexual conduct

between adult men; and existenceoftheworstforms of child labor It is wellknown that in compiling theircountryreports,theUS DepartmentofStaterelieson a variety of sources, includingtheGHRA.

The accusations leveled against the GHRArepresent acompleteturnaroundtothe attitude the PPP adopted in the pre-1992 period towards the GHRA. In that period whentheGHRAwasamong only a handful of organizations condemning thehumanrightsexcessesof the then PNC government, the local human rights body was the darling of the PPP. The PPP/C seems to have forgotten that in 1981, the GHRA highlighted the fact that in the previous 18 months, there were 19 instancesinwhichthepolice had shot and killed persons without any inquiries taking place. It was the same GHRA during the Burnham era which had condemned illegal random body searchesofpassengers,atthe Timehri International Airport.

These searches were done without reasonable groundsinordertoferretout foreign currency, and passengers were randomly selected for such searches. The PPPC seems to have forgotten that at one time Bishop Randolph George was the President of the GHRAandwassuedforlibel for a report making accusations of police

Guyana’s debt to IDB alone close to US$1B without...

Frompage8 cyclical policies, and provide support to economies in the face of negative shocks. However, theIDBwarnedthatifpublic debt becomes too large or is not managed with sufficient caution, interest costs may

balloon, growth prospects maysuffer,andinthelimit,a costly debt crisis may be provoked. According to the report, governments can bring down their debt levels by improving spending efficiency,expandingthetax base, and seeking wider

Dem Boys Seh...

excesses The PPP/C awardedhimwithanational awardforhiscontributionto thereturnofdemocracy

At the time, the PNC governmenthadaccusedthe GHRAof beingthecampof then Opposition. The PNC hadalsoattackedtheGHRA. Atonetime,oneitsmembers was forcibly abducted and questionedaboutherroleon the GUARD movement

The PPP had itself condemned the dismissal from the University of Guyana of an executive memberoftheGHRA. Now thePPP/Cisfollowinginthe footsteps of the PNC in accusingtheGHRAofbeing a partisan organisation. Did the PPPnot know this when in1980theGHRAobserved that “the courts have been

used as an instrument of harassment on a widespread scale”? How the PPP/C lovedtheGHRAthen!Butit is unhappy now with the GHRA over what it sees as the organizations timidity in condemning the attempt to rigthe2020electionsandits subsequent calling to account the new PPP/C government on a number of issues.

What appears however to have triggered the recent ire of the PPP/C is the criticism of the contract which they entered into to produce a new electronic identification card. The GHRA had called for the contract to be paused and taken to parliament, a fairly reasonable recommendation considering the privacy and

other security concerns over this project for which there have been no public consultations.

Does the PPP/C have something to hide that it would react in such a paranoid manner to the criticismsoftheGHRAoris the PPP/C back to its old post-1997ways?

(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.)

reforms to enhance fiscal balancesandboostgrowth.

The IDB said that there aremanyreasonswhypublic debt levels should be lower than they currently are, highlighting that there are several ways to reduce that debt.

Whatever de weather…

Dehgatsomepeoplewhendemtellyuh walk,yuhshouldrun.Demdoesadviseyuh fuh do one thing and de result does be anotherthing.

Demlikesomeofdemweathermenwe gat. When de tell yuh, yuh gan get a nice, sunny day, walk with yuh umbrella. It gan rain.

Dem like some of dem politicians. Whendemtellyuhaboutbumbercrops,yuh gat to stock up because deh gan gat a shortage.Whateverdemtellyuh,yuhgatto do de opposite. If dem tell yuh walk, yuh betterbussasprint.

Dem pilot does gat to get de right weatherforecast.

Otherwise dem could endanger dem passengers’lives.Itreminddemboysofde time a plan took off from TimehriAirport.

After it reach a comfortable cruising altitude,thecaptainmadeanannouncement o v e r t h e i n t e r c o m : ”Ladiesandgentlemen,thisisyourcaptain speaking. The weather ahead is good and, therefore, we should have a smooth and uneventful flight. Now sit back and relaxOH,MYG-D!”

Silence followed, and after a few minutes the captain came back on the intercomandsaid. “LadiesandGentlemen, I am so sorry if I scared you earlier; but, while I was talking, the flight attendant brought me a cup of coffee and spilled the hot coffee in my lap. You should see the frontofmypants!” Apassengerineconomy class shouted back, “That’s nothing. He shouldseethebackofmine!” Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

MinisterBennassumes chairmanshipofRSSCouncil

Minister of HomeAffairs, Robeson Benn Benn,Mr KhanandMr Hickenareattending has assumed the rotating chairmanship of the themeetingforthefirsttime.

Regional Security System Council at their ThemeetingoftheCouncilisattendedby just concluded meeting of ministers held in the Minister responsible for National Grenada. Security in each Member State or a delegate

Bennwasaccompaniedtothemeetingby with authority to vote on matters before the Colonel, Omar Khan and the Acting Council.

CommissionerofPolice,Mr CliftonHicken. The RSS member states are Antigua &

In September 2022, Guyana formally Barbuda, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent joined the Regional Security System (RSS) and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, after President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali Grenada,Guyana,andBarbados. TheRSSis signed the Instrument ofAccession. Minister currentlyheadquarteredinBarbados.

40 new wells to be constructed in hinterland regions this year

The Guyana Water hinterlandalsogainedaccess $17.7 billion was injected Incorporated for the first time The thisyearforwaterexpansion

(GWI) is looking administration is working and management, with $1.4 toestablish40newwellsand assiduously to achieve its billion being allocated to 30 water supply systems in targetof89percentcoverage increase access to clean, safe hinterlandregionsthisyear in the hinterland regions this water in hinterland

Once completed, these year communities in Regions facilities will serve It continues to make One, Two, Seven, Eight, and approximately 12,000 numerous interventions Nine. residents, the Department of across the country, as part of Minister of Housing and Public Information has its five-year strategic plan, Water, Collin Croal has reported. aimed at providing 100 per reminded that several

Some 7,000 residents are cent access to potable water communities in hinterland already receiving first time acrossthoseregions. regions have accessed access to potable water in The government is potable water for the first theirhomes. investinginthedevelopment time within the past two T h e g o v e r n m e n t of13newtreatmentfacilities years. “We will continue achieved 75 per cent countrywide, which will until every household has coverage of potable water in ensure citizens have access access to a reliable supply of Amerindian and riverine to purified water, while clean water But we must communities at the end of upgrades are also being commit to protecting our 2022. made to the current water w a t e r s o u r c e s a n d

With the commissioning treatmentfacilities. infrastructure. Our failure to of 20 water purification This is in keeping with dosowillleadtodevastating systems at Aranaputa, the United Nation’s consequences,” Minister Rupertee, Wowetta, Sustainable Development Croal stressed, during a Rupununi,Jawalla,Shulinab Goal Six which speaks to r e c e n t m e s s a g e i n and Annai, among other providing access to water observance of World Water villages, residents of the and sanitation for all. Some Day2023.

Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn is flanked by Colonel, Omar Khan and the Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr. Clifton Hicken.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal and team inspecting the drilling of Khan’s Hill well, Region One

Kopinang to get new secondary school

- facility to accommodate 500 students

Additionally, the North West Secondary A secondary school will be built in (Potaro-Siparuni)issettobenefitfromanew right now the children from this catchment Schoolisbeingrebuiltafterbeingdestroyed. Orealla,RegionSix,whileinRegionSeven,a state of the art secondary school, as are going to Kato or at the primary top. At Meanwhile, in Region Two, construction newsecondaryschoolwillbebuiltatJawalla government seeks to achieve universal Kato,theyareonrotationbecauseit’sjusttoo of the Abram’s Zuil Secondary School is in the Upper Mazaruni. In Region Eight, the secondaryeducation. many of them,” Minister Manickhand ongoingandwillbecompletedsoon. Region dormitories at Paramakatoi and Kato will be

The village of Kopinang, Region Eight six primary tops in the catchment area

Minister of Education, Priya explained.

Three is also benefitting from two new extended.

The school will be equipped with schools that are under construction. In A secondary school is also being Wednesday,duringwhichshe explainedthat laboratories, an information technology (IT) RegionFour,theYarrowkabraSecondaryand constructed in Karasabai, Region Nine. The land clearing at the identified site has lab, and a library among other important the Good Hope Secondary schools will be governmentremainscommittedtoincreasing commenced. The school will accommodate amenities Apart from the Kopinang completed. access to education across all levels, with 500 students and 400 in its dormitory A Secondary School, several other learning The North Ruimveldt Secondary is being $94.4billionallocatedtotheeducationsector teachers’ quarters will also be constructed institutions are being constructed rebuilt in Georgetown with extensions being in budget 2023. Of that sum, $12.4 billion sincenoqualifiedsecondaryschoolteacheris countrywide, including at Hosororo, carried out at the St. Winifred’s and the East was earmarked for the improvement of residingthere.“It’sgoingtoallowustoclose Kwebana, and Waramuri in Region One. RuimveldtSecondaryschools. educationinfrastructurenationwide.

Manickchand made the announcement

Walesgasplanthearingmetwithfierceprotestby...

From page 3 does not all have to be at once. It othercomponentsoftheproject. area. He assured that the nearest wind,etc.Importantly,issueshould zones for big oil and the can be rolled out as the money To this end, Brassington community is “three or four be focused on alternatives to heavy beneficiaries of big oil,” she comesinfromoilwithouthavingto pointed out, “Essentially Exxon, kilometers east”. South-west of the fuel oil which natural gas is the argued Alfred Bhulai, who borrow costly capital. Operating when the project started, Exxon project is the Amerindian village, transitiontorenewables.” identified as Radzik’s technical costs are negligible, on this ground covered in the ESIA what they are Santa Aratak about 11 kilometers Executive Director of the advisor also shared his thoughts on alone the Gas-to-Energy project going to fund. For the initial plan away “For a few kilometeres Agency, Kemraj Parsram said as it the EIA waiver, after objecting to shouldbescrapped.” was that they were gonna fund the going North, you have little or no regards explosions, an emergency Dr Sharma’s role as Chairman of Proponent NGL facility The initial plan was villages,” he said. This statement response plan and gas leak the Board due to conflict of interest Winston Brassington in an that they were gonna do all of the was however objected to by the detection system, once the project andcompetence. almost hour-long presentation preparatory work that needed to be appellantsatthehearingwhoasked is permitted, will be required as a

In his presentation, Bhulai said provided a detailed background on done before the power plant…so him to say specifically “what are a condition. He assured the Board that there has been no study of the GTE project, its location and thatiswhytheycoveredallofwhat few” and exactly where is the that the role of the EPA is not alternative energy generation economics, comprising the GPL theydid.” nearestvillage. limited to deciding whether an EIA options. In fact, he told attendees demand and other benefits such as Subsequently, Brassington said Brassington said the nearest is required or not for projects, but that he had supplied Dr Sharma reducingemissions. Exxon communicated to the village is approximately three or rather to implement provisions into with a cheaper solar alternative a He explained that a 2019 government that there were more fourkilometeres. permits to form part of regulating fewyearsagobutwhenheenquired feasibility study conducted for the economic benefits for combining EPAdefends theproject. whattheGEA’snextstepwouldbe, project by an international the power plant with the NGL The Environmental Protection This is particularly important he was told a subordinate officer consultant concluded that the facility “They said to the Agency in its presentation according to Parsram, otherwise wouldmakecontact;thiswasnever emissions,onaverage,usingthe50 government, we find that there are defended the Gas-to-Energy the EPAwould order an EIAfor all done. million cubic feet of gas per day significant economic benefit of project,explainingthatthenation’s “aircraftthatcomesintoGuyana,or

According to Bhulai, “Dr estimate will see an average 50 combining the NGL plant and the Low Carbon Development every car that you drive around Sharma is also too busy to fulfil his percent reduction in carbon power plant and so the Strategy (LCDS) outlines the because they all emit pollutants,” owncommitmentandshouldnotbe dioxide. “We will have a 46% government agreed to that and transitiontocleanerenergythrough therefore he insisted, “we have to toobusytolistenclearlytousinthe reduction in carbon dioxide ultimately the government decided theutilizationofnaturalgas. be sensible and that’s what the EPA time we are spending here emissions, when it came to sulphur that it would be better for the “The LCDS 2030 which is an is doing, [being] sensible based on otherwise somebody could do the dioxide emissions, 99 percent, and government to own everything- the approved policy document scientific information and job.” nitrogen oxide 92 percent,” NGL and the power plant and provides the approach to cleaner practical.”

Exxon would build and finance the energy It clearly articulates the While GPL had initially the cost to fund the pipeline alone

He was keen to point out that Brassingtonnoted.

As part of the clarification pipeline.” direction in which Guyana will submitted the application for the could provide more than 300 process by the EAB, Brassington Brassington was also asked by transitioninthisregard.Naturalgas project, he said the Guyana Power megawatt of power to citizens in was asked to explain why the gas- the EAB Chairman to explain is clearly stated as a transition and Gas Inc. is now the new Guyana.AccordingtoBhulai,“The fired power plant was not included whether there were any whilst exploring and developing applicant. This company is state beauty about solar power is that it in the EIA done by Exxon for the communities nearby to the project alternatives such as solar, hydro, owned.

U.S. envoy hails Guyanese leaders for sticking to ‘lopsided’ Exxon deal

— says their posture signals importance of sanctity of contracts

United States of PSA and its provisions

A m e r i c a ’ s ( U S A ) saying Guyana had been left Ambassador to Guyana, “holding the wrong end of Sarah Ann-Lynch recently the stick” with that contract. told a visiting U S

He too has since changed his Congressional delegation public posture on the need to that Guyana continues to renegotiate the PSA hold to agreements made Addressing the matter of with U S oil giant, r e n e g o t i a t i n g t h e ExxonMobil. ExxonMobil contract for the

At a reception held in S t a b r o e k B l o c k , honour of the visiting Ambassador Lynch in 2019 delegation, Ambassador had said the decision is one Lynch said, “since first oil, that would have to be taken Guyana’s political leaders by the government of this have honoured contractual country and the US would in commitments and continue nowayintervene. to do so.” This posture, she T h i s s i n c e , t h e posited, “signals the Embassy’srolewasnottobe importance of the sanctity of PSA/Contract was inherited, renegotiations. percent of the gross monthly “nothing comes our way.” partofanynegotiationbutto contracts,” on the part of the and while they do not fully In that document, its production from the Citing examples leading to ensure that its businesses are Guyana Government agree with all of the states, “…This Agreement producing oil fields. The his dissatisfaction at the treated fairly “Our main Ambassador Lynch used the provisions, they would have shall not be amended or remainder of earnings for time, he referenced the lack role in looking at this occasion to allude to strides to respect the ‘sanctity of modified in any respect, that month is then split as o f a r i n g - f e n c i n g tremendous opportunity in taken to make Guyana contract,’ since to do except by written agreement profits,50/50withallarrears arrangement and the tax the oil and gas industry…is attractivetoinvestors.“They otherwise, could shut down entered to by all parties...” rolling over to the following waivers among others that that businesses are treated have been excellent partners the industry and drive away As such, the clause months. had led his party to condemn fairly There is ample in energy, agri-business, and investors—in country and inherently accepts that by These, among numerous thePSAaslop-sidedandhad opportunity for growth and security;theyaretakingbold potential. agreement between the other provisions and, or promisedtorenegotiateit. interaction with the leaps to transform the It would be apposite to parties, the contract can be omissions in the PSA, have Head-of-State, President government and mostly that financial, education, health, note, that from the onset of changed. fueled a contentious IrfaanAli, prior to assuming there is a level playing field. andtourismsector.” the criticisms of the The parties referenced in nationwide brouhaha that officehadalsolambastedthe Thatwouldbeourfocus.”

Addressing the visiting provisions in the PSA, the that 2016 PSAincludes Esso even attracted input from delegation directly, she said US Ambassador had Exploration and Guyana international experts, as you have seen, “in even acknowledged the right to L i m i t e d weighing the pros and cons your short time here, there renegotiation by the Guyana (EEPGL) ExxonMobil of that contract Vice are major infrastructure Government. Back in April Guyana Hess Guyana President, Bharrat Jagdeo, projectsunderwayacrossthe 2019, the Ambassador had Exploration Limited, China who according to the country, and the progress is contended that it is within National Offshore Oil Ministry of Natural constant.” To this end, she Guyana’s sovereign right to Company (CNOOC) and the Resources, plays a leading said government clearly renegotiate the controversial Guyana Government, role in the judicious wants to leverage the PSA between the country t h r o u g h i t s f o r m e r managementofGuyana’soil opportunities they are and ExxonMobil Guyana substantive Minister for the and gas sector, has since (already) receiving, and the and its partners “if it so sector, Raphael Trotman taking power in August UnitedStatesstandsreadyto chooses.” She was further ExxonMobil Guyana with a 2020, repeatedly dismissed assist The opportunities quoted as saying, “…we 45 percent interest in the the notion of renegotiations r e f e r e n c e d b y t h e certainly believe that Stabroek Block, for which of that Stabroek Block PSA, Ambassador however, are Guyana is a sovereign the PSA was inked, is the opting instead, to revise the b e i n g q u e s t i o n e d c o u n t r y , s o t h a t Operator terms had in the new Draft vociferously by sections of [renegotiating] would be for Hess holds a 30 percent Contracts, since released to civilsocietythathaveledtoa Guyanatoworkthatoutwith stake while CNOOC thepublic. growing outcry for the the private sector to see if controls the remaining 25 While in opposition Vice provisions in that PSA t h e r e i s r o o m f o r percent interest in the President Jagdeo had (contract) to be renegotiated renegotiation. We certainly Stabroek Block. Under the publiclystatedthatwitheach altogether. won’tinterferewiththat.” PSAinked, Guyana receives oil find/discovery in the T h e i n c u m b e n t It is also important to a two percent royalty on oil Stabroek Block, Guyanese administration, has since note, that the PSAitself does produced and sold, while should be sad, since with the expressed publicly that the p r o v i d e r o o m f o r expenses are capped at 75 provisions of the PSA,

US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah Ann Lynch

Former Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

Head-of-State, President Irfaan Ali

on camera beating daughter jailed

major drainage problems at Vergenoegen

A koker in Vergenoegen EBE in a complete state of disrepair Photo credit (Office of the Leader of the Opposition).

The woman shared,

Kitty businessman, interview, the young woman Davenand Singh, 45, who spokeofyearsofabuseatthe was found guilty of hands of her father, even as physically assaulting his she expressed dissatisfaction daughter and threatening to with how ranks had handled shoot her last year, was on the matter when she finally Thursdaysentencedtoatotal got the chance to make a of 18 months imprisonment report. forbothcrimes.

Singh was sentenced by during the interview, that Magistrate Rhondell Weaver after the beating, she was a t t h e G e o rg e t o w n imprisoned in her home and Magistrates’Courts. after a few days, she

The businessman was unplugged the security charged for causing grievous cameras and waited until her bodily harm to his daughter parentsleftbeforeescaping. and using threatening

The young woman was language towards her, at the able to escape on March 28, same time. The incident 2022, around 13:55 hours to the court, Magistrate took place on March 25, andsheheadedstraighttothe Weaver handed down two 2022,reportedlyinsideofthe KittyPoliceStation. guiltyverdicts. businessman’s store. He was

Kaieteur News had

On Thursday, Singh was captured on camera cuffing, reported that the woman sentencedtoserve14months slapping and stomping his accused the police at the for assaulting his daughter daughter to the ground in the Kitty Police Station of not and 4 months for using presenceofhisemployees.It taking her report seriously, threatening language was the girl’s brother who saying that they were towards her The sentences had intervened to save her laughing at her situation. In willrunconcurrently fromtheirangryfather fact, she told Smith, “I was Avideooftheassaultwas Singh had denied both very surprised at the way the shown during a Leroy charges and was out on police handled my situation, Smith’s Big Smith News $300,000 and $100,000 bail even though they took my Watch show with the respectively for each charge. statement and assisted, I did assaulted young woman as However, on February 28, not feel safe going to the theguest. 2023 after reviewing the police station as my father

D u r i n g S m i t h ’ s evidence that was presented knowsthepolice.”

Duo remanded for attempted murder of Corentyne man

The A Partnership For demanding that the OppositionShadowMinister National Unity +Alliance government have this for Agriculture, Mr. For Change (APNU+AFC) situation rectified,” Norton Vinceroy Jordan, MP, has has expressed concern over toldthemedia. dispatched a letter to the the deplorable state of the I n a d d i t i o n , t h e Minister of Agriculture Truck Line Canal that assists Opposition Leader said that requesting his speedy with major drainage in the residents pointed out that the intervention. communityof Vergenoegen, kokerforthesaidcanalisina He said that the residents EastBankEssequibo(EBE). state of disrepair “The of Vergenoegen also

s s residents are calling on the expressed concern that the conference on Thursday, the government to repair the subvention allocated to the Opposition Leader Aubrey koker having noted that as Neighbourhood Democratic Norton spoke on the issue. soon as it rains that area in Council(NDC)for2022was He said that the issue was the community is flooded, not to their knowledge brought to his attention affecting the livelihoods of utilised. “They are seeking during to a recent visit by the residents,” Norton said, an explanation as to why it membersoftheoppositionto addingthateffortshavebeen was not utilized, was it the EBE community “The made for the relevant returned to the consolidated Truck Line Canal that drains ministry to intervene and fund and what is the present Vergenoegen is completely providerelief. status of the subvention?” silted up .The residents are According to Norton, Nortonsaid.

Music dispute

leaves

man nursing chop wounds to head, face

Essequibo

Charged: Halley Morgan

Charged: Rayan Mootoo called ‘Royo’

Two men were on Magistrates’ Court before missing pig. The argument Wednesday charged and MagistratePeterHugh. turned physical and remanded to prison for the They were not required Ramangal dealt Morgan a attempted murder of 28- to plead to the indictable lash to his right-side year-old Naresh Ramangal charge which was laid under forehead. of Williamsburg, Corentyne, Section 103 (c) of the The charged suspects, Berbice. Criminal Law (Offences) who were standing nearby,

The men, Rayan Mootoo Act Chapter 8:01, of the intervened in the scuffle and called ‘Royo’ a 27-year-old Laws of Guyana and were one of them stabbed labourer of Lot 9 Section ‘B’ bothremandedtoprison. Ramangal to the right-side Seuden Street, Rose Hall The matter was then abdomen with a knife that he Town, Corentyne, Berbice postponedtoApril12,2023. pulled out from his pants and Halley Morgan also a K a i e t e u r N e w s waist Ramangal’s organs labourer of Lot 86 Dr Tulsi understands that Ramangal protruded as a result of the Street, Williamsburg, and his longstanding friend, stabbing. Corentyne, Berbice 27-year-old Morgan had a Thebadlyinjured appeared at the Albion heated argument over a (Continued on page 17)

…assailant arrested

Thirty-three-year-oldJamesFishercalled request reportedly annoyed the suspect who “Bholo” of Queenstown Village, Essequibo inreturncuffedFishertohisface. Coast, is nursing three chops wounds, one to Afight then ensued between the two men the left side of his face and two to his head, before other workmates intervened and after he was attacked by one of his work quelledthefight. mates. However, on Thursday, while Fisher was Kaieteur News wasreliablyinformedthat onhislunchbreak,thesuspectarmedhimself Fisher and his assailant were working on a with a cutlass and attacked Fisher, chopping campsite in the Mazaruni district, Region him trice. Fisher was rushed to the Bartica Seven. RegionalHospitalwherehereceivedstitches.

It is understood that onWednesday night, One of Fisher’s relatives told Kaieteur the men were imbibing when the suspect News that his condition is listed as stable but entered the campsite playing music and heremainsunderobservationatthehospital. Fishertoldthesuspecttoturnitdown. Meanwhile, the 29-year-old suspect was Kaieteur News understands that Fisher’s arrestedandispresentlyinpolicecustody

The chop wounds Fisher received

Jailed: Davenand Singh

Naresh Ramangal

TwoGDFCorporalsforITECscholarshipsinIndia

Two Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Corporals are the recipients of a military scholarship compliment of the GovernmentofIndia.

Theduo,CorporalsColinHarrisandDominiqueSabolawere selected to study in India under a military scholarship scheme which is under the umbrella of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Scheme for Friendly Foreign countries.

The Indian High Commission to Guyana in a press release said that the scholarship was provided to strengthen IndiaGuyanadefencecollaboration.

Corporal Harris of the Intelligence Corps of GDF will be traveling to Maharashtra, India to commence a six weeks course on Investigator andVigilance Course at the Military Intelligence TrainingSchoolandDepot.

Corporal Sabola, of New Amsterdam Berbice who works in the Medical Corps of the GDF, will be studying a Medical Advance course at Special Forces training School (SFTS) in Baklohforthreeandahalfmonths.

During their interaction with the Indian High Commissioner, H.E. Dr KJ Srinivasa, both officers expressed their excitement and gratitude for scholarship and the opportunity to be a part of thepromotionofIndia-Guyanacollaboration.

TheIndianHighCommissionercongratulatedandbriefedthe officers on the on-going collaboration between India and Guyana.

So far, seven officers from GDF have gone to India in 2021, nineteenin2022andthreein2023underthisscholarshipscheme.

Teacher pulls cutlass after attack by parent, student

teacherattached

Abecause she was advised by to the Houston her lawyer not to do so. She S e c o n d a r y said, however, that violent

S c h o o l o n attack on teachers “has Thursday brandished a become the new COVID” cutlass to defend herself and added, “I would like to after she was attacked by a see a better relationship femaleparentandastudent. between teachers, parents

The teacher, Kimone and students so that we can Gentle is the third teacher to work on what we are being be attacked in the last two paid to do which is to weeks and the fifth this year educate the children in our Gentle, however, fought care.” backandwenttotheextreme

Meanwhile, Lyte said: in defending herself with a “…The aggression has to cutlass. stop and we have to find

It landed her in police amicablewaystoresolveour custody but she was differences”. He also called released after lawyer, for better security system in Darren Wade negotiated schools and for legislative with police. Miss Gentle’s to be restrained by a to calm her down as the reform to address violence clash with the parent and security officer while parent and student were against teachers. The student was caught in a cell Gentle and the parent had to takenawayfromtheschool. Teacher’s Union also issued phone recorded video and be pulled apart from each

Duoremandedforattempted...

The teacher however a statement saying: “It’s a showed a scuffle among the other armed herself with a cutlass total shame to see that a three The male student had Gentle’s colleagues tried and pursued her attacker female teacher has to go to while other teachers an extreme to defend herself pleaded, “Miss Gentle stop, at her place of work. The missgentlepleasestop”. same place where teachers

From page 16 Sunday and informed her RamangalandMorganwere that her son was at the taken to the Port Mourant hospital and that “he deh Hospital where Morgan bad.” received treatment She said when she Ramangal was transferred arrived, Ramangal was to the New Amsterdam already on a stretcher and Hospital Intensive Care was being taken to the ICU Unit (ICU) where he of the hospital, where he remains a patient. The wasadmitted. injured Morgan was not Ramsammysaidthather charged Meanwhile, son remains in a critical Ramangal’s relatives are condition. “I want justice calling for justice His because this is too much, he mother Jenette Ramsammy na even breathe properly,” told reporters that someone the distraught woman told visited her Belvedere home reporters while at the at around 19:00 hrs on hospital.

K a i e t e u r N e w s are expected to educate and understands that both the keep learners safe, they teacher and the parent were themselves are unsafe.” The taken into custody at the unionwarnedthatitwilltake North Ruimveldt Police extreme actions if such acts Station. againstteachersarenotdealt

Following her release on with. station bail, Gentle joined Education Minister, her colleagues and President Priya Manickchand also of the Guyana Teachers shared her view after Union (GTU) Mark Lyte as l e a r n i n g a b o u t t h e they sang the lyrics of the altercation. Internationale “Solidarity On her Facebook page forever.”

she said: “In every

Questioned about the altercationbetweenateacher actions caught and camera, and parent/s, a child will be Gentle told the media that affected Remember that she did not want to get into Anddialdownallthetalksof thedetailsofwhattranspired violenceandhostility”.

Corporals Colin Harris (second right) and Dominique Sabola (left) of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) with Indian High Commissioner to Guyana H.E. Dr. KJ Srinivasa (second left) and another representative from the Indian High Commission in Guyana.

Kimone Gentle, the Houston Secondary School teacher involved in the fight with a parent and student

Gentle defending herself with a cutlass

Guyana has descended into one man governance - Gaskin

...accusesGovernmentofinstallinglackeystokey boards,avoidingParliament,dodgingPACmeetings

In recent times, the People’s interested in that. They are just Natural Resource Fund (NRF)Act, “They changed that committee P r o g r e s s i v e P a r t y interested in what Vice President “the legislation is simply not and have a new set of people with Government has instituted Bharrat Jagdeo wants and what designed to avoid corruption at the their own people so that they can

several measures to ensure (President) Irfaan Ali wants, the governmentlevel.” run things. They spend couple of itcementscontroloveranumberof government does not want to This newspaper had reported hundreds of millions all the time key management boards, while at discussanythingwithanybody.” that the law does not outline andthat’swhattheyaredoing,they the same time skillfully avoiding The activist said it is difficult to penalties for misuse of funds, but are wasting the money all the time the involvement of other recall when the last Sitting of the rather provides for jail time for and a lot of it is corrupt stakeholders in critical decision- NationalAssemblytookplace.This failing to report on funds transactions,”heinsisted. making processes, Economist he said confirms that the transferred to the account. But The legislation states at Section RamonGaskinhassaid. institutions in the country are not even on the boards provided for by 16 (2) that “All withdrawals from

In an exclusive interview with functioning as it should, as was the Act, Gaskin said government the Fund shall deposited into the this publication earlier this week, referenced recently by a Jamaican has hand-picked its own ConsolidateFundandshallbeused Gaskinexplainedthatthecountryis Economist, Dr Damien King representatives to ensure there is only to finance- (a) national now being governed in a one-man Gaskin went further to point out little input from civil society on development priorities including feasibility show manner Gaskin argued that that the respective sub-committees howthefinancesareinvested. any initiative aimed at realizing an More recently, Cabinet the administration is unwilling to of Parliament have been failing to According to him, these inclusive green economy; and (b) appointed an Environmental listen to the counsel of other meet frequently Notably, the members will not be managing the essential projects that are directly Assessment Board (EAB) stakeholders as is evident in the Public Accounts Committee that is funds but it is “Jagdeo that is related to ameliorating the effect of comprised of senior government reduced sittings of the National tasked with reviewing national running things”. In 2021, the Vice a major natural disaster ” officials, including Dr Mahendar Assembly expenditure has been unable to President said the 22-member Government had said the oil funds Sharma, Mr Joslyn McKenzie and

“This government doesn’t conveneregularlyduetothelackof Public Accountability and would be used to develop the Gas- Dr Garvin Cummings These listen to recommendations from quorum, resulting from absent Oversight Committee would no to-Energy project that is expected appointments were all questioned anybody The Parliament does not governmentrepresentatives. longer be featured in the to cost in excess of US$2 billion. and protested by citizens. In fact, a meet(asitshould)todiscussthings

Gaskin said while the legislation, however a nine- Gaskin said this is one such citizen even wrote the President to among the members in the g o v e r n m e n t b o a s t s o f member body was appointed by “corrupt transaction” since there reconsider the appointments but Opposition.Thisgovernmentisnot implementing a strengthened PresidentAliinAugustlastyear are not enough studies to back its wasignored.

Economist, Ramon Gaskin

Construction of hinterland bridges 60% complete

One of the 32 bridges being built connecting Kurupukari and Lethem

GBTI records $2.3B net income in 2022

Construction works on from Kurupukari to Lethem standards, upgrading from the 32 bridges between are currently about 60 per wood to concrete. It also Kurupukari and Lethem, cent completed, with some forms part of a bigger plan Region Nine, which are being further along. Works that will link with the slated to be completed next areprogressingwell.” constructionoftheLindento year, are advancing well, the The works form part of Maburaroad.

Department of Public the government’s strategy to Additionally, as works Information (DPI) has a d v a n c e h i n t e r l a n d are advancing on the reported. development through US$190 million Linden to

The contracts for the enhanced interconnectivity, Mabura Road project, works ongoing works were signed as a direct result of His will also commence on in April 2022 between the Excellency, Dr Mohamed upgrading all the bridges to Ministry of Public Works Irfaan Ali’s vision to ensure concretestructures,sincethe and six contractors to the Guyana’s infrastructural roadisthefirstphaseofwhat tune of $3.19 billion. The transformation is spread willbetheLindentoLethem

Department of Public across all communities. The Road Meanwhile, the Information (DPI) was areas where the bridges will governmentisdiscussingthe informed Wednesday, that be rehabilitated include constructionofabridgefrom approximately 60 per cent of Iw okrama, S urama, the Kurupukari River rehabilitation works are Carmudi, Massara Junction, (Essequibo River) with completedtodate. Annai, Yakarinta, Gunip various interested parties,

According to the Landing, Point Ranch, Hunt which will create 24-hour Ministry of Public Works, Oil, and Pirata. The bridges access between Linden to “The bridges being built will be built to international Lethem.

The Guyana Bank for to shareholders

This ongoing; staff training is Trade and Industry (GBTI) dividend represents a 25 continuous, and clients are has recorded a new income percent increase over that of sharing expressions of aftertaxof$2.3Bfortheyear 2 0 2 1 “ G B T I s e e s support and greater 2022, an exponential encouraging portents for confidence in the bank and improvement in its asset continued positive growth in Guyana’seconomy,thebank quality, the bank said in a 2023 We anticipate a stated According to the statement. The bank’s total continuing growth trajectory s t a t e m e n t , G B T I ’s assets for the year stood at and strengthening of our competitive performance in $175B. According to the positioninthelocalmarket”, 2022 was fueled further by statement, the bank revealed saysCEOJamesFoster an empowered team that against a background of Undoubtedly, a highlight conversant with, and a rapidly expanding of this performance is the committed to, achieving its economy, loans grew by 33 transformative digital drive, strategicpriorities. percent for the year to $65B, through upgraded software, As2023entersitssecond while deposits grew by 20 computer systems overall, quarter, it was noted that percentto$148B. and “Go- Banking” in the GBTIispoisedforcontinued

It was stated that based last quarter of 2022 without growth and more regular on this performance, a negative impact to its e n g a g e m e n t w i t h dividendof$20persharehas increasingly digital-savvy, stakeholders and the been recommended; $12 of customers. communities we serve, which has already been paid The upgrade process is country-wide.

The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI)

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Violence hits France in day of anger over Macron’s pension changes

Reuters - Police fired tear gas and fought with violent black-clad anarchists in Paris and across France on Thursday as hundreds of thousands of protesters marched against President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to raise the pension age.

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The ninth day of nationwide protests, mostly peaceful, disrupted train and air travel. Teachers were among many professions to walk off the job, days after the government pushed through legislation to raise the retirement age by two years to 64.

Demonstrations in central Paris were generally peaceful, but groups of “Black Bloc” anarchists smashed shop windows, demolished street furniture and ransacked a McDonald’s restaurant. Clashes ensued as riot police drove back the anarchists with tear gas and stun grenades.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said 149 police officers were injured and 172 people were arrested across the country.

Dozens of protesters were also injured, including a woman who lost a thumb in the Normandy town of Rouen.

“There are thugs, often from the far-left, who want to bring down the state and kill police officers,” Darmanin said after visiting Paris police headquarters on Thursday night.

Small groups continued to clash with police in Paris

into the night, lighting fires throughout the city centre and playing cat-andmouse with security forces.

Police had also fired tear gas at some protesters in several other cities, including Nantes, and Lorient in the west, Lille in the north, and used water cannon against others in Rennes in the northwest.

Labour unions fear protests could turn more violent if the government does not heed mounting popular anger over pension curbs.

“This is a response to the falsehoods expressed by the

president and his incomprehensible stubbornness”

Marylise Leon, deputy secretary general of the CFDT union, said.

“The responsibility of this explosive situation lies not with the unions but with the government.”

Unions called for regional action over the weekend and new nationwide strikes and protests on March 28, the day Britain’s King Charles is due to travel to Bordeaux from Paris by train.

The main entrance of the Bordeaux town hall was set ablaze on Thursday, days before the monarch was due to

walk through on his visit to the southwestern city.

On Wednesday, Macron broke weeks of silence on the new policy, insisting the law would come into force by year end. He compared protests to the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol.

Ninth day of national strike and protest in France against the pension reform Slogans and banners took aim at the president, who avoided reporters as he arrived in Brussels for a European Union leaders’ summit. Opinion polls have long shown a majority of voters oppose the pension legislation. Anger mounted last week when the government rammed the changes through the lower house of parliament without a vote.

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The French Interior Ministry said 1.089 million protested across the country, including 119,000 in the capital which was a record since protests started in January.

The CGT union said 3.5 million people marched in the country, equalling a previous high on March 7.

“I came here because I oppose this reform and I really oppose the fact that democracy no longer means anything,” Sophie Mendy, an administrative medical worker, told Reuters at the Paris rally.

“We’re not being represented, and so we’re fed up.”

‘THE STREET HAS LEGITIMACY’ Electricity output was cut as unions raised pressure on the government to withdraw the law. Flight services will continue to be reduced at the weekend, the civil aviation authority said.

Protests also targeted oil depots and blocked a liquefied natural gas terminal in the northern city of Dunkirk. Rolling strikes at oil depots and refineries have led to major petrol shortages in the southeast and west of France.

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Protesters face off with French CRS riot police amid clashes during a demonstration as part of the ninth day of nationwide strikes and protests against French government’s pension reform, in Nantes, France, March 23, 2023. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe late

Local Govt. Ministry to spend $75M to build two primary schools in Reg. 7

The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Developmentwouldsoonbe constructing primary schoolsinIsseneruandWax Creek located in Region

Sevenatanestimatedcostof

$75 million During the recent opening of tenders, it was revealed that the school at Isseneru which is located in Middle Mazaruniisestimatedtobe built at a cost of $30

MinistryofLocalGovernmentandRegional DevelopmentConstructionofprimaryschool atIsseneru,MiddleMazaruni,RegionSeven.

million, while Wax Creek located in Upper Mazaruni ispeggedat$45million.

At the reading of tenders, it was revealed also that the ministry would be extending the

West Demerara Secondary inRegionThree

The work which 13 contractors submitted bids for is estimated at $30 2 million It was also revealed that soon the male

dormitory at D C Caesar FoxSchoolComplexwould beenclosed

T h i s y e a r , t h e government has set aside $94 4B for the education sector Of that sum, $12 4B

has been allocated for the construction, rehabilitation, extension, and maintenance of educational facilities acrossthecountry B e l o w a r e t h e companiesandtheirbids:

BBC-Aseniorwealthy Nigerian politician, his wife and a medical

“middleman” have been found guilty of an organtrafficking plot, after they brought a 21-year-old man totheUKfromLagos.

S e n a t o r I k e Ekweremadu, 60, his wife Beatrice,56,andDrObinna Obeta, 50, were convicted of conspiring to exploit the man for his kidney, in the first such case under modernslaverylaws.

The Old Bailey heard the organ was for the couple’s daughter, Sonia, aged25.

She was cleared of the samecharge.

The victim, a street trader from Lagos, was broughttotheUKlastyear to provide a kidney in an £80,000 private transplant at the Royal Free Hospital i n L o n d o n T h e prosecution said he was offered up to £7,000 and promised opportunities in the UK for helping, and that he only realised what wasgoingonwhenhemet doctorsatthehospital.

Nigerian street trader traffickedinkidneyplot

It was alleged the defendants had tried to convince medics at the Royal Free by pretending he was the cousin of Sonia, who has a debilitating illness and remains on weekly dialysis, when they were not related. While it is lawful to donate a kidney, it becomes criminal if thereisarewardofmoney or other material

advantage

Royal Free consultant, Dr Peter Dupont, concluded the donor was unsuitable after learning he had no counselling or advice about the risks of surgery and lacked funds for the lifelong care he wouldneed.

The court heard the Ekweremadus then transferred their interest to Turkey and set about findinganotherdonor

An investigation was launched after the young man ran away from London and slept rough for days before walking into a police station in Staines, in Surrey, crying andindistress.

Relaying his fears, he told police: “The doctor said I was too young but the man said if you do not do it here, he would carry mebacktoNigeriaanddo itthere ”

JurorsheardthatSonia was studying for a master’s degree at Newcastle University when she became ill in December2019

In 2021, her father enlisted the help of his medically-trained b r o t h e r , D i w e Ekweremadu, to search for a donor, the court h e a r d D i w e Ekweremadu, who remainsinNigeria,turned to a former classmate, Dr Obeta, of Southwark, south London, who recently had a private kidney transplant at the RoyalFreewithaNigerian donor

Ike Ekweremadu: Organ-trafficking plot politician and wife guilty

Top Zimbabwe ambassador involved in gold smuggling scheme

OneofZimbabwe’smost influentialdiplomats,Uebert Angel, offered to use his status to launder millions of dollars through a goldsmuggling scheme, during an undercover operation by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit(I-Unit).

Angel, appointed ambassador-at-large and a presidential envoy by Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa in March2021,toldreportershe would be able to carry large volumesofdirtycashintothe

country using his diplomatic status The 44-year-old, who claims to be a prophet and heads a congregation the Good News Church with branchesin15countries,said he would facilitate a scheme through which unaccounted cash could be exchanged for Zimbabwe’s gold Recipients ofthegoldcouldthensellthe precious metal for legitimate money, effectively turning their cash clean Angelandhis business partner Rikki Doolan alsoclaimedthattheirlaundering operations had the approval of

Mnangagwa, who has been in power since November 2017, whenZimbabwe’scontroversial former leader Robert Mugabe was ousted in a military coup “Youwantgold,goldwecandoit rightnow,wecanmakethecall rightnow,andit’sdone,”Angel toldAlJazeera’sreporters “Itwill landinZimbabwe Zimbabwe can’ttouchittoountilIgettomy house So, there can be a diplomaticplan”“So,itisavery, veryeasything,”hesaid

Gold Mafia Angel made the offer during an operation that was part of ‘Gold Mafia’,

an investigation into several gold-smuggling gangs in Southern Africa, with ZimbabweandSouthAfricaas key hubs The investigation reveals how these gangs have turnedWesternsanctionsmeant to target Zimbabwe’s governmentintoanopportunity to smuggle large quantities of gold and launder hundreds of millions of dollars through a complexwebofcompaniesand bribes Al Jazeera reporters, posing as Chinese nationals who were looking to launder large sums of money, were

offeredseveralwaystoremove all stains of corruption from their dirty cash Among those mechanisms was the use of Angel’s diplomatic clout Officially, the pastor-diplomat istaskedwithfindinginvestors to come to Zimbabwe However,Angel made it clear that he was willing to help smuggle gold and launder money BottomofForm Zimbabwe needs dollars because the country’s own currency has lost its value in international trade due to hyperinflation A commodity likegoldisagoodwaytoearn dollars, but international sanctions imposed on the countrymakeitdifficultforthe government to export gold because of the additional scrutinyonofficialsinpower

“Soyouhavetofigureout otherwaystodothat,”Karen Greenaway, a former FBI investigator who tracks international money laundering schemes, told Al Jazeera. One way around: individual gold miners, who don’t face those restrictions

This scenario makes Zimbabwe fertile ground for money launderers who can helpthecountryearndollarsin exchangeforgold

Thepresident’sniece

Central to Angel’s goldfor-dirty money operations is Henrietta Rushwaya, president of the Zimbabwe Miners Association Rushwaya, who is also PresidentMnangagwa’sniece, toldAngelandthereporterson a phone call that smuggling 100kg of gold each week would be no problem The scheme would need an initial investment of $10mn of dirty cash into the government’s goldrefinery,Fidelity Ofthat, $5mnwouldbeheldinreserve byFidelityforthedurationof thescam,withtherestbeing usedeveryweektobuygold. Once the gold is bought, another $5mn would be brought in to buy more gold untilallthemoneyhadbeen laundered into the precious metal — which would then

be sold internationally for legitimate,cleancash.

“They can buy the gold directly in cash, because we are the only sector in the country that is paying in foreign exchange on a cash basis,” Rushwaya said during thecall ‘Numberone’

Duringthemeetings,Angel and Doolan, also a British pastor and music artist, said everythingtheyweredoinghad theblessingsof‘numberone’, referring to Mnangagwa Doolanevenofferedtosetupa face-to-face meeting with Mnangagwaonthesidelinesof the COP26 climate change conferenceinGlasgowin2021

The gang also offered to helplaundermoneybybuilding propertiesnearthetouristtown of Victoria Falls This, Angel said, would be appreciated by Mnangagwa because it would allowhim“tocutaribbon”,and buildhislegacyasaleaderwho brought visible infrastructure investments into Zimbabwe.

“A politician wants to open something,” Angel told Al Jazeera’sundercoverreporters “Gold is easy, but there is nowhere to cut a ribbon” Tendai Biti, former Zimbabwe minister of finance, told Al Jazeera that although gold trade by law should be overseen by the central bank, the vast majorityofgoldissmuggled out of the country “We have got world class deposits of gold, but we have nothing to showforit,”Bitisaid “Ithink we are losing about a billion US dollars in illegal gold exports which is a euphemism for gold smuggling.”

“The biggest challenge Zimbabwe now faces is the existential threat that comes from this mafia, the gold mafia.” When asked for a response to Al Jazeera’s investigation, Fidelity denied all involvement in money laundering or smuggling Mnangagwa, Angel, Doolan and Rushwayadidnotrespondto ourinquiries.

- Uebert Angel, appointed by President Mnangagwa, offered undercover reporters diplomatic cover to launder over $1bn cash.

UebertAngel profile image Pastor-diplomat UebertAngel is tasked with drawing investors to Zimbabwe, but also works with his team to help smuggle gold and launder money [Al Jazeera]

Mohamed’s Enterprise splurges $1M for One Guyana Futsal tourney

The One Guyana Futsal tournament first-place prize of $1M will be bankrolled by Mohamed’s Enterprise, with the company and organisers, the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation, making the announcement yesterday.

The April 9 - May 20 tournament which will feature 32 teams, will mark Mohamed’s 34th year supporting the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation, dating back to 1989.

Nazar Mohamed, the company’s principal, told reporters that his entity has been a friend of the tournament’s organisers and they will continue to support

the entity in their endeavour to produce quality sporting events in Guyana.

The Medal of Service award-winning organisation, according to Mohamed, has demonstrated commitment to developing sports, particularly football, and with his corporate entity in their corner, they will continue to strive.

Directors of the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation, Kashif Muhammad and Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major, were both present at Mohamed’s Enterprise’s Lombard Street headquarters, where the presentation of the $1M cheque towards the tour-

nament took place.

Muhammad thanked Mohamed’s Enterprise for what he called one of the longest partners in sponsorship while adding that their support will remain invaluable.

The lucrative tournament will reward the second-place team with $500,000, while $200,000 and $100,000 will go to the teams finishing third and fourth respectively.

Georgetown teams will come from Road Warriors, Leopold Street, Back Circle, Sparta Boss, Stabroek Ballers, Future Stars, Gold is Money, Bent Street, Tiger Bay, Avocado Ballers, Albouystown, Alexander Village, Sophia,

Friday March 24, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

You've been working hard to improve your financial situation, Aries. You might be on the verge of attaining what you want, but temporary obstacles could get in your way.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

A partner might be feeling rather down and need you to cheer him or her up, Taurus. Too many social invitations could come your way today.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Today you might enjoy planning to have some visitors stay with you for a while, Gemini. Worry about developments on the job or unfinished chores of your own might have you feeling a bit stressed.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

A friend could be depressed and need your advice, Cancer. Some long-held, cherished goals that you've been working toward could be temporarily blocked.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Some professional colleagues might be coming to visit, Leo, and you may not be looking forward to it. You could be worried. How will it go? Will you make a good impression.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) Today you might need to run some errands, Virgo, but they might prove difficult for a number of reasons. The errands could be personal or business related.

Draws to be held to determine first round “match-ups”

Foot Steppers, Vengy, Kitty (Spanish) and Kingston.

Showstoppers, Pouderoyen Brothers and Jetty Ballers will represent West Demerara, while from East Bank, Ballerz Empire, Bagotstown Warriors, and Ramsay Clan are from the East Bank.

Beterverwagting, Melanie, Vryheid’s Lust, and Team Diamond are the East Coast teams; Mackenzie AllStars and Wismar All-Stars are from Linden. New Amsterdam United and Bartica’s Mighty Ruler are the other teams.

Matches will be played at the National Gymnasium, with the finals set for the National Park.

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) advises that there will be Draws held within the respective Counties from 14:00hours on Monday, March 27, 2023, for the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/ Government of Guyana (GOG)/Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS)

Under-19 National Inter-Club Tournament 2023.

In Demerara, the Draw will take place at the Guyana Cricket Board (Top Flat) situated on Regent Road Bourda, for earmarked teams in Demerara. In Berbice, the Draw will be held at the Hope Town Community Centre for earmarked teams in West Berbice, and at the Berbice Cricket Board situated on Cheddi Jagan Street, New Amsterdam, for the other teams in Berbice, that is, for those Clubs participating in the Tournament that are not located in West Berbice.

In Essequibo, activities to confirm the fixtures for teams participating in Essequibo will be held at the Essequibo Cricket Board Hostel in Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast.

The teams earmarked to participate in the Tournament are required to have their representative Managers, Coaches and Captains attend the respective Draw in Berbice and Demerara. Due to the geographic location of teams, the Essequibo Cricket Board will be implementing a slightly different approach to that being done in Demerara and Berbice in determining the assignment of matches for the first round of the Tournament.

The GCB and the affiliate County Boards will utilize this meeting of team members to clarify all matters of interest relating to the GCB/GOG/ MCYS Under-19 National Inter-Club Tournament 2023.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

You might reflect on recent successes in business and money and suddenly feel a strong sense of gloom, wondering if it's going to continue. Don't panic, Libra.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

Work that could advance you professionally could take you away from loved ones, Scorpio, and cause some emotional tension. You might feel down because you'd rather be with your loved ones.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

A task, perhaps job related or perhaps one of your own, might prove weightier than you expected. You're working too hard and you could be feeling tired and dejected, Sagittarius.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

Someone, perhaps a person involved with a group you're in, may ask you to help in some way today. You probably don't want to do it, Capricorn, possibly because you have plans.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Career developments could look promising now, Aquarius, and you might be in a hurry to finish whatever needs to be done.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

Some rather depressing information could come to you today from far away, Pisces. This is less likely to be about your immediate situation or circle of friends than it is about something social

Russia doping ban lifted but war ban keeps athletes out

LONDON, (Reuters)WorldAthleticshasvotedto end its eight-year ban of the RussianAthleticsFederation (RusAF) but the country’s athletes, and those of Belarus, will remain excluded from international competitionbecauseofWA’s ongoing separate ban over theinvasionofUkraine.

RusAF was banned in 2015 after the discovery of massive, state-sponsored doping and related coveru p s A f a i l u r e t o meaningfully address the issue meant that the suspension remained in place However, Rune Andersen, head of WA’s Russia Task Force, reported

that he was finally satisfied with the “new culture of good governance and zero

tolerance for doping throughouttheorganisation”

and WA’s Council

subsequently voted on Thursdaytolifttheban.

Inrecentyearsdozensof Russian athletes had been allowed to compete as neutralsiftheycouldshowa doping-free background but they too remain unable to compete after the Council votedtomaintaintheblanket ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes that came into force soon after the invasion of Ukraine a yearago.

This decision follows that last week by the European Athletics Council that Russian and Belarusian athletes should remain banned from its events until thewarinUkraineisended.

UEFA opens investigation into Barca payments to ex-refereeing official

B A R C E L O N A , (Reuters)-UEFAhasopened a formal investigation into FCBarcelonaforapotential violation of the European soccer governing body’s legal framework regarding payments made by the club to a company owned by a senior refereeing official, it saidyesterday ABarcelonacourtagreed totakeonthecaselastweek after prosecutors filed a complaint over what they allegedwerepaymentsof7.3 millioneuros($7.95million) from 2001 to 2018 to firms owned by Jose Maria EnriquezNegreira.

Negreira was vicepresident of the refereeing committee of the Spanish Football Association from 1993 to 2018 under then president Victoriano SanchezArminio.

Negreira was not immediately available to comment.

UEFAsaid in a statement yesterday:“Inaccordancewith Article 31(4) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, UEFAEthicsandDisciplinary Inspectors have today been appointed to conduct an investigation regarding a potential violation of UEFA’s legal framework by FC Barcelona in connection with the so-called ‘Caso Negreira’.”

State Attorney General Alvaro Garcia Ortiz on Tuesday asked for the case to be transferred to the anticorruption prosecutors’ office due to the high-profile nature of the allegations The prosecutors’ complaint

(REUTERS/Albert Gea)

focuses on 29 million euros paid from 2014 to 2018 and alleges Barcelona, with the help of the club’s former presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, reacheda“confidentialverbal agreement”withNegreira

In a statement last month the club denied any wrongdoing,sayingithadpaid an external consultant who supplied it with “technical reports related to professional refereeing” Itwasacommon practice among professional footballclubs,itsaid Asenior Barcelona official told Reuters the club had expected the prosecutors’ complaintanddescribeditas “nothing more than an absolutely preliminary investigativehypothesis”.

Theofficialsaidtheclub would fully cooperate with the investigation and it reiterated that “they have neverboughtanyrefereenor have tried to influence any

official’sdecisions”.

“Iamlookingforwardto confronting all the scoundrels who are tarnishing our shield,” Barcelona president Joan Laportatoldaneventheldby the club with the captains of the different Barcelona teamsearlierthismonth.

R o s e l l w a s n o t immediately available to comment.

LaLiga said earlier this monththatithadreportedthe case to UEFA because no punishmentcouldbehanded down under Spanish sports law since three years had passed since the alleged infringements, according to itspresidentJavierTebas.

“As we could not intervene because it was time-barred, we wrote to UEFA who can do so at the international level,” Tebas said in an official statement earlierthismonth.

($1=0.9185euros)

Asilhouette of a woman walks past behind a FC Barcelona’s logo at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, March 24, 2016.

Rune Andersen

Bangladesh thrash dismal Ireland by 10 wickets to win series 2-0

AFP - Liton Das and Tamim Iqbal breezed past Ireland’s dismal 101-run totalinlessthan14oversfor Bangladesh’s first-ever 10wicket win, sealing a 2-0 series victory during yesterday’s final one-dayinternationalinSylhet.

Liton was unbeaten on 50 alongside Tamim with 41, both untroubled by an Irish bowling attack that servedup10widesandaleg bye.

Pacer Hasan Mahmud claimed his maiden fivewicket ODI haul while conceding only 32 runs after the tourists elected to batfirst.

Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain also shone with the ball to claim 3-26 and 2-29 respectively, with Ireland recording the lowest one-day score against Bangladesh.

“The way we played the whole series was very nice Now I can proudly say we have a solid, solid, solid fast-bowling department,” said skipper Tamim, accordingtoCricinfo.

“We need to keep believing in our players, therewillbeupsanddowns but we have the unit to be the best in the world,” he said “The wicket was very good, the way we chased down with authority was a message ”

Curtis Campher topscored with 36, while Lorcan Tucker made 28

Tamim

after surviving a golden duck when Liton dropped hiscatchatslip

“ W e ’ r e v e r y disappointed Don’t think thecricketoverthepastthree days reflects the type of cricket we’ve played in the last 2-3 years,” said Ireland captainAndyBalbirnie.

“We did expect spin to play a big part, but our defence with the bat wasn’t good enough. We did not adaptwellenough.”

Hasan struck in his opening spell to leave Ireland tottering at 22-3 in

theninthover Taskin then removed Balbirnie for six before Tucker turned up the aggression to hit Ebadot for threefoursinoneover Ebadot soon had his revenge, taking two wickets in two balls, and Taskin sealed Ireland’s collapsewithadoublestrike inhisseventhover Bangladesh won Saturday’s opener by 183 runs, with Monday’s secondmatchwashedoutby rain.

The drubbing was

Bangladesh’s first 10wicket win in any format, with the hosts smashing recordsineachmatch.

Saturday’s opener marked their biggest ODI victorymargin.

Then on Monday they

recorded their highest ODI total with 349-6, Mushfiqur Rahim scoring the fastest ODI century by a Bangladeshi batsman by smashinghistonoff60balls.

Ireland will also play t h r e e T w e n t y 2 0

internationals and a Test duringtheirvisit.

Scores: Bangladesh 102 for 0 (Litton 50*, Tamim 41*) beat Ireland 101 (Campher 36, Tucker 28, Mahmud 5-32, Taskin 3-26, Ebadot2-29)bytenwickets.

Iqbal and Litton Das never gave Ireland a chance. (Getty Images)

Hope, Joseph shoot up ICC ODI rankings following South Africa series

SportsMax -West Indies

captain Shai Hope and fast bowler Alzarri Joseph have made big strides in the ICC M e n ’ s O n e - D a y Internationalplyerrankings, announcedonWednesday

Following the recent series in South Africa, Hope has moved up two places in the batting to 12th position

Hemadeamatch-wining128 notout–his14thODIcentury –inhisfirstmatchascaptain which the West Indies defeated the home side at

BuffaloParkinEastLondon

Joseph made a giant leap of eight places to 11th spot after the two matches He bowledwithgenuinepaceand penetration and took 3-53 in East London which was followedupby3-50inthenext match at JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom Henowhasan impressive record of 93 wickets in 56 matches at an averageof27runsperwicket and strike rate of just under 31 Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein is the other West

Indies bowler in the Top 20 Hetook3-59and2-49inthe twomatchestobreakintothe top tier West Indies and SouthAfrica played to a 1-1 result in the series The first match was washed out,West Indies won the second by 48 runs while the Proteas won the third by four wickets The seriesnowmovestoCenturion for the first T20 International which will be played at SuperSportsParkonSaturday Firstballis2pm(8amEastern Caribbean/7amJamaica).

Shai Hope and fast bowler Alzarri Joseph

Radical overhaul of MotoGP format and teams makes format for unpredictable season

(Reuters) - The 2023 season signals a new dawn forMotoGPwitharecord21 rounds but in reality the gruelling schedule will have 42racesasthechampionship undergoes a revolutionary overhaul with the introduction of Saturday sprints Run at 50% of Sunday’s race distance, sprints will not decide the finalgridasinFormulaOne butwillhavevaluablepoints up for grabs, sowing more chaos in the championship battle.

Four riders from four differentmanufacturershave won the MotoGP title since 2019 which makes predicting a genuine contender for the 2023 season a difficult proposition, but the loss of Suzuki leaves a big hole in the grid. Suzuki terminated their deal with Dorna and quit MotoGP for the second time since 2011, leaving theirtalentedridersJoanMir and Alex Rins to find new

teamstocontinueracing.

Mir, who was crowned 2020 champion on the back of consistent performances and podium finishes, has joinedHondatopairupwith Marc Marquez while Rins has joined its satellite outfit LCR Honda, giving the Japanesemanufacturerthree Spaniards. But adapting to a completely different machine has not been easy, especiallyforMirwhosaidit was a ‘nightmare’ memorisingeverythingfrom the start procedure and launchcontrol.

“It’s hard because with theSuzukiallofthesethings are in a different way To change everything is difficult. But it’s a matter of time,” he said during preseasontesting.

‘FIGHTFORFIFTH’

Marquezalsoseemsback to his physical best after surgeries on his arm and overcoming double vision following crashes in recent years, but he has had

complaintswiththeRC213V machine too and does not expect a podium at the openingraceinPortimao.

“At the moment, if the racewastomorrow,withthe conditions we had on track (duringtesting),wecanfight for fifth to 10th,” he said earlierthismonth.

The six-times premier class champion has also complained about new aero packagesthathaveimproved performances and speed at the cost of sacrificing the spectacle as technology changes the way they ride andchaseopponents.

“For the performance, we are riding faster But for the show, I feel it’s not the bestway,”hesaid.

“I hope for the future, they (MotoGP) need to understand what way they wanttogo.”

CONFIDENTDUCATI

One team who are confident are Ducati with reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia saying

theyhavetherightsetupthis yearafterwaitingsixrounds forhisfirstpodiumlastyear

Bagnaia overcame overwhelming odds by erasing a 91-point deficit to helpDucatifinallyclinchthe title after 15 years while he alsoendeda50-yearwaitfor an Italian rider to win the championship.

The26-year-oldnowhas compatriot Enea Bastianini as a team mate after he impressed on a Gresini machinetofinishthirdinthe

standings Although he expects to lock horns on track with a “very competitive,veryfast”rider, theyarepalsinthepaddock.

“In the race it’s another story because we both want the same result, as always, but let’s continue like this, let’s try to work well with him. In the race we want all the wins, so we will battle,”

Bagnaia told Reuters.

Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo saw his massive lead vaporised in the second half

of last season as Bagnaia denied him back-to-back titles and the Frenchman may find it tough as they perfectthebikesetup.

“Honestly, we are not wherewewouldliketobein terms of speed and also our testing schedule,” Yamaha team director Massimo Meregalli said. “What we have to evaluate and decide istheaeropackage.Wehave two different ideas and we will take a decision before therace.”

Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin, Ducati Lenovo’s Francesco Bagnaia and Repsol Honda Team’s Marc Marquez in action with riders during the race. (REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain)

Action pack day of racing at Kennard Memorial Turf Club as Bossalina takes feature event

The one day horse race meet organized by the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club and held the Club’s entity Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne,Berbicewaswell organized and executed. A large crowd was on hand to witnessanactionpackdayof racing. With the venue in excellent condition there were plenty of action in the six race card. In the end it was Bossalina of the

Amernauth Kirtipaul racing Stable and trained by Amernauth that ruled the roost as it whipped the field to take the feature event for animals classified B and Loweroversevenfurlongs.

That race which was sponsored by the Kennard familyandstagedinmemory of the late Justice Cecil Kennardhadafirstprizetake of$800,000andtheKennard Trophy Theeventsawthree

top horses taking to the starting line- the Canadian Bred Bossalina, America Traveler of the T Persaud stable and Marconi which eventually broke down entering the starting gates.

Bossalina looked in top shapeasitdestroyedthefield towineasily

The H and lower six furlongs event was won by It’sMyfromMarconiwhich sawtwohorsesfinishingthe

race. The race for animals classified K and Lower and three-year-old Guyana Bred Open, saw Amazing Grace with Patrick on the mount winningacloseencounterin the six furlongs event from Not This Time and Rough Ride with Sarkar taking fourth. It was another win forJockeyPatrickasherode Clear Sky to an easy win in the three-year-old Guyana Bred Maiden entered with Stork Town placing second, Hardcore third and Royal Flightfourth.

The J and lower event saw Plus Return taking the polepositionfromDanStar, Foreign Link with Cash Return rounding out the

money Patrick was again in the stirrups as he piloted StormyGirltovictoryinthe event for K and L animals that never earned. Top Ranking had to settle for second with Princess Sasha thirdandPartyHardfourth.

Nicholas Patrick with fourwinswasthetopjockey on show while other outstandingperformerswere awarded with other accolades Among the sponsors were Trophy Stall, the Kennard family, Amarnauth Munishwar, Horseshoe Racing Service, NandPersaudandCompany Limited, Torginol Paint, Mohammed’s Enterprise , Peter Lewis Construction ,

Poonai Pharmacy, Kanhai’s Electrical Agency, Church’s Chicken and Metro Office and Computer Supplies amongothers.

The event, which was coordinated by wife of the late Justice Kennard, Mrs. Chan Kennard, was well organized and executed Mrs. Kennard expressed her thanks to all the turfites and sponsors for their unstinted supported.

The venue which undoubtedly has one of the best facilities in the country for horse racing will continue to have quality racing according to the matriarch of the club

(SamuelWhyte

Major progress in the rehabilitation of the Bush Lot Turf Club

The humble community of BushLotwillsoonbebuzzingwith excitement as rehabilitation works ontheBushLotUnitedTurfClubis progressingatarapidly Thevision for the project is to construct an entireparkcompletewithanentire sporting facility with football, basketball and cricket. All the sporting gears and the necessary training equipment will be made availablefreeofcostforthepeople in the community and surrounding areas. With the track more than 70 percent complete, horse owners have already began utilizing the facilities. The first phase of this projectisexpectedtobecompleted in1week.

Approximately 140 loads of aggregate thus far have been delivered to the site. Local contractors AJM Enterprise was hiredtoexecutetheprojectandhas implemented 2 shifts to meet and surpass the timelines set for the upcomingHorseRacingevents.

After the earthworks on the track have concluded the entire infieldwillbeclearedtoensurethe

drainageischanneledtoeffectively minimizeoravoidflooding.Allthe surrounding drains are expected to beclearedaspartoftherestoration process.Theinfield will be graded androlledtoaccommodatealarger quantity of vehicles parking. The third phase air-marked for the project is raising the level of the land around the track, therefore creatingtheidealviewofthetrack, similartointernationaltracks.

TheBushLotUnitedTurfClub Committee is in the progress of seekingfundingforthefinalphase of the restoration. The seating accommodationandstablesareina

challengingtohostlargeraces.The nextraceiscardedforSunday23rd April, 2023. This particular race showingphenomenalpotentialdue totheracingrivalrybetweenFazal Habibulla with his recent winner

Ariana’s Vision and Nasrudeen ‘Juniour’ Mohamed with his champion thoroughbred Looking To Heaven. When contacted site supervisor Mr Davendra Chattergoon indicated, “We have beenatitnightanddayforthelast month.

Bush Lot is considered home for most of us and it will make us proudifsomeofthesebigraceslike GuyanaCupcanbeheldrighthere.

The work is moving along smoothly and we expect the facilitiestobeinaverygoodshape forthenextracemeet. What would be nice is if some of the business in the community could chip in and assist with materialtorefurbishthebleachers. When the facility has been fully restored it will be the home of racing and the entire community willbenefit.”

On going works being done at the Bush Lot United Turf Club taking shape for what should be a venue for exciting horseracing action.

kennard outstanding jockey rewarded - Nicholas Patrick with four wins was the top jockey and received rewards along with other top performers.

Connections of Bossalina of the Amernauth Kirtipaul racing Stable collect their prize from Mrs. Kennard after winning the main event.

2023 WestIndiesChampionship… Harpy Eagles maintain upper hand on 15-wicket day

-James,AthanazescoretonsinHurricanes/Volcanoesclash

Day two of the four-day Round Four-encounter between the Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) and Jamaica Scorpions in the 2022/23 West Indies Championships saw a whopping 15 wickets fall in two sessions at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Atcloseofplay,thehost sidehasaleadof301runsin theirsecondinningsof128–4 with Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Tevin Imlach overnight on 60 and 50, respectively Jamaica’s firstinningslastedonly35.5 overs as they were bowled out for 115 in response to Guyana’s 278 all out from 88.1overs.

The day began with HarpyEaglesresumingfrom theirovernightscoreof268–9 with captain, Leon Johnson, on 142 and Nial Smith-thenewbatsmanand also the final wicket. The remainder of the innings lasted only 10 deliveries yesterday as Johnson

reachedthe150markbefore Smith(0)wasbowledonthe fourthballhefaced.

For Jamaica, Marquino Mindley claimed the wicket of Smith to end with three wickets, Ojay Shields and Derval Green claimed two wickets each, while Nicholson Gordon and Abhijai Mansingh both pickedupawicketeach.

Scorpions then began another nightmare innings withthebatthisseasonwith Smith being the chief destroyer

The visitors lost their first wicket, Tevin Gilzene (0), with the score on five when Smith found his first victim, then he struck thrice in the sixth over to remove Nkrumah Bonner (4), JermaineBlackwood(0)and Paul Palmer (0) to leave Jamaica reeling at 18 – 4. Palmersurvivedthehat-trick ball but lost his wicket the followingdelivery

The next over, Ronsford Beaton made his presence

felt when he removed the opener, Leroy Lugg (16), and Aldane Thomas (0) in successive deliveries Fortunately for Jamaica, Green was able to survive Beaton’s hat-trick ball and pile on some much-needed runsforhisside.

Mansingh (8), who entered after the fall of four wickets,andGreencrafteda 29-run partnership which took them to 54 where Veerasammy Permaul had the former caught by Kemol Savory

Ten runs later, the leading overall Regional wicket taker struck twice in the 18th over to remove Shields(7)andMindley(0); Scorpionswere64–9.

Green (42) and Gordon (22*) dug deep for the final wicket to produce a 51-run partnership that reduced Guyana’s lead to 163 before the reintroduction of Smith, who claimed a five-for with thewicketofGreen.

The commencement of

LaLiga seeks fans’ help to report racism after latest Vinicius abuse

(Reuters) - LaLiga has set up a complaints channel onitswebsiteforfanstohelp identify racism incidents during matches, the soccer body said yesterday after filingitseighthcomplaintto the authorities over the abuse of Real Madrid forwardViniciusJr

Brazil international Vinicius accused LaLiga of continuing to do nothing about racist fans at matches after videos on social media showed some supporters shoutingabuseandthrowing objects at him during a matchinDecember

He was again the victim of racial insults during Real’sdefeatatBarcelonain the‘Clasico’onSunday

“In view of the events that took place (during the game), in which intolerable racist behaviour was once again observed against Vinicius Jr, LaLiga has reported the racist insults to the Barcelona Court of

Instruction,” it said in a statement.

To speed up identifying offenders,LaLigahassetup a complaints channel on its website “so that fans who mayhaveinformationorany indication of the identity of the perpetrators can contact LaLiga and provide the

Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior reacts. (REUTERS/ Susana Vera)

necessary identification to filetherelevantcomplaints.”

Mallorca FC earlier this week revoked a fan’s membership card for three years after the supporter hurled racist insults at Vinicius Jr and Villarreal’s Samu Chukwueze in February

Guyana’s second innings saw the early departure of Matthew Nandu (0), Kevlon Anderson (22), Savory (1) and Johnson (2), all victims of Mindley; Guyana were faltering at 33-4 in the 11th over

After the tea break, a hallmark partnership between Chanderpaul and Imlach staged a crucial recovery role as the left h a n d - r i g h t h a n d combination took their team into triple figures, both scoring half centuries in the process. Their partnership

Tagenarine Chanderpaul has faced more than half of the 48 overs in Guyana’s second innings.

has accumulated 105 runs thusfar

Daythreeisscheduledto bowl off at 10:00hrs across all venues. All matches are being live streamed on Cricket West Indies’ YouTubeChannel.

O t h e r m a t c h e s ’ summarizedscores…

Leeward Islands

Hurricanes 392 – 9d from 121.5overs(KofiJames107, Karima Gore 93, Kieran Powell75;ShermanLewis3 –76,PrestownMcSween2–68, Kenneth Dember 2 –103) lead Windward Islands

Volcanoes 206 – 2* from 50 overs(AlickAthanaze105*, Kaveem Hodge 85*; JeremiahLewis1–18Javier Spencer1–53)by176runs. TrinidadandTobagoRed Force: 203 from 75.3 overs (Jason Mohammed 55, Tion Webster46;ChaimHolder5 –71,JairMcAllister3–31) & 31 – 2* from 15 overs (Darren Bravo 20*; Akeem Jordan 2 - 6) trail Barbados Pride 271 from 85 overs (Zachary McCaskie 92, Roshon Primus 53; Imran Khan 4 – 86, Anderson Phillip3–80)by37runs.

KevlonAnderson drives Marquino Mindley to the cover boundary for four.

Nazar Mohamed makes his company’s presentation to Aubrey ‘Shanghai Major Also in photo is Kashif Muhammad (right) and Colin ‘BL’Aaron. (Rawle Toney photo)