Kaieteur News

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Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

UN Head slams Security Council for failure to end Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine wars

- Antonio Guterres tells Al Jazeera the Security Council is outdated, unfair and ineffective parties for

inaction on injustices of ExxonMobil oil deal

Two men wanted for West Bank murder Woman crushed by

Ram blasts political Lorry

at Lusignan

2 minors involved in case of 11-year-old who gave birth - DPP

Arbitration panel set for foreign contractors suing Govt. for US-millions in cost overruns in relation to Wales GTE Project …Team to visit next month

operations

Ring-fencealltheoilprojectssowecangetallourprofitsfromeachone!

Wanted: Jamal Bourne, called 'Skinny'
Wanted: Roman Roberts, called 'Arsonal'

Ram blasts political parties for silence and inaction on injustices of ExxonMobil oil deal

Chartered Accountant and prominent Attorney-atLaw, Christopher Ram has blasted the political parties in Guyana for failing to protect the country's resources and advance the interests of citizens through their deafening silence and inaction on the lopsided oil deal with American super major,ExxonMobil.

Ram in his weekly column, 'Every Man, WomanandChildinGuyana Must Become Oil-Minded' publishedinFriday'sedition of the Stabroek News, explored the role of the existing political groups in thecountry

The Lawyer informed t h readers in his 136 publication, “From all of them-the(People'sNational Congress Reform) PNC-R, the (Alliance For Change) AFC, ANUG (A New and United Guyana) and the (Working Peoples'Alliance) WPA-thereisasilencethat isnotonlydisappointingand deafening but amounts to a collective surrender of our sovereignty by the entire politicalestablishment.”

Ramtoldreadersthatthe c

2016 Agreement is a de facto

endorsement of the surrender of Guyana's

sovereignty

“By their silence and inaction, every major politicalpartyinGuyanahas become complicit in this grandcedingofournational rights and resources. They have collectively failed to uphold the fundamental principlethatagovernment's primarydutyistoprotectthe country's resources and to advance the interests of its citizens,”hesaid.

Moretroublinghowever, the groups show no interest in Article 31 2 of the PetroleumAgreementwhich allowsGuyanatoaskforany amendmentormodification, theAttorney-at-Lawpointed out.

He argued that the PPP's dramatic shift from promising to "review and renegotiate" the deal to now parroting the legal term "sanctity of contract" is equivalent to a stab in the back for the country “This phrase has become their shield, a convenient excuse for inaction, a dereliction of duty and a betrayal of the nationalinterest,”Ramsaid.

The Attorney-at-Law however made it clear that there is no sanctity in an agreement that fails to protect the interests of the Guyanesepeople.Infact,he pointed out that the only

“By their silence and inaction, every major political party in Guyana has become complicit in this grand ceding of our national rights and resources. They have collectively failed to uphold the fundamental principle that a government's primary duty is to protect the country's resources and to advance the interests of its citizens.”

- Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram.

thing sacred should be a nation'srighttobenefitfully fromitsnaturalresources.

To this end, Ram explained, “This misplaced reverence for a flawed contract is not just misguided - it's a dangerous ceding of our national sovereignty By treating the 2016 Agreement as untouchable, our leaders haveeffectivelyhandedover control of our resources to foreign corporations. They have prioritised the interests of ExxonMobil and its partners over the wellbeing oftheGuyanesepeople.”

He continued, “The stability clause represents a surrender of our right to adapt our laws and regulations to changing circumstances and national needs.This seems more like

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in a statementonFridaysaidthat ithasobservedreportsofthe 11-year-old girl who gave birth, and noted that the matter involves two children.

It was reported that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) h a v e l a u n c h e d a n investigation after the girl gave birth via C-section at the Georgetown Public Hosp

l Corporation (GPHC)onWednesday

“This matter concerns twochildrenandassuchand

Two minors involved in case of 11-year-old girl who gave birth - DPP

basedontheJuvenileJustice Act, the DPP's Office will make NO comments in relation to the FACTS and Legal Advice given in this case,”theDPPofficersaid. Notably,theDPPsOffice also reminded the press and members of the public of Section 100 of the Juvenile Justice Act 2018, which stipulates that a person shall NOT PUBLISH THE N A M E O R A N Y INFORMATION relating to a child or Juvenile if it, will identifythechildorjuvenile as having been dealt with underthisAct. In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of

Human Services and Social Protection though the CPA became involved in the matter after information about the child giving birth made its rounds on social media.

TheMinistrysaidthatas aresulttheCPAimmediately carried out a thorough investigation and informed the police and the alleged perpetrator has been arrested. The Ministry said that the case is currently before the DPP for advice. In the interim, the Ministry said that the child will continue to receive psychosocial and medical support.

most important issue facing the country now and for the next thirty years Their current leader's apparent ignoranceoftheagreement's detailsisanindictmentofthe Party's fitness to govern. Suchwillfulignoranceisnot just embarrassing; it's a dangerous abdication of their role as the opposition, failing to provide the necessary checks and balances our democracy requires,”hesaid.

subjugation rather than sanctity. It ignores the fundamental principle of fairness in international law.”

Ram explained that the petroleum world is replete with cases in which countries have successfully renegotiated oil contracts when circumstances have changed, or when the originaltermswerefoundto be against their national interest.Assuch,theLawyer argued that the failure of leaders in Guyana to even consider this option is a dereliction of their duty to protect the country's interests.

Turning his readers' attention to the main political opposition party, the PNC/R, Ram noted that theleader,AubreyNortonis yet to announce a sound position.

“The Party seems bankrupt of ideas, bankrupt of expertise and bankrupt of courageinwhatisclearlythe

Meanwhile, Ram opined thattheWPA'smyopicfocus on cash transfers without addressing the fundamental inequities of the agreement is a betrayal of their revolutionary heritage and a sad spectacle of a party that once fought for true independence.

His view on the AFC is that the party seems hamstrungbytheelectionof Nigel Hughes as its Leader, who is in another role, the Attorney-at-Lawforallthree of the contractors - Exxon, HessandCNOOC.“Hughes has made it clear that he has

no intention to give up his professional relationship, adding that he would not seek to influence the Party's position While barely acceptable, it is surely unfortunate that the Leader is unable to lead in such in critical sector of the economy,”Ramstated. Most silent amongst the political parties is ANUG, Ram pointed out, whose Leader is also an Attorneyat-Law

Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram
GPHC Maternity Unit

KaieteurNews

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EDITORIAL

Breaking the back of criminal networks

“The bust is not the end of the matter, we have every intention in working with our partners to destabilise and break the back of all criminal networks especially in drug trafficking operating within our territorial space and airspace.Wehavealreadyaskedandwearereadytowork withourpartnersoncewearegiventheassets,andoncewe cansecuretheassetstodealwithalltheoverflightsthatare passingoverourairspace,wearereadytoworkwithyouin dismantling the global empire that drug trade has created butweneedthatsupport.”

PresidentAlicouldbedependedupontocomeupwith the right words to suit the occasion. He usually doesn’t disappoint, and in the matter of the giant Matthews Ridge Drug bust, the president was in good form. The moment was right: the unveiling of the new National Defense Institute and his remarks at theArthur Chung Conference Center. The president, as quoted above must be commended for his stirring words, the seriousness of his apparent commitment to dismantle criminal networks in Guyana. But there are some realities that the carefully avoided,andwhichhousethetroubling,whatclasheswith hishighflyingpostures.

InthatmajorMatthewsRidgedrugbust,theGuyanaPolice Force(GPF)wasnotlargelyuninvolved. Ifitwasinvolvedat all,itwasinvisibleandremotely. Thisdoesn’thelpto“breakthe backsofallcriminalnetworks”aswelcomeasthatwouldbeand asimpressiveasitsounds IftheGPFhadlittletonorolein somethingasbigastheMatthewsRidgedrugoperation,then that does not say much about the trust placed in it, nor the efficiencythatitbringstothetable Weretherefearsfromthe Americans about a potential leak as to the development and timing of the interception, thus compromising months, if not years,ofcarefulwork? ThisisnothelpfulatalltoPresident Ali’s ringing words about his government’s intention to deal criminalnetworksseriousbodyblowsfromwhichthereislittle hopetorecover Guyaneseharborcertainsentimentsaboutthe GPF and most of them do not accrue to its credit This is unhealthyforlawenforcement,anditagitatesthepeaceofmind ofcitizens Togofurther,itcouldbesaidthatcriminalsandtheir networksareencouragedtogreaterefforts Forwhentheyare armed with the knowledge that the GPF’s operational environment is subject to such negative local and foreign attitudes,thecriminalsseeaclearerpath,aremoreincentivized RelativetonegativeforeignperceptionsoftheGPF,theproofis inwhofromGuyanawasinvolvedandwhowasleftoutinthat MatthewsRidgedrugmission

Whentheforegoingisattachedtothenewsthatasenior police officer is suspected of some involvement with the drugdevelopmentsatMatthewsRidge,thisallbutconfirms what Guyanese (and possibly Americans) think and conclude about the GPF Because if, indeed, a senior cop wasthatclosetoalikelylongstandingtraffic,hecouldnot havebeenoperatingalone. Itmeansthatjuniorranksmay havealsobeenensnaredinwhatwasgoingonintheremote hinterlands. Ifso,andthatistheonlysuchweakenedGPF networkofstilltobeprovenroguemembers,theremaybe somehopeforGuyana,andthepresident’scommitmentto “break the back of all criminal networks”. If, however, there are more such rogue cells in the GPF, as many Guyanesebelieve,thendismantlingcriminalnetworksjust becameanalmostundoableproject,nothingbutabigpipe dream,withwordsthatdressupthesituation.

To break the back of all criminal networks is a noble undertaking. Bigger and better governments have tried in morehelpfulenvironments,withlimitedsuccess. Locally, leadershipspeecheshavetheirflashesofmeaning,thenthey oftendiminishtonothing. AdepoliticizedGPFwouldhelp, and a professional one could deliver on President Ali’s grandwords. Unfortunately,GPFandotherlocalrealities standasmajorobstaclesinhisdriveto“breakthebackofall criminal networks.” The sound is good; the supporting substancesarejusttoosoft.

Tribute to the beloved Mahatma Shridath Ramphal Stella ortu in Occidente

DEAREDITOR, Astardiesinthewestacrosstheblazingskies

Torisewithbrighterflameaspromisedforthewise

Amansionwaitsinheaventowelcomeagreatsoul

Whoselifeonearthachievedagloriousgoldengoal.

Why the UK Government must not abandon the Winter Fuel Payments Scheme

DEAREDITOR, In light of the UK

Government’s recent proposal to eliminate the Winter Fuel Payments scheme,Ifeelcompelled,as ajournalistwhohascovered welfareissuesextensively,to voice my strong opposition tothisdeeplymisguidedand dangerous policy change The removal of Winter Fuel Paymentsisnotjustaminor budget adjustment; it is a direct threat to the health, dignity, and very survival of someofthemostvulnerable membersofoursociety This policy, if enacted, will have devastating consequences that ripple far beyond the short-term financial savings itmightprovide.

Winter Fuel Payments werefirstintroducedin1997 underaLabourgovernment, arecognitionthat,formany, thecostofheatingduringthe winter months was becoming unmanageable The scheme provides a oneoff tax-free payment of between £100 and £300 to help older people pay their heating bills, depending on their age, household situation, and whether they receive other state benefits. Since its inception, millions of pensioners have relied on this support, often as a critical line of defence against fuel poverty a situation where a household is unable to afford adequate heating.

Now, the current government is proposing to remove this safety net. The argumentputforwardisthat Winter Fuel Payments are toocostlyandthatcutsmust bemadetoreducetheburden

on public finances

However, this line of reasoning fails to take into account the human cost of such a policy. Removing Winter Fuel Payments will not balance the budget—it will push tens of thousands of households, already struggling to make ends meet,furtherintohardship.

The proposed removal disproportionately affects those who are most vulnerable: low-income pensioners,thedisabled,and individuals who are already livinginornearfuelpoverty

Thispolicydoesn’tjuststrip away financial support; it

strips away the safety net that many rely on to survive the harshest months of the year

IntheUK,coldweather isnotatrivialinconvenience for the elderly It’s a lifethreatening hazard The B r i t i s h w i n t e r i s characterized by long periods of damp, cold weather, which can exacerbate pre-existing health conditions Pensioners, who are often less mobile and less able to generate body heat, are at particular risk.According to Age UK, a charity that advocates for older people, more than one million older householdsarelivinginfuel poverty, struggling to pay their heating bills. Cutting Winter Fuel Payments will push even more into this precarioussituation.

Thestatisticsarealready alarming. Every winter, the UK experiences what is known as “excess winter deaths” the number of deaths that occur over the winter period compared to other times of the year.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), during the winter of 2022/2023, there were over 63,000excesswinterdeaths. Many of these deaths are attributable to cold weather exacerbating conditions such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases; illnesses that could be mitigatedbyensuringhomes are adequately heated Removing the Winter Fuel Payments scheme would all but guarantee an increase in thistragicstatistic.

This brings us to a fundamental question:What is the ethical responsibility ofthegovernmenttowardits citizens, particularly those who have contributed to society through decades of work? The elderly are not simply a financial burden to be managed they are individuals who have spent theirlivescontributingtothe economy, paying taxes, raising families, and building communities. The Winter Fuel Payments are notcharity;theyareapartof thesocialcontractthatwe,as a society, have made with ourelderlycitizens.

Governments are tasked

with protecting the welfare of all citizens, especially those who are most vulnerable. It is often said thatthemeasureofasociety is how it treats its weakest members.Ifthegovernment proceeds with this policy, it is effectively telling the elderly and the disabled that theyareexpendable,andthat theirlivesandwell-beingare secondary to the whims of fiscal austerity Is this the legacy the government wishestoleave?Toabandon the very people who built thisnationduringthehardest yearsoftheirlives?

As a nation, we should be deeply concerned about what this says about our priorities The removal of WinterFuelPaymentsisnot justaboutsavingmoney;itis a reflection of how little we valueourelderlypopulation. We cannot and must not allow budgetary concerns to outweigh our moral obligation to ensure that no one has to choose between heating their home andeatingameal.

Beyond the ethical implications, the economic argument for removing Winter Fuel Payments is woefully shortsighted. The government claims that eliminating the scheme will helpreducepublicspending, but this is a classic case of penny-wise, pound-foolish.

Cutting Winter Fuel Payments will likely lead to higher public spending in other areas, particularly the NHS.

Cold homes contribute to a significant increase in health problems, especially amongtheelderly.Exposure to cold temperatures can exacerbate conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and cardiovascular disease, leading to more frequent hospital admissions, longer stays,andincreasedpressure on already overburdened healthcare services The costs associated with treating cold-related illnesses far outweigh the relativelymodestexpenseof maintaining the Winter Fuel Payments scheme. In fact, according to the charity National Energy Action, cold homes cost the NHS £1.36 billion every year in Englandalone.

The ripple effect will extend to other public servicesaswell.Socialcare, emergency services, and localauthoritieswillallface increased demand as more individuals fall into fuel poverty and require additional support The removal of Winter Fuel Payments will create a vicious cycle of need, with more people turning to state services for help, ultimately increasing the financial burden on the very system the government claims it is tryingtorelieve.

EliminatingWinterFuel Payments may offer a temporary reduction in public spending, but it creates long-term, structural problems that will cost far more in the future The government’s responsibility is not just to manage the budget year by year but to ensure that its policies are sustainable in the long term. Cutting Winter Fuel Payments is a short-sighted fix that ignores the broader social and economic consequences.

Moreover, in a global context, removing this schemewouldmaketheUK an outlier Countries with similar climates, such as Germany, France, and Sweden, provide substantial winter heating subsidies for theirvulnerablepopulations. These nations understand that protecting their elderly and disabled from the dangers of cold weather is not just a moral imperative but an economic one By removing Winter Fuel Payments, the UK would be taking a backward step, abandoning the most vulnerable while other nations move forward with comprehensive welfare policies.

If cost savings must be m

de, there a

e more sensible ways to reform the Winter Fuel Payments scheme without removing it altogether For instance, the payments could be meanstested, ensuring that the money goes to those who need it most. Alternatively, the government could explore ways to deliver the payments more efficiently, perhapsbyintegratingthem

(Continuedonpage06)

APPRECIATE DR. BISRAM’S “UNFULFILLED LIFE”

DEAREDITOR, S h a m R a h m a n Mohammed, if such a name

exists, (KN Sep 11) characterized Dr. Vishnu Bisram’s multiple degrees and countless commentaries as that of a person who has an“unfulfilledlife”.

People should have the freedomtocritiquebutnotto attackthepersonal.

I hope Vishnu’s life

continues to remain unfulfilled so that he can continue to earn more accreditedacademicdegrees (notbogusoneslikethosein government have) and enlighten us on matters we otherwise would have been ignorant about. His bold writings speak to the reality of the lives of Guyanese at homeandintheDiaspora.Is thereanyotherwhohasdone that?

VishnuBisramneedsno assistance to defend his achievements and has been writing on a multitude of issues because no one else

has the background, capacity, willingness, and couragetovolunteertimeto write on matters impacting thenation.

Dr Bisramhaspublished countlessarticlesinthemass media, journals, and books on the Guyanese and the Caribbean people’s experiences in the region

and the Diaspora and on global events and his ancestralIndia.

Yetafakenametropehas themean-spiritedtemerityto criticize this Guyanese patriotandintellectualgiant. Only an ingrate would not appreciate the contribution of a dynamic freedom fighter, one among a handful, who spent his entire life championing democracyinandwritingon Guyana and Guyanese and Caribbeanpeople.

Dr Bisram is among a few who consistently has advocatedforamulti-racial, inclusive democracy for Guyanawithequalityforall and who has done so with patient,persistenthardwork on the ground, lobbying international governments about the state of affairs in Guyana to get support for free and fair elections — workthatbenefitedthePPP, AFC and the minor parties on the issue of democracy He has continued his commitmenttoGuyanaeven after the restoration of democracy in 1992, investing precious time and resources when others gave uponthehomeland.

And when democracy was threatened in 2020, he was out front engaging in investigativejournalismand flooding the press with

articles as well as lobbying governments to ensure the willofvotersprevail.Which one at Freedom House did more to save democracy in 2020?

Unlike others, Dr. Bisram fought for every ethnicandreligiousgroupto participateinthedemocratic processandtoequallyenjoy the benefits of the state, a goal that has eluded the nationinspiteof32yearsof democracy and rotating governments.

My first encounter with Vishnu Bisram was in the 1980s on trips to Trinidad andGuyana.

He came across as humble, and simple; I never knew he was the Vishnu Bisramwhosewritingswere in the papers regularly We were at several rallies and other events in Guyana Promoting democracy, equality, and justice, have been the genesis and hallmarkofhisstruggle.He,

Ramracha,andothersoutof the USA volunteered their time with utmost dedication anddevotionandcommitted r

revolutionary struggle to restore democracy to Guyana.

They met with and

worked closely with Dr Fenton Ramsahoye who I alsoengagedinTrinidadand Guyana during my activist daysinthe1980sonwardsin that struggle for FFE. The PPP benefited from their struggleforFFE.

No one currently in the PPP government ever committed and or participated with such commitmentinanystruggle. The current officials of the government are all beneficiaries of the struggle of the above and of myself, ClementRohee,theJagan’s, t h e R a m k a r r a n ’s , Nagamootoo, Nokta, Ramotar, Nanda Gopaul, Walter Rodney, Rupert Roopnarine, Moses Bhagwan, Paul Tennassee, Reepudaman Persaud, Eusi Kwayana, Vishnu Bandhu, amongothers.TheJagdeo’s, Irfaan Ali’s, Nandlall’s, Ashni Singh’s, Robert Persaud’s,Croal’s,McCoy’s were not in the streets receiving physical blows fromgoonsandbeinglocked upforprotesting.

Yet the ingrate beneficiaries have the temerity to criticize others and to pay tropes to attack those of us who were responsible for the return of democracy in Guyana Instead of criticizing and paying trolls, the

beneficiariesshouldconduct puja and perform aarti at theirfeet.

A man of integrity who commands respect internationally and one who spent personal resources to traveltheglobefrom1977to 1992 to champion democracyisbeingridiculed by the beneficiaries as having an unfulfilled life. That is the government of Guyana.

Where is Guyana going withtheseingratecharacters who are in charge of the government?

I should note politicians inGuyanaonbothsideshave been using race to tighten grip on their party and on poweronceinoffice.Itisnot Dr Bisram who is using religionandrace.

Look around and observe who gets contracts — race and religion are factors. Much wealth has been accumulated by those who rose to the Ministerial level,withtherareexception ofacoupleofthem.

The government has become a family business affair

The involvement in politics has made some multi-millionairesandafew near billionaires in American dollar terms Meanwhile, the poor are getting poorer, and the rich

arewealthier

The gap between the poor and rich is widening and poverty is growing. Ratherthanspendingmoney targeting critics and members of civic society and scholars like Dr. Bertrand Ramcharran, the government should redirect that large sum of money to help address basic human needs, notably in assisting thepooranddispossessedto combat rising prices for food.

Post-JaganPPPmaynot appreciateDr Bisram’sprodemocracy movement from 1968onwards,buttherestof Guyana does. Guyanese from all walks of life and strata of society appreciate the work of Dr Bisram. His more than 50 years of voluntary service to Guyanese helped to restore and protect democracy in our homeland and institutionalizeorstrengthen the need for opinion polling in Guyana as well as in several other Caribbean societies, not the least being Trinidad, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua, among others.

Dr Bisram has published countless articles in the mass media, journals, and books on the Guyanese and the Caribbean people’ (Contionuedonpage06)

APPRECIATE DR. BISRAM’S...

Frompage05 experiences in the region and the diaspora andonglobaleventsandIndia. He never ever boasted about his academic credentials.

Why the UK Government must...

I thank Sham Rahaman Mohammed for bringinghiscredentialstopublicattention.It is not an achievement to ridicule but to celebrate.

Pleasecontinuetohaveanunfulfilledlife Dr Bisramwithyourwritingsandacademic pursuits!Weareproudofyou!

YoursSincerely, LeylandRoopnaraine

Frompage04 into broader energy-saving initiativessuchasinsulation and home improvement schemes. These reforms would allow the government to reduce costs while still protecting thevulnerable.

But an outright removal is a draconian measure that serves no oneinthelongterm It is not only an assault on the elderly but also on the

asic principles of fairness and

d

uld underpin any welfare system

In conclusion, the removal of Winter Fuel Payments is a dangerous and ethically indefensible policy It will lead to more cold homes,moreillnesses, moredeaths,andultimately, higherpublicspending.

The UK Government must recognize the longterm damage this policy will cause and reconsider its position before it is too late

We, as citizens, cannot remain silent. I urge readers to express their opposition bywritingtotheirlocalMPs, signing petitions, and participating in public discourse on this critical issue.

We must stand together to ensure that no oneinoursocietyisleftto freeze in the cold because of a reckless government decision

Sincerely,

Guyana’s oil not being used for Stabroek Block operations

Ex x o n M o b i l Guyana Limited ( E M G L ) o n Friday said Guyana's crude oilwasnotbeingusedforits offshore operations in the StabroekBlock.

The company in a

statemen

xplained, “ E M G L ' s o ff s h o r e operations use none of the crude produced in the Stabroek block. All of the crude oil recovered is lifted forsaleinone-million-barrel cargosbytheGovernmentof Guyana and the coventurers.”

ExxonMobil affiliate, ExxonMobil Guyana Limitedisoperatorandholds 45% interest in the Stabroek block Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30% interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds25%interest.

Anumberofgovernment agencies, onshore and offshore, monitor all crude cargo lifts, including those assigned to the co-venturers, Exxon added The oil company therefore noted, “The idea of secret crude cargos has no basis in reality.”

The company did not indicatewhereitsfuelforthe operationswasbeingsourced orthecost.Uptopresstime, Exxon did not respond to queriesinthatregard.

Exxon's statement was issued to the media in response to Kaieteur News' Friday, September 13, 2024

Editorial The column questioned the secrecy surrounding the use of Guyana's crude oil for the company's activities and its importance in determining whether this was yet another

avenue for the country to be

resources.

“When that number is disclosed, whatever it is, assessments can be made that, given the scope of ExxonMobil's Guyana operations, as to the reasonableness of it, how it

situationselsewhere. Onthe other hand, when that number is shaded in secrecy, the door is flung open for playing with what could involve thousands of barrels of oil daily,” a section of the editorialstated.

Itshouldbenotedthatthe

between the Government of Guyana (GoG) and United Statesoilmajor,ExxonMobil provides for the operator of the Stabroek Block to use as much oil as it needs during

- ExxonMobil

theoffshoreoperations.

Article 11 9 of the Agreement states: “The Contractor shall have the righttouseinanyPetroleum Operations as much of the production as may reasonably be required by it thereforandthequantitiesso usedorlostshallbeexcluded fromanycalculationsofCost Oil and/or Cost Gas and Profit Oil and/or Profit Gas

entitlement.”

During a webinar earlier this month, International Award-winning Lawyer, Melinda Janki pointed out that the country was in the dark on how much of its oil was being used by Exxon. She told participants of the onlineeventthatin2021she wrotetoPresidentIrfaanAli requestingthis;however,she neverreceivedaresponse.

Arbitration panel set for foreign contractors suing government for US-millions in cost overruns in relation to Wales GTE Project …Team to visit next month

The arbitration panel for US-million cost overruns claimed by United Statesbased Lindsayca and CH4 joint venture against the Government of Guyana (GoG) is set to visit next month, Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo announced on Thursday at his weekly pressconference.

Jagdeotoldreportersthat hewasundertheimpression thatthearbitrationpanelwas visitinglastweek.However, headded,“ButIwastoldit's in October I know the panelisfullycomposednow andtheyarevisiting.”

Notably, the Vice Presidentstatedthathedoes not know who the third member of the arbitration board is. That person was agreed upon by the government and the companies.BackinApril,the joint-venture made a claim against the Government for some US$90M in cost

overruns for construction delaysfortheWalesGas-toEnergy(GTE)project.

InDecember2022,CH4Lindsayca was awarded a US$759M contract for the construction of two components of the GTE project, the Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Facility and the 300 megawatts (MW) power plant. It should be notedthatatapreviouspress conference, the VPsaid that

while it was reported that there is a dispute over US$90M, this was inaccurate. He said the amount stood at around US$50M but the figure neededtobeverified.

TheGTEprojectwillsee the utilization of Guyana natural gas resources being piped from ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) StabroekBlockoperationsto thelocationinWales.Exxon is responsible for the constructionofthe140-mile (225-km)gaspipelinewitha price tag of US$1 billion. The oil company has promised to deliver the pipeline by the end of this year This gas pipeline will be connected to the combined onshore facilities, which falls under the purview of the government. Exxon will have to supply gasfromtheStabroekBlock to the 300 megawatts power plantandtheNGLfacility

VicePresident(VP), Bharrat Jagdeo
Presidentof ExxonMobilGuyana, Alistair Routledge

The PPP/C also drank the IMF/ World Bank Cool-Aid

The curious thing about politiciansishoweasilythey forget their own past while presenting a revisionist history that suits the moment. Case in point, Bharrat Jagdeo—Guyana’s Vice President and former President and Minister of Finance recently attempted to draw a distinction between the structural adjustment programme implemented under the People’s National Congress (PNC) from 1989 to 1992, and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government’s own programmepost-1992.

The former, he argued, wasfocusedonstabilization and reform, while the latter, apparently,wasofadifferent focusentirely Asthesaying goes, he can tell that to the Marines.

Let’s dispense with the illusions There was no substantial difference

between the PNC’s

E c o n o m i c R e f o r m Programme (ERP) and the PPP/C’ssubsequentpolicies underJagdeo.Bothwerecut from the same neoliberal cloth, woven by the IMF, World Bank, and InterAmerican Development

Bank (IDB) Neoliberalism is still the dominant economic ideologyinGuyana.

The PPP/C, especially underJagdeo’sstewardship, swallowed the bitter medicine of structural adjustment with a docility thatborderedontheslavish. While the PNC’s reforms

were blunt, harsh,

unconscionable, and unapologetic, Jagdeo’s government dressed theirs up in rhetorical finery like “developmentwithahuman face.”

But development is, in essence, about people—it doesn’t need a face. What the PPP/C likely meant was anadjustmentwithahuman face In this regard, it followed the IMF playbook almost to the letter, with little deviation from the course set before by the PNC.

Oneneedonlylookatthe policies pursued by Jagdeo to confirm this alignment.

Despite the PPP/C’s rhetoric,almosteverymajor economic decision bore the imprint of international financial institutions. This slavish adherence to IMF prescriptions manifested itself in policies that struck at the heart of Guyana’s publicserviceandeconomy Privatization was continued vigorouslyunderthePPP/C.

They even tabled a Privatization Policy FrameworkPaper Thiswas noaccident;itwasthedirect result of the PPP/C’s willingness to bow to externaldiktat.

Perhaps the most egregious example of this obedience was the controversialpolicyof“redcircling” certain public service positions This measure, insisted upon by the IMF, was designed to li mit salary increases and m aintain fiscal discipline,

but it came at a significant cost. Public servants, alreadyunderpaid,weretold that certain positions were proscribed from enjoying salary increases. This was something that the IMF wantedjustashowitinsisted onacaponsalaryincreases.

These developments helped fuel the public servicestrikeof1999,oneof themostbitterlabordisputes in the country’s history

Perhaps if the policy of redcircling and wage restraint had been relaxed, the country could have avoided the violent actions that accompaniedthatstrike.

The continuity between the PNC’s ERP and the PPP/C’s subsequent policies, especially under Jagdeo, is undeniable. One could argue that in the early years, Jagdeo’s lack of experience in running a country made him more reliant on the advice IMF, and World Bank, and other international financial institutions. But he would have gotten older and wiser onthejobandbynowshould have dumped neo-liberal economics which widens rather than narrows the gap between the haves and the have-nots, and which subjects the people to the vagaries of markets and limits direct government interventioninthemarket.

Under Jagdeo’s leadership, the PPP/C became the poster child for neo-liberal orthodoxy The PPP/C government would beastrongcontenderforthe

DEM BOYS SEH

Ourroadsarekillingfields

Once upon a time, every other road accident was a minibus story It was like a horror show on wheels—minibus jumpcorner,minibusjump lane, minibus end up in trench If yuh wasn’t ducking from a bus flying pastyuh,yuhwaswatching ittryingfuhout-speedajet plane But now? Not so much. Dem minibus gone underground like they in witness protection. These days, yuh hearing less ‘bout them and more ‘bout privatecars.Everybodyget big and bad with they own ride now Everybody is Schumacher on the road, and the rest of us like spectators at a Grand Prix—dodging death left,

right, and center But the thingis,whilewedodging, the funeral parlours smiling.Businessbrisk!

Dem boys seh, the problem bigger than the drivers The road itself tired.Itwasn’tbuiltfuhthis much traffic. Back in the day, one donkey cart used to pass and the road would get a break till de next few minues. Now? The road don’t even get time fuh catch a breath. Cars piling up like sardines, and the conditionoftheroadasbad assomeofthedrivers.Dem drivers behaving like the road belong to them alone—double lane, single lane,nolane—anylaneisa goodlanefuhthem. And wha de people gettingfuhthis?Wakes!So

podium in any competition forthetitleofforemostneoliberal acolyte in the Caribbean. The PPP/C faithfully followed the IMF’s instructions The PPP/C’spolicies,foralltheir talk of human development, w e r e i n p r a c t i c e indistinguishablefromthose of the very international institutions they claimed to resist.

What is most damning, however, is that the PPP/C continued this course without pause The very adjustments that were supposed to stabilize and reformtheeconomyhave,in many ways, perpetuated the very inequalities they were meant to resolve The legacy of these policies can be seen in the enduring struggles of the Guyanese working class, who have

borne the brunt of these “reforms” without reaping thebenefits.

The macroeconomic structural adjustment policies advocated by the IMF and World Bank promoted a development model centered on exportledgrowth,drivenbynatural resource extraction and foreign direct investment. This is the very model that the PPP/C had castigated priorto1992.

In the end, Jagdeo’s attempt to distinguish his government’s policies from those of the PNC is deeply cynical. His administration, like its predecessor, drank deeply from the cup of structural adjustment, and the consequences of that choice are still being felt today The rhetoric of

“developmentwithahuman face” was little more than a façade, a thin veneer over the hard reality of neoliberalism It is time to confront that reality and acknowledge that the PPP/C, under Jagdeo, was no less beholden to the dictates of the IMF and World Bank than the PNC before it. The record speaks foritself.

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

what we doing ‘bout this crisis? Well, everybody waiting on de promised consultations. Dem boys seh them consultations taking so long, it might happen after the world ends. Maybe it gon be just like the education s e c t o r p l e n t y interventions but no study of de problem. At de end, nobody remember what was being fixed in the first place.

But maybe, dem boys seh, we gon wait till every driverontheroadwriteoff they car, and the last man standing gon declare de consultations complete Till then, funeral parlours gon keep counting they profits. Talkhalf.Leffhalf

H@RD TRUTHS

When patriotism powers past partisanship

The world is coming to anend;thegoodnewsisthat it is not an apocalyptic one. Former Republican and Bush Vice President, Dick Cheney will be voting come

November for Vice PresidentKamalaHarris,the Democratic presidential candidate. It has all the seismic force of a political earthquake, one that batters theRichterscale.

ItiswhyIlikeAmerica: 250 years of trial and error, as well as repeated stumblingandsoaring,buta man can still stand and deliver something of this stature. Guyanahasanother 200 years to go and maybe (justmaybe),itmaygetmen and women who can shake the shackles of blind partisanship and be honest with themselves, just once. It would be for the good of the country Yes, by some miracle, we still have that, with Guyana standing as proof,asflimsyasitis.

Let this word be said: I have little to no use for the likesofDickCheney,former

US vice President, a politician of hanging chads infamy, thanks to another Harris and her team in Florida during the US presidential election of 2000.If I incensed the US

A m b a s s a d o r, H e r Excellency The riot should know that it is part of what makes America great (genuinely great), these rare freedoms that we have, so treasure. Itistospeakanddo asDickCheneydid,tostand up and go against the grain andstillmatter

How can I, a colored man, a simple citizen, be endearedbyaVulcanbacker, st a 21 century warrior in the mold of Atilla the Hun and Genghis Khan the barbarian?

Yet,itissaidthatevenin the most heinous, the worst ofus,thereisthatsparkthat couldsetapart,ifallowedthe opening to take feeble first steps, then to flourish. It is whyIstillhope,asmuchasit isagainsthope,thatourown esteemed Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo would find

that spark and push his way to such a moment of clean reckoningwithhimself. All Guyana could be better EventhoughinPresidentDr Irfaan Ali, I discern a still worse streak-a very broad one-of Vice President Jagdeo in the making, the identical hope and spark are wished for him. Again, it couldbefortheGuyanathat has always eluded. Never lose hope is the spirit; never giveupistheword. Itiswhy Ineverretreat.

There are some developments that are so staggering that they are unfathomable. Republican hitmanDickCheneygaveus one in the most tumultuous oftimes.

TheDickCheneyofIraq and supporter of the Project for the New American Century, a man who treaded closetothedemagogicinUS political leadership, embodied some of that himself, yet does the unbelievable He has crossed the American political Rubicon, and that

says it all. I think that a better America could be the result. Hiswordstellwethe people of Guyana of what is wrongwithAmerica,andthe leadership that needs to be exercised to make a start in righting the wrongs. We have our own unending range of leadership wrongs here, compliments of VP Jagdeo and Excellency Ali. Theyshouldlistenandlearn. Weallshould.

“Inournation's248-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greaterthreattoourrepublic thanDonaldTrump.Hetried to steal the last election using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him." How many more sober and serious Americans think similarly?

Whether Republican or Democrat or Independent, howmanymorehavequietly resolved internally to do as hedidonthefirstTuesdayin November? It takes an American Firster to get there, say so, a man as

RepublicanasRockof Ages Politically speaking, of course. "As citizens, we each have a duty to put country above partisanship to defend our Constitution. That is why I will be casting my vote for Vice President Kamala Harris."

What is left for a nonentity like me to say in the face of such noble patriotic instincts? Thosewithhonest convictions, those with the stirrings of conscience that troubles, can look at their owncultleadersandbebold: of that I will have no part. Whatever Kamala Harris is, everwillbe,shecanneverbe half as dangerous, or a quarter as destructive as Donald Trump. Instead of using Mr Cheney's remarkable reaction to American circumstances to point to Messrs. Ali and Jagdeoandthedemagoguery present in Guyana. I say, instead, let it be a wakeup call for these two rancorous and ramshackle Guyanese leaders, and urge that an

aboutturnbemade. Guyana istooprecariouslypoised. It istooyoungandtooseething to be stable enough to manage its affairs with aplomb, with the requisite strength that should have been from the inception. Make a change, a real one. Invaluable it would be to Guyana and Guyanese to have a few good men and women to say that we have gone too far in this country It is time I take the lead in being different, by breaking ranks. By standing for country beforethecultish. Bybeing for fellow citizens above cash and corruption. By being for the Guyana that could be, probably just withinthegrasp.

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

BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT

Exxonprotestingtoomuch

Exxon's practice has been to block its ears, bury its head.

It rarely responds to many big oil issues that KN publishes.

Yet Exxon has broken its silence more than once recently.

Meters at the pump, how much oil is used in its operations.

Clearly, Exxon has been stung by these two issues.

Stung so deeply that it has come out and put out. Meter articles have made it mad.

How many barrels of oil used (or shipped slyly) cause it to boil.

Exxon has defended. Exxon has pretended. Exxon is wounded. Exxon is confounded.

Shakespeare comes to mind on Exxon. Exxon is protesting too much.

People protesting too much, have things to hide.

Exxon is pretending too much.

Mas Mani Carnival Band set to shine at Cricket Carnival 2024

As Cricket Carnival 2024 heats up, Social Events Guyanaissettomakeamajor impact by adding cultural significance and grandeur to the celebration. Social Events Guyana is an entertainment company powered by LeZo and is renowned for curating premium events throughout theyear

According to a statement issued by Gabriella PR Services, this year, the organisation has proudly joined the Cricket Carnival calendar with two exciting events: Day Break and Soca Supper—both promising to captivate true carnival lovers. The highly anticipated Day Break—a breakfast party at Scotty's Smoke House begins at 11 PM on September 28th. Thiseventcaterstoallcarnival enthusiasts who know how to keep the vibe alive well into themorning.

On September 30, Soca Supperwilltakeoverthesame venue, offering a muchneeded washdown after a weekend filled with actionpacked Carnival activities These events, like everything hosted by Social Events Guyana, are sure to bring people together for an unparalleled celebration of music,culture,andunity

“However, the pinnacle of Social Events' contribution to Cricket Carnival is undoubtedly their vibrant participation in the road parade with the Mas Mani ALL-INCLUSIVE Carnival Band.Settotakeovertheroad with a double-decker truck, a dynamic lineup of DJs including The Hypeman Patrick, and performances from the 2024 Soca Monarch, Carlvin Burnett, Barbados RoadMarchKing,JusJay,and many more attractions. The Mas Mani Carnival Band promisestobeoneofthemost outstanding spectacles of the parade,”thestatementsaid.

Thestatementsaidthatthe 'Mas Mani Carnival Band', withitsstrikingblackandgold costumes, designed by the esteemed Guyanese designer Randy Madray, speaks to the richnessofGuyana'sheritage.

“The colours black and gold were deliberately chosen tosymbolizethewealthofour nation—both in its natural resources and cultural vibrance. The craftsmanship reflects Guyanese excellence, showcasing the high-caliber creativity that comes from localtalent.

Revelers will not only be donning works of art but will also represent the cultural

heartbeat of Guyana on the road.”

Co-Founder of Social Events, Enzo Matthews said, “The whole reason Lionel Luther and I started Social Events was to encourage people to disconnect to reconnect.

Lifeisn'tjustaboutwork; you're going to die and leave themoneybehind.

We want people to take a break, come out, take a lil' jam, have some fun, and then headbacktoworkrefreshed.

Carnival is the perfect time for that, it's about celebrating life, our culture, andthemomentsthatbringus together That'sthespiritwe're bringing with Mas Mani and all our events during Cricket Carnivalthisyear.”

The name Mas Mani, he added, holds deep meaning.

“Itisafusionoftwopowerful celebrations, Caribbean Carnival and Guyana's own Mashramani.”

Mas" draws from the grand tradition of Caribbean Masquerade, where music, dance,andcolourfulcostumes come together to symbolize

freedomandexpression.

“Mani" is inspired by Mashramani, a celebration of GuyanabecomingaRepublic, which

celebration that follows hard work. Together, Mas Mani symbolizes unity, pride, and theblendingofCaribbeanand Guyaneseculturaltraditions,” heexplained.

Further alluding that as Cricket Carnival continues to grow, partnerships like his help ensure that the festival remains an authentic celebration of our heritage, bringingtogetherpeoplefrom allwalksoflife.

“The inclusion of Social Events Guyana in Cricket Carnival is a testament to the importance of stakeholders stepping up to contribute to national celebrations that showcase the best of Guyaneseculture.”

For more information on Social Events Guyana's participation in Cricket Carnival 2024 and to register for the Mas Mani Carnival Band,visittheirofficialsocial mediapagesorcontact+592629-8145.

Mas Mani Carnival Band costumes

Twomenwantedfor WestBankmurder

Wanted: Roman Roberts, called 'Arsonal' Wanted: Jamal Bourne, called 'Skinny'

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Friday issued a wanted bulletin for two men connected to the murder of Akeem Hamer, also known as 'Max', from Samaroo Dam, Pouderoyen, West BankDemerara(WBD).

Hamer was killed on September12,2024.

Theindividualssoughtby the police are 24-year-old

Jamal Bourne, called 'Skinny', whose last known addressisLot14,5thAvenue, Diamond, East Bank

Demerara (EBD), and 20year-old Roman Roberts, known as 'Arsonal', whose lastknownaddressisLot38, Samaroo Dam, Pouderoyen, WBD.

Thepolicearerequesting the public's assistance in locatingBourneandRoberts. Anyone with information about their whereabouts is urgedtocontactthepoliceat 227-1149, 225-8196, 2271611, 268-2328, 268-2329, 226-3405,225-6978,or3333876 or the nearest police station.

A screen grab showing the lorry heading west along the Lusignan Railway Embankment Road while the woman on the cycle was heading north.

Woman crushed by Lorry at Lusignan orry

An unidentified woman was tragically crushed to death by a motor lorryonFridaymorningattheLusignan Railway Embankment Road, East CoastDemerara(ECD).

Theincidentoccurredaround07:45 hrsneartheLusignanPrisonRoad.The lorry involved, registered GAE 3066, was being driven by 29-year-old Brian Aaron Lee from Burma, Mahaicony, ECD. At the time of the accident, the woman was riding a bicycle along the road. According to the police, Lee was travelingwestontheLusignanRailway Embankment Road when someone shouted to alert him that a cyclist was trapped under the lorry Lee immediately pulled over, stopped the vehicle, and exited to find the woman lyingmotionlessontheroad.

anabruptstopbeforeproceeding.Itwas thenthevehiclecrushedthewoman. Emergency Medical Technicians were called to the scene where they pronounced the woman dead upon arrival.

The body has been taken to the Memorial Gardens Mortuary, where it willawaitapost-mortemexamination.

Avideocirculatingonsocialmedia shows that while the lorry was proceedingwestalongtheroad,itmade

The driver remains in custody, assisting with the ongoing investigation.

GWI begins pipe replacement along Avenue of the Republic

The Guyana Water

Incorporated (GWI) in a statement on Friday said that it has commenced pipe replacement works along Avenue of theRepublicandHighStreetaspartof its Georgetown Transmission ReplacementProgramme.

upgrade the city's water supply network.

The new pipe to be installed Some

beinglostcontributingtothelowlevel ofservice,”Bakshexplained.

The company explained that the current transmission mains, installed between 1920 and 1960, are being replaced due to frequent leaks and breakages, which have made them costlytomaintain.

This initiative, backed by a $1 billion investment from the Government of Guyana, aims to

GWI's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shaik Baksh, noted that the agingpipelinesareunabletowithstand high water pressure and traffic vibrations,leadingto waterlosses and disruptionsinservice.

“We have to replace a lot of these pipelines because there are a lot of water losses, what we call NonRevenue Water (NRW) losses in Georgetown and its impacting on the levelofservice.

Therearehugeleakagesaroundthe Cityandnomatterhowmuchwaterwe pump though the system, a lot of it is

C & L Construction Inc. has been contracted to complete the works. Notably,thereplacementworkswillbe executed in two phases: Lot 2 covers the section ofAvenue of the Republic between Hadfield and Church Streets, while Lot 3 focuses on High Street between Hadfield and Broad Street. Eachlotisexpectedtotakesixmonths.

Moreover, GWI said that it is actively engaging with stakeholders, including residents, businesses, and public agencies, that are expected to experience disruptions during the projecttimespan.

Fake stamps

The Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) on Thursdaycautionedthepublic aboutthecirculationofillegal postage stamps worldwide.

In a statement, the post office said that the stamps in circulationwerenotissuedby Guyana while adding that the illegal stamps have been produced and distributed without the knowledge or permission of the country's a u t h o r i t i e s

“As the legal issuer of

postagestampsinGuyana,the GPOC emphasizes that any stamp not officially released by the Corporation is unauthorized and should not be advertised or marketed for sale or otherwise by or on behalf of GPOC, Guyana or the Government of Guyana,” GPOC said in the statement. Further, the GPO urged collectors,andthepublictobe vigilant and ensure the authenticity of stamps by verifying their origin

US$214M audit dispute with Exxon to be settled through arbitration or mediation - Jagdeo

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo toldthemediaon Thursdayathisweeklypress conference that the time for discussions over the US$214Mdisputedexpenses of Exxon has expired and at this point, the provisions within the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) will be activated to have the issueresolved.

TheStabroekBlockPSA under the heading Sole Expert and Arbitration, Article 26:1 states that "The Partiesshallmakereasonable effortstoresolveamicablyall Disputesbynegotiation.

Anoticeoftheexistence ofaDisputeshallbegivenby a Party to another Party in accordance with Article 34.

In the event that no agreement is reached within sixty (60) days after the date on which a Party notifies the otherthataDisputeexists,or such longer period as specifically agreed by the Parties in writing, any Party shall have the right to have such Dispute determined by arbitration as provided for in t h i s A r t i c l e 2 6

Notwithstanding the above, such period of negotiation is not required where the running of this time period may bar access to arbitration.”

Article26:2furtherstates that, “Any claim, demand, cause of action, dispute, or controversy arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, including any question regarding its formation, existence, validity, enforceability, performance, termination, or alleged breach ("Dispute") which cannot be settled amicablybynegotiationshall beresolvedbyarbitration.”

Jagdeo told reporters, “We have to determine that and there is only one way forward basically because they have a…I gather they are sending documents to us now, to address those concerns and I said to the ministry we have long gone past that stage. There was a timeperiodforthatthisison thefirstaudit.”

VicePresident, Bharrat Jagdeo

He further stated that “We now have to trigger the provisions under the PSA. Whichmeanssomeformofa mediated settlement or arbitration.

Sowehavegonepastthe issue of clarifying between the two parties' costs. We have a dispute over $214M thatshouldnotbepartofthe costbank.”

OnAugust24,2024,this publication reported that the Government of Guyana has written ExxonMobil for its response to the final audit report for the first audit which shows charges

amounting to some

US$214Mthatwerenotused for activities directly related to exploration and production in the Stabroek Blockoffshore.

However, Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharratathismid-yearpress conference revealed that the oil company has not yet responded to the inquiries, but there is a timeframe attachedforthemtodoso.He did not specify the timeframe.

The first audit examined expenses incurred by the oil companyfrom1999-2017.

“In terms of the audits, the first audit as you know that has been well…very muchventilatedinthemedia and elsewhere, we have closedthatatthe$214figure, I would have based on advice we would have written Exxon saying that this is the final report,” Minister Bharrat told reporters.

He explained that while

the government is awaiting theoilcompany'sresponseto know the next step there is a timeframe attached for them toprovidetheanswers.

“We are awaiting the response.

I think there is a time period for that response and then we will take it forward from there, but from the government's perspective and our position is that the final report is being closed off at the $214 I think $214.6M,”hesaid.

WANTED VACANCY

Drivers to drive Canter, and Porters to work in warehouse. Call: 673-7373. Experience is an asset.

Wanted! Workers for packaging pasta and chowmein. $4100-$4900 per day. Workers paid weekly. Call: 6117839 (GTT)/ 637-0983 (digi).

One Handyman needed to work in the Interior. Call: 6770869 or WhatsApp: 664-0844.

Urgently need a female Bartender& Cook for the Interior. For more info Call/ WhatsApp: 662-6254/ 6330410.

FOR SALE

River side land & property for sale in Timehri & Parika. Call: 653-2477.

Many types of metal working machines: lathes, drilling, grinding, spraying, welding, etc. In working condition. Call: 227-1813.

Mining equipment, Maroc nozzles starting from $3,500 & chinese engine bed starting from $21,000. Call: 6981267/657-9121.

SERVICES

Visa Application:U.S.A, Canada & UK:Graphics design, advertisements, wedding arch rentals.Tel:6267040.

Elevate your brand with our professional Graphic design services. Call: 619-0007, 6295526.

FOR RENT

House for rent in Sarwan Street, Eccles. Call: 666-8404. Land for rent at Heroes Highway. Call: 653-2477.

Spacious 900 sqft 1 bed/1 bath. Safe and quiet neighborhood, Subryanville. Call: 624-2619.

VEHICLES FOR SALE

1 Honda CRV, includes TV, music system, alarm, reverse camera, sproiler, crashbar, low mileage PTT Series (first owner). Contact: 649-0956.

1

LEGAL NOTICE 2

LEGAL NOTICE 3

Call: 649-0956.

One Clerk for TSI Eccles office. English & Mathematics, grade 1 or 2. Email application: techserigy@ yahoo.com or Call: 615-9132.

Maid to clean for East Bank area. Call: 615-9132.

Female Cleaner for office. Call 645-8443.

Male Cleaner for Eccles. Call: 615-9132/ 645-8443.

Vacancy Exist For two experienced Dispatcher at Confidential Cabs. Call: 231-5784, 231-4001, 231-4000.

Experienced Cook & kitchen Assistant needed at Famous Flavour Creole Restaurant. Call: 676-5534 / 709-8131.

Room Attendant, Desk Clerk, Supervisor and Receptionist 23-45 Years old. 233 South Road. Call: 225-0198.

Vacancy for Elderly care Worker. Please Call or WhatsApp Karen: 656-1875/ 233-5160.

Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, age 23-50, Car/ Van licence. Call: 615-9132 or 645-8443.

Vacancy for one Porter to work on hauler truck. Contact: 611-7088 for more info.

Vacancy for the night handyman and a domestic maid Call 6386816

2024-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-212 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION Petition No. FD-212 BETWEEN: (JOHN) RAYMOND -and- Petitioner/ Applicant (JOHN) ROCKY nee ROWE Respondent TO: ROCKY JOHN nee ROWE Lot 590 Eccles New Housing Scheme, Industrial Site, East Bank Demerara, Guyana.

TAKE NOTICE that on the 9th day of February 2024 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by RAYMOND JOHN the Petitioner/ Applicant in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 20th day of August, 2024 the Petitioner/Applicant was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2)consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur Newspaper, a daily newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the world wide web (online). AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file COL an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of The Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirtyfive) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice. TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Thursday the 24th day of October, 2024 at 2:10 pm before the Honourable Madam Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln via Zoom Meeting: ID: 882 1097 6231 and Password: court12. IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce. The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.

Dated the 29th day of August 2024.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE OF GUTANA COMMERCIAL

JURISDICTION 2024-HCDEM-CIV-FDA-1247 BETWEEN: WILMA ANGELINA WRIGHT also known as WILMA ANGELINA JACKSON, the duly constituted attorney of RAY ANTHONY JACKMAN and SHONDELL ALEXIS

JACKMAN, agreeable with Power of Attorney executed on the 22nd August, 2001, deposited in the Deeds Registry on the 22nd August, 2001 and numbered 5021 of 2001 Applicant -andJEAN CORDELIA HINDS also known as CORNELIA JEAN HINDS also known as CORNELIA JEAN HARVEY

Respondent NOTICE: TO: JEAN CORDELIA HINDS also known as CORNELIA JEAN HINDS also known as CORNELIA JEAN HARVEY

Lot 250 Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara Guyana. TAKE NOTICE that a Fixed Date Application was filed on the 22nd August, 2024 in the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana at Georgetown, Demerara by WILMA ANGELINA WRIGHT also known as WILMA

ANGELINA JACKSON the duly constituted attorney of RAY ANTHONY JACKMAN and SHONDELL ALEXIS

JACKMAN, agreeable with Power of Attorney executed on the 22nd August, 2001, deposited in the Deeds Registry on the 22 August, 2001 and numbered 5021 of 2001, in which the Applicant claims for: ANGELINA JACKSON the duly constituted attorney of RAY ANTHONY JACKMAN and SHONDELLALEXIS

JACKMAN, agreeable with Power of Attorney executed on the 22nd August, 2001, deposited in the Deeds Registry on the 22 August, 2001 and numbered 5021 of 2001, in which the Applicant claims for:a) An order for Specific Performance of the Agreement of Sale and Purchase dated the 3rd August, 2001 for the property located at Lot numbered 18 (eighteen), containing an area of 5839.87 (five thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine decimal eight seven) square feet being portion of area ‘E’, Plantation Elizabeth Hall, in the Foulis/Buxton Local Government District, situate on the east sea coast of the County of Demerara, more fully described in Deed of Transport No. 598 of 1997.

b) An order that the sum of $100,000 (one hundred thousand dollars) reflecting the remaining purchase price of the property set out in paragraph 1(b) be lodged with the Deeds Registry for the benefit of the Respondent. c) An order that directing the Registrar of Deeds or anyone acting in that capacity to convey the property mentioned in paragraph 1 (a) above to Shondell Alexis Jackman, solely once there is compliance with paragraph 1(b). d) Or in the alternative, an order directing the Registrar of Deeds or any one acting in that capacity to convey the property mentioned in paragraph 1(a) above to Ray Anthony Jackman and Shondell Alexis Jackman, jointly once there is compliancewith paragraph 1(b) above. e) Costs.

f) Any other relief that the court deems fit in the circumstances. UPON APPLICATION in person or by letter to Mr. Donavon A. Rangiah Attorney-at- Law for the Applicant whose address for service and place of business is at Lot 156 Charlotte Street, Lacytown, Georgetown, copies of the Fixed Date Application, filed herein, will be delivered or sent to you. AND TAKE NOTICE if you desire to defend this action you must forthwith within 28 days after the final publication of this notice, prepare an Affidavit in Defence in Form 10C prescribed in the Civil Procedure Rules 2016, serve it on the applicant’s attorney-at-law, to Mr. Donavon A. Rangiah whose address for service and place of business is at Lot 156 Charlotte Street, Lacytown, Georgetown, and file it with proof of service at the Registry at Georgetown, Demerara, not later than 4 days before the date fixed for hearing of the application, and you or your attorney-atlaw must appear at the hearing. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you fail to file such affidavit and or if you fail to appear at the hearing, final judgment may be given against you notwithstanding your absence.AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that this matter stands adjourned before the Honourable Madam Justice Joy PersaudSingh on 7th October, 2024 at 9:00 am for hearing. Dated this 30th day of August, 2024

2024-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-237 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO. 237 BETWEEN;(CHAITRAM) KEVIN LEON Petitioner/Applicant (CHAITRAM) KAMINI DEVI nee PANDAY

Respondent -V- NOTICE OF PROCEEDINGS ÔÏ: ÊÁÌÉNI DEVI CHAITRAM nee PANDAY Last Known Address 116-23 130 Street, South Ozone Park, New York 11420, United States of America.TAKE NOTICE that on the 24th day of February, 2024 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by KEVIN LEON CHAITRAM the Petitioner/Applicant in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 16th day of August, 2024, the Petitioner/Applicant was directed to effect service of his Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) Consecutive Saturdays issues of the Kaieteur News in Guyana and New York Online. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at- Law at the Registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledge ment of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 50 (fifty) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice. TAKE NOTICE that the matter is fixed for Directions Hearing on Wednesday the 13th day of November, 2024 at 11:30 am before the Honourable Madam Chief Justice Roxane George via Zoom. For further guidance and/or assistance, please contact the Chief Justice Chambers either by email at victorialawcourts @gmail.com or by telephone at 592-225-6823 or 226-7947 [Extension 223/306] between the hours of 8:00am and 4:00pm.

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LEGAL NOTICE 3

IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce. The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara].

The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed. Dated the 27th day of August, 2024.

LEGAL NOTICE 4

2023-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-1776

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL

JURISDICTION FAMILY

DIVISION Petition No. FD1776 BETWEEN: (MANSFIELD) PELLON MAXINE nee McCURCHIN Petitioner/Applicant (MANSFIELD) KENTON IVOR -V- Respondent

ÔÏ: ÊÅÍTON IVOR

MANSFIELD formerly of 9 Cite Eaulisetta Cayenne Guiana Francais 97300

France TAKE NOTICE that on the 3rd day of December, 2023 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by PELLON MAXINE

MANSFIELD nee Mc CURCHIN the Petitioner/ Applicant in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara. AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 18th day of July, 2024 the Petitioner/ Applicant was directed to effect service of his Petition on you by publication of this in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the KAIETEUR NEWS, a daily newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the worldwide web (Online) and access is free instead of a newspaper in French Guiana.

LEGAL NOTICE 4 AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirtyfive) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice. TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions on Wednesday the 27th day of November, 2024 at 10:15 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Damone Younge via Zoom Meeting ID: 845 1426 6584 and Passcode: 786 445. IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce. The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara). The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed. Dated the 19th day of August, 2024

LEGAL NOTICE 5

2024-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-250 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL

JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION Petition No. FD-250

LEGAL NOTICE 5

Between:- JOSEPH (INGRID SAMANTHA) nee TRIMand- Petitioner/Applicant

JOSEPH (LEON ANTHONY)

Respondent TO: LEON ANTHONY JOSEPH Last known Address Lot 117 No. 8 Village, West Coast, Berbice. TAKE NOTICE that on the 16th day of February 2024 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by INGRID SAMANTHA

JOSEPH nee TRIM, the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara. AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 20th day of August, 2024, the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of the Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News, a Newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the world wide web. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with Related documents. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition and Application, you must file an Acknowledgment of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirtyfive) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice. TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Thursday the 24th day of October, 2024 at 1:20 pm before the Honourable Madam Justice Fidela Corbin- Lincoln Meeting ID: 817 2463 7445 and password: Court12. IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledge ment of Service. Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers app ropriate, including granting the Divorce. The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between

LEGAL NOTICE 5

8:00am and 3:30pm

Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.Dated the 30th day of August, 2024.

LEGAL NOTICE 6

2024-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-983 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION

Application No. FD-983 BETWEEN: (GONSALVES) DUVENA nee ISHWARDEEN

Petitioner /Applicant -and(GONSALVES) CHRISTOPHER ANTHONY

Respondent TO: CHRISTOPHER ANTHONY GONSALVES Last Known Address Lot 86 Lusignan, East Coast Demerara Guyana.TAKE NOTICE that on the 17th day of July, 2024 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by DUVENA GONSALVES nee ISHWARDEEN the Petitioner/Applicant in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 22nd day of August, 2024, the Petitioner/Applicant was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2)consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News, a daily newspaper, printed, published and circulated in Guyana and on the Worldwide Web AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents.AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must

Abducted man found dead Farmer last seen being bundled into car...

Trinidad Express - A man who was abducted from his Paramin Hill, Maraval, home on Sunday was found murdered just after midday yes-

LEGAL NOTICE 6

file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirtyfive) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Tuesday the 29th day of October, 2024 at 11:00 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Deborah Kumar-Chetty via Zoom Meeting ID: 703 085 9517, Password: DKCfamct1.

IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/ Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.

Dated the 27th day of August, 2024

terday in a forested area in Petit Valley.

Diego Roper, 23, was a farmer.

Police said that between 8.30 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Sunday, Roper’s relatives were at home in Paramin when they heard him scream. This was followed by a single gunshot, and he was then seen being bundled into a red car which sped off.

Hunters Search and Rescue On the scene: Members of the Hunters Search and Rescue Team and police officers on the scene at Cameron Road, Petit Valley, where the body of Diego Roper was found in the bushes yesterday. Roper went missing on Sunday. — Photo: ISHMAEL SALANDY

The next day, relatives reported him missing at the Maraval Police Station.

Head of the Hunters Search and Rescue Team Vallence Rambharat said he was contacted on Wednesday by Roper’s relatives, who asked for the team’s help to find him. Speaking with the Express, he said: “The relatives searched on Monday and Tuesday, and as Tuesday gone they said their hopes were fading, and I made an arrangement with the family to come early (yesterday) to help look for him. “We began searching this area early (yesterday) morning around 9 a.m., and at 12.50 p.m. we were alerted to a strong smell at the corner of Boiler Trace and Cameron Road, and from that we were able to locate the body about 15 feet from the roadway,” he said.

He said Maraval police assigned an officer to them yesterday.

Roper’s body is expected to be examined today or early next week at the Forensic Science Centre, Federation Park. Roper was the nephew of 46year-old Ralphie Roper, who was shot dead by police in April 2021 after being on the run for several years, as he was wanted in connection with a number of murders and robberies in the Western Division.

Kamala Harris formally chosen as Democratic nominee

UN Head slams Security Council for failure to end Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine wars

Aljazeera - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the Security Council is an “outdated,” “unfair” and “ineffective system” whose failure to put an end to Israel’s war on Gaza has damaged the credibility of theorganisationasawhole.

Speaking to Al Jazeera Arabic in an exclusive interview, the UN chief decried the failures of the

council, which was established in the aftermath of World War II to ensure international peace and security but whose permanent members’ veto power has consistently proven to be an obstacle to thatgoal.

The council, Guterres said, “doesn’t correspond to theworldoftoday”.

“The truth is that the Security Council has systematically failed in relationtothecapacitytoput an end to the most dramatic conflicts that we face today: Sudan,Gaza,Ukraine.”

‘Aseverehandicap’ Guterres,aformerprime ministerofPortugalwhohas helmed the UN since 2017, s t r e s s e d t h a t t h e organisation’s other bodies and particularly its humanitarian agencies have

continued to deliver

essential services to Palestinians throughout Israel’s more than 11-month assault on Gaza. However, he noted that the council’s political failure to bring an end to the conflict has hurt theUN’sotherbodies.

“The UN is not the

Security Council,” Guterres said. But he acknowledged that UN staff in the field — and particularly those from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees(UNRWA)inGaza — “suffer from the fact that the people look at them and think,‘Well,buttheSecurity Councilhasfailedus.’”

“For us, this failure of the Security Council is a severehandicapforourwork inthefield,”headded.

‘UNRWA remains the backbone’

Guterres nodded to the 200 UNRWAstaff killed by Israeli forces in Gaza since thebeginningofthewarand pointed to a recent survey showing recognition for the agency’s efforts among the Palestinians it is reaching. Healsoexpressedreliefthat after the agency came under attack early this year when Israel accused members of its staff of links to “terrorism”, leading several countries to withhold funding, the agency’s credibility appeared to have beenrestored.

“Many countries that in the beginning hesitated and suspended the support to UNRWA have come back, helping UNRWA deliver,” he said. “UNRWA remains t h e b a c k b o n e o f humanitarian support to the peopleofGaza.”

Still, he condemned the constant challenges Israel continues to pose to that work. “Whenconditionsare made for them to work, like in relation to polio, they immediately are very

Antonio Guterres tells Al Jazeera the Security Council is outdated, unfair,

and ineffective.

effective,”Guterressaid.“If the same conditions would be given to our support in relation to all other aspects ofhumanitarianaction,ifwe hadn’thadtheobstacles,the harassment, the problems, thedifficultiesthatIsraelhas beensystematicallycreating to the acts of UN humanitarian agencies, in particular to UNRWA, we’ll be able to do much more. And the people do need muchmore.”

‘Noaccountability’

In the interview, Guterres also blamed the world’s “major powers” for fostering the culture of impunityondisplayinGaza.

Even as he expressed confidenceintheworkofthe International Court of

Justice and International Criminal Court, Guterres said, “We live in an environment of total impunity.”

“Everybody does what everybodywants,”headded. “Thegeopoliticaldividethat exists among the major powers has created a situation in which any country or any movement anywhere in the world feels that they can do whatever theywantbecausetherewill benopunishment,therewill benoaccountability.”

He also said the United States should put more pressure on Israel to end its assaultonGaza.

“It’s important to put pressureontheUnitedStates inordertomakesurethatthe

United States puts pressure on Israel — as they are supporting Israel put pressureonIsraeltostopthe war and at the same time to recognise that the two-state solution must not be undermined.”

“We have been asking theUnitedStatestobemuch more strong in relation to Israel,”headded.

‘The occupation is not legal’

Guterres also discussed the ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements and outposts in the occupied WestBank,whichareillegal underinternationallaw

“We must absolutely reject any prospective annexation of the West Bank,” he said. “The West

Bank, together with Gaza andEastJerusalem,whichis part of the West Bank, must be the state of Palestine in thefuture.”

“One of the most concerningthingswehaveat thepresentmomentistosee the systematic policy of many in the Israeli government that tries to undermine the two-state solution, exactly by evictions, settlements, grabbing land and other actions in the West Bank, which are, of course, totally against international law,” headded.

“There is an opinion of the International Court of Justice.Theopinionisclear: This is an occupation, and theoccupationisnotlegal.”

PopeFrancistellsUSCatholicstochoose‘lesserevil’incomingelection

Without naming the two main US presidential candidates, the pontiff decried abortion and restrictions on immigration.

Aljazaeera - Pope Francis has encouraged Catholics in the United States to vote in the Novemberelections,saying they should “choose the lesserevil”whilecriticising both of the leading candidates.

In remarks on Friday while flying to Rome from Singapore, the pope named neither the Republican nor Democratic presidential nominees: former President

Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, respectively

But he offered pointed criticismsoftheirplatforms, saying refusing to welcome immigrants is a “grave” sin and abortion is akin to an “assassination”.

“Not voting is ugly,” Francissaid.“Itisnotgood. You must vote.”“You must choose the lesser evil,” he added. “Who is the lesser evil? That lady or that

gentleman? I don’t know. Everyone, in conscience, [hasto]thinkanddothis.”

The 87-year-old pontiff made the comments as the US presidential election is entering its final weeks, with voting scheduled for November5.

While conservative on social issues like abortion, Francis has been one of the foremost critics of rich

countries embracing increasingly restrictive

immigrationpolicies.

“Whether it is the one who is chasing away migrants or the one who kills children,” the pope said,“bothareagainstlife.”

The US is home to a b o u t 5 2 m i l l i o n Catholics, a conservativeleaning constituency that is well-represented in several key swing states, such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin Polling by the Pew

Research Center indicated that about 52 percent of USCatholicsidentifywith or lean towards the Republican Party, compared with about 44 percentfortheDemocratic Party But the centre noted that the Catholics, in the past, have been “closely divided”.

In his comments on Friday, which came after a

Oceania, Francis also lamented the lack of progress towards a peace deal to bring Israel’s war inGazatoaclose

“Forgive me for saying so, but I don’t see any progress being made towards peace,” he told reporters on board the papalplane,addingthatan Israeli strike on a school this week that killed Palestinian children was “ugly”

Palestinians at UNRWA’s Gaza headquarters in Gaza City. The agency runs schools and provides healthcare and social services to Palestinian refugees [File: Khalil Hamra/AP Photo]

Venezuelan mom deported for overstaying time

…three-year-old son to remain in Guyana

A 36-year-old Venezuelan national, who has been residing in Guyana illegally for the past two months, was on Friday ordered to be deported when she appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court.

The woman, Katiusha DeJesus Carias appeared before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore. Once deported,thewomanwillleaveher three-year-oldGuyanesetoddlerin Guyana.

GuidedthatshespeaksSpanish, an interpreter was there to assist Cariasandthecourt.

During the court proceedings, Immigration Officer Melissa Pinheiro informed the court that Cariaswasaprohibitedimmigrant.

The Venezuelan woman had entered Guyana legally on March 14,2022,butfailedtoreporttothe ChiefImmigrationOfficertoapply foranextension.

Pinheiro stated, “The last document Carias received was an extensionvaliduntilJuly24,2024. Asoftoday,shehasoverstayedher time She did apply for an

extension, but did not apply for a further extension after the initial oneexpired.”

Based on these grounds, Pinheiromadeanapplicationtothe courtforCariastoberemovedfrom thecountry.

Magistrate Azore was presented with a document from immigration services that confirmedCarias'sapprovaltostay in Guyana was valid from January 25, 2024, to July 24, 2024. There had been no further extension granted beyond this period Pinheiro noted that Carias was supposedtoapplyforanextension before the expiry date of her last approval.

Carias claimed that she was unaware of the requirement to apply for an extension before the expiry date Consequently, the courtruledthatduetotheinvalidity ofherreasoning,theapplicationfor deportationhasbeengranted.

After the ruling, Carias tearfully pleaded with the court, statingthatshehasathree-year-old son who is going to school. She

addedthathersonisGuyanese,and she has other family members residing here. Despite her pleas, thecourt'sdecisionwasfinal.

Following the hearing, Carias

was seen in distress, crying in her cell as she awaited further instructions from the police KaieteurNewsunderstandsthatthe immigration officers informed
Carias that upon her return to Venezuela,shewouldneedtoapply attheimmigrationofficetolegally re-enter Guyana to see her son in thefuture.
Venezuelan National Katiusha DeJesus Carias who was ordered to be deported, leaving her son behind

Johnson Charles gets Kings back on track with five-wicket win over Patriots

SportsMax -Aconfident five-wicket victory with 21 balls remaining by Saint Lucia Kings saw them get their 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) campaign back on trackandconsigntheStKitts & Nevis Patriots to a sixth straightdefeat. After starting with a win, thePatriotshavestruggledand

this evening’s defeat at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Gros Islet leaves themrelyingonotherresultsto gotheirwayiftheyaretohave achanceofprogressionust Kings captain Faf du Plessis won the toss and insertedtheoppositionhoping thattheballwouldskidonand be easier to hit in the second half of the match The short

squareboundariesinGrosIslet

saw 30 sixes hit in the last match at the ground but the Patriots struggled to clear the ropesintheirinnings-notuntil Rilee Rossouw plundered fives sixes did their batting card catch light and gain any real momentum Captain Andre Fletcher top scoring with62off50ballstoanchor thePatriotsto173-5.

Saturday September 14, 2024

ARIES(Mar 21–Apr 19)

A challenging day is in store foryou,Aries.Ifyou'repartof a group or team or simply among friends, you may feel somewhatillatease.Couldit be that you instill jealousy in others? There's only one way tofindout.

TAURUS(Apr 20–May20)

Sometimes dreams seem like just that - dreams. Travel, a project, or a new home could be a few of the things you've beentryingto accomplishfor sometimenow

GEMINI(May21–June20)

You'll go one of two ways today, Gemini. Either you'll turn inward and meditate in a corner or you'll find a good friend and confide your dissatisfaction.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Today is going to be an excellent day for meeting interesting people, Cancer And there will be nothing superficial about these encounters. On the contrary, the people you are going to meet will touch you profoundly

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

You can expect today to be kind of intense, Leo. Even if you've made a conscious decision not to let anything get you down, you may still harbor some negative emotions from the last few days.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

The little fighter that you are makesitverydifficultforyou to join us in the great communal river that we're all tryingtonavigate,Virgo.You prefertotravelsolo.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Be disciplined about all areas ofyourbody,Libra.Takeextra care to eat healthful, balanced meals. Make sure you get enough sleep And even thoughyougripeabouthaving no time, get out there and exercise.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)

If you've been feeling deep anger,todayisn'tthedaytolet it out but rather the day to consider its source. Any large gatheringsoffamilyorfriends shouldbeavoidedatallcosts.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

If by chance you still harbor some resentment toward someone, Sagittarius, it will probably come out today.You might be uncompromising or evenvengeful.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

You don't suffer fools gladly, and superficial fools even less so. You have a mind to teach those around you a lesson. You'reuncompromisingtoday, and you can't understand why others don't have your same highstandards.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)Hereisadayofchallenges, Aquarius You're a pro at questioning yourself, as you'll prove today when you take a h a r d l o o k a t y o u r accomplishments What have youcreatedofapersonalnature inthelasttenyears.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Ifyougivetheimpressionthat you're in a reserved and introspective mood (even if you aren't), you'll succeed in avoiding confrontation Today there is no such thing as a simpleexchangewithsomeone

It wasn’t enough. Du Plessis was brutal in the PowerPlay for the Kings, hittingfivefoursandthesame number of sixes to get the chaseofftoabreezystartfrom which his side never looked back Fellow opener Johnson Charles played a fluent and matchwinninghandwith74 off 42 balls, falling to Hasaranga only when the targetwasinsingledigits.

“It was a very good innings Iwouldhavelovedto finish off for the team. Opening with Faf has been good.Wefeedoffeachother’s energy,” Player of the Match Charles reflected after the match whilst praising the vociferous support of the Kingsfans

“It feels lovely, with the crowd supporting us, even when we lost two. A huge thankyoutooursupporters.”

Itwasadifficultnightfor the Patriots. Captain Andre Fletcher rued his own strike rateafterthegamehadgone. “We started well in the powerplay and I thought we slowed down a bit in the middle.

Our strike rate could have been better, especially me.ButRileeplayedagood knock. We have three more games left. We don’t have a choicebuttogooutthereand playcricket.Wehavetofind a way to win.We have been on the losing side for six gamesandwehavetotryour best.”

Frompage25 wintheInvitational400min 49.11 seconds, underlining her incredible ability over the distance. Romania’s Andrea Miklos finished thirdin51.16. S t e p h e n i e - A n n McPherson, who will retire at the end of this season,

Johnson Charles led the Kings (CPL via Getty Images)

2024 Caribbean Premier League…GAW vs. BR

Table-leaders Guyana looking to maintain number 1 spot, with Royals lurking closely

Tonight’s battle between respective table-leaders, Guyana Amazon Warriors and Barbados Royals, will beahigh-octaneclashforthe number one spot with the winner gaining additional confidenceaswellaspoints, with the tournament heating up.

To date, the Warriors havebeenspotonandthanks to their key batsmen in Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Shimron Hetmyer new man

Tim Robinson and Shai Hope now finding his rhythm, it could be a repeat of another strong batting performance from the champs.

Additional firepower in Keemo Paul, Dwaine Pretorius,KevinSinclairand others and utility players, will add further ammunition totheWarriorscache.

One worry is Azam

K h a n , t h e b u r l y wicketkeeper-batsman is a matchwinnerbutasmisfired to date and could make amends tonight against Barbados, should he make theXI.

Gudakesh Motie has been Guyana’s Champion with the ball alongside skipperImranTahir;theduo couldshareanothertag-team

5-fershouldtheKingscome outtheblockssloppy Barbados were on top priortotheWarriorsstealing their number one spot, despite being tied on six points,whilealsolookingto preserve their undefeated streak.

But with South African star Quinton de Kock in cracking form, along with Alick Athanaze, Captain Rovman Powell, David Millerandtheunpredictable RakeemCornwall,theKings will favor their chances against the Warriors starstuddedbowlingattack.

Kings bowling unit will match that of the Warriors, especially with stars like Jason Holder, Naveen-ulHaq, Obed McCoy and South African spinner

Keshav Maharaj in wickettaking form with the homefieldadvantage. Tonight’s winner will seal the number one spot

headingintothenextrounds, with action getting underway tonight from 19:00h at the Kensington Oval,Barbados.(C.R)

GFF launches Division 2 of the Elite League to expand competitive opportunities for club players

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has officially introduced Division 2 of the Elite League, aimed at providing additional competitive opportunities for players from the ten participating clubs who were not selected for their respective Elite Leaguerosters.

This new initiative is designed to ensure that all registered players have the chancetodeveloptheirskills i n a c o m p e t i t i v e environment and work toward future inclusion in thetop-tierteams.

The GFF’s Elite League Division2,alsoknownasthe Reserve League, kicked off on September 1, 2024, and has already completed five matches. The tournament is heldon Sundays at various venuesandfeaturesatotalof eight teams, including two U17nationalteams.

GFF President Wayne Forde highlighted the importance of this new division,stating;“Division2 allowsclubstomaximizethe development of their players, ensuring that no talent is overlooked simply

becausetheydidn’tmakethe finalEliteLeagueroster It’s about creating more opportunitiesforgrowthand competition.”

The participating teams for the inaugural season include Ann’s Grove FC, SantosFC, Monedderlust FC, Fruta ConquerorsFC,DenAmstel FC, Guyana Defence Force FC, Guyana Panther U17, andGuyanaJaguarU17.

Division 2 operates as a single-table competition, where each team plays one roundofmatches.

At the conclusion of the round-robin stage, the top four teams will advance to theplayoffs.

The first-place team will face the second-place team for a spot in the final, while the third and fourth-place teams will compete for a chance to enter the final. This format ensures a competitive and dynamic season. In terms of results, the first set of matches held on September 1 saw Santos FC and Monedderlust FC playing to a goalless draw, while Fruta Conquerors FC

defeatedDenAmstelFC2-0. The second set of matches, held on September 8, had Guyana Panthers U17 dominating Den Amstel FC with a 4-0 victory GDF FC deliveredastunning8-0win over Monedderlust FC, while Fruta Conquerors FC securedanother2-0win,this time against Ann’s Grove United FC. With these five matches already completed, the tournament continues to drawinterestasteamsaimto securetheirplayoffspots.

Matches are held on Sundays,withkick-offtimes starting at 10:00 hrs at various locations, including theNationalTrainingCentre (NTC).

The tournament will run through to November 2024, with the top four teams moving to the playoff rounds. However, the U17 teams will not compete for pointsorplayoffpositions.

The GFF’s Division 2 of the Elite League marks a significant step forward in the Federation’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the football pipeline and give more players a chance to excel.

UseGFFlogonew

Alick Athanaze and Quinton de Kock could be the X-Factors for the Royals

Alfred, Blake, Gayle, and Paulino end Diamond League seasons as champions in Brussels

SportsMax - The openingdayoftheDiamond League Finals in Brussels yesterday, Friday was a triumphant one for Caribbeanathletes,asJulien Alfred, Ackeem Blake, Tajay Gayle, and Marileidy Paulino all capped their seasons as champions, showcasingtheirdominance ontheglobalstage.

Julien Alfred, fresh off herhistoricOlympicgoldin Paris, exacted revenge on American rival Sha’Carri Richardson in the women’s 100m.Alfred clocked 10.88

seconds, beating out Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, wholedformuchoftherace butfinishedsecondin10.92.

Côte d’Ivoire’s Marie-Josée

Ta Lou secured third in 11 05, while Richardson, who had edged Alfred in their last meeting in Zurich, fadedtoeighthin11.23.

Reflecting on her win, Alfred expressed her joy at finishing the season on a high.“Iamsohappy,itfeels amazingtofinishmyseason onagoodnoteandtotakethe win. I am just so proud of myself. My preparation was a bit difficult, it was really hardformeafterZurich.But Ithinkthatactuallyprepared me for Brussels. That gave metheenergytodosogood today,andduring[therace],I triedtorelaxandtoenjoythe lastraceofmyseason.” Alfred hinted that losing her previous race to

Richardson fueled her determination to perform well in Brussels. “I think losing kind of put me up again, I had to perform. I wanted to prove to myself that I deserve to be here and that I am not a one-time thing.BecauseafterZurich,I watched the race on YouTubetoanalyzemyrace, and I read some comments that said I was a one-time thing, and that’s really not nicetosay ButIwashereto prove to myself that I can win. But sometimes those comments can be very hard. AndnowIamgoingbackto Saint Lucia and to Aruba! Last year I stayed inAustin, butnotthisyear.”

Jamaica’sAckeemBlake

delivered one of the performances of the night, storming to victory in the men’s100min9.93seconds. In a field that included heavyweights like Olympic bronzemedalistFredKerley, Christian Coleman, and Akani Simbine, Blake was theonlysprintertodipbelow 10 seconds Coleman finished second in 10.00, while Kerley was third in 10.01.

Blake, still riding high after a breakout season,

admitted that he was surprisedbyhisvictory “For me, it was a surprise to win here today It was a very competitive field, and this was my first Diamond Leaguefinal.Itreallymeans alot,”Blakesaid.“I’vebeen working very hard this season, and I know this is just the beginning. There’s much more to come in the nextfewyears.”

Marileidy Paulino, the Olympic 400m champion andthefastestwomaninthe

world this year, continued her dominance by winning the 400m in 49.45 seconds. USA’s Alexis Holmes finished second in 50.32, with Ireland’s Rhasidat Adelekeroundingoutthetop threein50.96.

Jamaica’s Stacey-Ann Williams secured second in the Women’s Invitational 400m,clocking50.53,while S

powerfulperformanceto (Continuedonapge23)

Courts Optical reaffirms commitment to support Pee Wee U11 Football tournament

Inadeliberatedeffort

to bolster grassroots football in schools, CourtsOpticalhaspartnered with the Petra Organisation tolaunchthe11thannualPee Wee Under-11 Schools FootballTournament.

The event kicked off yesterday at Courts, Main Streetlocation.

This highly anticipated and well-organised tournament is the premier U11 football competition inthecountry Itwillfeature 32 schools from nine administrative regions and is scheduled to begin on September21attheMinistry of Education grounds on CarifestaAvenue.

Both Petra Organisation and Unicomer Guyana Incorporated, through its Courts Optical brand, are enthusiastic about starting the 2024 U11 Pee Wee tournament.

The aim is to foster and develop future football talent. Last year, St. Pius Primary from Region Four emergedasthechampionsina thrilling final What sets this tournament apart is

national players. Currently, six players in the national programme begantheirfootballjourney through the Pee Wee FootballProgramme.

According to Troy Mendonca,Co-Directorof Petra Organisation, the tournament will run for s

November 2

The tournament will follow a round-robin format with teams divided into groups of eight Following this phase, the tournament will advance to the round of 16 and

then to the final eight teams Teams finishing in the top eight will be

effort and perseverance

N

Administrator of Allied Arts at the Ministry of Education, expressed the Ministry’s pleasure in

tournament.

He stated, “On behalf of the Ministry and the Allied Arts unit, we are pleased to continue our collaboration w i t h t h e P

Organisation

This U11 Football tournament aligns perfectly withtheMinistry’sstructure andpolicies ” M

UnicomerInc,andRichard Simpson, Optical Chain Manager, also expressed their excitement about the

11th edition of the Pee W e e F o o t b a l l Tournament

Sylvester remarked, “This collaboration aligns p

commitment to social good

Itcontinuestheworkof the recently concluded Courts Optical Brighter View Programme, which provided free eye care and glasses to over 1,000 children in the past three years ”

“Wearethrilledtoseethe tournament’s continued growth and success, and we areproudtocelebrateits11th year,”addedSylvester

The sponsorship by Courts Optical for this year’sPeeWeetournament goes beyond supporting football; it is about nurturing dreams, shaping futures,anddevelopingthe talentoftomorrow

Optical Chain Manager of Courts Guyana, Richard Simpson speaking during yesterday’s launch.

ArcheryGuyanahostssuccessfulWADA/Anti-dopingSeminar

Th e A r c h e r y Guyana (AG)

h o s t e d a n essential WADA/AntiDoping Education Session lastSaturday,September7at the Boardroom of the G u y a n a O l y m p i c Association, Lilliendaal, EastCoastDemerara.

T h i s e v e n t w a s conducted by the Board of DirectorsofArcheryGuyana in collaboration with our Country Representative for Guyana on the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organization (RADO), and renowned Doping Control Officer,Dr KarenPilgrim.

This informative session aimed to introduce Archery Guyana’s members and affiliates to the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) andeducatethemonthecore principlesofanti-doping. The initiative was

designed to be particularly beneficialforbothjuniorand senior members of Archery Guyana, affiliated clubs as well as the parents of our juniorathletes.

Special attention was giventotheteamexpectedto represent Guyana at the Caribbean Development Championshipsnextweekin Jamaica.

In today’s competitive sporting environment, it is more critical than ever to ensure that our athletes are well-versed in the importance of clean sport andthestringentregulations surroundinganti-doping.

By pr

education, Archery Guyana is taking proactive steps to safeguardtheintegrityofour sport and to ensure that all ourathletes,alongwiththeir

, understand their roles and responsibilities in adhering totheseimportantstandards.

Some of the participants during the course speaking with Dr. Karen Pilgrim. Dr

Dr KarenPilgrim,with her extensive experience andexpertiseinthefieldof anti-doping, led the session, ensuring that participants gained valuable insights into the global efforts to maintain fairnessinsport.

The session covered key topics such as the WADA Code, prohibited substances and methods, the testing process, and the rights and responsibilities ofathletes

Archery Guyana is committed to promoting a culture of transparency, fairness,andrespectforthe

Alves resigns as GFF General Secretary

TheGuyanaFootballFederation(GFF) announced yesterday that General SecretaryIanAlveshassteppeddownfrom hispositionwithimmediateeffect.

In a communiqué to its affiliated members, GFF President Wayne Forde stated,“TheGFFCouncilhasacceptedthe resignationofMr IanAlvesfromhisroleas General Secretary, effective today, September 13, 2024. Until further notice, Ms. Vanetta Sampson will manage the OfficeoftheGeneralSecretary.”

“On behalf of everyone at the GFF, I wouldliketoexpressoursinceregratitude to Mr. Alves for his contributions to the Federation,”Fordeadded.

Alves previously served as Competitions Director under the Clinton Urling-led Normalisation Committee before being appointed General Secretary following the resignation of Renella BourneinAugust2019.

Archery Guyana President Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon and Dr. Karen Pilgrim, flanked by participants.

rulesthatgoverntheirsport. President of Archery Guyana, Mrs Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon opined, “We believe that this initiative will play a vital role in fostering a clean sporting environment and preparingourathletesforthe h i g h e s t l e v e l s o f competition”. Together, we can ensure that our athletes compete withhonorandintegrityon theworldstage

Fast-bowler Dwaine Pretorius and Warriors leading wicket-taker Gudakesh Motie will have their hands full tonight.

Petra’s Nafeza Latif-Boston (left) receiving sponsorship from Courts Sales Director, Malissa Sylvester in the presences of other key stakeholders yesterday at Courts Main Street.

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