Kaieteur News

At 10% interest rate Guyana losing US$4B annually on oil projects

...citizensmustdemandfulldisclosureoftrueinterestrate, stopGovt.fromapprovingmoreprojectswithsameconditions

ExxonMobil has to date invested close to US$40 billion to develop the resources discovered in the Stabroek Block and because ofthelopsidedoilcontractit inked with the Government of Guyana in 2016, the company can recover the interest on loans it took without government’s

approval.

Vice President (VP) BharratJagdeoisreluctantto disclosetheinterestratesthe country is presently paying but Businessman and Publisher of this newspaper, Mr GlennLallhasevaluated that with a 10 percent interest rate on the US$40 billion investment, Guyana

could be paying at least US$4 billion annually, withoutscrutiny

According to the PSA, the Contractor, ExxonMobil Guyana does not need the approval of the Minister to recover interest on loans it took to produce the oil and gasresources.

To this end, Lall has

pointed out that the country couldbepayingoutmoreon interest rates alone, than it made in profits from the sector “Guyana’s 2023 budget and more, is wah Exxon taking out from our oil in interest alone and all jack man silent in this country The whole year Guyana barely scraping in one and one something billion from our oil, and we giving away US$4Bininterestalone,”he said.

At the end of February, 2023 Guyana only had US$1,379,353,505.59 in its Natural Resource Fund (NRF).

In this regard, the businessman reasoned, “Who signs a deal with the most crookish and corrupt contractor to build a house withhismoneyfortheirson and when he build a $10millionhousehetellyou, you have to pay him $60 million. On top of that, you have to pay the contractor a heftyinterestrateonthat$60 million that you had no say on.Whoagreestosomething likethat?”

Hepointedoutthatthisis the situation Guyana has found itself in with E x x o n M o b i l T h e newspaper Publisher explained, “They already invest in four projects out there and hand us a bill of overUS40billionwhichour leaders didn’t verify, and on topofthat,wehavetopayan interest rate that Guyana don’thaveanysayover.”

Lall therefore urged that Guyanese step up to represent their wealth and preventthecountry’sleaders from approving another oil project with the same terms andconditions.

Kaieteur News reported on Sunday that the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) that the Guyana government inked with oil major, ExxonMobil allows the company to pay backaccumulatedintereston loans it took to develop the resources in the Stabroek Block, without the prior approval of the Minister in charge.

Accordingtothecontract inAnnex‘C’Section3.1(L) “Interest, expenses and related fees incurred on loans raised by the Parties comprising the Contractor for Petroleum Operations and other financing costs providedthatsuchexpenses,

fees and costs are consistent with market rates” shall be recovered without the further approval of the Minister

In order to fund their e x p l o r a t i o n a n d development projects aroundtheworld,oilandgas companies use a mixture of loans and liquid cash. But if the “abusive” conditions are in place, a company may have the right incentive to plug more loans with unreasonable interest rates into their project which couldlaterberecovered.

Guyana has not only allowed loans taken by Exxon to be recovered without the approval of the Minister but considers the costs eligible regardless of theinterestrates.

Notably, in the absence of a ring-fencing provision, ExxonMobil is allowed to charge all of its expenses to one project.Thismeans that costs to develop a project that is yet to start producing oil will be billed to the producing field, thereby shortening profits for the country received on that front.

Thishoweverbodeswell for the contractor as 75 percent of the oil is first deducted towards covering expenses. The remainder is thensplitevenlybetweenthe two parties, with Guyana raking in an extra two percent royalty on its sweet lightcrude.

Despite the inclusion of theseprovisionsandthelack of adequate measures to guard against unfair fiscal practices, the government is unwilling to change the a g r e e m e n t w i t h ExxonMobil.Ithashowever proposed to correct some of the fatal provisions in the new draft PSAs currently open for consultation. The contracts will be applied to the14oilblockspresentlyon auction.

Several stakeholders have called on the administrationtosubjectthe Stabroek Block to the new oilcontract.

Businessman and K/News Publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall

Citizensfilecourtactionchallengingpermit issuedtoExxonforGas-to-EnergyProject

Two citizens, Elizabeth Deane-Hughes and Vanda RadzikonMondaymovedto theHighCourtchallenginga permit issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) for the pipeline that will transportnaturalgastoWales

The pipeline is a component of the Guyana Government’s Gas-toEnergy (GTE) Project and wasauthorisedbytheEPAon November25,2022.Through theirlawyers,MelindaJanki, AbiolaWong-InnissandJoel Ross,thecitizensareseeking an Order of Certiorari to quash the decision made by the EPA to award an Environmental Permit to EEPGL- ExxonMobil Guyana- to undertake the GTEprojectactivities,onthe grounds inter alia that the decisionwasinbreachofthe provisions of the Environmental Protection Act (Cap 20:05), and more p a r t i c u l a r l y, t h e Environmental Protection (Authorisation)Regulations

The citizens argue that the decision to grant the Permit to Exxon was “unauthorised and contrary to law, in excess of jurisdiction,failuretosatisfy or observe conditions or procedures required by law, unreasonable, irregular or improper exercise of discretion, abuse of power, conflict with the policy of the Act, error of law (and) breach of/ omission to performaduty.”

The applicants are therefore seeking a declaration that the respondent acted in breach of the Environmental Protection (Authorisation) Regulations; a declaration that the Permit is null, void and of no legal effect with costs and such further order theCourtconsidersjust.

Intheirapplicationtothe High Court, Radzik and Deane-Hughes stated that Pursuant to Regulation 17 ( 2 ) ( c ) ( i i i ) o f t h e Environmental Protection ( A u t h o r i s a t i o n )

Regulations, an application for an environmental authorization must contain “proof that the applicant either owns the facility or has a lease or other agreement with the landowner or occupier to enable the applicant to conduct the activity without theconsentofthelandowner oroccupier.”

Thecitizensoutlinedthat ExxonMobil Guyana in its application, dated June 24, 2021 includes details of the project site, the proposed route of the pipeline and the areastobeusedandaffected by the project, which includes residential properties, commercial properties and state-owned properties.Bethatasitmay, the application did not includeorprovideanyproof ofownership,aleaseorother agreement with the land ownersofthesaidarea.

Notwithstanding, the EPA granted EEPGL a Permit to undertake the project on November 25, 2022 Subsequently, the Minister of Public Works, JuanEdghillinJanuary2023 passed various orders to acquirelandsforthepurpose oftheproject,pursuanttothe Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes Act, Chapter62:05.

On January 31, 2023 the Applicants through their Attorney-at-Law, Melinda Janki wrote to the EPA and Minister Edghill, setting out the Respondent’s failure to enforce or ensure compliance with the Environmental Protection Regulations Janki had requested in the letter that the Permit issued to EEPGL be revoked and that the application process be restartedincompliancewith the Regulations. There has been no response to the letters.

According to the ApplicationfiledintheHigh Court by the citizens, “Regulation 17 (2) of the RegulationsrequiresEssoto submit proof that it either owns or has a lease or other agreement with the

landowners or occupiers of the lands which will be affectedbytheProject,prior to the issue of the EnvironmentPermit.”

As such, the Applicants have applied to the High Court to review the EPA’s decision and to uphold the ruleoflawandpublicrights to scrutinize the actions of a public authority and to safeguard the health, welfare, and sustainable existence of the people of Guyana.

Elizabeth Deane-Hughes

Vanda Radzik

Executive Director of EPA, Kemraj Parsram

Printed

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

Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

GUYANA: IS IT GOING ANYWHERE?

AJamaicanEconomist,Dr DamienKing,ignited a small storm in Guyana, when he said to a Jamaicannewspaperthat“Guyanaisgoingtogo nowhere.” When people like Dr King, outsiders with no partisan loyalties, look closely at Guyana, they see shaky institutions,andthemorethanlikelyprobabilitythatcorrupt practicesrule,dominatethenationallandscape.Truetoform, the PPPC Government, always overly sensitive to the slightestcriticism,evenconstructivedifferentiations,didnot taketookindlytoDr King’sassessment.

This is “an attempt to undermine the progress made towardstheprudentmanagementoftheGuyaneseeconomy” and “our nation’s exemplary environmental credentials and dynamic policymaking to facilitate expeditious offshore exploration development activities underscore Guyana’s rolemodelstatus…”(KN,March23). Clearly,theGuyana Government buries its head in the sand, lives in a fantasy world, when it could talk of “exemplary environmental credentials”withoutcrackingup.

The PPPC Government must be commended for its brazenness about “exemplary environmental credentials” consideringissueswithSchlumbergerinHouston,EastBank Demerara,thestrugglesofarearesidents,andtheimpotence ofGuyana’sEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA). Itis the same EPAthat cannot give the nation clear information about a supposedly single barrel offshore oil spill, some sevenmonthslater

When the EPA and the Ministry of Agriculture cannot comecleanonwhatisreallyhappeningwithsegmentsofthe local fishing industry, and if there is a correlation with oil activity,thenthiscountry’s“environmentalcredentials”are indeed exemplary for what they conceal, what they ignore, andwhatdonotsafeguardGuyaneselivelihoodandpeaceof mind.

Further, we agree with the government that there has been “expeditious offshore exploration development activities ””Expeditious” exploration has benefited ExxonMobil,andattheexpenseofGuyanesereelingfroma vile oil contract that the PPPC leadership had cursed and condemnedintheharshestterms.

The Government is so shameless and so sick that it can tout “expeditious”oil activities as a plus, when hungry Guyanese are being robbed some more with new projects approved(expeditiously),withoutanyleadershippressureto get more for this nation. It is the equivalent of someone selling out his inheritance cheaply, and is so asinineand childishthatthereisboastingabouthowquicklytheselloutis happening. Whileallofthesegovernmentfarcesandfollies intensify, the ordinary Guyanese man and woman is scratchingaboutdailytosurvive,astheirimpoverishedstate continues.

In sharp contrast to the Guyana Government’s rosy position, two local economists, Elson Low and Ramon Gaskin believe that the Jamaican Economist struck the nail on the head regarding what the future of Guyana could possibly hold. Both economists were of the view that the warning signs of economic gloom are already evident. EconomistLowstatedthat“Oil-richcountriesveryoftensee those close to the government become extremely wealthy, whiletheaveragemanisnobetteroff.Manywarningsigns thatGuyanaisgoingnowherearepresent.”

The disparity in circumstances between PPPC Governmentcroniesandcabalsatthetopversustheman-inthe-street at the bottom are conspicuous, and glaringly so. Despiteallthegreatpressreports,andwonderfuleconomic forecasts, the undeniable reality is that there is great inequality in the lot of the haves and the have nots in oil producingGuyana.

Forhispart,veteraneconomist,RamonGaskinbelieves that Guyana’s present condition and future outlook suffers fromtwocripplinglimitations.

AccordingtoMr Gaskin,“Ithasalottodowith,among otherthings,corruptioninthecountry-that’soneofthebig problemswehavehereinthiscountry Secondly,wehavea bigproblemwithwastageandspendinglikewildpeopleand drunkenpeople.”

I pity the Prime Minister for regurgitating old, inaccurate propaganda

DEAREDITOR,

Reference is made to the United Nations March 21 designated Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

The day was set aside to focus attention on discrimination and discriminatory policies following the Sharpeville massacrein1960,duringthe period of Apartheid rule in SouthAfrica.

To mark the occasion,

Prime Minister Mark Phillips stated among other thingsasfollows:-“Thefact is that we have as a society come a long way since the turbulent 1960s when attempts were made by the then PNC, in collaboration with vested interests, to remove the democratically electedPPPforce.”

When the PNC in Parliament proposed a modest sum to support the Freedom fighters in

Southern Africa, it was the PPP who said we could not afford it Prime Minister Mark Phillips must be careful before he regurgitates this one-sided propaganda attacking the PNC.

Whatheshouldbedoing isattemptingtohealandnot peel and he can do well to speak with the seniors who werearoundbeforeheopens hismouthagain.

I forgive him but advise

himtosecureacopyof‘Pain toPeace’,whichreferstothe period1953-1964. It was the PNC in 1964 that brought an end to the murders, madness and m a y h e m w h i c h characterised the period of the60s,hegliblytalksabout. I pity this gentleman for regurgitating old, inaccurate propaganda.

Regards, HamiltonGreen Elder

Trust and security guarantees needed for shared governance

DEAREDITOR,

Aswasreportedrecently in our local press: ‘PPP General Secretary “No Shared Governance Without Trust” herein’, I would like tosharemyviewsonpowersharing, especially in Guyana’scontext.

Accordingtostudies,the termpower-sharingcoversa wide range of political arrangements for sharing power with opposition groupsperse. Assuch,itcan bedifficulttostateacoherent description (and as per constitutional mandate) of the term power-sharing especially in Guyana’s political environment; as it can be applied broadly to cover a variety of different politicaldivisionsofpower

The purpose of political power-sharing arrangements provides the platform for important security guarantees for an elected

government and the opposition parties of whom shall be offered a place in centralgovernment.

Furthermore,suchcanon ofpower-sharingispremised on power asymmetry between participants as with the majority and minority parties, as one of the major problems in collaborative governance and proposed power-sharing as a solution to the problem. However, thechallengesintheprocess of sharing power can vary depending on set objectives and expectations or outcomesasfollows:

1 ) t h i s c a n b e compounded by timeconsuming process for building trust as being the most critical factor towards power-sharing.

2) The possibility of stalemate and inaction c a u s e d b y p o o r implementation of power-

sharingagreements.

3) The degree of unwillingness to collaborate or even withdrawal from collaboration due to actual reluctanceofpower-sharing.

Of course, a shared governance model built on trust should be able to crystallise and ensure that the relevant security guarantees are useful towards ending conflict by allowing the main Opposition to be part of the governancestructure.

However, power-sharing isoftencriticisedfor:

1) Rewarding violence and political vandalism in the name of discrimination andinequalityofgroups.

2) Entrenching the divisions at the heart of conflictbytranslatingitinto new political dispensations and institutions that may overshadow majority constituencies.

3) Focusing on an elite pact, which leads to the exclusion of any social contract and the actual will and rights of the working classorgroups.

Inconclusion,themeans for shared governance should not be at the whims and fancies of any political parties.

Indeed,thetrustwhichis needed for power-sharing must transcend partisan politicsandthereshouldbea national call by the Guyanese people for recognizingandapologizing for all rigged elections (between 1968-1985 including the 1978 fraudulentreferendum&the attempt to rig 2020 general elections) in Guyana and at the same time pledge the guarantees for no reoccurrenceinthefuture.

Trulyyours, PaulRamrattan

DEAREDITOR, G i v e n t h e p r eoccupation of a segment of the population with allegations of racism and discrimination, the UniversityofGuyana,asthe leading educational institution in the country, thought it appropriate to launch on November 3, 2021, the “Inclusivity, Diversity, and Equity Policy “Unit (IDEP) to provide leadership on this area. In theory, educational institutions at all levels are wellpositionedtoplayakey role in mitigating harsh

racial attitudes, promoting t o l e r a n c e , a n d understanding Civil discourses, views, and evidence of racism and discrimination must be ventilatedandincaseswhere injuryhasbeeninflictedand established, appropriate to protect remedy must be instituted.

We must move beyond wordsontodeeds.

It is noted that the f o r m a t i o n o f a n y organisation or Unit to enhance inclusivity, diversity, and equality of access to opportunity must

The Guyana Government does not like to hear about corruption,eventhoughitiscomingofthenoseofitspeople. Oneprovensymptomofcorruptionanywhereiswhenchronic secrecyprevails.

This is what we live with here. Irresponsible borrowing

be set on the right platform. Thishasnotnecessarilybeen the case with the launch of the University of Guyana’s IDEP Unit Social commentator Ms. Fatimah Mohammed believes that it wasnotwellgroundedasthe Unit itself lacks inclusivity anddiversity

NotesMs.Fatimah:“The Unit is composed of 10 people and only one is an Indo-Guyanese.

The Unit’s executive comprises mainly ethnic Africans, with only one tokenIndo-Guyanese.There was a total disregard, by the

University of Guyana and the Unit, for the diversity of theGuyanesesociety,which is proportioned 40 percent East Indians; 30 percent Africans; 20 percent Mixed; and 10 percent Amerindian descent.”(Pride:12/1/2021).

To show how the composition of the Unit reflects a broader pattern, shesaysthat80%ofthestaff atUGareAfro-Guyanese. WhileIhavebeenunable to verify this proportion, a content analysis conducted by a colleague shows that 70%ofthestatutoryand (Continuedonpage6)

feedswildspendingbywildmen,withGuyanesepayingthe price. This is what the PPPC Government proudly calls its “prudent management of the economy.” When all this is considered,thiscountrycouldbegoingsomewhere,butitis notup.

Is the University of Guyana positioned to promote ‘Inclusivity, Diversity, and Fairness?’

Gas to Energy and our approach to Economic Growth

DEAREDITOR,

The proposed gas to energy project for 300MW perdaywillcoverelectricity consumption of 12% to 6% ofthepopulationinthelong term,ifthereportedaverage

consumptionforGuyanaand the US are used to establish the future consumption range (Source U.S. Energy I n f o r m a t i o n Administration). However, this contradicts the current

installed capacity noted in theU.S. Department of Energy report on Guyana from August 2020. Using those figures instead shows that our installed capacity will

almost double as a result of the gas to energy project, withthecaveatthatitwillbe foronly25years.

The 25 year time limit beingasignificantdownside to the investment. Per the 50% cost reduction assumption stated on Hess.com, the resulting cost per kWh will be on par with thatoftheU.S.ifthecurrent averagecostofelectricityin Guyana is used as the reference.

DEAREDITOR,

In his speech at the sod turning ceremony for the construction of a new stadium at Palmyra, PresidentIrfaanAlisaidthat ‘hypocrites’istheidealterm to define Guyanese who have been critical of his government’s management of the oil and gas sector and its stewardship of the environment.

The President spoke just after the Vice President Mr Bharrat Jagdeo, who said persons with ulterior motives should stop hiding behind titles such as environmentalists and biologists.

Mr President and VicePresident, we are not your enemies.

We are grassroots womenacrossraceandfrom several communities We vote for and support different political parties, including the PPP We may notalwaysseeeyetoeyeon issues,butwedon’tletparty politics come between us and the work we do in communities. It has never prevented us from coming together to talk about issues that affect us as Guyanese and as grassroots women. Doesaskingquestionsabout oil and gas make us hypocrites? Exxon Mobil and its partners are drilling, finding and producing oil in Guyana at an alarming rate. As grassroots women who are mothers, aunts, grandmothers, sisters, nieces, we have to do our part in protecting our countryandourresources.

Given the history of oil pollution and spillage around the world, who can blame anyone for believing thatitisonlyamatteroftime beforeaccidentshappen?We do not hold any degrees where the environment is concerned, and none of us went beyond secondary education, but we have learnedfromtheexperiences of other oil producing countries how much money it will take to clean up the environment after an oil spillage.

Does being concerned about our country and our environment make us hypocrites?

When we ask Exxon Mobiltoguaranteethatthey will pay all the remaining costs after the insurance companypayoutintheevent of an accident, so that cleanup costs do not fall on the Guyanese taxpayers for generations to come, does thatmakeushypocrites?

When we try to learn aboutoilandgasandaskfor this conversation about Guyanese resources, our resources, to be in language that everyone can understand and not the technical language that we feelisdesignedtokeepmost Guyanese out of the conversationdoesthatmake ushypocrites?

Whenweaskaboutwhat is happening to the fishermenandtheirfamilies, does that make us hypocrites?

When we speak out aboutthecostoflivingthatis bleeding us dry, does that

makeushypocrites?

We are not hypocrites. We are Guyanese grassroots women who will keep insistingthatourvoicesmust be heard because we know that the oil and gas industry has a direct impact on our lives and the lives of our children and great grandchildren. Who feels it knowsitandwe’refeelingit already Red Thread has decided to hold a monthly vigiloutsideoftheOfficeof the President, every first Wednesday of each month from12pm-1pm,toinsiston therighttobeheard.Weare inviting everyone to come standwithus.

Thenextvigilwillbeon WednesdayApril 5th, 2023. This is not about party and race This is about One Guyana, a place for all Guyanese.

YoursSincerely, Wintress White, Susan Collymore, Joy Marcus, Halima Khan, Jonel Perreira,NormaAdrian, Maeve Ramsay, Shirley Ault,MichelleJohn

Based on the figures shared in the press, the resulting cost to finance the project was surprisingly generous.

The reported numbers resulted in a discount rate that is below Exxon’s weighted average cost of capital and there also appears to be no discount rate associated with the government’s portion of the costoftheproject.

Although this may seem generous, it also causes the project to appear more financially attractive than it should be, which also raises the question as to whether the cost associated with the project has been inflated. However, according to Statista.com and the U.S.

Energy Information Administration, the cost of the project is within the range for the cost to construct a gas to energy projectwiththepipelinecost excluded.

The pipeline cost was however higher than the average, but this appears to

have had been compensated forinthelowerdiscountrate, which is not a normal business practice. Auditing of the pipeline project cost will be necessary to ensure minimalcostoverruns.

That leaves the additional focus on the generous discount rate

Given that the rate of borrowing from the Bank of Guyana is at 5% (source: take-profit org) and the WACC for Exxon is at approximately 8% (source: valueinvesting.io) at the lower end of the spectrum, the resulting additional cost of the project would skyrocket and significantly reduceitsattractivenesswith a resulting payback period that brings into question the feasibility of the project based on earnings and savings from the sale of electricity

Even if we were to d i s r e g a r d t h e overcompensation in the discount rate for the project andtakeonlythetotalfuture cost as stated in the press, and then assume that the electricity generated would beboughtattoday’sratesor that consumers would save 100% on their electricity costs associated with this project, the payback period isclearlyunacceptableifthis project is to eventually pay foritself.

The25yearusefullifeof the project is surpassed. In otherwordstheprojectnever pays for itself. However, given the historical

economic philosophy of the government, this project is better viewed as a social program to generate lower cost electricity for our citizens, and an opportunity to reduce the electricity shortage.

The question then becomes,isthisthedirection thatweprefertotake,andis there a better alternative use forthefundsassociatedwith this project that could generate additional income for the Nation, which can then be used to increase the earningsofourcitizens.

Many would argue that suchanapproachwouldadd more value to the economy and foster increased sustainable economic development for Guyana, andbeofmorebenefittoour Citizens Guyanese could also use the funds gained fromtheincreasedeconomic activity to purchase solar energy for their homes and gain further energy independence. Others could argue the contrary, which is thatthereducedenergycosts would provide an opportunityforbusinessesto become more competitive, especiallyifamanufacturing or industrial park is developedintheareaaround thegastoenergyplant.

Thisbecomesevenmore important to the overall gas to energy strategy when we consider that the impact is stronger when industry can capitalize on the lower cost, whichwouldbeonparwith

(Continuedonpage6)

When we speak out about the cost of living that is bleeding us dry, does that make us hypocrites?

Gas to Energy and our approach...

Frompage5

theUS.Industrywillbeable to generate additional jobs and income faster than the average household by producing lower cost products to meet overseas demand. Alternatively,after further consideration, it would be better to take the fundsbeingallocatedforthe gas to energy project and invest it into projects that willearnincomeatorabove the Bank of Guyana rate of 5%. As for the gas, a better approach may be to sell the gas and / or convert it to a value added product. The idea of its use as a fertilizer should not be quickly dismissed, but recent spikes inthecostofnaturalgashas made this option less attractive Another alternativetoconsiderwould betousethe$2Btoinvestin a solar farm to support the demand for electricity This option does have a much

longer lifecycle and is less expensive. At the current upper range of the average cost for such a project we would be able to add 2000MW instead of a temporary 300MW Think about that for a moment. Adding 2000MW of solar electricity capacity would surpass current demand and meet future demand in a sustainable and affordable manner In addition, funds from the revenue streams mentioned, if pursued, can thenbeusedtosubsidizethe cost of electricity for a period beyond the 25-year project life of the gas to energy project. As more oil and gas is discovered, more funds from gas will come online.Whencombinedwith the additional solar component of the power grid, the impact will be above the current needs of the population who would gainlimitedbenefitfromthe

temporary 300MW gas to energyproject.Whichwould you prefer, 300MW of energy from gas that is temporary or 2000MW of energy from the sun at the same price to tax payers? The answer is clear Therefore, it makes better longtermeconomicsenseto use the funds allocated for the gas to energy project to install renewable solar energy The current administrationshould take a closer look into how we maximize the economic value that can be generated fromtheuseofthe$2Binthe energy sector In lieu of doing so, our limited funds may not be used in the most effective manner Maximizing the economic value of the investment should be the primary objective.

Bestregards,

Mr.JamilChanglee Chairman

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

Frompage4

academic support staff are Afro-Guyanese. Fortheteachingandsupport staff (in the Faculties of Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Medical, Education and Humanities) Afro-Guyanese account for 57.3%.

There is some evidence of gender diversity at UG, as femalesoccupy56.2%ofthe staff positions in the four Faculties.

The main point that Ms. Fatimah is making however isthatwhiletherehavebeen frequent allegations of racismanddiscriminationin othersectorsoftheeconomy such as in the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Housing and Water in the award of large contracts, little attention has been given to the practiceof fairness and diversity at the country’s premier educational institution, where one ethnic group that occupies statutory, administrative, and teaching positionsdoesnotreflectthe inclusivityanddiversitythat the University purports to embrace.

Criticsarequicktopoint outperceptionsofinequality and bias in a few areas such as contract awards, but they also overlook the diversity

and...’

andfairnessthatexistsinthe housing, education, and othersectors.

Both the Prime Minister, Hon Brig (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, and the Minister within the Ministry of Housing, Hon Susan Rodrigues, for example, have stated that 50% of the 20,800 house lots allocated have gone to AfroGuyanese Furthermore, upholding gender diversity as a top policy priority, Minister Susan reports that 8,000 of those house lots were allocated to single women.

With respect to the first 6,000 GOAL scholarships, Aaron Pires’analysis shows that 39% were awarded to Afro-Guyanese students and 41% to Indo-Guyanese, w h i l e M i x e d a n d Amerindians accounted for 20%.

Obviouslytherehasbeen no discrimination against Afro-Guyanese in house lot allocations and scholarship awards.

Their grants and awards were higher than their proportion in the general population which is 29 % (basedon2012census).

How would UG’s IDEP Unit achieve inclusivity, diversity and fairness is a massivechallenge.

To be credible, they should consider overhauling the staff composition of the IDEP Unit to reflect the diversity of the country I know that they fully understandthatimagescould be even more powerful than messages.

As the country’s foremost educational institutionUGmustsendout therightsignals.

While I believe in diversity, inclusivity, and fairness, I also recognize how Guyanese society has evolved and no one can easily dismiss the social stratification that conditioned occupational gravitation in specific pathways.

Afro-Guyanese, for example, had gravitated mainly from plantation society to government jobs, while Indo-Guyanese gravitated mainly towards businessandfarming.

Not to unsettle and to respectthishistoricalpattern o f o c c u p a t i o n a l stratification,itisreasonable to posit that for now and the future inclusivity, fairness, and equality of access to opportunity must be accorded priority for all Guyanese.

Regards,

DrTaraSingh

Is the University of Guyana positioned to promote ‘Inclusivity, Diversity,

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ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT BOARD (EAB)

The PPPGovernment insists the EAB is non-partisan.

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It doesn’t matter that it only has people working for the government.

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The people hand in tiger mouth (PPPGovt.).

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The PPPGovt. is known for spitefulness, vindictiveness.

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Who on the EAB will take a chance, risk PPPrage?

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How can the EAB ever be considered non-partisan?

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How can it do what is right and safe for Guyanese?

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18% of Caribbean’s citizens living on less than G$600 a day

…says poverty level exceeds past 10 years - IDB

A recently published reportbytheInter-American Development Bank (IDB) revealed that the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region faces a social challenge with nearly 18 percent of the population living on less than US$3.1 perday

The aforementioned was highlighted by IDB’s Chief Economist, Eric Parrado in the preface of the report titled, ‘PREPARING THE MACRO-ECONOMIC TERRAIN for Renewed Growth’.

P a r r a d o s a i d , “Policymakers in the region need to design and implement policies that closedevelopmentgapsand, at the same time, help them weatherthechallengesofthe

economicenvironment.”

He underscored the importance for the LAC region to address a triple challenge-three complex, i n t e r c o n n e c t e d macroeconomic issues-to

achieve its population’s aspirations for development andwelfare.

In highlighting the region’s social challenge, Parradonotedthatnotonlyis 18 percent of the population living on less than US$3 a day, but the poverty level exceedsthatofadecadeago.

“While some correction has taken place, the pandemic increased poverty overall, and recently, Russia’s war in Ukraine has made it even more difficult to reclaim lost gains. In addition to poverty, inequality is also on the rise,”hesaid.

Secondly, he pointed out that the region faces a fiscal challenge, noting that the COVID pandemic stressed fiscal resources and

expenditures. “As a result, after the crisis, sovereign debt reached over 70% of GDP and while fiscal consolidationisstillpossible many risks remain,” he added.

The economist also addedthattheregionfacesa growth challenge. He said productivity growth and, consequently, long-term economic growth is currently estimated at only around 2 percent too low to meet the development goals of most countries in the region.

In addition to these specific issues, Parrado noted that the region also faces the cross-cutting challenges of dealing with climatechange,advancing Continuedonpage22

IDB’s Chief Economist, Eric Parrado

SELF DEFENCE

Years ago, a young teenage schoolchild went to extra lessons after school. Led by a ringleader, a group of students from another scho0ol began to taunt him. At first the young teenager didnothingbutafterawhile thetauntsintensifiedandthe young teenager flew into a rage, went and got a knife, crossed over to where the group was and fatally stabbedtheringleader

He was charged with murder In court his lawyer tried his best to argue selfdefence, claiming that the teenager was provoked. But ajuryfoundhimguilty,andit was held that by going over to the other side he had indicated an intention not to defendhimselfbutexhibited an intention to harm the ringleader He got a fairly lengthyprisonsentence.

It was not so much that he armed himself with a weaponthatcausedhisclaim of self-defence to falter It was the fact that he turned from victim to aggressor, from being provoked to being the attacker, which was the straw that led to his defence of self-defence collapsing.

In assessing whether thereisjustificationtoclaim

self-defence,oneshouldask four fundamental questions. The first of these is whether thepersonfeelsthatheorshe isbeingthreatenedwithoris beingassaulted.

Itdoesnotmatterifthere isanactualassaultbutrather whetherthepersonfeelsthat he or she is being either so assaulted or threatened with theuseofillegalforce.If,for example, a person comes to your home and advances to you with a piece of wood in his hands, then it would be reasonable to infer that you areunderthreatoftheuseof force and that force is unlawful.

In this regard, self defence implies that the person must believe that he or she is in imminent or immediate danger or harm. And that only through the useofforcecanonerepelthe illegalattack.

If on the other hand, the personclaimingself-defence armed himself or herself withaweaponitneedstobe determined whether he or shedidsoinordertodefend themselves Or if the intention was to attack the other person. It has been argued that self defence, as the name implies, is usually defensive in nature and not

Dem Boys Seh...

offensiveorpre-meditated.

The second question to be asked is whether the personclaimingselfdefence had reasonable grounds for believing that he or she wouldsuffergrievousbodily harmorevendeathasaresult of the attack or threat of attacks.

Reasonableness in this instance would have to take accountofthecontextofthe alleged attack If for example, an infant comes waving a feather at a teenager, the latter can hardly be said to be under grievousthreatofharm.

Thethirdquestionwhich needs to be asked is that the accused must have believed that there was no other way to defend himself or herself except through inflicting serious harm to the attacker So the key question here is whether the degree of force was necessary in defending oneself or if some other means could have been successfully deployed in protectingoneself.

This question revolves round the issue of whether the action or actions upon which a defence of self defence is based was necessary Ashasbeensaid, “Itisbothgoodlawandgood

People nah want go in de traffic department anymore

Deh had a time when nuff police ranks wanted to be get into de traffic department. Demboysneverunderstandwhy

Butdemusedtohavegrandcelebration whenever a policeman get transfer to the trafficdepartment.Heusedtodonhewhite sleeveproudly

Desedaysplentyofdempolicemennah want to go into de traffic department. Dem does mek all kind of excuse as to why dem nahwantgointodetrafficdepartment.And if dem get transfer to a station on de lower EastBankitdoesmeknuffofdemgetupset.

But dem traffic policemen dese days wukkingovertime.

Dem out from early morning directing traffic. Dem out in de hot sun directing traffic.AndondeEastBank,demdirecting trafficwayintodenight.

Dem deserve a special bonus fuh de good wuk dem doing because de traffic situation is dreadful and dem officers

workingbeyonddecallofduty

When dem reach home, dem gat to be tired.Someofdemwavingdemhandallin dem sleep and dem better half can’t stay in desamebed.

Dat is why plenty policemen nah want get assigned to de traffic department. But dem boys gat bad news fuh dem because with de traffic situation in de country, dem gan need more traffic policemen pun de road.

It mek dem boys remember de story of de man who was driving home and was stopped by a traffic cop. De cop told him,”You’reweavingdownthisroad.What isinthatWaterBottle?’

The man said, “Plain water.” The Cop tookasipandsaid,“Thisisredwine.’

The man looked at him, raised his eyes heaven ward, and said, “THANK YOU JESUS,YOU’VEDONEITAGAIN!”

Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

sense that a man or woman who is attacked may defend themselves. It is good law andgoodsensethatheorshe may only do what is necessary.”

In other words, every person can use reasonable force to defend himself or herselfbuttheforcecanonly be justifiably to the extent that it was necessary for the person’s protection The personclaimingselfdefence should be able to demonstrate that there was no means of retreat or to

escapehisorherattackerand defence was his or her only shield.

The fourth question concerns provocation. Here it is necessary to determine whether the actions that led to the attack were actually provokedorifthedefendant himself or herself induced suchprovocation.

And self defence certainly does not create a right to attack anyone. Nor canitbeusedtocover-upan intended crime If for example you go to kill

someone and the person resists, it would be difficult for you to claim that you were forced to harm the personresistingbecauseyou actedinselfdefence.

(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.)

H@RD TRUTHS

BY GHK LALL

FLOYD HAYNES AND HIS TEAM: WHAT DID THEY DO?

Whatdidbusinessman,banker, consultant, auditor Mr Floyd Haynes and his auditor team do? WhatdidthisGuyanesebrotherdo to the PPP Government and Exxon? Where did he and his group of auditors put matters, left matters, that there is this telling voidofspaceandsilencehanging, monthspassing?

Disclaimers first. I know nothing, have no special intelligence. Discernments come from assembling the pieces in this fascinatingGuyanesecanvas. Call it intuition; or the mosaic theory gained from association with the Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) program I call it commonsense. I continue with thisauditofExxon’sbillionsbilled to Guyana. All Guyanese-PPP, PNC, AFC, and the others-should be take this hard position: those bills are mine. Guyanese: stop pounding each other, recognise real enemies, know exploiters and self-enrichers at the nation’s expense.

Whatever Mr Floyd Haynes andhisteamdidwiththataudit,the resultsmayhavestirredtrouble. It has setback the Hon Vice President’s schemes by a mile,

delayed by a season his sparking victory speech about the clean corporate ethos of America’s Exxon.

The wish is that he is half as committed (even a quarter) to Guyanese interests, prosperity. WhateverlittleMr.Haynesdugup as questionable, or inexplicable, has tied Exxon and the PPP Governmentintoknots. Icometo thisconclusionbecauseoftheaudit timeline,whichhasnowtakenona peculiar glint; sinister, it must be said. First, it was four months to September’s end. Then, it was December, with chatter from known characters about preliminaryreporttobeready,and then readying to update the Guyanesepeople. ItisnowMarch going into April, and the 2023 calendar is rapidly losing pages. Sevenmonthspastduereduceboth theJulianandGregoriancalendars to what mocks time, and makes Exxon, Guyana’s Vice President, and President Ali (Dr Transparency) all look bad. Who isscratchingwhoseback? Whois running interference for whom? Frankness doesn’t do well when honey coated. They look bad becausethedelaysmakethemlook

as though they all have things to hide. Plentyofthings. Trythisone about millions in Yankee money that Exxon cannot explain, and which the mighty VP is left to search for his tongue, his balance, andhisversionsoffactsaboutwhat isreallygoingonwiththisaudit. I don’t care if it is as minute as a million dollars flagged, a nothing percentage,andwhichMr Haynes and his team placed before the Guyana Government It still comes across as having a certain smell, possessing disfiguring wrinkles, and leaving a bile-filled taste for Guyanese. Bluntly, a million US in expenses claimed and up in the air is a lot of money for poverty plagued Guyanese (to me, it is). Now, if Mr Haynes and company red-flagged multiples of millions in suspect spending that does not pass muster, then the Guyana Government and Exxon have their work cut out for them, and need much time to concoct smokescreens. What happens if it is so many millions of audit findings that greedy Exxon has its back to the wall, and the PPP Governmentinahole,thatneither can face the Guyanese public. M

explanations of how what happenedcouldhavehappened. Computer glitches and adding machine failures sound lame to evenadumbcountryboylikeme.

Fordiscussion’ssake,wehave this audit of US$7.3B that should have been done and delivered, as promised repeatedly In the event that the audit team had difficulty withafewhundredmillion(only), then there is appreciation for the bind that the Dr Vice President,(the Transparency Excellency) and Exxon find themselves in, and must manipulate. If Exxon accepts, it looks like it tried to cheat and rip Guyanese a new one. If Exxon decidesthatithastotoughitoutby challenging, then time is needed. Months and more months to conjuresomebizarrebillingstory; or force the helpless PPP Government to dodge and delay more All this could possibly explain these inordinate and inexplicable, and now unacceptable,delaysinsharingthe FloydHaynesauditreport. Sorry, Messrs Ali, Alistair, and the almighty one. Suddenly, all these fine fellows, these fine feathered friendsofGuyanese,don’tlooktoo

appealing. Why no audit report eightmonthsafteritwasdue?

None of this is book sense, simplycommonsense,whichbeats anyotherkindofsense.Iftheaudit report gives a clean bill of health forExxon,thencomecleanwithit beforetheGuyanesepeople. Since that has not happened, then the Vice President may have gotten more than he bargained for in the Floyd Haynes audit. I remember that one which should be familiar to Darren Woods and Alistair Routledge, but wasted on the limited in the PPP It is from the Scottish Shakespeare, Robert Burns:‘thebestlaidplansofmice and men….’ In place of men, I substitute snakes. Never thought that an audit could cause so much twistinginthewind.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaperanditsaffiliates.)

HARDTRUTHS BYGHKLALL

State to appeal High Court ruling on suspension of Police Service Commission –Nandlall

The State has indicated that it will appeal High Court Judge, Gino Persaud’s decision that the Police Service Commission (PSC) was unlawfully suspendedbyPresidentIrfaanAli

“That decision we disagree with, and it is the government’s intention to file an appealagainstthatdecision.Webelievethat the President acted properly.The important thingaboutthecase,though,isthatthecase really has no practical importance anymore,” Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC was reported as saying in the March 25, 2023 editionoftheGuyanaChronicle.

HighCourtJudge,JusticeGinoPersaud on Friday ruled that President Irfaan Ali’s

decision to suspend the former PSC members was “unlawful, unfair, and ultra vires ”

Former PSC Chairman, Assistant CommissionerofPolice(ret’d),PaulSlowe and fellow PSC member, Assistant Police Commissioner, Clifton Conway (ret’d), through their lawyer, Selwyn Pieters had challenged President Ali’s June 16, 2021 decision to suspend the PSC after Prime Minister Mark Phillips sent two ‘show cause’ notices to Slowe and former Commissioner,ClintonConway

Both men were asked to ‘show cause’ why the President should not follow the advice of the Prime Minister to remove themfromthePSC

The notices were issued after Slowe, Conway and others were charged for defraudingtheGuyanaPolice Force (GPF) of $10M. Slowe was also accusedofsexuallyassaultingafemalecop onthreeoccasions.

As such, the Paul Slowe led-PSC legal challenge, inter alia, sought a declaration fromthecourtthattheirpurportedsuspension by President Ali was contrary to, or in violationtotheConstitutionofGuyana.

TheycontendedthatArticles226(6)and 223(10)oftheConstitutionprovetheircase and should the court find favour with their arguments,theywanttheirsuspensionorder revoked Apart from this, Slowe and Conwayalsoaskedthecourttodeclarethat thePrimeMinister’srecommendationtothe Presidentforthemtoberemovedisunlawful.

On Friday, in handing down his ruling thejudgehighlightedthatgiventhegrounds

(criminalchargeslaid against Paul Slowe and others) that the Prime Minister recommendedthattheformer PSCmembersbesuspended,‘thereisadue processthatmustbefollowed.’

In fact, Justice Persaud highlighted that even though there was no Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to appoint a Tribunal to heartheallegationsagainsttheformerPSC members, all members are entitled to their constitutionalrightsofprotectionofthelaw and due process, simply put, ‘presumption ofinnocence.’

Assuch,thejudgestatedthatPaulSlowe and the other commissioners could only have been removed from constitutional office in due process, to which the Constitution does not imbue President Ali with power to suspend in the absence of a Tribunalandindoingsothepresidentacted ultravires

GRAclampingdownonillegalimportationofgoods

…URGES PERSONS WITH INFORMATION TO ‘SPEAK UP’

TheGuyanaRevenueAuthority (GRA) onTuesday said that in the last few months its Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID), with help from allied regulators such as the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department and the Veterinary Public Health Unit, Ministry of Health, has clamped down on a number of operations

involving illegal importation and movement of large quantities of illegallyobtainedgoods(including chickenandalcohol).

Several persons were charged fortheoffences,theAuthoritysaid inapressstatement.

“The Authority wishes to remindthepublicthatuncustomed goods not only affect revenue collection but also seriously

threaten public health and safety, particularly when goods are perishable.”

Additionally, GRA reminded that “smuggling is illegal and anyone who attempts to import or exportgoodswithintenttodefraud the Revenue Authority of any dutiesisguiltyofanoffenseandis liable for such offense to fines and or imprisonment in accordance

with Section 218 of the Customs ActChapter82:01.”

The Authority made reference toanarticlepublishedintheMarch 22, 2023 edition of the Stabroek News captioned, ‘Poultry producers upset at chicken smuggling - GRA says addressing issue,’ where the Guyana Poultry Producers Association (GPPA) advocated for the government to

urgently address the smuggling of chicken over the country’s eastern and southern borders, something theGRAsaiditisawareof.

Meanwhile, GRA is urging persons with knowledge of smuggling activities to make reports to GRA’s LEID on 2276060ext3202&3206.Reportscan be made anonymously and treated withthestrictestconfidence.

154low-incomehomesunderwayinRegionThree

The construction of the first 154 of 500 low-income homesiscurrentlyunderway at Leonora, Edinburg, and Cornelia Ida, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara.)

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, inspected the works on the homes on Monday He was accompanied by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary,AndreAlly, Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and PlanningAuthority(CHPA), Sherwyn Greaves, and Republic Bank Limited Managing Director, Stephen Grell.

MinisterCroalexpressed satisfaction with the progress made to date. He explained that some of the houses are nearing completion,withonlyminor finishing works left, including the installation of windows and flooring. “By theendofthisweek,weare

hopingatleast15to20will be completed and handed over,”MinisterCroalsaid.

In July of last year, the CHPA and Republic Bank signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to finance the construction of 500 low-income houses in Leonora. The 20 x 30 (625 square feet) two-bedroom flat units cost $5.5 million each, including the cost of the land. Minister Croal highlighted that the housing drive is an opportunity for beneficiaries to own their own homes. It also has a positive impact on the regional economy, by creating job opportunities for individuals with diverse skill sets to work during the various phases of the construction process He addedthatthoseplyingtheir trade in the transportation sector and the persons supplyingbuildingmaterials willalsobenefit.

Simultaneously,

infrastructure development is ongoing in the housing schemes where the homes are being constructed

“When we are finished hereinafewmonthsyou’ll be amazed to see the transformation that will takeplacejustinthesmall

cluster…and of course, we always do zoning too. So therearecertainaspectsof commercial activity that are allowed when you are establishing a village or new housing scheme,” the ministerexplained.

Speaking on the selection process for the homes, CHPA’s CEO explained that the list with all the Region Three applicantswasreviewed.He said that those who showed interest in owning houses were identified After

collecting the necessary information, the applicants were sent to RepublicBank.

“So, the process is very simple and so far all the persons we have identified. Have been approved,” the CEOdisclosed.

Meanwhile, the bank’s managing Director, Grell said the financial institution has been working closely with individuals to ensure they are pre-approved, thus facilitating a smooth and speedy process for them to move into their new homes.

He noted that the d e v e l o p m e n t o f communitiesintheareawill be a significant benefit, not only for bringing in more residents but also for creating additional opportunities for businesses todevelopandofferservices to foster further growth in theregion.Theprojectforms part of the government’s turn-key initiative which provides an opportunity for Guyanese at all income l e v e l s t o a c h i e v e homeownership.(DPI)

One of the homes under construction

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal (2nd right), Permanent Secretary Andre Ally, Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), Sherwyn Greaves, and Republic Bank Limited Managing Director, Stephen Grell during the inspection

GCAAcertifiesfirsteverGuyaneseheli-deckinspector

Guyana will no longer have to seek overseas heli-deck inspection servicesastheGuyanaCivil AviationAuthority (GCAA) on Tuesday certified the country’sfirsteverheli-deck inspector – Mr Adrian Bassier

At a simple ceremony at its High Street, Kingston office yesterday, the GCAA also licensed the heli-deck for the Prosperity Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Delivering brief remarks at the ceremony, GCAA Director General, Egbert FieldexpressedthatGuyana havingaheli-deckinspector is very important since the country’s oil sector is developing The Director Generalrecalledthatin2016 when the first heli-deck for the first FPSO had to be certified, Guyana was deficient in a heli-deck inspector

Heexplainedthathehad contacted the Director GeneralofGhanarequesting their assistance and that the M e m o r a n d u m o f

Understanding (MOU) which signed between GCAA and Ghana Civil Aviation Authority in December2018hadallowed for the Ghanaian Director General to assist Guyana. “I called the Director General of Ghana requesting his assistance and the MOU which exist between our authorities,thatgivehimthe authorityandallowedhimto assist us by lending us his heli-deckinspectorwhohad

to travel to Singapore in order to conduct that helideck inspection,” Mr Field shared.

Hewentontotostatethat Guyana’s Chief Air N a v i g a t i o n s a n d

Aerodromes Inspector at GCAA, Adrian Bassier proceeded to Singapore to understudy him After undergoing more than two sessions, Bassier later became a fully qualified inspectorinordertoconduct heli-deck inspection for approval. “Today we can happily say that Guyana has its first heli-deck inspector after the last inspection,” Fieldnoted.Accordingtothe Director General, Mr Bassier conducted the helideck inspection on the third FPSO- Prosperity Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill in his remarks said thatGuyanahavingengaged a foreign partner for helideckinspectionafewyears, now would not have to go that same route again. “We havenowcapacityincountry and that is very, very important That is why investment in human resources development, as Guyana develops this new sector is important,” the ministersaid.

According to the Minister, with all that is happening,thecountrymust beabletohavethenecessary skills,technicalcapacityand theabilitytoregulatewhatis happening in Guyana. He added that with Mr. Bassier beingthefirstinthisfield,“it is in the first of a set of cadres, that we would

Minister

develop to ensure that we havetheinhousecapacity.”

K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that the helideck which takes about two

The country’s first ever Heli-deck Inspector, Adrian Bassier (right) receiving his certificate on Tuesday from Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Ceremony (GCAA).

The country’s third FPSO –Prosperity. (Photo courtesy of SBM Offshore Guyana)

land to meet the needs of the agriculture, housing,andoilandgassectors,significantly complementing the PPP/C Administration’s comprehensivemasterplanforGuyana. Whencompleted,thenewroadarterywill link the Eugene F Correia International Airport with the Cheddi Jagan International

to three days to inspect is used as a landing point for personnelandgoodsthatare transported to and from the vessel. At yesterday’s

ceremony too, Prosperity FPSO was given its license for the use of its heli-deck. This publication had reportedthatProsperity has

set sail to Guyana from Singapore. The new FPSO willaddtoGuyana’scurrent fleet- the Liza Destiny and LizaUnityFPSOs.

Airport (CJIA). Thus far, contractorAshoka BuildconLimitedwithguidancefromRITES Limited, in association with CB & Associates Inc has completed clearing the site from a stretch of 2.3 kilometres, with a widthof120metresonthemainalignment. Similarly, trees, bushes, and other obstacleshavebeenremovedfromaportion of the path that spans 1.14 kilometres and another section that spans 0.6 kilometres on the main alignment. A base layer of white sand materials, 500 millimetres thick, has been filled in over a portion of the path, and another portion spans 0.31 kilometres over

thefullwidthofthepath.

PrefabricatedVerticalDrains(PVDs)isa geotechnical engineering method that are vertical columns made of plastic or other synthetic materials, which are installed into thegroundtoimprovesoftandcompressible soils.

This method has been implemented to improvethegroundconditionofthepaththat spans 0.57 kilometres and another section that spans 0.27 kilometres, along the main alignment.worksareongoingfrombothends of Ogle and Eccles in an effort to meet the two-yearprojectdeadline.(DPI)

Prosperity Project Director, Boudewijn Ledderhof (left) receiving the license from

of Public Works, Juan Edghill.

Teen in custody for murder of pork knocker

A17-year-old h a s b e e n arrested in connection with the murder of a pork knocker whom he was imbibing with and whose lifeless bodywasfoundinthewee hoursofTuesdayatFourMile Village, Port Kaituma,RegionOne.

Police in Region One reported that they are investigating the death of 21-year-old Shimron Benjamin,aporkknocker of Quarry Top, Port Kaituma who was found dead on Tuesday with his facebashedin.

Policesaidthataround 00:30hrs, Benjamin was last seen alive drinking HighWinealongwiththe 17-year-old suspect at a location in the Four-Mile Village Both men a p p e a r e d t o b e intoxicated, Kaieteur Newsunderstands.

Policesaidthataround 01:00 hrs Tuesday, a 64year-old Farmer of S1A Junction, Four-Mile Village, saw Benjamin lying motionless in the grass with blood on his head about 30 feetfromhishome.

The farmer upon seeing Benjamin immediately informedRoystonBumbury, the Toshao of Four-Mile Village,whoarrivedwithhis ATV and took the victim to Port Kaituma District

Investigators found a rock with reddish substance in the area Shimron Benjamin’s was discovered.

Man charged for allegedly murdering grandmother

Yonnic Gilpin, the man who allegedly confessed to dumping his grandmother’s bodyinanemptylot,wason Tuesday remanded to prison forhermurder.

The defendant appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’Courtbeforethe Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan.

He was not required to pleadtotheindictablecharge whichallegedthatonSunday March, 19, he murdered Patricia Bovell, 88, at her two-storey home, Russel Street, Charlestown, Georgetown.

Hospital There Benjamin was examined by a doctor who pronounced him dead onarrival.

A c c o r d i n g t o investigators, during an examination of the victim’s bodyitwasobservedthathis facewasbashedin.

Meanwhile, police said they found a rock with a reddish substance suspected to be blood at the location

where Benjamin’s body was found.

At around 08:10hrs on Tuesday the suspect was arrested and taken into custodyforquestioning.

Benjamin’s body is at the Port Kaituma District Hospital’s Mortuary pending a post-mortem examination

Investigations are ongoing.

Parika man sentenced to 5 years for

trafficking ‘Poppy’

Jailed for trafficking imported marijuana, Andy Jainandan

Thirty-year-old Andy JainandanofParika,EastBank Essequibo (EBE) was on Tuesday sentenced to five years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to trafficking 12lbs of imported marijuana, commonlyknownbyitsstreet name ‘poppy’ when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’Court.

Jainandan was also fined $5 4M when he appeared beforeMagistrateDylonBess.

On Saturday, the Customs Anti-Narcotics unit (CANU) nabbed Jainandan with the drugs along the Zeeburg Public Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD). The drugs were wrapped in five bricklike packages and stashed in a haversack.

According to CANU the confiscated drugs is worth some$1.8M.

Gilpin will remain behind bars until his next courtscheduledforApril11, 2023. Bovell’s decomposing body was found last Wednesday morning after police had received information that a strong stench was coming from an alley close to her house. When they arrived they foundBovell’sbodydumped in an empty lot opposite her home.

The elderly woman was not seen days before the discovery of her body and neighbours had recalled

hearing her shouting for murderaround04:00hrsthat day on Sunday March 19, 2023. The scream lasted for at least 10 minutes before it went silent. Gilpin was the only relative living with her andtheyhadarrestedhim.

At first he told investigators that he had

taken the woman to the city hospital.

However, after her body was found Gilpin confessed to killing her accidently and thendumpingherbody

Anautopsylaterrevealed thatBovelldiedasaresultof blunt force trauma to the head.

BabyOriyahlaidtorest

Seven-month-oldOriyah Gravesande, who died after fallingoffabedatadaycare and suffocating, was on Tuesdayburied.

Oriyah was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital on Tuesday, March21,2023.Shewasleft in the care of a day care located at Ogle, East Coast Demerara(ECD).

Oriyah was the daughter of Shavannie Gravesande and Odysseus Clement. The grieving parents had revealed that their child was dropped off at the day care located in Ogle, on Tuesday morning (March 21) “in good health” not knowing thatwouldhavebeenthelast timetheysawtheirbabygirl alive.

During an emotional interview, Gravesande said, “I was made to understand they murder my daughter, theymurdermydaughter.”

Accordingtothewoman, her daughter fell into the corner of a bed in a sheet which reportedly suffocated her

“So by the time they couldhavecalledmetocome down, she had arrived at the Health Center unresponsive. By the time they could have bring her to Georgetown Hospital, she was pronounced dead on arrival

Dead:

Oriyah Gravesande

due to suffocation,” the distraughtmothershared.

“How can a day care be soirresponsible,toallowmy child to fall down and suffocate?” the young motherquestioned.

“First thing, the day care lady deprive me entrance to seehowandwheremychild really fell, telling me how child care does come every day to inspect so there is no needformetocomein,”the mothersaid.

Accordingtothewoman, herdaughterhadgonehome withaswollenhead,priorto her death. She recalled that an employee of the day care

hadtoldher,“Yourbabyisin safehands.”

Last Wednesday, a postmortem examination (PME) was conducted on baby Oriyah, revealing that she died from hemorrhage and compressiontotheneck.The PME was conducted by GovernmentPathologist,Dr Nehaul Singh, at the Georgetown Public Hospital’sMortuary

TheGuyanaPoliceForce (GPF) in a recent statement disclosed that the owner of thedaycarehasbeenplaced on station bail, as the case file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, on Monday for legal advice.

According to the Police, a joint investigation was conducted by investigators fromtheGPF,theChildCare and Protection Agency, and the Ministry of Human Service and Social Protection. As the Police await the legal advice from the DPP, the day care owner is required to report to the Sparendaam Police Station daily

Moreover, officials had revealed that while the day care owner had been operating for the past 27 years,theyarenotlicensedto doso.

Dead: Patricia Bovell

Yonnic Gilpin, the man charged for allegedly murdering his grandmother

Four months later, no movement in alleged sexual molestation case against track and field coach

Four months after his made a report to a nearby office.

stating, “Relationships to have a sexual relationship step down from his duties at arrest, there has been no police station. The victim H o w e v e r , w h e n should have its borders, and in any form with any athlete, a government agency and movement in the alleged was reportedly taken to a contacted on Tuesday, the any coach, who would want is not condoned by the was banned from coaching sexual molestation case medical facility where a Public Relations Officer at to cross the border where Association.” or being in the technical area against a National Track and sexual assault examination the DPP’s office Liz he’s going to knowingly try The Coach was asked to ofAAGsanctionedevents. Field Coach. The coach was wasconducted. Rahaman, told Kaieteur accused of sexually The Coach was arrested News that the DPP is not in assaulting a 14-year-old whilewitnessingtheSchools receipt of the said file. It is athlete The incident ChampionshiponNovember possible that the file is at the allegedly occurred on 30, 2022 at the Track and Deputy Commissioner of November 26, 2022, while Field Centre in Region Law Enforcement’s Office the coach was assisting Three However, after (CrimeChief). several athletes in preparing spending 72 hours behind Conflicting reports from for the National Schools bars, the Track and Field the police and the DPP’s Championship. coach was released on office has been consistent

The young athlete $100,000 station bail as over the last few months. alleged that after practice at Police stated that they were This has left the alleged the Track and Field Centre, awaiting a response from the victim’s family anxious Leonora, West Coast Office of the Director of aboutthestatusofthecase. Demerara (WCD) she was Public Prosecutions (DPP)

Meanwhile,theAthletics lured into a room at the onthewayforward. Association of Guyana facility where the alleged The DPP, as was (AAG), through its sexualassaulttookplace. reported, had asked for the president, Aubrey Hutson, Kaieteur News reported forensic interview report followingtheincident,stated that the victim related the from the social/welfare thatthelocalgoverningbody alleged incident to a friend, officer to be included in the for track and field does not who then made contact with Police file before charges condone inappropriate a Welfare Officer The couldbelaid.Commanderof behaviour by its affiliated Welfare officer then Region Three, Mahendra coaches. contacted the victim’s Siwnarine told reporters that

The long-serving AAG parents, after which they thefilewassenttotheDPP’s president was adamant in

Rights groups complained about Guyana Government unresponsiveness to queries

Th e U S of its officers were bribed by The Department of Department of a businessman to foil the State’s conclusion that the Statehascitedthe murder investigation of Force did not investigate the

Government of Ricardo Fagundes also bribery claims was made Guyana over its treatment of called‘PaperShorts’. after the Barbadoshumanrightsgroups. The report noted that headquartered Regional

In its 2022 human rights corruption of police officers Security Service (RSS) had report,theUSDepartmentof wasfrequentin2022.Oneof completed a review of the Statehighlightedthatseveral the major corruption Force’s investigation into domestic groups generally scandals was that of senior Fagundes’murder InAugust o p e r a t e d w i t h o u t investigating officers of the last year, the government government restriction, F o r c e ’ s C r i m i n a l was forced to invite the RSS investigating and publishing Investigation Department to review the work done by their findings on human the Force in the murder rights cases. However, probe after Bascom publicly report said that these groups accused the Police Force of also complained of the coveringupthecase. difficulty they encounter

According to media when requesting reports, President information and Mohamed Irfaan Ali support from the had specifically said, Government. “These “the RSS will review groups at times work done on the c o m p l a i n e d murder of Fagundes government officials and will also review the were uncooperative and allegations made by unresponsive to thei Detective Sergeant Dion requests. Bascom”.

3 dead, 13 missing after boat capsizes with African nationals near St. Kitts

Reuters - At least three recent months, local media governmentwouldlaunchan people died and 13 were reported, via charter flights investigation into the illegal missingafteraboattraveling which were briefly allowed boat launch and advised to the eastern Caribbean from the Nigerian capital Africans in Antigua and island nation of St. Kitts and Lagos. Barbuda to avoid illicit Nevis from neighboring I n F e b r u a r y , a schemes and work with state Antigua capsized early government minister told immigrationauthorities. Tuesday morning, a local media that nearly 640 He said the government government news outlet of more than 900 migrants would offer refuge to the said. who boarded the flights survivors,arrangeburialsfor

Theboat,whichcapsized remained on the island, the dead and make every some 12 miles (19 km) south though it was not yet clear if effort to contact their of St. Kitts’Conaree village, they would be given legal relatives. left Antigua with 32 residencyordeported. Of 16 people who were p a s s e n g e r s a b o a r d , In a statement on pulled from the water and Antigua’s government news Tuesday, Antiguan Prime taken to St Kitts, ABS service ABS said in a Minister Gaston Browne reported, two were statement, with many said the government had Antiguan and Barbudan believed to be African been making “been making nationals and 14 from migrants who arrived to the every effort to be helpful to unidentified countries in islandastourists. these brothers and sisters Africa

H u n d r e d s o f from Africa who were C o l o n e l Te l b e r t Cameroonian refugees marooned on Antigua, Benjamin of theAntigua and fleeing a five-year war in the including by granting them Barbuda Defense Force told c o u n t r y ’ s e a s t e r n r e s i d e n c e a n d t h e ABSthatanaircrafthadbeen Anglophone region travelled opportunitytowork.” deployed to help search for to the Caribbean nation in B r o w n e s a i d h i s themissing.

The RSS completed its officials responded, it was review the following month generally to criticise the and on September 09, 2022

They stated that when

(CID) accepted a $30M a groups rather than to publicly reported that it did bribe to cover-up the 2021 investigate allegations,” the notfindanyallegedcover-up murderofFagundes. reportoutlined. in Fagundes’ killing and

“In August, police

The report noted that the called Bascom’s allegations officer, Dion Bascom support and cooperation of “Hearsay”. alleged that a businessman the government is integral to

Many have since bribed members of the correcting many of the criticized the findings, Guyana Police Force to foil human right abuses taking including Fagundes’ an investigation into an place in Guyana. One of the relatives and it appears that execution-style killing of mostcommonviolationsthat the US Department of State Ricardo Fagundes, a gold was highlighted in recent is of the view that the Force miner As of October times the US Department could have done more than (2022), police had not said was the Guyana Police just allow the RSS to review investigated Bascom’s Force’s (GPF) failure to its work into the high-profile claims”, the US Department investigate claims that some murdercase. ofStatesaid.

least $20m’ worth of cocaine headed for Turkey seized in

Peru

- Police say the drug bust happened at a warehouse at Peru’s biggest port El Callao

Aljazeera - Peruvian ports in Belgium, the tonnes of which were authorities say they have Netherlands, Spain and cocaine hydrochloride, seized 2.3 tonnes of cocaine France,” said El Callao’s policedatashows. disguised as ceramic tiles police chief, Colonel Luis Peru and nearby destined for Turkey via a AngelBolanos. Colombiaareamongthetop growing maritime route for Atapressconferenceon global producers of cocaine illicitdrugs. Monday, police displayed and of the coca leaf it is

Thedrugbusttookplace the cocaine, which had been made of, according to the on Friday at a warehouse at fixed to rubber sheets to UnitedNations.

Peru’s biggest port, El appear as hundreds of Production in Peru has Callao, just outside the ceramic tiles packed in been mostly growing along capitalLima,policesaidina wooden boxes inside a the border with Brazil in the statementonMonday shipping container Bolanos Ucayali region, where coca

“This is the first said the seized cocaine was leaf crops have almost incident that we know of [in valuedat“atleast$20m”. sextupled in size in two which the cargo was in] The Andean nation years to 10,229 hectares Peruvian ports and its final seized a record 86.4 tonnes (25,276 acres) in 2021, destination was Turkey of drugs and illicit according to Peruvian Usually, we are aware of substances last year, 28 authorities.

T&T Finance Minister says no to devaluation and going to IMF

CMC–TheTrinidadand “maintaining sound and would be significant TobagogovernmentMonday consistentpoliciestosupport inflation and it would send said it has no intention of the current exchange rate ourpeopleintopoverty.” devaluing the local currency arrangement. Imbert maintained that arguing that it would lead to “The Central Bank of “you don’t have to be a increased inflation and an Trinidad and Tobago rocket scientist to figure out immediate increase in (CBTT) has maintained its if you devalue the dollar importedgoods. reporateat3.5percentsince significantly because we

In addition, Finance March 2020 to support the have a high import bill, Minister Colm Imbert said recovery of the economy b e c a u s e s o m a n y thattheseven-year-oldKeith Increasing the policy rate manufactured goods come Rowley-led administration should be seriously from abroad, so much of our has no intention of going to considered to contain food comes from abroad and the International Monetary inflationary pressures and also you would have Fund (IMF) for assistance to narrow the negative interest demands from the labour furtherboosttheeconomy rate differentials with the US unions, that there will be an

Speaking at a news monetary policy rate,” the inflationary increase that conference on issues arising IMFsaid,adding“thiswould willbeunsustainable.Idon’t from the IMF’s 2023 Article also help mitigate potential think we need to debate this 1V review released last risks of capital outflows and point.” week, Imbert told reporters reduce incentives for Thefinanceministersaid that any devaluation of the excessive risk taking that thatthegovernmentdoesnot localcurrencywouldpresent could threaten financial want to get into an IMF hardshipforthepopulation. stability”. programme,givenespecially

From 1972 to 1976, the Imbert told reporters that that the fund is the lender of Trinidad and Tobago dollar if, for example, the local lastresort. was floated against the currency had to be devalued “Countries go to the IMF British pound sterling, at a rate of 10-to-one “which whentheycan’tborrowfrom however after 1976, it was would be a 50 per cent anybody else…so when they pegged to the United States devaluation or a 40 per cent have nowhere else to turn, dollar devaluation,youwouldhave nobody will lend them

T h e f i r s t m a j o r an immediate increase in the money to balance their depreciation of the Trinidad cost of imported goods and budgets and it is also a andTobagodollarsinceJune you would have immediate country in distress whenever 1976 occurred in December demands from the labour acountrygoestotheIMF.” 1985, when the country’s unions, which would be very He said countries with a currency was devalued 50 difficult to challenge, for “currencycrisis”alsogoesto per cent against the United increasedwages. the IMF, but in the case of Statesdollar “This in itself would Trinidad with an import

In its latest report, the have…a domino effect on cover of eight months, Port Washington-based financial inflation,” he said, adding “ I of Spain does not have the institution said that it was think any serious person problem of countries with at encouraging the authorities would know that if we least one month or even a in Trinidad to continue devalue the dollar there weekcover

‘At

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Elderly Bus Driver wanted for route 32 and 31. Call: 6781610.

Skilled Carpenters, Masons and Labourers needed. Call: 602-9469, 660-6385 or 6257642.

One Housekeeper/ Cook to work 5 days per week, preferably from E.B.D. For more information Call: 609-1434.

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Maid and Driver needed, preferably residing in Eccles area. Call: 223-7165.

Male & Female general Workers and Receptionist needed to work shift at hotel. Apply in person @ 12 Henry Street Werk-en-Rust. Call: 2259211.

Farm Workers needed to work at Hauraruni and Hog Island. Call: 674-8723.

Cook needed in Bel Air area, must be able to prepare Indian & English dishes and perform domestic duties. Call: 624-1473/ 223-9888.

General Domestic needed to work 6am-2pm, preferably from around Ogle, E.C.D. Call: 646-7142.

Housekeeper needed, very good salary offered. Call: 630-0961.

One Female able-bodied Clerk required. Call: 2252313, 226-1497/ 658-8559.

One Truck Driver needed to work Mon-Fri. Call: 2239677.

Canter and Truck Drivers needed, must have atleast 3 yrs experience. Call: 6447088/ 624-7248.

Excavator Operators required, must have atleast 3 yrs experience. Call: 6447088/ 624-7248.

Office Clerk wanted, must have experience in Microsoft Excel and Words. Call: 6447088/ 624-7248.

One Handyman needed to work on the East Coast. Call: 623-8300.

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Male factory workers needed to work in Georgetown, $3500 per day. 7am - 4pm, Mon-Fri, transportation provided. Call: 611-7839.

Urgent Truck Drivers needed at Platinum Investments. Call: 624-2234.

One Domestic Worker needed to work 2 times per week. Address: 192 Duncan Street Newtown kitty. Call: 649-3783.

Wanted: Experienced Supervisor, Cashier, Counter Person , Cooks and Labourer. Apply @ Shanta's, 225 Camp and New Market Sts. Call: 654-1361.

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Bond Attendants/ Porters needed @ Survival Shopping Complex, 173 Sheriff ST. Tel: 609-2995, Email: survivalhumanresources2 @gmail.com

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Supermarket AM & PM Cashiers required @ Survival Shopping Complex, 173 Sheriff ST. Call: 609-2995, Email: survivalhumanresources2 @gmail.com

Nashville school shooter had ‘emotional disorder’ and small arsenal, police say

FOR RENT

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Newly built 1, 2 & 3 bedrooms Apt in E.C.D Highway, $2000 & 1000 USD. Call/ WhatsApp: 700-0030, 1-347841-5872/ +1868-747-4343.

Reuters - The 28-year-old former student who killed three children and three adults at a Christian grade school in Nashville on Monday was under a doctor’s care for an “emotional disorder” and had purchased seven guns ahead of the shooting, the city’s police chief said on Tuesday.

New details about Audrey Elizabeth Hale emerged hours after police released harrowing video showing officers storming the Covenant School and conducting a room-to-room search before confronting and fatally shooting the assailant. Hale employed two assault weapons and a handgun during the assault on the elementary school, the latest in a long string of U.S. mass shootings that have turned guns into a hot-button political issue.

Those three guns were among seven Hale bought legally from five area stores, Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake told reporters on Tuesday.

Hale’s parents did not know that Hale was in possession of seven guns, the chief said, adding that they were under the impression that the suspect had owned only one gun but had sold it. Drake said it appeared that the suspect had some sort of training with firearms. Hale fired on officers from the second floor as they arrived in patrol cars while standing back from large windows to avoid becoming an easy target. Hale left behind a detailed map of the school showing entry points as well as what Drake described as a “manifesto” indicating that Hale may have planned to carry out shootings at other locations. Drake previously said Hale self-identified as transgender. He referred to Hale using female pronouns on Tuesday, though Hale used male pronouns on a LinkedIn page that listed recent jobs in graphic design and grocery delivery.

VACANCY

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

Vacancy exists for two experienced Dispatchers at Confidential Cabs. Call: 6951961 /231-5784.

Able-bodied live-in female Housekeeper to work in Virgina, U.S.A. Between the ages of 30-50 yrs. Call: 845325-8241/ 592-615-5476.

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

1 general Domestic needed to cook & clean, Mon- Fri and preferably living within East Bank Area. Apply at Keyfood, Mc Doom Village next to the post office.

Vacancy exists for 2 experienced Hairdressers at Grove, E.B.D. Call: 652-5800/ 677-0040.

Delivery Clerk, Cleaners and Porters needed. Apply @ Lens Hardware, Call: 2271511/ 645-1613.

Inventory/ Data Entry Clerks required @ Survival Shopping Complex, 173 Sheriff St. Call: 609-2995, survivalhumanresources2 @gmail.com

Heavy equipment Servicemen needed to work in Georgetown. Applicants must be experienced. Call: 231-2250/ 615-0545.

Supermarket Packers/ Porters AM & PM needed @ Survival Shopping Complex, 173 Sheriff St. Tel: 609-2995, survivalhumanresources2 @gmail.com

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

Experienced Pump Attendants needed at Sunrise Marina Gas Station, preferably from Parika area. Send CV to sunrisemarinainc@ yahoo.com or Call: 2620404.

Vacancy exist for Carpenter/ Joiner. Apply at Regency Suites/ Hotel, 98 Hadfield Street, Werk-enRust G/Town. Call: 2260550/ 609-3332.

Experienced Waiter/ Waitress, Counter Server & roti/ puri Cook. Apply @ Hack's Restaurant 5 Commerce St.

Supermarket Floor Supervisor required @ Survival Shopping Complex, 173 Sheriff ST. Tel: 609-2995, Email: survival.humanresources@ gmail.com

Factory Worker needed. Must have a sound secondary education. For more information Call: 227-8041/2.

Accounts Clerk needed. Must have a sound secondary education and 1-2 years Accounting experience. For more information Call: 2278041/2.

Commercial property for rent at Regent & Wellington Streets. Call: 653-1501.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

Subryanville, Diamond West Ruimveldt, Ogle, Better Hope, Good Hope, Peter's Hall, and Agricola. Call Ray's Realty: 627-9685.

18% of Caribbean’s...

From page 8 diversity, inclusion, and equity, and strengthening the institutional context and the rule of law for a better business environment.

SERVICES

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

Elevate your brand with our professional Graphic design services. Call: 619-0007, 629-5526.

Computer repairs available, we come to you! Professional repair on all computer related issues. Call: 645-3184.

Immaculate construction services, professional and affordable tiling, masonry, ceiling, etc. Call: 663-9616.

VEHICLES FOR SALE

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

Last November, Kaieteur News reported that a study conducted by the World Bank found that approximately 48 percent of Guyanese live in poverty and are surviving on less than US$5.5 or GYD$1,000 per day.

LAND FOR SALE

Carmichael Street, Better Hope, Friendship, Garden of Eden & Lethem Commercial area. Call Ray's Realty: 6279685.

In its Fact Sheet on Guyana, the international organisation said the country’s national poverty status is among the highest in the LAC region. Moreover, it pointed out that the poverty levels are highest in the sparsely populated interior or hinterland regions where communities have limited access to economic opportunities, healthcare, and public services.

According to the report, “Guyana’s national poverty headcount, the share of the population living below US$5.5 a day, is among the highest in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Region at around 48 percent.”

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The report also said that Guyana “experiences high emigration and brain drain, with 39 percent of all Guyanese citizens currently residing abroad and roughly half of all Guyanese with a tertiary education have migrated to the United States.”

AAG ‘working’ on securing funding for CARFITA Games team

By Rawle Toney National Javelin record CARIFTA Games

Dthis year are chance to test his speed in the holderAnishaGibbonswillhave Narissa McPherson (400m, U20 boys 100m and 200m; USespite their struggle a chance to secure a third 800m)andJavonRoberts(800m, based Wesley Noble Jr (400m), for funding, the consecutive gold at the 1500m). Seon Booker, based in Jamaica,

A t h l e t i c s Caribbean’s most prestigious Athaleyah Hinckson (100m, will run 800m and 1500m, while Association of Guyana (AAG) track and field event 200m, 400m) will join Odida Parkinson (5000m), remains confident of getting all after being named inting sensation Trevon Hamer (long jump) and 18 athletes and four officials to one of the 1 and medal hopeful Omar James (long and triple the Bahamas for theApril 7 – 10 athletes. Tianna Springer jumps) are the other athletes for CARIFTAGames. G i b b o n s (200m, 400m, Guyana.

Speaking to Kaieteur News claimed gold at 4x100), Tamara Mark Scott, Keisha Burnett, yesterday, the AAG president t h e 2 0 2 2 Harvey (long and Linden Phillips are the said several donors had reached C A R F I T A jump, 4x100m), coaches while Keith Campbell out to pledge their support while Games, her and Adessa will serve as the Team’s they await the Government of second at the Albert (100m, Manager Guyana’s contribution to the Championships, 4x100m). At the 2022 games in team. following her first Malachi Austin Jamaica, Guyana ended their

According to Aubrey Javelin Gold 00m, 400m), participation with seven Hutson, athletes and coaches 2021.

Ezekiel Saul (triple medals– two gold, three silver, should keep their focus on Attoya Harvey, who won jump, high jump), Duel and two bronze – while competing and capturing medals gold in the 1500m, silver in the Europe (long jump), and finishing fifth in the medal at the Championships and 3000m, and bronze in the 800m, Immanuel Adams (high jump) standings behind Trinidad and assuredthattheAAGisdoingall will return to the championships are the U17 boys’ athletes Tobago (23), British Virgin it could to ensure that the toreplicateherdebut. headingtoTheBahamas. Islands (7), The Bahamas (17) approximately$9Missecured. Also returning to the Ezekiel Newton will have a andJamaica(92)

‘Humdrum’ performance from Golden Jaguars in final Nations League match against Montserrat

…Guyana,

By Rawle Toney

Colin Nelson, Kadel Daniel and Kelsey Benjamin.

The Golden Jaguars ended their His substitutes were Akel Clarke (GK), 2022/2023 Nations League campaign with a JoshuaNarine,SamCox,JalenJones,Curtez goallessdrawagainstMontserratlastevening Kellman, Pernell Schultz, Emery Welshman, at Wildey Turf inside the Sir Garfield Sobers Tre Medford, DanielWilson, MarcusWilson SportsComplexinBridgetown,Barbados. and Trayon Bobb Guyana made five

UDCA T20 Final

Man of Match Orlando Williams leads Malali to two wicket win over Royal Champions

The two sides played to a less-than- substitution in the match; Sam Cox replaced entertaining stalemate and will share points, Garrett, Wilson came in for Daniel, Kelman as the Golden Jaguars shifts their attention to handeddefenderNelsonarestandWelshman the CONCACAF Gold Cup where they have wasalatereplacementforLovell. advancedtothepreliminaryround.

The Golden Jaguars entered last

With the results, the Golden Jaguars evening’sgamehavingdefeatedBermuda2ended their run in this edition of the 0,thankstostrikesfromGarrettandGordon. CONCACAF showpiece on 10 points, Though admitting of always being eager earned by picking up three wins (2-1, 2-0 to experiment to learn about his team, against Bermuda and 2-1 against Shabazz had told Kaieteur News that the Montserrat), while suffering back-to-back Golden Jaguars would’ve approached the humiliatingdefeatstoHaiti. game as their first preparatory step towards

The Haitians topped Group B of League the Gold Cup. Nonetheless, with two months B with 16 points (five wins, one draw) and to go before CONCACAF’s marquee will advance to League A of next season’s tournament, Shabazz will have to head back Nations League They also earned an tothedrawingboard,wherehewilltrytofind automatic berth to maindraw of the Gold the right combination to enter the main draw Cup. Montserrat on the other hand, even of the tournament for the first time since though they ended on four points with 2019. Omari Glasgow was the team’s Bermuda,willberelegatedtoLeagueCsince highest scorer in the Nations League this they have a -8 goal difference; conceding 14 year, with the Chicago Fire youth scoring and scored six. Guyana defeated Montserrat, threeofGuyana’seightgoals. 2-1, in their last Nations League meeting in The other goals came fromTrayon Bobb, June, where Adrian Clifton scored that day Liam Gordon, Jeremy Garrett, Emery for Montserrat, and Omari Glasgow had a WelshmanandNathanMoriah-Welsh. brace at the Olympic Stadium in Santo There have been 127 goals scored in 47 Domingo,DominicanRepublic. matches,foranaverageof2.7goalspermatch, Jamaal Shabazz had hoped to either where Haiti’s French-born forward Carnejy replicate or better that performance and Antoineoutgunnedallplayerstoleadwithfive started with Goalkeeper Kai-McKenzie, goals. Antoine scored three of his five goals along with Johnathan Grant, Liam Gordon, against Guyana; two in Haiti’s 6-2 win at the Leo Lovell, Elliot Bonds, Jeremy Garrett, NationalTrack and Field Centre, and once in Omari Glasgow, Bayli Spencer-Adams, theHaitian’s6-0wininSantoDomingo.

Malali, through overswithOrlandoWilliams following other supporting afineallround snaring three for 31 from scores from Rishan

effort from four overs and Denzil Ramnauth 13, Dario Pollard Orlando Williams, were able Spencer taking two for 21 10andTravisGiles15. to score a two wicket win from3.1overs. John Degrella got three against Royal Champions When Malali took to the for 9 from four overs and when they met in the final of crease, Spencer struck 21 Fredericks was expensive the Upper Demerara Cricket from the opening over from taking two for 43 from four Association’s (UDCA) T20 Michael Fredericks which overs. competition which had the set the tone for a good UDCAPresidentBradley backing of the Guyana response. Fredericks handed over the CricketBoard. However, Royals GCB’s winning trophy to

After taking first knock Champions bounced back Peters while the Man of Royal Champions were able with two swift dismissals Match Award was won by to finish with 145 after they beforeWilliamssteppedinto Orland Williams for his allwere bowled out in 17.1 hold the innings together round performances and he overs, behind a fine 52 by withasolid35;andwithfive receivedhistrophyfromMs. Rastaf Oselmo as Michael overs remaining the Malali Jawana Douglas in the Fredericksmade28andJohn side were 131 for five and c o m p a n y o f U D C A Degreallaadded15. captain Trenton Peters was President Fredericks and its K e n o F r e d e r i c k s thereintheendwhenvictory Secretary Ms Jacquey collected 3 for 20 off his 3.1 was achieved on six, Bourne.

Tianna Springer is one of Guyana’s medal hopefuls at the CARIFTA Games (Emmerson Campbell photo)

AAG president, Aubrey Hutson

Captain of Malali Trenton Peters receives the winning GCB Trophy from UDCA President Bradley Fredericks (right) as members of the winning team look on.

Montserrat play to goalless draw in Bridgetown

Final round commences today

From page 33 average of 59 14 The has tallied 354 runs, Zachary tournament and has done so RunsandMostWicketslists, Trinidadian captain also McCaskie(BP)has282runs, twice. respectively, following the recorded two centuries this Jason Mohammed (TTRF) Veerasammy Permaul, penultimateround. season with an even has 265 runs, Sunil Ambris with 22 wickets from four Athanaze,theVolcanoes’ unbeaten 100, being his (WIV) – 256 runs, Matthew matches, continues to be in captain, has amassed 544 highestscore. Nandu(GHE)–248runsand thetoptiereveryseasonwith runs from four matches (8 Third place is occupied the tenth highest runs scorer his latest achievement of innings) at an average of by Guyana’s skipper, thus far is Kieran Powell becoming the highest wicket 73.50.Theright-handerhasa Johnson, with a total of 371 (LIH)with247runs. takerinRegionalCricket. highest score of 141 this runs from four matches. The I n t h e b o w l i n g Bryan Charles (TTRF) is season with two centuries to captain has played eight department, Cornwall has thirdwith19wickets,Chaim addtohisrésumé. innings with a lone unbeaten tallied 27 wickets from four Holder (BP) and Ronsford

In second is TTRF’s century of 150 and averages matchesinfinefashion.Heis Beaton (GHE) both have 18 Darren Bravo, who has 414 aneven53. the only bowler to achieve a wickets, Marquino Mindley runs in four matches at an Kaveem Hodge (WIV) ten-wicket haul for the (JS) has 17 wickets, Justin Greaves (WIV) has 16 wickets, Barbadians Akeem Holder and Joel McAllister have 15 wickets each and Guyanese Nial Smith rounds out the top 10 with 14 wickets.

Wednesday March 29, 2023

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

Don'tletthepositiveenergyof the day pass you by, Aries. You're able to grab hold and make greater use of it than most, so don't hesitate to get going early and keep on going untillate.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

You may be tempted to make up your own rules, Taurus, because you really aren't happy with the ones before you. Be careful of doing so without first understanding the full implications for you andthepeoplearoundyou.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Your actions may be erratic and spontaneous today, Gemini, but they will also most certainly be powerful. You may be driven by a sharp intellectualmind.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Takesometimetobreakoutof your normal routine and see what's going on in the world around you, Cancer You could be so focused and so driven toward a specific goal that you fail to take into accounttherestoftheworld.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Don't feel like you're obligated to jump through otherpeople'shoops,Leo.Just becausesomeonewantsyouto do something doesn't mean youhavetooblige.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Yo u m a y b e a c t i n g unconsciously Suddenly you're halfway through a task and wondering what you really hoped to accomplish by starting it in the first place. Be more conscious of your energyandhowyouuseit.

New date for the opening ceremony of the Easter Vocational Swimming programme is

April 3

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) in partnership with the National Sports Commission (NSC) will now be conducting itsEasterVacationSwimmingProgrammefromApril3-15at the following venues: National Aquatic Centre, Lilliendaal and the Colgrain Swimming Pool, Camp Street, Georgetown, Watooka Swimming Pool, Linden and at the AlbionEstatePool,EastBerbice.

As a result of the changes, the opening ceremony will now be held on Monday 3rd April, 2023 at the National AquaticCenter,Lilliendaal,Georgetownfrom10:00am.

DCB U-19 interassociation...

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Youcanrelyonyourgoodluck to pull you out of difficult situations today, Libra. This is one day when you can launch yourself headfirst without worrying too much about the outcome.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov 21)

Youmayhaveyourguardupas you fend off people and situations that have caught you unprepared. Be careful about putting up such big walls that youcan'tseeoverthem.

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

Anelementofthemysticaland fanciful will play a significant part in your world today This energy is likely to come to you unexpectedly, and your first reaction might be to shy away fromit.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

You may sense that the actions around you are fueled by selfish motives. You may be the only one who really sees what's going on, Capricorn. You feel like an observer on a mountain looking down with disdainonthepeoplebelow

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Take action that will help you find greater freedom in your life. In an attempt to please the peoplearoundyou,youmaybe givinguptoomuchofyourself.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

You may have to consciously let go of some of your plans, Pisces,andsimplyleavethings up to chance. The element of the unexpected can help you out quite a bit, so work with it instead of trying to keep it at bay The natural flow of events should lead you toward a place ofgreaterfreedom.

From page 32 claimed

36 while

Theorganisersofthisprogrammewishestoapologizefor any inconvenience caused, as it relates to changes to the previous dates that were subsequently featured on flyers and allotheradvertisementplatforms.Theprogrammeinvitesall childrenbetweentheagesof6-18yearsold.

Supplementary information can be ascertained from the ColgrainSwimmingPoolandtheNationalAquaticCentreon telephone numbers 226-0387 and 222-1306 respectively betweenthehoursof08:30hrs–16:00hrs.Interestedpersons can also make in-person or online registration for the Easter SwimmingProgramme.

Details can also be garnered from swimming Coach Paul Mahaica via telephone number 615-5714. Your immediate registrationisalsoessentialtoguaranteeparticipation.

In reply, East Coast Demerara raced to their target scoring 180 for7 from 28.1 overs. Lawrence Pellew top scored with a wellcomposed 64 while Romel Datterdeen and Rudranauth Kissoon contributed 32 and 35 respectively Udesh Seetaram was the most effective bowler grabbing 4 for 30 while Vishal Persaud took 2 for 38. East Coast Demerara won by 3 wickets.

Inthesecondroundofthe DCB Under-19 InterAssociation Tournament sponsored by Ariel Enterprise, Trophy Stall, Ramchand’sAutoSparesand Cricket Equipment Inc. East Coast Demerara will battle East Bank Demerara at Farm Ground, while West Demerara will take on Georgetown at GCC on WednesdayMarch29,2023.

Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes U-15 win double over the weekend

AsgarallyNabbiesupportedwith10.

In reply Rose Hall Town Farfan Mendes reached 65 for 3 in 21.4 overs. Tameshwar Deonandan scored a patient 19 not out, he was supported by Munesh Rampersaud 9. Kumalchan Ramnarais all-round Bowling for Port Mourant; Vikesh performance of 8 for 4 off 7 overs and 55 Roopnarineclaimed2for12off5overs. highlightslastweekend. Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes

Played at Port Mourant, Port Mourant defeatedAlbionby88runsatAreaHGround. won the toss and elected to bat first against Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes reached Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes, and 175for7off50overs.KumalchanRamnarais were bowled out for 64 in 24.4 overs. Right- top scored with 55, Matthew Periara 30 and arm off spinner Kumalchan Ramnarais Tameshwar Deonandan 12. Bowling for wreaked havoc on the Port Mourant line up Albion; Chamesh Sewnauth grabbed 2 after he grabbed 8 for 4 off 7 overs. wickets.Inreply,Albionreached87alloutin Parmanand Khuslay top scored with 17 and 28.3overswithR.McKenzietaking5for25.

Kumalchan Ramnarais

Raffel McKenzie

Ceili Peterson

Ceili Peterson to be lone Guyanese Taekwondo Athlete at 2023 Pan Am Games

at age five, and by 13, she S e n i o r W o r l d achievea black belt – often a w o r l d c o m p e t i n g representing Guyana on a b e g a n c o m p e t i n g Championships at the end of four-year journey or more. i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y a t world stage and the internationally As a 14- MayinBaku,Azerbaijan. And for the past 20 years, it tournaments as young as 12 opportunity to inspire boys

Ceili Peterson will be the year-old, she earned a silver Ceili is a 4th Degree has also been an Olympic years old. Peterson said andgirlsaliketosetbiggoals lone Guyanese Taekwondo medal at the 2015 Cadet Pan Master of Taekwondo who sport. This offers a rare she’s grateful to Guyana’s and to pursue their athletic athlete at the Pan American Am Championships in balances training twice daily opportunity for its National Taekwondo interests – perhaps even in Games in Santiago, Chile, Mexico and was a quarter- w i t h i n t e r n a t i o n a l competitors to travel the Federation for the honour of taekwondo. after earning one of the 12 finalist at the Cadet World competitions and her spotsupforgrabsinher49kg ChampionshipsinKorea. universityeducation.

weight class at the Atage16,Petersonwasa She graduated in 2022 qualification tournament in bronze medallist at the 2017 with a Bachelor of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on J u n i o r P a n A m Kinesiology with a Minor in March 23. The Canada- Championships in Costa Psychology from York basedPetersonwasoneof19 Rica, but her dream has University in Toronto, inthedivision. always been to compete and Canada, and she will

Peterson won her first medal at the Olympic commence her Master’s m a t c h a g a i n s t t h e Games.With her sight set on Degree in Kinesiology Dominican Republic and Paris 2024, competing as a f o c u s i n g o n S p o r t then went on to win against Guyana Senior National Psychology in September the host country and second- Team member at the recent 2023. seed athlete from Brazil, P a n A m G a m e s Taekwondo is a martial earningherselfandGuyanaa Qualification Tournament in art that teaches incredible placeattheprestigiousevent Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was a life skills like perseverance, set for October 20 – big step toward achieving r e s p e c t , i n t e g r i t y, November5. thatOlympicdream. dedication, and indomitable

T h e 2 1 - y e a r - o l d Her next National Team spirit. It is a way of life for Peterson started taekwondo event will be theTaekwondo those who work hard to

South Africa fall short of another big run chase as Windies take series

SportsMax - West Indies centurion Quinton de Kock with balls – the knock that ultimately avoided a repeat of their inspiring the Proteas fightback in provedthedifference. remarkable,record-breakingdefeat the second match, having Phenomenal finish in the second T20I against South contributed68offjust28balls. sees Windies safe Africa by clinging on to win the Missing De Kock’s support, it SouthAfrica handed the ball to seriesdeciderbysevenruns. was a one-man effort this time as Kagiso Rabada with some

The Windies had been on the Hendricks scored 83 off 43, not confidence ahead of the 20th over, wrongendofahistoricrunchasein quite enough with South Africa with the bowling superstar having the sides’ previous encounter, the fallingshorton213-6. restrictedtheWindiesto2-24from highest scoring Twenty20 match West Indies had posted the hispreviousthreeovers.

While Hendricks remained in caught by captain Rovman Powell sincetheformatwasintroduced. second-highest T20I total not to Yet Shepherd, twice put down the middle, it appeared very at long on in the 19th over The

But there would be no repeat in include a single fifty but were also by De Kock, smashed Rabada all possible South Africa would pull Windies still have not lost a T20I Johannesburg on Tuesday, even if themselves grateful for the work of around the ground to set a daunting off another stunning recovery It series in South Africa, with two Reeza Hendricks again made life onebatterinparticular target. As a result, the Proteas would have been a record-breaking winsandadraw difficult for the tourists after

However,WestIndieskepttheir South Africa 213 for 6 (Hendricks

In a blockbuster conclusion to needed to match Shepherd with 26 fifth successful 200-run chase in Scores: West Indies 220 for 8 another strong Windies score of thefirstinnings,RomarioShepherd off the last but could only manage theformat. (Shepherd 44*, Nortje 2-36) beat 220-8. hadscored26fromthefinaloverto 18.

Hendricks was credited by top-score with 44 from only 22 Repeat proves beyond Proteas nerve, crucially having Hendricks 83, Joseph 5-40) by seven runs.

Alzarri Joseph claimed five wickets to swing victory for the West Indies. (AFP/Getty Images file photo)

Ex-Guyana youth player Madholall’s 10th death anniversary cricket event set for April

ormer Guyana matches.

Fhe played for his county at The four teams are: Beharry, Trevis Simon, youth player The four teams will the various levels, too. On Marco Giants, Aneesa Latchmikant Narine, Elroy S h i v a n a n d a n feature in a 10-10 knockout his cricketing credentials, Rebels, BAC Kings and Stephney, Roy Gonsalves

Madholall’s tenth basis before a final which Shivanandan captained a Shivanandan United The and Shawn Narine among death anniversary softball willbea15-oversaffair West Indies Under-19 two finalists will be changed o t h e r s R o v e n d r a four-team cricket matches “We [are] still saddened development team at the to Rocky Warriors and commented that ten trophies are set for April 16th at since his death but his regionalyouthtournamentin HamletGladiators. will be up for grabs for both Reliance Sports ground, contribution to cricket was 1999.

According to Rovendra, team and individuals with EssequiboCoast,Region2. massive and we are really Rovendra Mandolall, since Shivanandan would outstandingperformances.

Madholall passed away looking forward to run off a who also would have played have started his cricketing The two finalists will be in 2013 at the age of 30 four-team competition to for Guyana at the under-19 career at Reliance, a number wearing jerseys with owingtoMalaria. mark his 10th death level, informed that this is a of players are invited from Shivanandan’s photo

However, his eldest anniversary,” Mandolall significant year to his village and former inscribed Mandolall is brother Rovendra Mandolall mentioned. commemorate his death. He Essequibo Inter-County assuring fans that they will stated that his family is Shivanandan Madholall has expressed his gratitude players as well Some be treated with musical and excited to remember him represented Guyana at both to all the teams for coming names are: Beesham dancing entertainment along with a day of cricket under-15and19levelswhile outonthatday Seepersaud,RameshNarine, w i t h F a c e b o o k Rovindra Parsram, Ravi Commentary

Kevin Joseph U-23 Basketball in Linden

Kid Rock Blazers start on winning note as Raiders and Royals have mixed results

Royals and Raiders battle it out.

Two wins and a perfect winagainstRetrieveRaiders won for the second time start was how Kid Rock and in game two Kid Rock beating Victory Valley Blazers began their hunt but Blazers were 52-40 winners Royals 51-48 with Jennis RetrieveRaidersandVictory overBlock22Flames. Benjamin getting a game Valley Royals had mixed The next day, Retrieve high 23 points and Leon fortunes when the Kevin Raiders scored a 42-37 win Benjamin andTieshawn Kitt Joseph Under-23 basketball against Kings behind 26 eachnetting10points.Rakin competition began last points by Neil Marks (Jr.) as McDonald and Kobe Tappin weekend at the Retrieve Shamar Savoury contributed jointly top scored for the CommunityHardCourt. 13andJamalSemplewith12 Royals with 15 points

On Saturday to bounce points was the top scorer for apiece The competition off the tournament Victory theKings. continues this Saturday and ValleyRoyalsscoreda64-59 Kid Rock Blazers then Sundaywithdoubleheaders.

One Movement Entertainment to host 40-over fixture on April 7 at QC

One Movement Entertainment in McAllister, U. Balgobin, O. Andrews, D. collaboration with Quality Deliverer will be Junior, N. Permaul, S. Wilson, M. Parks, R. hosting a 40-over fixture on April 7 at Waithe, J.Thomas and K. Singh.The event Queen’sCollege. Thegamewillcommence is being sponsored by One Movement at 11:00hrs and will see Adrian Hinds XI Entertainment, One Movement Heat playingBernardBaileyXI. Transfer Shop, Quality Deliverer, Eclipse HindsXIreads;AdrianHinds,T Imlach, Enterprise, Rapid Results,At Tahweed Wan T Hicks, J. Ferrell, M. Deonarine, R. NoorVarietyandSupermarket,JS17Online Sukhnandan, E.Wilson,A. Baksh, L. Parks, Cricket Shopping, CR7 Bats Repair Shop, J.Blair,M.PermaulandC.Rimple. OKC Farm Productions and C and C Bailey XI; B Bailey, J Scott, J DetailingServices.

Shivanandan Madholall

FinestarttoYouthCaribbeanC/Ship

- Guyana’s U-15 and U-19 boys registers wins on first day

Scenes from day one of the Youth Caribbean table tennis championship.

The opening of the 26th championshipastheybidfor matches. Unfortunately the Andre Calderon (St Lucia) Youth Caribbean Table championship title The Under-15 girl’s team made and Colin Wong defeated Tennis championship tournament will run from up of Samara Sukhai, RawsonHarrisaswell. th commenced on 27 March at March27–April2. Jasmine Billingy and Seona Meanwhile, Conroy the National Gymnasium After two rounds of Barker went down 3-1 to Henry (Jamaica) defeated M a n d e l a A v e n u e , competition the country’s TrinidadandTobago. Guyana’s Umar Percival, Georgetown as some of the Under-15 and Under-19 Over in the Under-19 while Van Lange came back top Caribbean territories boy’s opened their division: the U-19 girl’s at the latter part of the make their quest for youth Caribbean youth table tennis featuring Thuria Thomas, evening to defeat Joel supremacy. Countries such championship campaign Akira Watson and Shakecy Buttler (Jamaica) 3-1 to as Trinidad and Tobago, with victories in the opening Damon loss to Jamaica 3-0. closeofftheevening. Dominica Republic, sessionsonMonday. ButtheUnder-19boy’steam Day two of the Youth Jamaica, Saint Lucia, The Under-15 boys got of Jonathan Van Lange, Caribbean Table Tennis Barbados, Grenada, Haiti, the better of Barbados after Colin Wong, Krystian championship continued h Cuba and host Guyana will MalachiMoore,EboMcNeil Sahadeo came out and yesterday 28 March for beparticipatingatthisyear’s and Daniel Darrius copped defeated St Lucia 3-1; threeandfourthroundaction Y o u t h C a r i b b e a n wins in their singles Jonathan Van Lange beat De atthesamevenue.

DCB U-19 inter-association tournament 2023 gets underway

- Ariel Enterprise,Trophy Stall,Ramchand’s Auto Spares and Cricket Equipment Inc.on board

In the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) Under-19

I n t e r - A s s o c i a t i o n

Tournament sponsored by Ariel Enterprise, Trophy Stall, Ramchand’s Auto

Spares and Cricket Equipment Inc, East Bank Demerara outplayed Georgetown by 5 wickets as KrsnaSinghspunhiswayto a six-wicket haul while East Coast Demerara dismissed West Demerara by 2

Zorg, East Coast Demerara wickets. won the toss and opted to

Over at the Queens bowl first. West Demerara

C o l l e g e G r o u n d , took the opportunity to bat

Georgetown won the toss and scored a well-composed and elected to bat scoring through the Georgetown 176 all out from 43.3 overs.

37 1 overs Anthon Lim 122 all out in 25.1 of their batting-line up, grabbing 6

Clifton Moore

Boxing Trainer Clifton Moore to participate in IBA Online 1 Star Coaching Course

An o t h e r empower its technical developmental officers, who in return will

chapter in the impart the knowledge Guyana Boxing Association acquired to the benefit of the (GBA)’s thrust to empower sporting landscape We its technical officers was believe that qualified written, as trainer Clifton teachers will naturally Moore will participate in the develop competent students International Boxing and certification and Association (IBA) Online 1 a c c r e d i t a t i o n v i a Star Coaching Course, international channels is whichisslatedforApril. pivotal to the development Moore’s participation of the discipline. This is the was confirmed by an official only way that a collective r e l e a s e f r o m I B A approach to development

Development Officer Chris canoccur.”

Roberts OBE. The release He further stated, stated, “We are pleased to “Because the Caribbean is informyouthatyourcoaches only represented by a small have been selected to cadre of trainers at this participate in the 1-Star f o r u m , M o o r e ’ s CoachesCertificationcourse participation is even more o r g a n i z e d b y t h e important and evident of the International Boxing GBA’s push to certify its A s s o c i a t i o n ( I B A ) trainers.Thisisapillarinour Congratulations on taking developmental agenda, a this important step in their synergy that exists in the coachingcareer.” advancement of both

TheIBA1StarCoaching athletes and coaches, and Certification begins the this will be a constant pathways for emerging objective and mantra for the trainers to ascertain foreseeablefuture.”

international accreditations Coach Moore, who is underthegoverningbody tasked with leading a squad Moore, who hails from of boxers at an international the Vergenoegen Boxing assignment in St. Lucia in Gym in Region #3, will be the final days ofApril, is the among 39 participants at the second technical officer prestigiousforum. from the GBA to participate

Thecountriesthatwillbe in IBA certification training represented include withinamonth.

Bermuda, Iran, New Three-star coach Sebert Zealand, Chinese Taipei, Blake was afforded the England, Cape Verde, opportunity to partake in the Belgium, Italy, Namibia, IBA Cutman Technician Netherlands, Nigeria, Course, which has just Singapore, Slovenia, concluded at the Women’s Solomon Islands, Sweden, World Championship in Trinidad and Tobago, and New Delhi, India from Zambia. March15–31.

Middle order batter scored 27 not out, while allotted 50 overs West for 37 while Dravid

M a r l o n R a m s u r a c e Indies Under-19 batter Manohar collected 2 for 32, brilliant 51 not out while contributed 25 and Dravid Mavindra Dindyal and Josh Charles and Anthon opener Anthony Sanchara Manohar20.EzekielWilson National Wicket-keeper Lim claimed one wicket a scored 30 and Nityanand was the lone wicket taker ShamarYearwoodscored26 piece. Mathura chipped in with 24. claiming 2 for 16. East each, while Rivaldo Phillips In reply, East Bank

Rezekeil Renee scored a

The course will occur Blake, who is part of a from April 4 – 12 via the small cadre of Three Star online platform Zoom, with coaches in the Caribbean, March 30 scheduled as the was the first ever Guyanese final date for confirmation to participate in such an by the respective national importantseminar associations. At the time of the

L e f t a r m s p i n n e r Bank Demerara won by 5 chipped in with 21. Off Demerara marched to their

ChanderpaulRamraj wickets spinner Krsna Singh ripped target scoring 123 for 5 in

Over at Meter-Meer-

(Continued on page 27)

According to GBA seminar, Blake served as the President Steve Ninvalle, trainer for Caribbean Junior “This is another tangible Champions, siblings Alisha example of the association’s and Abiola Jackman, at the unwavering pledge to prestigiouscompetition.

Lawrence Pellew

Krsna Singh Rezenkiel Renee

Kraft Heinz Junior Skills Level Squash tournament concludes

Heinz Mac and Cheese

Junior Skills Level Squash tournament concluded on Sunday at the Georgetown Club Courts (GTC). With a turnout of over 30 players and close to a hundred matches 6 winners were crowned.

After 7 days of play, winners Demetrius De Abreu , Zachary Persaud, Safirah Sumner, and Ethan Bulkanremainedundefeated in their categories. The respective categories results were:

CategoryAThe Cheesiest

Participants and GSA officials pose at the conclusion of Kraft Heinz Junior’s skills level tournament.

1stDemetriusDeAbreu Creamy, the largest group of off his team mate and bodes Deje Dias giving a nod of JuniorSquad BoysU11

2ndShilohAsregado 12 players and 42 matches, well for his future The approvaltohisperformance. BoysU19 JibrilAli

3rdKirstenGomes culminated in a close battle Caribbean Champion T h e ‘ H e a r t o f a NicholasVerwey EthanBulkan

BSpiral between players Edwards awakened from the Champion’ award went to MichaelAlphonso ZionHickerson

1stZacharyPersaud and Singh; both in their first improvedperformanceofDa young Zion Hickerson (Age DemetriusDeAbreu Girls

2ndChadDeAbreu tournament finals. Games Silva and raised his play 8), who is a racket sport BoysU17 GirlsU19

3rdSaeedSattur were tight with the point level, in turn securing the prodigy, showing talents in LouisDaSilva KirstenGomes

CThreeCheese leader being exchanged next3Games. Table Tennis and Lawn MohryanBaksh GirlsU17

1stSafirahSumner varioustimes. The awards of ‘Most Tennis. ShilohAsregado SafriahSumner

2ndJustinTenPow One game even went to a Promising Girl’ went to ZionhasaddedSquashto JoshuaVerwey RyleeRodrigues

3rdJeremyTenPow 17-15 Tie Break in favour of Malia Maikoo who fought his growing repertoire of ChadDeAbreu GirlsU15

DThickandCreamy Singh, but Edwards fiercely through many tough beingatopjuniorathlete. JeremyTenPow AveryArjoon

1stBlakeEdwards managed to close off the matches, handling high The true importance of DemetriLowe MaliaMaikoo

2ndNandishrajSingh final in 4 games with pressure scenarios with a this event is that it functions BoysU15 EmilyFung-A-Fat

3rdMaliaMaikoo superior deep shots; besting levelhead. as a scouting event for the RichardRodrigues JnaeSingh

EWhiteCheddar his opponent at critical The ‘Most Promising National Junior Squad. The BrennoDaSilva GirlsU13

1stEthanBulkan points. Boy’ Richard Rodrigues GSAhasselected9Girlsand AvianWade KayleeLowe

2ndZionHickerson The Special Playoff saw tookhisdebuttournamentby 13 boys for their squad and BoysU13 TiannaGomes

3rdJacobMcDonald Da Silva taking the opening storm. 11 younger players for the JustinTenPow GirlsU11 SpecialPlayoff game against the 2022 U17 His grit and tenacious Developmental Squad. The MatthewDaby ZoeMcDonald

1stNicholasVerwey Caribbean Champion play style tested the top fulllistisoutlinedbelow KaidenAli AmayaLynch

2ndLouisDaSilva Verwey This is the first players of his category, with G u y a n a S q u a s h BenjaminPhang TehaniMunroe Group D Thick and gameDaSilvahasevertaken the Tournament Director Association National JabobMcDonald FolaCadogan

2022/23 West Indies Championship…

tackle Hurricanes at Providence Final round commences today

- Harpy Eagles

Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) on Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) points from a win, a loss and two will begin their final match of the YouTubeChannel. draws. In fifth place is Trinidad & 2022/23West Indies Championship, The undefeated Harpy Eagles Tobago Red Force, who are winless, today, against the Leeward Islands areinafavourablepositiontoliftthe with two drawn results and two Hurricanes (LIH) at the Guyana title for a sixth time under the lossestotheirtally,foratotalof28.6 National Stadium, Providence, as leadership of Leon Johnson. After points. th the host nation closes in on their 13 four rounds, they command the Jamaica Scorpions have had a FourDay-formattedtitle. Point Standings with 68.2 points torridtournamentandsitinthecellar The other two matches billed for fromthreewinsandadraw with 21.2 points on the board. Their this round will see Trinidad and Windward Islands Volcanoes campaign, like TTRF’s, has not Tobago Red Force (TTRF) host trail closely in second on 58 points produced any win but they have a Jamaica Scorpions (JS) at the Brian from two wins and as many draws drawandthreebleakdefeats. Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, while the defending champion, Athanaze, Cornwall atop while Windward Islands Volcanoes Barbados Pride, occupy third place individual performances… (WIV) take on Barbados Pride at the with 50 points from two wins and Alick Athanaze (WIV) and Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, twolosses.

Rahkeem Cornwall (LIH) have T&T

Fifth place is currently occupied excelled in this season’s individual All matches commence from by Leeward Islands Hurricanes with performancesandleadtheMost 10:00 hrs and will be live streamed 41.4 points; they acquired their (Continued on page 27)

Veerasammy Permaul (left) and Ronsford Beaton share 40 wickets between them this season.