Guyana borrows K NEWS another US$90M from IDB for education sector AIETEUR
Thursday Edition October 19, 2023 - Vol. 16 No. 43
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Guyana Govt. incapable of fulfilling roles in new Guyana on oil contracts - Exxon Venezuela guard, as ‘20 dead’ in Israel strike ramps up ....as US votes against UN resolution calling on Rafah for humanitarian pause in Israel-Hamas war military
activities near border
Eight guns, ammo, drugs found in barrel at CJIA
A Palestinian man carries an elderly woman past the site of a deadly explosion at al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City [Abed Khaled/AP Photo]
Corentyne businessman killed during robbery, suspect arrested
GRA debunks misinformation from Exxon ...says US$214M audit closed FREE PALESTINE!
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Thursday October 19, 2023
Kaieteur News
Exxon Boss says company only told
about GRA's role in US$214M after controversy erupted - said he felt sorry for Bobby Gossai C ountry Manager for ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Alistair Routledge clarified on Tuesday that his company was never initially informed by government that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is the sole body signing off on all audit findings related to its expenses. Routledge said this only became clear following the controversy that erupted in the audit of ExxonMobil's US$1.7B expenses. The audit in question was first done by British firm, IHS Markit in 2019. In a 2021 report, the British firm had flagged over US$214M in questionable spending incurred from 1999 to 2017. Since the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) grants the Natural Resources Minister (Vickram Bharrat) the right to have Exxon's spending audited, his ministry automatically assumed an oversight role. In so doing,
ExxonMobil Country Manager, Alistair Routledge Kaieteur News later learnt and published that the ministry's Senior Petroleum Coordinator, Bobby Gossai, engaged Exxon in the reduction of the US$214M sum to US$3M. The ministry later said this was an unauthorized move and announced that Gossai would face disciplinary action since his actions represented a deviation from the GRA's
advice to close the audit at US$214M. Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo who also serves as the chief policy maker on the sector subsequently made it pellucid clear that GRA is entrusted with the responsibility to review the findings of any audit into Exxon's expenses. Dr. Jagdeo had also said that the advice of GRA is what the
Senior Petroleum Coordinator, Bobby Gossai government would accept as final on such matters. Routledge told reporters on Tuesday that his company was of the opinion that it was engaging the right set of technical people at the Ministry of Natural Resources all along, hence it furnished the ministry with additional documentation it found to substantiate most of the US$214M queried expenses. Routledge said his
company was not at any point, formally informed that the audit was closed and that GRA was the only technical body it should be in contact with. “What we understood was that it was GRA that was engaging with the ministry but we didn't know what was happening behind the doors of the government between GRA and the Ministry of Natural Resources. We were
not told that we were supposed to be engaging with GRA. And as far as I am aware, our people were only in contact with the technical people,” Routledge said. With respect to the public ridicule Gossai has faced since the audit scandal, Routledge said, “I feel very sorry for Mr. Gossai. I feel he has been somewhat caught in the middle. He has been working very diligently and in support of the process and unfortunately, the paperwork didn't go to the right people and he has been left carrying that …But I think he has worked diligently with the best of intent.” Routledge was also keen to note that he has never experienced this kind of controversy with an audit of his company's expenses before, adding “this is a first for me with how long it is taking…Hopefully, we can now move onto auditing timely.”
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Thursday October 19, 2023
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Guyana Govt. incapable of fulfilling roles in new oil contracts – Exxon says The Ministry of Natural Resources, in its current state, is not capable of fulfilling many of its new duties which are prescribed in the nation's new Model Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) for deepwater and shallow water blocks, Head of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Alistair Routledge has said. During a press engagement on Tuesday Routledge was asked by media operatives for his take on the new fiscal regime for oil blocks which includes a 10 percent royalty, profit sharing at 50 percent; corporation tax of 10 percent, and a property tax of 0.75 percent. Routledge said he has no issue with the government's imposition of new fiscal terms for oil blocks. In fact, Routledge said it is expected that following the discovery of 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent resources in the Stabroek Block, that the basin is now more attractive and the government would seek to take advantage of this with better terms for future award of oil blocks. What Exxon does find difficulty with however, are the time periods governing the relinquishment of oil blocks. He
reasoned that short timelines can make the effective hunt for oil prospects difficult. In fact, Routledge said the time periods are “unusually short” by industry standards. In the model PSA that will govern shallow water blocks, it states that the exploration period shall not exceed five years. Within the first three years of the licence, companies will have to conduct a work programme approved by government. Upon fulfilling those responsibilities, the company will have the option to renew its licence to complete the remaining two years of exploration. The consequence of this renewal is that the company would have to return 50 percent of the block to the State. In the model PSA for deepwater blocks, it states that an exploration licence will last for 10 years. After the first three years of working on the block, the oil company would have completed the first phase of the licence and would have to renew it, should it wish to enter the second phase lasting for another three years. The consequence of that renewal is that the company would have to return 50 percent of
the block to the State. Upon completing the second phase, if the company wishes to advance to the third stage of the licence lasting for two years, it may do so only after relinquishing another 50 percent of the existing block. If it wishes to apply to use the remaining two years on the licenc then it would have to relinquish another 50 percent of the block. Routledge questioned the reasonableness of these timeframes, alluding that it could be difficult for companies to execute contracts to acquire data on the respective blocks, process it and make decisions about the next phase which includes drilling. “So there are extremely short periods, and unusually short for our industry so we think that that is challenging,” the official said. The Country Manager said that his company has provided feedback on the PSA to government, indicating in no uncertain terms that, “we would not sign it as it was.” Apart from his company's concerns about the stringent timelines companies will have to work with to explore the oil blocks, Routledge said there are concerns
about the capability of the ministry in fulfilling its duties in a number of new areas. “I think there were others who commented that the minister has an awful lot of control in the new PSAs. There are a lot of approvals required under the new PSAs and quite honestly, to date, I don't think the ministry is set up to process, review and exercise those, even if they were the right authority to do that,” the Country Manager said. He added, “So the balance between the approvals required and the amount of oversight versus the expectation on the operator to go ahead and execute the work is in our mind is out of balance.” Routledge confirmed that his company has yet to hear a response from the government on whether its bid is acceptable or not. “And that process, as you have learnt from the government, is still underway,” the Country Manager added. At his last press conference, Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo said the bids received for eight of the 14 oil blocks that featured in the country's maiden auction are still being reviewed. Following that round of evaluation, the Natural
ExxonMobil Guyana Limited Country Manager, Alistair Routledge e Resources Ministry said the most responsive companies would be asked to make formal applications for the blocks. Those applications would then be gazetted. ExxonMobil Guyana Limited currently leads a consortium in the Stabroek Block offshore where five projects worth over US$40B have been sanctioned by the Guyanese Government. The company is currently going through a regulatory process to have a sixth project approved which would take the country's output beyond 1.2 million barrels of oil per day by 2027.
Guyana borrows another US$90M from IDB
A
mid rising debts, the Guyana Government has borrowed another US$90M from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which it said will contribute to human capital development in this country. The loan approved by the IDB's Board of Executive Directors is designed to expand access to safe and improved learning environments and enhance educational services for vulnerable students in Guyana, the IDB said in a press release. The bank said this is the first individual operation of a conditional credit line for investment projects (CCLIP) valued at US$150 million. This first project supports the foundation for transforming Guyana's education sector by improving the quality of the service and addressing regional differences in the delivery of education in the country. In particular, the loan approved seeks to modernise the physical infrastructure of Guyana's schools, a key driver for improving attendance rates, motivating teachers, and elevating learning outcomes, the IDB said. This operation includes the construction of six new primary schools and upgrade
of 19 schools in Hinterlands regions (1, 7, 8 and 9) by improving physical and digital facilities to meet 21stcentury standards. This includes providing essential services, such as electricity, water, connectivity and digital devices. According to the IDB, recognising the critical role of quality teaching in developing 21st-century skills, and the main determinant for student learning and skill development, the programme places emphasis on the continuous professional development of teachers to improve their teaching of 21st-centuryskills and child-centered pedagogies. In addition, the programme will strengthen the Ministry of Education's capacity to deliver improved educational services to vulnerable students and those with special education needs and disabilities (SEND). This includes developing a language policy that will guide interventions for indigenous students in the future and an inclusive education policy. The project will benefit 8,809 primary education students and their respective communities through its interventions. The newly constructed schools
...says funds to be used to strengthen education sector
Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh will provide 2,610 new primary education spaces. At least 7,341 students and 352 teachers from grades 2-6 will receive digital devices to support their teaching and learning. The US$90 million IDB loan has a grace period of 5,5 years, an amortization period of 25 years, and an interest rate based on SOFR. Back in March this year, this newspaper reported that Guyana's debt to the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) was pegged at close to US$1 billion currently. The aforementioned sum does not include the interest the country will be paying on
the loans. A perusal of the bank's Annual Report 2022: Financial Statements has revealed that as of December 31, 2022, Guyana owed the bank US$787 million. Adding the US$205 million in loans Guyana recently signed off on with the IBD, brings the total loans borrowed from the bank to US$992 million. It was disclosed in the bank's 2022 financial statement that Guyana borrowed US$335 million from the IDB in 2022. According to the document, the loans Guyana borrowed from the IDB falls under the sovereign guarantee portfolio. It should be noted that prior to 2018, the document stated that Guyana borrowed US$552 million from the IDB. Stated in the report also is Guyana's credit rating with the bank which is a B-. The loans Guyana took from the IDB were for several different projects and programmes such as: healthcare network strengthening, a programme to support climate resilient road infrastructure development, 'Enhancing the National Quality Infrastructure for
Competitiveness' Reformulation and Additional Financing program and the program to Strengthen Public Policy and Fiscal Management in Response to the Health and Economic Crisis Caused by COVID-19. Guyana's Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, during his 2023 budget speech had disclosed that the country's total public debt stood at US$3.6 billion, an increase by 16.9 percent f r o m l a s t y e a r. T h i s publication had pointed out that almost all of its recently announced public infrastructural projects government has been borrowing to finance them despite earning over US$1 billion in the oil account for last year. Back in January, the IDB had released a report cautioning Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) countries against 'excessive' borrowing and urged governments to bring their debts down to more prudent levels. In its report titled, 'Dealing with Debt – Less Risk for More Growth in the Latin America and the Caribbean' the IDB disclosed that debt has risen and stands at some US$5.8 trillion
which is 117 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the region. “Given the dangers of excessive debt, the current situation in Latin America and the Caribbean is worrisome,” the IDB said. IDB said public debt serves a critical role for countries to pursue public investment projects, implement counter cyclical policies, and provide support to economies in the face of negative shocks. H o w e v e r, t h e I D B warned that if public debt becomes too large or is not managed with sufficient caution, interest costs may balloon, growth prospects may suffer, and in the limit, a costly debt crisis may be provoked. According to the report, governments can bring down their debt levels by improving spending efficiency, expanding the tax base, and seeking wider reforms to enhance fiscal balances and boost growth. The IDB said that there are many reasons why public debt levels should be lower than they currently are, highlighting that there are several ways to reduce that debt.
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL-TEL: 624-6456 Editor: NIGEL WILLIAMS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Investors vs. Inhabitants Interesting the people that Guyana’s leaders prioritise. Intriguing is what hardly ever passes their lips, worthy of their passions, makes them appear powerful in their convictions. First, Vice President Jagdeo jumped out of his skin, and rushed to the front, to reassure his main constituency, and now President Ali has made no bones about where his heart lies. For both men, Investors feature most prominently. It would be healthy if Jagdeo and Ali spent a fraction of their time and energies to instill some confidence in those who form the most important constituency of all, the inhabitants of Guyana. But that they wouldn’t do, from that they shrink. In the tumultuous aftermath of Judge Sandil Kissoon’s ruling on the provision of a full parent company guarantee by ExxonMobil, it was Vice President Jagdeo who raced out with reassurances to investors. He spoke of troubling “murky waters” and “precedents” for the benefit of foreign investors. In his haste to calm foreign investors, Jagdeo went into overdrive. The PPPC Government will appeal, which led that always willing solider, Attorney General Nandall to wage war against the Guyanese people. Whatever it took, whatever bridge and relationship had to be blown up, then it is a small price for the PPPC Government to pay to keep foreign investors happy. In other words, under no circumstances must these foreigners be made to harbor second thoughts about investing in Guyana. Following Judge Kissoon’s ruling, this became glaring, even blinding: whatever Jagdeo, Ali, and Nandlall had to do, they were going to get it done. Protect the happiness of foreign investors by any means, even if they come out looking cheap and squalid. Whoever has to be attacked will be attacked. Whoever has to be runover or smeared or diminished, that’s too bad. It is simply collateral damage, the price of staying in the favour of foreigners, which means staying in power. Conspicuously, there is little of the same passion, hardly any identical conviction, from Jagdeo and President Ali, when the prosperity of inhabitants (Guyanese) is involved. Approximately half of Guyana is struggling to keep their heads above water, economically speaking, and the people they put into office, refuse to throw them even a verbal lifeline, give them some hope. To do so would consign foreign investors to secondary consideration, and that would never be satisfactory to anybody. There is the PPPC Government, which prefers not to take any chances with its hold on power, and there are the foreign investors, who know their own power, and the hold they have over Jagdeo and President Ali. It is President Ali himself, who ran amok in his hurry to smother Donald Ramotar, a former president, and send the right signals to those he called “sophisticated investors.” Guyana must be found dependable, which we translate as meaning that any garbage or offal can be dumped here, and it is alright in the name of foreign investment. Investors sophisticated by every standard, and always foreign, come first, and ignorant Guyanese must recognise that, and play along accordingly. Whatever it is that has to be done to please investors, it will be done. Renegotiation is high on the list of issues that would greatly displease sophisticated foreign investors. Therefore, that subject must never be raised in Guyana. Therefore, that line about renegotiation will never be crossed. Therefore, that push for renegotiation must never be allowed to be. Sophisticated investors will be terribly unhappy and, as Vice President Jagdeo once said, “investors spook easily.” Inhabitants of Guyana lack energy, go hungry, live in perpetual agony, and President Ali and Vice President Jagdeo can only think of, speak about, and summon intense passions to concentrate on investors, foreign and sophisticated. Both president and vice president drop everything, and gallop forward to sing lullabies to settle the nerves of spooky sophisticated investors. This is how much Guyana’s inhabitants count for Ali and Jagdeo when investors are around. The prosperity of investors comes first, while hungry local inhabitants living in poverty are left in hopelessness and darkness. In the calculations of Ali and Jagdeo, there are only investors. Inhabitants of Guyana be damned, they must figure out for themselves how to survive.
Thursday October 19, 2023
Former Auditor General Goolsarran flays Vice President Jagdeo DEAR EDITOR, Please permit me space to respond to Mr. Jagdeo’s continued attack on me. This time, it was at another a press conference held on Monday, 16 October 2023 where he made the following allegations: (a) I was Deputy Auditor General for several years during the period 1982 1991 when there were no audited public accounts. He had earlier stated that I was Auditor General eight of the 10 years in question; (b) My job specifications required that I assist in drafting the Auditor General’s report; I failed to discharge my responsibility; I should have resigned if I had integrity; I collected money by way of salaries from the Treasury for doing nothing; and for doing nothing, I was promoted to Auditor General; (c) The PPP extended the mandate of the Auditor General to public corporations and other entities in which controlling interest vests in the State; (d) I made several attempts to have him (Mr. Jagdeo) agree to salary increases for staff of the A u d i t O ff i c e . I e v e n
suggested the granting of a loan for this purpose; (e) I wanted to keep my job while working for the United Nations; (f) The 2015 APNU election manifesto quoted me as having stated that corruption in public procurement under the PPP was in the order of about 20 percent and I never accepted invitation to discuss the matter. These statements reminded me of Mr. Jagdeo’s public attack on me as a result of the “dolphin scam” that precipitated my departure from the Audit Office ten years before my retirement age. I was Deputy Auditor General from 1 December 1987 to 17 September 1990, a mere 21 months, during which period, I was on six months overseas training. That left me with a mere 15 months to perform duties as Deputy AG. My responsibilities included not only assisting the Auditor General in the drafting of his reports to the National Assembly but also: (i) performing the duties of A c c o u n t i n g O ff i c e r, managing the finances of the Audit Office and
accountable to the Public Accounts Committee; (ii) organizing and managing the work of the Audit Office with a staffing of close to 200; (iii) monitoring the work of the various audit units undertaking audits of n o t o n l y Ministries/Departments/Reg ions but also public enterprises, statutory bodies, local government bodies and trade unions, and providing the necessary technical guidance and assistance; and (iv) providing training to the audit staff. While it is true that during the period 1982 to 1991, there were no audited public accounts, the fact is that the Government did not submit draft financial statements to the Auditor General. Therefore, in the absence of these statements, there could not have been audited accounts. Indeed, the Auditor General could not have pronounced on a nonexistent set of accounts! The Government’s explanation was that the IBM 3/15 mainframe computer used for the processing of the Government’s financial transactions had “crashed”
and as a result it was not possible to prepare draft public accounts for audit. My 1992 report to the Assembly, to be found in the Audit Office’s website, dealt extensively with the issue. Article 224 (4) of the Constitution specifically states that in the exercise of his duties, the Auditor General shall not be subject to direction or control of any p e r s o n o r a u t h o r i t y. Therefore, how can the Deputy AG, a subordinate, direct what the Auditor General should do, although he/she may be a source of influence? That apart, the Auditor General could not be faulted if there were no audited public accounts for the years 1982 to 1991. However, the accounts of all the other entities which numbered over 200 and comprising statutory bodies, public enterprises, trade unions, municipalities, neighbourhood democratic councils and foreign-funded projects, were duly audited and reported on. Additionally, preliminary audits were carried out of all Ministries/Departments/Reg ions and the related reports were issued to the heads of (Continued on page 06)
Guyana must now demand that Israel complies with international and humanitarian laws DEAR EDITOR, I n t e r n a t i o n a l l a w, including the UN Charter, prohibits a State from acquiring territory by force. In 1967, following the ‘Six Day’ war, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 242 which emphasised the “inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war”. The goal of international law is peace. UNSC 242 said that a joint and lasting peace required “Withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict.” There will be no peace until Israel respects international law and ceases its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory. In 2004 in its Advisory Opinion on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) stated that (i) “The construction of the wall being built by Israel, the occupying Power, in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its associated régime, are contrary to international law.” (ii) “Israel is under an obligation to terminate its breaches of international law; it is under an obligation to cease forthwith the works of construction of the wall being built in the Occupied P a l e s t i n i a n Te r r i t o r y, including in and around East Jerusalem, to dismantle forthwith the structure therein situated, and to repeal or render ineffective forthwith all legislative and regulatory acts relating thereto…” (iii) Israel is under an obligation to make reparation for all damage caused by the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.” The ICJ also said that Israel has an obligation to return the land, orchards, olive groves and other immovable property seized for the wall and to pay compensation if restitution
of the property was not possible. There will be no peace until Israel respects international law, takes down the wall and provides restitution and compensation to affected Palestinians. Hamas and Israel should be condemned for breaching international humanitarian law and bombing civilians. Israel should also be condemned for using white phosphorous an incendiary material which burns humans and animals to the bone. The Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons prohibits its use against civilian populations. About half of Gaza’s population are children. Yes, CHILDREN! Israel is killing children. Defence for Children International – Palestine says that Israel has killed one Palestinian child every fifteen minutes since the bombing began. Nowhere is safe. The World Health Organisation reports that Israel has carried out
attacks on 41 health facilities, another breach of international humanitarian law. On Tuesday an Israeli strike at Al-Alhi Hospital in Gaza City killed more than 500 Palestinians, the sick and the injured, as well as children and the elderly. Meanwhile the Israeli Times reports that Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, says that “Human animals must be treated as such. There will be no electricity and no water [in Gaza], there will only be destruction. You wanted hell, you will get hell.” We cannot and must not be silent when the government of one State seeks to dehumanise and exterminate a different people. Guyana must now demand that Israel complies with international law and international humanitarian law. And Guyana must break off diplomatic relations with Israel until Israel does so. Yours sincerely, Melinda Janki
Thursday October 19, 2023
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Be brave: release hostages, Too much hypocrisy about Israeli - Palestinian developments take the fight to the battlefield DEAR EDITOR, Given the bombing of the hospital in Gaza that has resulted in the loss of many civilian lives, CRG calls for an immediate cease fire. This war cannot be at the expense of innocent lives. We must allow those who are not interested in being a part of the war to leave the war zone. This includes the release of hostages held by Hamas. No bravery comes from those who hide behind the innocent after initiating an attack. Where is there bravery now? Where is the bravery of those who support you? Meet Israel on the battlefield and settle the matter once and for all. Egypt has neglected you, but Iran feels brave enough to stand up to Israel and it’s
allies while Hamas cowers and hides behind hostages. Send home the hostages and come out and fight! Also, Israel must not lower itself to indiscriminate actions that can result in the death of the innocent. War is for the brave who seek glory in each battle. Those who are willing to fight must target fighters and not the innocent who are willing to leave. This must be clearly understood by both sides. The war will escalate if the targeting of the innocent continues. The result will be heavy casualties of the innocent on both sides. There was a time when war was for the brave. We must return back to that form of war. Those who attack and kill indiscriminately are not
advancing their cause, but instead are changing their fortunes during this war. The Palestinians have lost the support of many due to the savage attack on the innocent, and now Israel is putting itself in a similar position. There must be a clear line as to what is and isn’t acceptable. Clear the area of those who should be allowed to leave. Then Hamas and their allies should be brave enough to fight the brave from Israel and their allies. It will then become a time of decisiveness and the world will see who obtains glory in each battle. Sincerely, Mr. Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana
Supporting the Palestinian side in the current upheaval Dear Editor, At the time of writing this, Israel would have just bombed a Christian hospital in Gaza and murdered over 500 Palestinian civilians INCLUDING children. This is genocide. I stand with the people of Palestine and support the calls for their freedom. This ongoing conflict will only end when the Palestinians are finally freed. It is an irrefutable fact that Hamas was born out of and funded by Israel. When
will this mass slaughter and oppression end? Within the past week, the lives of over 1200 children have been claimed as a result of this conflict. Every 15 minutes, a Palestinian child dies due to the Israeli Government’s genocide. How many more bodies of children must pile up before people WAKE UP? Remove the wool of religious loyalty from your eyes! Having been through both oppression from colonialism and dictatorship in our history, we in Guyana
must condemn fascism in every conceivable form worldwide. I STAND AGAINST the ethnic cleansing and genocide by the apartheid Israeli government. I STAND AGAINST the deliberate campaign of lies and misinformation peddled by the Western Media to suit the interests of the apartheid Israeli Government. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’. Yours faithfully, Nikhil Sankar
DEAR EDITOR, I express my unwavering support for Israel and denounce the moral hypocrisy that too often shapes discussions surrounding the IsraelPalestine conflict. It is disheartening to witness the unjust blame placed on Israel for a situation that is far simpler than many are willing to acknowledge. The entire conflict can be stated in one sentence: one side wants the other dead. Hamas, along with other extremist groups, has made its agenda clear: the eradication of Israel and the denial of the Jewish people’s right to exist in their homeland. This kind of ideology is not conducive to peace and coexistence. It is essential to remember that Israel, like any nation, has the right to defend itself against such existential threats. The onslaught of attacks carried out by the terrorist group Hamas has elicited Israel’s inherent right and necessity to protect its citizens. There is no conceivable justification or rationalisation for the atrocities committed by Hamas, who crossed into Israel and mercilessly took the lives of innocent men, women, and children. There is simply no room for excuse or explanation when faced with the sheer depravity of their actions, which extended to the abhorrent practice of recording and live-streaming each attack.
Some of these harrowing events were even livestreamed on the victims’ own social media accounts, inflicting unimaginable anguish upon their families and friends. While history provides us with the grim example of the Nazis, who were characterised by their cruelty, ruthlessness, and brutality and are often cited as the epitome of evil, even they, in their malevolence, tried to conceal certain aspects of their wickedness. H o w e v e r, H a m a s h a s plunged to depths of malevolence that seem to surpass even that dark chapter in history. Their willingness to flaunt their malevolence and broadcast their acts of terror for the world to see underscores the urgent need to condemn and counteract such acts of violence and hatred. The moral hypocrisy becomes clear when critics solely focus on Israel’s actions while turning a blind eye to the tactics employed by Hamas, which often involve using Palestinian civilians as human shields and launching attacks from populated areas in Gaza. Israel, in its attempts to protect its citizens, faces incredibly difficult choices in minimising civilian casualties, a moral dilemma that is often ignored by its detractors. It is worth noting that Israel has repeatedly expressed its desire for a peaceful resolution to the
conflict and has made numerous efforts to engage in negotiations. However, these efforts are often met with resistance from the Palestinian Authority, which refuses to recognise Israel’s right to exist and seems more interested in perpetuating the conflict than in seeking a lasting peace. Furthermore, Arab regimes that openly seek the eradication of Israel should be held accountable for their hostile positions. It is unjust and counterproductive to blame Israel alone for the ongoing tensions while giving a pass to those who actively oppose its existence. I believe in a two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace and security. However, this can only be achieved if Israel has a partner in Palestine who is willing to come to the negotiating table and work towards a resolution that respects the rights and aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians. Blaming (Continued on page 06)
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Thursday October 19, 2023
Guyana on guard, as Venezuela ramps up military activities near border The Government of Guyana said that it is on guard in wake of reports of increased military activities by Venezuelan troops near its western border. In a statement issued on Wednesday evening, the government said that it has taken careful note of the various social media posts which have reported the mobilisation of increase personnel and execution of military exercises by Venezuelan troops in close vicinity of the borders. “The government wishes to advise that every piece of information is taken seriously and is being examined in detail. The Guyana Defence Force has also been reviewing these reports,” the release added. To t h i s e n d , t h e government said the
Venezuelan Ambassador was called in by the Ministry of Foreign and International Cooperation for an explanation. According to the statement, the government said that Ambassador claimed the mobilisation of troops near the border is geared towards curbing illegal mining operations. “Nevertheless, the statement added that “the Government of Guyana remains on guard and shared the increased military activities by Venezuelan taking place on its borders with CARICOM Heads and other international partners.” T h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s statement follows on close heels of contentions raised by members of civil society and the political opposition. In a release issued on Monday, A Partnership For
National Unity (APNU)’s Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Amanza Walton-Desir said the critical issues of the border controversy and the e s c a l a t i n g Ve n e z u e l a n migrant crisis demand our immediate attention. She noted that these matters have clear implications for Guyana’s national security, stability, and international relations and it therefore is essential that “we address these challenges with the diligence and vigilance that this state of affairs warrants.” She added: “It is important therefore, Hugh Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation convene an urgent meeting of the Parliamentary Sectoral
Committee on Foreign Relations to brief Members on the developments with regards to the border controversy case before the International Court of Justice as well and the ongoing Venezuelan migrant crisis,” Walton-Desir, the Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs said. The combined A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance for Change (AFC) Opposition on Tuesday expressed grave concerns over the uncontrolled influx of Venezuelan refugees. Alluding to the recent threats b y t h e Ve n e z u e l a n Government which criticised Guyana’s decision to hold a licensing round for offshore oil blocks, and accused the country of violating international law,
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd Leader of the APNU, Aubrey Norton and his counterpart, Leader of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan held a joint press conference on Tuesday where they expressed concerns about the protection of Guyana’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. In his press statement, Norton noted, “we believe that there are several critical issues to be addressed. We remain alarmed over the continued influx into Guyana of refugees from
Venezuela and the PPP government’s inept and treacherous response to the situation. The number of Venezuelan refugees in Guyana is estimated around 35,000—and that number is growing as we speak. In several critical ways, this situation has long reached crisis proportions for the nation,” Norton said. He added that “the influx and uncontrolled integration of refugees” can also facilitate the placement of (Continued on page 16)
Former Auditor General Goolsarran flays Vice President... From page 04 those agencies, pending the submission of draft financial statements. In 1993, the Audit Act was amended to extend the mandate of the Auditor General to the audit of public corporations and all other entities in which controlling interest vests in the State. Both my predecessor and I held the view that wherever the State had controlling interest, the Auditor General must be involved. Matters came to a head on when the then Minister of Finance removed me as the auditor of the Bank of Guyana. The matter was brought to the attention the President who summoned both of us to a meeting. He stated that when he was Opposition Leader he always wondered why the Auditor General was not involved in the auditing of public corporations. As a matter of policy, he must be involved, and if the law does not provide for this, we must amend the law’. The related Bill was piloted through the Assembly by none other than Mr. Jagdeo. Ironically, it was Mr. Jagdeo at the handing over of my 1995 report on the public accounts who had stated that the World Bank did not want the Auditor General to audit projects it was financing because of a lack of capacity. The media took Mr. Jagdeo to task for siding with the Bank at a time when I was doing my utmost to build such capacity and to professionalise the Audit Office. After the handingover ceremony, Mr. Jagdeo,
clearly embarrassed, wanted us to issue a joint statement. I declined to do so. When I joined the Audit Office, the salaries payable were inadequate to attract and retain the much-needed skills. I make no apologies for my persistent representations to improve the emoluments and conditions of service for staff members. There was a World Bank loan that was used at the time to pay certain officers US$ tax-free salaries. I enquired whether the Audit Office could benefit from this facility in order to attract qualified accountants, though I was totally against the tax-free portion. It was perhaps this loan to which Mr. Jagdeo was referring. Was there something wrong in what I did? In 2001, I was in Seoul, South Korea, attending an international conference. The United Nations representative circulated a vacancy notice for resident auditors for the peacekeeping operations on a short-term basis. At that time, I had eight months accumulated vacation leave to my credit. I decided to apply for the position because I wanted to do something beneficial with my leave and to be away from what had become for me a very stressful work environment. I was successful in my application. I then applied for special leave of absence, utilizing my accumulated vacation leave. Approval was granted and after serving six months, the United Nations issued a N o t e Ve r b a l e t o t h e Government requesting my service for the next six
months. The Government readily approved my extension of service, utilizing the rest of my leave and with no-pay leave for the remaining four months. There were two other extensions with the approval of the Government. However, I was concerned about being away from the job for so long. I began to debate within myself whether I was doing the right thing by staying away from Guyana. Was it not time to return home and continue from where I left off? Was it fair to the country that I should continue to deprive it of my services for so long? Should I put my personal interest ahead of the public interest? These were thoughts that ran through my mind while pondering whether or not I should return home and resume my duties. And so, I returned home and resumed duties as Auditor General on 1 September 2004. Suffice it to state that at no time did the Government object to my going on special no-pay leave nor was there any concern about me remaining Auditor General while serving the United Nations. During the period of my absence, my Deputy acted as Auditor General. Four months later, I demitted office, following the Government’s reaction to the “dolphin scam”. In relation to procurement, I went through the APNU+AFC 2015 Election Manifesto and found no evidence of what Mr. Jagdeo was saying. In
August 2016, I had written an article in the Stabroek News in which I stated that for decades there were various forms of abuse and leakages in our procurement systems. I listed 12 areas, including: (a) Poor choice of projects for major infrastructure development works and their financing arrangements, resulting mainly from political considerations instead of sound economic analyses and detailed studies by independent professionals to assess the feasibility and long-term viability of the projects. The Amaila Falls Hydro Project, the Marriott Hotel, the Berbice River Bridge, the Fibre Optic Cable Project and the East Bank Road Expansion Project readily come to mind; (b) Inadequate or incorrect specifications for goods/services and the execution of works, due to inexperience of those involved, or political intervention; (c) Deliberately targeting major infrastructure works where the quantum of such ‘kickbacks’was large; (d) Inadequate monitoring and supervision due in some cases to collusion, resulting in defective work
being performed; and (e) Short delivery of goods and services, resulting in overpayment to suppliers. I further stated that with the benefit of watching over our procurement systems for about 15 years, my best estimate of the extent of leakages was in the order of 20 percent. In other words, for every $100 we spent on procurement, we received only $80 in value. With approximately 70 percent of the National Budget devoted to the procurement of goods and services and the execution of works, the extent of leakages in our procurement system was in the order of $32 billion annually, using the approved Estimates for 2016. I did not use the words “corruption’ and “fraud”, as claimed by Mr. Jagdeo. At a seminar I held at GUYSUCO around the same time, participants were organised in six groups. They were asked to provide their best estimate of the extent of procurement leakages, using the 12 areas referred to above. When the results were analysed, each group came up with estimates ranging from 20 percent to 25 percent!
Professor Clive Thomas also believes that the leakages were in the order to 20 percent. It is untrue that I was requested to justify my assessment on procurement leakages and that I declined. I recall that at a reception at the British High Commissioner’s residence, Mr. Jagdeo challenged me to a debate on television in relation to the aborted Amaila Falls Project. I accepted the invitation and Mr. Jagdeo promised to get back to me. He never did. Finally, in June 2019, I wrote an article titled “Procurement breaches span successive administrations”. In that article, I stated that since the restoration of public accountability in 1992, successive reports of the Auditor General have been highlighting significant breaches in procurement at government agencies. We provided extracts from the executive summaries of seven reports of the Auditor General (1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2014 and 2017) highlighting his findings and recommendations. In 2017, the APNU+AFC was in office. Yours sincerely, Anand Goolsarran
Too much hypocrisy about... From page 05 one side while ignoring the actions and intentions of the other does not contribute to a peaceful and just solution. Editor, my support for Israel is based on the belief that all nations have the right to exist
in peace and security and that the moral hypocrisy surrounding the IsraelPalestine conflict should be addressed. To achieve lasting peace, it is crucial for all parties to recognise each other’s right to exist and
engage in constructive dialogue. It is my hope that the international community will focus on a balanced approach to resolving this longstanding conflict. Sincerely, Ronald N. Emanuel
Kaieteur News
Thursday October 19, 2023
PAGE 07
Children's homes in Guyana facing crisis as donors dwindle Several children's home around Guyana will soon face a crisis if donor support continues to dwindle, representatives of these institutions have said. In interviews with representatives of these facilities yesterday, this publication was told that there is now an urgent need for corporate Guyana to focus on their operations, and create 'charitable packages' (in cash or kind) to ensure occupants of these homes enjoy all the necessities to make life a happy experience. While at least two of the homes seemingly have managed to hold on to foreign donors, fluctuations and a significant decrease in local donors have been recorded. Almost all of the Children's homes around Guyana survive and operate on charitable offers; save for a few that receive assured financial offers from NonGovernmental Organisations (NGO's), and other agencies. At the St. John's Bosco Boys Orphanage in Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, Sister Elizabeth Small was more than elated
when she was contacted by our reporter. She stated that the institute certainly deserved the publicity, as it serves as a way to get their voice out as it relates to their operations. “I am more than happy that you have contacted me. We have been around for a very long time, and times have been very challenging… If it was not for some of our 'diehard donors', I can only imagine what would have happened… We have some overseas donors who are still with us, and we are very thankful. However, there has been a significant decrease in our local sponsors. Then we have to deal with the issue of fluctuation… Sometimes you see them, and then they don't come for a long time after… It's very challenging, but we always try to keep our head above the water. When there is a decrease in donors, we suffer greatly since we are taking care of boys and girls who are growing rapidly” She explained that there has been a decrease in donors over a two years period, and this has put pressure on the system. She however, noted that she is still appreciative of
the overseas and local donors that still contribute to try to keep the 'wheel spinning' Small is urging the corporate public to assist them as the needs and demands of the growing children put a severe strain on the system. “If we don't come up with ways to somehow monitor and restrict the items we have, we are heading for a crisis. These are growing children, and their demands are growing as well. As they grow, it means different size in clothing, bigger meals, not to mention toiletries for young ladies who may start menstruating… Just recently we have had to close the doors of the female dormitory and move them to another building…. You don't want to keep grown girls in the same building with the males. Things are tough, and we can't pretend that we don't need all the help we can get,” Small said. She added that they have tried on many attempts to seek aid from Government, but was not successful. “We have made many attempts to seek help at the government
level, but have not been able to do so, because we have just received many promises, but nothing has happened until now.” She reminded that for the buildings in which occupants are housed, there are also utility bills and other expenses. The home welcomes any additional help from both local and overseas donors, and interested persons can do so by calling phone number 222-2364. Sources there explained also that they are faced with an even bigger task when occupants become adults, as they are responsible too for gearing them for the world of work. They explained that as such, boys who have become adults are relocated to another building, and are sent to academic institutions to learn trades, so they can eventually earn for themselves. This too comes at an additional expense. Presently a few of the grown males are attending the Guyana Technical Institute in Georgetown. Things tight Things are no different at
the St. Ann's Girl Orphanage in Georgetown. Sources there noted that occupants have been moved to this location, from the St. John's Bosco Orphange, and taking care of them has become a more challenging task, which of course comes with extra expenses. A representative explained that with the cost of living ever increasing, the cost of maintaining the growing girls too, is expanding. At this institution it is said that there is an absolute need for an increase of both local and foreign 'charitable offers' if it's to function in the best interest of its occupants. Folks there noted that the demands for food; clothing and toiletries have soared significantly, thus requiring urgent need for more donor efforts.At the Joshua House Children's Centre in Georgetown, things seemed a little more stable, since they have managed to hold on to most of their overseas sponsors, but they have experienced major fluctuations, and a decrease where the local donors are concerned.
The Administrator, Ms. Gladys Accra admitted that it was a big challenge to run an operation of that nature and they will always need any added help they can get. She noted that some of their financial donors have dropped out but management is relentless in 'putting their heads together' to keep the 'facility floating'. “Some of our major financial donors have dropped out, and when this happens, we have to do all we can to stay afloat, and it's not easy…We are thankful for the overseas families and other cash donors who still contribute to our cause… Not so long ago we have turned to 'Food for the Poor Guyana Inc' to assist and they have been doing a great job with helping out as well. It takes a lot financially to operate any orphanage or children home, and when donors drop out it leaves an adverse impact on the institution” She noted the institution is eager to have additional donors, and those desirous of giving can call phone number 226-8020 to donate cash or kind.
GSA building capacity to facilitate climate-smart agriculture T
he Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) is currently building capacity to introduce and facilitate climate smart agriculture into its curriculum. At the same time, the institution is engaged in talks to make the new gender inclusive EnGenDER project mandatory within the curriculum, and to also have a grade attached to it in order for students to graduation from the institution. On Wednesday, the program which focuses on gender inclusivity in the agriculture sector, was launched at the GSA at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara and it entails an online course. Equipment was provided to the two campuses of the institution to facilitate the delivery of the curriculum. Since the project is aimed at inclusivity, the Mon Repos and Cotton Field, Essequibo Coast campuses of the institution will benefit simultaneously from the initiative. Mr. Wilmont Garnett of InterAmerican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) said at the launch that, “It's an online 5-6 weeks course, we at IICA headquarters in Costa Rica we're working with a team, we also have a
group in our office in Spain and we are building based on best practices that we would have done in Latin America and the Caribbean.” “This EnGenDER project is quite interesting, because when we started working with the UNDP Staff, with EnGenDER Ms. Singh in particular and we worked with the Ministry of Agriculture personnel, the Guyana Livestock Development Authority, NAREI and GSA and so, when we think about gender it's mainly women.” He noted that the issue is one of the errors made by society and to this end, he said gender is “actually” inclusive. “We thought also with the issues of climate change. Let's link the gender online course that they will be doing at the Guyana School of Agriculture with the climate change.” CEO of the GSA, Gavin Ramnarine spoke of the interest of females in the sector. “We've noticed over the years the number of the female population at GSA keeps increasing. More women are interested in agriculture. We have a dorm, it's a residential institution currently, we have 184 students and they cover all regions of Guyana,”
The Guyana School of Agriculture at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.
he said.He went on to say that the institution encompasses a complete transect of everyone along the coastal plain, the interior regions and the distant areas. Students choose to attend the institution since it is a residential educational facility. “Courses are usually 2 years long and they do a lot of practical agriculture. The EnGenDer project is going to assist us in improving
our training particularly with climate smart agriculture,” Ramnarine said. He noted that government and the Agriculture Ministry both play a critical role in enabling students to learn about climate smart agriculture. The institution has a few shade houses; however, they have been subject to temperature variations. Ramnarine said this year plants
at the institution have been dying because of the heat and he posited that only the climate smart agriculture initiative could give the institution, a degree of control in terms of managing the weather conditions. He extended an invitation to persons to apply and attend the institution since he noted that time progresses, there will be a lot more to offer at the GSA.
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Thursday Monday October May 02, 19, 2022 2023
Govt. to acquire forty private properties to build new Demerara Harbour Bridge The Government of Guyana has started the consultation process to acquire forty pieces of property from private land owners as it moves ahead with efforts to construct a new Demerara River Bridge (DHB) crossing. Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC revealed o n Tu e s d a y e v e n i n g ' s broadcast of his programme 'Issues in the News,' that steps have been taken to accelerate the process. “The work on the new Demerara Harbour Bridge is accelerating and as a result government is moving to accelerate the acquisition of lands from private persons
who own properties within the location where the new bridge is being built,” Nandlall said. The AG revealed further that Ministry of Legal Affairs is playing an integral role in the process. “The Ministry of Housing and Ministry of P u b l i c Wo r k s h a d commenced the process together some time ago but unfortunately the process has been a protracted one. The Ministry of Legal Affairs has joined the initiative and hopefully we will accelerate the process,” he said, adding that some forty pieces of private properties will have to be compulsorily acquired by the
Former health services director, Jevaughn Stephens passes away Former Director of Health Services for Region Six, Jevaughn Stephens early Wednesday morning died at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital. Stephens had visited the hospital complaining of chest pains and died shortly after while being treated. Kaieteur News was told that he might have suffered a heart attack. In a facebook message, the PNCR of which Stephens was a member, said it is shocked and saddened at his passing. The party expressed its deepest sympathy to his family, relatives and friends at this time. President of the Berbice Cricket Board, Hilbert Foster also expressed sympathy to Stephens' relatives. “Life can be so unpredictable sometimes but this one is very difficult to take. I cannot believe that Jevaughn Stephen is no more. He served as my Vice President at the BCB and also was
State. Nandlall noted that the government has established guidelines on how to approach the matter. “Our government has a clear and settled procedure by which it approaches this type of situation. We have done many times before; we did it on the Berbice River Bridge; we did at the Hope Canal Water Conservancy and we did it in relation the Gas to Energy Project,” Nandlall asserted. He told viewers that the government is offering the property owners several options for compensation for the value of the lands. The AG said that, “the government is offering several options for as compensation including monetary compensation, land, or land and house in exchange for the plots to build the bridge.” He added, “The government is offering more compensation as well if the property value is more than the land or the land and the house that is being given in its place.”
An artist impression of a model for the new Demerara Harbour Bridge.
“At the end of the day, the government is doing everything possible to ensure that the process is not an antagonistic one and that the private property is satisfied that he is being adequately compensated for the acquisition of the property for the public purpose,” the AG stressed, adding that giving market value is the principle driving force behind the acquisition of the properties in question. “We are striving to achieve consensus that is agreement between the government and the property owners in terms of the value
of their properties. So far, from what we have seen, the process is going smooth, no one is opposed to moving,” Nandlall added. Construction of the multi-million new Demerara River Bridge has been on the cards for some time. In 2022, a US$260 million contract was awarded to the joint venture of China Railway Construction Corporation (International) Limited, China Railway Construction (Caribbean) Co., Ltd and; China Railway Construction Bridge Engineering Bureau Group Co., Ltd for the project.
The new crossing will replace the current bridge, which has already outlived its lifespan by some 40 plus years. The current structure, which experiences mechanical and other maintenance issues, costs hundreds of millions of dollars in repairs each year. The hybrid designed bridge will feature a modern four-lane structure (two carriageways), cycle lane, with a 2.65 kilometers length, driving surface of about 23.6 meters or 77.8 feet, with a lifespan of some 100 years.
Money owed to Reg. 9 peanut factory to be paid next week Former Director of Health Services for Region Six, Jevaughn Stephens known for his passion for the game. On behalf of my entire family, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, and the Berbice Cricket Board, I extend deepest condolences to his family especially his wife. Rest In Peace my friend and May Jesus and his angels grant you a resting place in his kingdom. Gone but would forever be in our hearts my friend,” Foster said in a facebook post.
Man remanded to prison for assaulting reputed wife A 32-year-old man was on Wednesday remanded to prison by Magistrate Leron Daly after he unlawfully assaulted Althea James on October 12, 2023 at North Ruimveldt, Georgetown. Ewart George appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts, before Magistrates Daly, where the charge was read to him. He pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor objected to bail on strong grounds that the defendant had previous matters and is likely to harm the virtual complainant. Bail was refused and George was remanded to prison until November 22, 2023.
The Aranaputa Village peanut butter factory. The outstanding sum of $1.2 million which has been owed to the Aranaputa Processers Friendly Society peanut-butter factory located at Aranaputa Village, Region Nine for some years now, is expected to be paid o ff b y t h e r e g i o n ' s R e g i o n a l Democratic Council (RDC) mid next week. This was disclosed by the Chairperson of Aranaputa/ Upper Burro Burro Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Gillian Rodrigues when contacted by this publication on Wednesday for an update on the payments. The chairwoman said the factory is in the process of sending in its invoice to the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Karl Singh for the payment to be released to them. According to her, by Monday the invoice is expected to be sent in and no later than Wednesday,
the REO would release the payments. She added that this was finalised following a meeting the REO held with them during this week. Kaieteur News had reported that at the recently concluded National Toshao's Council (NTC) Conference, Rodrigues had raised the issue there stating that “The community has a peanut factory and for some time now, from 2016 to 2020 the factory has not been producing peanut butter. Reason being is because the factory is saying that the Ministry of Education owed them from 2016 to March 2020, the sum of $1,220,160.” The Chairperson explained that those in charge of the factory's operations are asking the government to make the outstanding payment, “So they can have their factory up and running.” Present at the time at the conference was Vice President, Bharrat
Jagdeo who responded that the payment will be made so that operations could resume at the factory “We will have to do it because APNU left a lot of bills in many places, even before you leave, we will pay it. If that is what it will take to put you back in production, we will pay them the money, okay,” Jagdeo mentioned. After raising the matter at the conference, this publication had later learned that the money owed to the factory is for supplying snacks to the Aranaputa Primary School over the identified period. It was reported in the media that the factory supplied the snacks through the National School Feeding Programme. When asked about the present status of the factory's operations, Rodrigues related that the factory is operating when it can afford raw materials to process peanut butter.
Kaieteur News
Thursday October 19, 2023
PAGE 09
Israel practices apartheid Guyana broke off all relations with South Africa over that country’s practice of apartheid. Burnham even went further and imposed sanctions on sportsmen and sportswomen who went to South Africa. In 2006, former US President Jimmy Carter released a book titled “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid,” in which he expressed concerns about the existence of “apartheid” conditions within Israel. He pointed out that millions of Palestinians were facing unequal treatment compared to their Israeli counterparts and that the continued growth of Israeli settlements was exacerbating the displacement of Palestinians. Israel promotes
segregation and separation when it comes to the Palestinians. In the West Bank, Israel has constructed a separation barrier and roads that are exclusive to Israelis, creating a physical divide between Israelis and Palestinians that are tantamount to apartheidstyled racial segregation. Critics point to Israeli laws that discriminate against Palestinians. For example, the 2018 “Nation-State Law” declared Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, marginalizing the rights of non-Jewish citizens, primarily Palestinian Arabs. Palestinians in the occupied territories are subject to Israeli military law, while Israeli settlers are governed by Israeli civil law. This results in
a stark contrast in legal protections and rights for the two populations. The continuous expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank has led to the displacement of Palestinian communities, reflecting the dispossession reminiscent of apartheid policies. Palestinians in the occupied territories face economic hardships, including restricted access to water, land, and resources, while Israeli settlements receive preferential treatment and access to these resources. Last year, a United Nations Special Rapporteur said that Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians meets the legal definition of apartheid. In his report the special rapporteur noted: “There is today in the Palestinian territory
DEM BOYS SEH
De weather playing games
A
s the sun blazes d o w n relentlessly, we find ourselves in the midst of a weather conundrum that can only be described as a cosmic contradiction. Over the past few days, a series of cloudy conditions has swept in, offering a brief respite from the scorching heat. Some dark clouds have been floating by. But it is not depositing its contents. So don’t be fooled, for the universe has conspired to keep us on our toes and
sweating profusely. While the grassfires stubbornly persist, it’s our wallets that have become the real victims of this climatic caper. The price of beverages has risen at some shops. It looks as if the law of law of supply and demand has taken a peculiar twist. And let’s not forget the drama of blackouts that have become more frequent than a Glenn Lall calling for ring fencing. Just as we seek refuge in the cool embrace of our air conditioners, the power grid, it seems, has
decided to take a siesta of its own. But brace yourself for the upcoming rainy season. The dry season will persist, we are told, but hold onto your umbrellas, for when the rainy season finally graces us with its presence. It is all so confusing that you can’t help but wonder if Mother Nature herself is indulging in some strange game with us. In the meantime, let us try to keep our cool even if the weather refuses to do the same. Talk half. Leff half
occupied by Israel since 1 9 6 7 a d e e p l y discriminatory dual legal and political system that privileges the 700,000 Israeli Jewish settlers living in the 300 illegal Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.” He went on to add that: “Living in the same geographic space, but separated by walls, checkpoints, roads and an entrenched military presence, are more than three million Palestinians, who are without rights, living under an oppressive rule of institutional discrimination and without a path to a genuine Palestinian state that the world has long promised is their right.” He went on to observe that an additional two million Palestinians inhabit Gaza, often referred to as an ‘openair prison,’ facing severe challenges in accessing power, clean water, and healthcare. The region’s economy is in decline, and residents have limited freedom to travel to other parts of Palestine or abroad. The Special Rapporteur emphasized that a political system that unmistakably and deliberately prioritizes the core political, legal, and social rights of one group over another within the same geographical area, solely based on their racial, national, or ethnic identity,
aligns with the international legal description of apartheid. Two months earlier Amnesty International had arrived at the same conclusion. Amnesty International’s assessment involved a detailed examination of Israel’s aims to establish and sustain a structure of subjugation and control over the Palestinian population, with a focus on territorial division, segregation, regulatory authority, confiscation of land and assets, as well as the deprivation of economic and social entitlements. The organization’s findings unequivocally assert that this constituted a state of apartheid. These findings and Israel’s continued atrocities lend credence to the call made by former President of Guyana Donald Ramotar for CARICOM to break diplomatic relations with Israel. But the former President of Guyana should have been equally forceful in demanding that the PPPC government immediately sever ties with the apartheid regime in Israel. Instead of echoing Ramotar’s call, the ruling People’s Progressive Party has come out with a weak-kneed statement on the present conflict in the Middle East. The PPP’s statement appears to be an exercise in fence-sitting, seeking to strike a politically correct tone by condemning
violence on both sides while touting the impracticality of the two-state solution. The PPPC’s statement, while seemingly even-handed by condemning violence on both sides, misses the mark by emphasizing the twostate solution as the path forward. To understand the impracticality of the twostate solution, one must look at the harsh realities of I s r a e l ’s c o n t i n u e d occupation of Palestinian lands, its oppressive apartheid system, and its control over what happens in both Gaza and the West Bank. Israel’s refusal to recognize an independent Palestinian state and its relentless expansion of settlements in the West Bank cast serious doubts on the viability of the two-state solution. Israel is an occupying power that practices apartheid. Guyana should not entertain even the remotest thought of having diplomatic relations with such a state. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.)
Kaieteur News
PAGE 10 S
UTH
D TR
HAR
HK
BY G
LALL
Thursday Monday October May19, 02,2023 2022
H@RD TRUTHS
BY GHK LALL
Donald Ramotar for President R
eport and rumors that former President Donald Ramotar is a spent force, yesterday's news, are all exercises in the exaggerated, the wishful, and the convenient. No! the Don is not dead, but very much alive and making noisy splashes. My word to the former big chief is unambiguous: Run, Donald, Run. Methinks that this is
what it is going to be come 2025. This is what the tealeaves, white fowls, and incense all reveal. There it was: for the first time in a long time, I heard that label proudly resurrected: Jaganite. Since there is no Irfaanite as yet, then the other main ingredient to that formula has to be Jagdeoite. Jaganite is grassroot; Jagdeoite is the bitter root for the dreaded
capitalists, imperialists, and colonists, who can be compressed into three pungent words: natural resources arsonists.So there is Mr. Ramotar coming into his own, and stating in the clearest terms where he stands. First, it is about what should be done about the contract, what he would lead the way in doing, come hell or blackwater. Blackwater
does not only mean the streams and brooks common to Guyana, but the mercenaries based in North Carolina that Exxon brought in to mind its stores of Guyana's wealth, which includes politicians, professionals, and potty panjandrums. Buy the politicians and the people perish. Time to change that mangling of the promise of Guyana, and if it means that
things have to come to a showdown in PPP land, then Mr. Ramotar is ready to rock. The second sound coming out of Mr. Ramotar was also as bludgeoning, in the face, and as final as renegotiation of the dastardly 2016 Exxon oil concoction. It has to do with corruption, though the actual word was carefully managed. According to the former head of state, an investment arm is needed to oversee what is really happening in the secretive, suspect, and now sinister world of contract awards. Tenders are about what toys with and titillates and tortures Guyana. Tender boards take Guyanese taxpayers for a ride, and then toss them overboard with cement shoes attached. Just like the mafia does. They call that governance in this part of the world. If there is anyone in Guyana who should know about corruption, I nominate Donald Ramotar. He has been near to it. He knows the people in it. He can smell the practice and the people in a hurricane even if he is running from an overflowing volcano. Corruption is killing the PPP: it is so rampant that even PPP stalwarts are talking about it, retching over it. How much swindled and to be….? Ouch! Big Brother Jagdeo knows this, but is helpless at arresting the spiral: monster spawned and let out of the bottle. The people who should be active participants in any sharing of the fruits of their wealth are not. They are struggling and they plan to be brutally sharp in their rejections in a year and change. Dr. Jagdeo knows this, but he has no medicine to turn the tide. The only remedy he has is to rail and rage at the few who tell him that his underwear has fallen off. Or when it does stay in place, it is like Swiss cheese -holes all over. The rats have had a wonderful time. is de same
ting about which Donald Ramotar come up wid de idea of a government investment arm. In advanced bailiwicks, there are those and they work decently. Polls eradicated from the nest. Anonymous reviewers. New reviewers for different projects. Good luck, Donnie, with that one, given the local culture, the local religion. It is corruption and with due respect to whoever the socalled civics are, it is what neatly captures the 'c' in the PPPC. The fact that Donald Ramotar calibrated events so political astutely conveys to me that a Ramotar run for the roses is on in 2025. It was at the Red House with people in red shirts taking about identifying passionately with the 'red' man, the Marxist Jagan. Better dead than red is now turned on its head. Jagan lives on through the Jaganites. Move over Burnhamites, and the Jagdeoites have their work cut out for them. As for me, I am content with my role, which is to be a parasite committed to carrying the fight. To choose the Red House as the venue for an unstated and unofficial launch of his 2025 run for the crown has its own built-in message coming from behind a line drawn in the sand in red (of course). To say this more pointedly: Red House is not State House which is now Exxon House. Look at them: President Ali has been bizarre when oil is the subject, and Vice President Jagdeo nothing short of the grotesque. One tickles, the other tangles. Now Donald Ramotar, like Ed Cid, is called out of retirement (and exile) to rescue the faltering troops and the fading hopes of Guyanese. My advice stands: run, Donny, run. Frankly speaking, it is unimaginable that Mr. Ramotar could be worse than Drs. Ali and Jagdeo on oil and corruption. And that is with the two of them latched together. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.)
Thursday October 19, 2023
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Thursday October 19, 2023
JSC advertises vacancies for Judges, Magistrates The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has advertised vacancies for several posts to be filled with the judiciary. The vacant positions include those of magistrates, puisne judges, and for a Commissioner of Title/ Land Court Judge within the local court system. The vacancies have been advertised in the print media this week, months after the JSC was threatened with a lawsuit by members of civil society for failing to advertise the vacancies. With regard to the vacant for puisne judges, the JSC is inviting attorneys with at least seven years of experience practicing law in Guyana or within the Commonwealth jurisdiction. Additionally, any person who has been a judge of a court of unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters is also invited to apply to fill the position of a judge. As it relates to the magistrate post, the applicants must be suitably qualified for appointment to the position and the successful applicants will serve in the ten administrative regions. The vacancy noted that applicants must have at least five years of practice as an attorney-at-law in the local courts or a court of similar jurisdiction within any Commonwealth country. The notices went to state that all applicants are expected to possess a high level of integrity and if successful, they are expected
Members of the JSC – Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Chief Justice Roxane George, Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Manniram Prashad, former Chancellor, Justice Carl Singh, and Chairman of the Law Reform Commission, Justice Beasraj Singh Roy – alongside President Dr Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister, Gail Teixeira, and Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack to subscribe to the Supreme Court of Judicature's code of conduct. In response to the JSC's advertisement, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC issued a statement in which he welcomed the development. He said the initiative is in keeping with the canons of transparency, the Latimer House Guidelines and international best practices by which the judiciary ought to consider itself bound. He said, “It is hoped that these advertisements are also published extra-territorially so that they attract suitably qualified persons locally, from the Caribbean Region, as well as the wider Commonwealth in order to facilitate the recruitment of persons of the highest possible calibre.” Meanwhile, Nandlall noted that there are also vacant judicial posts within the Court of Appeal. To this end he said, “It is observed
that vacancies for appointments to the Court of Appeal are not the subject of these advertisements. In light of the amendments recently made to the Court of Appeal Act, increasing the complement of judges in that Court from five to nine, there are vacancies in that Court as well. It is expected that these vacancies will be advertised shortly as well.” Last July, questions had been raised as to how the new JSC would go about filling the vacancies in the magistracy and the judiciary and there had been calls for those posts to be advertised as opposed to relying on the traditional system of inviting persons to fill these on the basis of their known qualities. Critics have deemed that system of filling the posts as purely subjective and not transparent. The JSC was sent a letter by Attorney-at-Law CV Satram, acting on behalf of Attorney-at-Law Arud
Gossai and civil rights advocate, Ramon Gaskin. In that letter, Satram warned that his clients wanted to ensure compliance with the Constitution of Guyana was regards judicial appointments. “The Commission may be aware that its decisions are subject to Judicial Review. This means that in the exercise of any discretion, the Commission must act reasonably, rationally and fairly,” Satram said in his letter. “We are aware of the practice, rooted in the traditions of England, whereby the Head of the Judiciary would invite suitably qualified persons to join the Judiciary. This practice is not consistent with our Constitution, particularly Article 129 thereof.” According to Satram, Article 129 of the Constitution of Guyana stipulates that “all persons qualified for admission as
Attorneys-at-Law in Guyana are eligible to be appointed as a Judge.” He went on to urge the Commission to advertise the posts within Guyana, the wider Caribbean and the Commonwealth, to fill all vacancies for Judges. “It would amount to a gross violation of the Constitution for the Commission by its conduct to limit the number of
applicants for any vacancy of Judge. The provisions of the Constitution and good administration and transparency dictate that all persons eligible for appointment should have an opportunity to be considered for the position,” the lawyer said. “Unless the vacancies are advertised, the (Continued on page 15)
Granted bail: Christopher Corlette
Corentyne businessman killed 'Glass technician' …suspect arrested during robbery placed on $100,000 bail for alleged fraud Police are investigating the death of a popular 59-year-old Berbice businessman who was killed during a robbery at his home on Tuesday night. Dead is Akhbar Sain, whose lifeless body was discovered at his home at Williamsburg, Corentyne where he operates a supermarket in the bottom flat of the building. Reports are that around 02:30hrs on Wednesday a team of police officers responded to a report of alleged break-and- enter and larceny at the man's business. When the police arrived at the business entity, they observed the grill to the southern side of the businessman's home was pried open. The police found the elderly man lying motionless on the floor of the supermarket. Blood was visible on his face. The cashier area of the business was ransacked while Sain's licensed
firearm- a pistol and a magazine with eight .32 rounds of ammunition- was seen close to his body. Several hours later, around 05:00hrs, while the police were processing the crime scene, the ranks found the suspect hiding in the top flat of the businessman's home. During a confrontation with the police, the man sustained a gunshot wound to his right arm. The man was questioned and he allegedly confessed to killing the elderly man by hitting him in his head with a piece of wood during a scuffle. He was arrested and taken to the Port Mourant Hospital to be examined by a doctor. News of Sain's death sent shockwaves on the Corentyne as many recalled fond memories of the businessman. Police investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Dead: Akhbar Sain
A 32-year-old glass technician was on Wednesday placed on bail in the sum of $100,000 after he allegedly defrauded Shameer Mohammed of $3 million at Lamaha Street, Georgetown on August 2, 2023. Christopher Collette of Plantation Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts, before Magistrate Leron Daly, where the charge was read to him. He pleaded not guilty with an explanation. Corlette stated that he used the money to buy raw materials to
execute the job and the work is almost completed. When the Magistrate asked the complainant if the defendant statement is true, he responded 'Yes'. The accused was then granted bail in the sum of $100, 000 and the matter was adjourned to November 22, 2023. It is alleged that one August 2, 2023, with the intent to defraud, Corlette obtained $3 million from Shameer Mohammed by falsely pretended that he is a glass technician and he is in the position to get the work done.
Kaieteur News
Thursday October 19, 2023
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Guyana Shop celebrates 11 Anniversary ....boasts of marketing over 3000 local manufactured products
T
he Guyana Shop which currently markets and assisting in developing over 3000 locally manufactured products, on Wednesday celebrated its 11th Anniversary at its Robb and Alexander Streets, Bourda location. The Shop which opened back in 2012 is headed by the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC). The Shop's mandate is to promote local products and sensitise the public on local products. At a simple ceremony yesterday to commemorate its existence, General Manager (GM) of the GMC, Teshawna Lall said that the milestone plays a pivotal role as it allows them to reflect on their accomplishment and collectively plan for the future. The General Manager stated that the Shop, which is a nourishing platform for marketing Guyana's agro processed food items, not only offers a valuable marketing and sales to support agriculture but it also collaborates with various departments of GMC, improving the marketing of the AgriBusiness Development Unit
as well as other projects. “The goal is to ensure that all locally manufactured agro-processed products meet international standards. It serves as an excellent breeding ground for the emerging entrepreneurs to develop, launch and expand their agriculture business ventures through a mutually beneficial relationship built on trust and confidence,” she said. According to Ms. Lall, since 2012, the Guyana Shop has been instrumental in the development, marketing and sales of over 3022 locally manufactured products. She noted that there are 24 categories under which this fall, and that there is currently 2 3 5 manufacturers or agro-processors registered with the GMC. The GM went onto state that the agro-processing industry is an increasingly important one, impacting the
livelihoods of thousands of Guyanese by providing employment opportunities particularly for the women and youths. The GMC benefits not only agroprocessors but farmers, (Continuned on page 17)
Sponsorship contact 592 650 - 7123 592 601 - 2726 Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha speaking at the Guyana Shop's 11th Anniversary celebrations
General Manager of the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), Teshawna Lall delivering her remarks yesterday
Locally produced products on the shelves of the Guyana Shop.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday October 19, 2023
Thursday October 19, 2023
Kaieteur News
PAGE 15
Termination of Black Bush Polder pump station contract will costs tax-payers more than $38 million - Mahipaul …Agriculture Minister deems MP's claims “misleading”
A
move last month by the Ministry of Agriculture through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to terminate the $978M contract for a new pump station at Black Bush Polder (BBP), on the Corentyne will cost taxpayers more than $38M. This is according to Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Ganesh Mahipaul who noted in a statement on Wednesday that the he observed “the squandering of millions of dollars” during a site visit to BBP on Wednesday. He laid the blame for the termination of the project squarely at the foot of Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha. However, Mustapha in subsequent release accused Mahipaul of providing misleading information. He accused the Opposition MP of “lacking technical knowledge” on the issue. Earlier this month, Mahipaul issued a call for a probe into several pump station contacts across the country which he said were way behind schedule. The project at BBP, which was undertaken by Yunas Civil and Building Construction, was expected to be completed by April 23, 2023. The contract was awarded by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) in 2021. Mahipaul said that only 14% of the work had been done but 20% of the contract sum had already been disbursed.
Steel rods at the construction site of the new Black Bush Polder pump station which would have to be replaced when the project is re-tendered. (Photo: Ganesh Mahipaul)
Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha The NDIA subsequently noted in a press release that the contact was terminated on September 25, 2023 “for poor quality and performance of works being executed”. The NDIA said the project will soon be retendered. M us tapha noted on Wednesday that acting on a c o n s u l t a n t ' s recommendation, the contract was terminated. “The consultant's recommendation was based on the failure by the contractor to address breaches of the contract continually combined with the failure of the contractor to execute works in accordance with the contract and the continued failure over the duration of the project to achieve the scheduled progress of works in accordance with the approved work programme,” he said. He added that those
Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Ganesh Mahipaul factors amounted to a fundamental breach of the contract. Earlier on Wednesday, Mahipaul described the move by the authorities as s h o r t- s ig h ted . “M in is ter Zulfikar Mustapha has, in a short-sighted move, inflicted grave financial harm upon the hardworking taxpayers of our nation,” he said. He said the termination clause of the contract will necessitate the NDIA and by extension the Agriculture Ministry, to pay for measured work as well as for materials at the construction site. Mahipaul described what he saw at the Region Six construction site. “There, unmistakably, lay a cage-like formation of steel rods, consisting of both one-inch and three-quarters-inch corrugated steel rods, spanning the entire base of the project, atop what appears to be a concrete foundation,” he said. He said, the “disheartening quantity of steel rods lie in a state of advanced rust, slowly
decaying.” As regards retendering of the project, he said that this move will be costly, at tax-payers expense, since the materials at the site will continue to deteriorate. BREAKDOWN OF MATERIALS The Opposition MP provided an inventory of the material at the site. He said the total sum in losses to taxpayers amounts to a sum exceeding $38 million and the sum includes the cost for various sizes of steel rods at the project site. While noting that retendering the project will have dire consequences, Mahipaul said, “no new contractor will be able to employ these rust-ridden steel rods.” He said to utilise such corroded materials, “would not only compromise the structural integrity of the project but would also raise grave concerns regarding the safety and longevity of the infrastructure.” Alternatively, he said the “the most prudent course of
action” would have been to immediately ensure that concrete was poured over the steel rods which he described as “a straightforward task given that the necessary cage-like structural formation is already in place and ready for this crucial step.” However, Mustapha noted that steel which was not used, is being moved from the site. As regards pouring concrete on the steel rods in place at the site, the minister noted that such a move would be “absurd.” Noting that Mahipaul's recommendation was not based on “any technical advice,” he said that the, “entire structure would need to be replaced given the failed concrete compressive test.” The minister said that in undertaking such a project, the piles are first put in place, then capped followed by the installation of steel. “Therefore, since the concrete compressive test did not meet the required standard, the entire concrete
around the pile caps would need to be broken and replaced,” he added. He added that the steel which was installed at the site by the contractor would be removed and new concrete would be poured around the pile caps. The steel rods would then be replaced, he added. Meanwhile, Mahipaul said later on Wednesday that he stands by his findings. He said since the works undertaken by the contractor would have to be redone, “as claimed by the Ministry's sensational response, would that not cost the tax payers millions of dollars?” He noted that his duty as an Opposition MP is “to safeguard the interests of the people and wisely allocate resources.” “In this case, Minister Mustapha has failed in this fundamental responsibility, and the taxpayers will pay the exorbitant price for his thoughtless actions,” he added.
Duo placed on bail for assaulting each JSC advertises vacancies for Judges, Magistrates other at North Road Two women were on Wednesday placed on bail after appearing at the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts to answer to the c h a rg e o f u n l a w f u l l y inflicted grievous bodily harm on each other. Ashanti Bristol and Stisha Lovell both appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly, where the charge was read to them. They both pleaded not guilty and were granted bail with the condition that they bond to
keep the peace. Bristol was granted bail in the sum of $20,000 while Lovell was granted bail in the sum of $60,000.The matter was adjourned to November 22, 2023. It is alleged that on October 7, 2023 at North Road Georgetown, both defendants unlawfully and maliciously assaulted each other. Bristol sustained a cut on her right palm and as well as her left foot.
From page 12 Commission can never be properly satisfied that it has attracted the most suitably qualified candidates. Every person who meets the requirements specified in Article 129 of the Constitution and section 5 of the High Court Act enjoys a right to apply for, and be considered for, appointment. The Commission has no power to curtail this right.”The letter noted that the position of Judge is a public
position, and thus must be treated with the utmost transparency, with an emphasis on attracting competent candidates who are capable of delivering written judgments within the time limits. In fact, Satram urged that the criteria that would be used to appoint judges, as well as the list of potential appointees, should be publicized.“The appointments must be done on the basis of objective criteria. Our clients demand that the criteria
which the Commission intends to utilize, should be made public in the i n t e r e s t o f t r a n s p a r e n c y. T h e Commission ought to be aware that its decisions will impact thousands of litigants and potential litigants who will not be consulted in the appointment process. As a result, the Commission has a heightened duty of transparency and accountability in any appointment process it embarks upon or employs,” Satram emphasized in the letter.
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Thursday October 19, 2023
Kaieteur News
Businessman says being targeted by gang, after foiling robbery attempt WANTED
VACANCY
LAND FOR SALE
Wanted: Experienced Puri Maker and Counter Person. Apply @ Shanta's, 225 Camp and New Market Sts. Call: 654-1361.
East Bank Electrical is now hiring Electrical Engineer, Outside Sales Staff & Counter Sales Staff. Call: 604-6394, sales@eastbankelectrical.com
Prime commercial land for sale @ Camp St, G/town. Call: 227-8478.
Pump Attendant needed to work at Charity (night). Contact: 687-5814, 688-0417, 2235273/74.
Vacancy Exist For two Experienced Dispatcher At Confidential Cabs. Call: 2315784, 231-4001, 231-4000.
Diesel Mechanic wanted. Call: 688-0417/ 223-5273/74. Cook needed to work at Xenon Hotel, Charity. Contact: 687-5814, 688-0417, 2235273/74.
Carpenter, Mason, Time Clerk, Farm Workers, Welder/ Fabricator, Excavator & Bobcat Operators, Maintenance Workers & Labourers. Call: 621-6969, 615-7784.
A.E.A refridgeration and air conditioner training course. Call Lewis Couchman: 6803358 or A.E.A @ Carmichael st, G/town.
Supervisor needed to work at Gaulin Supermarket, Charity. Call: 687-5814, 688-0417, 223-5273/74.
Vacancy exist for Cook & Kitchen Assistant at Famous Flavors Restaurant in Georgetown. Call: 618-3696.
Handyman, Manager, Waitress, Bartenders and Cleaner to work at Sport bar. Call: 223-5273/74, 667-1056.
Vacancy for Security Guard and Gardener at CJ's Ice Business. Meal allowance & attractive salary offered. Call: 614-7231.
Wanted: Skilled Masons, Carpenters $10,000 per day and Labourers $6,000 per day. Call: 602-9469, 660-6385 or 625-7642. Wanted! Male & Female workers for packaging pasta and chowmein on the Back Road (Mandela Ave). Call: 611-7839. 1 Cook and 2 Kitchen Assistant. Call: 603-1278/ 665-5074. Male & female Workers and Female Cook & Domestic needed to work in Interior. Call: 660-9093. To buy black spandex fabric, Heavy duty sunger.Call 6725175 WANTED Office assistant5 CSEC O’ Levels,Computer Literate, Prior experience an asset Agricola scaffmanguyana@gmail.com Wanted Scaffolders & Trainees Prior scaffold experience an asset. Training will be provided Agricola scaffmanguyana@gmail.com
Office Assistant needed. Requirement: CXC, speak and write fluent English. Call: 667-8684. Email: quincyp@ pettonassociates.com, Cc: nickeshab@ pettonassociates.com Junior Accounts Clerk needed. Must have English & Maths and knowledge in QuickBooks. Apply @ mikeswholesaledepot @yahoo.com or @ their location.
SERVICES Visa Application to Canada and U.S.A, graphics design, advertisements,USA passport application forms & i130 application. Call: 6267040. Wood working for neatly made spindles and moulding at 196 third St. Craig E.B.D Telephone: 673-2779 615-0940 Repairs at affordable prices:Fridge,Air conditioner,Washing machines, Dryers, TV, Microwaves & Freezer: 610-5846 or 661-8158.
Hibiscus Restaurant 91 Middle St. North Georgetown hiring cook, Kitchen assistant,driver,server. Contact 231-5857,604-0857 / hibiscusrestaurantgy@gmail.com
For a canter/ truck Driver (part time) to work in Georgetown, ages 35-60 years. Call: 667-3933/ 6005992.
FOR RENT Recently constructed 4 storey building at Parika in the business district, two and a half floors available. Call: 699-4513. Ground floor Kingston (Barrack St). Camp and North Road (first floor), perfect for office, boutique, restaurant, etc. Call: 227-8478.
FOR SALE
VEHICLES FOR SALE
EDUCATION
Farm produce for sale: plantain, lemon, cayenne and apple banana. Every Thursday from Pomeroon.Call: 688-0417,223-5273,600-5370.
One CRV Honda, $3.3M negotiable and 1 Toyota Allion, $3.350 M, fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage . Contact: 649-0956.
19 acres of land along Friendship Public road, EBD. Price USD $4.5 mil. Call: 623-1615.
Succeed Wagon, $875,000 neg. Working condition. Call: 674-0614.
3 bedroom two storey property for sale in Tain Berbice. 25 Million Call: 648-9248 / Whatsapp 347-228-5754
Living and Business Quarter for rent at James and Hunter Street. For more information Call: 674 0614. Bottom flat three bedroom apartment, located 173 D Eccles Old road. Contact: 660-4330 3-bedroom unfurnished WBD property for rent. Wifi, parking available. Contact 681-7261.
An East Ruimveldt, Georgetown businessman and his family remain tramautised as a ‘motor bike gang’ allegedly continues to terrorise them for over a week now. A seemingly frustrated Leroy Macey, 51, said that for over two weeks now the sixmember gang continues to target them at his home and business, located at 464, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown. According to Macey, his family had become the focus of what he called a ‘well known gang’ after he foiled one of their recent robbery attempts in the city. “I can’t take much more of this…I reporting to the police, but every time they arrive (which is not often), these men already shoot up around my house and shop and gone them way…I have two young daughters and my wife is even afraid to go to the washroom at nights,” the businessman said. The businessman explained he is a driver for his employer Jaipaul Ramshamook of #1 Canal, West Bank Demerara. He also operates a small grocery and fruit shop on the bottom floor of his two-storey home. He said his employer has a contract to supply all of Banks DIH fast food outlets in the city with vegetables, ground provision, and fresh fruits. He said he would take his employer to ply his trade in the morning hours, and tend to his shop from around midday. Macey told this publication that just over a week ago they were dropping off supplies at Banks DIH ‘OMG Fast Food Outlet’ on Sherriff Street, when he noticed a lone rider on a CG Motorcycle was
The distraught Leroy Macey says he will do anything to protect his home and family trailing their van for quite a long time. He said as they were almost at the fast food joint, “out of nowhere five more riders appeared and joined the lone rider.” “I followed my instincts. I know this was a set up, and I recognised some of them, since they were always frequenting the city on the motorbikes. So I drove past OMG at high speed, and stopped a short distance away. I was not going to back down…I approached them, and cuss them out good. They were mad and left the scene quickly because people started to gather around.” Macey said the very evening after the foiled robbery attempt, was when all hell broke loose. “The same evening they arrived at my home, riding around and shooting up in the air, shouting ‘snitches gaf fe die’, ‘lick shot pon infarmas”. He said in fear he closed
his shop and retreated to the top floor of his house with his two daughters who were screaming. He said they spent about five minutes before riding off. According to the businessman, he made a report immediately after to the East La Penitence Police. He said ranks took a statement but have not arrested anyone, even though the gang members frequent the area regularly. The businessman said that this gang has been tormenting his family relentlessly, and would even be circling the home in the nights, taunting him loudly, while making death threats. He explained that many times he has to close his business prematurely, to escape their taunting, which sometimes occur in the evening. He said he has to close his shops for many days, and would be up at night for late hours, guarding his home, as threats of vandalism have also been made. The man said that he has been to the East La Penitence Police Station very often to seek help, but feels that police are not taking the matter seriously. When officers at this police station were contacted yesterday, they acknowledge receipt of the man’s report, and said they are presently investigating the matter. Sources are connecting this gang to a series of robberies around the Stabroek Market block, and bus drivers on the East Coast Park hinted that the gang two weeks ago tried to rob two passengers who were sleeping in West Berbice bound minibus
Guyana on guard, as Venezuela... From page 06 fifth columnists and operatives into key government, militar y, a n d l e a d e r s h i p positions both at the local and national levels, and thus achieve a “soft
invasion” of the country, with far-reaching implications to our security, independence, and nationhood. Meanwhile, in an invited comment on the issue former
Guyanese Ambassador, Ronald Austin called on the Government of Guyana to control and to monitor Venezuelan refugees and the defense of its territorial integrity and sovereignty with a robust border policy. The regions adjoining Venezuela must have the resources and means to inform their inhabitants of their responsibilities to the Venezuelan refugees and ensure that they are aware of security threats and any attempt to compromise the nation’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. “A border policy existed before, and all the government has to do is follow previous paradigms,” he said.
Kaieteur News
Thursday October 19, 2023
PAGE 17
All set for Agri-Investment Forum and Expo - 2023 - Minister says several regional, int'l companies to attend - over 100 agro-processors to participate
M
inister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha on Wednesday confirmed that preparations are almost completed for the launch of the AgriInvestment Forum and Expo2023, which opens on Friday at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC). The forum will last for three days. During a press conference and walk-through of the facilities set up yesterday, Mustapha said the third Agri-Investment Forum and Expo is the second to be held in Guyana. He noted that the event is co-chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture of
Guyana and the CARICOM Secretariat. “As you are aware, CARICOM Heads agreed that the Agri-Investment Forum and Expo would be the appropriate mechanism to address the issue of the region's rising food import bill and also to stimulate investments in agriculture and food production,” the Minister said. He said members of the media, as well as citizens who visit the expo, would be able to see the individual and collective potential that exist to develop regional agricultural sectors. He said they would also be able to
learn of the plans for food security and emerging prospects in CARICOM's agriculture, including technological and logistical solutions. Mustapha further noted that the event will showcase Guyana's unwavering commitment to the development and modernisation of the sector while realising its potential of being the breadbasket in CARICOM. Kaieteur News understands that speakers for the opening ceremony include CARICOM Secretary General, Dr. Carla Barnett; Prime Minister of
Sod turned for $10M multipurpose shade house at GSA
Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha joined by members of the planning committee Barbados, Mia Mottley; and Guyana's President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who will deliver the feature address. He also reminded that the opening ceremony will be under a massive tent set up to take centre stage in the ACCC's compound. For the Exhibition, which will be open from 10 am to 10 pm for three days, Minister Mustapha said all of the booth spaces have been taken, adding that the exhibition promises to be larger than last year's. “This demonstrates the growing interest in the agriculture sector here in Guyana and across the region,” he said. He was also pleased to share that there will be 150 exhibitors and over 80 agro-
processors that will showcase a diverse quality agricultural products and support systems. He said a farmers' market will also be present for the duration of the event. Furthermore, Minister Mustapha said several international agencies will also be present. So far, Mustapha said delegations from Suriname, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, h a v e c o n f i r m e d participation. Additionally, Minister Mustapha said there will be a keynote presentation by Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo. Mustapha said the Vice
President will speak on the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2023 and its alignment with the government's plans for agricultural development. He said that two technical presentations and four-panel discussions will be held on Climate Smart Initiatives in Agriculture, Financing for Agriculture Development, Agri-Tech and Innovation and Women and Youth in Agriculture Development. Overall, the minister said the Forum will highlight discussions to accelerate CARICOM's mission of reducing food imports by 25 percent by 2025, hence the event theme being “Achieving Vision 25 by 2025.”
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Guyana Shop celebrates 11 ...
Turning of the sod for the construction of the shade house. The Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) yesterday held a simple ceremony to turn the sod for the construction of a multipurpose, $10M shade house. The project is being funded by several agencies including the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), UK Aid, the United Nations and the Government of Canada. Wilmont Garnett, Country Representative of IICA, said that the project will have several components. The facility will measure 30ft in width by 100ft in length. He said, “it's going be a special shade house, because we're also going to include a hydroponics component and an aquaponics component.” Garnett said that the funding agencies are looking
to establish a center of excellence, and they believe that they should start at the GSA. The agencies will be working along with the management of the GSA to determine how best they can continue to modernize the institution to make it a regional hub. “With respect to the hydroponics and the aquaponics we will be incorporating fish, the tilapia and that will be consumed by the students here , and the fecal of the fish and what we call waste water also has a value to us in agriculture.” Garnett noted that wastage from the aquaculture aspect of the project will be used to provide nutrients for the plants. He said IICA along with the other agencies partnered to build capacity at the GSA since the institution would be managing the
Wilmot Garnett, Country Rep. of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) operation of the shade house. The agriculture official noted that IICA is working along with the Ministry of Agriculture to invite the private sector to partner with the on the venture which is deemed a “Climate Smart Agriculture” project.
From page 13 supermarkets, exporters and even the country's economy as a whole, she mentioned. To this end, Ms. Lall encouraged agro-processors and consumers to take advantage of all of the services the GMC offers. “Let me remind you that we are a start-to-finish agency where we assist you on how to get your products started from label designs, nutritional facts, preservatives and even packaging materials, but we don't stop there we take your products to the next level by selling it to the Guyana Shop for you and even distribute throughout the country,” she explained. Ms. Lall mentioned that: “as we reflect on our achievement at the Guyana Shop, allow me to extend my congratulations and gratitude to our agroprocessors whose innovation and dedication have fueled the rapid growth of the industry.” Through their innovation and dedication, she added that today, there is a wide array of agro –processed products
including traditional foods, processed foods, fresh juices, and other items such as beauty care products, crafts, candles, non alcoholic beverages, local wines, over the counter pharmaceuticals, cleaning agents and much more. Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha in brief remarks congratulated the Guyana Shop on its anniversary and said that: “this shop is a true testament to the government's commitment in taking agriculture to new heights.” He highlighted that they are not only celebrating the 11th Anniversary of the Guyana Shop but are celebrating the achievement of all the agroprocessors, all the farmers in the country and the entire Guyanese population. The minister noted that he is impressed with the products coming out of the agro-processing industry in Guyana and that they are almost comparable to imports the country tend to import. During his speech he also made mention that Guyana over the years, has been a primary-product produced country where the country normally exports
and sell those products. This he said, the government is looking to move away from. “When we sold the oranges or we sold the cherries we in turn purchase back the juices, and as a government we want to move away from primary production only, we want to add value to our products and we want to bring a new kind of development not only into the urban areas but areas across the country,” he explained. The minister said over the years there has been an increase in budgetary allocations to the New GMC, noting that the entity receives its fair share of investment. “As I am speaking here today, we have agro-processing facilities in different parts of our country and in different regions of our country. We have in Regions1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 and we are now building one in Region 7 and in another year from now, we will have one in Region 8,” he said. According to the minister, the government's intention is that by 2025 all the regions will have agro-processing facilities producing locally produced products.
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Thursday October 19, 2023
Kaieteur News
’20 dead’ in Israel strike strikes on Rafah
(ALJAZEERA) During the last hour two bombardments took place in the southern area of the Gaza Strip, specifically Rafah district. Two residential buildings were levelled to the ground by the Israeli forces. Around 20 Palestinians were killed due to those attacks. The Israeli bombardment on the Gaza Strip is continuing, every single
place in the Gaza Strip has been hit by the ongoing strikes. Different air raids were also carried out in the north of the Gaza Strip, in the Jabalia refugee camp, a residential area that is full of a population that have been warned to evacuate, but people there refuse to evacuate, believing there is no safe shelter in the Gaza Strip. Twenty trucks are not
enough. There are more than 500,000 Palestinians in the refugee shelters, and inside the Gaza Strip there are 2.3 million Palestinians. Yet there are still hundreds of trucks on the Egyptian side waiting to enter the Gaza Strip. The humanitarian crisis may be mitigated if there was a flow of medical supplies and even humanitarian aid to the besieged territory.
US vetoes UN resolution calling for humanitarian pause in Israel-Hamas war - US ambassador says draft resolution did not do enough to underscore Israel’s right to self-defence. (ALJAZEERA) The United States has vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have condemned Hamas’ attack on Israel while calling for a pause in the fighting to allow humanitarian assistance into Gaza. The US was the sole vote against the resolution on Wednesday, with 12 members voting in favour and Russia and the United Kingdom abstaining. “We are on the ground doing the hard work of diplomacy,” US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the council after the vote. “We believe we need to let that diplomacy play out.” The Brazil-drafted text would have condemned violence against all civilians, but the US said that it did not do enough to underscore Israel’s right to self-defence. The US has typically exercised its Security Council veto to shield Israel from critical resolutions. “The overwhelming majority
of the council, 12 countries, supported that resolution and expressed disappointment after days of negotiations and a humanitarian situation that was rapidly escalating, that the council wasn’t able to come together and offer this view, this call for calm, this call for access for humanitarians,” Al Jazeera correspondent Kristen Saloomey reported from UN headquarters in New York City. The vote came amid soaring tensions in the region, with crowds of protesters taking to the street in several countries after a deadly explosion at a hospital in Gaza on Tuesday drew widespread outrage. Bottom of Form Palestinian authorities said at least 471 people were killed in the blast that was caused by an Israeli air raid. Israel says the explosion was the result of a rocket launched by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) armed group misfiring. The PIJ has rejected the allegation. The United States has
said an analysis of “overhead imagery, intercepts and open source information” showed that Israel was not behind the attack and that the US would continue to collect evidence. Al Jazeera was not able to independently verify the claims. Despite the uncertainty around the cause of the explosion, protests across the Middle East have heightened concerns that other armed groups in the region could join the Israel-Hamas war. Speaking before the council, UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland said that the world was “at the brink of a deep and dangerous abyss that could change the trajectory of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, if not of the Middle East as a whole”. An attack into southern Israel by Hamas on October 7, during which Palestinian gunmen killed hundreds of civilians in Israeli towns and kibbutzim and took 199 people captive, has been widely condemned.
Kaieteur News
Thursday October 19, 2023
The guns and drugs which were discovered in a barrel at the CJIA. (Travis Chase photo)
Eight guns, ammo, drugs found in barrel at CJIA Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) James Singh has confirmed that a number of guns as well as a quantity of marijuana were found in a barrel at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). Reports are that the bust
was made by law enforcement agents at the Laparkan bond at the CJIA on Wednesday. The barrel was reportedly shipped to Guyana from a United States address. Investigations into the bust are ongoing.
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GRA Boss debunks misinformation from Exxon ...says US$214M audit closed C
ommissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia has set the record straight that the audit into ExxonMobil's US$1.7B audit remains closed with US$214M in disputed sums. Statia's clarification comes on the heels of recent disclosures by Exxon Guyana's Country Manager, Alistair Routledge that the audit remained ongoing. In fact, Routledge had said his company received a letter from GRA last week, indicating that the auditor, IHS Markit, was re-engaged in an effort review any further documentation that is available to substantiate the US$214M in queried sums. Routledge's comments during a press engagement with reporters on Tuesday were also in stark contrast with Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo's
GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia announcement that the audit was closed. Kaieteur News even reminded the Country Manager of the latest position at the time by Dr. Jagdeo who serves as the chief policy maker for the sector but Routledge indicated that the letter from GRA indicates otherwise.
ExxonMobil Guyana Limited Country Manager, Alistair Routledge
GRA's Commissioner General in a subsequent statement said the audit is closed. Statia said the letter he issued to Routledge seeking clarity to the said 'Audit Report Recommendation Final' should in 'no way or form' be construed as a change in the authority's
position. This newspaper subsequently reached out to ExxonMobil to understand if Routledge would be retracting his statement and if he is willing to produce the letter received from GRA. Up to the time of submission and publication of this report, no response was received from the oil giant.
Petroleum Activities Law Pt. 4
Companies will have to pay US$2 million annual fee to retain untapped discoveries By Kiana Wilburg
I
f an oil company makes a petroleum discovery but considers that it is likely to be of commercial interest within five years, the Petroleum Activities Law allows for the licensee to make an application to the Natural Resources Minister to hold onto the area until such time. The 2021 legislation makes it clear however that the approval of such an application is at the sole discretion of the minister. The law also states that the grant of an authorization shall be conditional upon the licensee not only explaining the reasons for wanting a retention but also undertaking subsequent studies and work obligations to
establish the commerciality of the discovery. Such matters are expounded on in Guyana's new model Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) for deepwater and shallow water blocks. The model PSAs state that an application for a retention of a discovery may be justified under the following circumstances: (a) lack of market for the natural gas to be produced but is expected to be created in less than five years; (b) lack or inadequacy of infrastructure for transportation of the natural gas to be produced by the Contractor but is expected to be implemented in less than five years; (c) the volume of the oil and gas discovery is such that its
c o m m e rc i a l f e a s i b i l i t y depends on additional discoveries to be made in the same Contract Area or in adjacent Contract Areas, aiming for the joint development of all operations; or (d) lack of technology for development of high-pressure high temperature (HPHT) reservoirs but which is expected to become available in less than five years. The PSAs also state that the application for retention of a discovery shall be accompanied by a Retention Work Programme laying out the specific activities that the Contractor undertakes to carry out to: (a) secure the market for natural gas; (b) develop the infrastructure for
transportation of natural gas; (c) ensure the development of a single field, the joint development of a cluster of fields or development of an infrastructure hub to enable the commercial recovery of h y d ro c a r b o n s f ro m t h e discovery(s) in question; or (d) demonstrate technology for development of HPHT reservoirs. The model PSA also states that the minister shall within 60 days of the receipt of the application for Retention of Discovery make a decision whether to grant or reject the application. Significantly, the PSAs outline that the in reviewing the application for retention of discovery, the minister shall prioritise the national interests of the State. If the retention of the
discovery by the Contractor is considered in the best interest of the State, the minister may approve same for an initial period of three years, termed “retention period”. Within 90 days of the end of the initial retention period, the contractor may apply for a two year renewal of the retention period. The PSAs state that such request must be accompanied by a technical report and an updated Retention Work Programme, the approval of which is at the discretion of the minister. During the retention period, it is critical to note that the contractor shall pay to the minister at the beginning of each year, an annual holding fee of US$2 million. Such fee would be cost recoverable.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday October 19, 2023
Thursday October 19, 2023
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Kaieteur News
Cricket West Indies (CWI) accelerates Governance Reform ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) recently held a pivotal special board meeting and agreed on the next steps for implementing several of the Wehby Report recommendations on the long-anticipated governance reform. Governance reform within CWI has been an appeal echoed by various stakeholders and cricket enthusiasts alike. Recognizing the significance of this, CWI President Dr. Kishore Shallow confirmed in a press conference that CWI has taken proactive steps to evaluate and revamp its governance framework. The board meeting, chaired by President Dr. Kishore Shallow on 23 Sep-
tember 2023, primarily focused on the Wehby Report (2020). Jamaican Senator Don Wehby and his five-member committee were commissioned to enhance stakeholder trust and ensure more transparency and accountability in line with modern best practices for corporate governance. President Dr. Kishore Shallow commented on the importance of governance reform, saying, “The need for governance reform within Cricket West Indies has been a long-standing call, and we are acutely aware of its importance. The Wehby Report offers us a roadmap to a more efficient, transparent, and accountable organization. We
are committed to delivering on this commitment, ensuring that CWI operates at its full potential and sets a standard for good governance in the cricketing world.” He further added, “The process of governance reform will be a collaborative and transparent one, with input from all parties invested in West Indies cricket’s future. The board meeting was an important step in gaining momentum in advancing our governance reform process.” At the CWI press conference, the chair of the CWI Strategic Governance Committee, CWI Director Arjoon Ramlal, was also present. He was instrumental in revising the Trinidad and Tobago
Thursday October 19, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cricket Board’s constitution, which now includes term limits for the president. The Windward Islands Cricket Board is another territory that has amended its constitution in recent years, with the introduction of term limits. CWI acknowledges the invaluable input from shareholders, and the organization
remains resolute in its dedication to improving cricket’s management and development in the West Indies. As President Dr. Kishore Shallow reiterated, “We are committed to working handin-hand with our shareholders to shape the future of CWI. It is against this backdrop, that we will be engaging the territorial boards in
the coming weeks as their involvement in the process is critical.” CWI, through governance reform, aims to enhance its efficiency, financial stability, and overall impact on the cricketing world. The organization remains steadfast in its mission to inspire, unite, and develop cricket throughout the Caribbean.
New Zealand beat Afghanistan by 149 runs... From page 24 not out decision overturned, and the procession continued. Azmatullah scored 27 and no other batter crossed 20. Mitchell Santner had 3-39 in 7.4 overs, included his 100th ODI wicket, and also took a stunning one-handed catch to dismiss Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi. Lockie Ferguson finished with 3-19 in seven overs,
Lawrence Farnum delighted... From page 22 unforgettable to play against international stars and the experience in the Asian Continent was awesome and brilliant. In the championship fixture, Pakistan racked up a daunting 328-4 at the expiration of the allotted 45-overs while the visitors, in response, were all out for 176 in the 39th over. Farnum mentioned Deonarine, who also scored a century on tour, was badly absent on the field for most of the time in the final due to an injury but he lauded his captaincy. Farnum informed Deonarine is an astute leader and his tactics in Pakistan were absolutely admirable and spot-on. In his absence during the earlier games, the team was led by Trinidad and Tabago’s first-class batsman Shazam Babwa while Nagamootoo also skippered them on few occasions. Apart from Farnum, another former Essequibo InterCounty player Beesham Seepersaud was in Pakistan. West Indies should be in Dubai next March for a T20 Global Cup as well, but things are yet to finalize. Farnum thanked Zamin Amin, West Indies over-50 captain who toured with this Over-40 side as a player/coach for his advises and support in a variety of ways.
rounding off a brilliant New Zealand effort with the ball. Williamson was unavailable owing to a thumb injury sustained during the match against Bangladesh. Legspinner Ish Sodhi missed out for a fourth successive
game. Scores: New Zealand 288 for 6 (Phillips 71, Latham 68, Naveen 2-48, Omarzai 2-56) beat Afghanistan 139 (Rahmat 36, Omarzai 27, Santner 3-39, Ferguson 3-19) by 149 runs.
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Thursday October 19, 2023
Lawrence Farnum delighted with performances in Pakistan Former Essequibo and University of West Indies batsman Lawrence Farnum is delighted with his performances for West Indies in the recently concluded inaugural MCW Over-40 Cricket Global Cup in Pakistan. West Indies, led by exGuyana and West Indies player Narsingh Deonarine, contested the final against the hosts. West Indies, however, suffered the indignity of a comprehensive 152-run loss. The English-based Guyanese Farnum scored 41 in the final but had a century (101 retired-hurt) in a preliminary round match
against Canada. He rated that innings as his best with We s t I n d i e s e m e rg i n g victorious. His other measurable score of 69 also was instrumental to West Indies’ win against United Arab Emirates (UAE). “Was an incredible tour of Pakistan in such a prestigious tournament; playing for West Indies was absolutely amazing as well; those memories will last for a lifetime having played in Pakistan as well,” the lefthanded batsman stated. Farnum took up residence about 18 years ago in Europe but related that he was thrilled and overwhelmed when he was
called up to wear the maroon colours. “I would say a dream come true; any player would love to represent West Indies in a World Cup event and I am delighted to attire in the coveted maroon colours,” the 43-year-old Farnum commented. Eight teams began participation on September 18 with the curtains brought down October 2 in Pakistan’s capital city: Karachi. In addition to Pakistan and West Indies, the six other teams were: Australia, Canada, USA, UAE, Nepal and Hong Kong. According to Farnum, it was also special to touch gloves with Deonarine and
West Indies leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo, whose international career ended as well. Quizzed on any challenge in Pakistan because of competing against top nations in a tournament of this magnitude, Farnum responded: “Playing two matches and then a rest day was quite challenging and the heat temperature was also factoring; playing in about 35 degree Celsius was very challenging and then some of our players got injured and ill so these were some of the challenges but generally it was a memorable tour and obviously we were hungry to come out on top, but Pakistan played well in the final,” Farnum, who still plays semi professionally in English County cricket, declared. Pakistan had the services of two distinguished players Misbah-ul-Haq and Abdul
Lawrence Farnum celebrates his century in Pakistan.
Razzaq, who captained the country for this showpiece. Apart from them two, Mohammed Sami and
Hassan Raja also played for Pakistan test team. For Farnum, it was also (Continued on page 21)
Allicock, Jackman puts Guyana on show at Pan Am Games today …Ninvalle wishes boxers well ahead of Olympic qualification By Rawle Toney Boxers Alesha Jackman and Keevin Allicock will step into the ring today in Santiago, Chile, marking the commencement of Guyana’s campaign at this year’s Pan Am Games. Twenty athletes, in the disciplines of Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Table Te n n i s , Ta e k w o n d o , Swimming, Weightlifting, and Esports, will represent Guyana at the 19th edition of the games, which traces its origins back to 1951. While this will be Jackman’s debut appearance at the Pan Am Games, Allicock is determined to surpass his performance from 2019, where he narrowly lost to Lucas Fernández of Uruguay in the 56kg round-of-16. With the Pan Am Games serving as a direct qualification event for the Paris Olympics, Allicock embarks on his journey to return to the same stage where he first competed in Tokyo. Allicock will face Panama’s Javier Ibarguen in the Men’s 57kg round-of-16. On the other hand,
Jackman has established herself as the leading female pugilist in the Caribbean and will look out-punch Argentina’s Noelia Perez in the women’s 66kg category. Coach Terrence Poole Ms, believes that Jackman’s exposure, including her attendance at the World Championship, is part of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) push to develop female boxing in Guyana. Regarding Allicock, Poole said he believes the country’s prized boxer is experienced enough to navigate his way to the podium, especially taking into consideration the outcome of his bout at the 2019 games. Poole is also a medallist at the Pan Am Games, where he, along with boxer Stephan Rose were the only two medallists for Guyana at the 1991 event in Cuba where they grabbed bronze. Allicock, Jackman, along with Desmond Amsterdam (92kg) and Joel Williamson (63kg), had a rigorous preparation for the Pan Am Games during their threeweek training camp in Cuba. Meanwhile, president of
the GBA, Steve Ninvalle, stressed the importance of the boxers’ commitment and determination, combined with their training, in achieving the perfect preparation for the tournament. “It’s a very important tournament that’s why we dug really deep to get them to Cuba for that three training programme,” Ninvalle said. “The GBA expect good coming out of this, we expect that they can win some medals and get a place for the 2024 Olympics.” While Martin Dias (weightlifting) and James Wren-Gilks (athletics) are the only athletes to have ever won gold at the Pan Am Games, boxing has been a consistent source of success for Guyana, accounting for seven of the 18 medals won since the country’s inaugural participation in the 1959 games held in Chicago, USA. The last boxing medal at the Pan Am Games was secured by Clive Atwell, who earned a bronze in the Men’s 54kg category at the 2007 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Kaieteur News
Thursday October 19, 2023
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Lionel Messi scores 2 in Argentina’s World Cup qualifying win over Peru; Brazil’s Neymar injured MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Lionel Messi scored twice in Argentina’s 2-0 win at Peru in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, playing the entire match for his national team. The 36-year-old appeared fit after he was sidelined for several matches with his club Inter Miami because of muscular pain. Also Tuesday, Brazil — the archrival of the defending World Cup champion — took two serious blows at Uruguay. Brazil lost 2-0 to the hosts, its first defeat in 37 World Cup qualifying matches, and saw its star Neymar leave the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo on crutches with a left knee injury. Elsewhere, Venezuela beat Chile 3-0. Yeferson Soteldo opened the scoring shortly before the break, Salomón Rondón added a goal in the 72nd minute, and Darwin Machis scored seven minutes later. Last week, Venezuela earlier had a 1-1 draw against Brazil. Ecuador and Colombia had a scoreless draw, and Paraguay beat Bolivia 1-0 on Antonio Sanabria’s goal in the 69th minute. Argentina leads South American qualifying with 12
Lionel Messi
points in four matches. U r u g u a y, B r a z i l a n d Venezuela have seven points and are separated by goal difference. Colombia has six points, and Ecuador, Paraguay and Chile have four each. Peru has one point and Bolivia has zero. The next World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada will include 48 teams, meaning direct entry for the top six teams in South America. The seventh-place team will contest an intercontinental playoff for a berth. Two more rounds of South A m e r i c a n Wo r l d C u p qualifying will be played in November. Brazil and Argentina will face off at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Nov. 21. ARGENTINA 2, PERU 0 Messi increased his total to 106 goals in 178 international
appearances, moving within two of Iran’sAli Daei for second on the career list behind Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo at 127. The defending World Cup champion never faced risks at Lima’s National Stadium against a Peruvian team that has yet to score in four qualifying matches. A r g e n t i n a ’s c o n f i d e n t performance could be traced to Messi finally playing as a starter and appearing fully healthy. The 36-year-old made it 1-0 after a counterattack in the 32nd minute. Enzo Fernández passed to Nico González on the left. A low cross found Messi at the edge of the box, and he shot it to the left angle of goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. Messi scored again 10 minutes later after Enzo Fernández found him nearly at the same spot. Messi shot it on Gallese’s right corner. He later had a goal disallowed for a low margin offside caught by video review in the 57th minute. “Yes, we have a good group and a good environment in our dressing room and things are much easier. We enjoy being together and playing together,” Messi said. “After we won the World Cup we got confidence, we are more united and firm. I
Brazil’s Vinicius Junior, right, and Uruguay’s Manuel Ugarte battle for the ball during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
hope we can keep growing.” Peruvian and Argentinian fans tried to invade the field after the match to hug Messi, who led the World Cup champions to their eighth straight victory since they won last year’s title in Qatar. Last Thursday, Messi played for almost an entire half of Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Paraguay. URUGUAY 2, BRAZIL 0 After a slow start to the match in Montevideo, Maximiliano Araujo easily beat Marquinhos on the left flank and crossed the
ball to Darwin Núnez, who headed it into the net. The second half started with Brazil still doubtful and Uruguay ready to counterattack. One of those transitions was enough for a close-range finish by Nicolás de la Cruz in the 77th minute. “In the short run we need to be realistic, we need to improve,” Brazil captain Casemiro said. “For Neymar to leave the match it is surely something serious. But I hope it isn’t at the end. He has had those
injuries whenever he starts picking up his pace again, it is hard.” With and without Neymar, Brazil had its worst performance under new coach Fernando Diniz, who will remain in the job at least until next year’s Copa America. Uruguay, now coached by Argentinian Marcelo Bielsa, had its first win against Brazil in 22 years. “We had to play against a tough and direct rival,” Núñez said. “Today we made history.”
Decisive quarterfinal fixtures scheduled for November window SportsMax - Concacaf has confirmed the pairings for the 23/24 Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals. The four home-and-away series, scheduled for the FIFA Match Window of November 2023, will determine the four teams advancing to the Concacaf Nations League final, scheduled for March 2024, and the first four Concacaf teams that will qualify for next year’s CONMEBOL Copa America to be staged in United States. After the completion of group stage play for League A, which took place in September and October, the two top teams from each group: Panama and Trinidad and Tobago (Group A) and Jamaica and Honduras (Group B), advanced to the quarterfinals, joining the four top-ranked League A nations (based on the Concacaf Rankings of March 2023) that received a bye: Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, and the United
States. The four Quarterfinal pairings are as follows: QF1: Costa Rica (4) vs Panama (best group winner) QF2: Canada (3) vs Jamaica (next best group winner) QF3: United States (2) vs Trinidad and Tobago (best runner-up) QF4: Mexico (1) vs Honduras (next best runnerup) After the matches played in the September and O c t o b e r F I FA M a t c h Windows, the CNL League A Group Stage standing are as follows: Group A 1. Panama (10 pts, +7 gd) – advances to Quarterfinals 2. Trinidad and Tobago (9 pts, +1 gd) – advances to Quarterfinals 3. Martinique (7 pts, -1 gd) 4. Guatemala (4 pts, -2 gd) 5. Curacao (3 pts, -1 gd) – relegated to League B 6. El Salvador (1 pts, -4 gd) – relegated to League B Group B
1. Jamaica (10 pts, +5 gd) – advances to Quarterfinals 2. Honduras (7 pts, +7 gd) – advances to Quarterfinals 3. Suriname (5 pts, +3 gd) 4. Cuba (5 pts, -3 gd) 5. Haiti (3 pts, -1 gd) –
relegated to League B 6. Grenada (1 pts, -11 gd) – relegated to League B The schedule for the quarterfinals is as follows, with the home team for each match listed first. As per the competition regulations, the four pre-seeded federations,
Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, and United States, had the opportunity to decide whether they would play at home or away first. Thursday, November 16, 2023 United States vs Trinidad and Tobago Costa Rica vs Panama Friday, November 17, 2023 Jamaica vs Canada Honduras vs Mexico Monday, November 20, 2023 Trinidad and Tobago vs United States Panama vs Costa Rica Tuesday, November 21, 2023 Canada vs Jamaica Mexico vs Honduras After home-and-away play, the aggregate score winner in each pairing will advance to both the 23/24 Concacaf Nations League final and the CONMEBOL Copa America. The four losing quarterfinalists will still have an opportunity to qualify for next summer’s Copa America via a single-
match direct elimination Play-In, where they will play for the two remaining slots for Concacaf nations. This Play-In will also take place in March 2024. 23/24 Concacaf Nations League Finals The third edition of the Concacaf Nations League final is scheduled to take place in March 2024. The final four, between League A’s quarterfinal winners, includes semifinals, to be played on Thursday, March 21, 2024, followed by a third-place match and final on Sunday, March 24. To d e t e r m i n e t h e semifinal pairings, the four participating nations will be ranked 1-4, according to their performance in the quarterfinals (points, and if required, goal difference), with the highest-ranked team facing the lowest-ranked team (1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3). More details on the 23/24 Concacaf Nations League Finals and the Concacaf Copa America Play-In will be announced in due course.
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Thursday October 19, 2023
Schenectady Jaguars roar to New Zealand beat Afghanistan by 149 runs for 4th straight win at Cricket World Cup 151-run win over B Sharps in CDCA T20 tournament
S
chenectady Jaguars roared to a massive 151-run win over B Sharps recently in the continuation of the 2023 Capital District Cricket Association (CDCA) T20 tournament at the NY Oval. Schenectady Jaguars batted first after winning the toss and racked up a daunting 230-5 from the allotment of 20-overs while B Sharps only replied with a disappointing 79-9 when the 20-overs ran out. Dassram Raghunandan led the way for Schenectady Jaguars with an impressive 62 which included five sixes. He got plenty of support from skipper Kumar Joseph (41*), Steven Mangal with 39, Akshay Homraj with 37 and Ajai Ishmael with 31. When B Sharps batted, only Siddiquallah Lawang offered a fight with 20 as leftarm orthodox spinner Gaurav Ramesh took 4-7 from his maximum four overs while off-spinner Joseph provided great assistance with the ball by claiming 3-17 in his threeovers outing.
Kumar Joseph
The win put Schenectady into the semi-final which is slated for Saturday against Rangers. The other semifinal fixture will see, Schenectady Spartans tackling Gujarat Lions also at the NY Oval.
CHENNAI, India (AP) — New Zealand collected its fourth straight win to open the Cricket World Cup by beating Afghanistan by 149 runs yesterday after important half-centuries by Glenn Phillips and Tom Latham. Phillips was the top scorer with 71 off 80 balls and put on 144 runs for the fifth wicket with Latham (68) to rescue the Black Caps from a precarious 110-4 as they posted 288-6. New Zealand curtailed Afghanistan, which was coming off a surprising 69run win over England, to 139 all out in 34.4 overs and registered another big victory in the competition to boost its net run rate. The Black Caps are in first place on a maximum eight points, with India — with three straight victories — the only other unbeaten team. Put into bat by Afghanistan, New Zealand got off to a sedate start on a tricky pitch but still got into a strong position at 109-1 before a mini-collapse. In-form Devon Conway was out lbw to Mujeeb ur Rahman for 20 but fellow
New Zealand’s cricketers celebrate their victory in the ICC Cricket World Cup match between Afghanistan and New Zealand in Chennai, India, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) opener Will Young, who replaced the injured Kane Williamson, made a second straight half-century with 54 off 64 balls, hitting four fours and three sixes. Young put on 79 runs off 83 balls with Rachin Ravindra (32) when the game changed. Bowling allrounder Azmatullah Omarzai (2-56) struck a double blow in the space of five deliveries, bowling Ravindra — who went for a wild swing — before Young was caught behind by wicketkeeper Ikram Alikhil off a low onehanded catch diving to his left. Rashid Khan entered into the attack and dismissed Daryl Mitchell for one, leaving New Zealand on 110-4 having lost three wickets for one run across nine deliveries. The slump raised the prospect of another stunning
upset by the daring Afghanistan team but Phillips and Latham came together to thwart those plans. They started in a circumspect manner in an effort to rebuild the innings by adding 50 off 75 balls, then passed 100 off 134 deliveries. Afghanistan’s fielding went to tatters at that point and any pressure was released. Latham was dropped twice — in total, Afghanistan had four mistakes in the field — to allow New Zealand to escape. The partnership helped New Zealand across 250, an important milestone for a frail Afghanistan batting lineup to come. Naveen ul Haq got the breakthrough and dismissed both set batters but Mark Chapman rose to the occasion, smacking 25 not
out off 12 balls to help push the score further along. In reply, Afghanistan’s batting never really took off as Trent Boult and his newball partner, Matt Henry, subdued the top order with their pace and movement, sharing three wickets. Henry (1-16) bowled inform opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 11 while Boult (2-18) got Ibrahim Zadran (14) at the other end, leaving Afghanistan on 27-2. Wickets then fell at regular intervals, with Afghanistan unable to string together any partnerships except for Rahmat Shah and Azmatullah Omarzai putting on 54 runs for the fourth wicket off 70 balls. Shah’s 36 off 62 balls was the highest individual score for Afghanistan. Ravindra dismissed Shah with a simple return catch, with the umpire’s on-field (Continued on page 21)
Linden secures second win in thrilling Rupununi clash Linden staged an impressive comeback to defeat Rupununi with a score of 3-1, maintaining their undefeated record in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/NAMILCO Thunderbolt ‘Flour Power’ Under 17 National Academy Playoffs fixture at the Wisburg Secondary School ground Sunday last. The match got off to a slow start, with a rather lackluster opening period. Rupununi managed to break the deadlock, courtesy of a seventh-minute goal by Guy Moses, leading 1-0 as the first half concluded. However, the Linden team regrouped and turned the game around with a remarkable performance in the second half. In a span of
just a few minutes, they netted three goals to secure the victory. Rodersio Tudor was the first to strike, leveling the scores at 1-1 in the 54th minute. Shortly after, Shemaiah Samuels found the back of the net in the 56th minute, propelling Linden to a 2-1 lead. After that, Region 9 struggled to regain their composure. In the 60th minute, Linden sealed the deal with their third goal, courtesy of Omarion Ramsammy, securing a 3-1 win. Linden now boasts a perfect record with two wins from two matches. Their first victory came against West Demerara, where they triumphed 4-1. Meanwhile, Rupununi had also previously recorded a win, defeating West Demerara with a 4-3 scoreline.
Thursday October 19, 2023
Kaieteur News
PAGE 25
Major plans for the Caribbean Clash of Champions VVIP Section
H
ailed as, ‘The most anticipated racing event for 2023’ The Caribbean Clash Of Champions has created a major buzz throughout the motor sport fraternity and by extension the Caribbean. The event will be hosted and executed by the local governing body the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMRSC). The international circuit racing event is carded for 5th of November 2023 at the South Dakota Circuit. Competitors from the USA and across the Caribbean will battle our local drivers for the most anticipated motor sport event locally to end 2023. Patrons can look forward to jam packed day of excitement as the sound of the engines and the smell of burning fuel from the race cars overcome South Dakota. Similar to Formula 1 Racing and other international racing events the VVIP elevated section is considered the most soughtafter tickets. The all new VVIP Deck will be executed and managed by AJM Enterprise, a subsidiary of Jumbo Jet who is known for their lavish food and
beverage filled events. The new VVIP Experience will take multiple dimensions with the introduction of a new area chosen for its proximity to the pit and the view of the track. Patrons will be treated to a scrumptious breakfast, lunch & dinner while utilizing the open bar that is well stocked with top shelf liquor. The area will be transformed to accommodate 600 seated with ample facilities to assure maximum peace of mind. Boasting of the largest ‘ever’ elevated deck to be constructed at South Dakota, all VVIP patrons will be given special parking a mere 130 feet from the said deck area. For patrons who require instant replays or close up footage at the turns and finish line, AJM Enterprises has secured the s e r v i c e s o f W h a t ’s Happening Guyana to cover the races. AJM Enterprise is pushing the bar to another level through granting selective access to the pits where patrons can take pictures with their favorite drivers and cars. The venue will be decorated with luscious green turf carpet to
Fans can expect a real top notch experience at the AJM VVIP Deck to see the on track excitement unfold.
create the ultimate VVIP experience that will complement the food court that will wow all in attendance. The early bird tickets would be sold for $23,000 and accessible from all the AJM Committee members or through the GMRSC Executive. After the 1st issue of tickets is sold out the prices are expected to be raised accordingly. When contacted AJM Enterprise CEO Nazrudeen Mohamed Jnr. commented,
“This year we are raising the bar much higher than last year. This new area will definitely create the hype and will also be a perfect area for photos of all the cars that will be racing on that day. Every single car that will be racing at the Caribbean Clash Of The Champions will exit the pit 20 feet from
our deck. The food will be provided by Grill Master who comes highly recommended to cater for the need of all our attendees. We will not overcrowd the deck to compromise the experience under no circumstances so please get your tickets early. Once we reach a quota that is
manageable we will close off sale of tickets. For those interested in purchasing group tickets or to reserve a section on the deck can contact the GMRSC Office or the AJM Enterprise office for guidance and information. The experience of a lifetime never before seen in Guyana awaits you.”
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Alesha Jackman (left) and Keevin Allicock will be the first Guyanese athletes on show at the Pan Am Games.
Allicock, Jackman puts Guyana on show at Pan Am Games today Ninvalle wishes boxers well ahead of Olympic qualification
New Zealand beat Afghanistan by 149 runs for 4th straight win at Cricket World Cup
New Zealand’s Tom Latham, left, congratulates teammate Glenn Phillips for scoring fifty runs during the ICC Cricket World Cup match between Afghanistan and New Zealand in Chennai, India, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Fans can expect a real top notch experience at the AJM VVIP Deck to see the on track excitement unfold.
Major plans for the Caribbean Clash of Champions VVIP Section Cricket West Indies Lionel Messi scores 2 in Argentina’s World Cup (CWI) accelerates qualifying win over Peru; Governance Reform Brazil’s Neymar injured Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.