Guyana Times - Saturday, April 20, 2024.pdf

UWI must lead

25 Guyanese being trained at Port Mourant facility to work on FPSOs

regional efforts for full reparative justice – President Ali …as he receives “Legacy Award” from AFUWI in NYC

3

High Court rules teachers’ 5-week strike legal

– says MoE cannot cut salaries, stop deducting union dues – Govt to appeal as Judge failed to distinguish between right, freedom to strike – AG

Make overtime work tax-free, remove VAT on local products – GMSA proposes

Govt refutes discrimination, marginalisation claims by IDPADA-G

Over 400 Reg 3 families to benefit from move-in-ready housing units

2 mining operations in Puruni red-flagged for unsafe conditions

...says samples sent to lab for diagnosis verification

Oil blocks award

Deaths of Berbice siblings may not be denguerelated – Dr Anthony Govt wants to streamline “onerous” non-fiscal terms before signing contracts – VP Jagdeo GPL currently serves 227,000 consumers with peak demand of 186MW – CEO tells special meeting

...says by end of July 230MW will become available on national grid

Brazilian dies after mining pit collapses at Marudi Mountain Racism does not align with principles of party – PNC Chairman

Make overtime work tax-free, remove VAT on local products – GMSA proposes

The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) wants overtime work to be tax-free along with the removal of property tax and VAT on locally-produced products among other measures to “create a robust foundation for economic growth”.

These measures were proposed to the Government during consultations on the 2024 National Budget and included in the Association’s 2023 Annual Report compiled under the theme “Expanding Trade Horizons Together”.

In arguing for overtime work to be tax-free, the

GMSA said: “This can serve as an incentive to employees to support extended work hours per day”, adding that the current severe shortage of skills and manpower affects productivity and project delivery.

Given the current global supply chain crisis, its impact on freight charges and the uncertainty of its longevity, the GMSA noted that measures need to be implemented to cushion the effects on Guyanese businesses and consumers.

To limit shortages and restrain inflationary pressures, it proposed duty be charged only on the Cost Price for items and not on

the cost of insurance and Freight (CIF).

To facilitate a more-enabling business environment, it proposes the removal of property tax, noting that “property tax is a wealth tax and ought to be removed too, it is also counter-intuitive to the Governments Housing Drive”. The Government has successfully allocated close to 50,000 house lots across the country since assuming office in 2020.

Removal of VAT

The business association has been a driver of promoting the use of local products across all sub-sectors. As such, it is calling for the

removal of VAT on locally-manufactured products and enforcement of legislation to deter local agents from charging VAT on those products to encourage local consumption.

Other proposals call for the removal of VAT on data purchases and packaging materials, and a reduction of VAT to eight per cent for locally-manufactured engineering products. It is also recommended that the VAT reimbursement system be upgraded to be more efficient. (https://www.gra.gov. gy/policy-10-vat-refunds-revised-feb-15-2023/)

GMSA also proposed the removal of VAT on the restocking fee for goods returned, the service charge placed on repairs and servicing of items already purchased, and on inputs for the textile and sewn goods subsectors.

Further, local foods such as chowmein, Chinese sauce, green seasoning, pepper sauce and prepared mustard must be zero-rated, the GMSA noted. The body also calls for medical equipment, consumables and reagents (lab supplies) to be zero-rated without seeking approval from the Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) while adding the duty on

these should also be removed.

Other measures proposed to the Government were a reduction of Corporation and Income Tax by five per cent, a reduction for companies that meet the “Guyanese Company” standard set in the local content legislation, removal of Stamp Duty completely on receipts/invoices, removal of VAT on testing equipment and reversion to a single tax rate for businesses that have both a manufacturing and trading section. It also proposed a reduction of tax on the importation of new vehicles between 1500cc and 2000cc to the equivalent of the current flat rate of used vehicles and the removal of the VAT.

“This encourages the creation of rental businesses and concierge services that need modern vehicles. Guyanese would also bene-

fit from cleaner, safer vehicles that require less maintenance,” the GMSA said.

Currently, the double-cab and wagon-type 4x4 off-road vehicles are classified as luxury increasing the associated taxes for users of these vehicles.

The GMSA in this regard asked the Government to re-classify these vehicles to utility vehicles and exempt them from Excise Tax and Duty, since they “are a necessity for the survival of many businesses, especially natural resources and construction”.

Consultations were conducted with Government agencies; Private Sector bodies; Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and others ahead of the budget presentations. The 2024 National Budget was presented on January 15 to the tune of $1.146 trillion.

Members of the GMSA at its Annual General Meeting on Thursday at Herdmanston Lodge, Georgetown

evening. Temperatures should range between 24 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius. Winds: East North-Easterly to Easterly between 2.23 metres and 5.81 metres. High Tide: 14:50h reaching a maximum height of 2.38 metres.

Tide: 08:25h and 20:42h reaching minimum heights of 0.87 metre and 0.80 metre.

UWI

must

lead regional efforts for full reparative justice – Pres Ali

… as he receives “Legacy Award” from AFUWI in NYC

As the Caribbean continues to push for full reparative justice, the University of the West Indies (UWI) has been charged to lead the Region’s fight through the “academic firepower” that the educational institution produces.

This is according to Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali at the 27th Annual Awards Gala of the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies (AFUWI) held in New York City Thursday evening. During the event, the Guyanese Leader was presented with the AFUWI’s Legacy Award Class of 2024 for his “leadership and vision” not only in Guyana but the Region as well.

During his acceptance speech, President Ali underscored the importance of regional integration and one of the areas that the Caribbean nations have in common is the shared history of colonisation, which, he said, has and continues to cost the Region enormously.

The Head of State lauded the efforts of the University of the West Indies, led by Professor Sir Hilary Beckles – its Vice Chancellor, in seeking reparative justice for the Region. Vice Chancellor Beckles, who handed over the award to President Ali on Thursday evening, is highly regarded for his dedication to the reparatory justice conversation. He is currently the Chairman of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Commission on Reparation and Social Justice as well as a United Nations committee official.

Ali expressed appreciation for the work done by Professor Beckles and his team, which has led to apologies from colonisers. In the same breath, however, the Guyanese President contended that apologies should have come naturally and the Region must now focus on getting full reparative justice.

This fight, according to the Guyanese Leader, must be led by the UWI and its scholars, not outside consultants.

“It is the University of West Indies that must lead us. We must show that we have the indigenous academic firepower to battle this and win this for ourselves. We cannot pay or rely on external consultants to do this for us. We have to invest in this for us and for our region,” President Ali asserted.

Only last month, Vice Chancellor Beckles, during an address at the United Nations General Assembly, lobbied for the organisation to support reparatory justice for not only historical crimes but also to secure a level playing field in the Region for the future.

He was at the time speaking at the UNGA’s commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and Transatlantic Slave Trade, where he pointed out that the Caribbean is one of the few places in the world that still has colonies.

“Many of the islands of the Caribbean are still colonies. Britain has colonies, France has colonies, and the Dutch have colonies. Why do we have colonies remaining at this time in our history? I urge the United Nations, therefore, as part of its reparatory justice programme, to recommit to the agenda of decolonisation so that this crime against humanity, which began in the Caribbean, can finally come to an end with the ending of colonisation.

“The payment of moral and development reparations for the crimes against African people will, at the very beginning, represent the formation of a new and more equitable global order that will represent a break from historical backwardness and lay the future for the dawn of a dignified dispensation for all of humanity,” he was quoted as saying in a Barbados Today article.

Guyana has been and continues to support the call for reparations – something which President Ali has been pushing on in-

ternational stages, including during interviews with leading global news agencies.

Only recently, Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond led a Guyanese delegation at the Third Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent in Geneva, Switzerland.

While there, she informed the Forum that Guyana was fully committed to Caricom’s demand of reparations for the descendants of enslaved Africans.

According to the Minister, “Consequently, we have established a national reparations committee within the framework of a 10-point plan agreed upon by the Caribbean Community. We in Guyana provide financial support to this committee and are proud to have facilitated the presence of its Chair at this session.”

Last September, the Guyana Reparations Committee, in collaboration with the University of Guyana, organised a formal apology from descendants of slave owner John Gladstone – who had enslaved over 2500 persons during tumultuous times here.

UG said the apology it helped negotiate with the Gladstone heirs for Guyana includes slavery and indentureship since their particular ancestor was integrally involved in both.

However, one day before that event, President Ali had called for the apology to include compensation and reparative justice. While he welcomed the Gladstone heirs’ apology, which he said is the first step in the process of reparative justice, the Guyanese Leader said it was an acknowledgement of the cruel nature of African enslavement and indentureship in Guyana, as well as an act of contrition that paves the way for justice.

President Ali being presented with the AFUWI’s Legacy Award

Class of 2024 by UWI Vice Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles (centre); AFUWI’s Board Director Dr Ron Chase and Guyana-born actress CCH Pounder in New York City on Thursday evening

Guyana, a diverse nation

Dat its most obvious level concerns differences. While we may all be humans, we would be hard put to deny that we are further characterised by a surfeit of differences. Even if we were to restrict our survey to “culture”, which supposedly distinguishes us from other animals, there are so many religions, languages, traditions, values, morals, customs, etc. While equipping us with attributes that connect us with some people, at the same time, they make us different from others.

Diversity, then, is an ineradicable fact of life. It is rather anomalous, however, that recently, with the increased immigration of Muslims into a generally Christian Europe, there has been a backlash against diversity, after a period when the West as a whole had seemed to embrace diversity. The ascendancy of Donald Trump in the US presidential race demonstrates that the movement against diversity is rising there as well – and against Muslims in particular.

Interestingly, the definitive text of Islam, the Quran, offers a salutary perspective on the question of differences: “We have made you into nations and tribes that you may know each other.” Differences, therefore, were inscribed in the human condition by the Creator to facilitate recognition. If we were identical in every way, how would we distinguish between each other?

Today, Islam is bearing the brunt for being “exclusionary and assimilationist”. One has to wonder, in light of the above explicit exhortation, whether this may not be a reaction to the pressures of the exclusionist and assimilationist imperatives of the West following the Muslim Ottoman Empire’s defeat in, and subsequent colonisation after, WWI.

During its four hundred years of rule, the Ottoman Empire area was an ocean of stability. Unlike their practice of allowing all groups to observe their own cultures and personal law, the European successors insisted that all groups had to assimilate into the majority (read “victorious”) culture. Uniformity, not diversity, became the standard. The epitome of this perspective became the motto of the US, the successor and inheritor of the European vision: E Pluribus Unum – out of many, one.

Interestingly, the West backed off their rejection of diversity and promotion of assimilation from the 1960s, as they became aware of the dark and violent downside of such policies. Multiculturalism became their watchword, and much goodwill was recovered – which, as was stated earlier, the new Islamic dispensations rejected as a subversive tactic.

Very sadly, however, there has been a reversal of the multicultural approach in Europe and the US, making them more like the post-Ottoman Islamic states. In both civilisations, there is a growing xenophobia against “others” who come from different cultures.

In Europe, because many – if not most – of the immigrants are Muslims, the backlash has taken an overtly anti-Islamic flavour. That this rejection of multiculturalism comes close on the heels of several wars waged in several Islamic countries by Western powers raises the suspicion that there is more in the mortar than the pestle can pound.

In Guyana, our diversity is legion, as, apart from the Indigenous peoples, we are a nation of “immigrants”, whether brought here voluntarily or otherwise. There was a time when, under colonial domination, we, too, insisted on total assimilation; but after independence, good sense came. We now actually celebrate our diversity, hence our public holidays’ calendar is dotted with commemorations of events from our various cultures.

Our school curriculum also assists in teaching acceptance of diversity by exposing us to the significance of the various beliefs and practices. Fear is always fear of the unknown, and is banished by knowledge. We have to be careful that our proclivity to slavishly adopt Western trends does not precipitate any local anxiety about our Muslim brothers and sisters, and vice versa.

In our hundreds of years of coexistence, Islam has not simply added to our diversity; it has enriched our common humanity, not to mention our Guyanese identity.

3-wheeled motorcycles

Dear Editor, I wish to record that I believe the GRA is doing an exceptional service to the nation in ensuring VAT, income taxes and all taxes are properly remitted. These taxes are imperative for the development of our country and service to our people. I recognize the magnitude and importance of the Guyana Revenue Authority, which is well-administrated by the Commissioner General Mr. Godfrey Statia and the team of Deputy and Assistant Commissioners, officials and staff. It is an immense/ massive institution, and calls for extraordinary administrative and management skills.

I am writing this letter particularly about a small business we manage called RK’s Eco-Star Motos, which we started over a decade ago. To start it, we had the intervention of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, and Police Commissioner Fraser. This was a pioneering vehicle and business in the country. The then GRA Commissioner, Mr. Khurshid Sattaur, was guided accordingly, and a system was established for registration, which from then to now was excellently managed.

As far as we know, there has never been any major accident or loss of life by any driver, worker, or the public. It is the most practical vehicle made for harsh economies, poor people, bad roads, good roads, hills, dams etc. These vehicles are very popular in crowded countries like Vietnam, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Central America, Ghana, Nigeria. They are also famous in Holland, Spain and Italy.

These trikes, sir, are made to empower small men and women and allow them to live their lives fruitfully.

According to the laws that we inherited from the British, they are motorcycles, three-wheeled motorcycles. There are three-wheeled motorcycles for cargo, and there are three-wheeled motorcycles for passenger/cargo. These kinds of designations tend at times to confuse the minds of Guyanese who might not have been much experienced.

In Guyana, things have been going very well with registration and processing. When we have three (3) seats, it would be three (3) seats plus the driver (total of four

seats), which would be stated on the registration documents.

We have had some cases where, for the passenger trike, we had seven (7) seats. In some cases, we had nine (9) seats according to the seating capacity, which could be constructed at 18 inches per passenger, while some come from the makers with 7 to 12-seat capacity. GRA staffers were doing an exceptional job with inspections and registration according to the seating capacity. They did make mistakes at times, instead, the three (3) wheelers were being documented as two (2) wheeled motorcycles, and we took that as human error.

Suddenly we noticed without advice that they were being registered as one (1) seater. A cargo three-wheeler with built-in capacity for the driver plus three passengers registered as a (1) seater, which was for the driver only.

The three-wheelers come with built-in seats for three persons, while some come with seating for more persons. And additional seats could be installed as per law. Our customers have been affected, we have been affected, and sales have been affected. This has caused tremendous annoyance and frustration, not knowing what to do. My guidance to the GRA and any institution like the Guyana Police Force is that they need to call in the stakeholders.

So, Commissioner General, my suggestion is that when making these decisions, it’s good PR guidance to call us in and ask us our viewpoint, instead of a unilateral decision being made internally.

And in this case, even the police were not informed when the undersigned personally intervened and tried to follow the trail. I was provided with certain information after much fatigue and inconvenience from the Motor Vehicle Department. The staff there were very respectful and supportive. I know it is not they who make these rules.

In approaching the Police Department, they were taken by surprise. They were never officially informed it would appear, except that we suddenly showed up with a letter from GRA for this. The Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh, met with us, listened very intently with other

officers, and dealt with the matter with extreme professionalism and caution.

However, we had to deal with a sergeant at Police Headquarters whose name I will not disclose at this time. He was uncooperative, and was extremely rude and unwilling to listen, according to my Transport Manager. He could not seem to understand the instruction of the GRA, which, as stated above, was clarified by the Traffic Chief. Nevertheless, instructions were passed for the seats to be measured and letters to be prepared, which we were to uplift and take into GRA. Before we could have uplifted the letters, someone in the Traffic Department forwarded them to the Motor Vehicle Department, causing another bugbear.

We have had many cases where documents went missing in the Motor Vehicle Department. We do not know the status, but it is tiring and annoying. Further, I believe it is unnecessary. Your inspecting officers were extremely competent. All that happens here is a bigger part of bureaucracy, a frustration that leads to the inconveniencing of our marketing and sales, and more so to delay our customers.

It came to a point where customers would say, ‘Leave it with the one seat’, but we know what frustration they would go through, as this is like a small lorry. They need workers/staff. If they are grave-diggers, they need two additional staff, if they are vendors, they need at least one staff. This is why the manufacturers understood and put three additional seats for workers along with the driver.

In Guyana, our people seem to have a problem understanding this. When we told our suppliers in China and India what we were going through, they laughed and said we have inexperienced and unexposed people in our country. With this in mind, I am requesting that you, honourable Commissioner General, who means well in all that you do, in future kindly invite all the stakeholders and also revert to the system of having faith in your inspecting officers.

Best wishes.

Sincerely,

Dr Roshan Khan Founder, RK’s Eco-Star Motos

President Dr Irfaan Ali was given a warm welcome by staff and members of the Guyanese Diaspora during his visit to the King’s County Hospital in Clarkeson Avenue, Brooklyn on Friday

It is appalling that agents

race-baiting Claims by Norton during BBP visit quite conflicting

Dear Editor, I find the claims made by the Leader of the Political Opposition, Mr. Aubrey Norton -- made via a prepared statement read by Mr. Sherwin Benjamin during a recent Office of the Leader of the Opposition Facebook live, following an alleged visit to Black Bush Polder -- quite conflicting.

If we were to analyze how the Opposition operates, especially when visiting Government strongholds and engaging persons in hope of garnering support, we would find there is always some form of proof, whether in the form of photos or a social media live. I’ve done my due diligence by searching the social media pages of Mr. Norton and several other popular Opposition members, and I am unable to find any photos or videos to prove that Mr. Norton had indeed visited the area and had been given the warm welcome he claims to have received.

Nevertheless, let's discuss some of the claims made by Mr. Norton in his statement.

In the statement, Mr. Norton accused the Government of being discriminatory with the distribution of the 2021 Flood Relief cash grant. The Minister of Agriculture, Honourable Zulfikar Mustapha, and several other ministers and senior members of the Government, visited Black Bush Polder on several occasions during the registration and distribution of the grant. While there were minor issues with the process, such as misspelled names, etc, the officials never received such claims.

It should also be noted that several rounds of verification and distribution were done in

BBP and other areas across the country, which saw the process lasting longer than expected.

The statement went on to say that there was “absence of a coherent agricultural development plan in the region. The Government allocated rice land and cash crop land next to each other. This creates problems when rice farmers are spraying weedicides to protect their rice crops and cash crops are affected.”

BBP was established in 1962. The PNC assumed office following the 1964 General and Regional Elections. They remained in power for 28 years, following a series of fraudulent elections in 1968, 1973, 1980, and 1985. Over the years, which included the 28 years before 1992, while the PNC Government was in office, farmers in the homestead of BBP -- who were cash crop farmers with large amounts of land -- began to utilise some of those lands for rice cultivation. Again, during their short stint in office between 2015 and 2020, farmers continued to exercise these practices and expanded their rice cultivation. Nothing was done to reverse or discourage this. So, to say that the Government allocated rice land and cash crop land next to each other is a blatant and deliberate lie.

Not surprisingly, these claims demonstrate Mr. Norton’s lack of knowledge of the agricultural history of BBP. While on several outreaches to all four polders in BBP, the Minister of Agriculture engaged farmers about the Government's developmental plans, which include establishing a structured way of farming (agricultural zoning) as well as infrastructural developments within each zone to

support specific agriculture-related activities.

The allegations regarding corruption in the distribution of state resources couldn’t be further from the truth, as resources have been, and will always be, distributed equally across all communities and villages in Guyana. In fact, farmers have benefitted from more relief, inputs and resources in the last four years than in the 33 years the PNC was in office.

The Government has, over the years, been known to engage persons from all walks of life. They were also able to secure a high percentage of crossover support, which is evident from the results of the last Local Government Elections. They could only have achieved this through engaging and supporting perceived supporters of the Opposition. People tend to gravitate towards sustainable development and constant support, and this is what the PPP/C has delivered over the last four years.

Allegations of mismanagement at the BBP NDC were also made in his statement. It is unconscionable for Mr. Norton to blame the NDC and the minister for the way contractors are maintaining irrigation and drainage canals when it was Minister Mustapha himself who, while in Region Two earlier this year, instructed the RDC to terminate contracts awarded to persons found spraying the canals, as this was against their contractual stipulations. This was an instruction given to all RDCs and NDCs across the country.

As it relates to water management in BBP and across all cultivation areas, the NDIA has been working with the NDCs and the Water Users

Associations to develop schedules to effectively distribute water resources. When breaches are discovered, some resulting from both cash crop and rice farmers tampering with the D&I infrastructure, emergency and remedial works are executed.

The NDIA also worked to have additional rangers in place to monitor these structures.

Mr Norton should be ashamed of himself for putting forward such ridiculous claims when his party is known for minimising agricultural development in this country. It is the PNC that discriminates against farmers in this country, as they are perceived to be supporters of the ruling PPP/C. They have never put forward a comprehensive and feasible plan for agricultural development in Guyana. While the Government and the citizens were asking for such plans, the PNC-led APNU/AFC were busy reducing the budgetary allocation to the sector, and telling the country to wait on the oil money to see development.

I suspect the recent series of testimonials from farmers across the country -- that are being uploaded to the Ministry’s social media pages -- about the help and support received from the Ministry of Agriculture has lit a fire under the Opposition’s rear end, and they are now working overtime to try and discredit the successes of the Government. But the people have spoken, and they will continue to speak; and this Government will continue to support the farmers and develop Guyana’s agriculture sector.

Yours sincerely,

Rajesh Rampertab

Aubrey Norton and team's visit to Black

Dear Editor,

permit

section

Bush Polder was a comedy show

space

newspaper

refer to a purported visit

Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton and team to the Black Bush Polder in Region Six. I must note that I must have missed this visit, although I have been living in the farming community for several years. Was this a secret visit? How many farmers were engaged? Did they only speak to two "alleged farmers"? This is all so baffling to me and others within Black Bush Polder, because PNC/APNU, whatever they refer to themselves as, has never taken a keen interest in the agriculture sector. As I recall, agriculture and farmers suffered tremendously during the rule of PNC/APNU /AFC.

They noted that there were "key concerns raised" during their so-called visit, and that the PPP/C were accused of discriminatory practices for the cash grant distribution. I would like to mention that thousands of farmers, including me, benefitted from the flood relief cash grant dis-

tribution, and in addition to that, we have been offered assistance through the Ministry of Agriculture’s extension services to alleviate our issues as they develop.

At no time were we left to stand alone when it came to assistance, and the frequent visits during the flooding and after by the Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, and his team are a testament to what good governance and concern for the people mean. I recall in 2017, under then Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder, cattle farmers lost hundreds of cattle in the Cookrit Savannah as a result of heavy flooding, and the then administration did nothing! How dare the Opposition try to appear as though they are the saviours, when they are clueless when it comes to agriculture?

The Opposition Leader also said there was lack of a clear agriculture plan. These people cannot be serious! What agriculture plan does the Opposition have, or have ever had? Farmers’ complaints were never addressed

under the PNC/APNU, and we were certainly never taken seriously; but these people only know the value of farmers when it is time to build their portfolio for the next elections. It is then that we hear all the promises of what they will do and what plans they have.

Utter hogwash!

Norton and his followers cannot walk a day in the shoes of Minister Mustapha and his government, even if they try. He has done more for farmers than they have under their administration.

Minister Mustapha has always been inclusive when it comes to providing assistance and relief to farmers, and has never hand-picked whom to help or not. His numerous visits to the communities within

Black Bush Polder have provided residents and farmers with opportunities to express themselves and highlight concerns, while being provided with short-term to long-term solutions.

The Opposition, whom I consider one of the weakest opposition parties I have ever seen, cannot manage their internal backbiting and issues within their party, but want to manage an entire country. I refuse to believe that there are people in this country who still listen to the empty promises made by these people. The people of Black Bush Polder reject the Opposition!

Yours sincerely, Tameshwar

Boodhoo

of IDPADA-G

have

stooped so low

as

to resort to

Dear Editor, The reprehensible statements of the organisation calling itself the International Decade for People of African Descent - Guyana Incorporated (IDPADA-G) have reached new depths of divisiveness, and it has become increasingly clear that its agents are neither interested in the unification of Guyana’s peoples, nor are they interested in the growth and development of Afro-Guyanese individuals and groups they claim to represent.

Nefariously, this group, with dwindling membership numbers, continues to berate Afro-Guyanese who do not agree with the fact that it has hijacked a legitimate global event and created a false mechanism for syphoning monies from the state -- an action which it continued to carry out from 2018 under the PNC-led APNU/AFC Government until it was finally stopped by this Government, after it could not properly account for the sums of money it received over the years.

It is evident from the public utterances that those remaining agents behind the private company IDPADAG Inc. are bent on creating and fuelling racial tensions, while making false claims of discrimination. Interestingly, it has never utilised the reporting mechanism of the constitutionally established and aptly diverse Ethnic Relations Commission, which is legally empowered and resourced to investigate such allegations, and has done so for decades.

IDPADA-G does not intend to serve Afro-Guyanese as a whole, but only a select group of Afro-Guyanese, some of whom have deep political connections. Someone would have to be living in absolute delusion to deny the many op-

portunities for growth and development of all Guyanese, including Afro-Guyanese, created by this Government led by President Irfaan Ali.

Thousands of AfroGuyanese have benefitted from the Government's aggressive housing programme, state-sponsored training programmes for upskilling and reskilling, local content framework for oil and gas, cash grants, and salary increases; and many of them are also entering into the world of public procurement as they build their capacity to move from project to project and build their local economies. This is how you build generational wealth, which Afro-Guyanese are happy to be part of!

Any person who is excluded from the clear opportunities that exist now for building sustained generational wealth is excluded by their own doing. We have to grab the opportunities! We have to ensure that we don’t fall into the traps set by the puppet masters behind IDPADA-G.

It is appalling that the agents of IDPADA-G Inc. have stooped so low as to resort to race-baiting, a tactic as vile as it is cowardly. They are certainly disgruntled about the ongoing work to build and maintain a Guyana that recognises differences among our peoples as our strength as we create One Guyana of progress and prosperity for all.

Even after receiving nearly $500 million in taxpayer funding for years, can IDPADA-G say that it has created sustainable opportunities for Afro-Guyanese which significantly improves their quality of living? Who are they really serving?

Sincerely, Afro-Guyanese Union

Page Foundation

Power Up Maths

Calculating probabilities

*** Probability*** is the likelihood of something happening in the future. Knowing how to calculate probability will help you predict future events, although not with 100 per cent accuracy The simple formula to figure out probability (P) is the number of favourable outcomes divided by the total number of possible outcomes (o). You could express this formula as an equation: P = f o

***Example:***

Example:

If you roll one die of a pair of dice, there are six possible outcomes. Each die is a cube with six sides. Each side has a different number of spots. The die could show 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 spots.

If you roll one die of a pair of dice, there are six possible outcomes. Each die is a cube with six sides. Each side has a different number of spots. The die could show 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 spots.

What is the probability of the side with three spots being on top after the die is thrown? The probability of rolling a 3 = 1 6

What is the probability of a 5 or a 6 or a 4 not being on top after the die is thrown?

***Step 1***: Decide how many favourable outcomes there are. 6 – 3 = 3

Step 1: Decide how many favourable outcomes there are. 6 – 3 = 3

***Step 2***: Set up your equation. P = 3 6

Step 2: Set up your equation. P = 3/6

Day 2: River habitats: who lives here?

Day 2: River habitats: who lives here?

Activity 1: Weaving a Food Web

Day 2: River habitats: who lives here?

Step 3: You could simplify that equation 3/6 = 1/2

***Step 3***: You could simplify that equation 3 6 = 1 2

If you were to roll the die two times, you would have a favourable outcome one of those times.

If you were to roll the die two times, you would have a favourable outcome one of those times.

Exercises: Calculate

Exercises: Calculate

Activity 1: Weaving a Food Web

Introduction

2

2

Activity 1: Weaving a Food Web

Introduction

Introduction

All living things — plants and animals — need energy to live. Spring flowers need energy to grow and bloom. Birds need energy to move their wings for flight. People need energy for all kinds of things, from thinking to laughing to playing soccer to sleeping.

All living things — plants and animals — need energy to live. Spring flowers need energy to grow and bloom. Birds need energy to move their wings for flight. People need energy for all kinds of things, from thinking to laughing to playing soccer to sleeping.

All living things — plants and animals — need energy to live. Spring flowers need energy to grow and bloom. Birds need energy to move their wings for flight. People need energy for all kinds of things, from thinking to laughing to playing soccer to sleeping.

1) If there are 17 boys in your class of 35 students, what is the probability that your teacher will call a girl student’s name during class time?

1) If there are 17 boys in your class of 35 students, what is the probability that your teacher will call a girl student’s name during class time?

2) You decide to watch a movie. There are four comedies in the stack of 10 DVDs. What is the probability you will pick a comedy?

All living things get their energy from food. Green plants use energy from the sun to make their food. Animals get their energy by eating plants or other animals. The sun is at the beginning of every food chain. Here's a simple food chain:

All living things get their energy from food. Green plants use energy from the sun to make their food. Animals get their energy by eating plants or other animals. The sun is at the beginning of every food chain. Here's a simple food chain:

2) You decide to watch a movie. There are four comedies in the stack of 10 DVDs. What is the probability you will pick a comedy?

All living things get their energy from food. Green plants use energy from the sun to make their food. Animals get their energy by eating plants or other animals. The sun is at the beginning of every food chain. Here's a simple food chain:

3) Paul knows that once a week his mom cooks steamed fish for dinner. What is the probability that tonight Paul will not have steamed fish?

3) Paul knows that once a week his mom cooks steamed fish for dinner. What is the probability that tonight Paul will not have steamed fish?

  

sun grass caterpillar snake eagle

sun grass caterpillar snake eagle

sun grass caterpillar snake eagle

A food web is more complex than a food chain. It is made of many interconnected food chains within a community. Here are three food chains that together make a wetland food web:

A food web is more complex than a food chain. It is made of many interconnected food chains within a community. Here are three food chains that together make a wetland food web:

sun > grass > grasshopper > blue jay > owl

A food web is more complex than a food chain. It is made of many interconnected food chains within a community. Here are three food chains that together make a wetland food web:

sun > grass > grasshopper > blue jay > owl

sun > grass > rabbit > hawk

sun > grass > rabbit > hawk

sun > clover > caterpillar > snake > hawk

sun > grass > grasshopper > blue jay > owl

sun > clover > caterpillar > snake > hawk

sun > grass > rabbit > hawk

In this activity, kids will be creating an active food web with a ball of yarn and their bodies!

In this activity, kids will be creating an active food web with a ball of yarn and their bodies!

sun > clover > caterpillar > snake > hawk

Supplies

SEARCH

In this activity, kids will be creating an active food web with a ball of yarn and their bodies!

Supplies

• Ball of yarn

• Photocopy of the plant and animal cards included, and cut along dotted lines

• Photocopy of the plant and animal cards included, and cut along dotted lines

• Tape or safety pins to attach cards to kids' clothing 

Supplies

• Ball of yarn

• Tape or safety pins to attach cards to kids' clothing

• Photocopy of the plant and animal cards included, and cut along dotted lines

• Ball of yarn

• Tape or safety pins to attach cards to kids' clothing

High Court rules teachers’ 5-week strike legal

– says MoE

cannot cut salaries, stop

deducting union dues – Govt to appeal, as judge failed to distinguish between right and freedom to strike – AG

The High Court, in a marathon ruling delivered by Justice Sandil Kissoon on Friday, has found that the recent five-week strike action by teachers across Guyana was “legal and legitimate.”

Initially slated for two weeks, but ending up running for over a month, the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) organised the countrywide strike which started on February 5, calling for better pay and working conditions.

Government had labelled the industrial action illegal, and consequently announced plans to cut the salaries of those teachers who did not show up to work, and to also suspend the deduction of union dues from the salaries of teachers. This resulted in the GTU filing court proceedings to block the Government from, among other things, slashing teachers’ salaries and ceasing deducting the fees on behalf of the union.

However, Justice Kissoon ruled that the teachers were justified in their strike action, since there was no proper collective bargaining between the Education Ministry and the union, which had a multiyear agreement that included salary increases for the period 2019 to 2023.

The High Court judge found that any move to deduct or withhold the salaries of those teachers on strike would be “arbitrary, unlawful, unreasonable and unconstitutional.” Similarly, he also ruled that the Government acted “arbitrarily” when it halted the deduction of union

dues from teachers’ salaries.

According to Justice Kissoon, “…the right to strike, like the right to engage in collective bargaining, is firmly embedded in the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed to every citizen of Guyana under the Constitution…”

Moving to appeal

However, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, who represented the state during the court proceedings, contended that the court failed to address the distinction between the right to strike and the freedom to strike – a point that he has been arguing since the inception of the case.

Announcing that the Government will appeal the High Court’s decision, Nandlall told reporters after Friday’s ruling that “Striking is a legitimate form of expression in our law. No one disputes that …but whether it has reached and has been elevated to a right as opposed to freedom is where a distinction has to be drawn,” he noted.

The Attorney General pointed out that the judge “… has misread the Constitution. He has equated the term ‘freedom’ with ‘right’, but he has not addressed the other repercussions. Because now you’ll have striking workers who are going to be compensated for work not done. What you have done here is that you have turned the law upside down… So, here it is that you have a worker now who will not work but must be paid.”

In satisfying the right of workers to be paid for a strike, Nandlall argued that the court has breached the right of the employers to protect their property -- in this case money -- since they will have to pay workers without getting benefits, since no work would be done in exchange for the salary paid.

With regards to the ruling on the deduction of union dues, the Attorney General said the court “wrongly” decided on this voluntary service provided by the Government to unions.

“It’s not grounded in the Constitution, it’s not grounded in contract, it’s not grounded under any other obligation; so, it is that the Government, for the rest of its life, got to continue offering a gratuitous service? These are vacuous conclusions, and that is why the decision has to be appealed,” AG Nandlall stressed.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Government, in a statement on Friday evening, said this ruling will be appealed to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) if necessary.

Upside down

It said the law, as well as local industrial relations in both the public and private sectors, has been turned upside down by the High Court’s decision on Friday.

“In the ruling today, the High Court has completely dismantled a salutary principle which has struck a vital balance between the employer and the employee in industrial relations for centuries. The Court ruled that the ‘no work no pay’ principle no longer applies to Guyana – a position that does not obtain either in the Commonwealth Caribbean or indeed this hemisphere. The repercussions that will flow from this ruling will have a devastating impact on industrial relations both in the private and the public sector,” it noted.

According to the Government, by converting the freedom to strike into a right, the court has ignored the provisions of the Labour

Act and the very Constitution, both of which recognize wages as a reward for work done or to be done.

The Government added that the Court has not only ignored existing legislation, but has trespassed upon the lawmaking power of Parliament by making new law rather than interpreting existing law, violating the essence of the separation of powers doctrine.

Moreover, the Government maintains that the service of deducting union dues from teachers’ salaries is an Executive’s policy and decision-making, thus it ought not to be reviewed by a Court.

Further, the Government is also appalled at what it describes as “intemperate and injudicious language” used by the Judge when referring to the public officers who presented evidence during the case, including Chief

Education Officer Saddam Hussein.

“The Government wishes to make it clear that pursuing the recourse of an appeal is not in any way whatsoever intended to detract from its unwavering commitment to address all the reasonable and legitimate concerns of our teachers, and indeed all of our workers. The appeal will be pursued for the larger implications the decision will have on the industrial climate in our country and to attempt to restore the law to its proper course,” the missive detailed.

Landmark ruling

Meanwhile, Friday’s court ruling has been described by Attorney Roysdale Forde, SC, who represented the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) during the proceedings, as significant and historic.

“We have today a case where these workers’ rights in this country have been enshrined in law, and have been vindicated by the decision of this court. This is a significant and landmark decision. It has alerted the understanding and interpretation of what constitutes workers’ rights. I believe this is significant -- and I can’t underscore it enough -- win for labourers and workers in this country,” Forde told reporters.

President of the GTU, Mark Lyte, also welcomed the court’s ruling, calling it a

“red letter day” for the union and its executives as well as teachers across the country, who were represented by Attorney-at-law Darren Wade.

“[It’s] a landmark ruling by the court, which sets the parameter for other unions in this country to take a stand as it relates to the injustice that their workers are facing also…I believe that this ruling will give the voices of teachers, voices of the workers of Guyana, an opportunity to be heard,” he noted.

The GTU President expects the Government to come to the table for the collective bargaining process to kick off. If this is not done, then the GTU General Council has already decided to return to strike action. and according to Lyte, the Executives will now have to decide on the timeline for that industrial action. (G-8)

UWI must lead regional efforts..

“The apology offered by the descendants of John Gladstone underscores their willingness to confront their family’s dark past and to acknowledge the immense pain, suffering and indignities inflicted upon innocent persons through their family’s actions… I, therefore, propose that the intended apology include issues of compensation, reparative justice, and those involved to be posthumously charged for crimes against humanity,”

the Head of State posted last year.

Based on historical records, John Gladstone was an absentee owner of plantations in Jamaica and Guyana, building on his wealth earned from the mercantile trade in India, the United States, and the West Indies.

After the British seizure of the colonies that became Guyana in 1803, John Gladstone began to invest in them. His interests and acquisitions in-

cluded at one time the plantations at Belmonte, Coverden, Hampton Court, Industry, Met-en-MeerZorg, Success, Vreed-enHoop, Vreedenstein and Wales.

Anticipating a collapse in African field labour after the end of the apprenticeship period, Gladstone, along with other planters, helped to pioneer the use of Indian indentured labour in British Guiana, introducing a new form of servitude to the colony. (G8)

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC Attorney Roysdale Forde, SC

GTU President Mark Lyte

High Court Justice Sandil Kissoon

What’s with…

…US and Mad Maduro?

One of the problems with power is that sometimes you can get caught up with your own BS - and you can’t use it as you thought you could when you did everything in the world and then some to acquire it!! Take, for instance, Israel and the US. Everyone assumes that America is the last standing superpower – for now! – and is calling the shots in its relationship with Israel, since the latter’s the largest beneficiary of US aid year in, year out.

Some US$3.5 billion in normal years – and God knows how much when it’s at war – like now. But in that war – not its genocide in the Gaza Strip: that’s not war, but shooting fish in a tank at will - but in the wider one with Iran and its allies, your Eyewitness is wondering who’s the caller of shots and who’s the callee!!

After all, the US - in the form of its government headed by “Sleepy” Joe Biden – made it clear that it doesn’t want the conflict to escalate; since, with nuclear powers in the area, who knows where this might end?!! So, after Israel bombed the Iranian Embassy in Syria – breaking international law and forcing Iran to retaliate – the US was pleased that Iran’s response was measured and designed to play to its populace’s sentiments, rather than inflicting real damage on Israel. Sleepy Joe then publicly told Netanyahu to play it cool. But we don’t have to guess what happened, do we?? Israel just bombed Iran, and Sleepy Joe ended up with all sorts of egg on his face!!

The point is, Netanyahu figures that because of the US’ greater interest in the region – oil, oil and oil!! –of which Israel’s the US prime launching pad for any action to secure its interest, it has Sleepy Joe and any other US leader by the shorts!! It’s not just the tail wagging the dog, but the flea doing likewise!! And this brings us closer to home, where Mad Maduro - a known adversary of the US, and a close ally of Russia and Cuba to boot!! – figures he, too, has America by the shorts for the same reason as Israel – oil, oil and oil!! Venezuela just happens to have more of the Black Gold than even the Saudis!!

And so, while we’ve been getting all sorts of assurances that we’re besties with the States – the latest by the US Principal Deputy Security Adviser – and objectively the renewal of oil sanctions against Mad Maduro should help us, we gotta wonder why Mad Maduro’s so cocky. And the answer is oil, oil and even more oil, which America wants so badly it’s salivating!!

Your Eyewitness notes the Venezuelan gas field TT’s developing hasn’t been re-sanctioned!!

…the PNC hair-pulling??

The latest in the ongoing soap opera - into which the PNC has descended - is that Leader Norton’s hand-picked Chairman Holder just apologized to his predecessor, Aunty Amna Ally!! So, what’s going on?? Everyone figures Holder’s just a placeholder for Norton; his “creature”, so to speak! The young man was voted in only because he was on Norton’s ticket and the PNC folks desperately wanted Norton, whom they figured would be able to “manners” the PPP!!

Well, it’s clear that Norton realized he’d overplayed his hand when he allowed (asked??) Holder to announce, “Amna Ally has no moral authority to say who is unfit to lead the PNCR” - after she said Norton was not fit to play that role!! After all, if Norton says that about a person who’s been in the party longer than he has, what does that say about himself, when longevity’s his top qualification for the job!!

Expect that more blows will be thrown in the clinch. It’s survival time, baby!!

…the Stabroek roof collapse?

Your Eyewitness ain’t surprised by the Big Market roof’s collapse. Imagine the M&CC - responsible for the City’s infrastructure - allowed the iconic City Hall Building to almost collapse when they showed up for work there - daily!!

Deaths of Berbice siblings may not be dengue-related – Dr Anthony

...says samples sent to lab for diagnosis verification

As investigations continue into the deaths of the Berbice siblings who died a day apart, health officials have sent samples to the lab for a diagnosis verification.

This is according to Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, who explained to Guyana Times on Friday evening that contrary to an earlier preliminary assessment, the children may not have died from dengue-related complications.

“At the time when I spoke with the media, the working diagnosis was that they died from complications with dengue. But after completing the post-mortem, the doctors are now thinking that it might not be dengue, it might be something else. But that something else we’ll only know after we’ve completed some tests that we sent to the laboratory,” the Health Minister explained.

“We’ve sent samples to the lab for a verification of the diagnosis,” he added. The results are expected some time next week.

Arianna Mohabeer, 9, died on Monday while her brother, Ricardo Mohabeer, 11, died on Sunday. They resided at New Area Canefield, East Canje, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Rihanna Persaud, the children’s mother, had explained that her son had a fever for two days, and she

was treating him at home, however, he became unresponsive on Sunday, causing her to rush him to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

But her son was pronounced dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, even before her son was rushed to the hospital, her daughter was already a patient there, having been admitted on Saturday, also with a fever. The mother said the hospital was initially treating her daughter for dengue.

But the girl died on Monday.

sister grabble her and called the nurse and showed her what happening. The nurse tell her to give my daughter something sweet to drink. From since they give she the injection, the child start getting more heavy fever and falling more sick. Then at the last, they tell me that with the bacteria it cause a lung infection and so fluid in her lung and if it keep coming up, it could cause difficulty breathing which could be life-threatening,” the mother related.

In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Health said that it was while preparations were being made to transfer the little girl to the Georgetown Public Hospital, the child suffered cardiac arrest and died in the Intensive Care Unit.

The statement noted too that the boy was brought into the hospital on Sunday, with no sign of life. Nevertheless, the Ministry had committed to a full investigation into both incidents.

Third death

Berbice, it has nothing to do with dengue…,” he said.

Seek medical help

Meanwhile, the Health Minister has explained that authorities were working assiduously to combat the presence of mosquitoes in various regions.

breeding sites from happening, so we’ve been giving them that type of support,” he said.

Five cases were recorded in Region One (BarimaWaini); four cases in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); two cases in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); four cases in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); one case in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); two cases in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); three cases in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); 15 cases in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Essequibo); and six cases in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Meanwhile, for the year so far, two dengue-related deaths have been recorded.

In August last year, two children – aged 9 and 11 – died from dengue fever at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The 30-year-old mother, who has two other children aged 3 and 15, explained that her sister was often at the hospital.

Meanwhile, another child from Berbice, eight-year-old Naiomi Raghu of Number 62 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, died on Wednesday at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

The child’s father,

The sister, the mother explained, related that before the girl died, health workers had given her an injection.

“My sister say the nurse come and give her an injection and then she start to flutter and she fall and my

Chandeker Raghu told the media that his daughter was being treated for dengue. The child’s symptoms included diarrhoea, vomiting, and fever.

But Dr Anthony says this death may have nothing to do with dengue, adding that the matter is under investigation. “The other child in

Earlier this month, regional health authorities in Region Six had complained about a mosquito infestation in the region and had called on the central government for help.

Regional Chairman David Armogan had argued that there were only two fogging machines in the region and that was not enough to battle the mosquito infestation.

“I think we probably would need more fogging machines in light of the regularity at which these mosquitoes have been infesting the region,” the Regional Chairman had expressed.

The Health Ministry has since sent help Dr Anthony told this publication on Friday.

“We’ve had the Vector Control Unit send people up there to help them to increase fogging, also to distribute Abate. Abate is a chemical that is used in water so that you prevent

Moreover, in an interview with reporters earlier in the day, he had assured that there was no need for public panic and no need for parents to keep their children home from school. “There’s no need to do that, dengue is transmitted by mosquitoes, what we have to do is ensure we control the mosquitoes,” he told reporters.

He further explained that with dengue fever, “there’s no specific treatment. We treat symptomatically…” In this regard, he is pleading with persons who develop a fever to “don’t just wait at home”.

“With any child or any person, if you have a fever or any symptoms, please come to the health centre or the hospital so that we can make a diagnosis,” Dr Anthony said.

Dengue stats

Updated statistics on dengue fever in the country are not immediately known. However, this publication has been informed that for the week of April 7-12, several cases have been recorded nationwide.

During the same period, the Health Ministry had reported that there were some 2169 confirmed cases of dengue in the country, and over 200 patients were hospitalised. Moreover, as of August 2023, 11 dengue-related deaths were recorded for the year.

Dengue

According to a January 2024 World Health Organisation (WHO) report, “dengue has become a growing public health concern with approximately four billion people in 130 countries identified at risk of infection.

Since the beginning of 2023, the world has been facing an upsurge of dengue cases and deaths reported in endemic areas, with further spread to areas previously free of dengue. More than five million dengue cases and over 5000 dengue-associated deaths have been recorded across all six WHO regions.”

In March of this year, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) warned about the surge in dengue cases in the Americas. As of March 26, 2024, over 3.5 million cases and more than 1000 deaths have been reported in the region.

Arianna Mohabeer and her brother Ricardo Mohabeer

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

GPL

currently serves 227,000 consumers with peak demand of 186MW – CEO tells special meeting …says by end of July 230MW will become available on national grid

Pnation’s energy sector, on Thursday convened a special meeting with parliamentary committee members, Private

The main objective of the meeting was for the GPL’s executives to provide a comprehensive update on the company’s current capacity and its short- to long-term measures for reliable energy supply.

Acting GPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kesh Nandlall reported that the company’s customer base grew from around 140,000 in 2008 to over 227,000 currently, with total annual gross generation increasing from 600 million megawatt-hours to 1.2 billion megawatt-hours and the peak demand growing from 73.5 megawatts (MW) to 186.4.

To meet rising demand, according to Nandlall, GPL

is making efforts to increase its generation capacity to address the current peak demand of 180MW as of April 2024.

He pointed out that to sustain system stability, the

company has to maintain a spinning reserve of 14MW, which requires an availability of 194MW at the current peak demand.

He stated that currently, the Demerara Berbice Interconnected System has an available capacity of 177 megawatts, including 20 megawatts from the Columbia Plant, which has a total capacity of 28.9 megawatts.

Once fully operational, this plant will operate at 85 per cent capacity by the end of April. GPL's capacity will be further boosted with the 36MW net capacity power ship that will come online at Everton, Berbice, in May. These additions will bring approximately 218MW of firm generation capacity.

Additionally, it is expected that in May, a 6.9MW generation unit will be added, and in July 2024, a 5.5MW generation unit will come online at Kingston after maintenance, making an estimated total of 230.4MW available to GPL. Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar, in his remarks, highlighted the Government’s commitment and explained that the power ship that was recently leased will provide a total capacity of 36MW for two years.

He also noted that GPL will pay the leasing company UCI a fee of 6.62 US cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) as a monthly charter fee for the power ship and a monthly Operations and Maintenace (O&M) fee of 0.98 US cents per kWh, based on the electricity generated.

Indar reiterated that tariffs from the utility company would not increase, thereby protecting the Guyanese public from additional financial burdens.

Based on demand estimates, the Government plans to procure an additional 30-40 megawatts by the end of 2024. Additionally, the Gas-to-Energy Project will add another 300MW in two phases by the end of 2025.

Meanwhile, members of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) parliamentary Opposition were absent from the meeting, including the current Chairman of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Economic Services, Shurwayne Holder, who requested the meeting.

rime Minister, Brigadier (Retired)

Mark Phillips, who holds responsibility for the

Sector representatives and executives of the Guyana Power and Light Corporation (GPL).

Prime Minister Mark Phillips

Officials at the specially-convened meeting

Oil blocks award

Govt wants to streamline “onerous” non-fiscal terms before signing contracts – VP Jagdeo

The Guyana Government is expected to meet with the awardees from last year’s inaugural oil block auction to iron out the non-fiscal terms that would be included in the contracts.

At his weekly press conference on Thursday, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo disclosed that the negotiation with one of the oil block awardees has been completed and the contract is ready to be submitted to Cabinet.

A total of eight new oil

blocks – two in the deepsea area and six in shallow areas – were awarded to six groups in October last year.

However, Jagdeo noted that the Government wanted to see uniformity in the non-fiscal terms so that all the oil contracts have the same conditions.

“At Cabinet level, the last thing we want is to have the fiscal terms preserved in every contract, but then in every contract the other conditions of the contract for the same type of work are changing. So, what we want is a kind of

uniform [non-fiscal] clauses in all of the contracts, because if we go earlier with one and then we’re negotiating the technical agreements with the others, then we may end up with a different set of concerns raised, etc,” he explained.

Consequently, the Vice President revealed that Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat and his team were expected to meet with the oil block awardees to have discussions on the non-fiscal terms to come up with an agreed set of conditions.

“So, they’re gonna have a final meeting [next] week with all the parties involved to look at the technical comments and then make sure that whatever goes to Cabinet – some will go earlier to Cabinet – that it will be a contract that will be acceptable to all the parties.

“Remember, we made it clear that the fiscal terms are non-negotiable, but we’re still prepared to look at the non-fiscal terms, because they complain that it’s pretty onerous. We went from one extreme to

the other extreme in terms of not having any consequences for having a block

and not doing anything to this massive, could be two or three hundred million

US dollars fine…,” Jagdeo posited.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Forum

on

People of African Descent

Govt refutes discrimination, marginalisation claims

by IDPADA-G – tells Forum African organisations under IDPADA-G not benefiting from $500M Govt funding

The Government of Guyana has rejected allegations made by representatives of IDPADA-G at the 3rd Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent in Geneva, Switzerland.

On Tuesday, Attorneyat-Law Nigel Hughes, who represents the local International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly Guyana (IDPADA-G), told the Committee that AfroGuyanese in Guyana are facing discrimination and marginalization.

“Unfortunately, the United Nations’ calls have not been heeded by the Government of Guyana, which has resulted in the perpetuation of an identity

crisis, non-recognition, injustices, and underdevelopment of people of African descent. This adds to systemic discrimination. In Guyana, even the courtesy of a meeting with the Government to advocate for a plan of action for the decade, and the introduction of the history of people of African descent into the school curriculum in particular, has been denied,” Hughes told the forum.

Hughes further reported that the Government is seeking to decimate against IDPADA-G by defunding the organization without merit or justification.

However, speaking during the Closing Session on Friday, the leader of the Government of Guyana delegation, Oneidge Walrond, described the allegations

made at the Forum by the IDPADA-GY representatives as false and baseless.

“Our truth is that African Guyanese organizations under IDPADA-G’s umbrella complained to us that they were not receiving benefits from the $500 million the Government of Guyana provided to IDPADA-G. Our truth is that we found that the money the Government provided was substantially consumed by administrative overheads. We therefore opted to provide financing directly to the beneficiary organizations, who are in turn free to pay over to IDPADA-G if they think IDPADA-G worthy of their confidence,” Minister Walrond told the Forum.

Minister Oneidge Walrond speaking at the closing session on Friday

2 mining operations in Puruni red-flagged for unsafe conditions

Two operations in the Puruni mining district of Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) have been red-flagged by the Occupational Safety and Health Department of the Ministry of Labour during an awareness exercise conducted in the area on Wednesday.

Of the five operations that were visited at Million Mountain and Ms June mining areas, officers have issued notices to two, wherein dangers or defects were highlighted. These unsafe conditions include inadequate entry and exit points to and from the mining pit, excessive overburden on the pit crest, debris accumulation on the pit floor, and dangerously high pit faces.

The officers also provided practical guidance on handling emergencies and utilising the hierarchy of control for hazards, and have emphasised the importance of proper housekeeping, water

sources, and sanitation.

These visits were done in observance of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Month, and included mine inspections, OSH talks, emergency response training, and the distribution of treated mosquito nets to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever to workers in the mines.

Throughout the outreaches, officers enlightened personnel within the extractive industry about prevalent health and safety challenges in the field.

A total of 88 workers, including 5 females, were engaged during the initiative.

The Labour Ministry’s Occupational Safety and Health Department has, over the past weeks, investigated several industrial accidents, the latest of which occurred at Pritipaul Singh Investments at Providence, East Bank Demerara in

March, and led to the death of Ravichandra Seemangal, a mechanic.

Seemangal was riding his bicycle when a vehicle collided with him. He sustained injuries to his abdomen, feet, and hands, and succumbed a few days later.

Earlier that month, a fatal accident occurred as a result of land caving in at Cowing Backdam, Upper Mazaruni River, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni). This led to the death of 60-year-old Bertram Willie, a dredge owner of Wisroc Housing Scheme, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Shortly after, a catastrophic boiler explosion gravely injured three young men at Hack Rice Mill at Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

In 2023, the Labour Ministry recorded a total of 20 occupational deaths due to accidents in the mining,

construction, agriculture and manufacturing sectors. Of the 20 deaths recorded, nine occurred in the mining sector in Region Seven, while six were recorded in the construction sector.

Additionally, the Ministry recorded 175 non-fatal accidents that were investigated out of the 577 reports received. Most of those reports emanated from the agriculture and manufacturing sec-

tors.

In light of these incidents, the Ministry remains concerned over the continued occurrence of workplace accidents, especially when workers are fatally injured.

Govt refutes discrimination...

She said it is expected that the United Nations and its institutions, as objective and impartial observers, would draw their conclusions.

“It is self-evident that institutions of the UN can only be successful if they enjoy the confidence of all legitimate stakeholders, including member states and representatives of civil society. It is thus imperative that those entrusted with mandates from the Secretary-General take care, lest by their words and actions they impair the confidence that we must all be able to place in the institutions of the United Nations,” the minister said.

The minister reiterated the Government of Guyana's unwavering commitment and support to the Forum and its work towards realizing full respect for the human rights of people of African descent everywhere.

During his presentation, Commissioner Neaz Subhan of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) told the gathering that IDPADA-G has never filed a complaint of discrimination with the commission.

While acknowledging the ongoing challenges faced

by people of African descent worldwide in the recognition and practise of their culture, Subhan has said he remains encouraged by the continuous support provided by the Government of Guyana to various organizations and communities of people of African descent.

He highlighted that over $1.8 billion has been distributed in the last three years to promote and preserve culture, and develop sports infrastructure, with the International Decade of People of African Descent Assembly–Guyana (IDPADA-G) receiving the largest allocation: $360 million. In 2023, the Government launched the Association of People of African Descent (APAD) to foster unity among Afro-Guyanese communities, drive positive social change, and empower all members to actively participate in shaping Guyana’s future. The association’s mission is to bring together Afro-Guyanese organisations, create a cooperative community, and eventually develop into a full-fledged representative body which would work alongside the Government to achieve its mandate.

Moreover, last year, the

Guyana Government handed over some $63 million in funds to 35 African cultural groups in Guyana for projects in a wide variety of sectors, as well as for initiatives that seek to empower women. Each group got just over $1.8 million.

The groups that received funding had previously submitted proposals for projects in several areas, including in agriculture and purchasing of agricultural equipment; business; cultural training in drumming, teaching craft, cooking traditional foods, and garment construction, among other areas. Some groups had also committed to work in literacy, women’s empowerment, and education in African and Afro-Guyanese history.

Distribution of the grants had occurred on the heels of the Guyana Government halting funding to the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly–Guyana (IDPADA-G), having cited the mismanaging of funds.

Instead, the Government has decided to distribute the money directly to the African cultural groups to achieve the objectives of the decade.

Officers inspecting a mining operation during the exercise Officers engaging miners

Over 400 Reg 3 families to benefit from move-in-ready housing units

As the Government moves ahead with major allocation exercises for Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), some 444 low-moderate- and high-income housing units are to be constructed to ease the backlog of more than 11,000 housing units in that region.

On Thursday, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal and Permanent

Secretary Bishram Kuppen conducted a site visit to several areas where some of the units are located and where construction will commence.

Those areas include Anna Catherina, where 63 two-bedroom units are to be completed; Leonora, where 172 are to be completed; Groenveldt, where 159 are to be completed; Edinburgh, where 25 are to be completed; and MetenMeer-Zorg, where 25 are to

be completed.

Out of this lot, two private developers would each be constructing 25 three- and two-bedroom housing units, while the first 50 Young Professional units in the region would be constructed at Groenveldt.

According to Croal, the units -- some of which have already been allocated, while some are yet to be constructed – would aid in meeting

the housing demand in the region.

He told reporters that the units also represent the agency’s commitment to providing equal housing oppor-

tunities for citizens in every region. The Minister also referenced the spinoff benefit

of the booming construction sector in the region, noting that all the contractors who have been awarded are from within the region.

Permanent Secretary Bisham Kuppen has said he is satisfied with the progress ongoing at projects visited, and that the agency remains committed to delivering on the Government’s mandate to provide affordable housing for all.

Citing the Government’s housing programme as one of the best in the Caribbean, Kuppen noted that the agency also continues to do all in its power to subsidise the cost of housing options available.

He noted that while the agency is subsidising the cost of the housing options, this by no means takes away from the quality of the final product.

Govt wants to streamline...

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration last year introduced a series of stringent terms and conditions for new oil deals that the country will sign. These include the increase of the royalty from a mere two per cent to now a 10 per cent fixed rate; the imposition of a 10 per cent corporate tax, and the lowering of the cost recovery ceiling to 65 per cent from the previous 75 per cent, while maintaining the retention of the 50-50 profit sharing after cost recovery. The 2016 oil contract for the Stabroek Block signed between the ExxonMobil-led co-venturers and the then A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Coalition Government for production in the oil-rich Stabroek Block had been heavily criticised for low royalty, lack of ring-fencing provisions, and cost oil claims that see Guyana losing billions, among other issues.

Back in February, VP Jagdeo noted that the Government was willing to consider reviewing the non-fiscal terms in the new PSA. Based on feedback received, it was said that Guyana’s new PSA is one of the toughest oil contracts in the market.

According to the Vice President at a press conference earlier this year, “We

got a lot of feedback that the increased fiscal terms might be acceptable, but there were some, several other areas where the conditions were too tough. We had too tough a condition globally… If they become too onerous that is where we may have to make adjustments… [But] we made it clear there will be no changes on the fiscal terms. We’re not changing the fiscal at all.”

Currently, the Guyana Government is negotiating with the six groups that were awarded blocks in the country’s inaugural oil blocks auction held over 2022-2023.

The bidding round, which was launched in December 2022, closed off in September 2023 with six companies bidding on eight of the 14 blocks offshore that were up for grabs. In total, there were 14 offers made on those blocks – two deep-sea blocks and six shallow-area blocks.

Among those awarded oil blocks during the bid round was a Guyanese female-led company, Sispro Inc, which received a shallow block (S3) and a deep-water block (D2). Other shallow blocks were awarded to Total Energies EP Guyana BV in consortium with Qatar Energy International E&P, LLC and Petronas E&P Overseas Ventures SDN BHD (Malaysia), which got Block S4; Liberty Petroleum

Corporation of the US and Ghana-based Cybele Energy Limited, which got Block S7, and International Group Investment Inc of Nigeria, which got two blocks – S5 and S10.

Another shallow block, S8, was awarded to the Stabroek Block partners – ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Hess New Ventures Exploration Limited, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited. The second deep-water block – D1 – was awarded to Delcorp Inc Guyana, which comprises Watad Energy and Communications Limited and Arabian Drilling Company of Saudi Arabia.

The review of the non-fiscal terms would be a key factor as the Guyana Government prepares for its second auction, possibly at the end of this year.

The Government is awaiting Exxon’s relinquishment of 20 per cent of the oil-rich Stabroek Block in October this year to determine the schedule of the next bidding round.

Jagdeo had noted previously that the Stabroek Block relinquishment would generate excitement for the next auction and the Government would not want to kill interest if potential investors find the current terms and conditions in the new PSA onerous.

Some models of the move-in-ready housing units

Construction of the Young Professional houses

One of the housing developments in Region Three

Commonwealth Ocean Ministers Meeting Guyana calls for decisive actions to protect vulnerable ecosystems

Public Works Minister

Juan Edghill called for concrete steps to be taken to protect vulnerable ecosystems and promote the management of fisheries, reduction of pollution, and the cleaning up of plastic waste.

He made this plea at the inaugural Commonwealth Ocean Ministers Meeting that was held in Paphos, Cyprus from April 18-19, 2024.

The summit sought to establish the principles, priorities and actions for a Commonwealth Ocean Declaration, as outlined in the Communiqué of the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Under the theme “Our Resilient Common Ocean: from Cyprus to Samoa”, Commonwealth Ocean Ministers gathered to establish a roadmap and time frame to pave the way for the adoption of the Commonwealth Ocean Declaration during the forthcoming CHOGM in Samoa in October 2024.

During his presentation, Edghill reiterated that the health of the oceans and seas was inextricably linked to the health of the planet and all living things thereon.

As such, he noted that the importance of the conservation and protection of the global common space cannot be overemphasised,

adding that in the interest of the survival of all the peoples of the world, and the development of each country, decisive action must be taken.

“In Guyana, we recognise the potential of harnessing our ocean resources to contribute even more to both climate change action and national development. Therefore, as a nation, we are embracing the further development of our marine resources along a blue economy pathway which embodies all the principles outlined in our economic development model: low carbon, resource efficiency and social inclusion,” Edghill pointed out.

He added that the ocean is viewed as being just as important as the forests. “They are both carbon sinks, both significant to the sustainable development of our national economy and reflected in our Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030,” he added.

He further told the conference that the Government of Guyana remained committed to responsibly managing all the economic sectors of the country for the benefit of all Guyanese, to ensure that the people achieve their legitimate development aspirations.

The LCDS 2030, therefore, aims to enhance governance readiness to ensure the development of the ocean economy and the relevant regimes concerning compliance and enforcement to support the principles of sustainable management.

Supporting and developing the tools for sustainable management of the ocean economy, he noted, will entail enhancing knowledge and bridging the science-policy interface through research; strengthening collaboration efforts among the Government, Private Sector, and relevant institutions for data sharing to generate research and expanding our knowledge of the dynamics of the ocean; leveraging investment via a plan to support the growth of various sectors relevant to the ocean; supporting capacity development to ensure inclusiveness in the ocean economy through all stages; establishing and integrating Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) to support the growth of all sectors, simultaneously addressing any possible resource use conflicts, and developing a national system, as well as seeking

to partner with existing regional systems to undertake real-time ocean monitoring and surveillance to prevent and mitigate pollution-related issues and to operationalise ocean forecasting.

In addition, the Minister alluded that Guyana’s Maritime Economy Plan was launched in January 2023 under the Commonwealth Marine Economies Programme, embracing the further development of its marine resources along a blue economy pathway.

“We are currently working towards the development of a National Ocean Policy, Integrated Marine Management for LandBased Pollution, a Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) and promoting the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).”

The landmark Agreement under the United Nations Convention

on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction represents a significant and timely enhancement of the global ocean governance framework.

“Having participated in the negotiations leading up to the finalisation of the Agreement within the Caricom grouping, a decision on its signature and subsequent ratification, is now under active consideration by the Government of Guyana,” Edghill added.

Meanwhile, he reiterated that the Government of Guyana was fully committed to working with the international community to strengthen ocean stewardship and promote policies for managing the ocean space sustainably and responsibly, to serve the greater good of humanity.

Participants at the Commonwealth Ocean Ministers Meeting

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill in Cyprus

Racism does not align with principles of party – PNC Chairman

Chairman of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Shurwayne Holder, has dispelled claims that the party is sidelining and attempting to stifle the voices of members who criticise party leader Aubrey Norton ahead of the Party’s Congress.

According to Holder, such allegations, and those of discrimination, are tactics being used by those who oppose Norton to garner supporters for the upcoming congress.

Last week, the war of words amplified between PNC stalwart Amna Ally and Holder, with Ally calling out Holder for his attacks on her and her right to criticise party leader Aubrey Norton.

Referring to Holder’s allegations against her as garbage, former PNC General Secretary Ally called Norton an unfit leader, and noted that she is merely saying what many in the party are too afraid to say.

Ally also made it clear that she cannot be silenced

and sit quietly while Norton “weakens and destroys” the PNC/R party.

Further, former Georgetown Mayor and PNC member Ubraj Narine posited that for the party to truly represent the aspirations of its constituents, it must provide a space wherein individuals from all backgrounds feel valued and included.

He had said that rather than stifling voices of dissent, the PNC must embrace its diverse membership base while taking into consideration Guyana’s multi-ethnic composition. He went on to call on the PNC congress to address the concerns raised by loyal members who feel marginalized due to their Indian heritage, or those who desire to challenge the party’s leadership.

Both Ally and Narine have publicly signalled their support for current PNC/R Member of Parliament Roysdale Forde, a Senior Counsel who has already declared his intention to challenge Norton for leadership

of the party.

During a press conference on Thursday, Holder responded to the comments, and highlighted that the PNC prides itself in being a diverse political group that works in the interest of the public.

“When I said what I said, it was nothing of race; nothing in my statement could insinuate race. Shurwayne Holder: his mother is Indian, his grandmother is Indian, and his wife is Amerindian. I have spoken with Comrade Ally and I have told her that we can have our disagreement, but she, too, knows me personally and can never associate race with me,” Holder shared.

Holder added that racial discrimination also does not align with the principles of the party, and this is since its conception.

“That doesn’t align with our ideology; it does not align with the principles (and) it does align with the practice

of the party over the years… We are welcoming IndoGuyanese into this party, and we want to see a party with Indigenous Guyanese,” The PNC Chairman added.

It was previously announced that the PNCR Congress would be held before its August 31, 2024 deadline. Holder said preparations are ongoing, and a committee is being established to finalize the PNC members’ list ahead of Congress. According to the Chairman, the committee is part of the party’s efforts to ensure elections are executed smoothly.

Holder believes there will be at least 1,000 delegates at that congress. He claimed that persons who walked away from the party are now returning.

Additionally, the committee will also ensure transparency and accountability, since two current Executives of the party, namely Roysdale Forde and Ganesh Mahipal, have both publicly expressed interest in contesting for the post of leader.

According to Holder, while he is supporting Norton in the upcoming congress, it doesn’t matter who the new

leader is, given that the party has one common goal, which is to be returned to Government.

“I believe that we are in a strong position at this point. Over the last two years, the leadership team has worked hard on the ground, tirelessly. We have shifted the powers that we think were a little away from us now to a position where they are speaking with us regularly, understanding our vision, understanding our policy and the direction that we want to carry this country into,” Holder said.

25 Guyanese being trained at Port Mourant facility to work on FPSOs

The first batch of 25 young Guyanese have commenced training at the FacTor Port Mourant facility in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), to prepare them for job opportunities in Guyana’s burgeoning oil and gas industry.

As a major step in Guyana’s local content push, these persons are specifically being trained to work on the floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels that are currently being used to produce oil offshore Guyana.

The Guyana Technical Training College Incorporated (GTTCI) and its Facility Simulator (FacTor) at Port Mourant, Berbice are the realisation of President Dr Irfaan Ali’s commitment to developing Guyanese skills for the expanding oil and gas sector.

ly operational, live process plant that replicates the functions of an actual plant. It includes a Central Control Room (CCR), a marshalling cabinet, and a Motor Control Centre (MCC) cabinet, all powered by the latest DCS control system. The simulator is designed for training, coaching, and assessment activities, allowing trainees to gain experience in operations, troubleshooting, and maintenance tasks such as loop testing, stroke checks,

Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud, who’s a former Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, recently visited the training facility, and was updated by Professor Clem Sankatt and FacTor Training Centre Manager Shaagul Hameeth on the activities and plans for the facility. FacTor (Facility Simulator) is a secure, ful-

and calibration. Trainees also follow a permit-to-work system and adhere to the same procedures and work orders as in real-world installations, as part of a Safe System of Work.

Chairman of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Shurwayne Holder PNC stalwart Amna Ally Former Georgetown Mayor and PNC member Ubraj Narine

The Facility Simulator (FacTor) at the Guyana Technical Training College Incorporated in Port Mourant, Berbice

Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud (centre) during his recent visit to the Port Mourant training facility

Mason gets bail on unlawful possession charge

Forty-two-year-old Andray McPherson, a mason of Courbin Park, Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was granted $25,000 bail on an unlawful possession charge.

McPherson appeared before Magistrate Orinthia Schmidt at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court on Friday where he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Police stated that on April 12, 2024, a raid was conducted in Triumph, ECD, during which several items that appeared to be unlawfully obtained, including mobile phones, were found in the defendant’s possession.

At the time, he could give no reasonable account for the items and as such, he was arrested, charged, and placed before the court.

He will return to court on April 20, 2024. Charged, Andray McPherson

Fisherman sentenced to community service for narco possession

A48-year-old fisherman was on Friday sentenced to seven days of community service after he pleaded not guilty to a charge of possession of narcotics.

Gildarie Persaud of Mon Repos, North Squatting Area, East Coast Demerara (ECD) appeared before Magistrate Abigail Gibbs at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to him.

Police stated that he was arrested during a raid on Thursday. Meanwhile, Avinash Kuttai, 37, a construction worker of School

Sentenced: Gildarie Persaud Sentenced, Avinash Kuttai

Road, Mon Repos, ECD, was also sentenced to seven days of community service after he pleaded not guilty to a

charge of possession of narcotics.

He, too, appeared before Magistrate Gibbs.

25 Guyanese being trained at...

This serves as the final preparation by the Port Mourant-based GTTCI and its FACTOR oil and gas training facility in collaboration with Exxon and SBM to ready students for work on FPSOs offshore.

This initiative, Persaud said, will not only boost the government’s drive to ensure more Guyanese take up jobs in the oil and gas sector but will also attract the second-generation diaspora to utilize the expanding opportunities in the country.

The $2.6 billion training facility was commissioned in February by President Ali and other officials.

While GTTC will be used primarily for training in the oil and gas sector, the Head of State had noted that the aim is to broaden its capacity to provide training in other sectors as well.

“This is about the transformation of our country and the building of world-class facilities that would not only

train and equip our human resources with the skillset but give them world-class certification.”

“When these young men and women leave this facility, they can be hired anywhere in the world, but we want you to stay here, that is why we are building a system that will allow you to stay here,” the President had told this first batch of 25 students who have already undergone one year of training in Canada.

Some of the students in this first cohort of trainees were recruited from the GuySuCo Training College at Port Mourant.

ExxonMobil Guyana has partnered with the Guyana Government to have the Facility Simulator (FacTor) – one of less than 10 such facilities around the world – established here to provide “the latest and best technology and processing techniques” to the country and its people.

FacTor can accom-

FROM PAGE 16

modate up to 24 trainees for each batch, with four trainers across four disciplines – Mechanical, Instrumentation, Electrical, and Production. The facility is designed to recognise industrial standards used in the oil, gas, and energy industries worldwide.

It is expected to have a positive impact on the local oil and gas sector by providing trained technicians who will have the relevant competencies and skills to execute their roles offshore.

The FacTor was designed and engineered in Singapore; previously it served major oil and gas companies in South East Asia before being shipped to Guyana in 2022. The equipment is expected to allow Guyanese students to undergo training using hands-on experimental technology as well as the mechanical and electrical instruments and process operations of the FPSOs operating offshore Guyana.

Housewife charged with cocaine possession

Thirty-six-year-old Chandrawattie Ghianchan of Pump Road, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), who was arrested with 4.6 grams of cocaine during a Police operation on Thursday, was charged and granted bail on Friday.

Ghianchan appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court on Friday before Magistrate Abigail Gibbs, who read the possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking charge to her and she pleaded not guilty.

As such, she was granted $35,000 bail and her next court appearance is set for May 18, 2024.

Charged: Chandrawattie Ghianchan

Brazilian dies after mining pit collapses at Marudi Mountain

One person died after a mining pit collapsed on Thursday evening at Marudi Mountain, Deep South Rupununi in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

The dead man has been identified as 55-year-old Peter Smith, also known as Pedro Da Silva, a native of Boa Vista, Brazil, who resided in Aishalton Village.

Based on reports received, numerous persons would visit mining sites in that area both during the day and at night.

“They would then use hammers and chisels to break off small pieces of rock, which they would then carry away in ‘salt bags’ and crush to extract pieces of raw gold. It is claimed that these men were constantly being chased out of the mining site, but they persisted in going there and even allegedly made threats to shoot workers with arrows

The body stuck between the rocks

and bows,” the Police stated.

An excavator operator who was working at one of those sites claimed to have seen three persons walking in the direction where some rocks had fallen with torchlights on their heads.

He said he heard a ‘crackling’ sound and saw two persons running away. He then went to the location to check and observed the victim’s

body wedged between two big rocks.

As such, the Police were summoned to the area. The body was removed and taken to the Lethem Regional Hospital Mortuary to await a post-mortem.

Marks were seen on the head, neck, chest, back, and abdomen of the body. Investigations are continuing.

Dead: Peter Smith

Regional

Haiti's death toll rises as international support lags, UN report says

More than 2500 persons were killed or injured in gang violence in Haiti from January through March, up 53 per cent from the last three months of 2023, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) said on Friday.

At least 590 were killed during Police operations, BINUH said in a report. Several were apparently not involved in gang violence, some had impaired mobility, and at least 141 were killed by vigilante justice groups.

Most of the violence took place in the capital of Portau-Prince, while at least 438 persons were kidnapped across the wider West Department and agricultural Artibonite region. The capital's port-side La Saline and Cite Soleil areas had the longest large-scale attacks.

Gang members continued to perpetrate rapes against women and girls in rival neighbourhoods, as well as in prisons and displacement camps, the report found.

Hundreds of thousands have been internally displaced by gangs, the UN estimates. Despite criticism by the world body, countries such as the United States and neighbouring Dominican Republic are still deporting migrants back into Haiti.

IMF says Latam, Caribbean economies resilient, but more growth needed

Stronger macroeconomic policy is partly behind the resilience of economies across Latin America and the Caribbean, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Friday in its regional review of the Western Hemisphere.

The Fund, however, warned that growth rates remained lacklustre and investment levels remained historically low.

And even as unemployment across the region is also at historically-low levels, "with most economies operating near potential... activity in the region has been generally

moderating in recent quarters", the IMF's director for the Western Hemisphere, Rodrigo Valdes said in prepared remarks.

"We see risks around this baseline projection as broadly balanced, reflecting also more balanced global risks," Valdes said.

The global lender sees inflation continuing to recede across the region, partly due to swift past action from central banks. In that view, the Fund considers monetary policy easing should continue, though.

"It will be important to carefully calibrate the pace of easing to strike a balance

between durably bringing inflation back to target, in the final stretch, and avoiding an undue economic contraction," said Valdes.

Earlier this week, the IMF slightly lifted its 2024 view on economic output growth for Latam and the Caribbean to 2.0 per cent from its 1.9 per cent January forecast, in both cases calling for a deceleration compared with last year's 2.3 per cent growth rate.

The overall slowdown in growth is due in part to smaller rates of growth in the region's largest economies, Mexico and Brazil.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

The US Department of Homeland Security told Reuters on Thursday that irregular migration of Haitians through the Caribbean "remains low", though many neighbours have evacuated citizens and bolstered their borders.

At least 22 Police buildings have been looted or set on fire and 19 Police Officers killed or injured, it said, while blocked supply routes are exacerbating a healthcare and hunger crisis.

Gang violence, which has worsened for years, escalated on February 29 when unelected Prime Minister Ariel Henry travelled to Kenya to fast-track a planned international security support mission, but days later he resigned under US pressure. With a new government yet to be installed, BINUH said, gangs have "changed their tactics" targeting attacks against public institutions and strategic infrastructure, such as the main port and largest airport.

The report repeated calls for faster deployment of the planned security mission, which Henry requested in 2022 and was approved over six months ago, but which has received limited pledges for both troops and funds and been put on hold pending a new Government.

It also called for updated sanctions, stronger efforts to block arms trafficking, secure routes to deliver key goods, and rehabilitation programmes for children recruited into gangs. (Reuters)

T&T PM: NGC, Shell actively working on Dragon gas field

Trinidad and Tobago

Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley says the necessary work to access natural gas from Venezuela's Dragon gas field is being actively pursued at this time.

He made this statement in the House of Representatives on Friday, in response to a question from Pointe-a-Pierre Member of Parliament (MP) David Lee.

Dr Rowley said the Government received a 30year exploration and production licence from the Venezuelan Government on December 21, 2023 for the Dragon gas field, and the work to develop the field is continuing.

"The National Gas Company (NGC) and Shell have been looking at the elements necessary to get the project done."

Dr Rowley told MPs the gestation periods for projects of this nature were lengthy and involved dif-

ferent components. These include getting vessels to survey the reserves in the Dragon field and doing the designs for any pipeline infrastructure needed to extract the natural gas that is there.

Dr Rowley said these were necessary precursors for the successful undertaking of the relevant physical activity to come.

On Thursday, United National Congress (UNC) activist Ravi BalgobinMaharaj claimed a statement made on the same day by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which falls under the US Treasury, meant the Dragon deal was in jeopardy

In a statement, Balgobin-Maharaj said, "As was expected, the US is making good on their promise to not extend the life of OFAC General Licence 44 when it expires on April 18, 2024. As such, it was just announced by OFAC that

all entities operating under General Licence 44 will be given until May 31, 2024, to wind down all oil and gas operations in Venezuela."

But in a subsequent statement, the Energy Ministry said BalgobinMaharaj's assessment of the development was wrong.

"This amendment to the OFAC General Licence 44 does not affect the specific amended OFAC licence that was issued to the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on October 17, 2023, which authorised the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd (NGC), Shell PLC and their affiliates to conduct business with the Government of Venezuela and Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) with respect to the Dragon Gas Field in Venezuela."

(Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Ecuador set to vote to approve raft of security measures in Sunday referendum

Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa looks set to win a referendum on Sunday that asks voters to support new security measures to fight rising violence, although recent power cuts could pose a threat to the 'yes' vote.

Cocaine-smuggling gangs have expanded into every corner of Latin America over the last decade, turning once-tranquil nations like Ecuador into cartel badlands, security officials and diplomats say.

In January, the violence made global headlines when gunmen stormed a live television broadcast and scores of prison staff were taken hostage.

The mostly security-related questions in Sunday's referendum include asking voters to approve allowing the military to patrol with Police, extraditing accused criminals, and increasing prison sentences for crimes such as terrorism and murder, among other measures.

Five of the mea-

sures would modify the Constitution if approved.

Recent polls from companies like Cedatos and Comunicaliza suggest voters are more likely than not to support Noboa, 36, in this weekend's vote.

However, daily eighthour power cuts ordered by Noboa on Wednesday amid energy shortages nationwide are harming the President's image, according to polling company Click Research, and could

affect how people vote.

"The popular consultation is once again going to be a referendum of approval of the President," said Click Research director Francis Romero.

The government declared an energy emergency due to historically low levels of reservoirs amid an aggressive El Ni o climate phenomenon. Most of Ecuador's energy is from hydro-power.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

PNP ready to go all the way to Privy Council in DPP matter

People s National Party (PNP)

President Mark Golding says the Party is prepared to go to Jamaica s highest appeal court to defend the ruling against the extension of the tenure of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Paula Llewellyn.

He was speaking at a press conference at the PNP headquarters in Kingston on Friday, following the

Constitutional Court s ruling that the second extension of Llewellyn s tenure in office is unconstitutional and the Government s subsequent declaration that it will appeal the judgment.

Noting that it is a matter of principle, Golding said, The court has ruled in a way which we think is correct and that upholds the issue and the concern and the cause that let us bring these proceedings in

the first place, and to the extent of its appeal, we will be vigorously defending that at the appellant courts whether it be the Court of Appeal in Jamaica or the highest court.

Government last year hastily amended the Constitution to increase the age at which the DPP should proceed on retirement from 60 to 65. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

People walk past remains of vehicles near the presidential palace, after they were set on fire by gangs, as violence spreads and armed gangs expand their control over the capital, in Port-auPrince, Haiti, March 25, 2024 (Reuters/Ralph Tedy Erol photo)

Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa attends a youth employment event, in El Quinche, Ecuador, April 8, 2024 (Reuters/Karen Toro photo)

Around the World OIL NEWS

Oil settles slightly higher as Iran plays down reported Israeli attack

Oil settled slightly higher on Friday, but posted a weekly decline, after Iran played down a reported Israeli attack on its soil, a sign that an escalation of hostilities in the Middle East might be avoided.

Brent futures settled up 18 cents, or 0.21 per cent, at US$87.29 a barrel.

The front month West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude contract for May ended 41 cents higher, or 0.5 per cent, at US$83.14 a barrel. The more active June contract closed 12 cents higher at US$82.22 a barrel.

Both benchmarks spiked more than US$3 a barrel earlier in the session after explosions were heard in the Iranian city of Isfahan in what sources described as an Israeli attack. However, the gains were capped after Tehran played down the incident and said it did not plan to retaliate.

"It was nothing but a big show, and so the markets deflated as quickly as they spiked," said Tim Snyder, economist at Matador Economics.

Investors had been closely monitoring Israel's response to Iranian drone and missile attacks on April 13 that was in turn a response to a presumed Israeli air strike on April 1 that destroyed a building in Iran's Embassy compound in Damascus.

Meanwhile, US lawmakers have added sanctions on Iran's oil exports to a pending Ukraine aid package after Tehran's strike on Israel last weekend.

Iran is the third largest oil producer in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), according to Reuters data.

The International Monetary Fund expects OPEC+ to begin increasing oil output from July, media reported on Friday.

OPEC+ members, led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, last month agreed to extend voluntary output cuts of 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd) until the end of June. That has helped keep oil prices elevated.

As oil's risk premium has gradually unwound, prices have fallen around three per cent since Monday. Both benchmarks posted their biggest weekly loss since February.

Investors, however, are not ruling out the possibility that Middle Eastern tensions will disrupt supply.

Analysts from Goldman Sachs and Commerzbank raised their Brent crude forecasts on Friday, taking into account geopolitical tensions as well as the prospect of rising demand and restrained supply by OPEC and allies (OPEC+).

"Oil demand is growing at a healthy pace, and supply should be constrained due to the extensions of the voluntary production cuts of OPEC+," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

US energy firms this week added oil and natural gas rigs for the first time in five weeks, energy services firm Baker Hughes said in its closely-followed report on Friday.

The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, rose by 2 to 619 in the week to April 19.

Money managers cut their net long US crude futures and options positions in the week to April 16, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said on Friday. (Reuters)

Israel's Iran attack carefully calibrated after internal splits, US pressure

Israel's apparent strike on Iran after days of vacillation was small and appeared calibrated to dial back risks of a major war, even if the sheer fact it happened at all shattered a taboo of direct attacks that Tehran broke days earlier.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war Cabinet had initially approved plans for a strike on Monday night inside Iranian territory to respond forcefully to last Saturday's missile and drone strike from Iran, but held back at the last minute, three sources with knowledge of the situation said.

By then, the sources said, the three voting members of the war Cabinet had already ruled out the most drastic response – a strike on strategic sites including Iran's nuclear facilities whose destruction would almost certainly provoke a wider regional conflict.

Facing Cabinet divisions and strong warnings from partners including the United States and in the Gulf not to escalate, and aware of the need to keep international opinion on Israel's side, the plans to hit back were then postponed twice, the sources said. Two war Cabinet meetings were also delayed twice, Government officials said.

Netanyahu's office did

not respond to requests for comment for this story. Before the attack, a spokesperson for the Government's National Public Diplomacy Directorate cited Netanyahu as saying Israel would defend itself in whatever way it judged appropriate.

Reuters spoke to over a dozen sources in Israel, Iran and in the Gulf region, as well as the United States, who described six frantic days of efforts in the Gulf, the US and among some of Israel's war planners to limit the response to Iran's first-ever direct attack on its arch rival after decades of shadow war.

"We warned against the grave danger inherent in further escalation," Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told Reuters, say-

Ukraine shot down a Russian strategic bomber 300 kilometres (185 miles) from its border on Friday after the warplane took part in an airstrike that killed at least eight persons, including two children, in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, Kyiv said.

Missiles rained down on the city of Dnipro and the surrounding region in the early hours, damaging residential buildings, the main train station and wounding at least 28 civilians, regional officials said.

Russia has stepped up its long-range aerial assaults on Ukraine's energy system and

other targets in recent weeks, ratcheting up the pressure on Kyiv far behind the front lines where Russian forces have been slowly advancing in the east.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for urgent supplies of air defences from Kyiv's allies as Ukraine's stocks dwindle due to a slowdown in vital Western military aid.

"Russia must be held accountable for its terror, and every missile, every Shahed (drone) must be shot down," he said. "The world can guarantee this, and our partners have the necessary capabilities."(Excerpt from Reuters)

ing a wider regional conflict would have catastrophic consequences and risked diverting global attention from Israel's ongoing war in Gaza.

Safadi said his country, which borders Israel, had "made it clear to all it will not be a battleground for Israel and Iran. This firm position was unequivocally delivered to all."

Most of the sources asked not to be named to speak about sensitive matters.

The eventual strike on Friday appeared to target an Iranian Air Force base near the city of Isfahan, deep inside the country and close enough to nuclear facilities to send a message of Israel's reach, but without using airplanes, ballistic missiles, striking any strategic sites

or causing major damage.

Iran said its defence systems shot down three drones over a base near Isfahan early on Friday. Israel said nothing about the incident. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States had not been involved in any offensive operations,

An Iranian official told Reuters there were signs the drones were launched from within Iran by "infiltrators", which could obviate the need for retaliation.

A source familiar with Western intelligence assessments of the incident also said initial evidence suggested Israel launched drones from inside Iranian territory. Iran's Foreign Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

"Israel tried to calibrate between the need to respond and a desire not to enter into a cycle of action and counter reaction that would just escalate endlessly," said Itamar Rabinovich, a former Israeli Ambassador to Washington.

"There is huge relief across the Gulf region. It looks like the attack was limited and proportionate and caused limited damage. I see it as a de-escalation," veteran Saudi analyst Abdelrahman al-Rashed told Reuters.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Ukraine downs Russian strategic bomber after airstrike kills 8, Kyiv says Indians vote in huge election

The first of India's almost one billion voters cast ballots on Friday in the country's multi-day election, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks a rare third term on the back of issues such as growth and welfare.

The vote pits Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against an alliance of two dozen opposition parties that promise greater affirmative action and

more handouts while stressing what they call the need to save democratic institutions.

Nearly 970 million people are eligible to vote in the seven-phase exercise, the world's largest election, which runs through the peak of summer until June 1, with results set for June 4.

Election Commission figures after polls closed on Friday's first day of voting estimated voter turn-

out at 60 per cent, with the small northeastern state of Tripura top of the list at 80 per cent and the northwestern state of Rajasthan at the bottom with 51 per cent.

"Polling for the first phase...recorded high voter turnout despite the heat wave," the panel said. "The voting percentage is likely to go upwards when reports from all polling stations are obtained."

Friday's vote covered 166

million voters in 102 constituencies across 21 states and territories, from Tamil Nadu in the south to Arunachal Pradesh on the Himalayan frontier with China.

Opinion polls have suggested the BJP will easily win a majority, even though voters worry about unemployment, inflation and rural distress in the world's most populous country and fastest growing major economy.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Iranians attend an anti-Israel rally in Tehran, Iran, April 19, 2024 (Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)

Firefighters work at the site of an apartment building hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipro, Ukraine, April 19, 2024 (Reuters/Mykola Synelnykov photo)

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Pitch in and help. Apply your skills, experience and knowledge to something meaningful, and your contribution will speak volumes about who you are and what you can do. Rise above conflict.

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Spectators in the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow were served the perfect buffet on Friday night: spectacular fireworks from MS Dhoni that powered Chennai Super Kings to a competitive 176 for 6; and then home team Lucknow Super Giants chasing it down with a classy 82 off 53 from captain KL Rahul.

LSG's chase was set up by a dominant century opening stand - the first

against the short balls, drove confidently down the ground, played the pick-up shots like he usually does, and even used the pace of Matheesha Pathirana to uppercut him for six.

Rahul often plays such strokes in T20s, but it was the frequency with which he was hitting them on the night that was different. After collecting 12 off Deepak Chahar's second over - the third of the innings - which included a six

for them this season - between Rahul and Quinton de Kock, which didn't allow any CSK bowler to settle in. They collected boundaries regularly as they scored 54 in the powerplay, and didn't let CSK fight back in the middle overs (which CSK have done often this IPL). They didn't let the asking rate touch ten, and by the time de Kock fell for 54 in the 15th over, they needed a comfortable 43 from 30 balls.

Rahul also fell before the close, to a stunning catch by Ravindra Jadeja at backward point, but that didn't stop LSG from romping home with eight wickets in hand and an over to spare.

Rahul and de Kock set things up

The LSG batters have come in for criticism this season: for either not scoring quickly at the start, or for throwing their wickets away, or for leaving too much for Nicholas Pooran to do. On Friday, Rahul and de Kock didn't do any of those things; instead, they put up a century stand in just 10.5 overs to set up the chase.

Rahul led the partnership with strokes that dripped with class. He middled his pulls

over midwicket, he drilled Mustafizur Rahman back in the next over. And when de Kock and Rahul combined for 6, 4 and 6 across the fifth and sixth overs to take them to 54 in the powerplay, it was fairly evident that LSG were in pole position to get home comfortably.

LSG were helped further when de Kock miscued Jadeja in the ninth over, but

Indian Premier League 2024…

with back-to-back fours which took him past fifty.

With 74 to get from 54, the two slowed down briefly, before de Kock also got to his fifty. He fell for 54, caught by Dhoni as he tried to ramp a Mustafizur Rahman slower ball.

However, Pooran came out with the aim of hitting boundaries, and finished the game with his third four that sealed the chase with six balls to spare.

Jadeja walks out at No. 4

CSK are known to pull rabbits out of the hat from time to time, and the latest was to send out Jadeja at No. 4. Soon after they were put in, they had lost Rachin Ravindra for a golden duck, and three overs later, Ruturaj Gaikwad edged a Yash Thakur outswinger behind.

Losing two wickets in the powerplay perhaps made CSK save Shivam Dube for later and send out Jadeja, and he played a key hand in CSK getting to a competitive score.

Ajinkya Rahane, meanwhile, made CSK tick along nicely with a regular flow of boundaries, his crisp timing in full display. The pick of those was a six over midwicket off Matt Henry, and an exquisite drive off Thakur for four.

CSK slip in the middle overs

Rahul brought on spin from both ends as soon as the field spread out, and it worked when Krunal Pandya hit Rahane's leg stump to send him back for 36 off 24.

Dube walked out at No. 5, but it was Jadeja who col-

Pathirana shelled the chance at short third. De Kock made CSK pay in Jadeja's next over with a boundary on the leg side, before Rahul inflicted more pain

cued a Marcus Stoinis short ball, bowled at 125.4kph, to be taken by Rahul; and Sameer

lected boundaries in consecutive overs by hitting with the spin of Krunal and Ravi Bishnoi. Jadeja did not get the company of CSK's big hitters for long. Dube first mis-

couldn't get close to the ball and was stumped. CSK were suddenly 93 for 5 after 13 overs.

The LSG bowlers stifled Moeen Ali and Jadejathey went 34 balls without a boundary. Jadeja broke the drought in the 16th over, and reached his fifty in the 17th with a six off Mohsin Khan. Deepak Hooda should have taken that catch, but only managed to tip over.

The Moeen-Dhoni Show Moeen set things up for Dhoni with three sixes in a row off Bishnoi in the 18th over, and Dhoni came out to a rapturous reception when Moeen holed out in attempting a fourth six off the same bowler.

After a single off his

first ball, Dhoni was facing two inexperienced bowlers in Mohsin and Thakur. He first bashed Mohsin to the extra-cover boundary for a one-bounce four, and followed it with one of the most uncharacteristic sixes he has played: he walked across because Mohsin had been bowling them wide outside off, and lobbed him over the keeper's head. It was a 14-run over that included three wides.

The fans in a ‘sea’ of almost entirely yellow were having the time of their lives. And when Dhoni got the strike in the last over, he clobbered a six over cow corner. Thakur attempted wide yorkers that resulted in two more fours off the last three balls, and Dhoni finished on 28 off just nine balls, which helped CSK smash 63 in the last four overs. It was fun, but not nearly enough. (ESPNcricinfo) SCOREBOARD

– as Rahul’s efforts trump Dhoni’s fireworks

Moeen Ali and Ravindra Jadeja put on a vital 51 off 33 for CSK

Providence Cricket Club clinch

EBD Second Division 40-over title

PProvidence have thus claimed the coveted title for 2024.

Sent in to bat, Peters Hall managed to post 223 runs from 36.4 overs, with Ubai Hussain craft-

ing a gritty 41 runs and Ray Newton and Shafeek Deonarine respectively contributing 31 and 25 runs.

Dwayne Dick’s consistent line and length earned him 3 wickets for Providence from his eight overs. Set a target of 224 runs, all-rounder Dwayne Dick smashed a brilliant 67 runs that featured 10 fours and 2 sixes, as he laid a solid foundation for Providence.

Jermain Grovesnor’s superb knock contributed 55 runs and ensured

JFF to introduce new U17 tournament for JPL clubs

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) is continuing its commitment to developing youth football in that country with the formation of a new under-17 tournament to be contested by Jamaica Premier League clubs, JFF pres- ident Michael Ricketts announced on Thursday.

It will not be man datory for clubs to par ticipate in this compe tition, tentatively set to commence on May 5, as this is its inaugural year. “We would want to encourage as many of the Premier League clubs to participate in this under-17 competition. As it is now, most of the clubs will be participating,” Ricketts has said. “We thought that it was very important that we capture those that are probably on the verge of getting

out of high school, and have them in a formal setting so that they can make a transition from U-17s to U20s, and ultimately the senior setup,” he added.

This is also a timely move, because, as of 2025, the FIFA Under-17 World Cup will be held annually, instead of every four years, as was customary. “We want to insert some energy and some vibe, to ensure that as best as possible, we must be competitive and very relevant at age 17 and under, so that can actively participate and add some level of competitiveness at the World Cup, which, as of next year, will be held every year,” Ricketts has said.

Jamaica participated in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in New Zealand in 1999, and in 2011 in Mexico. (Sportsmax)

Walsh joins Zimbabwe in hunt for historic Women’s T20 World Cup spot

West Indies fast bowling legend Courtney Walsh has joined the Zimbabwe women’s team as a coaching consultant as they prepare to challenge for a spot at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh later this year.

The Jamaican, who led West Indies women’s team to the semi-finals of the 2022 ICC Women’s World Cup in New Zealand, where they lost to eventual winners Australia, will now aim to rewrite the history books by assisting Zimbabwe to a maiden World Cup appearance.

the

Providence register a score of 224-4 in 31.2 overs, securing a commanding six-wicket win and clinching the 2024 40-over Division Two title.

Runners-up Peters Hall received $100,000 and a trophy for their efforts.

David Sugrim, Patrick Khan, Mohamed’s Trading, Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Khan’s Labels, and Camille’s Academy were sponsors of this tournament, which has been deemed a resounding success.

The Lady Chevrons are targeting one of two spots from the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers which begin in the United Arab Emirates on April 25. Walsh, 61, who took 519 Test wickets in his stellar career, is assisting head coach Walter Chawaguta ahead of the tournament; and Givemore Makoni, managing director of Zimbabwe’s Cricket, is delighted to have the legendary pacer on board. “We count ourselves for-

tunate and privileged to be able to bring in Courtney as a technical consultant for our campaign in Abu Dhabi,” Makoni has said. “He is one of the world’s greatest cricketers, and we believe his experience at the highest level of the women’s game in particular will boost our chances.”

A total of 10 teams will participate in the Qualifiers in the UAE, which culminates on May 7. The sides will be split into two groups of five, with the top two progressing to the semi-finals, from where

berths

Women’s T20 World

Bangladesh later this year. Walsh and his Zimbabwe outfit will face the hosts Bangladesh, Ireland, the Netherlands and Vanuatu in Group B; while Sri Lanka, Thailand, Scotland, Uganda and United States are set to lock horns in Group A. Zimbabwe Women won the gold medal at the African Games in Ghana last month, beating South Africa in a super over. (Sportsmax)

Raducanu falls to Swiatek in Stuttgart quarterfinals

Emma Raducanu has been knocked out of the Stuttgart Open despite a spirited quarterfinal display against world number one Iga Swiatek.

Britain's Raducanu, who is continuing her comeback from an injury-hit 2023 season, lost 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 against the clay-court specialist from Poland.

Swiatek is on a 10-match winning run in Stuttgart, having won the last two editions of the WTA 500 tournament. She will face Kazakhstan's fourth seed Elena Rybakina next.

Raducanu, 21, has enjoyed a return to form over the past week, helping Britain beat France in the Billie Jean King Cup at the weekend before wins against three-time major winner Angelique Kerber and Linda Noskova.

Her run to the quarterfinals in Stuttgart will see her ascend the world rankings, after dropping to 303rd following wrist and ankle operations in 2023.

Asked if she thought Raducanu can return to the top level of the sport, Swiatek said: "I hope she will be able to do it, because for sure she has the game for it."

Raducanu enjoyed a dream start against Swiatek, 22, fighting back from 40-0 down to break the defending champion's opening service game. The four-time major winner broke back immediately, and continued to

threaten Raducanu's serve throughout the first set, but the Briton held firm to force a tie-break. Swiatek raced through the tiebreak, before striking the first blow in the second set on her way to a 3-1 lead, as a tumble onto the clay floor seemed to momentarily dent Raducanu's confidence.

The 2021 US Open champion regained her composure to divert three break points in the fifth game, but the single break of serve in the second set proved enough for Swiatek to wrap up the win after a gruelling two hours and four minutes on court.

"It was a pretty intense match, so I am happy I was able to keep the intensity, even though we played tough games for over two hours," Swiatek said. "It wasn't easy. I had a lot of break points that I

couldn't convert."

Sabalenka and Gauff struggle in Stuttgart

Earlier on Friday, Rybakina booked her lastfour spot by defeating Italy's Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.

On the other side of the draw, Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova knocked out world number two Aryna Sabalenka with a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 win.

Sabalenka has failed to go beyond the quarter-finals of a tournament since her Australian Open triumph in January. The Belarusian, a runner-up in the last three Stuttgart tournaments, committed 48 unforced errors, and converted just six of her 15 break points.

Vondrousova, the Czech sixth seed, will play Marta Kostyuk next, after the Ukrainian secured her

second straight top-10 win against US Open champion Coco Gauff.

American Gauff sped through the first set in 36 minutes, but Kostyuk, who knocked out China's fifth seed Zheng Qinwen on Thursday, fought back from a break down in both the second and third sets to win 3-6, 6-4, 7-6, (8-6). (BBC Sport)

two finalists will secure

to the

Cup in

The Providence Cricket Team posing with the championship trophy

Courtney Walsh in discussion with Stafanie Taylor during his time in charge of West Indies Women’s outfit

Raducanu was making her first WTA quarterfinal appearance in 19 months

Harpy Eagles in 8-wicket win over CCC –

make case for title retention, as champion to be determined after today’s games

The Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) on Friday cruised to a comfortable 8-wicket win over the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) to conclude their 2024 West Indies 4-Day Championships campaign on a positive note.

However, whether the defending champions would retain the title still hangs in the balance, and would be decided after the results of two other games -- Windward Islands Volcanoes versus Leeward Islands Hurricanes, and Barbados Pride versus West Indies Academy – are known.

Combined Campuses resumed Day 3 on 165 for 7, with Shamarh Brooks and Avinash Mahabirsingh at the crease on 54 and 4 runs respectively.

However, Isai Thorne wasted no time in cutting down Mahabirsingh, having him caught behind in just the second ball of the morning session.

Brooks also did not get much further, falling to Smith for 59 from 128 deliveries four overs later. Nonetheless, the two remaining batters: Jarion Hoyte and Jediah Blades, gave their team some impetus by putting on a 29run partnership for the final

The Harpy Eagles wrapped up their final clash of the season inside three days, compliments of backto-back fifties from Captain Tevin Imlach and Raymond Perez, alongside Nial Smith’s ensuring the CCC’s undoing on Friday morning.

Banks DIH on board for Jumbo Jet Race of Champions meet

Beverage giants Banks DIH Limited are the latest company to sponsor the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee’s Race of Champions horse meet, set for Sunday April 28 at the Rising Sun Turf Club on the West Coast of Berbice (Region Five). The other sponsors are AJM Enterprise, Jumbo Jet, Sino Truck and XCMG.

More than ten million dollars in cash and prizes will be up for grabs, and eight races are on the cards. The feature race, which will be open to all imported and locally-bred horses, would be contested over 1,600 metres for a winner’s purse of G$2M. This race has total prize money of G$3.75M, and the entry fee is G$232,500.

Champion horse

Spankhurst and rivals Bossalina, Easy Time, John Bull, and Stolen Money are among the top horses that would be contesting this feature race.

Other races carded include West Indian-bred fouryear old West Indies and three-year-old horses at 1,600 metres. The top horse in that race will be awarded G$600,000. The three-yearold Guyana-bred horses’ race will also run at 1,600 metres and the top horse will also be awarded $600,000.

The F Class & Lower & E Class non-earners in last two starters race will be running at 1,400 metres; and the winner of the race will walk away with G$400,000.

H3 & Lower and H 1&2 horses non-earners in their last two starts & first time

starter in Guyana – 1,400 metres race will see the top horse cashing in on G$350,000.

The I Class, J Class and West Indian-bred three-year maidens, the K Class horses and Lower and the L Class horses and open to J3 first time starters will complete the provisional programme.

All races will run under the guidance of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority rules.

Races are subject to change, and entries for the April 28 Race of Champions will close on April 22. Horses must be properly entered via Fazal Habibula on telephone 611-1141, Buju 658-7037, Shazenna/Rose on 322-0789, Glen on 1 (868) 368-5192 or Ginjo on 618-7278.

The race will run off at 12:00h and admission is G$2,000.

wicket. Blades remained not out on 11 runs from 13 balls, but Hoyte’s innings of 22 from 34 deliveries was cut short when Smith had him caught behind.

With CCC bowled out for 203 in 64.2 overs, Guyana needed 181 for victory, and the first-wicket partnership between Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Raymond Perez looked solid, before and after what turned out to be a lengthy rain delay on Friday afternoon.

After the covers came off, the duo pressed on, but Chanderpaul fell short of a half century as he hit an uncharacteristically brisk 42 runs in 62 balls. By that time, Perez had already brought up his second firstclass half-century, spanning 69 deliveries, in the very

match that he reached the milestone for the first time.

Captain Imlach joined Perez at the crease, and they took Guyana within 7 runs of their target. The Harpy Eagles captain perished, but not before hitting his second fifty of the game.

Kevlon Anderson was in a hurry to get things over with, and, with a pair of boundaries in the 35th over, sealed the Harpy Eagles’ 5th consecutive win in this year’s 4-Day Championships.

Windward Islands

Volcanoes currently sit atop the points table, with Barbados Pride, Harpy Eagles and Leeward Islands mere points behind. As such, today’s results of those two games would determine whether or not the Harpy Eagles retain their title.

Senior Caribbean Table Tennis Championships 2024… Shemar Britton stands tall in men’s singles

The Senior Caribbean Table Tennis Championships headed into the singles’ division where, unfortunately, most of the Guyanese athletes did not find favour on Thursday evening and Friday.

Shemar Britton, however, was a shining star, picking up back-to-back wins in the men’s singles’ division. He began his campaign on Thursday evening with a decisive victory over Aruba’s Shaofeng Xie: 11-7, 11-2, 11-5; then followed up with a win over Barbados’ Mark Dowell in a thrilling foursetter: 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9. There were other wins on the cards for the Guyanese athletes, as the likes of Chelsea Edghill and Nathalie Cummings rebounded from opening losses. Edghill’s opening draw was a tough one, pitting her against Dominican Republic’s Eva Brito, to whom she lost 11-9, 11-9, 12-10.

However, Edghill fought back in her second game to take down Cuba’s Rosalba Aguiar 11-9, 11-4, 11-13, 119.

Nathalie Cummings was tasked with taking on Puerto Rico’s Fabiaola Diaz in her first assignment, and she lost to her opponent 11-2, 9-11, 11-4, 11-6. However, she was on top of her game against Trinidad and Tobago’s Jordan thong, whom she defeated 11-5, 8-11, 11-3, 11-7.

In other singles’ fixtures, young Jasmine Billingy went down to Cuba’s Estela Crespo and Trinidad and Tobago’s Rheann Chung. The match against Crespo ended 11-3, 11-4, 11-5, while that against Chung ended 11-9, 11-4, 11-3.

Fortunes were the same for Thuraia Thomas, who could not get going against Dominican Republic’s Yasiris Ortiz and Antigua and Barbuda’s Stuti Kashyap. Ortiz beat the

Guyanese 11-3, 11-5, 11-4, while Kashyap did the same 11-1, 11-4, 12-10.

The remaining Guyanese men also missed the trick in both games. Joel Alleyne lost to Puerto Rico’s Oscar Birriel 11-4, 11-8, 11-3, and later to Aruba’s Rudy Raga 11-5, 11-9, 11-6.

Elishaba Johnson went down to the Dominican Republic’s Abit Tejada 11-4, 11-6, 11-3, and was later defeated by Jamaica’s Rohan Lewis in a keenly contested game 13-11, 7-11, 9-11, 9-11.

Niran Bissu also fought back in his second fixture, but did not find favour. In his first game, Bissu lost to Tyrese Knight of Barbados 11-6, 11-1, 11-5, and was later defeated by Emani McPherson of Jamaica 11-7, 7-11, 10-12, 7-11.

The Senior Championships continue today with men’s and women’s doubles, mixed doubles and the knockout stages of the men’s and Women’s singles.

Raymond Perez slammed his second first-class half-century

Banks DIH Special events Manager Mortimer Stewart presenting cheque and trophy to Jumbo Jet Representative Navendra Ramnauth

Chelsea Edghill pulled off a thrilling win against Cuba in the women’s singles