Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 16-05-2023

President, Dr Irfaan Ali, on Monday held talks with Qatar’s Chamber of Commerce First Vice-Chairman, Mohamed Bin Ahmed Bin Twar Al-Kuwari and he also had bilateral discussions with Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al Abdullah Al Thani in Doha

Empowering Mahdia residents: 91 graduates receive technical-training certificates

NINETY - ONE residents of Mahdia , Region Eight, received certificates in heavy - duty equipment operation , welding and fabrication, and cosmetology , among other technical areas, through the Ministry of Labour’s Board of Industrial Training (BIT).

The programmes aim to empower residents , enabling them to secure employment or pursue entrepreneurial opportunities The graduation ceremony was held last Friday at the Mahdia Secondary School

Minister Joseph Hamilton underlined that the government continues to inject the necessary resources countrywide for people to be upskilled with various technical

and vocational skills to take advantage of the job prospects in all sectors

He noted that the training in Mahdia is also part of the administration’s quest to bridge the gap between the coastland and hinterland regions, ensuring equitable access to the country ’ s resources and developmental opportunities

“

Over the period 2022, we have expended in your community $8.2 million to train some 85 persons In the region , we spent $12.6 million, and another $1.5 million at Kato We spent another $1.4 million at Paramakatoi and another $ 1.4 at Kurukubari,” the labour minister pointed out

He said being multiskilled is integral in today’s society and with the

knowledge comes endless opportunities

“I would hope that you recognise that you cannot have the knowledge and sit down with it, you have to take the knowledge and utilise it to empower and develop yourself and to ensure you can feed yourself That is what it is about, which is to develop yourself.”

This is the second batch of residents in the region to receive BIT certification in various areas

Deputy Regional Executive Officer , Louis Kilkenny ; Regional Technical Officer, Jermaine Geness ; Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Natecia Garraway ; and Technical Officer , Rohan Bishop were also in attendance.

Region Nine to receive over

for well drilling this year

RESIDENTS of Region

Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) will soon have enhanced access to potable water and service, with the drilling of 14 wells and expansion of several water distribution systems.

Areas to benefit include

Aishalton , Awarewarnau , Maruranau, Semonie, Quiko , Rupertee , Fairview , Hiowa , Quatata , Shiriri , Katoonarib , Sand Creek , Potarinau, and Kaicumbay

Some communities will also benefit from the expansion of distribution networks and installation of photovoltaic systems

These areas include : Aranaputa , Moco Moco , Sand Creek , Karasabai , Wowetta, Quiko, Massara, Baitoon, Potarinau, Crash Water, Katuur, Tiger Pond, Karaudarnau , Kumu , Kaicumbay , Cracrana , and Baishaidrum

This is in keeping with the government ’ s 2021–2025 strategic plan, as part of its initiatives to increase access to clean water, and

He also urged residents to take advantage of the training programmes being offered by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) to be upskilled, which will enable them to have sustainable incomes

“ We want to quickly move, so that the benefits, the services, and the better quality of life that you see elsewhere you could benefit

We want to ensure that we also create employment, so that many persons can make use of the opportunities in various areas,” the minister added.

This year, the government injected $17.7 billion into the economy for the expansion and management of the water sector, with $1.4 billion going towards upgrading and extending water supply systems in hinterland communities across Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two ( Pomeroon - Supenaam ), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro- Siparuni), and Nine.

Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton hands over a certificate to a graduate

One of the many water supply systems commissioned countrywide

Greater access to farmlands, shade houses for Enmore farmers

–– ministers return to community to deliver on President’s promise of 'agri' support

–– farmers welcome interventions

FARMERS of Enmore and surrounding communities along the East of Coast Demerara will soon benefit from better access to farmlands to expand production and shade houses , planting implements , lands for cattle rearing and improved drainage works

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha made the commitment on Monday during an engagement with several agriculturists

Minister Mustapha was accompanied by Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar , and Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, who visited the community to deliver on pledges made by President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali during a recent meeting there

Because of massive infrastructural works, among

other things , both cattle and cash crop farmers had to be removed from the current lands they were occupying

“At Enmore here, we will work with the farmers to establish shade houses We will give them all the planting materials to start production once again ,” Minister Mustapha affirmed

He said that a new farming area would be identified and prepared, to drive food production

Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Kishan Balkissoon, who has been farming for three years , said access to better farmlands will enhance his production to a larger scale

“ I am very satisfied that we will be moving into one enclosed area All the farmers will benefit mostly from the greenhouse ,” Balkissoon re -

Farmer,

lated

Cash crop farmer Narissa English expressed , “The president came and I’m glad that the ministers also came today and they did what the president said he would do for us I’m very happy right now.”

Another farmer, Rohan Nealchan, said he is happy with the swift intervention by the government

“We feel nice because we depend on the land and he [ President Ali ] told us that he will give

Farmers at the meeting at Enmore Grass Field

us lands that is the work that we’re doing, farming, and we depend on the lands for this.”

More than 60 cash crop farmers were utilising the area to cultivate their crops, while several cattle farmers were using the area for their livestock

Meanwhile , Minister Indar underlined that in-

terventions will be made by the various ministries in relation to road infrastructure

“ We are here today to deal with the issues and to follow up with the residents to visit the farms and do the surveys,” the minister noted

A team from the Guyana Livestock Develop-

ment Authority (GLDA), the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), GuySuCo, and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority ( NDIA ), will accompany the cattle farmers on Tuesday to inspect new lands which will be developed and to conduct drainage works.

Government delivers on commitment: Land titles for over

MORE than 50 families occupying lands at Plantation Hope (Enmore Grass Field), East Coast Demerara , received their Agreements of Sale on Monday and also registered for their Certificates of Titles.

The titles are slated to be handed over at the end of the week, thereby ending years of waiting

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, met with the residents Monday in their community , where this announcement was made The Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Sugar Corporation ( GuySuCo ), Sasenarine Singh were also present at the meeting, which is in keeping with a commitment of President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali Enmore Grass Field was initially identified as a livestock-rearing area for residents of Enmore Hope West However, farmers began squatting

50 families in Enmore Grass Field

in the area in the late 90s, and regularisation of the area commenced in 2011 Some 55 lots were created in the area and 52 persons were verified and issued allocation letters Minister Croal explained that the process was delayed due to the land - acquisition process , as the area would have been under the purview of GuySuCo and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). The legal transfer to the CH&PA has since been activated, allowing the process to move forward

After the community meeting , the Housing and Water Ministry , through the CH &PA processed and handed over Agreements of Sale to residents at its Croal Street , Georgetown Annex.

Persons living in Enmore East also raised land-ownership concerns at the meeting, which Minister Croal stated will be addressed to allow those residents to move forward.

Narissa English

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal (right) hands over an Agreement of Sale to one of the families at the CH&PA Office, as CH&PA Director of Community Development, Gladwyn Charles (left) looks on

'Agri' Ministry seeking bids to expand farmlands in Region Two

THE Ministry of Agriculture has issued bids for empoldering farmlands in the Upper and Lower Pomeroon River, Region Two.

According to an invitation to bids issued by the ministry under the purview of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority ( NDIA), reputable contractors are being sought for empoldering works at Pickers Gill, Arapiarco, Abrams Creek, Warapana, Siriki and Dredge creek at an

engineer ’ s estimate of $340,300,000

Bids are also being sought for work on Jacklow farmlands at an engineer ’ s estimate of $55,800,000

Meanwhile, in lower Pomeroon region, works are being perused at Cozier Canal , Martindale and Strong Hope Canal at an engineer’s estimate of $186,400,000

Bids are also being sought to empolder lands at Hackney Canal and Akawini Front at an

engineer ’ s estimate of $37,250,000

Bids for these works are to be submitted no later than May 23, 2023, and will be conducted through the National Competitive Bidding ( NCB ) procedures , as specified in the procurement act 2003

Contractors are reminded that all bids must be accompanied by valid certificates of compliance from the manager of the national insurance scheme ( NIS ) and the

Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

President , Dr Irfaan Ali, during a recent visit to the Pomeroon region last week had, disclosed that over $2 billion has already been invested into advancing the agriculture sector in the region since 2020

To ensure that farmers can earn from their produce, the government is also seeking to introduce the production of high-valued crops by establishing shade houses

“ We understand also that small farmers need to live from day to day and to have revenue coming in on a monthly basis, so I have asked the Agriculture Minister to look at ways we can find high-value crops that can be done under shade houses to help the small farmers,” Dr Ali said There he recommitted the government’s support to farmers in the region as government plans to explore investment opportunities for the benefit of farmers

“ We need to ensure that agriculture is sustainable and resilient One of the projects we are working on for the Pomeroon is to see how we can get big investors with huge capital to work with the small farmers.”

Already , some 550 farmers in the Pomeroon River will be receiving elevated beds, while two mini excavators are scheduled to soon arrive in the region to provide much - needed assistance.

Jagdeo: Opposition in no position to scrutinise part-time job programme

–– says thousands of mining jobs lost under APNU+AFC

THE government is dedicated to improving the lives of all Guyanese and General Secretary of the PPP/C, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has advised Lindeners not to believe the Opposition’s misinformation but to consider the significant improvements in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) under the PPP/C’s administration.

“We lost jobs in Linden; we lost jobs across the country under them [the Opposition],” Jagdeo said at a recent press conference

He pointed out that the People’s National Congress/ Reform (PNC/R) has a history of poor performance and he criticised the closure of the call centre in Linden, which was a significant source of income for many individuals This action, he said, shows that they do not prioritise the well-being of the people

He also stated that the opposition failed to carry out their manifesto promises while in office; an indication of this was increased taxes

The General Secretary continued by explaining that the increase in taxes in the mining sector resulted in the loss of 15,000 mining jobs

He further condemned the PNC/R for scrutinising the part-time job programme, stating, “Imagine the audacity of a party that was in power for five years, created zero jobs and then criticising you for giving 1,200 persons a job.”

Jagdeo remarked that upon assuming office, the PPP/C resurrected the call centre and reupholstered the agricultural sector in Linden to cushion the devasting damage done by the Opposition.

Last year, the rebranded Kara Kara Call Centre at Linden empowered 150 residents by offering them employment

CCTV Surveillance infrastructure work in Regions Three, Six commence

IN Region Three (Essequibo Islands, West Demerara) and Region Six (East Corentyne, Berbice), work has begun establishing CCTV surveillance camera systems infrastructure.

The systems are part of the $2 billion “Safe Country” programme that was catered for in the 2023 Budget in provisions under the National Data Management Authority (NDMA).

The “Safe Country” programme is an extension of the “Safe City Initiative” which provided for the construction of an integrated National Emergency Response Command Centre (NERCC) with a network of CCTV cameras across Georgetown

While the NDMA is setting up the system, it is being done in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force (GPF), which will run the command centre where the cameras will be monitored

The surveillance system is considered a valuable resource for the security forces in their fight against crime,

The recent Men On Mission job fair in Linden

Despite being established for a few months, the Midas BPO (Kara Kara Call Centre) already employed 150 people from the town Notably, the centre employed another 150 by the second quarter of 2022

Moreover, earlier this year, hundreds of Linden residents, particularly young people, explored the myriad of employment opportunities and skill-building programmes available to them during a job fair hosted by Men on Mission (MOM).

The fast-growing call centre, Midas BPO, was also at the job fair, and notably, many were drawn to the booth for several reasons, which included the financial offers and abundant job vacancies

According to a representative of the call centre, 100 vacancies were available.

LGE: Former policeman aims to transform

By Trina Williams

QUINCY Anderson, a former policeman and young entrepreneur, has entered the race as a People ’ s Progressive Party / Civic (PPP/C) candidate for Local Government Elections ( LGEs ) with the goal of transforming Constituency

10 - Albouystown/Charlestown - to broaden not only the horizons of the area , but also the lives of the people.

The 33 - year - old politician asserted in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle that he would continue to be unaffected by the racial attacks he has endured since Nomination Day because he has the interest of the people at heart

He added that the ‘soup-drinker’ narrative being peddled by the Opposition against PPP/C supporting Afro-Guyanese is regrettable and that people should denounce those assaults since everyone should feel free to voice their political views without fear of being intimidated

According to Anderson,

Albouystown/Charlestown

the opposition has consistently used race-baiting tactics because they fear ‘licks’ at the polls on June 12

He further emphasised that while initially he had no interest in politics , the previous administration ’ s poor leadership motivated him to speak up and become an activist , adding that he got more involved when they attempted to rig the elections

Anderson then went on to say: “I would [have] made up my mind and decided to throw my support behind the PPP/C because I realised that [it] is the only political party in Guyana that definitely has all Guyanese at heart.”

According to him , his motivation to contend for LGEs is also linked to his overwhelming disappointment with the subpar management at City Hall, which has been controlled by the People’s National Congress Reform ( PNC / R )/ A Partnership for National Unity ( APNU ) for the past three decades

“With the PPP/C you will see a definite change” he stated, explaining that if elected, there will be rapid transfor-

mation across the city; not just in Constituency 10

As part of his ongoing efforts to address problems like the high unemployment rate, particularly among young people, Anderson said he is working with several ministries, including the Public Service Ministry and the Ministry of Labour, to help young people get on the right track

He added that he has been on the ground since Nomination Day , engaging with residents The young entrepreneur revealed that he has found that poor drainage and inadequate garbage collection are two of the most common complaints from people He continued that if elected, he plans to redesign the city’s rubbish collection system to guarantee both a clean environment and content citizens

He also remarked that door - to - door visits would continue if elected, because he is dedicated to changing the Albouystown / Charlestown area, which means there is no tolerance for empty campaign promises Anderson also told this publication that despite the

area ’ s strong PNC / R leanings , the people had been nothing but frustrated with the administration of City Hall

However , the young politician also said he is receiving numerous complaints from persons, claiming that PNC/R candidates are attempting to turn voters against the PPP / C by spreading false information and lies

enabling access to critical information in real-time, and improving the police response time to crises, thereby enhancing the safety and security of communities by providing security services with increased operational capabilities

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken, noted that while the systems are being established in Regions Three and Six for now, the ultimate aim is to see systems established in all of the 10 administrative regions

“We’re going to mimic what we have as our command centre across all the regions, that’s going to aid in our real time crime fighting strategy We’ve started Region three and Region six, which are in an advanced stage of completion and then we are going to go to the other regions,” Commissioner Hicken related

The Top Cop continued: “NDMA is dealing with the camera but they are doing it in collaboration with the police Like the main command centre, all the command centres will come under the police We’re going to have civilian employees and police working in the command centre.” Also speaking with this publication , Region Three Regional Commander Assistant Commissioner Mahendra Siwnarine, also commended the system for what it will mean for crime fighting and traffic monitoring in the region

“It will definitely be an asset to the Region, which will aid our current crime and traffic posture The use of the technology will assist in resource deployment and allow for more efficient response to situations,” Siwnarine commented

He added: “It will assist in observing suspicious moments of persons with criminal intent, therefore allowing operators to dispatch patrols faster, and would allow us to track persons and vehicles more efficiently instead of us wasting valuable resources because of lack of information.”

PPP / C Candidate for Constituency 10 Quincy Anderson

Shadow of a Doubt

IN any democratic society, the press plays a crucial role in upholding transparency, accountability, and safeguarding the public interest

To maintain the integrity of journalistic practices, press associations are entrusted with the responsibility of representing the interests of journalists and maintaining ethical standards

However, recent events surrounding the Guyana Press Association’s (GPA) elections have cast a shadow of doubt on the fairness and transparency of the process

Of particular concern is the decision to withhold the list of voters until the day of the election, raising suspicions and undermining the principles of a free and democratic press

Transparent elections are the cornerstone of a healthy democracy, ensuring that the will of the people is accurately reflected in the outcome

By providing a level playing field, open electoral processes enhance confidence in the legitimacy of elected representatives and protect against undue influence or manipulation Therefore, it is imperative that any organisation, including press associations, conduct their elections in a fair and trans-

parent manner, upholding the principles they stand for

The recent GPA elections were marred by a significant controversy surrounding the decision to withhold the list of voters until the day of the election

This lack of transparency raises numerous concerns and erodes trust in the democratic process By keeping the list of voters secret until the last moment, the GPA inadvertently created an environment susceptible to suspicion and doubts about the integrity of the electoral procedure

Withholding the voter’s list until the day of the elections also created the opportunity for padding, as many suspect happened in the lead-up to and on the day of the elections There were also reports of names being added to the list even after the so-called “cut off” date for membership and eligibility

It cannot be stressed enough that transparency and accountability are vital pillars of any democratic institution By withholding the voter’s list until the last moment, the GPA created an environment where it became difficult to verify the accuracy and legitimacy of the voting process

This lack of transparency undermines the trust that members place in their leadership and fosters an atmosphere of suspicion and doubt

Press associations have a critical responsibility to uphold the highest standards of integrity, independence, and transparency

The GPA, as a representative body of journalists, should exemplify these principles in their internal affairs, including elections

By conducting the elections under suspicious circumstances, the association has compromised its credibility and undermined its ability to advocate for journalistic ethics and freedom of the press

Sister associations in the region should conduct an independent inquiry to investigate the decision to withhold the voter’s list and ensure that such actions are not repeated in the future

The experience over the past few days was reminiscent of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, which will forever be etched in the memories of its citizens as a period of great turmoil and uncertainty The election process, intended to be a democratic exercise, turned into a harrowing experience

that tested the resilience of the nation

The prolonged delay in announcing the election results plunged Guyana into a state of political crisis Weeks turned into months, with tension mounting and citizens anxiously awaiting the outcome The credibility of the electoral process came under severe scrutiny as allegations of voter fraud, irregularities, and manipulation circulated

The harrowing memories of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections serve as a reminder of the fragility of democracy and the importance of upholding the principles of transparency, accountability, and fairness in electoral processes

One would think that although the GPA was silent during the attempts by the APNU+AFC to influence the outcome of the elections , it would have learnt from this experience and work towards strengthening its democratic system

However, it is now up to media workers to safeguard themselves and prepare from now to ensure that such tumultuous events do not repeat themselves, and the will of all stakeholders could be freely and peacefully expressed.

Bhagwandin’s response to Patterson

Dear Editor,

I am writing in reference to an erroneous article published in the Kaieteur News’ edition of May 12, 2023, with the caption: “ Patterson flays derelict procurement commission”.

The article cited a letter in which the Alliance for Chance (AFC) Member of Parliament, David Patterson, sought to propagate a series of tenuous allegations directed at the Public Procurement Commission (PPC).

This behaviour by the AFC Parliamentarian is not surprising and it has been an aggressively consistent personal campaign by the subject matter Parliamentarian for quite some time now The PPC had initially chosen to ignore him for the reasons which I am about to disclose In fact, it was the undersigned Commissioner who vehemently argued at one of the PPC’s statutory meetings that the PPC should not entertain him based on the following arguments:

a) David Patterson obviously has a personal agenda, and he is on a personal mission to avenge himself since he was the subject of investigation by the former Commission into the infamous Demerara Harbour Bridge feasibility study That investigation found that there were blatant breaches and disregard for the Procurement Law and Regulations

b) I had argued that his attack on certain Afro-Guyanese contractors in his letter of complaint for investigation is questionable Why would he want to attack Afro Guyanese contractors when the incumbent government is working assiduously to ensure that more

Afro - Guyanese contractors benefit from government contracts Then , on the other hand, the same AFC complains bitterly that the government is discriminating against Afro-Guyanese, an unsubstantiated allegation by that political party

c) I had also argued that the PPC as a constitutional body cannot subject itself to the directives of a politician, especially from one who has reasons to advance a personal vendetta against the commission The commission is an independent and impartial body, and it is not subject to the directives of any politician Furthermore, the PPC reports to the National Assembly, and it is through this medium, where he is a sitting Member of Parliament, he will be afforded the opportunity to scrutinise the work of the commission

Moreover, the Parliamentarian is highly misguided to take it upon himself to decide conveniently and subjectively which of the many functions of the PPC is considered most important I do not believe that the PPC is in any position to treat any of its functions as the single “most important function”. Because all of the PPC’s functions as set out in the constitution are of equal importance

The PPC has an approved budget for the fiscal year which is aligned with a strategic workplan for the period The development of this workplan was guided by the functions of the PPC Therefore, it is this workplan that ought to be the principal guiding pillar of the work of the PPC and not the whimsical dictates of an aggrieved politician

Further, it is worth mentioning that the PPC found itself in a constitutional quag-

mire engineered by the very APNU+AFC in their transparent and desperate attempt to remain in power following the March 2020 Regional and General Elections through unlawful means Recall that the election results were protracted for five painfully long months This, coupled with the fact that the APNU+AFC government remained in office unconstitutionally for more than one year following the successful passage of the December 2018 “No Confidence Motion (NCM)”, exacerbated the dilemma As a result, the life of the PPC had expired and was reconstituted some two years later When the commissioners were sworn in on July 2022, the PPC was virtually incapacitated from hitting the ground running as it had to repeat the process of restaffing and re-operationalising the Secretariat of the Commission This process alone lasted for about six months

Of note, the previous commission, which was controlled by the APNU + AFC commissioners, had perpetrated several excesses and breaches of the relevant laws in the management of the commission such as the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA) as evidenced in the Auditor General’s Report The Commission was poorly staffed with more than five administrative assistants and with a lesser number of technical staff In fact, the previous Commission had no legal department or any attorney other than the former chairperson

The current commission having reviewed the organisational structure in line with the functions of the commission, the PPC sought to strengthen the technical capacity of the

secretariat by removing all of the redundant administrative assistant positions and created for the first time a legal department The reason for this was based on the fact that most of the work of the commission surrounding its core functions as per the constitution is in relation to ensuring compliance with the procurement laws and regulations So, the purpose of creating the legal department was aimed at strengthening the work of the commission in this respect

With regard to the issues proliferated by the subject matter Parliamentarian , those matters raised a number of constitutional questions wherein there is no established precedent that the commission could rely on for guidance There are constitutional questions surrounding the PPC’s function to conduct investigation since there is no enabling legislation empowering the PPC to do so Consequently, if it is found that in the absence of the requisite enabling legislation to carry out this particular function, then it becomes a matter for the legislator, which the subject matter Parliamentarian happens to be a member of.

The foregoing situation has necessitated the outsourcing of external legal advice since the in-house legal department does not have the requisite specialised expertise and experience in constitutional law Thus, the outsourcing of external legal advice of this nature is well in order

Noteworthily, one of the functions of the PPC is to make recommendations in

Editor Navendra Seoraj

Rigged elections: Credibility crisis hits Guyana Press Association

Dear Editor,

NEVER in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that I would have to be writing to put on record the lack of decency, transparency, accountability, and fairness by the Guyana Press Association (GPA), an organisation that all citizens and my colleagues should trust as the guardians of such principles.

I was a contender for the role of the Presidency of the GPA at the elections of May 14, 2023, at the Theatre Guild in Georgetown Before the elections, through a plethora of emails and posts in a WhatsApp group of members, I raised many concerns that threatened to bring the GPA into disrepute if the elections were not conducted in a transparent and accountable manner

Before I state these concerns, let me point out a few things for context

When I announced my candidacy to replace Gordon Moseley as president in March 2015, I was unchallenged When I completed my term, I nominated Nazima Raghubir for the post in January 2018 and there was no challenger Hence, in those past two elections, there was no need to vote for the position –and therefore, no need for a challenger to demand to see a list of voters

In those two elections I referenced, many persons were allowed to sign up for membership and pay their dues on the day of elections – and vote Existing members were also able to pay outstanding dues – and vote We did this because we realised that in between elections, media people are generally tardy in paying their fees and we wanted the broadest participation possible

On May 8, 2023, I emailed the remaining members of the executive to see a copy of a list of eligible voters I believe this was a fair request, given that Ms Raghubir was seeking re-election and that the Secretary, Mrs Svetlana Marshall-Abrams, and the two others on the executive – Mr Rawle Toney and Mr Denis Chabrol – were open to nomination to once again sit on the executive of the GPA

In reply, Ms Raghubir said, “The elections for office bearers are conducted conventionally for decades with the voting process laid before the AGM at the said meeting.” Nothing about a list

Days later, after writing two other emails, Mrs Marshall-Abrams replied that, “In the interest of fairness for all GPA members, the list of eligible voters will be read on Sunday to ALL members present.”

I replied that this could not be fair, taking into consideration that I, or any other potential candidate, would not be able to see the

list and register any objections given that the executive retained control of the list and was also standing for re-election

The executive did not budge

I raised this issue for fear that the list was padded. The executive set up a deadline of May 6 by which members could pay their dues and be eligible to vote When inquiries were made, new members of the media, who met the criteria for membership (three years of practice as a journalist), were bluntly told that their applications would be looked at by the new executive I protested this and Ms Raghubir’s reply was that members were free to make their applications and that it would be processed

I reached out to the Secretary to confirm if “processed” meant approval and she said this was not automatic So effectively, many members of the media were disenfranchised and unable to vote

However, checks with other media houses revealed that the Secretary simply walked into media houses where they presumed they had support and signed up new members, even backdating their membership to reach the three-year requirement

There was no committee on hand to vet applications, so to make it seem like approval depended on some lengthy process was a sorry excuse for the shenanigans afoot. Persons who did not meet the eligibility requirements for membership and voting were signed up

The Secretary in statements at the AGM did admit she went on this “outreach” and signed up members on the spot There was no committee or process to make a decision about who should gain membership That process started and ended with Mrs Marshall-Abrams in a matter of minutes

While this “outreach” was done at some media houses, it was not done at others where the executive believed members would vote for me.

Again, this locked out participation in these elections to many There was no outreach to colleagues in Berbice or Essequibo and they too were denied participation in the elections In one case, a longstanding member of the GPA was denied voting for missing the May 6 deadline due to a mix-up When she called to point this out and to pay, no concession was made and she was flatly denied voting rights

Days before the elections, the editors of 10 media houses sent a petition for a release of the voters’ list and they were rejected It was members of these media houses who were denied membership

On May 12, in a last-ditch effort to secure some form of compromise and transparency,

on behalf of these editors, I again wrote the executive seeking an urgent meeting to discuss our concerns The only reply I received was one asking for an agenda I immediately provided this, giving the following options to be considered:

1 Publication of the list of eligible voters for the upcoming elections

2 Reverting to the convention of accepting applications on the day of the AGM

3 Extending the deadline for the processing and approval of new members to the GPA by Saturday at 4 p m and accepting dues of existing members by the said deadline.

I received no reply.

The list of “ eligible ” voters was only read out to the AGM just before the start of nominations No copies were shared with anyone, even at that late moment, to make objections. In any case, the Returning Officer, Ronald Burch-Smith, had no powers to accept objections and strike anyone off the list After I raised concerns, he did allow me to take photographs of the pages he was given with the members who could vote

As per the Constitution of the GPA, a person is eligible for membership of the GPA if that person “devotes a major part of his/her time and earns a major part of his/her income from journalism” with journalism being defined as “gathering, editing, presenting and commenting on news, information and events and editorial policy-direction of the

content of newspapers, magazines, press or syndicated services, professional or business publications, radio, television, cinema and the teaching of journalism.”

As the Returning Officer read the list (before I took photos of the list), I immediately recognised and pointed out how the list was padded – a Bollywood show producer, a control operator, a media manager

Under the constitutional provisions, their jobs make them ineligible for voting under the GPA constitution With the photos of the list now with me, I quickly could see others who do not qualify – a taxi driver, a farmer, and a handyman

On the list too were former editors and media workers who no longer work or contribute to news gathering or dissemination in any way There were certainly many who recently started working in the media and did not meet the three-year requirement to vote

So there is no other way to say it – the GPA elections were rigged

This was a shame and disgrace on us as journalists who seek to champion democracy, transparency and accountability Those elected on the basis of rigged elections have lost credibility to question anyone on such issues

The credibility of the GPA has been severely harmed – and to me, that is the greatest shame.

Neil Marks Editor News Room

From page 6

respect of the legislative framework central to public procurement, and it is for this reason, importantly, that the external specialised legal advice being sought will become useful.

Notwithstanding, it is understandable why an aggrieved and vengeful politician will only single out a single function of the PPC out of 13 functions in accordance with the constitution However, it is my considered view that the PPC should not

be engaged in a political charade with politicians Rather, the PPC needs to remain steadfast and focused in executing its mandate diligently

In so doing, the PPC ought not to subject itself to undue political influence.

Yours sincerely, Joel Bhagwandin

Commissioner, PPC

Infectious Disease Hospital repurposed for managing other infections, says Health Minister

By Shamar Meusa

DESPITE the World Health Organisation ’ s ( WHO ) recent declaration that COVID - 19 is no longer a global public health emergency, Guyana’s authorities are still cautious and are monitoring the situation here.

This is according to Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony , who in an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle stated that each country would still have to conduct assessments and determine what they will do following the WHO declaration

He said that in some countries worldwide , COVID-19 cases are still being reported , and they must determine how this is managed

He added, “In our case, we have the capability of

checking everybody , if we need to test we will be able to test, we have that capacity.”

As such , the health minister said that if cases are found here, the healthcare system here has the experience in how to treat

those cases , even as he noted that if they require hospitalisation , there is still the capacity for that We have people trained , we have the beds we have all the other things that are necessary to treat COVID,” he said

The country has not recorded many COVID-19 cases that require hospitalisation in quite some time , leaving people to wonder what will become of Guyana ’ s Infectious Disease Hospital located at Liliendaal

In this regard, he said that while this might be the case, the health authorities have already been using the facility to manage persons with other infections such as tuberculosis among others

Meanwhile , in terms of Guyana ’ s COVID - 19 situation as it currently is, he stated that it would be hard to determine whether the country has reached a point where herd immunity was achieved or not

However , the health minister indicated that throughout the pandemic, authorities here were able to conduct an aggressive vaccination campaign

Against this backdrop, Dr Anthony said , “ What we know is that the vaccines that we gave for first dose , we had very high coverage, second dose we had relatively high coverage as well.”

As it relates to the third or booster doses, he said that not a lot of persons came forward to receive those doses. However, with the primary doses that have

been administered, he affirmed that a number of deaths have been averted as a result

According to the minister, though the WHO has declared COVID-19 over as a global health emergency, it is still important that persons still get inoculated

He then revealed to the Guyana Chronicle that as of right now , the ministry currently has in stock the most up-to-date COVID - 19 vaccines , the bivalent vaccines for those desirous of still receiving the shot

The bivalent COVID-19 vaccines, according to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) include a component of the original virus strain which provides broad protection against COVID-19, along with a component of the Omicron variant, to provide protection against COVID caused by that variant

Dr Anthony said, “So by combining that you will have a better immune response , so we do have bivalent vaccines and we have been making it available for those who want to come in and get vaccinated.”

He further noted that persons should still be encouraged to go out and get the COVID - 19 vaccine , even as he added that the

ministry would continue to administer vaccines across all 10 administrative regions to all categories of persons

Additionally , he said that the public should still be mindful of the symptoms of COVID-19 and the impact of the disease

Guyana recorded its first case of the novel coronavirus on March 11, 2020, which happened to be the same day that the WHO declared the COVID - 19 outbreak a global pandemic

The $1.6 billion Infectious Disease Facility was commissioned months later, in July 2020

When Guyana experienced a surge in COVID-19 cases the following year ( September 2021), the health minister said that plans for expansion might have to be put in place to cater for this

Further, Guyana began its COVID - 19 inoculation programme in February 2021, beginning with healthcare workers at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation who were on the frontline

The vaccination programme was later expanded to the general public, as the country had received over one million doses of COVID-19 vaccines

Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony (Delano Williams photo)

The Infectious Disease Hospital at Liliendaal (Guyana Chronicle file photo)

Press and Associations in Guyana

ALLAN Fenty was a true Caribbean and Guyanese bard-to-the-bone, who (always jocularly) never let me forget I’m from “a small-island Caribbean rock where people only speak Palawalla!”

We met soon after I started working as the editor of ‘The Mirror’ newspaper in 1993, and our friendship bonded in a mutually respectful way that allowed us to always ‘agree to disagree’ on the few occasions we couldn’t accord.

We met mainly on weekends in Georgetown -- at the domino table on Fridays at the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) or the Guyana Chronicle’s recreation centre at Lama Avenue, other times elsewhere with Bert Wilkinson or Sharief Khan, at a State House reception organised by then Information Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, or to review the Saturday newspapers at one of our favourite watering holes on Sheriff or Robb Streets.

Allan was also my best source on how to cook cross-cuisine Guyana food – and where to watch for who and what for a better understanding of some of the more hidden factors of life in what he’d often refer to as “two-tone Guyana”.

After getting souse on Saturday afternoons, we took pleasure in laughing whenever someone innocently mistook our increasing volume at our table-for-two for confrontation when it was only an increase in the decibel levels of (our) disagreement.

I would refer to Alan as ‘The Pluralist’ – for the simple fact that the word “me” and the adjective ‘I’ didn’t seem to exist when it came to describing himself, as he always said ‘Fenty’-this or ‘Fenty’-that, but never ‘I’ -and he’d simply reply asking me: ‘How many Fenty you see here, buddy?’)

Last time we met, we discussed which country better cooked (what we call) ‘CouCou’ -- an original African dish – and he went into one of his intellectually saucy episodes about “the vast ocean of a human difference between cooking cou-cou and making cou-cou…”

Once, when President Cheddi Jagan addressed an August 1st rally in the National Park wearing an African Dashiki shirt, Allan insisted, despite all my ‘cross-my-heart’ denials, that “Nobody c’yah tell Fenty you dis Pallawalla had nutting to do wid dat…”

And when I took a long sip and then ‘I’ll take the Fifth on dat…’ he replied: “Fenty accepts your admission of guilt…”

Allan was also a prolific writer and broadcaster who often reminded me, “I’ve seen lots of geese and ganders cooked in my life, some roasted, never to be eaten again…”

He could bat and bowl as well as he could poke bouncers and score boundaries, with or without fuss, no matter where and on what pitch.

I remember asking him why there were “two press associations” in Guyana and he replied: “There are two types of associations: those you associate with and those you ALSO associate with…”

His explanation was that “Those who look alike naturally associate together, so in that sense too, we have both sets of associations…”

Of course, the guardsman in his brain never allowed Fenty’s tongue to stray too far from his mouth’s gate, so he ended thus: “So, our associations associate and they press their respective associations in specific respective directions come-what-may, because that’s what associations are for: to press for the association…”

Typical Fenty… He would not get drawn into discussing why there was a Union of Guyanese Journalists (UGJ) and a Guyana Press Association (GPA) that never saw eye-to-eye or the same things the same ways.

I asked him once how he felt when our friend Moses Nagamootoo was charged and prosecuted for writing a story in The Mirror about ‘The Presidential Cow’ –about how an electric security fence along a presidential property had killed a poor farmer’s grazing cow, after coming into contact with the fence.

On Such occasions, Allan would answer a question I didn’t ask, like (in this case),

“Oh, I didn’t realise you didn’t know he was never jailed…”

Back then, the leadership of the UGJ pointed all fingers at the GPA, sometimes accusing it of being ‘an association of anti-PPP affiliates’, or ‘a communion of anti-Jagan associates’ and very rarely would the two meet -- except at regional or international engagements.

Fast-forward three decades, the UGJ is no longer seen or heard, while the GPA has become a skeleton of itself, now unrecognisable by many in the Guyana press in the three years since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in 2020.

It’s emerging now that what used to be a classic example of Fenty’s definition of ‘an association of associates’ to what seems and sounds like a virtual, if not verifiable, private and copyrighted property that can’t be called to the table or held to heel as with traditional associations of its type.

So, (I’m told) unlike registered national organisations that must observe certain legal protocols ahead of annual or general meetings, today’s GPA could not have been forced to publish a voters or membership list ahead of last weekend’s (s)elections.

Why? Because it’s not and no-longer what it used to be.

Here again, like it did regarding the Reporters Without Borders Guyana report that almost sounded like about another country, the Chronicle went head-overheels (even though not on bended knees) to advise the GPA’s leader or leadership to do the right thing(s) and allow for an open, free and fair elections process that’s not just also free from fear, but also free to be attended by and voted at, by all – but to no (or not enough) avail…

Given his present location, I wouldn’t give anything to ask Fenty directly today how he feels about the state of play with the GPA, but my fertile imagination can well see him taking the usual long sip to drown the dreariness and replying:

“Well, my Pallawalla friend, when you lived here it was a two-tone Guyana. But today, Fenty can see like we have started tuning the national tone to press for one national Guyana association…”

Queens, princesses crowned at 30th Mother and Daughter Pageant

By Faith Greene

THE National Cultural Centre (NCC) was in a state of frenzy last Saturday as 22 pairs of mothers and daughters graced the stage for the 30th Mother and Daughter Pageant.

This year, the pageant’s theme, ‘The Year of the Pearl, Our Love is Thirty’, was elegantly displayed with bright lights, crafted jellyfish, clam shells on both sides of the stage, foggy mists, and little and large pearls. There was also a screen displaying bubbles, which added to the underwater effect of

the evening.

The judges of this year’s pageant had tough decisions to make as mothers and daughters in each category gave their all to their presentations. Dresses in all designs, colours, and sizes glided around from one end of the stage to the other as contestants warmly showcased their love for each other on stage.

In the end, three pairs of mothers and daughters emerged as the Queens and Princesses of the pageant. The winners of the Junior Category were: Leanne Hernandez and Ja’Nae; middle category: Shanice Simon and Le Shaunte; and in

the senior category: Natasha Brandt- Johnson and Jadiamond Johnson.

The mother and daughter pageant exceeded the expectations of the rows of excited patrons who showed their support and gave their attention to the excellent performances of all on stage. The Supa Stylistics team and the Fung family have done a remarkable job honouring the pearl in their theme.

The pageant is the brainchild of Ingrid Fung and the late Gwyn Wiltshire, who, 30 years ago, were teachers at St. Joseph High School when they

Continued on page 11

Members of the Fung family graced the stage to welcome those in attendance (Delano Williams photo)

From left: Mrs. Ingrid Fung, Leanne Hernandez and Ja’Nae, Natasha Brandt-Johnson and Jadiamond Johnson, Shanice Simon and Le Shaunte and Sulan Fung. (Delano Williams photo)

Exxon's liability insurance: Appeal Court to hear merit of EPA's appeal

THE Court of Appeal will be assessing the merits of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) appeal to overturn Justice Sandil Kissoon’s decision that the agency and oil giant ExxonMobil breached obligations relating to its oil spill insurance policy.

To proceed with this crucial hearing, Justice of Appeal Rishi Persaud, on Monday, scheduled May 29 at 10:00 a.m. as the date to hear arguments regarding the potential success of the appeal.

During a hearing, Justice Persaud established strict timelines for submitting writ-

ten arguments by the parties involved.

During the proceedings, Sanjeev Datadin, the lawyer representing the EPA, requested a stay on the May 3 order that directed the EPA to issue an Enforcement Notice to ExxonMobil's local affiliate, Esso Exploration and

Production (Guyana) Limited (EEPGL), by May 9.

The order required EEPGL to provide an unlimited parent company guarantee agreement and/or unlimited liability Affiliate Company Guarantee, along with environmental liability insurance, within 30 days, as is customary in the international petroleum industry.

However, the judge refused Datadin's application to suspend the judgment until the appeal hearing, indicating his intention to evaluate the reasonable prospects of success and deliver his ruling before June 10, the deadline for complying with Justice

Kissoon's initial ruling.

On May 3, Justice Kissoon found that the oil giant “engaged in a disingenuous attempt” to dilute its obligations under its environmental permit for its Liza One project, by not fully meeting insurance requirements relating to environmental protections.

The EPA’s attorney, Sanjeev Datadin, has moved to the appellate court, seeking a stay of the ruling, among other things.

In the application, the EPA argued that Justice Singh made an error in interpreting and applying two legal provisions related to an environmental permit issued

to a company called Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd.

The first provision is Clause 14 of the Environmental Permit, which is a condition the company must comply with to operate in Guyana.

The second provision is Section 31(2) of the Environmental Protection Act, which sets out requirements for financial assurances that companies must provide in relation to environmental permits.

The appellant is contending that the trial court misinterpreted these provisions and wrongly concluded that

the financial assurance required of Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd. was unlimited.

“The Trial court erred in law in directing and determining the exact manner of the exercise of the discretion of the appellant in a manner contrary to established law and practice. In effect the Trial court substituted its own discretion as the decision of the appellant when the appellant, at all material times, had exercised its discretion and acted well within its statutory and regulatory powers,” the court document read.

‘The Year of...

THE Ministry of Home Affairs will engage the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to implement stricter penalties for road users who have not paid their ticketing fees.

Minister Robeson Benn said the move to introduce a robust framework of stringent penalties is necessary, especially since there is an urgent need to hold individuals accountable for traffic offences.

He made the statement Monday during the 7th United Nations Global Road Safety Week launch, which is being observed from May 15 to 21 under the theme ‘Rethink Mobility’.

“Many of them have a large number of tickets I believe accumulated for which they haven’t paid…I am going to enjoy a conversation with the Guyana Revenue Authority for per-

sons after a certain number of tickets which haven’t been paid; we’ll not only suspend their licences but hold their vehicles,” Minister Benn disclosed.

The Guyana Police Force will procure an additional 300 wheel clamps to

detain vehicles obstructing traffic flow.

Passengers are also being urged to speak out against errant drivers. “If we jump in the minibus, we are fearful to say you’re going too fast… we need to speak out some more and to stand our ground in relation to when we use public or private transport. We have to have the courage to speak out,” the home affairs minister emphasised.

He said the country must bring more awareness on the issue at all levels and has assured that his ministry will work harder to end road carnage.

“We have to get together on the issue to save lives and to avoid the distress, the deaths, the inability to work and provide for your family anymore…we cannot continue in this way,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Traffic

Chief (ag) Superintendent Dennis Stephen revealed that in five years, some 147 pedestrians lost their lives, and another 11 persons died while on electric bicycles in two years.

From January 2023, a total of 16 cyclists, inclusive of pillion riders, lost their lives. The Home Affairs Ministry has distributed 300 helmets to the Traffic Department to share to cyclists, to ensure their protection.

“I am imploring all road users to obey the rules of the road, look out for the vulnerable group, persons above age who cross the road slowly, drive within the safe speed limit, look out and observe,” the traffic chief urged.

From page 10 embarked on this journey that has exposed many mothers and daughters to the world of pageantry, which in turn has brought them closer together.

Meanwhile, companies such as Igloo, (which offered free samples of their new sugar free ice cream), Bistro Wine and Champagne Bar, DeSinco Trading, Guyana Beverages Inc, Royal Castle and so on, met attendees of the event on Chung’s Global red carpet in the NCC’s lobby.

Additionally, the pageant had three categories - Junior, Middle and Senior - where contestants were judged based on the creativity and design of their outfit, the appropriateness or how well it fits the theme or event they would be attending, and much more.

Mrs. Fung and her daughter, Dr. Sulan Fung have in recent years been the face of the pageant as the pageant’s producers, but behind the scenes, other members of the Fung family have provided tremendous amounts of help through training and pageant coaching, set design, and hosting, just to name a few.

The Saturday night pageant featured a few concert performances from outstanding local artistes; Timeka Marshall, Jumo Primo, Nekeita, Jacky Jaxx, Calvin Burnett and Vicadi Singh. As time grew closer to the end, a beautiful pearl drop was seen while the crowd of excited pageant goers danced and sang along in their seats.

Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn

GRA to impose tougher penalties for unpaid tickets – Minister Benn warns

Health programmes sensitising session done for persons with hearing, speech disabilities

TO provide equal access to healthcare for persons with hearing and speech disabilities, the Ministry of Health recently conducted a sensitisation initiative to bring awareness to the various health programmes being implemented.

The ministry’s Maternal and Child Health Department facilitated the exercise at the Grand Coastal Hotel last Saturday.

Sign language expert Leticia Alexander and Public Health Nurse Edol Ainsworth were the facilitators of the session.

Through hand signing and other means of communication, persons were lectured on the routine immunisation programme, the COVID-19 and booster vaccines, along with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines.

Maternal and Child Health Officer, Dr. Oneka Scott disclosed that the initiative will be done in three phases, with the first being to educate persons on the benefits of the vaccines.

The other sessions consist of advancing engagements with adolescents and developing vaccine promotional

content using sign language.

Dr. Scott pointed out that health literacy plays an important role in people's choices and noted that the activity would improve one’s approach to health.

To continue to deliver accessible and quality healthcare to its citizens, the Government of Guyana, through the Health Ministry, conducted a series of COVID-19 drive-through vaccination exercises, while several outreaches are ongoing to increase the number of administered vaccines for HPV.

Similar campaigns are being done for yellow fever, Hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), and tetanus, amongst many others.

Although the World Health Organisation (WHO) recently announced that COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency, Subject Minister Dr. Frank Anthony has encouraged Guyanese to remain vigilant and take precautions.

The sum of $84.9 million was allotted for the healthcare sector in this year’s budget.

THE paper committal inquiry against former Finance Minister Winston Jordan, who is accused of misconduct in public office, is expected to commence today.

Senior Magistrate, Leron Daly, who sits at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, will preside over the inquiry.

At the last court hearing, Jordan’s attorneys had chosen a paper committal inquiry rather than a fullblown trial. One of Jordan’s lawyers, Dawn Cush, had asked for the matter to remain indictable and proceed through a paper committal.

Jordan appeared in court for the first time in December 2021 and was released on $3 million bail. He was not required to plead to the charge since it was an indictable offence.

It was alleged that, while serving as Finance Minister under the APNU+AFC coalition government, Jordan committed willful misconduct by acting recklessly when he signed the NICIL (Transfer of Property) Order, No. 50 of 2020. NICIL, the government’s holding company, fell under Jordan’s ministerial portfolio.

The substantive matter relates to Jordan transferring and vesting to BK Marine Inc. all buildings, erections, stellings, platforms,

and further appurtenances at Mud Lots One and Two, F of Mud Lot Three, A, B & D, amounting to more than 2.553 acres.

In that transaction, it was reported that $20,260,276 was paid for a property initially valued at over $5,000,000,000. The selling price was reportedly grossly below the actual value of the assets sold.

The former Finance Minister is also being represented by fellow APNU coalition party members, attorneys-at-law Roysdale Forde S.C., Khemraj Ramjattan, Joseph Harmon, and Darren Wade.

Participants in the sensitisation exercise

Winston Jordan trial to commence today

Former Finance Minister, Winston Jordan

Miner killed at ‘Chiney Creek’- suspect arrested Mon Repos resident dies in accident

A PEDESTRIAN,

57-year-old Ralph DeCastro, is now dead after he was, on Saturday, struck down by a car on the Mon Repos Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), at about 19:30hrs.

According to a release from the police, the accident involved motor vehicle PAD 7001, owned and driven by a 41-year-old female of Enmore, ECD; and De’Castro, now-deceased, of Mon Repos, ECD.

Enquiries disclosed

that the driver of motor vehicle PAD 7001 was proceeding east along the northern driving lane of the northern carriageway when she allegedly saw a man suddenly walking from north to south across the road into the path of her vehicle.

On seeing that, she applied brakes, but the left side front of her vehicle collided with the pedestrian, who was flung onto the road surface and received injuries.

The pedestrian was picked up from the road in an unconscious state by public-spirited citizens and was escorted to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was examined and pronounced dead. Police said investigations are ongoing.

RAYNOLD John, a 24-year-old miner of Moruca village, Region One, was allegedly murdered about 00:30 hrs. on Sunday at 'Chiney Creek' Backdam, Puruni River.

Investigations revealed that the deceased and the suspect are known to each other as they work close to one another.

The now deceased miner was employed by Francis Henry, a 53-year-old dredge owner, while the suspect, a 23-year-old miner from Karawabe village, Pomeroon River, was employed on another dredge.

At about 17:30 hrs on Saturday afternoon, John left his camp and went to another camp nearby that sells alcohol, and there he began drinking with some friends, including the suspect.

While drinking, an argument ensued between John and the suspect, resulting in John leaving where he was drinking and heading back to his camp.

The 23-year-old suspect followed John into the camp where he works. At that

point, the suspect allegedly pulled out a knife from the waist of his pants and dealt John one stab to the centre of his chest, which began bleeding profusely.

John fell to the ground and, shortly afterwards, became motionless. On arrival at the scene, police examined the body, and a single stab wound was seen in the centre of the chest.

Checks were made for the suspect, who was arrested at another camp some distance away. The scene was processed and photographed,

and the knife used was found on a bench in the camp. John's body was escorted to Bartica Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The suspect was taken to Bartica police station, where, under caution, he gave a confession.

Police said a video interview was also done in which he again detailed what happened.

Statements were taken, and the suspect remains in custody as investigations continue.

DEAD: Ralph DeCastro

A police rank examining Raynold John’s body

Wanted bulletin issued over Linden double murder

ner, Linden, are wanted over the murders of 87-year-old Johnson Bowen and Emmanuel Dos Santos, a 58-yearold miner of Block 22 Wismar, Linden.

If seen, or anyone who has information about the whereabouts of the said wanted persons, contact the police at 225-6940, 225-8196, 226-

7476, 225-2317, 225-8196, 227-1149, or the nearest police station.

Bowen and his son-in-law were brutally killed, allegedly by bandits, sometime between 04:00 hrs. and 04:15 hrs. on Saturday.

Another family member, Denzel Roberts, 20, was shot in the mouth and remains in

critical condition.

According to a neighbour, Dos Santos had recently returned from working in the interior, and it is believed that the bandits thought the family had gold and cash in the house.

However, they could only escape with a laptop and some other items. In a

desperate attempt to defend themselves, the males in the house attacked the intruders with cutlasses.

Police later arrested two suspects at a hideout in Linden, along with an unidentified man who is believed to be one of the suspects in the crime.

THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Monday issued wanted bulletins for two men in connection to the Block 22 Wismar, Linden home invasion last Satur-

day, which left two people dead and another critical.

Troy Bruce, called ‘Blacka’, 30, of Lot 26 Wismar Hill, Linden and John Ross called ‘JR’ of Five Cor-

Miner nabbed with unlicensed firearm at Baramita

KELTON Royden Mc Lennon, a 29-year-old miner of Arakaka Compound, North West District, was ‘busted’ by police on Monday morning, after he was found to be in possession of a.32 Taurus pistol with an empty magazine.

At around 10:21 hours on Monday, ranks from the Baramita Police Station acted on information received and visited a shop located at Return Village, Baramita, North West District, where they saw Mc Lennon. The ranks searched him and found the weapon on him.

As a result, the Ranks conducted checks and confirmed that the suspect was not the holder of a firearm licence. McLennon was placed into custody and is slated to be charged soon.

Wanted: Troy Bruce called ‘Blacka’

Johnson Bowen

Wanted: John Ross called ‘JR’

Manuel Dos Santos

The illegal firearm seized by police

Fugitive arrested in Guyana escorted back to US

RANKS of the Guyana Police Force Criminal Investigations Department, in a joint effort with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the United States Diplomatic Security Service, arrested a federal fugitive who fled the United States to seek shelter, in Guyana, from justice.

Bobby Allen Stark, who is wanted in the United States of America for allegedly sexually assaulting a child, has been arrested by the Guyana Police Force during an intelligence-led operation on Friday, May 12.

“The fugitive is wanted for criminal acts allegedly committed in the United States. Acting on information received, Guyana Police Force Officers, in collaboration with Diplomatic Security Service, located the

fugitive.

“The fugitive was escorted back to the United States by federal agents to face charges,” United States Embassy said in a statement on Monday.

The arrest took place at a location along the East Bank Demerara, after the police acted on information received.

Stark missed court for a jury trial in October 2022.

He is wanted for sexual assault on a child by someone in a position of trust, and online court records indicated that he was arrested on April 30, 2022.

The incidents of alleged sexual assault occurred between January 16, 2019, and February 23, 2022. Stark pleaded not guilty to the charges on June 3, 2022.

Corentyne woman, 60, found dead at residence

Initial investigations revealed that the woman was last seen alive on May 9, 2023, at a 'wake house' at Mibicuri.

Dropatie Ramsook, the woman's 44-year-old daughter, who lives at Mibicuri, said her mother lived alone and has a medical history of suffering from High Blood Pressure.

The body was escorted to Ramo’s Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination. Investigations are continuing.

Bobby Allen Stark

CECILIA Ramsook, called 'Sisto', a 60-year-old unemployed woman from Lot 41 Johanna North, Black Bush Polder, East Berbice, Corentyne, was on Sunday found dead at her residence around 08:00 hrs.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Tuesday May 16, 2023)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Parthiv Patel: 12 – 11 catches; 1 stumping (RCB)

(2) 135 for the third wicket: David Miller & Glen Maxwell (Kings XI vs CSK)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) How many IPL matches Chris Gayle has played?

(2) How many wickets Dwayne Bravo has claimed in IPL cricket?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

RACING TIPS

South Africa Racing Tips

Vaal

08:10 hrs Key Element

08:45

09:55

Sandown

12:40 hrs Seven Aces

13:15 hrs Roost

13:45 hrs Slipofthepen

14:15 hrs Tajawal

14:45 hrs God Of Fire

15:20 hrs Mountain Queen

English Racing Tips Beverley

Irish Racing Tips Killarney

12:00 hrs Just An Hour

10:00 hrs

12:30 hrs Maybe Just Maybe

13:05 hrs Fernao

13:35 hrs Malacanne

14:05 hrs Miss Cunning

14:35 hrs Barometer

15:10 hrs HMS Seahorse

11:50 hrs

12:25 hrs Purnika

13:00 hrs Platinum Girl

13:30 hrs Slainte Mhath

14:00 hrs Deferred

14:30 hrs Bert Kibbler

15:05 hrs Iron Sheriff

15:40 hrs Kodebreaker

American Racing Tips

Finger Lakes Race 1 Summer Nitro

Race 2 Smart Storm

Race 3 Hngout

Race 4 Boxed In And Bored Race 5 Stuck Up

Race 6 Midnight Rosie Race 7 Honorable Lilly

Gill and Shami seal top-two finish for Titans

(ESPNCRICINFO)Gujarat Titans stormed to a top-two finish for the second time in a row with a 34-run win against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Ahmedabad on Monday. With 18 points from 13 matches, the defending champions are the first team to seal a playoff berth, en route knocking Sunrisers out of the contention.

Shubman Gill's maiden IPL hundred and Sai Sudharsan's 47 propelled Titans to 188 for 9 after being put into bat. That set the stage for Mohammed Shami, Yash Dayal and Mohit Sharma to trigger a Sunrisers collapse very early in the chase and that was basically that. Despite Heinrich Klaasen's fighting fifty, too much was left too late to chase down.

It was also a night when pacers called the shots, accounting for 17 of the 18 wickets to fall on the red-soil pitch at Motera Stadium. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was one among them, who shone the brightest by taking a five-wicket haul, however, it wasn't enough for Sunrisers who now have nothing to play for but their own wounded pride.

Gill and Sudharsan turn it on Wriddhiman Saha's stay was short-lived as he nicked an outswinger from Bhuvneshwar to be out for a duck off the third ball of the innings. From there on, it was the Gill-Sudharsan show as the duo put on 149 runs for the second wicket. Barring them, none of the Titans' batters even touched double-figures.

Both Gill and Sudharsan's innings were filled with fours - 13 to the centurion and six to the almost half-centurion. They hit 10 fours in the powerplay with

four of them coming backto-back in the fourth over bowled by left-arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi. A pull, a short-arm jab, a cover drive, a scoop, you name it, Gill played it.

From 65 for 1 after six overs, the total touched 100 in the next four as the Titans kept accelerating. Interestingly, the first six of the innings came only in the 11th over, off Sudharsan's bat when he scooped left-arm seamer Marco Jansen over fine leg.

Having reached his first fifty, with nine fours and no sixes, in 22 balls, Gill slowed down a bit, needing 34 more to bring up his hundred.

Sudharsan, who replaced Vijay Shankar to play his first match in almost a month, looked solid in terms of technique, finding gaps and putting away loose balls. He did, however, benefit from two dropped catches.

Five-star Bhuvneshwar

It all began in the 15th over bowled by Jansen, who had missed Sunrisers' last few games. By that time, the left-arm pacer had conceded 32 runs in his three overs and had bowled four wides and two noballs. Yet Aiden Markram backed him and the bowler repaid that faith. He dismissed Sudharsan with his first delivery of the over when Natarajan ran from backward point and took an excellent catch.

In the next over, Bhuvneshwar had Hardik Pandya caught at backward point. Natarajan came on for the 17th over and he picked up the wicket of David Miller. It was then Farooqi's turn to dismiss the IPL debutant Dasun Shanaka.

Then came the final over where Bhuvneshwar

went W, W, W, 1, W, 1b to close things out. He scalped three wickets and effected a run-out to finish with an excellent figure of 5 for 30.

Titans strangle SRH upfront

Sunrisers couldn't handle the pace of Shami, Dayal and Mohit, who combined to take all nine wickets that fell in the chase. In the first over, Anmolpreet Singh top-edged a backof-the-length ball and was caught by Rashid Khan, running across from deep third. In the second, Dayal induced an outside edge to send Abhishek Sharma back. Then came steaming hot Shami who was too good for both Rahul Tripathi and Aiden Markram. At that stage, he seemed almost unplayable - three wickets for five runs in 10 balls.

Sunrisers' 29 for 4 became 59 for 7 when Mohit picked up three wickets in his first two overs.

Klaasen, the lone warrior

Losing regular wickets at the other end didn't stop Klaasen from looking for quick runs. In an otherwise forgettable season for Sunrisers' batters, the South African was the only one to cross the 300run mark this season. On Monday, though he started patiently by scoring 23 off his first 18 deliveries, he took the attack against Noor Ahmad, smashing two sixes and a boundary off his bowling to up the ante. He got to his second fifty of the season in 35 balls. The only notable partnership for the visitors was the one for the eighth wicket between Klaasen (64) and Bhuvneshwar (27) as they stitched 68 runs off 47 deliveries.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up three wickets in the final over•BCCI

Sound Box, Exodus and Coomacka among night one winners

THE People’s Progressive Party /Civic organised Linden One Guyana Beach Football championship kicked off Sunday night with six matches played as teams vie for the total $1M sponsorship championship at the PPP/C Office compound in Industrial Area, Linden.

Sound Box started the tournament playing in the first game where they overcame Young Gunners following a hat-trick of goals from Malachi Humphrey.

The Exodus gained a walkover from Street Light in game two; the latter failing to show.

Game three was where Coomacka drubbed Anybody

Got It 7-1, after a 3-0 advantage at the break.

A hat-trick of goals from Alex Daw, a double from Jamal Whyte and single strikes from Damian Williams and Ateba Edmondson accounted for the goals by Coomaka.

Shama Jordan got the lone goal for Anybody Got It.

In game four of the evening Young Ballers squeezed past Taliban 1-0 with Osapho Ross getting the only goal of the game for the winners.

In game five, the penultimate game ended 2-1 for the Elite Ballers over Hi Stars with Dennison Sealey and Kester Randolph scoring for the Elite Ballers while the consolation goal for Hi Stars was from Jermain King.

The final game on this opening night showcased National Under 20 female player Sheneesa Cornelius appearing for the eventual winners Speightland who won 4-1 against Gennasyde.

Cornelius playing among the males was fearless after her recent showing for Guyana in the under 20 CONCACAF Qualifiers in the Dominican Republic.

However, it was Marvin Jeffrey who netted a quadruple of goals for Speightland with the only response coming from Vichron Chantrenent for the Gennasyde team.

The competition continues with day two tomorrow at the same venue.

Big wins for Saints opening day of Oceaneering u-14 indoor hockey league

Last Friday, the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) under-14 Indoor Hockey League that is sponsored by Oceaneering, got underway after a three-year hiatus. The tournament, which features matches every Friday until June 23rd in various schools, was highly welcomed by hockey juniors keen for much needed competition after the pandemic.

In the girl’s division, there were some very familiar faces back in action with Kaiyra Scott scoring all six goals to guarantee her team SHC Sensations a 6-2 victory over the Cummings Lodge Samurai. Kaiyra Scott has been playing in this tournament since age seven when it first started in 2017. Newcomers, Cummings Lodge Samurai, defeated Hikers Junior Jets with an exciting goal early in second half from Letifa Fields. GCC Challengers, Kadence Belony and Richard Ishmael Top Shelf Titans, Amya Norville scored a goal apiece to draw their game.

Griffith wants West Indies to play cricket as ‘freely as possible’

Saints with their usual strong performance in junior tournaments saw their boys’ team SHC Minions defeat GCC Pitbulls 4-0 with goals from twins Jarel and Jaron Isadore and a double

from Ezekiel Moses. GCC Outlaws dominated in their first match against North Ruimveldt Multilateral with a 9-0 victory lead by a hat trick from Kyle Couchman.

The league will be held

every Friday with games starting at 16:00 hours and concluding at 19:00 hours. This Friday the action will continue at St. Joseph High School.

CMC – West Indies A head coach, Rayon Griffith, says one of his main roles on the three-match “Test” tour of Bangladesh is to foster an environment where players can further develop their talent.

The Guyanese, the assistant coach on the recent Test tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa, said communication would be critical to this process, in consultation with captain Joshua Da Silva.

“I’m impressed with the talent that we have in the team. As management, we’re creating an environment for the [players] to be the best version of themselves,” Griffith said ahead of the opening four-day “Test” which bowls off here at 10 am Tuesday (midnight Monday, Eastern Caribbean time).

“On top of that, [Joshua Da Silva] who is captain of the side, he plays with the Test side and I’ve worked with him so the relationship is already there, which is good.

“Both of us are trying to send the right messages to the player or have the right message, and we can be consistent, so we can allow the players to express themselves, instead of not allowing them to have that clarity.

“We want to be as clear as possible and to make sure – as I said – to let them be themselves and play the cricket as [freely as possible].”

The pitch at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium has already come under scrutiny with a layer of grass catching the attention of the visitors.

And while the travelling squad includes the fast-bowling quartet of Akeem Jordan, Jair McAllister, Anderson Phillip and Raymon Reifer, Griffith warned against getting too carried away.

“The conditions are something we expected before we came,” Griffith pointed out.

“There’s a touch of green on the pitch but underneath seems to be dry so we don’t want to be carried away with the grass on top of the surface.

“We believe we have to go into this first game with a balanced bowling attack of spin and pace.”

Griffith’s tour coaching staff for the May 16 to June 2 tour comprises former West Indies batsman Stuart Williams and first class seamer Andrew Richardson.

PPP/C Linden Beach Football Championship…

Speightland scorer Marvin Cornelius

Saints Minions

West Indies A team

Elton Dharry ready for Columbian on Sunday at National Gymnasium

By Sean Devers

United States based 37-year-old Elton Dharry will battle Ramos Ronald of Columbia over eight rounds in a Bantamweight class while Dexter Marques will square off an eight round Super Bantamweight affair against Columbian Luis Carillo.

The pair will headline the Seon Bristol Promotions ‘Return of the Scorpion’ Boxing Card from 19:30 hours on Sunday May 21 at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue.

Dharry, with a professional record of 33 fights, 26 wins, 1 draw, with most of his victories coming by way of 15 knock outs, is scheduled to arrive in Guyana on Friday.

Dharry last fought in Guyana in April 2022 at the National Stadium at Providence when he beat Orlando

Speaking to this newspa-

from his home in Brook-

lyn New York Dharry, who challenged for the WBA in-

terim super-flyweight title in 2019, said he was ready for Sunday night and to fight in the land of his birth.

“I always prepare to win, I did alot of boxing and physical training here (NY) in adding gathering knowledge on opponent. He is southpaw with a lot of experience but I ready for whatever he throws at me” disclosed Dharry who hails from Essequibo.

In 2013, Dharry’s win against Rudolph Hedge of Jamaica for the World Boxing Union (WBU) bantamweight title made him the first Guyanese to win a world title on home soil and he said that he is hoping to win another World Title in Guyana.

He also spoke the importance of Sunday’s fight as a stepping stone to that (winning a World title here) becoming a reality.

“This fight is very important. It’s important for me to win this fight since it’s the

KFC- sponsored GFF Elite League

only way I can go forward with the bigger fights.

“I'll be myself on fight night. The Elton Dharry that shows up to win,” responded Dharry when asked if he will be a boxer or fighter against the Columbian on Sunday.

“To all my fans, don't miss this fight. I always show up to fight, show up to win, show up to represent.” promised Dharry who will be a guest on the ‘Sean Devers Sports Watch Radio program tonight.

Sunday’s bout will a great chance to get a warm-up fight ahead of his WBC Silver encounter in July.

Dharry will fight for WBC Silver which is one level down from a World Title and it is understood that fight is slated tentatively for July 15, 2023 at the Everest Cricket Club on Camp Road.

Defending champs Fruta lose on opening night; Western thump Milerock

TEN football clubs, on Sunday evening, were involved in a ceremonious march pass, which signalled the commencement of the KFC- sponsored, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League 2023.

When it got down to game time, Western Tigers thumped Milerock FC, out of Linden, 10-0.

Western’s Captain Daniel Wilson opened the scoring early in the 3rd minute of the encounter, after executing a stellar strike after receiving a well- placed assist from Eusi Phillips.

The second goal was not witnessed until the 31st minute of the game, when Hubert Pedro beat the defender and the goalkeeper with a long shot, just inside the 18-yard box.

It was at that point that goals started to rain down on

the Milerock defence. A leap and a header resulted in the third goal for Western Tigers, coming from Jorrell Tyrell in the 33rd, while in the 44th Curtez Kellman added his name to the scoresheet with a blistering longshot straight through the middle.

The half ended 4-0, but the West Ruimveldt-based

outfit had lots more in store. With the introduction of Trayon Bobb in the second half, things got a lot pacier for Milerock.

Wilson went on to complete his hattrick in the 50th and 83rd; the latter being assisted by Bobb from the wings, while Jorrell Tyrrell completed his double with

another strike in the 58th.

Malachi Grannum added to the tally in the 71st and Bobb’s sprints down the wigs paid dividends in the 80th, when he found the back of the net. In the 90th+2, Jermaine Beckles sealed the deal, bringing up their tenth goal, just before the final whistle was sounded.

In the second fixture of

the night, defending champions Fruta Conquerors crumbled under the pressure of the Guyana Police Force (FC) on their home turf.

At first, the matchup looked evenly poised with young Fruta Conquerors placing the first shot on target, though it was scooped up by the officer’s goalkeeper, their intensity remained high. Police on the other hand,

took some time to find their groove, but did not waste their opportunity when it came knocking.

With the Conquerors’ defence rushing to the wings, a clever pass found Nicholas McArthur square in front of the goal with no protection insight. McArthur made no mistake to register Police’s first in the 28th.

In the 83rd, it was McArthur again, who this time capitalised on a set piece to find the back of the net for his team’s second goal in the 2-0 victory.

The Elite League will continue tomorrow, Tuesday, with another double header at the same venue.

From 19:00 hours Victoria Kings will take on Santos, while GDF and Ann’s Grove go head-to-head from 21:00 hours.

Penal for the vacant WBC International Super Fly title.

per

Dharry beat Jamacian Rudolph Hedge for the World Boxing Union (WBU) bantamweight title which made him the first Guyanese to win a world title on home soil

Western Tigers Number six shields the ball from a Milerock FC player

Defending Champions Fruta Conquerors (orange) Chased the game for the most part

India to play two T20I matches in Guyana

By Sean Devers

IT was disclosed yesterday by the Guyana Cricket Board that the Guyana Government had successfully bid to host two of the five T20 Internationals which India are scheduled play on their tour to the West Indies and the USA from July 12 to August 13 2023.

The two games in Guyana are scheduled for Sunday August 6 and Tuesday August 8 with both matches fixed for the Providence Stadium starting at 10:30 hours.

India last played here in August 2019 when they battled West Indies in a T20I and an ODI.

Rain washed out the ODI with West Indies on 54-1 in 13 overs while in the T20, India, led by half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant, beat the hosts by seven wickets.

When fixtures were first set, only three T20Is were to be played on the tour which included two Tests and three ODIs.

However, CWI announced last month that the two extra T20I matches would be held at the Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium in Florida on August 12 & 13.

The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will commence on August 16, three days after the India-West Indies series ends in Florida, US. The CPL will climax with final on September 24 at Providence.

This the second of three years that the Government of Guyana has negotiated to have the play-offs held on the South American mainland.

Big wins for Saints opening day of Oceaneering u-14 indoor hockey league

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Saints Sensations