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Thursday February 22, 2024

Time for Africa, CARICOM and Latin America to speak with one voice on oil and gas issues - T&T Energy Minister

By Kiana Wilburg If nations within CARICOM, Latin America and Africa were to speak with a united voice on issues pertaining to the oil sector it would be hard for their positions to be ignored by the Global North.

The power of such a collaborative force was recently highlighted at the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo which was held at the Marriott Hotel from February 19 to 22.

During his participation on the second day of the conference, M i n i s t e r Yo u n g s a i d t h e geopolitical consequences and market disruptions caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, brought into sharper focus the need for countries to achieve energy security. Minister Young said it also amplified how the Global North expects countries that are part of CARIOM, Latin America and Africa to respond to climate change.

He said there is pressure from the Global North for certain nations to temper their development of

T&T Energy Minister, Stuart Young

their natural resources, lest it worsens global warming and the natural disasters that would follow.

However, Young found this expectation of nations within CARICOM, Latin America and Africa to be unfair since those “wealthy and developed nations” of

the Global North enjoyed unbridled latitude to use their resources as well as those in other parts of the world for their economic advancement.

Another key observation Young highlighted from the RussiaUkraine war was the fact that

countries across Europe fired up coal plants for power as their gas supply from Russia was cut off.

The Energy Minister said coal constitutes one of the worst forms of carbon which contributes to the climate change dilemma. “But what it shows is that once there is a crisis, this will once again be the reaction of certain wealthy, developed countries in the world,” said the minister.

To ensure that these nations are not only held to account but also made to do what is in the best interest of the world, Young said CARICOM, Latin America and Africa must join forces so that they can “be a voice that cannot be ignored.”

“I want to utilise the opportunity here this morning where we are just days away from the CARICOM meeting on Monday (February 26, 2024) to bring this sense of responsibility to us and for us to start working more collaboratively, working as one loud voice because if we do so, we can, and I am convinced, contribute to the decisions that are being made around the world that

directly affect us,” said Minister Young.

He added, “What we need is an equal voice and an equal seat at those tables of decision making.”

G i v e n G u y a n a ’s g r o w i n g hydrocarbon resource pool, the considerable barrels unlocked in Suriname as well as Trinidad and Tobago’s century-old experience in the industry, Young said this trilateral group holds the power to lead the charge on energy security.

“We hold the opportunity right here in our hands to influence this energy security conversation taking place across the world,” said Young.

The T&T politician said it is critical that this group steps up to the proverbial plate to push the conversation on the power of collaboration as he highlighted that CARICOM, Africa and the whole of Latin America only account for less than three percent of global emissions but still face the brunt of the consequences.

Minister Young alluded that there is something radically wrong with this equation as he reiterated his call for a united front.

Thursday February 22, 2024

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Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL-TEL: 624-6456 Editor: NIGEL WILLIAMS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

The Teachers’ Union stands its ground The President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Mr. Mark Lyte, had a mouthful to say in defense of striking teachers, in calling on the PPPC Government to act accordingly. According to Mr. Lyte, the PPPC Government knows what it has to do for the striking teachers, just like it has done in the past, when there were different demands to be met. Further, the government knows what it should do now to get those hungry teachers on the streets back into the classroom.

“We would like government to address the financial matters relating to teachers’ salary. That is the general cry and the general cry has come about because of the hike in cost of living, our teachers are complaining.” The cost of living is crippling, and not just for teachers, but for all those workers in this country, who only have their base wages and salaries to live on monthly, and not any helpful allowance.

Simply recall the figures published recently about ministers perched on the high side of the local economic ladder. We can say with a reasonable degree of certainty that notone of them knows what it is to be poor in a daily paralyzing cost of living regime. Think of the difference that one of those more than half a dozen monthly allowances could make, particularly the mid-tier ones, such as for entertainment or a gardener. The monthly rental allowance for some PPPC Government ministers is more than the annual pay for ordinary Guyanese, including entry level teachers. This is not about imbalance, but about what is grotesque. It now obvious that Guyana is a tale of two vastly different societies: one that enjoys all the lavish opulence in what is a budding oil superpower, while the other, the masses in the population, has to manage is existence in a virtually impoverished condition.

One of the defenses advanced by the PPPC Government is where is the money going to be found. This is strange, indeed, for in the face of the trend of record annual budgets, the government has still hustled to parliament to ram through supplements to the budget. In one instance, this was done before the first half of the year had elapsed, and the supplementary tool is one that has become well-used and well-worn. But today, with teachers striking, and schools hanging on through skeleton staff stopgap arrangements, the government is declaring itself to be stuck about what it is able to do, and what its options are. The debt ceiling has been raised, and most of the 2023 oil money is to be withdrawn, but leaders in the PPPC Government are claiming poverty. They can build everything in sight to satisfy a number of considerations (most of them not wholesome), fill some fancy dreams, yet refuse to come to grips with the reality of Guyanese living on the edge of poverty, and often hungry.

The irony of living under the economic yoke of this PPPC Government and its callous leaders is that the cries of teachers, and the voices of public servants, are occurring in an economy that is the envy of the world. No other country has numbers to match those of Guyana, but the small Guyanese worker cannot see his way nor find her balance.

We have a suggestion for government leaders. Since the suggestion by the GTU’s Lyte is likely to fall on deaf ears, there is still that $7B amount budgeted and approved, and which now sits idly in the government’s hand. The official position was that it was a sort of backup fund for emergency situations. We point to the striking teachers, and assert that if a situation of urgency is required, then there is one that suffices.

Though it troubles to table this, it has become increasingly clear that the government is not committed to an honest resolution of the teachers’ strike. The PPPC Government seems more focused on teaching the teachers of Guyana a lesson on who has the power, and who is determined to bring them to their knees. By any means, be suchby any hostile action, or by any low and rusted weapon that can be dug up and brandished.

Thursday February 22, 2024

OP:ED Navigating Guyana’s Carbon Market Dilemma

By Nicholas Peters Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) In December 2022, the South American nation of Guyana took a significant leap into the global carbon market by selling the first jurisdictional carbon credits, a move that heralded important financial gains while also raising serious concerns about effective inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in decision-making in national policies that impact their lands and lives.

In March of 2023, the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) filed a complaint with the Architecture for REDD+ Tr a n s a c t i o n s ( A RT ) Secretariat to present its concerns about its carbon credit certification process because our work with

indigenous communities over the years also reveal that there are crucial unresolved land tenure issues.

Having studied the process and finding several shortcomings based on information shared during m e e t i n g s w i t h A PA’s member communities, the complaint cited the lack of consultation and consent from villages. It also asserted that the government of Guyana failed to meet crucial safeguard requirements for the credits to be certified under the ART TREES standard.

During the organization’s community outreaches, villages have stated that consultations on carbon financing were substandard and focused on the country’s Low Carbon Development

Strategy rather than the ART crediting process.

Furthermore, villages had requested more information on carbon sales and the impact these sales would have on communities, but had not received any follow-up sessions from the government. The government of Guyana claims that consultations and approvals were done through t h e N a t i o n a l Toshaos Council (NTC), a body of elected leaders from Indigenous villages whose mandate, according to the Amerindian Act, is to serve in an advisory capacity to the government. The NTC does not have the mandate to make crucial decisions regarding community lands.

Indigenous communities’ right to make communal decision-making is vested in

the Village General Meeting and represented by the Village Councils.

The State’s claim that the NTC has “legal authority to represent” indigenous peoples has allowed the State to bypass indigenous peoples’ representative institutions. The State’s claim that Indigenous Peoples have consented to carbon trading is misleading.

This process of consent was not followed. Therefore, APA’s complaint sought to highlight how the carbon programme and credit sale undermined the villages’ legal decision-making process.

No doubt due to the economic potential of the pending sale, the APA complaint triggered public debate about Guyana’s (Continued on page 05)

The Cost-of-Living index is not the same as the Consumer Price Index DEAR EDITOR, The Bureau of Statistics has taken note of a letter published in the February 18, 2024, edition of Stabroek News titled “Cost of living Index Data is missing or unreliable” written by Ganga Persad Ramdas,PhD, MA, MS. The letter claims that the Consumer Price Index official data is “missing or unreliable”, which is wholly inaccurate.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is prepared monthly, and it is the weighted average prices of a fixed basket of goods and services consumed by the average Guyanese household, from one period to another. The CPI is used to calculate inflation, which is the change in average prices, in other words the percentage change in the CPI. As the agency responsible for compiling the monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI), the Bureau of Statistics takes this opportunity to, firstly, point out that the CPI is regularly prepared and published on the Bureau’s website and, secondly, inform the public about the soundness of the methodology used to compile the index.

The Bureau of Statistics’ measurement of the CPI follows a rigorous approach that is in conformity with the recommended International Standard used by agencies such as the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), International Monetary Fund

( I M F ) , Wo r l d B a n k , Eurostat, and International Labour Organisation (ILO).

This approach starts with a Household Budget Survey (HBS) that collects detailed information on household expenditures that is used to compile the CPI basket of goods and services with those items that account for most household expenditures. The Bureau then uses this CPI Basket to collect prices on a meticulous and systematic basis.

In deriving the Consumer Price Index, the share of each good and service relative to the total household expenditure is used to”weight” the items in the basket. These weights help to ensure that price changes for individual items do not sway overall CPI more than their importance to the expenditures of the household.

To e x p l a i n t h e importance of attaching weights to items in the CPI basket, an example may be helpful. Salt is widely used as a condiment, but it consumes a very small portion of household expenditures. Hence, a hypothetical 100 percent increase in salt prices, when other prices are unchanged, would not significantly impact overall prices or household purchasing power even though salt itself may be significantly more expensive. Hence, to avoid bias in the overall price level, salt price, as with every other

item, is adjusted by its weight in the CPI. It should be noted that there are over 200 items in the current basket of goods and services in the following categories: Food, Clothing, Footwear and Repairs, Housing, Furniture, T r a n s p o r t & Communication, Medical Care and Health Services, Education, Recreation & Cultural Services, Miscellaneous Goods & Services.

For clarity, the full year inflation for Guyana in 2023, that is the overall change in prices from December 2022 to December 2023, was 2.0 percent, not the various figures mentioned in the letter. Note that, among the categories of items in the CPI basket, Food items had the highest overall inflation at 3.8 percent while the Clothing category registered deflation (a decline in average prices) by 0.1 percent. The overall CPI and inflation rate therefore accounts for price movements across all categories of goods and services.

Additionally, while the headline of the letter suggests that CPI is the Costof-Living Index, these are in fact two related but different measures. The Cost-ofLiving Index measures changes over time in the amount that consumers would need to spend to meet a certain standard of living, while, as explained, CPI is the weighted average prices

faced by consumers.

The letter also refers to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross National Income (GNI). In this regard, the Bureau regularly compiles and publishes both the real and nominal GDP for Guyana, which are available on the Bureau’s website.

However, GNI requires adjustments to GDP to account for income earned

by Guyanese assets abroad as well as income earned by foreign owned assets r e s i d e n t i n G u y a n a ’s economy. These transactions are recorded as inflows and outflows in the Balance of Payment, which is compiled and reported by the Bank of Guyana.

In closing, it is acknowledged that it is natural for people to notice prominent or outstanding developments and trends, such as marked price increases. However, the Bureau of Statistics must objectively capture, measure, and report on overall developments. This ensures that the data and information produced by the Bureau is unbiased and meets required standards of statistical confidence. In this regard, the Bureau will continue to employ best practices, appropriate methods, and international definitions and standards as we work to enhance the quality and range of our statistical products.

Sincerely, Errol La Cruez, Chief Statistician

Thursday February 22, 2024

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Micromanagement of Forest Rangers at the Guyana Forestry Commission.

Dear Editor, The Guyana Forestry Commission, especially the Forest Monitoring Division (FMD) has been plagued with mismanagement and prejudices by upper management employees for a long time. It is shown to the outside world that everything is going normal and production levels are rising but within the commission walls, dictatorship lurks.

Firstly, stakeholders engagement is lacking, and

junior monitoring staff don’t possess the adequate kindness and etiquette when interacting with customers.

Employees from the Tagging and License department have been trained to ‘harass’ or ‘bully’ customers ruthlessly with the talk of “if you don’t have this document or criteria fulfilled, you will be closed down for business.” What kind of incompetence is this? How do they expect to boost the logging industry when you pour despair into

customers’ ears.

Also, if a customer comes a few seconds after the lunch period, no flexibility is shown towards them. They have to wait until the lunch period is finished.

Is this the image we are portraying to the general public?

Seems the commission has forgotten that these stakeholders in the logging industry are the ones who contributed significantly to their treasury every month, with the royalties that they

pay every fortnight.

Secondly, their staff turnover is astronomical, as most senior and experienced inspectors & rangers are leaving for greener pastures due to their low salaries and zero promotions. Merits and skills are obsolete at GFC. Persons with links to a specific political party or a senior official are having all the breaks.

It’s becoming a nuisance when junior staff without field experience are given the opportunity to override

senior staff because of their sycophantic behaviour.

Lastly, a very senior officer has become power drunk.

He has very close ties to the ruling political party, which gives him the false pride of being untouchable.

If a staff or a stakeholder speaks out against him, they are victimized by his actions.

Even the female clerks within the tags unit are programmed to report to him if they hear anyone speaking about him. It’s terrible when

staff who are devoted to the commission and assisting customers on a daily basis are belittled instead of being commended.

Also, if an employee tries to stand up for their rights, or refuses to be a ‘yes man’, they are being micromanaged and disciplined or transferred to an outlying station.

I beg the government to look into this commission before it collapses.

Sincerely, Chaitnauth Ramkisoon

OP:ED Navigating Guyana’s Carbon Market Dilemma...

From page 04 National Carbon Credit Programme (NCCP), an initiative that has already begun dispensing 15% of the country’s USD$750M carbon credit sale from Hess Oil to Indigenous and local communities over several tranches. While some communities have reported positive outcomes from this p r o g r a m m e , others have highlighted the lack of consultation, preparation and guidance for using these funds, leading to confusion, division and malpractices in its administration.

With approximately 85 percent tropical forestcover, Guyana is an ideal participant in the forest carbon market. The mechanisms outlined in the Cancun Safeguards under the United Nations Framework Convention on

Climate Change (UNFCCC) could go a long way to ensure economic security as well as environmental integrity for our country, but only if the standard bodies adhere to the fundamental principles of respect for rightsholders, particularly Indigenous peoples.

Unfortunately, this first sale in Guyana did not rise to that occasion. Despite the APA’s informed objection, t h e A RT S e c r e t a r i a t dismissed the complaint, triggering an appeal that fell apart in October 2023 before even starting. The breakdown occurred as the Secretariat refused to negotiate the terms of the appeal review process with the APA, signaling a lack of willingness to engage in a fair and transparent appeals process.

In addition to revealing w e a k n e s s e s i n A RT ’s TREES standard, validation

and verification process, as well as the shortcomings of their current grievance mechanism, the case has also pointed to potential pitfalls for international voluntary carbon markets.

The APA, with its threedecade track record of advocating for Indigenous peoples’ rights in Guyana, comprising members from communities throughout the country, is neither antidevelopment nor anticarbon market. However, w i t h o u t t h e e ff e c t i v e engagement of those communities whose forests are in question, the initiative is more likely to become marred in conflict before making any meaningful impact. Indeed, we need to look no further than Guyana’s iconic Kaieteur National Park, home to the world’s largest single-drop waterfall, to underscore what is at stake when

governments want to achieve environmental goals without due consideration of rightsholders and local stakeholders. Ambiguities arose when the government e x t e n d e d t h e p a r k ’s boundaries in 1999 without consulting the Patamona People of Chenapou, a village within the same territory as the National Park. This has led to clashes over restrictions to the use of customary resources that, unfortunately, continue to t h i s d a y .

Inevitably, the sale of carbon credits in Guyana—or in nearly any rainforest territory—intersects with issues of human rights and Indigenous peoples’ land t e n u r e r i g h t s .

Approximately 36% of the world’s remaining primary forests and at least 24% of the above-ground carbon in tropical forests are located within Indigenous peoples’

territories. Without explicit and legally binding commitments that guarantee the rights of Indigenous peoples, the carbon market will continue to undermine the world’s most effective forest guardians. This international support letter, signed by 30 Indigenous and local community and e n v i r o n m e n t a l organizations from around the world, amplifies the call for the ART Secretariat and the government of Guyana to engage in sincere d i a l o g u e w i t h A PA regarding the concerns they raise, and to address these concerns before a subsequent round of ART credits are approved in Guyana.

As highlighted during COP 28 “voluntary” carbon market (VCM) has been under intense scrutiny this year, after high-profile investigations highlighting

its shortcomings.” It is critical that major carbon crediting standard administrators, their validation and verification bodies, and potential buyers seriously note how complaints in crediting activities are handled to ensure rights protections are effectively respected and that underlying issues are adequately addressed.

Failure to do so may not only exacerbate conflicts in Guyana but could cast a shadow over the integrity of forest carbon markets across t h e g l o b e .

Nicholas Peters is the Advocacy and Policy Support Officer for the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), a nongovernmental organization that advocates and promotes the rights and development of the Indigenous peoples of Guyana.

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Thursday February 22, 2024

Ukraine war: Dozens of Russian troops ‘die in air strike’ Survivors of the attack say they were hit by two HIMARS missiles, seen here being launched in May 2023

(BBC News) - At least 60 Russian troops have been killed after a training area in occupied eastern Ukraine was hit by two missiles, reports say.

Sources familiar with the situation told the BBC that troops had gathered at the site in Donetsk region for the arrival of a senior commander. Video footage of the incident appeared to show large numbers of dead.

A Russian official confirmed that a strike took place but described the reports as “grossly exaggerated”.

The attack reportedly came hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin met his Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

At the meeting, Mr Shoigu claimed Russian successes in several areas of the front line and spoke of the recent capture of the town of Avdiivka, but made no mention of the Donetsk region incident. Reports say members of the 36th motorised rifle brigade, normally based in the Transbaikal region of Siberia, were waiting for the arrival of Maj-Gen Oleg Moiseyev, commander of the 29th Army of the Eastern

military region, at a training area near the village of Trudovske.

A soldier who survived the incident said during a video recording of the aftermath that the brigade’s commanders had made them stand in an open field.

They were reportedly hit by two missiles fired from the US-made HIMARS launch system.

This and other videos and stills show dozens of soldiers apparently lying dead in a field. Estimates, including by those who survived, suggest at least 60 have died.

The BBC is working to verify the footage.

Transbaikal governor, Alexander Osipov indirectly confirmed the strike in his Telegram channel, but said that the reports about it were “inaccurate and grossly exaggerated”.

Without giving casualty figures, he said full and accurate information would be provided to the families of all the soldiers involved.

“No-one will be left without help or support,” he added.

There has been no word about the strike as yet from the Ukrainian authorities. In

a separate development, several pro-Russian sources have reported that the military blogger Andrey Morozov, known as Murz, has killed himself. Morozov, whose Telegram channel has some 100,000 subscribers, wrote in a series of apparently final posts that he had been forced by the military to take down a report about Russian losses in recent battles, including Avdiivka.

He had said about 16,000 troops had been killed or seriously injured in the campaign and 300 pieces of armour destroyed.

The blogger wrote that he had been shut down by propagandists from state TV, but that they were too cowardly to come and kill him.

“Well I’ll do it myself then,” he adds. “I’ll shoot myself if no-one dares to take on this trifling matter.”

Puzzling indeed!

DEAR EDITOR The satirical column laments ‘De law complex and complicated’ (KN February 21) as it queries the recent ruling on the US$2B oil spill bond.

Puzzling indeed!

The same puzzlement extends to the international area where rulings by courts (ICJ) and agencies (UN), for instance, are unenforceable, non-binding and cannot be implemented by those

institutions. The continued atrocities, with impunity, by Israel in its ongoing war with Hamas, with no repercussions or consequences, against flagrant flouting of the recent ICJ provisional orders, is a pointed case.

It has to be asked if not the court then which agency can ensure a ruling is enforceable and binding?

Sincerely Shamshun Mohamed

The BBC is unable to verify reports of the blogger’s death or how he might have died.

Russia’s military rarely reports casualties, but some pro-Russian military bloggers have regularly done so.

Ukraine has also spoken of thousands of Russian troops killed in recent battles.

And BBC Russian, in a joint project with the

Mediazona website, recently updated its figures for confirmed deaths in the Russian military based on open sources in the two years since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine.

Altogether, 45,123 are confirmed dead, including 6,614 since October last year. Since that date, there has been a sharp increase in average weekly deaths compared with previous months.

Water Woes DEAR EDITOR, Kindly grant me a space in your letters column. We are suffering daily water outages on the Essequibo Coast (Dartmouth and neighbouring villages) for some time now.

The water is cut off during the day and later at night, which is very inconvenient for residents, especially the poorer citizens who cannot afford overhead water tanks or electrical pump systems.

If you fall short on your payments you are quickly disconnected. You then have to clear your accounts, pay a hefty reconnection fee, then wait up to fifteen days for reconnection. So it is very unfair to cut off our water, especially since we have meters connected so we pay for every drop. I do hope the President sees this letter and do something to ease our woes.

T h a n k y o u .

Yours truly S. Blaine

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Thursday February 22, 2024

Kaieteur News

The irony of living under the economic yoke of this PPPC Government and its callous leaders is that the cries of teachers, and the voices of public servants, are occurring in an economy that is the envy of the world.

No other country has numbers to match those of Guyana, but the small Guyanese worker cannot see his way nor find her balance.

Today, with teachers striking, and schools hanging on through skeleton staff stop-gap arrangements, the government is declaring itself to be stuck about what it is able to do, and what its options are. The debt ceiling has been raised, and most of the 2023 oil money is to be withdrawn, but leaders in the PPPC Government are claiming poverty.

They can build everything in sight to satisfy a number of considerations (most of them not wholesome), fill some fancy dreams, yet refuse to come to grips with the reality of Guyanese living on the edge of poverty, and often hungry.

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Thursday February 22, 2024

Japanese shipbuilder excited to anchor in Guyana’s oil sector M

ODEC, the Japanese shipbuilder constructing Guyana’s fifth oil vessel, recently expressed its excitement at the prospect of anchoring in the oil sector of the world’s fastest growing economy.

In a statement to the media on Wednesday, the company noted its grand appearance at the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo which comes to a conclusion today at the Marriott Hotel.

Marking its inaugural presence at the conference, M O D E C ’s b o o t h w a s strategically positioned in the main auditorium.

The company said it considered this to be an important milestone that serves to mark its entrance and commitment to Guyana’s market.

“We are excited to join the esteemed lineup of participants at the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo. This event serves as a pivotal platform for us to engage with key stakeholders,

- makes appearance at Energy Conference

Model of a FPSO

showcase our expertise, and contribute to the discourse s u r r o u n d i n g G u y a n a ’s energy landscape,” said Rafael Fumis, MODEC’s country manager.

Notably, MODEC is building the Errea Wittu floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel which will operate at ExxonMobil’s

Uaru project in the Stabroek Block.

MODEC said this is a significant addition to its portfolio as it noted that the vessel will benefit from the

company’s experience in construction and operation and will bring the most modern resources in offshore production.

“It will be one of the most

sustainable FPSOs in the world, using an energy production system with a combined cycle turbine on board,” said the Japanese shipbuilder.

MODEC said that production system reinforces its leadership role with such vessels. “It recovers exhaust heat to produce steam, which is used to drive a steam turbine for supplemental power generation, increasing overall power cycle efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,” the company explained.

It further noted that the impact of the FPSO goes beyond simple resource extraction; it embodies the company’s commitment to local content, prioritizing skills transfer and Guyanese participation.

Additionally, MODEC said the FPSO will be deployed approximately 200 kilometers off the coast of Guyana, at a water depth of 1,690 meters and will have the capacity to store approximately two million barrels of crude oil.

Duo gets life for Rose Hall Berbice man killed during grocer’s murder row over cellphone

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wo men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering Lomenzo Johnny, a grocer of Rose Hall Town, Region Six. The sentence was handed down by Justice Sandil Kissoon who said they would only b eligible for parole after serving 30 years.

The ruling was made on Tuesday afternoon at the Berbice High Court. The duo Satram Kushlay and Bilall McLennon were convicted last month for the murder of Johnny, a grocer of Rose Hall Region Six. The judge also orders that both parties must be enrolled in skill training programmes to support their rehabilitation. Attorneys-at-

Law Kevin Morgan and Alaira Murphy-Goodman represented the convicts while State Counsel Muntaz Ali presented the case for the prosecution.

Johnny lost his life during the course of a robbery at his home and on the morning of February 27, 2020, his body was found on a farm at Area ‘AA’, Portuguese Quarters, Port Mourant, a short distance from where he lived. He was found with his feet bound with shoe laces and body bore what appeared to be strangulation marks.

He had a bloodied face and a puncture wound was above his left eye.

His cause of death would later be determined as

Murder victim, Lomenzo Johnny multiple injuries.

The home where he lived alone was ransacked and there were no signs of forced entry.

The intruders however took a safe that was located in the top flat of the home.

A man is now dead after he was stabbed during an argument around 23:30 hrs on Tuesday night, over a phone.

Dead is Colene Toney, a 31-year-old male Labourer of #53 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

The suspect- a 24 year old man from #51 Village is still at large. An eyewitness

told the investigators that she was in the company of other persons, on a street corner vending around 23:00hrs Tuesday night, when she saw the two men arguing over a cellular phone.

The argument escalated and got physical at which point she observed the suspect leaving the scene on

a motorcycle, while the victim was on the ground bleeding.

Toney was then rushed to the Skeldon Public Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. A number of persons were contacted and interviews conducted from which useful information was obtained, police said.

Man, 34, remanded for raping child A 34-year-old unemployed man, was on Wednesday charged with rape when he appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Alisha George.

The accused Clifton Graham, who was arrested on September 9, 2023 is accused of raping a child under the age of 16. Graham is a resident of Bare Root, East Coast Demerara. His next scheduled court date is set for March 22, 2024.

Remanded: Clifton Graham

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 22, 2024

PAGE 09

All Guyana should listen to Stuart Young Trinidad and Tobago has been knocking on Guyana’s door for many years now. It has been offering to help us to make the best uses of our hydrocarbon resources. But Guyana has been reluctant towards having the depth of collaboration that is envisaged by the twin-island Republic.

In 2018, Trinidad and Tobago closed its oil refinery at PETROTRIN. It now focuses more on gas rather than oil. Trinidad and To b a g o i s n o w predominantly a gaseconomy. A last check, Trinidad and Tobago was producing less than 60,000 barrels of oil per day. This is ten times lower than what Guyana is producing at present. But unlike Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago has control over its gas reserves. It has a number of facilities that help to monetise this production. At the Guyana Energy Conference in 2023, it was reported that Trinidad a n d To b a g o h a d 1 0 ammonia plants, seven methanol plants and four LNG plants. It also had heavy industrial concerns that utilised power from natural gas. In 2004, Trinidad and Tobago was producing 155,000 barrels of crude per day. Guyana commenced production at less than 120,000 barrels per day on average. When in 2018 it was clear that Guyana was going to soon be an oil-producing state, it could have entered into a prospective arrangement with Trinidad and Tobago to supply them with Guyana’s

share of profit oil. This decision may have prevented the closure of PETROTRIN – the refinery in Trinidad and Tobago. It could have saved more than 5,000 jobs in the twin-island Republic. But the APNU+AFC never either considered or attempted to enter into such an arrangement. This could have been because the APNU+AFC was not surefooted because it lacked the experience in the sector.

Trinidad and Tobago came knocking again in 2023. At the Guyana Energy Conference, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Keith Rowley was quoted as saying, “Trinidad and Tobago therefore provides a viable option for those countries that wish to optimise the monetization of their hydrocarbon resources without incurring substantial capital expenditure.”

He was hinting that a country like Guyana did not need to invest in the billions of dollars that are needed to monetise its natural gas, a process that would take years and not grant an immediate return on the capital invested. But Guyana’s Natural R e s o u r c e s M i n i s t e r, Vi c k r a m B h a r r a t w a s quoted as responding that the Guyana government was keen on building its own refinery. The Minister’s answer missed entirely the issue of the economics of monetising oil and natural gas. Regardless of whether

Guyana wanted to be selfsufficient in refined petroleum products, Guyana knew then that from 2027 and beyond, Guyana’s oil production would surpass 1 million barrels per day. Guyana then would have had sufficient hydrocarbon resources – both oil and gas – to allow Trinidad and Tobago to utilise its spare capacity and still have more than sufficient to operate a local modular refinery and meet its export commitments to the United Kingdom and India.

The Trinidadians are here knocking again. And what they are saying makes sound economic sense. Trinidad and Tobago is calling for collaboration between Guyana and Trinidad and Suriname in terms of hydrocarbons. Stuart Young, the Minister of Energy of Trinidad and Tobago made a strong case as to why there should be collaboration between Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago when it comes to natural gas.

He argued that there are countries that need liquefied natural gas (LNG). He said that Trinidad has the capacity to produce more LNG but needs access to reserves of oil and gas. That country already has the infrastructure and the knowhow. Its gas infrastructure is already amortized which means that the cost for building that does not have to be included in the cost of producing LNG. Stuart Young explained that it would take billions of

DEM BOYS SEH

Parking Gone Wild in Guyana!

Dem traffic police bin busy like bee round Georgetown, clamping down on illegal parking like dem trying fuh win some kind a medal fi it.

But lemme ask dem dis: why dem na tek a stroll down Regent Street and Robb Street? Dem guh see more parking madness dan dem ever imagine! It’s like a parking jungle out deh, wit motorists treatin’ de road like dem personal driveway.

Yuh ever see a car park in de middle ah de street like seh it own de whole damn road? Well, meh buddy, dat’s just a normal day on Regent Street and Robb

Street. Dem drivers na business if dem blockin’ traffic or creatin’ chaos.

Dem just park up deh like seh dem deh pon vacation, watchin’ de world go by while everybody else cussin’ and hornin’ like mad.

Dem traffic police need fi tek a crash course in spot de ridiculous. Dem clampin’ down on some lil car weh parkin’ wrong outside ah some fancy store downtown Main Street and Water Street while de real show goin’ on down Regent Street nd Robb Street.

If yuh wan’ see illegal parkin’ in all its glory, jus’

take a trip down dere. Yuh gan see cars double parkin’, triple parkin’ and parkin’ sideways.

It mek dem boys remember de time a strong man park he car in a ‘No Parking’ spot. When de strong man returned, he see a police standing there.

De police asked the strongly-built and muscular man “ Is that your car?”. “ Ye s , w h a t ‘ s t h e problem?” asks the strong man. The cop points at the big no-parking sign and says: “Sorry Sir, it looks like we put that sign in the wrong place.”

Talk half. Leff half

dollars for countries with hydrocarbon resources to build the infrastructure to monetize, for example, its natural gas. He indicated via rhetorical questions that the people who own gas reserves would take years to monetise that gas. They would also have to offer fiscal incentives and put in shipping infrastructure. On the other hand, he said that in Trinidad there is the existing plugins. He urged the owners of the gas resources to send their gas resources and the returns would be immediate without the need for incentives, and the returns

can then be used to build out infrastructure and other development.

This proposal makes economic sense for Guyana.

Except that Guyana’s may own its natural gas resources but does not have control over these resources. The control is in the hands of the oil companies. Even Jagdeo has admitted that the oil companies are keen to reinject the natural gas into the wells so as to raise the pressure in the wells. But it is not the absence of economic reasoning or the oil companies’ control that allows us to disregard the

proposals of Trinidad and Tobago. The problem is that the government is disapproving to proposals that come from outside its inner circle.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

HK

BY G

L

LAL

Thursday February 2024 Monday May 02,22, 2022

H@RD TRUTHS

BY GHK LALL

Qataris and their luxuries In the spirit of Guyanese hospitality, I rollout the red carpet for the Qataris and theirbringing of luxury to this country. President Ali was at his fullest flush, overflowing with arms held wide open: welcome to Thomas Lands. Welcome to the Qatari brotherhood with their US$300M for a 5-star hotel, and other luxury attachments. My thinking was that 5-stars alone indicate the lap of luxury to be lived in for those coming to see what they can get out of Guyana.

The Qataris are here, but does it have to be there on Carifesta Avenue?

How about an airport structure, so that foreign investment dignitaries do not have to deal with the long trek to G e o rg e t o w n , w a y w a r d

Guyanese road users, and the delicate sprawl of Albouystown and the La Penitence municipal market.

Lots of virgin land there, and a helipad could help to bypass all of that, but there is the downside: overhead noise could be a problem.

Carifesta Avenue, a lane with its long and lush history, has now been reduced to the banality of cheap commerce.

Given that it is an assembly of princes, as in the Qatar Asset Group, involved, I am weighing why the need for the hush hush atmosphere.

The Qatari principal could be a front, and I smell blood, and it is not of an Englishmen, but the blood and sweatypalms of certain Guyanese men.

The President spoke of sustainable development,

and the question persists: for whom, majesty? Whenever I search for Guyanese, I hear about hundreds of jobs, and before that is fathomed, another sweet piece of Guyana is gone in another sweet deal done in secrecy. I hate to say this, but PPP governance has become a combination of the CIA, La Cosa Nostra, and a fella named Lavrenty Beria, Josef Stalin’s dirty tricks man. For local edification, La Cosa Nostra subs for the Mafia, and it translates to “Our Thing.” “Our Thing” and ‘our turn’ have become the hallmark of governance in Guyana under the PPP. When they are wrapped up so deeply in “Our Thing”, this explains as to why there is next to nothing for Guyanese. Guyana is the

PPP’s plaything. Lands and Surveys say that Thomas Lands if State and not city.

Aye, aye, mate. The anxiety comes from studying Emperor Ali: he comports himself as though he is the State. His every move is devoted to out-Jagdeoing Jagdeo. Danger lurks.

It was the same President Ali at the sod turning who had a few gems of enlightenment to share. By the way, the nation’s president is getting so proficient at sod turning,ribbon-cutting ribbon, and cleaning up that he should take up those duties fulltime.

His Excellency informed locals that with the 261 rooms from Qatar with love,another 1300 of such welcoming baronial provisions stand ready to cater to excited foreigners all hot and sweaty to get their portion of this truly Magnificent Province.

My focus is more on the mundane side. It would seem that with 1300 of such hospitality suites (or whatever), Guyana would have the proud distinction of more hotel rooms available for arrivals from global ports, but having less than

those 1000 plus rooms on the market for locals to find long-term lodging. It is obvious that President Ali gave short thrift to that nuisance piece of information, and got carried away with the prospects for his Qatari fellow travelers.

And whoever else in the local domain has positioned themselves to be a part of this hotel investment package.

It is not unreasonable to think that, given their own tortured history with hydrocarbons and swashbuckling foreign corporate oil powers (Americans and Europeans) that President Ali would have been astute enough to tap into their knowledge base and hard experience to learn a considerable amount about oil and gas. Okay, scrap considerable, I settle for some, since capacity to absorb could be a factor. But there was the president championing the partnership with princesabout wood, steel, and sand for a hotel. It is as if every opportunity is avoided, every subterfuge employed, any and every amount of yardage that could be found, is brought to bear so as not to have any

insightful conversations about oil. Meaning, how to get the best out of it. How to learn as much as could be from those who were there long before us, whether near the sands of the Sahara, or the waters of the Gulf.

But a hotel it is, and the usual secrets and disregard for some semblance of process on full display. Oil secrets, gold secrets, and now hotel secrets. I have to ask: is the PPP Government a secret society? A national criminal conspiracy a Statemystery, is what serves as accountability to the Guyanese people.

I am thinking of taking up fulltime residence at the Qatari Inn, if I can scrape up the cash. It is so that I could come in for some intelligence on how these arrangements work, these types of dealing unfold and flourish.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.)

Lusignan Prison escape recaptured at Stabroek Market A 31-year old man identified as Keon Webster, who escaped police custody while being transported to the Lusignan Prison on Monday was recaptured on Wednesday walking around the Stabroek Market area.

Webster was nabbed around 11:50 hrs by a rank from the Brickdam Police Station, at the Stabroek Market on Water Street Georgetown.

The other man who escaped with him Kareem Douglas is still at large. Two policemen were been placed on close arrest, after the two men had broken free from their shackles on arrival at Lusignan Prison gate located on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).

Police said that they escaped around 15:00hrs.

Webster, a 31-year-old Bus Driver of Graham Street, Plaisance, ECD was charged w i t h s i m p l e l a r c e n y.

Douglas, a 23-year-old Taxi Driver of Alberttown, G e o rg e t o w n w a s a l s o

Recaptured Keon Webster charged with simple larceny.

Police ranks from the Brickdam Police Station were tasked with escorting the two men and another prisoner, Reon Jonas, a 26year-old of East La Penitence, Georgetown, charged with Robbery Under Arms.

The trio was all handcuffed and placed in a police vehicle. The escapees were reportedly handcuffed

together during the journey to the prison. When the vehicle arrived, it reportedly reversed to the ‘Reception Gate’ of the prison. Jonas walked in but “the other two i n m a t e s We b s t e r a n d Douglas who were previously handcuffed to each other, jumped out of the prison van and began running north towards the public road,” police had reported.

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 22, 2024

PAGE 11

‘How many of the 640,000 barrels of oil per day, Guyana willing to give CARICOM neighbours for energy security?’

T&T Energy Minister, Stuart Young

By Kiana Wilburg President Dr. Irfaan Ali has often articulated his interest in ensuring that his country is a leader on climate, energy and food security.

With particular reference to the country’s push for energy security, as well as that of the Caribbean region, Trinidad and Tobago’s Energy Minister, Stuart Young recently questioned if Guyana is willing to make a tangible contribution to this cause.

During his participation at the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo on Tuesday, Minister Young said, “…I have one simple question, out of the 640,000 plus barrels of oil that is being produced by Guyanese natural resources, owned by the people of Guyana, how much of that is actually being utilised for the energy security of the region?”

The Energy Minister was also keen to note his country’s ability to help Guyana with the development of its gas resources, noting that there is extensive infrastructure in his country for processing of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

He said, “…we have existing capacity at our plants and what we are looking for is access to proven reserves of gas. That can be and must be an important part of the solution for the other CARICOM islands as they move to changing out or updating their energy production and electricity production because they can use LNG and natural gas in the production of their electricity.”

He added, “…but we must have access to those proven reserves of gas.”

- T&T Minister asks at oil conference Ahead of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, President Ali conducted an interview on the event’s Energy Perspectives Podcast, where he spoke about Guyana’s role in regional energy security.

Given the nation’s oil and gas wealth in the ExxonMobil-operated Stabroek Block, Ali was told that many of Guyana’s regional partners are expecting that it plays a leading role in regional energy security. On this he said, “I don’t think we have a role, we have a responsibility. We are part of a region and I believe that part of our responsibility is to ensure that the region has reliable energy, affordable energy and we will be working with our regional partners on a mechanism through which we can help the region in having affordable energy and reliable energy.”

He further noted his belief in the need for greater integration while calling for the removal of all barriers to trade. “I want us to work on removing all the barriers so that this region could be producing all the food that we need for ourselves with Guyana of course playing a key and important role, not because of anything else, but because we have a competitive advantage here,” said the president.

The Guyanese leader also stressed that he intends for Guyana to be known for more than just oil. “We want to be known as a country with a diversified economic base that is providing leadership on food, climate, energy, and has the highest level of skill, human resources, and of course, a country that is the premier ecotourism destination,” the president concluded.

President of Guyana, Dr. Irfaan Ali

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Thursday February 22, 2024

Construction worker rapes girl, 12 after tricking her with alligator A 28-year-old construction worker on Saturday allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl and left her bleeding after he tricked her into following him to see an alligator.

The man was arrested on Sunday and up to press time last evening remains in police custody. Police believe that the rape took place between 15:00 and 16:00 hrs that day.

Kaieteur News learnt that the man is one of several male employees constructing a road where the girl lives with her mother and other siblings. They have been working there a while now and the family has grown acquainted with them on a first name basis since they have to walk pass them to get in their home. The workers, Kaieteur News was told would also lime around their house in a friendly

manner but relatives did not know one of them had ulterior motives after setting his eyes on the 12-year-old girl.

Sometime after 16:00hrs on Saturday bleeding and traumatised, the child walked into the living room of her home and informed her mother that she was raped. According the mother, the child said that she was in her room when the suspect came to her window and asked her if she wanted to see an alligator in the bushes behind her house.

Trusting his word, the girl reportedly picked up her tablet and went with him to take pictures of the reptile she wanted to see so badly.

The man took her down a path but after they walked a fair distance where no one was around. She reportedly became suspicious of him and turned around to ask him

“way part this alligator really deh”.

It was at this point the suspect allegedly grabbed the child and threw her on to the floor. She reportedly told her mother that he placed his hands on her mouth, muffling her screams and “had his way with her. When he was finished, he reportedly allowed her to get up and she ran all the way home crying. The mother recalled to Kaieteur News the moment when walked in the living room.

“She come in looking raggedy like but I seh mussy she (younger) brother got she looking suh cause she been in the room with he”, the mother said before adding that her daughter placed her hands on her head and said “mammy if a tell you something you gon vex with me”.

The woman said that

after she learnt that her daughter was raped, she decided to take the child to the hospital immediately.

She recalled grabbing her daughter up in her arms and running out towards the gate where she saw the suspect.

She noted that it appeared that he was now arriving.

The woman confronted him on the spot. He reportedly denied the allegations and told the woman that her daughter had cut-up herself with a knife.

The woman said that she did not know at the time that her daughter had any injuries or was bleeding. “When he said that now that I looked at her and saw that blood running on she leg and when I watch he had blood on he hand too”, the woman said.

She continued that she flew into a rage after seeing the blood and attacked the man but he managed to run

away and escape over a dam and into some bushes. “He run straight into my kitchen and pick-up a knife and run away”, the victim’s mother claimed.

The child was taken to a hospital where she received medical care. Doctors noted that she had a bite mark to her neck and there were multiple bruises and scratches on her leg.

He mother believe that suspect might have inflicted those injuries while trying to forcefully take off her d a u g h t e r ’s p a n t s a n d underwear. The matter was reported that said evening and the following day (Sunday), the suspect was nabbed in Leguan, Essequibo Islands, Region Three. Since the incident his coworkers have been taunting the victim and her family in defense of him and according to the mother it is

adding to her daughter’s trauma. “She has not been herself since she came home from the hospital”, the mother noted.

She has complained to police about taunts and requested that the workers be removed from the area.

She claimed that the police said that they cannot do anything about the workers because the individual they work for was contracted by the government.

Concerned for her daughter’s wellbeing she went to the Ministry of Works to lodge a complaint against the workers.

Personnel there took her information and promised to call her back. As she awaits their response, the workers continue to taunt the family and the victim even as investigations into the rape continue.

Guyana’s oil helps spur regional economic growth - CDB official CDB Director of Economics, Ian Durant The Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) 2024 Annual Conference, held on Tuesday, shed light on the significant role of Guyana’s increased oil production played in driving economic expansion across the region.

In his address, Ian Durant, CDB’s Director of Economics, highlighted the impacts of various global

challenges and opportunities on the Caribbean economies, highlighting the pivotal role of sectors like oil and tourism in shaping the r e g i o n ’s e c o n o m i c trajectory. He delivered an overview of the region’s economic performance in 2023 and outlined forecasts for the year ahead.

“Our borrowing member countries have faced several

disruptions to social and economic progress.

Including the COVID 19 pandemic, and consequent deterioration in m a c r o e c o n o m i c conditions,” Durant said. To this end he highlighted the challenges caused by geopolitical tensions like R u s s i a ’s i n v a s i o n o f Ukraine.

According to Durant, Caribbean nations showcased resilience, with an average growth rate of 6.7% in 2023. However, this marked a slowdown from the exceptional 11% growth recorded in 2022, signaling a return to pre-pandemic norms by the end of 2023.

The standout in the region

was Guyana, where higher oil production fueled a remarkable expansion of its economy in 2023.

Durant said, “Higher oil production in Guyana was a significant driver of average regional growth in 2023.

Production increased by 35.2% influencing growth in the non-energy sectors and contributing to an overall expansion of G uyana’s economy of 32.9%.”

He continued, “Economic activity and in other commodity exporters, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago also expanded, but at a more measured rate with the energy sector in Trinidad

and Tobago recording a slight contraction.”

Moreover, he underscored that the tourism industry, which is vital for many Caribbean nations, played a crucial role in driving economic recovery, buoyed

by robust demand from major source markets such as the United States.

However, he said challenges persisted.

Durant noted that across the region, efforts to address inflation and food and energy security remained ongoing, with g o v e r n m e n t s implementing measures to mitigate the impact on vulnerable populations.

Moreover, Durant stated too that the region’s average debt-to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio will continue to trend downwards after spiking in 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking ahead, (Continued on page 19)

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 22, 2024

PAGE 13

‘Guyana a premier hub for investments’ – Ashni Singh tells investors at Energy Conference

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with the responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with the responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh on Wednesday told investors that with the rapid development taking place in Guyana, the country is the premier hub for investments.

The Senior Minister was at the time speaking on the economic impact of the energy sector during Day Three of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo which was held at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown.

Describing why Guyana is the hub for investment, Dr. Singh spoke about Guyana already having the third largest amount of oil reserves in the hemisphere.

Vi a a c h a r t , S i n g h demonstrated that Guyana has oil reserves more than Mexico, Ecuador, Argentina and Colombia, but not more than Venezuela and Brazil.

Speaking on the production side of things, Singh mentioned that with the country already producing some 645,000 barrels of oil per day, it is anticipated that by 2027 that number would move up to 1.2 million barrels of oil per day. According to the senior official, “the result of all of this is as you know, that Guyana is and has been the fastest growing economy and amongst the fastest

growing economy in the world in recent years.” He added that Guyana has over the last three years been recording real economic growth on average in excess of 30% and that it is anticipated that over the next four years, real economic growth averaging about 20% going forward.

“Needless to say, in the outer years that will plateau and level off because of course we will be growing on higher base over with the passage of time. But the bottom line is that there has perhaps never been I certainly can’t think of any other country that has had such a sustained episode of extraordinary economic growth,” he told the conference. Having being the fastest growing economy, Singh pointed out that as it relates to the non-oil sector, the government has been placing the highest level of importance on ensuring strong non-oil economic growth, and growth in the non-oil sectors.

“The bottom line is that we are on an overall basis, we are strongly outperforming the rest of the world, even on a non-oil basis, our real growth outstrips that of every single comparative that could be relevant to Guyana,” he mentioned.

Turning his focus on the size of the economy, he said

that Guyana’s economy has more than tripled in size. He noted that Guyana has moved from an economy that was $1.5 trillion three or four years ago, to an economy that is almost $4 trillion, today, and this too is anticipated to grow.

Speaking on the private sector side of things, he mentioned that there is growth in credit of the domestic financial system to the private sector, that this growth is spread across several sectors, spread across services, and spread across lending for homeownership. Speaking on homeownership, he said that what the government found is that lending for homeownership, is in fact an almost risk-free lending in Guyana.

He continued, “…and so the domestic financial system has been responding within the confines of their capacity to respond because many of our domestic banks are still relatively small and they have still relatively modest balance sheets and so there’s a limit beyond which are challenged to respond.”

With this being said, he told investors, that “there’s an opportunity even for international banks to do business in Guyana, and we’ve seen a number of international banks responding accordingly.”

Why invest in Guyana, Singh told investors yesterday that Guyana and his government has demonstrated a sustained track record of responsible fiscal management. He went onto say that Guyana has been able to bring down its (Continued on page 22)

Some the snapshots, Dr. Ashni Singh should to investors on the development that has been happening in Guyana.

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 22, 2024

Norwegian, Guyanese companies team up to form country’s largest engineering and asset management firm

Header photo: Top row (left to right): Troy Singh (Operations Manager and Director – GLASS Inc.), Kevin Foo (Project Manager – Axess Guyana Inc.), Christopher Walker (Country Manager – Axess Guyana Inc.), Danny Paton (Director – GLASS Inc.), Matthew Stanley (ExxonMobil Global Account Manager – Axess Group), Jake Thomas (Counsellor and Senior Trade Commissioner at the High Commission of Canada) Bottom row (left to right): Charissa Cheong (Director – GLASS Inc.), Glenn Low-a-Chee (Managing Director – GLASS Inc.), Dr. Martin Pertab (Director – Local Content Secretariat), H.E. Mark Kevin Berman (Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana), Mahidhar Kumar (Operations Manager – Axess Guyana Inc.), Pamela Binda (Office Manager – Axess Guyana Inc.) Axess Group, a world-class sustainable solutions provider out of Norway, has partnered with Guyana Logistics and Support Services Inc. (GLASS) to form Axess Glass Inc. Together they now represent the largest Engineering and Asset Integrity Management (AIM) company in Guyana.

In a statement seen by this news agency, this collaboration marks a significant milestone since Axess began its operations in Guyana in 2021, providing a comprehensive range of services including design, inspection, maintenance, certification, engineering, and installation for offshore and onshore equipment. Their expertise spans across various types of equipment, such as cranes, lifting appliances, and drilling equipment, catering to the major companies in the energy sector.

GLASS, operating since 2011, has established itself as a vital service provider in Guyana, offering international and domestic logistics, manpower recruitment, construction, transportation, and warehouse storage services mainly to the oil and gas industry. Its ISO certification has been pivotal in understanding the intricacies of the oil and gas sector, enabling GLASS to secure and successfully execute numerous projects.

Kaieteur News understands that the joint venture is a strategic move by Axess to invest in local content and contribute to the economic development of the regions it operates in. Matthew Stanley, ExxonMobil Global Account Manager at Axess Group, expressed his optimism about the partnership, stating, “With an increase in oil (Continued on page 22)

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 22, 2024

PAGE 15

“Our children are suffering” - parents say as they join teachers in strike for higher salary Parents along with their kids at the teachers’ protest

Parents on Wednesday came out in their numbers to support teachers who have been protesting for two weeks now begging the Irfaan Aliled government for higher salary.

Braving the intense midday sun, the parents stood in solidarity with the teachers calling on the government to start engaging the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), since school children are suffering.

The Georgetown leg of the nationwide saw teachers

assembling in close proximity to the Mariott Hotel where the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo is being held.

Annie Mcphoy, a parent of three boys, told Kaieteur News, that she stands in support, not just for the teachers, but the children of the nation. “I am out here, supporting the teachers yes, but, I am out here more in support as a parent for my children. I am not just doing it for my children, but other children in

Parents joined teachers in the fight for higher salaries

the nation,” Mcphoy said, while noting the pressure she has been under with her children not able to attend school for the past three weeks. “I am very upset, I just hope this does not go for a fourth week. I don’t think anything should be more important than the children; the children are our future, so I think they should be put first.”

Mcphoy explained to this publication, that she cannot afford to send her children to private

school. “The only people who are affected right now, are people who cannot afford to send their kids to private schools. It’s our children that are suffering greatly.”

Michael Hunt, another parent said that the Government response to the teachers’ strike is immature.

“I think the Government response has been immature, and I think the Government should be more responsible because these teachers are out here, because of their salary,

their low income that they normally get at the end of the month.” Hunt continued: “So, I am saying the Government should look into this issue, because it is affecting our children.” The father of two posited that the Government should meet with the Union as soon as possible and get the problem sorted out. “I have my grade five daughter here with me, and she suppose to sit the exam soon, which is the grade five (Continued on page 22)

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Thursday February 22, 2024

Thursday February 22, 2024

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Thursday February 22, 2024

Qatari Hotel to get 10-year tax-free ride in Guyana A

ssets Group- the Qatari group building a hotel on prime green spaces of land along Carifesta Avenue, Thomas Lands, Georgetown will get a tax-free ride during the first 10 years of business in Guyana. Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo had first mentioned this after being questioned about the Qatari Hotel project at one of his weekly press conferences.

Jagdeo further clarified on Wednesday during a closing discussion at the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo 2024 that the 10-year tax free ride is not only for the Qatari investor group but for anyone desirous of building a Hotel in Guyana.

“So if you invest in building a hotel the regime is

standard, so you have a 10years tax-holiday etc, you don’t have to go to a specific part of the country to enjoy those preferences”, Jagdeo told a representative of a foreign Tech company attending the conference.

Jagdeo was at the time engaged in the closing discussion with Carlos P a s c u a l , S e n i o r Vi c e President for Global Energy and International Affairs S&P Global when they opened the floor for questions from the audience.

T h e Te c h C o m p a n y representative took the mic and asked whether there is any restriction on 100 percent foreign ownership of companies in Guyana. In response Jagdeo said that Guyana has no such restrictions unless the foreign company wants to

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo (right) with Carlos Pascual during the closing discussion on day three of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo 2024.

cash in Guyana’s Oil Sector where the local content law applies that a Guyanese must

Another panel discussion seminar held on day three.

have 51 percent owner”.

In addition to this and the tax-free ride that his

government is willing to grant to foreign companies/investors, Jagdeo

even told him that he can come an buy land, something that he cannot do in some countries across the globe.

“There is no land alien, land holding act, so you can buy land here in Guyana unlike many other countries You can have a company that is owned by a foreigner you don’t need a special economic zone, a 100 percent owned”, Jagdeo told the tech company representative before further relating to him that the tax regime his government offers is across the board.

Jagdeo then went on to tell him about the tax-free ride that a foreign company can get if it builds a hotel. It should be noted that ExxonMobil pays no taxes based on the lopsided 2016 Production Sharing Agreement the company signed with the Guyana Government.

Jagdeo’s government has refused to renegotiate the deal despite widespread criticisms of it both at home and abroad.

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 22, 2024

PAGE 19

United States Govt. donates vital COVID-19 treatment to Guyana The United States Government on donated to Guyana 1,000 doses of Paxlovid, which is a drug used to treat COVID-19.

This medication complements a separate donation of 354,660 Pfizer vaccine doses. Vaccination continues to be the first line of defense against COVID19.

The United States, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other U.S. Government agencies, has worked closely with Guyana throughout the duration of the pandemic to protect public health and strengthen the response to COVID-19.

These resources have helped Guyana with community engagement, infection prevention and control, and laboratory

U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Adrienne Galane greets Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony (left) The United States Government donated 1,000 doses of Paxlovid to Guyana systems, the US Embassy here said in a press release.

Speaking at the handover of the doses to the Ministry of Health, U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Adrienne Galanek

reiterated the U.S. commitment to the people of Guyana in fighting this disease and commended the Government of Guyana for its continued strong COVID-19 response.

“Over the past two decades, the United States has provided more than $140 billion in global health assistance.

We are the world’s largest contributor to the international response to COVID-19. As President Biden has made clear, the United States will work as a

partner to address global challenges.”

Paxlovid is an antiviral medicine that works by stopping the virus that causes COVID-19 from growing and spreading in the body. It is used to treat early COVID19 infection and helps to prevent more severe

symptoms.

Paxlovid is not prevention against COVID19 but rather a treatment for individuals with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.

CDB forecasts an average Man charged for burglarising growth rate of 8.6% Chinese supermarket for Caribbean countries February 21, 2024 - BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: The majority of Caribbean economies are on the rebound says Director of Economics at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) ,Mr. Ian Durant.

Speaking at the Bank’s Annual News Conference on February 20, 2024, the Bank’s chief economist stated that “CDB forecasts an average growth rate of 8.6% for its 19 Borrowing Member Countries in 2024, largely attributable to increased oil production in Guyana and the continued expansion of the tourism industry.

Excluding Guyana, this growth projection falls to 2.3%, a moderation from the estimated growth of 2.5% in 2023, which aligns with the broader trends of slowing, below-average global growth and the ongoing normalisation of economic conditions in the Caribbean.”

Delivering a presentation focused on “Current and Future Requisites For Prosperity”, Mr. Durant highlighted the mostly favourable performance of the Bank’s 19 Borrowing Members in 2023.

However, he also indicated that Haiti remained the exception to the current trend owing to continued instability and high inflation.

The Economics Director also projected that the positive trajectory for 18 of the Bank’s 19 clients is anticipated to continue into 2024.

“Despite having to navigate this challenging external environment, Caribbean economies continued to rebound from the COVID-19 shock, with an average growth rate of 6.7% in 2023.” Tourism remained a key driver of the regional economic performance, with serviceexporting economies growing at an average of 2.4%. “These economies benefitted from robust demand from major source markets and by the end of 2023, 11 countries had overtaken pre-pandemic output levels.”

Although optimistic, the projections are susceptible to various risks including sluggish global growth, persistent high inflation, challenges linked to climate change, and natural disasters, which can all undermine economic performance.

While citing this positive trajectory, and the regional financial institution’s commitment to providing more resources to enable greater resilience, he also identified some requisites for achieving resilient prosperity in the region.

The requirements included adequate, climate-resilient social and economic infrastructure, improving the institutional frameworks within which businesses operate, especially through digitalization and the adoption of artificial intelligence.

The Economist also recommended expanding the human resource base and reducing skills gaps, enabling greater sustainable energy to boost energy security and reduce energy costs.

In addition, he stressed the improvement of logistics quality to facilitate intra-regional trade, which can develop regional value chains, reduce import dependence, and enhance food security.

M r. D u r a n t f u r t h e r a d v i s e d governments that “at this juncture, the focus of fiscal policy is to strike the appropriate balance between securing fiscal sustainability and facilitating growth and development. Making the necessary investments in pursuit of resilient prosperity will require greater access to adequate and affordable financing, so as to not compromise debt sustainability efforts.”

He added, “Raising potential output and building economic resilience over the medium to long term will require reducing high export concentration by raising competitiveness through increased productivity and lower production costs.

A 29-year-old man was charged on Tuesday charged with attempt to commit a felony when he appeared at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court.

Mark Moahmmed of Diamond, East Bank Demerara, was on Monday arrested by a rank attached to the Grove Police Station in relation to a report that he attempted to commit a felony on Fang’s Chinese Supermarket, at Dia ond Access Road, E.B.D. He was charged and appeared before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman where the charge was read to him. The accused pleaded not guilty and was remanded to prison. The matter has been adjourned to March 18 , 2024 for statements. th

m

Remanded Mark Mohammed

Guyana’s oil helps spur regional...

From page 12 he said the CDB forecasts an average growth rate of 8.6% for its 19 of its borrowing member countries in 2024, largely attributed to Guyana’s increased oil production and the continued expansion of the tourism industry.

H o w e v e r, h e s a i d excluding Guyana, the growth projection falls to 2.3%, reflecting broader trends of slowing global g r o w t h a n d t h e normalization of economic conditions in the Caribbean.

Durant explained that the outlook remains susceptible to various downwards risks, including sluggish global

growth, persistent inflationary pressures, geopolitical conflicts, and climate change-related disasters. “Escalations in existing geopolitical conflicts or the emergence of new ones could disrupt s t a b i l i t y, c o n s u m e r confidence and investments, (which are) critical elements for sustaining economic growth,” Durant noted.

He continued, “These events may also trigger supply chain disruptions and rekindle volatility in global commodity prices, necessitating additional monetary tightening that could weaken external travel demand from the region’s

primary source markets.

Additionally, challenges linked to climate change, including natural disasters pose risk to the region.”

Additionally, Durant stated that in order to achieve sustained economic growth and resilience, there is the need for strategic i n v e s t m e n t s i n infrastructure, digitalization, human capital development, and sustainable energy sources. He added that the Bank is committed to supporting its member countries through various interventions in order to accommodate some of the critical spending needed to accelerate development.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Thursday February 22, 2024

2 survivors of Mahdia dorm fire sue State for $10M each Two survivors of the deadly fire that killed 20 students at the female dormitory of the Mahdia Secondary School last May have filed lawsuits against the State claiming in excess of $10 M each in damages they suffered as a result of the inferno.

According to the documents filed by the parents of the two teenage girls, the survivors are claiming the sums for the severe trauma and mental distress as a result of the negligence of the stateoperated dormitory.

In their claim, the lawyers of the survivors noted that the State failed to equip the school with the necessary skills, experience and

expertise in the management of an emergency scenario. The survivors also claimed that the State failed to equip the school with proper lighting for an escape route, and other emergency systems to deal with a fire.

According to the filing, the claimants noted that there were no fire extinguishers at the dorms when the fire struck, and exits were also not marked.

In Court documents, a 14-yearold survivor recalled suffering from smoke inhalation, severe burns about her body and severe trauma.

She also detailed witnessing the death of her fellow students. The

child also suffered severe burns to her shoulder, face and both hands with partial loss of sight as a result of some damage to her eyes.

According to the other pleadings, since the deadly fire, 14year-old claimant has struggled to sleep, communicate and engage with her peers as she did before the incident. She has reported severe trauma and mental distress upon reflection of the fire and the death of her friends and her own narrow escape.

The Court document at all material times, the 14-year-old was in the care and custody of the state at the Mahdia School.

Following the deadly fire last May, the Government of Guyana (GoG) had commenced the process of giving financial assistance to the relatives of the 20 children who died as a result of the May 21, Mahdia Secondary School dormitory fire.

According to a document seen by this publication, each family will receive, if agreed, the sum of $5 million in financial assistance, which constitutes a settlement of all claims and causes of actions on account of all injuries resulting in death and not resulting in death, that resulted from the fire.

The Ministry of Legal Affairs,

in a statement had said that the families were requested to sign an agreement having received independent legal advice. It was noted that while the process of providing this financial assistance is ongoing, as part of the agreement, the government pledged to continue to offer such support as may be necessary to the victims’ families.

Also, the ministry said too that thus far, all the affected families engaged have signed agreements.

However, there was no mention of compensation of the survivors of the fire who also suffered severe trauma.

Thursday February 22, 2024

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Thursday February 22, 2024

‘Guyana a premier hub for investments’...

From page 13 debt to GDP ratio from more than 600%, in the late 1980s and early 1990s to less than 30%, today.

“That story has often been told.

But there is a subtext to that story.

There is a subsidiary headline to that story that is less or less WANTED

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From page 14 discoveries in Guyana in recent years, we anticipate more opportunities to deliver our full suite of solutions to clients.”

He added, “We are happy to build on the successful cooperation between the two companies since 2021. This joint venture combines Axess’ decades-long experience in the energy industry, and GLASS’ local knowledge and expertise, enabling us to meet the needs of the expand-

From page 15 assessments. So, I am saying, the government should be mature and look into the cries of the teachers, meet with the union and get this problem

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on for a long time and has been going on certainly before oil.”

The Senior Minister had mentioned also that Guyana in terms of indebtedness relative to the rest of the world, the country has the second lowest debt to GDP ratio in the western hemisphere.

ing market as a full-service organisation.”

Reflecting on GLASS’s growth, Glenn Low-A-Chee, the Managing Director of GLASS, remarked, “Since opening its doors more than a decade ago as one of the first logistics service providers in the country, GLASS has transformed to become a household name while delivering a myriad of services to the country’s burgeoning oil and gas industry.”

Daniel Patton, Canadian

Director of GLASS, added, “Under this JV arrangement we look forward to combining our expertise and knowledge with Axess’ decadeslong experience in the energy industry, allowing both companies to benefit from the growing opportunities in the market as a full-service organisation.”

According to the statement, this partnership was facilitated through Axess Baffin Inc.’s participation in a trade mission to Guyana in

late 2022, organized by Energy NL. The mission aimed to foster trade relations between Canada and Guyana, involving significant stakeholders such as the High Commission of Canada to Guyana, the Provincial Government of Newfoundland & Labrador, and the Guyanese Government. Importantly, this venture is seen as a strategic alignment to leverage the expertise of both companies to address the increasing demands of the market.

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And the Guyanese story is really it’s largely about oil, but it’s certainly not only about oil, because this work has been going

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often told and that is that we brought down our debt to GDP ratio from over 600% to 60%, before a single barrel of oil was discovered, and certainly before a single barrel of oil was produced,” he pointed out.

He continued to the investors, “And so you have in Guyana, and I say this be-

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sorted out, as soon as possible.”

Roy Bishop, an educator who stood in solidarity with his colleagues outside the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, told Kaieteur News: “We are feeling very bad. It shows how much the Government cares about the nation’s children and the educators, because to have us out here for three weeks, without even calling out, to give us some sort of comfort, it shows the love that the government has for the teachers and the students of this nation.”

In relation to the sanctions to be imposed by the Ministry of Education, in the form of salary deductions, Bishop noted, “At this point, it’s not only the salary what will cut we are just prepared, we will go the long run. Because somebody has to stand up, we are getting chicken feed salary, and to live on that for another year or so, we have to stand up now.

God will provide, and the Union got we back.” “It’s very hard, it’s very, very, very, hard, when you go to the gas station, I know the government said they remove all this taxes, but it is still difficult to full your tank. Food, when you have to feed a family like mine, it is extremely difficult with this salary.”

Another educator who asked not to be named, told this publication that the government’s actions towards the strike demonstrate how callous they are.

“It shows that the government does not really concern about the teachers and their wellbeing, we have been out here for three weeks, this is the 13th day of the strike and it really tells us, that the

Government is not concerned about our wellbeing and they have no intention to pay us better.”

“We are already struggling with what we are given.

Now you are going to say, because yall (the teachers) asking and asking, in this way (Protest), we (the Government) gon cut the little you have. For me, that is a sign of control and manipulation,” the teacher commented.

The educator highlighted, that being a parent with a teacher’s salary he had to seek out another job to cushion to feed his family.

He rejected assertions by the government that the strike is political.

“I wish that the government can realise that this is not political, all of us out here are not out here for political reasons, we feel the economic pressures of living on a meagre salary from month to month.”

President of the GTU, Dr. Mark Lyte last week declared that the strike will continue indefinitely until their demands are met.

“This strike should not have gone on for more than one day. If one day we were outside and you saw us, there should have been an amicable resolution to this problem teachers all across Guyana have been saying one thing.

We would like government to address the financial matters relating to teachers’ salary.

That is the general cry and the general cry has come about because of the hike in cost of living, our teachers are complaining,” Lyte told the media last week.

The GTU leader said that he believes the government has the capacity as well as the resources to address the fi-

nancial worries of some 14,000 teachers. He based his comment on the fact that the Irfaan Ali-led administration has demonstrated on multiple occasions that when monies are needed, the National Assembly is approached.

Lyte highlighted that the government passed the country’s largest budget ever a few weeks ago of $1.163 trillion. Of that sum, the largest chunk of the budget over $200 billion went to the Ministry of Public Works.

“We have the biggest budget and we have the resources, we are not buying that that there is no money (for teachers), not at all,” he added.

Despite repeated attempts to engage in dialogue with the government, Lyte lamented a lack of response and meaningful engagement on crucial financial matters affecting teachers. Lyte called upon the government to extend a formal invitation for meaningful discussions aimed at resolving the impasse and addressing the financial well-being of teachers.

He said, “We would like you to invite us formally to a meaningful meeting where we can agree on the terms of resumption and also timelines for the discussion on the financial benefits of our members.” “We are not buying the saying that there is no money to pay wages and salaries, we are not buying that,” he added.

Moreover, Lyte described the government’s unwillingness to meaningfully engage the Union, as a standoff. He said the standoff could have been swiftly resolved through constructive dialogue and mutual respect.

Thursday February 22, 2024

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Thursday February 22, 2024

Gaza Hospital a ‘place of death’ - says UN as power fails and patients die (ALJAZEERA) Khan Younis’ besieged Nasser Medical Complex has become “place of death”, says a senior United Nations official after aid visit.

Eight patients at Nasser Hospital died on Wednesday after generators shut off due to lack of fuel, the Gaza Health Ministry said.

At least 29,313 Palestinians have been killed and 69,333 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7, the Health Ministry also reported. The death toll in Israel from the

October 7 Hamas-led attacks stands at 1,139.

Across the Gaza Strip, families continue to shelter in the ruins of schools run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine R e f u g e e s ( U N R WA ) because they have nowhere else to go, the UN agency says in a post o n X . “ E n t i r e neighbourhoods are gone without a trace. Military operations relentlessly continue. No place is safe.”

Israeli parliament backs Netanyahu’s rejection of a Palestinian state (ALJAZEERA) Israeli lawmakers have voted to back Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of any “unilateral” recognition of a Palestinian state as international calls have grown for the revival of Palestinian statehood negotiations.

Wednesday’s symbolic declaration, issued during Israel’s war on Gaza, also received backing from members of the opposition with 99 of 120 lawmakers voting in support, a Knesset spokesperson said. The Israeli position is that any permanent accord with the Palestinians must be reached through direct negotiations between the two sides and not by international dictates.

That is despite Netanyahu openly stating his opposition to a Palestinian state, and presenting himself to the Israeli public as a bulwark against any such state. No talks on Palestinian statehood talks have been held since 2014, when Israel refused to accept a state encompassing all of the Palestinian territory illegally occupied by Israel. “The Knesset came together in an overwhelming majority against the attempt to impose on us the establishment of a Palestinian state, which would not only fail to bring peace but would endanger

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the state of Israel,” Netanyahu said.

The vote was condemned by the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, which accused Israel of holding the rights of the Palestinian people hostage by occupation of territories where Palestinians seek to establish a state. “The ministry reaffirms that the State of Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations and its recognition by other nations does not require permission from Netanyahu,” it said in a statement.

Willem Marx, reporting from occupied East Jerusalem, said that over the past few weeks, there have been calls from senior figures worldwide for Palestinian statehood to be recognised as part of any long-term agreement to bring the current bloodshed

to an end. “What we saw just a few days ago from Israel’s cabinet was a vote that was symbolic, saying that they would reject the establishment, the recognition of a Palestinian state if it was forced upon Israel from outside of Israel,” Marx said, referring to the international pressure on Israel to end its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory and agree to a twostate solution.

“In terms of the symbolism [regarding Wednesday’s parliamentary vote], this was designed as a message from Netanyahu, as he made clear, to send to the world that Israelis are united on this specific issue of Palestinian statehood being imposed upon them by external powers.”

Little progress has been made towards achieving a two-state solution –

establishing a Palestinian state in the occupied West Bank and in Gaza alongside Israel – since the signing of the interim Oslo Accords in the early 1990s. Among the obstacles impeding Palestinian statehood are expanding illegal Israeli settlements in territories Israel captured in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. The settlements, which in many areas cut Palestinian communities off from each other, are regarded as a violation of international law.

The two-state solution has long been a core Western policy in the region. Since the outbreak in October of the latest Gaza war, the United States has been trying to promote steps towards the creation of a Palestinian state as part of a broader Middle East deal that would include Saudi Arabia and other Arab states officially normalising relations with Israel.

However, many critics point out that Israel’s actions towards Palestinians – most notably the expansion of the settlements – has made any prospect of a sovereign Palestinian state impossible and a one-state future, whether that be a continuation of the occupation or a state with equal rights for all, more of a reality.

Oil spill affected Tobago schools reopen after one week ( T R I N I D A D GUARDIAN) The Scarborough Secondary School, as well as the Lambeau Anglican Primary School, reopened today, after being closed since Ash Wednesday.

The Division of Education, Research & Te c h n o l o g y t o o k t h e decision to close the schools from February 14, 2024, due to concerns about the air quality in the area following the recent oil spill. Students were engaged in online classes during the interim but have been given the green light to return to school. However, while TTUTA welcomes the schools’ reopening, its Tobago representative Bradon Roberts is hoping that the decision was well thought out, and that safety is not being compromised.

“We are grateful the schools are reopened, and our students can get back to that face-to-face classroom interaction, trusting that school was able to function today, and that it was not a rushed decision,” he said.

And the TTUTA Tobago representative is concerned that school violence remains an issue in both Trinidad and Tobago. He says while cell phone recordings have brought the issue to light, it has been happening long before.

Bradon Roberts is calling for a psychological approach to dealing with violence among children.

“Psychology is more important than logic,” he maintains.

“We could explain to a child—when you engage in these activities, you could either end up dead, in the hospital, in jail, expelled—your life will be tarnished. That’s basic information that anybody should be able to understand, but they’re not taking that.”

“So, we need to understand how our children think,” he says.

“We need to be able to have our students captivated in a positive way in our schools so that they don’t have time to fight.” According to the TTUTA Tobago rep, quick fixes like metal detectors and scanners are not the answer.

“We need to get to our students where they choose to be positive, and we need to give them the avenues where they can enjoy the positive things.

The negative things bring excitement, and we are competing against those,” he points out. “We need to be able to create some avenues for those students who are not doing so well in school to be cheered for, and have something positive happening at school.”

Thursday February 22, 2024

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Kaieteur News

Team Mohamed’s lights-up Berbice U15 all rounder benefit...

West Ruimveldt Play Ground

Thursday February 22, 2024 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Are you an artist, writer, or musician, Aries? If so, your work may take on a more symbolic or impressionistic tone. Today you're probably more interested in conveying feelings and impressions than details.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Innovative art forms might seem especially appealing today, Taurus. Stay out of gallery shops unless you're prepared to take home a carload of merchandise.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Do you believe in ghosts?

Some strange phone calls, emails, or other communications may come your way today, Gemini. One may come from someone who thinks you're someone else.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) An unexpected sum of money could come your way today, Cancer. It probably won't be large, but it will be welcome nonetheless.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Are all of your friends into astrology, divine science, or spiritual matters, Libra? It might seem like most of them are today, anyway. You may have many new friends in those fields.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) A love partner may host a social event or meeting of some kind, Scorpio. It might be interesting to get acquainted with friends of your mate you haven't yet met.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Are you contemplating a trip, Sagittarius, perhaps to a place you've always dreamed of visiting? If you're in doubt as to whether or not you can do it.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) The Material values may pale beside spiritual ones today, Capricorn. You might consider giving up the rat race and retreating to the wilderness.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Have you been exercising too rigorously lately, Leo? If so, you might feel some little aches and pains. Stay off your feet for most of the day.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) A current or potential romantic partner might seem like the most perfect, wonderful person in the world to you, Aquarius. Your romantic nature could get the better of you today.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) You may feel indecisive today, Virgo, especially in the morning. Other people's actions may confuse you.

Don't worry. Concentrate on your projects and goals.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You might not be able to concentrate on your work today, Pisces. Your head may be in the clouds and your eye for detail could fail you somewhat.

Mr. Azaruddin Mohamed continues to play a critical role in the development of sports throughout Guyana by funding several projects to benefit young people in various communities.

One of his latest projects was to illuminate the West Ruimveldt Play Ground, which will see national footballers from the Western Tigers Football Club and other smaller groups taking full advantage also the community as whole.

Following a request by Mr. Ray Mitchell on behalf of the youths and footballers associated with the Western Tigers, the businessman bought and installed the lights about a week ago.

The ground, which didn’t have adequate lighting, is now fully illuminated and will be used as a training facility leading up to major football leagues organised and executed by the Guyana Football Federation. In addition, it will benefit the community.

Nevertheless, Mr. Mohamed recently inspected the facility and urged the young footballers and community members to take full advantage of the installed lights.

From page 30 the Town of Lethem and youth coach, Travis Persaud, softball teams in the Upper Corentyne area, No.65 Young Titans, Just Try CC, Wakenaam Cricket Academy, National fast bowler Shemar Joseph, Nehemiah Hohenkirk and Shamar Apple.

Cricket related items, used or new, are distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients.

Talent spotting is being done across the country and club leaders also assist to identify talent. Progressive and well managed cricket clubs with a youth programme will also benefit.

We take this opportunity to thank Javed and Imran of West Indian Sports Complex, Option Group of USA, Hilbert Foster, Bish Panday of P and P Insurance Brokers, Sean Devers, Trevis Simon, Årïêl J. Tïlkú, Aaron Beharry, Leanna Bachan and Imran Saccoor, Devon Ramnauth, Teddy Singh, Romash Munna, Ravi Etwaroo, Kelvin Brijlall, Ravin Harkishun, Surendra

Harkishun, Allan Mangru and Dennis Mangru, Vishal Mahabir, Sherman Austin, Huburn Evans, Rajendra Sadeo and Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Sheik Mohamed of Star Sports Awards and Trophies, Ajay Gainda of Cricket Equipment Guyana, Gajanand Singh, Peter Ramkissoon, Rabindranath Saywack, Roshan Gaffoor, Ameer Rahaman, Chin Singh, Denesh Chandrapaul, Davo Naraine of UK, Dr Cecil Beharry, Raj Mathura, Raj Bharrat, Latch Mohabir and family, Suresh Dhanai, Vishal Nagamootoo, Moses Nagamootoo, Regal Sports Store, Omkar Singh, P a r m a n a n d Dhaniram,Denanauti Singh, Krishna Rengensamy, Ishwar Singh, Ricky Deonarain of 4R Bearings, Terry Mathura, Kennard Verapen and NY Pioneer Cricket Club and Anita and Derek Kallicharran. We thank the media for the role they are playing in promoting this venture. Distribution will continue.

Anyone interested to contribute can contact Anil Beharry on 623 6875 or Kishan Das on 1 718 664 0896.

Thursday February 22, 2024

Kaieteur News

PAGE 26

GBA to stage second edition of its developmental championship February 28–29 at National Gymnasium

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he Guyana B o x i n g Association (GBA) will stage the second edition of its developmental championship, which is slated for February 28–29 at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue, and serves as part of the association’s monthly developmental protocol.

The event, which is expected to feature representation from the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force, the Forgotten Youth Foundation, a n d R o s e H a l l To w n Jammers, will feature notable categories such as

schoolboys, juniors, youths, women, and the elite. The tournament is also expected to feature international flavour in the form of a Surinamese contingent, while participation from other nations and territories is also being explored by the association. The programme is supervised by Terrence Poole, the association’s technical director.

Steve Ninvalle, GBA President, said, “While the birthing of this initiative was due to the cancellation of the Terrence Ali National Open, which was unfortunate and due to events beyond our control, the programme has

evolved into a creature of its own and has become of intrinsic value to the established and structured developmental apparatus that is employed by the association.”

Ninvalle explained, “This event serves as the foundation or mark for our local activities and will aid in our attempt to surpass the developmental cycle of the previous year, which was of historic proportions. As an entity, our emphasis is fixated and focused on our nursery, which, from an evidentiary standpoint, has afforded us the human capital to dominate the

Keevin Allicock (left) breaches Septon Barton defense during the Lightweight final.

English-speaking Caribbean. And while he understands the importance of the sport’s sustenance, this event, which was initially conceptualised for

senior persuasion, has evolved and advanced to incorporate every aspect of our boxing fraternity. This type and level of benefit are unquestionable, and we at

the GBA will continue to strive to create projects, programmes, and procedures that complement the existing developmental structures.”

F1 pre-season testing: Max Verstappen more than a second clear on day one in Bahrain BBC Sport - Red Bull’s Max Verstappen made an ominous start to Formula 1 pre-season testing with a lap time that put him more than a second clear of the field.

The three-time world champion was 1.14 seconds quicker than McLaren’s Lando Norris in second, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz 0.1secs behind in third.

Lap times in testing are notoriously unreliable form guides, because of the number of variables at play.

However, Verstappen’s car looked poised and quick whenever it was out on track.

Red Bull enter 2024 on the back of the most dominant season in F1 history last year, in which they won all but one of the 22 races.

The new RB20 car has drawn admiring glances up and down the pit lane for the number of innovations it includes, despite the team describing it as an “evolution” of last year’s model.

Verstappen ran all day in the Red Bull, completing 143 laps - more than two race distances - with no obvious

problems, while many other teams split their running between two drivers.

And when he set his fastest time, his race engineer Giampiero Lambiase could be seen g r i n n i n g w i t h satisfaction in the Red Bull garage.

Fuel load, track conditions, time of day, t y r e s a n d p o w e r- u n i t settings are among the factors that can distort the competitive picture in testing as teams seek to hone their cars before the first race.

This season, the opener

will come on 2 March at the Bahrain International Circuit, the same venue that is hosting this week’s three days of testing.

Those who ran in We d n e s d a y ’s f i r s t session, when track conditions were hotter and slower, were at an immediate disadvantage when it came to outright lap time.

F e r r a r i ’s C h a r l e s Leclerc and Aston M a r t i n ’s F e r n a n d o Alonso, second and third behind Verstappen at the lunch break, still finished the day in

overall seventh and eighth places though, despite handing their cars over to their team-mates at the lunch break.

However, Verstappen looked almost as strong in the morning as he proved in the afternoon Leclerc was 0.8secs off his pace, Alonso less than 0.1secs further back.

Sainz had just 0.015secs on Daniel Ricciardo - driving for Red Bull’s second team, now known as RB. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was fifth fastest, followed by Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.

Mercedes, for whom George Russell was only 12th fastest, spent the first session working on bigger set-up changes, including on the floor, and then did long runs on harder tyres in the second, eschewing the single-lap runs completed by many rivals.

Lewis Hamilton did not drive yesterday.

It was a difficult day for Williams.

Their car was the last to take to the track for an initial shakedown test, running only the day before testing started, while all other teams had been out previously.

Logan Sargeant was 11th fastest but managed only 21 laps, punctuated with a spin at Turn Nine, before driveshaft problems ended his running.

Te a m - m a t e A l e x Albon, who drove in t he first session, completed 40 laps but stopped early with a fuel-pump failure.

Day one lap times 1 .

M a x Ve r s t a p p e n ( R e d B u l l ) - o n e m inute 31.344 seconds 2. Lando Norris ( M c L a r e n ) 1:32.484 3. Carlos Sainz

(Ferrari) - 1:32.584 4. Daniel Ricciardo (RB) - 1:32.599 5. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) 1:32.805 6. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) 1:33.007 7. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 1:33.247* 8. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) 1:33.385* 9. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 1:33.658* 10. Zhou Guanyu (Sauber) -1:33.871 11. Logan Sargeant (Williams) - 1:33.882 12. George Russell (Mercedes) - 1:34.109 1 3 . Yu k i Ts u n o d a (RB) - 1:34.136* 14. Valtteri Bottas (Sauber) - 1:34.431* 15. Alex Albon (Williams) - 1:34.587 16. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) - 134.677* 17. Kevin Magnussen (Haas) - 1:35.692* 18. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) - 1:35.906 · * = time set in morning session; all other times in afternoon/evening · Albon’s time set on C4 tyres, Russell on C2 and Ocon on C1. All others on C3. C5 is softest, C1 hardest.

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 22, 2024

PAGE 27

East Coast Cricket Board/Double V Auto Sales Trinidadian jockey projects growth and Navin Construction 100 balls Competition in Guyana’s horse race industry LBI Cricket Club march to the

Trinidadian jockey Rico Hernandez is projecting significant growth in G u y a n a ’s h o r s e r a c i n g industry. Hernandez will take the saddle for Jagdeo Racing Stables at Sunday’s (February 25) Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Horse racing committee Mashramani meet.

The experienced jockey, Hernandez, also noted that the horses are comfortable as preparation intensifies for Sunday’s Mashramani meet.

“The horses are comfortable.

They did some work and they came back comfortable.

That is the most important thing. We are hoping for a good day’s race on Sunday.”

“The experience is very good racing in Trinidad. I won a lot of stakes races, and I can’t compare them to Guyana, but what I can say is the races is developing here a lot, and in the coming years, it will establish to a better racing industry,” Hernandez said.

“You have to go out there and come back safe, it is a risk, but as I say, we are professional jockeys and we take our jobs seriously,” the experienced Trinidadian jockey noted.

The Rising Sun Turf

semi finals

Jockey Rico Hernandez Club is the venue for a Mashramani horse race meet on Sunday February 25, which is being staged by the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee.

Initially, eight races were on the cards, but the hard-working organizers and promoters added one more race to the day’s activity; with nine races set to run off on Sunday.

Some G$10 million will be up for grabs, the feature event will be open to all imported and locally bred horses, running at a distance

of 1,600m. The top horse of the feature event will bag G$2 million.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e provisional programme includes the West Indianbred four-year-old and West Indian-bred three-year-old horses running at 1,600m, and the three-year-old Guyana-bred non-winners of two races running at 1,400m.

All the top horses, locally and imported; and jockeys from near and far are expected to ignite the Rising Sun Turf Club at the Mashramani event.

GOAPC Inter Secondary Schools Tapeball competition bowls off February 24

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he Georgetown O f f i c e Assistants Promotion Committee (GOAPC) gears up to host its Inter Secondary School Ta p e b a l l C r i c k e t Competition on Saturday, February 24th at the National Culture Centre’s Tarmac.

This eagerly anticipated cricket competition is meticulously organised by esteemed individuals such as Dave Mohan, Derek Young, and James Lewis.

Under the banner of “Creating Space for Workers’ Relaxation after H a r d Wo r k , ” t h e tournament promises not

only intense cricketing action but also good camaraderie among participants.

A diverse array of schools has already thrown their hats into the ring, signaling their participation in this exciting event. Among the notable contenders are L e o n o r a S e c o n d a r y, Bishop Secondary, Queens College, Charlestown S e c o n d a r y, M a r i a n A c a d e m y, C h a s e ’s Academic Foundation, Tutorial High, Kingston Secondary, St. Joseph High, Beterverwagting (B.V) Secondary, West M i n s t e r S e c o n d a r y, We s t Demerara

S e c o n d a r y, D i a m o n d Secondary, Covent Garden Secondary, Annandale Secondary, East Ruimveldt Secondary, and St. Roses High.

The event has garnered support from key entities, including P&P Insurance Brokers & Consultants, Ink on P a p e r, M V P S p o r t s , Goodwood Racing Service, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

For those seeking further details, contact the tournament coordinator, James Lewis on #628-1656 or 6895109. The competition bowls off at 8:30 am.

LBI Cricket Club marched into the semi finals of the ECCB/Double V Auto Sales/Navin Construction 100 balls Competition, thanks to outstanding performances from Aaron Beharry and Ariel Tilku, both former youth Inter County players.

In a must win game played against Golden Grove last Sunday at Fairfield, Mahaicony, East Coast of Demerara, LBI won the toss and took first strike galloping to 167 runs for the loss of 3 wickets. Beharry had two partnerships of 46 and 31 with Emron Mohamed and Richard Dowlatram respectively for the first and second wicket.

Mohamed went for 16, bowled by Orin Gardner and Dowlatram 13, stumped off Kellon Stephens.

A. Beharry and Ariel Tilku

Nizam Khan came and went for a quick 13 before Tilku joined the well set Beharry and together, they put on an unbroken fourth wicket partnership of 59.

Beharry was 75 not out with 2 sixes and 8 fours and Tilku 19 not out. Chasing a challenging total of 168 for victory, Golden Grove lost

wickets regularly ending up with 104 for 6 off their allotted 100 balls. Skipper Lennox Andrews fought a lone battle smacking 73 with 4 sixes and 5 fours.

Tilku returned with the ball to take 2 wickets for 29 off his 20 balls. The semi finals are set for this coming weekend.

IKD 4th World Cup, Grand Benefit Gala set for Guyana in July The International Karate Daigaku (IKD) will be hosting its 4th World Cup and Grand Benefit Gala, during the month of July in Guyana with 10th Dan Dr. Frank Woon-A-Tai set to attend the spectacle.

Guyana will host the massive event from July 1621, 2024 which will be in honor and celebration of the Shuseki Shihan’s (Top Instructor), 60th Anniversary.

The 16,000 square feet Dr. Woon-A-Tai Budokan, home of the Guyana Karate College (GKC) and headquarters of the IKD will be visited during the event which is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

G u y a n a ’s S h e s u k i Shihan Woon-A-Tai is the chief instructor of the IKD and Chief Instructor of the (GKC).

Kaieteur News

PAGE 28

Thursday February 22, 2024

GSA, New Amsterdam Secondary latest beneficiaries of GBA Shuttle-time programme

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he Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) continues their development drive via their Shuttle-time programme with New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary and the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) being the latest beneficiaries.

Both Priyanna and Emily Ramdhani have been spearheading the drive along with the support of the GBA. The recent donations of badminton equipment is a part of the GBA’s Shuttletime project, which is geared towards spreading the sport across the Diaspora while

encouraging more Guyanese to become involved with badminton.

Representatives of the New Amsterdam Secondary school hailed the GBA for the recent donations, stating that, “Support goes beyond the tangible items; it symbolizes a commitment to fostering sports and wellness in our educational c o m m u n i t y. E m i l y Ramdhani’s dedication to promoting badminton is commendable and the Guyana Badminton Association’s partnership is invaluable.”

The gesture is set to resonate as a part of the

enthusiasm and skill development of students.

To g e t h e r, t h e m o v e enhances the opportunities for students, thus creating a positive ripple effect that extends far beyond the sports.

Another huge step through the Shuttle-time Programme is the inclusion of the GSA, who will now have an opportunity to promote the game.

The GBA is also expected to visit the Agriculture School where they plan to spike off some coaching sessions while formally introducing the game to the students.

National badminton star Priyanna Ramdhani (first from left) alongside members of the GBA and GSA following their presentation of equipment.

West Indies O60s record thrilling Guyana U-15 player Arif Khan tie vs Sri Lanka in their 2nd ready to shine bright at AJM T20 Official game of the World Cup Deyal receiving his 2nd consecutive MOM award (left) and Emmerson Jordan receiving his Fighter of the match award.

West Indies won the toss and decided to send in Sri Lanka to bat on a pitch which they thought had a bit of preparation moisture at the beautiful Amir Mahal sward.

WI rested Tony Boyke, Hafiz Mohamed and Pramesh Seheult for this encounter. Sri Lanka got off to a thumping start also against the seamers in the first 4 overs and raced to 41 after 6.4 overs. As soon as the spinners were introduced the brakes were placed on the scoring rate with the wicket of Johann Pieris. Sri Lanka were 83 for 3 at 15.2 overs just after the 1st power play but then enjoyed a brilliant 80 run partnership between Lasantha Perera and Keith Jansz which stabilized the innings.

Perera got out just after the 2nd power play was concluded at 163 for 4 at the 30.4 overs mark. Keith Jansz marshaled the tail end batters to a very formidable 254 for 8 and recorded a well-played 64 off 80 balls peppered with 7 boundaries. Zamin Amin

was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 34 whilst Richard Sieuchan took 2 for 53.

In reply, West Indies quickly lost their in-form opener, Mike Heeralall in the 3rd over with the score on 12. Deonarine Deyal then joined Keith Lawrence and they did a repair job to the innings with a partnership of 68 in 17.4 overs. Lawrence departed for a very slow 26 off 52 balls with 3 boundaries. Mukesh Sookram did not last long before he was bowled at 82.

Roy Singh and Deyal then took charge of the innings with some sensible batting putting together a partnership of 66 in 10 overs.

When they were together, things looked quite easy for the Windies masters but Roy was unfortunately run out at the non-striker’s end off a straight drive from Deyal which clipped the fingers of the bowler with Roy a few yards out of his crease. Roy made 29 off 28 balls with 3 boundaries.

Deonarine Deyal was

shortly out for a well-played 83 laced with 10 well-timed boundaries. Richard Sieuchan was then joined by Keith Seale who was clearly unhappy with his LBW decision at 195 from Sharma. Skipper Zamin Amin then came into the crease with a lot resting on his shoulders but did not last very long as he was bowled behind his back for 10 with West Indies still needing 43 in 5 overs but they had lost 7 big wickets. Richard Sieuchan then departed a little after making it 216 for 8. Emmerson Jordan and Howard Jordan added 21 valuable runs to take them within striking distance with 18 runs needed from 11 balls when David Ramsingh joined Jordan.

In the end Jordan struck the final delivery for a comfortable couple but upon prompting by a few of the Sri Lankans the ruling umpire decided to signal 1 short.

Jordan’s contribution was a brilliant 39 off 17 balls with 3 @4s and one maximum.

National Under-15 fastbowler Arif Khan will suit up for Cotton Tree Die Hard team on Saturday, February 24 at the AJM Mash It Up T20 tournament.

Khan and his Cotton Tree teammates will be out to set the tone at Bush Lot Sports Complex Ground in Region five when three other teams do battle for cash prizes of one million Guyana dollars.

“I am really looking forward for the AJM tournament again.I enjoyed the atmosphere last time I played and enjoyed the challenge.

I t ’s a r e a l l y g r e a t experience for me as well so I’m really looking forward. I enjoyed it very much, being a National Under-15 cricketer, the tournament gave me the exposure of being under pressure at times and building my confidence,” the talented youth said.

Khan, who is new to playing in electric atmosphere, described the AJM experience as great.

“It was a nice atmosphere, with the spectators and live commentary and so much more, it was great, it was also my first time playing under lights so I enjoyed it very much and looking forward again for it this Saturday.”

The right-arm fastbowler, who finished with eight wickets in the last AJM tournament, said the key to success to sticking to the

Guyana Under-15 player Arif Khan.

basics.

“Basically, I will just be sticking to the basics, and helping my team win the tournament.Once I get the opportunity to either bat or ball, I will just do my best so my team would win this tournament again.”

Quizzed about how he prepares for a high-octane tournament as this, Khan said: “Well, I’ve been training every day for the past few weeks so coming into this tournament, I’m ready and fit to give it my all for my team.”

The AJM Mash It Up T20 tournament will see four teams in the West Berbice area on February 24.They are: AJM defending T20 champions Cotton Tree Sports Club; D’Edward Sports Club; Achievers ‘A’,

and Bush Lot Sports Club.

The day’s activities will commence at 09:00hrs, and the final will be played under lights.

There will be big screen, commentary, and live scores at the venue, with Crown Vi b e s I n t e r n a t i o n a l providing sounds.

This tournament would quite replicate a CPL atmosphere, the organizers have promised.

Cheerleaders will be on show, in addition to other side attractions.

AJM Enterprise aims to develop cricket in the West Berbice area and provide quality entertainment to the cricket-loving population.

This event is sponsored

by AJM Enterprise and Jumbo Jet and is powered by Banks DIH Limited.

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 22, 2024

PAGE 29

GFF national training centre upgraded for Elite League season six The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) National Training Centre (NTC) pitch has undergone upgrades and testing over the past few months in preparation for Season Six of the Elite League set to kick off on February 25 at the Providence, East Bank Demerara facility.

The synthetic turf received a makeover from the Netherlands-based specialist company Greenfields with funds p r o v i d e d b y F I FA t o guarantee ideal playing conditions for the ten Elite League clubs.

C o mp lemen tin g th e recently installed FIFA-

approved floodlights, the entrance platform of the pitch received a c o m p r e h e n s i v e refurbishment, repairs were meticulously executed on the pitch’s seams and lines, and new ball catcher nets were installed.

GFF President Wayne Forde said he is delighted to see the Elite League’s return to the NTC. “Over the past few months, considerable efforts and funds have been invested in enhancing the facility to elevate both player and fan experiences. We are fully prepared for what promises to be a successful Season Six.”

The enhancements were finalised on January 24, accompanied by training for the local maintenance team on proper procedures, along with the provision of a Maintenance Manual.

Elite League Season Six will feature defending champions Guyana Defence Force, Western Tigers, Guyana Police Force, Fruta Conquerors, Den Amstel, Buxton United, Ann’s G r o v e , S a n t o s , Monedderlust and Slingerz.

A total of ninety games will be played at the GFF National Training Centre, Providence and #5 Ground in Berbice. Match days, predominantly featuring

double-headers, will be on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays.

The champions will be awarded $2,000,000 in cash prize, with second, third and fourth place finishers receiving prizes of $1,200,000, $800,000 and $500,000, respectively.

Under Forde’s guidance, significant investments have been made in advancing club football across Guyana.

The League is the pinnacle of local senior men’s competition. It is a pathway for players to be scouted for the national team programme, as well as by regional and international clubs.

Workmen doing their thing on the surface at the GFF NTC recently.

Trophy Stall Draughts tourney AAG names 23-member team for upcoming Carifta Games set for Sunday Victor Sunich hands over one of the trophies to the Draughts President Mr Jairam (left).

Trophy Stall Bourda Market would be sponsoring a National Draughts Tournament on February 25th, 2024 at the Transport Sports Club. The event would be run by the National Draughts Association.

Registration fee is $500 per person and starting time is 10.00am sharp. The games would be played on both the international 100 and 64 square boards.

Mr. Ramesh Sunich proprietor of Trophy Stall is a Draughts enthusiast and a former player of the game.

Mr. Sunich always comes onboard when requests are made by the National Draughts Association. Mr. Jiaram President of the Association thanked the sponsor on receiving the

- Springer, McPherson, Austin and Roberts to headline Guyana team

T

trophies last Thursday. Mr. Victor Sunich, brother of Ramesh Sunich, who resides in Canada, handed over the trophies. He promised to be

present on the day of the competition to hand out the winning prizes. For more information call Mr. Jiaram on, 614-6671.

he Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) has finalised its roster for the upcoming Carifta Games scheduled to take place from March 30th to April 1st at the Kirani James Stadium in Grenada.

The carefully chosen 23-member team comprises both U-20 and U-17 athletes who will proudly represent the Golden Arrowhead later next month.

Among these talented individuals, there are notable athletes with previous Carifesta Games success, such as Tianna Springer, Javon Roberts, Nerissa McPherson, Attoya Harvey and Malachi Austin.

Additionally, some team members bring valuable experience from their participation in the games last year.

Other members of the 23-member team includes Sahel Cornett, Charisa December, Nalicia Glen, Rondell Green, Jamal Sullivan, Robert Marcus and Dhanielson Gill who will compete in Under-20 divisional categories, while the U-17 unit consist of Athaleyha Hinckson, Duel Europe, Skylar Charles, Kaidon Persaud, Ezikeil Millington, Easter Mc Kinnon, Ryan Joseph, Akilla Blucher, Keneta Fraser, Marissa Thomas and Nathaniel Samaroo.

The selection process

involved rigorous three-day trials conducted on February 3rd, 17th, and 1 8 t h a t t h e National Track and Field Centre in Edinburg, located on the West Coast of Demerara, where 19 members were initially selected, 11 of which gained selection through qualifying process.

The other four m e m b e r s w e r e eventually shortlisted after several meetings completing t h e 2 3 member cast.

Meanwhile, the AAG has high expectations for this skilled and diverse team as they aim to make a mark at the prestigious Carifesta Games 2024.

JC calls on Grange for assistance to break deadlock with ISSA over foreign athletes SportsMax - Jamaica College have sought the intervention of Sports Minister Olivia Grange to resolve an impasse it has with the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) over the eligibility of two international student athletes to represent the school at the 2024 Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships.

According to a letter to Grange signed by Chairman

of the Jamaica College Board of Management, Lance Hylton, ISSA has reportedly refused to permit the two athletes - Evans Tetteh and Dominic Amponsah, who are both from Ghana because of what it says is an “influx” of foreign athletes into Jamaican high schools.

“We believe that the action taken by ISSA is unfair and inconsistent with ISSA’s own rules and could have negative repercussions on Jamaican

athletes seeking similar scholarships to overseas schools,” Hylton’s letter stated. “We are kindly seeking your intervention and mediation into this matter. We look forward to your positive response,” he added.

Jamaica College, who have won the boys’ title 22 times, placed second at last year ’s Championships, behind Kingston College, the winningest school with 34 titles.

Lance Hylton

Kaieteur News

PAGE 30

Thursday February 22, 2024

2024 CWI Regional 4-Day Championships Round 3 GHE vs. WIA Sinclair keeps Harpy Eagles flying, as WIA trail by 79-runs heading into second day - James 5-43, (Eagles 1st innings 173 all out) , Sinclair 4-32 (WIA 1st innings 96-4)

Guyana Harpy Eagles spinner Kevin Sinclair snatched up 4 wickets to help pull things back for the champs.

Kevin Sinclair picked up 4 late wickets during the final session of day one to help give the Guyana Harpy Eagles a 79-run lead over the West Indies Academy (WIA) going into the second day of action at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua.

Round 3 of the 4-Day Championships bowled off yesterday with Guyana limping to 175 before losing all their wickets, after

electing to bat first.

The champs again failed to make an impact with the bat as the young WIA fastbowlers operated with venom to help their team gain a slight advantage.

Captain Tevin Imlach (24), Kevin Sinclair (24), opener Matthew Nandu (28) and Ronaldo Alimohamed who finished with an unbeaten 30, were the first innings contributors.

Fast-bowler Joshua James celebrated his 23rd birthday in grand style, returning 5-43 from 13.4 overs as he led the Academy’s attack on the Champs. Fellow pacers, Johann Layne was exceptional during his spell which yielded 2-27 while Kelvin Pittman bowled a decent spell for his 1-46.

Spin played a crucial role too as Joshua Bishop snared 2-31, while Guyanese Ashmead Nedd ended with 1-22, guiding WIA to a phenomenal bowling outing versus the defending champions.

Test all-rounder Kevin Sinclair ran through the WIA top-order prior to the close of play as he gave Guyana a 79run lead, ending with 4-32 as the Academy finished on 964 after 26 overs.

Joshua Bishop 33* will resume his innings today w i t h p a r t n e r, o p e n e r Rashawn Worrell, who will be eyeing a significant score after hitting three fours and 2 sixes in his 34 not out.

James’ birthday shenanigans with the ball got underway

when he landed a huge dent onto Guyana’s middle-order.

The pacer snapped up three huge scalps including; vice-captain Kevlon Anderson (13), Raymon Perez (6) and a returning Imlach; who looked fluent up front before playing a bit more watchful after losing his partners.

O p e n e r Ta g e n a r i n e Chanderpaul (14) failed to capitalize on his form from the last game, being outclassed by his Guyanese counterpart and local teammate, Nedd, who bowled well against his former teammates.

Nandu continued to look set for a score at the top of the order, digging in for a solid 66-ball 28 with four boundaries before being out caught, off the bowling of Layne.

Wicket-keeper Kemol Savory (9) had his stumps uprooted by Pittman, leaving Guyana heading into the tea break with almost half their side back in the Pavillion.

Sinclair and Alimohamed showed some resistance at the back end of the final session on day 1.

It was a bowler’s day as WIA pacer Joshua James captured 5 wickets.

However, a rampant WIA bowling unit had other ideas as James completed his 5-fer with help from Bishop and Layne, the Academy eventually mowing down the champs before getting some time to acclimatize to the pitch prior to stumps.

Also at stumps on day 1, the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force were bowled out in their 1st innings for 136.

Leewards Hurricanes meanwhile finished 137 all out in their 1st innings.

Day 2 action continues from 10:00h.

Berbice U15 all rounder benefits from Project “Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana” Fifteen years old Gibran Yacoob was the latest young cricketer to benefit from this joint initiative between Anil Beharry of Guyana and Kishan Das of the USA. He was the recipient of one cricket bat. The left arm spinner, who bats right handed, has represented Berbice at the Under15 level twice including the recently concluded Inter County Championship.

Yacoob, a student of Skeldon High School, represents Upper Corentyne at junior levels and No. 70 Spartans at the senior level.

He expressed gratitude to this initiative and promised to work harder on his game after average returns in the

recent tournament. “This project is happy to be associated with the development of young Yacoob and urges him to stay focused on his education as well,” said Vicky Bharosay a representative of the initiative.

Total cricket related items received/purchased so far: $370,000 in cash, thirteen colored cricket uniforms, two trophies, nineteen pairs of cricket shoes, thirty two pairs of batting pads, thirty four cricket bats, thirty pairs of batting gloves, twenty four thigh pads, three pairs of wicketkeeping pads, six arm guards, two chest guards, two boxes, eleven cricket

bags, six bat rubbers, six helmets, one softball cricket bat and ten boxes of white balls. In addition to the above, over $600,000 worth in gear was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former National wicket keeper/batsman. All cash collected is being used to purchase cricket gear requested and not available at the time.

To date, seventy two young players from all three counties of Guyana have benefited from seven gear bags, two trophies, four arm guards, thirty one bats, three boxes, six helmets, twenty seven pairs of cricket shoes, eighteen pairs of batting pads, twenty four thigh pads, one bat rubber, thirty one

pairs of batting gloves and three pairs of wicketkeeping gloves.

In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area benefited from two used bats.

Pomeroon, Leguan and Wa k e n a a m C r i c k e t Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also received one box of red cricket balls each, Cold Fusion Cricket Club thirteen color uniforms while RHCCCC received three boxes of balls, fifteen white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicket keeping gloves and a set of stumps and bails. Other beneficiaries are The Essequibo Cricket Board, (Continued on page 25)

Gibran Yacoob (left) collects his bat from Vicky Bharosay.

Thursday February 22, 2024

Kaieteur News

PAGE 31

CPCE/Nexgen Golf combine to host Inaugural Golf Tournament C

yril Potter College of Education Batch of 2024 Physical Education Majors in Collaboration with Nexgen Golf Academy will host the first ever Chip, Putt and Drive Open Golf Tournament.

Wednesday’s major announcement outlined a number of areas regarding the tournament, which will tee off at CPCE campus ground in Turkeyen on April 13th 2024.

T h e a m a t e u r tournament will comprise of 20 teams of 4 persons drawn mainly from CPCE teachers, several nearby community groups, University of Guyana students and teams from Region 3 but any four person team can partake if registered by March 28th on a first come basis.

This is the first major tournament fully organized by the CPCE Batch of 2024 Physical Education Majors in Collaboration with the Guyana Golf Association Affiliate Club Programme and is part of the amazing growth of the sport over the past two years which has seen thousands of new players taking up golf as their new sport.

According to CPCE Vice Principal Registrar Ms. Kevaun Sears, “This event shows our teacher students commitment to learning and promoting Golf and the response by teams from all over is demonstrative of the interest in the game.

I am grateful for the support by Mr. Hussain, the

GGA and Nexgen Golf that allowed this sport to be introduced to Guyanese.”

Speaking on behalf of the CPCE Golf team Mr. Stanley Alque, Physical Education Coordinator, stated, “This event started small and has grown rapidly to include 80 players.

The ease with which our teachers have learnt and the level of interest shown in Golf continues to excel and with the help of Mr. Hussain it will produce greater performances.

According to GGA president Aleem Hussain, “The Drive, Chip and Putt tournament format is gaining popularity around the world as casual players opt for the shortened version of the game to showcase their skills.

Most major events include this type of challenge to attract more players to the sport and to create excitement and awareness of golf, especially to young people.”

The tournament will be monitored by the G u y a n a G o l f Association’s Secretary Mr. Al Wilson and Vice President Mr. Monnaf Arjune to ensure compliance with the rules of the Association.

Medals and hampers will be awarded to the top 5 teams.

Te a m s d e s i r o u s o f registering may contact Ms Trim at 691-1700 or Ms. Harris at 669-0381 as soon as possible.

Cyril Potter College of Education PE majors will be preparing to host their inaugural Chip and Drive tournament.

AAG names 23-member team rts o p S for upcoming Carifta Games GBA President Steve Ninvalle

- Springer, McPherson, Austin and Roberts to headline Guyana team Flashback! Tianna Springer, Narissa McPherson, Malachi Austin, and Javon Roberts at CJIA last year. (file photo)

GBA to stage second edition of its developmental C/ship February 28–29 at National Gymnasium

Team Mohamed’s lights-up West Ruimveldt Play Ground Team Mohamed’s lights-up West Ruimveldt Play Ground.

2024 CWI Regional 4-Day Championships Round 3…GHE vs. WIA

Sinclair keeps Harpy Eagles flying, as WIA trail by 79-runs heading into second day - James 5-43, (Eagles 1st innings 173 all out) , Sinclair 4-32 (WIA 1st innings 96-4) Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.