Kaieteur News

Fawazz McRae

Linden man now charged with murder of police sergeant

96 hours blackout recorded last year

In January this year, it was year reported that offshore flaring in Guyana peaked at 71.88 Million Standard Cubic Feet (MMSCF)

World Bank urges oil producers to reduce flaring

...as flaring offshore Guyana peaked at 71.88 Million Standard Cubic Feet (MMSCF) in January

The World Bank said that oil and gas companies need to rapidly accelerate the decline in global flare volumes if the world is to end routine flaring by 2030. The bank's caution comes amid a report, which disclosed that global gas flaring has fallen to its lowest levelsince2010.

However, in Guyana flaring continues to be a p r o b l e m w i t h environmentalist calling on thegovernmentandoilMajor, ExxonMobiltodomoretocut the pollution. In January this year, it was reported that offshore flaring in Guyana peaked at 71 88 Million Standard Cubic Feet (MMSCF).

The latest Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report (GGFR), a leading global and independent indicator of gas flaring, finds that global gas flaring decreased by three percent to 139 bcm in 2022 from 144 bcm in 2021. Oil production increased by 5 percent to 80 million barrels per day (bbl/d) from 77 bbl/d in2021.Asaresult,theglobal average flaring intensity—the amount of gas flared per b a r r e l o f o i l produced dropped to 4 7 m3/bbl in 2022 from 5.1 m3/bblin2021.

Thereportstatesthatthree countries, Nigeria, Mexico, and the United States, accounted for most of the declineinglobalgasflaringin 2 0 2 2 . T w o o t h e r countries Kazakhstan and Colombia— stand out for consistently reducing flaring

volumes in the last seven years, the report published by the World Bank noted. The top nine flaring countries continue to be responsible for the vast majority of flaring. Russia, Iraq, Iran, Algeria, Venezuela, the United States, Mexico, Libya, and Nigeria account for nearly threequarters of flare volumes and just under half of global oil production.

This wasted gas could displace dirtier energy sources, increase energy access in some of the world's poorestcountries,andprovide many countries with muchneeded energy security. If put to productive purposes, the amount of gas flared in 2022, could generate as much electricity as Sub-Saharan Africa currently produces in a year

According to the bank, decreasedRussiangasexports to the European Union (EU) did not increase gas flaring in Russia In 2022, the EU significantly increased its liquified natural gas imports from the United States, Angola, Norway, Qatar, and Egypt, and via pipeline from Azerbaijan and Norway Of these countries supplying gas to the EU, the United States and Angola have made n o t a b l e p r o g r e s s commercializing associated gas streams and increasing LNGexport.

GGFR estimates that in 2022 gas flaring released 357 million tonnes of CO2e, 315 milliontonnesintheformof (Continued on page 3)

Eight firms line-up to buy Marriot Hotel

Eight firms have submitted their Expression of Interests(EOIs)intheirbidto acquire the profitable GuyanaMarriottHotel.

The almost US$60M hotel started under Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo's tenure as President using taxpayers' dollars and other funds. The hotel was opened in 2015 and is owned by the Government through the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited(NICIL).

In an advertisement published on December 13, 2022, NICIL issued a prequalification notice, seeking EOIs from persons or companies,individuallyoras part of a joint venture / consortium, with an interest in purchasing its shares in Atlantic Hotel Inc (AHI), a

special purpose company owned by NICIL for the acquisition of the Guyana MarriottHotel.

Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NICIL, Radha Krishna Sharma, on We d n e s d a y e v e n i n g confirmed to this publication that eight firms have submitted their EOIs. The deadlineforsubmissionswas on January 10, 2023 Kaieteur News had reported that after investing US millions into the Marriott Hotel and burdening taxpayers with a USmultimillion dollar loan that the hotel was unable to service,theGovernmentthen decided to sell the controversialhotel.

Back in 2017, AHI was unable to meet its due financialobligationstorepay a loan from Republic Bank

LimitedofTrinidad.Assuch, AHI had requested the assistance of NICIL, the guarantor but the State agency was also unable to assist. In order to prevent the hotel from being acquired by the bank, the former Government in April 2017 made the decision to transfer AHI's financial obligations to the Central Government. This decision has resulted in US$1 1 million ($226 million) of taxpayers dollars coming out every six months (since 2017) to service the US$27 million loan – for a 13-yearperiod.

The Marriott Hotel has been deemed over the years as a monument of corruption and a colossal waste of t a x p a y e r s ' m o n e y Importantly, financial statements for the hotel have not been made public for

World Bank urges oil producers...

From page 2 carbon dioxide, and 42 million tonnes CO2e in the form of methane. Methane, the primary component of natural gas, is a potent but short-lived greenhouse gas, with a warming potential much higher than carbon dioxide. The oil and gas industry is a significant source of methane emissions globally Reducing methane emissions is one of the most crucial climate actions that can be undertaken in the short term The Tracker Report also highlights the significant uncertainty surrounding the methane emissionsfromgasflaring.

If the average flare is just 5 percentage points less efficient in burning the gas than generally assumed, then globally, the amount of methane released would be three times higher than currentlyestimated.

Gas flaring, the burning ofnaturalgasassociatedwith oil extraction, takes place duetoarangeofissues,from market and economic constraints to a lack of appropriate regulation and political will However, alongside the countries that continuedtoreduceflaringin 2022, several other countries including Algeria and Egypt—provide hope that they will follow suit and that their efforts to reduceflaringwillaccelerate as the key ingredients for success, such as effective regulation and enforcement, p o l i t i c a l w i l l , a n d infrastructure are put in place.

Meanwhile,thebanksaid while global flare volumes fell over the last year, greater

efforts are needed to sustain flare reductions and reduce methane emissions At a global level, the resumption of the longstanding decouplingofgasflaringand oil production is welcome. Still, oil and gas producers needtorapidlyacceleratethe decline in global flare volumes if we are to end routineflaringby2030.

T w o c o u n t r i e s spotlighted in this year's report – Angola and the United States – provide evidence of the reductions in flaring that can be achieved when operators and governments work together to develop an integrated gas valuechaintocommercialize associated gas. On energy security, the shift by European countries away from importing Russian oil and gas during 2022 has not r e s u l t e d i n a n increaseinRussianflaring.

ExxonMobil last year paid US$9 million to the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)toflareexcess gas at its offshore operations in the Stabroek Block. This information was revealed during the Consideration of the Budgetary Estimates early this year by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira. TheEPAintroducedaflaring fine following rampant offshore flaring by Exxon's operator, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) in 2019, shortly after the start-up of firstoilatLizaOne.

The fine was increased from US$45 per every ton of carbon dioxide emitted through flaring to US$50. It can therefore be determined

several years. Now sevenyears after being operational andtoutingtheinvestmentas o n e o f t h e m o s t “transformational project”, the PPP-administration is now ready to sell the hotel and is moving forward with itsplantodoso.

dilemma involving the project's realisation He indicated that a lot of money wasneededtocorrectdefects at the hotel and even more to service loans taken by the project'shandlers.

Jordan agreed that with the finances unavailable, it is unclear whether anything was invested to make the hotel profitable and if not, then it would be selling at a loss.

that the oil giant made payments on approximately 180,000 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide equivalent (CO2e) flared last year Presently, oil is being produced at two fields in Guyana's rich Stabroek Block, inclusive of LizaOneandLizaTwo. The oilcompanyhasalwaysbeen hesitant to release its flaring data In July last year, Production Manager at ExxonMobil Guyana, Mike Ryan had told members of the media that the company was finally able to bring an end to the gas compressor woes that plagued the Liza Destiny floating, production, storage and operating (FPSO) vessel The malfunctioning equipment hadledtotwoyearsofflaring which released over 200 toxic chemicals into the atmosphere.

Ryan said the Exxon teamwasabletosuccessfully install a new compressor from Germany and was even open to sharing that over US$10M in flaring fees had been paid over to the EPA. But what the Production Manager carefully dodged was questions posed by Kaieteur News on the amount of gas flared to date via the Liza Destiny FPSO forthetwo-yearperiod.

Ryan would only repeat that the company maintained full compliance with the EPA's permitted parameters for flaring which was between15-7 million cubic feet of gas per day After publicpressure,thecompany came out saying that “To date, we have made payments on 279,537.33 tonnes of CO2e (Carbon Dioxideequivalent)flared.”

Shortly after it was made public that the Government had intentions of selling the Marriott Hotel, Former Finance Minister Winston Jordan, had called on the Government to disclose the hotel's financial documents toascertainwhetherthehotel was a plus or minus for Guyana.

In an interview with Kaieteur News, Jordan described the Government's action to sell the hotel as “interesting” given the

Itisunclearwhatposition the hotel is in, and the former minister believes that information should be communicatedtothepublic.

He recalled that during t h e D a v i d G r a n g e r Government, it was established that the administration was not interested in owning a hotel and wanted to sell the business. He said it was soon discovered however that the state of the finances would not allow them to sell the company and realised sums morethanwhatwasinvested.

He said one thing that is known for sure is that the casino was never built and so profitability is still a question.“Unlessyouseethe financials of Marriot, you don'tknowwhatisbeingsold because even if you are selling your shares, your shareshavetobebasedonthe profitability or the worth of thestock.

And the worth of the Institution is not what you put in it but what the market is prepared to pay or value your shares at,” Jordan opined.

The Guyana Marriott Hotel

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

Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS

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

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

Guyanese are concerned about crime, harbour considerablefearsfortheirsafety Theyarealsoconcerned by what can be interpreted as the inconsistent nature of the punishments handed out to those found guilty of criminal conduct, especially ones involving violence and firearms. Punishments for serious crimes appear to be more than inconsistent,withwordslikeerraticandinexplicablecoming tomind,astherecanbewideswingsinthesentencesmeted outtodifferentperpetratorsforsimilarcrimes.

Whenwespeakofseriouscrimes,thefocusisonmurder, rape, arson, robbery under arms, and felonies of that same frighteningkind.

TheGuyanaPoliceForce’sseriouscrimeresolutionrate has been on the rise in recent times, and we commend this vitalprotectiveinstitutionforthisrecord. Nonetheless,there are too many cases where serious crimes have been committed,felonscharged,onlyforwhentheyappearbefore the courts, cases falling apart for various reasons Insufficiency of evidence and sloppy preparation work among other concerns, have led to some accused being set free by the courts. The worry is that we usually never hear again of someone else being charged for that crime committed, where a citizen may have been murdered. This means one of two things, with first the guilty walking scotfree due to poor case preparation, or those who have never being charged roaming around at will in society without so much as a touch of the long arm of the law interfering with theirfreedom.

In terms of actual sentencing, some found guilty have beensentencedtolifeimprisonment,whilesomehavebeen slappedwithsentencesthatarestillconsiderable,butdecades less. Thisjustdoesnotmakesense,notwithstandingthefacts of surrounding circumstances, such as remorse, first time offender,helpfulprobationreport,andsoon. Weappreciate aswellasthenextpersonthateachcasehasitsownpeculiar setofcircumstances,andallofthosecouldweighheavilyin themindofajudgefacedwiththeharddutyofdecidingwhat punishmentisappropriatetothecrime,nonelikethoseones thatmanifestedaparticularsavageryandrecklessdisregard forlifeandlimb.

Still, it is never less than baffling that one convicted murderercouldbesentencedtotherestofhislifeinjail,while another,involvedinwhatsocietyperceivesasnolesswanton andcallousanddreadful,isslappedwithasentenceof20to 30 years. Again, we are aware of the discretion that judges have in sentencing, and some of them have chalked up recordsthatindicateawillingnesstoutilizetothemaximum. Theanxietiescometothesurfacewhenobserversbelievethat toomuchleniencyhasbeenextendedtotheconvicted. Most of the time, the only one concerned about a sentence that is tooharshistheconvict,whowastesnotimecryingoutabout itbeingoverlyexcessive.

The reality is that there are many in Guyanese society, whobelieve,thatsomemurderers,ifnotallofthem,should be flogged, and put away for life, with no opportunity for parole. Those who kill or maim during the commission of violent home invasions are not favored with any sympathy; citizensarecomfortablewiththembeinglockedupforgood. However, there is another reality that has to be faced. Corruption is not limited to politics and within the public service realms, but touches every corner and level of local society.

There are considerable amounts of money available to buyjustice,todelayjustice,ortodilutejustice. Sourcescan befromdomesticbusinesstransactionsofanykind,orfrom relatives who are overseas based. Such funding have long beenperceivedtotamperwiththescalesofjustice,including insuchcrimesasrape,violenceagainstwomen,andothersof alikeheinousnature.

Though no aspersions are cast in any direction, this pregnant consideration hangs in Guyanese society Given concerns about disparity in punishment, there should be consideration of limiting discretion to a narrow range of offenses, and with mandatory sentences as the standard for firstdegreefelonies. Inthiswaytherecouldbeconsistency insomethingthathaslongtroubledlocalsociety

At this stage of our lives, it’s time to come clean Hammie

DEAREDITOR,

A good friend of mine sent me a video clip of Mr Hamilton Green attacking a billboarderectedontheEast BankhailingDr Jaganasthe Father of the Nation. In that video, Mr. Green gave several reasons for his positions. From the outset, let me say almost all the points he made were distorted and some were downright untrue. The first point he made was that the PPP government in June 1953 did not go to meet the Queen in Jamaica after her coronation.Mr Greencalled itamistake.Perhapsitwas.

However, it was not Dr Jagan’s alone that held that position. Burnham who was thentheChairmanofthePPP

was of that view as well. In fact, in that period Mr Burnham used to describe himself as the only Marxist in the PPP Other leaders of the PPP who took that position were Martin Carter, Rory Westmass, Sydney Kingamongothers.Theyfelt that it was enough that the colony was represented in Londonatthecrowning.

To now blame Dr Jagan alone for that decision is incorrectbyalongshot.That wasacollectivedecision.

The other “mistake” he spoke about was the solidaritygivenbythePPPto Julius and Ethal Rosenburg whoweresentencedtodeath in the US for allegedly spying for the Soviet Union. HereagainMr Greenisvery

misleading.Itistruethatthe PPP government passed a motion in the Legislative Assembly calling on the President of the USA to exerciseclemencyforthem.

At that time, people all over the world felt it was persecution and that the couple was innocent. It was at a time when Mc McCarthyism was rampant in the US and many people, Communist and noncommunists were being persecuted, these included Paul Roberson, and the famous film writer Trumbo. Many innocent people were destroyed by the extremism ofSenatorMcCarthy

So,thePPPwasnotalone in calling for clemency for them, it was on the side of

progressivepeopletheworld over demanding this and giving solidarity to the couple. This included the Pope! How this was a mistakeisamystery!Indeed, it was an act of humanism and solidarity He then accused Dr Jagan of not joining the Non-Align Movement, suggesting that Jagan was hostile to it and thathehadanopportunityto joinanddidnot.

That is totally untrue. Cheddi Jagan held the NonAligned Movement and its founders in very high esteem. But how could the country join that movement when we were (a) still a colonyand(b)evenifitwas possibleforacolonytojoin

(Continuedonpage6)

Collapse of USASilicon Valley Bank, a lesson for PPPon poor short-term management

DEAREDITOR,

Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), the main venture capital community and the USA’s 16th largest bank experienced a sudden fall, and many are asking where the Federal Agency and California Banking Authorities was, as they had tonoticetheriskinessofthis fall. On March 17, 2023 Santa Clara, Californiabased SVB Financial filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The assets and loans of collapsed US lender Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) were boughtbyrivalFirstCitizens Bank and all of Silicon Valley Bank’s 17 branches opened on Monday March 27, as “Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank ” First Citizens is based in Raleigh, North Carolina and calls itself America’s biggest familycontrolled bank. It has been one of the largest buyers of troubled banks in recent years.

First Citizen bought around $72bn of SVB’s assetsandloansatadiscount of $16.5bn. (77% DISCOUNT) The FDIC willstillholdabout$90bnof SVB’s assets. CASH is KING First Citizens purchased all of SVB’s depositsandloans,aswellas a large portion of its assets, leaving about $90 billion in securities and other assets under the control of the FDIC.

As SVB grew to be the 16thlargestinAmerica,SVB invested their funds in long-

term bonds when rates were near zero, and when interest rates rose, those long-term bond prices fell, cratering their investments, that it suffered a $1.8 billion aftertaxlossandurgentlyneeded to raise more capital to address depositor concerns, as heavy withdrawals were being experienced SVB failed because the bank did not protect itself from the risk of a reversal in market conditions linked to the upward move in interest rates SVB had acquired Treasury bonds when interestrateswerelow The problem is that the bankhadnotanticipatedthat interest rates would rise. When the Fed began boosting rates to fight inflation, the bank’s bond portfolio lost value. Bond prices and interest rates moveinverselytoeachother SOCIAL MEDIA was a MAJOR factor which triggered the massive withdrawals, and news flashescausedpanicwhichis the heart of SVB collapse. Scary social messages should be prosecuted but consideration for public interest in freedom of speech, to be respected Banksshouldbetrustworthy and its executives and managers to keep calm, continue, and avoid the collapse.

However, it is now clear that the CEO was not up to thegargantuantaskofdoing, acting, and leading with transparency, integrity, and truthfulness.Mostcustomers at SVB failed to watch,

monitor, and check on their monies and bank financials, operations,andnewsalerts.

When a member FDIC bankfails,theFDICstepsin to protect deposits The agency first attempts to complete the acquisition of the failed bank by another financial institution. If you have an account at a failed bank,theFDICwillcutyoua check for the value of your insureddeposits.

The USA Government via Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) agreed to cover deposits at the federally insured limit of $250,000, and99%ofSVBcustomers have many millions more than the $250,000 FDIC limit Several lawmakers have since discussed raising the $250,000 limit or abolishingitaltogether

The mission of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is to maintainstabilityandpublic confidence in the nation’s financialsystem.

In support of this goal, the FDIC, an independent agency of the federal government was created in 1933 in response to the thousands of bank failures that occurred in the 1920s and early 1930s. The FDIC receives no Congressional appropriations - it is funded by premiums that banks and savings associations pay for depositinsurancecoverage. T

trillionsofdollarsofdeposits in U.S. banks and thriftsdeposits in every bank and savings association in the

country

Tough annual Federal Reserve tests lenders, such as Wells Fargo and Citigroup, but in 2018, the Trump administration successfully championed a regulatory relief bill that greatly reduced the frequencyandseverityofthe stressexamsforregionals.

Paul Krugman has warned the banking chaos hasincreasedtheriskofaUS recession.

The Nobel Prizewinning economist advised theFedtoholdoffonhiking interest rates again Krugman cautioned that cutting rates could signal to investors that regulators are panicking. On March 22, 2023,FederalReserveraised interest rates by 0.25% to 5%. Most were expecting NOincrease,duetofearsofa downturn and recession which are very worrying to allAmericans. TheFedVote of 11 Governors was unanimous. This increase is the 9th. consecutive increase.

The U.S., interest rates are determined by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which consists of seven governors oftheFederalReserveBoard and five Federal Reserve BankPresidents.

Sincerely,

Dr ShamirAlly Former Ambassador to Kuwait

F o r m e r F I R S T

AlternateGovernor,

Islamic DevelopmentBank F o r m e r

ChairmanGO-Invest

Anna Regina, Rose Hall, and Corriverton, are often unable to pay wages and salaries, employees’NIS

DEAREDITOR,

The GuyanaAssociation of Municipalities wishes to comment on a statement made by Vice-President Jagdeoatapressconference held on the 23rd of March, 2023,atFreedomHouse.

In this statement the Vice-President chided the municipalities’ ability to address the issues of the citizens.Wewishtostatethat local democracy was reinvigorated in 2016 under the David Granger administration, during which time monumental gainsweremade.

Ensuring that local democraticorgansacrossthe 10 Administrative Regions were given the resources needed to function

effectively, was a priority of the Granger administration. Grants were provided to Municipalities based on the request of the Local AuthorityAreaforsanitation projects, clearing and desilting of key drainage structures to reduce flooding. Landfill sites weremanagedeffectivelyby t h e M i n i s t r y o f Communities. Monies were b u d g e t e d f o r t h e construction of new landfill sites in many Local DemocraticOrgans.

Today, under the current administration, the Ministry of Local Government has relegated many of these projects to the bottom of theirlistofpriorities.Monies were allocated in the 2021

Speakers Scotland

DEAREDITOR,

We wish to respond to a letter in today’s Kaieteur News by Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine entitled “The speakeroftheHouse”.

First, the allegations madebyRoopnarinehaveno factualbasis.

What is fact is that the Speaker’sworkisguidedby theRulesofProcedureofthe Parliament.

His actions are therefore no different from previous PNCR Speakers Dr Barton Scotland and Raphael Trotman.

During their time, Roopnarine kept quiet and never questioned the methods of those Speakers.

By not mentioning this little fact, Roopnarine is attempting to question the professionalism and destroy the integrity of the Speaker

oftheParliament.

Roopnarine should tell us how many PPP/C Bills w e r e r e j e c t e d b y APNU+AFC during their 5year term (2015-2020). Or tell us how many PPP/C Bills the Coalition allowed fortabling.

Roopnarine equated the ugly behavior of several APNU+AFC MPs who attempted to steal the Mace intheplainviewoftheworld with the solitary distasteful comment by a PPP/C MP wholaterapologizedforthat indiscretion There is no equivalencehere.

Secondly, Roopnarine knows fully well that a very prominent feature of the Parliament is the item questionstoMinisters.

We have noticed that there are many, many oral and written questions at

and 2022 budgets for the BellVue,EastBankBerbice Landfill.Todate,notapenny hasbeenspent.Whereisthis money?

Ironically, Mr Jagdeo did not mention the municipalities of Anna Regina, Rose Hall, and Corriverton,whichareallin worststatesthantheoneshe convenientlymentioned.

These municipalities, AnnaRegina,RoseHall,and Corriverton,areoftenunable to cover expenses, such as wages and salaries, e m p l o y e e s ’ N I S contributions and Income Taxremittances.

Iwouldliketoremindthe Vice-Presidentthatunderthe Granger administration, ALL Local Authority Areas

had equal access to funding, with consultations as the yardstick to address the many challenges faced by the Local Government systemacrossthelengthand breadthofGuyana.

Local Government official and practitioners were engaged in annual consultations, through the National Local Government Conference.

Much was achieved through that conference Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Town Clerks, Overseers and Chairpersons of NDCs are now beneficiaries of stipends, as a result of those conferences. Unfortunately, since 2020, not a dollar has been given to the managers ofanyoftheLocalAuthority Areas.

any respect for local democracy,orthecitizensof Guyana?

The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development now dictates how Government’s subvention must be spent. Where is the autonomy of the council as prescribed by theconstitution?

A forensic comparison will show that significantly more is being done in PPP controlledLocalDemocratic Organs than in those under Opposition control Little development and resources are accessible to Local Democratic Organs to improve the standard of living of citizens. Am I to assumethatthisispartofthe “One Guyana” that is being peddled?

withheld from relevant stakeholders. Many of these contractsumsarereportedly heavily inflated, to accommodatekickbacks.

Government Ministries owe taxes to the tune of millions of dollars, which they pay if and when they like These are classic examples of hindrances to development, which in turn stymies the development of communities.

GivetheLocal Democratic Organs what is due to them, using the formula from the Fiscal Transfer Act, and appraise their effectiveness. If local governmentbodiesaregiven half the monies allocated to GuySuCo, the lives of citizens would be greatly improved.

everysitting,evenduringthe lastbudgetdebate.

Finally,heshouldlistthe bills which the opposition tabled that were rejected by the Speaker for discussion. Roopnarine is simply trying to undermine the credibility oftheGovernment.

Yoursetc.,

The Association of Concerned Guyanese (USA)

P r i o r t o 2 0 1 6 , municipalities were given $10 million subvention. In 2016 this was increased by 60% to $16 million. NDCs weregiven$4million,a50% increase, along with major i n f r a s t r u c t u r a l developments.

These budgetary allocations were given early in the year to all Local AuthorityAreastocomplete itswork.

U n d e r t h i s administration, it is commonplace for the initial release of finances to occur after the first quarter of the year Doesthispracticeshow

Thefluffandbluffabout local democracy under the PPP is nothing more than a smokescreen.

The Ali-Jagdeo regime neverconsultsonprojectsin local government organs Contracts are awarded without the knowledge of Local Authority managers. Details such as the name of thecontractor,thecostofthe contract, and project requirements are being

In closing, allow me to remind Mr Jagdeo that he has no moral authority to speak on matters of local government, since it was underhistenureaspresident that Local Government Elections were suspended, contrarytotheconstitution. Yourstruly,

KirkFraser Vice-President GuyanaAssociation ofMunicipalities

Speaker Nadir is not acting any differently from PNCR

and Trotman

At this stage of our lives, it’s time to come clean...

Frompage4

theNAM,thePPPwasnotin office in 1955, the constitution having been suspended in 1953. So, Mr Green is creating his own circumstances and then use that to criticize Dr Jagan. This is certainly an attempt to deliberately mislead people.

It is true that it was Mr Burnham who established the Non-Aligned Park in Georgetown in the mid1970s.The PPPsupported it fully This was when Burnham was working to change his image as a procolonial and pro-imperialist for his role from 1955 to 1970.If,accordingtoGreen, Burnhamwassoenamoured with the NAM, why it took him so long after Independence to join that movement?

Let me add that Dr J a g a n ’ s p o s i t i o n international relations of an independent Guyana was known from the inception. He reiterated this is an interviewhegaveinJanuary 1957. In an answer to a questiononforeignpolicyhe said, “…We would pursue a policyofstrictneutralityand friendliness to all nations …” Later in the 1960’s, he even said he was ready to signsuchaneutralitypactas the Austrian model. He was opposed to having any foreignmilitarybasehere.

The other distraction Greentriedtopassoffisthat Kennedy asked Jagan if he wasaCommunistandJagan could not answer. Where he got that from is a total mystery. This is sheer nonsense. He spoke about Cheddi’s position on the West Indian Federation. Let me say that the PPP’s

position on the Federation was decided by the party from its inception. That was when Burnham was the Chairman of the PPP That position was that a PPP government would be supportive of Federation if the region became independent or at a minimum enjoyed internal self-government It also stated that before joining a referendumwouldbeheld.

That position of the PPP cameoutofameetingofthe Caribbean Labour Congress which was held in the late 1940’s and attended by the English-speaking countries. The minimum conditions were never met when the Federation was formed therefore the West Indian Federation was a glorified crown colony That is what the PPP was opposed to. Incidentally,thePPPwasnot alone.TheBritishwastrying to establish federations in various regions of Africa (West Africa, etc.) and they were rejected by African leaders for the same reasons asthePPPdid.Theyrefused tobegloriedcrowncolonies to please the colonisers and tomakeiteasierforLondon tosubjugatethecolonies.

Cheddi Jagan should be praised for saving the integrityoftheregionbythe PPP’s position The progressive forces in the region always rejected such astatus.IfMr Greendidhis homework he would have known that the government of Belize fell because the leading Party there changed its position on the Federation. Opposition in many of the Caribbean islands was strong, Jamaica isoneexample.

Hamilton Green then

moved to talk about Cheddi’s position on the independence conference in London in 1963. What he failed to say is that Burnham’srolewaslessthan honourable. I am being kind here. Burnham changed his position constantly on Independence.From1950to 1955 while in the PPP, he was a strong advocate for Independence. There were no differences between him and Dr Jagan in that period. He began to shift in the late 1950s. By 1960, at the first Independence talks, he dropped the demand for independenceandadvocated Internal self-government instead.

Intherun-uptothe1961 elections,heagaincalledfor independence.Infact,itwas on this issue that he and SydneyKingfellout.

H e a g r e e d t h a t whichever party won the 1961 elections would lead thecountrytoIndependence. He was confident of victory because of his collaboration with the British colonial masters and he was aware that the boundaries were being changed to give the PNCawin.Thingsdidnotgo accordingly to his and the Britishplan.

WhenthePNClostthose elections,heswitchedagain. Thistime,healignedhimself with Bookers (Sir Anthony Tusker who was the first person to call for P r o p o r t i o n a l Representation), the British and by then the Americans. Those forces were determined not to grant real independence to Guyana Any“independent”statehad tobeneo-colonial.Burnham was already working with the colonial power and the

UStostopIndependence.

At the talks in London, Burnham and the United Force began to demand P r o p o r t i o n a l Representation, a campaign they began immediately after the 1961 polls Remember PR of CR?

According to Jane Sillery who wrote her doctorial thesis on US foreign policy and B.G, Burnham was told by the Americans not to make any compromise with Jagan.Theyassuredhimthat theBritishwouldhavegiven him all he wanted. That is why he behaved the way he did, even rejecting Cheddi’s 50% offer of the cabinet. Now Hamilton Green, like others, are criticising Dr Jagan for signing the agreementtoallowSandyto arbitrate because Burnham had refused to compromise, then he preferred working with US and the UN against thePPP Whatisforgottenin all of this is that both Burnham and D’Aguiar signedthesamedocument.

Green and some antiJaganites like to present this as Cheddi Jagan being outsmarted. This was not so. CheddiJaganwasbetrayed.

What considerations Dr Jagan must have had when hesignedthatdocument?

1.In1962whenTrinidad and Tobago was going towards Independence, PR wasproposedastheelectoral system. The British rejected it.TheyagreedwithDr.Eric Williams that PR would balkanizeT&Tandentrench racismisthesociety.

2. The situation described by Mr Green i.e thePPPhad20ofthe35seats with less than 50% of the popular votes was the same situation that existed in the UKinthatperiod. The Conservative Party hadthemajorityofseatswith less than 50% of the votes. Moreover, the British rejected PR for all the c o l o n i e s i n t h e Commonwealth.

3. On the question of votingat18,thatwasalways the position of the PPP Moreover, Barbados had passedabillforvotingat18 in its colonial parliament so it was a reasonable for Dr Jagan to assume that the Britishwouldgrantthat.

Dr. Jagan obviously thought that even if the British conceded PR to the opposition, it would give himvotingat18.Hedidnot expect such a great betrayal from the “honourable gentlemen”. He maybe did not want to believe that his once “Marxist” colleague, Burnham, would have descended so low as to rob the people of this country of real substance of independence. Mr Green then went on to deliberately a n d d i s h o n e s t l y misrepresentedwhatthatDr Jagan said when he realised the extent of the betrayal. Green misquoted Jagan as sayingthathewouldcreatea “Hurricane of Violence”, whichistotallyuntrue.What hedidsaywasthathewould have begun a “Hurricane of Protests” This is totally different.

Mr Green seems still to be in alliance with the colonial masters who used that statement to violently attackthePPPin1964.Itwas an excuse they created to unleash violence against the PPP Hammie is still seeped in the colonial version of events. He then spoke about thePPPboycottingthe1965 Independence Conference. Well, it is important to understandwhy

Firstly, many PPP leaders were still in detention for almost two years without trial and the colony was under a state of emergency

Secondly, the Burnham led PNC government just at thetimeoftheconferencein 1965 arrested and detained other PPP leaders including Comrade Cedric Vernon Nunes former Minister of

Education in the 1961 to 1964PPPgovernment.They refused to release the politicalprisonersandtolift theStateofEmergency!The PNC working in alliance with the colonial powers were making it impossible forthePPPtoattend.

The British and PNC refusedtoreleasethemorto end the State of Emergency, yet the PPP did not oppose Independence. It welcomed it but, began to wage a fight for real freedom which was wononOctober5,1992.Itis apposite to recall that Guyanawastheonlycountry intheCommonwealthwhich the British granted Independencewithastateof emergencyinplace.

Finally, Mr Green credited Mr Burnham for granting Muslims and Hindusholidayin1965.That isnotthewholetruth.

During the PPP term in office in 1964, a Select Committee of the LegislativeCouncilwassetuptolookatholidays.Those holidays came as a recommendation of that body I suspect that even if Mr Burnham wanted to reject them, the British wouldhaveoverruledhimto save their own faces due to the racial division, they encouraged and were being criticized for by many peopleinvariouspartsofthe world. Mr. Green and other of his ilk have a habit of lifting dishonesty and treacheryandtryingtomake them virtues. Instead of apologising for his role and that of his party in their betrayaloftheindependence movementinthiscountry,he objectively continues to defend the colonialist role and his own party collaborationistposition.

Atthisstageofourlives, it’s time to come clean Hammie!

Regards,

DonaldRamotar FormerPresident ofGuyana

96 hours blackout recorded last year -GPLtellsPUChearing …moving rapidly towards smart meter system

With a total of 80,000 AMI meters installedtodate,theGuyanaPowerand Light (GPL) Company, plans to get all the manual meters replaced in the notso-distant future to make its system fullysmart.

This was revealed when the management of GPL made an appearance before the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on Wednesday During the public hearing held at the Herdmanston Lodge, Georgetown, DivisionalDirectorofGPL,RhondaLa Fargue explained that some 10, 849 of those meters were installed in 2022. She said however, that GPL is looking to expand its smart meter programme otherwise referred to as an Advanced MeteringInfrastructure(AMI).

La Fargue said that for those persons without the smart meters and receiving estimated bills, the company is encouraging the submission of meter readings via WhatsApp or its web portal.

She explained that utility company is looking to acquire more handheld devices for its field staff to conduct these readings while some meters are currentlybeingreadremotely ThePUC heard that GPL was able to reduce the frequency of power outages by roughly 10 percent in 2022 with its billing

currently based on just less than 90 percent of actual meter reading for domesticandbusinesscustomers.

Divisional Director, Bharrat Harjohn revealed that there were 94 outages for a total duration of 96 hours in2022.

He noted that those interruptions were due to a number of reasons ranging from planned maintenance to emergencies and including, but not limited to a number of trips in the system.

The company was able to grow its generation capacity by eight percent in 2022andsaidthefiguresonthenumber ofpoweroutagesareanimprovementto previousyears.

Additionally, GPL says it will intensify its maintenance activities in 2023 and use drone technology to monitor encumbrances and identify network defects. The company also used the occasion to clarify that around between 88 – 92 percent of billing for domestic and business customers were done based on actual meter readings andnotestimations.

In past, the PUC has imposed monetaryfinesonGPLoverafailureto meet the operating standards set for the year2018.

According to the PUC, in the

Police Force gets new training manuals for junior ranks to promote professionalism

reporting year 2018, after taking into account inter alia the failure of the company to achieve its Operating Standards and Performance Targets (OSPT) set for the year, the Commission had determined that a penalty of 5% of the total value of dividend payable to the company's shareholdersshouldbeimposed.

The Commission noted that following a hearing held on June 20, 2019, of GPL performance based on standards and targets set, it was determinedthatthepowercompanyhad performedbelowthegoalsset.

The report further outlined that representatives of GPL give explanations as regard each standard notachieved.

According to the information, the power company had among other things;setalimittheaveragenumberof outages which consumers received duringtheyear2018tonomorethan70.

However, the average number of outages experienced by a consumer during2018was106.Further,GPLseta standardtolimittheaveragedurationof outages that a consumer would have receivedduringtheyeartonomorethan 80 hours The average duration experienced by consumers during the yearwas112.41hours.

Guyanese will now w i t n e s s m o r e professionalism in the GuyanaPoliceForce(GPF), a s t h e t r a i n i n g manuals/study modules for junior officers and ranks havebeencompleted.

T h e i n s t r u c t i o n handbooks were handed over to Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken on Monday, which target over 4,000 junior officers andranks.

The comprehensive modules are for the newly createdGuyanaPoliceForce Academy's Certificate in General Policing Studies and Certificate in Junior Officers Policing Studies.

According to the GPF, the course contents were generated by the Force, followed by the compilation of the teaching modules and assessment rubric, which was conducted by the Nations University. “This is a stepping stone in the right direction that will change the professionalism of the

Guyana Police Force cateringfortheadventofthe developing oil and gas, with ex-pats(expatriates)coming into the country,” the Top Cop expressed at the simple handing-overceremony Meanwhile, Deputy C o m m i s s i o n e r 'Administration' Calvin Brutus said this is an achievement for the force as itseekstobeaccreditedasan academy “We want to have a quick transformation and these manuals will come in handy We have just discussed last week to start our selection for the junior officers' course, this year So, by May, we want to start oneandatleastseeifwecan run two such programmes,” he disclosed. The PPP/C Government has always been strict on ensuring that there is continuous i m p r o v e m e n t a n d professionalism by members of the disciplined services, to ensure quality service is delivered to the peopleofGuyana.(DPI)

THE PNC BELONGS IN THE BOSOM OF THE PPP

Power-sharingisnotpart of the country’s political agenda.Butafewyearsago, power-sharing trumped all talk about ideological unity Power-sharing has been discredited. The post-Jagan PPP was never interested in sharing power The APNU+AFC breached its promise that if it won the elections, it would include t h e P P P / C i n t h e government.

Power-sharing is now becoming a euphemism for power-grabbingratherthana concerted attempt at forging a unity of the working class which was behind most of the other proposals made fromthesixtiesrightthrough to 1992. Once the PPP won the elections in 1992, it saw itself as constituting the basis for uniting the Guyanese people Since then, working class unity no longer informed the discourse on power-sharing. Infact,thewholeconceptof working-classunityseemsto have vanished from the agenda of the two main political parties, the PNC/R andthePPP/C.Theseparties are now committed to a mixed economy, one that recognisestheimportanceof thecapitalistclassandwhich sees this class as the engine ofgrowth.

In1966,whentheForbes Burnham administration

took over in an ill-fated alliance with the United Force, the capitalist class also felt that it was their moment and that it had emerged as the vehicle for thedevelopmentofGuyana. Withinfouryears,theywere fleeing with their money as the then PNC unleashed a campaignofnationalisation, foreignexchangeandimport restrictionsandhightaxation that crippled their abilities and had them worried scurryingtoshifttheirassets tosafehavens.

Despitesendingmuchof thecapitalistclassintoexile, the PNC did not pursue any seriousness or sincere attempt at working class unity Whatevereffortswere made at unity between the PNCandthePPPweremore aimed at staving off imperialist pressures rather than building a nationalist working class movement such as what existed in the 1950’s under the original PPP with Cheddi Jagan as leader and Forbes Burnham asChairperson.

Burnham, however, had personal ambitions. He was moreinterestedinbecoming Premier than in securing working class unity He was quite prepared to split the working class in order to achieve his personal ambition of becoming Premier not just of Guyana

butalsooftheproposedWest IndianFederation.

HethussplitthePPPinto twofactions,theBurnhamite PPP and the Jaganite PPP The Burnhamite PPP eventuallybecamethePNC. Burnham lost two consecutive elections, under the constituency system, to the PPPheaded by Jagan. In 1964, the PPPbeat the PNC againunderanewsystemof proportional representation but Burnham refused to join forces with Jagan to form a working-class government that would have taken a united Guyana into independence and instead hookedupwiththecapitalist class to form a coalition governmentandoustthePPP from office. Both leaders, however, never forgot that they were part of the same party and Jagan always harboured hopes that one day Burnham and his PNC would return home to the PPP He very much wanted that because he felt this was the only way that genuine working-classunitycouldbe achieved.

Itneverdid,eventhough there are some who contend thatthetwopartieswerenear to an agreement just about the time when Burnham died. The truth, however, is that nothing was ever concretised and, therefore, therewasnothingtotakethe

process forward after Burnhamdied.

Sincethen,workingclass unityhasbeenplacedonthe backburner Worse yet, the workingclasssufferedunder Burnham’s successor, DesmondHoyte.AfterJagan died in 1997, the PPP abandoned any pretence at workingclassunity Thishas continuedontothisday

While both the PPP and thePNChaveworkingclass origins, there is little to suggestthattheyarekeenon forging a genuine workingclassmovementacrossparty lines.

Jagan always wanted Burnham back within the PPP All of his proposals about power-sharing were about forging working class unity so as to build socialism. Once socialism was off the cards, he had

little need for working class unity

Socialism is now permanently off the cards, for both the PPP and the PNC/R and, therefore, the prospects of any powersharing based on working class unity is off the table.

ThePNCisnotinterestedin uniting the working class, and the PPP is now deeply intertwined with the capitalist class in Guyana.

The prize today is no longer working-class unity

It is all about who sits in the seat of power So how about a new proposal aimed at securing working class gains. How about talks about establishing a formula and time-frame for paying a living wage? How about discussions aimed at agreeing on measures to reducetheprohibitivecostof

living, apart from cash grants? How about tax reform aimed at linking tax breaks to the rich to reinvestment of profits? How about allowing the small manwhohashistwocentsin the bank being allowed to invest in the gas-to-shore and hydroelectric projects? How about, in other words, boththePNC/RandthePPP making proposals for working class benefits and throughthis,forgeaunityof the working class? Any takers?Iguessnot.

(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.)

Indigenous representatives in Region 9 develop recommendations for fire management in the Rupununi

Over twenty Indigenous representatives from the Rupununi came together in Lethem to address growing concerns about fire managementinGuyana.

To g e t h e r, t h e y developedasetofRupununi F i r e M a n a g e m e n t Recommendations which were presented to regional and national stakeholders forfeedbackandsupport.

Fire is intimately tied to local livelihoods, culture andtheplantsandanimalsin fire-adapted ecosystems such as savannas, the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) said in a press release. In the Rupununi, fire is used for subsistence activities such as farming

and grazing cattle, and Indigenous people have been using techniques such assavannapatchburningi.e. setting frequent, small, controlledfiresovertime,to create a patchwork landscape that acts as a naturalfirebreaklimitingthe spread of wildfires However, with the erosion of traditional knowledge, changes in land use, governance, and climate u n p r e d i c t a b i l i t y, uncontrolled fires are increasing causing negative impacts to habitats and property

In this context, over twenty Indigenous representatives from the Deep South, South Central,

Central, North and South Pakaraimas sub-districts of theRupununicametogether in Lethem on the 21st-23rd March2023todiscussways forward with managing fire intheregion.

“Fire is becoming an issue across the Rupununi savannas, especially in the dryseason.Atalllevels,fire is not a topic that is discussed generally as part of development. Traditional knowledge on how to properly manage fire is documentedbutthepractice is declining. It is time that we sit down and seriously consider how we address firemanagementcombining traditional knowledge with local, national and regional

strategies” (Kid James, South Rupununi District Council).

Organised by the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC)andtheLeverhulme Centre for Wildfires, Environment and Society, UK, the Indigenous representatives spent two days discussing and f o r m u l a t i n g f i r e m a n a g e m e n t recommendations, which were then presented to regional organisations, including NAREI, Rupununi District Council, P r o t e c t e d A r e a s Commission and Rupununi Livestock Producers Association, for their feedback on the third day

“Firemanagementiscritical in safeguarding livelihoods like agriculture in the Rupununi, especially in the context of global warming and climate change” (Vitus Spencer,NAREI,Region9).

A final set of Rupununi

F i r e M a n a g e m e n t Recommendations were agreed by the Indigenous representatives, which were then taken to a workshop in Georgetown on the 27th March 2023 to engage national agencies. Guyana does not have a national policy on fire management.

ANationalWildfireStrategy developedin2008contained useful proposals but was neverfollowedthrough.The impactsoffireonforestsand the greenhouse gas emissions from burning are closely linked to the effectiveness of climate

change mitigation programmes As Guyana proceeds with its Low

Carbon Development Strategy(LCDS)andcarbon creditpaymentschemes,fire will become increasingly significant as a key agent to considerinnationalpolicies.

Toshao Mike Williams (Annai district and North Rupununi District Development Board), Nicholas Fredericks (Shulinab and South Rupununi District Council) and JoylynFarias (Nappi Village and Central

Rupununi) discussed the RupununiFireManagement Recommendations with national stakeholders including Guyana Forestry C o m m i s s i o n , Environmental Protection Agency, Protected Areas

Commission, University of Guyana, WWF, and CIG u y a n a T h e Recommendations identify strengthening of local community practices and governance as well as areas in which support will be needed from regional and nationalagencies.

The response was positivewithdiscussionson takingtheprocessforwardat thenationallevel.

“I think the process has beenreallygoodinengaging different people and different actors from differentsectorsingettinga diverse perspective on fire management. You can see through the process that peopleatlocal,regional,and national level are taking a practical approach in developing these fire recommendations that are aimed at being solution oriented” (René Edwards, Conservation International Guyana).

O n c l o s i n g t h e workshop, Toshao Mike Williams stated the next steps identified at the local level, and hoped regional andnationalagencieswould be on board. “We as local people in Region 9 have taken the lead in discussing fire management These discussions come at a time when there are increasing climatechangeconcernsand in Guyana more funding coming in to support forest management in the context ofclimatechange.Ihopethe national agencies can take our lead, build upon, and provide support our recommendations for fire management.”

Motorcycle bandits rob woman at Providence

Police are in search of two

motorcycle

banditswhoonWednesday attacked and kicked a woman about her body whilesnatchingherbagand cell phone at Red Road, Providence, East Bank Demerara(EBD).

The victim was reportedlyheadingtowork whenthebanditsonawhite motorcyclepouncedonher around06:30hrs.

One of the bandits dismounted and whipped outahandgun.

The victim reportedly tried to escape but the bandits grabbed and assaulted her as they relievedherofacellphone andhershoulderbag.

The men hopped on to their motorcycle and rode off while the woman made her way to the Providence Police Station to report the armedrobbery

Taxes recoverable in Govt.'s new draft PSA

The Government of Guyana, intent on amending the lopsided 2016 oil deal inked with ExxonMobil has drafted two new model contractsthatwillgovernthe 14 oil blocks presently on auction.

Article 38.2 of the draft contracts state that

“ Contractor, Affiliated C o m p a n i e s , S u bContractors and individuals who are expatriates shall be subject to the income tax laws of Guyana, including, the Income Tax Act of Guyana(Cap.81:01)andthe Corporation Tax Act of Guyana (Cap. 81:03) and shall separately comply with the requirements of those laws, in particular with respect to filing returns, assessment of tax, and keeping and showing of booksandrecords.”

Although oil companies and their affiliates will now be subjected to the country's tax laws, a daunting provision included in the new model contracts allow for these payments to be

recovered through cost oil. To add insult to the injury, the new model agreements for the Deep and Shallow Water oil blocks stipulate that the recovery of these payments can be done even without the Minister's approval.

Annex 'C' of the

D e e p w a t e r m o d e l agreement, at SectionThree, which addresses costs that can be recovered without the approval of the Minister states at 3.1 (f) “All rentals, taxes, levies, charges, fees, contributions and any other assessments and charges levied by the Government in connection with the Petroleum Operations and paid directly by the

Contractor,” are all recoverablecontractcosts.

Thesameprovisionisset out in the Shallow Water draft agreement inAnnex 'C' Section3.1(f).

The Government of Guyana on Tuesday closed its two weeks public consultationonthenewdraft Production Sharing

The cover of the new model PSA for the Deepwater Blocks

Agreements(PSAs)fordeep and shallow water blocks offshore.

ExxonMobilisexempted from paying any taxes under the Stabroek Block contract; an arrangement the People's

Progressive Party (PPP) government publicly committedtoamend.

Upon the release of the new model agreements on March 14, 2023 the Ministry of Natural Resources also

mmenced a 14 days consultation period for citizenssendtheirfeedback.

Several Guyanese had requested that the timeline be extended while others made suggestions for all

comments to the draft contracts be made public. It was also recommended that mechanisms be instituted to allow for the changes to the draftstobehighlighted.

It was explained, “The draft Model Petroleum Agreements embodies rigorous research and analysis by the ministry's internal team, and external consultants on all topics relevant to a modern petroleum agreement for Guyana The process involved a comprehensive assessment of the current petroleumagreementandthe identification of best practices relevant to every contractual aspect of a modernagreementgrounded intheGuyanacontext.”

The Ministry said to ensure new investments are g o v e r n e d b y a comprehensive framework of international best practices, the Model Petroleum Agreements will be followed by an overhaul of the 1986 Petroleum Act andRegulations.

Govt. injecting $7.5 billion to upgrade hinterland infrastructure –Min.Bharrat

Severalhinterlandregionsareset to benefit from some $7.5 billion in infrastructure upgrade this year, which will significantly improve the quality of life for Guyanese living in t h e l o g g i n g a n d m i n i n g communities.

The infrastructural investment has seen $5 billion being allocated under the Ministry of Public Works, and $2.5 billion under the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat made the disclosure recently during a televised programme, 'The Guyana Dialogue,' where he stressed the importance of the Forestry RevolvingFund,launchedlastweek.

The $900 million revolving fund, which seesgovernmentinvestmentof$300million, and private sector investment of $600 million, was created to address major issues affecting forestry stakeholders and loggers. These include the lack of access to financial capital and the lack of access to concessions. The issues were mainly a result of the previous government's move to neglect the forestrysector

“We are seeking to address the main issues, one being hinterland infrastructure, the second being access to concession—state forest and the third one being access to finance at a concessional rate,” Minister Bharrat explained. Under the Public Works Ministry, Regions One, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten will benefit from the completion and rehabilitation of a number of priorityroads.

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat

The projects will provide residents with increased access to essential services like markets, healthcare and education, as well as increased economic activity through better connectivity

Meanwhile, the hinterland regions are slated to benefit from a number of other government investments worth billions of dollars. Through the Office of the Prime Minister's $375 million Hinterland Electrification Project, communities will benefit from improved generation and distribution of electricity and operational efficiency, through the upgrading of electricitydistributionnetworks.

Similarly, several households in the hinterland and riverine communities will receive solar systems to aid in improved electricity generation, through the $1.75 billion Solar System Project, which also falls under the Office of the Prime Minister The Ministry of Finance is also piloting a $3 billion Low Carbon Development Programme to push information and communicationstechnologyaccess.(DPI)

Amerindian leaders urged to prepare economic plans to efficiently utilise LCDS funds

Amerindian communities to have economic plans prepared, to properly utilise the funds made available to

them from the country's carboncreditsales.

MinisterSukhaimadethe call during a visit to Santa

Aratak onWednesday, where she examined a number of completed projects in the village. Following a pact, the government signed with Hess Corporation, Guyana will be earning US $750 million between 2022 and 2032 to support the country's efforts to protect the country'svastforests. This means, through the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, the government has ensured Guyana's standing forest earns for its people. Almost 90 percent of the landmass in Guyana is forested. Hess is paying for 30 percent of the carbon the country's forest traps. Fifteen percent of the money paid to Guyana is being channeled to

Amerindian communities, to create sustainable economic projects.

Minister Sukhai urged all Amerindian communities to ensure the economic plans a r e f o r m e d f r o m consultations with villagers.

“There will be significant revenues to do impactful projects that will benefit the lives of the people. If your desire is to make Santa M i s s i o n a t o u r i s m destination, put it in the plan; ifyouwanttoenhanceyouths and opportunities for youths, put it in the plan; if you want to focus on agriculture, put it in the plan; whatever you want to do to benefit your village, put it into the plan,” theministerurged. Government has vowed

to erase the divide between the hinterland and the coast, providingmoreopportunities toAmerindianandhinterland residents, including skills training.

Over the past two and a half years,Amerindians have been trained in the medical field, in computer literacy, as teachers, tractor operators, mechanics, tailors and seamstresses, among a myriad of other areas. “We areworkingtoensurethatthe commitments made during the campaigns are fulfilled. We must ensure that the tangiblebenefitsarereaching the people to ensure that no one is left behind and that the policy of His Excellency is fulfilled,” the minister stressed.

New secondary school to be built in Jawalla, Region Seven

T h e M i n i s t r y o f Education is taking another step towards achieving universal secondary education w ith the construction establishment of anew secondaryschoolin Jawalla,RegionSeven.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand and other senior officers within the Ministry of Education on Tuesday visited the community to determine a possible location for the school.

In a press release, the ministry noted that Minister Manickchand said the new secondary school will be the second of its kind in the

Upper Mazaruni District. It will help to ease the overcrowding at the DC Caesar Fox Secondary SchoolinWaramadong.

She noted that it will provide students in other communities such as Kamarang and Philipai with the opportunity to receive a sound secondary education. These students are currently either not receiving a secondary education or are being educated in primary tops,asecondarydepartment inaprimaryschool.

Minister Manickchand s a i d t h a t w i t h t h e establishment of the secondary school, the

Ministry of Education will be able to close the primary tops in Phillipai,Wax Creek, Chinoweing, Imbaimadai, Jawala, Quebanang, Kako andKamarang. The school will house 500 students in the classroom and 400 students in the dormitories Once completed, the new school will be equipped with Chemistry, Biology, Physics a n d I n f o r m a t i o n Technology, Technical and Vocational Education and T r a i n i n g ( T V E T ) l a b o r a t o r i e s , H o m e Economics room, library space and spacious classrooms.

Govt. signs $1.13B in contracts to fix roads, bridges, build pontoons

Fi v e a g e n c i e s attached to the M i n i s t r y o f Agriculture on Wednesday signed 24 contracts totalling $1,130,817,572 for a number of projects which include the construction of roads, bridges, revetment, and rehabilitation of pontoons as well as for the supply of tractors.

The simple ceremony which was held at the Ministry's, Regent Street Office saw the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) signing seven contracts totaling $535.4 million, the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary (MMA) Authority signing one contract worth $26 million, the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) signing one worth $41 million, the National Drainage and Irrigation

Authority(NDIA)signing13 contracts to the tune of $510 7 million and the Fisheries Department signing just two contracts to thetuneof$16million.

At the signing ceremony, it was revealed that GuySuCo signed a $165 million contract with Game Equipment LLC for the supply and delivery of four 195 HP 4-WD agricultural tractors. It was noted that the articulated steering tractors are used in tillage for ploughing and harrowing prior to the planting of sugar cane.Thesemachineswillbe used at the Albion and Blairmont Estates to accelerate the land preparationprogramme.

Acontractwasinkedwith General Marine Company worth $224 million for the supply of 12-inch 305mm

D i a H i g h D e n s i t y Polythylene (HDPE) Corrugated Drainage tubes. The HDPE tubes are used for drainagepurposesinthecane fields. Excess water from the fields is discharged into drainage canals via the HDPEtubes.

GuySuCo also inked two contracts with Massy Motors Limited for the supply for four 100-110HP 4-WD Agriculture tractors for Albion worth $42,800,000 and the supply of three 100110 HP 4-WD tractors for B l a i r m o n t w o r t h $32,100,000.

S&K Construction Consultancy Services and General Supplies Inc. signed three contracts with

G u y S u C o w o r t h $70,613,036forthesupplyof road building materials such as white sand, first grade

crusher run and bitumen RC fortheAlbionEstate.

The MMA signed a $26,971,000contractwithA. Crawford Agriculture Service for the supply and delivery of crusher run. The GMCsigneditsonlycontract with Sheriff Security Service tothetuneof$41,425,092for the procurement of security services.Itwasnotedthatthe G M C w o u l d h a v e constructed, retrofitted and equipped agro-processing facilities across the country where these premises and equipment need to be secured.

The NDIA signed a $28,526,800 contract with

Romell Jagroop General ConstructionServicesforthe construction of revetment at Flagstaff,CaneGrove.Itwas revealed that this project which would benefit some 350 households in the surrounding area will protect the structural integrity of the conservancy embankment andpreventflooding.

A $28,696,570 contract was signed with I&R Construction for the construction of a concrete bridgeatNo.10PerthBiaboo Channel A contract was awarded to M Sukhai Contracting Services to the tune of $69,875,000 for the rehabilitation of the

Onderneeming Phase 2, EssequiboCoastaccessroad.

Additionally, the NDIA signed contracts with R o o p a n R a m o t a r I n v e s t m e n t , A m e e r Enterprises, and C. Joree Farming and Contracting to the tune of $159,909,340 for therehabilitationofanumber ofpontoons.

The agency also signed contracts with Engineered Construction Company, Arjune Construction Inc , Timehri Contracting Services, K&S Civil Engineering Contracting Services Inc , and STP Investments Inc. to the tune (Continued on page 20)

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha flanked by the contract awardees and officials of the various agencies under his Ministry at a contract signing ceremony on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy, Ministry of Agriculture)

Taxi driver hijacked by lone gunman in South Ruimveldt

Alone gunman on Monday posedasadecentpassenger justtohijackataxidriverof a2012modelToyotaFielderWagonata desolate area in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

The incident reportedly took place around 20:30hrs. Kaieteur News learnt thatthehijackedcarwithlicensedplate, PAC 3801 was recently purchased for almost $3M and belongs to the victim's brother The victim had driven to Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD) to purchase some items for his baby daughter with the car He parked the vehicle at FlamboyantTaxi Service and when he returned from making his purchase, a man he described as welldressed walking out from Eccles approached him for a lift to the Eccles Public Road. Security cameras showed that indeed the man was well dressed. He carried a black haversack on his

back, a white cap with his white shirt neatlytuckedintohisblackdresspants. His appearance was enough for the victimtoagreetogivehimafreedropto the Eccles Public Road, Kaieteur News wastold.

When they got there, the suspect

reportedlydecidedtohirehisvictimfor adroptoalocationinSouthRuimveldt. The victim, Kaieteur News learnt, was not interested in the hire but the suspect managed to convince him to make a quick “hussle”. “He say, he was to go home but he say as he getting a lil money fuh the drop, he decide to go”, thevictim'sbrothertold Kaieteur News The suspect took his victim past Cane ViewAvenuetoadead-endwheresome squatters lived on a government reserve. The victim reportedly recalled that the suspect exited the vehicle and walked around to driver's side and asked “you got change for five thousand”. He bent over to get the changeonlytofindagunpointingathis neck,whenheliftedhishead.

The suspect then reportedly said, “get out the car” before dragging him out and driving away with the items he purchased for his baby daughter, his two cell phones and the little cash he had in the vehicle. Kaieteur News was told that the victim is partially disabled due to an old injury and cannot walk properlybutafterhewasleftstrandedin the desolate and dark area, he slowly walked for hours enduring some pain until he was rescued by a Good Samaritan passing by The matter has been reported to the police and investigations are ongoing. If anyone knows the whereabouts of the car, they can make contact with the nearest police station or with telephone number,670-9284.

Linden man now charged with murder of Police Sergeant

Twenty-seven-

year-old Fawazz

M c R a e o n

Wednesday had his charge upgraded from attempted murder to murder for the shooting death of his cousin, 32-year-old Sergeant of Police,JermainSemple.

Semple passed away on Friday March 17, 2023. On March 12, McRae had

reportedly shot Semple in the head while at the Crown and Anchor Grill and Bar in Linden.

M c R a e , a businessman/contractor of Lot 1231 Central Amelia's Ward, Linden, was first charged with attempted murder,whilehiscousinwas onlifesupportattheLinden

(Continued on page 20)

Screen grab of the suspect entering the victim's car

screen grab of the suspected hijacker walking out of Eccles

The hijacked Fielder Wagon

Police Sergeant, Jermain Semple

Fawazz McRae

British Chambers of Commerce Guyana launched

United Kingdom and Guyanese government and business representatives on Tuesday celebrated the official launch of the British Chamber of Commerce Guyana at the British High Commissioner's Residence inGeorgetown.

The new trade body has been hailed as a springboard for bilateral investment and business opportunities, a press release from the new chamber stated BritCham Guyana, an independent body, will act as a hub and partner for British and Guyanese companies interested in working together or investing in each market, as well as fostering a strong ecosystem for information sharing and networking, improving the ease of doing business, and collaborating with UK and Guyanese authorities to support the business community

“What is really clear is that there are many opportunities ahead of us,” said David Rutley, UK

Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State for Americas and Caribbean. “It is a logical time for this launch.”

Rutley told guests at the packed event, which included government ministers and leading businessmenandwomenthat the creation of BritCham Guyana would build on the existing momentum of the UK'sstrongrelationshipwith Guyana, alongside the return of direct flights between London and Guyana via British Airways, visa free travel to the UK, and a recent partnershiparrangement.

Prime Minister Brigadier (ret'd) Mark Phillips said B r i t C h a m G u y a n a represented “another important development in fostering strong economic ties between Britain and Guyana.

“The launch of BritCam solidifies the economic partnership between Britain and Guyana. It is also a recognition of the growing interests between our countries.”

“ T h e r e a r e h u g e opportunities,” said British High Commissioner to Guyana Jane Miller OBE. “It is super exciting having this chamberandarealleapinour relationship It is being driven by some amazing people ”Guysons CEO Faizal Khan, a joint BritishGuyanese citizen who chairs the new trade body, said the chamber would work in harmony with existing trade bodies and government departments in their shared goal to drive prosperity and economicopportunity

“I see our role as a threepronged attack,” Khan said “Promoting and facilitating trade, investment and commerce; fostering an open networking environment, and complementing the work of the British High Commission and UK government departments in Guyana, as well as other business chambers in Guyana.”

Khan called on interested businesses and individuals to contact the chamber to join its membership An

application form can be d o w n l o a d e d f r o m britchamgy.com. “We will strive to become the go-to

partner for investors and businesses from the UK and Guyanatohelpthemexplore, understand, access and

navigate each market, and to provide the expert support they need to achieve their goals,”headded.

Prime Minister, Mark Phillips interacting with UK officials at the launch of British Chamber of Commerce Guyana

Hinterland residents to benefit from maternal, child health project

Guyana has received assistance from the Canadian Government to improve maternal, newborn, and child health across hinterlandregions.

The project is being funded by Global Affairs Canada and executed by McMaster University at a cost of CA$2.5 million. It will be implemented over fiveyears.

The project aims to reduce mortality rates a m o n g w o m e n o f childbearing age, newborns, andchildrenunderfiveyears old in Regions One, Seven, E i g h t , a n d N i n e Importantly, the approach intendstobridgethegapthat existsbetweenthecoastand the hinterland, which shows a higher rate of mortality among the targeted population.

Training will be an essential part of the new venture to promote an equitable standard of health c a r e a n d e n g a g e communities and traditional birth attendants to promote institutional health care for

pregnancy Moreover, the undertaking caters to family health planning and training to help reduce adolescent pregnancy in the hinterland communities.

During the launch at the Cara Lodge Hotel on Tuesday,MinisterofHealth, Dr FrankAnthonysaidthere was no neonatal service for more than a decade in Guyana Since then, significant strides were madetoremedythesituation and the new project will buildonthatfoundation.

“Iknowthereisadesire toextendallofthisintothe different regions. We have started but we need that little impetus to make sure that all the regional hospitals will eventually haveneonatalservicesand that is what this project will help us to do in many ways, ” Dr. Anthony explained.

He pointed out that Guyana and Canada share a great relationship and have worked on several projects together Meanwhile, the C a n a d i a n H i g h

Commissioner to Guyana, Mark Berman noted that the initiative demonstrates Canada’s commitment to empowering women and

girls and reflects the government’s feminist international assistance policy. “The launch of this project comes at a strategic

time in which we are seeing

affirmations in the importance of gender

e q u a l i t y, a n d t h e empowerment of women

and girls to the achievement of sustainable development goals. That’s an important pointthatshouldnotbelost,” hesaid.(DPI)

A section of the gathering at the launch of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Project

U.S. Embassy strengthens security protocols

...puts citizens on “high alert” over security threats

The United States (U.S.) Embassy in Georgetown on Wednesday put its citizens on a security alert whileincreasingitssecurity protocols In statement published via its website, theU.S.Embassysaidthatit is urging US citizens to be on high alert as it has received threats against US interest.Whiletheembassy hasnotspecifiedwhatthose threats were in the

statement, it urged all its citizens to “stay alert” and “exercise heightened caution.”

“Outofanabundanceof caution, we want to inform U S citizens that the embassy has increased security protocols due to receiving threats against U S interests,” the US embassy said. In the past, the Embassy has issued travel alerts and warned citizens about visiting

Lindenmannowchargedwithmurder...

specific areas and to even reconsidertraveltoGuyana, at specific times

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken told Kaieteur News that he is unaware of neither a security issue that concerns the U.S. Embassy nor any threatstoAmericancitizens i n t h e c o u n t r y

Commissioner Hicken assured that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will lookintothematter

Frompage16 Hospital Complex On Wednesday, the attempted murder charge was withdrawn against McRae before he was charged with thecapitaloffence.

He appeared at the Linden Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Wanda Fortune. McRae was not required to plea to the charge and was remanded to prison until April14,2023.

A c c o r d i n g t o investigations, Semple, who was stationed at theTactical ServicesUnitalongwithhis brother Dervon Semple and

McRae were at the Crown and Anchor Grill and Bar when a fight broke out betweenthebrothers.

K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that the trio, alongwithotherfriendswas imbibingattheBamiaCreek before going to Crown and AnchorGrill.

During the altercation, McRae tried to separate the brothers at which time Jermaine Semple turned on him, resulting in (Fawazz) dischargingtworoundsfrom his .32 pistol, one of which struckJermainSempleinhis head.

Semplewasrushedtothe Linden Hospital Complex, where he was in a critical condition.

Efforts were made to transfer him to the GeorgetownPublicHospital Corporation; however, he was not stable for the transfer

Meanwhile, McRae was arrested,andthefirearmwas retrieved, which contained four live rounds of ammunitioninthemagazine andoneinthechamber He too suffered injuries tohisleftelbowandrightear duringthefight.

Govt. signs $1.13B in contracts to fix roads...

Frompage15 of $223,767,130 for the construction of structures along Bellamy Canal in Region Five. This project, according to the Ministry will benefit 350 households and 400 acres of land in surroundingareasanddueto the recent flooding in these

areas; the project will aid withthefloodmitigationand improvedrainagesystem.

T h e F i s h e r i e s Department, signed two contracts, a $3,500,604 contract with Engineered Construction Company for the construction of eastern fence at the Satyadeow

Sawh Aquaculture Station

Theothercontractwasinked with Mohamed Ramjohn Contracting to the tune of $12,679,391 for the construction of external bond, washroom, guard hut and access road for the Fisheries Department at AnnaRegina.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha said that theprojectsareimportantfor the development of the agriculturesector

He stated that these projects were initiated following a number of requests made during consultations.

“These projects were given cabinet's no objection last week Thursday In our budget last year when we madethepreparationforthis year we had our consultation around this country [and] people would have made request [and the projects are] because of the request that was made,” he said.

The Minister in his remarks also urged the contractorstoensurethatthe projects begin on time and are executed at a high standard.

WANTED

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

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.

Urgently needed dried carilla bush and soursop leaves (any quantity). Call: 609-8281/ 693-3003.

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.

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

Mechanist needed, must know to work on engine head. Call: 223-5273/ 2235274.

1 Junior Accounts Clerk with NIS paye payroll knowledge, Night Guard and livein Handyman needed in Hill Foot, Soesdyke. $100,000 monthly. Call: 227-5222/ 6750587/ 219-2170.

One male with a small family to live-in and supervise small workforce on a Poultry Farm, salary $130,000 monthly. Call: 227-5222/ 675-0587/ 2192170.

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

VACANCY

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

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

Experienced Accounts Clerk needed @ Survival Shopping Complex, 173 Sheriff Street. Call: 609-2995, Email: survivalhumanresources2 @gmail.com

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

VACANCY

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

Operator for excavator/ bobcat, semi-skilled Workers, Office Assistant and time keeping/ tool issuing Clerk . Call: 621-6969/ 615-7784.

TO LET

Studio apartment, $10,000 per week with 1 month down payment. Call: 638-6120.

Bar in Breda Street, $40,000 per month. Call: 638-6120.

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

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

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

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-en-Rust G/ Town. Call: 226-0550/ 6093332.

Experienced Hauler/ Lorry Driver and Porters required. Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb St, Bourda.

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

Accounts Clerk required @ Survival Shopping Complex, 173 Sheriff St. Call: 609-2995, survival.humanresources @gmail.com

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

FOR RENT

2 & 4 bedrooms Apartments and 2 empty corner lot for rent at Bladen Hall, E.C.D. Call/ WhatsApp: 700-0030/ 648-1787.

Office space Brickdam 8000 sq ft, Hadfield Street and 2 bedrooms in Albertown & Houston. Call Ray's Realty: 627-9685.

2, 3 & 4 bedrooms furnished and unfurnished Apt in Bladen Hall, E.C.D, $100,000 & $200,000 GYD. WhataApp: 700-0030.

Newly built 1, 2 & 3 bedrooms Apt in E.C.D Highway, $2000 & 1000 USD. Call/ WhatsApp: 700-0030, 1-347-841-5872/ +1868-7474343.

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

3 bedrooms furnished & unfurnished, 2 & 1 bedroom house and Apt in New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, Diamond & Providence. Call: 659-0277, 682-6238, 2162299/ 604-6664.

LAND FOR SALE

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

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.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

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

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.

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

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

Stall for sale in Section1, Stabroek Market. Call: 6664002.

Prime business spot, 45x500 located at Parika, 4 house lot together at Blankenburg. Call: 652-0251/ 650-0402.

Pure honey, wholesale and retail quantity. Call: 6214273.

3 pure breed black and tan German Shepard pups, fully vaccinated, 8 weeks old. Call: 626-0953/ 650-9998.

1 land 67x90 in Elaineville Housing Scheme, Providence, $ 35 Mil negotiable. Call: 701-4553.

Govt. revising Traffic Act to include use of electric bikes

DPI – The Government of Guyana is currently revising the Traffic Act to establish regulations for the use of electric bikes. The revision of the law is as a result of the increase in the battery-powered bicycles which are posing threats to road users dailyAttorney General and Minister of LegalAffairs,AnilNandlall, SC, made the disclosure during his weekly programme, ‘Issues in the n e w s ’ , T u e s d a y evening.Several complaints weremadetotheauthorities by members of the private sector and citizens, pointing out the hazards posed by these e-bikes on public roads.To this end, Minister Nandlall said “Amendments

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC

to the traffic laws and or regulations are already in draft for government’s approval and once they are approved,theprocedurewill havetobefollowedforthem to be promulgated and become enforceable

”The government has

decidedtobringaregulatory framework into place to addressthemannerinwhich theseelectricbikesaregoing tooperateonourroadways,” h e e m p h a s i s e d

The new approach indicates the administration’s commitment to addressing the road accidents that have resulted in a number of deaths countrywide

Only last year, the government enacted the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2022, which has strong penalties in place for a person who causes death by drinking and driving

The Intoxicating Liquor Licensing(Amendment)Bill 2022 was also approved by the National Assembly,

which disallows a licensed holder to sell, give or barter intoxicating liquor to a person he/she knows is

DPPasksPolicetodofurtherinvestigation intodeathofbabyatOgledaycare

The Director of P u b l i c Prosecution

(DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, S.ConTuesdayreturnedthe casefilethatinvestigatedthe deathof7-month-oldOriyah Gravesande, and requested thattheGuyanaPoliceForce (GPF) conducts further investigation.

Baby Oriyah died after fallingoffabedatadaycare and suffocating. Oriyah was buriedonTuesday

Kaieteur News had reported that Oriyah was pronounced dead at the GeorgetownPublicHospital on,March21,2023.Shewas left in the care of a day care located at Ogle, East Coast Demerara(ECD).

Following a joint investigation conducted by the GPF, the Child Care and Protection Agency, and the Ministry of Human Service andSocialProtection–afile was sent to the DPP for

advice. Kaieteur News was reliably informed that the filehassincebeensentback forfurtherinvestigation.

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 had said, “I was made to understand they murder my daughter, they murder my daughter.”

Accordingtothewoman, her daughter fell into the corner of a bed in a sheet which reportedly suffocated her “So, by the time they could have called me to come 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 due to suffocation,” the distraught mother shared.

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

“Firstthing,thedaycare 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 haemorrhage and compressiontotheneck.

ThePMEwasconducted by Government Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh, at the Georgetown Public Hospital’sMortuary

Moreover, the day care ownerwasplacedonstation bailandisrequiredtoreport to the Sparendaam Police Stationdaily

Also, officials had revealed that while the day care owner had been operating for the past 27 years, they are not licensed todoso.

Biden and Netanyahu trade barbs over plan to weaken courts as Israel rejects ‘pressure’ from White House

(CNN)Israel’sembattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu escalated a rare public dispute with US President Joe Biden on Tuesday, rejecting “pressure” from the White House after Biden criticized his controversial efforts to weakentheIsraelijudiciary

The back and forth thrust into public view a simmering diplomatic disputethathasmostlybeen kept private over the past severalweeks.

Biden and other US officials had sought to quietly dissuade Netanyahu

from moving ahead with his proposed reforms without creating the appearance of a

likely to leave the premises and drive a motor vehicle, unless a designated driver is i d e n t i f i e d

”Theneedhasarisenforusto makeanotherchangeandwe are prepared to do so,” MinisterNandlalladded.

Peru prosecutors probe president, ex-president for alleged money laundering

Peru’s President Dina Boluarte arrives to meet with foreign press, in Lima, Peru January 24, 2023.

REUTERS/Angela Ponce

rift. But now the divide appears to be opening between the two men, who have known each other for decades.

B i d e n s a i d o n Tuesday that he won’t invite Netanyahu to the White House “in the near term,” and issued an unusuallystingingrebukeof Netanyahu’s proposed judicial overhaul after mass protests and strikes brought Israel to a standstill and delayedthelegislation.

(Reuters) - Peruvian prosecutorsareinvestigating President Dina Boluarte and former president Pedro Castillo for allegedly laundering money as part of a criminal organization, the attorneygeneral’sofficesaid onTwitteronTuesday

The probe into the alleged crimes by Boluarte and Castillo is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged campaign finance crimes committed during Peru’s 2021 presidential race.

The announcement comesafteraformeradviser to Castillo told local media that he had financed part of Castillo’s presidential campaignin2021,aswellas trips for Boluarte when she was running to be Castillo’s vicepresident.

“ T h e a l l e g e d commission of these crimes would have occurred during

the electoral campaign of Peru Libre,” the attorney general’s office said, referencing the Marxist party that led Castillo to the presidency of the Andean country Castillo was removed from office in December after attempting to dissolve Congress before an impeachment vote. Boluarte ascended to the presidency in the wake of his removal andarrest.

Boluarte over the weekend denied receiving i l l e g a l c a m p a i g n contributions and said corruption accusations were a “political maneuver” seeking to undermine her government.

Boluarteisalsocurrently under investigation for her alleged role in the deaths of protesters killed in clashes with security forces in the monthsaftershetookoffice.

Joe Biden & Benjamin Netanyahu

Dead: Oriyah Gravesande

Mackenzie Sports Club Executive face members/ Mackenzie Sports Club Executive face members/ Mackenzie Sports Club Executive face members/ Mackenzie Sports Club Executive face members/ Mackenzie Sports Club Executive face

MSC Executive say still in the

The Mackenzie Sports Club Executive/ Management Committee will on Saturday hold a special members meeting at the MSC Pavilion from 5.00PM.

This meeting at the headquarters of the oldest sports institution in Linden is highly anticipated following last October’s announcement by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson that the club has become the property of the government. Additionally, recent disclosures which suggest that cricket will be the central sport at this venue, which is known to have accommodated sev-

eral others sports such as football, track and field among them, which from all appearances now seem to be unlikely, is further cause for concern.

On social media, a usually reliable source posted that “While the ground is built to international cricket standards and therefore able to host cricket matches, it will continue to serve as a football facility and also host other sport events.”

But some executives of the MSC doubt this being possible, because of the location of the cricket field and how it was built.

members/

An official said that the MSC was never consulted on the plans and no drawings were shared with them, hence no in-put on the design and that is what will eventually prove disastrous.

Since the announcement in October 2020 that the Government of Guyana had identified that the MSC will be one of three multipurpose facilities across Guyana, several questions were posed to the management of the club.

At all times the executives said they were unable to say much about the design as there were no consultations with them despite several re-

Thursday March 30, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

You might be extremely busy now. Invitations to large parties, small gatherings with close friends, and intimate evenings with romantic partners might come up today.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Unexpected visitors could wake you up to the possibility of new work opportunities, Taurus. This could advance your current job or be work you can do on your own - maybe on a volunteer basis.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

If you aren't romantically involved, an errand, walk, or other foray into your neighborhood might bring an exciting new person into your life.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

Money that you may have been hoping to use to better your living or working condition could suddenly come your way today, Cancer.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

When you run errands today, check the bulletin boards in local businesses. You may have been longing for adventure and dreaming about getting away from it all, Leo.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

Information received today excites your imagination and encourages you to start a new artistic or creative project, Virgo. Stories, pictures, abstract concepts - all could come together.

Harpy Eagles pacer Ronsford Beaton reported for suspect action, suspended

SportsMax - Ronsford

quests to the government.

Now that the cricket area is almost done the attendant problems with regards the playing of football are clear to see and for this it would be interesting what the feedback will be come Saturday.

According to Minister of Sport Charles Ramson, who met with some MSC Executives on Tuesday 11th , October, in Linden, the MSC is now owned by Government after the National Industrial Company Inc. Limited (NICIL) transferred it to the Government of Guyana.

However, several members and former members both local and overseas have commented on this development stating that the Club was a gift to the Club and the community.

Beaton, the Guyana Harpy Eagles fast bowler, was reported for a suspect bowling action during the ongoing West Indies Championship four-day first-class competition.

Beaton’s action was cited by match officials during the fourth round match between Guyana Harpy Eagles and Ja-

maica Scorpions at the Guyana National Stadium.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) confirmed that the Opinion Report by the Independent Assessor at Loughborough University, has found Beaton’s bowling action to be illegal and, as such, he has been suspended from bowling with immediate effect.

Guyana’s ‘First of a Kind’ Golf...

From page 28 numbers of players, especially those who cannot afford access to a private golf club. The goal of Nexgen Golf is to build another 5 such facilities across the country over the next two years.

This model type facility can host cricket, football, fishing, picnicking and other community activities in addition

to golf so it serves multiple purposes for the region.

The land was made available through an arrangement with Mr. Ronald Sami, a former teacher, who wanted to leave a legacy for his family and school children in the area. Additional amenities will be developed by the Sami family to enhance the golf course in the near future.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

Adventure is the word for today, Libra. A lot of physical and mental energy, as well as enthusiasm, might lead you to aim for goals that others consider too risky or unrealistic.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

New career goals may come your way with the current aspect, Scorpio, opening up possibilities you may not have considered. This could be very exciting.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Fascinating new information could arrive today from TV or the Internet, opening up new educational opportunitie. The possibility of making contact and perhaps visiting new friends.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) The

A sudden burst of physical energy and determination could lead to additional income for you, Capricorn. This is probably due to an unexpected opportunity to do some extra work.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Friends or a group with which you're affiliated could propose a trip. This might seem like a great adventure, Aquarius, so you're likely to go for it. You will probably have a wonderful time.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

An opportunity to do some extra work outside the scope of your regular job could present itself to you. Take it, Pisces. Not only could you earn some extra money.

Ramson said that the MSC which was identified as one of three to be financed by Government to be multipurpose facilities across Guyana, would become one like the National Stadium on completion, having the capacity to hold international cricket and football in keeping with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and world governing football body FIFA.

In fact, the sport minister said for government to acquire a grant from the Chinese Government to fund the building of the pavilion and a new structure; government had to show ownership, hence seemingly the announcement that around April last year, papers were handed over to show government ownership. An executive said this will be challenged.

But, members and residents are not comfortable with this since it could mean the removal of control of the club by an executive and members and as such are likely to seek means to counter such claims that the MNSC is now owned by the government if Guyana.

This will be one of a number of matters which will be raised on Saturday at this very important meeting.

The meeting is to be chaired by President Avery Trim and General Secretary Joseph Chapman and while the transfer matter is key among the issues at hand, the functions of the club moving forward is high on what has caused anxiety among the community at large.

community on Saturday at MSC pavilion community on Saturday at MSC pavilion community on Saturday at MSC pavilion community on Saturday at MSC pavilion community on Saturday at MSC pavilion

dark of what the facility will look like

Republic Bank Limited, the largest indigenous bank in the English-speaking Caribbean, has been announced as the new Title SponsorandOfficialBankof the Caribbean Premier League(CPL).

The announcement was made by CPL Chief Executive Officer, Pete Russell, in a press conferenceyesterdayinPort of Spain to launch the 2023 season of the T20 cricket tournament.

The2023RepublicBank Caribbean Premier League will run from August 16 to September24.Thisyearwill also see the return of the Women’sCaribbeanPremier League. Having previously sponsored the CPL as the Official Banking Partner since 2015, the Bank will now assume the League’s highest sponsorship profile forthenextthree(3)years.

Republic Bank has also been confirmed as a partner for the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) whichwillreturnin2023for itssecondedition.

The WCPLsees the best female cricketers from acrosstheregionandaround

the world showcase their skills in front of a huge globalaudience.

AccordingtoRussell,the CPL sees Republic Bank as the perfect partner for the CPL and WCPL, and a company that shares their passion for cricket and Caribbeanculture.

“The CPL is a driver of economic growth and the creation of jobs, so having a financialgrouplikeRepublic Bank as the title sponsor makesperfectsense.

In addition, Republic Bankhasagreattrackrecord of spreading the love of cricket across the region, something that is important to all of us at the CPL,” Russelsaid.

Nigel Baptiste, Group President and Chief Executive Officer for the RepublicGroup,saidthey’re excited to be the Title SponsorandOfficialBankof the Caribbean Premier League “Baptiste highlighted, “Cricket is hugely important to Caribbean heritage, culture, community and youth development and as the Caribbean’s largest sporting event and one of its most

s i g n i f i c a n t s p o r t entertainment exports, the CPL demonstrates to the world the Caribbean’s capability and prowess, illustrates our talent and future potential, and showcases our joyous and incomparablespirit.”

As a result, the Bank deemed it essential as a Caribbean corporate citizen, with operations in fourteen (14) territories including CPL franchise countries, Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad andTobago,SaintLuciaand StKittsandNevistoexpand its partnership with the League.

The Guyana National Stadiumwillonceagainplay host to the playoffs, semifinals finals of the CPL, along with all the home matches for the Amazon Warriors. First started in 2013, the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is a franchise-based T20 format cricket tournament that combines two of the most compelling aspects of Caribbean life – dramatic cricket and a vibrant Carnivalatmosphere.

Thebroadcastanddigital viewership in 2022 was

Rashid Khan new No.

1

721.8million to make it one of the most watched leagues in world cricket. Jamaica

Tallawahs are the current Hero CPL champions, and the other competing teams are Barbados Royals,

Guyana Amazon Warriors, St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, Saint Lucia Kings and Trinbago KnightRiders

In 2022 there was the first running of the Massy Women’sCaribbeanPremier

League (WCPL) with Trinbago Knight Riders being crowned Champions. The tournament also featured Barbados Royals and Guyana Amazon Warriors.

T20I bowler in the world

Afghanistan bowlers on the podium

ESPNcricinfo - Rashid

Khan is the new No. 1 T20I bowlerintheworld.

He has displaced Sri Lanka’sWaninduHasaranga atthetopfollowinghisthree wickets at less than a run a ballinAfghanistan’shistoric 2-1 series win over Pakistan inSharjah.

Rashid has team-mate Fazalhaq Farooqi for company on the podium, with the young pacer slotting at No 3 on the T20I bowlers’ rankings afterfinishingastopwickettaker for Afghanistan in the Pakistanseries.

Farooqi claimed five wickets and conceded just 4.75 runs to the over acrossthethreematchesto climb 12 places in the rankings

Rashid was No. 1 as recently as November last year, having consistently beenoneoftheformat’sbest since first rising to the

summitinFebruary2018.

The 2-1 result was Afghanistan’s first T20I serieswinoverPakistan,and another bowler to make strides as a result was Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who movedfromNo.10toNo.8 after taking two-fors in the firstandthirdgames.

For Pakistan, standin captain Shadab Khan (who led in place of the rested BabarAzam) moved up eight spots to No 4 on the T20I allrounder rankings, having finished as the series’ third-highest run-scorer and jointfourth-highestwicket-taker.

In the T20I batting rankings, South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw moved up two places to No 6 courtesy his 42 off 21, albeit in a losing cause against West Indies in the series-deciding third T20I inJohannesburg

Rohit

Sharma, Adam

Zampa move up in ODI rankings

Following Australia’s ODIserieswinningvictory against India in Chennai, legspinner Adam Zampa has moved to a career-best sixth in the one-day bowling rankings, while IndiacaptainRohitSharma is up one spot to eighth in thebattingrankings.

Zampa had produced figures of 10-0-45-4 in thatgamewhichAustralia won by 21 runs to clinch the series 2-1, while Rohit had slammed 30 off 17,sparkinghisgains.

Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza inched his way up the allrounder rankings too this week, going up one spot to fifth after Zimbabwe’s hard-fought series win against Netherlands where he scored 40 and topped the bowling charts for hisside withfivescalps

Fazalhaq Farooqi moves up to No. 3, to have two

Rashid Khan is top of the world, once again. (ILT20)

Pete Russell, CEO of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League, and Nigel Baptiste, Group President and Chief Executive Officer for the Republic Group celebrate the new partnership (Photo credit: CPL)

Volleyball action returned to Berbice on Sunday 26th March when the Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) successfully helda3-wayvolleyballtournament forteamsintheAncientCounty

The activity which was held at the Guysuco Training Centre/ Port Mourant (GTC/PM) saw nine teamsparticipatingwithplayinthe Male B Division, Female and Academycategories.

IntheBdivisionmalecategory GTCPM1, Rollers of New AmsterdamandGTCPM2werethe contenders. There were 3 female teams namely Guysuco Training Centre,HopetownFemalesofWest BerbiceandRollersfemales.

IntheAcademymalecategory GTCPM, No47 Challengers and Berbice High School (BHS) were

theparticipants.

RollersVolleyballClubtooktop spotinthemaleBdivisioncategory aftersqueezingpastGTCPM2-1in acompetitiveencounter

The scores were 25-16, 10-25, 15-13

At the end of that competition Rollers received the first prize trophy while GTCPM got the secondplacerewardfortheireffort

Errol Chase of Rollers was adjudged as the Most Valuable Player(MVP)andreceivedatrophy Hopetown females came out winnersinthefemalecategoryafter defeatingtheothertwoteamsby2-0 margins

Hopetown first made light work of GTCPM 25 - 20, 2512 They then rolled over Rollers 2-0,25-19,25-15.

Hopetown females received

the first prize trophy and medals. Rollers were presented with the runner up trophy and medals.

Rennia Liverpool of the Hopetown females received the MVP trophy for her outstanding play In the male Academycategory,thewinnerwas BHS after defeating No47 Challengers 2-0 in two closely

contestedsets.Thescoresbeing2624and25-23.

The other team GTCPM was knocked out in the round Robin segment.

The winner and runner-up were presented with the first and second place trophies and medals.

TheMVPawardwenttoJaved HaniffofBHS.(SamuelWhyte)

Mercedes sees ‘promising’ signs ahead of Australia F1

AFP - A cautiously optimistic Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said the team has made “promising” progress since the first two Grand Prix of the season, with another solid pointshaulonhiswishlist for Melbourne this weekend

On the high-speed, power-friendly Jeddah track a fortnight ago, there were distinct signs of life as Mercedes left Ferrari floundering, with George Russell finishing fourth and LewisHamiltonfifth.

I t w a s a c l e a r improvement from the season-opening race in Bahrain, where they offered little competition to the Ferrari, Aston Martin or victoriousRedBullteams.

Whiletheyremainwell adrift of the dominant Red Bullteam,Wolffsaidtheir

W14carwasimproving.

“The progress we saw in Saudi Arabia was encouraging

We maximised the package we had and scored some solid points,”

hesaidlateyesterday “More importantly, we continued to learn and understand more about the W14 and our development direction. Everyone back at basehasbeenhardatworkto

turn these learnings into performance.”

“The signs we are seeing back at the factory arepromising,”headded “We have got to take it step by step, though, and

won’t get carried away until we see performance translated into lap time ontrack ”

Mercedes won eight successive constructors’ titles before Red Bull

claimed the crown last year, with seven-time w o r l d c h a m p i o n Hamilton currently enduring the longest winless run of his recordbreakingcareer Wolff admitted “a significant gap” still remained between Mercedes and Red Bull “and that is ultimately what we are interested in closing”

“As always, we will look to maximise the car we have, and score as many points as our potential currently allows, ” he said of Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix at the fast AlbertParkcircuit.

“We are not where we want to be, but that won’t stopusfromracinghardand giving it everything we’ve got.”

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said the team has made “promising” progress ahead of the next race in Australia.

The 2nd annual Canje Softball Cup now being branded as the “Canje/New Amsterdam One Guyana SoftballCricketCup”isnow slated to be played on Sunday2ndApril2023atthe Goed Banana land Sports Club Ground in East Canje, Berbicefrom9am.

This year’s event has seen the teaming up of the Name Brand Softball Team of Adelphi, Canje, and the OneFamilyStarPromotions coming together in making this one-day ten overs aside knock-out competition possible.

According to the coordinators of the event, this year’s competition will be bigger and better by seeing more prizes at stake and it’s being made an open competition for teams that are interested to take part withinregions4,5and6that wantedtobeinactionasthey will be vying for the championship.

According to the organizers, several businesses already pledged their support towards making the event a success and they are Ramoutar Furniture Est , Home of Rewinding, Hanoman

Dental, A. Ally and Sons, Bob & Sons (Mazar) supermarket, Yadram and Son Construction, Fordy’s Catering, High-End Shop N/A, and Narine Auto

Mechanic Shop. According to the organizers, over $200,000 in cash and trophiesareupforgrabsand will be awarded to the top teams and outstanding individual players The c o o r d i n a t o r s a r e encouraging the residents to bring out their families and have a fun-filled day with cricketactionandlotsofside attractions which includes male and female dancing competitions, children

dancing competition, 100m male and female sprint race, buns eating competition, tug-a-war,andmuchmore.

The competition was rescheduled from last week SundaytothisSundaydueto s o m e u n f o r e s e e n circumstances and organisers are anticipating moreteamstotakepartinthe day’s event Interested teams can contact the coordinators at 647-0038 or 670-5795forregistration.

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Women’s Inter-County Tournament is set to commence today, March 30, 2023 The Tournamentwillgiveplayers the opportunity to showcase their talent and skills as they vie for selection in the Guyana team to play in this year’s Cricket West Indies Regional tournament which issettobeplayedinSt.Kitts and Nevis from May 7-30, 2023.

Defending Champions

Berbice has named a strong team to defend both titles after they totally dominated thefour(4)teamtournament last year to win the double. West Indies player Shabika Gajnabi has been appointed captain while West Indies under-19 captain Ashmini Munisar will serve as her deputy Demerara will be captained by West Indies left-arm spinner Kaysia Shultz, while Heema Singh had been named vicecaptain Essequibo has named the experienced Kumarie Persaud as captain

and Navka Narine the vicecaptain.

This year’s tournament willhavethethree(3)county teams (Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo) and will beginwiththeT20format.In the T20 tournament, two matches will be played on March 30 and two matches, includingthefinal,onMarch 31. The Super50 (50 overs) format will commence on April4andconcludeonApril 9,2023.

Today, March 30, 2023, Berbice will play Demerara from 09:30 hours then Demerara faces Essequibo from14:00hours.OnFriday, March 31, Essequibo will play Berbice from 09:30 hoursthenfrom14:00hours, the top two teams will play the Final. Berbice squad: Shabika Gajnabi (Captain), Ashmini Munisar (Vicecaptain), Erva Giddings, Sheneta Grimmond, Devona Frank, Marian Samaroo, Plaffina Millington, Oma Matadin, Kentana Mentore, Realeanna Grimmond, Trisha Hardatt, Tia Isaacs,

Sherica Campbell, Denellie Lindee, Gaytri Sanichara Winston Smith will serve as Head coach, while Rosaline HaniffwillbetheManager Demerara squad: Kaysia Shultz (Captain), Heema Singh (Vice-Captain), Saleena Khan, Lynda Sylvan, Leitsha Jordan, Anita Hendricks, Rushell Roberts, Roshanna Gerrard, Naomi Barkoye, Tilleya Madramootoo, Melanie Dover, Emalissa Whyte, Latoya Garraway, Sarah Amin, Chelsea Latiff. The Manager is Yolande Abenia KlassParkerandHeadcoach isCliveGrimmond.

Essequibo squad: Kumarie Persaud (Captain), Navka Narine (Vicecaptain),Analesia D’Aguiar, Varuni Pitamber, Divine Ross, Lavina Ragobeer, Sonia Ben, Rhana Jones, Nafeeza Sabar, Cyanna Retemiah, Leurene Williams, Roxanne Hendricks. The Manager is Mirenda Cornelius, and the Head coach is Rayon Da Costa.

The soon to open West Side Golf Course, located at Crane in Region 3 brings manyfirststotheregionand Guyana.Itistheregion’sand Guyana’s first and the only scaled, links styled public golf course, that is open for play to every Guyanese without membership requirements under the Nexgen GolFUN brand and itwasdesignedandbuiltbya Guyanese,AleemHussain.

The West Side Golf Course is conveniently located two kilometers from the Vreed-en-hoop junction in the middleof the massive development for the gas to shore project and the new highway connection to the

harbour bridge. It offers lots of parking, a challenging layout and brisk, cool Atlantic breeze throughout mostoftheday.

Course designer Aleem Hussain, who is also presidentoftheGuyanaGolf Association, singlemindedly focused on buildingthesportinGuyana and to his credit, despite the many obstacles faced, the incredibleresultsareplainto see.

Over the past two years, the GGA and Nexgen Golf Academyhastrained155PE Teachers in 8 of the 10 regions around the country, coached116studentstopass golf at the CSEC

examinations, entered into partnership agreements with the Texas Golf Association, LPGA Foundation and USGA and provided access to over 8,000 persons (over 60% female) to experience the sport. Additionally, due

to the rapid growth of the sport in such a short time, GuyanaGolfwasfeaturedin the Guiname Magazine and Golf Global, the Japanese golf magazine produced by theownerofHonda.

H u s s a i n s a i d ,

“Designing a golf course is no easy task, it involves a great deal of vision, skill, planning and creativity But whenyouaddthefactthatit has to be built when there’s no model to copy, then one realizesjusthowmuchtime, money and dedication it takes to accomplish such a goal ” His goal is to revolutionize golf along the lines of 20/20 cricket, makingplayfaster,morefun

and accessible to every Guyanese at an affordable rate. The exclusive unique design uses just 8 acres of land which can be situated closertopopulatedareasfor easy access by students and beginners. It offers three fairways, six tee boxes and five greens wrapped around a lake that provides irrigation, drainage and aestheticappeal.

Askedaboutwhatdrives his desire for golf development in Guyana, Hussain said, “This is a fulfillment of a promise to my mom and family and to all those who believed and supportedmyvisionoverthe past few years. I especially

wish to thank my staff, the coaches, sponsors, donors and the media for their support. I’d be remiss if I didn’t recognize the efforts by Minister of Education Hon. Priya Manickchand and Mr. Kurt Braithwaite, Unit of Allied Arts for their unwavering support for golf development.”

With the growth of the sportoverthepastfewyears due to the exclusive efforts of The Guyana Golf Association, Nexgen Golf Academy and the Ministry of Education Unit of Allied Arts, there is a desperate need for playing facilities to accommodatethelarge

(Continuedonpage25)

Secretary of Terminate Pest Control Ms. Jessica Sati Hicks handing over sponsorship to Mr. Nazeer Roopnarine, while Mr. Emmanuel Edward Eon Hicks looks on.

Aleem Hussain

Come this Saturday, the Lusignan Golf Clubwillbetheplacetobe,astheyprepareto hosttheRobertBirthdayTournament,which willbeheldinhonourofRobertHanoman.

The format of the tournament will be Stableford over 18 holes in Two (2) flights andshotgunstartandisexpectedtoteeoffat 12:30hrs.Thetwoflightsare:0-16handicap and17-36handicap.(SubjecttoChange)

ThegoaloftheStablefordistoscorethe most points. Every score (net score) when comparedtoparisequivalenttoasetnumber ofpredeterminedpoints.Thepointsperhole areawardedasfollows:

% Three strokes under (double eagle/albatrossorholeinone):5points

% Twostrokesunder(eagle):4points

% Onestrokeunder(birdie):3points

% Evenpar:2points

% Onestrokeover(bogey):1point

% Two strokes over (double bogey or worse):Zeropoints

Essentially the goal is to make as many birdies(orbetter)andparstohavethehighest numberattheendoftheround.Thereareno negativeholes,whichmeansanythingaftera double bogey you can pick up and move to thenexthole.

Therewillbeprizesupforgrabsineach flight from first to second, Best Overall Score, Nearest to the Flag – Hole #4 and LongestDrive-Hole#5.

A large turnout is anticipated for a full round of golf among members and newcomers. Hanoman, since he became acquainted with golf, has remained committed to the game that he has been playing for more than 20 years. Over the years, Hanoman has made significant and

outstanding contributions to the LGC. Counsel Hanoman has provided legal guidance and direction continuously, in additiontoconsistentandvoluntaryfinancial assistance by means of sponsorships and otherareasofclubdevelopment.

Allparticipantsareadvisedtocontactthe club’smanageronthedayofthetournament to collect their scorecards, pay their tournament fees and proceed to their allocatedteeboxestobeginplayat12:30pm. Presentation of prizes will be held at the completion of the tournament at approx. 5:30pm.Toregisterpersonscanpersonscan contact Lusignan Golf Club on 220-5660. Registration closes tomorrow, Friday at 05:00pm.

(Reuters) - Honda have filed an appeal to the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) over the amendment of a penalty issuedtoMarcMarquezafter acrashwithMiguelOliveira in the season-opening MotoGPraceinPortugal,the teamsaidyesterday

Oliveira was in second placeintheopeningstagesof his home Portuguese Grand Prix on Sunday when Marquez locked up his Honda and barged straight intotheRNFRacingrideras bothcrashedoutoftherace.

Honda’s Marquez apologised for his mistake and accepted a double long lap penalty for next weekend’sraceinArgentina.

The six-times premier class champion was then ruledoutofthesecondround in Argentina due to a hand fracture, with MotoGP saying it would carry forward his penalty to the nextraceheenters.

“Themodificationofthe penaltyconsistedofachange of criteria on when the penalty should be applied,” Hondasaidinastatement.

“...thatthismodification was issued by the FIM two daysaftertheinitialsanction was final and definitive, is not in line with the current regulations of the FIM for the MotoGP World Championship.“TheRepsol Honda Team intends to use all the means of recourse to defend its rights and legitimate interests, which it considersviolatedasaresult of the latest resolution adopted, and in particular hasdulysubmittedanappeal before the FIM Appeal Stewards.”

(Reuters) - FIFA yesterdaystrippedIndonesia of the right to stage this year’s Under-20 soccer World Cup, over what an Indonesian official said was a failure to honour its commitments to the tournament.

The decision to stop Indonesia holding the May 20-June 11 event was taken after the country’s football federation (PSSI) said it had cancelled the draw because the governor of the largely Hindu island of Bali refusedtohostIsrael’steam.

“FIFA has decided, due to the current circumstances, to remove Indonesia as the host of the FIFAU-20 World Cup 2023,” a FIFA statement said

“A new host will be announced as soon as possible, with the dates of the tournament currently remaining unchanged

Potential sanctions against the PSSI may also bedecidedatalaterstage.”

World soccer’s ruling body added that the decision had been taken following a meeting

between its President

Gianni Infantino and PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir

“Indonesia is a FIFA member, so for any international soccer matters, we have to abide by the rules,” Thohir said in a statementonPSSI’swebsite.

“I ask all football lovers to keep their heads held high over this tough decisionbyFIFA

It’s time we proved to FIFA to work harder to transform soccer, towards clean and high-achieving soccer ”

The loss of hosting rightswillbeabigsetback in Indonesia, where football has a massive following,despitethelack

of international success since qualifying for the 1938 World Cup as the DutchEastIndies

When asked why FIFA had decided to remove

Indonesia as hosts, Zainudin Amali, deputy PSSI chief and former sports minister told

; “FIF

decided Indonesia didn’t

follow through with its earlier commitments whilebidding ”

Zainudin added that he hopes to avoid sanctions but fearsanotherFIFAban.

“ T h a t w e w e r e removed from hosting rights is already tough for us,”hesaid

Protesters marched in the capital Jakarta this month waving Indonesian and Palestinian flags and demanding that Israel was notallowedtoparticipate

Indonesia’s population is predominantly Muslim Most Indonesian Muslims practise a moderate version of Islam, but there has been a rise in religious conservatism in recent years that has crept into politics

The PSSI said this week that losing hosting rights would harm

Indonesianfootballteams’ chances of taking part in other FIFA tournaments,

while the economic losses would amount to “trillions ofrupiah”

FIFA said yesterday that it was committed to aiding the PSSI following a deadly stampede last year that led to the deaths of 135 spectators at a stadiuminEastJava

“Members of the FIFA team will continue to be present in Indonesia in the coming months and will provide the required assistance to the PSSI, under the leadership of President Thohir,” FIFA saidinthestatement

“A new meeting between the FIFA President and the PSSI President for further discussions will be scheduledshortly”

As hosts, Indonesia automatically qualified for the Under-20 World Cup, but they have not played in the tournament since1979

PRepsol Honda Team’s Marc Marquez and CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team’s Miguel Oliveira after crashing during the race. (REUTERS/Marcelo Del Pozo)

The tournament will be held in honour of Robert Hanoman.

FIFA’s logo is seen in front of its headquarters during a foggy autumn day in Zurich, Switzerland November 18, 2020. (REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann)

L A U S A N N E , Switzerland,(Reuters)-The International Olympic Committee yesterday rejected claims by the International Boxing Association that the Olympic body had misused information regarding boxingofficials.

The IOC said it wrote a lettertoIBAPresidentUmar Kremlev and ordered a full review of the embattled IBA’sprogressonreforms.

It was responding to a letter by Kremlev this week that said the federation was c o n c e r n e d a b o u t confidential data relating to itscompetitionofficialsafter they were contacted by the IOCinrelationtoParis2024 boxingqualifiers.

The IOC suspended the IBA in 2019 over governance, finance, refereeingandethicalissues and did not involve it in runningtheboxingeventsat the2021TokyoOlympics.

The IOC will also be in charge of the boxing qualifiers for the Paris Olympics.

“The allegations

International Boxing Association (IBA) president Umar Kremlev reacts as he speaks to media at the opening ceremony of Women’s World Boxing Championships at Indira Gandhi Indoor stadium in New Delhi, India, March15, 2023. (REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis)

contained in your letter, in particular those relating to the integrity of the process (of contacting judges), are generally refuted,” the IOC saidinitslettertotheIBA.

The IOC said it had ordered an analysis of all reformelementsthattheIBA has been instructed to undertake in order to be reinstatedagain.

“The IOC can only accept a sport where there has been a full and fair

Reuters-DesmondBanescored 31pointsandXavierTillmanadded a career-high 20 as the Memphis Grizzlies extended the NBA’s longest active winning streak to sevengameswitha113-108victory overthevisitingOrlandoMagicon Tuesday

Jaren Jackson Jr added 16 points and 10 rebounds for Memphis,whichledbyasmanyas 23 in the third quarter before Orlandostormedbackinthefourth. LukeKennardscored16pointsand DillonBrookshad13.

Orlando had its three-game winning streak snapped despite Franz Wagner’s 25 points. Paolo Banchero had 24 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, while WendellCarterJr added14points, Goga Bitadze had 13, Markelle Fultz scored 11 and ColeAnthony chippedin10.

ThewinmovedMemphisthree games ahead of the Sacramento Kings for the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference playoff race. The Grizzlies played minus star Ja Morant,whoislistedasday-to-day duetorightthighsoreness.

Hornets137,Thunder134

P.J.Washingtonscoredacareerhigh43pointstoleadCharlottepast

qualification process,” IOC spokesperson Mark Adams toldanewsconference.

“To make it absolutely clear

TheIOChasnoproblem with the sport of boxing or the boxers but there are problems with the suspendedfederation.”

The IBA had said it its letter that the Olympic body’s actions were in breach of a data transfer agreementsignedin2019.

host Oklahoma City, giving the Hornetstheirthirdstraightwin,all against Western Conference opponentsinthethickoftheplayoff race.

The Thunder had a chance to send the game into overtime at the buzzer after a long inbounds pass with2.8secondsleftdeflectedinto Jalen Williams’hands just outside the arc. But Williams’ 3-pointer bounced off the back of the rim as theHornetsescaped.

The Thunder have lost three of their last four. Isaiah Joe scored a career-high 33 points to lead OklahomaCity.

Heat120,Cavaliers118

Dejounte Murray scored 29 points,fiveinthefinal2:14,tohelp host Atlanta defeat short-handed Cleveland to end the Cavaliers’ four-gamewinningstreak.

Murray made three free throws with2:14remainingandhitaclutch jumper from the foul line to give Atlanta a four-point lead with 58.6 secondsleft.

Atlanta also got 21 points and nine rebounds from Onyeka Okongwu and 16 points and 10 assistsfromTraeYoung.

Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell scored 44 points, including a 3-

SportsMax - Netball Jamaica has been fined almostonemillionJamaican dollars (£5,000) by World Netballfollowinglastyear’s fiasco involving the Sunshine Girls series with the Silver Ferns in September 2022. Resulting from the sanction, the SunshineGirlswillbebarred from international tournaments until the fine is fullypaid.

According to reports, passport and visa issues delayed the arrival of the

Sunshine Girls in New Zealand resulting in the first two tests being abandoned and the series moved to Auckland Subsequently, only seven players eventually arrived in New Zealand as the other five of the 12-player squad continued to experience challengeswiththeirvisas.

As a result, Jamaica in a bidtofieldthemandatory10 players for a recognised test match, were forced to add coach Connie Francis to the team sheet. They were also

onestheyhadweregoodenoughto defeatvisitingBoston.

Kristaps Porzingis amassed 32 points, 13 rebounds and six assists fortheWizards,whowerewithout Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma. It was the fourth straight game Beal missed because of a sore left knee, whileKuzmahasn’tplayedthepast fivegamesbecauseofarightankle sprain.

Jayson Tatum had 28 points, nine rebounds and five assists for theCeltics,whoshot11of44from 3-pointrange.JaylenBrownadded 18 points for the Celtics, while Marcus Smart scored 14 and MalcolmBrogdonhad13.

Raptors106,Heat92

Pascal Siakam had 26 points and nine rebounds, and Toronto defeatedvisitingMiami.

Netball Jamaica has been fined £5,000 by World Netball for last September’s Tiani Jamison Series fiasco.

forced to recruit Romelda Aiken-George and the retired Carla Borrego from Australia.Aiken-Georgehad givenbirthtoherfirstchilda fewweeksearlier Reports said lost ticket sales and a change of venue and costs for travel assistancecostNewZealand dearly and prompted the World Netball investigation. Thetwogamesthatwerenot played were recorded as lossesforJamaicawhichsaw them drop to fourth in the worldrankings.

responded,andPreciousAchiuwa’s 3-pointer gave the Raptors a 19point lead with 7:15 remaining. BamAdebayocuttheleadto12on adrivingdunkwith3:56toplayand Herro’sfloatertrimmedtheleadto 10with3:25left.

FredVanVleet’s3-pointerwith 1:31toplaypushedtheleadto13to closeitout.

Warriors120,Pelicans109

Stephen Curry scored a gamehigh 39 points and joined Klay Thompsoninasecond-half3-point barrage, sending Golden State to a come-from-behind victory over NewOrleansinSanFrancisco.

Curry finished with eight 3pointers and Thompson five, helping Golden State outscore the Pelicans 36-9 from beyond the arc inthesecondhalf.

pointerwith55.6secondslefttocut the deficit to one. But Mitchell missed a 3-pointer with 12 5 secondsleftandhitthebackofthe rim on a half-court shot at the buzzer

Wizards130,Celtics111 Washington was without a couple of its best players, but the

ScottieBarnesadded22points, seven rebounds and 12 assists for the Raptors, who completed a 3-1 homestand and are at .500 for the firsttimesinceDec.9.TylerHerro scored33pointsandhandedoutsix assists for the Heat, who were without Jimmy Butler (sore neck) andhavelosttwoinarow

Duncan Robinson’s 3-pointer reduced the margin to 13 points with 9:33 to play, but Toronto

The win moved the Warriors into sole possession of the No. 6 playoff spot in the Western Conference with just five games remaining.

Brandon Ingram had a teamhigh26pointsforthePelicans(3838),whocouldhavemovedpastthe Warriors with a sixth straight win. NewOrleansled63-46butcouldn’t holdon.

(FieldLevelMedia)

Memphis Grizzlies

The Guyana Harpy Eagles were at the centre of another15-wicketdayasthe final round of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) 2022/23 West Indies Championship commenced yesterday across three venues in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.

At stumps, Leeward IslandsHurricanesare133-5 with a lead of 11 runs after they restricted the Harpy Eagles to 122 in their first innings at the Guyana N a t i o n a l S t a d i u m P r o v i d e n c e . T h e tournament’s leading wicket

taker, Raheem Cornwall, was the chief destroyer for Hurricanes as he finished with 4 – 37, Javier Spencer and Colin Archibald both claimed two wickets each whileJeremiahLouispicked up one. Earlier in the day, HarpyEaglestookfirststrike and reached 32 before the fall of the first opener, Tagenarine Chanderpaul (12).

The other opener, Matthew Nandu (22), became Cornwall’s first victim nine runs later.

Kevlon Anderson (16) looked solid once again but

lost his concentration to become Cornwall’s second wicket.

Kemol Savory (4), Leon Johnson (8) and Tevin Imlach(6)wereallremoved cheaplyasGuyanaslippedto 85-6inthe33rdover

Kevin Sinclair (12) entered double figures but was dismissed soon after as was Veerasammy Permaul (2), Shamar Joseph (6) and Nial Smith (0), while Anthony Adams was left unbeatenon12.

Extras played a major role with a tally of 22 in the 44.1oversinnings.

Hurricanes began the chase and immediately lost Larry Audain (0) with the score on 4 in the third over Kieran Powell and Keacy Carty made the opposition toil in the latter part of the second session and the beginningofthethird.

However, impatience caused the fall of Powell, whomade39andfeaturedin a 69-run partnership; the visitors were 73-2 then lost Carty one run later for 23.

DevonThomas’(2)staywas briefashebecamethefourth wicket to fall with the score on 85. The captain, Jahmar

Hamilton, played a resilient innings while Karima Gore (10) was the final wicket to fall as the score ticked over to104.

Hamilton (35*) and Kofi James (9*) survived the remaining overs of the afternoon session as they helped surpass the target andwerehaltedbycloseof playafter43overs

Permaul has 2-31, while Smith, Sinclair and Adams each claimed a wicket

The match resumes todayfrom10:00hrs.Other matches…

Windward Islands Hurricanes 237 from 66 5 overs (Alick Athanaze 59, Tevyn Walcott 55, Ryan John 41; Akeem Jordan 544) lead Barbados Pride 48-0* from 11 overs (Sheyne Moseley 26*, Zachary McCaskie 21*) by 189runs TrinidadandTobagoRed Force 302 from 86.5 overs (Terrence Hinds 94, Anderson Phillip 63*; Derval Greene 3-56) lead Jamaica Scorpions 5-1* from 0.5 overs (Leroy Lugg 4*;AndersonPhillip1-5)by 297runs.

Guyana had a seven-medal haul at the March 26 International Barbados Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships, hosted at the Golden Square Freedom Park in Bridgetown.

Competing under the recentlyformed Guyana Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association, the Land of Many Waters was represented by seven athletes, all of whom hail from the Phoenix Jiu-jitsu Club, headed by SenseiBruceFraser

Guyana joined fighters from Canada, Barbados, Guadeloupe, TurksandCaicosandEnglandatthe event where Sensei Fraser said he was proud of the team’s performance.

The seven athletes won seven medals,includingtwogoldandwere

adjudged one of the stronger teams on display as the Guyanese competitors wowed the crowd with theirtechniques.

Aldo Melendez won gold in the lightweight junior intermediate level, while Akel Barrington also finished at the top of the podium in the lightweight Intermediate level.

FormerMissGuyanaand2011Miss Universe contestant Kara Lord won twosilvermedalsinthewomen’sgi Intermediate and women’s nogi intermediatedivisions.

TeressaMenezeslandedaSilver medal in the women’s gi Intermediate Absolute division, while Webster McRae Jr claimed bronzeintheadvancedgidivision.

Shane Wagner won Guyana’s other bronze in the intermediate gi

middleweightdivision.

Meanwhile, Sensei Fraser told Kaieteur News, “Team Guyana did very well and sent a message to the restoftheCaribbeanthatwearehere andheretostay.”

“There were a few logistical hiccups,butwepulleditoffandhad a fantastic showing. We are aiming to fully stabilise ourselves in the region gaining as much experience as we can before entering the elite level,”SenseiFrasersaid.

Cyrilda Jarvis-Fraser (Club Official to the Association) and F e r n a n d o M e l e n d e z (Parent/Guardian Observer to the Association) were the other members of the contingent in the Land of the Flying Fish. (Rawle Toney)

Kevlon Anderson was caught off a top notch delivery from Rahkeem Cornwall on the first day of the GHE versus LIH at the GNS, Providence.

Former Miss Guyana Kara Lord excelled at the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships.