Kaieteur News

influence

Environmental

Guyana still has numerous opportunities to increase influence over Exxon's spending despite fatal flaws in Stabroek Block deal

The Stabroek Block contract does not contain a single provision which explicitly empowers Guyana with the right to approve how much ExxonMobil Corporation and its partners spend on projects.

In fact, Guyana can only checktheoilcompanies'bills to ensure the costs incurred were not inflated and that they are in keeping with international benchmarks Guyanaalsohastheabilityto see monthly or yearly estimates of expenditure to be spent by Exxon, Hess Corporation and CNOOC PetroleumGuyanaLimited.

Even with limited scope in the Stabroek Block deal, E n e r g y E x p e r t a n d International Consultant, Anthony Paul, said Guyana still has a few good opportunities to increase its influence.

P a u l n o t e d t h a t ExxonMobil is moving at breakneckspeedtomonetize its discoveries. In doing so, it will need approval from the government for its Field Development Plans. It is at this point, Paul says Guyana can say, “In exchange for the

approval, these are the conditions you have to complywith.”

The Trinidadian Energy Strategist would have made these and other comments during a recent appearance on Kaieteur Radio's Programme, Guyana's Oil and You There, Paul said the county has numerous opportunities to claw back some of the value lost in the lopsidedExxonMobildeal.

He noted however that this is only doable to the extent that the government h a s t h e a b i l i t y o f understanding what it wants and deserves and the confidence to ask for it. He saidthatattheendoftheday, it really boils down to will power

The international consultant said, “...If you haven't got the will power to doit(thenmorevalueislost). And we know when the contract was renegotiated in 2015 -2016; the opportunity was there with different information to make some significant changes How that occurred gives you a sense of the will to make changes...”

Guyanaiscurrentlyinthe

process of reviewing the Field Development Plan for ExxonMobil's fifth project in the Stabroek Block called Uaru. That is expected to be the most expensive project for the country, costing at leastUS$10B.

Guyanese authorities are yet to publish the guidelines used to ensure proper due diligence of Exxon's FDPs.

LimitedsaidtheUaruProject will be located in the eastern portion of the block, approximately 200 km from Georgetown and amid previousStabroekProjects.

Current plans include drilling to produce oil from approximately 40-76 wells which costs millions of dollars Production is expected to begin between thefourthquarterof2026and the second quarter of 2027, with an expected field life of atleast20years.

Thisisinspiteofthefactthat Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo had said earlier this yearthatheseesnoissuewith the government being transparentonthisfront.

In its project summary that was submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Exxon's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana

E E P G L s a i d t h e production facilities to be installed include subsea equipment attached to the seaflooraswellasprocessing equipment on the ocean's surface known as a Floating, Production, Storage, and Offloadingvessel.

T h e a n t i c i p a t e d production rate for the FPSO r a n g e s b e t w e e n approximately 220,000 barrels and 275,000 barrels of oil per day The vessel will be capable of storing approximately two million barrelsofoil.

Furthermore, EEPGL

told the EPA that it has undertakenadditionalstudies to obtain an even more c o m p r e h e n s i v e understanding of potential impacts of effluent discharges to water, the feasibility of alternative handling of produced water, cradle to grave waste management in Guyana, emergency response c a p a b i l i t i e s , a n d environmental compliance monitoring and verification. The company said the learnings from current o p e r a t i o n s a n d environmental studies will enhance the design and implementation of the Uaru Project, thereby increasing environmental performance andeconomicvalue.

ItconcludedthattheUaru Project will contribute positively, directly and indirectly, to economic growth in Guyana, including increased national revenues, local procurement of select goodsandservices,increased direct and indirect local employment opportunities, which drive associated beneficial “multiplier” impacts throughout the local economy

Three Int’l consultants submit bids to review ExxonMobil's plans for fifth project

competing to review ExxonMobil's Field Development Plan (FDP) for the Company's fifth project at the Uaru oil field in the StabroekBlock.

BayphaseLimited,Stratoil,and DeGolyer & MacNaughton (D&M) submitted bids for the Ministry of Natural Resources project at Tuesday's opening of tenders at the National Procurement and Tender AdministrationBoard(NPTAB).

Bayphase is an international oil and gas consultancy which has decades of auditing experience but is a well known client of Exxon. It has previously been awarded contracts here and is based in the UnitedKingdom.

Stratoil Energy Services which is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, claims to offer unique solutions to support organizations while noting that its experts cover the full spectrumofcurrentindustryissues, trendsandbestpractice.

DeGolyer & MacNaughton (D&M), according to its website, it

is one of the oldest and most respected names in the oil and gas industry. The company said that since its establishment in 1936, it has strived to be the leader in petroleum industry consulting services.

The website said that D&M providesawiderangeofpetroleum consulting services to clients worldwide.

Thecompanyisheadquartersin Dallas, Texas, United States of America(USA).

The Ministry of Natural Resources in its advertisement had stated that the contract would be funded through the US$20M World Bank (WB) loan for the Guyana Petroleum Resources Governance and Management Project (GPRGMP) According to the Ministry, the money wouldbeusedtopaythe successful consulting firmtoprovideadvisory services, technical support and training, as

well as for capacity strengthening services.

It said too that the consultant willberequiredtoprovideadvisory services to professionals attached to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and other attendantministrieswiththeaimof enhancing the country's core capacity to review, authorize, oversee, and report on the implementationofFDPs.

Kaieteur News understandsthat the assignment is expected to includeadetailedassessmentofthe Uaruconceptselectionprocessand Field Development Plan; FDP

management, oversight, monitoring and reporting; a detailed assessment of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of the Proposed Uaru FDP; and ESIA management, oversight, monitoringandreporting.

In its project summary that was submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) earlier this year, ExxonMobil subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EPPGL) which operates the Stabroek concession said the Uaru Project will be located in the eastern portion of the

block, approximately 200 km from Georgetown and amid previous StabroekProjects.

Current plans include drilling via drill ships to produce oil from approximately 40-76 wells. Production is expected to begin between the fourth quarter of 2026 andthesecondquarterof2027with an expected field life of at least 20 years.

Further, the Ministry was keen to note that a consultant will be selected in accordance with the “Quality-And-Cost Based

Selection (QCBS) method set out intheprocurementRegulations.

PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

WHY SELL THE

MARRIOTT NOW?

Decemberis becomingamonthof morethanthe long holiday season in Guyana. December is

nowtakingontheappearanceofaperiodinthe year during which the PPPC Government delivers these smartlywrappedpackagesfortheGuyanesepeople.

ThetruthisthatwhenacloserlookistakenatthePPPC’s gifts, they benefit the giver more than those who are supposedtobetherecipients. Inthiscase,thegiverwouldbe the people in government, who concoct their cunning schemes, and then like some midnight Santa Claus drops them in the laps of unsuspecting Guyanese. The latest gift from the government is the sudden announcement of this startlingsaleoftheMarriottHotel.

TheintendedsaleoftheMarriotfollowsanowpartofan established pattern in December First, there were and ongoing PPPC Government gifts to citizens of pay raises, andone-offs,onaunilateralbasis. Lastyear,therewasthe National Resource Fund squeezed through the National Assembly during the final days of December when most Guyanese were busy celebrating and have little interest in whatgoesoninthathouse.

Asexpected,thatlow,clevermovehasturnedouttobea bonanza for the PPPC Government and its schemers who dreamupwaystouse,misuse,andabusetheOilFundmoney almostatwill,andwithoutpenalty

The all-purpose name the brainy government people have for tricky Oil Fund uses is “national development priorities.” This year, the December surprise comes in the formofreadyingtoselltheprofitableMarriott.

MentionthenameMarriottinGuyana,andtheknowing smilesflowreflexively TheMarriottwas,andstillis,seen as a development to house great secrets and the great deals cutwithgreatfriendsofthePPPCGovernment. OldPPPC, new PPPC, it is the same sleazy story of secrecies and trickeries, and the Marriott stands close to the top of those piles.

Hundreds of millions of dollars from Guyanese taxpayerswerespenttopushaheadwith,andmakepossible, the existence of the Marriott. The government ended up owningthesharesoftheMarriottHotelwhendefaultonits obligations threatened. Then, it was reported to be profitable, and with the advent of oil, and the return of the PPPCtopower,theMarriottistheplacetobe,tobeseen,and towheelanddeal.

Itsoccupancyratehastobeatcapacitymostofthetime thesedays,giventhelimitsofqualityhotelaccommodation inGuyanaatthistime. Inaddition,thereisaconstantstream of customers with hordes of business people, scouts, and adventurersfromallovertheworldrushingheretosniffout anyactionthattheycouldbeupforgrabs.

Because of this alone, it does not seem to be sound businessjudgmenttobesellingahotelthatisreportedtobe profitable.

Thoughtherehavenotbeenanyfinancialreportsshared with Guyanese for the last several years; this is despite the Government of Guyana being the owner of the Marriott Hotel,whichmeansthatGuyaneseownit. Yettheyareinthe dark,andonlynowtobeinformedthatitisupforsale.

Whysellabusinessthatissupposedlyprofitable,onethat washailedbythePPPCGovernmentasa“transformational project” notwithstanding the half billion Guyana dollars in debt that has to be repaid annually? Who was it really “transformational” for? Why not use the Marriott as a showcaseofthedepthofPPPCGovernmentvisions,andof leadershipwilland‘can-do’attitude?

Becausethepeopleofthiscountryhavebeenburnedso badlyandsooftenbyatricky,deviousPPPCGovernment,it isourbeliefthatthereisamorepointedquestiontobeasked. What new trick is at work here with this December announcement of preparing to sell the Marriott? When a governmentanditsmainoperatorshavecompiledashabby recordofcostlydeceptionsandendlessskullduggeries,this iswhatcitizensinevitablyconclude.

Those who benefited extravagantly from the inception with this “transformational project” like pigs at a banquet now stand to benefit even more through underhanded dealings.

BSE Cadets and the rest of the Sugar Industry

DEAREDITOR, - Guiana Estate Rohan Kanhai, Basil Farmers Apart from the fact that SupervisorsAssociation. Butcher (Port Mourant) and -CooperativeSociety there were the Tyrells - Sick Nurses and Roy Frederick from - Upper Corentyne Cane (Winston and Lance) other DispensersAssociation. Blairmont, who along with Farmers Engineers/Chemists in As the Personnel Raikha Tiwari, represented - Marketing Cooperative Bookers Sugar Estates Management function GuianaatTableTennis. Society included:JoeAlfred,George expanded,therewereannual Quite apart from the Albion-Bloomfield James, Narvon Persaud, Conferencesheldfrom1962 above, Professor Clem -LetterKenny Leonard Khan, Keith at the creative Management Seecharan’s massive tome -PortMourantUnited W i l l i a m s ; w h i l e Training Centre at Ogle, ‘Sweetening Bitter Sugar’ - Port Mourant FollowAgriculturists included where the Ogle Diagnostic purportedly about Jock Up Vibert Yong Kong, Donald Centreisalsolocated–ofthe Campbell,remarkedthatthe Rose Hall - Rose Hall Drayton; Personnel very comprehensive Health latter may not have played Village Managers included Programme led by a Chief such a definitive role on the - Good Samaritan Nowrang Persaud, Medical Officer who British Guiana sugar stage, Cooperative Emamudeen Khan, Abdul supervised Estate Medical were it not for co-star Dr Wales-CanalNo.2 BakshandAnthonyDownes; Officers and para-medical CheddiJagan. Thelightand Free&Easy Errol Hanoman and Allan support. There was from shadow of conversations LaRetraite/Stanleytown Luckaccountants. 1964,andstillinoperationa between these two Sisters/GoodIntent Alan Luck and I were most comprehensive protagonists about BelleVue selected Cadets the same ContributoryHospitalisation nationalisation of the sugar There were also year 1958. But there were & Maternity Scheme for industrycausedCampbellto individual farmers at those who went off to employees and their temporisewiththeofferofa Skeldon, Albion/PM, Rose Bauxite,likePatCarmichael families,whileaprogramme commitmenttodevelopwhat HallandDiamondEstates.It to Bauxite; while others of Occupational Health and came to be described as would appear that a chose to be Lecturers at Safety was established in ‘Small Cane Farming’ comparable construct is UWI. In the meantime, the 1965. A Contributory initially financed in 1964 by being revived, at best Apprentice Training Centre PensionSchemehadalready the Cane Farming without any Estate Cane under City & Guilds, been formalised for most Development Corporation FarmingOfficers,asofold. London, U K was categoriesofemployees. consisting of Bookers Sugar For what it is worth the established at Port Mourant In that busy period, the Estates,DemeraraCompany following was sugar in 1957, when almost all the industry’scontributiontothe (Leonora and Diamond production recorded candidates were Oxford & Sugar Industry Labour Estates); Barclays Bank between the first year of Cambridge O’ Levels Welfare Fund helped to DC+O (now GBTI), Royal viableCadetship–1958,and (CSEC)graduates. finance the construction of Bank of Canada (now theyearoftheveryextended

The first Guyanese Extra Nuclear Housing RepublicBank)–inthesum andinflamedstrikeof1964. Personnel Director was Areas, with loans repayable of nearly G$4M The Year TonsProduced Harold Davis (Snr.) who, generallyoveratwenty-year relevant legislation was the 1958 306,361 along with Chief Industrial period. They have long comprehensive: 1959 284,425 Relations Officer, Latchmie since become registered a) National Cane 1960 334,441 Narine,andLeonardDyalof communities.Bywhichtime Farming Committee Act 1961 324,745 the then British Guiana both Community Centres (1965) 1962 326,023 S u g a r P r o d u c e r s ’ and Girls’ Clubs were b) Cane Farming 1963 317,132 Association, led the erected and functioning Contract (General 1964 258,466 Industrial Relations process respectively under the Conditions)Rules. Iowemywholecareeras bombarded by the following immediate supervision of c) Cane Farmers Special a Human Resources TradeUnions: Male and Female Welfare Funds Act to be eligible for M a n a g e m e n t a n d

- Manpower Citizens Officers. The Centres were funding Cane Farmers were Developmentprofessionalto Association. the breeding grounds for required to be legal entities, HaroldBarringtonDavis.

- Guiana Headmen’s sports, highlighted by m o s t l y v i a b e i n g E.B.John Union. Cricket, from which Cooperative Societies. They R e t i r e d H u m a n

- Guiana + West Indies emerged such Test Match included: ResourcesDirector SugarBoilers’Union. greats as Joe Solomon, Skeldon -SkeldonCane GuySuCo

DEAREDITOR, dynamics of the labour norm. Where rule-breaking secular and address Guyanaisnodoubtgoing market with increasing is concerned, there seems to problems of everyday life through massive economic emphasis on migrant or re- beperfectequalityacrossthe rather than focus on the t r a n s f o r m a t i o n migrantlabour spectrum of ethnicity, principles of abstract Transformation is different Practically all of the geography, politics, and salvation and deliverance. fromchangeinthesameway developments above are religiouspersuasion. Educational institutions that a change in demand is progressive or, at a While there are regular need to go beyond exam differentfromachangeinthe minimum, heading in the expressions of outrage preparation and inculcate a quantity demanded. Cereal right direction There is, againstrule-breaking,alltoo culture of reciprocal insteadofroti. however, one seriously oftentheprescribedsolution obligations in a new regime

We are in the midst of a lagging component, namely, is enforcement But rule of norms No disrespect paradigmatic revolution in ourculture. enforcement by state intended. terms of the economic Allow me to get to the authorities should not be the Leaders in civil society structure and attendant basics by listing some areas principalmethodofeliciting have a special responsibility effects such as the of national and institutional proper conduct and in providing guidance, and composition of the gross culture that must go through compliance. through their own conduct, domestic product, national ifGuyanaistogettothebare What is needed is set new standards of good income, job opportunities, minimum for success in a systematic and systemic citizenship When civil thestructureanddistribution highly globalized world resocializationofindividuals society groups become too of incomes, consumption economy into functioning citizenship, attached to political parties, patterns, the gender

First and foremost, as it beginning with the family or themselves act like configuration of the labour stands, breaking rules is so Religious practices perhaps politicalparties,they force, and inter alia, the widespread, that it is the need to become a bit more

Howoldareyou?Guyananeedsmassive culturaladjustmentsinordertomoveforward

Nandlall should desist from creating public mischief

DEAREDITOR, Technology and social misinformthepublic.

Howoldareyou?Guyananeedsmassive...

the work of the Public yearstogettothePPP…?” The National Assembly did It is sad when our media give the general On December 13, 2022 Accounts Committee (PAC) Editor, it is public meet in 2019 and sittings NationalLeadersdescendto public easy access to on his weekly programme, and other issues.As you are knowledge that my were held on January 3, a level of deception which FACTS. “Issues in the News,” aired aware, the Public Accounts Colleague, Hon. Jermaine 2019; April 26, 2019; May allows them to replace Editor,Iamcompelledto every Tuesday night via Committee of the National Figueira, MP, and Chairman 15,2019;andMay23,2019 “Facts,”withpropagandafor respond to the mendacious NTN channel 69 and Assembly is a critical of the Public Accounts WhiletheNCMwasdebated political grandstanding. The propaganda of Guyana’s streamed on his Facebook committee, which examines Committee, is on record and passed in the National timehascomeforthePPP/C Attorney General, Mr Anil Page and Freedom Radio, government’s expenditure statingthatthereasonforthe Assembly on December21, Leaders to abandon their Nandlall, SC, MP, who Mr Nandlall made against that approved by the proposal by the Opposition 2018 Also, Editor, Mr age-oldpropagandastrategy continues to misguide and erroneous statements about National Assembly, to foryearstobecombinedisto Nandlall made mention of e n s u r e p r o p e r speed up the examination of monies expended by the accountability Referring to the Auditor’s General Coalition Government in the PAC, Mr Nandlall said, Reports. This is not new 2020. Mr Nandlall is well “They do not want to do, sinceprecedentsweresetby familiar that in the absence they do not want to analyze previous Parliaments. Mr of a National Budget for theyearsthatthey(referring Nandlall also stated that, 2020, between January t o t h e C o a l i t i o n “the country had no 2020 t0 July 2020, one Government) were in Parliamentary oversight twelfthofthepreviousyear’s Government The PAC after December 21, 2018. (2019) budget across ought in a chronological The Government was Ministrieswereexpendedto order examine the accounts toppled by a No Confidence take care of “Current of the country done by the Motion and there were no Expenditure,” that is, Auditor General. They want Parliamentarysittingsforthe payment of salaries and to skip 2018 and 2019 and entire2019”. statutorybenefits. they want to come to Editor, I found these Mr Nandlall continued 2020…” Additionally, this u t t e r a n c e s t o b e to rant that, “there was no gentlemanquestioned,“why disingenuous. The FACTS budgetaryallocationsand you want to skip the two arethereforthepublictosee: (Continuedonpage6)

kinship relations, fluid examples abound in abandon a ‘sacred space’ spatial boundaries within a numerousagencies. which they are entitled to group, and inter alia, Culture has a material throughwhatmightbecalled maintenance of inherited basis, meaning it is not constructiveabstinence. leadership Gemeinschaft simply in your head. In this Idonotmeanthetypeof economies are agriculture case, government really abstinencethattheAmerican based and rural life is matters. I have come to the US President, George W generalized. In Guyana, we c o n v i c t i o n t h a t Bush, meant it. Rather, I see expressions of the infrastructureimpactspublic referheretooneofGuyana’s Gemeinschaft in the behavior on our roads foremost political minds, resistance to foreign capital, DrivingbehaviorontheEast Mr Ralph Ramkarran, who the cultural hegemony of Bank (from Georgetown to thoughtfullylabelledas“sex rumor where everyone is an Grove)andWestBank(from appeal”, the excessive expert on everything, the the Bridge to Vreed-endipping of civil society attempt to tribalize politics Hoop)isnotoriouslylawless groupsintopoliticsandeven and culture (e.g., do not buy anddangerous.Ithinkthisis unnecessarypoliticizationof black pudding in Mon partly due to the inadequate functional problems As Repos), and loud, infrastructure and to wit, Freddie Kissoon has also hammering noise otherwise people make up their own noted, the politics of “sex knownasmusicintothewee rules.On the East Coast –appeal” drains away the hours of the morning from Kitty to Annandale, most potent instrument of because of elastic driving behaviour is more civic action, which is, boundaries On the last compliant, and this constructiveneutrality point, a police officer once notwithstanding numerous so noted, the politics of told me that I must fatal accidents. The point is “sexappeal”drainsawaythe understand “people does there is more order, most potent instrument of have wedding” so I have to comparedtoEBDandWBD, civic action, which is, understand the music where the ‘culture of the constructiveneutrality playing. I was told this at jungle’ has taken over This

Frompage4

In the last quarter of the 3:00 A.M. with music from lastpointismorespeculative nineteenth century, the BV lashing Triumph and and made here to foster German sociologist LBI Gesellschaft culture discussion.Culturematters.I Ferdinand Tönnies wrote calls for the development do not mean it in the way about the cultural and generalization of rightwing neoliberals meant convulsionsthatweretaking Standard Operating it, namely, that culture is all place in his country due to Procedures in all facets of thatmatters. rapid industrialization and publicservice.Letmerelate. History also matters, as modernization The book I went to GRA for routine does the quality of called Gemeinschaft und business but was not sure governance both emanating Gesellschaft (Community & which line to join. I asked a from state authorities and Society) analyzed the ways uniformed police officer for civilsocietygroups. in which the emerging assistance.Heranswerwas–

Sincerely practices of modernity “How old are you?” The Dr.RandolphPersaud (Gesellschaft) were rubbing culturalidiotthatIam,Itold upagainstanapparentstatic her, believing that perhaps German folk culture there is a quick line if you (Gemeinschaft). There are passacertainage. important lessons to be But alas, “how old are learntfromTönnies’work. you”washerfinalguidance. Gemeinschaft refer to The same thing happened those cultural traits that are two days ago when a traffic characterized by resistance cop stopped me at Mahaica! to change, suspicion of This time, however, I told outside world, privileging him I am not feeling well! faith over reason, risk SOPs would have prevented avoidance, widespread the asinine responses that acceptance of rumor, tight appear to be routine. Other

Leadersshouldusethis seasontoreexaminetheirlives

DEAREDITOR, is for us to be redeemed and desire that as Leaders, we TheJoyoftheLordcame havejoy Inourownnation,I will take this period to reafter the advent of Christ or have witnessed how examineourselves,seekand coming of Christ, which is mankind treats their fellow obeyGod’sguidancetolove commonly known to human beings, the ill- each other and be better Christians, and referred by treatmentmetedouttothose stewards of our national many, as Christmas who speak out against patrimony However,thetrueessenceof w r o n g d o i n g a n d On my behalf of my “Christmas” is “Christ” our discrimination against family, I take this Saviour and “Mas” means vulnerablegroups. opportunity to wish all thecelebrations. Editor, how can we each Guyanese a Christ-Centered So, put together, it’s the enjoy genuine peace and Christmas and a happy and Celebration of Christ. The loveinourdearland? prosperous2023. birth of Jesus has taught us Only through the saving YoursSincerely, many reasons for His grace of God our Heavenly AnnetteFerguson coming. One classic reason Father It is my hope and MemberofParliament

We need more teachers

DEAREDITOR, SchoolinRegionOneduring the school, which is a A c c o r d i n g t o a a visit to the community by recurringproblematschools newsroom report, “Teachers President Irfaan Ali on across the country Setbacks are taxed, was the statement Tuesday inpromotingandhiringnew of a Teacher attached to Shewasraisingtheissue Teaching Staff lie in the Matthews Ridge Secondary of a shortage of teachers at absenceofanappointedand functioning Teaching Service Commission (TSC). The Government is urging more people to take part in theteachingprofession.

What recourse can I resort to?

Guyanese must respect all religions and all ethnicities

DEAREDITOR, wishes of wellbeing for Creator Lord of the Worlds

On this end of year humanity and the world, and that mankind is a single holiday season, which is comes from an Islamic nation,Quran2:213. truly an internationally organization and service- We call upon all observed day and period, of orientedinstitution. Guyanese to respect all goodwill,loveanduniversal The Guyana Islamic religions and all ethnicities harmony Forum for Education, Peace toknowthatweasapeople,

recourse, can I as a resident The Attorney General is resortto,inordertogetGWI on record as advising to bring relief to an Georgetown residents and overflowing sewage business owners to mount chamber on my premises, legal action as a recourse to which has been in this state compel M&CC to remove continuously for over six illegal vendors and weeks,andtowhichitseems, encumbrances from their the Company is unable or premises (GSN December incapableofgettingfixed? 22).

DEAREDITOR,

Sincerely, So I wonder what ShamshunMohamed

Though it is crucial for teachers to get that increase, the Guyanese Head-of-State explained that his government is first focusing on adjusting salaries which has the greatest anomalies. Therefore, I urge more young Guyanese to take uptheteachingprofession atthistime.

Sincerely, GlamourQueen

I send these messages of andReligiousSolidarityand the Guyanese nation, we joy, love and kindred The Electric Mosque’s: cannot live without each felicitations on behalf of the Teachings of Islam truly other Therefore, let Guyana Islamic Forum for believe in a one world positivityandloveforalland Education, Peace and society where humanity theuniversepreponderatein ReligiousSolidarityandThe must be judged by the ourhearts. Electric Mosque’s: contents of their character; Sincerely, Teachings of Islam. These by the philosophy of the HajjiDr.RoshanKhan.

Nandlallshoulddesistfromcreating...

Frompage5

Parliament was dissolved on December 31, appropriationfor2019”. 2019. Editor, I conclude by calling on Mr TheFACTSarethatthe2019AnnualBudget Nandlall to desist from creating public was laid on November 26, 2018, debated, mischief and to act in a manner befitting his considered, and passed on December 14, office Let him mend his estranged 2018. Also, theAppropriationAct No. 22 of relationshipwithtruth. 2018waspassedonthatverydate.ThePPP/C Yourssincerely, participated in those debates from the AnnetteFerguson opposition side of the House. The Eleventh MemberofParliament

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CHRISTMAS

IN THE FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY GLOBALLY

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The Guyanese economy is growing so fast

that citizens are dropping farther behind.

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Biggest GDP, fastest growing economy, richest people per capita, but many Guyanese are without the basics.

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This is the reality of Christmas in Guyana.

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PPP/C insiders and their flunkies gorge.

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Poor Guyanese scramble for scraps, if any can be found.

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A small set have a real holiday, the rest live with the regular nightmare.

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Preparatory work to establish Law School in Guyana to start next year

...feasibility study underway

The Government of Guyana is in the p r o c e s s o f conductingafeasibilitystudy on the establishment of a law school Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs

AnilNandlall,SChassaid.

S p e a k i n g o n h i s programme, Issues in the News, Nandlall disclosed that once that study is completed, the findings would be sent to the Council

for Legal Education (CLE), which administers legal professionaleducationatlaw schools in the Caribbean undertheCaricomTreaty,for furtheraction.

“We've gotten the green light from the Council of Legal Education to begin the preparatory work A feasibility study is being worked on It will be completed early next year and a report would be submitted to the Council of Legal Education,” the AttorneyGeneralstated.

The Council of Legal Education (CLE) recently approvedGuyana'srequestto establish a law school after approximately 30 years of applying.

Nandlall said the CLE will be setting out the criteria and other requirements which the government will have to satisfy ahead of the school'sestablishment.

The Attorney General had said that government has informed the CLE that it will provide the land and buildingstohousetheschool.

The CLE is the lawful a u t h o r i t y f o r t h e administering of legal professional education in the Caribbeanregion.

The Council does so through its law schools, the Hugh Wooding Law School, St.AugustineinTrinidadand Tobago, Norman Manley Law School, Kingston, Jamaica,andEugeneDupuch Law School, Nassau, Bahamas.

UndertheTreaty,onlythe first top 25 University of Guyana (UG) law degree graduates are allowed to pursue the Council's Legal Education Certificate (LEC). Earlier this year, the UG called for an increased number of law students to gain automatic admission to

the Trinidad-based Hugh WoodingLawSchool.

A UG delegation, including its ViceChancellor, Professor Dr Paloma Mohamed Martin and the head of the Department of Law, Kim Kyte-Thomas, met w i t h t h e A t t o r n e y General to discuss the t e r m s o f a n e w agreement with officials of the University of the West Indies and the Council of

Legal Education for the continued automatic admissionsofUGgraduates.

Following the meeting, UGissuedastatementstating thatitwantsthenumberofits students admitted to the Trinidad-based law school to increasefrom25to40aswell as “settling the number of non-Guyanese graduates of the UG Law Programme gaining entry into any of the three law schools in the Caribbeanregion”.

The things I miss about a Guyanese Christmas

Therearesomanythings carol-singing which I am andeverystorethatyouwent greetings. Today, there is time. Others are prepared to thatImissaboutChristmas.I sure could have adapted to in,youcouldbesuretofinda more talking than music stayathomeanddonothing. however have to content the security concerns of greatdealofdifferentthings even though there is now a Thiswasneverquitetheway myself with the thought that citizens. from the one you visited proliferation of radio that Old Year’s Night was not everything ensures 3.ThethirdthingImiss, before. Today, there is no stations. spent. These are the things that I forever and therefore things andhavemissedfordecades, varietyintoys.Andfindinga 7.Finally,foryearsnow, Ilovedthehomeparties. wishcouldreturn. mustanddochange. and which I will probably good toy can take some Ihaveseenagradualdecline I loved the smell of that pot (Theviewsexpressedin But there are few things never live to see return to looking and can cost a oftheOldYear’sNighthome of cook-up on the stove. It this article are those of the that I have sorely missed Guyana is window- fortune.Imisstheoldstores parties.Peoplearenowmore did not matter where I was, author and do not over the years and today I shopping. It used to be a such as Bettencourt and outgoingandarepreparedto how rich or how poor, were necessarily reflect the wishtolistthem. delight for the entire family Cosmopolitan who really spend a large amount of the hosts, I truly identified opinions and beliefs of this 1. The first one is the to go and walk around the imported good quality and money to go out with their with these gatherings as we n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s cinema. I really do miss the commercial districts interesting toys that lasted a partners and have a good waitedforthemidnighthour. affiliates.) old days of the cinema and admiring the showcases. long time and left indelible this feeling intensifies at These showcases have long memories in the kids that Christmassinceitusedtobe given way to grillwork and receivedthem. the time when you could nowsteeldoors,whichhave 5. I miss Santa Claus. look forward to the best made showcases redundant, This year very few stores movies being showed in the and in theprocess has killed advertisedSanta.Iknowjust country The new cinemas an important Christmas howmuchkidslookforward that have mushroomed at event – window shopping. I to visiting Santa. We had shopping malls and at the liked admiring the show developed a great idea over otherlocationssimplydonot windows ofstoresintheold the past few years of having compare to that of the old days. Santa take out photographs time cinemas which showed In some instances, there with the kids. This gave the double headers and released was a sort of unofficial children an unforgettable thebestmoviesatChristmas. competition among store experience and a chance to 2.ThesecondthingthatI owners to see who would reallybelieveinSantawhich missisthecarol-singingthat have the best showcases. I is something that no parent used to form a part of love to spend Christmas in shoulddenytheirchild. The Christmas celebrations in Guyana but I do remember decline of the department Guyana. Groups of persons that one of my best holiday stores and the high cost of used to come knocking at seasons ever was when I toys have brought an end to your door, ready to sing went overseas and had the the excitement of taking the carols for you, after which privilege of admiring the kids to Santa. There are lots you would give then some wonderful displays in their of Santa around at certain refreshments and a donation show windows. It made me event but nothing compares for their group or church. I nostalgic about the old to joining the line at know the public is skeptical ChristmasesofGuyana. Fogarty’s long ago to see about allowing any Tom, 4.WhatIhatemostabout Santa. Dick and Harry into their theChristmasoftodayisthe 6. Radio used to be an homesinthesecrime-ridden lackofvariety,especiallyfor important part of setting the times. But this should not toys. In the old days, you moodforChristmaswithlots have downsized the art of couldfindallmanneroftoys of Christmas music and

Dem boys seh...

Dehgatsomemenwhogetbackpayand shop,hestartfuhholdbeback.Islikeback decidedemganshowoffpundemwoman. paintekover! DemtekdemshoppingfuhChristmas. De girl march he into a boutique. De Deplanbackfirepononeman. Proudof pain in he back get worse when he look at de back pay he get, he announce to his girl someofdepricesponsomeofdegowns.De dathetakinghershopping. girl pick out one fuh $100,000 and den tell

Hedidnotknowdatisdenheproblems heshewanthelookinggoodinanewsuit. start. He girl walk in one of dem hair store Back pain nearly turn into a seizure andpickupaweaving.Whendemanseede when de girl stop outside of de jewellery price,hestarttogetcoldsweat.Heturntohe store. De man throw he self down pon de sweetheart and ask she why she gat to buy groundandtelldegirlfuhcalldeambulance something so expensive. She tell he to his dathegettingastroke. facedatshedon’tbuycheapthingsandifhe Demsugardaddynowunderstandwhat wanttotakeherouttonight,hegattoensure itmeanswhendepriceofsugarraise.Dem thatshelookinggood. moneymeltinglikebutterindesun.

When de man and he girl walk out de Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

Andaiye’s book and Aubrey Norton’s words

Clement Rohee’s thathechosewhattoinclude meeting of the PPP history will not be the once was, people autobiography is inhismemoir leadership in June 2012 that recipient of any account of expect to hear a m a s s i v e He did say that maybe caused him to resign. He Roopnaraine’s days during a b o u t y o u r

disappointment Ralph Ramkarran’s named Rohee as one of the the era of Burnham’s r e v o l u t i o n a r y and that adjective is mild. autobiography would personswhoconfrontedhim autocracy But more experience. Andaiye’s When you consider that this includethingsIwanttoread at that meeting That disturbing is the reality that volume avoids gentleman was part of the about. Mr Rohee is right. incidentismissingfromMr historywillnotbetoldabout methodically and Rupert Roopnaraine was war-roomofthePPPandthat The writer has to choose Rohee’smemoir the nature of the Granger meticulouslythatpathway part of. I know Andaiye thePPPwaspartofsomeof what to leave out. But that D r R u p e r t presidency by Roopnaraine I think that was a deeply admired and the most momentous choice is limited. You are Roopnaraine’s book, “The thatRoopnaraineservedasa deliberate choice of both cherishedRoopnaraine. occurrences in Guyana’s writing about your life not Sky’sWildNoise,”doesnot senior minister This is in WPA leaders There are Ioncementionedonthis political sociology since the for the fishes in the sea to detailthestoryoftheWPA”s sharp contrast to Aubrey about seven lines on page in 2017 that she was 1 9 7 0 s , t h e n h i s readbutpeoplewouldprefer fight with the Burnham Norton last Wednesday on Andaiye’s role in the fight partoftheWPA’sleadership. autobiography had to be a to know more about what regime. There is nothing The Gildarie – Freddie against Burnham’s She called me on the phone gem. tookplaceintheircountry about Roopnaraine’s Kissoon Show Mr Norton dictatorship.Itisintheform and was agitated. She asked I ran into Rohee two When Mr Ramkarran feelingsaboutthatera. acknowledgedthatPresident ofananswertoaquestionby thatIclarifiedherpositionin weeks ago outside Mattai’s was the guest on The Dr Roopnaraine is Granger made mistakes but her interviewers in which mynextcolumnthatshewas supermarket. I told him my Gildarie – Freddie Kissoon publishing another book – declinedtodiscussthem.To she said that the WPA’s nolongerpartoftheWPA. impression of his Show, he mentioned his his speeches in parliament. date, he is the only high- intention was to overthrow But it was what she said autobiography He replied mistreatment at close-door At his age, it looks like ranking individual from the theBurnhamgovernment. inourconversationthatwas APNU-AFC government to Therearenotevenafew instructive. She told me, “I have conceded that his briefparagraphsontheeraof don’t want to be part of that presidenthadmadeerrorsin the 1970s; why the WPA kindofpolitics.” office. took the violent pathways it I don’t know what she We come to Andaiye’s did;thestrengthsandpitfalls meant so I decided I will book – The Point is to of the WPA’s praxis; the interviewherandIsenthera Change the World Theitem snubbing of the PPP as message. was brought for me by my subtlyalludedtoinaletterin DavidHindstoldmeshe friend, Mike Khan, former the newspaper by Mr saidthatshewillonlyspeak CEO of the Georgetown Ramkarran etc; are not to me if David and Tacuma Hospital who is home on recordedinherbook.

Ogunseye were present. I holiday Oncemore,Irepeat There is a chapter titled, distinctly remember the onthispage;Mikehasoneof “InsidetheWPA”whichwas laughonDavid’sfacewhenI the largest private misleading.Itconsistsoften angrily told him I rejectthat collections of books on pages in which she talked conditionality After that, I Guyana and books authored with an interviewer about nevercontactedherandwas byGuyanese. the WPA but the ten pages no longer interested in

The State has to move arenotexclusivelyaboutthe speakingtoher quicklytobuythecollection. WPA.

(The views expressed in Minister FrankAnthony has Andaiye died in May this article are those of the thelist. 2019andatthetimewasstill author and do not

Andaiye’s book, like active with the pen. But she necessarily reflect the Roopnaraine’s irritates you. chose not an offer a single opinions and beliefs of this Whenyouwerealargerthan word on the government of n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s life figure that Roonaraine 2015-2020 that her, hero, affiliates.)

confirmed. confidentiality of the * the importance of

In a statement, the deceasedandherfamilyand maintaining a safe distance ministry said that as of toallowthemtomourntheir ofsixfeetfromothersand December 20, 2022, one tragic loss in peace,” the *theneedforgoodhand more person who tested Press Release from the hygiene to help reduce the positive for the novel MinistryofHealthstated. spreadofCOVID-19. coronavirus (COVID-19) All Guyanese are being If anyone is displaying died. encouraged to continue to any of the symptoms

This takes the total observe the public health associated with COVID-19 number of deaths from the measures set out by the or needs any additional pandemic to 1,286 The Ministry of Health The information, kindly contact deceased is an 86-year-old Public Health Measure theCOVID-19Hotline231of the Region Two encouragesthe: 1166,226-7480or624-6674 (Pomeroon-Supenaam). * the need for everyone IMMEDIATELY

visit us “The MOH expresses five(5)yearsandoldertoget atwww.health.gov.gy

Shell to pay US$16M to Nigerian farmers in oil spill damage

British oil giant, Shell Plc, has been held accountable for oil spill caused by its Nigerian subsidiary and has agreed to pay US$16M to four Nigerian farmers for the oil damage, the BBC has reported.

It was stated that Shell has agreed to pay the Nigerian farmers and their communities to compensate for damage allegedly caused by pollution coming from leaks in its oil pipelines, following negotiations betweentheoilcompanyand campaign group Friends of the Earth Notably, the compensation is being given onthebasisof“noadmission ofliability,”ajointstatement said.

TheNigeria'soilindustry has been a major source of environmentaldamage.

According to BBC, the oil spills in this case happened from 2004 to 2007 and the payout follows a decision last year by a Dutch court that the Nigerian branch of Shell was responsible for the damage. In court, Shell had argued that the leaks were a result of sabotage.

Campaigners hailed the 2021 court decision as the first time a multinational had

Nigerians

be

ly responsible for what a subsidiary did.“Thanks to this compensation, we can build up our community once again. We can start to re-invest in our living environment,” Eric Dooh, the son of one of the farmers who launched the case in

2008 alongside the Dutch branch of Friends of the Earth,said.

The money will be going to communities in Oruma, GoiandIkotAdaUdo.

BBC's Ishaq Khalid reported that although the amount of compensation is nothuge,thisdevelopmentis

Oilpollutioncontinuesto damage the health and livelihoods of many in the area. The four farmers who began the case - Barizaa Dooh, Elder Friday Alfred

l i h o o d s b y contaminating land and waterways.

Mr EfangaandMr Dooh have died since the case was

first filed so their sons pursuedthecaseinstead. Aswellascompensation, last year's court ruling ordered Shell to set up a leak earlydetectionsystem.

This has now been installed, the joint statement by Shell and Friends of the Earthsaid.

have been complaining about the environmental damage caused by the oil industry for many years (Reuters)

Police arrest man found with stolen, slaughtered cows in lorry

A New Amsterdam Berbice labourer was on Friday arrested after he was foundtransportingfourcows slaughteredintoquarters.

According to police, the man identified as 48-yearold Shawn Embrack was intercepted during an operation atAuchlyne Estate Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice. He was driving a blue lorry (canter) bearing registration number GVV 1269.

Acting on information, a search was carried out and

the

questioned, Embrack was unabletoprovidepolicewith asatisfactoryexplanation.

Meanwhile, a resident of Letter Kenny, upon hearing the news, visited the Whim Police Station and identified the cows via the brand. The man, who said he was the owner, told police that the cows were not sold to Embrack.

As a result Embrack was arrested.

Pastor killed in Moruca boat accident

A North-West District (NWD) pastor was on Friday afternoon killedwhentheboathewasdriving in crashed into another while traversingtheMorucaRiver Dead is 53-year-old Rudolph HenryofParakeseVillage,NWD.

According to reports, the accident occurred at about 13:30h and involved a 75HP outboard engine boat which was being driven by a 31-year-old businesswoman of Chinese Landing, Barama River (NWD) and a 15HP Outboard engine boat whichHenrydrove.

Police said that the businesswoman was driving her boat in the vicinity of Mora Village in the Moruca River and was heading to Chinese Landing when the collision occurred.

Due to the collision, the pastor received injuries about his body He was rushed to the Kumaka District Hospital where he was seen and examined by a doctor who later pronouncedhimdead.

His body is presently at the hospital's mortuary awaiting a post mortem.

Friday's accident is the second to occur this week. On Tuesday, the bodies of two siblings, aged five and one, who drowned in the Pomeroon River, Region Two on Monday night, wererecovered.

The children have been identified as 5-year-old Reshanna Atkinson and

1-year-old Josiah Atkinson of Karawab.

The children along with their parents, 23-year-old Novita Atkinson and 33-year-old Bhinauth Atkinson and older brother 7-yearold JadeAtkinson, were returning to their Kawawab, Pomeroon home in the family's boat after completing ChristmasshoppingatCharity

Kaieteur News understands that the family of five boarded their 18 feet long wooden boat just after 20:00h and traveled up the Pomeroon River en route to their Karawab home. At about 20:30h in the vicinity of St. Monica, the boat struck a floating object causing the boat's motor to slip out of Bhinauth's hands.Asaresult,theboataggressively turned on its side, tossing all the occupantsoverboard.

Bhinauth and Novita along with their 7-year-old son swam to shore. Unfortunately, they were unable to locate5-year-oldReshannaand1-yearold Josiah. Investigations into both accidentsareongoing.

Govt. receives survey charts for expanded Demerara River channel

DPI - The Public Works Ministry receivedsurveychartsfortheexpanded Demerara River channel from RG holdings' Vreed-en-Hoop Shore Base Inc.onFriday

With the expansion of the river channel, larger vessels could now be accommodated, which will improve traffic. Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill said the project is a perfect display of the PPP/C Administration's partnershipwiththeprivatesector

“Today provides the Ministry of Public Works and the Government of Guyana a golden opportunity to showcase to all Guyanese and the rest of the world that the President Ali-led administration is not only strong and long on words but we are extremely committed to facilitating and ensuring opportunities to Guyanese businesses toprosper,”hesaid.

The six months of extensive works on the river channel saw wrecks being removed and the draft increasing from fivetoninemetres.

Italsosawawideningbymorethan 60 percent and a lengthening by five milesinthenorthwestdirection.

The minister expressed gratitude for the charts while highlighting the significant role they will play in the maritimesector

“I am happy to receive these charts which will become now a form of the permanent records of the Maritime Administration Department of the MinistryofPublicWorks.

This will be able to provide informationofnoticetomarinersandit will also be a good time for us to say thattheGovernmentofGuyanaintends to engage in ensuring the entire Demerara Channel is active and can facilitate the kind of traffic for both import and export that is required”, the

ministersaid.

Vreed-en-HoopShoreBaseInc.isa joint venture between NRG Holdings Inc. which is a 100 percent Guyaneseowned consortium and Jan De Nul which is an international maritime infrastructure company headquartered inLuxembourg.

WANTED

Driver,salesman,porters to work in warehouse. Must have experience , attractive salary offered. Call:696-4444.

Nimbus water system are nowHiringporters.Apply with application at Lot 79 Albert and Laluni streets queenstown.Contact6220445or685-7659.

TaxidriversneededatPrincessTaxiService,Ramada Hotel.Call:265-7075/76or 616-5419,690-2242.

Hardware distributor needed in Guyana for home furnishing & hardware products. For further informantion email: info.guyanahardware @gmail.com

Babysitterrequiredtowork overnight,3daysaweekin Georgetown.Call:601-3929.

Soup House looking for kitchenassistantages2545, easy work & great workinghours.Call:2256927.

VACANCY

Masons,skilledmen carpenters and labourers, wages $7,000 - $10,000 per day & Labourer5-6Kperday.Call: 650-1394,692-7110.

Room attendant and Receptionist30-45yearsold. 233SouthRoadLacytown, Call:225-0198.

Sales girls and porters needed.SendWrittenapplication to Best Buy Food Supplies, Deniss and MiltonStreetC/ville.

Cook/baker, pitmen, servicemen and hauler operators for interior location. Applicantsmustbeexperienced.Call615-0545.

GeneralManagersandMechanic/ Welders to work with Prominent Gold Mining Company. Call: 6290037 between 9:00am5:00pm.

LEGALNOTICE

INTHEHIGHCOURT OFTHESUPREME COURTOF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE ANDMATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILYDIVISION PETITIONNO.FD1353

BETWEEN:CLARKE(CARLYN MICHELLE)nee BENJAMINPetitioner -and-CLARKE (LENNOX MORTIMER) Respondent

TO:LENNOX MORTIMERCLARKE (last known address) Lot 273 3rd Street, Kaneville, East Bank Demerara

TAKENOTICEthaton the 22nd day of September, 2022 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by CARLYNMICHELLE CLARKE nee BENJAMINthe PetitionerintheFamily DivisionoftheHigh Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

Chiledeclaresstateof emergencyafterwildfire leavesonedead

LEGALNOTICE

High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirty-five) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice.

Massive blaze near the tourist city of Vina del Mar has killed at least one person and destroyed about 200 homes.

result of combined estimates from various agencies.

SERVICES

Visa application: Canada andUK&U.S.A.Graphics design & advertisements. Wedding decorations & elderlygrooming:hair,nail etc.Call:626-7040.

Repair & install fridge, freezer,washer&dryer,AC units, stove, etc. Whatsapp/ Call:637-4927,654-9511or 683-8734.

FORRENT

Business place to rent at fourth corner on Hunter Street, minibusroute.Call: 674-0614.

One bedroom apartment forrent,471EastRuimveldt $40,000 per month. Call: 225-2737.

ANDFURTHERTAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 7th day of December, 2022 the Petitioner 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 and around Guyana and on the Worldwide Web (online)

TAKENOTICEthatthe divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Wednesday the 22nd day of February, 2023 at 9:00 am before the HonourableMadam Justice Damone Younge via Zoom Meeting ID: 845 1426 6584 and Password: 786 445.

Aljazeera-Authoritiesin theSouthAmericannationof Chile are battling two fires thathaveclaimedatleastone life and are still threatening property

A fire broke out at the Ventanas port on Thursday, and a separate forest fire to the south near the coastal resort town of Vina del Mar has killed at least one person anddestroyedmorethan100 homes.

No injuries have been reported in the fire at Ventanas, which is near a refinery and smelter facility operated by the state-run miningentity,Codelco.

The company has said that the smelter was shut down already for maintenanceandtherefinery is operating as usual.

VEHICLESFORSALE

OneHondaCRV,fullyloaded immaculate condition, low mileage3.3M negotiable& 1 new super custom Hiace Bus 2.5M .Contact:6490956.

DAF CF85 Double Axle

TwinSteerDumpTrucksfor sale.Call612-8369forinquiries.

LEGALNOTICE

Filing Attorney: MS.SHELLONBOYCE GUYANALEGALAID CLINIC

MarajBuilding””

185 Charlotte & King Streets Georgetown, Guyana. Tel: 225-9238/ 225-9246 Email: lcgalaid@networksgy.com 2022-HC-DEM-CIVFD-1353

ANDFURTHERTAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-atLaw 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 .

ANDFURTHERTAKE 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

INDEFAULTofyour filingan 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 16th day of December, 2022.

Thegovernmentdeclared a state of emergency in the Vina del Mar area on Thursday evening after the firespreadquickly

The fire had erupted earlierthatday,andwithin24 hours, it had burned about 125hectares(310acres).

Several neighbourhoods have been evacuated, with varying levels of home damage reported.

Firefighters have struggled to contain the blazes, but Manuel Monsalve, assistant to Chile’s interior minister, said on Friday that, “the forecast is to be able to control the fire during the day”.

Officialshadpreviously said that the fire nearVina del Mar, a popular tourist destination about 120 kilometres(75miles)from thecapitalofSantiago,had killed two people and damaged or destroyed 400 homes.

By early Friday, Monsalve had revised the number downward, saying that one person had been killed,30slightlyinjuredand 130 houses destroyed, according to the AFP Reuters has put the number of houses destroyed at 200.

Monsalve said that the earlier over-count was the

AES Chile, which operates a coal-fired power plant near the port, hassaidthatthesecondunit of the plant, which is closesttothefire,hasbeen taken offline. Local media outlets have published photographsshowingblack plumesofsmokerisingout oftheport,whichislocated about 145km (90 miles) northwest of the capital city of Santiago.

Authorities around the world have struggled to contain increasingly intensewildfires,aproblem exacerbated by climate change.

In certain parts of the western United States, for instance, wildfires have become a regular phenomenon, with massive blazes routinely forcing evacuations and growing to sizes that would have previously been seen as exceptional.

AndinJuly,theEuropean continentsawheightenedfire activityamidawitheringheatwave and drought conditions, with blazes breaking out in countries such as Greece, Portugal, Spain and France.

Wildfiresalsobrokeoutin Chile’s neighbour Argentina lastFebruary,withnumerous fires making their way through large swaths of the country’s Corrientes region.

In October, a forest fire also damaged the famous monumentsonChile’sEaster Island.

Environmental groups sue to stop U.S. oil and gas auction off Alaska coast

On Wednesday, environmental groups sued the United States BidenAdministration to block the saleofoilandgasdrillingoff thecoastofAlaska.

The legal challenge was filed in Alaska's Federal Court. The sale is scheduled for December 30, 2023 and would see nearly onemillion acres in the Cook Inlet, Alaska, being auctioned off and opening the door to decades of future oil-and-gasdrilling.

Earth Justice reported that Cook Inlet is home to beluga whales and sea otters protected under the

EndangeredSpeciesAct.

It also supports thriving subsistence, commercial and recreational fisheries and a

multi-faceted tourist industry,fedbyvisitorsfrom around the world who are drawn by the region's unparallelednaturalbeauty

The Inlet is also essential f o r A l a s k a N a t i v e communities, who have stewarded these lands and watersfor millennia.Alaska, meanwhile, is experiencing more extreme consequences of climate change than the continental United States.

Coastal erosion, thawing permafrost, melting sea ice, and fishery collapse are all ramifications of the worsening global climate crisis, which will only intensify with new oil-andgasdrillingoperations.

According to Reuters, the sale was among the concessionstotheoilandgas

2017 Lusignan prison escapee handed over to Guyanese police

After escaping from the Lusignan Prison, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on July 23, 2017 and being nabbed in Suriname in 2020, 35-yearold Paul Goriah was on Thursday handed over to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) bySurinameseauthorities.

G o r i a h , w h o w a s committed to stand trial for murder which occurred duringthecourseofarobbery committed on Anthony Breedy between March 12 and 14, 2016, was escorted to the Criminal Investigation D e p a r t m e n t ( C I D ) headquarters at Eve Leary afterthehandover

During interrogation at CID, Goriah told police that when he escaped from the Lusignan Prison in 2017, he travelled to Lethem, Region Nine where he managed to enterBrazil.However,hewas arrested by the Brazilian A u t h o r i t i e s w h o subsequently released him from custody Thereafter, he lived in Brazil for a year after which he travelled to Suriname and remained there.

In June 2020, Kaietuer News reported that while in Suriname, Goriah was captured after attempting to rob a family in Nickerie. Goriah and two other Guyanese were arrested. At the time of his arrest, Goriah reportedly told Surinamese authorities that his name was KevinSmith.

According to reports, one of trio arrested entered the

victim's home and struck a woman on the head with a hammer The intruders fled after the victim's screams alertedherroommates.

Meanwhile, Goriah, formerly of Grove Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara, was remanded with three others in 2015 for the murder of remigrant agriculturist, Anthony Breedy, who was found dead in his Soesdyke, EastBankDemerarahome.

Before his arrest for Breedy's murder, Goriah served jail time for break and enter, larceny and trafficking narcoticscharges.

Goriah and 12 other inmates had crawled to freedom from the Lusignan Prison holding area, after digging a five-foot long tunnel inside a makeshift latrine.

sector included in President Joe Biden's climate change law, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Under the law, the administration is required to hold the sale by Dec31,2022.

The U S Interior Department had scrapped the Cook Inlet sale this year beforetheIRApassed,citing alackofindustryinterest.

The groups suing the administration are Cook Inletkeeper, Alaska Community Action on Toxics,CenterforBiological

Diversity, Kachemak Bay Conservation Society and Natural Resources Defense Council. In the complaint, the groups alleged the sale's environmental review v i o l a t e d f e d e r a l environmental laws by not adequately considering its impact on climate change as well as consequences for threatened species such as the Cook Inlet beluga whale andhumpbackwhales.

Thegroupsareaskingthe court to vacate the environmental review and

any leases that are executed following the sale. “Cook Inlet is already experiencing severe effects of climate

change, and new oil and gas leasing will only magnify those harms,” the complaint said.

West Indies end year on a low, England win fifth T20

The year ended badly for West Indies Women as they slipped to a huge defeat at the hands of England Women again on Thursday night.Battingfirstafterbeing sent in, West Indies failed to make use of a good surface on a cool evening at the historic venue.They were bowledoutforamere43runs off 16.2 overs. Teenager Djenba Joseph was the only batter to reach doublefigures. She made 11 off 22 balls; batted for 45 minutes and held firm as wickets fell allaroundher.Sheeventually

lost patience and skied an attemptedlofteddrivetogive Nat Sciver her third catch. It was the first of three wickets forAliceDavidson-Richards, who returned impressive figuresof2-0-5-3.

At the top of the innings, seamerFreyaDavieswasalso lethalandasshecapturedthe keywicketsofskipperHayley Matthews (8) and Rashada Williams without scoring. Davies returned to get her third wicket at the end of the innings to return figures of 2.2-1-2-3.

England them motored to thetargetreaching44-2off5.3

overs to register another emphaticwin.NatScivermade 20notoutoff12balls,which

Saturday December 24, 2022

ARIES (Mar.21–Apr.19)

A heightened level of intuition and understanding of othersmightcatapultyouto the center of attention at a gathering,Aries.Knowledge combined with experience results in wisdom today

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Communicationwithfriends who have traveled widely couldhaveyouhankeringto makeafuturevisittoadistant place that you've always wantedtoexperience.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Dreamsorvisionscouldput you in touch with deep feelings that you may not have beenawareofbefore,Gemini. This could enable you to releasetraumasfromyourpast and give you a new sense of lightness.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Relationshipsofallkindsare likely to be strengthened by an increased level of understanding today, Cancer Your thinking is greatly enhanced by your emotional intuitiveness.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Today your emotional intuitionintensifiesyourmental abilities, Leo. Friends and familymembersarelikelyto grow closer to you.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Relationships with those closest to you, particularly friends and love partners, should be enhanced by an increased understanding of theiremotionalworld,Virgo.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Dealing with the ups and downsofotherfamilymembers could be easier for you today than usual, Libra. You're less inclined to be logicalandmoreapttoidentify with what other people feel.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)

Todayyourmindisstrongly influenced by feeling and intuition, Scorpio, so you'll be able to communicate especially well with others. You might sense what they need to hear before.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

You generally like to think ofyourselfassomeonewho faces life logically and rationally, Sagittarius, but today your intuitive side could prove a valuable resource.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Yourintuitionisusuallyvery strong, Capricorn, and your level of empathy enhances your relationships. Today, however, a burst of logic could enable you to see many things.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Yourintuitionisheightened almosttothepointoftelepathy today Aquarius, you may be able to sense what others want and need even before they know it themselves.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20) Getting in touch with your closest friends could bring aboutsomeintensecommunication, with many revealing some of your deepest concerns, Pisces.

included two authoritative boundaries through midwicket.

ItwasEngland’sfifthwin of the series and confirmed their dominance over the homeside.Earlieronthetour they had a 3-0 victory in the One-DayInternationalSeries at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. Captain Hayley Matthews said, “I

think we need to look at the positives from the series. It’s really good to have the youngsters joining the squad and it’s going to be a big improvement in bolstering our squad and getting the experience. Yes the series didn’t go our way but I believe this is the start of something good.”

Having failed to secure a victory,WestIndieswillneed to show some improvement when they head off to South Africa for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in six weeks and West Indies will again face England in the

preliminaryround.Theeighth edition of the marquee event willbeginon10Februarywith hosts South Africa taking on Sri Lanka. Cape Town, Paarl and Gqeberha will host the matches in the tournament withtheknockoutmatchesset to be played in Cape Town. The final will be held on 26 February

The 10 teams will be drawn in two groups as follows, Group 1: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh; withGroup2:England,India, West Indies, Pakistan and Ireland.

Nadal says he is confident he will be competitive in Australia

(Reuters) - Rafa Nadal is aiming to successfully defend his Australian Open title at the first Grand Slam oftheyearinJanuaryafteran injury-plagued 2022 despite arriving a bit short of his peak level, the Spaniard said onFriday

The36-year-oldhasbeen training in the last few days after a Latin American exhibition tour alongside Norwegian third-ranked CasperRuud.

“I arrived on the 3rd (of December).

I spent almost a week

doing nothing, which was the right thing to do,” Nadal toldSpanishnewspaperAs.

“I did a bit of physical training, I think I’ll need a few days inAustralia

I’m aware that I’m a little bit short, but I’m confident that I’ll be able to pick up the level I need to b e c o m p e t i t i v e i n Australia ”

Nadal, who has won a record 22 Grand Slam titles, announced earlier this week the addition of Argentine Gustavo Marcaccio to his staff, an unexpected but

necessary move after the departure of veteran coach FrancisRoigafter18yearsin histeam.

“I turn to Gustavo because Francis decided to takeadifferentpath.

I’m not very much in favour of making big changes Francis made a decision,andaboveallIlove him as a friend, practically family,”Nadalsaid.

Nadal will travel to SydneyonMondaytoplayin the United Cup mixed tournament in preparation fortheAustralianOpen.

Sydney Thunder terminate Fazalhaq Farooqi’s contract over behaviour

(BBC Sport) - Sydney Thunder have cancelled their contract with Fazalhaq Farooqi for behaviour “sittingoutsideourvalues”.

A complaint was made about the 22-year-old Afghanistan fast bowler on 15 December, which was referred to Cricket Australia forinvestigation.

F o l l o w i n g t h e investigation, Thunder have terminated Farooqi’s contract with immediate effect.

Adayafterthecomplaint was made, Thunder were bowled out for 15 - the lowest score in men’s Twenty20history

From page 23 Day, at the National Track and Field Centre, Region 5 and Region 2 are set to meet from18:00hrs,whileRegion 3willbattleRegion10.

This will mark the final match-dayforGroupB,with Region 3, 5 and 10 all needing a win, based on the

In a statement, Cricket NSWCEOLeeGermonsaid: “The behaviours displayed by Fazalhaq Farooqi sit outside our values and it was determined that his contract be terminated.” The club have not revealed what F a r o o q i w a s b e i n g investigated for Germon added: “Our focus now is

pointstable.

When action in the tournament continued at the Albion Sports Complex on Thursday, Region 3 and 5 playedtoa2–2result.

The shared points meant that Region 3 will sit at the top of Group B on seven points, while Region 5 will

providing the necessary support to those affected by thisincident ”

F a r o o q i h a s 1 7 international T20 caps and signed a nine-game deal with Thunder after impressing in last month’s World Cup in Australia He has taken five wickets in four BBL matches.

remain behind Region 10 in thethirdposition.

Region 5 will need a win against Region 2 and hope that the game between Region 3 and 10 ends in a draw

The One Guyana President’s Cup semi-finals willplayonTuesday

Stuart Broad returns to squad for two-match Test series

(BBC Sport) - Stuart Broad has been recalled to the England squad for the two-Test series in New ZealandinFebruary

The Nottinghamshire seamer, 36, who has taken 566 Test wickets, missed the recent 3-0 series win in Pakistan following the birth ofhisfirstchild.

Rehan Ahmed, who became the youngest man to take a five-wicket haul on Test debut, aged 18, and fast bowler MarkWood, are both notinthesquad.

The first Test begins in Taurangaon16February

Durham’s Matthew Potts and Essex’s Dan Lawrence also return, but there is no place for Yorkshire’s Jonny Bairstow as he continues his recovery fromabrokenleg.

Potts made his Test debut against New Zealand in June and has taken 20 wickets in five appearances at an average of 28.00, but was not considered for the Pakistantour

The series moves to Wellington for the second Teston23February England squad for Test series in New Zealand: Ben Stokes (Durham capt ), J a m e s A n d e r s o n (Lancashire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Harry

Brook (Yorkshire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Ben Foakes (Surrey), Will Jacks (Surrey), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Matthew Potts (Durham), Ollie Robinson(Sussex),JoeRoot (Yorkshire), Olly Stone (Nottinghamshire)

As part of Ahmed’s management for this winter, the18-year-oldwillgotothe UAE T20 League in January with a view to joining up with England’s white-ball team in Bangladesh in March.

There is also no place in the squad for Lancashire’s spin-bowling all-rounder Liam Livingstone, who returned home from the tour of Pakistan early after sufferingakneeinjuryonhis debutinthefirstTest.

Theseriesmarksthestart

of a huge year for England’s Test side with the Ashes against Australia taking placeinthesummer

After the two matches in New Zealand, England have one more Test against Ireland in June before the Ashesstartslaterthatmonth.

They will look to maintain their dramatic revival in form under the leadership of captain Ben S t o k e s a n d c o a c h Brendon McCullum, who have guided England to nine wins from 10 Tests since taking charge last summer

That includes home series wins against New Zealand and South Africa, victory over India in a rearranged Test, plus a 3-0 series clean-sweep in Pakistan,wheretheybecame the first visiting team to win three matches in a series in thecountry

Roland Butcher appointed as New Selector to the West Indies Men’s teams

ST JOHN’S, Antigua –Cricket West Indies (CWI) today announced the appointment of Roland Butcher, as a Selector to the West Indies Men’s Senior & YouthPanels.

Butcher is a former England batsman who also played for over 15 years in EnglishCountyCricketwith Middlesex.

His appointment was confirmed during a meeting of the CWI Board of Directors on Monday 19

December

Butcherwasdelightedto accept the appointment, “It is a great honour and a privilege, to be given the opportunity to serve West Indies Cricket. I’m eager to getstartedtoworkalongside the other members of the selection panels as we look to ensure the growth and improvement in West Indies cricketatalllevels.”

The West Indies Men’s Senior Panel is led by the Most Honorable Dr

From page 25 performersincludingchampionJockey

The day’s activities will be conducted under the aegis of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority(GHRA)andtherelevantruleswill

Desmond Haynes and the Men’s Youth Panel is led by Robert Haynes. The third memberofbothpanelsisthe respectiveHeadCoach.

Butcher was the first Black cricketer to represent England in Test cricket when he debuted against West Indies in his native Barbados in 1981 He played three Tests and three One-Day Internationals. In his first-class career he played 277 matches and scoredover12,000runs.

apply

Interested persons may contact Secretary NiketaRoss,DennisDeroop,IvanDipnarine, IsaacDallooorothermembersoftheKMTC. (SamuelWhyte)

(SportsMax) - Former West Indies white-ball captainwassoldtoLucknow Super Giants for a record USD$1 93million in the 2023IPLDraftonFriday,the highest price ever paid for a specialist batsman in the Indian Premier League However, allrounder Sam Curran was sold for a record price of USD$2.2 million as the England all-rounder joinedPunjabKings.

Meanwhile, Jason Holder (US$700,000) went to Rajasthan Royals and Odean Smith (US$60,000) wenttoGujaratTitans.

Chennai Super Kings, M u m b a i I n d i a n s , Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals all got involved in the bidding for Curran, forcing the price up, before Punjab won out Curran was outstanding intheT20WorldCup,taking 13 wickets – including 3-12

against Pakistan in the final lastmonth.

There was a clamour for top-tier all-rounders, with Mumbai Indians landing Australia’s Cameroon Green f o r 1 7 . 5 c r o r e (£1.75million), England Test captain Ben Stokes was wanted by Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow, but it was Chennai who got him for 16 25 crore (£1.65million).

That fee for Stokes matched the previous record for an IPL player, set when Rajasthan signed Chris Morris ahead of the 2021 competition.

New Zealand white-ball skipper Kane Williamson had been the first player available in the auction and went for a bargain 2 crore (£200,000), before a bidding war broke out for England’s HarryBrook.

Golf had many reasons to celebrate in 2022

There are good years and very few great years in a sports history but for the Guyana Golf Association, Nexgen Golf Academy and golf overall in Guyana, 2022 was nothing short of exceptional!

Emerging from the pandemic and with no support from mainstream Golf and sponsors in G u y a n a , t h e h i g h expectationsoftheGGAand NGA would likely have floundered by the wayside had it not been for the sheer determination of its founder Aleem Hussain who engineeredpartnershipswith the Ministry of Education Allied Arts Unit, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and the Guyana Tourism Authority to catapult the sport into the national spotlight.

As a result, despite the failure of the Guyana

Olympic Association to provide requested affiliation since March 2020, major m i l e s t o n e s w e r e accomplished as the fledgling organization was abletorackupanimpressive list of successes in 2022, as 112 students from Anna Regina, Rosignol, Linden, and Friendship became the first in the country’s history to take golf at CSEC and achieve an incredibly high passrate!

Atotal of 132 Secondary School PE Teachers were trained under a joint collaboration between the Ministry of EducationAllied Arts Unit and Nexgen Golf Academy resulting in the sport becoming accessible to morethan8,000studentsin7 regions. Partnership programs with the Cyril Potter College of Education, Nations School and Texila American University added strength to the growth of the

sport in various learning institutions. The Guyana Golf Association continued its summer camp programs with over 150 kids from disadvantaged households and orphanages being given the opportunity to play a sport that was once considered just for the elite.

A d d i t i o n a l l y , t h e organization maintained its commitment and hosted several charity activities for orphanages and non-profit groupsin2022.

To close off the year in style, as a promotion for national tourism month 2022, Nexgen Golf Academy and the Guyana Tourism Authority teamed up to create a golf putting contest around country and results were absolutely fantastic in so much that it will become an annual activity for promotion of sports tourism Over $1,000,000 in cash and

prizes were given away as a partoftheevent.

The Nexgen Golf Academy also achieved g r e a t s u c c e s s e s i n tournament play as Aleem Hussain, playing in the Championship Category came in third in Suriname’s National Tournament and second best net in the GTT Guyana Open tournament in Guyana According to Hussain, “It was a good year for the Academy and for me to perform well on the big stage shows that what is taughtattheAcademycanbe translated into performance in the field.And to top it off, we were nominated by the

G TA f o r t h e M o s t

Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award!” Asked what’s on the horizon for 2023,Hussainsaid“nowthat our partnership with the Texas Golf Association is entering its second year, we seek to affiliate with the LPGA and the USGA Women’s Program which will open opportunities for our young female players to be recognized on the world stage.

We will host several inter-school, inter-region and a national tournament this year and plan to create fun tournaments that will allow thousands of

participants to experience the joy of winning at golf.”

And the expectation is that we will see more than 200 students taking golf at CSEC, a number that dominates the Caribbean region.

Hussain said with the support of the media, the large number of new sponsorsandtheunwavering support of the various government organizations there is no doubt in his mind thatgolfwillbecomeamajor attention getter in the sports arenainGuyana.

(This is an official release of the Guyana Golf Association)

Preparations continue ahead of KMTC’s Boxing Day meet

Trophy Stall Guyana has joinedwithothersponsorsto help bank roll the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC)traditional“Boxing Day “Horse Race meet set forDecember26attheclub’s entity at Bush Lot Farm, CorentyneBerbice.

After an absence of over two years due to the Covid 19 pandemic organizers and thehorseracingfraternityare eagerly looking forward to theevent.

The KMTC is in good shape.

Despite the inclement weather, preparations are moving apace for the much anticipated event. Reports are that the track is in good condition The KMTC arguably has the best facilities for horseracing in Guyana and the organizers are making every effort to make the venue is in top shape.

Sevenpotentiallysteamy encountersarecardedforthe day with prize monies exceeding $6.5M in cash, t r o p h i e s a n d o t h e r incentives.

The feature event for animals classified ‘A’ and

Lower carries a winning purse of $1.5M and trophy overeightfurlongs.

There is the E non earner and F and lower even for a winning take of $500,000 andtrophyover7furlongs.

The winner of the J and lowerandWestIndiesBred2 years race over six furlongs, pockets $300,000 and a trophy

AnimalsclassifiedKand lower and 2 years old Guyana bred will also be competing for a $300,000 winning purse and trophy over6furlongs.

There is a race for 2-

years-old Guyana Bred maiden animals over 6 furlongs which carry a similar first place purse of $300,000andtrophy

The L class open event has a pole position taking of $200,000 and trophy over 6 furlongsforthewinner

The final event is for L and K non earners for 2022 also over six furlongs with the winner riding away with $200,000andtrophy

Trophy Stall through its owner Ramesh Sunich will be donating the trophies for theindividualoutstanding (Continued on page 23

Busy Christmas, Boxing Day for One Guyana President’s Cup

Thefestiveseasoncanbe glimmered for some teams, as the One Guyana President’s Cup gets ready for a busy Christmas and Boxing day set of matches that can determine the top fourteamsinthetournament.

Tonight at the Bartica Community Centre, Region 7 will take on Region 8, while over at the Buxton Community Centre, Region 4andRegion6willcollide.

Both matches on Christmas Night (December 25) will have consequences on the on the final standing, especially being the final matches for Group A Region7(Cuyuni/Mazaruni) got off to a shaky start in the OneGuyanaPresident’sCup tournament, going down 1 –6 to the powerful Region 4 (Demerara/Mahaica).

However, since then, Region 7, behind Andrew Simmons, has been ‘needling’their way through

the tournament, picking up six points from wins over Region6andRegion9.

Awin could send Region 7 through to the next round, dependingontheoutcomeof

last evening’s game between Region 9 and Region 4 (both teams on six points). Up to press time, that result was stillnotknown. OnBoxing (Continued on page 22