Kaieteur News

Guyana’s 2% royalty flagged by Int'l energy site as being the lowest in Latin America

Since the first commercial oil discovery in Guyana's Stabroek Block back in 2015,therehavebeenmorethan30 other significant finds in that concession.Thesuccessratehasno doubt motivated the country's Dutch speaking neighbour and CARICOM sister, Suriname, to aggressively advance efforts to replicate a similar fate in its own waters.

In fact, the National Government in Paramaribo is so eager to record comparable offshore achievements that it is using several incentives to attract deep pocket investments from global energy companies. In his most recent analysis, Matthew Smith, a Latin America Correspondent and Veteran Investor for Oilprice.com said Suriname is establishing some of theenergyindustry'smostgenerous production sharing contracts (PSCs).

Smith wrote that the 30-year PSCs, which are up to 10 years longer than equivalent contracts offered by other Latin American countries, provide oil companies with considerable time to successfully develop and exploit

anyhydrocarbondiscoveriesmade. He said too that Paramaribo has also established “a low royalty rate of6.25%inordertoattracturgently n e e d e d f o r e i g n e n e r g y investment.”

Importantly, Smith wrote that whilethatrateishigherthanthe2% put in place by Guyana's

Two men jailed 12 and 15 years respectively for raping minors

Twenty one year old Mark Fontanelle of First Phase, Kwakwani, Upper Berbice River, who admitted that he raped a 12year-old girl was on Wednesday s e n t e n c e d t o 11 y e a r s imprisonment.

Fontanelle was sentenced by Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Demerara Sexual Offences Court at the High Court. He was charged with Rape of a Child Under 16 Years Contrary to Section 10(3) of the Sexual Offences Act Chapter 8:03.

Meanwhile, 33-year-old Ray Williamswassentencedto15years and three months for repeatedly raping a 12-year-old girl. Williams was also sentenced by Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Sexual Offences Court on Wednesday Williamswassentencedto12years onthefirstcountofrapeofaminor, 13 years on the second count, and 15 years, three months on the third count.

However, his sentences will run concurrently and this means he will only serve 15 years and three months for repeatedly raping a minor

Government for the Exxon led consortium exploiting the Stabroek Block, Guyana's 2% is among the lowestinLatinAmerica.

He noted that oil royalties in Argentina amount to 12% of wellheadproduction.

In Brazil, a 15% royalty is levied on the value of the oil

produced, while they range from 8% to 25% in Colombia and 12.5% to18.5%inEcuador

The President Irfaan Ali led Administration has remained adamant that it will not be making any changes to the low royalty in ExxonMobil's contract even thoughithassethighertermsfor14

smaller blocks that will be up for grabs in Guyana's maiden auction nextyear

For those blocks, companies will have to pay a 10 percent royalty

Earlier this month, Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo had also saidthatthenewfiscaltermswhich will not be applied to Exxon's Stabroek Block but to new players, also include a 50/50 sharing of profit oil and a payment of 10 percent Corporation Tax. Jagdeo said Government also agreed for there to be a 65 percent cost recoveryceilinginagivenyear He saidtheseterms,amongothers,had following work that was undertaken with several consultants.

Jagdeo said IHS Markit, a leading information services providerheadquarteredintheUKis taking lead on guidingThe Guyana Governmentontheauction.

TheVicePresidenthadsaidthat the 14 blocks would range from about 1000 square kilometres to 3000 square kilometers with the majority of them being close to 2000 square kilometers. Eleven of thesewillbeintheshallowareaand threeinthedeepAreaC.

Body of man found under eye clinic's bridge at Brickdam

By Shervin Belgrave

The body of an unidentified man was found trapped under a bridge at Schuler and Gomes Optical Services located along Brickdam,Georgetown.

Thediscoverywasmadeduring the afternoon hours after the foul scent became unbearable to the owneroftheprivateeyeclinic,Don Gomes and other residents living closeby GomestoldReportersthat he became aware of the foul smell since Sunday but did not know where it was coming from. “Since Sunday this thing start smelling…we thought was some dead rat or something,” Gomes said. He reportedly cleaned up his premises and washed his entire yardwithallkindsofdetergentsbut the smell did not go away, it only gotworse.

On Wednesday it became unbearable and Gomes along with some helpers traced the scent to the section of a drain in front of his premises that was covered with planks. They removed the planks only to discover the body of the deadman.

When Kaieteur News arrived at the scene, ranks had cordoned off the area and were hard at work breaking off a piece of the bridge with a sledge hammer to retrieve the corpse. It took them more than an hour to remove the remains before crime scene experts could examine it for marks of violence.

Kaieteur News understands that there were no visible signs on the decomposingcorpse.

Thebody,however,appearedto be that of a middle aged man with a baldhead.Therewasapairofblack shoes on the feet and it was clad in long black pants and a dark grey

Police ranks using a sledge hammer to break the concrete bridge.

The body of an unidentified man

jersey with white stripes Residents on the other hand are questioninghowthebodyended-up being trapped under the bridge and cannot recall hearing any strange sounds or movements prior to the stench. The body is being stored at theMemorialGardensmortuary

Map showing the blocks located in the Guyana-Suriname basin

Convicted child rapist, Mark Fontanelle

Convicted child rapist, Ray Williams

Revenues from oil and Govt. says:

gas still small

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh said the revenues being accrued from the oil and gas sector are still r e l a t i v e l y m o d e s t , particularly considering the country's developmental needs.

Speaking during the programme 'The Narrative', Minister Singh is quoted by the Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying that while the petroleum sector continues to grow and g e n e r a t e e c o n o m i c opportunities, the non oil sectors must be developed to create a sustainable source of wealth.

“We have seen many examplesaroundtheworldof countries that were entirely dependent on oil, and if the oil price dips or if the oil production dips for one reasonoranother,thecountry finds itself in trouble. We don't want to be in that situation.”

“Government is focusing heavily on developing the transport infrastructure

roads, bridges, drainage, and improving connectivity, particularly in the hinterland. Major infrastructure projects being undertaken include the Mandela to Eccles Highway, East Coast to East Bank Demerara Road link, the Linden to Mabura road construction, and the New Demerara River Bridge, among others, ” Minister Singhsaid.

“ A c c e s s t o o u r neighbours like Brazil and Suriname is still a challenge. Wedon'thaveabridgeacross the river to Suriname, we don't have an all-weather road to Brazil, and that, of course, you know, some of those infrastructural impediments still weigh very heavily on Guyana's ability to realise its economic potential,” Dr Singh further added.

Currently, Guyana has around 11 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and is producing about 350,000 barrelsofoilperday

By the end of the decade, Guyana's oil production

capacity is expected to be morethanonemillionbarrels perday TheMinistersaidthe commencement of oil production presents the opportunity to remove the historic impediments to Guyana's competitiveness and sustainable growth in the longterm.

“So, we are using this period to address precisely those impediments to ensure we lay the foundation for long-term growth and broadbased growth far beyond oil andgas.

Wewanttomakesurethat every Region of Guyana has good connectivity and good roads so that they are not constrained by the impact of b e i n g i s o l a t e d geographically from the capital city and major marketing centers,” Minister Singhexplained.

Another area being addressed is electricity cost whichhistorically,hasbeena major issue in Guyana and continuestobeaconstraintto the emergence of the manufacturing sector. In

addition, emphasis is being placed on developing a competitive agriculture sector, as well as developing the health, education, housingandwater,andsocial services sectors In the immediate term, Minister SinghsaidtheGovernmentis concentrating on ensuring Guyanese can participate in the oil and gas sector, and in the transformation of the other sectors. “We want to make sure that everybody is ICT literate, that they're able to participate in like I said, the modern economy, and we are already seeing returns to this.

Wealreadyhaveintheoil and gas sector, literally thousands of persons drawn from across the country, drawn not only from Georgetown, not only from Linden, not only from Berbice but also Essequibo, working in oil and gas, directly in the oil and gas sector,” Singh expounded. The overall aim, the Minister said, is to leverage the country's oil and gas

resources to bring economic prosperitytoallGuyanese.

Recently, Government announced that all future oil deals will secure more benefits for the country through a new Production Sharing Agreement At a News Conference recently, Vice President Bharrat JagdeosaidthenewPSAwill include a 10 percent royally, 10 percent corporation tax and a ring-fencing provision. These will be applied to 14 oil blocks, which the Government intends to auction. Jagdeo said the blocks which vary in size but range from approximately 1000 square kilometres to 3000 square kilometres, with the majority of them being close to 2000 square kilometres.

The Stabroek Block on the other hand covers approximately 26,800 square kilometresandisoperatedby ExxonMobil and its partners

Hess and CNOOC remains bound to a separate arrangement in which it pays a mere two percent royalty,

no taxes and also recovers expenses from multiple projects from the revenue earned by development, in the absence of ring-fencing provisions.

Further,Exxonisallowed to deduct 75 percent of costs from Guyana's earnings upfront to cover its expenses whilethenewPSAwouldcap costrecoveryat65percentof earningsannually

Transparency Activist, Dr Yog Mahadeo finds the Government's position disconcerting.Inaninvited

(Continued on page 8)

…but refuses to extract better terms from deal with Exxon

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

OppositionpoliticsandtheAfricanGuyanesepositionarenotoneandthesame

NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

PRESIDENTALI: COSMETICSORCONVICTIONS

What Guyana’s Head of State has committed to doing certainly has a beautiful sound to it. Our caption on November 16, captures this well, ‘President Ali pledges to crush racism, discrimination during term in office.’ The President’s vision and public position via his ‘One Guyana’ initiativedoeshaveanappealingring,butonlyifsolid. Only if he is sincere to make his words match with his deeds can there be the traction towards what this country most needs. That is, togetherness, reconciliation, even growing, which was what he shared with his audience of Christian church leaders.

Nothing could be better than that, and we wish the Presidentandhisaudiencewell,thewholeofGuyanaalsoin succeedingatwhathaseludedanddestroyedthefabricofthis nation. Butthereiscauseforconcern,reasonforquestioning, whether President Ali is about cosmetics (saying the right things), or about deep, heartfelt convictions, which his actions and that of his PPP/C Government speak a different kind of language. The actions of both the President and Governmentare,ofwhatseparatesinsteadofwhatunifies,of what is self-serving and not of what is sensible, where race relationsareconcernedinGuyana.

ThePresidenthastolearntodealbetter,moreequitably, withcommunitiesnotknowntobePPP/Cstrongholds. There have been frequent failures, and approving a bridge and a basketball court under pressure are a start, but can never be enough. Whyonlyundertheduressofcircumstances? The President has been hearing the calls from all corners, especially this newspaper, to do something, give some tangible relief, to public servants, but has pretended to deafness. Except now that as the holiday season nears, he suddenly finds it convenient to make a speech about some formof‘adjustment’tothepayofthoseinthepublicsector. Those struggling workers in some of our essential services shouldnotbeseenbyPresidentAliandhisGovernmentasan uncooperative Opposition constituency, but as hurting Guyanesefirst.

WhenPresidentAliisaboutwhatisfair,whatisproper,to all, with all attending circumstances considered, then there willbeanabsenceofthedistinctivebiasthathasaccompanied relief monies extended to workers in other struggling Guyanese sectors, such as sugar, fishing, and farming. He willbeaboutmorethanleadershippledges. Hewillbeabout whatisofperformance,delivery,andrealityacrosstheboard, regardlessofwhatthepoliticalleaningsareoftherecipients. PresidentAlisoundswell,mayevenmeanwell,buthehasnot donewell,whenhisactionshadtobemorethanaboutplasters andsplintsandbandages.

ItwasgoodthattheaudienceforthePresident’smessage against racism and discrimination consisted of religious people. Perhaps,theywillbemoreaboutwhatAlmightyGod and Scripture recommends than about the divisive in their own congregations,less helpful to the politicalcause of one partyortheother WeatthispaperapplaudthePresidentfor the wisdom of having his Honorable Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, be in the meeting and sharing withtheChristianleaders. Wewillapplaudsomemorewhen the Minister Bishop is of more of a Bishop, and less of the clever political operator that he has become, and cherishes. AsaChristianMinisterinGovernment,hecanspeaktotruth, and set what the standard should be for his colleagues and Leaders. Onlyhecanknow(andGod)astohowwellhehas done in terms of the trusted brotherhood and fellowship so desperatelyneededinthiscountry

Anybody, any Leader, any Pastor, can make a pleasing speech, proclaim that they are about what is dedicated (‘pledged’)toeliminateracismanddiscrimination,themost commendable of objectives. It is what they do after as individual, as Leader, as religious shepherd that matters. If wecomeacrossasslightlyontheskepticalside,itisbecause PresidentAlihasmadesomanypublicspeechesandpledges onimportantthings,andlookwhereweare.Trytransparency, corruption, oil deal, and straight talking followed by clean dealings. Theystandasthebestevidenceofhistruths.

DEAREDITOR, community issustainable?Inthecontext country and excluded from Permit my response to Dev made much of what of the prevailing dominance oil wealth in spite of the Mr Ravi Dev’s letter he called the Opposition of race voting the claim that state’s propaganda Our published in Stabroek News ‘stuck in the past,’ seeing the Opposition has been present demographic Sunday 13th 2022 edition, elections as an “ethnic stuck in the past is far from changes which Dev is ‘TheOpposition’sstruck-in- census”. the truth. As early as 2005 alludingtocannotbeseenas the past mode provided HereagainDevisnotthe Robert Corbin and the a permanent solution to our critical opportunities for the usual careful analyst. He is PNC/Rpromotedtheideaof ethnic/political crisis, since PPP’swell-oiledmachinery.’ ascribingtotheOppositiona the ‘Big Tent’. This was an it can be quickly reversed Dev’s interventions in claim that has been attempt by the PNC to given our potential wealth national political discourse advocated by the WPA, respond to the changing with Guyanese returning are usually interesting and African cultural groups and demographics. Dev can’t be homewiththeiroldpolitical often insightful. However, other social and political that politically naive not to habits, which will be heisguiltyofsomemistakes entitiesovertime. appreciatethattheformation encouragedandexploitedby heaccusestheOppositionof. The official Opposition of the APNU and the ourrace-basedparties.

My first observation is politicalparties’positionhas subsequent APNU+AFC In conclusion, I pose to Dev is confusing general been that elections are coalitionwastheOpposition the African and Indian Opposition politics and the winnable despite the race interrogatingthepresentand political leadership and politics of the African reality Unlike Dev, I moving from the past and thinkers to move beyond Guyanese (African) maintain that our elections adopting to changing elections and instead put the condition.WhileOpposition are an ethnic census. What realities. national interests above politics embody elements of elseitiswhenthetwomajor I sense that Dev’s partyinterestsandrecognize African politics, it is not parties get 95% of the votes difficulty is not a lack of the changing dynamics of Africanpolitics. in their race based knowledge but his efforts to our unfolding realities

I am surprised that with consistencies? Changing give relevance to ROAR’s Saving Guyana from his vast experience on these demographics is important pastpositions.Insodoinghe potential demographic matters, he has failed to to the outcome of elections, is inevitably getting stuck in changesbynewarrivalsthat appreciate the separation but that by itself is not apastnarrative. can make Guyanese an which is historical and enough.

Unlike electoral parties, electoralminorityinthenear evolving and in spite of the Financial and other the politics of the African- future. oppressive nature of party resourcesarealsoimportant. Guyanese condition are We are open to become politics. While the fundamental demographically different potential victims of

This results in Dev character of Guyanese giventhechangesGuyanais aggressive inflow of advocating‘solutions’which electionsisanethniccensus, going through driven by oil migrants, internal divisions maybebeneficialtopolitical it is possible as was andgas. and pointless political parties, but not necessarily demonstrated in the 2015 In sum, these changes rivalry in the context of the answer to the historical elections that there can be a can result in a major enormouswealth. and present challenges deviationfromthenorm.But Guyanese demographic Yourssincerely, facing the African therealquestioniswhetherit beingaminorityintheirown TacumaOgunseye

The Ricardo Fagundes murder: Are the Police incompetent?

DEAREDITOR, mustbetoldthatmembersof recent investigation into the Nazar Mohamed is one of More than eighteen the Police Force have taken murder of Fagundes by the Guyana’s most renowned months have passed and the an oath to serve and protect Caribbean based Regional philanthropists with police have not charged the public They are Security System (RSS) has hundreds of thousands of anyone for the murder of supposed to execute their found no evidence against followers on social media. Ricardo Fagundes outside dutiesfairlyandjudiciously the businessman or corrupt Heisasteadfastsupporterof thePalmCourtnightclubin I am not quite sure what practices by two police President Ali’s ‘One March 2021.Along with the evidence Bascom has on the officersoranyattemptbythe Guyana’ initiative. He is a street cameras, there are murder of Fagundes, but it police to cover up the devoted Muslim who many other private cameras seems that he has attempted murder believes in the Quran and in the surrounding area to smear Shell Mohamedby But the truth is neither whohasdedicatedhislifeto However,manyinthepublic allegingthatsomehow,heor Bascom’s Lawyer nor the the teachings of the Prophet believe that there is more to hissonoroneofhissecurity public knows the full extent Muhammad (Allah) And themurderofFagundesthan personnel was involved in oftheRSSreportbecausethe while Mr Mohamed ispresentlyknown. the murder Ricardo entire report was not made continues to be a towering

Thequestionthepublicis Fagundes aka “Paper public. figure among his business asking,isthereacoverupby Shorts.” But where is the Shell’ Mohamed who is colleagues, Sergeant the Police or its just sloppy evidence? approaching 70 years is a Bascom has been issued workbythePolice.Theface Further, Bascom has very a righteous, generous, felony charges and has been book postings by Police allegedlyaccusedtwosenior courteous and God-fearing interdicted from duty as a Sergeant seems to have Police Officers of taking businessman who has over policeofficer allegedly implicated two bribe in the amount of GUY the years provided financial Itisfairtosaythatnoone senior Police Officers and a $30 million from a assistance to thousands of is perfect and so is Shell prominentbusinessman.But Businessmantocover-upthe people, especially the Mohamedandthetwopolice based on media reports, murder These are serious downtrodden and children officers and like some of us, d e s p i t e B a s c o m ’s allegationsthatshouldnotbe throughoutthecountry. they have also experienced allegations, there has not takenlightlybythetopbrass Mr. Mohamed has also good times and bad times in been a serious investigation inthepolice.Butapparently provided assistance to many life, but they are true bythePolice,whichseemsto the Police Force is claiming non-profit organizations. In believers in the adages what suggestthatsomethingisnot that Sergeant Bascom has addition, he has sponsored “goesaroundcomesaround” right. notproducedanyevidenceto many sporting events in the which means that one’s

We in the public domain substantiate his claims. His country including motor car actions will eventually have should not let these allegations against the two and horse racing among consequences which he/she allegations disappear or be senior Police Officers were othersunderthename‘Team will have to deal with, even ignored because they are madeayearafterthemurder Mohamed’ Highly though this will take time serious and more so, a life andonlyafterhewascaught respectedandwellknownin beforeithappens. has been lost and no one is inastingoperationinvolving theprivatesectorandwithin Yourstruly, being held accountable. It illegal drugs. However, the Government circles, Mr AsquithRose

Stabroek Market looks like a hurricane-hit place

DEAREDITOR, coming in on cruise ships

It is my considered see?

opinionthat,intimetocome, Iwouldliketoknowwhat Guyana shall become a very City Hall does with the stall sought after eco tourism rents collected from destination. However, it will Stabroek Market? Since taketheearnestparticipation 2017 the vendors on the of all including and StabroekMarketwharfwere particularly the Mayor and relocated to the area west of Councilors of the City of theParliamentbuilding,next Georgetown, the persons door to what was popularly responsibleformanagingthe known as the ‘Dread Shop’ affairsofourcapitalcity andaveryfancydrawingwas

Last Sunday, as I was done detailing the taking a visiting group from conversionofthewharfarea overseasonalittletripupthe into a mall, complete with a Demerara River, a most boardwalkandentertainment pleasant and scenic ride I area which all seems five might add, beginning from yearslatertohavebeenjusta the mouth of the river in the pipedreambypersonsliving vicinity of the Marriott inLaLaLand. Hotel, we could see the Wi t h t h e r a p i d LighthouseandtheStabroek developmentofGuyanaover Market tower standing the last few years, and with majesticallyontheshoreline. riversidepropertiesgoingfor As we got closer to the a premium, the city’s market,however,werealized mothers and fathers should that the clocks on the realize that they have a Stabroek tower were not ‘goldmine’ there and stop working, but even more sitting on their hands disappointingwastherickety moaning about not getting and ramshackle state of the enough help from Central area aback of the Stabroek Government and take on Market, as we stopped there board private investors to so that the visitors could developthatarea. purchasesomefreshtropical I just can’t wait for the fruits. h o l d i n g o f L o c a l

The area looks as if a Government Elections, for hurricane had hit, or as if the injection of fresh there was a massive constructive minds for the explosion there. The roof advancement of our cities, was in tatters and hanging townsandneighbourhoods. loose, parts of the structure Faithfully, were falling into the river, MagagulaJackson mounds of garbage heaped up there, the building that once housed the Clerk of Markets and his staff, which is not very old, was abandoned and decaying, and the wharf area was in a very derelict state. It is a complete eyesore and not veryhelpfulnorencouraging to our country’s efforts at tourism. Can you imagine that this is what persons

MYRESPONSE TO SHERWOOD LOWE

DEAREDITOR,

Mr Norton 5 months (from removed forthwith, is which obtain in the I refer to Mr Sherwood April to August 2022) after withoutdispute. Caribbean, and indeed, the Lowe’s letter published in his assumption of office as The reference by Mr rest of the Commonwealth. Stabroek News, 16/11/2022. Leader of the Opposition, to Lowe to the constitutional Like its Caribbean This letter responds to my publicly recognise that andlegalchangeseffectedin counterparts,inherentinthis missive in which I sought to constitutional change is 1990,constitutesanutterred cyclical continuous expose the fallacy of Mr required to achieve the herring and does not assist registration system in Aubrey Norton’s and the removal of the alleged thediscourse. Guyana, are mechanisms A P N U / A F C ’ s impugned names from the Guyanese would recall whichmandatethecleansing argumentation that the voters’list. that those changes were of the list, of disqualified voters’listisbloated.Iwould However,whatIdidsay, implementedafteralmost30 electors. be in remiss to leave Mr is that at his Press years of political agitation Unfortunately, like his Lowe’s equally fallacious Conference held on 8th and international pressure leader, Mr Lowe proceeds narrative on the public November 2022, Mr following a series of uponthevacuoushypothesis recordwithoutarepudiation. Norton, for the first time, undisputed fraudulent that non-resident Guyanese Mr Lowe accuses me of provided the public with an electionsdatingbackto1968 are ‘ineligibles’ on that list. conveying ‘the false insight to enable an and were designed to However, he offers no impression’ of the time that understanding of what he d i s m a n t l e a n explication on how he has theAPNU/AFCindicatedits characterises as ‘bloat’ on institutionalised election arrived at this destination. readiness to engage in thatlist. rigging machinery installed Nordoesheofferarationale constitutional and statutory Mr Nortondisclosedthat by the PNC dictatorship and for such discriminatory reforms regarding residency Guyanese not in Guyana to replace it with a modern treatment against Guyanese vis a vis registration and constitute this ‘bloat’ I democratic architecture that simply because of their voting. proceeded to then make the would conduce to free and absence from Guyana

Indeed, he quotes Mr quintessential point that fairelections. Nevertheless,likehisleader, Norton at an August 2022 n a m e s t h a t a r e Three decades hence, he advocates for their PressConferenceexpressing constitutionally authorised and after a comprehensive removalfromthelist. awillingnesstodoso.Inmy to be on that list, and overhaul of the electoral It is now consensual that letter, I did not offer a time therefore,lawfullythere,can machinery, including the only a constitutional change frame in respect of Mr never be considered ‘bloat’ implementation of a system candisqualify Norton’s expressed and that Guyanese who are of continuous registration (Continuedonpage6) preparedness to engage in 18 years and over, on that fromwhichthevoters’listis constitutional reform on the list, are lawfully there, extracted,supportedbyboth issue. irrespective of where they the PNC and the AFC, But as Mr Lowe maybelocated. Guyanacannowboastofan volunteersAugust 2022 as a That dead persons are electoral infrastructure date, I will use the same to disqualified from being on bearing democratic say that it presumably took that list, and ought to be credentials similar to those

MYRESPONSE TO

SHERWOOD...

reality is simply an outward APNU/ AFC on the voters’ frustration and turmoil those Guyanese from being characteristic of the list is simply another one of created by President David onthelist. continuous registration its political travails which Granger’s preposterous

Frompage5

I forcefully assert that to system in jurisdictions with will catapult the Guyanese interpretation of the clear denythousandsofGuyanese an overseas traveling population into another language of Article 162 of thatcherishedrighttovoteis demographic and where ordeal of anguish and into the Constitution, which amonumentaldeprivationof residency is neither a the throes of confusion, as culminated in the unlawful a fundamental freedom of requirement to register nor they (APNU/ AFC) appointment of James such magnitude that it vote. Mr Lowe next argues m i s i n t e r p r e t a n d PattersonastheChairmanof m a n d a t e s p u b l i c that the right to vote ‘is misconstrue the law and the GECOM in 2016 This consultation. Anything less constrained by certain Constitution, in yet another provisionoftheConstitution would be a human rights restrictions and obligations political gimmick, which owed no interpretative damnation. APNU/ AFC (for example, you must they believe will deliver difficultieshitherto. professes a preparedness to registertovote)toensurethe themelectoralvictory Inthe A similar idiotic do sans public consultation. election results truly reflect process, anyone who interpretationwasplacedon Yet, we hear not a murmur the will of the people’ disagrees with them, Article 106of the fromthevariouscivilsociety Certainly, one cannot find including the diplomatic Constitution when the noorganisationsproclaimingto fault with such reasoning. community will be visited confidence motion was champion the human rights But the persons who are on with vitriolic and visceral passed against the Coalition ofGuyanese. thelistareregisteredtovote attacks. Government in December Their stony silence and therefore must be The show is already on 2019.Arisingtherefromwas condemns them in allowed to vote for the the road. The High the legal and mathematical complicity with the election results to truly CommissioneroftheUnited novelty of 33 not being a perpetrators. Great moment reflectthewillofthepeople. Kingdom is the latest majority of 65, which will is made of the size of the Paradoxically,itisMr.Lowe casualty. The frequency now remain one of the most voters’list vis a vis the total and his party who are with which theAPNU/AFC unique expositions of population. A quick scan advocating for de have engaged in such illogicsofferedbyGuyanato across the Caribbean will registration of these persons vulgarity has rendered them universal jurisprudence reveal a population and and their disentitlement immune to public Neither has there been a voters’ list ratio of striking fromvoting! condemnation. Readers will recovery by the Guyanese similarity to Guyana’s. That The position adopted by vividly recall the public people from the vicious mental and emotional scars inflicted during the five months which followed the March 2020 General Elections.

Almosteverydayduring that horrendous period, Guyana and the world were tortured with one imbecilic legal contention after another,followedbyequally inane litigious forays all the waytotheApexCourt.

I can provide more examples but I think the point is made. The ‘bloated’ list argument is but, simply, the latest from that same genus.

Yoursfaithfully, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC,MP

Attorney General and MinisterofLegalAffairs

Managerdemonizing, intimidatingstaff atLocalGovt Commission

DEAREDITOR, our respective heads to I write on behalf of so complain.

manyofmycolleaguesatthe Have you ever felt as Local Government thougheverydayisyourlast Commission who are scared attheplacethatputsbreadon tospeakoutabouttheverbal your table, not because of abuse and intimidation your incompetence as a received almost daily by a professionalbutbecauseyou SeniorManager areawomanorbecauseyour

As females, our lives hair is kinky or because you outside of work, our family are educated and keep and our children are often pushing? used when and if we may Does being a single faultinsomeregard.

m o t h e r m a k e y o u

We are told of our attire inadequate? Does the shoes looking like it was procured from the Chinese store from a flea market, asked if makes you less of a wesufferfrommentalhealth professional? issues and told that women It is not my intention to canonlyfunctionwellwithin have anyone dismissed we thehousehold. areallworkingtocareforour

M y j o b a t t h e families, what we do want Commission along with that however is to live and work ofmycolleagueswasonewe inpeaceandprofessionally applied for and were Therefore, we are asking interviewed for Our that you highlight our plight contracts were signed based and here is hope that the on our merits, experiences Chairman or one of the andqualifications. Commissioners can have a Theywerenothandedto talk with staff and find out us because of affiliation, so ourstruggles. whenwearetolddailyabout We preach ‘One our incompetence, asked to Guyana’, but how can we perform duties outside of attain the status if we are whatwearedesignatedtodo treatedasthoughweareless by a person who is not even thanwithinanentitywegive our superior, then it makes mostofourserviceto. for one to question the roles Unlike some who have of individuals within the chosentomoveontogreener organisation. pastures merely for peace of

Mr Editor, almost every mind,wehavechosentostay day a complaint is filed and serve, but please I’m against us, almost every day askingthatweareallowedto this authority comes around give our service freely us trying to extract withoutbeingvictimized. information about our Respectfully, colleagues and then goes to NameProvided

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BUSINESSPEOPLE CRYING FOR HELP

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

Imagine that! The Businesspeople begging the Govt. for help

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

The Guyana Private Sector has benefited immensely, but asking for more

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

Imagine the plight of the suffering mass of poor Guyanese

They are getting a handout here, some charity there, almost next to nothing

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

Who looking for them?

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

What are they getting?

Definitely not what they are due, what they should from what belongs to them.

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

Employees of Guyana's fifth oil ship builder charged with bribery and corruption

attached to Mitsui

O c e a n Development & Engineering Company (MODEC)— the Japanese company building Guyana'sfifthoilship—have been charged in a Singapore court for offenses related to bribery and corruption, i n v o l v i n g a r o u n d US$942,000.

K a i e t e u r N e w s u n d e r s t a n d s f r o m international media publications that a 59-year old construction manager of Indian origin, along with other employees of MODEC was charged on Friday last forthesaidoffenses.

Specifically, Harish Singhal, an employee of

M O D E C O f f s h o r e

Production Systems, a G e n e r a l C o n t r a c t o r specialising in EPC and installation of floating production systems, is accused of accepting bribes, c o m m i t t i n g m o n e y laundering,anddeceivinghis employer into paying to another company The offense can lead to hefty fines and imprisonment for upto10years.

Court documents also state that between 2011 and 2016, Singhal allegedly conspired with four others to accept bribes for advancing the business interests of a shipping company with M o d e c , t o t a l l i n g US$942,000.

He also allegedly conspired with others to disguise around US$313,000 of benefits from criminal conduct, in the form of fictitious invoices, for payments between the two companies.

In response to the news, MODEC issued a statement, saying that it was notified that certain employees of its subsidiary, MODEC Offshore Production Systems (Singapore) Pte Ltd., have been charged in the Singapore courts for offences relating to bribery andcorruption.

As the matter is before the Singapore courts, MODEC said it is not in a position to make any further

commentsonthemattersoas to avoid interfering with the judicial process. “We will continue to actively cooperatewiththeSingapore authorities.

We will make further announcements promptly if and when we are aware of any material developments and are permitted to make such announcements,” the Japanesecompanystated.

MODECwasalsokeento note that it takes a zerotolerance approach towards bribery and corruption. It said, “The allegations were made in a whistleblower's report submitted via our internalreportingsystemand were internally investigated by us with the assistance of

externalcounsel.”

M O D E C a d d e d , “Following our internal investigations, a report was madetotheCorruptPractices Investigation Bureau (“CPIB”) of Singapore. We have been fully cooperating with the investigations, have followed the progress of the matter, and have made preparations to manage the outcomeandimplications.”

Earlier this month, this newspaper had reported that MODEC had signed a contract to perform Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) for a Floating Production, Storage and Offloadingvessel(FPSO)for ExxonMobil Corporation's “Uaru” development project intheStabroekBlock.

It should be noted however that this contract signing was done in the absence of Government's approval for Exxon's Field Development Plan for Uaru. Even the Environmental ImpactAssessment(EIA)for theprojecthasnotbeenmade public as is customary to allow for nationwide consultations.

These engagements are usually made prior to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issuing an E n v i r o n m e n t a l Authorizationfortheproject.

Be that as it may, ExxonMobilhasawardedthe

contract for construction works to begin on the ship. MODEC noted that the FEED contract award relates to the initial funding by ExxonMobil's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), to begin FEED activitiesrelatedtotheFPSO design and to secure the second M350TM hull for FPSOservice.

Following FEED and subject to Government approvals in Guyana of the development plan, project sanction including final investment decision by ExxonMobil, and EEPGL's release of the second phase (EPCI) of work, MODEC said it is expected to construct the FPSO and installinGuyana.MODECis also anticipated to operate the FPSO for an initial duration of 10 years, with potential options for continuation.

Additionally, MODEC said it will design and construct the FPSO based on its M350 n e w b u i l d design.

The FPSO will be designed to produce 250,000 barrels of oil per day; will have associated gas treatment capacity of 540 million cubic feet per day; and water injection capacity of 350,000barrelsperday

Revenues from oil and...

From page 3 comment to this newspaper recently, Dr Mahadeo had saidtheGovernmentmustnot be allowed to throw away the wealth in the Stabroek Block, in hopes that more oil would be discovered in the smaller oil blocks that are soon to be auctioned.

“The current value of money is as real as it could be, compared to future value of money, and what we are doing, is throwing away current value and we are putting eggs in the basket for future value. In other words, we are pinning the hopes of a good PSAon future wealth or

futurecontractsandnotdoing anything to maximise on whatGuyanacouldgetonthe current one, so it is disconcerting,” Dr Mahadeo saidMonday

He reminded that the PPP/C in its 2020 manifesto had promised to renegotiate the existing contract, rather than seek more on future deals. “They are trying to camouflage the current deal and we must not allow ourselves to be distracted from these current despicable conditions where Guyanese are paying the taxes for Exxon and all that goes with it”,Dr Mahadeosaid.

Em p l o y e e s

PAHO warns: Countries must be

“triple threat” of COVID-19, influenza and RSV

WASHINGTON D.C., “The situation can vaccinationagainstCOVID- most at risk, “to drive cases holiday season and travel to 16 NOVEMBER 2022 change quickly,” she 19andinfluenza. to zero as quickly as visit family and friends, (PAHO) – With an increase warned “Every time we This year, the PAHO possible.” As far as polio is people must remain vigilant in COVID-19 infections in become complacent with Revolving Fund has concerned, the PAHO aboutallthesehealththreats the region, seasonal this virus, we run the risk of procured 39 5 million Director reported no further andlearnfromthelessonsof influenza on the rise, and a resurgence.Wecannotlower vaccine doses against cases in the region, though COVID 19, Dr Etienne spikeincasesofRespiratory our guard ” Meanwhile, COVID-19, and 31 million vaccination remains said: “We have the tools at Syncytial Virus (RSV), the cases of influenza in North influenza vaccines to “historicallylow.”“Wemust our disposal to limit the Pan American Health America are rising and an Member States. “We have rememberthatpoliospreads impact of severe respiratory Organization (PAHO) out of season increase in enough vaccines to keep us silently,andithasnocureor diseases, and we must Director, Carissa F Etienne, casesintheSouthernConeis all safe. Let’s use them,” treatment,” she said continue to respond to these called on countries to also being seen, particularly urged the Director Turning “Vaccinesareourbesttoolto crisesasaregion.“Let’snot implement the tools proven in Argentina and Uruguay, totheadditionaloutbreaksin preventthisdisease.” take these lessons for to keep communities safe, which is putting unexpected the Americas, Dr Etienne As we head into the granted.” including vaccines, stressonhealthsystems. reported that the cholera surveillance, mask wearing RSVinfectionshavealso situation in Haiti continues and social distancing, increased significantly, to worsen, with over 700 particularly in the run-up to burdening health systems in confirmed cases since early thefestiveperiod. Canada, Mexico, Brazil, October, 7,000 suspected “The rise of a single Uruguay and the United cases, and 144 deaths respiratory infection is a States, and having a PAHO continues to support causeforconcern.Whentwo particularimpactonchildren Haiti in providing life or three start impacting a and infants under the age of saving care to patients, populationconcurrently,this one. Dr Etienne highlighted deploying health workers should put us all on alert,” that the strategies used to andfacilitatingaccesstofuel she said during a media limit the spread of COVID- forhealthfacilities,butother briefing on Wednesday. 19, including mask-wearing countries must increase Cases of COVID-19 have and social distancing, also vigilance, the Director increased by 17% in the apply to other respiratory urged. Region over the past week, diseases, including RSV, for Monkeypox infections and deaths increased in which there is currently no have fallen in most of the South America and Central vaccine.Countriesmustalso severely affected countries, America A reduction in strengthen genomic and Dr Etienne called on testing may be hiding the surveillance of diseases and countries to continue to truenumberofinfections. continue to encourage engage with those who are

Dem boys seh...

‘SOORING’ GOING OUT OF STYLE

Whateverhappento‘sooring’?Langago lobes. when yuh did want win de affection of a Dat is why dem boys was surprised young lady some men used to believe dem whenrecentlydemhearayoungmanreada muss have sweet tongue. Dem used to tell poem to a young lady in order to win her dem girls nice words about how dem look heart. He tell she, “I wish yuh would not and so on. Dem used to whipster ‘sweeting steal,lieorcheat.Butifyuhmuststeal,steal nothings’indemgirls’ears. Isdatweused away my sorrows. If yuh muss lie, then lie tocall‘sooringor‘wooing’. beside me every night. And if yuh muss Dem boys nah know if de younger cheatdencheatdeathbecauseIcannotlivea generationsknowanythingabout‘sooring’. daywithoutyou.”

DemboyswatchdemTikTokvideoandhear Demboyswasimpressedandgoupand demboysaskingdemgirlsfuhdemnumber complimentdeguyforpreservingtheartof Oneortwoofdemdoesthrowinaone-liner ‘sooring’. Is only when dem boys did But dem boys feel that de art of sweet- scrollingthroughTikTok dat dem boys see talkingdemyoungladiesisadyingart. the same words pun a video. Whatever No wonder Uptopdaag had to say dat happened to originality? De old timers gat some of dem girls nah want boys wah does fuhhelpouttheseyoungpeopletoday Dem wuk. Dem want boys wah does wear chain nahunderstandhowfuh‘soor’. round dem neck and earrings on dem ear Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

Etienne,

PAHO Director, Carissa F.

vigilant of

SANJEEV DATADIN OR SASE GUNRAJ FOR INDIA

have always country, arguments, Freddie Kissoon Show question.

IMuslim envoys are advanced the belief polemics, discourses and because I discovered that I have read suggestions posted by non onthispageandwill viewpoints are shaped in social media is a platform about filling the vacancy of Muslimcountriestothe

continue to offer it; sophisticated ways to fool that reaches countless our High Commission in MiddleEast. onemustrespondanddefeat people. numbers and you can IndiaandIdecidedusingthe I believe the scurrilous fictions because They are written by interactwithpeopleandhelp framework I have outlined thinking,whichisquite I know both gentlemen and these things can get into the people who have status toopentheireyes. above – that people can be logical, is that if you send a their intellect are headofinnocentpeopleand and/or wealth or education Much to my surprise the influenced by what they Jewish person to Israel or a impressive. even if one person and innocent minds can show has exceeded read- I decided to offer my Hindu to India or a Muslim They are of the type of internalizes a fiction posing easily say: “Did you read expectations and I have the opinion. to Egypt or an African to personalitythatcanthrivein as a fact, it will not help what Shirley said, it was scope to confront so many I simply do not want to Nigeria, there would be a a diplomatic mission in any society good.” depravities that are heaped reject any names submitted successful tête à tête country Naturally, you cannot And what Shirley said upon the young population in the press. I will offer my between your diplomat and Mr Gunraj and Mr reply to comical and was appalling nonsense or ofthisnation. guidelinefirst,then,suggest thecountry’sleader Inother Datadin are two of the irrational output from silly Shirley herself lacks moral It is not only the two names that I know will word, the leader of the host country’s leading lawyers people who lack even a credibility to write on alternative facts that are represent Guyana’s interest countrywillgetalongbetter andthatmayposeaproblem modicum of commonsense, anythinginlife. thrown around for digestion inIndiawithdistinction. with a practicing Muslim gettingthemtoacceptbeing and who are looking for Idecidedtogoonsocial but also by people who Irejectthetheorythatan becausehe/sheisaMuslim. theHighCommissiontoone cheap publicity But in this mediaandbirththeGildarie- character is open to ambassador should be Diplomacy does not of civilization’s great selected based on the work that way An nations and one of the religion or culture of the impressive scholar, a countries poised to have leadership of the country renowned literature huge influence in the global that the ambassador is sent professor, a woman systeminthenearfuture. to. diplomat, may leave a I don’t want to be

It contains a hidden deeper impression accused of not identifying contempt for the receiving Important to note is that African Guyanese for the nationbecauseitarguesthat Guyana is not a Hindu role. I simply chose Gunraj the envoy will be better country so the Hindu andDatadinbecauseIknow facilitated because of race criterion should never enter them so I am familiar with and culture and not theequation. their qualities and I know diplomaticskills.

It is important to note theireligibilityrunsdeep.

The pattern of posting also that in Guyana, Indians Someone like Timothy diplomats by all the are also Christians and TuckerofthePrivateSector countries in the world does Muslims. In the end, our Commissionisanameworth not conform to this theory. I HighCommissionertoIndia noting. have not done the research should be judged on how T h e P e r m a n e n t but I doubt very much the he/she can deliver in New Secretary to the Prime Jewish ethnicity is the Delhi. Minister, Derek Cummings criterion that countries used Ihavethreesuggestions. is another choice But to send their representatives An experienced foreign whoever we choose, toIsrael. service diplomat of any Hinduism should not be

I don’t know how many ethnicityandofanyreligion. main or determining factor coloured ambassadors I would recommend a (Theviewsexpressedinthis predominantly White woman because women are articles are those of the countries–Europe,UK,EU, underrepresented in our author and do not Australia, Canada, New diplomaticmissions. necessarily reflect the Zealand send to the Thirdly, my mind light opinions and beliefs of this Africancontinent. on two lawyers Sase n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s

I don’t know how many Gunraj and Sanjev Datadin. affiliates.)

Body of Mining Surveyor recovered from Mazaruni River

The body of 29-year o l d Te r r a n c e

Thomas, one of the two Mining Surveyors who went missing last Thursday after a metal boat sank in the MazaruniRiver,atImbaimadai, Region Seven, has been recovered.

KaieteurNewswastoldthat his remains were fished out of the river on Sunday but the search for his missing Colleague, Jermaine La Rose, 34, of Lot 34 Canvas City Wismar,Linden,10,continues.

An autopsy conducted on his remains on Wednesday confirmed that Thomas had drowned.

FrederickKissoon

Pres. Ali uses Guyana's oil and gas, special incentives for other industries to entice UK trade mission

Governments of Guyana a n d t h e U n i t e d Kingdom are expected todeepentheirinvestmentrelations in a number of areas following the signing of a major partnership pact yesterdayattheMarriottHotel.

The agreement was signed by Foreign Affairs Minister, Hugh Todd, British High Commissioner, Jane Miller and Jonathan Knott, His Majesty'sTrade Commissioner for Latin America and the Caribbean.

The UK Trade Mission which was present at the event to learn of Guyana's vision for development over the next five years included scores of businesses with experience in renewable energy, agriculture, technological services, education, infrastructure, and of course,criticaloilandgasmatters.

President, Dr Irfaan Ali who participated in the technical discussionssoastooutlineaplanof action with timelines between the two global players, was keen to point out to the British team that now is the time to get on the investment train in Guyana. The Head of State shared that the

country is pregnant with numerous opportunities for development in severalareassuchasitsprospective andlucrativeoilandgassector

He was keen to note that Government is pushing for investmentsintechnologytransfers to improve government systems and efficiencies. He said this is critical to the world class business environment he is desirous of establishing. In this regard, the President said work is moving forward for the development of a single window application for constructionpermits.

Ali also said his Government is keen on fortifying its research and development services, healthcare, e d u c a t i o n , l a n d s c a p e , infrastructure, food security and tourismindustries.Alisaid,“Those are the platforms that will be given further special treatment ” He encouraged the companies to channel their interests in these sectors.

As a further enticement, Ali saidwhenthegas-to-energyproject comes on stream by 2025; the country will see a tectonic shift in its development trajectory as

electricity costs will be slashed by 50 percent. Ali said, “You don't want to wait until then to jump on board. You need to understand the geographical significance of Guyana Guyana is going to become a major industrial, manufacturing and agro processing hub and we are going to give incentives during this phase of development to investors. That phase won't last forever So take advantageofitnow.”

While the Government's vision istohaveinvestmentsinanarrayof sectors, he was keen to entice the Trade Mission with potential benefits that can accrue to them in being part of Guyana's oil sector too.

Ali said, “We are going out for some auctions now and if you have jointconsortiumsthatareinterested then definitely take a shot at it but evenwithoutthe14blocksthatwill be up for grabs, what is happening

at the Stabroek Block alone is marking our name in the oil industry.” He said Guyana's energy footprint will also take on a new dimension when its National Gas Strategyiscompleted.

With European nations being hardhitbytheRussia-Ukrainewar, Ali alluded that Guyana with its huge gas reservoirs being unlocked can be an ample solution to be considered.

“There are definitely ways in Guyana in which even your energy securitycanbesecured.

The transition will happen, oil still has a long enough play in the market but the problem is avoiding going back to coal.The lesser harm isgas.

But where you get it from it's the matter of contention.At the end ofthedaywewanttohaveasystem of investment in which families, people become prosperous,” the HeadofStatenoted.

During his remarks, Jonathan Knott, His Majesty's Trade Commissioner for Latin America and the Caribbean, said the UK sharestheHeadofState'svisionfor Guyana to become a hub for investment. Knott said, “We are heretodeepenthetieswithGuyana and guarantee a high quality of the support. We are looking at a range of sectors and the delivery of specific programmes. We hope to establish a UK Guyana joint working group which will define and deliver a time bound action plan. I emphasize this because we are anxious or rather impatient to makeprogress.”

While the UK will offer excellent value and expertise, he assured that its companies will not compromise on quality. “We are not going to come here to sell and leave.Wearehereforthelongterm and to work with your Government and country for its development and progress,” the official concluded.

The forum also featured presentations by Sector Leads and UK Industry, as well as Ministerial interventions and discussions in several priority areas, including infrastructure, housing, education and agriculture. Several Ministers of the Government attended the forum, including the Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance,theDr AshniSingh.

Members of the UK Trade Mission and Representatives from the Guyana Government share a light moment before the technical talks got underway yesterday.

Foreign Affairs Minister, High Todd and British High Commissioner to Guyana, H.E. Jane Miller,OBE holding signed copies of the agreement. She is also flanked by His Majesty's Trade Commissioner to Latin America and the Caribbean, Jonathan Knott

CAD $2.9M project launched to support mental health in Guyana

TheGuyanaMental Health and WellBeing (GWB)

Conference continued Tuesday afternoon at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, with the launch of the CAD$2 9 million International Development and Relief Foundation(IDRF)projectto support mental health in Guyana.

Canada's Minister of International Development, Harjit Sajjan, via video m e s s a g e m a d e t h e announcement, the first such investment in the Caribbean region.

Minister of Health, Dr FrankAnthony expressed the Government's gratitude to the people and Government o f C a n a d a f o r t h e contribution.“Asyoucansee

a large component of the IDRF programme would be working with students and w i t h p e r s o n s i n community to have our communities prepared [to deal with mental health]. It is wonderful to have this team here and we express our gratitude to the Government and People of Canada for funding IDRF to come to Guyana to work with us in this area of mental health,” Minister Anthony stated. He pointed to the strong relationship shared by Guyana and Canada, particularly in the area of healthcare.

“Guyana and Canada we have a very strong relationship and I think that relationship is even stronger in the area of healthcare… but more recently during the

COVID pandemic, Canada has really step forward in assisting the Government and the people of Guyana when we did not have vaccine for example,” MinisterAnthonysaid.

Meanwhile, Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana and Suriname, Mark Berman explained the need for financial intervention in support of mental health initiatives.

“The magnitude of the mental health burden is not matched by size and the effectiveness in response, it demands …two thirds of countries allocate [only] one percentorlessoftheirhealth budget to mental health with the poor often bearing the greater burden in terms of risk and lack of access to treatment,” the Ambassador

Body of man who plunged overboard to evade cops floats up

The dead man has been identified as MohanMahadeo,55,andreportedlysurfaced

TuesdayafternooninthevicinityofGrove Sea Dam, East Bank Demerara (EBD). Confirming the discovery of his remains was Commander of the East Bank Police Division,MahendraSingh.

Singh said, “Yes his body was fished out oftheriveryesterdayintheafternoon”.

Mahadeo's niece-in-law (name provided) had told Kaieteur News that he had plunged overboard while running from the police because he thought the ranks wanted to lock him up. The woman related that Mahadeo worked at her husband's supermarket in Grove EBD and was sitting outside when the police arrived. “He was smoking up and start cussing up and suh and behaving disorderly so the people just come over fuh tell he calm down but he think dem want lock he up so he runaway”,sherecounted.

Commander Singh too said that his ranks only wanted to calm down Mahadeo and had no intentions of arresting him. “At no point did my ranks wanted to arrest him cause no one had reported him to the police or anything”, Singh told Kaieteur News Mahadeo reportedly ran towards the Grove Sea Dam and his actions prompted the police tofollowhimthere.

Kaieteur News understands that when Mahadeo saw the police following him, he decided that the best way to avoid being arrested was to plunge into the Demerara

River

Police reportedly left the area after Mahadeoplungedintotheriver

Meanwhile, the man's niece-in-law had said that one eyewitness informed relatives that Mahadeo was seen swimming while another said the man appeared to be panting for breath as he attempted to return to shore. Mahadeo'srelativessaidthattheyhadwaited forhisreturnbutwhenhefailedtoshowupat home that evening, they became worried and decidedtolookforhim.

highlighted Through the IDRF project some 67, 750 persons are expected to benefit over a five year period.

This will be done in partnershipwiththeMinistry of Health under the theme, 'Safeguarding the Human Dignity and Rights of Population At-Risk for IllMental Health in Vulnerable Communities Across Guyana'.IDRF isaCanadian N o n G o v e r n m e n t a l Organisation (NGO), founded on principles that

address the root causes of poverty It concentrates on helping persons with longterm development to alleviate poverty and preventable diseases among other issues. The NGO has also been working with the health ministry to customise a therapeutic driven approach to address ill mental health as an underlying cause of vulnerability and poverty, a m o n g v u l n e r a b l e communities. Many participants

commended the Government

for efforts aimed at addressing mental illness with complementary legislationsuchastheMental Health Protection and Promotion Act and the Suicide Prevention Act of 2022 Mahmoud Quasim, CEO, IDRF; Yasmeena Mohamed, Co-Chair IDRF Board; members of the international and local academic community, UNICEF, PAHO/WHO and other stakeholders were in attendance.

of Guyana

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mark rd Berman ( 3 from left front row) and other IDRF stakeholders at the project launch.

A now dead Grove, East Bank Demerara man who had plunged into the Demerara RiveronMondaytoevadepolicecapture,has surfaced.

on

Dead, Mohan Mohadeo

50joint-replacementsurgeriesconductedatGPHC

…as hospital partners with US-based group

The Georgetown Public Hospital

C o r p o r a t i o n (GPHC) over the last weekend successfully conducted a total of 50 joint replacement surgeries throughitscollaborationwith 'Operation Walk', a US nonprofitmedicalorganisation.

This was announced on Wednesday by Dr David S a m a r o o , H e a d o f Department of Orthopaedic at GPHC, during a Press Conference at the Hospital's ResourceCentre.

Dr Samaroo briefly explained yesterday that 'Operation Walk' is no stranger to Guyana, and that it is a voluntary organisation, giving a gift of restoring mobility to patients, by replacingtheirjoints.

'Operation Walk' he said has been partnering with the GPHC since 2018, and has been conducting a number of surgeriesonitspatients.

Speakingabouttheirthird visit, Dr Samaroo said that the team which comprised of 52 persons including Surgeons, Physiotherapist, and Anesthesiologist just to name a few, arrived in Guyana between November th th 8 and10 last.

The purpose of the visit he said, was basically to do hip and knee replacement (joint replacement) surgeries for 50 patients in Guyana. Priortothemcoming,hesaid, local Surgeons here would have been tasked with the responsibility of screening the patients, prior to them undergoingsurgery

According to Dr

Samaroo, GPHC has a waiting list in excess of 200 patients for surgery On average, the Hospital would normally get about two to three surgeries done per week. “Sotoget50surgeries done over a period of three and a half days, we are quite elatedandwewerewillingto work to get this backlog off our hands. The numbers of

patients that were actually screened at a clinic Friday last, was just about 70 to 80 patients and Operation Walk actually further screened those patients narrowing down the number to 50,” he explained.

On Friday last, he stated, four joint replacement surgeries were done and over the following three days, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, the team would have done a total of 50 joint replacementsurgeries.

“In fact, 55 joints were replaced which meant that five persons had both of their knee joint replaced,” he added.

In addition to the surgeries,Dr Samaroostated that they have also benefitted from the organization by sendingafewofitsstafffrom the hospital to Maryland for observership and for some amount of training, and that “has really positively i m p a c t e d o u r j o i n t replacement program here at

the GPHC, and that has actually enhanced our service here and allowed us to develop more surgeons and more teams to do joint replacementsurgeries.”

The patients who underwent the surgeries he said, were mostly older persons who would have been kept for approximately 24 to 36 hours after surgery He also said that so far no post-operativecomplications havebeenreported.

Chief Executive Officer

(CEO) of the GPHC, Dr RobbieRambarranyesterday at the Press Conference expressed gratitude to the team and stated that with two to three surgeries usually doneperweekatthehospital, having 50 done over the past weekend is quite an achievement. According to him, at private hospitals, a joint replacement surgery would cost roughly $2 millioninGuyana.

The CEO added that in the future, they hope to have the service rolled out to other health facilities across the country

Medical Director for Operation Walk Maryland, Dr Paul Khanuja, during his brief remarks yesterday said that having concluded the 55 surgeries in total, they would have now conducted 163 surgeriesinGuyana.

He mentioned that it has b e e n “ a w o n d e r f u l experience and opportunity for us to see, how much the hospital is capable of doing. And so a lasting impact is an importantpartofwhatwedo, it's amazing to help the patients on an individual level,butjustasimportant,is

to know that we help change health care delivery, so you can continue to grow and improve.”

Dr Khanujaalsosaidthat OperationWalkiscommitted towhattheydoandasaresult there will be another team next year and they “are looking for further collaboration to grow this, so we can help more people of Guyana.”

Two of the patients, M e r n a A g a r d f r o m Schoonord, West Bank Demerara and Donna Rajkumar from New Amsterdam told members of the media yesterday that for over 10 years they would have been suffering with knee pain. And having had a successful operation they feelveryelatedandgood.

Speaking about the experience with both GPHC andtheOperationWalkteam, Agard said it was very good, and they were very attentive toher.

Rajkumar, said that for a long time she suffered and now having done surgery she's ready to get back on her feet and get back to normalcy

Large delegation from Louisiana explores business opportunities in Guyana

More than 25 private

sector Leaders from across Louisiana and the United States connected with Business Leaders and Government Officials in Guyana, the US Embassy here said in a Press Release.

Joining the group were also Economic Developers, Industrial Training Experts, Louisiana State Officials, as well as U S Government Officials. Combined, the companies represent over $238 billion in annual revenue, and employ tens of thousands around theworld.

The delegation conducted productive meetings with key private sector contacts and experts

to highlight Guyana's business environment, learn about the Government of Guyana's efforts to promote investment and economic diversification, explore market entrystrategies,fosterpartnerships, and develop closer trade and investment ties between Guyana andtheUnitedStates.

US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah Lynch hosted a reception in honor of the delegation, which was attended by His Excellency, President Irfaan Ali. Ambassador Lynch highlighted the close physical and cultural ties between the United States and Guyana as one of many incentives for U.S. companies to invest in Guyana. President Ali noted the excellent

private sector opportunities across various sectors. In total, the U.S. firms engaged with more than 70 local organizations in Guyana's private and public sectors. Both U.S. and Guyanese participants anticipate future partnerships and business deals as a result of the meetings. With23marketsand41 million people, the Caribbean presents a growing opportunity for U.S. companies. The delegation sought to capitalize on the strong bilateral trade relationship between the U.S. and Guyana, with bilateral trade reaching $1.4 billion USD in thefirsthalfofthisyearalone. The delegationrepresentedU.S.resolve to advance inclusive prosperity throughpartnerships.

Officials of the Operation Walk team and GPHC at the Press Conference yesterday, (from left to right) Dr.Ranvir Gajraj, Dr. Romona Nunes, Dr. Akintunde Watson, Dr. Maria Khanuja, Medical Director of Operation Walk, Dr. Paul Khanuja, GPHC's CEO, Dr. Robbie Rambarran, Dr. Rishi Balkissoon, and Dr. Robert Sterling.

President Irfaan Ali interacting with members of the delegation

Patient, Donna Rajkumar

Patient, Merna Agard

Govt. to build more secondary schools

With plans on achieving a universal secondary education for all children in Guyana, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand on Monday announced that the Government is looking to build new secondary schools across the country

The Minister at a sod-turning ceremony on Monday stated that the Government is trying to move awayfrom“primarytops”andhave students properly enroll in secondary schools to obtain their secondaryeducation.

“Our intention is that we would achieve universal secondary education in this first term. What is universal secondary education? It means universally all over this

country every child must be able to access a seat in a secondary school to complete their secondary education.And evenaswework on achieving universal secondary education; that is giving every Guyanese child access,” the Ministersaid.

In revealing the plans for more schools, Minister Manickchand announced that in Region One, works are in progress to build two new secondary schools in that region. “The one that was burnt by arson, as well as another school at Hosororo,”shestated.

As it relates to Region Two, works are currently ongoing to complete the Abram Zuil Secondary School, as well as to

- Education Minister

build dormitories, so that children from the Charity and Pomeroon areascouldbeaccommodated.

In Region Three, the Minister said that the Government will build a brand new secondary school at Tushcen on the West Coast of DemeraraaswellasoneattheWest Bank/Vreed-en-Hooparea.

In Region Four, she revealed that works are ongoing to complete the Yarrowkabra Secondary School. On the East Bank of Demerara, preparatory works are being done to begin the construction of the World-Bank funded, Prospect Secondary

School, and to complete the Good HopeSchool.

In the Georgetown area, the Ministry is looking to put down a

brand new school at Turkeyen, to accommodate some 800 to 1000 students. They are also plans to rebuild the St. George's School which was recently destroyed by fire, as well as, the St. Mary's SecondarySchool.

According to the Minister, in Region Five, there are plans to create more dorm spaces for children coming from riverain areas and in Region Six, there are also plans to put build a brand new secondary school at Orealla along with a dorm to take care of Orealla andSiparutastudents.

In Region Seven at the Upper Mazaruni area, they are going to buildabrandnewschoolto“take (Continued on page 16)

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand

WANTED VACANCY

Driver, sales man, porters to work in warehouse. Must have experience , attractive salary offered. Call: 6964444.

Domestic needed to work for 3 days 8-4pm, must know to cook and do general cleaning, etc. Apply at Keyfood Mc Doom village.

Temporary caretaker/ domestic helper needed in Georgetown. Call: 706-0654.

One Male between 25-45 years to operate Hardware Store. Residing on WCD or WBD. Call:# 264-2524 MonFri 8am to 4:30pm.

Waitress 18-25yrs from around Ogle, 8 hrs shift $22000 wkly. Call: 610-3974.

One experienced cook and one kitchen assistant. Call: 603-1278/ 665-5074.

Diesel Mechanic, Security Guards, Office Cleaner.Tele: 227-1964, 225-7442, 6236383

Two sales clerk & one delivery clerk needed at Lens. Apply @ 136 Sheriff Street, C/Ville or Tel: 227-1511/2272486

Hotel attendant needed at Hick's Ville Hotel.Tel: 6400673, 227-7714, email: info@vegeworld.com

Servicemen for Interior location. Applicants must be experienced. Call: 615-0545 or 231-2250.

Experienced cashiers, security officers and plumbers. Contact the HR department of Ramada Georgetown Princess hotel on Tele # 265-7001, ext 205/127.

For porters.Apply in person to Alabama Trading,65 Robb St Bourda.

General cleaner, office assistant, maintenance workers and Labourers needed. Call: 621-6969, 615-7784/ 505-9107.

Driver must be able to assist in workshop @ Eccles, age 23-50, Car/ Van licence.Call 645-8443 or 6429823.

ICJ opens hearing on Venezuela’s objection to border controversy matter

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), will from today begin holding public hearings in the case concerning the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 (Guyana v. Venezuela) from the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the Court.

The hearings will be devoted to the preliminary objections raised by Venezuela in response to Guyana’s submission of its Memorial on the merits of the case, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The Ministry recalled that Guyana had brought the matter to the Court in an Application submitted on 29 March 2018.

The Court confirmed its jurisdiction over the case, rejecting Venezuela’s objections, in a judgment issued on 18 December 2020. On 8 March 2022, Guyana filed its Memorial on the merits of its case against Venezuela in accordance with the Order of 8 March 2021 of the Court.

Venezuela however, subsequently filed preliminary objections to the admissibility of Guyana’s Application to the Court to determine the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Awardon 7 June 2022. In accordance with its rules, the Court suspended the proceedings on the merits until the determination by the Court of the matter of Venezuela’s preliminary objections.

united in the quest to preserve Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. To this end, the Government invited the Leader of the Opposition to name a representative from the combined Opposition to be part of Guyana’s delegation to The Hague.

That invitation has been accepted.

Guyana will be represented at the hearings by: Mohabir Anil Nandlall, S.C, M.P, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs; Gail Teixeira, M.P, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance; Carl Greenidge, Agent of Guyana in the case concerning the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899, Ambassador Elisabeth Harper, Co-Agent and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation, Ms. Donnette Streete, Director of the Frontiers Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation and Ambassador Ronald Austin, Advisor to the Leader of the Opposition on Frontier matters.

former Chairman of the International Law Commission, member of the Institut de Droit international, Professor Philippe Sands KC, Professor of International Law at University College London, 11 King’s Bench Walk, London, Mr. Payam Akhavan, LLM, SJD (Harvard University), Professor of International Law, Senior Fellow, Massey College, University, of Toronto, member of the Bar of New York and the Law Society of Ontario, member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Professor Pierre d’Argent, Professor ordinaire, Université

Catholique de Louvain, member of the Institut de Droit International, Foley Hoag LLP, member of the Bar of Brussels, Ms. Christina L. Beharry, Foley Hoag LLP, member of the Bars of the District of Columbia, the State of New York, England and Wales, and the Law Society of Ontario, Mr. Edward Craven, Barrister, Matrix Chambers, London, Mr. Juan Pablo Hugues Arthur, Foley Hoag LLP, member of the Bar of the State of New York, Ms. Isabella F. Uria, Attorney-atLaw, Foley Hoag LLP, member of the Bar of the District of Columbia.

Oil tanker hit by armed drone off coast of Oman: Official

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, the details of which are unclear, but suspicion has fallen on Iran.

FOR RENT

2 and 3 Bedroom fully furnished luxury apartments to rent. Tel:# 682-2585, 6648641, 691-1432.

1 bedroom apartment for working couple/ single person $32,000 & $35,000 monthly, light & water included. Tel: 623-0076.

One executive style, modern house for rent in Belair gated community. Call: 2266229/ 617-5458.

One 800 sq ft modern office space in Middle St for rent. Call: 226-6229/ 617-5458.

One bedroom apartment for single person, Located at West Minister, West Bank Demerara. Call: 673-2484.

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

Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area call 6159132.

The hearings will be streamed live, in English on the Court’s website and on UN Web TV. The people of Guyana have remained firmly

Guyana is represented in the case before the Court by: Sir Shridath Ramphal, OE, OCC,KC, Co-Agent and Counsel Mr. Paul S. Reichler, Attorneyat-Law, Foley Hoag LLP, member of the Bars of the United States Supreme Court and the District of Columbia, Mr. Alain Pellet, Professor Emeritus of the Un iversity Paris Nanterre,

(Al Jazeera) An oil tanker associated with an Israeli billionaire has been struck by a bomb-carrying drone off the coast of Oman, an official has told the Associated Press.

The attack happened on Tuesday night off the coast of Oman, the Middle Eastbased Defence Official said.

The official spoke on Wednesday on condition of anonymity as they did not have authorisation to discuss the attack publicly.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a British military organisation in the region monitoring shipping, told the AP, “We are aware of an incident and its being investigated at this time.”

The official identified the vessel attacked as the Liberian-flagged oil tanker, Pacific Zircon.

That tanker is operated by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping, which is a company ultimately owned by Israeli billionaire Ida n Ofer.In a statement, Eastern Pacific Shipping said the Pacific

Arson suspected in Paradise fire

A house believed to be the subject of an arson attack was destroyed by fire on Tuesday at Paradise, East Coast of Demerara. The Guyana Fire Service reported that on Tuesday evening at about 18:32 hrs,

they responded to a call informing them of a fire at Lot 22 Paradise, East Coast Demerara. Fire trucks from the Melanie and Mahaica Fire Stations were immediately dispatched to the location.

Upon arrival, firefighters dis-

covered a one-story wooden and concrete building engulfed in flames.

The building was owned by Davanand Ramlall, who lived there with his family.

The fire totally razed the building leaving the four-

member family homeless. An initial report from the Guyana Fire Service states that the suspected cause of the fire is a malicious setting by an individual(s) unknown. Investigations are continuing.

Govt. to build more secondary schools...

SERVICES

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

From page 15 off the overcrowding of the DC Caesar Fox Secondary as

PROPERTY FOR SALE

well cater for those children in primary tops.”

As it relates to Region Eight, the Education Minister mentioned that they are going to extend the Paramakatoi and t he Kato dorms, as well as build a new secondary school with additional dorms.

schools mentioned. The Minister on revealing the areas where schools will be built said, “So I hope you see that any of us can stand and tell you how we will bring in universal secondary education.

LAND FOR SALE

Double lot in Bent Street, 35 mil. Call: 661-2828.

VEHICLE FOR SALE

One Honda CRV,fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage 3.3M negotiable & 1 new super custom Hiace Bus 2.5M .Contact:649-0956.

Beautiful home in Ogle for sale. Owner wants to migrate and is willing to sell out as fast as possible. Please call owner for information, +592-679-6983.

House & land for sale in New Scheme Patentia, River side. Call: 619-8626, 6092338.

In Region Nine, she said, there are plans to build a secondary school at Karasabai as well as one at the Awarewaunau/ Shea area.

In Region 10, they are going to rehabilitate the schools there.

The Ministry of Education has already issued tenders for some of the

It’s not a dream lock down somewhere in our heads; it’s something we are working feverishly towards.”

On Monday too, the Minister hinted that the Education Ministry is currently exploring a reform type of placement at National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) level.

She explained that it “can’t happen now, when we

get all our schools in place those that I just named for you,…and there is a secondary school that is available to every child, then the NGSA can serve the purpose to say children who are extremely gifted are offered places at the national schools, then the regional schools, then everybody goes to a sch ool close to your home.”

W hen asked on the sidelines about the funding for these upcoming projects, she added some of the projects will be funded locally, while others would be fun ded through various International Financial Institutes.

$619M contract inked for phase three of Mon Repos Market project

The Ministry of Local Contractortheimportanceof Government and Regional a timely completion and DevelopmentonWednesday value for money The signed a $619 million Ministeralsoinformedthose contract to complete phase presentthatabillofquantity three of the Mon Repos will be posted for residents Market rehabilitation andvendorstoseeandverify project. the quality of works being

Seven Contractors vying to rehabilitate Bartica Stelling

During the opening of out of that money allocated it was reported in January delays. tenders on Tuesday at the for the stellings, $217 2019 that the second phase

The Minister had stated National Procurement and million will go towards the contractwasalsoawardedto back then too that his Tender Board (NPTAB) Bartica stelling, $168 Courtney Benn Contracting Ministry had engaged with office, it was revealed that millionforthecompletionof Services Limited and the Contractors to get the works seven Contractors are now the Leguan stelling, and a workshadcommenced. doneandthattheprojectsare vying for the contract to sum of $38 million to Kaieteur News had delivered. continue with the complete works at Fort previously reported that this In February, this year rehabilitation of the Bartica Island. phase entailed the extension MinisterEdghillhadtoldthe FerryStelling. Kaieteur News had onthenorthernsectionofthe National Assembly during The project, which is reported that works at the stelling, as a way to the consideration of the being retendered, is being Bartica stelling began in a c c o m m o d a t e t h e estimates, that the former undertaken by the Ministry 2017, when the first phase drawbridge It is unclear administration had paid 90 of Public Works, Transport was awarded to Courtney what works took place after percent of the contract sum and Harbours Department Benn Contracting Services then, but in 2021 during a fortheBarticastelling,when (T&HD)andaccordingtoits Limited According to visit to the Bartica and only 15 percent of the work Engineer the works are reports, the first phase was Leguan stellings, Minister wascompleted. estimated to cost Guyana completedinOctober2018. Edghill had expressed his He had stated then that $572million.

The contract was by the done on the project. This Ministry’s Permanent project, the Ministry stated S e c r e t a r y, P r e m a willcommenceimmediately R o o p n a r i n e , a n d and is expected to be C o n t r a c t o r s , Va l s completed within six Construction for the months. Over 227 vendors completion of the western areslatedtobenefitfromthis half of the Mon Repos newly constructed facility Market. Kaieteur News had whencompleted. reported last month, that Asreportedinthemedia, duringtheopeningoftenders the upgrade to the Mon for this project, Vals ReposMarketbeganbackin Construction was the only 2020 and is all part of the contractor that bid for the Government’s initiative of projectwhichwasestimated improving the environment to cost $438.6 million. The for business. It was reported Contractor had submitted a that back in December 2020 bidof$619,068,835todothe the Ministry had taken the job. decision to upgrade the InaFacebookpostmade facility after learning of its by Ministry on Wednesday, dilapidated state. Back then Minister of Local rehabilitative works began Government and Regional on the drainage system Development, Nigel within the market The Dharamlall, who witnessed Ministryhadmentionedthat the signing, expressed in his it would be rehabilitating brief remarks, gratitude to fences, roofs, and creating thevendorsfortheirpatience bigger washrooms with and cooperation and much better service at the emphasised to the market.

The first phase disappointment with the the Contractor was not

As reported in the description states that the pace of work ongoing at currently engaged at the nationalbudgetthisyear,the southern section of the thosefacilities. stelling. Government had allocated stelling be demolished and TheMinisterwasquoted F o l l o w i n g h i s the sum of $455 million for reconstructed with support in a Department of Public announcement, the Ministry the continued rehabilitation piles made of greenheart for Information (DPI) article had put a tender seeking a of the Leguan, Fort Island, thesubstructure. saying that the projects Contractor to complete the andBarticastellings.During T h e p h a s e n o w which his Government workstothestelling. the consideration of the accommodates commercial inherited from the previous Below are the projects estimates back in February, concessions and a administration were at a and their bids which Minister of Public Works, modernised passenger stage of failure and riddled opened at the NPTAB Juan Edghill had stated that waitingarea.Followingthis, with poor performance and office:

MinistryofPublicWorksTransportandHarbourDepartment RehabilitationofBarticaFerryStelling.

NationalCommunicationNetworkInc. Broadcasttowerrehabilitation.

MinistryofHumanServiceandSocialSecurity Supplyanddeliveryofcomputers,printers andaccessoriesfortheManagement InformationSystemUnitattheMinistry

Ministry

ofHealth Supply,deliveryandinstallationofmedicalequipment.

EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA) SupplyanddeliveryofOfficeFurnitureandEquipment.

NationalAgriculturalResearch andExtensionInstitute(NAREI) Supplyanddeliveryof27tunnelhousesforNAREI.

Scenes from the contract signing ceremony for the completion of the Mon Repos Market.

The Mon Repos Market where works will be done: (Photo credit: Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development)

Guyanese man charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine into US

The United States' ( U S ) , Department of Justice on Wednesday stated that it has captured a Guyanese man wanted i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y f o r smuggling cocaine into the US.

He was identified as 38year old Dennis Edwards called“Death”.

The Department of Justice in a Press Release stated that Edwards was captured on Monday, November 14 by the agents of Homeland Security at

N e w a r k L i b e r t y International Airport , New Jersey following deportation from the Dominican

Republic.

He was subsequently placed before the Newark Federal Court on Tuesday November 15 to face drug conspiracy charges It is alleged that that Edwards in 2012 had conspired to import some five kilograms of cocaine from St. Maarten intotheUnitedStates.

Edwards made his court appearance before U S Magistrate Judge Edward S.

Kiel and was denied bail.

According to the US Department of Justice, “The conspiracy charge against Edwards carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison and a maximum fine ofUS$10million.

Edwardsisnostrangerto the law enforcement authoritiesinGuyana.

In 2009 he was among nine men wanted in the South American country for a number of murders and kidnappings that took place the2002-2003crimewave.

NASAs mightiest moon rocket lifts off 50 years after Apollo

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) NASAs new moon rocket blasted off on itsdebutflightwiththreetest d u m m i e s a b o a r d Wednesday, bringing the U.S. a big step closer to putting astronauts back on the lunar surface for the first time since the end of the Apollo program 50 years ago.

Ifallgoeswellduringthe three-week flight, the crew capsule will be propelled into a wide orbit around the moon and then return to Earth with a Pacific splashdowninDecember

After years of delays and billions in cost overruns, the SpaceLaunchSystemrocket thundered skyward, rising from Kennedy Space Center on 8.8 million pounds (4 million kilograms) of thrust and hitting 100 mph (160 kph)withinseconds.

The Orion capsule was perchedon topand,less than two hours into the flight, busted out of Earths orbit towardthemoon.

“ I t w a s p r e t t y overwhelming,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “Were going out to explore the heavens, and this is the nextstep.”

The moonshot follows nearly three months of vexing fuel leaks that kept therocketbouncingbetween its hangar and the pad Forced back indoors by Hurricane Ian at the end of September, the rocket stood its ground outside as Nicole sweptthroughlastweekwith gusts of more than 80 mph (130kph).

Although the wind caused some damage, Managers gave the green lightforthelaunch.

An estimated 15,000 people jammed the launch

site, with thousands more lining the beaches and roads outside the gates, to witness NASAs long-awaited sequel to Project Apollo, when 12 astronauts walked on the moon from 1969 and 1972. Crowds also gathered outside NASA centers in Houston and Huntsville, Alabama, to watch the spectacleongiantscreens.

Cheers accompanied the rocket as it rode a huge trail of flames toward space, with a half moon glowing brightly and buildings shaking.. The lift off marked the start of NASAs Artemis lunar-exploration program, named after Apollos mythologicaltwinsister

The space agency is aiming to send four Astronauts around the moon on the next flight, in 2024, and land humans there as earlyas2025.

“For the Artemis generation, this is for you,” Launch Director, Charlie Blackwell-Thompson called out, referring to all those bornafterApollo.

She later told her team, “Youhaveearnedyourplace in history.” The 322-foot (98-meter) SLS is the most powerfulrocketeverbuiltby NASA, with more thrust than either the space shuttle or the mighty, Saturn V that carriedmentothemoon.

Aseries of hydrogen fuel leaks plagued the summer time launch attempts as well ascountdowntests.

Afresh leak erupted at a newlocationduringTuesday night s fueling, but an emergency team tightened the faulty valve on the pad. Then a U.S. Space Force radar station went down, resulting in another scramble,thistimetoreplace anethernetswitch.

“The rocket, its alive. Its creaking. Its making venting noises. Its pretty scary,” said TrentAnnis, one of the three men who entered the blast danger zone to fix the leak. “Myheartwaspumping.My nervesweregoing.”

Orion should reach the moonbyMonday,morethan 230,000 miles (370,000 kilometers) from Earth After coming within 80 miles(130kilometers)ofthe moon, the capsule will enter a far-flung orbit stretching about 40,000 miles (64,000 kilometers) beyond The $4.1 billion test flight is set to last 25 days, roughly the same as when crews will be aboard.

The space agency intends to push the spacecraft to its limits and uncover any problems before astronauts strap in. The mannequins NASA calls them moonequins are fitted with sensors to measure such things as vibration, acceleration and cosmicradiation.

Nelson cautioned, “things will go wrong” duringthisdemo.

A few minor issues cropped up early in the flight, although preliminary indications were the boosters and engines performedwell

“I personally am not going to rest well until we get safely to splashdown and recovery,” Mission Manager, Mike Sarafin told reporters

T h e r o c k e t w a s supposed to have made its d r y r u n b y 2 0 1 7 Government watchdogs estimate NASA will have spent $93 billion on the project by 2025 Ultimately, NASA hopes to establish a base on the moon and send

astronauts to Mars by the late2030sorearly2040s

But many hurdles still need to be cleared. The Orion capsule will take astronauts only to lunar orbit,notthesurface.

NASA has hired Elon Musk s SpaceX to develop Starship, the 21st-century answer to Apollos lunar lander

Starship will carry astronauts back and forth between Orion and the lunar surface, at least on the first trip in 2025. The plan is to station Starship and eventually other companies landers in orbit around the moon, ready for use whenever new Orion crews pullup.

Reprising an argument that was made during the 1960s, Duke University historian Alex Roland questions the value of human spaceflight, saying robots and remote controlled spacecraft could get the job done more cheaply, efficiently and safely.

“In all these years, no evidence has emerged to justify the investment we have made in human spaceflight savetheprestige involved in this conspicuous consumption,” he said NASA is waiting until this test flight is over before introducing the Astronauts who will be on the next one and those who will follow in the bootsteps ofApollo 112s Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.

Most of NASAs corps of 42 active astronauts and 10 trainees were not even born yet when Apollo 17 moonwalkers Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt closed outtheera,50yearsagonext month.

Tired of a dirty city:

Bobby Vieira launches bid to be Mayor

Broadcaster, Bobby Vieirawillofficiallylauncha new political movement dubbed the Independent Citizens for Progress, to participate in the upcoming LocalGovernmentElections (LGE).

Speaking to Reporters via zoom, he said he will unveil the full plan for rebranding Georgetown to recapture its image as the GardenCityaftertheofficial launch. Vieira told the media that his focus will be on identifying an economic zone, better measures for garbage collection and traffic management, installing public sanitary facilities, improving street lighting as well as putting in place stricter means of revenue collection

Mr Vieira said he is “tired of being tired” of the state of the city and believes that citizens will welcome new stewardship. He noted tooGuyanaisattheforefront on the world stage given its vast oil resources. As such, he noted that the capital of the country cannot remain a dirty city The Veteran

Broadcaster who has resided for many years overseas said the list of candidates in his movement will be revealed atthetimeofnominationson December 12, 2022. His ultimate goal is “to rebrand and manage the capital city.” Vi e i r a 's movement, Independent Citizens for Progress, will contest Local Government Elections on March 13, 2023 under symbol of the Stabroek Market with a sunoverit

Oil tanker hit by armed drone...

From page 16 Zircon, carrying gas oil, had been “hit by a projectile” some 150 miles (240 kilometres) off the coast of Oman.

“ W e a r e i n communication with the vesselandthereisnoreports of injuries or pollution. All crew are safe and accounted for,” the company said “There is some minor damage to the vessel s hull but no spillage of cargo or wateringress.”

A call to the Israeli embassy in Abu Dhabi was not answered. Israels Prime Ministers office and its Defence Ministry declined tocomment.However,while no one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, an Israeli official speaking anonymouslytoReuterssaid that Iran was behind the attack, which they said used the same type of drone that haspreviouslybeensupplied toRussiainUkraine.

Irans Nournews, which isaffiliatedwiththecountrys top security body, blamed Israel for the attack, accusing it of a distraction ahead of soccers World Cup that starts in Qatar on

Sunday

Tehran and Israel have beenengagedinayears-long shadow war in the wider Middle East, with some drone attacks targeting Israeli associated vessels travellingaroundtheregion.

Timothy Hawkins, United States Naval 5th Fleet Commander, told Al Jazeera that the US biggest c o n c e r n w a s “ a n y destabilising maritime activity that takes place in the surrounding waters because they are vital to globaltrade”.

He said that the 5th Fleets next step would be to continue maintaining a persistent presence in the Gulf.

“[Wewill]workwithour regional partners and our international partners in patrolling the nearby waters and also working with commercial shipping to ensure they have the information they need to continue transiting these waterways safely,” Hawkins saidThe US has blamed Iran for a series of attacks occurring off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in 2019.

Guyanese Broadcaster, Bobby Vieira

Captured Guyanese Fugitive, Dennis Edwards.

Complaint filed against Attorney over alleged failure to properly prosecute claim in High Court

A complaint has been filed at the Legal Practitioner Committee againstAttorneyat-law Rajendra Poonai SC over his alleged failure to properly deliver competent services in a Statement of Claim (SOC) matter filed in the civil jurisdiction of the HighCourt.

According to documents seen by this newspaper, the c o m p l a i n a n t , L l o y d Soobrian, the owner of the C a r i b b e a n Telecommunication Limited, a company registered under the CompanyAct of Guyana, is claiming that he paid Poonai USD $3000 to represent the case but he failed to do so in a manner that any reasonable Attorney would.

In the document,

Soobrian revealed that Poonaihadfiledacivilsuitin the High Court, on behalf of C a r i b b e a n TelecommunicationLimited, for a Breach of Contract and Restraint of Trade, committed against the company by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT).

Soobrian claims that Poonaipresentedhimselfasa Lawyer competent to represent the company in the case However, the man noted that Poonai failed to meet the minimum standard required for such a claim and when that was pointed by the court he said another Lawyer was doing partof thecase. It was nevertheless pointed out to him that he was the only Lawyeronrecord.

Additionally he failed to file a reply to the defence in the case filed by the defendants in the matter He also failed to correct the defect in the pleading even though he was granted an opportunitytodoso.

A s a r e s u l t , t h e Businessman has asked the L e g a l P r a c t i t i o n e r s Committee to suspend Mr Poonai's practice for three years and order him to compensate Soobrain to the tuneofUSD$200,000.

Poonaihadfiledanaction on behalf of the company seeking among other things, a declaration that GTT's unlawful interference resulted in the termination of theircontract.

The lawsuit inter alia requested a declaration that

Driver who had child clinging on from the back of his bus charged

Following a recent p i c t u r e p o s t e d o n Facebook, showing a school child dangerously clinging to the back of a moving route 40 minibus, police have since located thedriverandchargedhim.

Police in a report stated that they managed to arrest the driver of the minibus and also impounded the vehicle at Traffic Headquarters, Eve Leary The driver was slapped with four charges: breach ofconditionofroadservice license, failing to exhibit revenue license and fitness certificate, breach of prescribed fitness, and

The photo that was posted on Facebook showing a child clinging unto the moving bus.

the GTT unlawful actions constitute a restraint of trade, thereby preventing the claimant from carrying on their business. Poonai was hired to represent the companyinacasewhichalso sought a declaration that the d e f e n d a n t G T T b e condemned to pay damages and cost for their unlawful acts.

In the matter, Caribbean Telecommunication Limited

was seeking damages in excessofUS$25million.

However in her written decision on the matter made on May, 11 2018, Chief Justice Roxanne George Wiltshiresaidonthecasethat there was no evidence presented to substantiate the claim made by the company that it suffered severe losses as a result of the decision takenbyGTT

The Chief Justice noted too that the claim in damages was statute barred pursuant to the limitation act and that she said there was no reply to refute the assertions and defence made by the Defendant.

Added to this, the Judge saidnoapplicationwasmade toamendthedefectiveclaim. The Judge noted too that the Statement of Claim by C a r i b b e a n Telecommunication Limited was so 'incurably bad,' that it didnothaveviableclaim.

The statement of case was obviously badly drafted that the Chief Justice struck out the case for having no merit. In her conclusion of

the matter, she noted that “litigants in Guyana have grown accustomed to low cost awards hence they institute hopeless or vague claims such as this which waste the court's valuable resources. While in ensuring access to justice, the court must give litigants a fair hearing, with the increasing volumes of cases, the court must safeguard it precious timetodealwithcaseswhich havesomemerit…”

Shecontinuedthat“Inthe circumstances of this particular case, where it did appear that in addition to being an incurably bad case, the Claimant had instituted multiple actions in which the same or similar issues were raised so that Claimant was abusing the process of the court.” As such the Judge could not determine that the prescribed costs were to be awarded based on the value of the claimant claim which was $25 million in damages could not be awarded. The court has however directed theclaimanttopaycourtcost inthesumofGYD$1.6M.

tintedmotorvehicle.

Policestatedinitsreport that they have a zero tolerance policy for any typeofroadlawlessnessand u r g e s a l l d r i v e r s , pedestrians and persons using the roadways to be more responsible and to observe the theme for Road Safety 2022 which is, “Safe driving,Saveslives!''.

The impounded minibus

Attorney-at-Law, Rajendra Poonai, SC

Akeila Peters wins Barbara Marshall dominoes tourney

Independent Group to conduct comprehensive review of West Indies early exit from ICC Mens T20 World Cup

ST JOHNS, Antigua A three-member group of independent professionals has been named by Cricket West Indies (CWI) to conduct a comprehensive review of the early exit by the West Indies Mens team from the recent ICC Mens T20 World Cup in Australia.

Akeila Peters was crowned champion of the Barbara Marshall birth anniversary queen dominoes competition which was contested recently.

Peters of Ann’s Grove

collected $100,000, a trophy and a gold ring.

2nd Place went to Lorraine Rodney also of Ann’s Grove, she pocketed $60,000 and a trophy. 3rd Place was taken by June

Watts of Turning Point in Georgetown, she won $40,000 and a trophy.

4th place went to Ann Thompson of Georgetown who received $15,000.

Marshall (R).

Thursday November 17, 2022

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

You may have that awful feeling that you really need to get down to work yet something seems to stand square in the way of progress. Perhaps you feel like you're at a four-way stop with three other cars.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

You're anxious to take action, Taurus, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. Be careful about acting too hastily. It's important that you and your loved one.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

It may feel as if something or someone is trying to keep you from moving ahead with your ambitious goals and aggressive nature, Gemini. At first you may resent this ball and chain attached to your ankle.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

You're apt to feel more talkative than usual, Cancer. There are many times when you may shrink from a situation in disgust or perhaps boredom.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

You may be anxious to try an uncharted path that speaks to your sense of risk and adventure, Leo. It's important to temper these actions with realistic planning.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

Other people are likely to be anxious to get up and moving with their plans, Virgo. It might be better for you to hang back a bit and see how things pan out before you take action.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

Your heart has been active, Libra, and you're probably feeling the need to take charge of a certain relationship. Instead of being too hasty in your pursuit of this romance, you should probably do more planning.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

There is solid grounding to your emotions right now that is helping you stabilize your sensitive feelings, Scorpio. As you become more attuned to your internal needs,.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Your relationships are going well from an intellectual perspective, Sagittarius, but from an emotional one, you might feel like they a ren't as fulfilling as you'd like.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Concentrate on nurturing your needs right now instead of trying to accommodate the needs of others, Capricorn. There is a difficult tension that arises when you try to comfort someone.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Things may roll along nicely in love and romance and then suddenly run into a snag, Aquarius. Perhaps you failed to recognize an important birthday or anniversary.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Here's a reminder that it's OK to be you. You may feel more centered than usual, which encourages you to stand up for yourself and say the things you must to people who need to hear them.

CWI yesterday announced that the ICC Mens T20 World Cup Review Group will undertake a holistic assessment of all aspects of the teams preparation and performance at the global tournament. The three members are: Brian Lara, the West Indies batting legend and current IPL T20 Head Coach; international cricket coach, South African Mickey Arthur; and Justice Patrick Thompson Jr., a High Court Judge at the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court; who will serve as Chair of the Group who have already begun their work.

The West Indies team failed to qualify for the Super12s phase (second

Stern rivalry...

From page 23 ready to continue our support of this sport discipline.”

The Board of Directors wishes to convey its profuse thanks to the Archery National Judges for their professional work over the week. Special thanks to Director of Shooting, Robert Singh, Line Judge - Ryan McKinnon and Chairman of Judges, Nicholas Hing.

round) after losing unexpectedly to lower ranked teams, Scotland and Ireland. The losses caused great disappointment and frustration among all West Indies cricket stakeholders. The Group B qualifier round was played at Bellerive Oval in Tasmania where the team achieved their only victory over Zimbabwe, a team that qualified ahead of West Indies by defeating both Scotland and Ireland.

The three-member panel will submit a Report to the CWI Board of Directors, with relevant insight and clear recommendations. It is also intended that this review will establish a process and template for future performance reviews. The Terms of Reference (TOR) are attached below. In commenting on the appointments, CWI President Ricky Skerritt said: “CWI is

fortunate to have such a knowledgeable and totally independent panel agree to serve West Indies Cricket under challenging circumstances. I am especially grateful for their commitment to lend some of their valuable time to this important review project. It is vital that players, coaches, administrators, and all of us who love West Indies cricket, recognize that creating a sustainable learning culture, throughout the organization, is a prerequisite for player growth and team improvement. Emotion-based and knee-jerk type decisions have failed CWI repeatedly in the past. I am confident that this independent World Cup review process will produce findings and learnings that should be of great benefit to our cricket system going forward.”

The respective winners and their prizes with organiser Barbara

Recreational Parks for East Berbice

P r e s e n t l y t w o Recreational Parks costing millions of dollars are being constructed in various sections of Berbice, under the auspices of the First LadyAryaAli.

The parks are being constructed in the Towns of New Amsterdam and Corriverton.

The park in New Amsterdam, which is being done by Kason Engineering, is being built next to the

Region 6 Regional Democratic Council Compound And will be known as a Recreational Facility

The park in Corriverton, which will be known as an Entertainment Park, is being constructed opposite the SkeldonMarket.

Both parks will have a parking lot and when completedareexpectedtobe fitted with special facilities for kids and the elderly and

will include play areas, walkways, benches, washroom facilities among othersamenities.

The spaces will also be available to host Cultural activities of different persuasions and mini games andfunevents.

Mrs. Ali recently visited both sites and commended the work being done so far Bothprojectsareexpectedto be completed before the end oftheyear (SamuelWhyte)

Dominoes action set for New Amsterdam on Sunday

Senior organising secretary of the Georgetown DominoesAssociation Mark Wiltshire in collaboration with Esan Vanderstoop and Three the Hard Way will be hosting a dominoes

competition on Sunday at NewAmsterdamTownHall.

Entrance fee for the male is $15,000 and female 10,000.

The winning team will take home $250,000, second

place $125,000, third place $75,000 and fourth place $40,000. Trophies will also behandedout.

Interested teams can contact Wiltshire on 659 8672.

From left Roderick Harry, Mark Wiltshire, Esan Vanderstoop (organiser) and Lyall Gittens.

Construction of Recreational Park in New Amsterdam.

Work ongoing at the recreational park in NA.

New Doctors Clinic CC rewards Top Region 3 NGSA performer

The New Doctors Clinic Cricket Club has rewarded Tanika Sukhdeo, the top Region Three student at this years National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) Managing Director of the entity and club Captain S a t y e n d r a K h e m r a j presented her with a trophy and a new laptop to further herstudies.

S u k h d e o , o f t h e Academy of Excellence, got

516 marks and secured a placeatQueensCollege.

Khemraj said that this is more than just a Corporate SocialResponsibility,asitis i m p o r t a n t t o m a k e investments in the next generation.

“Success comes with hard work and warrants rewards. Ms. Sukdeo has done exceptionally well for herself, her family, school and region, and we saw it fit

to support her future endeavors”,Khemrajnoted.

“Education is a vital i n g r e d i e n t f o r t r a n s f o r m a t i o n a n d enhancement, and this is why we are supporting the young generation”,Khemraj said.

The entity has also s p o n s o r e d a n U 1 9 tournament in Wakenaam and has supported other cricketclubsandplayers.

Stern rivalry highlights competitive tournament

The curtains came down on the 2022 National A r c h e r y I n d o o r Championships on Saturday last at the National Gymnasium as the finalists waged a tough battle for the topspots.

The match play events began in the Barebow division with the finalists in their respective categories; MenU18,WomenU18,Men andWomen.

IntheMenU18,Luzigue Stanley of Nations Archery Club took the gold against Antuwan Lamazon of The Archery Guild who received Silver, and Alistair Cedarry also of Nations, copped the bronze.

In the Women U18, Malaika Bynoe took gold, as Katiffa Fraser took the silver and Stephanie McTurk, the bronze,allofwhomarefrom NationsArcheryClub.

The Men Barebow saw A r c h e r y G u y a n a s Jeewanram Persaud and ProArchers Mehandra Chatargum battling it out for the gold medal as Persaud emerged victorious, with Chatargum taking the silver a n d M u h a m m a d Zamaluddin, also from Archery Guyana, taking the bronze.

In the Men Recurve finals, Persaud came up against Sean Duncan, but it was Duncan who took the gold leaving Persaud with

the silver and Nicholas Hing takingthebronze.

The Men U18 recurve matches were all Nations ArchersasChristianCraigen took gold over Nicholas Sookdeos silver and Alistair Cedarrysbronze.

Sookdeo was the youngest archer to have competedinthecompetition.

For the Women U18 Recurve Nations Archerys Malaika Bynoe received gold as no others contested herdivisionandcategory

In the Women Recurve matches Samira Duncan (The Archery Guild) took home the gold medal against Archery Guyanas Roshini Boodhoo who took silver, as Bibi Saleema Salim also from The Archery Guild copped the bronze The final Match was theWomen Barebow, which was a nail biting affair, as The Archery Guilds Julie Ann Williams beat Roshini Boodhoo to the gold in a 1 arrow shoot off with Williams arrow being closest to centre than Boodhoos, who took the silver

Harshita Chatterjee of ProArchers took the Bronze inthisdivision.

At the Presentation Ceremony after the event, Secretary General of Archery Guyana, Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon thanked the Ministry of Culture,

Youth and Sport, Minister Charles Ramson, the NationalSportsCommission and Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle,fortheirusualkind supportofthesport.

She went on to thank all the participants, coaches, parents, teachers, media, well wishers and g e n e r a l p u b l i c f o r attending over the past week

McKinnon indicated that she was extremely pleased and encouraged by the largest ever turnout of representatives from clubs indicating it attracted participants from as young as twelve years old

McKinnon proceeded to announce the results as the Chair of Competitions Committee, Umasankar Madray, presented the medals Certificates of Participation were also presented to each and every participant.

Director of Sport, Mr Steve Ninvalle conveyed that the National Sports Commission and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport are happy with the trajectory of Archery Director Ninvalle went on to say, “We have seen a meteoric rise in the development of the sport u n d e r i t s p r e s e n t administrationandstand

2022 National Archery Indoor Championships…

Tanika Sukhdeo accepts her prizes from Satyendra Khemraj

Brathwaite looking forward to doing great things with Windies new boy Chanderpaul

SportsMax

- West Indies

Test captain Kraigg

Brathwaite admits he is looking forward to a potential partnership with new comer Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who could make his debut in the upcoming series against Australia.

Chanderpaul, the 26 year-old son of legendary Windies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, was called into the team earlier this month andwidelyexpectedtogethis first cap when the series gets underwayinoneweekstime

The younger Chanderpaul is expected to become the 7th batsman to join Brathwaitein an opening partnership for the West Indies in the last five years, joining the likes

Tagenarine Chanderpaul

ofKieranPowell,ShaiHope, Devon Smith, Jermaine Blackwood and John Campbell.

Campbell, Brathwaites most recent partner at the creasereceivedafour yearban for a whereabouts doping violation earlier this year Despite the fact that the duo are yet to face a ball, Brathwaite believes there is

potential for the partnership todowell.

“I think the partnership will work extremely well, to be honest,” Brathwaite told members of the media on Monday “Tage is obviously aguythatcouldspendalotof time. For me, my game, there’s nothing that’s going to change, just focusing on being in the right positions for each ball and I look forwardtothepartnership I’ve seen him play first class for a little while, and he’s always impressedwiththetimehehas spent (batting). And I really look forward to seeing us do good things together ” Chanderpaul has scored 2669 runs in first class cricket so far and has 5 100s and1050s.

Dwayne Bravo lauds his friend Kieron Pollard on his retirement from IPL “Isaluteyouonyourfantasticcareer...”

SportsMax - Dwayne Bravo has lauded Kieron Pollard on his decision to retire from theIndianPremierLeague.

Bravo was released by Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday, the same day his Trinidadian compatriot announced his retirement from the league and will take up a position as batting coach of the Mumbai Indians with which he won multiple IPL titles. Bravo expressed mixed emotions in a postonsocialmedia.

“To my best friend, my teammate, opponent. 13 years ago I had a small part (to) playinintroducingyoutoarguablyoneofthe m o s t s u c c e s s f u l I P L t e a m s @mumbaiindians,” said Bravo, who was a teammate of Pollards having played for the MumbaiIndiansduringthefirstthreeseasons

Nepal

ESPNcricinfo UAE were the first casualties of the ICC’s decision to impose a permanent ban on the use ofsalivatopolishtheball.

Yesterday, when Alishan Sharafu applied saliva to shine the ball during the second ODI against Nepal in Kathmandu, on field umpires Vinay Jha and Durga Subedi awarded Nepal five penalty runs in linewiththerulingthatcame into effect this September.In any case, the ban on saliva use had been in place for over two years as a Covidrelated measure.At the time, the ICC Cricket Committee headed by Anil Kumble had recommendedthatsweatand not any artificial substance should be used to shine the ball.

That sweat was a safer option than saliva was approved by the ICC’s chief medical expert Dr Peter H a r c o u r t , w h o h a d highlighted that Covid-19 was airborne respiratory infection and highly contagious.

of the IPLbefore being picked up by CSK in 2011.

“I saw you grow from a little boy from MaloneyandthengotoIndiatodominatethe toughest T20 league You became a household name around the world. I salute you on a fantastic career (and) wish you all thebestinthenextchapterasitsasaddayfor you and your fans but we also celebrate what youhaveachieved.”

One of the marquee players for the Mumbai Indians since he signed in 2010, Pollard, in 189 matches for the side, has scored3,412runsatanaverageof28.67,with 16 half-centuries while leading them to five IPLtitles.

Bravo is expected to be resigned by CSK atalowerpricelaterthisyear

In September this year, this temporary ruling was made permanent following a meeting of the ICC Cricket Committee Given the ongoing three-match series between UAE and Nepal has ODI status, the rule was automaticallyapplied.

“If the umpires spot someone applying saliva on the ball blatantly, there’s no option but to award five penalty runs to the oppositions straightaway,” a former ICC panel umpire confirmedtoESPNcricinfo.

“Earlier, when the rule was initially implemented afterthepandemic,therewas some leniency in the form of two warnings to the fielding team, since everyone was

getting adjusted to the new ruling. We used to talk to the captain and give him a heads up simply because it was a new rule. Two years on, teamsandplayersareusedto it now.” For the record, Nepal squeezed home by three wickets in a tight game to level the series at 1 1 V i c t o r y w a s orchestrated by Aarif Sheik and 16 year-old Gulshan Jha, who added 62 for the eighth wicket. While Jha made 37, Sheikh remained unbeatenon33totakeNepal homeintheirchaseof191.

The series decider will be played at the same v

Dwayne Bravo (left) and his Trinidadian colleague Kieron Pollard who announced his retirement from the IPL on Tuesday

awarded five penalty runs after UAE’s Sharafu uses saliva to shine the ball

60th National Schools Championship to be to launched today

The 60th edition of the National Schools Track and Field, Cycling and Swimming Championships will launch today, where the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) will publicly announce their plans for the return of the most anticipated sporting event locallyforthefirsttimesince 2019.

T h e f i v e d a y championships (November 28 December 2) will see over 1500 students, athletes and officials converging to represent their respective districts in events at the National Track and Field Centre, the NationalAquatic Centre (swimming) and cyclingattheNationalPark.

November 17 22, 2019, was the last time the championships were held, while organisers had to pull the plug on the event the following year after the world was battling the adverse effect of COVID19.

The 59th edition of the

consecutive overall title to take their total wins to an impressive 18 overall

District 10 finished with 68 points, while their nemesis, North Georgetown (District 11), was second

overallwith59points.

I n a d d i t i o n , t h e champions also clinched the much-subscribed Track & FieldChampionships.

District three (West Demerara) maintained their fine showing in the teachers championship with a marginal victory over D i s t r i c t 1 3 ( S o u t h

Georgetown).

Nicholloyd Cameron and Attoya Harvey, in 2019, won the track and field under 14 Champion boy and girl accolades

H a n n a h R e i d o f District Four and Wesley Tyndall of District 11 won the respective champion girl and boy

trophies in the under 16 age group

Former under 16 track & field Champion girl,

Deshanna Skeete of

Linden, copped the under 18 prize while the i m p r e s s i v e M e l o n L o w e n f i e l d w o n Champion boy under 18 In the open division

( u n d e r 2 0 ) , N o r t h

Georgetowns Keliza Smith won champion girl after winning four events, while Encosie Leitch of Corentyne was the under-18 champion boyafteramassing32points, twomorethanJoshuaTappin of District 10 and recordbreaking Jumper Jennis Benjamin. (RawleToney)

Petra begins preparations for KFC Goodwill Tournament

Secondary, in the finale After that, the dreaded pandemic forced the tournamentintoahiatus.

However, Mendonca was belated to announce that the tournament has been given the green light by the sponsors, so they have already began their preparations for this edition oftheGoodwillTourney

Less than a month remains before the kick off of the Petra organisations

2022 KFC Goodwill Football Tournament, which has been slated for December 14 23, at the Ministry of Education Ground,CarifestaAvenue.

Christianburg/Wismar

Secondary and Golden Grove Secondary have already been confirmed for the third edition of this event f o l l o w i n g t h e i r championship and runner-up finishes in the recently c o n t e s t e d

GuyOil/Tradewind Tankers

Under-18League.Thesetwo sides are to meet with Trinidad and Tobagos Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Champion, St Benedicts College, DefendingChampion,Annai Secondary, SVB Academy

out of Suriname and the Desrey Fox Secondary School, commonly called Waramadong. “We are glad that all the teams we extended invitations to have accepted and will be joining our Leagues top finishers,” said Petras Co Director,

Troy Mendonca Trinidad and Tobagos

Boys

College were the inaugural champions in 2018, while the second edition of the tournament was hosted in 2019 and won by Annai Secondary, who clinchedthetitlefromLodge

“Petra is quite elated to havethistournamentbackon our calendar of events to conclude a successful return to football like we envisioned. As you know, our localteamswillbe going up against the best school team from the Twin Island along with a strong youth team from our neighbours, Suriname.” “We expect a high level of competition from these teams, which can only auger well for the development of grassroots football, which is what Petra is all about,” Mendonca added. The tournament is scheduled for its official launchinthecomingweek.

Shiva

Hindu

Flashback to December 23, 2019; the date that Annai Secondary claimed the 2nd KFC Goodwill Title, at the Ministry of Education Ground.

Flashback! District 10 (Upper Demerara/Kwakwani) celebrates securing their 18th overall title at the 59th National Schools Track and Field, Cycling and Swimming Championship. (Rawle Toney photo)

Stern rivalry highlights competitive tournament

The top performers of the recently concluded National Archery Indoor Championships take a photo op with their accolades.

West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite

West Indies batsman Akeal Hosein (right) reacts after his dismissal against Scotland. (AFP/David Gray)