Kaieteur News

call for Gaza ceasefire Foreign mining companies

fees on anything brought

into Guyana

…payCustomsOfficerstocleartheir importsatportoftheirchoosing exemption on taxes and handed carte blanche

UNcommitteemembertellsGuyana… ‘Ensure oil sector not tainted with corruption’

US-based Guyanese spends Easter behind bars after trying to bribe cop

Venezuelans arrested in connection with cocaine bust

Norton to Govt: ‘Address liabilities of Exxon’s Gas-to-Energy pipeline’ …says citizens could be left fighting for protection in Court

Guyana’s oil account gets quarter

US$604.3M top up in first

Dancers performing during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Rupununi Rodeo being held in Lethem, Region Nine (Office of the President photo)

‘Ensure oil sector not tainted with corruption’

TheUnitedNations Human Rights

C o m m i t t e e (UNCHR)hasrecommended that Guyana put measures in place to ensure the management of the country's naturalresourcesisfreefrom anycorruption.

Guyana has been blessed with bauxite, timber, gold, diamonds, manganese and oil In December 2019, ExxonMobil Guyana and its partners in the Stabroek Block commenced oil productioninGuyanaandthe country is now being touted as the fastest growing economy in the world as a resultofoiloperations.

On Thursday, during the press conference on the Committee's findings in relation to Guyana and other countries,FrenchCommittee member Helene Tigroudja explained that the

UNCHR reviewed the third period report of Guyana, in a hybrid mode,

more than 20 years after the lastobservation.

Inheraddress,shenoted that the Committee expressed its concerns about issues in relation to the situation of indigenous peoples in the country, especially their legal status and rights, violence against women and femicide problemsofindependenceof the judiciary and backlog of judicialproceedings.

Tigroudja noted that among other issues, questions were asked about the combination of the protection of environment againsttheharmfulimpactof climate change and the oil and gas extractive activities.

To this end she stated, “The committee insisted on the need to ensure the management of natural resources free from any corruption and effective participation of affected population, including fishermen and indigenous peoples.”

In the report itself, the Committee called for thorough investigations into allegations of corruption in the management of natural resources,particularlywithin the oil and gas sector highlighting the importance of transparency and accountability measures in thiscriticalarea. Concernswereexpressed over reports of corruption

and lack of transparency in the management of natural resources,particularlywithin theoilandgassector.

It calls for thorough investigations into allegations of corruption in this sector and emphasises the importance of t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d accountabilitymeasures.

Duringthereviewperiod, Tigroudja said, “The wealth derived from oil and gold exploitationandminingonly benefitstherichestinsociety leaving the poorest in a situation of extreme poverty.”

Guyana's Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo earlier this year assured that the government will honour its promise to have a Petroleum Commissionwhenthetimeis right.

Sucharegulatorybodyis established by a government to oversee and manage the exploration, development, and production of petroleum

resources within its jurisdiction It ensures compliance with laws and regulations, manages licences and permits, and often plays a role in promoting sustainable and efficient utilization of petroleumresources.

Moreover, in response to the UNCHR report, Minister of ParliamentaryAffairs and Governance Gail Teixeira in astatementnotedthatduring the review period, the government highlighted the Natural Resources Fund Act and the Local Content Act and the legal framework for the management of oil revenuetoGuyana.

It was also pointed out that Guyana signed onto the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and has brought its reportsupto2021.

Notably, Teixeira noted that the government is unaware of reports of acts of corruptionintheoilsector

French Committee member, Helene Tigroudja'

UN Committee raises concerns

over EPA’s capability

…as Govt. points to US$20M

loan to strengthen

agency regulatory and technical framework

The United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNCHR) has expressed apprehension regarding the effectiveness of Guyana's Environmental Protection A g e n c y ( E PA ) i n implementingenvironmental regulations.

Guyana's Environmental bodymandateisto“Promote, facilitate and coordinate effective environmental management and protection; and the sustainable use of Guyananaturalresources.”

T h e U N C H R ' s c o n c l u d i n g r e p o r t highlighted various issues concerning environmental protectionandtheEPA'srole within the country The Committee's report, released last Thursday following Guyana's appearance before the UNCHR, pointed out several areas of concern Among these were reports indicating inadequate implementation of environmental regulations, including those outlined in the Environmental Protection Act. Additionally, the UNCHR expressed unease over the lack of detailed information regardingtheEPA'seffective role in enforcing these regulations.

Furthermore, the Committee raised issues regarding limited access to environmental information and insufficient consultation with disadvantaged groups, such as Amerindians and f i s h e r y - d e p e n d e n t communities.Concernswere

also voiced about illegal mining activities and their adverse environmental impacts, including desertification, water pollution, and air contamination.

In response to these concerns, Minister of

Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, issued a statement outlining Guyana'seffortshighlighting a US$20 million loan from the World Bank aimed at bolstering the EPA's regulatory and technical framework, a project reportedly 70% complete Moreover, the Minister highlighted Guyana's c o m m i t m e n t t o environmental sustainability through initiatives like the Low Carbon Development Strategy2030(LCDS2030).

The country's low deforestation rates and zero carbon dioxide emissions were cited as evidence of its

dedication to environmental stewardship. Regarding the UNCHR's observations, Minister Teixeira expressed disappointment that the Committee did not consider theLCDS2030,whichcould have provided more context andrelevancetothefindings.

In addressing concerns aboutpollutioninIndigenous communities, the Minister clarified the roles of various regulatory bodies, including the EPA, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), in overseeing environmental protection in different sectors.

Additionally, Minister Teixeira highlighted Guyana's commitment to international conventions, such as the Minamata Convention, aimed at reducingmercuryusage.She refuted claims of “abnormal childbirths” resulting from pollution and hazardous waste, stating that there are no epidemiological reports supportingsuchassertions. She said, “Guyana's e p i d e m i o l o g i c a l

professionals would have alreadybeenalertedofthisif this were true. This too is factually incorrect.” While acknowledging challenges such as fatigue and memory loss,theMinisterstressedthe lack of substantiated evidenceregardingabnormal births She affirmed Guyana's commitment to addressing environmental concerns while urging for a more comprehensive and factual approach in future evaluations.

(From left) Carlos Gómez Martínez (Committee Member), José Manuel Santos Pais (Vice-Chair) and Hélène Tigroudja (Committee Member) yesterday during a press conference on the findings

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira

Printed

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

Easter

Today,GuyanesecelebrateEaster-althoughitwasearly Sunday morning Christ Jesus rose triumphantly from the grave. Easter is one of the religious public holidays on our calendarasitcommemoratesasignaleventintheChristian calendar. Christians believe that three days after Jesus was crucifiedandburied(commemoratedon“GoodFriday”)he rosefromthedeadandascendedintoheaven.

Thisresurrectionprovidedirrefutableprooftobelievers thatJesuswasindeedtheSonofGodashehadsaid andthat hehadconquereddeath.Itisentirelypossiblethatifnotfor thisevent,Jesusmighthavebeenconsideredasjustanother Rabbi–ashisfellowJewsstillregardhim.

ForChristians,then,EastersymbolisestheloveofGod forhishumancreationsinceheallowedhis“onlybegotten son”tobesacrificedsothatbelieverscouldthenexperience salvation from sin. Emanating from its Jewish origins, EasterisassociatedwithPassoverandChrist,astheLambof God,replacedtheOldTestamentlambeatenonthatfestival eveningeachyear TheNewTestamentsymbolsofthebread and wine were instituted so that Christians could eat the body and drink the blood of Christ, the true Lamb of God. Christ’ssacrificereplacedtheneedtokillalamb.

Thefeast,andthefestivalofEaster,ismoveablebecause it is not commemorated according to our dominant Gregorian calendar that is based on the solar year but the olderJewishsystemthatfollowsthelunardemarcation.The choice of an Easter Sunday from a span of dates between March andApril offers a long weekend to those countries likeoursthatofferpublicholidaysforbothGoodFridayand Easter Monday And the activities over this weekend have been modified radically away from the original impetus even in Christian countries, much less very pronounced multi-religiousoneslikeGuyana.

Here, even among Christians, Easter has become associated with many other traditions. Kite flying is about themostwidespreadandvisibleone.Inthemonthpreceding Easter kites are flown with increasing frequency culminatingwiththeskypracticallyblankedoutwithkites of all hues and shapes across the coastland on Easter Monday Some insist that the flying of kites is meant to symbolise the ascension of Jesus into heaven after his resurrection,butthishasnotbeenconclusivelyproven.

What has been proven is that some of the traditions –including the name “Easter” itself – have come out of the previous religious traditions of converts – dubbed by Christiansas“pagan”.ThefeastdayofEasterwasoriginally aEuropeancelebrationofrenewalandrebirth.

Celebrated in the early spring, it honoured the pagan Saxon goddess Eastre. When the early missionaries converted these Saxons to Christianity, the holiday was merged with the pagan celebration and became known as Easter It fell around the same time as the traditional memorialofChrist’sresurrectionfromthedead.

Hot Cross Buns also come out of this pre-Christian tradition.AtthefeastofEastre,anoxwassacrificedandits hornsbecameasymbolforthefeast.Theywerecarvedinto the ritual bread – hence later, “hot cross buns”. The word “buns”isderivedfromtheSaxonword“boun”whichmeans “sacred ox.” Later, the symbol of a symmetrical cross was used to decorate the buns; the cross represented the moon, theheavenlybodyassociatedwiththeGoddess,anditsfour quarters. So it appears that we are following a venerable tradition of merging indigenous customs into the received ones to create a uniquely “Guyanese” festival.The Bartica Regatta, the Rupununi Rodeo and other community celebrations that are held over the Easter weekend have joined the kite flying that brings us all together to assist in nationbuilding.Butweoughtnottoforgetthatthekernelof the festival of Easter is a Christian religious one and all Guyanese should be respectful of the values sought to be transmittedinthattradition.WehopethespiritofEasterwill lingeroninthisRepublic.HappyEastertoallGuyana.

Bring it on-PresidentAli’s seminal defence of Guyana’s road map

DEAREDITOR, President Irfaan Ali ‘morethanfaredwell’when he upended Stephen Sackur, the host of BBC’s “HardTalk” who presumed hecouldhave‘schooled’his ‘chosen interviewee ’ He came equipped with his ‘lines of attack,’ but his defence was lacking, as an eloquent, perspicacious and informed President Ali debunked and silenced him. Thus, I lavish kudos on the Guyana Head of State; he made Guyanese proud, and sent a message that ‘we will not be browbeaten.’ Yes, “Strugglingwestruggle,and we don’t look for trouble… (BUT) we ain’t backing down.” In the end, Stephen Sackur was forced to ‘tuckin his tail between his hind legs’ as he and the world must now embrace that “Guyana will aggressively pursue oil for national development.”Afterall,itis to this “Dear Land of Guyana, (that we will) we give Our homage, our service,eachdaythatwelive (sothat wewillbecome) M o r e w o r t h y o u r heritage…”

Editor, I have a few things to say on this interview and related matters.

First, this was, and still is, another seminal moment for the Government PR machinery to pounce on. Why have they not? I read thereportsinthedailies,and none of them reflected a

proper grasp of the subject matter nor the ‘grounds’ coveredbyPresidentAli.All thereportersdidwasmerely to‘copyandpasteverbatim’ what we all saw and heard andforsureisstillavailable forconsumption.Iamforced to ask whether or not our reporters actual research before they hit the keyboards, are they able to write forcefully and convincingly (?), and also wherein and to whom their loyaltylies.Igetthedistinct impression, that even the Guyana Chronicle and GuyanaTimesarelackingin areallythoroughpro-PPP/C thrust,andIdonotmeanthat theyhavetopropagandise. Letmebuttressthispoint abitmore.

In the “Economic Times,”March30,theactual titlewasquitesearing,Itread “Are you in their pockets?’: Guyana’sPresidentIrfanAli accuses reporter of ‘western hypocrisy’ in climate debate.”

That I say is quite hardhitting In the actual synopsis, the article highlighted that President Ali challenged Sackur’s authority on the topic, “… suggesting bias due to historical environmental degradation by Western nations (and) defended Guyana’s environmental efforts, highlighting its substantial forest cover that stores 19 5 Gigatons of carbon He (also) criticized what he perceived

ashypocrisyfromdeveloped nations and called for them to take responsibility for reducingcarbonemissions.”

Whatwasquitefulfilling was the rhetorical onslaught from President Ali. I heard the resounding responses of acquiescence from the likes of Sackur, when he was asked “Are you in the pockets of those who have damaged the environment? Are you in the pockets?Are you and your system in the pocketsofthosewhodestroy theenvironmentthroughthe industrial revolution and nowlecturingus?Areyouin their pockets? Are you paid bythem?”

Then in “Business Today,” March 30, the title read “‘I’m not finished yet’: Guyana President schools BBC scribe on climate.” Again, the point was lucid and telling, as the article’s impartial writer delineated host Stephen Sackur’s unethical and immoral posture, “…questioninghis authority to lecture on climatechangeandimplying bias towards industrialised nations.”

To the joy of millions across the world, “Ali, countered the journalist’s query that Guyana’s extractionofoilandgaswill leadtomorethantwobillion metric tonnes of carbon emissions from its coast, saying, “Do you know that Guyana has a forest forever thatisthesizeof England and Scotland

combined? A forest that stores 19 5 Gigatons of carbon,aforestthatwehave keptalive.”

When the journalist questioned him about whether that would give Guyana the right to extract oil and gas and release emissions, the voluble and ready Ali, said, “Does that give you the right to lecture us on climate change. I am going to lecture you on climate change because we have kept this forest alive. The store’s 19.5 gigatons of carbon that you enjoy, that the world enjoys, that you don’t pay us for, that you don’t value, that you don’t seeavaluein,thatthepeople of Guyana have kept alive.”

“Guess what? We have the lowest deforestation rate in the world.And guess what? Even with our greatest explorationoftheoilandgas resource we have now, we willstillbenetzero.Guyana will still be net zero with all ourexploration.”

Enough said, but I need to endorse what the Guyana President said, noting that “…thosewhohaddestroyed the environment are now questioninghiscountry

“Iamjustnotfinishedas yet because this is a hypocrisy that exists in the world.Theworld,inthelast 50 years has lost 65 percent of all its biodiversity We have kept our biodiversity Are you valuing it?Are you readytopayforit?When

(Continuedonpage06)

The Prime Minister’s Office should be investigated over expenditures for GPL

DEAREDITOR

In recent weeks and months one can discern an increased frequency of blackouts and more fluctuation in voltage than was otherwise observed in thelasttwoorthreeyears.It ismostamazingtoknowthat GPL has bought a large number of generators from The Dominican Republic and promised to have these installedandupandrunning by Christmas last year Instead as I write, from the utterings and mutterings of GPL and its personnel it seems that nearly half of these generators are still to be connectedto the grid and broughtonline.

Editor can we get answers through your medium on the following

and I do believe theAuditor General should investigate the Office of the Prime Minister with regards to all p e r t i n e n t m a t t e r s surroundingthistransaction.

W a s t h e r e a n International Tender Put out for the sourcing /supply of theseGenerators?

Ifsocanwegetdetailsof allwhoputinbidstosupply?

If not, why was sole sourcingdone?

How old are these generators?

How many hours have theyloggedonaverageprior tobeingsoldtoGuyana?

Who is the CEO of Guyana Power and Light, I understand that Mr Bharat Dindial demitted office due toillhealth

Who is the Deputy CEO

ofGPL?Oriftherearemany deputies can we have their namesandqualifications?

Recently I have seen in the newspapers one Kesh Nandlalsigningcontractson behalf of GPL is he authorised to sign on behalf of GPL and can we know whathisqualificationsare?

Inthepast,itseemsthat GPL’s CEO should be a Mechanical or Electrical Engineerhasthischanged?

It is widely known that Mr Nandlal is a brother of the Attorney General can you advise how he got the job at GPL he now occupies?

Were there public advertisements for a vacancy relating to the job heholds?

Can the board release

thisinformation?

Editor with Guyana supposedlyonthemarchto becoming an Oil and Gas State and heading to more industrialization it continues to be of concern to citizens that after the return of democracy in 1992 with 5 years of PNC led Government (plus 26 y e a r s b e t w e e n Independence and 1992) and about 27 years of PPP led Governments we cannot provide reliable electricity to our citizens but instead we have one of the most unreliable and expensive power supply regimesintheworld

Can we get some answers?

Guyana is at present formally considered nearing an elected autocratic state

DEAREDITOR

Last Tuesday, on Dr David Hind’s Pol 101 programme,heaskedformy take on the recent highprofilevisitsbyBillClinton, former British prime minister Tony Blair, etc. in the context of the global struggle between autocracy and democracy, and where do I think the People’s National Congress (PNC) stands on the issue. Given the position of this column over the years, the highprofilevisitspointedtohope, b u t t h e r e c e n t pronouncements coming fromthePNCleadershipare disheartening.

There is little doubt that the autocratic/democratic contestation is heating up. Guyana is at present formally considered nearing an elected autocratic state and only last month a bipartisan bill, the International Freedom Protection Act, was introduced in the US Senate ‘To combat transnational repression abroad, to strengthen tools to combat a u t h o r i t a r i a n i s m , corruption, and kleptocracy, to invest in democracy research and development,’ etc.

The Carter Center report on Guyana’s 2020 elections noted: ‘While credible and accurate elections are

essentialtodemocratization, it is clear that in Guyana’s winner-take-all political system with its recurring patternsofethnicvotingand political polarization, elections alone will not produce an inclusive system of governance with broad participation by all major g r o u p s ’

(https://www cartercenter org/documents/1036 pdf) ’

To paraphrase Bill Clinton’s remarks in 2018 on the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) that brought peace to Northern Ireland after 30 years of ethnic conflict that costsome3,500lives,inour context real democracy requires constitutionalising methods to protect majority, minority and individual rights,upholdtheruleoflaw and facilitate the end of violence, shared political decision-making, shared economic benefits, andmost interestingly - creating spacefortheidentityandthe interestsandthevaluesofall thepeopleinvolved.

To better contextualise Guyana, Jason Calder, who is not unfamiliar with Guyana, wrote as follows about the 2020 elections:

‘From 1998 to 2008, episodes of ethnic violence triggered by winner-take-all elections traumatized the nation and dragged a new

generationintoconflict.This period was marked by human-rights abuses, the emergence of Guyana as a nascent microstate, extrajudicial killings, and economic marginalization thatoverwhelmingly,though not exclusively, afflicted Afro-Guyanese The Carter Center, which helped s u p p o r t G u y a n a ’s democratic transition in the early 1990s and has observed five of the country’selections,haslong staked out the position that thewinner-take-allsystemis notrightforGuyana.Thisis the position of many civilsociety groups and, more quietly,politicianswithinthe main parties themselves However, opposition politicians in Guyana regularly pledge to reform the winner-take all system but seem to lose passion for theirprinciplesoncetheyget i n t o g o v e r n m e n t ’ (https://foreignpolicy.com).

After nearly threequarters of a century of ethnic political conflict in Guyana, I cannot find in the recent statements coming from the PNC a vision that comes close to the profundity expressed by Clinton. A few days ago, in HARD talk - On the Road, Stephen Sackur observed that some 40% of the Guyanesepeoplestilllivein

poverty,neighborhoodssuch as Sophia in Georgetown, a PNC stronghold, reek of neglect and deprivation in the world’s fastest growing economy and that Guyana continuestobeanethnically divided society in which the politicians persistently blame each other for these andtheotherdefectssuchas corruption, discrimination, etc.HethenenquiredofMr AubreyNorton,theleaderof t h e P N C R , i f t h e continuation of such conditions is not likely to

leadtosocialupheaval.

Mr Norton responded precisely as Sackur surmised: to blame the PPP According to him, the government has not providedanyprogrammesto deal with poverty and the high cost of living, and although his party did make suggestions,thegovernment has not acted on them. Oil resources are going to ‘family, friends, and favourites’. Poverty is affecting all ethnic groups, butitalsohasthecapacityto

uniteifdealtwithproperly If policies provided the citizenry with the good life the poverty gap can be bridgedanddestabilised.

Innotadissimilar,albeit inasomewhatmoreutopian mode, Norton’s competitor for the leadership of the PNC, Mr Roysdale Forde, speaking at his leadership declaration, stated that shouldhewintheleadership contest his intention is to form a wider coalition with alltheremainingsmall

(Continuedonpage06)

Haitians must resolve their internal conflict

DEAREDITOR,

The current violence in Haiticanonlyberesolvedby the will of the Haitian people. They must need peacetobethenormintheir daily lives. Only then will a pathtopeacebeestablished. Noexternalpowercanforce peace upon a nation that prefers bloodshed amongst its people No external power can dictate when the time for peace has arrived. The Haitian people must resolvetheirinternalconflict and reach the point where their desire for peace outweighs their need for

revenge killings and violence.

It is admirable what President Ali and Caricom are trying to pursue, but we must not be hasty in placing our own sons and daughters in the line of fire to force peace upon a people that havenotyetshownthatthey are willing to end their internalconflict.

When Haitians reach the pointwheretheneedtofeed theirfamiliesandtheneedto live peacefully in brotherhood outweighs the current need to perpetuate turmoil then they will in a

collective voice reach out to theUnitedNations,Caricom and the International Community to seek assistance to redevelop their nation. Until then it is safest for our Nation to step aside and prevent the entrance of violence into our country We must not sacrifice the lives of our people in a conflict where the proponentsoftheconflictdo not currently appreciate the effort and sacrifices that we have shown an interest in making.

Sincerely,

Mr JamilChanglee

Pope Francis renews call for Gaza ceasefire, release of captives in Easter address

(REUTERS) Pope Francishasrenewedcallsfor an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all Israeli captives in a peacefocused address marking Easter Sunday, the most important day on the Christiancalendar

Francis presided over mass in a packed St Peter’s Square and then delivered his“UrbietOrbi”(tothecity and the world) blessing and message from the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica.

“I appeal once again thataccesstohumanitarian aidbeensuredtoGaza,and call once more for the prompt release of the hostages seized on last October 7 and for an immediate ceasefire in the Strip,”hesaid.

“Let us not allow the current hostilities to continue to have grave repercussions on the civil population, by now at the limit of its endurance, and above all on the children,” hesaidinaspeechthatalso touched on the plight of Haitians,theRohingyaand victims of human trafficking

“Howmuchsufferingwe see in the eyes of children, the children have forgotten to smile in those war zones.

Pope Francis

Withtheireyes,childrenask us:Why?

Whyallthisdeath?Why all this destruction? War is always an absurdity and a defeat”,hesaid.

Francis, 87, has been in poor health in recent weeks, forcing him on repeated occasions to limit his public

speaking and cancel engagements as he did on Good Friday, skipping at short notice a procession at Rome’sColosseum.

However, he took part normally in other Holy Week events leading up to Easter and appeared in relatively good spirits at

Haitians must resolve...

Frompage05 parties and see the ‘back of thePPP’bywinningthenext elections! Guyana has always been well endowed with natural resources and we are now accustomed to hearing these kinds of pronouncements from its politicians. What has been missingistheabilitytograsp andthewilltoimplementthe relevantpoliticalvision.

At the same event at whichBillClintonmadethe remarks paraphrased above.

Above, Tony Blair also spoke declaring that ‘the GFA took real courage and forallitsfaults,itwasworth doing and worth keeping.’

Tony Blair and Bill Clinton were‘availablebyphoneon demand to keep the talks alive’ in the crucial last 58 hoursofthenegotiations.

CurrentUSpresidentJoe Biden was the driving force in favour of the GFA in the US Senate. On the 25th anniversary of the GFA last year, he joined Clinton, Blair, and others to remind his audience that ‘All the

immense progress we see arounduswasbuiltthroughc o n v e r s a t i o n a n d compromise,discussionand debate,votingandinclusion. It’s an incredible attestation tothepowerofdemocracyto deliver the needs for all the people.’

The GFA is considered by the USA ‘a major diplomatic achievement’ and ‘a model that has yet to be bettered to end conflict between opposing ethnicities or communities’

(https://wwwhuffingtonpos t co uk) From my reckoning, in terms of the loss of lives, on a per capita basis the ethnic conflict in Guyana has been more costly than that of Northern Ireland. Notsurprisingthen that in around 2008, the Britishgovernmentfinanced a trip by senior Guyanese politicians to observe the workingsoftheGFA.Those then in opposition returned, made manifesto promises to transformandmakeGuyana more ethnically politically inclusive, but when they

came to office reneged on thatpromise:henceCalder’s observationabove.

One must hope that in their tête-à-tête with the powers that be in Guyana, the chief architects of the GFA, which introduced a system that is more appropriate for the ethnic/politicalconditionsin Guyana, would have again made and elaborated upon the decades old point that elections alone will not produce a sufficiently inclusive system of governance.

What I have heard from the two individuals now contesting the leadership of the PNC is disappointing. Nowhere have they explainedhowtheyintendto deal with the existing structural difficulties that have interminably plagued this country; that have and still largely are preventing the establishment of an effective functioning liberal democracy Regards

Dr.HenryJeffrey

Sunday’s mass Easter celebratesthedayinwhich the faithful believe Jesus rosefromthedead.

After the service, the pontiff took to his opentopped popemobile to tour the square and the avenue connecting the Vatican to the River Tiber and greet the tens of thousands of people who had lined up to seehim.

This year, Francis said his thoughts went particularly to people in

Ukraine and Gaza and all those facing war, particularly the children who he said had “forgotten howtosmile”

Francis has repeatedly deplored the death and destruction in the Gaza war UNICEF reported earlier this month that Israel has killed more than 13,000 children in Gaza since the war began on October 7,whileothers are suffering from severe

malnutrition and do not “even have the energy to cry”.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza on Sunday said at least 32,782 Palestinians have been killed in the besieged enclave during nearlysixmonthsofwar

The toll includes at least 77 deaths over the past 24 hours, the ministry statement said, adding that 75,298 people have been wounded.(AlJazeera)

Bringiton-PresidentAli’sseminal...

Frompage04 will the developing world payforit…”

My second contention is that Guyanese must be apprised of issues of this nature.

They are not recondite. All it calls for is some ‘reading up’ and a dose of candour and fealty to nationalissuesandtheparty for which reporters are working.

For example, Guyanese must be informed that the UK is more responsible for global warming than any other country, if global carbondioxideemissionsare allocated using per capita calculations.

Based on this formula, the UK is rated the world’s topcarbonpolluter,followed closelybytheUSA,Canada, RussiaandGermany China, currentlytheworld’sleading

emitter,liesin19thposition.

Andwhoarethetop3carbon emitters?

They are China, the United States, and the nations that make up the EuropeanUnion.

Take this for a closure:

Total UK territorial emissions were estimated at 417milliontonnesofcarbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) in 2022. Guyana cannot even come close to this.

And as for Stephen Sackur, I remind all that Lemkin Institute for

According to Lemkin Institute,Sackurhadblamed thevictimsfortheblockade: “Artsakh is under blockade notbecauseofthegenocidal designs of Azerbaijan, but b e c a u s e o f s o m e inexplicable stubbornness on the part of Armenians in Artsakh or their leaders – or both, as he seems to believe” The Lemkin Institute further criticized Sackur for trying to suggest the word Artsakh (the historical Armenian name for Nagorno-Karabakh) was illegitimate and for ignoring the rights of selfdetermination.

What a man! And he is confrontingPresidentAli!

Genocide Prevention criticized Sackur for suggesting genocide as one oftwo“realisticoptions”for the Armenians of NagornoKarabakh during a HARDtalk interview with Ruben Vardanyan. Sackur actually suggested the Armenians of the Republic of Artsakh either accept “a politicaldealorleave”dueto the 2022–2023 blockade of the Republic of Artsakh.

Sincerely DeodatSingh

PresidentAli 'Pampazeting'himself

With a lot of bluster and bravado, President Ali last week huffed and puffed at a BBC journalist during an interview.

Guyanese have become accustomed to seeing him huffing and 'cussing' them out as well.

We don't see from him this same energy when it comes to the oil companies that have been robbing and raping this country of its resources. We didn't see the bravado when the audit exposed Exxon for recovering funds spent on other projects outside of the Stabroek Block or when that company rolled out billboards misleading the nation about its returns from the oil resources.

He is as quiet as a lamb on those matters, but was ready to jump down the throat of Stephen Sackur and our teachers. Simply spineless!

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‘Govt. wanted more time to respond to corruption allegations at UN’- Teixeira

The Ministry of

Parliamentary and

Governance Gail Teixeira has, in a fiercely worded response to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), following its recent scathing remarks against the administration, complained aboutthelengthoftimegiven by the international body to provideanswersinrelationto allegations of corruption leveled against the governmentanditsofficials.

In its recent report on Guyana, the UNHRC had expressed concerns that the institutional framework to combat corruption is not yet sufficiently strong and effective in practice to adequately prevent or prosecute corruption The C o m m i t t e e h a d recommended that Guyana step up its efforts to promote goodgovernanceandcombat corruptionandimpunityatall government levels The matterofcorruptionhadbeen raisedspecificallyinrelation to the allegations that had

been publicized in a 'Vice News' documentary, which ensnared Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and his businessman friend and tenant,ZhiRongSu.

The UNHRC in its concluding observations on the third periodic report of Guyana had observed that while there was an adoption of several laws and regulationsbytheStateparty tocombatcorruption,aswell as measures such as the creation of a Special OrganizedCrimeUnitofthe Guyana Police Force, “the Committee remains concerned that the institutional framework to combat corruption is not yet sufficiently strong and effective in practice to adequately prevent or prosecute corruption, including in the police force and of high-level public officials.”

Emphasizing on the scourge, the UNHCR had noted it's concern about reportsofcorruption,lackof t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d

accountability in the management of natural resources, particularly in the oil and gas extractive sector “In this regard, the Committee is concerned about reports of corruption by public officials in this sector, and the lack of information on measures taken to investigate such allegations.”

To this end, it was recommended that government take all appropriate measures to ensure that the management ofitsnaturalresourcesisnot subject to corruption It

should also ensure that government permits granted fortheexploitationofnatural resources and licenses to exploit oil fields undergo a d e q u a t e p r i o r environmental and societal impact assessments carried out in a systematic and transparent manner, with a meaningful participation of all affected communities

“Furthermore,theStateparty should ensure prompt, thorough, independent, and impartial investigations into reports of corruption in awarding public contracts andprosecute,andifaperson is convicted apply penalties commensurate with gravity ofthecrime.”

Teixeira in defending governments in light of the scathing UNHCR Report, insists “the process has not been one of constructive dialogue but which has been grueling and exacerbated by thelimitedtimeforresponses to, in some cases, detailed andmultiplequestions.”

In criticizing the UN's report,Teixeirawasadamant that, “during the process of review with the Committee “the UNHRC, has fallen short.” She insisted that the internationally recognised body's report was factually incorrect and that statements were made which were not based on fact, or from crediblesources

Additionally, concerns that had been raised by the UNHCR when it comes to Guyana during its recent report were for example, reports that: (a) the C o m m i s s i o n e r o f Informationdoesnotaddress all requests from the public; and (b) the Protected Disclosures and Witness Protection Act has not yet enteredintoforce.

To this end, Government was urged to expand its efforts to adopt and implement, efficient, and prompt measures to promote goodgovernanceandcombat corruption and impunity at

all levels of government. In this respect, the Committee urged the Guyana Government to also adopt concretemeasurestoaddress therootcausesofcorruption as a matter of priority; Ensure that all corruption cases, including cases of those involved in high-level corruption and corruption in p o l i c e f o r c e , a r e independently and impartially investigated and prosecuted, and that perpetrators,ifconvicted,are sanctioned with penalties commensurate with the seriousness of the offence, and that victims receive full reparation; Take the measures necessary to ensure, in practice, the independence, effectiveness, t r a n s p a r e n c y, a n d accountability of all anticorruption bodies, including theAuditor'sGeneralOffice, the Commissioner of Information, the Integrity Commission, and the Public Procurement Commission; ensurethattherightofaccess to information held by C o m m i s s i o n e r o f Information can be effectively exercised in practice;

Additionally, the body called on government to effectively protect whistleblowers and witnesses through, inter alia, expediting the entry into force of Protected Disclosures and Witness ProtectionAct.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo (left) and businessman, former friend and tenant, Zhi Rong Su

Is Guyana’s forest carbon what the government says it is?

The government of Guyana claims that its forests sequester some 19.5 billion tonnes of carbon.

This number needs interrogating.

Thisfigureappearstobe overstated. If this is indeed the case, then it means that the concerns over Guyana’s carbon accounting will be called into question again. This has implications for whetherGuyanawillremain acarbonsinkwhenfutureoil productionrampsup.

As was explained by Vice President Jagdeo in his press conference last Thursday, there are essentially three groups of emissions from the energy sector Scope 1 emissions refer to emissions from activities in the country, including its transportation and industrial processes Scope 2 refers to the emissions directly from the production of energy and thisinvolvesemissionsfrom the Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels. Then there are Scope 3 emissions or emissions that relate to the use in other countries of the petroleum produced in Guyana. It is these latter indirect emissions that will skyrocket Guyana’s total emissions.

Jagdeo did some calculations and came up withtheconclusionthateven if you factored in Scope 3 emissions, total emissions would fall short of the 2 billion tonnes which the BBC’sHardTalkhosttouted in his recently-aired interview Jagdeo did not consider that the host may have been referencing total cumulativeemissionsovera period.

However, in his calculationsJagdeoseemsto have overlooked emissions from the forests itself, includingfromdeforestation andforestdegradation.From the forestry sector alone, total carbon dioxide emissions for 2021 was reported as close to 12 million tonnes. One study has established that total emissions (direct and indirect) but excluding Scope 3 emissions, as at 2025,wouldbetothetuneof 110M tonnes of carbon dioxideequivalentperyear

But Jagdeo, in asserting that even with Scope 3 emissions added, Guyana would still be a net carbon sink, must have taken into account his government’s contention that Guyana’s forests sequester some 19.5

billion tonnes of carbon. This is the baseline which the President also used to argue that Guyana will still be a net carbon sink even duringpeakoilproduction.

The 19.5 billion tonnes may have been derived basedonareportdonebythe Mc Kinsey Group in 2008. That report had projected that Guyana’s closed forest areas (estimated at 156,465 square kilometers), contain 3.457gigatonnes(billionsof tonnes) of tree carbon equivalent, and 12 676 gigatonnes of sequestered carbon dioxide. If marsh, swamp,scrub,andsavannah are added to this, then Guyana’s total land area sequesters18.40gigatonnes. (SNApril17th2016)

But what if this 19.5 gigatonnes tonnes of carbon isanoverstatement?

In a study done in 2017 andpublishedunderthetitle, “Carbonstoragepotentialof mangroveforestinGuyana” the researchers pointed out that Guyana’s total forest coverage is 18,570,000 ha containing over 5 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide in aboveground biomass. And interestingly the source of this information is the Ministry ofNaturalResourcesandthe

DEM BOYS SEH

Fear and Folly Under the Blood Moon!

W e g a t m o r e superstitions flying than mosquitoes. But nothing causeasmuchconfusionin Guyanadandemfewnights when we had de blood moon on display Deh had one man lock he self in he house and refuse to come out fuh days after he look up in de sky and see de bloodmoon.Hesehdatold higuedehbout.

Guyanese so fearful of dedeadthatdemdoeswalk backwards into dem house after attending a funeral. And yuh does gat to leave yuh shoes by de door for fear dat yuh might carry demspiritsintodehouse.

When yuh passing burialgrounds,yuhdoesbe warned against pointing at dem tombs. And if per chance yuh do so by mistake, you does gat to biteyuhownfiner

And if yuh young, do not dare let any one sweep

yuhfeetwithabroom.Ifdat happenyuhnotlikelytoget married.

And don’t even think bout sweeping your house atsunset.Apparently,that’s the equivalent of tossing your luck out with yesterday’s trash Who knewluckhadacurfew?

And eating from a pot too often? That’s just asking for rain on your wedding day It’s like the universe saying, “You’ve hadenoughtastystew,now h e r e ’s a s i d e o f precipitation for your special day!” And if your palm itches? Well, congratulations, money is coming your way But just mek sure its not Monopoly money Apparently, that blood moon brought out the fear of old higue! Maybe next time we’ll get a lunar eclipse without the side orderofsuperstition.

Environment, the very Ministry which now falls under the oversight of Jagdeo.

To better determine the accuracy of the 19 5 gigatonnes of carbon which the government claims our forestsequesters,weneedto look at the total amount of carbonstoredbytheworld’s forests. Unfortunately, there isnoagreeduponfigureand the number rages from 400 billion tonnes to 800 billion tonnesofcarbon.

However, from the uppernumberitisestimated that a mere 361 billion tonnes are stored above the ground or live biomass and that tropical rainforest contain about 400 gigatonnesofcarbon.

Is it plausible that

Guyanaaccountsfor20%of the world tropical stored forestcarbon?Thatdoesnot soundplausible.

TheAmazonisestimated to store about 123 billion tonnes of carbon and this area is more than 30 times thesizeofGuyana’sforests. It therefore does not seem plausible that Guyana’s forests are capable to store 19.5 billon tonnes of forest carbonperannum.

One study found that Guyana forests store around 351 tonnes of carbon per hectare. This is made up of 150 tonnes from above ground tree biomass (including dead wood), 30 tonnes below ground, litter of 15 tonnes and 156 tonnes from soil organic matter (UN-REDD Programme

2009) Guyana has 18 5 million hectares of forests whichwouldtranslateto6.4 billon tonnes of forest carbon.

At his next press conference Jagdeo should get his experts to come with their methodology and calculations to explain how the 19 5 gigatonnes of carbon was arrived at. But then again, why should he whenheknowsitall!

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

So, Guyana, here’s the deal: let’s keep the superstitions for the stories andthelaughs.Afterall,it’s more fun to laugh at the absurditythantohidefrom shadows, right? Until next time, keep those fingers intact and your brooms awayfromyourfeet.

Onenightamangotup from his sleep to go and urinate. He headed for de bathroom and when he pulledthedooralightcame on.Hegotscaredthinkingit was a ghost and quickly shut the door He tried this three times and all three time de light came on. But he had to go and so he stayedfromtheoutsideand peed inside, fearful of enteringthebathroom.

De next morning, he wasawokebyhiswifewho shouted at him, “You fool; you peed in the fridge again!’

Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

Open frontier or open kimono

A couple of years ago I wrotethatGuyanabecamean open frontier with the discovery of oil. Raw and boisterous, lawless and dangerous, it has been. The sheriff and deputy in charge are so excuse plagued that they must have attracted a special strain of a special virus No bulls, no backbone. No introduction should be required. Now all the badmen are coming to Guyana from the distant badlands.

ThenewestisSlickWillie Clinton. Remember him, andhisbluesblowingsaxon Saturday Night Live? Well, he is here, and mothers are rushing to put away their youngsters. Before the man from Arkansas came riding into town, there was his transatlantic poodle Sweet Tony, fresh from his knighthood,andscouringthe local coast to latch on to whatever he could lay his hands on for Britannia. Or himself. SomeFrenchmanis making plans to travel to

Timehri, and this is the GuyanaseasonofAmerican, British and European Invasions. Itisagoodthing that all those ancient local places were not renamed. While other Guyanese are likely to be deeply delirious at all these luminous Caucasians gracing Demerara with their refining presences, I am not. Count meout,andcastmeoutofthe parade. Now I warn readers to brace themselves: the ride getsrougherfromhere.

Imadeamistake,whatin the scintillating brilliance of hindsight qualifies to be a matchless understatement Guyanaismorethananopen frontier since oil. Guyana has transformed into an open-air whorehouse, a nationalone. JohnsandJoes (and Willie and Tony) come herepantinginfuriousbreath to ogle this richly glistening new oil damsel christened Guyana O beautiful Guyana,ohGuyana…. They don't just come to ogle; they want to sample some

pleasures of the flesh. And there is none sweeter and richer than this dear land of Guyana. Her waterways h a v e b e c o m e t h e passageways for the new breed of privateers and freebooters. Guyana is the modern-day Port Royal and Buccaneers' Cove. Enter SlickWillieandSweetTony, andabunchofotherbeautiful people.

These old geezers can think of no better way to enjoy their retirement years than to paddle down to Georgetown and check out the delicacies. It is Land ahoy!And they walked with their own toys. They don't need a hand from a former cabinetminister

In radical feminist chic, Guyana is like a slab of quivering flesh, which galvanizes all the male chauvinistpigstocomeoutin the open and strut and rut their stuff. All of them are running here with tongues hanging out, and what does Guyana gal get? I shall be

reservedandleavethattothe imagination. The incoming start with those at the top of thepoliticalpile,andquickly andsmoothlyworktheirway down the line. Why quickly and smoothly? To ask and answer:itisbecausethemen and women in charge of Guyana's house of oil harlotry are easy So easy that they don't even place a value on their most prized possession.

Itisnottheirvirtue. Nor canitbeeithertheircourage, or intellect, or ethics, for all those are as scarce as raindrops in today's Guyana. This has led to Guyana earning a mouthwatering reputation as easy to get and cheapertogettokeephouse. It is no longer a surprise that this country of mine is the talk of the world, especially those whoTomWolfe called masters of the universe and BSDs in the Bonfire of the Vanities.

BSD is abbreviated to thwart the morals police and keepthingsontheupandup.

BSDisnottobemistakenfor BVD, though the geography is more of Playboy than National Geographic attraction.

So, they journey from all over to see firsthand and savorthedelectablesthatare now part of the global phenomenon in the drooling over Guyana's charms. A commodity as sticky and treacly as crude oil may not be sexy But it is overpoweringly seductive What an underwater nymph and siren we have with Miss Universe statistics and voluptuousness, plus irresistible smile and beckon of a languid fingernail. The world now knows her as Stabroek.

NotStabroekMarketor Stabroek News C'mon people, it is the Stabroek Block. We owned her, until wedidn't. Weheldherclose, until we couldn't anymore. We thought we had something going, before the world came racing here and saidgetgoing.

Thecastofpiratesislong and glittering, worthy of an MGM showcase. Pompeo and Lynch. Blinken to meet with winking and nodding. Now the latest in the line of suitors is William Jefferson and Tony B. Both are in a Matt Munro frame of mind; they dream of days of wine and roses. They and their teams of adventurers have come to the right place for a goodtime.

Thanks to the PPP Government, Guyana is now the best little whorehouse in Texas. Orisit,compliments ofTexas. Allandsundry-old lechers, new hustlers, dirty tricksters-run here to grab their piece of the luscious Guyana action. Wouldn't youlineupforyourturntoo?

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the o p i n i o n s o f t h i s newspaper.)

Norton to Govt.: ‘Address liabilities of Exxon’s Gas-to-Energy pipeline’ …says citizens could be left fighting for protection in Court

The Government of Guyana (GoG) has been mum regarding incidents that can occur along the 225kilometersnaturalgaspipeline beingconstructedbyExxonMobil.

The pipeline is a key component of the controversial US$2B Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project that is intended to deliver 300megawattsofcleanerandmore affordable electricity In the absence of any signed documents relative to the project, citizens remain anxious about the dangers posedbythestructureanditslikely impact on their lives and livelihoods.

When questioned about how governmentwouldrepayExxonfor the structure should an explosion occur, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeolastyeartoldareporterfrom KaieteurNewsthatthepublication shouldchangeitsmorbidattitude.

Jagdeosaid,“Canwegetoutof this morbidity, is Kaieteur News a morbid?Imaginewemustnotbuild the power plant because we might have an explosion there. This is in

effectwhatyouaresaying…which government starts off by anywhereintheworld…bysaying thatohwearenotgoingtopursuea developmentorwearegonnamake mitigating plans to pay back a facilityifwehaveanexplosion?”

He continued, “Nobody builds a facility on the basis of that. Nobody builds a facility on the basisoffutureexplosion.”TheVice President then went into detail to regurgitate the benefits of the project.

With just a few months remaining before ExxonMobil completes construction of the pipeline,LeaderoftheOpposition, Aubrey Norton has called for government to address matters regarding compensation for citizens who can be affected by an explosionorsimilarincident.

During his recent press conference, Norton explained that theOppositionisdeeplyconcerned that the gas pipeline will pass through residential areas. He said, “youwouldrecallthatourposition

wasyouneedtobecarefulwiththe pipeline. In fact, before I became Leader of the Opposition, the (former) government APNU/AFC was exploring the question of the pipeline and actually had a feasibilitystudy.”

Headdedthatwhenhebecame Leader of the Opposition, the Oil and Gas Committee agreed and proposed the use of ISO containerized gas, instead of the pipeline,sincehebelievesthelatter hasanumberofdisadvantages.

With the pipeline now 60% completeandreadytobedelivered togovernmentbyyearend,Norton stated, “Yes, we are deeply concerned about an explosion, we aredeeplyconcernedthatitisclose and virtually passing through communities, we are deeply concernedaboutthat.”

He was keen to note that while government is yet to address compensationforanymishapsthat occur along the pipeline, citizens may end up in the Courts fighting for full protection, as they were

forced to do for Exxon's oil production activities in the StabroekBlock.

Norton said, “We know the peoplemighthavetoendupinthe Court, but our preference is for themnottohavetogotoCourt.Let usputthesystemsinplacetoensure thatwedon'tendupinthatposition because Court don't bring back people'slives,Court

environmentandwehavetolookin thatdirection.”

The

Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton

Venezuelans arrested in connection with cocaine bust

Kaieteur News has confirmed that two Venezuelan men have been detained in connection with a 536 kilogram cocaine bust on Friday

The Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) duringajointoperationwith the Guyana Defence Force m a d e t h e b u s t a t Vergenoegen, EssequiboIsland West Demerara. Following an investigation, CANU ranks arrested Jose Felix Lindore and Javier Perez.

It was previously reported by CANU that last Friday that its ranks and others from GDF Coast Guard conducted a joint operation at Vergenoegen, Essequibo-Island West Demerara, where they intercepted a go-fast vessel with two occupants " A

subsequentsearchofthesaid vesselledtothediscoveryof a large quantity of narcotics, along with a quantity of fuel andotheritems. The said narcotics was tested and proven to be cocaine.

Thetotal,whenweighed, amounted to 536 kilos, or 1,181lbs,withastreetvalue in Guyana of US$2 6

million Had the cocaine been transshipped to its intended destination, it would've amounted to a street value of over 20 m i l l i o n E u r o s

Javier Perez

Jose Felix Lindore

Foreign mining companies handed carte blanche exemption on taxes and fees on anything brought into Guyana

…payCustomsOfficerstocleartheirimportsatportoftheirchoosing

Large-scale mining companies have been operating in Guyana for decades with many of their terms and conditions being kept out of thepublicdomain.

Similarly, small and medium-scale miners have been at pains, lamenting the conditions under which government policies hinder their progress in developing the industry and the unfair advantages being handed to foreigners.

A perusal of contracts signed with at least two miningcompaniessuggestsa carte blanche on imports, giving credence to the local lamentations. The contracts, all of which this publication wastoldarecraftedinsimilar fashion, not only give clearancetothecompaniesto import any kind of equipment, it also gives foreigners carte blanche exemption on taxes and fees on anything brought into Guyana. Compounding the

situationfurther,theMineral Agreements also allow for the foreign mining companies to pay Customs Officerstocleartheirimports at a port of the company's choosing.

These are among the glaring similarities uncoveredduringaperusalof the Reunion Manganese Inc. Agreement that was signed between the Government of GuyanaandtheGeologyand Mines Commission (GGMC), as well as the Karouni Agreement (Troy Rresources). In the Reunion contract, under the clause that deals with importing property into Guyana, the pact stipulates that government will provide the properpublicofficershaving jurisdiction to provide customs clearance facilities and personnel for the company, and its mining operations, “at a location designated by the company withintheprospectingareaas applicable ” The contract,

dictates however that the company shall defray all reasonableexpensesincurred by the government in connection with providing suchCustoms'personnel.

A luxury off road vehicle imported into Guyana, purportedly to be used for mining operations

Meaning, the company will have to foot the bill for the customs officer(s) and theirservices.

This publication in its Sunday edition featured on its Front Page, a luxury off road vehicle imported into Guyana, purportedly to be usedforminingoperations.It should be noted however, thatunderthecontractsigned withthegovernment,GGMC andReunionManganeseInc. the company is firstly

exempted from paying customsduties,ValueAdded Tax (VAT), and any other direct or indirect tax, on all equipment required for the project.

Additionally, it was further clarified at section eight (8) of the contract, that whether for its own account of any local or foreign contractor retained for the project purposes, they too shall not be required to pay

any licence, fees, duties or any other charges relating to the important of any vehicle to be used for the project's purposes within Region One ofGuyana.

The only caveat, if the vehicleistoberemovedfrom Region One, or not used for itsintendedpurpose,thenthe company would be liable to pay applicable duties and taxes.Inadditionto

(Continuedonpage15)

Guyana’s oil account gets quarter ...paymentsrepresentsalesfrom2023fourthquarter US$604.3M top up in first

Th e N a t u r a l Resource Fund (NRF) received US$604.3M during the first threemonthsof2024.

According to a Gazetted Order, published on March 28, 2024, the country was paid for seven lifts and one royalty payment, relative to the fourth quarter of 2023. The deposits were made during the period January 1, 2024andMarch28,2024.

In accordance with the fiscalprovisionsofthe2016 Petroleum Agreement, Guyana receives 2% royalty and 50% of the profits, after the Contractor deducts 75% of the monthly earnings to repay its investments (cost recovery).

The Ministry of Finance reported that two of the profitoilpaymentsrelatedto lifts from the third Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO)Prosperity- which commenced oil production inNovember2023.

The NRF Act of 2021 mandates the Minister of Finance to report receipts of all petroleum revenues paid

totheoilaccount. This year, Guyana is expected to receive US$2.1B in oil revenues. Out of 202 projected lifts of crude, Guyana will get 25. With each lift being approximately one million b a r r e l s , G u y a n a ' s entitlement this year is 25 million barrels of crude Each lift will be marketed and sold by Guyana's hired marketers,andthefundswill bedepositedintotheNatural ResourceFund.

In addition to profit oil, the oil companies are mandated to pay Guyana royalties of 2% of the crude produced and sold Government expects US$320M in royalties this year.Added to the profit oil export earnings, Guyana would be making about US$2 4B from oil productionin2024–afigure that will pale in comparison to the massive earnings of ExxonMobil and its coventurers in the Stabroek Block.

Currently,threeprojectsLiza One, Liza Two and Payara- are producing

US-based

approximately 640,000 barrels of oil per day (BPD) in the Stabroek Block ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), the operator of the Block has ramped up production beyond the design capacity of the Liza Destiny, Guyana's first FPSO. The vesselwasdesignedtosafely operate at 120,000 bpd

Guyanese

spends

howeveritisnowproducing over 160,000 bpd according to the most recent statistics on the Ministry of Natural Resourceswebsite. ExxonMobil also plans to carry out debottlenecking on the Liza Unity, the country's second FPSO, to allow the vessel to produce above the designed capacity of250,000bpd.

Easter behindbarsaftertryingtobribecop

Tony Danraj Mootoosammy

The unlicensed gun found in the man's possession

AUnited States of

America-based Guyanese will spend Easter Monday in the lock-upsafterhetriedtobribe apoliceofficeronSunday Police around 14:00hrs Sunday, detained a 46-yearoldUS-basedGuyaneseafter theyfoundhimwithaloaded gun at the Port Mourant Turf Club, Corentyne Berbice, Region Six.At first, the man

reportedlytriedtoliehisway outofthesituationandwhen he could not lie anymore, he tried bribing the policemen but his plan backfired and landed him in the Berbice police lock-ups for Easter Monday Hewasstoppedby policewhileenteringthePort Mourant Turf Club ground for the Easter Horse Race meet.Whilesearchinghim (Continunedonpage15)

p r i n c i p l e o f t h e government's management of the petroleum sector The Vice President has said that demand for fossil fuels is either going to be static or declininginthenext15to20 yearsduetotheimplications of climate change and the global transition to cleaner energysources.However,he believes that Guyana has a window of opportunity to extract its oil resources before demand starts to decline, and this is why he wants to extract the oil as quicklyaspossible.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo's position is that the country's oil resources should be produced as quicklyaspossible.Jagdeo's personal depletion policy, aptly encapsulated by the phrase“drillbabydrill!”has become the guiding

Even as production activities scale up, stakeholders worry that the country may be at grave financial risk should an oil spill occur since the country does have a full parent company guarantee from ExxonMobil to cover these costs. Instead, the oil giant's subsidiary, EMGL has lodged a US$2B guarantee and committed a US$600M insurance for each spill occurrence.

Hessboardrecommendsshareholders voteinfavorofChevronmerger -filing

HOUSTON,March28(Reuters)HessCorp(HES.N),opensnewtabon Thursdaysaidinasecuritiesfilingthat its board unanimously recommended shareholders vote in favor of the company's sale to Chevron Corp (CVX.N) , opens new tab, and that Exxon Mobil had initially supported thedeal.

The $53 billion deal's closing has been delayed by a second request for informationbytheU.S.FederalTrade Commission and by contract

arbitrationfilingsbyHess'spartnersin Guyana - Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM N) , opens new tab and CNOOCLtd-seekingtoassertaright of first refusal on any sale of Hess's Guyanaassets.

The merger is "fair to and in the best interests of the Hess stockholders," Hess's U.S. Securities andExchangefilingsaid.Shortlyafter theproposeddealwasannouncedand beforethearbitrationcaseswerefiled, Exxon issued an statement indicating

itssupportforthemerger,Hess noted initsfiling.

“We look forward to continuing our successful operations in the StabroekblockwithChevron,pending the deal closing,” Exxon wrote in referencetothedeal,Hesssaid.

Hess also said on Thursday an arbitration case filed by China's CNOOC also asserting a right of first refusalwasconsolidatedonMarch26 with its own and Exxon's arbitration cases.

PAHObriefshealthprofessionalson measlesascasesincreaseintheAmericas

Washington, DC, March 21, 2024 (PAHO) –A webinar organized by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) this week updated medical, nursing, laboratory, and epidemiology personnel on the clinical, surveillance, and vaccination aspects of measles. The webinar was organizedfollowingarecent uptick in cases in the Americas.

As of March 16, 2024, a total of 92 confirmed cases have been reported in seven countries of the region - the vast majority in the United States and Canada, but representing a28%increase compared to the total number of cases reported in 2023 "Measles cases are increasing everywhere," P A H O R e g i o n a l Immunization Advisor Dr Gloria Rey warned

Globally, cases reported to t h e Wo r l d H e a l t h Organization (WHO) increased by 79% in 2023 compared to 2022, with more countries worldwide (51) experiencing large outbreaks.ForRey,theearly increase in cases this year suggests that the situation could intensify over the comingmonths.

...operated boutique at a city mall

occurred in those under the age of 10 years, and 78% of cases were contracted outside their countries or wereduetoimportedcases.

Despite the existence of an effective vaccine against measles, cases and deaths from the disease continue to occurworldwide.

In 2022, an estimated 136,216 measles-related deaths were reported, representing a 43% increase compared to the previous year TheAmericasisatriskof more cases and outbreaks due to the decline in vaccination coverage In 2024, 70% of measles cases

Foreignmining companieshanded....

Frompage12 equipment, vehicles and machinery for the project, thepactalsoprovidesforthe importation of all usual and necessary personal items and electronic and household effects that are not available in Guyana, to be exempted, provided that these are listed as for the project.

These however, cannot be resold, unless with the explicit permission of the Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority, government, or with the government's blessing, to another person.

The same obtains for the K a r o u n i M i n e r a l Agreement, where also the company is given a similar provisionwiththeexception of exemptions on the importations of food and a ten-yearcap.Asindicatedin theReunionManganeseInc. contract, it is the company that effectively defrays the cost associated with the clearanceofanyimportsinto the country Additionally, the government spells out thatinordertocarryouttheir operations effectively, “it is required to import on an expeditedbasisasignificant amount of goods. As such, the contract dictates that the government undertakes to ensure that the company's imports “will be treated on an expedited basis by CustomsPersonnel.”

US-basedGuyanese...

Frompage13 police found a black Sig Sauer, P365 Pistol, with a magazinecontainingtenliveroundsof9mmammunition. He was asked by the police to produce his licence and he statedthatheforgotitinhisvanathome.Hewasthenasked bythesaidrankforaformofidentificationatwhichtimehe producedhisUnitedStatesofAmericaandGuyanaDriver's Licence.

Therankthenaskedifhehadanyoneathometobring hislicenceorsendacopyviatelephonetoverifyifhewas speakingthetruthbutheindicatedthathisentirefamilywas attheHoseRaceMeet.PolicetookhimtotheWhimPolice Station, where he was told that he can make arrangement withhisfamilymemberstohavethelicencebroughtthere forverification.Itwasthenheallegedlydecidedtotellthe truthandsaythatheneverhadone.Afterpolicecautioned him about the offence, he allegedly tried to bribe his way out of the situation. He offered to pay the police five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) cash but it only landedhiminmorehotwater Hewasimmediatelyarrested andplacedintocustodywhereheispresentlyassistingthe policewiththeirinvestigation.

Foryears,coveragewith thefirstdoseofthemeasles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine remained above 90% in theAmericas, but in 2019, it dropped to 87%, reaching its lowest point in 2022 at 85%, well below PAHO'srecommendedideal of at least 95% to prevent outbreaks.

"The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the downward trend in measles vaccinationcoverage,which has not yet recovered and remains stagnant," Desiree P a s t o r , R e g i o n a l Immunization Advisor at PAHO,said.

On an encouraging note, Dr Pastor pointed out that despite the pandemic,

countries in the region continued to implement vaccination campaigns, reaching more than 36 millionchildrenaged1to12 years between 2021 and 2023.

During the webinar, Dr Tracy Evans-Gilbert, Clinical Pediatrics expert at WestVirginiaUniversityand member of the Regional Commission for Monitoring and Sustaining the Elimination of Measles, Rubella, and Congenital RubellaSyndrome(CRS)in the Americas, provided a briefing on the clinical aspects of measles and rubella, highlighting their differences from other diseasessuchasdengue.

Her presentation aimed to familiarize healthcare workerswithmeaslessothat they can recognize, report, andaddressitpromptly

Dr Evans-Gilbert emphasized that measles, in addition to fever and rash, often produces respiratory symptomssuchascoughand runny nose, which are not observed in dengue, for example.

The virus is also highly contagious, with an infected person being capable of infectingbetween12and18 peopleatonce.

Itistransmittedthrough respiratorydropletswhenan infected person speaks, coughs, or sneezes and can remainactiveintheairforup to 2 hours, spreading within aradiusof2to4meters.

Faced with the possible arrival of more imported measles cases in the region, PAHO advisors highlighted the importance of implementing essential prevention and control measures.

This includes swift and intensified vaccination in high-risk areas, enhanced e p i d e m i o l o g i c a l surveillance, including active case searches in the field and a focus on areas such as border municipalities, and a rapid response to outbreaks, requiring trained teams and protocols to identify and manage cases promptly

In January this year, PAHOissuedanalerturging countries in theAmericas to strengthen surveillance and increase vaccination efforts, given the rise in measles casesworldwide.

Since March 2023, the Organization has made two free self-learning courses available on its virtual campus aimed at improving measles surveillance and outbreakresponse.

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Hope for Haiti

- PJ sees possibility for the country to move out of crisis it now faces after recent developments

(JAMAICA OBSERVER)

FORMER Prime Minister of Jamaica PJ Patterson is confident that recent proposed solutions to the crisis in Haiti can work and will offer that country the best chance of moving forward successfully.

“I think what they have proposed is logical [but] it is feasible only if the conditions on the ground allow for its implementation,” Patterson told the Jamaica Observer during an exclusive interview last Tuesday.

Following crisis talks in Kingston just over two weeks ago, it was announced that Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry would resign following the establishment of a transitional presidential council which will be responsible for naming an interim prime minister ahead of a national election to determine a new head of government.

“There is a very encouraging signal in that the parties mentioned in that agreement, save one, have already nominated someone to serve on the presidential council. Let us hope that the presidential council will be able to meet in reasonable time because that is necessary to put into effect the resignation of the prime minister which will be

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finalised when there is a constituted authority in place,” Patterson said hours before the council put out its first official statement in which it said as soon its members are officially installed, they would help “put Haiti back on the path of democratic legitimacy, stability and dignity”.

The talks in Kingston were led by Caribbean Community (Caricom) heads of government and included envoys from the United States, France, Canada, the United Nations and other major players. Patterson was pleased that the regional leaders are at the forefront of efforts to help Haiti through discussions with Haitians and the international community. Haiti has been rocked by acute violence since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise. The crisis escalated late February when the country’s gangs launched a coordinated offensive, raiding a prison and releasing thousands of inmates as they demanded Henry’s resignation.

The political chaos and street violence are taking place against a backdrop of increasingly desperate hunger. Last week the United Nations reported that nearly five million people, almost half the Haitian population, faces “crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity”. Amid the sharply worsening conditions, more than 33,000 people have fled the capital Port-au-Prince where a state of emergency has been declared until April. “Haiti is a member of Caricom, and Caricom has to demonstrate the will and the determination to help the most populous state in the region to achieve a level of democratic stability and economic development,” said Patterson, who retired from representation politics in March 2006 and is respected

worldwide as an astute statesman. “I brought Haiti into the Caribbean Community… and it was a calculated decision because Haiti deserves a very special place in the history of mankind [because] of its peculiar and unique significance in the struggle against slavery and the building of an independent State,” Patterson told the Sunday Observer. “For that sin, they have paid an enormous price, beginning with the refusal of the developed world to recognise them as an independent country unless they paid France reparations for the slaves that had been freed,” he said. He charged that the situation in Haiti has been predicated on the “extortion that France imposed and the repeated invasions by the United States of America, both of which have prevented Haiti from developing a free and democratic society”. While pointing out that Haiti suffers from a lack of institutions both in Government and the political structure which has made it difficult to obtain a consensus on the way forward, Patterson said the international community has to play a major role in helping that country out of the present crisis. “Like the World Bank, the IDB (Inter-American Development Bank), the IMF (International Monetary Fund), together with nations which have done the damage, USA, France and, by exten-

sion, the European Union, [and] Canada which has benefited from considerably from Haitian expertise, all have to come together,” said Patterson as he noted that several countries made promises of support for Haiti after the magnitude 7.0 earthquake of 2010 which devastated the country, but are yet to deliver.

According to Patterson, the next Haitian Government elected will need to look at changes to its constitution to make it more effective.

He said the new Government will also need to implement a programme for economic development to repair the damage that has been done in recent time and to plan for the full deployment of the human and capital resources needed for Haiti’s economic growth and development. “That Government is also going to [need to] build some of the institutional capacity particularly pertaining to security and it has to decide whether it is going to restore an army to be able to assist the police force in dealing with law and order throughout the country, or whether it is going to create a police force of the size, the capacity, with the training to be able to maintain law and order,” said Patterson who further argued that, “It is in the interest of the entire hemisphere that Haiti is allowed to grow and develop and contribute to the welfare of the region.”

Canadian retiree murdered in home invasion

(TRINIDAD EXPRESS)

An elderly man visiting Trinidad from Canada has been murdered in his family’s home by intruders.

The body of Hilton Smith, 75, was found on Friday on a bed. His mouth was gagged, and his feet and hands tied.

Smith was found at around 10.30 p.m. by his brother, Francis Antoine, who went to check on him. Smith had been staying at a family home at Black Heat Avenue, Silver Stream, Aripero. Antoine said his

brother was staying alone in an upstairs apartment.

“The tenant from downstairs called me...(Friday) evening to say the back door open and the lights were off, which was unusual. So I contacted my nephew, who was supposed to take him to the airport, to meet me there,” he said.

Antoine said he looked through a window and saw Smith face down on a bed, clad only in underwear. Antoine called the police. Police broke into the bedroom

and found that Smith’s hands had been tied behind his back with a bandana, a cloth had been stuffed into his mouth, and there was masking tape wrapped around his mouth, hands and feet.

The upstairs part of the house had been ransacked. Crime scene officers kept the tape and a cutlass as evidence.

Antoine said his brother, who had been living in Canada since 1976, had arrived in Trinidad in November 2023.

Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, PJ Patterson

Erdogan’srivalleadsinIstanbulinhigh-stakesTurkeyvote

(CNBC) Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu led a challenger from President Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party inlocalelectionsonSunday, an initial count showed, in a potential boost for the Turkish opposition’s effort toreassertitselfasapolitical force.

In another blow to Erdogan, in the nation’s second-largest city Ankara, incumbentoppositionmayor Mansur Yavas declared victory over his AK Party (AKP) challenger less than threehoursafterpollsclosed in the nationwide municipal vote. The nationwide local elections are seen by analysts as a gauge of both Erdogan’s support and the opposition’sdurability

Erdogan, who has led Turkey for more than two decades, campaigned hard for his party to reclaim controlofIstanbulfromrival Imamoglu, the incumbent mayor and potential future presidentialchallenger Violenceeruptedinsome

cities in eastern Turkey related to the election of neighbourhood officials, which were on the ballot alongside mayors and other municipal officials, with threepeoplereportedtohave been killed. According to official results based on 41 43% of ballot boxes opened, Imamoglu had 50% support compared with

41.26%forAKParty(AKP) challenger Murat Kurum, a formerministerinErdogan’s nationalgovernment.

“Based on the data we havegathered,Icansaythat the favour and trust our citizens have in us have indeed been demonstrated,” Imamoglusaid.

blow of his two decades in power after winning the 2019 vote. The president struck back in 2023 by securing re-election and a parliamentmajoritywithhis nationalistallies.

According to partial results, the CHP is leading nationwide by almost 39% of the votes, a first in 35 years.

Europe’s biggest city with morethan16millionpeople, engineer Murat Ercan said hedisapprovedofErdogan’s active role in campaigning for his party ahead of the elections, believing the president should be impartial.

“Ekrem Imamoglu is the sortofpresidentwelongfor, with his constructive and smiling nature, embracing everyone,” Ercan, 60, said aftercastinghisballot.

“The current picture greatly pleases us,” he added. State-run Anadolu Agency also published partial official tallies showingthemainopposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leading in big cities suchasIzmir,Bursa,Antalya andAdana.

Syria: Seven dead after car bomb tears through market in Azaz

At least seven people have been killed in a car bombing which targeted a busy market in northern Syria. Several more were injured in the attack in the town of Azaz in Aleppo province, near the Turkish border It is unclear who carried out the attack in the town which is run by proTurkish militias fighting Syrian President Bashar alAssad.

Turkish forces and their proxiescontrollargeareasof Syria along the border the two countries share. When the bomb went off the market was busy with shoppers buying new clothes for their children ahead of Eid al-Fitr, which markstheendoftheIslamic

fasting month of Ramadan nextmonth.

The White Helmets, a volunteer rescue group whichoperatesinSyria,said two children were among the dead. Footage of the aftermath showed bodies lying on the ground, damaged buildings and the remnantsofacaronfire.

Thaer Hafar, 34, who worksatastoreinAzaz,said he and his family heard a loudblastwhentheywereon their way to the market. He saidpeopleatthescenewere terrified there could be a second car bomb. “There’s no security or safety,” he told AFP, adding “even if we’re at home, we’re afraid”.Azaz is home to the SyrianInterimGovernment,

an opposition group which stakes a claim to being the country’s legitimate authority.

The town has been described by analysts as strategicallyimportantinthe context of the civil war because of its proximity to theTurkishborderandvalue asasupplyroute.

Bombs targeting crowded civilian areas are not uncommon in Syria’s north-west border region, including in Azaz. In 2017, more than 40 people were killed when a car bomb was detonatedoutsidethetown’s courthouse The Islamic Stategroup-whichcaptured thetownin2013andbriefly held it - said it had carried outtheattack.(BBC)

The CHP’s Imamoglu had dealt Erdogan and his AKP the biggest electoral

Analysts said a poor showingforAKPonSunday could loosen Erdogan’s controlofTurkeyandsignal potentialchangeinthemajor emerging economy’s divided political landscape. An Imamoglu win would alsofuelexpectationsofhim becoming a future national leader “Imamoglu is fine and does what he should as mayor, but he does not compare with Erdogan,” AKPvoter and retiree Omer saidearlieronSunday,while ajubilantcrowdchantedthe president’s name as he emerged from a polling stationinIstanbul.

Elsewhere in Istanbul,

In one incident in the southeast, groups clashed withguns,sticksandstones, killingoneandwounding11. In another, one muhtar candidate was killed and four people wounded in a fight, state-owned Anadolu newsagencysaid.

It also said 16 people were hurt in a clash in Sanliurfa, while a muhtar w a s s t a b b e d i n Afyonkarahisar in the west. Demiroren reported separately that one person was shot dead and two woundedovernightinBursa.

Hezbollah commander Ismail al-Zin killed

(ALJAZEERA) Israel

has killed a senior Hezbollah commander in an air strike in southern Lebanon, the Israeli militaryhassaid. An Israeli warplane targeted Ismail al-Zin in a vehicle in the southern Lebanese village of Kounine on Sunday, the military said on Sunday. In a statement on Telegram, the Lebanese armed group confirmed the death of alZin. The Israeli military described al-Zin as a “significant commander” in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan forces’ anti-tank unit, which has conducted strikesintonorthernIsrael.

“ A l - Z i n w a s a significant source of knowledge regarding antitank missiles and was responsible for dozens of anti-tank missile attacks against Israeli civilians, communities and security forces,”themilitarysaidin a post on Telegram Hezbollah’s statement did not specify whether al-Zin belonged to the Radwan unit.

Hezbollah has

exchangedregularfirewith Israeli forces since its ally, Palestinian group Hamas, c a r r i e d o u t a n unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, which led to Israel launching an assault on Gaza.

Israel has killed 270 Hezbollah members and around25membersbelong to the Radwan unit, including at least three commanders, such as Wissma Tawil, a senior Hezbollah officer who played a leading role in directing its operations in southernLebanon.

Israel’s shelling has also killed around 50 civilians – including children, medics and journalists – and hit both U n i t e d N a t i o n s peacekeepers and the Lebanesearmy

The fighting has displacedtensofthousands of people in southern Lebanon and in northern Israel, where the Israeli military says 10 soldiers and eight civilians have beenkilled.

On Sunday, Hezbollah said it carried out seven

attacksonIsraelitroopsand said one of its strikes targeted and destroyed “newly developed spy equipment” at al-Jardah near the Lebanese border The group also released two videos that showed its attacks on Saturday, targeting a group of Israeli soldiers at Adamit in northern Israel, along with a building used by soldiers neartheborder.

Amidconcernsabouta wider conflict in the region, the United States and other countries have sought to secure a diplomatic resolution to the exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel

H e z b o l l a h h a s repeatedly said it will not halt fire before a ceasefire is implemented in Gaza

On Friday, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant touredthearmy’snorthern command and said the country’s military would keep up its operations againstHezbollah

“We will make them payapriceforeveryattack that comes out from Lebanon,”hesaid.

The explosion happened when the market was crowded with shoppers preparing for a religious holiday

Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas, mayoral candidate of the main opposition Republican People’s Party, arrives at a polling station, Ankara, March 31, 2024. (REUTERS/Cagla Gurdogan)

Babar Azam back as Pakistan’s white-ball captain

(Cricinfo) - Babar Azam has been appointed captain of the Pakistan side in whiteball cricket, the PCB announced on Sunday. As reported by ESPNcricinfo a few days ago, the announcement means Shaheen Shah Afridi’s oneseries stint as T20I captain comes to an end.

“Following unanimous recommendation from the PCB’s selection committee, Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi has appointed Babar Azam as white-ball (ODI and T20I) captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team,” the PCB posted

on X.

Babar had reluctantly stepped down as captain after the PCB made clear they wanted to name a replacement in November, which led to Afridi’s appointment. At the time, Afridi was the hot favourite to take over as ODI captain, too, though subsequent events meant those prospects receded. For Babar, this is unlikely to be seen as anything other than vindication after the manner of his ouster following Pakistan’s indifferent World Cup. Former

Monday April 01, 2024

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

You're feeling especially loving, attractive, and romantic, so romance is likely to be on your mind. Romantic novels and movies could seem especially appealing. If you're currently involved.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

An increased level of ESP and imagination could have you feeling more creative and artistic. You might want to channel this energy into writing, painting, or adding touches to your living room.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

An attractive neighbor with whom you seem to share a bond could become a friend. A group you're affiliated with could be expressing highly idealized goals and purposes.

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Dreams of a new career could fill your mind today, perhaps because of too much stress in your current one. You might even think of becoming a movie star.

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Spiritual goals may be at the top of your priority list now, Leo. You may be looking for online metaphysical seminars or meditation workshops, perhaps taking place in a distant state or foreign country.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

Lovely dreams could spark your imagination and get your artistic abilities going. You could learn a lot about yourself and whatever has been limiting you.

PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf had presented his decision to remove Babar as fait accompli, leading Babar to put out his statement of resignation. That, a mere four months and one white-ball series later, the PCB found itself turning back to Babar places him in a significant position of strength.

The majority of the four newly appointed members to the selection panel were understood to be in favour in reinstating Babar, though he did have certain preconditions before he accepted the captaincy once

Chulai XI triumph in latest round

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

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If you've been thinking about a job change or even a new career, a chance interaction could provide the opportunity. However, Scorpio, remember, "If something seems too good to be true.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

A journey by air to a distant place might be on your mind, though you might not make it for a long time. Knowledge is important to you, and you can be insatiably curious. This is likely to be one of those days.

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more. In discussions with the PCB, he wanted guarantees he would not be removed again on a whim following the T20I World Cup in June, asking for a longer stint at the helm. In addition, ESPNcricinfo understands he has asked for much greater control in matters of selection than he believed he previously had.

The PCB’s brief dalliance with Afridi is unlikely to have done his morale much good. The writing was on the wall for him since Naqvi refused to back him at a press conference in Lahore on Sunday, saying at the time a final decision would be made after Pakistan’s training camp with the military ended. But it appears there has been a rapid loss of faith in Afridi’s leadership abilities when he led Pakistan in one series and his PSL franchise Lahore Qalandars. Pakistan lost the T20I series against New Zealand 4-1, and Qalandars won just one game out of ten and finished bottom of the PSL table. Part of the appeal of appointing Afridi, still 23, as captain was he could learn on the job and continue in the role for an extended period of time.

Babar’s first assignment since his reappointment is a five-match T20I home series against New Zealand next month.

Spankhurst reigns supreme...

From page 23 Rock came second while Regal Surprise and She’s a Monica were the top four finishers.

Eighteen-year-old jockey Kishan Pereira then script a sensational win in race five, the H and Lower race. He won with Jagdeo’s Racing Stable horse, Here Comes Heidi while Amicable Kate came second.

Red Ruby and stable-mate Theory of Colors came third and fourth respectively.

This race was sponsored by Big G Lumber Yard, Kares Engineering, Ryan Tilak, Old Broom Lounge, K. Hanniff Construction, Kascon Construction, AJM Enterprise, Apsol, Money Tree Trading, T&R Construction, Port Mourant Turf Club, Jumbo Jet, KP Jagdeo, Wally Enterprise, Premium Asphalt, Zick Back Shop and Family, Archway Snackette, Devendra Bishoo and Dennis Deroop.

The next race day is set for April 28, the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Committee at Rising Sun Turf Club.

Golcharran Chulai XI won the fourth and penultimate fixture when the Wakenaam Cricket Committee/Khan’s Enterprise 40-over U19 tournament continued recently.

Led by an attacking half century from Wayne Gokool, Chulai XI beat Henry XI by 80 runs at the Wakenaam Community Center ground, Good Success.

Pacers Trivel Evans and Varun Pooran removed openers Vinesh Ramnarine (10) and Tomesh Persaud (14) before Gokool and Chulai steadied the innings nicely with a third-wicket stand of 86.

The right-handed Gokool slammed five fours and three sixes in a top score of 52

before he was bowled by 13year-old off-spinner Aarav Sukram.

Chulai hit two fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 42 as his team managed 156-3 from their reduced 25 overs.

Henry XI lost Sukram early in the chase, caught off Tomesh Persaud for six before Henry and Evans added 36 for the second wicket, but when pacer Dennis Crossman removed them both, the rest of the batting crumbled as they were bowled out for 76 in 12 overs.

Evans made 22 while Henry and Ramesh Ramnarine contributed 16 and 15, respectively. Crossman, Vinesh Ramnarine and 11 year-old leg spinner Feyyad Baksh took two wickets each.

Sans Souci Jaguars are WCC/Farmers Cup T20 Champs

Sans Souci Jaguars

were crowned champions of the Wakenaam Cricket Committee/Farmers Cup T20 tournament which culminated recently at the Wakenaam Community Center ground, Good Success.

Led by an incisive spell from pacer Siddiq Mohamed, Sans Souci Jaguars won the encounter against arch-rivals Sans SouciSCby88runsinfront ofafair-sizedcrowd.

Sans Souci Jaguars took first strike and posted 151. OpenersGladewinHenryJr and Zameer Zaman handed theirteamasteadystartwith a stand of 47 before Henry w a s r e m o v e d b y Jaggernauth Manbodh for 30 with three fours and two sixes. Cleon Venture accounted for Safraz Mohamed for 13 while Zaman followed shortly after for 21 which included threefoursandonesix,with thescoreon77.

Sans Souci fought back astheypickedupwicketsat regular intervals with only NoktaMoses(16),Beesham Moses (15) and Derwin

Daniels (12) getting into double figures; Wayne Osborne claimed 3-17 and KamalKhan 3-20.

Zaman (1-7) sent back Osborne (06) before Siddiq Mohamed accounted for Jaggernauth Manbodh (06) and Kamal Khan (00) early in the chase, leaving Sans Souci SC in trouble at 29-3.

Any hopes of a comeback quickly faded as Mohamed sentbackVarounieSasepaul (02) and Ceon Venture (01) in quick succession while Nokta Moses had Cleon Venture caught for a top scoreof11.

Nokta and his brother Beesham Moses (1-18) dismantled the lower order as Sans Souci SC were bowled out for 63 in 11 overs.Mohamedgrabbed412 andNoktaMoses3-7.

Mohamedtookthemanof -the-match and best bowler prizes, while the SansSouciJaguarspocketed a trophy and $50,000. Sans Souci received a trophy and $15, 000 while Henry was votedthebestbatmanofthe final; Henry, Derwin Daniels and Zaman collected prizes for striking themostsixesinthegame.

The Lusignan Golf Club was abuzz with excitement overtheweekendasitplayed host to the prestigious Bruster’s Real Ice Cream & Qualitea Café Cup. Golfers fromnearandfargatheredto compete in this highly anticipated tournament,

showcasing their skill and sportsmanshiponthecourse.

After an exhilarating weekend of golf, Jaipaul Suknanan emerged as the o v e r a l l w i n n e r , demonstrating exceptional talent and determination with a best net score of 69. Suknanan’s impressive

performance earned him well-deserved recognition and applause from fellow competitors and spectators alike.

In the 0-16 Flight, Suknanan continued his winningstreak,securingfirst place, while Patrick Prashad and Paton George claimed

second and third place

outstanding gameplay and competitive spirit added to the excitement of the tournament, making for a thrillingcompetition.

In the 17-36 Flight, Eurkea Giddings showcased her skill and prowess on the

course, clinching first place. Maxim Mangra and Ronald Bulkan also delivered impressive performances, securing second and third place respectively, in a closely contested battle for thepodium.

Reflectingonthesuccess of the tournament, Lusignan Golf Club President PatanjileePersaudexpressed hissatisfactionwiththelevel of competition and camaraderie displayed by participants.Persaudpraised the dedication and sportsmanship of all involved, highlighting the tournament’s role in fostering a sense of communityamonggolfers.

Paton George, Director of Quality Café and Bruster’s, expressed his gratitudefortheopportunity tosponsorsuchanesteemed event. “We are thrilled to support the Lusignan Golf Club and be part of this exciting tournament,” said George. “Events like these notonlypromotethesportof golf but also bring people togetherinaspiritoffriendly c o m p e t i t i o n a n d camaraderie.”

The success of the Bruster’s Real Ice Cream & QualiteaCaféCupwouldnot have been possible without thesupportandparticipation of the golfing community, organizers,andsponsors.As the Lusignan Golf Club looks forward to future events, the spirit of sportsmanship and excellence continues to thriveonitsgreens.

The results for the tournamentareasfollows:

OverallBestnet-Jaipaul Suknanan69

Best Gross - Jaipaul Suknanan79

Longest Drive - Jaipaul Suknanan

Nearest to the pinRonaldBulkan

Flight0-16

Jaipaul Suknanan- HC 10,Gross79,Net69

Patrick Prashad- HC 11, Gross81,Net70

Paton George- HC 16, Gross86,Net70

Flight17-36

Eureka Giddings - HC 22,Gross94,Net72

MaximMangra-HC18, Gross92,Net72

Ronald Bulkan- HC 20, Gross97,Net77

ThevictoriousSansSouciJaguarsteamwiththeirprizes

The top performers of the tournament took a photo op with their accolades.

Suknanan

How will Guyana Harpy Eagles retain the Regional Four-Day Championship?

BYBRANDONCORLETTE

Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainty Whether or not the Guyana Harpy Eagles will win and retain the Regional FourDay title remains an untold story

Guyanaarefourthonthe points table, with 66 8 points, 14.4 points behind the table leaders, Leeward Islands Hurricanes. Guyana will have two more matches to go further up the table, when they meet Jamaica at Sabina Park from April 10, and then play Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC)fromApril17atUWI SPECinTrinidad. The season has been a mixed one for Guyana thus far. After five matches, Guyanarecordedthreewins, suffered one defeat and recordedonedraw In answering the question on how Guyana will win the tournament this season,TevinImlachandhis

side will have to show more dominanceinallfacetsofthe game.WithJamaicahavinga mixedseasonwithtwowins and three defeats, Guyana will have to enter the yardmen’s back-yard and win big. Importantly, Guyana must grab as much fast-bowling points as possible.TheGuyanese will

fancy their chances against CCC, where batsmen will want to full their shoe against an inexperienced bowling line-up, but again, cricketisagameofglorious uncertainty

How the Guyanese stats roundupafterfiverounds

Asitrelatestoruns,West Indies all-rounder Kevin

Sinclair has 412 runs at a stellar average of 68.66. He recorded one century, a career best 165* and two fifties. Sinclair is only five runs away from the leading run-scorer this season, MikyleLouis(417).

Kevlon Anderson, who was given the captaincy early in the tournament

while Tevin Imlach was away on West Indies duties, has 271 runs, the next best for a Guyanese. Anderson’s 271runscameatanaverage of38.7.

Test opener, Tagenarine Chanderpaulwhohadapoor run of form, redeemed himselfwithacenturyinthe last game. He scored 257 runs this season, with an averageof36.71withahigh score of 101 not out. Imlach returned, and in his three matches, he has 255 runs at 39.16,withonefiftyandone century As a batting unit, collectively, Guyana has been relatively ordinary. Veerasammy Permaul has 242 runs, more than Kemol Savory (128), Ronaldo AliMohamed (128), Matthew Nandu (122) and Raymond Perez (55); who are all more established batsmenthanPermaul.

In terms of wickets, it is usually a norm for Permaul to dominate. This season, it

has been Jomel Warrican, anotherleft-armspinnerwho has30wickets,12morethan Permaul’s18.

NialSmithwhoreturned from injury, impressed immediately HeisGuyana’s second leading wicket-taker behind Permaul, with 13 wickets in two matches, at 15.15. Promising speedster IsaiThornehasbeenthefind forGuyanathisseason,after he replaced the suspected RonsfordBeaton.

Thornehas12wicketsat 24 83 Test spinner Gudakesh Motie has 11 wickets, along with AliMohamed (11). Kevin Sinclairhasbeendoingmore battingthanbowling,andhe haseightwicketsalongwith his412runswiththebat.

The Guyanese side is expected leave Guyana for Jamaica on Sunday April 7; and the main goal is to win, and win big to retain that Regional Four-Day championship.

Salah scores winner as Liverpool move top

(BBCSport)-Liverpool will finish the weekend top of the Premier League after Mohamed Salah fired the winner against Brighton before Manchester City and Arsenaldrew

TheRedsknewavictory against Brighton at Anfield could prove significant with theirtitlerivalsplayingeach other in Sunday’s late kickoff.

Liverpool fell behind early on but fought back to win 2-1 and climb above Arsenal-andtheirstayatthe summit was extended when CityandtheGunnersplayed outagoallessdraw.

Liverpool are on 67 points with nine rounds of matches remaining, while Arsenal - who have a superiorgoaldifference-are second on 65 points, with City one point further back inthird.

Earlier, Brighton striker Danny Welbeck stunned Jurgen Klopp’s side by thumping a strike into the top corner with only 87 seconds on the clock

Liverpool responded strongly and began to dominate possession, with Luis Diaz poking

home the equaliser from close range before the half-hourmark Salah, making his first league start since New Year’s Day, had missed a host of chances but eventually made one count when he coolly slotted in from Alexis Mac Allister’s pass in the

65thminute.

Thehoststhoughtthey had all but sealed the win when Diaz fired in after 73 minutes but his effort wasruledoutbythevideo assistant referee for a tightoffside.

Brighton skipper Lewis Dunk came closest to snatching a draw for

the visitors, but saw two headers saved by home k e e p e r C a o i m h i n Kelleher in quick succession

Former Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana alsofiredwidejustmoments after coming on as a substitutelateon.

UltimatelySalah’sstrike

proved the difference as relieved Reds fans greeted the final whistle with an exuberantcelebration.

Arsenal and Man City draw to hand Liverpool advantage

Manchester City and Arsenal handed Liverpool theadvantageinthePremier League title race as they

played out a bitterly disappointing goalless stalemateatEtihadStadium.

Liverpoolarenowtopof thetable,twopointsclearof Arsenal and three ahead of City, after they came from behind to beat Brighton at Anfield, their delight increased by their two closestrivalscancellingeach other out

This was a game that made a nonsense of its billing as a potential classic, as Arsenal’s containing tactics snuffed out City while the Gunners had only limited chances of their own in a desperatelypooraffair.

Nathan Ake had an early close-range header saved by Arsenal keeper David Raya before going off injured while former City striker Gabriel Jesus posed an occasional threat, just failing to connect with Bukayo Saka’s cross inches from goal after the break

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be happier than City counterpart Pep Guardiolawiththisoutcome - but the real winners were JurgenKloppandLiverpool.

Veerasammy Permaul (18) and Nial Smith (13) are leading the Guyanese bowling this season

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah scores their second goal (Reuters)

Hing to officiate at 2024 Pan American Archery Championships

ArcheryGuyanaproudly announces that one of its three Continental Judges, Nicholas Hing, has been chosen to officiate at the prestigious 2024 Pan American Archery ChampionshipsinMedellín, Antioquia, Colombia, scheduledfromApril9to14, 2024.

The Pan American Archery Championships, recognised as an Olympic Qualifier event, will feature competitions in Compound, Recurve, and Barebow divisions, attracting elite archers from across the Americas. Hing’s selection as an official reflects not only his expertise but also hisdedicationtothesportof archery

In addition to his officiating duties, Hing will representArcheryGuyanaat theWorldArcheryAmericas Congress, serving in his capacity as Secretary General.

T h i s C o n g r e s s , coinciding with the championships in Medellin, provides a valuable o p p o r t u n i t y f o r collaboration and exchange among archery officials and stakeholdersfromacrossthe continent.

The Board of Directors of Archery Guyana extends its heartfelt congratulations to Hing on his selection and wisheshimsafetravelsashe

Milo U18 Schools Football Championship…

Welcome, Abrams, Thomas & Hooper & net hat-tricks

Tembarks on this significant journeytorepresentGuyana on the international stage.

(ArcheryGuyanaRelease)

Ramdeen to compete at Pan Am Draught Championship

Local National D r a u g h t s c h a m p i o n , Jiaram Ramdeen, prepares to leave the shores of Guyana on Wednesday April 4th, to compete in the 22nd Pan American Draughts Championship in CostaRica.

Thegameswhicharefor both men and women are scheduledtobeplayedfrom April 5th to 13th at the prestigiousEstadioNational Stadium,setinthelivelyLa Sabana Metropolitan Park, SanJose.

Thisisthefirsttimethat

local draught players were allowedtoplayatthatlevel, thanks to the contribution from the National Sports Commission.

Tickets for two were booked for San Jose but the other player, Mark Brathwaite, was injured in an accident that caused severelacerationstohisleg.

However, the airfare is nontransferable and nonrefundable which left the Association in an embarrassing situation of notbeingabletoreplacethe player

The President and Vice

PresidentoftheAssociation are seeking the airline’s interventionforarefund.

The airline fare to Costa Rica stepped up to G$ 469,000 per ticket Other costs towards the event included US$ 100 to register your country, US$ 100 to enter thecompetitionandUS$20 toentertheblitz.

Other contributions towards sponsorship came from Rubis Bel Air, Puran Bros Inc , Elias Gentle Attorney at Law and M&M Snackette.

he second round of the 2024 Milo U n d e r - 1 8 S c h o o l s F o o t b a l l tournament came to a close yesterday with impressive victories from Chase’s Academic Foundation, Waramuri, West Ruimveldt, Q u e e n ’s C o l l e g e , L’Aventure Secondary and Ann’sGroveSecondary Matcheswereheldatthe Ministry of Education and Queen’sCollegeGrounds.

Chase’s Academic Foundation dominated Abram Zuil with a commanding 4-goal win The tournament favourites’ strengthandtacticalprowess were on full display throughout the contest seeinggoalsfromManasseh Anderson (4’), Justin Alcindor (9’), Omar Sam (15’) and Darius Chester (29’).

Waramuri Top displayed their strength with a resounding 7-0 victory over HopetownSecondary,ledby outstanding performances from Chetram Thomas and Zundel Abrams, both securinghattricks.

West Ruimveldt wrapped up a dominant 7-1 victory against New Central Secondary Donovan Welcomeledthechargewith

West Ruimveldt (no.2) commanded 70 percent of ball possession in the second half of the match with New Central

a spectacular hat trick, supported by goals from Jeremiah Griffith and Isaiah Peters. Queen’sCollegesecured a thrilling 4-2 win against Yarrowkabra Secondary, withOwenHoopernettinga hat trick for his team while Ravi Rayman contributed anothergoal.

L’Aventure Secondary triumphed over Marian Academywitha4-2victory, t h a n k s t o b r a c e performances from Shakiel SealeyandShawnGriffith.

In a fiercely contested match, Ann’s Grove

Secondary emerged victoriousagainstdefending champions Santa Rosa Secondary, with a goal each from Deshawn Dejon and Kennard Halley securing a 2-1win.

This tournament, organised by Petra Organisation, saw a total of 34 goals scored on the second day of round two, setting the stage for an electrifying third round W i t h i m p r e s s i v e performances and thrilling matches,anticipationishigh for the upcoming weekend fixtures.

Guyana’s Continental Judge Nicholas Hing

Queen’s College goal scorers (from left) Ravi Rayman and Owen Hooper

Spankhurst reigns supreme at Port Mourant Turf Club Easter Cup

Gu y a n a ’ s champion horse for the year

2023, Spankhurst extended dominancewithanother crushing win at the Port Mourant Turf Club Easter Cup.

The Jumbo Jet-owned horse piloted by Jockey ColinRossstormedtoaG$2 million win in the feature race, finishing ahead of Stolen Money, Jessica’s PrideandCremore.

One a day filled with controversy where the stewards were hard at work, itwasadeadheatforStolen Money and Jessica’s Pride (who both was adjudged second) while Cremore came fourth in the feature race which was open to all horses, running at 1700 meters.

The penultimate race of the day was the G & Lower

Spankurst demolished the opposition to claim a massive win

and West Indies first time starters.Itwasatenseraceas American Traveler won a sprint home to upset Soca Harmony

However, after the race, the stewards disqualified American Traveler for interference at the first turn. Soca Harmony was adjudged winner of the G & Lower and West Indies first timestarters.

Coup Detat came second. She WBO on Time came third while American Travelerwasgivenfourth.

Earlier, the exciting race card started with Haley winning the J & Lower event.

Tizway came second whileBlackTimeandShake theBankroundedoutthetop fourfinishersinthatorder

The second race of the

day was the E Class race which was won by Hecho Con Amor followed by Glorious Business and Phil inEchointhatorder Race three was the L Open and J3 Maiden event.

Top Gun, piloted by Jockey Kellman, cruised to victory, finishing ahead of Risk Affair Princess Sasha finished third while Get Them Bobby finished

fourth.

Star Fire Gold displayed dominanceinthethree-yearold Guyana-bred event

Jockey Ronaldo Appadu pilotedtheCheefoon-Racing Stables horse to the Scores

Even trophy which was dominated by Dennis Deroop.

In the three-year-old Guyanabredrace,Country (Continuedonpage19)

Guyana makes first ever World Cup Final at Indoor Hockey Masters World Cup

The Rock Hard boys from Guyana played a masterfulsemifinalmatchto outclass France by 3 – 2 in the Mens Over-45 division of the Indoor Hockey MastersWorldCup.

Like two experienced prize fighters, the two nations bided their time in the opening minutes, cautiously exploring their opponent and being careful not to give up any easy opportunities. Ashot at the prestigious gold medal was at stake and a win would guarantee a World Cup medal.

With few opportunities inthefirstquarter,Guyana’s superior speed produced several counterattacking opportunities in the second quarter but their shots were mostly thwarted by the excellence of French goalkeeperLocuDidier An Alan Fernandes reverse shot from the left managed to find a way past Didierinthe16thminuteand seemed to be the catalyst Guyana needed to take controlofthegame. Captain JerazenoBellwouldbenext onthescoresheetwithapair of identical penalty corner shots high to the goalkeeper’sleft,thesecond comingjustbeforehalftime. France would regroup andearnedtheirfirstgoalof the match two minutes after resumption as Franck Barbet-Carriere, while chasing a pass through the middle, collided with Guyanese goalkeeper Gregory Garraway, earning hm a penalty corner Damien Declercq converted for France, restoring their hope and confidence in a

comeback. Guyana would struggletogettheirshotson target as several shots went widewhilenolessthanthree rattled the crossbar to no avail.

Declercqwouldheighten the tension by drawing his side within one when he converted a penalty corner for France mid-way through thethirdquarter Despite an exhaustive final quarter, the match would have no further goals andGuyanawouldenjoythe celebration of its first finals berth at a Masters World Cup.

Guyana had dispatched Wales in their final pool match the previous day by 6 goals to 5 in another highpaced match that saw the unbeaten debutants from SouthAmerica finish top of their pool with an unbeaten record.

Waleswerefirsttostrike with a Greg Laurenson goal

right at the very end of a tightlydefendedfirstquarter Guyana however would dominate the second quarter with four goals to Wales additionalsingle.

The teams traded punches in the second half until the match concluded withGuyanaupby6-5.

Veteran midfielder Alan Fernandes led the Guyanese scorers with a double while teammates Ian Nicholson, Devin Hooper, Dwayne ScottandJerazenoBelleach scored one. Dan Makaruk managedadoubleforWales in addition to singles from Greg Laurenson, Mark BromleyandMattStollery England managed to upstage the powerful German side in the other semifinal to earn the second spotinthefinal.

This has set up a return clashbetweenhostsEngland and the unbeaten surprise of thetournament,Guyana.

Jerazeno Bell attacks against England (Dave Buttery Photography)

Minister of Finance Ashni Singh along with the connections of Jumbo Jet at the feature presentation at Port Mourant