Kaieteur News

VP Jagdeo boasting about Chevron's worldwide assets for Guyana despite deal yet to be finalised

Parika woman stabbed to death by drunken husband EAB Chairman denies involvement in decision to waive EIA for Wales Gas Plants

Guyana only receiving 0.5% royalty instead of 2% from Exxon -ProfessorHunte

The Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) Guyana signed with ExxonMobil and its CoVenturers- Hess and CNOOCstipulates that the country must be paid two percent royalty of “all petroleum produced and sold” but the contractor has been paying the state0.5%instead.

This was recently explained by Guyanese scholar, and former Ambassador, Dr Kenrick Hunte. Royaltyisafixedpercentageofthe gross value of revenue, paid to governments or the owners of naturalresources.

Hunte in a letter to this newspaper, published on March 3, 2024 said the oil company was instead paying Guyana out of its profits, thereby shortening the already meagre revenues for the countryfromroyalty

The former Guyanese Ambassador was keen to point out thattheoilgianthasbeendeducting 75%ofthemonthlyearningsinthe Stabroek Block to recover its investments, in keeping with the provisions of the Petroleum Agreement.Itisfromtheremaining 25% that Guyana receives 50%, whichisequivalentto12.5%ofthe total revenues earned. Exxon then hands Guyana a share of its earnings,valuedattwopercent.

Dr Hunte therefore argued that thisisnotinkeepingwiththeterms oftheAgreement,pointingoutthat Article 15.6 page 39 states that: “The Contractor shall pay, a royalty of two percent of all Petroleumproducedandsold.”

Consequently, he explained, “This implies that the two percent royalty must be sourced from the total sales and not from the profit share of EMGL (ExxonMobil Guyana Limited) In the circumstances, it is contended that this act by EMGL, which uses its profit share to pay Guyana’s royalty, violates the condition of Article 15.6 in the PSA; it robs Guyana of its correct royalty payment; and this approach by EMGLgeneratesasmallershareof

Professor and Former Ambassador, Dr. Kenrick Hunte

totalsalesforGuyana.”

Toarriveathisconclusionofthe 0.5%royaltybeingpaidtoGuyana, ProfessorHuntesharedtheformula he used. “This understated royalty (UR) amount is specified as: UR = 2% (profit) = 2% (25%) total sales (TS) = 0 5% (TS) Therefore, Guyana’sshareoftotalsales(TS)is not14.5%,butitisonly13%;that is: profit (12.5 %) plus royalty (0.5%).”

Notably, the financial statementsforExxonMobilGuyana confirm this state of affairs. The reports show that the oil company has been paying royalty to Guyana outitsrevenues.

As such, Dr Hunte highlighted thattheoutcomeisGuyanaisbeing blatantlyrobbedof1.5%ofitsshare of total sales. He was keen to note that while some might think 1.5% of total sales are insignificant, it is infactverycriticalwhenbillionsof dollarsisinvolved.

Dr Hunte is a Professor of Economics at Howard University, Washington, D C , and former AdjunctProfessoratJohnsHopkins University,BowieStateUniversity HeholdsaPhDinEconomicsfrom theOhioStateUniversity,USAand is also a former High Commissioner of the Cooperative RepublicofGuyanatotheRepublic ofSouthAfricaandisalsotheNonResidentHighCommissionertothe Republic of Namibia, High Commissioner of the Republic of Zambia, and Non-Resident Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe.

He has published numerous scholarly articles in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and letters to the editors on various issues; as well as participated in radio and television discussion programmes; and conducted consultancies in India and the Caribbean for the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization In Guyana, he was the Chief Executive Officer/Director of the Guyana Development Bank (GAIBANK).

Exxon’s 2022 Annual Report shows that the company paid Guyana royalty out of its revenue

‘I will not reveal oil plans and names of oil and gas committee members’- Norton tells nation

L e a d e r o f t h e Opposition, Aubrey Norton is reluctant to reveal the names of the oil and gas committee members appointed by the political body More importantly however,theOppositionwill not reveal its plans for the managementoftheoilsector until the opportune time, since it believes the government will adopt their policies.

Norton, during his weekly press conference on Thursday,wasrespondingto a request by Kaieteur News to name the members of the oil and gas committee and their qualifications, as well as the body’s plan for the sector

Membersofcivilsociety had previously noted their d i s g u s t o v e r t h e Opposition’s silence on matters relative to the rapidly growing petroleum industry The Leader of the Opposition has been relatively mute on oil and gas related matters, unless asked to give his views duringpressconferences.

Norton had previously said there was a special committee established to discuss and guide the Oppositiononthefairlynew industry He has however made it clear that the names of those persons will not be madepublic.

The Leader of the Opposition said, “I have answered the first question beforemanytimes,noIwill notsaywhocompriseouroil andgascommittee.Icansay to you that it has expertise bothathomeandabroad.”

Asaseasonedpolitician,

...afraidVPJagdeowillstealtheirideas

thisgovernmentwouldeven “bribe itself”, so the Opposition has to employ strategic methods to protect theseindividuals.

Norton said he knows for a factthat“peoplewillseekto access those persons and influencetheirpositions.”

In fact, he mocked that

“Insomeregard,youare dealing with a government that would bribe itself. So why would I tell a governmentlikethiswhoare the members of our oil and gas group. I wouldn’t and I havenoapologiesforit,”he said in response to Kaieteur Newsquestion.

Further, Norton would only say that the group compriseseightspecialists.

When it comes to the committee’s plans for the sector, the Opposition Leader explained, “I have said that we will release our oil and gas plans at the appropriate time. Let me remind people what is happening. I went to Mocha at a public meeting and said the APNU/AFC in government will, having noted that diabetes and hypertensionarecriticaland that there are a certain amount of health problems here, I said at a meeting in Mocha APNU/AFC

government will put resources into helping the average man to access those healthservices.”

Soon after, Norton said, government revealed plans to offset medical tests for cervical cancer He also noted that the Opposition announced a rent to own scheme and a people centered development that government has now adopted.

Tothisend,hesaid,“We areclearthatwehavetotime whenwereleasewhatever

Continuedonpage22

Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton

One ExxonMobil in Guyana is enough, two is frightening

Guyanese have already had too many close encountersoftheworstkindwithAmerica'soil supergiant, ExxonMobil, to even think of another presence of near equivalent stature here. One ExxonMobil is head spinning enough to think of, given its greedyfeedingonthewealthofGuyanese. Tothinkofthe possibility of another of almost identical greediness could send locals to a psychiatrist. This is what the circling, pendingpresenceofChevroninGuyanacouldrepresent:a doubling of the horrors dumped on Guyanese harboring hopesforsomematerialbenefitsfromtheiroilwealth.

It was one thing to deal with John Hess, CEO of Hess Corporation. Toenhancethefortunesofhiscompanythat wasstuckinthedoghouse,hebecamethebestpromoterof Guyana's oil. At every opportunity, Mr Hess was busy selling Guyana's exciting prospects. As he pumped up his company'sprospects,andlifteditofftheground,hesnared the interest of Mr Michael Wirth, CEO of Chevron. EveryonewhothoughtthatHesswasamanoflooselipshad a surprise coming to them: a US$53B one with Chevron poised to replace Hess Corp as a 30% stakeholder in Guyana'snowlegendaryStabroekBlock. JohnHessfooled everyone:hewasnotalltalk,forheknewwhathewasdoing behind the scenes, which was selling the world class promise of Guyana. Now Guyanese have their own nightmare extending, with having to deal with not one ExxonMobil,buttwogiantAmericananacondas.

Mr Hess used to talk about anything that came to his head, which ranged from the caliber of the government to the 'guarantee' given about expected judiciary ruling(s) to therichoilgushersfoundinnewdiscoveries. Inhisuntiring efforts to unload his company at an enormous profit, he talkedupastormbeforeeverybody Nowtheoppositewill prevail: Chevron's Mike Wirth is no John Hess, and tightlipped will be the name of his game. He is not into broadcasting;heisintoprofitmaking. IfChevronsucceeds in overcoming the objections of ExxonMobil, then Guyanesehavethisunhealthyprospectofbeingthepawns oftworuthlessAmericancorporatepanthers,andonesilent Chinese Dragon. It is a scenario straight out of a horror movie.

ExxonMobil is the current lead operator, with Alistair Routledge as ExxonMobil's powerhouse on the ground in Guyana. ShouldChevrongetpastitshurdles,itissuretobe side by side with ExxonMobil in racing to find more commercially viable oilfields in Stabroek Block, Guyana. ThereisthatUS$53Bdecisionthatmustberecovered,and inthequickesttimepossible.

We urge readers to familiarize themselves with Chevron'shistorywiththeenvironment. Ecuadorstandsas a compelling example of how reckless and callous an oil companycouldbe,withChevron'sdumpingover16billion gallons of toxic waste into that country's Amazonian environment. A US$9.5B judgment is still unpaid by Chevron13yearslater,withtheicingonthecakebeingan attorney bribing the Ecuadorean judiciary Elsewhere, Chevron has been in the middle of oil spills disputes in Angola, and violations of pollution standards in America. Anti-ChevronprotestorshavebeenfireduponinNigeriafor itsdepravitiesintheNigerDelta,andthecompanyhadbeen theobjectofoutrageinArgentina.

In Richmond, California, there is an annual AntiChevron Day to draw attention to what protestors call the company'scrimes.

This is a small part of the history of the possibly new partner that Guyanese could be having in the Stabroek Block. The leaders of Guyana have been the worst manifestations of dealing weakly and fearfully with

Gains from mediation process must be expanded on as talks set to begin

DearEditor, Theoutcomeofthecourt ordered mediation has to be seen as a win-win for both parties. Thegovernmentgot its desired outcome of the process - getting teachers back into classrooms. The union is able to get the employer to the salaries bargainingtable.

Sowhentalkscommence on Thursday which of the grievance procedures is being invoked? Wiping the

slatecleanandstartingover, so it is negotiations, or moving to the next level of the grievance procedure ladder?

It is hoped talks can commenceandcontinueina s p i r i t o f m u t u a l understanding, respect and an atmosphere of cordiality Itisnotedsometeachersare peeved with the union to agreeing to calling off the strike without first securing an increase in salary, the

perceived core issue, for them,forindustrialaction.

This might be a misconceptionasithastobe reasoned was the strike called because of salary increases or lack thereof, or was is it to get the employer to discuss the burning issue of salary increases as proposed in the union's multi-year proposal along with other incentives? I think it was the latter The union president recognised

employers cannot enter into negotiationsforsalarywhile employees are striking (DemerarawavesMar4).

We can only hope the gains from the mediation process, chief of which opening trust and communication channels, can be maintained and expanded on, to the greater good and benefit for all concerned.

Sincerely

ShamshunMohamed

Rooplall Monar was a Pioneer in Creolese Writings

DearEditor,

ItiswithsadnessIreadof the passing of Shri Rooplall Monar of East Coast. He was one of Guyana's finest writers, a forerunner or pioneer of using Indian Creolese vernacular in literary writings His writings were full of emotions, irony, and empathy and grass roots oriented.Theycarriedarich repertoireofmemoriesusing metaphors to capture the lived experience in revelatory terms Indian culture also ran deep in his writings that started in the 1960s. If one can make a comparison of him with the Naipaulbrothers,Monarwas grassrootswhereasthelatter weremiddleclasscentered. Monar was also a very goodpoet,aclassofhimself, aluminaryfigurein(Indian) Guyaneseliterature.

His works were recognized by Guyana Literary Prize selectors, and hewashonoredwithAAbut not prominent on literary readinglistsofUniversityof Guyana and UWI and for CSECandCAPE.However, he, like every other Indian writers and cultural proponents, did not receive financial support from the state. Indian arts (music and writings) were never considered important or worthy of support by

ExxonMobilinnumerousareas.

politicians, not even those who depend on Indian votes to win government As expected, Monar's great contributions to Guyanese literature continue to be marginalized in his home country as well as in the EnglishCaribbean.

I confess the first time I heard of and read Monar's writings was when I was a post-graduatestudentduring the 1980s I was preoccupied with my studies and anti-dictatorial struggle during the 1970s into the early1980swithhardlytime for the arts like reading literary works although someofthatwasrequiredin pursuing an undergraduate degree (Bio-Chemistry) in any subject at my university inNewYork.Indianwriters, apart from the Naipaul brothers and KR Narayanan and a few other well-known ones, were not on reading listsofuniversities.

Theliteraturereadinglist in North America and Europe was Anglicized and Europeanized. After some protests, the works of African American and Spanish writers were included in literature. And aftertheprotestsoftheIndoCaribbeans and (Bharat) Indians, Indian literary figures (including IndoCaribbean) became part of the reading lists at

With Chevron and Mike Wirth rearing to get going in Guyana's oilfields, the odds have just multiplied of Guyanese politicians collapsing in more cowardly ways before the two-headed juggernaut that is shaping up to be ExxonMobil-Chevron.

Guyaneseshouldgetoneideaintheirheads:thepeople runningoilcompaniesarenotangels,therearelikeruthless assassins aiming for the kill. The biggest profits by any meansarethebestkills. ChevronisatwintoExxonMobilin this regard, as its record proves. Guyanese should beware: thegoingjustgottougherandrougher.

universities throughout the USA.

In recent times, the literary works of Arabic writers and the writings of other ethnic groups, including Guyanese, Trini, Jamaicans, are now part of the reading lists and curriculum in secondary as well as college education. Also,theworksofGuyanese and other West Indian literature can be studied as part of standardized tests in English and Literature in New York and multiple states.

Unfortunately, Indian writersarestillstrugglingto have their works on the reading lists at tertiary institutions in Guyana and the Caribbean. Thank God for the White man in America for including Indian writers on reading lists of students pursing secondary and tertiary education, treating them with equality with that of Europeans and Blacks or Africans.

When will governments inGuyanaandtheCaribbean treat Indian writers with equality? As I browsed public libraries and those of secondary schools and universities, it fills me with pride that works of Guyanese, brethren of my homeland, have been availableandhavealsobeen figured in the reading list of colleges in a White country The leaders of brown and Black countries don't care for these literary things Pursuing power for selfaggrandizement is more important to them. Most of the writings of Rooplall Monar and other prominent Indian writers are yet to be listed in English literary studiesintheCaribbean.

Rooplall Monar was an

outstanding writer whose literary works should be on anyreadinglistatUGandin any university in the Caribbean. His writings are relevant to subjects pertaining to Guyanese, Caribbean, and Indian diasporas. He, like all of us from the plantations, had a mostdifficultchildhoodand experienced a life of struggle He was not ashamedofpovertyandalife ofstruggle.Hewasawitness to Indian plantation life and he wrote about it. He wrote about it. One of the finest writers, pre-eminent in the Indian (Guyanese creolese) vernacular that accurately capturedthelifestrugglesof his ancestors (girmityas) who came from India and their descendants His writings allowed him to conveyhisfeelingsabouthis people.

Helovedandempathized withthem,andheexpressed that empathy through his writings.

His poems and short stories carried ancestral memories that was history Hewroteonthecolonialand postcolonial experience of indenturedlaborersandtheir descendants on the plantations and under authoritarian rule (which wasnotmuchdifferentfrom thetreatmentduringcolonial rule.

He also wrote on malefemale relations and the patriarchaldominanceofour society, the violence against women which he abhorred and condemned. He was a very serious poet and writer and took his writings at face value, accurately depicting life But beneath the seriousness of his thoughts andpenmanship,hewasalso agenialfigureproudofhis (Continuedonpage6)

Up from poor backgrounds have most of us come: Let us not belittle each other for that

DearEditor,

Readingournewspapers to keep abreast of what is happeninginGuyana,Iwas jarred this morning by the headline in the Letters sectionofKaieteurNewsof Today, Monday 4th March; 2024:“PresAli,amanfrom a poor background has the temerity to tell workers demanding better, that his regimewillnotbebullied.”

Greatly jarred was I, because that headline says that someone from a poor background like the majorityofus,shouldnotbe criticalofusorseektodirect us, but, presumably, someone from an upperclass background could. If you differ with my understanding,thinkofwhat theword“temerity”means.

Having been jarred, I read on. I keep hoping that most if not all of my colleagues who would have livedthroughthe1960s,70s, and 80s would have discerned, become reconciled to, and become advocatesofsomefactsthat might seem harsh: we have to forego much today to prepare ourselves and our surroundings for us to get better at producing all that weneedanddesire.Perhaps it is my childhood in a largely self-subsisting, rural family in Mahaicony, that taught me that whilst I advocate today that food (and many other goods and services) are rights, I know thatthefieldsneeddrainage andirrigationlaidinandthe land prepared before the cassavaisplanted,nurtured, reaped, peeled and cooked beforesettingonatablewith chairsaround,allproduceof our own hands. Our strong needsshouldbedrivingusto better ourselves and our conditions.

W e s h o u l d b e wondering, how much should we be saving?

directing our substance and our work towarda better tomorrow? We may get a feeling for an answer by recalling that the people of our world marveled at the very rapid growth and development of the Asian tigers, so evident in Japan starting in the 1960s, followed by South Korea, Taiwan, and Mainland China. In the 1950s into the 1960s, Guyanese and Guyanawerebetteroffthan thosepeoplesandcountries. Overall estimates suggest thatevenwiththelittlethey thenhad,theygotontopaths ofsavingandinvesting30to 40%ofwhatlittletheyhad, combined with some amount of external help(which they welcomed but did not become dependent on). For periods lasting 50 to 60 years, they were thus able to maintain averageannualgrowthrates of about 10 %, doubling theirproductionandincome every about seven years, yielding increases of about 100fold in quantity, quality, and variety in goods and services produced and enjoyed.

They rapidly closed the gap with the most advanced peoples and countries and left us far behind. We can and must hurry to catch up. We need to discern that that is the vision that is driving ourPresident.

Yes,weareallworthyof anddeservemore:allofus–teachers, all our public servants,nurses,policemen, soldiers; city town and villageworkers;ownersand operators of speedboats and minibuses;doctors,lawyers, engineers, and business people.Yes,ourteachersare the lowest paid in the Caribbean but that is true alsoforallofus,workersall, whether in the public or private sector, whether paid or self-employed. It would

be best for every one of us, whether in the public or private sector, paid servants orself-employed,toeachfill ourselves with a helpful, cheerful, and enterprising spirit.

Itiswhathasbroughtme alongfromwhereIwas.

Weshouldrecognizeand findpleasureintheprogress we have been making since the end of the 1980s, even before the Consortium led byExxondiscoveredtheoil off our shores. In terms of average per capita GDP, we were in 1992 happily approaching US$ 500 (per person, per year) whilst Barbados was forlornly stationary at US$ 7,520 (15 timesasmuch)andtheUSA at US$ 25,400 (50 times as much). By 2015 we were at US$5,670BarbadosatUS$ 17,200 and the USAat US$ 56,800; and in 2022 we (Guyanese) were at US$ 18,200 (US$ 14,920 -GNI), BarbadosatUS$20,200and theUSAatUS$76,300.We have been closing the GDP earning gap rapidly but we are still far from being rich and prosperous, far from closing the wealth gap accumulated over many years.

We still have many thingstodo.Itooknoticeof thepicturespublishedofthe empty school classrooms and, as one who was taking notice at the end of the 1980s, I could not but be struck by the great

improvementinourschools and classrooms.We are less starvingthanbefore.Weare coming to come (as our old people used to say) but not yetthere.

The need for us to manage our expectations is made much harder by several provocative statements that are around. True, in terms of barrels of oildiscoveredwemaybethe “richest” people in the world,butintheground,itis still only potential wealth; andweareamongthelastto have had oil discovered, in the last days of oil being g l o r i o u s Oilmaynolongerbesought after, and who knows what worth in 30 years!Aware of this, we ought to (as we are doing) seek to have maximum quantities of oil recovered and sold, for as long as we may, and optimize investment in ourselves - our health, education, safety nets, currentpayrates-andinour infrastructure.

And we should keep at thebackofourheads,thanks tothetablesprovidedbyDr Hunte, that in the highest producing countries that have been long in the business, it takes no more than US$ 10 to pump and present a barrel of oil to the market, about US$ 30 is required now for the oil off our shores. We are not that wellplacedforanyshake

(Continuedonpage6)

DearEditor,

A significant number of Guyanese do not trust the PPPregimeandarereluctant to believe that the PPP will live up to any negotiations that will positively benefit theteachers.

Many Guyanese believe thatteachersshouldcontinue tostrikeuntilthegovernment deliversontheirdemands.

Over four weeks of sacrificewithslippersonthe ground in the burning sun andheavyrains;teacherswill return to work tomorrow not certainwhethertalkswiththe government and union will indeed commence on Friday and if that process will drag outuntilBudget2025.

The judiciary had to interveneforthegovernment to be forced to sit down and talk about a livable wage for teachersamongothercrucial and pressing concerns affecting our nation's educators.

Yes, this is, however, a victory for teachers and they are triumphant in this first round of their struggle and sacrifice, thanks to Guyana's judicial hero, Justice Sandil Kissoon whose ruling is historicandunprecedented.

ThePPPhasahistoryand penchantfordisregardingthe

rule of law and is quite conscious that the power of slippers on the ground was not visibly supported by the proverbial political boots on theground.

The PPP is fully aware that union leaders such as GPSU president Patrick Yarde and some in the TUC are not genuinely up to the task of seriously confronting government to demand that teachersgettheirdues.

ThecallforPatrickYarde togomustnowintensify

Teachers must therefore be prepared to down tools andtaketothestreetsagainif there is an inkling of uncertainty as to how long the talks would take before they know if their demands willbefavourablymet.

The process of the government being forced to talktotheunionmustnotturn out to be a matter of water beingpouredontheflamesof the teachers struggle to indefinitelyquellit.Teachers across Guyana must therefore remain alert and ready No retreat, no surrender Their demands mustbespeedilymet.

Sincerely

NormanBrowne Social and Political Activist

Can constitutional reform do something about election rigging attempts?

DearEditor,

I read with interest Dr Henry Jeffrey's 'dissertation' ongovernanceandequability published in the media yesterday,March5,2024.

Jeffrey appears confused whether to defend Hamilton Green'scandidadmissionthat the PNC had rigged elections and that it should continue to doso.

Whatever his objectives might have been, Jeffrey's language indicates he is no different from Green. Thus, he adds to Green's putrid construction of the PPP as “devils, bastards, and demons” with his own insertionof“evil.”

Green is against constitutional reform, while Jeffrey is for it. But the real

question for both of them is this – can constitutional reform stop the APNU-AFC from rigging elections? How would a 2/3 majority vote in theNationalAssemblygetthe APNU-AFC from breaking withtheirpast.PerhapsGreen isrightaboutculturalchange, although not in the sense intended.

Apropos, it would take massive cultural change within the APNU-AFC, and especially in the PNCR, for thecountrytomoveforward.

The wickedest act in democraticpoliticsiselection rigging. Laws can help, but onlyculturalchangewillputa permanent stop to it in the APNU-AFC.

Sincerely Dr RandyPersaud

Up from poor backgrounds have...

Frompage5

out.Itisprudentnottoletcurrentcosts gallopaway

IwouldliketodisclosethatItooam also a man from a materially poor background,perhapsevenpoorerthan ourPresidentAli,andbeingfortyorso years older, so much closer to the grave. I wish I were a youth in these dayswithachanceofbuildingGuyana likethepeopleofJapan,SouthKorea, Taiwan, Singapore and Mainland China did over say 1950 to 2020, and likethepeopleoftheUSAdidoversay 1880to1950.Let'smake1990to2060 our70yearsofoutstandinggrowthand

development.

And in closing, a word to my old colleague, Lincoln Lewis, from our bauxite days, from the 1960s. We shouldknowbynowthattoovercome our poverty, we of the poor and working classes must grasp all opportunities to enable ourselves to becomemoreproductive;wemusttake up responsibilities; we must all develop the minds that we previously ascribedtoonlymanagersandowners, minds that strive to create and accumulatewealthandcapacity;goats didn't bite us, every one of us has withinusasufficientspiritofventuring

and enterprise. That is the way, and nowisagoodtimeforustogetupand standuppunwefoot;and,letusnotbe disparaging of any other of us who started from a background as poor or poorer than us, but let us commend what they have made of themselves and appreciate what they are doing to provide us opportunities to enable ourselves.

Sincerely

SamuelAAHinds

Former Prime Minister and FormerPresident Ambassador from Guyana to the USAandtheOAS.

Rooplall Monar was a Pioneer in...

Frompage4 (Indian and Guyanese) background.

Monar displayed an affinity with others from his ethnicity but he also displayed same of other ethnicity who were fellow writers, poets, cultural figures, and sports enthusiasts. He socialized with Wordsworth McAndrews, for example, and he

gravitated towards Jeremy Poynting, and he jogged with educators and writers (like Jagnandan Singh) of his age group as well as those much youngerandolderthanhim.Poynting's PeepalTreepressstartedwithMonar's firstbook.

It should be noted that Monar had supported community groups in the struggle for free and fair elections and

he was very laudatory of the work of those of us from the diaspora in championingdemocracyinGuyana.

Monar's legacy of lyricism and writing craftsmanship, combined with themesofsocietalsignificance,willbe prized by readers of Indian Caribbean literature.

Yourssincerely,

VishnuBisram

Mayor writes Pres. Ali on sale of land to Qatari investors

…gives President 7 days to respond before Council decides on litigation

CityMayorAlfredMentorehas written President IrfaanAli on the subject of the sale of prime Carifesta Avenue lands that have been earmarked for the construction of a US$300M five starhotelbyQatariInvestors.

The Qatari Investors who have been given the green light to build theluxuryhotelareexpectedtopay G$2B for the prime lands, the Guyana Office for Investment (GOINVEST) disclosed last Thursday

Mayor Mentore told Kaieteur NewsonTuesdaythattheletterwas sent to the President on Monday andthattheHeadofStatehasseven

days to respond failing which the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) will determine whether moving to the court is the bestwaytoresolvethematter

The Mayor said that the letter informs the President about the Council’s concerns as well as reservations about the sale of the lands located on Carifesta Avenue andThomasLands.

The Mayor and City Council has made it clear that the property was gifted to the City of Georgetown for recreational purposes by former plantation ownersin1887.Thesaidlandwas being used by the National

InsuranceScheme(NIS).

“I have spoken to my lawyers andhavebeenadvised.Iamgiving

thePresidentthecourtesyoftimeto respond in writing or invite me to haveadiscussioninperson.Based on what the response is, I will decide whether the matter goes beforeCouncil,”Mentoresaid.

The Mayor explained that the matter will be placed before the City Council at its next statutory meeting before a decision is made aboutgoingbeforethecourts.

At its previous statutory meeting, the M&CC asserted ownershipofthelandsthatistobe used by Qatari investors to constructaUS$300Mhotel.

Mentore had circulated a transport that purports to show

Council’s ownership of the prime waterfront property to the over 30 councilors present at the meeting. HenotedthattheCouncilwaskept in the dark as it relates to the plan even though it holds a transport to theproperty

“Nothingwasprovidedtouson this issue. So, I see the fence is being done, and the sod has been turned, and a whole host of other things.Theprojectdocumenthasto startwiththeCouncil.

“We must have one rule for everyone. There must be one rule for the citizens of this city, and theremustbeoneruleforcentral

Continued on page 22

City Mayor, Alfred Mentore

Increasing classroom time

With the teachers strike off,itistimefortheMinistry of Education to place on the negotiating table the issue of learninglossasaresultofthe absence of many teachers from the classroom during thefour-weekplusstrike.

Thechildren,particularly those facing imminent examinations such as the Natural Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE), there is much work tobedoneandthiscannotbe accommodated in the time availableuntilexaminations.

There is a need for extra work to be done and the teachers will be required to put in some extra hours with the students. For this, the MinistryofEducationshould considersomeformofextrapayment for these extra hours.

Thiscolumnbelievesthat a few simply changes can have a significant impact in educationattainment.Fifteen yearsago,BarackObamahad the vision to appreciate the importance of small changes inthedeliveryofeducation.

Hehadindicatedthenthat he would have liked to see children spend more time in schools.Hewasalsokeenon longerschooldays,educators making school buildings more accessible to our children during weekends so thattheycanhaveasafeplace to go and study and interact withtheirschoolpeers.

In Guyana, most schools are inaccessible to children on weekends Social

organizations who host events in schools have greater access to use of the buildings than children who maywishtogotheretostudy or participate in some recreational or sporting activity Oneoftheproblems that is to be found in many poorhomesinGuyana,isthe lack of a comfortable space formanychildrentostudyat nights.Notmanyhomeshave a separate study room where the children can go at nights andspendsomequalitytime. Poor people hardly have space to walk in their crampedhomesmuchlessto have the space or the resources for desk and bookshelf.

The environment in which kids study is important. If you have a quiet,comfortableroom,that locks out the distractions, thenyourkidswillbeableto domoreinonehourthanthe average kids without this environmentwilldoinsixor sevenhours.

Thus, it is important that children have somewhere suitable to study not just in the run up to examinations but throughout their school life. In poor communities, particularlyinruralareas,the organization of nightly supervised study groups within schools or within social organizations can makeahugedifferenceinthe performanceofkids.

Anotherproblemthatour children are facing is insufficientclassroomhours. There are just too many distractionswithintheschool environment: school sports, examinations, graduation, non academic events,

DEM BOYS SEH

attending public rallies etc.

The school year is already abbreviatedbecauseofatwo months August holiday, a two-weekEasterandathree week Christmas vacation

Whencoupledwiththelarge numberofpublicholidaysin Guyana, it means that our children are being seriously short-changed within the system when it comes to teachinghours.

Whilethereislikelytobe massprotestanddisruptions, if serious thought is given to reducingtheschoolholidays, at least the education authorities can insist that students write their examinationsonlyduringthe last two weeks of the school yearandthatteachersusethe vacation period, for which theyarepaidinanyevent,to mark and grade these examinations.

Since examinations usually last two weeks in mostschoolsandsincereport cardshavetobereadyforthe endofterm,itmeansthatno work is usually done during the last week of school Hardlyanyworkisalsodone in many schools during the firstweek.

This means that in a thirty-six-week school year, somesixweeksofteachingis lost. Multiply this over a period of 13 years and it amountsoverthecourseofa child's schooling more than two school years being lost due to the limited teaching taking place in the opening andfinalweekofschooleach term.

Consider if a child had two more years in school what a difference that would make to that child's

A man get ketch spying in Guyana

A man was arrested in Guyana. He was accusedofbeingaspyforaforeigncountry Buthedeniedtheallegation.

But despite being interrogated for days, the local police could not find the evidence datdemanwasaspy.Nordidtheydiscover anythingthathesaidthatsuggestedhewasa lie.Buttheystillfeltthatsomethingwasnot rightanddatdemanwasaforeignagent.

Sodelocalpolicecalledinaspecialagent fuhquestiondesuspectedspy.Deagentstart fuh question de man fuh see how much he knowaboutGuyana.

Agent: When did Guyana gain its Independence?

th

Suspect:May26 1966

Agent:NamedecountiesofGuyana

Suspect: Demerara, Berbice and

performance and this is why Obama's suggestion about more time being spent in school was such an incisive recommendation.

In our case, we do not necessarily need to extend the school day but simply to ensure that full use is made during the first and final weekofschool.

If on top of these two yearslost,wecanreducethe Easter and Christmas holidays by a week each, it meansweareaddinganother half of a year to our child's

education; and if instead of commencing most classes at 9. am each day we add one more hour of classes in the morningsitmeansthatevery week we will be adding one day more of classes to the time spent in school, which translates to thirty- six more daysperschoolyearofabout five weeks, multiplied by thirteen years and we are effectively adding close to another two years to classroomtime.

These are achievable goals that can lay the

groundwork for more substantial reforms in the future.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the a u t h o r a n d d o n o t necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaperanditsaffiliates.)

Essequibo

Agent: In which county is Baracra located?

Suspect:Berbice.

Agent:WhowasdeGovernorGeneralof GuyanaatthetimeofIndependence?

Suspect:Sir DavidRose

Agent: Who was de first President of Guyana?

Suspect:ArthurChung

Agent:WhoispresentlythePresidentof Guyana?

Suspect:Defactoordejure?

At this point, the agent turned to his superiorsandsaidthatthemanhastobeaspy because he knows more about Guyana than mostGuyanesedo.

Talkhalf.Leffhalf

Afierysilhouette,aburningmemory

The flame-drenched outline of USairmanAaronBushnellbrought back some pictures from the memoryvault. ItwasofBuddhists monks who set themselves on fire in the streets of Saigon, turning themselvesintohumanpyres. The ultimatesacrificemadeinthename ofacause.

Americans were very much presentinVietnaminthe1960sand 70s, and that same American elementisalsopresentintheplight ofthePalestinianstrappedinGaza. In Vietnam, America was in the thick of things, with its war machineroaring. InGaza,America is behind the scenes, but no less damaging, as its proxy war machine rolls relentlessly forward on land and air, and often from nowhere(drones).

No “complicity” was among thelastwordsreportedtohavebeen utteredbytheghastlyincandescent silhouette made by Airman Aaron Bushnell. It made a deep gash in my mind. Men sacrificing for a noblecause,forstrangers,forwhat is right against a world of wrongs. Wehavemenherewhothrowinthe towel before the first bell is rung. Everymannerofinsultingassaultis pileduponGuyanese.

Every kind of degrading oppression is delivered against the Guyanese people. Every type of contemptimaginableisconfigured and then hurled against Guyanese. Guyanese political leaders have joinedforceswiththeinvadersand clear the way of obstacles to welcome all exploiters. Aaron Bushnell showed that life is not so rich that he was ready to live like somecheapharlotsellinghisorher soul.

In this disputed patch of paradise, Guyanese have been given the best and worst of gifts. Allthiswealthandalltheseleaders who are of nothing but stealth. One, two, three, any number of them, are unready and unsound, anduntutoredandunremarkablein the strength and skill and sagacity required to make the best of the nation’s gifts. One leader is a verbal stickup artist, another is an old-fashioned fascist, and still anotherisachemist.

Allareventriloquistsmouthing the enslavers lines. Theyare busy blending clever potions for their fellow Guyanese that favor their foreign ravishers. An American in theprimeofhisyouthcansurrender his precious hold on life for those

who are oppressed in Gaza, and here we have those who are full of the frothiness that benefits those with the whip hand. They cannot take a stand for their own homegrown brothers and sisters of thesoil.

TheleaderswehaveinGuyana todayremindofadogthatbarksfor any biscuit, even where there is nonepresent;theyrolloverontheir backswithoutbeingasked. Itisthe saddestsight. Theyparsephrases, splitsyllables,andspitinthefaceof theirfellowcitizens.

Thelifeofbetrayersismadeso much sweeter with power and money,andhowmuchtheycherish it. They couldn’t sacrifice honor and ethics for they had neither They sacrifice their own, and their hopes. This is how they are nakedly,blatantly,foullycomplicit in supporting the machine running alloverthiscountryanditscitizens.

IfanyonethinksthatIamtrying tobringdownanyGuyaneseleader, they take first prize for being completely wrong. There must be thecouragetoopentheireyes(and theirpeople)sothattheycansurvey how naked and frail they appear beforetheworld;andIhelpthemto pinchtheirnostrils,sothattheycan

smell themselves, and appreciate the ugly, dirty scent that most Guyanesenowsniffoutandabsorb ascomingfromthem.

There is a different kind of machinehereinGuyana’spolitical and social environments. Once Americatookituponitselftobethe world’spoliceman. Today,itisthe fate of Guyanese to live with America,thedirtycop,thecrooked station-housecommander

Like never before in the short and scorched history of their laboredjourney,Guyanesehavethe most urgent need for leaders, who are all about giving them mastery over their own affairs. What they gotinsteadarethosewhoseprimary interestsareaboutbeingmastersof their own perverse ambitions (power).

Political leaders, civic leaders, technocraticleaders(evenreligious leaders) have all yielded, for the mostpart,inabjectsurrendertothe caprices of those who commit crimes against the Guyanese people. No names, no groups, are tendered. They make no sacrifice of their own. They sacrifice Guyanese for a dog bone, a dollar, andabellyrub.

Some leaders are so far gone

that demagogic slanders come automatically to them; weak men now comfortable in publicly urinatingonthemselves;notcaring howtheysoilthemselvesinpublic. Verbal Molotov cocktails blowup in their hands first, then strip the fleshfromtheirfaces.

This is the sum of the local political leadership machine prostratingitselfbeforetheforeign profit machine. If these are the generals in their rout and flight, thendonotevenbothertolookfor theprivatesandcorporals.

AirmanAaron Bushnell chose hisfinalstatementinlife,andplace ofobjectiontomakeit,well. Here inGuyana,wehavethosewhoburn in a collapsed heap before exploiters. Heretheyburnagainst thefewwhosaythatthisshouldnot beso.

(The

Parikawomanstabbedtodeathbydrunkenhusband

A 24-year-old woman, Nikesha Sutton was on Monday evening allegedly stabbed to death by her husband at their Parika backdam, East Bank Essequiboresidence.

According to police, the fatal stabbing occurred a r o u n d 1 7 : 0 0 h r s

Investigations so far revealed that around

15:00hrs on Monday, the suspect had arrived home under the influence of alcoholandgotinvolvedina heated argument with Sutton, after which he left thehouseandwentaway

It was reported that around17:00hrs,thesuspect returned home with two alcoholic beverages in his hand at when he got into

another argument with his wife, which resulted in a scuffle between the two. It was reported that the Sutton’s sister intervened to stop the fight. Shortly after that the suspect told Sutton to pack her things (clothes) andmoveoutofthehouse.

The police related that thewomanhadplacedsome clothes in a bucket and was

making her way through a track to her sister’s house which was nearby

According to the police, upon making her way there, the suspect had picked up oneofthebeerbottles,broke itanddealtastabtoherneck. Aftercommittingtheact,he fledthescene.

K a i e t e u r N e w s

understands that Sutton was

rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrivalbyadoctor Herbody is presently at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortemexamination.

Meanwhile, Police on Tuesday night issued a wantedbulletinfor24-yearold Melroy La Rose called ‘Melo’ in connection with

Sutton’s murder Police listedhislastknownaddress as Parika Backdam, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) and Kamwatta Village, Region One.

Persons with knowledge of La Rose’s whereabouts are asked to contact police on phone numbers 2320313, 225-8196, 225-6976, orthenearestpolicestation.

Jagdeo boasting about Chevron’s worldwide assets for Guyana despite deal yet to be finalised

Although the deal for Chevron to acquire Hess Corporation is yet to be finalized, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has already set his eyes on the assets of Chevron to potentially be leveraged in Guyana for other purposes, including respondingtoanoilspill.

TheVicePresidentathis weekly press conference on Thursdaytoldreporters,“So I am pleased that you acknowledge that the assets we have here are significantly higher and could be utilized for other purposes.”

He was at the time responding to a question posed by this publication. Kaieteur News noted that foreign companies like Chevronhavebeenboasting abouthigherreturnsfortheir shareholders from “Guyana’s world class assets” and asked the VP what he can boast about for the Guyanese people who owntheresources.

In response, Jagdeo braggedabouttheassetsthat Chevron Corporation wants to acquire from Hess

Corporation.

“I hope that you heard what I said last week about market valuation so since Chevron confirmed that it is theGuyanaassetstheywere after, that is US$60 billion dollars [that is] the total valuationoftheirshares,the Hessshares,”Jagdeosaid.

On October 23, 2023 Chevron announced that it entered into a definitive agreement with Hess Corporationtoacquireallof the outstanding shares of Hess in an all-stock transaction valued at US$53 billion. The total enterprise value, including debt, of the transactionisUS$60billion.

The Vice President explained, “The bulk of that [Hess’ assets] comes from Guyana, so maybe 50 of the US$60B comes from Guyana, so if 30 percent of the company is worth US$50B you can imagine what the total company is worth now in the market. That is how the market valuesthis...thatiswhatthey aretradedat.”

Tothisend,henotedthat these assets could therefore

be utilized for “other purposes”.

The subject of the company’s assets were raisedfollowingconcernsof stakeholders that Guyana wouldhavetofootthecostof a spill, since the operator of the Stabroek Block, ExxonMobil Guyana Limiteddoesnothaveassets in the country to handle a spill.

It must be noted too that oil companies operating in Guyanaareonlysubsidiaries and a vast majority of the assets in the country have already been paid for by

Guyana or are currently being financed by this country, through cost recovery.

In fact, the former Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr Vincent Adams in response to the VP’s comments said that the politician wants to sell Guyana’sassetstocoverthe costsofaspill.

On the other hand, J a g d e o h a d a l s o acknowledged that some of the assets were being leased by the company, after this was raised by Kaieteur

News. “Exactly”, Jagdeo said while adding, “And I pointed this out about the leasingiftheyleaseassetsit won’t be available to us so you have to discount for all ofthose”.

Nevertheless, Jagdeo is still positive that even if Guyanacannotgetallofthe foreign company’s assets, a substantial amount will still remain for Guyana in addition to the US$2B ExxonMobil oil spill guaranteethatGuyanaisstill to see evidence of, and a US$600Minsurance.

Meanwhile, as Jagdeo

continuestobankontheUS multibillion assets that Chevron wants to buy from Hess the two companies are stilltofinalizeadeal.

Whiletheoilcompanyis optimistic about the Hess deal, it must now iron out differences with its major competitor, ExxonMobil, the operator of the Stabroek Blockwitha45%stake.

The two American c o m p a n i e s a r e a t loggerheads over the Hess deal which may head to arbitration.ExxonMobilhad stated its intention to potentially pre-empt Chevron’s acquisition of the stake, which forms a crucial component of its deal with Hess. The disagreement centersonExxon’sassertion of a right to first refusal regarding any sale of the Stabroekblock.

Kaieteur News had reported that Chevron, in a securities filing, cautioned that the dispute could jeopardize its US$53 billion deal for Hess. Should the deal collapse, Hess might faceabreakupfeeofUS$1.7 billion.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chevron, Mike Wirth

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

NandlallattendsCommonwealthLawMinistersMeetinginZanzibar

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall attended the opening ceremony of theCommonwealthLawMinisters MeetinginZanzibaronMonday

The meeting opened with calls for stronger action to ensure that access to justice becomes a reality for all 25 billion Commonwealth citizens In her remarks to the opening ceremony, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, toldmorethan400ministers,senior government officials, and other dignitaries from across the world’s six regions: “It is our responsibility to drive forward the paradigm shift agreed at our last meeting in Mauritius to deliver on the Commonwealth Access to Justice Declaration and ensure that people of the Commonwealth know they have access to justice because they cantasteit,seeitandfeelit.”

In light of escalating crises around the world, she commended

the work of Commonwealth law ministers while calling for even greater emphasis to be placed on justice as an “essential strength” in overcoming the current challenges The Secretary-General urged ministers ahead of their deliberations to dig deeper with rigourandcouragetoensurethatthe commitments are not just words on paperbutthelivedexperienceofall

The meeting was inaugurated by H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, PresidentoftheUnitedRepublicof Tanzania, who underscored the crucial role of law in addressing unprecedented global challenges and described the meeting as a timelyopportunitytocooperateon strengtheninglegalsystems.

Shesaid:“Thisforumwillopen doors for further collaboration, innovation,andcollectiveactionas we strive to meet the evolving needs of our societies. “Together, we can build a better future where justice prevails, and the rights of

every individual are protected to sustain sustainable development acrossCommonwealthnations.”

Reflecting on the meeting’s theme, ‘How digitalisation paves the way for the development of people-centred access to justice’, the President highlighted her government’s use of technology to enhance legal services, including through the rollout of time-saving e-courts. She also spoke about the ‘Mama Samia Legal Aid Campaign’, which offers legal aid and information to citizens on various issues, including genderbased violence and dispute resolution. Hosted by the United Republic of Tanzania, the biennial meeting is the principal decisionmaking body for law ministers from the 56 Commonwealth countries.

Over the next four days, ministers will deliberate on the policy and strategic actions requiredtoaddressaccesstojustice

challenges, especially for women, people with disabilities and those livinginpoverty Ministers will also exchange innovative practices on evidencebased policymaking and the effectiveuseofdigitalresourcesto bridge gaps and enhance the delivery of justice services. More than5.1billionpeople–two-thirds of the world’s population – lack meaningful access to justice. Lost income and stress-related illness due to seeking legal redress can cost countries up to 3 per cent of their gross domestic product every year Hon Ambassador Dr Pindi H. Chana,themeeting’sChairandthe United Republic of Tanzania’s Minister of Constitutional and Legal Affairs, said the conference would facilitate a meaningful dialoguetoovercomelegalhurdles facingcountries.Sheadded:“From promoting access to justice to strengthening legal frameworks,

our discussions over the coming days will contribute to shaping the future of law and governance within the Commonwealth countries.Together,wecanbuilda Commonwealth where justice and equalityreignsupreme.”

A moment of silence was observed during the ceremony to honour the late President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, who passed away on29February2024.

Alongsidethemeeting,aseries of side events are being organised to ensure diverse perspectives, from disability inclusion to digital trade law, contribute to ministerial discussions A statement summarisingthemeetingoutcomes will be issued on 8 March 2024, which will support countries in realisingthemandatessetoutinthe Commonwealth Access to Justice Declaration–acommitmentbyall 56 member countries to ensure universalaccesstojustice.

CARICOM’s food security drive receives US$1.6 million boost from New Zealand

The Caribbean Community’s goaltoreducefoodimportedtothe Regionby25percentby2025,has received a boost from the governmentofNewZealandtothe tune of USD1 6M, targeting womenandyouthinagriculture.

CARICOMSecretary-General, Dr Carla Barnett, and the new Plenipotentiary Representative of New Zealand to CARICOM, Her Excellency Linda Charlotte Te Puni, signed a Grant Funding Agreement for the project on Wednesday, 28 February at the GuyanaMarriotinGeorgetown,on the margins of the 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOMHeadsofGovernment.

The regional food security projecttitled:CARICOMBOOST: WomenandYouthinAgricultureis partofNewZealand’scommitment to further deepen development cooperation with CARICOM and seeks to enhance sustainable production, climate change resilience and profitability of 47 CARICOM women and youth

CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr. Carla Barnett (left), and the new Plenipotentiary Representative of New Zealand to CARICOM, Her Excellency Linda Charlotte Te Puni, signed a Grant Funding Agreement for the project.

farmer groups in ten (10) Member States.

“Itisexpectedtoseetheuseof protected structures and appropriate cold storage unit technologies in women and youthled agriculture production. The general aim of the project is to

promote climate smart agriculture through sustainable agriculture production,” a statement issued by the CARICOM Secretariat on Tuesdaysaid.

Expressing gratitude on behalf of CARICOM, Secretary-General Barnett noted that the project

reflects a collaborative approach that will impact positively on the Region’s food security system and benefitthemostvulnerable.

New Zealand, according to the n e w P l e n i p o t e n t i a r y Representative, can provide additional support in areas such as

food security, renewable energy, transportation and regional connectivity, disaster risk reduction, management of sargassum invasive species, and facilitating closer collaboration between the Community and the PacificIslandForum.Additionally, the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme provides opportunities for related knowledge expansion and skills development for Caribbean nationals.

The grant funding follows a new Cooperation agreement between CARICOM and New Zealand, signed in June 2023. It alsocomesinthewakeoftherecent accreditation of Ambassador Te Puni as the Plenipotentiary Representative of New Zealand to CARICOM in early February At that time, the Ambassador lauded the “valuable role” CARICOM plays in supporting regional economic development and signaledhercountry’s“long-term” commitmenttotheCommunity

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall is attending the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting in Zanzibar

EABChairmandeniesinvolvementin decisiontowaiveEIAforWalesGasplants

ChiefExecutiveOfficer(CEO) of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Mahender Sharma has denied any involvement in the decision made to waiver of an EnvironmentalImpactAssessment (EIA) for the two gas plants to be constructed at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

Inanaffidavitfiledinresponse to a court case brought by rights activist, Danuta Radzik, Sharma denied having direct or any other interestintheprojects.

In the court document drafted byAttorney- at-Law,Arud Gossai, Sharma explained that the EAB’s role in this process was that of an appellate tribunal, reviewing the decision made by the EPA. He noted that the case file by Radzik does not relate to the decisions of theEABbuttheEPA.

Sharma reasoned, “The EAB was not engaged in making a determination on whether an

EnvironmentalImpactAssessment was required or not. There is no challenge in these High Court proceedings to the EPA’s decision towaivethatrequirement.”

He continued, “There is no allegation made herein that either myself or [Mr Joslyn] Mckenzie played any part in the decision made by the EPA to waive the requirement.Theexemptionofthe requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment was made by EPA not by the EAB. The EAB deliberatedasanappellatetribunal inthismatter.”

Further, the GEA CEO denied anyconflictofinterestonhispart.

“I deny that any reasonable person, armed with knowledge of the role and function of GPL and the EAB would possibly conclude thatthereexistsaconflictwithmy duties as director of GPL and as Chairman of the EAB,” Sharma said.

He explained further that the twoentities,GPLandEABoperate indifferentspheres.

“GPL is responsible for the generationandsupplyofelectricity and the EAB is an appellate tribunal, created by law to review decisions made by EPAand which are challenged/appealed to the EAB. I have no personal interest, direct or indirect, pecuniary or otherwise in the project. Further I amnotashareholderofeitherGPL or GPG or director of either of thosecompanies,”hestated.

TheEABhadissuedadecision inMay2023,upholdingadecision of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to exempt the gas facilityfromanEIA.

Radzik seeks an Order of Certiorari to quash the decision to exempt the gas facility from a thorough impact assessment. She arguesthatthedecisionoftheEAB is flawed and/or contrary to, or in

Minister Vindhya Persaud (centre) receiving a computer from the two representatives of UNDP

UNDP donates electronics to Human Service Ministry to collect Gender Based Violence data

The Ministry of Human Services and SocialSecurity,underitsSpotlightInitiative, on Tuesday received several electronics including computers and printers from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Thisdonationwasmadetorobustlyaidin thedatacollectionofGenderBasedViolence (GBV)casesofvictimsandperpetrators.

Receiving the devices at the Lusignan HopeandJusticeCentreontheEastCoastof Demerara was Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Vindhya Persaud who noted that it is important for the spotlight initiativetoadapttothedigitalworld.

“Now,movingforwardinamodernworld wemusthavedigitisingofrecords.Wemust have not only the collection of data but the analysis of data. We must also have the generation of reports. So, that pillar that UNDPwasresponsibleforcontinuestogive. Because, before this, we also received technicalsupporttodevelopthesoftwarethat weneeded,”MinisterPersaudexplained.

Along with the Lusignaan Hope and Justice Centre, the minister said that the

remainingelectronicswillsoonbedistributed toothercentresinRegionsOneandThree.

She envisioned that these centres would beopenedsometimeinthefirstquarterofthis year Additionally, Deputy Director for UNDP in the Caribbean, Linda Maguire elucidated that the act of data collection is vital to uproot the causes of gender-based violenceinallcountries.

“At the end of the day, initiatives like theseareintendedtogetattherootcausesof theproblemwhileatthesametimeattending to survivors and giving them the tools that theyneed,”Maguiresaid.

Meanwhile, UNDP’s Resident Representative, Gerardo Noto noted that the programme aims to work along with the ministry to develop and keenly analyse data foreffectiveresponses.

“We work with the government of Guyana, specifically the Ministry of Human Services to develop a GBV database that is currently in the last stage of improving and expanding its capacity to generate, analyse and produce data, ”

representativenoted.

Director of GEA, Mahender Sharma

breachofthelaw

In court documents seen by KaieteurNews,Radzikthroughher attorneyMohamedAlihastheHigh Court to declare the decision a nullity; is void and of no legal effect; was made without or want of or in excess of jurisdiction; is

ultra vires; is unreasonable or irrational, arbitrary, capricious or erroneous at law; is illegal; disproportionate; in defiance of logic;withoutanylegalfoundation or basis or authorization or authority; and/or contrary to or in breachoftheprovisionsoftheAct and/ortheregulations.

In addition, the Court is being asked to issue an Order of Mandamus directed to the EAB, that the board reinstate the appeal against the decision of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to exempt the gas facility from an Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA)andtoholdnew hearings in compliance with the EnvironmentalProtectionAct.

The grounds of Radzik’s application outline that the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB)isempoweredbySection18 oftheEnvironmentalProtection

Continued on page 18

Sophia residents receive chicken to boost poultry rearing

Six families residing in C-Field Sophia have received assistance through the distributionof75broilerchickeneach,aimed atsupportingtheirlivelihoodsbyengagingin poultryrearing.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond facilitated the handing-over ceremony at the Sophia CommunityCentre,Mondayafternoon.

ShellyHytmiahisoneofthebeneficiaries who spoke to the Department of Public Information (DPI) and expressed appreciationforthesupport. “Ifeelsogood to know that at least I get something. It’s a nice gesture, I have my grandkids here they love to rear chicks. I want to say thanks to everyonewhomadethispossibleandweare goingtoputourbestfootforward,”Hytmiah noted.Anotherbeneficiarysaid,“Ifeelgood receiving these chickens It would be wonderful for every household and to give them a start in life.” Single parent, Clavreen Jackson said he has been waiting for this opportunitytoboosthisoperation.

“Ifeelgreat,IfeelblessedtoknowthatI was granted such a privilege to mind a large amount of poultry…I’m a single parent and I’m grateful and I give thanks to the

governmentforwhatitprovidedforusandI will try my best to make it expand,” she stated.Speakingwiththerecipients,Minister Walrondnotedthatthedistributioninitiative, though small, is very significant and shows clearly that the government is responding to the needs of residents, especially when requestsarebeingmade.

“It’s really a way to empower our women, give you an additional source of income, give you the financial independence that you need once it’s handled correctly,” she stated. She noted that her ministry will provide follow-up supportwithhelpfromtheGuyanaLivestock DevelopmentAuthority(GLDA).

“While we have the GLDA to help us with the rearing knowledge, we are going tohelpyou,becausethisthingisabusiness, we want for you after this first tranche to be able to make money Monetise it to be abletobuyanother75morechicksandbe able to grow from thereon,” Minister Walrondnoted.

The minister also stressed that real empowerment comes from managing businesses and many persons have become successfulfrompoultryrearing.

Houstonmanremandedto prisononrobberycharge

A 21-year-old man was remanded to prison on Monday, when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’Courttoanswer toarobberycharge.

The accused, Stephen Anthony Williams, who residesatLot16Rahaman’s Park,Houston,Georgetown, made his first court appearance before Magistrate Rhondell Weever, where the robbery chargewasreadtohim.

The charge alleged that on March 1, 2024 at Ruimveldt, Public Road, Georgetown, while being in thecompanyofanother,and armed with a dangerous weapon,thatbeingacutlass, Williams robbed Ronaldo Persaud of one Iphone valued $270,000, a six pennyweight gold ring valued $65,000, a six pennyweight silver ring valued$18,000,ahaversack

REMANDED: Stephen Anthony Williams

valued$4,500,oneSamsung phone valued $45,000 and $58,000 cash, total value being$465,000.

The prosecutor objected to bail being granted given thenatureandgravityofthe offence Williams was charged with. Further, the prosecutortoldthecourtthat the accused was positively identified by Persaud at the

policestation.

The prosecutor also told the court that the accused admitted to the offence during his oral statement to thepolice.

Additionally, an investigative rank reportedly confirmed that there is Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage that shows the accused committing the act The court also heard that three other individuals were reportedly involved in the robbery

Meanwhile, Williams in his defense told the court that he takes care of and provides for his single motherwhilerequestingbail inareasonablesum.

In response, Magistrate Weevertoldtheaccusedthat bail will not be granted. Williams is scheduled to return to court on April 8, 2024forstatements.

The handgun and air gun that was found

Policefindgunsinbushes nearCorentynecamp

AnairgunandshotgunwereonSunday found in a clump of bushes at Cookrite Savannah,Corentyne,Berbicebypolice.

In a statement, police said that at about 09:30hrs ranks acting on information received,dispatchedthemselvestoalocation in Cookrite Savannah where they found the

weapons.

The ranks reportedly found the guns in the bushes some 400 meters away from the lastcamponthesavannah.

Policeremovedthegunsfromthebushes and transported them to the Whim Police Station.Investigationsareongoing.

EABChairmandeniesinvolvement indecisiontowaiveEIAfor...

Frompage17 Act Cap. 20:05 to conduct hearings into appeals lodged.

The document notes further that the composition and operation of the Environmental Assessment Board(EAB)issetoutinthe Third Schedule of the Environmental Protection Act,Cap.20:05.

The application outlined that, “…The disclosure of interest and recusal of any m e m b e r o f t h e Environmental Assessment Board(EAB)issetoutinthe section 8 of the third s c h e d u l e o f t h e Environmental Protection Act (EPA) Cap. 20:05…It was via Application for E n v i r o n m e n t a l Authorisationdatedthe14th

day of November 2022, GuyanaPowerandGasInc., a company incorporated under the Laws of Guyana Companies Act Cap. 89:01, with its registered office at Lot 116-117, Cowan Street, Kingston, Georgetown (hereinafter called the Company), sought an environmental permit from the Environmental ProtectionAgency(EPA)for the construction and operation of a 300 MW Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant(theproject).”

It noted that, “The project is strategically aimed at utilizing piped natural gas from the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSOs), which will be processed by a Natural Gas

ADeoxyribonucleicAcid (DNA) test will be used to determine whether the remains of the man electrocuted on a fence of a La Grange, West Bank Demerara (WBD) farm is indeed that of 22-year-old Shaquille Jones called ‘Botha’.

Last week, a 59-year-old farmer confessed to burning the body of a man he had found dead on his electric fenceatLaGrange,WBD.

The dead man, who has been identified as Jones of Bagotville, WBD has been missingforthreemonths.

“I come home ah afternoon from wuk and see one a dem hook up on the fencelikehegetelectrocute,” the farmer told police while relating that he erected the electric fence at his farm to keep thieves out from stealinghisfruits.

Liquids (NGL) facility which will generate lean gas that will be used to fuel a power plant that will generate and deliver electricity into GPL’s existing power grid The completed project is expected to deliver every month 187 56 GWh of electricityintotheDemerara Berbice Interconnected System to support Guyana’s current and projected economicdevelopment.”

The document also points out that Sharma as a director of GPL owes and performs fiduciary duties at theGuyanaPowerandLight Inc., duties which conflict with his duties as Chairman and member of the EAB as he cannot act in the best interestofbothentities.

“I tek he off and I recognize is Botha. I drag he pon de next land and I use some tire fuh burn he, I tell you de truth I didn’t kill this man he done dead,” the farmerreportedlytoldpolice.

Itwasasecrethehasbeen keepingsinceNovemberlast year and it might have remained that way, if Jones’ twofriendshadnotseenhim [the farmer] dragging his [Jones]bodywhiletheywere hidingbehindamangotree.

Jones’ friends were keepinghisdeathasecrettoo but one of them, a sixteenyear-old boy, decided that it was time for police to know the truth behind Jones’ disappearance.

However, on Tuesday, Senior Superintendent Wendel Blanhum disclosed

inaninterviewwith Kaietuer News that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack has advised police investigating the matter to await the completion of a DNA test, f o l l o w i n g o t h e r investigations to determine whatcrimethesuspectwould bechargedwith.

Blanhum said that the DNA test will confirm whether the body which was foundwasindeedofJones.

Hestatedthatthesuspect isyettobechargedduetothe investigations that are pending. However, he was released on $1M station bail but is required to report to a policestationperiodically

Meanwhile, Kaieteur News reported that on February 25, 2024, the teen wenttotheLaGrangePolice Station and told ranks there that Jones was electrocuted while they were running away from another farmer whocaughtthemstealinghis citrusfruits.

The child said that they had gone to that farmer’s farm located in Cone Street, LaGrange,WBDtostealbut ended up bumping into him. Thatmanchasedthemwitha cutlassandtheyrantoanext farm fenced with mesh to escape.

They jumped over the meshed fence and while the two of them made it over safely, Jones was left stuck and reportedly screamed, “Ahh!!”

That was when they reportedlyrealizedthatJones wasbeing“shockedbysome sort of electricity on the fence.”

Theboyclaimedthatthey

tried to remove him with a wood but were unsuccessful in their attempts and Jones waselectrocuted.

Instead of leaving the area, the two of them hid behind a mango tree and spenttheentirenightthere.

The following morning they saw the owner of that farm picking some fruits. It was while picking the fruits that the farmer stumbled on Jones’body

The teen alleged that the farmer left and returned shortly thereafter with a sheet.

They saw him wrap Jones’bodyinsideanddragit away

He recalled that they waited a bit longer to see if the farmer would return before emerging from their hidingplace.

Hesaidthatwhileleaving theareahewasthreatenedby his friend, who is older and who was with him, not tell anyone about what they saw becausehewouldkillhim.

After listening to the boy’sstory,policewenttothe farm with him and upon arrival found the farmer there.Afterstatingthereason for their visit, the teen was askedtotakethepolicetothe area where Jones was electrocuted.

It was observed that the fence was altered. Kaieteur News understands that the farmer demolished the electric fence and replaced it withabarbedwireone.

It did not take the ranks long to find the skeletal remains among a fire heap. Theyalsosawpiecesofburnt clothing and tires with the remainsontheman’sfarm.

CARICOMremainsfocusedon resolvingHaitiancrisis

Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali on TuesdaysaidthatCARICOM continues to pay keen attention to the unfolding situation in Haiti. In a terse statement, the Head of State said, “The expanded Bureau has been meeting separately with Prime Minister Henry, theStakeholdersinHaiti,and our International Partners, to bringresolutiontothishighly complexed matter, where persons'livesandlivelihoods areatstake.”

He continued: “The complexity requires us in these consultations to ensure that a Haitian-led and a Haitian-owned solution may be achieved as soon as possible. We remain deeply engaged and will update on the outcome of our deliberations as soon as practicable.”

President Ali reiterated that CARICOM has been “singularly focused” on the events that are unfolding in Haiti.

The BBC has reported that soldiers have been deployed to defend the airportoftheHaitiancapital, Port-au-Prince, from armed gangs.

Witnesses reported hearing shots ringing out in the vicinity of Toussaint Louverture Airport as

security forces clashed with armedmen.

The gangs' aim is to prevent the return to Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry, whoisbelievedtobeabroad.

Violence has spiralled in his absence with the gangs demandingheresign.

Mr Henry left Haiti last th week to attend the 46 Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM held in Guyana From Guyana, he travelled to Kenya to sign a deal on the d e p l o y m e n t o f a multinational police force to Haiti.

His more recent whereabouts had been unknown but local media reported on Tuesday that he

Israeliforcesfiredat peoplewaitingforaid onMondaynight innorthernGaza, eyewitnessessay

(CNN) Israeli forces opened fire on people waiting for aid on Monday night in northern Gaza, eyewitnessestoldCNN.

The shooting took place at the Kuwait Roundabout on Rasheed Street in Gaza City shortly before midnight, said one eyewitness, who had traveled there to try to get flour CNN has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces forcomment.

“Therewassporadicfire we could see the red tracer bullets over our heads,”alocaljournalisttold CNN. It's unclear if there were any casualties Overnight data from the

Gazahealthministrydidnot say if anyone was killed or woundedintheincident.

Aid making its way into Gaza has been limited by Israel However, some trucks have been allowed into the northern part of the strip.

Amid a collapse of public authority in Gaza, chaos and disorder often leaves thousands at risk of violence during the distribution.

Thousands of residents ofnorthernGazaoftentravel for miles to wait for long hours in the hopes of receiving some of the limited aid entering Gaza. Manyleavewithnothing.

landed in Puerto Rico after the Dominican Republic closeditsairspace.

Earlier, a spokesman for theUSstatedepartmentsaid: "It's our understanding that the prime minister is returning to the country [Haiti]".

While Mr Henry was in Kenya, a coalition of gangs ledbyaformerpoliceofficer, Jimmy "Barbecue" Chérizier, went on the offensive, attacking police stations and storming two of Haiti'sbiggestprisons.

About a dozen people were killed in the attack on the prisons. Thousands of inmates escaped and remain ontheloose.

Aministerstandinginfor MrHenrydeclareda72-hour

Israel

stateofemergency

How gangs came to dominateHaiti

Haitian newspaper Le Nouvelliste reports that both international and national commercialflightshavebeen suspended for the past days due to the violence Le Nouvelliste added that no private planes had landed or taken off from the airport either

Anattemptbygunmento breachtheairportcompound through a hole in a wall was reportedly repelled by securityforces.

Control of the airport is key to the gangs' aim of stopping Prime Minister Henry from coming back to thecountry

Thegangleaderhasbeen

– Pres. Ali

callingforhisoustersincethe prime minister was sworn in as the successor to President JovenelMoïseinJuly2021.

Already rampant gang violence was further fuelled by the murder of President Moïse by Colombian mercenaries, which left a powervacuuminthecountry

Armed gangs, wielding weapons smuggled in from the US, have gained control of an estimated 80% of the capitalinrecentyears.

PrimeMinisterHenryhas asked the international community to send troops to help fight the gangs. But a planforKenyatosend1,000 policeofficerstohelpcontain the violence stalled after the Kenyan High Court blocked it.

Prime Minister Henry was in Nairobi for talks with Kenyan President William Ruto to try to salvage the deployment, when the latest violenceflared.

In a video posted on social media, Barbecue declared last week that "the first objective of our fight is to ensure that Ariel Henry's government does not remain inpower".

On Saturday, his gang attacked several police stations before freeing thousands of prisoners from theNationalPenitentiaryand fromtheCroixdesBouquets jail.

Onlyabout100prisoners remained in their cells at the National Penitentiary, prison officialssaid.

Amongthosewhostayed put were 17 Colombian exsoldiers suspected of having carried out the assassination ofPresidentMoïse.

In a video, they pleaded for help, saying that other inmates were trying to get them to leave their cells and were going to use them "as cannonfodder".

The Colombian foreign ministrylaterannouncedthat the17hadbeentransferredto adifferentprison.

Residents of the capital mainly stayed at home on Monday with only a few people venturing out to get drinking water or food, the AFPnewsagencyreported.

Speaking from Haiti, Serge Dalexis from the International Rescue Committee said it had become extremely difficult for people to access basic services such as health care, foodandwater

"There's a lack of everything now in Port-auPrince," Mr Dalexis said, adding that shooting was beingreportedinmanyareas ofthecity

An estimated 15,000 people have been displaced fromtheirhomesoverrecent weeksduetotheviolence.

"intentionallystarvingthe Palestinianpeople,"UNexpertssay

(CNN) United Nations experts accused Israel in a statement on Tuesday of "intentionally starving the Palestinianpeople"inGaza.

“Israel has been intentionally starving the Palestinian people in Gaza since 8 October Now it is targeting civilians seeking humanitarian aid and humanitarian convoys,” severalUNexpertssaidina statement.

“Israel must end its campaign of starvation and targetingofcivilians."

Israel has consistently denied targeting civilians, saying its war is against Hamas. Israeli authorities regularly say, "there is no limit to the amount of humanitarian aid for the civiliansinGaza."

But a Palestinian Ministry of Health spokesperson said Sunday

the number of children who havediedofdehydrationand malnutrition in northern Gazahasrisento15.

C N N c a n n o t independently confirm the deaths of the children or

their causes due to the lack of international media access to Gaza, but there have been increasingly urgent warnings about hunger in the strip from international agencies who

get in. UN experts also condemned the "violence unleashed by Israeli forces" after more than 100

Palestinians were killed trying to access food aid in GazaCityonThursday

Soldiers have been deployed to guard the international airport (Reuters)

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Haiti gangs try to take over Port-au-Prince airport

(BBC News) Soldiers have been deployed to defend the airport of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, from an assault by armed gangs.

Witnesses reported hearing shots ringing out in the vicinity of Toussaint Louverture Airport as security forces clashed with armed men. The gangs’ aim is to prevent the return to Haiti of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who is believed to be abroad.

Violence has spiralled in his absence with the gangs demanding he resign. Mr. Henry left Haiti last week to attend a regional summit in Guyana. From there, he travelled to Kenya to sign a deal on the deployment of a multinational police force to Haiti. His current whereabouts are not known but a spokesman for the US state department said: “It’s our understanding that the prime minister is returning to the country [Haiti]”.

suspended for the past days due to the violence. Le Nouvelliste added that no private planes had landed or taken off from the airport either. An attempt by gunmen to breach the airport compound through a hole in a wall was reportedly repelled by security forces. Control of the airport is key to the gangs’ aim of stopping Prime Minister Henry from coming back to the country. The gang leader known as Barbecue has been calling for his ouster since the prime minister was sworn in as the successor to President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021.

ernment does not remain in power”. On Saturday, his gang attacked several police stations before freeing thousands of prisoners from the National Penitentiary and from the Croix des Bouquets jail. Only about 100 prisoners remained in their cells at the National Penitentiary, prison officials said.

Among those who stayed put were 17 Colombian exsoldiers suspected of having carried out the assassination of President Moïse. In a video, they pleaded for help, saying that other inmates were trying to get them to leave their cells and were going to use them “as cannon fodder”.

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While he was in Kenya, a coalition of gangs led by a former police officer, Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, went on the offensive, attacking police stations and storming two of Haiti’s biggest prisons. About a dozen people were killed in the attack on the prisons. Thousands of inmates escaped and remain on the loose. A minister standing in for Mr. Henry declared a 72hour state of emergency.

Haitian newspaper Le Nouvelliste reports that both international and national commercial flights have been

Already rampant gang violence was further fuelled by the murder of President Moïse by Colombian mercenaries, which left a power vacuum in the country. Armed gangs, wielding weapons smuggled in from the US, have gained control of an estimated 80% of the capital in recent years. Prime Minister Henry has asked the international community to send troops to help fight the gangs. But a plan for Kenya to send 1,000 police officers to help contain the violence stalled after the Kenyan High Court blocked it.

Mr. Henry was in Nairobi for talks with Kenyan President William Ruto to try to salvage the deployment, when the latest violence flared. In a video posted on social media, Barbecue declared last week that “the first objective of our fight is to ensure that Ariel Henry’s gov-

The Colombian foreign ministry later announced that the 17 had been transferred to a different prison. Residents of the capital mainly stayed at home on Monday with only a few people venturing out to get drinking water or food, the AFP news agency reported.

Speaking from Haiti, Serge Dalexis from the International Rescue Committee said it had become extremely difficult for people to access basic services such as health care, food and water. “There’s a lack of everything now in Port-au-Prince,” Mr. Dalexis said, adding that shooting was being reported in many areas of the city. An estimated 15,000 people have been displaced from their homes over recent weeks due to the violence.

‘I will not reveal oil plans and names...

From page 3 we want to release. I can say to you we have clear plans and we have been saying some of the things we will do in the oil sector and Kaieteur News and Stabroek News covered them, so it’s not like if we haven’t put plans out there and so I am saying to you at the appropriate time, we will put our plans out there.”

Commenting on Norton’s position to not name his advisers and reveal his plans for

the sector, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said the attitude was nothing short of infantile.

Jagdeo told reporters he listened to the Opposition Leader’s press conference and believes it is juvenile. He reasoned, “If they tell the country who their oil and gas advisors are then the PPP will steal their ideas. Since when do we steal ideas from APNU?

But they can’t tell you who their advisors are, the reporter asked who are your advisers

on oil and gas, and Norton said oh a lot of them are international advisors etcetera but we can’t tell you our ideas because PPP will steal them. What sort of juvenile kind of Opposition Leader we have?”

The Vice President said only an infantile approach to such serious development matters would justify such a response. Further, he pointed out that the Opposition is expected to compete with its ideas, rather than fuel its arguments with racism.

Mayor writes Pres. Ali on sale of land...

From page 8 government, and there will be one rule for investors, who want to invest in Guyana. We must not break the rules or bend it to suit anyone,” Mentore explained. He continued: “If there is no clarity or no success in the hopeful discussions with his Excellency, and maybe other government people on this matter, the Council is prepared

to take litigation in this matter,” Mayor Mentore had said.

At that meeting, several Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Councillors sought to block any discussion surrounding the ownership at the statutory meeting given that it was not placed on the meeting’s agenda.

The Councillors who were opposed to having the mat-

ter discussed at the meeting reminded Mentore that there was no proper basis for the matter to be discussed.

The Council, in support of the Mayor, nevertheless moved a motion to have the matter discussed. The City Council agreed that a letter should be sent to President Irfaan Ali in an effort to resolve the ownership concerns, and usage of the land.

Security measures to be improved at prisons

The Guyana Prison

Service (GPS) will implementstrongermeasures and heightened security to prevent contraband items from entering the various prisonsacrossthecountry

The Department of Public Information (DPI) saidduringarecentinterview Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot stated that this is in k e e p i n g w i t h t h e developmental plans for the prison system. The director said the GPS will be looking toinstalladditionalscanners,

especially detailed systems that can detect and locate forbidden objects concealed under a person's clothing.

Additionally,theGPSisalso c o n s i d e r i n g t h e implementation of canine anddronepatrols.'Therewill be no excuse for contraband entering the prison because physical infrastructure itself will create that atmosphere where we will be having all thenecessarysecuritychecks andsecuritylayersinplaceto prevent and to reduce contrabands,”Elliotstated

He stated that indicators such as prison escapes, as well as training and rehabilitationofprisonersare usedtoassesstheworkofthe organisation, and there have b e e n n o t i c e a b l e improvements Last year, prisoners benefited from several training programmes in various skilled areas, providing them with the necessary coping skills to effectively manage themselves while in prison andpreventingreoffending.

'Becauseofthesetraining

Moresea,riverdefenceworks slatedforRegionsTwo,Three

Residents of Regions Two and Three can expect increased protection against flooding and erosion, as the MinistryofPublicWorkshas announced significant investments in critical sea andriverdefenceupgrades.

According to an Invitation for Bids (IFB) issued in the local newspaper, the works are divided into 28 lots In Region Two, along the Lower Pomeroon River, maintenance works to the earthen embankment will be conducted. Phases one, two and three are estimated to cost$41.25million.

Similar works along the Upper Pomeroon River will alsocostanestimated$41.25 million, while maintenance works along the Friendship Canal are pegged at $10 million.AlongtheEssequibo Coast, the earthen

embankment between Cozier and Friendship will see maintenance upgrades andphasefouroftheboulder face maintenance works at Dartmouthwilladvance.

In this area as well, a concrete crest wall will be incorporated along the earthen embankments at Suddie, Good Hope, Airy Hall,Columbia,andCapoey Theseworksareestimatedto cost a combined $90 1 million. For Region Three, on Wakenaam Island, works are slated for Sarah, Belle Plaine, Bankhall Estate, Zeelandia,GangaZeelandia, Moorfarm, Bush Lot, and Henryville, at an estimated costof$108.7million.Along the Essequibo River, maintenance works will begin at Fort Island, Lanaballi,RoseIsland,Hogg Island, English Island, and BanakariCreek.

The engineer's estimate for these works is $78.9 million Bidding will be conducted through the National Competitive Bidding procedure, as outlined in the 2003 Procurement Act. Bidding documents will be made available from Tuesday, March 5, 2024, and can be purchased at the Ministry of Public Works Fort Street, Kingston office. The bids will be opened at the ministry'sWightLaneoffice onTuesday,March26,2024. By investing over $370 million in these crucial infrastructure projects, the g o v e r n m e n t i s d e m o n s t r a t i n g a commitmenttoproactivityin enhancing the nationwide sea defence infrastructure, ensuring the well-being of coastal and riverfront communities.(DPI)

programmes offered to them we would have seen a significant reduction in prisoner-to-prisonerviolence intheinstitution,”theprisons directordisclosed. Henoted too that the prison service is seeking to recruit qualified persons who will remain on the job Addressing challenges from a policy perspective, Elliott said the organisation is working to improve conditions of service and job satisfaction by providing more opportunities for training, as well as enhancing salaries and allowances. The GPS recently concluded its

Annual where d reviewing case p those

Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot

Gaza cease-fire talks fail to achieve a breakthrough with Ramadan just days away, Egypt says

CAIRO (AP) — Three days of negotiations with Hamas over a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages failed to achieve a breakthrough on Tuesday, Egyptian officials said,lessthanaweekbefore the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the informaldeadlineforadeal.

The nearly five months offightingleftmuchofGaza in ruins and created a worsening humanitarian catastrophe, with many, especially in the devastated northern region, scrambling for food to survive. “We must get more aid into Gaza,” U.S. President Joe BidensaidTuesday “There's no excuse None ” Aid groups have said it has becomenearlyimpossibleto deliver supplies within most of Gaza because of the difficulty of coordinating with the Israeli military, the ongoing hostilities and the breakdownofpublicorder.

The United States, Qatar andEgypthavespentweeks trying to broker an agreement in which Hamas would release up to 40 hostages in return for a sixweek cease-fire, the release of some Palestinian prisoners and an major influx of aid to the isolated territory Two Egyptian officials said that the latest round of discussions ended on Tuesday They said

Hamas presented a proposal thatmediatorswoulddiscuss with Israel in the coming days. One of the officials said that mediators would meet Wednesday with the Hamas delegation, which didn't leave Cairo. Hamas has refused to release all of theestimated100hostagesit holds, and the remains of around 30 more, unless Israel ends its offensive, withdraws from Gaza and releases a large number of Palestinian prisoners, including senior militants servinglifesentences.

U.S. officials have said that they are skeptical that Hamasactuallywantsadeal, becausethegrouphasbalked atanumberofwhattheU.S. and others believe are legitimate requests, including giving the names ofhostagestobereleased.“It is on Hamas to make decisionsaboutwhetheritis prepared to engage,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony BlinkensaidTuesday.

“Wehaveanopportunity for an immediate cease-fire that can bring hostages home, that can dramatically increase the amount of humanitarian aid getting in to Palestinians who so desperately need it, and can set the conditions for an enduring resolution,” Blinkensaid.

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan said

Tuesday that his group demandsapermanentceasefire, rather than a six-week pause, and a “complete withdrawal” of Israeli forces.

“The security and safety of our people will be achieved only by a permanent cease-fire, the endoftheaggressionandthe withdrawal from every inch of the Gaza Strip,” Hamdan told reporters in Beirut Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly rejected Hamas' demands and repeatedly vowed to continue the war until Hamas is dismantled and all the hostages are returned.Israeldidn'tsend a delegationtothelatestround oftalks.

Israel was still waiting forHamastohandoveralist of hostages who are alive as well as the hostage-toprisoner ratioitseeks in any release deal, an Israeli officialsaid.

It wasn't clear if that information was included in the latest proposal. The IsraeliandEgyptianofficials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to brief t h e m e d i a o n t h e negotiations.

When asked whether Hamas has a list of the survivinghostages,Hamdan said that the matter wasn't relevant to the talks and

accused Israel of using it as anexcusetoavoidengaging in the negotiations. Benny Gantz, a member of Netanyahu's War Cabinet and his main political rival, metwithseniorU.S.officials inWashingtononavisitthat drew a rebuke from the prime minister, the latest signofagrowing riftwithin Israel'sleadership.

Mediators had hoped to broker an agreement before Ramadan, the month of dawn-to-dusk fasting that often sees heightened Israeli-Palestinian tensions linked to access to a major holy site in Jerusalem Ramadan is expected to begin around March 10, dependingonthesightingof themoon.

“The negotiations are sensitive. I can't say there is optimism or pessimism, but we haven't yet reached a point at which we can achieve a cease-fire,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Monday.

The war began with a Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which Palestinian militants killed around 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages. Morethan100ofthemwere released during a weeklong cease-fireinNovember

The attack sparked an Israeli invasion of the enclaveof2.3millionpeople

that Gaza's Health Ministry says has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians Aid groups say the fighting has displaced most of the territory's population and pushed a quarter of the population to the brink of famine.

The U N children's agency said Monday that at least 10 children have reportedly died in isolated northern Gaza because of d e h y d r a t i o n a n d malnutrition.

“There are likely more children fighting for their lives somewhere in one of Gaza's few remaining hospitals, and likely even more children in the north unable to obtain care at all,” Adele Khodr, the UNICEF regional director for the Middle East and North Africa,saidinastatement.

“These tragic and horrific deaths are manmade, predictable and entirely preventable,” she added.

The Gaza Health MinistrysaidSundaythat15 children have starved to death at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza and another six were at risk of dying from malnutrition and dehydration. It wasn't clear if the children had underlying medical conditions that increased theirvulnerability Northern Gaza, the first

target of Israel's offensive, has suffered mass devastation.TheWorldFood Program recently suspended aid shipments to the north, citingasecuritybreakdown. An attempt by the Israeli militarytobringinaidended in tragedy last week when more than 100 Palestinians were fatally shot by Israeli forcesortrampledtodeathin amelee.

The United States and Jordan airdropped 36,800 mealsovernorthernGazaon Tuesday, the second U.S. airdropsinceSaturday Upto 300,000 Palestinians are believed to remain in northern Gaza after Israel orderedtheevacuationofthe entire region, including GazaCity,inOctober Many have been reduced to eating animal fodder to survive.

TheU.N.saysthatoneinsix children under age 2 in the north suffer from acute malnutrition.

Israelisstillcarryingout strikes in all parts of Gaza. Gaza's Health Ministry said that 97 people had been killedoverthelast24hours, bringing the overall Palestinian death toll to 30,631.

The ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants in its figures, but says women andchildrenmakeuparound two-thirds of the total casualties.

UN aid agency unsure if it will be able to pay its staff to deliverfood in Gaza afterfunding frozen

AfterIsraelinJanuaryaccusedUnitedNations Relief andWorksAgency for Palestine Refugees intheNearEast(UNRWA)staffoftakingpartin the October 7 attack by Hamas militants, the United States and a growing list of countries — includingtheUK,CanadaandAustralia—paused fundingfortheagency

Speaking during the UN General Assembly meeting on Monday, UNRWA CommissionerGeneral Philippe Lazzarini said 16 countries paused their funding, totaling $450 million, despite "the unsubstantiated nature of the allegations."

“UNRWAhas no capacity to absorb financial shocks,especiallywhileawarragesinGaza,”he said,notingthatwithfundingfrommemberstates

anddonors,UNRWAoperationscancontinueand “remainalifeline”forPalestinianrefugeesacross theregion.

However,hecautionedthatwithoutadditional funding, UNRWA will be in “unchartered territory, with serious implications for global peaceandsecurity.”

SpeakingfromRafahinEgypt,Andersonsaid UN staff remained dedicated and were still feeding 1.1 million people and vaccinating 80 percentofthechildreninGaza.

"Despitethefactthatwehavelost162ofour colleagues in this conflict, our staff is very resilient," Anderson added

He added that the situation is deteriorating across Gaza, and said people required food, water, medicine, tents, blankets and hope "especially as we approach the holy month of Ramadan, which is very significant for everyone in Gaza,” he added.

Ramadanstartsinlessthanaweek.

(CNN)Theseniordeputydirectorofthemain United Nations relief agency in Gaza, Scott Anderson,saidonTuesdaythatthekeyproblemis whetherornottheUNwillbeabletopayitsstaff so "they can actually deliver the food to the people"inGaza.

A Palestinian man transports sacks of humanitarian aid at the UNRWA distribution center, in Rafah, Gaza on March 3. AFP/Getty Images

Demerara Cricket Board/GFSCAInterAssociation under19 championship

Petama Enterprise/Motor Trend /Steve's Jewellery fulfill promises

Members of the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) have once again thrown their support to the DCB for its Inter Association Under19 Cricket Tournament which will commenced last weekend. GFSCA is known for pioneering softball cricket in Guyana and overseas.

The tournament will involvethefiveassociations, Upper Demerara, East Bank, East Coast, West Demerara and Georgetown and played onaroundrobinformatwith the team with the highest points to be declared winner Thereafter, the wining

Association will be playing against a “Best of the rest” team selected from the other four Associations in a speciallyarrangedgametobe live streamed across the globe.Thistournamentisthe main yardstick used by the selection panel to select the Demerara team for the GCB Inter County Under19 Tournament.

The tournament will be b r a n d e d T r o p h y Stall/Ramchand's Auto Spares/ArielEnterprise/Rohan

Auto Spares/Steve's J e w e l r y / P e t a m a

E n t e r p r i s e / M o t o r

Trend/Cricket Equipment

G u y a n a / G e n e r a l

Marines/Terry Mathura, Raj Mathura and Pandit Anand

P e r s a u d P e t a m a E n t e r p r i s e / M o t o r Trend/Steve'sJewellerywere the latest to fulfill their promises. Petama Enterprise islocatedat16DelphStreet, Georgetown, MotorTrend at 25 Logwood Road, Enmore, ECD and Steve Jewelry at 301 Church Street, Georgetown. The owners of the three companies are elated to be part of this tournamentandwillcontinue to support the development of young people especially, through cricket. They have all expressed confidence in the DCB and are impressed

withtheworkoftheboard.

The DCB takes this opportunity to thank Petama Enterprise, Motor Trend and Steve's Jewelry and others forcomingonboard.

GFF Member Associations...

Cue Sports Association...

WednesdayMarch06,2024

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19

Things could get a bit tense for you, Aries. One of your first reactions might be to look to your loved ones for support. Unfortunately, you mightfindthatyourstandbys aren'tstandingby

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Partsofyourlifemightseem likegladiatorialgamesoutof ancient Rome The good newsisthatifanyonecanrise above this situation and see the truth in the matter, it's you,Taurus.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

You're apt to go in circles if youonlyseethenegativeside of every situation, Gemini. Your lack of perspective could keep you from seeing ananswerright.

CANCER(June21–July22)

You're likely to be on a roll with new and innovative ideasaboutyourgoalsinlife, Cancer Unfortunately, there aresomeobstacles.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Rememberthateventhough thereistensionandchaosall around,Leo,itdoesn'thaveto affectyou Yourmottoshould beyou're"initbutnotofit"

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Whileyourbrainmaywantto charge ahead with new and revolutionary ideas, there is something holding you back from setting these ideas into motion, Virgo It could be that thereisasmallvoiceinyourhead tellingyoutoslowdown.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

You could feel like you're walking a puppy that won't heel, Libra. The puppy is curious and, at times, rather reckless It doesn't know aboutthedangersofcarsora twistedleash.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)

Your mental processes may run into a snag as you discoverthattherearecertain rulesandguidelinesbywhich youneedtoabide.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Inallthetimespenttryingto stabilize your emotions and achieve sensitivity, you may get too caught up in your feelings,Sagittarius.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

The more you can apply to your own life the advice you give to others, the better off you'll be, Capricorn. No one is going to follow a leader who doesn't abide by his or herownstandards.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Youmaybeonaslow,steady track of discipline that embraces an older, more traditional way of looking at things,Aquarius.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

A radical force seems to be stirring up trouble and challengingyourlong-established beliefsabouthowthingsshouldbe doneandwhatyouholdmostdear,

Pisces

Thetruthisthatwhatyou mightseeastroubleisreallya growingpain.

Frompage30 regionalseniorleaguesthroughoutGuyana.”

Ten elite clubs are presently competing in the KFC Elite LeaguewhichcommencedonFebruary25attheGFFNational TrainingCentreinProvidence,EastBankDemerara.

The nine Member Associations are gearing up for the launch of their Senior Men's League.Among those present at theworkshopweremembersofBarticaFootballAssociation, BerbiceFootballAssociation,EastCoastFootballAssociation, Essequibo/Pomeroon Football Association, Georgetown Football Association, Upper Demerara Football Association, and the Women's Football Association.Elite football club representatives were defending champions Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, Fruta Conquerors, DenAmstel, BuxtonUnitedandSantos.

Frompage33 accesstoexclusiveevents, resources, and networking opportunities within the cue sports community Interested individuals can apply for membershipthroughasimple procedure.Potentialmembers canconnectwithRyanBaksh, Secretary to the association, on WhatsApp [+592 640 2 2 2 2 ] o r e m a i l cuesportassociationgy@gmai l.comformoreinformation.

T h e C u e S p o r t s Association (Guyana) Inc. is thrilled to have received positive support and endorsement from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports In a recent meeting with ministry officials, discussions were held regarding the association's objectives, initiatives, and collaborative opportunities. A photograph capturing this momentous occasion with the ministry highlights the mutual commitmenttoadvancingcue sportsinGuyana.

AlfredMekdeci,President oftheCueSportsAssociation (Guyana) Inc., expressed his excitement about the association'spotentialimpact, stating, "We are thrilled to embark on this journey to elevate cue sports in Guyana. With the support of our members, partners, and the Ministry, we look forward to creating a thriving and inclusive community for cue sports enthusiasts across the nation."

Personsareencouragedto stay updated on the latest news and announcements by the association by following their Facebook page Cue Sports Association-Guyana for more information about the Cue Sports Association (Guyana) Inc and its membership.

Steve Narine

Petamber Maharaj Jailall Deodass

Golden Jaguars keeper enters fashion industry with '3ZRO by Akel'

By Rawle Toney

As time ticks on his career, national goalkeeper AkelClarkehasembarkedon a journey that paves the way for his life after he hangs up his gloves and steps away from playing the 'beautiful game.'

Clarke, 35, currently playing for Slingerz FC, has introduced his '3ZRO by Akel'clothingbrand,offering both sports and casual leisurewear

He said the name 3ZRO holds special significance, stating that "It represents my first professional number (30),asymbolofmyjourney and the milestones I achieved.Throughmybrand, my aim is to inspire aspiring goalkeepers and athletes to chase their dreams relentlessly,justasIdid."

"My journey as a professional goalkeeper is one filled with dedication, passion, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. From humble beginnings to establishing my brand '3ZR0 byAkel'in2018,Iwouldsay my story is one of determination and hard work,"Clarkeshared.

Clarke debuted for the GoldenJaguarsin2011asthe starting keeper in a friendly against Barbados and has since been the country's preferredgoalkeeper

He played a pivotal role in leading Guyana to qualify for the 2019 Gold Cup, starting in the country's opening game against the USA.

Clarke also competed in the Jamaica Premier League with Mount Pleasant FootballAcademy

His love for football and goalkeeping began at a young age, showcasing exceptional talent and a natural ability to stop shots, catching the attention of coaches.

England managed to overturn an enormous deficit in the first Test. (Getty Images/Stu Forster)

Progressing through various youth teams, his skills continued to develop, and he soon realized his dream of becoming a professional goalkeeper was withinreach.

After starting with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Clarke moved to Trinidad and Tobago, where he played for St Ann's Rangers, North East Stars, and Central FC in the country's Professional

League.

"In my purs professional success,

faced numero challenges an s e t b a c k s I encountered t o u g h

competition, experienced injuries, and had moments of selfdoubt. However, these obstacles only fuelled my determination t improve and pro myself on the field," added.

According to Clarke, after many years of hard work and perseverance, "I finallygotmybreakthrough. Isignedmyfirstprofessional contract, marking the beginningofanewchapterin my career It was during this time that I decided to create my own brand, 3ZR0 by Akel."

National Goalkeeper, Akel Clarke, decked out in his sports and leisurewear brand “3ZRO by Akel”.

With 3ZRO, Clarke said he'sstrivingtoprovidehighquality goalkeeper apparel andequipment,designedbya professional goalkeeper for his fellow goalkeepers, "I understand the unique needs and challenges faced by

thoseinmypositionandaim to create products that enhance their performance andcomfort."

Looking back, he believes that his journey serves as a testament to the power of perseverance and self-belief, pointing out that he'sdedicatedtohiscraftand the creation of his brand, 3ZRO, exemplifying his commitment to helping others reach their full potential.

"AsIcontinuetoexcelon the field and expand my

brand, I greatly appreciate the support I have received thus far from players, fellow goalkeepers, and fans of the sport Whether you're a goalkeeper or simply someonewhowantstoshow

Inaugural CARICOM Chess Team Tournament 2024...

support, wearing 3ZRO by Akel apparel or using my productsisameaningfulway to demonstrate admiration formyjourneyandthevalues thebrandrepresents,"Clarke concluded.

Guyanese players off to smooth start

Chess players from participating territories made creditable efforts against their Caribbean counterparts to secure wins or draws in the CARICOM Classic Team tournament that commenced at the Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel on Monday March4th2024.

The first-day highlights started with the eightm e m b e r G u y a n e s e contingentfacingeachother to contest the first round. In the afternoon, the two Guyana Teams played their round two matches against Trinidad and Tobago & Jamaica.

For Guyana Team Two, reigning Junior Champion KeronSandiford(1741)was paired with Joshua Johnson (2324) of Trinidad and Tobago Kyle Couchman (1756) met Trinidad player Quinn Cabralis (2149) over the board, while Ysvett

Hermoso Rodriguez (1959) played against former women's champion Sasha Shariff (1567). Aditi Joshi (1605), playing board four for Guyana, met Zara La Fleur(1790)ofTrinidadand Tobago.

The Guyana Team One match-ups were against the Jamaican team. Nathan Hinds (1988), playing white againstGuyaneseCMTaffin Khan (2000) Black

Guyanese FM Anthony Drayton (1936), Jhustice McDonald (1893) Black, Adani Clarke (1905) White against current women's champion Jessica Callender (1585) Black while

Guyanese Shazeeda Rahim (1559) White against Jamaican Krishna Gray (1789)Black.

In round two of the tournament, Guyanese Shazeeda Rahim (1559) (ratings) accepted a draw offer from higher-rated

Krishna Gray (1789). Kyle Couchman (1756) made the draw offer to higher-rated Trinidadian (2149) Quinn Cabraliswhoaccepted.

Reigning Guyanese National Open Champion Taffin Khan (2000) secured his first win over a participant with an unstoppable passed pawn overJamaicanNathanHinds (1988). Both players were engaged in an endgame strugglewithhostileknights and pawns but Khan prevailed.

In another match-up, a jubilant Keron Sandiford (1741) walked away with a draw over his much higherrated Trinidadian opponent FM Joshua Johnson (2324). Sandiford offered his opponent a truce and it was accepted Drayton (1936) finished his match with JamaicanJhusticeMcdonald (1893) which was deemed a

Akel Clarke and his '3ZRO'

sports and leisurewear brand.

Olympian Keevin Allicock presents boxers with financial support

- Following their successes at GBA's 2nd Developmental Boxing C/ship

The recently concluded Developmental Boxing Championship, hosted by the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA)attheNationalGymnasium onFebruary28-29,wasmarkedasa resounding success in the realm of pugilism.Thesecondeditionofthis prestigious event witnessed the convergence of top-notch fighters, with the spotlight shining brightly on both local and international talents.

The tournament's diverse lineup included the formidable presence of four Surinamese fighters: Donn-G Sadhoe, Valentino Artist, and Richard Averd, along with heavyweight Leandro Dongo While the Surinamese contingent added an international flavour to the competition,itwasthelocalboxers Ryan Roger, Tiquan Sampson and Dwayne July who stole the show, securing three out of four Best Boxer awards across various categories.

Oneofthestandoutmomentsof the championship was the impressive showing by thirteenyear-old Surinamese boxer DonnG Sadhoe in the 43-45kg weight

class Sadhoe, displaying skill beyondhisyears,clinchedtheBest Boxer accolade in the Schoolboy's category, triumphing over a formidable Guyanese opponent, JadenFileeninthefinal.

Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) Boxing gym made its mark on the championship as well, with Ryan Rogers delivering a stellar performance in his division Rogers, showcasing prowess and finesse in the ring, emerged victorious in both of his 51-53kg encounters, securing the Best Boxer award in his respective category

Tiquan Sampson, another formidableFYFpugilist,continued toasserthisdominanceintheYouth division Sampson's impressive victory in the 64-67kg divisional final, he exhibited enormous skill anddetermination,earninghimnot onlythedivisionaltitlebutalsothe covetedYouthBestBoxeraward.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF)addedtothelocaltriumphs, with Dwayne July delivering an eye-catching performance on the finalnightofthetournament.July's relentless assault on Surinamese RichardAverd in the Heavyweight

92+kg final, saw him earning high levelsofpraisesashebeatAverdto a pulp to claim the heavyweight title.Meanwhile, in a heartening display of sportsmanship and solidarity, Olympian Keevin Allicock, in collaboration with his sponsor MVP Sports and the Smalta brand, provided financial supporttothefourrecipientsofthe BestBoxerawards.

Allicock, a beacon of inspiration in the boxing community, presented the quartet withasubstantialfinancialpackage as a token of appreciation for their outs

throughout the championship. He told Kaieteur News, this initiative was inspired through the love for the sport and the knowledge of the familiar hardships faced by our youngfighters.

He explained, “Being a brand ambassador, knowing where you camefromandnowactuallyseeing someofthesuccessesIhavegained todate.Ifelttheneedtogiveback to the youth (s), and there was no better way to do this, than to lend some kind of financial support to these young athletes as they strive forsuccess.”

Withthisinmind,“Ispokewith

mysponsors.Immediately,without hesitation, they pledge their support towards this cause. And afterthatconversation,metogether withMVPSportsandmyfriendsat Guyana Breweries Inc. (Smalta brand)wewereabletoset-a-sidea small token of appreciation for the topfourboxersoftheevent.”

“I am pleased to witness the performances throughout the competition, I think this is a great initiativeandIhopewiththis,many other companies and influential operativescangetinvolvedtohelp grow the sport of boxing in the nation,”Allicockconcluded.

Everest Masters win series 2-1 on

tour of Curacao

- Ramdass hits ton, Mahabeer bags 5 for...

E

impressive on their recent tour of Curacao, winning two out of their threematches.IngameoneEverest Masters beat Suffisant CC by two wickets in Willemstad. Suffisant CCbattedfirstandposted131for7 from20overs.

C. Clarkson scored 34 not out, L.Samaroo31andR.Anthony19. Randy Lindore had 2-20, Vick Mahabeer 2-23, mtiaz Sadik 2-27 andRonaldJaisingh1-21.

Everest Masters replied with 132 for 8 in 17.3 overs.Ryan Ramdassmade34, UcilArmstrong 24,EyaazMohamed23notoutand Travis Mohamed 19 Eyaaz Mohamed was named man of the Match.In the second encounter against Curacao CC, Everest

Masters managed 153 for 4 off 15 overs.RajaPooranhitanunbeaten 40, Travis Mohamed scored 34, SeonBovell24andVickMahabeer 18. Bowling for Curacao CC, A. Vereo had 2-12.Curacao Cricket Clubwerebowledoutfor72in9.5 overs in reply with J. Miguel scoring 44. Bowling for Everest Masters,legslinnerVickMahabeer bagged5-2,BasilPersaud2-4,Raja Pooran 2-14 and Travis Mohamed 1-9.VickMahabeerwasvotedMan of the Match.In the third game versus Suffisant / Curacao combined, Everest Masters batted first scoring 190-2 from 25 overs.Ryan Ramdass stuck 100 before he retired, Bhemraj Ramkellawanmade50andHemraj Garbarran 23 not out The

Combinedteamrepliedwith192-5 from23.3overs.

L.Samarooscored64notout,J. Miguel 37, B. Rasheed 32 and R. Anthony 20. Bowling for Everest Masters. Raja Pooran had 2-26, VickMahabeer2-35

L.SamaroowasnamedManof

the match. Captain of the Everest Masters, Rajesh Singh, has expressed gratitude after they won the series 2-1 including Trophy Stall, Praim Boodhram, New Doctors Clinic, Members of the EverestMastersTeamandTouring party, L Mahabeer and Son

Cambio, 3 S Legacy, RajaceAuto, Thompson Supplies, Dynamics Construction & Real Estate Inc. , Ravin Radiator Works , James Welding&FabricationWorkshop,. Suffisant and Curacao Cricket Clubs and umpire Zaheer Mohamed.

Dwayne July in action against Richard Averd of Suriname at the Second Developmental championship last month.

The victorious Everest Masters Team.

GFF Member Associations, Affiliates and Elite Clubs delve into

financial compliance during recent workshop

G u y a n a F o o t b a l l Federation (GFF) Member Associations, Affiliates and Elite Clubs representatives on Sunday attended a Finance Governance Workshop which made clear the necessary compliance process for obtaining funding through the MembersFinancialAssistance Programme(M-FAP)in2024.

The March 3 one-day session, which was held at the Guyana Olympic House in Lilliendaal, Greater Georgetown, also provided participants with an understanding of the FIFA ForwardProgramme.

It was facilitated by FIFA Consultant Lance Cummings and GFF Accountant Marco Meredith.

Discussionsfocusedonthe criteria for securing funding, includingthecompletionofthe club licensing process and the maintenance of current financial records, along with the GFF budgetary plans for 2024GFF President Wayne Forde in his brief remarks stressed that both member associations and clubs must adhere to compliance standardstoaccessfunding.

“The introduction of MFAP is to aid clubs and associations in achieving their developmental goals, with the ultimate aim of nurturing widespread growth. Therefore it is imperative that all levels adhere to compliance standards for the genuine

professionalisation of football inGuyana."

ItwasPresidentFordewho introducedthegroundbreaking M-FAP programme in 2020 withthefullendorsementfrom Congress The initiative extends support to GFF members in four essential areas: Administration & Operations, Equipment & Material, Competition and Technical Development and InfrastructureDevelopment.

The primary goal of FIFA Forward is to cultivate and enhance football on a global scale, ensuring that the sport can achieve its maximum potentialineverycountry This is accomplished through the provision of comprehensive, tailoredfunding,andtechnical assistance to member a s s o c i a t i o n s a n d confederations FIFA

Consultant Cummings noted that it was important for participantstosharetheirideas and opinions in “the football federation's budgeting process It's not like the Federation is preparing a document to submit for approval to Congress, but it's really getting Congress involvedmoreatthislevel.”

GFF Accountant Meredith noted that “in the past three years, the GFF has distributed millions of dollars in equipment to associations and clubs, along with preparatory grantsfortheinitiationof

(Continuedonpage27)

Hetmyer appointed Captain of Guyana ahead of CWI U15 Rising Stars 50-Over tournament

Berbice batsman, Adrian Hetmyer, was appointed CaptainoftheGuyanaUnder15 team ahead of the upcoming CWI U15 50-Over tournament which bowls off thismonthinAntigua.

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) announced the 14 member squad yesterday which features the dynamic batsman, nephew of Shimron Hetmyer,leadingastrongunit co-captainedbyDemeraraallrounderEmmanuelLewis.

Top U15 players like KhushSeegobin,Parmeshwar Ram,ShamarApple,Brandon Henry, Jathniel Nurse, RichardRamdeholandothers will form the star-studded team, who will be among the top contenders at the upcomingcompetition.

The Guyana U15 team is sponsored by OES Guyana

Inc., whose sponsorship went a long way with regard to preparing and outfitting the team with their spanking new kits. Meanwhile, the squad features seven reserve players, including Bomesh Lall, Trilok Nanan, Mickel Sharmatonameafew Guyana U15 squadParmeshwar Ram, Justin Dowlin, Darvir Seegobin, Emmanuel Lewis (VC), AdrianHetmyer(CAPTAIN), Rovaldo Pareira, Richard Ramdeholl, Khush Seegobin, Sohail Mohammed (W/k), Shamar Apple, Brandon Henry, Gilbert Griffith, JathnielNurseandArifKhan. StandbysPlayers:Trilok Nanan, Reyaz Latif, Bomesh Lall, Feeaz Baksh, Kumulchan Ramnarace, Eron Benjamin and Mickle Sharma.

Participants take a photo at the GFF Finance Governance Workshop held recently.

Head Coach Kayode Mckinnon calls for unified backing for u-20 men's national team success

Guyana Under-20 Men's National Team Head Coach, Kayode McKinnon, has stressed that the future successoftheteamhingeson acollectivecommitmentfrom all stakeholders, including officials, clubs, players, parentsandfans.

In a post Under-20 Concacaf Championship Qualifiers interview, McKinnon said: “We must now reflect and create a system that's not just for the present.

To create successful football within our nation, I think it must be the collaboration of every single person involved, the communities, the families, parentsandclubs.”

Guyana wrapped up their February campaign with a mixed performance in Group B, tallying two losses against Antigua and Barbuda and Suriname, a draw against El Salvador, and a victory over TurksandCaicos.

Claiming the group's top position, El Salvador secured a spot in the 2024 Concacaf Men's U-20 Championship scheduledforlaterthisyear.

The Head Coach added thatitwas“agreatexperience firstandforemostforallofus. We were intentional about how we wanted to represent Guyana…for those that are coming behind they will be givenequalopportunitiesand willbeseenasjustasgoodas anyoneelse.”

“Everybody must have a collaborativeagendatoreally help our players and more so help our nation. Once we do

thatwecreateanenvironment that will be conducive for growth, conducive for development and obviously progress.”

The Junior Golden Jaguars roster comprised a blend of former Under-15 national players, local talents who took part in the 2023 NAMILCO Under-17 National Academy Playoffs, and players based in both Trinidad and the United States.

The squad included Goalkeepers Duquain Samuels, Emmanuel Lewis and Julien Casimir; Defenders Gerry-Mayer Burnette, Jaden Thom, Jayden Culley, Kyle Reid, TylerLyle,TyrelStephenand Tyrese Lyle; Midfielders Hemant Brandon Khedoo, Bryan Wharton, Ezekial Rowland,KvistPaul,Kymani Sealey, Nathaniel Pydana, Rondesio Tudor, Shemaiah SamuelsandSolomonAustin; and Forwards Matrim Martin andPerryJrGaul.

Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde said he was proud of the team's show of commitment and dedication throughout the tournament, adding that “the Federation will continue to invest in the national team programme because we have faith in the talentsofouryoungplayers.”

“We call on the people of Guyana to keep supporting ouremergingfootballers.”

The Under-20 Concacaf ChampionshipQualifierssaw intenseclashesamongtwenty seventeamsfromFebruary23 toMarch2.

The Guyana Under-20 Men's National Team.

Windies O60s pays courtesy visit to Chennai Super Kings Academy

TheWindiesO60ssquad took some quality time off from their busy World Cup scheduleinIndiatovisitthe very famous Chennai Super KingsAcademy in Chennai, India last Wednesday after their World Cup Qualifier matchagainsttheUSA.West Indieshadearliermadelight work of USA in their qualifierbydismissingthem forapaltry160andknocking off the required runs for the lossofasolitarywicketwith morethan22overstospare.

These types of activities are all part of Cricket West Indies Masters Association (CWIMA) objectives in creating a nexus between masters' cricket and youth development around the world The members of CWIMA aim to encourage youths to take the game

seriously whilst committing toserveasmentorsandother roles in this beautiful game ofcricket.

This CSK Academy commencedinApril2022at its current locationin Chennai and another one in SALEM. This CSK facility is a state-of the art centre with 14 turf wickets, 2 concrete wickets and 5 indoorwicketsapartfroman opennet.Italsohasafitness centre, lounge and classroom.

In total, this Chennai based Academy has 320 students,bothboysandgirls, which includes Under 10, Under 12, Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18 players. Having started with this location and at SALEM, CSK now has 10 CSK Academies around the

world,namely:

Chennai; Salem; Tirunelveli; Hosur; Trichy; Tirruppur; Coimbatore; Lewisville, Dallas, Berkshire, London; and the latest addition with a franchise-based facility at Alegappa Institutions, Karaikudi.

The West Indies stars mingledwiththestudentsof all age levels there and had friendly discussions with some of the students Emmerson Jordan, was the star of the show with the youngsters since he had just obtained a 5 fer earlier that day against the USA to literallyobliteratethem.The students were eager to interact with Emmers. They seemtoknowoftheexploits ofthelegendaryWestIndies pacersofyesteryear

Deonarine Deyal also spoketothemofhispersonal acquaintance with Brian Lara whose name inevitably came up with the students.

Our guys also visited the SKAbrandedcricketstoreat this facility whereby they secured some valuably

piecesofequipment. The Windies squad also made a special presentation ofseveralAlvinKallicharran story books which was recently released in Guyana andtheCaribbeanforyouths aged 8 to 12 years old. This bookfeaturedthecricketlife

ofWestIndieslegend,Alvin Kallicharranandwaswritten by Tony McWatt, veteran journalist.

Someofthestudentsalso received WI caps from the West Indies and copies of their 2023 Windies Masters Cricketermagazine.

GuyanaCricketBoardreceives bigboostforyouthcricket

Anita Kallicharran, employee of Vibrant Capital Partners Inc. makes the presentation to Dr. Brian Sukhai, treasurer of the GCB

As the GCB continues its aggressive marketing strategy, Vibrant Capital Partners Inc., a USAbased company,hascontributeda significant sum of US$10,000 towards the development of young cricketersinGuyana.

The company provides investment services and is located at 350 Madison Avenue, Floor 17, New York,NY10027,USA.Itis owned by active partners and employees and is specialized in structured creditandsyndicatedcredit i n c l u d i n g C L O management. At a simple but significant ceremony held last Friday evening at thePrincessRamadaHotel, Anita Kallicharran, employee of Vibrant

Capital Partners Inc. made the presentationtoDr BrianSukhai, treasureroftheGCB.

Kallicharran, the wife of Derek Kallicharran, former Berbice,GuyanaandWestIndies “B” all-rounder said that she is reallyimpressedwiththeworkof the GCB and its focus on the development of young cricketers, hence the support of hercompany Dr Sukhai in reply was very grateful for the contribution towards the development of young cricketers in Guyana and encouragedothercompaniesand private individuals to come on board.

He made a commitment to place the company's logo on the uniformsofthenationalunder19 teamwhichwillparticipateinthe regional youth tournament to be heldlaterintheyear.

WI skipper Zamin Amin presents a WI cap to another youngster

Steve Ninvalle NSC Director of Sport

Easter Vacation Swimming Programme set to return March 26th

Inwhathasbecomeasuccessful initiative for the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport in collaboration with the National Sports Commission, the annual Easter Vacation National Swimming Programme will officially commence on Tuesday, March26th.

The programme, which had its rebirth in 2022 and is free of cost, has evolved into a national policy and is tailored to children and individualsagedupto18years.The programme will also cater to individuals with disabilities, further extending its scope of importanceandimpact.

It will be implemented at four facilities underscoring its national nature, which are the Aquatic Centre, Lilliendaal, the site of its intended launch; the Colgrain

Swimming Pool, Georgetown; the Watooka Swimming Pool, Linden; and the Albion Estate Pool, East Berbice.

Experienced national coach

Paul Mahaica will once again reprise his role as programme coordinator and lead trainer In excess of 7,000 individuals participated in 2023, which also encompassed the novel Adult Learning Programme. More than 12,000 participants have utilised the programme since its reimaginingin2022.

Director of Sports Steve Ninvalle said, “Since it's rebirth in 2022, overwhelming, to put it mildly,mightbeanunderstatement in terms of the response that has been garnered for this programme. The initiative, which is essentially the process of teaching a life skill,

has developed into a cultural phenomenon,andthatisevidentby the immense support that has been afforded.”

According to Ninvalle, “While the groundwork would have been done in the previous editions in sensitising the populace about the programme via several different avenues,inclusiveofsocialmedia, its resulting success during that period and it's expected and continuedeminencegoingforward are primary reasons for its continuedhistoricturnout.”

Ninvalle further stated, “With the mammoth turnout that is once againareality,safetyistheguiding star and the building block of this programme, which has never had an unfortunate consequence or episode.Weintendtomaintainthat unblemishedrecordineveryregard

ArcheryGuyana affiliatesnewschoolclub

as we strive to create the ideal environment for learning, social interactions, and discourse so that this initiative can continue its upwardtrajectory.”

“With success, the natural tendency or progression is for expansion. That is a reality that is

being explored as queries have emanated from other environs about that possibility, as the programme is currently being staged in three regions. A gradual but structured expansion is being exploredforbothprogrammes,”he furtherdisclosed.

CueSportsAssociation(Guyana)Inc.launches toelevateCueSportsSceneNationwide

Archery Guyana (AG), the governing body of Archery in Guyana and the sole entity affiliated toWorldArchery, the international governing body for the Olympic sport of archery, granted affiliate status to “ISA Archers” Tuesday saw the monumental partnershipbeingforgedasAG'smandateasa national member association from World Archerycontinuestoadministerthesportata locallevel.

Archery Guyana has been working to introducethesportofarcheryintoschoolsfor sometimenowandhavesincefacilitatedthe creationofanddevelopmentofschoolclubs.

President of AG, Mrs. Vidushi PersaudMcKinnon noted thatArchery Guyana from itsinceptionenvisioneddevelopingthesport withintheschoolenvironmentwiththeaimof

discovering and encouraging athletes from theprimarylevelsallthewaytotheuniversity levels. This ensures the widest possible participation in its effort to find the best Archer to represent Guyana internationally andspecificallyintheOlympicGames.

Archery Guyana commits to providing the necessary training for instructors and certifiedcoaches,bothjuniorandsenior

With this in mind, Archery Guyana sees archery as an additional event at school sports; Inter-house, Inter-schools and Nationals, thereby fostering a competitive spirit among students and the camaraderie thatarcheryisinternationallyknownfor PrincipalofISAAcademylocatedonEast Street, Mr Akram Hussain expressed his delight in having Archery in his school and welcomedtheintroductionofthisClub.

The Cue Sports Association(Guyana)Inc.is proudtoannounceitsofficial establishmenttopromotethe growth and development of cue sports in Guyana. The association has a team of dedicated enthusiasts and professionals set to revolutionize the landscape ofcuesportsinGuyana.

The association comprises Alfred Mekdeci, President; Steven Persaud,

Treasurer; Ryan Baksh, Secretary; Mark Singh, Rupraj Bridjmohan; and SurujSingh,Directors.

The association encompasses all cue sports disciplines prevalent in Guyana, including snooker, pool, and billiards for both males and females. This wide-ranging scope ensures

that enthusiasts and professionals find a welcoming home within the

association, regardless of theirpreferredcuesport.

The Cue Sports Association(Guyana)Inc.is pleased to announce that membership is now open to thepublicwithaspecialoffer for those joining in March. Individuals joining the associationbeforeMarch31, 2024, are eligible for one year of free membership. Thismembershipprovides

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Principal of ISAAcademy Mr. Akram Hussain (on left) receives club affiliation package from President of Archery Guyana Mrs. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon in the presence of Archery Guyana's National Coach Mr. Saeed Karim (at right).

Pictured L-R; Mr Mark Singh, Minister Charles Ramson and Mr Alfred Mekdeci

Chess Team Tournament

Trinidad Chess team in action against Guyana team during the round 2 stage.

Adrian Hetmyer

Parmeshwar

Emmanuel Lewis

Keevin Allicock (left) presents Surinamese Donn-G Sadhoe

with a token of appreciation on the behalf of MVP Sports.

Ryan Roger of FYF boxing Gym (right) collecting financial spoils from senior boxer Keevin Allicock donated by Smalta.