Kaieteur News

$15.2M contract inked for road upgrade at Charity

The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Two on Monday inked a $15.2 million contract with a contractor for the upgrading of Sixth Cross Street, New Charity Housing Scheme,ontheEssequiboCoast.

According to a release issued by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Two, the contract was inked between the RDC and GAVKOConstructionandSupplies.

Regional Executive Officer, Susanah Saywack, regional engineer, Kawan Suchit, and Superintendent of Works (Roads), Saywack Persaud, along with the contractor were all presentatthesiteforthesigningofthe contract.

The 265 meter long road will be upgradedtoaconcretestructureandis expected to benefit at least 15 households. While on site, the team took the opportunity to engage with residents in the area to enlighten them oftheworks.

A section of Sixth Cross Street, New Charity Housing Scheme that is to be upgraded. Charity

Fire destroys crops on farm in Reg. 9

The farm and crops, damaged after the fire

AfireonTuesdaydestroyedthefarmofLethemfarmer,PeterAlves.Itisunclearwhat causedthefire,butitdestroyedallthecropsofAlves.

According to reports the fire spread rapidly and thus far, coconut and banana plants have been burnt. The agriculture team in Lethem and the Lethem Fire Service reportedly renderedassistance.

The roadway at Second Cross Street, New Charity Housing Scheme that was upgraded.

Damning Int’l Report finds Gas-to-Energy Project will leave Guyanese paying for more power than needed

- Exposes GPL’s history of inflating forecasts for power demand

Despite years of multi-million US$1.3B,wouldbringgasfromthe dollar investments in expansion Stabroek Block’s Liza field and upgrades, the Guyana Power onshoreandfeedintotwofacilities, and Light (GPL) is yet to bring an a Natural Gas Plant and a 300MW end to blackouts. Its inability to Power Plant, both to be situated at provide reliable power generation the Wales Development Zone in Kunkel.Their joint findings paint a that this results in a more than keen to highlight that in 2020, an has earned it ghastly names over Region Three. The PPP’s gas-to- grim picture, suggesting that the tripling of sales from 2022 through independent consultant to the the years from frustrated energy project is expected to cost venture may result in an over- 2032.

Guyana Government provided 20consumers, one of the colloquial approximately US$1.7B but this saturated grid, churning out Although this would represent year load forecasts of 3% per year favouritesbeing“GP-HELL.” does not include funds needed to electricity that far exceeds the unprecedented growth, the report and 5% per year, far lower than Since the discovery of massive rejuvenate the weary GPL, the genuine demands of the Guyanese states that this sales forecast in the either of the recent forecasts amounts of oil and gas in the designated vessel for channeling populace. In the ensuing weeks, 2023 Development and Expansion providedbyGPL.

Stabroek Block situated in this amplified power surge to Kaieteur News will be unraveling Programme represents a reduction

Importantly, the IEEFA report Guyana’s deep waters, two coastaldwellers. the damning findings of the over the forecast presented in the states that this is not the first time governments have floated the idea Stakeholdersoverthepastthree IEEFA’s 33-page report. Today 2022 Development and Expansion G P L h a s b e e n f o u n d that the gas resources could be years have expressed deep worry marks the first publication. Stay Programme. IEEFA pointed out overestimating its energy demand. harnessed for electricity to once about this venture, said to be the with us on this gripping journey thatthe2022Programme’sforecast “Even before ExxonMobil’s major and for all eradicate power largest such undertaking in the intoGuyana’spowerconundrum. resulted in a nearly seven-fold discovery of offshore oil in interruptions. During the period country’s history Many GPLAND INFLATED increase in sales for the DBIS grid Guyana, GPL had a history of 2015 to 2020, the former stakeholders contend that the NUMBERS over the same period, between overestimating future electricity APNU+AFC government had PPP/C’sblueprintforthisprojectis When IEEFA’s experts 2022 and 2032, resulting in demand. Figure 4 (attached to this consultedwithseveralregionaland cloaked in mystery and feasibility examined GPL’s expansion plans projected sales in 2032 that were story) shows previous GPL international experts, devising a concerns. Some sections of society for 2022 and 2023, it was firmly 2.65 times higher than projected in forecasts of electricity demand blueprint for a gas-to-energy even worry that the project could concluded that the state-owned the 2023 programme. This forecast versus actual demand,” the report project that could produce 188MW give the country a debilitating taste company does not know how to was published in November 2021, said. of power plus 2,200 barrels of ofbankruptcy. properly estimate the country’s and the government issued the In addition to the gas plant, the LiquefiedNaturalGas(LNG)daily Echoing the deep-seated fears energy demand, or even how to request for qualifications for the IEEFA report notes that GPL is for a price tag of under US$600 percolating through the citizenry is meet same in a practical and construction of the 300MW gas planning several new power million.Butthatneversawthelight the Institute for Energy Economics affordable manner. In fact, they plant and NGL facility the generation projects in the DBIS ofday and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). made the startling discovery that followingmonth. system. GPL’s plans include 85

When the PPP/C took office in The US based think tank which G P L h a s a h i s t o r y o f T h e I E E FA o ff i c i a l s MW of new oil-fired generation in August2020,itpromisedtodeliver focuses on issues related to energy overestimatingenergydemand. highlighted that government took 2023, 25 MW of utility-scale solar what its predecessor couldn’t markets believes citizens have Delving deeper, IEEFA key steps towards the building of projects in 2024 and 2026, and the

Before the 2025 General and every right to be dreadfully officials referenced GPL’s 2023 the plant based on GPL’s 2022 165MW Amalia Falls hydropower Regional Election, the PPP/C concerned about this project. In Development and Expansion DevelopmentandExpansionreport project around 2030. GPL’s current administration had promised to fact, Tom Sanzillo, IEEFA director Programme That document of future electricity demand that generation capacity in the DBIS deliver a gas-to-energy project at of financial analysis previously forecasts that sales in the was significantly reduced the systemisapproximately191MW approximately US$1 7B The sounded the alarm on the potential Demerara-Berbice Insolated subsequent year Despite GPL Adding in all of GPL’s government has teamed up with fiscal calamity this project might System (DBIS) will grow at an publishing a 2023 forecast that cut proposed new capacity, including ExxonMobil, the operator of the unleash upon the nation’s coffers. annual rate of 16.4% from 2022 projected sales for 2032 by more theproposed300MWgasplant,the oil-rich Stabroek Block, which is Inaconcertedefforttoshedlighton through 2027 and an annual rate of than half, the report said the report finds that Guyana would be tasked with constructing a massive the monumental risks of this 9.4% from 2027 to 2032. This Government of Guyana did not saddled with an oversupply of offshore pipeline structure. That initiative, IEEFAcollaborated with reflects an overall average annual revise its plans for the gas-to- powerthatitmustpayfor The pipeline pegged to cost around renowned energy consultant Cathy rateof12.9%.IEEFA’sreportstates energy project. IEEFA was also (Continued on page 16)

Cathy Kunkel, Energy Consultant at IEEFA

Tom Sanzillo, Director of financial analysis for IEEFA

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

A thousand traffic cases

According to the Guyana Police Force, the Traffic Department recorded over 1000 cases of violations on the roadinamerethreedays.Wegiveahandtotheranksand officersoftheTrafficDepartmentforcollaring1050errant road users in the short stretch of time from Sunday, September10toTuesday,September12.

Onaveragethatis350casesperday Now,wehavetwo questions for the Traffic Department’s top people. First, what does this say about what was happening in flurries, fallingapartbeforetheeyes,andwithalmostnothingbeing done on a daily basis by theTraffic Department people on the roads? And, second, for how long, or how often, are constructiveandclearlyhelpfultrafficexercisesintendedto beapartoftheTrafficDepartment’sprogramme?

When 350 road users, on average, are caught in some trafficviolationortheotherinasurprisesweep,thisdoesnot speakwellaboutwhattherealityoflocalroadsis,butabout whichsolittlewasputinplacetoarrest.Indeed,theroadhas its share of ranks on police motorcycles and other official vehicles all on the move from location to location Yet, the madness, indiscipline, and litany of troubling issues were visibleforalllaw-abidingcommuters,drivers,andpassersby to observe, shake their heads knowingly It is Guyana, and what now contributes to a state of generalized road lawlessness InGuyana,therearethosewhodriveatthespeed oftheirchoice,nomatterhowdangerousitistoothers There are those who park inconsiderately and make a heavily congested town even more congested There are those who overtakeandundertakerecklessly,andrefusetousetheroads responsibly,withaviewtothepresenceandsafetyofothers In thisrandomlyselectedgrouping,thereisamostworryingaspect thatotherusersoftheroadcannothelpbutnotice Membersof the GPF’s Traffic Department are usually on duty, or in the vicinityofvariousviolations,andnoactionistaken Orwhena movetodosomethingisattempted,itisneitherforlawfulnor cleanpurposes This has served as an incentive to others in drivingandridingcommunitiestotestthewaterswithreckless abandon, be it through speeding, tailgating, impatient horn blowing(eveninsilentzones),trafficlightviolation,andother formsofaggressiveandchurlishbehavior

When350violators(orthereabouts)ofGuyana’straffic laws, rules, and regulations could be snared in a day, then there is only one conclusion, and it is nothing but reasonable. It had to be that traffic violations were occurringonaregularbasisonroads,streets,andelsewhere atratesthatwereclosetotheaveragenumberfoundinsome sortofdeficiencyduringthatthree-daysweep. Despitethe huge number of vehicles in operation on local roads, three hundred plus violators hauled in is still a heavy number to absorb. Withthatinmind,thesecondquestionnowapplies: whatwilltheseniorsandplannersattheTrafficDepartment donowthattheyhaveasolidideaofwhatistakingplaceon ourroadsatconsistentrates?

TheTrafficDepartmentpeopleknowwherethehotspots are,andwhichsubsectionofroadusersarelikelytobeamong the offenders, with an eye on younger drivers, public transportation operators, and truck and other heavy duty vehicle drivers Guyana’s roads are rich with an array of vehicles, and it is made frightening by those who endanger themselves and others, while adding more tightness and tension to a rough road situation The head of the Traffic Departmentshouldalsobewellawareofwhohehasonthe roads looking out for the welfare of all users, and who has clearly fallen down on the job relative to even-handed enforcement In addition, there should be some commonsense understanding of the network back in the stationhouseandatthefrontdeskthatneutralizesrulesand regulations,whichsupportsthedailylawlessnessoccurring ontheroads. Whateverisdone,thesetrafficsweepsshould becontinued,andtheprovisionsofthelawbeappliedfairly, squarely,andconsistently

Democracy on the move in Guyana

DEAREDITOR, October5marks31years since the restoration of democratic rule to Guyana after twenty eight years of PNCdictatorialrule.During that period Guyana was reducedtooneofthepoorest countries in the western hemisphere.

The restoration of democraticrulewasindeeda defining moment in the political life of the country

Under the slogan ‘Time to Unite: Time to Rebuild’ the PPP/C administration under the leadership of Dr Cheddi Jagan began a process of economic and social reconstruction. The private sector was designated ‘the engine of growth’, an indication of the changing global dispensation due in large measure to the ending of the Cold War and the collapse of the world socialist system. The Soviet Union, which at one time was seen as the bastion of socialism ceased to exist as the country disintegrated intoanumberofindependent states under the force of Glasnost (Opening) and

Perestroika (Restructuring)

implemented by the Gorbachevregime. The restoration of democratic rule on October 5,1992hastobeseenagainst the background of the changing international dynamics.Guyanaunderthe PPPwas no longer seen as a threat to United States security interests in the region.Itisnosecretthatthe United States and other western nations turned a blindeyetoelectoralfraudin Guyana under the Burnham regime mainly out of political/ideological considerations All of that changed during the late 1980’s which saw a change in United States attitude towardsGuyanainfavourof democracy and human rights.Thefirstindicationof that changing attitude came in the late 1980’s when the George Bush administration called on the then Hoyte administration to restore democracy to the country This was later followed up by President Carter and the Carter Centre which advocated for electoral

reforms which included a new elections commission, anendtooverseasvotingand the counting of votes at the place of poll. This latter proposal was vehemently resisted by Desmond Hoyte who described such a move as a ‘logistical nightmare’. After much arm-twisting Hoyte finally agreed to the oppositiondemands.

By the early 1990’s the writing was on the wall for the PNC regime which had perpetuated its political rule through a combination of forceandfraud.TheOctober 5, 1992 elections produced the first democratically elected government since 1964.

The PPP/C, as was widely anticipated, won a majorityofthevotesandwas duly elected to the seat of power.Andwhilecreditmust begiventotheUnitedStates government for the role it played in the restoration of democracy to Guyana, the combined impact of civil societyadvocacy suchasthe independentmedia,thetrade union movement, religious organizations, private sector

organizations, the diaspora and the political opposition led by the PPP was no less significant.

The spectre of rigged elections again raised its uglyheadintheMarch2020 General and Regional elections when the APNU+ AFC coalition attempted to returnitselftopowerthrough fraudulent means. However, such attempts were successfully thwarted throughthecombinedefforts of the courts, especially the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the international community and other democratic forces in Guyana.

Democracy in Guyana is still evolving along the lines of greater inclusivity The challengebeforeusistofind ways to further enrich our democracyalongthelinesof OneGuyanaasenvisagedby President Dr Mohamed IrfaanAli.Our democracy is worthcelebrating.Weowea debt of gratitude to all those whostoodupfordemocracy inGuyana.

Trulyyours, HydarAlly

RoysdaleFordecallsoutAnandSanasie

DEAREDITOR, Allow me to offer a comprehensive response to the slanderous, maliciously false and spurious attempts by ‘embattled’ former Executive Member of the Guyana Cricket Board, Mr Anand Sanasie, who publicly sought to sully my goodname,andcharacter,in orderberatetherecentlyand “successfully” concluded, ‘Washington Conference on Guyana,’ organised by the GuyaneseDiaspora,through aveiledattackasa‘personal axe to grind’ with local businessman, Mr. Dorwain Bess.

To begin, it is of utmost importance to establish the overarchingcontextinwhich Mr Sanasie’sallegationsare rooted He engages in “psychological projection” theactofattributingtoothers the beliefs, behaviours, problems,orinsecuritiesthat onemaythemselvespossess. Mr Sanasie’s unfounded allegations appear to be, in fact, a reflection of his own insecurities.

Mr Sanasie, in his opening tirade, asserts, “Scraping the bottom of the barrel may very well be the applicablesloganhere,asthe APNU/AFC delegation to Washington DC did exactly that, in citing their example

of racial discrimination by the Government of Guyana ”Qualifying this position, without fear of subsequent contradiction, I wouldliketodisclosethatat 07:34hrs the morning following my initial presentation to the ‘Washington Conference on Guyana’ Mr Sanasie contacted me via WhatsApp to say “The last thing you should have done is to use Bessasanexample,Iwould respond.”

An apparent glaring and malicious misrepresentation on the part of Mr Sanasie’s worth noting, is that the discussion on ethniceconomic discrimination at the Washington Conference on Guyana’ was initiated by Conference Delegate Attorney-at-Law, Dawn Holder-Cush,whoreferenced her client Subsequently, Conference Organizer Mr RickfordBurkeelaboratedon this theme, citing Mr Bess, among others, as examples Perplexed by the fallacy in Mr Sanasie’s assertions, I respondedtohisnottosubtly veiled threat, to say “I didn’t speakorrefertobess(sic):get it clear”Ascreengrab of this engagement will also be shared for corroboration and orpublication.

Subsequently,theEditorin-Chief of The Guyana Times, Ms. Tusika Martin,

sent me an email of a letter that Mr Sanasie had sent to Guyana Times for publication, which I observedwasalsoreplicated as a news articlein theState owned and controlled Guyana Chronicle This ‘news article’ was then almost immediately shared for wider circulation in the publicbytheFacebookpage of Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, in a pellucid orchestrated attempt to besmirch me and the ‘Washington Conference on Guyana”.

Editor,Mr Sanasieinhis lettertoyourpublication,has notonlyexposedhisPeople’s Progressive Party’s fear of ‘losing ground’as illustrated in his repeated castigation of Mr Bess, using a litany of calumnious, characterdamaging and maligning untruths, which if not retracted, and for which a ProminentApologyisoffered immediately, WILL result in legal action being instituted against Mr Sanasie and the GuyanaTimes

The PPP, through Mr Sanasie’s ‘projected psychological’ mindset, has clearly sunk to resorting to amplifying a typographical error present in an independent news article, insinuating nefarious intentions behind this seemingly innocuous

mistake,inordertoengagein a confrontational and unproductive exchange of ideas or actions, when he articulatedinhisnowpublic p r o n o u n c e m e n t s , “Businessman Dorian Bess storyhighlighted.Ipausedto note that “Dorwain Alpha Bess”hasmanyvariationsto his name, and Dorian, as spelt in the caption of the article,maybeintentional.” In the interest of transparency, I was in fact a Minority Director in a company owned by Mr Dorwain Bess, called Lynwill InternationalTrading(Guyana Inc), in January 2016, later named as SBF Petroleum Inc in April of that year as the CompanySecretaryforwhich Mr Sanasie also held shareholders’ interest Two years later in 2018, as Company Secretary and Director of by then, SBF International Inc, I ceased being a part of the company and the shares which were issuedtomeinmycapacityas adirectorwerereturnedtothe Company

Atthetimeofthesigning of that Shareholding Agreement, Mr Sanasie had contracted himself, on signing the agreement, to invest US$1,000,000 in two tranches of US$500,000 for the specific purchase of fuel andpetroleumproducts.At

(Continuedonpage05)

Representatives bypassed, loans dangled, questions abound

DEAREDITOR

,

Onecontinuestowonder about how autocratic this “Democracy”canbe.

For some inexplicable reasonitrefusestorecognise that citizens, more specifically Guyana’s teachers and public servants are entitled to legal representation as provided for in the Guyana Constitution.

That these agencies are being pellucidly bypassed must be a matter of substantive concern to this Administration’s partners in Caricom, where Guyanese of varying professions, includinglaw,reside.

But then the latter must also reflect on the eloquent indifference of Guyana’s Legal Agencies’ loquacious silenceonsuchasubstantive constitutionalissue.

The post recent interaction that leaves all to ponder is that the Guyana Teachers’Unionisbypassed in order to speak only to individual teachers, regardless of status and pay, that they will benefit from ‘housing loans’ of up to $15Mataninterestrateofup to3.75percent.

RoysdaleFordecallsoutAnandSanasie...

The offer must involve some reflections on: i) Whether there is already a loanathome?

ii) What length, amount/rate?

iii) What would be affordable at my month’s salary?

iv) How many years haveIlefttoretire?

v) How many children couldI/weaffordtomaintain (andatdifferentschools)?

v i ) H o w m a n y guarantors would I be allowed? vii) Would the Ministry certify my eligibilityforaloanwithany bank?

viii)

How do I cope with a currentcarloan?ix)

When will I be compensatedforshortpayof mysalary?

The above are just questions from a student teacher,whoreflectsonhow underpaid principals will qualify, and if Union officials will be given supportasneeded.

At what stage is there connectivity in ‘One Nation’?

Yourstruly, E.B.John

Astrong PPPGovt. supporter fading away

DEAREDITOR

,

Some,likemyself,inthe diaspora must have seen the contract awarded for the construction of the pump station at Belle Vue West BankDemerara.

The Tepui Group Inc , which was one of the twenty-sixbidders was awarded the contract although it was more than one hundred million dollars than fifteen other bidders

The name Mikhail Rodrigues who is known as the“GuyaneseCritic”issaid

Frompage04 thetimeofthesigningofthe agreement–signed onto by all parties— the instrument ratified, that after the payment expenses, profits were to be divided into 45% shareseachforMr Bessand Mr AnandSanasieand10% sharetomyself.

His attempt to attribute the company’s collapse to greed rather than political factors lacks credibility and is unequivocally refuted by well-documented records to the point that Mr Sanasie and/or his handlers must be “drowning in a sea of untruths.”Furthermore, Mr Sanasie asserts that Resolutions were passed in his absence to bypass bank instructions, ultimately leading to the freezing and cancellation of accounts Contrary to these claims, meticulously maintained records, both physical and digital, substantiate the fallacy of his allegations. These records conclusively debunkhisassertionsandlay bare the inaccuracies in his narrative.

In his letter to the media andforwhichIwasaskedto respondbyatleastonemedia house Mr Sanasie fraudulently affirms that “In my absence, and without notice, resolutions were passed to by-pass bank instructions designed to protect my investment, resulting in the accounts beingfrozenandcancelled.”

E d i t o r , a g a i n , records physical and

digital–are available and have been attached for your corroboration and/or publication, debunking the outright, defamatory, slanderous, libelous and malicious allegations now beingpeddledbyadisgruntled PPPcrony,inafutileattemptto denigrate a successful Diaspora Conference, for which they appear to be still reelingfromMr Sanasieinhis tirade, claimed that SBF International Inc made financial contributions to the APNU/AFC government election campaign in 2020, in exchangeforfavours,inSBF’s case,leaseto“aparceloflandto establishafuelfarminLinden” Records (attached for corroboration and/publication) however,provethatbyAugust 2020, I had as a member of thePeople’sNationalCongress Reform alreadyresignedasa directorofSBFPetroleum;the sole directors of the Company by this time were Mr Anand Sanasie with 225,500 shares and Mr. DorwainBesswith275,000. The50,000sharesheldinmy name in SBF for which “consideration of the value ofcashoranyformyouhave for the said 50,000 shares…standforfeitedback to the company from 5th January,2018.”

True to the nature of Mr Sanasieand(or)hishandlers, he vindictively, nefariously, diabolically and fiendishly publicises “the company SBF was constantly before the authorities for some reasonortheother,primarily

during the period 2015 to 2021. Dorwain Bess was c o n s t a n t l y d o i n g illegal/questionable transactions, and at some point, in 2021, I decided to resign as a director after findingoutthatmysignature was forged. The company collapsed after I filed court actions to retrieve my investment ”Mr. Sanasie once more omitted to recognize that Guyana is an integral member of the global community, firmly rooted in the 21st century I possess records that outline the challenges faced by Mr Bess’ business due to Mr Sanasie and his associates’ actions, constituting an apparent hostile takeover attempt.Ihavealsoenclosed theserecordsforverification andpublicdisclosure.

In his haste to denigrate theDiasporaConferenceand attack Mr Bess and myself, he inadvertently and catastrophically for his handlers—or fortunately or unfortunately, disclosed that by 2020, a majority blackownedcompany,ofwhichhe was part owner, had in four years grown to the point of payingBillionsindutiesand taxestotheGuyanaRevenue Authority It was a lucrative fuel business, where the motivations behind a hostile takeover are glaringly

evident and that takeover was unwittingly planned, unknowingly to the other director.Further reinforcing this position, permit me to also divulge the maliciously orchestrated plot where at around 19: 47hrs , last Friday–thedayfollowingthe conference—I made contact with Mr Sanasie as a result of the earlier WhatsApp message he had sent me, to wit, “the last thing you should have done is to use Bessasanexample,Iwould respond.”

Mr Sanasie at the time, also indicated to me he had askedthepeopleforfavours, a clear reference to the hierarchyinthePPPandthat they in turn, directed him to respond to the assertions raisedattheConference,ina manner that pleases, and satisfies them, in order for himtogetthefavoursthathe hasbeenaskingthemfor

Having consulted with Mr. Bess on the issues raised—since parting ways withthecompanyin2018—I have been informed and verily,dobelievethatpriorto Mr Sanasie’sdeparturefrom the company as a director, Mr Sanasie demanded that Mr Bess sign over 85% of thesharesoftheCompanyto him.

Seepart2innext edition.

to be a part owner of Tepui Group Inc. He is a true defenderofthePresidentand VicePresident.

Most of all, he always travels the world behind theVicePresident

I strongly believe that one of these men had some sayinthisprocess

I w a s a s t r o n g supporter and defender of this Government, but it is fading away I hope the opposition MP keeps pressingforanswers

Regards, KennethSingh

‘Nobody losing their job for reducing US$214M questionable

Exxon expenses is alarming’ – Fmr. President Ramotar

Former Guyanese President, Donald Ramotar, has raised serious concerns over the controversial US$214 million in expenses attributedtoExxonMobil.

Two weeks after it announced an investigation into the “unauthorised engagement” by staff of the Ministry of Natural Resources Petroleum Unit with U S oil giant ExxonMobil over the company’s US$214 million questionableexpenses,there has been no official update from the government regarding the progress or findingsofthisprobe.

In a recent interview, Ramotar expressed alarm that no one has faced job repercussions for these questionable expenditures, emphasizing the potential ramifications for Guyana’s

future. During an in-depth discussion on Globespan, moderated by Dr. Asquith Rose, Ramotar underscored the urgency of addressing this issue. He stated, “For instance,wehavethedebate on ExxonMobil expenses. We must be very, very consciousthatExxonishere tomaximizetheirprofitsand they will do so if given the opportunity.”

Ramotar continued by

questioning how a group of individuals from the Ministry of Natural Resources Petroleum Unit could negotiate with ExxonMobil to reduce expenses that were deemed questionable and not justified, all without any repercussionsintermsofjob loss.

The former president emphasised the potential dangers that such actions pose to Guyana’s future dealings with multinational corporations.

He stressed that swift and decisive action is essential to maintain transparency and protect the interestsofthecountry

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeohadannouncedthata thorough investigation would be conducted to identify the individuals responsibleforengagingthe

oil company in reducing US$214 million in questionable costs flagged byaBritishauditortoUS$3 million During a press conference at Freedom House on September 21, the chiefpolicymakerfortheoil sector told reporters that the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) would then provide a report to Cabinet for review which would be used to determine the appropriate disciplinary action.

On Monday, this newspaper reached out to subject Minister, Vickram Bharrat for an update on the investigation. The minister would only say that it is ongoing. He also offered no timeline for the completion oftheinvestigation.

In keeping with its advisory role, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA)

had written the ministry on August8,2023advisingthat it had no objection to the US$214M first flagged by IHS Markit and they should proceed to closing the US$1.6B audit of Exxon’s expenses, incurred between 1999and2017 Jagdeo had explained that the ministry did not a d h e r e t o t h i s recommendation and engaged in discussions with Exxontoreducethesesums. The Vice President said the Head of State, Dr IrfaanAli was appraised of the developments and there was an agreement for a full investigation. He said too that the ministry now has to communicate to Exxon that based on the adviceofGRA,thedisputed sums will remain at US$214M Importantly, Jagdeo said Exxon would not be pulled into the investigation. Jagdeo said, “We don’t know what they sent and I am not interested in what they sent because that could be used in arbitration should we go there.Iammoreinterestedin who authorized this and why.”

Dangerousprecedent

In the meantime, the Opposition believes Guyana’s first oil audit has setadangerousprecedentfor the US$40B in reviews still

to be completed These expenses relate to the five sanctioned projects in the prolific Stabroek Block, whereover11billionbarrels ofoilhavebeendiscovered.

Notably, a consortium was hired by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) a d m i n i s t r a t i o n t o undertake a second audit o f E x x o n M o b i l ’s expenses incurred between 2018 and 2020. That review is still to be finalized. The auditors were tasked with verifying the costs racked up by the company, amounting to someUS$7.3billion.

The five sanctioned projects in the Stabroek Block carry a price tag of about US$40 billion which Guyana must scrutinise to make sure it isnotbeingovercharged EconomicAdvisortothe Opposition Leader, Elson Low recently told Kaieteur Newsthatwiththereduction of the costs from US$214 million to US$3 million, Guyanesearenowlefttofear whatmaybetheoutcomeof the audits yet to be undertaken.

He said with the British auditor flagging over US$200 million in costs as questionable from the US$1 6 billion exploration costs, Guyana couldexpectinflatedcosts amounting to billions of US-dollars from future audits.

Moreimportantly,Low noted that failure by the government to contest those costs or to allow a reduction from the oil companies can deprive the country of much-needed revenue to boost the quality of lives for its citizens.

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat

Former President, Donald Ramota

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Road rage

In recent weeks, the public has been bombarded with police statistics on the number of traffic offences being made out daily and those found culpable and sanctioned appropriately

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We commend the Guyana Police ForceTraffic Department for its efforts in going after the errant drivers and other road users.

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However, when one considers that 350 road users, on average, were caught in some traffic violation or the other in a surprise sweep, this does not speak well about what the reality of local roads is. However, why so little was put in place to arrest?

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Indeed, the road has its share of ranks on police motorcycles and other official vehicles all on the move from location to location.Yet the madness, indiscipline, and litany of troubling issues were visible for all law-abiding commuters, drivers, and passersby to observe, shake their heads, knowingly It is Guyana, and what now contributes to a state of generalised road lawlessness.

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US$92M in inflated expenses Exx

Govt. audit into ExxonMobil’s bills missed

- Chris Ram

British company, IHS contract costs. It said these Markit, which flagged expenseswereincurredfrom U S $ 2 1 4 m i l l i o n i n 1999to2015.ThePSAinked questionable spending after in 2016, states that Guyana’s examining ExxonMobil oilmustcoverthiscost. Guyana Limited’s US$1.7B However, Ram said his expenses, appears to have examination of the records overlooked US$92M in for Exxon and its partners, examined US$460M in Kaieteur News, “The inflated sums This was Hess Corporation and expensesbutalsoanotherset government needs to be firm recently pointed out by CNOOC Petroleum Guyana incurred from 2015 to 2017 and deal with the US$214 Chartered Accountant and Limited, show that they only totallingUS$1.2B. million under the table fix A t t o r n e y - a t - L a w , expended a maximum of D e s p i t e s u c h a n and the US$92 million preChristopher Ram in two US$368M. oversight by IHS Markit, 2016 overstatement. What letters carried by Stabroek It therefore means that Ram also highlighted that makes the situation even News. Exxon included in the 2016 TSD Lal & Co., the external more sickening is that the In his first Letter to the PSA, a bill that was inflated auditor for the three government has to finance Editor,Ramremindedthatin byUS$92M. Stabroek block partners, all the audit costs to detect with money, with oil, and a n d C N O O C f o r Annex C of the Production In a subsequent letter, “hasconsistentlygivenclean the improper conduct of with interacting with participating interest in the Sharing Agreement (PSA) Ram made another damning opinions on patently Exxon.”

Those governing the Stabroek revelation the US$92M i n c o n s i s t e n t a n d T h e C h a r t e r e d overseeing the execution of monies he contended should Block, ExxonMobil which inflated sum was not flagged irreconcilable financial Accountantalsostressedthat the petroleum agreement,” be paid back to the leadsaconsortiumwithHess by IHS Markit, which was statements…” these matters should not be the Chartered Accountant government, not in part, but and CNOOC in the appointed back in 2019 to Questioned on the ignored. He told Kaieteur said. intotal.“Wehavetostandup concession included a audit Exxon’s bills. It should implications of this News that this is a painful Ramalsoaddedasanon- for what is right but to charge for US$460M in pre- be noted that IHS not only oversightontwofronts,Ram and costly episode which negotiable that Exxon must sanction what is an said that he is upset that should never be allowed to giveascheduleunderoathof egregiouswrong,amounting Exxon is carrying on with berepeated.“Whatisclearis the moneys received from to a fraud and a crime,” Ram business as usual. He said to that Exxon cannot be trusted Shell (twice) and from Hess concluded.

File in Coldingen fatal hit-and-run sent for legal advice

25-year-old, Adzel Inniss

Twelve days after the fatal accident that snuffed out the life of a young truck driver and father of one, Commander Khali Pareshram has confirmed that police have completed their investigation and the file has been sent to the DPP for legaladvice.

This will determine what happens next, as the family members are anxiously awaiting word while preparing for theburialtheirlovedonethisSaturdayOctober7th.

Deadis25-year-oldAdzelInniss,atruckdriverofBurma Housing Scheme, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD). He was killed after being struck by a black Toyota Fielder Wagon. The accident reportedly occurred on September 22, 2023 at 04:30h while Inniss was stepping out of a truck he had just parked at Coldingen, ECD in the vicinity of the ChicoRamasGasStation.PolicesaidthatInnisshadstepped into the path of the car that was heading in an easterly direction. The car continued driving and public-spirited citizens assisted in getting Inniss to a city hospital where he waspronounceddead.

Four days after the accident police detectives located the car which the lawmen believe was involved in the hit-andrun accident. The police said the Toyota Fielder wagon, bearing registration PAD 9709, was discovered in a secured yard at Victoria, East Coast Demerara (ECD) around 09:35hrs on Tuesday September 26th, by ranks of the VigilancePoliceStation.

The vehicle had extensive damage to the left side front portion, the police said in a statement. “Reports are that one person is assisting the police with investigations into the incident.”There were additional reports that the person who actuallywasdrivingthemotorvehicleonthefatefulday,had fledthecountry,shortlyaftertheincidentoccurred.

G u y a n e s e p e r s o n s Stabroek Block

President negotiating directly with teachers amounts to “executive lawlessness” - GPSU

While calling on its faith in violation of Article bargaining, which he made existing anomalies affecting members to support its 23(1) of the Trades Union in 2016 as an opposition teachers paid below their demands for the People Recognition Act and which parliamentarian. Surely, his minimum salary scales will Progressive Party/ Civic apparently, is intended to set government must be be amended this month. The (PPP/C) government to the stage for another reminded that it was the President also announced return to the legally arbitrary imposition of workers who elevated him that at least two commercial stipulated collective salaries, allowances and and his Cabinet to the banks will prequalify and bargaining process, the other conditions of work.” positionstheynowexploitto approve loans for teachers to Guyana Public Service The union noted that the the detriment of the start building and or to U n i o n ( G P S U ) o n “display of executive workers.” continue building their Wednesday described direct lawlessness” by the According to the union, homes at a special interest negotiations by President President and his team to the PPP/C’s government’s rate once they have been Irfaan Ali at Monday’s meet and negotiate with the “intransigent behaviour is allocated house lots. The meeting with teachers as a teachers takes the body back rapidly tearing the delicate meeting was attended by “display of executive in time, as it reminded that fabric of national unity.” dozens of teachers including lawlessness.” such actions by the “Sowing these seeds of head teachers, deputy head TheGPSUalsonotedina government “had been a division in an already teachers, and heads of statement that the move by major stimulant of the racially and politically department.

the President to engage the crippling 57-days strike of fragmentedcountry,atatime However, the Guyana teachers directly and pursue April-June1999.” when our enemies are Teachers Union (GTU) negotiations with the The 1999 strike, which marshalling for our subsequently noted that the educators was a “total commenced on April 30 destruction is only going to educators who attended the v i o l a t i o n ” o f t h e 1999,disruptedthefunctions reap unrest, poverty, meeting were handpicked by Constitution and Laws of of public service entities and criminalconduct,unpatriotic theauthorities. Guyana. “This suggests that was called off following behavior and suffering on a The GTU noted that the on his ascent to office, he arbitration. scale which is unfathomable teachers who attended the hypocritically swore on the Public servants were at this time,” the union said. forum had no authority to Quran to uphold the said subsequently awarded large It expressed hope that good speak on its behalf or its Constitution and Laws of increases in their salaries at sense prevails in the national members and President of Guyana, since instead of the time. On Wednesday, the interest. the GTU, Mark Lyte noted leading by example as he GPSU called on its members Monday’smeetingbythe that no executive member of oughttodo,hisactionsarein to support its demands of the President and a team of the body attended the disdain of the Constitution, government and the body government officials meeting.

Laws of Guyana, Parliament also urged its members to, including Minister of While the teachers who ratified International Labour “reject the President and his E d u c a t i o n , P r i y a attendedthemeetingtoldthe Organization (ILO) cohorts’ anti-Trade Union Manickchand and Finance President they preferred Conventions and binding posture.” Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, increase in allowances Agreements for Avoidance Said the GPSU. “The saw teachers voicing several instead of increases in their and Settlements of people should also demand concerns about issues salaries, the GTU said the Disputes,”theunionsaid. that the President put into affecting them, including teachers’calldiffersfromthe According to the GPSU, action his vociferous poor ventilation in union’spositionforanacross Ali’s“ill-advisedapproachis proclamations of the classrooms.Thegovernment theboardincreaseonsalaries an act of negotiation in bad necessity for collective noted in a release that forallteachers.

“What is clear is that Exxon cannot be trusted with money, with oil, and with interacting with Guyanese persons overseeing the execution of the petroleum agreement.” – Chris Ram

A consultation was held between the President of Guyana and some teachers. The representative union of teachers were informed of the event and simply told that it was most welcome to attend.

Telling the union that it wasmostwelcometoattend was not a formal invite. It was akin to someone telling you that they have a party and if you want you can come.Thathardlycancount asaninvitation.

Theconsultationwasnot a problem in itself. The government may have been treating those that attended aspartofalargefocusgroup inordertogaintheirinsights into the development of the education sector Focus groups are a legitimate and acceptable method for obtaining qualitative data.A focus group is a qualitative research method commonly used in social sciences. It involves a small group of participantsbroughttogether to discuss and provide feedbackonaspecifictopic. The focus group is to used gather insights, opinions, and perceptions from participants in a structured,

The Invite

interactivediscussion.

Focus groups are valuableforseveralreasons: They provide in-depth qualitative data that can uncover participants’ attitudes, beliefs, and motivations Such groups allow researchers to explore the “why” behind participants’ opinions and behaviors. Focus groups, as a research method, are a relatively quick and inexpensive method of obtainingqualitativedata.

TheInternationalLabour Organizationdidasurveyon the effects of the closure of the sugar estates on workers and their families This surveyutilizedfocusgroups. Wherethingswentawrywas when matters touching on teachers’ benefits were broached. This meant that the subject matter of the consultations touched on issues which have to be negotiatedwiththeteachers’ union. The President was freetodecidethathewanted consultations directly with teachers before engaging with their unions. If there was any mistake made was that this was not made clearer,thatisthefactthathe

will engage the union at a subsequentdate.

IrfaanAliisayoungman but he has to be careful that he does not fall victim to Jagdeo’sstyleofpolitics.He will find that unless he distanceshimselfthepolitics of Jagdeo, he will end up attracting more controversy than the one highlighted in yesterday’s Stabroek News editorial.

In that editorial, the Stabroek News (SN) excoriated the President and the First Lady for hosting a breakfast for the Guyana Amazon Warriors team and not including the other finalist.Theymayhavebeen too premature in its conclusions. It should have taken the time to get all the facts before rushing to judgment. It does not know, for example, whether the Trinibago Knight Riders were actually invited and whethertheydeclined.Some teamswoulddeclinebecause they do not want such an activity to break their focus andconcentration.

But if they were not invited, then this would constituteafauxpassonthe part of the government. By

DEM BOYS SEH

A day in de life of a teacher

When yuh young, yuh doesbelievethatdelifeofa teacher is like strolling through a field of daisies. But as yuh get older, yuh realizedatadayindelifeof a teacher gat its trials and tribulations.

The life of a teacher is not only about imparting knowledge. Yuh does gat administrative duties, including marking yuh class’s daily register And whendedaydone,yuhcan get headaches from having todealwithadifficultclass.

And some of dem children are not easy to manage. Most teachers

dream of having a magic wand dem can wave that would cause dem children to keep quiet and pay attention to what is taking place But dese days teachers frighten fuh even wave a wild cane because dem parents like complain howteachersnatsupposeto flog dem children. Dem boys remember de time demteacherdidteachingde class mathematics. One of de students raised his hand and said, “Excuse me Miss butIdon’tknowhowtosay fractions. How do you say those?”

“Easy,”saidtheteacher,

“you just say the top numberandthenthebottom numberisreadasanordinal number Forexample,2/3is ‘two-thirds’, 3/4 is ‘threefourths’, and 2/5 is ‘twofifths’.”

“Thanks, I understand, “saidthestudent.

“

Good, ” said the teacher, and then asked the student,“sohowdoyousay 4/8?”

“Should I reduce?” askedthestudent

“That would be best,” saidtheteacher.

“One-second,” said the boy.

Talkhalf.Leffhalf

convention (not protocol) bothofthefinalistsoughtto have been on the invite list. But until we know for sure that no invitation was extended to the opposing team, it is premature to say they were not invited. SN was also speculative in presuming that the possible breakfast non-invite may havebeenresponsibleforthe Trinidadians taking off their medals immediately upon receiving them. This act by the players does not appear tobepartofanyprotest.The players were simply disappointed with losing the finalsandthustookofftheir medals. If anything it shows that they were saying that

winning was important to them It was equally prematureforSNtoindicate that the breakfast non-invite could harm Guyana’s chances of hosting matches in next year’s ICC Cricket WorldCup. This is pure speculation, andrankatthat. ButGuyana needs to take seriously the need to ensure that it fixes the thorny issues of parking andthetrafficgridlockalong theEastBankcorridor,ifthe countryistohaveanychance of hosting the latter rounds of matches in the tournament.

Guyana has been found wanting during the CPL in terms of arrangements. It

cannotaffordtodothesame and expect to host matches. Atthesametime,thesortof requirements, demanded by the ICC, about advertising near to and outside the stadium, cannot this time be condoned.

In2007billboardshadto bepulleddown.

That demand should not be entertained this time around. They intrude on our sovereignrights.

H@RD TRUTHS

BY GHK LALL

Contributor’s note: this article

amends,

in parts, its original, as was previously published elsewhere

The PNC went to listening Congressional discrimination in Guyana, think the latter covers where Washington. Washington,DC,recently It team that consented to give and that is the end of the thePNCstandscurrently In Opposition Leader, should have stayed put, and the visiting PNC team an story Except that it is not. other words, go prepared for Norton had to speak less, enjoyedtheincineratingheat audience were done, the NotasIseematters. most eventualities, or don’t give other members of his of Guyana. The PNC team Guyanese travelers and One of the first things I goatall;mostofall,don’tgo t e a m o p p o r t u n i t y t o attack those who call them was not James Stewart’s, pleaderswereinashes. learned from my years in the with ‘two lang haan’ as articulate their insights out, about discrimination, ‘Mr Smith goes to So, where does this leave cold, was that when high Guyanese would say By But, the evidence not being l a c k o f r o b u s t o i l Washington’, but a damp this incendiary and access is granted, then the any measurement, this is a there, as the PPP chortled, management, and no squibthatfizzledout. animosity driven matter momenthastobeseizedwith rank injustice to its people does not tell either the full or p i o n e e r i n g a n d

What the PNC team did involving political and racial both hands, and milked for (and others) who are true story A fact-finding transformational leadership in Washington was to roast discrimination? It is either allthatitisworth. Don’tjust struggling under the weights visit has been mentioned, ofthekindneededhere. The itself alive, and over a slow, present here, or it isn’t walk with problems, be sure of either subtle or barefaced and that will prove or three areas are all publicfireforgoodmeasure. According to the PPP to offer possible solutions. discrimination, and are now d i s p r o v e w h e r e interrelated: do well in one, The burning issue on the Government, it has emerged Make a good impression, forced to face the reality of discrimination stands here andtheothersareboostedfor table was discrimination from a testing moment and the door is always open anotherfailurebyitsown. Now, I proceed along the better Why even give against the party’s looking good before the for a second round. Make a Correction: as was another line The PPP the time of day to those who supporters, primarily Black world. To say this another fool of self, and the door is shared by those present, with Government has been are critical of the PPP Guyanese. Long before the way,thereisnosuchthingas slammed shut on the way 33 supporting pieces of strident to the point of Government on the hot time was over, or the p o l i t i c a l o r r a c i a l out, rarely to be reopened. I detail, the PNC did have shrillness, [and truculence] button issue of racial some significant evidence in whenever discrimination is discrimination? Since there hand at the conference. I tabled. Previously, PPP is nothing of substance on stand corrected, and regret pundits have been quick to that score, then it is better to this error whittle down or dismiss leave them alone, and let the Credible and convincing discrimination contentions world see them for how the legwork has been done, and asyetmoreinstancesofanti- partywishesthemtobeseen. reveals that discrimination PPP naysayers making A s a g i t a t o r s A s has been practiced in some mountains out of ant’s nests. troublemakers. Asdividers. sensitive protective Nonetheless, there is the From my perspective, constitutional agencies, and r e c o r d o f l e a d i n g when the PPP brass focus so serious wrongdoing tabled. government figures running much and so hostilely on Regarding the sharing of around and putting down those who speak of racial relief monies to Guyanese sharp agitations in too many discriminationhere,itisasif who have been hit hard, the Black communities for there is something to hide. I recordisofadistinctskewin comfort. Those residents begin to think that there is a who gets more, who gets were neither creating a big family secret that is best less, who gets nothing at all, ruckus for fun; nor because covered up, not even to be and who gets more often, their hands idled. They live muttered in private parlays. when the inexplicable is at with neighbors and see Sometimes, government work about contracts, firsthand the disparities in leaders protesterd too much, opportunities, land, and t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f and PPP fundamentalists more. The complaints and government favors; plus, spill too much ink. The comparisons emphasize the they labor with their own bottom line is that if racial political ugliness and racial hardscrabble conditions. In discrimination is negligible, inequity that have been at today’s oil rich Guyana, all then all Guyanese should be work, given those who have should see economic oases, l i v i n g h a p p i l y a n d repeatedly come up and they ought not to be the contentedly Now, I want to shorthanded. On sharing in mirages that they are for see who would try to push the national patrimony there those on the wrong side of thatoneonanybody has been mainly only one thePPP (The views expressed in kind of people. With these Since claims of racial this article are those of the areas alone, the PNC had discrimination are treated as a u t h o r a n d d o n o t enough persuasive material nonexistent by the PPP, it is necessarily reflect the to make a halfway decent strange that both the opinions and beliefs of this case about discrimination in government and party n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s Guyana during its time in leadersgooutoftheirwayto affiliates.)

Businessman accused of raping girl, 13 surrenders

A 60-year-old businessman of 11:37 hours, the alleged suspect turned Essequibo, Region Two has surrendered to himself in to the police, accompanied by an the police amid allegations that he raped a attorney Police stated that since other 13-year-oldgirl. aspects of the investigation have been

According to a report from the Guyana completed, the police will now complete the Police Force (GPF), on Wednesday around fileandsenditforlegaladvice.

Guyanese protest in heat wave, demanding ExxonMobil return 20% of Stabroek Block

Almost 40 Guyanese braved the ongoing the excuse is a fair one and agrees with the heatwaveheretoprotestoverthelastthreedays extensiongranted. in front of the President’s Office with placards

Protestors on the other hand, are not buying demanding the return of ExxonMobil’s 20 the excuse and believe that the government percent of the Stabroek block by the end of ought to rescind the one- year extension and let October ExxonMobil return the 20 percent now The

The protest continues today and Friday from extensiongrantedbytheGrangeradministration 09:00 to 12: 00hrs. According to the contract leaves room for it to be revoked if the company signed for the Stabroek Block, ExxonMobil and fails to provide probable cause that COVID-19 its partners have to surrender 20 percent of the had indeed affected its operations The Stabroek Block in October 2023. That is protestors are of the view that the company has reportedlyequivalenttosome120oilblocks. given none. One of reasons why the protestors

However, the American oil company has believe that COVID-19 is not a viable excuse is secured a one-year extension from government. because the company reportedly never stopped The extension was reportedly granted by the producing oil and it is possible that time was David Granger-led administration after Exxon availableforthemtoexploreaswell. and its partners argued that their exploration As they held placards with the phrase, “We plans were affected by unforeseen COVID-19 demand our 120 oil blocks from the Exxon M delays in 2020, and as such, should be given now” and marched to and fro in front of the back the lost time via an extension. Exxon says President’s Office, they chanted “We want back their claim is not an unreasonable one as it is we oil blocks, give we back we oil blocks now”. cateredforundertheforcemajeureprovisionsin One of the protesters said, “we want dem give theStabroekBlockdeal. we back we oil block by the end of October, we

Thecurrentadministrationalsobelievesthat ain’tgivingthemnoextension”.

Protestors in front of the president’s office

File sent for legal advice over shooting of Berbice woman

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has sought the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions(DPP)inrelationtotheshooting of 32-year-old Ashmin Mohadeo of Williamsburg, Corentyne Berbice, Region

SixonSunday

In an update on Wednesday, police said one male associated with the victim is in custody assisting with the investigations. It was also disclosed that one handgun, a magazine, and three live rounds were found during a search at the home address mentionedabove.

Subsequently, a file was sent for legal advice. This publication had reported that Mohadeo was shot on Sunday night, reportedly by her 29-year-old fiancé

Shot, Ashmin Mohadeo

Ali’s housing loan promise to teachers unrealistic’ - Glenn Lall

According to the police, the woman was shot around 07:40 hours. Her fiancé of New lying in front of the gate. The man said he Amsterdam Berbice told the police that he immediatelyraisedanalarmandthatAshmin and Ashmin shared a common law was picked up and taken to the Port Mourant relationship for the past seven years. He said Public Hospital where she was seen and that she had an appointment to have her nails medicallyexaminedbyadoctor doneandhewenttoherresidence. She was later transferred to the New

It was reported that he further disclosed Amsterdam Public Hospital. Her condition is that while packing up their vehicle, Ashmin listed as stable but in a critical state. The was heading back inside the house, some 40 Police said that the area was canvassed for feet away when he heard a loud explosion. CCTV footage and one was seen in the Upon looking around, he observed Ashmin vicinityandwill beextracted.

East Bank traffic woes to be eased in three years

Traffic congestion over would be short lived when the process Having the years has always been a they realize that the Grove to contractorworkingbynights problem authorities Timehri road project would is also a possibility that is seemingly have not been take some estimated thirty being examined as well able to resolve, or control. s i x m o n t h s b e f o r e Desilting of drains, and And many are of the opinion completion. Not to mention widening of roads have thatit’sinsanetobeallowing the fact too, that a already begun along the a large number of vehicles commencement date for the Diamond/Grovearea. into Guyana, while adequate project too, has not been yet Widening and upgrading road ways have not been beenfinalized. the Grove to Diamond Road constructed to accommodate This road project is said is said to further accentuate the daily ‘suffocating traffic to be funded by the Inter- plans for construction of the load’that makes the journey, American Development new US$261 million highto even nearby locations Bank(IDB),andhasbeenset span bridge across the almostimpossible. to the tune of some US$100 DemeraraRiver

Many over the years, million. As dictated by the The new bridge will have been aghast of having project summary for the feature a 2 65-kilometer, to wait for long hours in the venture, both sides of the four lane, high span, cable Harbour Bridge morning, 23.5 kilometres Grove to held road with the driving and afternoon traffic Timehri road will be surfacewidth,expectedtobe congestion, not to mention, rehabilitated. 23.6 meters. The bridge will facing the same experience, Thataside,inthewakeof alsocarryalaneforbicycles, as they attempt to navigate concerns about traffic and is expected eradicate the the East Bank Demerara, buildup during the exercise bridge being closed to West Demerara, and East theMinistry’sWorkServices vehicular traffic, as it is Coast Highways, at peak Group have assured that two expected to 50 metre, fixed periods.Inthewakeofallthe detour roads have been highspantoallowfreetraffic chaos and confusion identified for use during the of seafaring vessels. There surrounding traffic construction period This are also plans to have the congestion around Guyana, would include a detour road Demerara River dredged to Government has announced from Diamond to Good accommodate large vessels. that they are poised to Success, and another road at This exercise will see some assume works on the Grove Good Hope, in front of the 13.5 kilometer expanse of to Timehri infrastructure GTT Exchange. The Work theriverbedbeingfixed. development project Services Group related also The replacement of the Government is assuring that an additional two other very aged floating Demerara commuters that enough roads will also be cut east of Harbour Bridge is said to systemswillbeimplemented Grove to Timehri, being one have surpass its lifespan by to ensure a smooth traffic from the Linden Highway decades. Residents residing flow, even during the road andtheotherfromMandela. around the Demerara constructionprocess. It was also noted that the Harbour Bride will surely While one might have Grove to Timerhi road will welcome a new bridge beenexcitedtolearnofthese not be closed during structure, as it would bring new intended developments, construction, as works will an end to all their you will just have to admit be done in segments, thus transportation, and traveling that all hope and excitement allowing diversions during woes.

In the realm of political promises and policy proposals, President Irfaan Ali’scommitmenttoprovide housing loans to Guyanese teachers has raised questions. Businessman and Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall, has emerged as a vocal critic, raising compelling questions about the viability and practicality ofthisendeavour current economic climate,

Lall’s reservations echoing the skepticism that revolve around the core has greeted this aspect of componentsoftheplana$15 PresidentAli’sproposal. million housing loan for In light of these teachers combined with the income for an extended reservations,Lallpresentsan acquisition of house lots. period and raises a alternative avenue for Whilemanyviewthispledge fundamental question. How financing housing projects with optimism, Lall urges a would teachers and their for teachers and other public more circumspect analysis, families manage to live servants. He points to the branding it as an “unrealistic comfortably under such suggestion put forth by the dream ” “President Ali’s financial constraints, “ a InternationalMonetaryFund proposal sounds promising,” visiblydisturbedLall asked. ( I M F ) a n d o t h e r Lall concedes, “but $15 L a l l ’ s c o n c e r n s international organizations: million can hardly secure a encompass the broader capping interest rates on flat house with 2 or 3 small financialresponsibilitiesthat offshore investments, bedrooms, let alone a two- teachers shoulder, including notably those associated storydwelling. utility bills, transportation with ExxonMobil Lall

To fulfill this dream, costs, and the ever- envisions that redirecting teachers would need more increasing expenses profits from these lucrative than just loans; they’d associated with educating ventures could potentially requireafinancialmiracle.” t h e i r c h i l d r e n H e generate ample resources to

According to Lall, “$15 emphasizes that when fund housing projects that Million at 3 75% means factoring in these essential cater to the needs of teachers interest is $70,000 on costs,theprospectofowning and, by extension, other monthly mortgage That a home with this housing essential public servants. In teacher will take some 30 loan becomes increasingly conclusion, Glenn Lall’s years to pay off the bank, untenable. skepticism towards considering that many The issue of the 3.75% President Ali’s housing loan teachers earn around interest rate, Lall asserts, pledgetoteachersraisesvital $120,000permonth” warrants closer scrutiny He questions about the

“Such a mortgage could challenged the president to feasibility of the plan and its m e a n d e d i c a t i n g a find a bank offering such potential impact on the lives significant portion of their favourable terms in the ofeducators.

Juvenile gang rob, beat school boys at Diamond

A juvenile gang is said to be creating and village sources disclosed that he was much fear among residents of Diamond, and treated at the Diamond Hospital, and sent Grove villages on the East Bank of away Demerara. The gang is said to comprise of A resident of Diamond told this mostly school dropouts from around the publication that the gang members are area, and is often seen hanging around bar, always armed with dangerous weapons, and and busy market areas on weekends, that at least two of them are no older than accordingtooneresident. sixteenyearsold.

On Tuesday about 19:45 hrs the gang This media house understands the 16struck again, two teenaged school boys year-old student who was robbed, resides at being their latest victims Police disclosed Farm Village, East Bank Demerara, while that the boys aged fifteen and sixteen were reports indicate that the boy aged 15 hails headinghomefrom‘afterschoollessons’in from Mocha. While the 16 -year-old was Diamond Village, when they were pounced relieved of a cell phone valued at $85,000, uponbyfivegangmembers the 15-year-old was robbed of a phone Reports suggest that the victims tried to valued at $68,000, a backpack valued at resist the attack, but were soon overpowered $17,000and$200incash. and beaten. Police reports indicated that the Gang members managed to escape after 16-year-old school boy received stab the incident, and police are investigating the wounds about the body during the ordeal, matter

-warnsteachersnottobefooled, saysPresidentsellingdreams

‘Pres

Businessman and Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall

President Irfaan Ali

WANTED VACANCY

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Handyman, Manager, Waitress, Bartenders and Cleaner to work at Sport bar. Call: 223-5273/74, 667-1056.

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Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, ages 23-50, Car/ Van licence. Call: 615-9132 or 645-8443.

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Programme launched to boost male’s achievement in education

The National Literacy Department of the Ministry of Education on Wednesday launched the Male Achievement in Education Programme at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).

This is a pilot programme being rolled out in collaboration with the Ministry’s Secondary Sector, its Health and Family Life Education Unit, Loyola University, Chicago and the Guyana Defence Force.

In a press release the Ministry of Education said, Professor at Loyola University, Dr. Tavis Jules said that research has shown that a country’s human capital is the most vital resource that it needs to utilize. He said that the pilot programme will target those male learners who wrote the last National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) but failed to achieve a passing grade. He said, “What we’re proposing here is the targeted intervention towards those students, particularly boys, that will help them to achieve the competent reading grade by the time they get to third form (Grade nine).” Dr. Jules explained that when thinking

Officers of the Guyana Defence Force along with officials from the Ministry of Education and representatives of the Loyola University at the launch about male underachievement, we also need to consider what is the outcome if the problem isn’t addressed. He said that male underachievement is a crisis that was not recognized early because a lot of investment was made in the education of girls. He said that at the beginning of the millennium, research revealed that gender parity is something that needs to be worked on since historically the emphasis has been on getting girls into school.

“What we have seen now is that because we’ve spent the last decade focused on getting girls in school, we have neglected the boys and because we’ve neglected the

boys, everything from absenteeism to traumatic incidents whether they are at home or school, are now causing a distinctive set of behavioural problems. Those behavioural problems are ultimately impacting their academic achievement,” Dr. Jules explained. He said that the programme will seek to capture male learners who fall into this category and bring them up to their reading grade standard by using the Health and Family Life curriculum. According to the Professor, the HFLE curriculum will be used because it targets literacy and helps to develop interpersonal skills. Mr. Sheldon Granville, Education Officer

within the Secondary Sector said that the Unit supports the programme and considers it a matter of national importance to address the issue since every child can contribute to the development of Guyana.

Mr. Kevin Joseph, Education Officer attached to the National Literacy Department said that the programme will be supported by the Guyana Defence Force where Lieutenant Colonel Chichester and team will mentor the male learners who will be part of the pilot programme. The programme will target five schools initially and will expand in the future to target more schools and learners.

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From page 3 report added that the new natural gas plant is highly unlikely to operate at full capacity in its initial years of operation, if ever.

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Because no details have been released on the financial agreement between ExxonMobil and the Government of Guyana for the delivery of natural gas to the plant, IEEFA’s report states that it is also unknown what contractual risk the government is assuming if it does not use all of the 50 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (MMcf/d) that Exxon is building the pipeline to deliver. This is a critical grey-area IEEFA officials urge Guyanese to demand greater clarity on.

BACKGROUND ON GAS PROJECT

The PPP/C’s plan for a gas-to-energy project entails partnering with ExxonMobil Guyana Limited to construct a massive 218 km offshore pipeline structure that would

bring gas from the Stabroek Block’s Liza field onshore and feed into two facilities, a Natural Gas Plant and a 300MW Power Plant, both to be situated at the Wales Development Zone.

The 12 inch pipeline being constructed by Exxon will have the capacity to transport 50 million cubic feet per day (50 MMcf/d) from the offshore Liza field, and will be able to deliver a minimum volume of no less than 10 MMcf/ d. The Government of Guyana and US consortium, LINDSAYCA/CH4 on December 13, 2022 signed the contract for the construction of the integrated Natural Gas Liquids Plant and the 300megawatt (MW) combinedcycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant at Wales, West Coast Demerara (WCD), Region Three. The historical signing of the contract for the US$759 million project took place at the Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive.

In January 2023, President

Irfaan Ali witnessed the signing of a contract between the Guyana Power and Gas Inc. and Engineers India Limited (EIL) for the provision of Consultancy Services for the Wales Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility as well as the 300 megawatt (MW) power plant.

That contract is pegged at US$22,143,190. The consultancy is for the Consultant to assist the Government of Guyana through the Gas to Energy Task Force in the design review, construction, supervision and general project management of the development of the integrated plants, and contract administration throughout the project implementation process and thereafter during the defects liability period. Government has said project generation costs, taking account of payment for the pipeline, operations and maintenance, and capital cost recovery will total less than five US cents per kilowatt-hour.

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Attorney General, Anil Nandlal

Changes to insurance law would drive up premiums - AG says

whatisrequired,whatdoyou wantthegovernmenttodo?”

In light of the recent spike in road accidents, resulting in damage to property, private and public, aswellasfatalities,therehas beengrowingconcernsfrom citizens about the situation and how the government planstohandleit.

This was addressed by theMinisterofLegalAffairs and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall recently on his programme ‘Issues in the News’,wherehesaid,“The law has been kept that way because if the law is changed, then insurance premiums will have to be increased drastically Because of the law, it’s at a minimum level where compensationpaidout,bears no resemblance to the loss people suffer and sustain fromtheseaccidents.”

N a n d l a l l d i d acknowledgethatchangesin the legislation are necessary since there continues to be recklessuseoftheroadways, and, persons have been complaining of the heavy financial burden they would havehadtoface,withoutany sort of assistance or compensation from the guilty parties or their

insurance provider even thoughtheywerenotatfault.

“Thereisgoingtocomea time where the law in relation to insurance may have to change to allow higher coverage for motor vehiclessothatthoseinjured orpropertiesdestroyed,,can benefit from higher insurancecoverage,”theAG said.

He went on to say that since his government is considerate, they have deliberately kept the insurance at a specific level. This was done to allow personstokeeponbeingable toaffordinsurance,however once the law is changed and the coverage increase, then rates will also increase, whetheritbeminibusortaxi and this will also bounce on tothecostofliving.

He noted that citizens have begun to voice their c o n c e r n s a n d t h e government may have to revisit this situation in order to curb negligent behaviour exhibitedbydriversandroad users in general “A responsible government has to take steps, steps that may penalize certain sections of the population but if that is

Friendship student choked into unconsciousness at school sports

Fr i e n d s h i p Secondary School on the East Bank of Demerara on Tuesday hosted their annual athletics championship on Tuesday and residents are horrified thata13-year-oldschoolboy from the said school was allegedly chocked into unconsciousness.

Relatives of the young boy are angry and horrified that such a hideous act was committed,andnoteacheror students seem to have seen anything, or can reveal the perpetrator Relatives revealed that the boy was choked with a rope until he fainted and when they brought him home, he had horrible 'strangle marks' aroundhisneck.

As reports suggest, the boytoldrelativesthathewas standing under a shed with

TheAG went on to state that,apersonmaybedriving on the road, carefully and sober “but here’s a vehicle comingatthemlikea“lethal weapon”. Because of their carelessness, recklessness, ormaybethefactthatthey’re under the influence, they maycauseyoutolosealimb, suffer serious injuries, become paralyzed, and perhaps even die Since that’s what the Gov’t. is dealing with- and they may havetolookagain.”

Sofarstepshavealready

been taken to have drivers who cause damage to public infrastructure and other public properties, stand the expense of having them returned to their original state. “For too long the state and government agencies have turned a blind eye to wantondestructionofpublic properties, state properties and government properties.

Ittakesbillionsoftaxpayers’ dollars annually to repair, renovate and rehabilitate thesedestroyedproperties.

These destroyed properties are damaged recklessly, negligently,

maliciously, and sometimes intentionally Whatever may be the case in addition to criminalcharges,thestateas a matter of policy will sue those implicated, for compensation of the work done to rehabilitate and we willalsosuefordamagesfor recklessness, negligence, carelessness,asthecasemay be,”Nandlallsaid.

Henotedthataletterwas recentlysenttoadriverwho isallegedtohavedriveninto theroundaboutatEcclesand damaging it, costing the government over $2M to rehabilitate the structure

“The person to whom the letter was addressed has not yet responded as far as I am aware.Hehasbeengiven14 daystodosoandifhefailsto doso,theactionwillbefiled in the courts,” he said. The AG stressed that this is not confined to traffic accidents but all forms of damage to public and government properties. “As citizens, it’s ourdutytoensurethatwedo not deface or destroy properties that require valuable public monies, to rehabilitate, restore and renovate. A strong position willbetaken,”theAGsaid.

other students and teachers, when he suddenly 'felt something around his neck choking him'. He soon lost consciousness, and slumped to the ground Reports suggest that when the boy fainted, teachers called his grandmother, who then informed his father

Relatives said when the father of the boy visited the schooltogetanswers,noone seemedtohaveknownwhat transpired Teachers had takentheboytotheDiamond Diagnostic Hospital where he received medical attention.

Relatives are of the opinion that teachers, and students are covering up for the boy's attacker Sources said the rope used to choke the boy was found on the ground,ashortdistancefrom wheretheincidentoccurred.

High Court dismisses case against EPA over permit that allows Exxon to flare gas

The High Court on Tuesday dismissed an application filed against Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to put a stop to flaring by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited in the Stabroek Block.

The case was filed back in January by three Guyanese women: Sinkka Henry, Sherlina Nageer and Andriska Thorington, through their attorneys-atlaw Melinda Janki and RonaldBurch-Smith.

In their application the women said that the EPA acted unlawfully and Ultra Vires the Envirommetal Protection (EP)Act Chapter 20:05 when it issued a modified Environmental Permit(EP)whichgoverned theconductofthepetroleum operations and production byExxonMobilGuyana.

In the Fixed Date Application (FDA), the women sought orders to quashthedecisiontoreplace the original permit dated September25,2020,withthe said modified permit declaring that a charge of

USD$30pertonneofcarbon dioxideequivalentassetout in the modified EP and argued is in breach of the PolluterPaysPrinciple.

Themodifiedpermithad been previously amended pursuanttoanorderofCourt so as to limit its validity to fiveyearsasstipulatedbythe EP Act The applicants sought a number of mandamus orders directing the EPA to issue certain orders and directions to ExxonMobil as regards its operationsfortheproduction ofoil.Thewomenclaimedin their application that the oil

company has been flaring associated gas almost continuously since it began production in December 2019,despiteundertakingto reinject the associated gas, andnotflareit.InMay2021 afterExxonMobilhadflared billions of cubic feet of associated gas, the Environmental Protection Agencypurportedtomodify Esso’s permit to allow it to flare gas in exchange for a US$30 fee per tonne of carbondioxideequivalent.

The litigants therefore contended that the agency’s decision to modify Esso’s environmental permit to allow flaring was irrational and unlawful and that it should be quashed by the court. They also argued that the agency breached the Environmental Protection Act Cap 20:05 by purporting to allow Esso to flare in return for paying a fee.InherrulingonTuesday, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George Wiltshire noted that whilereferencesmadebythe counsel for the applicant wereacknowledged,thecase ultimately turns on the

eviden

According to the Chief Justice, the evidence

Justice George Wiltshire noted to that the application consistedofalotofopinions by the applicant and their lawyer

“I got the distinct impression that the applicants were cherrypicking what they wanted o relyontosupporttheircase, identifying and relying on clausesorpartsinisolation,” theChiefJusticesaid.

As it relates to the fees, the judge noted that while EPA did not respond to allegation about pollution fee, ExxonMobil’s country

Manager,Alistair Routledge produced evidence of comparative flaring fee for othercountriesincludingthe EuropeanUnionandCentral and South America which said USD $30 fee is in the mid-range of fee charged internationally

To this end, Justice George Wiltshire concluded that the EPA act of issuing the modified EP to Exxon has not breached the EPAct andRegulation.

“Nor has it been proven that the issuance of the said modified EP gave rise and has given rise to an additional adverse effect on theenvironment.

There is nothing in the law that prevents the issuance of a modified EP; and in this case, nothing of the facts rendered the

issuance of the modified EP unlawful, ” she said Additionallythechiefjustice f o u n d t h e E PA’ s implementation of the Polluter Pays Principle in the modified EP is in compliance with section 4 (4)(a)oftheEPAct.

Given her conclusion, the judge said in hindsight, the application should have been dismissed when it became clear that the applicantswerenotpursuing most of their claims and or had evidential basis to supportthemallinrelationto apurelyacademicpoint.

As such the application was dismissed with costs to the EPAin the nominal sum of sum of $150, 000 to be paid on November 3, 202. However,therewasnoorder astocostinfavourofExxon.

NPTAB defends $865M contract award to ‘Guyanese Critic’

T h e N a t i o n a l Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) has defended its award of a $865M to Tepui Group Inc.- a company that was registered last year to buildapumpstationatBelle Vue,WestBankDemerara.

Thecompanyisaffiliated with social media commentator, Mikhail Rodrigues,popularlyknown as “Guyanese Critic ” Rodriguesisaclosefriendof leaders in the People’s Progressive Party, particularly Vice President BharratJagdeo.

Below is the full statementbyNPTAB

T h e N a t i o n a l Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) wishes to explain again that it follows the systems, processes and procedures enshrined in the Procurement Act and its regulations in the award of contracts.Thisincludesinter aliathefollowing:

•Publicadvertisementof alltenders,publicopeningof bids (in fact NPTAB is singular in that it opens and reads all bids in full view of bidders and the public at large both in-person and virtually),andtheevaluation of bids by a three-person independent evaluation

team The bidding documents contain the criteria to be used for the assessment of the winning bidder (which does not prescribe any role for the gender, race, religion, or political persuasion of the bidder). The evaluators are required to apply the evaluation criteria, and that alone, as the basis for its recommendation to the Board, and the Board’s award is subject to a noobjection of Cabinet, if the value of the award is above G$15million.

• In any bid, there are administrative,technicaland financial criteria to be followedwhichareassessed by the Evaluation Committee in making its recommendationtoNPTAB. These criteria are all fully enshrined in the specific tender document applicable to the specific procurement, whether for goods, works or services.

• F o r c l a r i t y , administrative compliance includesprovisionofavalid business registration, valid Guyana Revenue Authority and National Insurance Scheme compliances, applicable bid security, signed bid form by the authorized representative of the firm, and any other

documentrequiredbythebid document. Non-compliance with any of these would result in the bid not being considered for further evaluation.

• Arithmetic check is then conducted to correct anydiscrepancy

This may result in the actual bid price being different from what was called at the opening of the bid.

• A key aspect of the evaluation process entails assessing technical and financial capacity This includes that the bidder demonstrates specific

construction experience and evidence of financial capacity

• Additionally, bidders must meet the stated equipment and human resources requirements in thebiddocument.

• Finally, bidders who have three (3) or more outstanding contracts from any public sector agency, will not be considered for award An outstanding contract is one where more than20%ofthevalueofthe contract is not completed as

t deadline for final completion.

Specifically, with regardstotheconstructionof the Belle Vue Pump Station project, twenty-six (26) companies tendered for that project. Thirteen (13) bids were deemed nonresponsive and were therefore not considered for award. Of the thirteen (13) substantially responsive and compliant bids, the lowest priced responsive bid was awarded the Meeten-Meer Zorg Pump Station, while thesecondlowestresponsive bid was awarded the Jimbo /GrovePumpStation.

Tepui was the third lowest priced responsive bidder and was awarded the BelleVuePumpStation.

Clearly, therefore, merely looking at the bid price announced at the openingofthebidcannotbe used to adjudge the winning bidder and, worst yet, be used to impugn the integrity oftheevaluationprocessand subsequent award of the contract.

As such, the views expressed by Mr Mahipaul in his recent letter to the Kaieteurnewsandtheviews expressedbythesubsequent EditorialofthesaidKaieteur News are without merit and not based on any fact. They are whimsical and apparently fanciful political

gimmickry Both views contradicted themselves in that they both acknowledge that the rules governing an award is not necessarily an award to the lowest priced bid, yet they queried the award to a bid that was not thelowestpricedbidwithout any recourse to the detailed evaluationprocess.

In accordance with the standard procedure, an award is made to the lowest priced RESPONSIVE bid. Responsiveness in this regardissubjecttothestated criteria in the bidding document.

Nothingelse!!!

It is farfetched and indeed malicious for both views to cast aspersions on the integrity of the evaluation process or NPTAB when, clearly no evidence is forthcoming of anymis-procurement.

Subject to the award of any contract, and in accord with provisions in the ProcurementAct,anybidder can appeal an award subject to it being done in the specified form and manner NPTAB is not in receipt of anyappealtoitsawardfrom anybidder

And were there to be an appeal,itwillbedealtwithin the prescribed manner consistentwiththeLaw

Exxon Mobil has been given a permit that allows company to flare for a fee.

Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George Wiltshire

Social media commentator, Mikhail Rodrigues, popularly known as “Guyanese Critic”

Woman raped by man she met on dating site

reated for singles

Che continued to assault her aroundandsodomisedher”. to find love, a whilesaying,“tobehavelike “I felt like I wasn’t dating app called abiggirlandtakeit”. human with how this man

‘Tinder’ turned

The man then reportedly treated me”, she said as she out to be a nightmare for a raped her brutally The recalled him ordering her to 22-year-old Guyanese victim said she continued to shower herself. Bruised and woman on Tuesday after a fight back throughout the battered and in pain, he man she met on the website ordealandeventoldhimthat reportedly made her dress rapedheronthefirstdate. she will report him to the and dropped her home

The rape reportedly took police but that did not stop before returning her cell place during the evening him. He responded by phone. She immediately hours after the two were left choking her as he continued openedthedatingapptofind alone at a location in to penetrate her forcefully. his photo only to find that he Georgetown Kaieteur “After he ejaculated he unmatched and blocked her News learnt that the victim pulledmeoffthebedshoved The young woman said she was befriended by the me down on the floor to my showeredherselfagainather suspect a few months back knees and tell me to pull of homebutcouldnotgetridof after they “matched” on the his condom”, the victim said the scent of his “cigarette website. while adding that he also breath” and cologne he wore

Theybeganchattingwith demanded that she gave him and even considered each other reportedly “on- oralsex. committingsuicide. off”.Themanhadinvitedher

Already weak she still She related too that she out for dates but the victim kept resisting him and he hasn’t related the incident to never agreed until he finally reportedly going smoothly and started rubbing his body her to get the water, he assaulted again. “I was still her family and is even managed to convince her to until the two were left alone. against hers. “I got up and grabbedherandforcedintoa crying and he slapped me to reluctant to report the matter gooutwithhimonTuesday According to the victim he saidnoIamnothavingsex”. room at the location where the face again”, related the tothepoliceforfearofbeing

It was their first date and turned into a monster “He She then reportedly got up he raped, beat and woman while recounting judged by the public of he managed to lure the started asking me sexual from next to him and sat in sodomized her before that at that point she had placing herself in a victim in his trap by getting questions”,thevictimsaidas another chair a fair distance dropping her home in tears. already given up the will to vulnerable position. “I don’t her to believe it was just a she recalled him moving away She then requested a “I tried fighting him live. “I told him to kill me..I want anyone questioning me friendly chat so that they can from where he was and glass of water but little did off…while saying no but don’t mind dying tonight”, right now because I am not get know each other He leaningovertokissher she know that the date was then he squeezed me and she recounted. By this time mentally in a good place at pickedherupfromherhome The woman said that she not going to take no for an held my two hands together the man made sure that he themoment…Iamcryingall and took her to the date pulled away but then the answer and removed my pants”, tookpossessionofherphone the time” , she said location Everything was suspect grabbed her breasts While allegedly taking recalledthevictim. and put it out of her reach Nevertheless, she confided

The man then slapped before raping her a second in a close friend she trusts her to face and asked her if time. “He pulled out another and gave permission for her she liked rough sex before condom and told me, “you story to be reported in shoving his fingers in her see how hard I am for you. I Kaieteur News so that her vagina. “I started crying but still want you”, the victim ordeal could serve as a he didn’t care”, added the continued as she relived the warning to other single victim. horror She said that during women looking for love on

She continued that that thesecondrapeheturnedher Tinder

Suspected bush fire destroys Berbice farm

Several homeless after fire destroys Charlestown building

A section of the farm that was destroyed by fire.

A massive fire Wednesday night ripped while reportedly jumping from the burning through a three-storey wooden and concrete building. building at the corner of Lyng and Howes Some of the residents in the area accused Streets, Charlestown, Georgetown leaving the firefighters of arriving without water and severalpersonshomeless. taking too long to respond which could have

Thefireeruptedsometimeafter07:00hrs. causedtheflamestospreadtonearbyhouses.

Kaieteur News understands that the fire first However,whenKaieteurNewsarrivedat started on the top flat of the building and the scene there were at least three fire trucks quicklyspreadtothebottomflat. at the scene. One of the them connected to a

Luckily all of the occupants of the house hydrant in the area and within a matter of managed to escape including an elderly minutes,theywereabletocontainthefireand woman who was living on the bottom flat of preventitfromspreadinganyfurther thebuilding. Some nearby buildings were scorched

Kaieteur News understands too that one during the incident and a light pole had also individual sustained injuries to their back caughtfire.

DesmondJacobs,afarmerof#40Village, remaining flames amongst the badly West Coast Berbice is still reeling from the damaged crops and trees. Jacobs estimated shock he received when he made a routine hislossestobeintheexcessofG$2M. check on his cash crop and fruit farm at Belle While the authorities have deemed the Vue,WestCoastBerbiceonMondaylast. fire to be of unknown origin, Jacobs is Jacobsmadearoutinevisittothefarmand adamant that the inferno was an act of arson. noticed smoke emanating from a section of He is urging the police to conduct a detailed the location. When he entered, he found a investigationintotheincident. section of the farm ablaze. The flames soon Officials of the National Agricultural raged out of control, engulfing cash crops, Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) fruittrees,andastorageroomwithpesticides. havesinceengagedthefarmerontheordeal.

Upon discovering the blaze, Jacobs Guyana is currently experiencing daily hurried from the location, but returned when high temperatures. The prolonged El Nino theflameshadalmostsimmereddown.Using period in has led to many bush fires erupting buckets of water, he extinguished the acrossthecountry

The Tinder dating app

Building on fire at Lyng and Howes Street , Charlestown.

Thursday October 05, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

Today you might be in the public eye along with some close friends and perhaps a love partner. You may be giving a speech, leading a discussion group.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Whether or not you're artistic, Taurus, inspiration for music, painting, writing, or other creative projects could come to you thick and fast today.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

A group activity could involve a number of people, including some close friends, who share your intellectual, philosophical, or spiritual interests.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

Today you might be in the public eye along with some close friends and perhaps a love partner. You may be giving a speech, leading a discussion group, or be the center of attention at a party.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

A new and exciting person, possibly someone from a distant state or foreign country, could come into your life today. You could spend hours talking.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

Some unusual dreams could have unexpected side effects, Virgo. They could spark new ideas for creative projects or possible innovative concepts to advance your career or social life.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

Social contact with new and exciting people, Libra, perhaps at a neighborhood gathering, could bring intriguing information your way. You could learn about new fields that interest you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Work might take up a lot of your time today, Scorpio, perhaps job related, perhaps chores around the house. Friends or family may join you, and their conversation could help relieve some of the tedium.

SAGIT (Nov.22–Dec.21)

Much of your day is likely to be spent in the company of family, close friends, and a current or potential love partner, Sagittarius. Business partners could be involved.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) The Today you might decide to host a social event in your home, perhaps for friends and colleagues with whom you share intellectual, philosophical.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

A large gathering, perhaps a festival of some kind, could take place in your neighborhood today, Aquarius. You could choose to attend with some close friends and your romantic interest.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

Discussions with friends or colleagues about possible future business enterprises could find you taking notes, Pisces. Your natural meticulousness should serve you well.

Another powerful allround performance by Regal which enabled them to win the 2023 Prime Minister’s Softball Cup Legends category against New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL).

Playing last Sunday at the Demerara Cricket Club ground in Queenstown, Georgetown, the Regal Legends outfit surpassed the 180 from the allotment of 20-overs set by the Americans.

Regal achieved victory with 30 balls remaining as they continued to hit headlines in this over-50 category for the past few years.

It was another demonstration of their invincibility as they kept winning championships after championships,

both locally and overseas.

Even as recent as last year, they rolled over the same opponents utilizing the psychological advantage on this occasion.

In pursuit of the target, Regal suffered an early blow losing Mohindra Arjune for seven but Yuniss Usuf and the gifted softball player Ramesh Narine quickly associated in a steady, 93-run stand to restore the innings.

Usuf, who had a memorable tournament having accumulated the most runs 356, once again spearheaded the chase by knocking a responsible 68.

Narine was equally brilliant and ensured his innings of 66 not out proved instru-

mental.

Regal win Legends category at GSCL Inc Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup

Both caressed a number of boundaries with consummate ease. The pitch was ideal for batting and the lightning fastoutfield, enticed stroke-plays.

They were probably inspired to play stubborn cricket as well as a whopping $1M first prize at stake.

Earlier, NYSCL called correctly at the toss and opted to bat. The innings had an early wobble but Quayam Farooq struck a top-score of 50. Some decent contributions came from Jagdeo Persaud with 35, Ricky Edwards with 21 and 20 from Tony Fernandes.

Skipper and the experienced Mahendra Hardyal finished with 3-33 from his four maximum overs. He started the attack with Rickey Persaud, who received some belting despite being stingy upfront.

At the post-match presentation, Regal also collected a trophy while NYSCL was the recipient of $50,000 and a trophy. Player-of-the-match Narine was given a trophy too for scoring that vital half-century and picking up a solitary wicket. Usuf deservedly named the player-of-the-series. His highest score was 193 not out in a preliminary round.

Ten teams featured in the Legends, eight in the masters’ category which was won by Regal Over-40 side while Ariel glorified themselves with the All-Stars Opening category trophy having challenged five other teams. For the Ladies, 4R Lioness emerged champions in their eight-team knockout competition but details from those matches in a subsequent post.

Over $3M were up for grabs and the 3-day softball extravaganza was hosted by the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

The Honourable Prime Minister of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana Brigadier (retired) Mark Phillips declared the tournament open on Friday at Eve Leary ground also in Georgetown. He graced the occasion on Sunday but only witnessed the All-Stars Opening category championship encounter that took place under floodlights.

This year marks the 7th edition. Trophies were sponsored by Trophy Stall of Bourda Market with location in Markham, Ontario, Canada.

Usuf received a one-piece Sofa Set for his sterling batting effort, compliments of Regal Stationery and Computer Centre.

Regal Legends celebrate.

4R Lioness retain GSCL Inc Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup trophy

4R Lioness have retainedthefemalecategory trophy after beating HighwayChallengersby44 runsinthefinalofthe2023 Prime Minister’s Softball Cup tournament on Sunday at the Demerara Cricket Club ground Queenstown, Georgetown 4R Lioness batted first after winning the toss and reachedarespectable163-6 off their 15-overs while HighwayChallengerswere at 119-7 when the overs expired.

SkipperTimekaWilson hitatop-scoreof63for4R Lioness. She was named player-of-the-matchforher battingeffort.

Shameeza Abrams scored 31 but she copped the player-of-the-series

prize after totalling up 126 runs and grabbing 7 wickets for the entire tournament

Wilsonreceivedatrophybut Abrams was given a 32" SmartTV Thewinningteam pocketed $300,000 and a trophy while Highway Challengershadtosettlewith $25,000 and a trophy Abrams’TVwasdonatedby Regal Stationery and Computer Centre while trophies were sponsored by Trophy Stall of Bourda Market and with location in Markham, Ontario, Canada as well Eight teams began participation in the knockoutshowpiece.Inthe last edition (2022), 4R Lioness defeated Trophy StallAngelsattheNational Stadium to crown champion as the female

Six times MotoGP champion Marquez to leave Honda

category was introduced. Four teams had taken part on that occasion Meanwhile,themaleplayers wereonshowtooatthesame venue There were three categories: the legends, Masters andAll-Stars Open GeorgetownSoftballCricket LeagueInc hostedtheevent in collaboration with the OfficeofthePrimeMinister and the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport It was the 7th edition President of the L e a g u e I a n J o h n congratulated the victorious side He reflected that only four teams took part last year but happy to see the addition of four teams this y e a r H e a l s o acknowledged the support of the sponsors for coming onboard.

(Reuters) - Six-times MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez will leave Hondaattheendofthe2023 season after both sides agreed to terminate their four-year contract a year early, the Japanese manufacturersaidyesterday

The separation ends an 11-year association between Marquez and Honda and clears the way for the 30year-old Spaniard to ride a Ducatinextyear

Marquez had said last monththathewouldcometo a decision during the Indian and Japanese Grands Prix, which concluded over the weekend.

“ W e s h a r e d unforgettable moments: six World Championships, five Triple Crowns, 59 victories, 101 podiums and 64 poles. Hard work, determination andbondwehavebuiltover the years,” Marquez wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter

“Laughs,tears,joys,hard moments, but most importantly: a unique and unrepeatable relationship Separated, but always together!”

Marquez’s younger brother Alex rides for Ducati’s satellite Gresini Racing team and the team have been waiting for Marc tomakeadecision.

There was no immediate comment from the team yesterday

“Both parties agreed it

was in their best interests to eachpursueotheravenuesin the future to best achieve their respective goals and targets,” the Honda Racing Corporationstatementsaid.

The Spaniard has struggled with injury and an uncompetitive bike this season, although he finished aseason-highthirdinarainhit and shortened Japanese GrandPrixattheweekend.

Before that he had finished only three races with a best finish of seventh atMisanoinItaly Honda have not been abletomatchthepaceofthe Ducati bikes, leading to Marquez attempting to ride hisbikebeyonditslimitsand crashingseveraltimes.

Marquez,whojoinedthe RepsolHondateamin2013, won six championships, his lastcomingin2019whenhe

won the title with a commanding 151-points lead.

Hisfirstvictoryinthetop class was on a Honda in Austin, Texas, in 2013 — making him the youngest MotoGP winner on his way to becoming the youngest champion in the premier category

However, a crash in the season opener in 2020 saw Marquezrequirearmsurgery which ended his season prematurely, while diplopia (double vision) caused by concussion after a crash caused him to miss races in 2021and2022.

His brother Alex impressed with Gresini and has already claimed more than double his points tally from last season after makingtheswitchfromLCR Honda.

Ariel Knight Riders beat Regal in open final

Ariel Knight Riders beat Regal in the final of the open category when the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc Prime Minister’s T20 softball Cup concluded on Sunday night at DemeraraCricketClub.

Batting first, Regal made 172 with Ricardo Poloram scoring 82 while Keyon

Sinclair took two wickets. Ariel Knight Riders responded with 174-6 Quentin Sampsonstruck77notoutasRohitDutchin claimedtwowickets.

Sampson was named the MVP and also tooktheman-of-the-matchprizeinthefinal.

The winners took home $600,000 and a trophyandrunnerup$50,000andatrophy

ViratKohliseenrejoiningIndiaWorldCup...

Frompage23 reasons. In the process, he also skipped I n d i a ’s t r a i n i n g s e s s i o n i n Thiruvananthapuram.

However, it was later reported that a sourcefromtheBoardofControlforCricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that the training sessionwas“optional”.

Meanwhile, India’s second warm-up game against Netherlands was also washed out due to persistent rain in

Thiruvananthapuram.Indiaaretheonlyteam settoentertheWorldCupwithoutbattingor bowlinginthewarm-upmatches.Apartfrom Kohli, other players such as captain Rohit Sharma, middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer, and pacer Mohammed Shami also skipped the optional training session, which was attended by the likes of Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and the veteran spin pair of Ravichandran Ashwin andRavindraJadeja.

Repsol Honda Team’s Marc Marquez celebrates after finishing third in the MotoGP. (REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo)

Simone Biles leads US women’s team to seventh straight world gymnastics title

U S A T O D AYANTWERP, Belgium —

TheU.S.womengotanother world title. And a couple of spots in the history books to gowithit.

TheAmericans won their seventhconsecutiveteamtitle at the world gymnastics championships,breakingatie with China’s men The Chinesewonsixfrom2003to 2014 The US women have

now won every team title datingbackto2011

The team gold also was SimoneBiles’33rdmedalat the world championships and Olympics, tying Vitaly Scherbo for most by any gymnast.Bilesalreadyisthe most-decorated gymnast, male or female, at the world championships with 26 medals,20ofwhicharegold.

Biles closed the meet

with an authoritative routine on floor exercise She got massive height on her tumbling passes and, after having to pull her heels up to stay in bounds on the first, nailedthelandingsonherlast threepasses

The crowd went wild as she finished, and coaches Cecile and Laurent Landi

andtherestoftheAmericans lineduptohugher

Her score of 15166 gave the US women a total of 167729, almost 22 points aheadofBrazil

When it flashed, Biles hugged young teammate Joscelyn Roberson, who was injured before the meet began.

Independent - Virat

Kohli has rejoined India’s WorldCupteamafterflying to Mumbai due to an unknownfamilyemergency

Kohli yesterday flew f r o m M u m b a i t o Thiruvananthapuram, which was the venue for India’s second warm-up match against Netherlands, accordingtomediareports

Kohli and the entire IndianWorldCupcontingent flew to Chennai from the Kerala capital ahead of their opening fixture of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

Indiaaresettokick-starttheir World Cup campaign on 8 October against Australia at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai Team India will be playingacrossninevenuesin theWorld Cup, which is due tobegintoday

Kohli,meanwhile,putup a cheeky message meant for h i s f r i e n d s a n d acquaintances on his Instagramaccount.

“As we approach the World Cup, I would humbly like to let all my friends know to not request me for tickets all through the

tournament Enjoy from your homesplease,”hewroteinhis InstagramStoryfollowedbya laughingemoji Invideosthat have been circling on social media, Team India is seen landingattheChennaiairport andenteringateambus

Kohli was with Team India in Guwahati for their firstwarm-upfixtureagainst England However, the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled because of rain. Instead of flyingwiththeteamtoKerala for their second warm-up match against Netherlands, Kohli went home on 30 Septemberduetopersonal

(Continuedonpage22)

Virat Kohli seen rejoining India World Cup squad after ‘family emergency’ in Mumbai

Virat Kohli

Simone Biles’33rd medal at the world championships and Olympics helped the US team to the gold medal.

Simone Biles competes on the beam during the women’s team final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Regal Masters triumph in over-40 division

ITtookasuperover to decide the Masters Over-40 winners in the nail-biting contest between eventual winners,Regal Masters, and Ariel Masters in t h e G e o r g e t o w n Softball Cricket L e a g u e ( G S C L ) Inc/Prime Minister’s T 2 0 s o f t b a l l tournament, which ended in a blaze of glory at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, Queenstown on Sunday last Opener and MVP

Patrick Rooplall slammed 19 as Regal Masters posted20inthesuperover before limiting Ariel Masters to 12. Earlier, Ariel Masters reached a challenging200forsix.

Samuel Kingston made 44, Rawl Reid 41, Sheldon Adams 35 and PatrickKhan30.

Lakeram Roopnarine took two for 22 while EhwaasBakshhadtwofor 47.

EyaazMohamedmade 39 while Baksh scored 21 forRegalMasters,intheir reply

The winners took home $600,000, a trophy and medals for the players while the runnerup received $50,000 and atrophy

Baksh was awarded the player-of-the- match for his all-round performance while the Most Valuable Player (MVP) prize of a 32-inch television, compliments of Regal Stationery and Computer Supplies, went toRooplallwhoscoredan even hundred and an unbeaten 90 in the preliminaryround.

2030 World Cup will be hosted by six countries across three continents, Fifa announces

Independent - Spain, Portugal and Morocco will co-host the 2030 men’s Fifa World Cup – but only after Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay have staged the openingthreegames

Fifa has handed the SouthAmericantriotheright tohostthefirstthreematches of the tournament to celebratethecentenaryofthe firstWorldCup,heldin1930 by Uruguay, who beat Argentina in the final ParaguayishomeoftheSouth American federation Conmebol, which organised thetournament.

Uruguay’s Estadio Centenerio in Montevideo was the setting for the first World Cup final and so will kick-off the tournament, before the second game is played in Argentina and the thirdinParaguay

Those three teams and their opponents will then fly to join the rest of the competition, which will be played in the main host nations of Spain, Portugal andMorocco

Real Madrid’s Santiago BernabeuStadiumisexpected tostagetheopeningceremony and the World Cup final All six host nations will qualify automatically, leaving 42 furtherspots.

T h e n e w s w a s announced on social media by the Conmebol president Alejandro Dominguez, who is also a vice-president of Fifa and a Fifa Council member

The Paraguayan had led

South America’s four-way bidtostagetheentiretyofthe 2030 World Cup, which had alsoincludedChile.

“We aimed high and dreamed big,” Dominguez tweeted “The 2030 centenary World Cup starts whereitallbegan.

The host of the opening matches of the centenary World Cup will be Uruguay, ParaguayandArgentina.”

Morocco will finally become the first North African nation to host the WorldCup,afterfailingwith bids to stage previous editionsin1994,1998,2006, 2010 and 2026.The country isduetohostthe2025Africa CupofNations.

Portugal will also host for the first time, having failed in joint bids with Spain to hold the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, which went to Russia and Qatar respectively

Spain hosted the 1982 WorldCup,whichwaswon by Italy at the Bernabeu Fifa president Gianni Infantino said in a statement: “In a divided world,Fifaandfootballare uniting The Fifa Council, representingtheentireworld of football, unanimously agreed to celebrate the centenary of the Fifa World Cup,whosefirsteditionwas played in Uruguay in 1930, inthemostappropriateway

“Asaresult,acelebration will take place in South America and three South American countries

Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay–willorganiseone matcheachoftheFifaWorld Cup 2030. The first of these three matches will of course be played at the stadium where it all began, in Montevideo’s mythical Estadio Centenerio, precisely to celebrate the centenary edition of the Fifa WorldCup.

“The Fifa Council also agreed unanimously that the onlybidtohosttheFIFAWorld Cup2030willbethejointbid of Morocco, Portugal and Spain Twocontinents–Africa andEurope–unitednotonlyin a celebration of football but alsoinprovidinguniquesocial andculturalcohesion Whata great message of peace, tolerance and inclusion. “In 2030, we will have a unique global footprint, three continents – Africa, Europe and South America – six countries – Argentina, Morocco, Paraguay, Portugal, Spain and Uruguay – welcoming and uniting the world while celebrating together the beautiful game, the centenary and the Fifa WorldCup ”

Fifarulesdictatethatthe WorldCupcannotbehosted in the same continental federation again for the next two tournaments With Mexico, USA and Canada staging the event in 2026, and Europe, Africa and South America all involved in 2030, it means the 2034 tournament will be held in eitherAsiaorOceanania.

Regal Masters with their prizes.

Rosignol Secondary top performers in PE Golf - again performers in Secondar

Once again, in the schools that golf was available as a PE elective, Rosignol Secondary under the guidance of Sir Kevon Jawahir led the nation with 100% pass rate (93% at GradeI).

While students are required to each do 3 sports forCSECPEandSport,Golf wastheonetheychosetodo astheirexternalexam.

In fact, the numbers of studentswhoaddedgolfto their chosen sport increased from 116 on 2022to286in2023

Based on the level of interest from additional schools, it is expected that over 600 students will participate in CSEC PE Golfin2024 Rosignol Secondary was joined by students from Bush Lot, Queens College, President’s C o l l e g e , B a r t i c a , Friendship, Anna Regina, Aurora and Cottonfield Secondary schools in adding golf as a PE electiveandexternalexam forCSEC

What is of great significance is that the teaching methods being applied that is gaining such incredible results w e r e e x c l u s i v e l y developed by Master CoachAleem Hussain and the Nexgen GolfAcademy in partnership with the Ministry of Education Unit of Allied Arts, without any access or use of a golf course, yet there’s a drastic disparity in Guyana’s successful pass rate versus othercountrieswithmultiple golfcourses.

Golf has grown in popularity over the past few years due to the dedicated push by the Guyana Golf Association

and Master Coach Aleem Hussain to ensure that thousands of persons are given access to try the sport

In addition, dozens of major companies have lent their support to create a pathway for all Guyanese to experience the game for the firsttime.

Innovative use of tournaments using a shortened version of the game has led to a wider and more diverse audience, with a similar visionnowbeingpursuedby Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy

A c c o r d i n g t o Hussain, “Golf can be the most rewarding or frustrating game

But it’s simply a game of repetition, 3, 4 and 5 shot holes played a r o u n d v a r i o u s

c h a l l e n g e s a n d obstacles

We simplify the game to make it fun and our playersonlyhavetoadaptto course conditions once they understand how to hit a ball properly We guarantee that anyone, regardless of physical ability, will be able to do so in less than

1 5 m i n u t e s o f instruction!”

The Nexgen Golf Academy, open to the public, is a centrally located, lighted driving range and practice facility on the Scout

Association Ground,

Wo o l f o r d Avenue Georgetown.

F r i e n d l y a n d knowledgeable coaching staff are always ready to make your golfing experienceagreatone.

Call 645-0944 for reservations or stop by any dayoftheweek.

Students at the Nexgen Golf Academy programme.

Ariel Knight Riders