Kaieteur News

‘Crown-jewel Guyana’ reason for US company sticking with Hess–Manager

The Manager of a company that is a shareholder of Hess Guyana Exploration Limited a company that holds a 30 percent interest in Guyana’s prolificStabroekBlock–has stated that it will be patient andstickbesideHess,owing tothecrown-jewelGuyana. This was reported by Barron’s in August 2022. Barron’s is a leading source of financial news, providing in depth analysis and commentary on stocks, investments and how markets are moving across theworld.

American oil giant, ExxonMobil subsidiary, Esso Exploration and

Production Guyana Ltd (EEPGL) is the operator of theStabroekBlockwitha45 percentinterestandtheother partner, CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited with 25 percentinterest.

Kaieteur News had reported that for the thirdquarter of 2022, Exxon announced that its overall earnings was a record shatteringUS$19.7billion–whereasHessreportedthatit earned a net income of US$515 million and CNOOC recording US$5.1 billion.

In Barron’s article titled, “WhyaPatientGrowthFund Is Sticking with Microsoft and Hess Stock,” it quoted

Leesaid,“[Hesshas]the opportunity for very significant growth over the next decade due to their ownership of some very productive [oil] fields offshore of Guyana, alongside Exxon Mobil [XOM].”

To this end, Lee noted, “The project is really a crown jewel for both companies, but it represents a bigger percentage of the valueofHess.”

According to the

company’swebsite,theyare asuccessacrossthefinancial world for individuals and institutions.

Barron’s reported that while tech stocks like Microsoft, Apple (AAPL), andAlphabet(GOOG)make up 25 percent of the portfolio, the team also invests in less familiar growthcompanies.

For instance, energy stocks make up 7.5 percent of the company’s fund. Last year,thecompanypurchased sharesinHess.Itwasfurther stated that given the team’s patience, they can afford to waituntilHesshassqueezed everylastdropofprofitfrom thoseoilwells.

Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometers) and has approximately 11 billion proven barrels of oil. In addition to this, the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) Guyana signed with the oil major firm have been labeled as lopsided – and this is the main reason why civil societyhavebeencallingfor a renegotiation of the contract but the PPP Administration is adamant that they will abide by ‘sanctityofcontract’andnot renegotiatethedeal.

Notably, under the PSA, neither Exxon nor its affiliates pay taxes. In fact, Guyanahasagreedto,under the taxation provisions, to pay ExxonMobil’s share of Corporation and Income Tax.Assuch,itwouldmean that Guyana foregoes each year, billions of US dollars. O n t o p o f t h i s , documentation to this effect is then provided to the US based company allowing it to not have to pay any taxes in its home country for its earningsoverseas.

Gentry Lee, a Co-Manager of BNY Mellon Worldwide Growth as stating that Hess has the opportunity for significant growth over the nextdecade.

Guyana’s Stabroek

CEO of Hess Corporation, John Hess

New GPC gets over $7B in contracts from PPP Govt.

The Auditor General (AG), Mr Deodat Sharma, inhisfirstfullyearreviewof the PPP Government has foundthatacompanyowned by the friend of Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, received over $7 billion in contracts to supply medical products to the Ministry of Health,butatthetimeofthe audit, over $478 million in drugs were yet to be delivered.

In his 2021 Report, the AGexplainedthatthesumof $7.306 billion was allotted under Line Item 6221DrugsandMedicalSupplies. Allotmenttransferredtothis Lin

Supplementary Allotment amounted to $6.683 billion. The total revised allotment amountedto$14.070billion. This represents a seventythree percent increase in allotment, when compared to the previous year’s

expenditure of $8 122 billion.

An analysis of the payments found that a total of $13 893 billion was withdrawn and spent to procure medical supplies to 14 agencies. Notably, New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (GPC), owned by Dr Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, received the bulk ofmoniesfromtheMinistry toprovidedrugs.

According to the report, “An examination of the contracts revealed that amounts totalling $7 314 billionwereenteredwiththe NEW GPC Amounts totalling$6.631billionwere paid to the supplier which includesprioryearpayments totalling $683M.” However, at the time of reporting, the Audit Office said supplies totalling $478.963M were yettobedelivered.

In response to the AG’s findings, the Ministry of

Healthacknowledgedthatas of September 2022 the $478.963 million in goods were yet to be delivered. It explained, “The remaining deliveries are still ongoing due to logistical constraints that would have impacted the entire supply chain negatively and as per MOH staggereddeliveryperiod.”

The Audit Office recommended that the Head of the Budget Agency take the necessary action to ensure that the drugs and medical supplies already paid for are delivered as intended.

Meanwhile, Western ScientificCompany,another drug supplier for the Ministry that received the second highest amount in contracts also failed to delivertheproductsontime.

The Auditor General pointed out that, “amounts totalling$3.212billionwere paid as at 31 December

2021. Of these payments, suppliesvaluing$695.671M areyettobedeliveredatthe timeofreporting.”

Again, the Ministry confirmed that as of

AFC wants 8% salary increase to be non-taxable

Adamantthatthecurrentrate of inflation will ‘eat into the meagre’ increase imposed on Public Servants, the Alliance For Change (AFC) is arguing thattheeightpercentincreaseshouldbe non-taxable. In fact, the party believes there is urgent need for the minimum wage to be increased for both the private and public sectors, to at least $150,000permonth.

The AFC’s Leader, Khemraj Ramjattanmadethecallduringavirtual Press Conference on Friday He said, “There can be no excuse this time around that the coffers are empty The CoalitionGovernmentleftthePPPwith anoilbonanzathattodayiseffectively US$1.5billion.”

Inarguinghispointofview,hewent on to state, “The effect of present day inflation on the purchasing power of PublicServantsrequiresmorethanthe 7% and 8% increases the PPP Government unilaterally has granted. Inflationrates,whichisestimatedtobe over 10% this year and even more last year, have eaten into the income of Public Servants, and hence superior increases,ratherthan 7%2021and8% in 2022, is what our Public Servants deserve.”

The party believes that an acrossthe-board increase widens the gap in income inequality among the various salary scales and that the increase in

salary should be non taxable Ramjattan said during the Coalition’s tenure,noincreaseinsalarywastaxed, as he calculated, that should the 2022 increase be taxed, Public Servants will actually be left with a 5.12 percent increase.

He was keen to note, “We have to takeintoconsiderationwhatitisthatis a liveable wage and we have emphasized that it ought to be a minimum of $100,000 per month and thatwassince2021whenweaskedthat there should be an across the board minimum for both the private sector and public sector (of) $100,000.” This amount he estimates would have

climbedtoatleast$150,000presently

As such, he demanded that the minimum wage be increased to $150,000 monthly for workers employed by the private and public sectors Ramjattan reasoned that employees’rent,food,costtotakecare of children and inflation are among some of the factors that must be taken intoaccountwhenconsideringasalary increase.Hebelievesthiswasnotdone bythePPP

The former Minister of Public Security under the previous administration therefore emphasised that any increase should offset the inflation rates, meaning, a citizen should be able to purchase the same amount of goods he or she did before despitetheriseinprices,astheirsalary wouldbesustainableenoughtodoso.

On Thursday last, President Irfaan Ali announced an eight percent across the board wages increase for public sector employees, retroactive to January 1, 2022. He also promised to make another announcement for members of the joint services and healthcare workers this week. Ali’s announcement comes even after the stateworkersweregivensevenpercent lastyear

Already, several workers’ unions andevenmembersofcivilsocietyhave voiced their concerns regarding the ‘meager’salaryincrease.

September 2022 the goods were not delivered due to logistical constraints. The AG gave similar orders to ensure the drugs were delivered.

The New GPC in 2020 was also found to be the single largest supplier of drugs and medical supplies to the Government of Guyana, securing more than half of the more than $8B spentforthatpurposeduring

thatyear

Thecompanytoppedthe list of 33 suppliers to Government, providing suppliesforcontractshigher than$6Mandsecuringsome $4.4Bincontracts.

It would be apposite to note that GPC was up to 1999, a State owned Company however when Vice President Jagdeo, in August1999assumedOffice as Executive President of Guyana, by December of that year, the company was soldtoDr Ramroop.

A first tranche was paid but before the remainder could be paid off governmentre-evaluatedthe business and told Dr Ramroop to pay a lesser amount.

The APNU+AFC Coalition while in Government had pulled several contracts from Dr Ramroop owned companies including the payment for storage and medical supplies. The Coalition had then contracted a party financier, Larry Singh, for the storage of drugs and medicalsuppliesinwhatwas condemned as a bottom housesetup.

The men were slapped with two individual charges of

Both men appeared at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrates’Court before Senior Magistrate, Sunil Scarce, whenthechargeswerereadtothem.

Both men reportedly pleaded not guilty to the offences and were placed on self-bail. The matter was adjourned to February3,2023forstatements.

A 60-year-old man, Lennox Barrington, of Diamond HousingSchemeand19-year-old,SimmonAustin,aFarmer of Eccles Housing Scheme, were both charged last Friday withassaultandthreateningbehaviour

assaultcausingactualbodilyharmandthreateningbehavior committedoneachother

Elderly man, teen in court for assaulting, threatening each other

Charged, Simmon Austin

Charged, Lennox Barrington

AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan

- says minimum wage should be boosted to $150,000

Table showing the companies that received contracts from the Government of Guyana in 2021 to supply medical products

Kaieteur News

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Guyanaanoilsuperpower:

Just don’t tell that to hurting Guyanese

Visitthemediaonanygivenday,andthenewsoverflows withthegrandnessofGuyana. Withasolitaryexceptionhere and there, both local and foreign media entities, using every channelofmoderntechnology,singthepraisesandgloriesof Guyana,thisnewSouthAmericanElDoradoofoil.Whatthe British and Sir Walter Raleigh missed out on, theAmericans andDarrenWoodswraptheirarmsaround,arenevergoingto let go. It is about immense amounts of oil under the seabed, and all the great treasures to be made on land, from feeding thebeastbelowtheseaand,inturn,drinkingofitsblood,and prosperingfromit.

Almost all of the respected foreign media houses have told the world of the Guyana oil story The Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Barron’s, and others in America and Europe have all written and spoken glitteringly of the richness of Guyana’s prospects, the bonanzas waiting to be tapped here. The latest to do so is prestigious Bloomberg, with a podcast that employed some superb descriptionstoshareGuyanawiththeworld.

Fellow Guyanese and other readers, absorb these extravagant words, these almost perfect phrases, that seek toconveywhatourGuyanaistoeverycorneroftheworld,to anyone who would listen. Guyana is “one of the most exciting stories in the global oil industry” and Guyana is the “newest oil superpower.” Imagine that: Guyana is an “oil superpower”. Those words of evaluation are not from some run-of-the-mill, or partisan, or unknown, media entity or hack, but from a financial media entity with the global renown of Bloomberg. As the November 14, 2022, Bloomberg podcast said, this oil is what has triggered the “incredible rise of Guyana.” As Guyana rises, how is it that some Guyanese fade? Guyana is an “oil superpower”, but a great many in the Guyanese population feels like super dupes, super duds. For sure, the oil is here by the billions of barrels, but rank-and-file Guyanese are not tasting its sweetness,andarenowherenearitsriches. Guyanesefeelfar from being an oil superpower, for if they don’t scramble to surviveonadailybasis,liketheyhavealwaysbeenforcedto dobytheirleaders,theywouldbenothingbutsuperfailures.

Guyanaistheplacetobe,yetGuyanesecontinuetoflock theAmerican consulate in an effort to get away from “one of thefastestgrowingeconomiesintheworld”,ifnottheactual fastest. The reason is simple: they find it extremely difficult to feed their families, to save a dollar, to live with some degree of dignity in this land among the richest in the world. ThegreatstoryofGuyanaanditsoilhastobetheworststory for those many citizens at the bottom of the stairs in Guyana, those outside the PPP/C Government’s cabal of scavengers, hustlers, gougers, and self-enrichers. When there is such an army of opportunists, the small Guyanese man and woman areontheirown,forcedtofendforthemselvesforanyscraps that they can get. But this is among the most exciting oil storiesandnothinglessthanan“oilsuperpower.”

Our Public Servants must be feeling like super losers, thanks to PresidentAli’s announcement of an 8% across the board pay raise for them. For Public Servants lower down, this means they will be receiving the equivalent of approximately one American dollar per day from the salary increase that PresidentAli so proudly announced. We agree that Guyana qualifies as the “newest oil superpower” but for ExxonMobil and its partners. Recall how John Hess, a partner in the ExxonMobil consortium, has repeatedly boastedtohisshareholders.

What are our national Co-Chief Executives, Ali and Jagdeo, boasting about in “oil superpower” Guyana to Guyanese householders? Their stuttering, stumbling languageisdifferenttotheGuyanesepeople:“wedon’thave enough.” “Don’t expect much.” “Don’t depend on this oil too much.” We have one question: does this oil superpower Guyana really have oil, or is it a cruel joke, given the wretched state of the Guyanese people? Somebody must be makingfunofus,givenharshlocalrealities.

Thanks to those who helped in an instance of cruelty to a sick animal

DEAREDITOR, injuries despite the efforts of animals.

person who made the video, In January 2022, a video Dr Wilson who had In September 2022, as well as Commander that went viral was made of continuedtotreattheanimal. Magistrate Aisha George Pareshram of the Guyana horse cart operator, Jabar That afternoon, Guyana heard evidence given by the PoliceForceforhisguidance Khan, whipping a sick and Society for the Prevention GSPCA Inspector Wright, and crucial support in visibly injured horse in for Cruelty to Animals Syeada Manbodh and r e l a t i o n t o a n i m a l Martyr’s Ville, E.C.D. On (GSPCA) Inspector Jersid Veterinarians Dr Meghoo crueltymatters,andSergeant the morning of the incident, Wright and Animal Welfare and Dr Wilson. Magistrate Camacho and the officers of veterinarian Dr Meghoo of Activist, Syeada Manbodh, George found Khan guilty as Beterverwagting Police the Guyana Livestock went to Beterverwagting charged. Station. Development Authority Police Station and made a Khanwasrequiredtopay The Society also extends (GLDA) and his veterinary report. a fine of $80,075 or spend 8 gratitude to Dr. Wilson and technician were working in They also showed the months in jail.Editor, this Dr. Meghoo. Lastly, GSPCA the area and witnessed the video to Station Sergeant case represents a major thanks Syeada Manbodh for incident. Camacho, who immediately victory for animal welfare in her vital support in this

They asked Khan to sent several officers to Guyanaandsendsamessage matter remove the horse from the apprehend Khan who was that cruelty to animals is Yoursfaithfully, horse cart and started to treat arrested and held for 72 illegal, immoral and will not OliverInsanally, t h e i n j u r e d h o r s e hours before being released betolerated.

Honorary President on Regrettably, the horse on bail Khan was later In closing, the GSPCA behalf of the Executive eventually succumbed to its charged with cruelty to would like to thank the CommitteeoftheGSPCA

We demand that the terms of the new PSA be applied to the Stabroek Block contract

DEAREDITOR, in2022.Hence,inrealterms, w i l l b e A m e r i c a n executives worship money A foreign observer an additional 7% of the T h a n k s g i v i n g T h e and have no respect for the analyzing Guyana’s oil population slipped into shareholders of the oil environmentorruleoflaw resource per citizen would poverty despite the fact that companies will have plenty If Guyanese Politicians guess that a baby born in the Guyana became an oil to be thankful for including caredabouttheinterestofthe last few years in Guyana producing nation in late record profits and shares people, then they would would be one of the luckiest 2019. pricessuchasExxon’swhich immediately call for the of the 8 billion people in the We are currently have rocketed 85% over the enforcement of the EPA world But the observer pumping more than 380,000 lastyear Exxon,HESS,and permits that require full would be mistaken. It is barrels of oil a day At C N O O C a n d t h e i r liability coverage These approaching3yearssincewe US$100 per barrel that is shareholders have benefited Politicians would demand startedproducingoil,butone US$38 million dollars per tremendously from our oil. Exxon immediately stop of the key measurements of day Over a year, at this pace Given this big disparity in pumping above the 120,000 poverty shows that thatwouldgenerateUS$13.9 the oil companies benefiting barrels per day, the safety Guyaneseareworseoff. billion in oil revenues. Or more from our oil than our limit for Liza 1 as per the Recent data from the stated another way, per year, people, our Politicians EPA permit The 2010 World Bank stated that 48% that is US$37,000 in oil should be calling for the D e e p w a t e r H o r i z o n of Guyana live on a mere revenues for each of the renegotiation of a fair deal. explosionandsubsequentoil US$5.50 a day This is in 374,000 Guyanese living in Except, many of them seem spill in the Gulf of Mexico is contrast to an earlier 2020 poverty A person living on to be parroting the lines of projectedtocosttheoperator report by the Inter-American US$5.50 a day works out to the oil companies Our BP up to US$145 billion. Development Bank that said about US$2,000 per year or Politicians are talking about Who is taking the bigger risk that41%ofGuyaneseliveon about 5.4% of US$37,000. If the amount of money the oil right now without proper less than US$5.50 a day If our people are not benefiting companieshaveinvestedand insurance coverage? It is one takes inflation into from all these oil revenues, the risk they are taking. That Guyana, not the oil account, then US$5.50 in thenwhoare? is a shareholder-centric view companies.Aresponsible 2020buyslessthanUS$5.50 This upcomingThursday where greedy corporate (Continued on page 5)

Stop begging and stealing, start protesting

DEAREDITOR, thieving is now an epidemic bravery to support your glorious chance for you to I have known begging in in Guyana based on their political leaders and party, get support if you prove you Guyana to be of the street own experiences, police and while resorting to thieving are fighters for the people or beggars at markets, Ferry news reports. It also takes and begging to survive? do you want to wait till stellings and some door to bravery and courage to This is how you want the election time and get no door beggars, along with ‘ t h i e f ’ e x c e p t f o r world to know and seats. those who target nicely Government officials who remember you? Remember A great king facing dressed people asking for a do it as it’s the normal for nothing good comes easy invasion of his kingdom raise. But now it looks like them. unless you’re lucky or motivated his people to fight begging has innovated in Every foreigner who corrupt which is for a minute with a speech which Guyana with Teachers speaksofGuyanaevenwhen fewpeople. included “ People you can calling on businesses for theymentionsomethingnice So Guyanese, you would choose to die on your feet or food items for starving of Guyana, they have to also rather look for a spot on the live on your knees to the childrenandnow,asreported mention the begging and streets to beg, or prowl the invaders, as living on your by KN, businesses are thieving So will we be streets looking for your next knees will only bring misery begging, Guyanese are also seeingbeggingfromhospital victim to steal from? Why and torment upon you by the calling for an increase to the staff for patients in the don’t you use the streets invaders”. Guyanese once remittances from their hospital? Will we see instead to protest for your moreyouhaveachoice,how diaspora relatives, mind you begging from sports share of over two trillion doyouwanttobeknownand it takes bravery and courage organizations for their US$ dollars of Guyana’s remembered, as beggars, to beg strangers for athletesandworkers? riches? thievesorfighters? something. So, Guyanese you will Why aren’t you joining Yoursfaithfully, E v e r y o n e k n o w s sacrifice your pride and the protests? This is a R.David

$200B Govt. relief, now 8% wage increase for Public Sector workers

DEAREDITOR, January1,2022.

private sector is taking note

OnedaybeforePresident The President listed of the various Government’s Dr Irfaan Ali announced a some of those interventions, interventions in the wage increase of 8% across including the removal of economy, he also says that board for all public sector 50% excise tax on gasoline the impact of the disparity at employees, well known and duty-free allowance on the minimum wage level is Trade Unionist Dr Nanda certain building materials. not as great as depicted by Gopaul and myself were However, Guyanese might these figures since 90% of engaged in a discussion on not necessarily appreciate private sector workers earn wage increase for the public the cumulative impact of more than the minimum sector We both agreed that interventions as those wage (of $60,147) and that given an inflation rate of occurred at separate times only 10% of workers are at 5.8% (which is below most u n d e r d i f f e r e n t theminimumwagelevel. countries) that an 8% circumstances. To provide a M i n i s t e r J o s e p h increase across the board is perspective on this, Hamilton emphasizes that reasonable We premised Financial Analyst, Mr Joel while wage increase is this forecast also on the Bhagwandin conducted an important to keep pace with understanding that the analysisandfoundthatrelief inflation and is compatible Government has made measures total over $200 with workers’ welfare, this severalinterventionsintothe billion (equivalent to (wage increase) must be economy to soften that $254,452 per capita), or 1/3 considered part of a package heavy punch of inflation (33.5%) of the country’s that includes workplace forces, Nurses and Doctors, ‘Commission of Inquiry into remainhigh.Thedisparityin partly attributable to the 2022nationalbudget. safety, leave allowances, Teachers, frontline workers, the Public Service of 2013 was 9.8%; in 2017 it supply chain problems and The President also uniform grants, scholarship e t c ) a n d t h a t a n Guyana’ (i e , the role, increased to 35 7%; it the Guyana flood. Public announced that work is a w a r d s , d u t y f r e e announcement on these functions, recruitment, dropped to 23.9% (when the service workers’ increase being done to improve the concessions, among other adjustments would be made training, remuneration, and government increased the would be payable with their salary scales of employees things. While this wage pay next week. When asked if conditions of service in the private sector minimum December salary, and it with low pay in the public out would increase the these measures have public service), the Minister wage from $44,200 to would be retroactive to sector (such as in the armed disposable incomes of relevance to the 2016 of Labor Mr Joseph $60,147); and it has households and individuals, Hamilton said “no,” and increased again with the it is unlikely to increase the notes that the PPP/C current increase in public inflation rate as productivity Government has been in the sector wage (excluding the has also increased across all process of evaluating the additional impending economicsectors. economic situation of adjustments)to33.8%.

What, if not peaceful politics?

DEAREDITOR, opposition politics and the society?IamhopingTacuma I respond to Tacuma p o l i t i c s o f t h e has not again given up hope O g u n s e y e ’s l e t t e r, A f r i c a n G u y a n e s e of our political system ‘Opposition politics and (African) condition’. If so, I delivering justice to African the African Guyanese would like Tacuma to Guyanese, as he evidently positionarenotoneandthe explain why the ‘politics of did following the 2002 same’(KN11-17-22),which the African Guyanese Prison outbreak and was a riposte to my condition’ cannot be defended the bandits holed i n t e r v e n t i o n , ‘ T h e articulated within our up in Buxton as an ‘African opposition’s struck in the political system?? If, for Armed Resistance’ In a past mode provided critical instance, as I suggested the 2007 letter, ‘A multi-racial opportunities for the PPP’s Opposition takes a more f r o n t a g a i n s t t h e well oiled machinery’ I accommodative stance Governmentisnotpossible’, made the point that Guyana towards non African in addition to street protests, now being is a nation of Guyanese, are there not he proposed the option to minorities, while ethnicity political parties like the ‘support an armed resistance still dominates politics, any present WPA that takes a and give it political party that desires to take more Afro-centric position legitimacy’. office – which is their raison to highlight African Later, on the eve of the d’etre – must attract voters interests? Or African 2011 elections, after ACDA outsideoftheirethnicbases. Guyanese ‘cultural’ groups had called for street protests Tacuma claims that ‘Dev like ACDA that does the againstthePPP,whichIhad is confusing general same from within civil (Continued on page 6)

We demand that the terms of the new...

From page 4Politician a year pay taxes and the oil today will be one of the would also demand that oil companiesrakeinbillionsof luckiest in the world. If our companies pay taxes instead profits and pay no profit Politicians had the courage of trying to dodge the taxes? to press for renegotiation of question of why many The terms of the new the lopsided Stabroek Block Western countries are PSA being discussed by the oil contract, a baby born in considering imposing Government were in Guyana today would also windfall profit taxes. Even consultation with industry havewontheovarianlottery the President of the United experts. That new PSA calls DarshanandKhusial on States has said Exxon needs fora10%royalty,10%taxes, b e h a l f o f O G G N , to pay its fair share of taxes. cost oil limited to 65% of www.oggn.org/about There is a planned rollout of revenues, and has aspects of a 15% minimum tax by over ring-fencing. That new PSA a hundred countries, yet will only be applied to oil Exxonpaysnoprofittaxesin blocks that may not contain Guyana for the lifetime of any oil. We demand that the the Stabroek Block PSA. recently proposed terms of The oil companies use our the new PSAbe applied also airports, harbors, and roads, to the Stabroek Block PSA, which were paid for by which governs the profit Guyanese taxpayers. How is sharing of 11 billion barrels it fair that we have the of oil between Guyana and average Guyanese worker Exxonanditspartners. who makes about US$4,000 A baby born in America

Yoursfaithfully, workers and families While the Minister of Dr TaraSingh continually and making the Labour is aware that the necessary interventions for relief.

As Guyana continues to strive to narrow the income gap, as part of the country’s economic development strategy, it has become apparent that, given the current increase in wage and the impending adjustments of the lower level salary scales, the disparity between the minimum wage level of privateandpublicsectorwill

Reg. 9 villages benefit from inputs to boost production - as Agri. Ministry launches Agriculture Improved Support Programme

resourcesavailabletoenable

Ministry of Health working on strategies and approaches to prevent oral diseases

Dr Frank Anthony, Minister of Health on Saturday emphasized the need for the implementation of health promotion strategies and approaches to prevent oral diseases. He was at the time speaking at the opening of the two-day Dental Convention being held at the Pegasus Corporation Suites, Kingston,Georgetown.

While acknowledging the evolution of Dentistry in both the public and private component that deals with of Health is working on Plan, which will inform and sectors in Guyana, Dr. preventive medicine to putting this high on the radar set the vision for universal Anthony stressed the need teach prevention of dental overthenextfewyears. coverage for oral health, for preventative medicine cavities and other dental According to Dr reaching all individuals and consisting of measures to diseases”,Dr Anthonysaid. Anthony, the Ministry is communities. preventoraldiseases. While oral health is continuously working on Present at the opening “In any modern system, traditionallyaneglectedarea expanding health care was Dr Ertenisa Hamilton, we must have a strong ofglobalhealth,theMinistry services - hence the new Director of Family and regional hospitals being Primary Health Care constructed are expected to Services,Dr Marvin be equipped to provide Monzie, Principal Dental dental care services to the Officer of the Cheddi Jagan general public in the Dental Centre, Pravesh respectiveregions. Harry, Chairman of the

He added that the Health Guyana Dental Council and Ministry will soon several Dental Practitioners commence the drafting of a from the private and public Dental Health Strategic sectors.

material. farmers to boost production Minister Mustapha, in hopes of one day whileofferingremarksatthe satisfying local and regional exercise, said that the demands for agro-processed Government was committed commodities and high-value to ensuring farmers in every crops. part of the country benefit “Food security is high on fromtheresourcesavailable. the Government’s agenda so He said that the inputs being weareworkingtoensureyou delivered resulted from a have the necessary inputs to commitment made by His produce. We want you to be Excellency, President Dr able to produce more than IrfaanAliduringanoutreach whatyouareproducingnow totheRegionlastAugust. As a Government, we are

“The President came to working to diversify and Region Nine to ensure we expand to be able to satisfy develop this very important local and regional demands sector He met with the f o r a g r o p r o c e s s e d farmers and listened to their commodities and high-value needs He made several crops. We are also making commitments and today we the necessary facilities are here to deliver on those available to increase the commitments because when value of your products,” he this Government makes a noted. commitment, we always Last August, President deliver on it. The agriculture Ali,whileintheRegion,said sector is the only sector that officers from theAgriculture can ensure a country has Ministry would be working food security As a withcommunitiestodevelop Government, we are aiming their food security strategies to be a net exporter of food in a way that will make their and become the center of food production both production in this part of the resilientandsustainable. hemisphere,especiallyinthe “We are working with Caribbean. We believe that many communities in Region Nine has the RegionNinetoenhanceyour potential to produce more food production system, to and make a valuable build your capacity, and to contribution to our national buildyourfoodproduction production goals,” the (Continued on page 15)

What, if not peaceful politics?

From page 5 people rise up in their great ACDA did not “bring that direction that the argued against, Tacuma on numbers, I dare the army to Guyanatoahalt”. O p p o s i t i o n i s n o w behalfofthegroupdelivered take the side of the PPP and In his recent letter, strenuously engaged in his ‘riot act speech’. ”If we against Africans. Our sons Tacuma concedes that while physically preventing them win, we sharing the and daughters would not do ‘Guyanese elections is an from entering ‘their Government with them but that…Come elections night ethnic census, it is possible, strongholds’. wealsohavetotellthemthat when the results come out, as…in the 2015 elections, In terms of ‘armed if we lose, we are going to Africansmusthaveasharein that there can be a deviation resistance’, I repeat the fight and bring Guyana to a the Government, there must from the norm. But the real question posed then by halt until we have a national be a national Government or questionis,isitsustainable?’ Dennis Wiggins, using the Government in which the there will be no Guyana!” But that’s the point, isn’t it? title of Mr Eusi Kwayana’s representatives of African Interestingly after the PPP It is up to the PNC to make book. What happens ‘The people and the combined was neutralized in 2011 and the politics of moderation Morning After’ such an opposition is part of defeated in 2015 by the and accommodation to armed struggle in such a parliament. Comrades, we combined Opposition and attract ‘outside’ voters, smallsocietyasours? are announcing the riot were not brought into any sustainable.AsIpointedout, Sincerely, act Once the African ‘national government’, the PPP has gone so far in RaviDev

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony addresses the convention

T h e M i n i s t r y o f hinterland villages to boost ministry’s Hinterland Agriculture Minister, farmers from approximately Ministersaid. Agriculture on Saturday agriculturalproduction. E n v i r o n m e n t a l l y Zulfikar Mustapha launched 16 villages benefiting from He further stated that the launched its Agriculture The programme is Sustainable Agriculture the programme in St. $22 million worth of Government was working to I m p r o v e d S u p p o r t funded by the International Development (HESAD) Ignatius, Region Nine agricultural inputs and make the necessary Programme aimed at Fund for Agricultural Project,theMinistrysaidina (Upper Takutu Upper genetic improvement

offering critical support to Development under the PressRelease. Essequibo) which saw

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, handing over some of the items to Leaders of Region Nine

Coconut seedlings being distributed to Farmers

AnnGreenecallsforbetterpayforChildProtectionWorkers

should be considered in planned salary adjustments for Police, Healthcare Workers

Retired Chief Probation &SocialServiceOfficerand FormerHeadofChildcare& Protection Agency, Ann Greene, has called on Government to adjust the salaries of frontline social care workers as part of its promised package to members of the disciplined servicesandhealthcare

D u r i n g t h e announcement of the eight percent pay hike for Public Servants last week, Presidentsaidthatconsistent with the various measures, hisGovernmenthastakento assist Guyanese and he has instructed that options be identified for adjustment to thesalariespaidtoanumber of specific categories of PublicSectoremployees.

Theseinclude,inthefirst phase, ranks of the Police Force, Prison Service, and Fire Service.Additionally, a similar exercise is currently being conducted and recommendations being

made in relation to specific categories of employees in thepublichealthcaresystem, including Nurses, Interns, Doctors, and other healthcareprofessionals.

It is against this background that Greene in her letter made the case for the frontline Social Care Workers to be recognised in thespecialgrouporcategory of workers that are being consideredforspecialsalary adjustments She said frontline Social Care Workers, Child Protection Officers and Probation and Social Services Officers are deserving groups and must beconsidered.

“However,asformewho has lived experiences as a Leaderinbothofthegroups, IhavetosingleouttheChild Protection Officers for special mention.This is still a relatively new group of social workers in Guyana’s history and their clients are children, the most

vulnerable, but the job entails working with the family Child Protection work is very challenging with voluminous reports to respond to with insufficient resources and supports Officersdailyhavetoputup with the negative responses when intervening to protect childrenand,alongwiththis, there is ongoing media criticism of the Agency not doing enough and failing. However, this is not unique to Guyana, it is normal territoryforChildProtection Officers anywhere in the world,”Greenestated.

ShesaidChildProtection work, with no doubt, is demanding and there is no room for lapses, but the remunerationhereinGuyana is not encouraging and more so now with new graduates with the master’s level of qualification in Social Work “They are leaving for more lucrative positions in other fields There are workforce

issues in Child Protection Services, and steps must be takentoaddressthese” PAYATTENTIONTO WORKERSSALARY

Greene said she is devoting personal time to research what it takes to build a strong workforce in HumanServices. “

However, for now, attentionneedstobegivento the salary Workers who, overtime, have gained higherqualifications,should

earnmoretoencouragethem to stay and decrease the frequent turnover of staff. Beingabletodothiswillbe good for the delivery of the service, which is a relationship service – the building of empathetic, caring, and compassionate relationships. Without these there would be no effective interventions, treatment, therapyandclient’spersonal changeanddevelopment.”

According to Greene the

public service appraisal system must be able to determine who are the effective workers and have the capability to be able to retain these officers, noting that the productive capacity, as was described above, is heavily concentrated in ‘human capital’, which represents the knowledge, attitudes, and skills of employees, developed overtime and cannot be easilytransferredtoothers.

Last week President Ali announcedthatGovernment willbepayinganacross-theboard increase of eight (8) percent to Public Servants, Teachers, members of the Disciplined Services, Constitutional Office Holders, as well as Government Pensioners. Thisincreasewillbegranted retroactively to 1 January 2022.Hesaidworkwillstart immediately to ensure that this increase is processed and paid to eligible employees together with theirDecembersalary

New batch of Apprentices join Republic Bank

Fifteen high school graduates will soon commencetheirseven-monthapprenticeship withRepublicBank(Guyana)Limited.

AtalaunchceremonyonFridaylastatthe Cara Lodge Hotel, Quamina Street, Georgetown thetwelfthbatchofApprentices to the Bank’s Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme2022/2023werewelcomed. The fifteenyoungmenandwomenwereselected from schools across the country and will be placed across the Bank’s network of branches,theBanksaidinaPressRelease.

They will experience classroom and onthe-job training in banking operations and havetheopportunitytolearnandunderstand the needs of the less fortunate via the communityinitiativestyled‘Care-A-Van.’A dayoffunandrelaxationwillalsobepartof theYouthLinkexperience.

Upon completion of the Programme, successful Apprentices will receive the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) from the CaribbeanAssociation of National

Training Agencies (CANTA) through the CouncilforTechnical&VocationalTraining (CTVET) With this qualification the Apprentices will be eligible for jobs within theCARICOMregion.

This year’s launch signaled the recommencement of the programme after a three-yearhiatusdueinparttotheCovid-19 Pandemic. The Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme was introduced in Guyana in 2008 after being part of the Republic Bank Limited, Trinidad and Tobago , ‘Power to MakeaDifference’initiativeforovertwenty years. The programme was developed to bridge the gap between the end of the participants’school life and the start of their career

The programme is geared to guide the Apprentices through a process of personal and professional growth and will teach the youths valuable skills for professional and social development thus making them more marketableintheircareerpursuits.

The new batch of Apprentices with Managing Director, Stephen Grell and General Manager, Operations, Denise Hobbs

Retired Chief Probation & Social Service Officer and Former Head of Childcare & Protection Agency, Ann Greene

After the oil is gone!

It is estimated the per barrel, then Guyana The absence of ring fencing revampitseducationsystem. trade in Guyana, and also to combined gross recoverable would not be able to cover means that unpaid expenses Jagdeo and Ali are also on a borrow heavily from the reserves–thetotalamountof the cost of recovering the oil forLiza1canbethrownover beggingexpedition. I n t e r A m e r i c a n oil which the oil companies and would have to end to Liza 2; and unpaid They are trying to secure DevelopmentBank. expect to extract from the production or take a loss. expenses from Liza 1 and investment from the Gulf Guyana got a rotten deal Stabroek Block – from its This would mean that the Liza 2 can be transferred to states to invest in a modern from the oil companies.And seeing this happening in the four approved field country could end up in Payaya; and unpaid port in Guyana and to that is why we have found form of contracts for development plans is an serious oil debt The expenses for Liza, 1 Liza 2 finance other projects. The ourselves in this dilemma. infrastructuralprojects. estimated11billionbarrels. situation can be even dire if andPayaracanbechargedto Brazilians have cashed in Unless that deal is amended The moderate wealth Assuming an average the oil companies begin to Yellowtail. and are going to be then Guyanese should not being generated have not are price of US$55 per barrel, throw us bills reflecting With Exxon holding all responsibleforgrowingcorn look forward to the sort of not likely to substantially these fields are expected to higher costs and expenses. the cards, Guyana is at the andsoya. futurewhichthegovernment change the living standards generate cost to the value of What happens if instead of mercy of the oil companies This is not the approach ispromising. of Guyana’s poor (The US$605 B. Of this amount U S $ 2 0 B i n f i e l d in terms of its revenue which one expects from a Indeed we might end up views expressed in this Guyana is expected to development costs, these intake No wonder the countrywhichissupposedto in afar dangerous condition articles are those of the receive only US$87.8 B in costs skyrocket to around Government is now saying be flush with oil revenues. since there is going to be a a u t h o r a n d d o n o t revenues. And these field US$40B with no increase in that the country’s oil What we are witnessing is mad scramble by the necessarily reflect the development plans will span the anticipated production? revenues are modest political desperation by b o u rg e o i s c l a s s t o opinions and beliefs of this a total of 40 years which What happens if expenses Guyanese are thus likely to Jagdeo and Ali seeking to appropriate much of the oil n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s means that Guyana’s increases leaving us with see mad haste to give out have persons invest and revenues. Already we are affiliates.) average annual take will be lessprofitoiltosplit? further oil blocks and to justoverUS$2B. Because of how the forcetheexistingoperators_

This may seem to be an Production Sharing Exxon, Hess and CNOOC –astronomicalsumbutitisnot Agreement was designed, ramp up oil production when one considers that this Guyana has no say in how Guyanesethereforemustnot US$2B is less than the the oil company’s expenses. get excited by all this country’s Budget for 2022. Guyana can only chcek after nonsensical talk about And of course two things the fact and if discrepancies economic transformation mustbeconsidered:firstthat are found then there is long The resources are simply not the gross recoverable process involved, including going to be there to do the reserves may have been arbitration, to resolve these things which people feel are exaggerated and the field differences. Glenn Lall, the going to be done and production costs and publisher of this newspaper, substantially raise Guyanese o p e r a t i o n e x p e n s e s has been forewarning the frompovertytoprosperity understated. country about some of these The government has

Oil prices are not locked dangers. In his latestTikTok therefore gone on a in. The contract provides for video he has asked a pointed borrowing spree This revenues to be calculated question as to what happens supposedly fastest growing basedonthemarketpricefor if we are still have costs to economy in the world is oil. If oil prices collapse as repay and the oil is borrowing to revamp its they did in 1998 when it exhausted. health system. It is bottomed out at US$10.80 This is a real possibility. borrowing billions to

Dem Boys Seh…

People going deaf in de country

De Ministry of Health gyal, dem blowing dem ground and dem gat big lookingfuhsomeeardoctor horn. speaker box blaring music. Dem seh how we gat too If dem want yuh to stop, De same at de football much people wah hard ears. demblowingdemhorn.And ground. Soon enough yuh But dat is only part of de if dem want yuh pass, dem gan gat to get ear plugs at de hearing problem wah de blowingdemkhorn. funeral. country gat De biggest If dem see Glenn Lall All dat noise producing problem is dat one in every and he protestors dem a deaf population. It mek five of we people hard of blowingdemhorn. dem boys remember de boy hearing. Yuh deh in de minibus wah carry he girlfriend fuh And it all cause by too and de music blasting loud meet he mother He tell he much noise. Yuh walking enoughfuhdeafyuh.Yuhgo girlfriend how he mother punderoadanddemdrivers to a birthday party and yuh deaf and she gat to speak mekking yuh jump when can’t hear what de person slowly and loudly. And he dem blow dem horn. And next to yuh saying. Dem tell he mother how de dem blowing dem horn on playingdemusictooloud. girlfrienddisabled. anything. If dem see a nice Yuh go to de cricket Talk half. Leff half

Reg. 9 villages benefit from inputs...

Body of Linden boat captain recovered

The body of the which is owned by a woman Linden boat living overseas from captain who was Wismar to Mackenzie, and

allegedly pushed was reportedly waiting on overboard by his passengers passengers when the two was on Sunday recovered suspectsenteredhisboat. fromtheDemeraraRiver Alexander reportedly

According to Police, the pulled off with the two men remains of Elick Alexander, onboard, and it was while 55, floated up around they were some 40 ft out in 10:00hrs Meanwhile, the the river, he was allegedly two passengers accused of pushedoverboard. pushing him overboard Police learnt of the remainincustody incident around 01:10hrs

They were identified as andsentoutadronetolocate two brothers and the Region wheretheboatwas. 10 Police , Hugh Winter suspects are of unsound They found out that it stopped short of saying if the mind, but Kaieteur News w a s i n v i c i n i t y a t men had admitted to the understands that they are not Spiegthland, and ranks were accusations, but disclosed really ‘mad men’ but sentinpursuitofthemen. that they were the only two individuals who use illegal Rankstookcontrolofthe persons found by police in drugs. vessel, handcuffed the two the boat when it was Police reported that men and brought them to recovered.

Alexander captained a boat shore Investigations are Police were told that the at Dutchie’s Boat Landing - ongoing.

From page 6

Koshebai (South Pakaraimas) benefited system in a more structured and market- from breeding bulls and boars to improve orientedway their villages’ genetic material: cassava

To improve the conditions under which sticks, coconut seedlings, shadehouse wedofarmingandmanycommunitiesacross materials, a tractor and implements which the Region are embracing this new push in included a cassava planter, harrow, a disc terms of agricultural expansion and food plough and a roam plough, as well as an security,”theHeadofStatenoted.

ATV

Farmers from the villages of Shulinab, The Ministry also signed a contract with Meriwau, Sandcreek, Awarenau, the Sand Creek Village Council valued at $4 Mururanau, Rupanau, Katoonarib, million for the implementation of a cassava Baitoon, Potarinau, Quiko, Parikwarinau, germplasmbankandthesupplyoffarmtools Aishalton, Shea, Baitoon, Taushida and supportfortheregion.

Dead: Elick Alexander

The AFC will be dissolved before the next general elections

In a Facebook interview over the weekend with UKbased opposition activist, Norman Brown, Khemraj Ramjattan dismissed my activism in Guyana as insignificant I will not respondtothat.Iwillletmy pendothetalking.

ItisironicthatRamjattan should so describe me at a timewhenheandhisparty’s significance have evaporated Come December 31, the AFC will dissolveitscoalitionwiththe PNC and then theAFC will become a footnote in Guyanesehistory

After December 31, 2022, where can the researcher find the significance of the AFC? After December 31, the Guyanese people will see whatAubreyNortonismade of. TheAFC says it will sit intheHouseseparatelywith

itsninemembers.

Toawardnineseatstothe AFC based on the results of the2020electionresultswill be one of the largest caricatures in Guyanese history Nine seats are equivalent to 45, 000 votes. There is absolutely no argument from a genius in political theory that can justifynineseatsfortheAFC based on voting patterns in 2020. The PPP released its statements of poll (SOPs) during the election rigging and any researcher can peruse them. Where did the votesfortheAFCcomefrom after researching those SOPs?

They did not come from areaswheretheAFCsecured itssupportin2011and2015.

TheSOPsforRegion2,34, 5 and 6 showed that Indian folks voted for the PPP. It was only in Region 4 that

small opposition parties, excepttheAmerindianParty, led by Lenox Shuman got theirvotes.

The 2020 election result isveryinterestingintermsof the small parties and what they received from which Region.Whatitrevealedisa complete devastation of the AFC. It appears that votes that should have gone to the AFC went to the smaller parties.

Shuman’s Justice and LibertyParty(LJP)appealed to Amerindians Yet the second highest number of votesfortheLJPcamefrom R e g i o n 4 w h e r e Amerindians are not concentrated. For example in Region 7 where there are substantialnumbers,LJPgot 884.InRegion4,itgot755. Thosewerenotentirelyfrom the Amerindians. ANUG in Region 4 got 1246, its

highest for the 10 regions. The Citizen Initiative in Region4got466,itshighest for the 10 regions. People’s RepublicanPartygot401,its highestforthe10regions.In all the regions where the bulkofIndianscanbefound, the PPP did well. In all the Regions where African can befound,thePNCdidwell.

What the voting patterns for 2020 showed was that a majority of both Africans and Indians gave their ballots to the PPPand PNC. None of the smaller parties came close to getting the required 5000 for a parliamentaryseat.

We do not know from looking at the SOPs if African Guyanese split their votes between the PNC and AFC.ButtheIndiansdidnot divide their votes among othercontestants;theyvoted for the PPP. I would say lookingattheresultsRegion byRegion,thosewhodidnot favourthePPPorPNCvoted for small parties. It meant that people dismissed the AFC.

To give the AFC nine seats has to be a complete political joke. Look at the election results map and tell me where those 45, 000 votes came from. If the PNC allows the AFCtositintheHousewith nine members then the PNC is conceding that 45, 000 African Guyanese voted for the AFC thus denting the strengthofthePNC.

Whether the AFC gets theninemembersornothing at all, Guyana has seen the complete erosion of the significance of theAFC and its leaders. Gaskin is gone.

Tr o t m a n i s g o n e . Nagamootoo is gone. The AFC and its leaders should be the last people to talk aboutwhohavesignificance inthiscountry

My prediction is the contest in 2025 is going to severely damage the prospects of third parties.

Theelectorateisinnomood to trust third parties after

how the AFC performed between 2015 and 2020 and its deportment from August 2020tothecurrenttime.

Whatisinterestingtosee in 2025 is how the AFC is goingtofarecomparedwith otherthirdparties.Ifthereis anything I am willing to bet anenormoussumonisthatI feel other small parties are goingtodomuchbetterthan theAFC in 2025 if theAFC contest.Mypredictionisthat the AFC will be dissolved before the next general elections So much for significance.

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

U.S.unveilsprogrammeto encouragerenewableinvestment indevelopingcountries

ByFelicityBradstock

(Oilprice.com) Last week, at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt, U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry announced the potential foracarbonoffsetprogrammethatcouldgoa long way to helping developing countries establishtheirrenewableenergyindustries.

Companies may be given the opportunity to invest in clean energy projects in other countries to counterbalance their greenhouse gasemissionsiftheyfailtoreducetheircarbon outputathome Italsorespondstothegrowing global demand for clean energy The new carbon offset plan, known as the Energy Transition Accelerator (ETA), would allow companies in the US to invest in renewable energy projects in developing countries to supporttheglobaltransitionawayfromfossil fuels Philanthropicassociations,includingthe Rockefeller Foundation and the Bezos Earth Fund, will participate in the program, which willallowprivatecompaniestochannelfunds into accelerating the green energy transition worldwide

Kerry stated at the COP27 summit, “Our administrationisworkingashardaswecanto deliver on President Biden’s pledge to quadruple US climate support by 2024 We areabsolutelycommittedtodoingourpart But nogovernmentintheworldhasenoughmoney togetthisjobdone Wewillonlysucceedwith a massive infusion of private capital The scheme would provide alternative carbon offsetoptionsforcompaniesintheUS thatare finding it difficult to curb their emissions Firms would have the opportunity to buy

carbon offsets to counterbalance their carbon emissions by investing in the development of renewableenergyprojectselsewhere Itwould also assist the US government and other world powers in their decarbonization efforts by supporting public investment in clean energy initiatives with high levels of private funding Countries including Chile and Nigeria have already been highlighted as potential candidates for investment under the offsetscheme

Interest in the scheme has already been shown from Bank of America, Microsoft, PepsiCo, and Standard Chartered Bank. Many heavy industries that are powered heavilybyfossilfuelsarealsolikelytofavor the scheme until there is enough renewable energyintheU.S.topowertheseindustries.

Several companies have already established their own carbon offsetting programs in response to growing pressure from the Biden Administration and international organizations to act on climate change by curbing carbon emissions. Some of these schemes include investments in reforestation and incorporating carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology into operations However, many of these programs have been widely criticised for their lack of regulation and need for more consistency

Many companies still need to establish effective reporting or monitoring and evaluationmechanisms,meaningthatlittleis known about their offsetting action in practice.Moreover,manycompaniesneedto

FrederickKissoon

Expertsmakerecommendationsonframeworkto r helpCaribbeanaccessneededclimatefinancing

Panelists at the roundtable

If Caribbean countries are to survive the impactsofclimatechange,thenfindingways tomakethemoneymatchtheirneedswillbe ofparamountimportance.

“Itwon’tbearainbowthatgetsyoutothe pot of gold, it will be a framework that enablesustounlockthetypeoffinancingthat weneedfortheactionsthatwecommittedto under the Paris Agreement in terms of mitigation,adaptationandlossanddamage,” washowAmbassadorJeanineFelson,Senior AdvisoronClimateMatterstotheAllianceof Small Island States (AOSIS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), put it lastMonday

Ambassador Felson was among the regional experts speaking on Monday, November 14 at Aligning Climate Finance Flows with Caribbean Countries’ Climate Resilience Needs’, a panel discussion coordinated by Caribbean institutions at COP27 to highlight the challenges of and propose solutions around climate change in theregion.Thepanelwascoordinatedbythe Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), and the Organisation for

Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) , and was an official side event at the United Nations’ climate change conference, currently being heldinSharmel-Sheikh,Egypt.

Speakershighlightedaspectsthatneeded to be considered, incorporated, or strengthened in the effort to build an overall framework that would allow Caribbean countries to be able to access more climate financing and use it effectively CDB Director of Projects, Daniel Best, spoke of thenewframeworkwhichCDBisproposing for determining access to finance by small island developing states, many of which are bedevilled by the twin dilemmas of being very climate vulnerable but also being considered middle income and hence ineligibleforconcessionalfinancing.

“CDB’s framework includes three tools: the IRC of a country, which estimates the ability to recover from an exogenous shock, theRecoveryDurationAdjuster,toanticipate the length of the recovery period after a shock, which is much longer for developing countries when compared with developed countries,andtheVulnerabilityand Continued on page 15

OGGN demands new PSA terms beappliedtoStabroekBlock

The Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN), a civil society organization, is demanding that the terms announced by Government for future Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) be applied to the StabroekBlockwhereover11billionbarrels ofoilhavealreadybeendiscovered.

Oneofitsmembers,DarshanandKhusial inalettertotheEditor,arguedthatwhilethe oil companies can boast of Guyana being responsible for its sudden growth in shares and profits, Guyanese on the other hand, are struggling to make ends meet and living in poverty

“Given this big disparity in the oil companies benefiting more from our oil than our people, our Politicians should be c a l l i n g f o r t h e renegotiation of a fair deal. Except, many of them seem to be parrotingthelinesoftheoilcompanies.Our Politicians are talking about the amount of money the oil companies have invested and therisktheyaretaking.Thatisashareholder centric view where greedy corporate executives worship money and have no respect for the environment or rule of law,” theOGGNrepresentativeargued.

He believes that if Guyanese Politicians cared about the interest of the people, they would immediately call for the enforcement ofthePermitsgrantedbytheEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) that require full liabilitycoverage.Infact,Khusialnotedthat the Politicians would demand that Exxon immediately stop pumping above the 120,000barrelsperdaysafeoperatinglimit, sincethisisamuchbiggerriskintheabsence offullliabilitycoverage.

Additionally,thewriterpointedoutthata responsible Politician would also demand thatoilcompaniespaytaxesinsteadoftrying to dodge the question of why manyWestern countries are considering imposing windfall profit taxes. He said, “Even the President of

theUnitedStateshassaidExxonneedstopay its fair share of taxes. There is a planned rollout of a 15% minimum tax by over a hundred countries yet Exxon pays no profit taxes in Guyana for the lifetime of the StabroekBlockPSA.Theoilcompaniesuse ourairports,harbours,androads,whichwere paidforbyGuyanesetaxpayers.Howisitfair that we have the average Guyanese worker whomakesaboutUS$4,000ayearpaytaxes and the oil companies rake in billions of profitsandpaynoprofittaxes?”

To this end, the Oil and Gas Governance NetworkurgedthatthetermsofthenewPSA announced by Government, after consultationwithindustryexperts,beapplied t o t h e S t a b r o e k Block. “That new PSA calls for a 10% royalty, 10% taxes, cost oil limited to 65% of revenues, and has aspects of ring-fencing. That new PSA will only be applied to oil blocks that may not contain any oil. We demand that the recently proposed terms of thenewPSAbeappliedalsototheStabroek BlockPSA,whichgovernstheprofitsharing of 11 billion barrels of oil between Guyana andExxonanditspartners,”thecivilsociety organizationexplained.

ItreasonedthatababybornintheUnited Statestodaywillbeoneoftheluckiestinthe world and if Guyanese Politicians had the courage to press for a renegotiation of the lopsidedStabroekBlockoilcontract,ababy born in Guyana today would also have won ‘theovarianlottery’.

Khusialpointedout,“Aforeignobserver analyzing Guyana’s oil resource per citizen would guess that a baby born in the last few yearsinGuyanawouldbeoneoftheluckiest of the 8 billion people in the world. But the observer would be mistaken It is approaching 3 years since we started producing oil but one of the key measurementsofpovertyshowsthat

Scores missed flights after truck

‘breakdown’ on Grove Public Road

Scores of

Passengers

bound for New York and other destinations missed their flights, after a truck reportedly broke down at GrovealongtheEastBankof Demerara (EBD) Public Road,onSaturdayeveningat around19:00hrs

Passengers and residents alongtheEastBankwereleft stranded for hours One individual recounted that it tookthemanhourandhalfto move from Herstelling to LittleDiamond

TheEastBankDemerara Highway is the only road to t h e C h e d d i J a g a n International Airport (CJIA) and the traffic madness erupted just after the truck blockedoffoneofthelanes

Many of the passengers began reaching out for the mediaforthetrafficsituation to be publicized so that the relevant authorities can send

trafficrankstoassist

Traffic ranks tried their bestbutittookawhileforthe trucktomoveintothecorner of the road so that the traffic couldflowagain.

Thedelaycausedmanyto miss their flights. According to information received, Jet Blue flights were scheduled for take off at 22:00 and 23:00hrsrespectivelyandthe backed uptrafficonlystarted moving freely close to midnight Those who missed their flights said that theyarequiteangrybecause theywon’tgetarefundfrom the airline and will have to purchaseaticketforanother flight

Afewwereluckytomake itontimeaftertheir23:00hrs flightwasdelayedforhalfan hour, but claimed that they hadtobreakthelawinorder tocatchtheplane

One of them said (name

provided), “It looked like some Government officials were passing by with police escorts with sirens blazing, and they were given the privilege to go up a one way so our taxi driver decided to sneak in and drive behind them”.

“My heart was in my hands because he had to speed to keep up with the police escorts,” added the passenger When the individual arrived at the airport she recounted having to run along with other late passengerstocheck in Luckily she got through butotherswerenotsolucky

A large crowd of incoming passengers were also forced to stand and wait outside of the airport for hours because their relatives comingtopickthemupwere stuckintraffic

L a s t m o n t h t h e

Government partnered with the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) to launch an artificial intelligence traffic applicationcalledRESOLV

The app was created to provide commuters especially those who use the East Bank Corridor with notification and traffic

advisory updates when roadways are under construction, however, with Saturdaynight’ssituationthe operators of the software might have to include advisories for when unexpectedincidentsoccur

Theappwasdevelopedso thatroaduserscanplanahead beforeleavingtheirhomesor

they can be informed of alternativeroutes

Road users, according to reportscangetthesereal time updates on road closures, traffic situation, detours, etc byscanningaWhatsAppQR or by simply sending a ‘Subscribe Me’ via WhatsApp to telephone number+1(786) 244 6125)

Thiefcaughtoncamerasnatching woman’sbagatStabroekMarket

Security cameras inside the Stabroek MarketonWednesday,capturedthemomenta thiefwalkeduptoacustomershoppingatacell phonestall,andsnatchedhershoulderbag

The footage showed that the middle aged womanwasengagedinaconversationwitha salesgirlwhenthethiefsneakuponher

Itappearedasiftheshewaspricingsome cellphones Whilethesalesgirlwasassisting herandshowinghersomeofthemerchandise they had on display in the glass case, a man walked straight up to the woman and ripped theshoulderbagfromoffofhershoulder He thensprintedaway,makinggoodhisescape.

Thethiefwasdressedinawhiteshirtanda kakithreequarterpants Thispettycrimetook placeexactlyonedayaftertheGuyanaPolice Force (GPF) launched its ‘robust’ policing planfortheChristmasholidays

CommanderSimonMcBean,inhispower point presentation, related that over 200 anti crime patrol ranks will be on the road for the holidays on a 24 hour basis He also noted statistically that Georgetown is one of the areaswheremostcrimesoccur

TheCommanderwarnedcitizenswhowill go shopping, to be alert at all times, and to

conceal cash properly Citizens were also advisednottowearjewelleryasitcanattract thieves,andtomakemostoftheirpurchasesespecially those that require a large amount ofcashwithdebitcards.

As the GPF tries its best to keep citizens safe during the holiday season, it should be noted that shoppers must be also be extra careful, particularly when at the Stabroek Market Accordingtosomegroundworkdone by Kaieteur News, Stabroek Market has become a breeding ground for thieves and othercriminalsovertheyears

Notonlybecauseofthelargecrowdsthat gatherthereduringtheday,butalsobecauseof the number of small time gold buyers and retailers of used cell phones and other electronics, who operate under the ‘clock’at Stabroek Market. Snatched jewelleries, cell phonesalongwithotherstolenitemsthathave some amount of value, can be found being resoldundertheclock

Vendors might not know that they are selling stolen items, but most of the time the pettythieveswouldturnupundertheclockto sellthemcellphones,andotheritemsforway belowtheirvalue

Screen grab from the footage of a thief man snatching a customer’s bag at Stabroek Market.

Incoming passengers stranded at the airport

The truck that caused the traffic madness

Late Outgoing passengers inside the CJIA

Saturday night’s massive traffic jam along the East Bank corridor

The A New and United Guyana Political Party (ANUG) on Saturday elected a new executive body following its third A n n u a l N a t i o n a l ConferenceofMembers.

The meeting was held at the Georgetown Club, CampStreet,Georgetown. InaPressRelease,ANUG said on the agenda was a report on the activities of thepartyforthepreceding year and a financial report with full audited statements for the years 2019-2021.

This was delivered by outgoing Chairman, Mr Timothy Jonas, SC. Next on the agenda was the Election for New Office bearers of the Executive Committee for the year 2022-2023. The Returning Officer was Mr Harryram Parmesar of Parmesar and Co Accounting Firm Following the elections, Dr Mark France was appointed Chairman.

The General Secretary postwenttoJonas. Assistant General Secretary went to Mr Stephen Patterson, the post of Finance Secretary (Treasurer)wenttoMr Raan Motilall while the post Organizing Secretary saw Mr. Kian Jabour being appointed.

T h e C o m m i t t e e Members are: Mr Javeed

Ally, Mr. Joel Ramesh, Mr. Kurt Anderson, Ms. Mary Ann Correia, Dr. Alex D’Aguiar, Ms. Althia King, Ms Nadia Sagar, Mr Mohamed Eesau Shaheed, Ms. Laura Singh and Mr NiallStanton.

Dr France expressed thanks to the outgoing Executive Committee for a jobwelldoneandislooking forward for continued support from all members including the outgoing members.

The New Executive was then tasked with taking ANUG to the next level. This involves interacting with all stakeholders in Guyanatolistentotheissues affecting all of Guyana, the

PressReleasestated.

Dr Francethenissueda callontheGovernmentand the Main Opposition to put aside their differences and ensure that the current imbroglio involving the non appointment of the Chancellor of the Judiciary and the Chief Justice is addressed forthwith. Dr France also called on the mediatoremindthemofthe importance of their role in societyandwhatisexpected ofthem.

ANUG has planned to workcloselywiththemedia to ensure that all Guyanese are fairly represented Finally, Dr France made a clarion call for all political parties and GECOM to ensurethattheconstitutionis obeyed.

Campaign Financing remains a huge issue, with many of the political parties still to submit a review of theirCampaignExpensesfor the General and Regional ElectionsofMarch2020.

The new Chair further highlighted other areas of concern which ANUG will beaddressingintheensuing term and asked for the participation of all members andallGuyanese.

He then thanked all for their support and ended the sessionwithashoutouttoall men in celebration of International Men’s Day 2022.

Founderofthenon profit,MichellePlayter told Kaieteur News that this year, the FoundationtookitsoutreachtoBartica

Inspired by her now 16 year old special need child, Jaden Playter launched the Jaden foundation in 2020, to help to be a voice for parents; particularly women with special needs children, helping them to be better informed as it relates to providing the best caretotheirspecialneedschildren.

Sinceitsinception,TheJadenFoundation team has been helping families with special needs children through their FaceBook page, assisting them medically, emotionally, physically,mentallyandotherwise.

She said that the outreach efforts in Bartica,RegionSeven,wereahugesuccess.

Playter noted that, “The turnout was overwhelming, my heart was filled with joy when we arrived and saw so many parents withtheirspecial needs children The Jaden foundation is here to help in whatever little waywecan,toensurethatthesepeoplewith special need have a voice and as normal a lifeaspossible ”

During the outreach, Playter received a special welcome from the Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall who said, “The Jaden’s foundation entry into Bartica is a bold and courageous step It will positively impact not only our special needs children, but it willbuildourcapacityasacommunitytobe better prepared for all children We believe, children, all children are a blessing from God ”

“Ourspecialneedsfriendsandloveones have always been somewhat forgotten in the routine day to day operations of our community Therefore, the presence of the JadenFoundationisatangiblereminderthat weallshouldshowloveandcareforall,’he stated

Meanwhile, Playter noted that the Jaden Foundation has been able to conduct yearly outreaches, and it is her desire to be able to havemonthlyoutreaches

Shesaid,“Iwishtodoitmonthlysomeday

PlaytertoldKaieteurNewsthattheJaden Foundation also wants to help people from differentregions.

“We want to help as much people as possible,”shesaidaddingthatitwouldbea blessing to partner with Governmental organizations, businesses and people who want to carry out the same mission of helpingothers ”

Shesaid“TheJadenFoundationbelieves thatallliveshaveapurposeandthatwemust be treated equally despite of our differences and our different beliefs we can only do it together if we work together, there’s no other way We can’t do it all by ourselves but together we can do greater things, if we startbyhelpingjustoneperson Ourmission willbecompleted”

In the interim, Playter said “The Jaden Foundation team will keep going and will continue to do our best to help in whatever waywecan.”

The model and mother of two expressed heartfeltthanksto,PresidentIrfaanAliandhis team, Meditron Inc, EMC Inc, Junior Pools, Dynas Embroidery, Kay’s Lakes, Playter’s Enterprise,GlowbyMichelleBeautySchool and Salon, and the Jaden Foundation team, Dr Karen Butters, Frank Satnarine, UBern Davidson, Eileen Davidson,Jason Playter, Lisa Tyson, Malika Russell, Etswick North, Eon Vieira , Andrew Debidin , and Jasmine Kay ThebeautyAmbassadoralsothankedher sonJustinforhisloveandsupporttohisspecial needbrotherJaden

Playter expressed special thanks toAlana and Tiffany Battiva who organized the mothers and children for the outreach in Bartica as well as the Mayor of Bartica Mr Marshall, who made sure that the team was wellreceivedandtakencareofwhilethere.

Sinceitslaunch,theJadenFoundationhas done yearly outreaches at Kamuni creek, in Region Three, Georgetown and Berbice and Bartica.

Three years after it commenced its goodwill efforts, the Jaden Foundation is fulfilling its mandate to assist parents and guardiansofchildrenwithspecialneeds.

becauseIknowwhatthechallengesarewhen you have your children depending on you, moreso, when you have to care for the ones thatneedspecialcare.It’salottodealwithas parents, especially for mothers and single fathersdealingwithaspecialneedschildren.”

Front row, from left: Michelle Playter and Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall along with some of the attendees at the outreach

New Chairman of ANUG, Dr. Mark France

Experts make recommendations on framework to help...

Frompage12

Resilience Assessment Tool. These calculations will then provide a more judicious means of determining access to finance for small developing states,” stated Best.

However, he stressed that financing frameworks must be improved and strengthened across the world’s development financing system, adding, “While international financial institutions may have pledged trillions of dollars to finance building resilience against the effects of climate change, those pledges may end up meaning very little if we do not strengthen the ‘architecture of the

international financial system’ to ensure that these financial resources efficiently flow to developing countries and assist in meeting their development needs and boosting growth prospects.”

Head of the Climate Policy Unit at the European Investment Bank, Edward Calthrop, shared how their institution was working to do just that, noting that as the largest provider of climate finance globally, the European Investment Bank is seeking to “work with public authorities to be able to quickly develop high quality studies to make sure infrastructure is designed for the future.”

“An important element for accelerating finance is having

the capacity to deal with the resilience of projects…. Not just in the Caribbean, but globally, we need to get better and quicker at developing high design standards for infrastructure,” stated Calthorp.

Ways to accommodate for the issues of size and scale were also discussed with Speakers noting it was a perennial issue for the region made up as it is of small states. Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Planning and Development, Pennelope Beckles, suggested ways this could be addressed in building out a framework that allows countries to be able to properly implement climate

resilience projects, saying, “I think it is fair to say that attracting climate finance flows to the Caribbean is a multi-faceted issue.

For flows of finance to be effective, recipients must be capable of receiving and utilising such financing.

Given the unique nature of the Caribbean, it may also be necessary to create economies of scale that attract feasible investments and climate financing in order to maximise impacts.

This, of course, will require coordination and collaboration by all countries of the Region to create a uniformed enabling environment across the Region.”

OGGN demands new PSA terms be applied to Stabroek...

Frompage12 Guyanese are worse off.”

On November 3, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo announced the terms that will be included in a new PSA which will be signed with the operators of 14 blocks to be auctioned soon in Guyana’s

territorial waters. Some of the key provisions that will be featured in the new deal include a 10 percent royalty, 10 percent corporation tax and ring-fencing provision.

In making the announcement, the VP also clarified that the 14 blocks

range from about 1000 square kilometres to 3000 square kilometres, with the majority of them being close to 2000 square kilometers.

Meanwhile, the Stabroek Block that covers approximately 26,800 square kilometres and is operated by

U.S. unveils programme to encourage...

Frompage10 identify tried-and-tested offsetting schemes, leading them to pump funds into carbon-cutting projects that are not viable.

The ETA would provide a coordinated, national scheme for carbon offsetting that companies could use to counter their emissions with better mechan isms for transparency and accountability, pote ntially reducing the criticism of carbon offsets. In addition, companies need a carte blanche to continue operating long-term with high carbon emissions. The scheme would require companies to commit to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, as well as report annually on their targets and progress. In addition, oil and gas firms will be able to take part in the scheme.

Yet, many environmentalist groups are critical of the scheme, once again seeing the potential for greenwashing from major corporations. Even if the scheme establishes effective methods of cutting carbon or well-researched renewable energy projects, the fact that companies are purchasing these carbon offsets will remain the same so that they can continue operating with high levels of greenhouse gas emissions. The question is: can effective carbon offsets counterbalance carbon emissions?

The world requires greater investment in renewable energy projects to achieve Paris Agreement and COP26 climate goals over the coming decades. This is particularly true in developing countries, which need more

financing and infrastructure to develop their green energy sectors, many of which have the natural resources available to provide significant renewable energy output with the right funding and sectoral expertise. However, Rachel Cleetus, policy director of the climate program at the Union of Concerned Scientists explains “Carbon offsets are not an answer in a world already on fire, underwater and facing mounting climate losses and damage.” She adds, “A voluntary carbon credit program won’t guarantee deep, real cuts in emissions — it’s tantamount to rearranging the deck chairs as the climate ship is going down.”

While Kerry’s carbon

offset scheme is attractive to many private companies looking to offset their carbon emissions in a streamlined and transparent manner, some environmentalists are skeptical of any scheme supporting the ongoing release of greenhouse gasses. The program seeks to encourage greater private investment in the development of renewable energy operations worldwide, which would help meet the growing global energy demand while supporting developing economies in their transition away from fossil fuels to green alternatives. However, it could also potentially prolong the time many American companies take to reduce their carbon emissions at home.

Exxon 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.

It must also be noted that Exxon is allowed to deduct 75 percent of costs from Guyana’s earnings upfront to cover its expenses while the new PSA would cap cost recovery at 65 percent of earnings annually.

Already, two political parties have expressed the view that the terms announced should be instituted for all future projects Exxon wants approved in the Stabroek Block.

WANTED VACANCY

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

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

VEHICLE FOR SALE

FOR SALE

Good quality carpets for sale at reasonable price. Call: 669-9258.

LAND FOR SALE

Double

Domestic needed to work for 3 days 8-4pm, must know to cook and do general cleaning, etc. Apply at Keyfood Mc Doom village. Servicemen for Interior location. Applicants must be experienced. Call: 615-0545 or 231-2250.

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

Urgently need one female bar assistant/ kitchen attendant for the Interior. Call: 689-4461/ 662-6254 for more info.

Male porters ages 18-30yrs & female cooks for supermarket in the Interior. Call: 687-7638 /691-3942.

Two sales person needed at Bourda & Stabroek, Salary8-6 $90,000, 8:30-4:30 $70,000. Call: 669-9258.

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

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 642-9823.

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.

Water Delivery Driver and Porter for E.C.D. Tel: 6761363/692-6768.

Wanted: Experienced supervisor, cashier, counter person, cooks and labourer. Apply @ Shanta's, 225 Camp andNew Market Sts.

Caregiver to take care of elderly woman, must be 30-35 yrs old in Georgetown on weekends. Call: 650-5496.

FOR RENT

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

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 business spot on Durban Street, $60,000 per month. Call: 623-2900.

3 apartment house for rent (furnished) located on South Road, for business or residence. Call: 614-0495.

Vacancy at People's Choice kitchen for two experienced cook & pastry maker. Call: 679-9449.

Vacancy for Security Guards, apply in person to Alabama Trading at 65 Robb street Bourda.

SERVICES

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

Residents want containers removed from Houston Public Road

e s i d e n t s o f

R“This is lawlessness on the resident said the businessman them with another two,” said Houston, East Bank road man, them thing could can offload his containers in a anotherresidentlivingnextdoor

Demerara (EBD) cause accident man; vehicle timely fashion and have them tothebusinessman. are calling on the relevant could crash into them thing at removed in the interest of public Kaieteur News understands authorities to assist in the night,” said one of the residents safety that residents have pleaded with removal of two containers from who requested anonymity The However, it is alleged that the businessman to remove the theHoustonPublicRoad resident is fearful that serious instead of removing the items containers in a timely fashion Kaieteur News understands accidents will occur if no action from the containers and storing but their concerns fell on deaf that often time containers are istaken. themathisplaceofbusiness,the ears. placed on the public road by a The resident told Kaieteur businessman sells the items “It’s a road disaster waiting businessman for days and News that the containers belong fromthecontainers. to happen,” one resident opined obstructs the vision of drivers to a businessman who owns a “Sometime the containers while urging the authorities to and affects the smooth flow of hardware store alongside the would stay there for 15 days and act quickly before an accident traffic. Houston Public Road The when them empty, he replaces occurs.

The two containers along the Houston Public Road, EBD

GTT launches mega

Christmas promotion

GTT last week launched its Christmas Promotion themed “TistheSeasontoDRIVE”.

Aspartofthepromotion,fourluckyGTT customers will drive away with the grand prize of a stylish and fuel-efficient Toyota Raize courtesy of BM Soat Auto Sales and Rentals.

To be eligible to win, new and existing GTTcustomersmusteitheractivateaprepaid databundlebydialing*100*3#,signupfora newFibre+VoiceplanorjointheGTTfamily by purchasing an in-store handset and SIM. MMG+subscribersmustpaytwo(2)billsvia the mmg+ app or at any mmg+ agent across thecountry

In a Press Release GTT’s Executive Officer(CEO),DamianBlackburn,saidGTT wants to continue to impact the lives of Guyaneseinatangibleway “Throughoutour manyproductsandservices,wehavequitea diversecustomerbaseandwethoughtabout howwecantrulyimpacttheirlives,manyof themhavebeenwithusfordecades”.

He added that the company has been making transformational progress with services such as Fibre + Voice and mmg+ , and will continue to demonstrate its commitment to its customers. “We want peopletoreallyfeeltheimpactwhenwesay strengthen the community We have made many changes over the years to continue to provide the support the industry needs. Our customersarestandingbyusandthebaseis quicklygrowing,soIthinkthisisgoingtobe a very impactful promotion and will bring real joy to some of our customers, their familiesandfriendsthisseason”.

Inadditiontothecar,customerscanalso

winupto$10,000mmg+cashintheirwallet, dinner, grocery and spa vouchers among other daily prizes throughout the season when they tune in to their favourite radio stations. Throughout the season, people across the country can get exclusive deals withGTT

Customerscanalsogetdealsonhandsets and 4G LTE SIMs or conduct any other transaction at one of the company’s retail stores and win big prizes from Santa Clause instore.ThepromotionrunsuntilJanuary13, 2023. The company is encouraging its customers to stay tuned to GTT’s social media pages to find out about how they can get other valuable deals and more opportunitiestowin.

US Marine Security Guard celebrate 247th Anniversary

The U S Marine Security Guards celebratedthe247thAnniversaryoftheU.S. Marine Corps with Guyanese community members, businesspeople, and members of the Diplomatic Corps at Pegasus Hotel in Georgetownlastweek.

The ceremony included the presentation of colors, a traditional cake cutting, and greetingsfromtheSecretaryofStateAntony Blinken,theUSEmbassyheresaidinaPress

Release.

The Guest Speaker, Colonel Brian Chin (USMC Ret’d) delivered remarks about the importanceofserviceandtheMarineCorps’ rich history Honored Guest, Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch, thanked the Marines for their dedicated service protecting American Embassies and Consulates around the world toenablethecriticalworkofdiplomacyand advancingU.S.foreignpolicyobjectives.

A section of the large gathering at the Christmas promotion launch

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Damian Blackburn making remarks at the launch

El Dorado Security Service supports GSSF’s upcoming event

El Dorado Security Service recently came on board as an official sponsor of the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation’s (GSSF) for the upcoming final competition for 2022.

During a simple ceremony held at the headquarters of El Dorado security service in Young Street, Kingston, Secretary of the GSSF, Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, in accepting the kind sponsorship, conveyed thanks to both Tamesh Jagmohan and the Management of El Dorado Security Service. She expressed her congratulations on the dealership and the CEO’s usual un-hesitating support as Jagmohan continues to

give towards building sport shooting in Guyana.

The upcoming Practical Shooting Match will feature four exciting stages to challenge local handgun Practical Shooters.

Their knowledge of firearm safety will be foremost while competitor’s skills of marksmanship and handgun reliability will be put to the test in the fast-paced run and gun shooting that the sport of practical shooting is known for. Slovakian manufacturer, producer and exporter to more than 60 countries worldwide recently expanded with their Grand Power Line Firearms now officially in Guyana with El Dorado Security Service.

The X-Calibur is their top of the line “sport” pistol aimed

at the IPSC/USPSA and general practical shooter. Like many of the guns for this market, it’s a DA/SA full-frame

53 slide 9mm with a 15+1 capacity. It looks and feels like many of the High Power/ CZ75 guns currently vying for the competitors’ trophies at sport shooting events.

Missigher reclaims South American 10K title

- Attoya Harvey dominates female category

Winston Missigher chalked up his second South American 10K after crossing the finish line at the National Park yesterday ahead of his competitors.

The race started at the Montrose/Happy Acres area, proceeded along the Rupert Craig Highway, onto the Kitty roundabout, then continued on the JB Singh Road outside Base Camp Ayangana. The race went down Thomas Lands and into the National Park for the finish.

It took Missigher 32 minutes, 25.9s (32:25.9) to win the US$1,000 prize and the 18-karat gold medal, all while holding off a stiff challenge from Suriname’s Janiek Pomba (32:32.6) down the final stretch.

Odwin Tudor (32:42.1) was third, while last year’s winner Marlon Nicholson finished fourth (33:46.1), and Matthew Gordon (34:11.1) was fourth.

Missigher had his first claim on the South American 10K title in 2020, calling it then “a dream come true.” However, he relinquished the trophy to Nicholson when he finished second.

Meanwhile, Attoya Harvey continued her impressive showing, winning the women’s division of the South American 10K.

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

Friends or a group could bring new and exciting information your way, perhaps involving career or educational opportunities.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Today you could decide to host a virtual party or small meeting in your home. You miss having a lot of visitors. This should be an exciting occasion.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Vast amounts of information could come to you through email or phone. Expect to hear from groups. You could make new friends.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Have you been thinking about expanding your computer skills? If so, this is the day to do it. You're likely to discover a lot of valuable information, as well as shortcuts for accomplishing your goals.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Social events, involving small groups, could put you in touch with knowledgeable people who could provide valuable information. You might decide to go back to school or otherwise advance your education.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)

Today your mind might be on social and political issues. If you aren't currently involved with groups dealing with these issues, you might consider joining one.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

Information could come your way today that starts you thinking about new and revolutionary ideas. They may involve modern technology political issues.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Unusual and unexpected opportunities to better your career could come to you today through friends. These friends could provide you with valuable information about making maximum use of your skills.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

The possibility of taking a trip by air could present itself today. The trip might be made with friends or a small group, if possible.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

The possibility to advance your career through increasing your technological skills may present itself today. This could open doors for you in a lot of directions, paving the way for increased income.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)

A number of social invitations could come your way today, possibly connected with groups you're affiliated with.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

The latest equipment might suddenly be available to you. It's likely to make life easier and more interesting. It could also open doors to make new friends and find new opportunities.

In this regard, the Grand Power’s X-Calibur’s 1mm wide fiber optic front sight and adjustable rear sight and long sight radius ((over 8 1/2 inches) are ideal for accuracyminded shooters. Lefthanded shooters are particularly delighted since the X-Claibur’s safety, magazine release and slide lock are on both sides of the pistol.

A fun fact is that the older K100 pistol by Grand Power was imported by STI in Texas, with STI branding on it. STI is the maker of the familiar 2011 race guns and the heritage of that manufacturing is present in the X-Calibur as well. Remember, this a “race” gun, not an everyday carry gun. As such, it is much anticipated to see the firearm in the hands of local sport-shooters.

BCB/ Dr. Blackman project...

Frompage24

redouble their efforts to attract new members.

After a fruitful discussion with coaches and management of the different clubs, it was decided that the next focus of the BCB would be the construction of an all weather pitch in each sub association and obtaining several bowling machines.

The all weather pitches would assist players to continue training during the rainy season and also for coaches to do one on one sessions with promising players. The coaches recommended the bowling machines in an effort to improve the ability of Berbicians to play fast bowling. Foster committed the BCB to fulfilling the requests as soon as possible.

Harvey, Guyana’s double-gold medallist at this year’s CARIFTA Games, stopped the clock in 41:57.7 to win ahead of Abidemi Charles (second), Joanna Archer (third), Tia Azore (fourth) and Jelesa Wright (fifth).

The presentation of prizes will be held this week.

SecretaryoftheGSSF,VidushiPersaud-McKinnon, receivessponsorshipfromChiefSecurityOfficerof ElDoradoSecurityService,AlvinHolladar.

General view of the Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar - November 20, 2022 during the opening ceremony. (REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski)

Valencia double helps Ecuador cruise past hosts Qatar in World Cup opener

AL KHOR, Qatar, was unmarked but still looked increasingly (Reuters) - Ecuador eased showed great technique to disconsolate watching his past World Cup debutants stoop and take Angelo nervous looking players Qatar 2-0 yesterday with Preciado’s cross almost from misplace passes and allow first-half goals from veteran behind him to head past Ecuador to outmuscle them striker Enner Valencia in a Alsheebagain. easilyfromfronttoback. one-sided affair that was the “I dreamt so many times “There is no excuse, I first opening game defeat for about winning this opening want to congratulate our a host nation in the match.Thiswasadreamthat opponents Ecuador There is tournament’shistory I managed to score and help a l o t o f r o o m f o r Ecuador’s all-time top my team get the three improvement,” he said. “We s c o r e r , n i c k n a m e d points,”Valenciasaid. just have to let go, forget “Superman” at home, scored “We managed to score a about it and be more an early penalty and added a couple of quick goals which competitive.” well taken 31st minute helpedustogetcontrolofthe Both sides now have to header to give the South game ... We think we can go play African champions Americans a commanding veryfarandperformwell.” Senegal and three times first-half lead as the home The 33-year-old scored World Cup finalists the side froze with the enormity all of Ecuador’s three goals Netherlands, with Qatar’s oftheoccasion. at their last World Cup chances of qualifying from

“ M a y b e t h e appearance in 2014 and the group stage or even responsibility and the nerves Sunday’s double cemented picking up points looking got the better of us,” Qatar’s hisstatusasanationalhero. s l i m o n S u n d a y ’ s SpanishcoachFelixSanchez “He’s Ecuador’s best performance. said. ever,” said fan Diego Males, At their fourth World

It could have been even 30, watching on a giant Cup, Ecuador are dreaming worse for the Qataris in front screen at a mall in the city of of surpassing their best ever ofa67,372crowdatthetent- Ibarra in north Ecuador previous showing at the shaped Al Bayt stadium “Enner and the team are finals when they reached the where they were kicking off givinguspurejoy.” last16in2006. the Middle East’s first World

TOOTHLESS QATAR

Their coach Alfaro will Cup. Ecuador’s second goal be happy that his players put

Valencia had a third killed the GroupAgame as a aside the furore over minuteheaderdisallowedfor contest and the second half defender Byron Castillo, left a marginal offside after was played at a slow pace, at home to avoid further shaky goalkeeper Saad with many Qataris leaving controversy after they faced Alsheebflappedattheball. before the end as Ecuador’s possible expulsion in a

“I thought it was a goal. I fanschanted“Ole!” complaint by Chile over his think Michael Estrada needs Qatar looked largely nationalitystatus. todosomethingabouthistoe toothless despite an “It was a great victory, nails because it was very enviously long time to bond especially as it was the tight,” quipped Ecuador’s and train together, including opening World Cup match, manager Gustavo Alfaro of summer camps in Europe. so there’s more pressure and his player whose foot was Almoez Ali had their best tension,”hesaid. judgedoffside.

chance at the end of the first “You don’t know how

Ecuador kept pressing half, heading wide but then your team is going to though and Valencia coolly judgedoffside. perform.Wearetheyoungest dispatched a penalty in the MohammedMuntarialso teaminthisWorldCup.Ifwe 16th minute after Alsheeb fired over in the dying wanttomovetotheknockout hadtrippedhim. minutes. stage,thenwehadtowinthis

For his second, Valencia Qatar coach Sanchez match.”

DemeraraCricketBoardU-15InterAssociationTournament

Georgetown defeat East Bank by 306 runs

In Demerara Cricket

Board Under15 Inter Association tournament second round match,

Emmauel Lewis hits a brilliant century as Georgetown overpowered East Bank to claim victory againsttheEastBankside.

At Queen’s College Ground, Georgetown won the toss and elected to bat on an excellent wicket posting 365 for 8 from their allotted 50 overs, Skipper Lewis stood his mark and scored a well-constructed 103 hitting 10 sixes and 3 fours in his outstandinginnings. Hewas well supported by Trilok Nanan who contributed 52 and Lomar Seecharran

chippedinwith42.Navindra Singh was the most destructed bowler grabbing 4 for 37, while he was supported by Roupie Rajaram, Alex Singh and Dilshan Latchman who took onewicketapiece.

In reply East Bank struggled and only managed 59for7from28oversbefore

the rain came and ended the game in DLS Captain Roupie Rajaram tried to keep his team alive and managed to score 20 not out and was the lone batter to reach double figures. Darwin LaRose claimed 2 for 9 while being supported by Rovaldo Pereira with 2 for15.

Demerara Cricket Board holds U-13 trial matches

Wi t h t h e G u y a n a C r i c k e t

Board’s initiative of hosting abilateralRegionalUnder13 Tournament in collaboration with Trinidad and Tobago scheduled to commence on December 10, 2022, the DemeraraCricketBoardwill be hosting three trial matchesattheMuslimYouth Organization ground today Monday November 21, Tuesday November 22 and Thursday November 24, 2022.

These matches are being held in order to give the young and talented Under13 players in Demerara a chance to represent both DemeraraandGuyanainthis bilateralTournament.

Several players were divided into three teams for thesetrialmatches.

Their performances will determine the Demerara under13 team to participate in the GCB under13 Inter CountyTournamentwhichis scheduled to commence shortly after the trail games after which a National Under13 team will be selected.

Teams listed below:

Te a m A P i g e o n : Brandon Henry (Captain), Jermaine Grovesnor, Reul Dindyal, Makai Dowlin, Kadeem Capbell, Akash Roopnarine, Sharma John, Jasami Craig, Joshua

Williams, Nathaniel Sukhanan, Ballshankar Narine.

Team B Macaw: Lomar Seecharran (Captain), DevendraRamkarran,Mario Singh, Jaden Cargo, Nathan Gurcharran, Kush Seegobin, Noel Madramootoo, Patrice Frazer, Thierry Davis, Darren Demendonce, Ajay Kissoon.

Team C Dove: Reyaz Latif (Captain), Nicholas Rukhdeo, Ganesh Appanah, Xavier Endozie, Rakeem Latif, Andy John, Mickhail J o h n s o n , V i k a s h Roopnarine, Henenkiah Hohenkiek, Shankar Ramesh, Aditya Motilall, NathanBishop.

The fixtures for the practice matches are as follows:

Team A Pigeon will face Team B Macaw today Monday November 21, 2022, while on Tuesday November22,2022,TeamB Macaw will battle Team C Parrot, after which Team A Pigeon will take on Team C Parrot on Thursday November 24, 2022 Matches are scheduled to begin at 9:30 hrs and will be 40oversperinnings.

EastCoastbeatEastBankby7wickets

Skipper

displayed an excellent allround performance to take his team home to victory by sevenwicketsintheDCBU15 Inter Association Cricket tournament.

At Queen’s College Ground, East Bank won the toss and elected to take first strike scoring a quiet 57 all from 17 overs of their allotted reduced 35 overs. The match was reduced due to a late start; however, this did not stop the outstanding performances of the East Coastside.

Batting for East Bank, Keshan Singh was the lone

Mickel Sharma

battertoscoredoublefigures with 13, Skipper of the East Coast side Mickel Sharma stood his grounds and

claimed 4 for 2 from 1 over, while he was supported by Udesh Jaikarran who took 3 for 17 and Kyle Gibson who pickedup2for18.

East Coast in reply raced to their target after they lost three wickets Opener Munesh Outar top scored with 15, while Sharma chipped in with 12, Keshna Singh, Roupie Rajaram and Dilshan Latchman collected one wicket each. East Coast wonbysevenwickets.

O n W e d n e s d a y November 23, 2022, East C o a s t w i l l b a t t l e Georgetown at Queen’s Collegeground.

Mickel Sharma

Trilok Nanan

Emmanuel Lewis

Reyaz Latif

Brandon Henry

Goal Spree as Upper Corentyne River teams suffer mixed fortunes

- Travelled over 120 miles to participate in One Guyana Football Competition

Stanleytown goal scorers

Siparuta goal scorers

After travelling for more than 120 miles to participate in the One Guyana Football competition in New Amsterdam, it was a mixed feeling for two Upper Corentyne River teams, Siparuta and Orealla that are participating in the competition.

Siparuta started things on a good note for the teams from the Corentyne River by eking out a hard fought 5 4 victory over Corriverton/Upper Corentyne to bring smiles on the faces of those

from the Riverain area Their happiness was short lived as neighborOreallawereswampedby SouthNewAmsterdam8-0.

The games, which were played at the All Saints Scott Church Ground on Princess Elizabeth Road,NewAmsterdam,sawalarge turnoutatthevenue.

ThegamebetweenSiparutaand Corriverton was a ding dong affair thatwhendowntothewirewiththe Corentyne River team holding off the Corriverton team, which

incidentally also travelled over 50 milesfortheencounter,5-4.

At half time Siparuta led 3-0. On the resumption Corriverton clawed their way back to tie things up at 3-3. Siparuta took the lead in the 76 minute only for Corriverton to tie things up again in the 78 minute. Siparuta then scored again in the 84th minute to squeeze home.

Scoring for the winners were Manfred Williams, Reoaldo Felix, Rupert Johnson and Murphy Felix

while an own goal account for the 5th.

The goal scorers for Corriverton were Devon George with a double and Ryan Gomes while they also benefited from an owngoal.

Whilethefirstgamewasaclose encounter the second game saw South New Amsterdam being all over their Orealla counterparts as they found the back of the nets at regular intervals to register an 8-0 hammering of the Corentyne River

team.

By half time they were 4-0 in the lead. Scoring for the winners LeonardAdams andAlistra Drakes led the way with a double each, while there was one apiece for Lomar Reid, Kevin Mickle, Shaka RoweandSherwinAlly

The competition is continuing with semifinal play as Siparuta is downtoplayLowerCorentyneand South New Amsterdam take on North New Amsterdam. (Samuel Whyte)

BCB/Dr. Blackman project distributes $1M worth of BCB/Dr practice nets to youth teams

- Board targets bowling machines and concrete pitches in 2023

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) as part of its comprehensive countywide y o u t h d e v e l o p m e n t programme, handed over practice nets to twenty clubs with junior teams. The presentation was done under the BCB/ Dr Terrence Blackman project during a simple presentation ceremonyattheboard’sNew Amsterdam office on Thursdaylast.

BCB President Hilbert Foster stated that the main objectives of distributing of the nets were to improve the ways that youths train in the afternoon, to allow coaches todooneononesessionwith promising youths and to allow a minimum of two youths to practice at one

time. He noted that practice sessions at some clubs were difficult to organise due to low turnout of members and the presence of the nets wouldcorrectthesituation.

A total of twenty nets valuing just under $1M were distributed to clubs including No 73, Skeldon, Radha Krishna Foundation, Port Mourant, Albion, RHTYSC, Rose Hall Canje, Tucber Park, Edinburgh, Mt Sinai, Achievers, Cotton TreeandGuymine.

Foster noted that Dr Terrence Blackman, a USA based Math Professor, readily agreed to spearhead the project and was able to obtain the nets for the BCB.

Dr Blackman handed the financial aspect of the

transactionandthenetswere handed to the board for distribution The BCB President expressed gratitude to the donor and hailed it as another red letter day in the history of the BCB.

E

Chowrimootoo, Leary

county with a wide range of items to assist them to fulfill their mandates of producing players of the highest standard. Among the items were cricket balls on an annual basis, scorebooks, grass cutter, catching cribs, cricket gears, uniforms, covid protection items, bicycles, water pitchers,

(Continued on page 21)

Representatives of some of the clubs pose with the nets after the presentation.

Lennox Blackmoore National Intermediate Championships opens with entertaining action - Concluded last night

The Lennox Blackmoore National Intermediate Championships commenced on Friday evening with an entertaining card that featured ten bouts at the NationalGymnasium.

T h e t h r e e d a y tournament featured over 50 boxers from Gyms in Berbice, Essequibo, Linden andGeorgetown.Priortothe commencement,atotalof64

boxers were weighed in and also passed their medical examsonThursday

Among the small, boisterous crowd that witnessed the opening night were Guyana Boxing A s s o c i a t i o n ( G B A )

President, Steve Ninville, and Minister of Home Affairs, Hon Robeson Benn, who no doubt was there to support the armed

forces

It was an evening full of actionfromthefirstboutthat saw Gladston Winter come out on top against Rajesh Balgobin in the School Boys 26KG–28KG.

The two School Boys 36KG – 38KG bouts were intriguing as well; Simeon Jones defeated Cleon Collinson, while Shaun Sobora triumphed over

MarkelBlue.

In the Junior 36KG –38KG, Shaquan Marshall reigned supreme over Jadon Lewis while Matthew Thomas won against Yohanoy Marshall in the 45KG–46KGmatch.

The night heated up during the second half of the c a r d a s t h e J u n i o r Welterweight Division commenced with Junior

In the other two

Welterweight bouts, Nadir Walker gained a walkover from Keenan Williams then Patrick Harvey stopped StephanCaesar

GDF’s Ishmael Glen defeated Police’s Lesile James via a unanimous decision in the Welterweight bout the penultimate

showdownofthenight.

Finally, the Super Heavyweights took centre stageanddeliveredaspirited battle that was supported by everyoneinthevenue.

GDF’s Andre Shepherd went head to head with GPF’s Tulsi Persaud, which saw the latter prevail by way ofaunanimousdecision.

Details in tomorrow’s edition.

BCB obtains sponsorship for Sir James France Memorial for Berbice River sub associations

Th e B e r b i c e Cricket Board (BCB) as part of itsefforttodevelopcricketin every area in the ancient county has attracted sponsorship to host a 20/20 tournament for teams in the B e r b i c e R i v e r a i n communities.

The sponsorship was obtained from Professional E n g i n e e r i n g a n d Construction Services along with Charlyn Artigua and AssociatesLawOffice.

BCB President, Hilbert Foster, stated that it was a donation by Nolan France, an engineer who was born in theRiverainareaandwanted to contribute to the game’s development.

Foster expressed delight at the sponsorship, stating that the BCB has now obtainedsponsorshipfortwo tournaments in the space of

one

tournament and the 20/20. Thetournamentissponsored in memory of the late James France, the father of Nolan France The late James France was an outstanding educator in the Riverain area and was also active in the developmentofsports.

The tournament will be organised by the Berbice River Cricket Association and Floyd Benjamin, a cricket coach attached to the BCB.

Among the teams expected to play are Kimba, Wiruni, Ebini and Sand Hills. After the round robin matches, the two top teams will travel to the Albion Cricket Ground to play the finalunderlights.

The winning team and runner up will both receive cash incentives and trophies

while the Man of the Finals awardisalsoupforgrabs.

France revealed that he was very impressed with the work of Berbice Cricket Board and wanted to play a role in the development of thegameintheareawherehe was born and attended primaryschool.

Henotedthatnowthathe was a very successful professional engineer, he wanted to give other youths in the area an opportunity to fulfill their potential on the cricketfield.

He stated that his father played a very important role in his educational career and the cricket tournament would be a fitting tribute to him.

France also announced that the tournament will be anannualevent.

Hyman stopping Johvon Archer

month for the remote area.

The first one is the Dave WestIndianImports40overs

Forgotten Youths Foundation’s Patrick Harvey (right) gleefully connects against Republican’s Steffon Caesar in their Junior Welterweight bout on the opening night.

Police’s Tulsi Persaud (right) lands one against GDF’s Andre Shepherd in their Super Heavyweight showdown at the National Gymnasium on Friday evening.

Legal Clerk, Devya Roopnarine (2nd right), hands over sponsorship to BCB Secretary, Angela Haniff, in the presence of Hilbert Foster (left) and Nolan France.

Valencia

Winston Missigher giving thanks after winning this year’s South American 10K Road Race.

(Rawle Toney photo)

Attoya Harvey crossing the finish line unchallenged to win the South American 10K. (Rawle Toney photo)