Guyana Times - Sunday, January 22, 2023

Gas-to-energy project can pay for itself – VP Jagdeo on loan repayment

– assures financing of project will be above board

The loan that the Government will eventually have to take to finance its portion of expenses for the over US$1.7 billion gas-to-energy project, can help repay for itself when natural gas liquids are sold from the project.

Giving this update, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo in a side interview with journalists on Friday explained that the Government will acquire a loan from an Export Import Bank to finance the gas-to-energy project.

The total that will be borrowed and its details will be made public.

According to Jagdeo, the loan and their share of

will make annual payments to Exxon subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL).

“When the project is completed, the Government will make an annual payment to EEPGL co-venturers over a 20year period to recover the cost of their investment in the pipeline used to deliver a minimum of 50 million cubic feet of gas per day to Wales.”

“The total cost of electricity exiting the power plant which includes the payment to EEPGL co-venturers, operating costs of the power plant/NGL plant and recovery of capital costs, shall be less than

Gas Liquid (NGL) plant to be online by 2025, works are progressing on getting the Gas-to-Shore Project off the ground. When it comes to the construction of a combined cycle power plant, a net total of 250MW is expected to be delivered into the Guyana Power and Light Grid at a sub-station located on the East Bank of the Demerara River.

The scope of the Gasto-Shore Project also consists of the construction of 225 kilometres of pipeline from the Liza field in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, where Exxon and its partners are currently producing oil.

and Liza Unity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels in the Stabroek Block to the shore. Upon landing on the West Coast Demerara shore, the pipeline would continue for approximately 25 kilometres to the NGL plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

The pipeline would be 12 inches wide, and is expected to transport per day some 50 million standard cubic feet (mscfpd) of dry gas to the NGL plant, but it has the capacity to push as much as 120 mscfpd.

the expenses can be repaid by selling natural gas liquids. He further assured that all the financing of the project will be above board and visible for all to see over the coming years.

“The pipeline aspect is through the sale of the liquids. So, when we sell the liquids at the current price it is, we’ll probably get upwards of $100 million from the sale of the cooking gas and other liquids. That could repay the loan to EXIM bank and our share of the cost of oil,” Jagdeo further explained.

So far, it is known that the pipeline component of the Gas-to-Energy project will cost US$1 billion.

Meanwhile, the natural gas liquid and 300-megawatt power plants will cost US$759 million.

In fact, in his budget presentation, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh revealed that 43.3 billion will be allocated for the gas-to-shore project.

Prime Minister, Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips, who has responsibility for the energy sector, had recently informed the National Assembly that the latter component of the project will be financed through budgets and loans.

The PM had also assured that no contingency liability is likely and that the Government

US 5 cents per kWh,” the Prime Minister also said.

With a timetable to deliver rich gas by the end of 2024 and the Natural

It features approximately 200 kilometres of a subsea pipeline offshore that will run from Liza Destiny

The pipeline’s route onshore would follow the same path as the fibre optic cables, and will terminate at Hermitage, part of the WDZ which will house the gas-to-shore project.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Model of the gas-to-energy project

ViewsEditor: Tusika Martin

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Perspective on Budgets

With the Budget Debate scheduled to begin tomorrow, we believe that it is important that all Guyanese understand the nature of Budgets, and have a perspective for evaluating the contributions in the National Assembly. First and foremost, a Budget is literally an opportunity to see whether the Government is putting its money where its mouth is: a concrete expression of its policy priorities.

Governments make all sorts of promises in policy statements and policy papers, but it is in their Budgets that we see whether those policies are being implemented, or whether the statements were merely public relations’ gimmicks. Of course, a Budget captures Government’s income and expenditure for one year, and not all policies can be implemented within that timeframe.

The PPP has traditionally been sticklers for translating their manifesto policies and goals into their Budgets, to make decisions in raising revenues and spending those revenues to satisfy the country’s competing needs. So, they should have an easier time explaining their policy choices. Both sides of the equation ought to be examined: what revenues will be brought in, and how those would be spent. In the past, most revenues came from taxes, loans and grants, but now everyone expects that, with oil revenues flowing in, all needs can be satisfied. Are the taxes still too high – both for individuals and businesses? It is up to the Government to defend the policy choices they made – especially at this take-off stage from the poverty we have been mired in for so long.

One of the most salient criteria in our polarised society will be to determine whether the spending is equitable. There are, of course, accusations by the Opposition of the Government discriminating against their constituency, and this will be the major sticking point during the debate. But we must also look at whether there are regional and municipal variations that are meant to address differing levels of relative poverty and deprivation. It is very important to examine claims about equity across all fault lines with factual evidence, and not mere perceptions and allegations. All Budgets have a redistributive function that is meant to address concerns about equity geographically, horizontally, and vertically.

Contraposed against concerns about equity is to examine whether the funds – which are ultimately the people’s assets - are being expended efficiently; that is, to get the biggest bang for the buck. For example, were funds allocated last year spent, and if not, why not? The Government has to ensure that those bottlenecks, whether in material or manpower, are resolved. The Government’s capital investment, which is so massive, must be questioned from this perspective. However, we must not sacrifice bureaucratic efficiency for equitable goals, since the function of all Budgets is to improve the lives of the people.

Then there is the question of effectiveness. Is the spending in sync with our national policy priorities, or are they being frittered away on boondoggles? There will always be disagreement on specific issues or policies, but the test must be whether the country would benefit. For instance, all Guyanese will agree that high-cost electricity has been a major constraint on our manufacturing expansion. Is the spending on the Gas-to-Shore project the most effective path to solving this challenge? Are there alternatives, in view of the availability of gas, in terms of timing in lowering electricity costs? Infrastructure has also been a major constraint to businesses and citizens. Is this also been addressed satisfactorily, accepting that there is no magic wand to have everything done immediately?

In Guyana, transparency in the decision-making process on utilising revenue and matching them to spending has always been a bugbear.

Questions about consultations with as wide a swathe of stakeholders as possible must be made – especially with Civil Society members from the business sector and the labour market. While Civil Society writ large should also be consulted, unfortunately, we have several organisations with axes to grind against the Government, and not necessarily for those they purport to represent.

Let the debates begin!

India and Guyana: Partners for Development

Dear Editor, India will indeed be a mighty partner for Guyana in economics and trade. It is one of the ancient civilizations and nations from which came a major portion of the Guyanese population, and it has an interest in being Guyana’s longstanding partner.

His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, with a Guyanese Team comprising of members of the Private Sector, recently made a visit to India to create relationships in industry and commerce. Some monumental achievements were signed into various Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). During this historic state visit to India, Guyana developed numerous collaborations in several areas, such as Agriculture, Technology, Security, Oil and Gas, Education, Manufacturing, Human Resource Development, Climate Change, Health Care etc. This state visit also saw the President of Guyana receiving a number of high, noble Indian honours, inclusive of the Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy and Management Studies from the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in Delhi, and the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, the highest civilian honour the Indian Government grants to people of Indian origin in the diaspora, for his contribution to politics and community welfare.

I welcome these partnerships with open arms, for India is the world’s largest democracy, and is recognised as such globally. It is also the world’s largest Englishspeaking nation.

Industrialisation India is ranked as

the second most industrialised country in the world (PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Report). It boasts an array of industries, factories, universities, and a most extraordinary tradition, culture and history that have passed through many generations and ages. The wonder and power of India could confuse the human imagination, and is nothing less than the power and industry of the citizens of “Bharat” (India).

India is a free market without much governmental control, as is Guyana. Guyana is miniscule in contrast to India in population and size. India being a behemoth. “India is the motherland of our race and Sanskrit, the mother of Europe’s languages. She is the mother of our philosophy; mother, through the Arabs, of much of our mathematics; mother, through Buddha, of the ideal embodied in Christianity; mother, through the village communities, of self-government and democracy. Mother India is in many ways the mother of us all” (The Eminent Philosopher Will Durant, India - Cradle of Cultures).

Her contribution to the field of Mathematics involves the value of pi, which was first calculated by Budhayana, who also explained the Pythagoras Theorem concept taken by the Greeks. Trigonometry, Calculus and the Number System first began in ancient India. Chess, the game of wisdom and mastery, was created in India. It is also believed that Surgery began in India 2600 years ago by Sushruta, who is considered to be the father of Surgery (Essay: The greatness of India).

The Indian gene code, “if one may say so” is a genetic powerhouse which has managed to stay in strength in

spite of invasion upon invasion by other world powers. This speaks of the enduring quality of the Indian personality (RK).

Significant MoUs and Projects

First, cooperation in agriculture between Guyana and India for the exclusive production of millets in honour of the United Nations declaring the year 2023 as the International Year of Millet (IYOM). This cooperation facilitates increased global production; better farming techniques, such as crop rotation; and promotes millets as an alternative food source in times of increasing demand for vegetarian foods, as it contributes to a healthy diet, and land conservation in terms of its cultivation. It is primarily grown and consumed largely by countries in the subcontinents of Asia and Africa.

I must make mention here of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association and NBR Cooling Systems Pvt Ltd (NBR of India) at the end of the Global Investors Summit in New Delhi, India. This agreement will identify and engage Guyanese companies, or form consortiums to establish a manufacturing/assembly plant in the engine cooling (automotive sector) of Guyana. NBR has committed to allocating approximately US$ 1 million for this venture. Such a partnership would revolutionise the automotive cooling sector in Guyana and the Caribbean Region.

Dr. Rosh Khan (II), the lead representative of the Guyanese Firm ACE Professional Services and Business Development Consultancy, also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the

Indian company Squadron with the goal of recruiting skilled Indian nationals for highly specialised roles to support the rapidly expanding oil and gas economic sector in Guyana.

In addition, The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would allow for cooperation and understanding to promote bilateral trade and investment, as well as business relations between India and Guyana. Dr. Rosh Khan, Councillor, GCCI, and Mr Manish Singhal, Deputy Secretary, FICCI, were the signatories to this agreement.

Finally, MoU between the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) and Invest India was signed at the Oberoi Hotel in New Delhi, India. An agreement which focuses on the strengthening of investment/ economic relations between the two countries. It allows for foreign direct investment, and creates a framework to promote the exchange of experience and relevant information between India and Guyana.

Invest India is the leading investment agency in the world. It is the official investment promotion and facilitation agency of the Government of India, commissioned to facilitate investments in the country.

These economic and trade relations between Guyana and India will further strengthen the ties between the two countries. Guyana’s future with India is bright, as it forges ahead in the new millennium.

Sincerely, Hajji Dr Roshan Khan

An overhead shot of Capoey Lake, located in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). The village is mainly inhabited by Lokono Amerindians, and Capoey is one of the largest lakes in Essequibo. Capoey was originally settled by the Wapishana, who named the village. The name translates to "Land of the Rising Moon". The tribe was wiped out by a plague. A group of Lokono Amerindians who were enslaved on a plantation on the Essequibo coast escaped from captivity, crossed the lake, and resettled in the abandoned village [Deopaul Somwaru Photo]

Stellar performance by High Commissioner Dr Srinivasa on Guyanese President’s trip to India

Dear Editor, I write to publicly acknowledge and cheer Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. K.J Srinivasa, for his stellar performance in shepherding President Ali during his working visit to India. (It is a custom in international diplomacy that whenever a President or PM visits another country, that country’s ambassador to the country of the President usually accompanies him or her, and hosts the delegation – which is what happened in India, apart from the official welcome by P.M Modi and India’s President Murmu).

The President’s programme was minutely charted out by His Excellency Srinivasa. He has advanced the interests of both India and Guyana while the President was in India.

It was official conduct par excellence by the Indian Ambassador to Guyana in India. It was through Dr. Srinivasa’s efforts, initiatives and arrangements

that the President was able to visit so many cities and engage so many people (Government officials, businesspersons, educators) and accomplish so much in this short trip in terms of signed agreements. He was an exceptional interlocutor, facilitating Guyana’s delegation with business entities in India. Of course, the High Commissioner may also have been the person who lobbied for Ali to be the Chief Guest and a Samman recipient at this year’s PBD.

Shri Srinivasa-ji has demonstrated that he has the knowledge, skills, qualification and experience of an outstanding diplomat. He has shown that he is an extremely hard-working, professional and dedicated public servant of India, who also serves many Guyanese who seek the High Commission’s service. He has shown that he is a public servant with a difference, serving with a high level of competence and efficiency.

Srinivasa has brought

with him diverse diplomatic experience serving in several foreign locations, and it has positioned him as a seasoned and skilled envoy. He is also an accomplished scholar, and is very articulate. His foreign policy expertise and experience as a diplomat for some decades have prepared him to effectively promote ties. Since his coming, he has helped to navigate and nurture longstanding diplomatic relationships between our two countries. There have been marked improvements in economic, trade, business, diplomatic and security relations.

Ambassadors are crucial to diplomacy, dedicating their service to advancing the interests; building partnerships; promoting trade; negotiating agreements, including the security of their country, in a host country. And Srinivasa has done exactly (with mutual benefits for both countries) that in Guyana when he welcomed President Ali and the delegation. Guyanese diplomats

should take a lesson from him.

As the most seasoned diplomat on the trip, Srinivasa-ji appeared to be of tremendous assistance, and an asset to Guyana’s delegation that went to India. His work has helped Guyana to build cooperation and collaboration in India. He facilitated the meetings that led to engagements between Indian and Guyanese leaders, and between businesspersons of both countries. The President and his business delegation left India with positive expectations from all the agreements signed and the several communiques as well as commitments made by the Government of India. The trip, as per media reports, will strengthen economic ties and improve political relations.

Thank you, High Commissioner Srinivasa, for a job exceptionally well done!

Yours truly, Dr Vishnu Bisram

Criticisms of Budget 2023’s old-age pension increase

Dear Editor,

I have noted some criticisms regarding the size of the old-age pension increase proposed in the 2023 budget. Some of those commenting negatively are bent on stirring up confusion, while others are trying to score cheap political points.

While it is commonly understood that a large percentage of our senior citizens utilise their old age pension for daily living, it is evident that the Government is implementing the best measures possible at this time. We ought not to put aside or ignore the other measures implemented by the Government which bene-

fit our senior citizens, especially those which target essential services such as light and water.

Lest we also forget: in wealthier and more developed countries, such as the US et al, senior citizens have to fund their healthcare and pay out of their pockets for treatment for life-threatening illnesses, while those in Guyana enjoy access to free healthcare. Added to that, the 2023 budget’s multi-billion-dollar allocation to the health sector would allow for an upgraded health system & quality care, with special emphasis being placed on care for senior citizens.

Undoubtedly as

time progresses, with careful planning & increased economic activity, Government would enhance the current provisions for our senior citizens. However, in the meantime, the Government de-

serves our commendation for what it is currently doing to improve the lives of its citizens.

Beware of these APNU/ PNC Facebook groups

Dear Editor, I am sounding an alarm for all my Facebook persons who are decent and upstanding people; that is, people of decorum and good morals, to stay away from these PNC/APNU political groups on Facebook. They are toxic and degrading, to say the least, and have the ability to corrupt any good person who comes into association with them.

On the surface level, they come across as harmless civic groups open to a healthy discussion. However, in reality, they are a base and foulmouthed organisation.

They only focus on the narrow topic of race and nothing else, which causes you to ask the question: “Isn’t this group a race-hating body?”

When you can be so consumed in the topic of race, then there is nothing constructive that can come out of that association. These sorts of deliberations that are rooted in race have the effect of making you want to puke; so, my people, stay well away from them.

The other distressing fact about them is: when they are cornered with undeniable truth, they respond in the most reprehensible manner with that cuss attack of theirs, cussing you out with the familiar words (the Islanders use the four-letter C word, while the Guyanese cussbirds use the same word with a fifth letter, S, add-

ed to it) Your mother being the usual target for their attack.

Being a Berbician myself, I am well equipped to address that language form. I can deal with that bombardment because I treat them with dispatch whenever the need arises. However, I am really annoyed when they, in turn, appeal to Facebook to help them. Some in the directorate at Facebook willingly accede to their demands and instantly block you; seems like some of them at Facebook are in collusion with this foolishness!

I cannot, for one moment, accept this nonsense from the social media operatives; in that here you have a set of vile, foulmouthed, ignorant people attacking you incessantly, and when you respond to them, you are the one to be heavily penalised. I am of the view that a person has the right to an appeal, and be able to put forward their defence before any action is taken. But in any event, as the situation remains, I would readily advise decent and right-thinking people to stay away from such groups.

Stay separate and apart from them, and let them wallow in their asininity all the time. I say stay away from these groups, let them remain in their garbage all by themselves. I rest my case.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

Yours truly, Alvin Hamilton

CHOOSING A CAT AS YOUR PET

As was to be expected, our “curious” cat-loving readers made contact with us, requesting comments on the acquisition/adoption of cats as companion animals. As we are well aware, the world is divided into “dog” people and “cat” people. And, of course, there are those who love both species equally. Cat-lovers tend to express their preference with great forcefulness!!

The answer to the demand for comments on cat adoption is simple: Follow, with common sense, those appropriate pieces of advice given about puppies/ dogs which appeared over the last few weeks in the “PET CARE” column.

fully before adopting a cat. You often hear the phrase that “cats have nine lives”.

Well, that is a myth! Cats are independent by nature, and tend to look after themselves. They often escape difficult, even potentially lethal, situations. Perhaps that is why cat caregivers tend to be less protective of our feline wards. Their innate behaviour is often the very reason why cats get into all sorts of trouble – not lastly with some unkind and uncaring citizens who treat curious, adventurous, hungry cats with great brutality.

Feline adventurousness

The young of most mammalian species want to “discover” the world.

this is basically true, cats do venture outdoors from time to time - where danger lurks!

Feline instinct

Sometimes the natural behavioural patterns of cats may be difficult for you to contend with, especially if the furniture and appliances in your home are affected. I often refer to the story of a ranch cat in our Rupununi who instinctively scratched the furniture in the guest house. The manager felt the best way to stop this practice was to soak the cat’s tail in kerosene and light it afire, and then boast how the fleeing screeching cat lit up the

cats instinctively like to climb trees. Perhaps the lizards or birds attract them and awaken their dormant and pristine passion. Whatever the cause, cats often find themselves in trees, and then they seem to be unable to descend. Young cats panic and begin to cry. The owners, in turn, get frantic, and would even try to climb the tree in an attempt to save the cat (big mistake, one can injure self).

The cat, sensing the caregiver’s anxiety, itself becomes nervous, and may even lose its footing and injure itself on branches as

it engages in a free fall. All of this is absolutely unnecessary. If a cat, or even if the most pathetically crying kitten, gets stuck in a tree, my advice to you is not to play Tarzan. You and the tree may end up with broken limbs. Simply leave that cat/kitten alone. Restrain yourself from calling the Fire Service. I know it sounds harsh to say that what goes up must come down, but, in a nutshell, that is my sentiment exactly towards treebound cats.

In my 54 years as a veterinarian practising on four continents, I have yet to experience (or even hear) that a cat

here in Guyana. Motorists, in all likelihood, do. Even well-fed cats love to roam and ‘hunt’ at night – part of the same inherent instinct that I referred to above. Unfortunately, the bright lights emanating from an oncoming vehicle tend to mesmerise the helpless victim, and cause the cat to ‘freeze’ on the spot. Crunch. End of story. Try, therefore, to keep your cats indoors at night.

Feline inquisitiveness

You have heard the adage that has come down to us through the centuries, “Curiosity kills the cat.” Well, it proves that the ‘old’ people had wisdom, and that empirical observation – without deep, scientific, research-based knowledge - also has great

The cat’s interest in its surroundings propels it uninhibitedly to pry and to explore, and in so doing, the cat becomes very vulnerable to physical insult from uncaring humans, and from other animals protecting their territory from unwelcome intrusion.

know, however, is that the more the owner becomes excited, the more nervous the tree-bound cat becomes, and the more likely it is to fall.

(As an aside, I should mention that cats generally do fall on their feet, as the legend educates us. They do have a builtin mechanism, not lastly involving the tail, which allows them to land on their feet. However, if the distance of the fall is large enough, the force of gravity will be so great as to break the legs, hips, spine, etc., when the animal arrives on the ground. [Instruct your children, with enquiring minds of their own, not to throw “Felix” out of the window just to see whether he will land on his feet.]

Roaming at Every morning, the streets of Guyana are littered with dead cats. Feline diseas es probably do not kill most cats

It is for the reasons stated above, and because of those other considerations documented last week, that we must be prepared to be our cat’s protector always, notwithstanding the fact that cats seem to want us to think that they are independent and can fend for themselves. That may be true when compared with the dependence exhibited by other domesticated species, but, believe me, a cat as a pet needs constant attention and protection, even if it does not overtly exhibit this need.

Finally, allow me to share with you something I read recently: Whereas a dog looks upon its human caregiver as a bi-pedal God, cats consider humans

EPA conducting real-time monitoring onboard Liza 1 FPSO

oil spills

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has improved leaps and bounds over the past year, with one such improvement being that it is now conducting real-time monitoring and reporting of oil operations in the Stabroek Block.

EPA issued a statement on Saturday in which they reflected on the past year’s achievements. These include the agency signing a contract with MAXAR Technologies, a United States (US)-based information technology company.

Through this agreement, EPA noted that it can conduct satellite monitoring. Additionally, it was noted that the EPA has in place real-time reporting on the Liza 1 Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

“Importantly, the Agency is proud to have in place real-time reporting of environmental discharges from the Liza 1 FPSO, and a platform for tracking marine vessels in our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).”

“The Agency is proud to have signed a contract with MAXAR Technologies to have tasked satellite monitoring offshore and onshore including detection of oil spills, slicks and spills,” EPA further explained.

Mention was also made of the agency equipping its staff with state-of-the-art

field technology for monitoring and data collection in the form of tough tablets and field phones with thermal sensors and specialised equipment to detect and monitor radiation, water, and air pollution.

“Further, the Agency partnered with Hydromet, Department of Fisheries, and Environmental Management Consultants (EMC) and conducted several water quality monitoring expeditions along the Essequibo River, and our coastal waters.”

“This monitoring provided us with key baseline data of the state of these water bodies, which will inform future management and conservation efforts,” EPA further explained in their statement.

2023 plans

When it comes to this year, the agency said it will be focusing its energies on leveraging science and technology, including artificial intelligence and data analytics, to boost its capacity to regulate and enforce environmental laws.

“In 2023, the Agency is strategically continuing its

efforts to become a modern and effective environmental regulator… this will help secure a sustainable low-carbon development future for all Guyanese through effective environmental protection and conservation of biodiversity,” EPA said.

“One of the key plans for the year is to digitise the permitting and compliance process, and complaints process, in order to make them more efficient and user-friendly. The agency is also working on a revamped website and other communication tools to better inform the public and other stakeholders about its work.”

Among the agency’s specific goals are enhancing the environmental authorisation process, supporting Guyana’s low carbon development trajectory, improving enforcement, incorporating the use of more technology, and effective implementation of the various multilateral environmental agreements of which Guyana is a signatory.

Real-time monitoring is a crucial element of regulating the oil sec -

tor. Prior to ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) installing its new flash gas compressor on the Liza Destiny FPSO vessel and reducing its flaring last year, the company had had to pay out over US$10 million in fines to the EPA for flaring.

In 2021, the EPA amended the Environmental Permit for the Liza 1 Development Project after the oil company had been flaring excessively following technical issues with its gas compressor on the Liza Destiny FPSO vessel

on two separate occasions in 2021.

Initially, a cost of US$30 per ton of carbon emission was agreed upon, but the fee was then increased to US$45 during discussions with the operator over the AugustSeptember 2021 period.

EEPGL is the operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.

The company is currently undertaking four production projects – Liza 1, Liza 2, Payara, and Yellowtail in the oil-rich block. It is estimated that when the Yellowtail development project comes on stream, production will climb to 810,000 bpd by 2027.

The US oil major anticipates at least six Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels in operation by 2027, with a seventh likely to be added should results from their Fangtooth-1 well appraisal be positive.

– says has capacity to detect

EPA receives real-time reporting from the Liza Destiny FPSO

Cop among 3 nabbed with gun, ammo

ASpecial Constable attached to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is among three persons who were arrested after a gun and ammunition were found in a car at Versailles, West Bank Demerara (WBD), on Friday evening.

Based on reports received, at about 23:45h on the day in question, a Police Sergeant acting on information received stopped a motor car with plates PNN 6297 at Versailles Public Road, WBD.

The 28-year-old driver of the vehicle, a Special Constable of Pouderoyen, WBD, was at the time in the company of two other persons: a 30-year-old 'salesman' who was sitting behind the driver's seat, and his 22-yearold girlfriend, a cashier, seated next to him.

The Police Sergeant re-

The firearm and ammunition that were found in the car

quested to carry out a search on the vehicle to which they did not object.

During the operation, a bulky black shoulder bag was found on the floor of the vehicle behind the driver’s seat and when inspected, a Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol with its serial number filed off was found. The firearm also had three live matching rounds. In addition, in another plastic bag, three more 9mm rounds were found.

The Police Sergeant claimed that he enquired

from the occupants if any one of the occupants is a licensed firearm holder and they responded in the negative. They also denied any knowledge of the firearm and ammo.

They were all arrested and escorted to the La Parfaite Harmonie Police Station along with the firearm and ammunition. The suspects were all placed into custody pending further investigation.

Changing…

…economic participation

Your Eyewitness was pleased as punch when he read about a “Black Entrepreneurs Association (BEA) of Guyana” meeting with Public Works Minister Edgehill. Very encouragingly, the spokesperson explained, “It was not about complaining. We need to stop (the) complaining aspect of things, and just be persistent and go after our goals. That is the approach we are taking. We did not go there to complain, or anything like that. We said, ‘We have challenges in getting contracts’, a lot of them are new to the space and want to get into the procurement aspect of things. So, what is it that the Ministry is offering in terms of procurement, [and] what is that like here? What are the pitfalls that relate to people not being qualified?”

Now, what more can you ask from persons who feel they’re excluded from Government contracts? The Opposition, who are busy beating war drums, should’ve taken the lead in such an initiative decades ago. But they’d rather play to the gallery and complain about “racial discrimination”. Sadly, that hasn’t done much for their constituency, has it?

Some time ago, there was a high-profile launch of an African Business Roundtable (ABR) at the Marriott; but sadly, that never really took off. In the end, it was revealed that some of the executives, in their personal capacities, had used the name of the organization to try and bid for oil blocks.

The BEA – which says it has 300 members locally and another 300 in London – was launched in 2021 with the blessings of the US Ambassador and an American delegation, who promised much support. But first and foremost, they must be prepared to do whatever it takes to get their business going. And from what the spokesperson explained, it appears they have jumped through all the legal hoops. But that is only the beginning – now comes the hard part – actually completing projects when they win bids. In this arena, they should also be aware of the apt Biblical saying: “The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favour to the learned, but time and chance happen to them all.” They gotta keep at it.

Lots of eyes will be on them, and your Eyewitness wishes them well, because, if they succeed, Guyana would’ve jumped a hurdle that’s held us back since independence: greater participation of African Guyanese in business. Burnham had led them over a cliff with his coop utopianism!! Now your Eyewitness hopes there will be entrepreneur groups from all the other six peoples – but especially the Indigenous Peoples.

It's hoped they acquire some sponsors – as evidently, BEA did from London and the US!!

…from the past??

As your Eyewitness observed above, we gotta learn from past mistakes. In this vein, he cites the Goals of the ABR founded in 2016, and asks what happened: “The sustainable development of Guyana’s economy; The economic revitalization of African villages in Guyana; The nurturing of African entrepreneurship, especially among youth; The establishment of partnerships for sustainable growth; The establishment of business linkages with African-Guyanese businesses in the diaspora, and the hosting of business expos from time to time

The nurturing of Caribbean trade linkages for AfricanGuyanese businesses and the nurturing of South-South trade linkages with the Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa; The fostering of joint ventures with other ethnic and business groups in Guyana; Working with PSC, the GCCI and the GMSA to build bridges; The provision of think tank position papers, incubator and business services to the Guyanese community in partnership with other groups and stakeholders; the development of competitive, sustainable, job-creating African businesses across Guyana and in the diaspora”.

They bit off too much??

…achievements?

A year after their launch during the APNU/AFC regime, the ABR announced a welter of “achievements”, including “A full-service banking licence; Nurturing of an Association of African-Guyanese Construction Companies which meets at the headquarters weekly.”

These should assist the BEA, no?

GRA fires staff involved in fraudulent practices

– reminds public that fraudulent actions can lead up to 6 months’ imprisonment

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) recently uncovered a number of fraudulent practices involving persons applying for various categories of licences. As a result, the agency took stern disciplinary actions, including the dismissal of employees.

The Authority in a release stated that in an effort to prevent such practices, it is cautioning members of the public against colluding with individuals, including GRA officers, to perpetuate fraud in the course of completing a transaction.

Diaspora in Canada urged to assist in Guyana’s development

Members of the diaspora in Canada have been urged to play a meaningful role in the development of Guyana in this new era of development.

Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud while speaking at a diaspora engagement with the newly appointed High Commissioner to Canada HE Keith George, noted that Canada contains the second largest group of Guyanese after the United States.

Persaud is hoping that the diaspora could play a meaningful role in Guyana’s development, especially in the wake of the country’s largest national budget of $789.1 billion which was presented in the National Assembly on Monday.

“In terms of the transformation taking place in our country, we see the diaspora playing a role in terms of moving that forward because if we are looking in terms of a budget of this capacity, you have to look at issues of implementation.

“We are the fastest growing economy in the world and with that, we would require, the need for capacity, for us to put all hands on deck, and now is not a time for us to be squabbling among each other, now is not the time for us to be seeking to have di-

vision, now is not the time for us to be pointing fingers, but rather how it is that we can hold each other’s hand and support what it is our country is doing because the world is looking

travel back to Guyana, if not to remigrate or invest, but to reconnect with the country of their birth. I assure you that Guyana is not the place it used to be a year ago, five years ago, or ten

“Persons found guilty of such unlawful actions are liable on summary conviction to fines and imprisonment for a maximum of six months, depending on the nature and severity of the offence,” the GRA added.

Further, it stated that the requirements to obtain licences are listed on GRA’s website at www. gra.gov.gy or requested via WhatsApp numbers 7079841 or 707-9842.

However, the Authority also reminded the public that its staff members are not authorised to collect monies from taxpayers for any transaction or offer to complete transactions in exchange for gifts. Taxpayers must make all payments at the cashier sections at GRA’s Headquarters on Camp Street, Integrated Regional Tax Offices (IRTOs) and Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) where they will receive an official GRA receipt as proof of payment.

Moreover, GRA has repeatedly published alternative payment options available through online banking services at Republic Bank, Demerara Bank, Bank of Baroda, and GBTI; Mobile Money Guyana (MMG) and Bill Express.

Meanwhile, persons who suspect that they are victims of fraud, or are aware of officers who are colluding with taxpayers, should request the name and employee ID of the person representing the Authority and report the matter (anonymously) to GRA’s Special Investigation Unit’s (SIU) hotline 225-5051 or via email to siu@gra.gov.gy.

Only recently, an employee of the GRA was arrested for selling fake documentation to a labourer of Bush Lot, Essequibo Coast, Region Two.

It was reported in a section of the media that the 28-year-old employee, who worked at the

Authority’s Administrative Department, sold a bogus driver’s examination pass paper – a document needed to apply for a driver’s licence at GRA – to the labourer.

However, when the labourer arrived at GRA’s Headquarters on Camp Street on December 20, 2022, to apply for the licence and submitted the fake document, an alarm was raised by GRA employees on duty.

The man was then detained for questioning.

During that process, he told investigators that he had purchased the document from a GRA staff for $100,000, believing that it was a genuine one.

Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at Eve Leary were informed and the GRA employee was arrested last Wednesday.

The staff later admitted to selling the document to the Essequibo resident but only for $50,000.

at Guyana,” he noted.

High Commissioner George also outlined several sectors that the Canadian diaspora could help develop in Guyana, including the use of technology in agriculture.

He said Guyana’s economy remains resilient not only in the oil and gas sector but in other traditional sectors as well.

“We hope that a larger number of Guyanese will

years ago,” he pointed out.

The new High Commissioner also noted that the prospects are bright and members of the diaspora could be agents of change.

“Those of you in the diaspora, I ask you to consider making some of the beneficiaries of your assistance change agents, rather than simply recipients of your help, especially in the area of agriculture,” he added.

GRA Head, Godfrey Statia

Guyana’s High Commissioner to Canada, Keith George; Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud, and Consul General (ag) Grace Joseph pose with members of the diaspora at the meet and greet

Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud addressing members of the diaspora in Canada

9 graduate from MACORP’s technician trainee programme

The Machinery Corporation of Guyana Limited (MACORP) on Friday hosted its 14th graduation ceremony for nine trainees who graduated from the technician’s trainee programme.

The heavy-equipment training programme, which ran for six months, attracted some of the most qualified, and talented young Guyanese. The programme caters to persons from different parts of Guyana including Essequibo, Berbice, Linden, and Demerara.

The MACORP trainers explained that the students were exposed to a comprehensive curriculum that will fully prepare them for the tasks ahead. The graduates were also encouraged to strive for the best and to remain disciplined so that they will be able to master their skills.

“Charge yourself to focus positively on achieving the results of technical hierarchy. When you are a trainee, it comes with a lot of pressure… Your drive and focus must come from passion. Ensure that your

passion drives you towards your mastery,” Service Manager, Oswin Lynch charged.

The new batch is expected to enhance the capacity of MACORP’s labour force.

The Best Graduating Student was Daniel Shiwnarain from Corentyne, Berbice, while the second best-graduating student was Avinash Chinian, the third was Travis Alhonso, and the fourth was the lone female

Rischelle Wills.

Elijah Frazer was awarded for demonstrating MACORP’s core values: “Excellence, Commitment, and Teamwork.”

According to Shiwnarain in his valedictory speech, he had to make many sacrifices to complete the programme. This includes moving away from his family for six months.

“We saw a company with potential and we [the trainees] made the sacri-

fice for six months so that in the future and in the long run we are going to be somebody great,” he said.

Through all its years of operation in Guyana, MACORP has been very active in the country’s development, contributing directly with technical support and supply of equipment to the most important productive sectors – mining, agriculture, road

construction, basic industry, marine, forestry and electrical power generation.

The company has established branches at Bartica and Port Kaituma, with its head office located at Providence on the East Bank of Demerara

For 20 years, Machinery Corporation of Guyana Limited (MACORP), the only authorised Caterpillar

dealer, has been leading Guyana’s development and fuelling the success of stakeholders by directly providing integral equipment and product support solutions.

MACORP has been awarded for its outstanding performance and contribution to the development of Guyana and for the professional training of its employees.

MACORP Guyana’s 2023 graduating class

Best Graduating Trainee, Daniel Shiwnarain

The futile politics of entitlement

Budgets in Guyana always presage a season of discontent. They exacerbate the proclivity of groups in plural societies to compare their situation against other groups, signalled by budget allocations. Invariably, the actions of the “other” are perceived negatively, and theirs positively. Even before the 2023 Budget presentation, this was demonstrated in the demolition of the homes of the holdout African-Guyanese Mocha squatters who, supported by the Opposition, refused the Government’s year-old offers. In the context of our politics, what is revealing is not only the tonedeaf Government’s use of a massive excavator, but the Opposition’s reflexive dismissal of the Government’s legal explanation to the charge that Government’s action was “racially” motivated.

This ignored the PPP Government’s identical tone-deaf action, immediately upon assuming office in 2020, of driving out IndianGuyanese squatters at Success on the ECD by flooding the land. They claimed the land was needed to reopen the East Coast sugar operations. Eight persons were subsequently injured – one woman crippled – when a tree under which they sought refuge fell on them. The Opposition also ignored that, when in Government between 2015-2020, they used the identical legal argument to demolish squatters’ homes in Sophia.

But this invidious group comparison arises not just from economic, but also psychosocial, imperatives springing from the inextricably interlinked group and individual “worth”. Primal fears damage the individual’s self-esteem if their group perceives it is falling behind. For us, the late George Lamming observed, “This perception of the Indian as alien and other a problem to be contained after the departure of the imperial power has been a major part of the thought and feeling of the majority of Afro-Guyanese, and a stubborn conviction among the black middle layers of Guyanese society. Indian power in politics and business has been regarded as an example of an Indian strategy for conquest.”

When, as in Guyana, this sense of loss is coupled with the group’s claim of greater legitimacy to the national patrimony – buttressed by arguments such as “greater suffering and contribution to national development” etc. - we suffer the classic “politics of entitlement”.

The international norm of equality of all citizens in modern states, guaranteed by their constitutions, is jettisoned as the aggrieved groups demand preferential entitlement to the national patrimony.

Usually, such groups demand a greater share of valued “goods”. But a deeper problem arises when they may even jettison the majoritarian principle of democracy and impose minority dictatorships. This was the PNC’s rationale for rigging elections after 1964 on behalf of the African community, and it resurfaced with their 2020 attempt. In “the politics of legitimacy”, groups do not judge their position in absolute terms and by intrinsic criteria, but by how well or not their opponents are perceived to be doing. And “if men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences”.

In Guyana, fears of Indian-Guyanese ascendancy arose as early as the 1920s with the formation of the Negro Progress Convention. Even though under colonial rule, the PPP Government’s agricultureoriented Budgets exacerbated those fears between 1957-1964. The PNC’s post-1964 Budgets attempted to “rectify” matters by extracting profits from Indian-dominated rice, sugar and retailing, while shifting expenditure to African-dominated professions and providing employment in the 80% nationalised economy and a slew of GUYSTAC manufacturing companies.

The PNC also massively augmented its control of the power bases in Guyana: The Disciplined Forces, the Bureaucracy, the Judiciary, and control of the capital Georgetown. Yet, by 1992, when they demitted office, African-Guyanese were marginally worse off than Indian-Guyanese. Lamming had identified a possible reason: “For the Afro-Guyanese… education was a means of escape from the realities of labour, a continuing flight from the foundations of society.” The PPP’s subsequent policies and Budgets were criticised as racially biased, even though income and expenditure studies showed otherwise. Unfortunately, the PPP studiously refuses to initiate recommended Ethnic Impact Statements (EIS) to address the inevitable comparisons.

Part of the problem also is African-Guyanese leaders stressing the politics of entitlement rather than exhorting their constituency to make the most of any situation they find themselves in; as IndianGuyanese did post 1964 and Afro-Guyanese and WI first-generation immigrants to the US do, to outperform African- Americans. The PNC can now win elections with our new demographics, by vigorously seeking crossover votes and using more evidence-based claims and less incendiary rhetoric. But they cannot ignore the challenge identified by Lamming for their constituency, in our neoliberal, market-based economic system.

Exxon’s 5th development

British, Egyptian firms vying for contract to review Uaru FDP

The search for a consultant to review the evaluation of ExxonMobil’s Field Development Plan (FDP) for its Uaru field, has been narrowed down to two companies - one an English company, the other Egyptian.

According to tender documents from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), Bayphase Limited and Strat Oil are the two companies seeking to review the FDP for what will be Exxon’s fifth oil development in Guyana’s waters.

An FDP outlines how an oil company plans to develop the oil field while also mitigating environmental phenomena. Bayphase Limited, a company based in the United Kingdom (UK), is no stranger to Guyana. In fact, it was Bayphase that reviewed the FDP for ExxonMobil’s fourth project - the US$9 billion Yellowtail Project.

Bayphase’s history with Guyana extends even further, having also conducted the review into the FDP for Payara, Exxon’s third development. The Energy Department contracted Bayphase to conduct a review of the Payara FDP in December 2019.

The review was completed but in the wake of the controversies that followed the March 2, 2020 elections, the FDP was not approved until September 2020, after their work was reviewed by a team of consultants led by former Alberta Premier Allison Redford.

Meanwhile, Strat Oil is an Egyptian company headquartered in Cairo, Egypt. It provides training for workers in the oil and gas industry, through courses, consultations, and webinars. Its clients include the Egyptian Government itself.

The Uaru oil development is targeting between 38 and 63 development wells, including production, water injection, and gas re-injection wells. John Hess, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ExxonMobil’s Stabroek Block co-venture partner Hess Corporation, recently said that they are hopeful of getting approval for Uaru by March 2023. Exxon had previously also made known that they anticipate first oil from the Uaru development by late 2026 or early 2027.

Last year, it was announced that $88 million had been approved for a consultancy firm to review the Uaru Field Development Plan

(FDP). Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat had made that revelation during the consideration of estimates and expenditures for the Natural Resources Ministry in the Committee of Supply.

Guyana, with US oil giant ExxonMobil as the operator, began producing oil on December 20, 2019, in the Stabroek Block. Guyana’s oil revenues are being held in the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) at the New York Federal Reserve Bank, where it is earning interest.

The oil rich Stabroek Block, which is producing

the oil, is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres).

Exxon, through its local subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), is the operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.

ExxonMobil has said it anticipates at least six projects offshore Guyana will be online by 2027. Production has already started in the second

phase, with the Liza Unity FPSO vessel in operation.

The third project – the Payara development – will target an estimated resource base of about 600 million oil-equivalent barrels, and was at one point considered to be the largest single planned investment in the history of Guyana.

Meanwhile, the Yellowtail development, which will be oil giant ExxonMobil’s fourth development in Guyana’s waters, will turn out to be the single largest development so far in terms of barrels per day of oil, with a mammoth 250,000 bpd targeted.

Ravi Dev

“Alexander wants to run GECOM” – Commissioner Rohee

election body conducts its internal staffing arrangements.

Following reports of GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, creating a temporary position to execute functions of the Deputy Chief Elections Officer, the Elections Commission on Friday clarified that this is untrue and that it was only a secondment that will be reverted once the substantive DCEO post is filled.

Government-nominated Commissioner at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Clement Rohee has stated that his Opposition counterpart, Vincent Alexander, seems to want to dictate how the

Based on a request from Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Vishnu Persaud, last November, Justice Singh approved the secondment of GECOM’s IT Manager Aneal Giddings to the Operations Department of the Commission’s Secretariat to assist with the day-to-day implementation and evaluation of the statutory and administrative tasks delineated in the

work plan for the conduct of Local Government Elections (LGEs), which is slated for this year. Giddings is being referred to as ‘Operations Coordinator’ within the Secretariat’s Operations Department.

But Alexander, a PNC-

nominated Commissioner at GECOM, has since contended that the GECOM Chair has “…no authority to create any position and make appointments to any such position, be it temporary or otherwise.”

In response to this, Commissioner Rohee posited that Alexander wants to deny the Chair’s role in supporting a legitimate recommendation from CEO Persaud to assign acting responsibilities to senior staffers.

“In other words, … Alexander wants to run GECOM from whatever limb he may be perched on,” Rohee posted.

He stated that the Opposition Commissioner has consistently failed to make the distinction between policy decisions made at statutory meetings of GECOM and internal administrative matters in re-

lation to staff at GECOM’s Secretariat consistent with the organisation’s constitutional responsibilities.

“In his latest criticism levelled against the Chairman of GECOM, Alexander failed to understand that the time is long gone when he and his party can dictate to GECOM what internal actions it may employ to enhance the organisation’s effectiveness and efficiency in order to fulfil its constitutional mandate,” Rohee noted.

According to him, GECOM has already made it clear that the Chair was in no way creating any new position nor was any substantive appointment being done to fill a vacant position.

In fact, Rohee pointed Alexander to the Commission’s statement which outlined that “… there is the precedence of staff having been seconded, and in one case even appointed, without the knowledge and approval of the Commission.”

Rohee contended that “Alexander must know about the ‘one case’ referred to in GECOM’s statement. The case in point is when a much-favoured Registration Officer was kept at GECOM’s Secretariat unknown to the Commission and was never sent back to the Registration Office. The said individual was appointed to act as GECOM’s Voter Registration Manager (VRM) without the approval of the Commission and was provided with entitlements in which the substantive office holder must be the sole beneficiary. Talk about disingenuousness!”

Further, Commissioner Rohee thought it apposite to recall the unproven allegations Alexander had expressed publicly about Vishnu Persaud, who had applied for the job as CEO at GECOM and which Alexander and his ilk had blocked, resulting in a court judgement against him.

Alexander, who was the first named defendant in that case, was ordered by the court to pay damages in the sum of $2,500,000 to Persaud and the sum of $150,000 as costs.

Moreover, Rohee noted that mention must be made of Alexander and his comrades’ questionable role in the appointment of Roxanne Myers over Persaud referencing her “superior qualifications and potential to perform” as well their reference to the undisclosed ‘Sandra Jones Report’ and GECOM’s Policy on Employment Practices. Those inaccuracies were brought to light during an investigation by an Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) sub-committee headed by Stanley Moore, Retired Justice of Appeal.

That body had considered it an act of discrimination to appoint Myers over Persaud, saying “There are no institutional rules or practice in GECOM which allows for ethnic discrimination in hiring.”

To buttress this view, the investigation concluded that “Mr Persaud was the first candidate in the history of GECOM who had obtained the highest score and had not been appointed… Nothing has been presented to us which, at least on paper, reveals any attributes in Ms Myers that were capable of offsetting the clear paper advantage which Mr Persaud enjoyed over his rival.”

According to Rohee, the same trend continues nowadays at the GECOM statutory meetings where claims of ‘incompetence’, ‘untrustworthiness’ and ‘conspiracies’ are persistently levelled by the Opposition trio against the CEO as well as claims of ‘unfairness’ and ‘partiality’ in the decision-making process levelled against the Chairman.

“Alexander and his two political siblings operate as though nothing has changed since August 2020. They conveniently overlook the political handlers’ transgressions they had either stoutly defended or remained silent about during December 2019 to August 2020, constitutional and electoral travails the people of Guyana experienced as a result of the dirty tricks played by those ensconced at Congress Place,” Commissioner Rohee indicated.

– says Opposition Commissioner failed to distinguish between policy decisions and internal administrative matters

Government-nominated GECOM Commissioner Clement Rohee

Opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander

Today marks the Chinese Spring Festival in the Year of the Rabbit.

On behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I’d like to take this opportunity to extend our warmest greetings and wishes to all Chinese compatriots and Guyanese friends.

Spring Festival, the Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important traditional festival in China, with a history of more than 4000 years. The Spring Festival culture is an important part of Chinese culture. The year 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit, a beloved animal ranking fourth in the Chinese zodiac. It is a common species but with rich cultural connotations.

In terms of appearance, the rabbit is meek, cute, innocent, and lively, which means that the new year would be peaceful and auspicious. In terms of skills, the rabbit is good at jumping, which means overcoming difficulties and surpassing oneself. In ancient Chinese legends, there is a rabbit on the moon, which is pounding herbal medicine into a magical elixir with its mortar and pestle, so the rabbit also signifies health and longevity.

Spring Festival is no stranger to Guyanese friends. Since last Christmas, some of my Guyanese friends have frequently talked about Spring Festival, especially the Chinese New Year’s Eve traditions. This year marks the 170th anniversary of the Chinese Arrival in Guyana. The Chinese community has integrated deeply into the local society, and together they have contributed to Guyana’s national independence and development. And the Chinese culture, represented by Spring Festival activities, has been integrated into Guyanese multiculture as well.

Recently, the Chinese community held the Guyana 2023 Chinese Spring Festival Temple Fair

in National Park, Georgetown, where more than 2000 friends from all walks of life, including Hon Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, joined the celebrations. Many Guyanese friends, dressed in Chinese costumes and holding folding fans, gathered to witness various displays of Chinese culture including food, song, lion and dragon dances and fireworks show.

Spring Festival is a time for family reunion. No matter how busy they are and where they are, Chinese people would try their best to get home and have dinner with their families on the New Year’s Eve. Children wish their elders good health, and the elders give red envelopes to them. Everybody says “Happy New Year” to relatives, neighbours, and friends, and even to strangers they meet on the road. The Chinese people value family, respect traditions, and cherish harmony. We share the same values as our Guyanese friends.

Spring Festival is the time to celebrate the harvest. In 2022, China successfully convened the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). An ambitious blueprint has been drawn for building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernisation.

China has coordinated the COVID-19 response and socio-economic development, and its GDP grew 3% to a record high of about 18 trillion USD in 2022. In addition, the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games concluded with a resounding success. Shenzhou-13, Shenzhou-14 and Shenzhou-15 soared into space. China’s space station was fully completed, and the third aircraft carrier Fujian was launched. C919, China’s first large passenger aircraft, was delivered.

Last year, Guyana’s economy grew by a whopping 62.3%, making it the fastest-growing economy in the world, and Guyana has made significant progress in economic and social transformation. We are sincerely pleased with both countries’ achievements in the past year.

In 2022, China and Guyana jointly celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations too. President Xi Jinping and President Ali exchanged letters of congratulation. The Chinese Embassy hosted a celebratory reception, a Chinese film festival, and many other events. The Guyanese side issued commemorative stamps, and coins, and made a special Rum. There have been new developments in bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields has been further strengthened.

Spring Festival is a time to look forward to the future. Guyana just unveiled its 2023 Budget under the theme, “Improving Lives today, Building Prosperity for Tomorrow.” Our Guyanese friends are full of confidence and aspiration to strive for a better future. For China, 2023 will be the first year to fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and the start of a new journey to build a modern socialist country in all respects, as well as the 45th anniversary of reform and opening up and the 10th anniversary of Belt and Road initiative. As China enters a new phase of COVID response, its economic and social vitality will be further released. China will continue to be the “stabiliser” of world economic recovery and the “engine” of global growth and continue to provide new opportunities for the world with its new development.

I wish both China and Guyana enjoy peace and prosperity, our bilateral relations and cooperation step up to new levels, and you all have good health, happiness, and success in the new year!

Guo Haiyan, CHinese ambassador to Guyana

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS

Welcome back to our weekly column. This week, we continue to take a closer look at the Environmental Impact Assessment process in Guyana.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process plays an integral part in the environmental authorisation process for projects that may significantly impact the environment. As mentioned last week, the EPA implements a process that allows it to decide whether or not to grant permission for developmental projects to be executed. For projects that may significantly impact the environment, the EPA requires that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) be done. This assessment is to better inform the EPA of the potential impacts of the proposed project, so that it can make the best decision for the environment, human health, and development.

Your involvement is a legal requirement

The Environmental Protection Act, Cap 20:05, makes provision for public participation in the EIA process. In this regard, before an EIA is commenced, the Agency publishes a notice of the project in one daily newspaper, informing members of the public that the project would require an EIA. At this stage, members of the public have an opportunity, within twenty-eight days from the date of publication of the notice referred to above, to make written submissions to the Agency, setting out those questions and matters which they require to be answered or considered in the EIA.

Moreover, during the course of the EIA, the developer and the person carrying out the EIA are required to consult members of the public and interested bodies and organisations; and provide to members of the public, on request and at a reasonable cost of photocopying, copies of information obtained for the purpose of the EIA.

Once the EIA is completed and submitted to the EPA, the EPA informs members of the public of this by publishing a notice in one daily newspaper. Members of the public are then given 60 days following the publication of this notice to review the EIA and submit questions, concerns and comments to the Agency as they consider appropriate.

Why should you be involved?

The EIA process provides the opportunity for members of the public to share their opinions and concerns, so that they can be considered in the EIA study. Further, information on the project is shared during the process, so that people can learn how a project would be operated and possible ways it would be of benefit to them.

Participation in the EIA process increases the capacity of people to be involved in environmental decision-making, by helping to shape a project through their questions and concerns. Participation also provides an opportunity to contribute to safeguarding the environment and human health from potential harm.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O Communications Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Eggrolls are probably the most well-known of Chinese cuisine. However, they’re actually “spring rolls.” They are eaten during the Spring Festival in Southern China to celebrate the coming of spring. More specifically, they are eaten on the first day of spring. They can appear on the table as a dinner dish, appetizer or snack.

Another well-known dish, dumplings are the northern equivalent of spring rolls. They are eaten during every special occasion, but are the most significant during Chinese New Year. That’s a lot of dumplings! But there’s good reason.

In some places, it’s custom to cook dumplings and noodles together. This is called gold silk and gold ingots. It’s yet another dish to express people’s wishes for prosperity.

Though the origin of noodles is heavily disputed, there’s no doubt that noodles are a staple in Chinese cuisine.

Awhole chicken is another symbol of family. Rich in protein, one chicken is enough to feed an entire family. It represents reunion and rebirth. To express this auspicious meaning, people keep the head and claws.

After cooking, people will first offer the chicken to the ancestors. Though only a superstition now, praying to the ancestors for blessings and protection is still a significant part of the Spring Festival and Chinese culture.

Fish is a must for the Chinese New Year. Why does fish symbolize surplus and wealth? In Chinese, fish (yú) has the same pronunciation as “surplus” or “extra.” The typical blessing is Nián nián yuyú), wishing you to have a surplus (or fish) of food and money every year.

Nian gao, also known as “rice cake” or “New Year cake” in English, are a must for Chinese New Year.

In ancient times, nian gao were used only as offerings to the ancestors and gods. Gradually, they became a traditional dish during the Spring Festival. Now they are available every day of the year, but are still a special treat for the festival.

Spring is the season to plant new seeds. Traditionally, the Spring Festival is the best time to finish all the vegetables stored and preserved from the winter.

Hot pot is another food that has a long history. Emperor Qianlong of the Qing dynasty is the most avid fan. When he held feasts for old and retired officials, hot pot with meat were always on the menu. During his New Year’s Eve dinner, there were 120 dishes for lunch and even more for hot pot.

Chinese New Year Calendar

The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, has more than 4,000 years of history and is the longest holiday of the year. In the 21st century, the national holiday begins on the first of the Lunar Calendar and lasts until the 15th of the first month.

In 2023, Chinese New Year begins on January 22nd and ends February 5th with the Lantern Festival.

The Laba Festival

However, in the traditional sense, the Laba Festival of the lunar December (December 31st, 2023) marks the beginning of the Spring Festival. Memorial ceremonies are held on this day to pray to ancestors and gods (such as door gods) for fortune and a successful harvest. Though paganist in nature, the festival has become integrated into religions such as Daoism and Buddhism.

The main food for this festival is the Laba porridge. It includes seven types of grains, such as red bean, red dates and husked rice. There are many different myths regarding this porridge, but all teach the lesson of being grateful and not taking what you have for granted.

In addition, the Laba menu includes Laba tofu, noodles and wheat kernel rice. It is also said that eating ice on this day will prevent any stomachaches for the year.

The Spring Festival

Kicking off the main festivities is the Little Year on January 14th, with the Spring Festival officially beginning January 22nd (January 21st is New Year’s Eve) and ending with the Lantern Festival on February 5th.

In China, all stores are closed during the first five days of the Spring Festival, with some not opening until the very end. People must stock up on New Year supplies beforehand and many begin on the Laba Festival. Kitchens will also show the first signs of Spring Festival dishes with the preparation of cured meat, salted fish and other preserved food.

January 14th: Little Year

In the past, government officials celebrated this day on the 23rd. Common folk celebrated on the 24th and fishermen on the 25th.

Lunar date

December 23rd là yuè èr shí sān)

Solar (Gregorian) date January 14th, 2023

Activities & traditions

This is another day of memorial and prayer ceremonies. Main activities include house cleaning to sweep away bad luck (/ sǎo nián) and pray to the stove god (jì zào).

Food Sugar melons (táng guā), also known as stove candy (Zào táng), are made of malt and can only be found on this day. Other food include baked wheat cakes (huǒ shāo) and tofu soup (dòufu tang).

January 21st: New Year’s Eve

Depending on the moon cycle, New Year’s Eve either lands on the 29th or 30th of the lunar December. Regardless, this day is also known as the 30th of the year (dà nián sān shí).

Lunar date

December 30th

Solar (Gregorian) date

January 21st, 2023

Activities & traditions

The reunion dinner, the most important meal of the year, takes place on this day. After dinner, the

children will receive red envelopes. The family will then stay up late and wait for the New Year (shǒu suì).

Food A feast of everyone’s favorites and specialties.

January 22nd: Spring Festival

The original name for this day was Yuán Dàn, with Yuan meaning “the beginning.” However, Yuan Dan is now used to refer to the New Year of the solar calendar.

Lunar date

January 1st (zhēng yuè chū yī)

Solar (Gregorian) date January 22nd, 2023

Activities & traditions

Firecrackers start off a day of greetings and blessings between neighbors. There are no specific activities other than celebrating the New Year. The ancient Chinese record and analyze the weather, stars and moon to predict the fortunes of the year. The practice is known as zhàn suì.

Food

In addition to food from last night, people can also celebrate with Tu Su wine (tú sū jiǔ).

Superstitions & beliefs

It is forbidden to sweep or clean on this day, else good fortune will be swept away.

January 23rd: To the in-law’s (yíng xù rì)

In northern regions, the events are held on the 3rd.

Lunar date January 2nd (zhēng yuè chū èr)

Solar (Gregorian) date January 23rd, 2023

Activities & traditions

On this day, a married daughter must bring her husband and children to her parent’s home. She must bring a gift bag of crackers and candies, which her mother will divide between neighbors. This simple gift shows that “it’s the thought that counts” and expresses the daughter’s longing for her hometown.

Food

Lunch is eaten together and the daughter should return to her husband’s home before dinner.

January 24th: Day of the Rat

According to folktales, this is the day that rats marry.

Lunar date January 3rd (zhēng yuè chū sān)

Solar (Gregorian) date January 24th, 2023

Activities & traditions

People will leave some grains and crackers in corners to share their harvest with the rats. They will then go to sleep early in order to not disturb the “wedding.” This way, the rats will not disturb them during the year either.

January 25th: Day of the Sheep (yáng rì)

In Chinese mythology, the world was created by Nǚwā. Sheep were created on the 4th day.

Lunar date

January 4th (zhēng yuè chū sì)

Solar (Gregorian) date January 25th, 2023

Activities & traditions

The god of wealth is prayed to on this day. Offerings include three types of meat, fruits and wine. At midnight,

people will welcome the god in by opening the windows and eating and drinking until daybreak.

Food

The welcoming of five gods (jiē wǔ lù) requires three tables of food. The first has kumquats and sugarcanes for a sweet life and successful road; cakes are on the second table. The third table has the main course of whole pig, whole chicken, whole fish and soup.

Superstitions & beliefs

It’s forbidden to slaughter sheep on this day. Fair weather is a sign that the sheep will be healthy this year and the family will have a bountiful harvest.

January 26th: Break Five

After praying to the god of wealth, markets and stores are able to open again. Women can also go out and give New Year blessings.

Lunar date

January 5th (zhēng yuè chū wǔ)

Solar (Gregorian) date January 26th, 2023

Food

Dumplings (jiao zi) are eaten to bring in wealth. Traditionally, it should be eaten for five days straight. The rule isn’t followed too strictly anymore, but every household will have dumplings at least once.

Superstitions & beliefs

Some say that taboos and activities forbidden on other days can be performed on the 5th. Others say it’s unfit to work on this day.

January 27th: Day of the Horse (mǎ rì) Nüwa created the horse on the 6th day.

Lunar date

January 6th (zhèng yuè chū liù) Solar (Gregorian) date January 27th, 2023

Activities & traditions

After the “break five” of the day before, people can truly begin working again. People will also send the spirit of poverty away (sòng qióng guǐ), supposedly a frail-looking man who liked to drink thin porridge and purposely turned his clothing into rags, by burning scraps and offering banana boat candles.

Superstitions & beliefs

It is believed that the god of bathrooms (cè suǒ shén) will visit to check the sanitary conditions, so every household will use this day to clean.

January 28th: Day

the Human (rén rì)

Fair weather is a sign of a safe and sound year.

January 29th: Day of the Millet

According to legends, this is the millet grain’s birthday. Agriculture was the basis of ancient Chinese society and people highly valued the grain.

Lunar date

January 8th (zhēng yuè chū ba)

Solar (Gregorian) date January 29th, 2023

Activities & traditions

Pets such as fish and birds are released back into the wild to show respect to nature. In modern times, some families visit rural areas to learn about agriculture. This helps children appreciate farmers’ hard work and become more environmentallyaware.

Superstitions & beliefs

Fair weather is a sign of a fruitful harvest. A gray sky warns of a year of losses. Stores opened today will have great business.

January 30th: Providence Health

This is the birthday of the highest god, the Jade Emperor (yù huáng dà dì). In Daoism, he is the sovereign of the universe and is the ultimate representation of “sky.”

Lunar date

January 9th (zhēng yuè chū jiu) Solar (Gregorian) date January 30th, 2023

Activities & traditions

The main activities are ceremonies for the Jade Emperor. In some regions, women will bring fragrant flower candles to natural wells, harbors or open space and pray to the gods.

eating, the road to wealth will be open and smooth for that year.

Superstitions & beliefs

It is forbidden to use stone tools, such as rollers and millstones.

February 1st: Son-in-law

Day

Fathers will invite their daughters and son-in-law’s to dinner on this day.

Lunar date

January 11th (zhēng yuè shí yī)

Solar (Gregorian) date February 1st, 2023

Food Even after meals the day before, there are usually plenty of leftovers from Tiangong Sheng. The family uses this to treat the in-law.

February 16th–18th: Lantern Festival Preparations

During this period people will begin preparations for the Lantern Festival (Yuán xiāo jié) by purchasing lanterns and constructing light sheds.

Lunar date

January 12th–14th (zhèng yuè shí’èr—shí’sì)

Solar (Gregorian) date February 2nd-4th, 2023

Superstitions & beliefs

The saying goes: make noise on the 11th, build light sheds on the 12th, light the lantern on the 13th, light is bright on the 14th, a full moon on the 15th, end the light on the 16th. It has a nice rhythm in Chinese and summarizes the activities of the next few days.

February 5th: Lantern Festival (yuán xiāo jié)

The festival lasted ten days in the Ming dynasty, but is now only five days in modern times.

of

On the 7th day, humans were created by Nüwa. Celebrations for the Day of Humans originate from the Han dynasty.

Lunar date

January 7th (zhēng yuè chū qī)

Solar (Gregorian) date January 28th, 2023

Activities & traditions

Ancient China had the tradition of wearing a hair accessory called rén sheng. Colorful cutouts and gold engravings of flowers and people were pasted onto screens.

Food

Seven Gem Porridge (qī bǎo gēng) is the dish for this day. It includes seven types of vegetables: kale, leek, mustard leaves, celery, garlic, spring vegetable (chūn cài) and thick leaf vegetables (hòu bàn cài).

Superstitions & beliefs

Superstitions & beliefs

Before praying, everyone must fast and bathe. If there is a meat offering, the animal must be male.

January 31st: Stone Festival (shí tou jié)

Ten (shí) has the same pronunciation as rock. Therefore, this is the birthday of the Rock.

Lunar date

January 10th

Solar (Gregorian) date January 31st, 2023

Activities & traditions

In some regions, the people will freeze a clay jar onto a smooth stone the night before. On the morning of the 10th, ten youths will carry the jar around. If the stone doesn’t fall, it’s a sign of a good harvest.

Food Lunch is a meal of baked bread (mó bǐng). It is believed that after

Lunar date

January 15th (zhēng yuè shí wǔ)

Solar (Gregorian) date February 5th, 2023

Activities & traditions

Creating lanterns is the most important activity during the festival.

Lantern Riddles (cāi dēng mí) is a game played by writing riddles on lanterns. As it is a full moon that day, moon-gazing amidst lanterns is the best way to celebrate.

Food

Named after the festival, yuan xiao are glutinous rice balls often eaten as a dessert. Either boiled, steamed or fried, they represent reunions.

Superstitions & beliefs

Lanterns (tiān dēng) sounds similar to (tiān dīng), or “add children.” Many will light lanterns in hopes of adding children to the family.

The Kamuni Creek (Kamuni Creek) is a stream found in in Demerara River. It is located at an elevation of 2 meters above sea level. Kamuni Creek is also known as Kamuni River, which cuts across the left bank of the Demerara River and is flanked on both sides by amazing greenery and rich vegetation .

The Hopetown settlement at Kamuni Creek (a creek more wellknown for the present-day Santa Mission and Santa Aratak villages) began in 1865 as an effort by colonial authorities to induce Chinese indentured labourers to remain in British Guiana after their contracts

accumulate their wealth and improve their future prospects.

He petitioned then Governor Hincks for a free land grant at Camoonie (Kamuni) Creek- approximately 30 miles up the Demerara River, and a small loan to establish the settlement on the left bank of the creek, a tributary of the Demerara River.

Enthusiastic about the idea, Governor Hincks granted the request and the petition was carried in 1865.

Immediately, some 25 settlers were taken to the area, and by the end of the year there were about 70 Chinese settlers. Some historians put the original settlers at 12, with about 170 by year end.

The decline of the settlement came soon after. In 1866, just a year

were up.

Many had heard of the Chinese in Trinidad accumulating wealth from engaging in rice cultivation and commerce there, and saw no prospects for this in British Guiana. A Christian missionary in British Guiana known as O Tye Kim (Wu-Tai-Kam), recognised the dissatisfaction among them and devised a plan to encourage them to stay.

O Tye Kim’s solution was to establish a “Christian Chinese settlement” not only to spread Christianity but also to create a place where the former indentured labourers could work and live independently to

after the settlement was created, allegations of improprieties by O Tye Kim arose with regard to the settlement’s accounts and his own financial enterprises.

In 1972 it was agreed by Dr. Alan John Knight, then Bishop of Guyana, who was also the Archbishop of the West Indies, that the land should be leased for 99 years to the Chinese Association.

At its peak in 1874, Hopetown is said to have a population of about 800 Chinese. By 1891 that number was reduced to 240; by 1901 it had dwindled to 198, mostly the old and infirm.

Origins of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) arose through a lengthy historical process. The Chinese ancestors’ evolving understanding of medical science is revealed in ancient records concerning deities, sages, shamans, instinct, human interaction, and physical labour. TCM does not have a single root; rather it represents the synthesis of numerous elements and disciplines.

Ancient Chinese legends contain many stories about the invention of medicine by legendary figures such as Suirenshi, Fuxi, Shennong, and the Yellow Emperor. These stories do not record actual incidents. Rather, they represent the experience of ancient clans and tribes over the ages, as they struggled against disease and developed therapeutic methods and medicinal remedies. Such legends offer numerous clues to the development of medicine throughout China, and also reflect the traditional Chinese veneration of ancestors and sages.

Shennong and the 100 herbs

Traditionally, Chinese remedies include various types of animals, vegetables, and mineral substances. However, the majority are made from plant products. As a result, the traditional Chinese term for medical remedies and their application is bencao (herbal medicine). Most Chinese medical classics concerning the theory and clinical application of traditional remedies use the term bencao in their titles.

According to one of China’s most popular legends, Shennong, the Chinese god of medicine and farming originated traditional Chinese medicine when he personally tested 100 herbs, of which 70 were poisonous, on himself in a day.

Shennong is another name of the Yan Emperor, one of the legendary ancestors of the Chinese people.

Primitive human society had very limited productive capability.

Humanity had not yet learned to cultivate and propagate agricultural crops and relied entirely on hunting and gathering for survival.

People lived in

caves, eating raw meat and whatever wild fruit, seeds, and roots they could find to allay their hunger.

There were many opportunities for them to accidentally consume poisonous plants, resulting in purging, unconsciousness, or even death. Through a long process of trial and error, humanity’s ancestors gradually learned to distinguish the effects and uses of various plants. They determined which were poisonous, which were edible, and which had therapeutic

applications to a comprehensive and scientific system, culminating in the compilation of the fundamental health treatise.

Fuxi invents the nine acupuncture needles Fuxi is another legendary ancestor of the Chinese people, said to be one of the originators of traditional Chinese medicine. Legend has it that Fuxi invented the nine types of needles used in Chinese

therapeutic methods developed, Bianshi stones evolved into knives and needles. Bianshi stones continued to be used for several thousand years after the end of the stone age.

The evolution of surgical instruments was closely connected to social progress and increasing productive capability. Primitive Bianshi stones were refined into stone-based and needles, which were replaced in turn by bamboo, wood, and bone and finally by bronze, iron, silver and gold.

Yi Yin invents herbal decoctions

Decoctions are a type of traditional Chinese remedy made by boiling various substances, primarily herbs, in water to extract their medicinal properties. Legend has it that the process of decocting herbs was investing by Yi Yin, a renowned Prime Minister said to have lived during the king Tang reign of the Shang Dynasty.

applications. For instance, they discovered that rhubarb causes diarrhoea, melon stalks induce vomiting, and ginger relieves nausea. As humanity learned to utilise various plants to achieve specific effects, the science of herbal medicine was born.

The legend of Shennong testing herbs upon himself is a metaphor for the Chinese ancestors’ long process of discovering the properties of medicinal herbs. As their store of practical experience increased over the ages, herbal medicine progressed from occasional, intuitive

acupuncture: chanzhen (ploughshare needle), yuanzhen (round needle), tizhen (arrowhead needle), fengzhen (sharp-edged needle), haozhen (fine needle), changzhen (long needle) and dazhen (large needle). For thousands of years, Fuxi has been honoured as the originator of acupuncture.

From the stone age well into the bronze age, stone tools played a paramount role in human society. Bianshi stones were one of humanity’s earliest surgical instruments. Bianshi stones were slender implements with a sharp tip or blade, used primarily to lance abscesses and drain pus and blood. They may also have been used to therapeutically stimulate specific points on the body in an early version of acupuncture. As

Yi Yin was an excellent chef who also had a deep understanding of medicine. It is said that Yi Yin invented the first medicinal decoctions by simmering together various culinary flavourings such as cinnamon, ginger, liquorice, jujube, and peony.

(Excerpts from Traditional Medicine in Chinese Culture by Yu Youhua and Lin Qian)

Arbitration Unit established as Govt works to enact model legislation

In keeping with its commitment to create a modern platform for arbitration as an effective method of settling commercial and other disputes in the country, the Government of Guyana has established an Arbitration Unit.

This Arbitration Unit will liaise with the Judiciary and key stakeholders at periodic intervals as this initiative is part of the Government of Guyana’s declared intention to create a modern infrastructure for the arbitration and conciliation of commercial disputes in Guyana.

The unit was established by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall and comprises representatives from various stakeholder organisations. These include: Jamela A Ali from the Bar Association of Guyana; Attorney Suriyah Sabsook from the Berbice Bar Association; Norman McLean from the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and from the AG’s Chambers, Deputy Chief Parliamentary Counsel Joann Bond and Deputy Solicitor General Deborah Kumar, with AG Nandlall

as the Chairman.

According to a statement from the AG Chambers on Friday, the inaugural meeting of the Arbitration Unit is fixed for February 6. The establishment of this unit comes as the Guyana Government looks to enact a Model Arbitration Bill this year.

In the meantime, the Government will continue in 2023 to offer capacity building by training and education to familiarise stakeholders with the concept, operational value, and benefit of arbitration in the context of the impending legislative framework.

Last year, Minister Nandlall had written to all relevant stakeholders and circulated the Impact Justice Model Arbitration Bill 2022 for review and requested comments on the same. This Model Arbitration Bill incorporates the key provisions of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Arbitration and was approved by the Caricom Secretariat for implementation by member States in the Region.

As a matter of fact, it was noted that “The Impact Justice Model Arbitration Bill 2022 received resound-

ing endorsement across the Caribbean and was approved as a Caricom Model Bill.”

The Government is seeking to not only transform its legislative agenda but also become the regional arbitration hub.

Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean Project (IMPACT Justice) is a multi-country regional justice sector reform project funded by the Government of Canada, and is implemented by the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados through its Project Director Professor Vilma Newton, who provided invaluable guidance and support to ensure that Guyana, one day, becomes a modern arbitration hub.

In this stead, and in keeping with the objective to educate, train and build capacity which formally commenced in the year 2022, the Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs in collaboration with IMPACT Justice and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Caribbean Branch, Young Members Group, held a Workshop on “Drafting Arbitration Clauses: Practical Workshop”, on

April 5 and 7, 2022, via the Zoom platform.

This workshop was extended to all attorneys-at-law through the Bar Association of Guyana, the Berbice Bar Association and also the Private Sector Commission, inviting interested persons within those organisations to participate, where upon completion, the participants received certification.

The objective of the “Drafting Arbitration Clauses: Practical Workshop” highlighted the relevance of including arbitration clauses in contracts and providing an introduction to the drafting of enforceable arbitration clauses. This workshop was offered for free and sessions were conducted by arbitration experts in the Caribbean, Shan Greer assisted by Kimberley Williams.

This was followed by another workshop on “Roadmap to Implementation of a New Arbitration Law for Guyana and other Caricom Countries” held from May 16, 2022, to June 9, 2022, which resulted from a similar collaboration between the Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of

Legal Affairs and IMPACT Justice.

That workshop produced a more expansive and tailored arbitration training for members of the Judiciary, the Bar Association of Guyana, private and public sectors, civil society and media.

The objective of that second workshop was to build national capacity and enable participants to understand the purpose of arbitration and to familiarise them with the intended legal framework. In this regard, this workshop on “Roadmap

to Implementation of a New Arbitration Law for Guyana and other Caricom Countries” was facilitated by internationally renowned Caribbean arbitrators, Hon Barry Leon and Professor Anthony Daimsis of the University of Ottawa and distinguished Guyanese arbitrator based in Europe, Calvin A Hamilton of Arbitra International and the President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitration, Caribbean Branch, Miles F Weeks.

Meanwhile, plans are in place for the Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs, in collaboration with ROLE UK, to embark on a fiveday in-person arbitration training workshop for attorneys-at-law in the public sector to take place by the end of March this year with an emphasis on the Impact Justice Model Arbitration Bill 2022.

In addition to concentrating on the Arbitration Bill, during this first workshop of 2023, other areas such as investment arbitration, would be made a topic to raise awareness of advancing international arbitration practice throughout the Region.

Attorney General & Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC

MoH to tackle postpartum depression among women

An integrated programme by the Health Ministry will now focus on postpartum depression in expecting and new mothers, by offering screening and resources to detect such signs.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony explained on Friday that offering comprehensive care in maternal health includes not only services during delivery but during prepartum and postpartum stages.

This programme was conceptualised after realising that women in the country suffer from postpartum depression.

“One of the things that we’re doing is improving the care we give to mothers, so we have focused a lot on pregnancy to make sure that delivery is safe. But

we also recognise that after delivery, some mothers would develop postpartum depression. We recognised

this and we want to create a programme to prevent depression,” he shared.

Dr Anthony also clarified that postpartum depression can occur from as early as pregnancy and can last up to 12 months. As such, he cited the importance of screening and resources to address such symptoms.

“From the scientific literature, what we know is that it doesn’t start then. It would start in the first, second or third trimester or it might have an earlier genesis because some of these patients might have a history of depression. If that is the case, when you’re offering care, you need to ensure that you’re also screening and checking for symptoms of depression during this period.”

If depression is detected, the Ministry is aiming to provide counselling and in cases where needed, anti-depression medications. To roll out the programme, primary healthcare workers will also be trained.

“It is going to be a comprehensive programme. It’s a joint effort between a team of psychiatrists that we have in the Ministry and the team that is working on obstetrics care. They have come up with this programme. We would be training a lot of our primary healthcare workers,” Dr Anthony positioned.

The Mayo Clinic details that some new mothers experience a more severe, long-lasting form of depression known as postpartum depression. Sometimes it's called peripartum depres-

sion because it can start during pregnancy and continue after childbirth. Rarely, an extreme mood disorder called postpartum psychosis also may develop after childbirth.

Postpartum depression symptoms may include depressed mood or severe mood swings; excessive crying; difficulty bonding with your baby; withdrawal from family and friends; loss of

appetite or eating much more than usual; insomnia or sleeping too much; overwhelming tiredness or loss of energy; loss of interest in activities; intense irritability and anger; hopelessness; feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt or inadequacy; reduced ability to think clearly, concentrate or make decisions; restlessness; severe anxiety and panic attacks among others.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

Berbice taxi driver busted with 28.6kg ganja while trying to evade Police

AStanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice resident was arrested following the discovery of a large quantity of marijuana shortly after taking Police ranks on a highspeed chase on Friday evening.

Members of the Mahaica Police Station Anti-Crime Patrol reported that on the day in question, the man was nabbed with 28.6 kilograms of marijuana.

The ranks were reportedly on duty in the vicinity of Helena No 1 Public

2099,

The ranks attempted to stop the motor car but it sped away. The Police ranks then gave chase with aid of the siren and loud hailer, indicating to the driver to stop, but he refused.

The vehicle instead sped into Jonestown and hit a utility pole at Belmont, Mahaica. The driver of the motor car then lost control of the vehicle which ended up in a trench.

Carlos Edward, 52, of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam Berbice, exited the vehicle and attempted to escape with two bulky bags.

Upon being taken into custody, a total of nine black plastic parcels and three transparent plastic parcels containing ganja were found.

Edwards was told of the offence and escorted to the Mahaica Police Station where he was placed into custody pending charges.

This is the second time Edwards has been involved in a daring car chase with the Police. In fact, in December 2017, Edwards was busted with almost 14 pounds of cannabis in his car trunk following a daring chase by Police.

As such, he was remanded to prison but was later released.

Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), when they observed a black motor car bearing registration number HD

overtaking several vehicles on the Mahaica Bridge at a fast rate of speed.

The car that was transporting the ganja

The ganja that was being transported in the car

Hundreds of millions budgeted to enhance highvalue crop production

In 2023, the agriculture sector will see an injection of hundreds of millions of dollars to support high-value crops, through infrastructure and other developments.

Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh said Government’s agricultural strategy will be built around three major initiatives – a regional food hub to promote improved access to markets; establishment of the capability to use science and technology in the sector; and promotion of hinterland agriculture and food self-sufficiency.

During his budget presentation, he said these initiatives will be supported by an allocation of $2 billion in Budget 2023 to ensure food security.

Some $150 million will be expended for a wharf in the Tacama area, providing access to cultivated corn and soya. Meanwhile, a new high-yielding and disease-resistant coconut variety will be introduced to farmers with eight demonstration plots.

To increase the production of ginger and turmeric, a sum of $153 million is budgeted to improve processing capacity at Hosororo, Parika, and Linden-Soesdyke, reducing drying time from three to five days; to eight hours.

Distribution of over 100,000 citrus seedlings is planned for 2023.

Rice remains a dominant contributor to agriculture, and $300 million has been set aside to promote production. Two new drying floors will be constructed as well as investments to boost research capabilities.

“We will introduce new biofortified rice varieties. Our work to secure new markets will continue all with the interest of growing the industry and improving well-being for those operating in and dependent on that industry.”

Singh pointed out that his Government met a neglected sugar sector in 2020. This year, $4 billion is injected into the Guyana Sugar Corporation which will be used to establish the Albion Packaging Plant and expansion of capacity at the Blairmont Packaging Plant among other investments.

The agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector expanded by an estimated 11.9 per cent in 2022. This was attributed to the rice, livestock, and forestry industries.

The rice sector grew by 8.1 per cent with total production of 610,595 tonnes.

The other crops sector grew by 15.3 per cent, with expansions across all crop categories.

Sugar reportedly declined by 18.9 per cent in 2022, with production totalling 47,049 tonnes. This was due to the lingering effects of the 2021 floods which caused lower yields per hectare and reduced cane quality.

Meanwhile, livestock grew by nine per cent with the production of pork, poultry, mutton, and beef growing by 15.8 per cent, 12 per cent, 10.1 per cent, and 1.8 per cent, respectively. On the decline were eggs and milk by 37.5 per cent and 10.8 per cent, respectively.

The fishing industry contracted by 4.8 per cent in 2022, attributed to lower marine production, with shrimp and fish production falling by 4.1 per cent and 0.7 per cent, respectively.

More than 1100 community roads to be upgraded in 2023 – Min Croal

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal and a team of engineers from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) inspected infrastructure works at Herstelling on the East Bank of Demerara on Friday.

The works visited included an access road being upgraded at Third Street, Herstelling. Minister Croal stated that the project, which began at the end of 2022, is important for the development of the area, especially as residents previously raised concerns about the road.

“I’m happy that we’re now able to have this addressed and certainly you will find this continuing under the Irfaan Ali-led Government; to be able to respond and put our resources to make our communities better,” the Minister said.

The Minister further stated that through the Housing and Water, Public Works and Local Government and Regional Development Ministries, more than 1100 internal access roads in communities across the country will be upgraded to concrete and asphaltic concrete over the coming months.

As part of transparency and accountability measures, the projects will be monitored with assistance

from the respective NDCs. Maps of the areas and copies of the contracts will be given to each NDC and residents will be able to visit the NDCs to receive information on the scope of works for projects in that particular area.

In communities under the Little Diamond/ Herstelling NDC, at least $2.4 billion in roads will be upgraded. These initiatives will provide opportunities for new contractors and employment for Guyanese. The Minister said that the projects will improve the quality of life for residents in new and existing housing schemes.

The Chairman of the NDC, Puneet Jaigopaul, welcomed the development while adding that the NDC is pleased to have another opportunity to serve the communities. Similar sentiments were also expressed

by the CDC Chairman, Natram Rampersaud, and CDC member Neville Butts.

Herstelling resident, Randolph Pereira was excited about the works at Third Street and other incoming works, as he said that the state of the roads have affected the community for some time.

“I’ve been a resident here since 2016 and the roads were in a very deplorable condition and there were very hard times for residents in the area. […] A lot of people experienced damages to their vehicle and I’m so happy now that the Minister is here and the infrastructure is taking place and there’s a vast improvement,” Pereira said.

During his visit, the Minister also inspected ongoing works at Fourth Bridge, Herstelling, East Bank Demerara.

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh

– inspects ongoing road project at Herstelling, EBD

The Minister and engineers in discussion

IT will enable Guyana to leapfrog its development curve – PSC Chairman

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Paul Cheong believes that the use of Information Technology (IT) “will enable Guyana to leapfrog on its development curve”.

The PSC chair was speaking during an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI) recently. Cheong was part of the Guyanese delegation, that accompanied President Dr Irfaan Ali to India last week.

He opined that both Government and the private sector must start engaging IT companies to

look for solutions to some of the problems locally. The utilisation of tech-

nology in every area is essential, for example in agriculture, horticulture,

furniture manufacturing, agro-processing, and biomass energy production.

To this end, the PSC Chairman shared that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked to set up a biomass generation plant that will utilise wood-based by-products, which will create affordable and environmentally friendly energy.

He noted that even in sugar production value-added products such as paper and cardboard can be derived from the by-products, as is done in India.

“We must tweak our industry to add more value

to the production chain, which will make the industry more profitable,” he underscored.

Cheong further stated that with the use of IT, more accurate information can be obtained in terms of soil nutrients, which enables the correct interventions that will lead to more efficiency and profitability in food production.

This, he pointed out, helps to remove guesswork that is sometimes present in large-scale agricultural efforts in Guyana.

With India’s access to technology and Guyana’s access to available raw ma-

terials, “We expect many, many good things coming out from this visit [with India],” he said.

Further, the PSC Chairman disclosed that committees have been set up to explore the various technological opportunities that exist in India, that can be customised for Guyana.

He also commended the President’s initiative as opening doors of opportunities for Guyanese businesses to seek out joint ventures with their Indian counterparts, which will accelerate the manufacturing sector.

Stabbed woman claims Diamond Hospital refused to treat her

Awoman who hails from Leopold Street, Georgetown, is claiming that she was refused medical treatment from the Diamond Diagnostic Centre after she turned up at the medical facility with a stab wound.

The woman, who goes by the name “Princess Wade” on Facebook, said on Wednesday evening she was stabbed in her face while trying to part a fight. She claimed that after the incident, she immediately made her way to the Diamond Hospital to receive medical treatment.

While there, she said she was put to wait for more than three hours in excruciating pain, and no one bothered to attend to her.

“It was 3 hours without treating me...when I go to ask the doctor when will he attend to me because I'm in pain he responded and said that I was not from Diamond I'm from Leopold and he have to treat the people that live in Diamond before me,”

she said.

Wade said the statement made by the doctor was shocking to her because she went to the hospital with a stab wound.

“I saw people come after me and get looked after but I wait for 3 hours in

Online ferry booking for Leguan, Wakenaam from January 23

With the aim of improving ferry services countrywide, the Guyana Government has extended online ferry bookings to passengers traversing the Leguan and Wakenaam routes.

In a notice on Saturday, the Ministry of Public Works’ Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) said it “…wishes to advise Leguan and Wakenaam commuters that its online booking system – FERRYPASS – will be available from Monday, January 23, 2023, to reserve spaces on the ferry for their vehicles.”

Persons will now be able to book their tickets to travel by ferry from the Parika Stelling to Leguan and Wakenaam. Motorists are now encouraged to use the online booking system by visiting: https://ferrypass. gy.

The $6.8 million online ticket booking system was launched in October with

services for the Parika to Supenaam route.

In addition to saving time for persons travelling by ferry, the online system also ensures that persons secure a spot on the ferry, especially those persons travelling with vehicles. Then in December 2022, the Parika-Bartica online ferry booking service commenced.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill had previously outlined the benefits of this online service and urged persons to take advantage of the ease of trav-

elling by ferry.

“As we develop new roads and bridges…build new highways and rehabilitate stellings, our aim is always for the improvement and enhancement of the lives of our citizens. So, we are happy about this online system coming on stream to join the Parika-Supenaam which was launched back in October because this system will alleviate a greater percentage of the stress associated with travelling, especially for those who travel more frequently,” Minister Edghill had stated.

pain and nothing was done to even stop the pain… to tip it off they collect all my info and still didn't treat me,” she explained.

She said after waiting for hours with no medical treatment, she left the hospital and went home untreated.

“I came home without treatment, without the stab wound getting looked

at, but far as I am concerned the doctors at the Diamond Hospital aren’t qualified. How are you gonna leave someone with a stab wound just because that person is not from Diamond.”

“But I'm a blessed child I still got looked after at another hospital and I'm still alive thank God but that doctor doesn’t have no

mercy on humans. I was in so much pain and he sat there talking about blow is a must with the rest of his colleagues.”

“Before he does his job…he made me question myself to know if I'm not human,” the woman explained. Attempts to get a comment from a health official proved futile.

Private Sector Commission Chairman Paul Cheong

The woman who was stabbed in her face

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

Gravitate toward the people who have the most to offer you. The input you receive will clear up any misunderstanding about what others expect of you. Surround yourself with positive people.

Learn from experience and adjust your lifestyle to suit your needs. Don’t take a risk with your health or reputation. Settle any differences you have with loved ones. A kind offer will pay off.

GEMINI (MAY 28June 20)

CANCER

Put a friendly spin on whatever you pursue. A special relationship will take on a serious note if you discuss your intentions. Evaluate motives and pursue romance.

Be a good listener and observer. Don’t share information prematurely. Someone will offer an exaggerated point of view that can cost you physically, emotionally or financially.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

People who are innovative and eager to make positive changes will interest you. Verify information before passing it along. Sign up for a course, and keep up with professional trends.

The trends and changes going on around you will be eye-opening and will encourage you to make a plan with a like-minded someone. Take care of unfinished business early in the day.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Your position is more vital than you think. Don’t waste time overanalyzing a situation if physical action is required. Reach out to like-minded people. Romance is featured.

Rely on your intelligence to help you reach your goal. Don’t let anyone play emotional games with you, test your patience or subject you to an unhealthy situation. Pay attention to your needs.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Live up to your promises. Fix up your space to accommodate what you intend to pursue. Change the way you deal with, earn or handle money. Say no to anyone using persuasive tactics.

You’ll face emotional adjustments at home. Keeping busy will help ease stress and encourage you to separate your emotions from a situation that requires oversight. It’s up to you to make things happen.

AQUARIUS

(June 21July 22) (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES

(Feb. 20Mar. 20)

Take care of unfinished business. You’ll feel much better about your future if you have taken care of the past. Don’t let changes that others make slow you down or unnerve you.

Call on the people you know you can rely on for help and expert advice. Channel your energy wisely to avoid an unnecessary dispute with someone who disagrees with you. Work alone if possible.

Peanuts

Calvin and Hobbes

Dilbert

Shami spearheads massive

NZ Tour to India 2023: ODI Series, Game 2 of 3… -as India wrap up series

After a thrilling last-over finish in Hyderabad, India romped to an eight-wicket victory in Raipur, on the back of an inspired performance from their quick bowlers, to take the series 2-0 with one match to go.

India's domination started with a display of swing and seam with great accuracy, to bowl New Zealand out for 108 in under 35 overs, in an international debut for the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium. Two sharp return catches also helped matters.

India chased down the target in 20.1 overs after a 51-off 50 from captain Rohit Sharma, who struck seven fours and two sixes, before Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan saw the hosts through.

It was India's seventh consecutive bilateral ODI series’ win at home.

Stifling Test match-style bowling from Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj caused the early damage, after India won the toss, to reduce New Zealand to 9 for 3.

Hardik Pandya bowled three maidens and picked up 2 for 16 from six overs as New Zealand slipped to 15 for 5, with their top five falling in single digits after 10.3 overs.

Glenn Phillips stretched the score past 100 with the help of Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner, but 108 was a total too low to trouble a team that had scored 349 and 390 in their last two games.

Shami was the first to strike, when he followed a

few outswingers with one that came in and bowled Finn Allen for a duck in the first over.

His swing and Siraj's wobble seam tied up the top order, and Siraj had Henry Nicholls edging one to first slip in the sixth over. Four balls after Nicholls's fall, Shami grabbed a sharp return catch with his left hand off Daryl Mitchell to finish his first spell with 4-15-2, while Siraj's read 4-1-4-1.

Shardul Thakur and Hardik also got breakthroughs soon after being brought on, and they kept the pressure on the visitors.

Devon Conway eased some nerves by registering the first boundary of the innings in the ninth over, but Hardik sent him back with another one-handed return catch in the following over. Thakur also struck when Tom Latham, who had left nearly half of his first 16 balls, chased

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has urged his team to "do their duty" on the pitch after Friday's points’ deduction by Italy's football federation (FIGC).

Juventus were docked 15 points following an investigation into the club's past transfer dealings. The Serie A giants have been accused of fixing their balance sheets by artificial gains from club transfers.

It drops them down from third to 10th place in the table.

Juventus have denied any wrongdoing, and confirmed that they will appeal against the decision to the Sport Guarantee Board of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI).

"We have to regroup and think only of matters on the pitch," said Allegri before Sunday's Serie A match

at home to fifth-placed Atalanta. "We don't have to think about starting again.

The club's board of directors, including former president Andrea

the stand of 41 when Bracewell nicked behind for 22.

From 56 for 6, Phillips and Santner put on a patient stand of 47, thanks to two lives Santner got off Kuldeep Yadav. The first came when Rohit couldn't hold on to a tough chance while diving to his right at midwicket, and Kuldeep later put down an easier return chance, despite getting both hands to the ball

over his head.

Phillips scored at a good clip during his 36, with boundaries whenever he got loose deliveries from Thakur. Santner, too, chipped in with two fours off Kuldeep after the halfway mark of the innings, but he fell just after New Zealand crossed 100.

Hardik started the 31st over with a 112.8kph slower ball, which Santner chopped on off the inside edge, and New Zealand collapsed again. Two long-hops from Washington Sundar saw Phillips and Lockie Ferguson hole out to deep midwicket, and Kuldeep trapped Blair Tickner in front in his eighth over to wrap up the innings.

In the chase, Rohit and Gill started patiently, as the new ball swung around. Soon, though, Rohit turned aggressor, starting with a pull in the

second over off Henry Shipley, before also pulling Ferguson for six in the fifth over. Whenever the scoring would quieten for India, Rohit would either unleash another pull or manufacture room to dispatch the ball on the off side, including a stunning six over the covers off Tickner. Rohit also used the cut with perfect timing to collect boundaries, as Gill waited more patiently for the loose balls to pick boundaries. Rohit also swept and reverse swept Santner to reach a 47-ball fifty, but was trapped lbw when a Shipley delivery stayed low in front of off stump.

Kohli was stumped off Santner for 11 after he struck Shipley for two fours, and Kishan and Gill wrapped up the win by smashing three fours in the space of 11 balls.

(ESPNCricinfo)

place in the last 16, and will meet Lazio in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals on 2 February.

The legal proceedings concern the company, and there will be an appeal. The standings say that at the moment we have 22 points, and we have to try to earn results and make up positions. We must continue to do our duty, because the sentence is in two months' time, and we must have no regrets when the verdict comes."

Agnelli and vice-president Pavel Nedved, resigned in November.

The FIGC's sanction is tougher than the nine-point deduction prosecutors had requested.

Allegri added that all was not lost for Juventus, who face French club Nantes in a two-legged Europa League play-off next month for a

"I have learned that all situations must be transformed into opportunities," he added. "We have the Europa League, we have the Coppa Italia, and we have 60 league points to play for. I'm convinced the players will do everything to get the most out of the situation. We face a challenge, and maybe we will be able to do something extraordinary. In football, anything is possible."

A total of 11 former and current Juventus executives have received sanctions, including a 24-month ban for Agnelli, and Allegri has expressed sympathy for him.

"In addition to the professional aspect, I am very sorry on a personal level for the disqualification of Andrea Agnelli," he said. (BBC Sport)

5-0-29-1

Blair Tickner 4-0-19-0

Mitchell Santner 4.1-0-28-1

Michael Bracewell 2-0-13-0

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri

India celebrating

Mohammed Shami returned to send the dangerous Michael Bracewell packing

Rohit Sharma hit seven fours and two sixes in his innings

Tri-Nations Women’s T20I Series…

Connell stars, but South Africa take victory over WI

South Africa Women have taken a 44run victory over the West Indies Women to earn their first points of the Tri-Nations Women's T20 International Series at Buffalo Park in East London.

Shamilia Connell had a top all-round performance for the West Indies Women, finishing with bowling figures of 3-0-17-2 then contributing 15 from 11 with the bat. After the match, Connell told CWI Media, "I've been working and preparing very hard over the last few months, and it's very pleasing to be able to execute my all-round game for the team. I've been working on my death-bowling, and today I was able to answer the skipper's call.

“We were not consistent, especially when we were batting. We're gonna have to regroup and come back with a more fortified plan for our match against India on Monday."

Murray succumbs to Spain’s Agut in third round

Britain’s Andy Murray is out of the Australian Open after eventually losing to Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut in a valiant display wherein he struggled to move.

Former world number one Murray finished his second-round match at 4am on Friday; and, returning to court 39 hours later, was beaten 6-1 6-7 (7-9) 6-3 6-4. The 35-year-old Scot, who had career-threatening hip surgery in 2019, was the last Briton to fall in the singles. Earlier on Saturday, Dan Evans lost 6-4 6-2 6-3 to fifth seed Andrey Rublev.

Murray left everything out on the court before succumbing to the man who famously beat him at the 2019 Australian Open in what the three-time Grand Slam champion feared would be the final match of his career. Two weeks later, Murray had the hip resurfacing surgery from which he thought he would not be able to return - but four years on, he was back in Melbourne aiming to reach the fourth round at a major for the first time since Wimbledon in 2017.

Murray said he had "a lot of mixed emotions" after losing to 34-year-old Bautista

about seven or eight blisters that I had to have drained. My feet didn't feel great. My legs were actually okay, but I was struggling with my lower back. That was affecting my serve. That was really the main thing that I was struggling with."

The signs were not good from the start.

Regularly wincing after points, and walking gingerly between them, the five-time finalist looked to be in pain as Bautista Agut wrapped up the opening set in just 29 minutes. When the Spaniard, a consistent counter-puncher, moved a break up in the second set, it looked like it would be a short night. But Murray, as he has so often done in the past, refused to accept he was beaten. The British number four start-

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The West Indies Women will take on India Women at the same venue on Monday January 23. First ball is at 7:00pm local time (1:00pm Eastern Caribbean/12:00pm Jamaica time).

FULL SQUAD

* Hayley Matthews (Captain)

* Aaliyah Alleyne

* Shanika Bruce

* Shemaine Campbelle

* Shamilia Connell * Britney Cooper * Chedean Nation * Afy Fletcher

* Shabika Gajnabi

* Sheneta Grimmond

* Chinelle Henry

* Karishma Ramharack

* Kaysia Schultz

* Shakera Selman

* Stafanie Taylor

* Rashada Williams

T20I

Tri-Series Match Schedule

(all matches to be played at Buffalo Park, East London)

21 January: vs South Africa, 3pm local time (9am Eastern Caribbean/8am Jamaica)- South Africa won by 44 runs

23 January: vs India, 7pm local time (1pm Eastern Caribbean/12noon Jamaica)

25 January: vs South Africa, 3pm local time (9am Eastern Caribbean/8am Jamaica)

30 January: vs India, 3pm local time (9am Eastern Caribbean/8am Jamaica)

2 February: Tri-Series Final, 3pm local time (9am Eastern Caribbean/8am Jamaica)

Agut.

"I feel like I gave everything that I had to this event, so I'm proud of that," he added. "That is really, in whatever you're doing, all you can do. You can't always control the outcome. You can't control how well you're going to play or the result. You can control the effort that you put into it, and I gave everything that I had the last three matches."

A step too far even for Murray

Ever since Murray beat Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis in a five-set thriller that ended at a time he described as a "farce", the question was: How would he recover physically to face 24th seed Bautista Agut?

Murray, ranked 66th in the world, needed five hours and 45 minutes to beat Kokkinakis in the longest match of his eventful career. That was already an extraordinary effort - particularly for an ageing player with a lump of metal in his hip - after needing nearly five hours to beat Italian 13th seed Matteo Berrettini in the opening round.

"I slept from 6-9am on the morning I played Kokkinakis, which obviously isn't enough," said Murray. "Then I had to come in [to Melbourne Park] and had

ed moving a little more freely, at least during the points, and fought back to take the set into a tie-break. There, he again needed his fighting spirit. Murray trailed 5-2, but with the support of the crowd behind him, staved off two set points for Bautista Agut before levelling the match with his second set point.

A tight third set followed, in which Murray continued to produce some stunning shots but bent over in pain between points. He stayed on serve until he finally buckled to help Bautista Agut break in the eighth game. Despite struggling to serve, Murray broke for a 2-0 lead in the fourth set, but Bautista Agut remained patient and broke for 5-4 before serving out the match.

Excited celebration from the mild-mannered Bautista Agut signalled how deep he had to dig to see off the gallant Murray, who received a rapturous standing ovation when he trudged off court.

"Playing Andy in a Slam is always very tough; he knows the game very well," said 2019 quarter-finalist Bautista Agut, who plays American Tommy Paul in the last 16. "I am very happy how I managed all the nerves and the tension during the

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match. I played good tennis, and I'm happy with the win." (BBC Sport)

Shamilia Connell

Britney Cooper

Hayley Matthews

Andy Murray was aiming to reach the fourth round at a major for the first time since 2017

Dan Evans was aiming to replicate his career-best run to the fourth round of the Australian Open in 2017

GFF, AAG positively receive 2023 Sports Budget

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) have both reacted positively to the $4.3B allocated in the 2023 National Budget for sports.

In a missive, President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Wayne Forde, stated, “I salute the bold leadership of the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, and his Government’s unprecedented and consistent investment in the development of Sports and the young men and women of this country.

“It is very heartening to see Hon. Minister Charles Ramson being recognised and rewarded for his outstanding work, which he has undertaken at a breathtaking pace over the past two years. It is therefore entirely fitting that he is granted the resources to fulfill his trans-

formational vision for the growth and development of Culture, Youth and Sports.

“The Guyana Football Federation is committed to doing our part in the actualisation of the nation’s dreams and aspirations for Sports’ development.”

And the AAG has ar-

ticulated, “The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) is pleased with the financial allocation for sports in the Government of Guyana 2023 budget. In our opinion, this allocation reflects the Government’s commitment to the development of sports in Guyana. While we look forward to a direct disbursement to our Association in support of athletes travelling to international competitions and the hosting of meets locally, we also do appreciate the development of new facilities and the procurement of new equipment.

“The AAG has seen much progress in our sport over the past few years. This can be attributed to the harmonious relationship we share with the Director of Sports, Mr. Steve Ninvalle, and the National Sports Commission (NSC).

“We would like to thank Min. Charles Ramson Jnr.

Colin Bynoe is first accredited cricket agent in Guyana

your client’s career further?

Those are some of the interesting decisions that I may have to make," he disclosed.

As a cricket agent, Bynoe is responsible for assisting his clients on and off the field.

Among his duties are overseas placement, negotiating cricket contracts, sourcing cricket endorsement and sponsorship deals, marketing the client’s image to prospective teams and coaches.

in particular for his stewardship of this sector, as we look forward to working with him in the development of athletics in 2023.”

The $4.3B allocated to

Sport in the National Budget was announced on Monday last by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh in the National Assembly at the Arthur Chung Conference Center

at Liliendaal, ECD. This allocation for 2023 has seen an improvement of $3.2B on the 2022 budget, while the Sport Budget for 2021 had been $1.5B.

Familiarity is best to develop new athletics talent

Let us collect him and do this special thing with him’. And you take him out of that comfort zone that he has grown accustomed to and (you) end up destroying (him),” Hutson explained.

He continued, “I think that coach has been doing an admirable job with him, and I think that coach should continue right through to the next level.”

By Brandon Corlette

Colin Bynoe Jr. is now the first accredited cricket agent in Guyana. Bynoe is working through the England Cricket Board (ECB) and is heading operations for Gravity Sports in the Caribbean and Americas.

Gravity Sports represent Caribbean players such as Roshon Primus, Alick Athanaze, Kofi James, Jonathan Foo, Keon Joseph, Anthony Bramble, Onjae Amory and Anderson Amurdan.

Asked what has motivated him to take the job as a cricket agent, Bynoe said: "The love for the sport and many skills I possess spurred my interest to become a cricket agent.”

“Knowing the intricacies of the cricketing world will assist in your success," he added. “I thought about my strengths, I started to research possible areas that would align with those strengths and one that would be able to benefit others (athletes). That's how the idea of becoming a cricket agent was birthed years ago."

Bynoe describes the job of a cricket agent as tricky, while disclosing some of the areas of focus. "The path to becoming an accredited

cricket agent is fairly tricky. It took me a while…,” he said. “Everything is done through England and Wales Cricket Board, where you go through a strict registration process. Prospective agents sit an agency exam; when successful, you go through a few more steps, then (you are) presented as an ECBregistered agent."

Regarding his responsibilities as a cricket agent, Bynoe noted that the groundwork is fundamental. "You may have to make interesting decisions. With the packed cricket calendar around the world, laying the groundwork is fundamental. You have to pitch your client to coaches, captains, analysts, owners, and anyone with significant influence with selection. It's about targeting the right people, but in the right way," Bynoe explained.

"With the way the game has evolved, the key players would want to see how a particular player has done in the last three years; how he does against left-arm spin, legspin etc. In addition, game context is crucial when it comes to the type of player a particular team may be looking for. Is it worth pushing a spinner to a team which has three similar local options? Would this opportunity push

Cricketers who are desirous of 24-hour representation and an agency

Anumber of teenage athletes are beginning to rival their older counterparts in performance, and Aubrey Hutson, President of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), has had to consider the development trajectory of these teenagers.

fastest time that a Guyanese male athlete would have run for the year,” Hutson said as he highlighted some of Newton’s achievements for 2022.

Shifting to a more technical standpoint, Hutson explained that, from the AAG end, helpful advice can be offered without total interference.

which has their best interest at heart should consider engaging Gravity Sports.

Colin Bynoe has been working with Gravity Sports since being approved as an ECB agent, and he has been heavily involved with onboarding some of the best young talent in the West Indies.

Specifically, Bynoe helps with the day-to-day management of players, including sourcing opportunities, and marketing them to a wider audience.

"His desire and commitment to ensure that players are being well represented is second to none, and we are very grateful and appreciative of all of Colin's efforts," Eathan Brookes, Director & EXB PCA Approved Cricket Agent, highlighted.

For instance, Ezekiel Newton and Keliza Smith are only two of the names now becoming staples in the world of track and field at both the junior and senior levels. At the 2022 National Schools’ Championships, both athletes shattered the 100M records in their respective categories. In Newton’s case, he reset the Under-17 record to 10.62s, and in Smith’s case, she clocked 12.03s, as both athletes inch closer to their respective sub-11 and sub-10 dreams.

Quizzed about what the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) can do to get these athletes and others closer to their goal, AAG President Aubrey Hutson explained that leaving their current coaches to their work might be best for now.

“…he was able to go to the South American Championships, and even though he showed some nerves, was able to come back in the 200 and run the

He went on to explain, “So he is a special kid for his age. Being 17 and being the fastest athlete in the nation to me was commendable. We still would rely on the coach

Hutson shared, “As I said, what we do have now is a panel of at least 8 Level 2 sprints/hurdles coaches who, when they come to the track and see any of the ath-

-- his coach that has been working with him, fashioning his programme and doing what he has to do -- to keep working with him and bringing him through.”

Hutson has divulged that their crop of Level Two coaches can offer advice, but the pattern of shifting an athlete’s programme has been detrimental to the sport.

“I think sometimes administrators would like to say, ‘This is a special kid.

letes compete or have a flaw, they can then talk with the coach or work out what that athlete could do, but don’t try to say, ‘Oh, give me that athlete and I’m going to make him better’. That has been leading to the destruction of our athletes, and it has never worked before.”

Hutson has explained that the AAG would do all that it can, in terms of what is necessary, to ensure the athletes’ development.

GFF President Wayne Forde

The AAG has also praised Sport’s 2023 budget allocation

Colin Bynoe Jr

Colin Bynoe and Sir Clive Lloyd sharing a moment during CPL

Ezekiel Newton is one of the outstanding young talents in athletics

Keliza Smith has been dominating the senior scene, even as a junior athlete

-says AAG President Aubrey Hutson