Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 20-05-2023

Mark Royden Williams, known as 'Smallie'

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, were among those who raised their glasses in recognition of the work done by US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, whose stint here is winding down. A Farewell Reception was held in her honour on Friday night (Delano Williams photo)

Creating investment opportunities for women

President, Dr Irfaan Ali, hosted an investment meeting with over 60 Guyanese women at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Friday A number of investment opportunities were discussed with the women, who are from various professional fields including law, medicine, tourism, business, media and entertainment President Ali encouraged them to take on more leadership roles and create greater business opportunities for themselves Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond; Director of Guyana’s Local Content Secretariat, Dr. Martin Pertab and Director of Presidential Affairs, Marcia Nadir-Sharma were also at the meeting. (Office of the President photos)

Strong Guyana-US relations grounded in trust, understanding - President Ali

applauds outgoing US Ambassador for lead role played in security, other areas

By Cassandra Khan

FOR the first time in the history of the relationship shared by the United States and Guyana, an exceptional level of collaboration and co - ordination has been achieved on the security front President , Dr Irfaan Ali, emphasised that this remarkable progress was made possible due to the commitment , common interests, and shared values of the outgoing US Ambassador to Guyana , Sarah-Ann Lynch.

While speaking at the US Ambassador’s farewell reception on Friday night, he noted that these factors have played an essential role in enabling Guyana’s security personnel to integrate more effectively than ever before

“On the security front, there has never been a period in the history of our relationship that we have had this level of co-ordina-

tion, collaboration on the security front and I think all the guys in this sector

should be applauded,” he said

In noting the greater

synergy that exists, President Ali related that there is an entire security archi-

tecture that both he and Ambassador Lynch are serious about , given the

tremendous accomplishments they have made by ensuring that a great pushback on the drug trade was created

Additionally, their collaboration on the security front has allowed Guyana’s human resource assets , to gain tremendous experience and training.

“

We now have more joint exchange programmes in the history of our country and not only at the military level, or the Guyana Police Force, [but] at the policymaking level and very soon, we’ll have a high-level visit to further strengthen our ambitions,” he stated

President Ali stated that security for a nation is one of the most critical issues that must be addressed and he believes that their joint commitment to deal with transnational crimes is admirable

Moreover , he said that not only was Lynch

See page 5

President Ali receives prestigious award for championing food security, sustainable development

THE Inter - American Institute for Co - operation on Agriculture (IICA) has announced that President, Dr . Mohamed Irfaan Ali will be the first recipient of the IICA Award for Contribution to Food Security and Sustainable Development.

In a press release , the IICA said it decided to present this award in recognition of President Ali’s leadership in agricultural transformation, food security and support for building resilient economies in a sustainable manner in Guyana and the Caribbean.

“The President’s support and commitment to public agendas related to issues such as regional integration, rural connectivity, social inclusion in the countryside and gender

equality , all of which are central areas of IICA’s work, were also considered for the presentation of this award

Since being elected President of Guyana, President Ali has exercised his leadership as Head of Government in the CARICOM Quasi - Cabinet , responsible for agriculture and rural development, with a mandate to advance the regional food security agenda,” the release said

It added that the Guyanese President has launched numerous initiatives focused on ensuring that sustainable agriculture remains a fundamental pillar for national and regional development

IICA pointed out that in Guyana, the most prominent initiatives include the Agri-

culture Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program (AEIP) targeting youths to become agribusiness owners ; agricultural processing and value addition; the revival and expansion of the aquaculture industry ; the advancement of the livestock industry and the programme for self-sufficiency in livestock feed with the production of corn and soybeans ; updating legislation to increase investment and trade; large infrastructure projects for roads, drainage and irrigation

It was pointed out that Guyana’s leadership in low carbon development has been strengthened under Dr Ali’s leadership , with the South American and Caribbean nation being the first to be

awarded TREES credits

The release emphasised that this innovative system of carbon credits is designed specifically for voluntary and compliance carbon markets to successfully prevent forest loss and degradation, a process known as jurisdictional REDD+.

“ At the regional level , President Ali’s vision is reflected in actions to transform agriculture and sustainable development Calling for deliberate action to bring to life the regional goal of reducing the Caribbean’s US$6 billion food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025; these measures have been adopted by CARICOM leaders

In addition, President Ali has successfully advocated

for the creation of the CARICOM Ad Hoc Ministerial Task Force (MTF) on Food Production and Food Security for CARICOM

The Guyana - Barbados Food Terminal Regional Food Hub is also being developed along with various initiatives to address logistics and transportation ,” the release said

President Ali is expected to travel to IICA Headquarters for the Americas in San José, Costa Rica, as the Guest of Honour and to inaugurate the Forty-third Regular Meeting of the Executive Committee of IICA on July 19, 2023

IICA is the specialised agency for agriculture of the Inter - American System that supports the efforts of

member states to achieve agricultural development and rural well-being

“

The Institute provides co-operation services through close and permanent work with its 34 member states, addressing their needs in a timely manner. Without a doubt , IICA ’ s most valuable asset is the close relationship it maintains with the beneficiaries of its work. We have broad experience in areas such as technology and innovation for agriculture, agricultural health, food safety and quality , international agricultural trade, family farming, rural development, natural resource management and the bioeconomy ,” the release added

US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch delivers remarks at the farewell reception (Delano Williams photos) President, Dr. Irfaan Ali

Opposition continuing fearmongering tactics

–– Jagdeo says

GENERAL Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo stated on Thursday that the Opposition , APNU ( A Partnership for National Unity), has continued to incite fear in residents of Georgetown as part of its campaign for the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGEs).

He made this remark during his weekly press conference, where he said that the PPP/C, during its

campaign, will continue to highlight its policies, and provide voters with relevant information “They will hear all of the rumours that APNU continues to spread , like in the city APNU told the people in ‘Front Road’, in East and West Ruimveldt, that should the PPP win Georgetown , we would remove all those squatters there on Front Road, inciting fear among the people But this is typical of APNU,” he said

He made it clear that such a course of action is untrue , before pointing out that the PPP / C government has not done the “ heavy - handed ” removal of people, but has instead regularised squatters

He went on to say that there has been no talk about removing persons , which is the only thing that the Opposition has to say “ This is what APNU has been doing; they have done that with the vendors, and we had to address that issue also with the vendors So, it’s a lot of fear-mongering among people,” he said

Noting that the Opposition has nothing positive to campaign on, Dr Jagdeo said:

“They’re worried about an exodus; and that is going to happen, because the moment people start working with this party, they will see that we stand for progress, and so they are fearful of that.”

He went on to note that his party has, over the last few days, been laying out to the people what they are campaigning on He insisted that party officials will visit every home to share those plans.

PPP/C General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

Strong Guyana-US relations grounded...

the Ambassador to Guyana, but also the Ambassador to CARICOM.

“ These results don ’ t come by accident It comes by building trust, confidence , supporting each other, understanding our very priorities , and then establishing a strong footing through which we build systems to improve what we want to achieve,” he said.

President Ali continued: “…energy, climate change and financing , food security on all three fronts, the US and CARICOM working collectively on a joint action plan to address all three of these critical global issues under the leadership

of Ambassador Lynch.”

TIRELESS EFFORTS

He acknowledged Ambassador Lynch ’ s tireless efforts to promote the presence and active participation of the US private sector in Guyana’s unfolding development.

Under her leadership, numerous American and Guyanese companies have formed partnerships across various sectors

He related that he sees her period of ambassadorship as results - oriented and driven

President Ali said that Ambassador Lynch has integrated herself into Guy-

ana’s society, culture, and customs and he assured her that when she looks back at the country in the next eight years, she will see a strong united Guyana Meanwhile, Ambassador Lynch in her remarks said that the event marked the beginning of her departure from Georgetown and her position as Ambassador She will begin her transition to her new position at the US Southern Command

“It has been the greatest honour of my professional life to serve as the United States Ambassador to Guyana and the Secretary of State’s Representative to CARICOM during

these past four plus years,” she said Ambassador Lynch said that with her Embassy teammates, they built their work around the guiding vision of furthering governance , prosperity , and security , and , over four years, they addressed some of the most consequential challenges and tremendous opportunities across all three priority areas

Some of the accomplishments of which she is most proud include providing capacity- building advice and technical assistance to help Guyana build key institutions, including key democratic institutions, like GECOM; and,

key financial institutions, like the GRA , to move ahead on modernising and digitising systems to improve transparency

On their security partnership, she said this sends a strong signal that the US and Guyana are partners and that they ( US ) care about Guyana

“Thanks to the excellent partnership with law enforcement, we have both had successful extraditions of criminals that have no place in our nations or our neighbourhood,” she said Ambassador Lynch continued : “ On the defence side , we provided millions of dollars in military training , undertook not one but now two

major military exercises (Tradewinds) in just three years , an unprecedented feat for any country of this size in the region, and provided critical medical care to hundreds of Guyanese thanks to medical visits by the U S military.”

She said that these accomplishments are mutual achievements that demonstrate that the partnership has been strengthened and deepened over the four years.

Lynch stated that this signals that they will be key allies for years to come in the region that they share

Several government ministers were among those in attendance.

LGE campaign heats up! The PPP/C has unveiled its first major billboard in Georgetown, as part of its ongoing campaign to sensitise persons about the Party’s plans ahead of the June 12 elections (Delano Williams photo)

LGE: Empowering communities for progress

LOCAL Government authorities, such as Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), play a critical role in providing essential services and ensuring a healthy and safe communal space for residents.

As we approach the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGEs), it is vital for citizens to carefully consider the representatives they elect to these positions.

Councillors elected to RDCs and NDCs have the responsibility of addressing crucial areas such as garbage collection, sanitisation, infrastructural development, drainage systems, and overall community development.

The impact of their decisions and actions can either enhance or hinder the well-being of the communities they represent. Through the act of voting, citizens have the opportunity to elect individuals who will effectively carry out these operational tasks and be accountable to their constituents.

It is worth noting that local government representatives play a distinct role that complements the services provided by other agencies. They rely on revenue generation through property taxes and fees to fund their activities. Additionally, government subventions are allocated to assist them in fulfilling their functions. By participating in the LGEs, citizens actively contribute to the financial sustainability of their communities.

One of the significant advantages of the LGEs is the direct connection it establishes between the community and its elected representatives. Rather than enduring a lengthy process to engage with ministers and government officials, community members can easily approach their RDCs or NDCs representatives to seek answers to their questions and resolution for their concerns. This direct interface strengthens the democratic process and allows individuals to have a greater say in the decision-making process within their communities.

Furthermore, the LGEs serves as a means of promoting unity, co-operation, and trust among different ethnic groups. By giving everyone a voice and making them an integral part of the governance process, LGEs foster an environment of respect and inclusivity. This inclusivity can also have a positive impact on national security, as cohesive communities are better equipped to tackle crime through a collaborative approach.

Accountability is another crucial aspect emphasized by the LGE system. Elected representatives become directly answerable to the people in their immediate communities, promoting transparency and responsibility in their actions. This system empowers citizens to be actively involved in building their local communities, leveraging the talents and resources present within various organisations and political parties.

Additionally, participating in the LGEs provides citizens with an opportunity to de-

velop leadership skills. Those who take on roles in leading their local communities can nurture these skills, which can subsequently be applied at the national level, contributing to the progress of the entire country.

The Local Government Elections (LGEs) are a powerful instrument for empowering communities and ensuring their progress. By electing representatives who are dedicated to the well-being of their constituents and actively participating in the decision-making process, citizens can shape their local communities and contribute to the development of the nation as a whole. Let us embrace the upcoming LGEs as an opportunity to create positive change and build stronger, more prosperous communities.

In February, Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall set Monday, June 12, 2023 as the date for the holding of the much-anticipated and long-overdue Local Government polls in Guyana.

Flawed election, fraud selection and foul installation

Dear Editor,

ONE of the key elements to live a healthy life is to love those around you, while liking food and water.

The Godforsaken, Pitiful and Alone, (let’s use the acronym GPA for easy reference), is a classic reminder of Mother Theresa’s quote, “We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty.”

While being penniless endures the catastrophe of penury, the paucity of companionship which stigmatises being comfortless and cheerless, is a bigger calamity Poverty, Nakedness and Companionless (PNC), is an associated acronym, which highlights one of the world’s most powerful quotes

These two acronyms are intertwined in a bonding relationship which binds their characteristics and defines their nature, and also, exposes their deficiencies. One wonders if such an earthly marriage is made in heaven or hell! Possession and attachment can become deadly foes and must not be mistaken for love.

Tolerance for hostility should not be encouraged in order to enjoy peace There are still people, party and posse which can qualify as GPA, particularly when a person or

a pool of persons is stigmatised as unpopular, unbeloved and unattended The individual or institution incidentally will, perhaps directly or indirectly, traverse the avenue of PNC, growing in pains of destitution, distress and desolation

Such adversities propel man and management to seek shelter as a recluse and to live with withdrawal syndromes, often times deliberately rather than inadvertently Escaping from the public to lie low in order to avoid responsibilities or to nurse wounds of inadequacies, certainly satisfies a personal agenda Ultimately, a head pops up intentionally, only to desperately exclaim most times in a negative voice and not positive, to stake a claim in society, reminding the public of its existence, not necessarily of its worth

This act of convenience , desperately fulfills the call of necessity George Bernard Shaw scripts it perfectly when deciphering consumption of something versus nothing:

“A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.”

Grabbing the bull by its horn and then cutting out the bull is an arena for bull fighters and not feather fighters

Society advances with productive factors After being GPA with PNC as a sidekick, wanting to get back in the stream line of life

to suffice, the urge of being glamorous to survive becomes irresistible at any cost

The appeal of hugging the limelight and wanting to become pronounced in business, pleasure and perks, overrides the principles of standard rules and regulations

Law and order take a backseat in order to satisfy a satiating appetite for name and fame once again, and, there is no second thought for taking short cuts at the risk of being infamous by being a bully, barefaced or a bodacious braggart

Confucius admirably coins the clean but convoluted viability, “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” With the technology of computers, it is easy to keep track of our sole purpose in life

How many would prefer to embrace obstacles to build a resistance which is required to live a purpose driven life? The vulnerability of GPA concocting with the mediator of PNC, becomes a defector to this concept Then again, how many would not hesitate to seek to trample on others, not necessarily the meek, weak or innocent?

Effective decisions are made in advance and not overnight To execute a plan calls for careful, meticulous and strategic forethought in order to extract the fruit of gains and not losses

Wanting to remain at the helm, there are

those who demand a savagery approach Supported by partners in crime and an orchestration of battlefield armors, the taste of success is guaranteed and not the touch of defeat Victor Frankl warns us, “Life is never made unbearable by circumstances , but only by lack of meaning and purpose.” We only have to deal with a situation when it’s created The world needs us to continuously do good

At the end of the day, there is a mirror of reflection The image should not be a mirage Coming from a distraught, distressed and disconsolate state, combined with the chemistry of being impoverished, isolated and ignored, this added duress becomes competitive, complicated and compromising

One has to continue to not speak the truth in order to tell a lie C Joybell reminds us, “The only way that we can live is if we grow

The only way we can grow is if we change

The only way we can change is if we learn

The only way we can learn is if we are exposed And the only way we are exposed is if we throw ourselves into the open.”

The press publicised that “Life is really simple, but social media has made it complicated.”

Yours respectfully,

Editor Navendra Seoraj

GPA has violated its own constitution

Dear Editor,

MR. Enrico Woolford has offered a response to my letter on the subject of the recent Guyana Press Association elections in which he writes that Kit Nascimento “has decided to go into his toolkit to tinker with the Guyana Press Association and declare what should or should not obtain”.

What exactly he means remains unclear throughout his long letter, but it is reasonable to conclude that it is intended to be disparaging

In fact, from all that Woolford writes, we are both very much on the same page, when he concludes that the Association “must remain resolute to ensure that any attempt/subterfuge to undermine its credibility/operations is soundly and utterly discredited and abandoned”. I have said, for instance, that “it remains essential that the Guyana Press Association should recover and restore its credibility in order

to fulfill its responsibility to represent the voice and concerns of a free media”.

I part company completely with Mr Woolford in that it is the Press Association itself which has caused the controversy over the way it has conducted its elections and sought to defend it by refusing to publish the list of its members deemed to be eligible to vote until the actual elections, bringing the credibility of the entire election into question

It is unheard of to conduct a free and fair election, without revealing for public scrutiny , the voters ’ list Ruel Johnson, writing on the same subject, has so aptly put it; “if there were a country which Government conducted a long overdue election in which a small group of incumbents illegally changed voting regulations and produce an inscrutable voters list which not only returned those people to power, but put in place a President whose reelected tenure is bound

to surpass constitutionally bound term limits, who was up for yet another term after the renewed incumbency, and who had sole legal control of the Treasury, that country would not fulfill even the minimum governance requirements of a functional democracy”. This exactly describes what the GPA has done

The GPA’s four-person Executive, when constitutionally five are required for a quorum, have, in fact, violated their own constitution in conducting the elections and have brought the controversy down upon their own heads.

The GPA has:

Refused to publish a list of members deemed to be eligible to vote

While it has been the GPA’s practice to allow registration and payment of membership fees up to the day of elections, it was never the practice to confine this to exclusively on the day

of elections, excluding any possibility of prior scrutiny or challenge of the list

Conducted elections without having audited accounts

Conducted their last elections in 2018, five and a half years ago Ms Raghubir sat as President for those five and a half years She is, however, restricted to serving three continuous terms in office, leaving six (6) months at the time she ran for elections She is now allowed to serve for another four years, which will add up to some nine and a half years Is she, therefore, prepared to resign in six months and call another election?

It is precisely, therefore, because of the importance of the Press Association remaining a credible voice of a free press that I have called upon Ms Raghubir and those elected with her to put right what has clearly gone wrong

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

Sale of the Marriott Hotel

Dear Editor,

FOR full disclosure , I was appointed Director on the Board of Directors for Atlantic Hotel Inc. (AHI) in 2020. AHI is the entity under which the government-owned Marriott Hotel is operated. As such, the discussion and analysis presented herein is based on the fact that I am privy to the financial information of the Marriott Hotel.

Much has been said about the Marriott

sale. In fact, much has been said about the Marriott since the inception when it was built by the government As I have said on several occasions publicly, one has to understand the background to the government’s decision to build the Marriott Hotel in the first place It was never the intention of the government to build and keep the Marriott for an indefinite period It was always the intention of the government to build and liquidate its stake at the appropriate time for the right price

The Marriott was built in an era when Guyana was starved for investments including foreign direct investments (FDIs). Despite the many attractive incentives that have existed since then, the country was unable to attract significant investments owing to a lack of confidence in the economy, especially in the tourism sector The need for hotels of four and five-star standards (which never existed before), was in keeping with a tourism strategy for the country developed three decades ago

In the post-1992 era, the average annual FDI into the country was less than US$100 million up to 2008, and averaged US$200 million from 2009 through 2017, two years after crude oil was discovered in commercial quantities From 1997–2001, private sector credit grew by 16 per cent or 4 per cent on average annually during that period, from a position of $43 billion in 1997 to $50 billion in 2001 And from 2002-2012, private sector credit grew cumulatively by 103 per cent from $55 billion to $116 billion, representing 10 per cent average annual growth These were not significant growth rates in FDIs and private sector credit during those years

In the first bid-round of the Marriott, this author had taken note of an editorial in the Stabroek News edition of April 8, 2023, with the caption, “Gov’t decision to discard Marriott bids raises questions.” The editorial cited an unknown “analyst” who argued that all bidders who offered US$50 million and more in effect agreed to pay 15 years of profit The analyst contended that in today ’ s environment , “ the offer price is attractive considering the ten new hotel projects approved by the government and that on Wall Street, blue chip companies’ valuation range from 8 to 12 times annual profits and asked why the 15+ times profit is not an attractive price”.

Of note, the unknown/anonymous analyst is referring to the Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio For the readers’ benefit, the P/E ratio is a metric used for the valuation of a company that measures its current share price relative to its earnings per share (EPS). This ratio is the price multiple or the earnings multiple and it gives an indication of how much an investor is willing to pay for a company’s stocks based on its earnings

The P/E ratio indicates whether a company is undervalued or overvalued and can be benchmarked against other stocks in the same industry or against the broader market, such as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Indexes (globally), or the broader domestic market in the case of Guyana However, the range of 8-12 cited in the editorial by the unknown analyst is not entirely correct A better indication would be derived from examining the average P/E as per the abovementioned indexes To this end, as of May 12, 2023, the NASDAQ P/E ratio averaged 27.56 and S&P 500 P/E averaged 18.42 Typically, a high P/E ratio is considered above 20x, suggesting that companies’ stocks are overvalued, or investors are expecting higher future growth rates

With this in mind, the previous highest offer of US$65 million represented 13 times the pre- tax profit and 17 times after- tax profit, assuming a pre-tax profit of US$5 million and net profit of US$3.75 million And now, the new highest offer of US$90 million represents 18 times the pre-tax profit and 24 times the net profit Thus, the P/E ratio based on the latest highest offer price is in line with the S&P 500 and NASDAQ indexes Further to note, there are mainly three broad methods of valuation for companies

These are the asset approach (fair market value ( FMV ) of net assets ), the income approach (intrinsic value) and the market approach (relative value). In the case of Guyana, bearing in mind that the local stock market and by extension the broader financial market is an inefficient market (not as efficient and sophisticated as in the case of Wall Street), and that the Marriott’s stocks are not traded on the local stock market, an appropriate method of valuation need to be adopted These limitations necessitate the adoption of a combination of the income approach and market approach methods to determine the Enterprise Value (EV) of the company In so doing, these methods entail analyzing the historic trends ( backward looking), and a forward-looking projected basis. This means that a number of assumptions on the projected future growth will have to be constructed in which a sensitivity and scenario analyses can be performed Of course, as this is a long-term investment, such analyses will be premised upon the overarching growth and development trajectory of the economy in decades to come

Again, for the readers’ benefit, enterprise value or firm value is a measure of a company’s total value, often used as a comprehensive alternative to equity market capitalisation, reflecting the market value of a business which is distinct from the market price

Having performed an analysis as described above, this author derived an EV with conservative assumptions of US$74 million under a pessimistic scenario and US$94 million under a cautiously optimistic scenario Additionally, given that the offer price will be used in part to clear the loans on the balance sheet, this will effectively result in additional free cash flow

So, assuming that the investor is a private equity investor, the investor will recover the initial invested capital within twelve years with a positive net present value (NPV) assuming a 5 per cent y-o-y growth in net profit Or, under a more conservative scenario , even if the net profit averages US$6 million one year after the investment and grows conservatively at a rate of 2 per cent annually over the next 15 years, the investor will still recover the investment cost within 15 years with a positive NPV at a discount rate of 5 per cent

Almost a decade later, if the new offer is accepted, this will effectively translate into a return on investment (ROI) for government of approximately 65 per cent, taking into account the offer price and the profits earned over years since the Marriott has been in operations Worthy of note, it is not unreasonable to view this as an extremely decent ROI at this time, because in the current environment, the average profit margin in the global hotel industry is 4 per cent

Finally, against all of the foregoing, the new highest offer price of US$90 million reflects a more realistic comprehensive value of the entity considering the entity’s historic financial performance and future growth projections

This also signals the investor’s confidence and optimism in the positive future prospects of the economy at large

Moreover, the new highest offer price is sufficient to clear the long-term debt on the balance sheet, and the remainder of not less than a third, will be transferred to the Consolidated Fund.

Yours sincerely,

Joel Bhagwandin Public Policy and Financial Analyst

CXC to disregard Mathematics Paper 2 following leak in Jamaica

HAVING concluded its investigation into the leaking of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Mathematics Paper 2, the Caribbean Examinations Council ( CXC ®), on Friday, announced that only the scores from the School-Based Assessment or Paper 032 for private candidates and Paper 1 will be used to tabulate the final grade.

The council made this disclosure in a press release which also stated that the origin of the leak was Jamaica

“CXC® has now concluded its investigation The security measures which CXC® has put in place have led us to identify the country as Jamaica and the examination centre where the leak originated In discussion with the Ministry of Education and Youth, the matter will be dealt with following CXC’s security protocols,” the release said, adding that the Council has been in constant contact with regional Ministries of Education since the information came to light.

It was noted that the Council and regional Ministries of Education recognise that candidates have spent months preparing for their Mathematics Paper 2 examination and the news of the security breach ( leak ) of the examination has caused much anxiety and concern

“ As a result of the breach and the compromise of the examination, as well as consideration for the mental health and wellbeing of our candidates, timely release of results, and matriculation requirements , CXC ® has determined that for this examination the modified approach will be used to award fair and valid grades,” it added

The modified approach entails an assessment of:

i the School-Based Assessment or Paper 032 (Alternative to SBA) for private candidates; and

ii Paper 1

According to the release, this decision was communicated to the regional Ministries of Education in a meeting held earlier in the day

“CXC® would like to reassure candidates that the security of the regional examinations is paramount , and their best interests continue to be at the centre of the organisation’s decisions and processes CXC® will continue to provide updates as and when necessary , and would advise stakeholders to monitor CXC’s official communication channels

for information,” it added

Following the meeting , Guyana ’ s Minister of Education, Education Priya Manickchand, addressed the issue in a video which was posted on the ministry’s Facebook page

“Their findings are that the paper was in fact available before the beginning of the exam or before when it was scheduled to be legitimately available They have confirmed that that did not occur in Guyana,” the education minister said

She further explained that due to the widespread ease of communication in today’s world, the solution to address this issue is to be implemented across the entire region, despite the fact that the breach did not occur in Guyana and several other countries All nations will be treated equally in terms of implementing the solution

“The solution is to mark Paper 1 and the SBA and to disregard completely Paper 2 because of the compromising of the integrity of the paper and the process and so I want Guyanese children to know that your best interest is being looked at,” she said

She commended the examination council for its efforts in swiftly examining and investigating the issue of the leaked examination She also expressed appreciation for its prompt approach and updating

She urged CSEC candidates in Guyana to remain focussed and to not let that situation interfere with their preparations

“ You are preparing still for other exams Go ahead and do that to the best of your ability Put this behind you and trust us to make sure your paper ones and SBAs are properly counted,” Minister Manickchand said

On May 17, 2023, the examination council officially announced that it had initiated an investigation into the reported concerns of an examination breach In a statement released by the council, they said they are aware of the concerns surrounding the leakage and has launched an investigation

“This matter is of great concern to the organisation Investigations have commenced and a definitive statement will be made once the investigation is completed . In the meantime, candidates can rest assured that this matter is being treated with the highest urgency,” the council had previously stated.

Winners of NDMA’s WiFiGY Photo Contest receive prizes

THE National Data Management Authority ( NDMA ), on Thursday , announced the winners of its 40th Anniversary WiFiGY Photo Contest

The contest aimed to encourage young minds to explore the importance of WiFiGY in their communities and capture its impact through photography and thoughtful essays, the NDMA said in a press release

It was explained that the participants competed in two categories: 10-13 years and 14-18 years

In the 10-13 years category, the winning photograph captured the essence of WiFiGY as an enabler of positive change in a visually captivating way

The young photographer, 13-year-old Alicyon Bacchus, skillfully depicted the

transformational power of WiFiGY and free community-based internet access

According to the release, the accompanying 250-word essay beautifully articulated the benefits of WiFiGY in today’s interconnected world, highlighting its role in education, and providing connectivity in communities that truly need it

In the 14-18 years category, the winning entry was submitted by 14-year-old Safina Dowding who wrote of the educational , employment and e-commerce benefits of WiFiGY and how internet access was used and continues to be used to transform the lives of persons in her community, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic

The winners in each category were awarded 10-inch tablets and other 40th Anniversary memorabilia and were honoured at a special ceremony hosted by the NDMA on Thursday

The winners also had the opportunity to meet and receive their prizes from Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Honourable Kwame W E McCoy

The winning photographs and essays can be viewed on the NDMA’s social media platforms

“We are thrilled to recognise the talent and enthusiasm demonstrated by the young participants of the WiFiGY Photo Contest,” Orson Smith, the Authority’s Deputy General Manager (Operations) was quoted as saying

“ Their artistic interpretations of WiFiGY ’ s significance coupled with their moving essays were truly remarkable Their

essays reflected a deep understanding of the transformative power of connectivity We congratulate the winners and commend all participants for their exceptional contributions,” he added

The NDMA extended its gratitude to all participants, their parents, and educators for their support and encouragement in nurturing the next generation’s digital literacy and awareness

The Authority hopes to see greater engagement and public participation in future activities, the release added.

EPA clarifies status of US$20M Batavia Quarry

THE Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) has denied approving a permit for a US$20 million quarry at Batavia, Guyana

The EPA issued a press statement on Friday clarifying that it had only waived the requirement for an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the project

The EPA stated that its decision to waive the EIA requirement was “in no way indicative of the approval or rejection of an Environmental Authorisation for the “Ekaa Hirm Earth Resources Management - Operation of a stone quarry” or any proposed project.”

The EPA has also said that it will continue to take measures to improve its screening process to ensure that human health and the environment are protected

The Guyana Chronicle published an article on May 18, 2023, claiming that the EPA had approved the permit for the quarry The EPA referred to that article as “glaring misconceptions” and that it “unequivocally rejects” the claim

The EPA has said that the end of the 30day objections period for any person to file an appeal to the Environmental Assessment

Board is June 9, 2023 The EPA has also said that it has taken, and continues to take, measures to improve its screening process to ensure that human health and the environment are protected These measures include the acquisition of updated technology and continuous training of staff

The EPA has said that it is committed to protecting the environment and that it will continue to work with the public to ensure that development is sustainable

Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy hands over the prizes to the winners of the WiFiGY Photo Contest (NDMA photos)

Evaluating drivers’ mental health among proposed reforms for road safety

––

Solicitor General says storage of building materials and vehicles also being looked at

By Clestine Juan

AS part of efforts to improve safety on the country ’ s roadways , a major overhaul of current laws is presently being conducted and among the recommendations made thus far is the medical evaluation of drivers’ mental health

In a ground-breaking effort to tackle road fatalities and enhance road safety measures, Solicitor General Nigel Hawke has recommended several crucial reforms to Guyana’s Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act

Speaking at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown , Hawke outlined his recommendations during the launch of the Road Safety Diagnostics and Action Plan, a pivotal component of the Adequate Housing and Urban Transport Programme ( AHUTP ) funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The action plan intends to offer key stakeholders a comprehensive understanding of the project’s scope and anticipated timelines for its successful implementation

With the IDB’s financial support, the programme aspires to revolutionise Guyana’s road infrastructure and bolster road safety measures to ensure a brighter future for all citizens

With government ’ s unwavering focus on curbing road fatalities and improving overall transportation safety, Hawke stressed the urgent need for thorough medical evaluations of drivers’ mental health

These examinations, coupled with continuous driver education, aim to bridge the existing gaps in the country’s current legislation. By identifying potential mental health issues among drivers and providing the necessary education, the government aims to create a safer environment for all road users

Some of the other recommendations include a ban on storing sand and other construction material on the roadway given that it poses serious risks to drivers

A reduction / limited speed for sand trucks, timber trucks and other big vehicles is also on the list

Hawke added that the police traffic department had called for a proposed bill to address the number of unfit vehicles on the roadways , which poses a major road safety concern

“The department is suggesting that there be a draft bill that there be an initiative to have a qualified engineer

examine the motor vehicle before they (police) grant a certificate of fitness Right now , we do not have that in our system, and all sorts of vehicles on the road that are not roadworthy and it’s causing chaos on our roads,” he added.

The Traffic/Safety/Maintenance Manager at the Ministry of Public Works, Kester Hinds in his remarks said that due to Guyana’s rapid economic growth, there has been a significant increase in the number of vehicles traversing the roadways

Unfortunately , this increase in vehicular traffic has led to a corresponding rise in road fatalities. In Guyana, for the last five years, there has been a fatality rate of 15 out of 1,000 persons

“

The accidents are just not accidents where persons die, or persons are injured, but in many instances, it can drive families into poverty because the person who might have perished might have been the main breadwinner,” he said.

Hinds said that this also economically affects the country as billions of dollars have been spent to fix the damage caused to road fixtures.

URGENT REDRESS

Meanwhile, Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill , emphasised the urgent need for Guyana to embrace a culture of safety in order to mitigate risks

He highlighted two specific issues that pose threats to motorists and road users: the dumping of sand along roadways and the racing of motorcycles and horse carts on major roads

Minister Edghill also used the occasion to emphasise the importance of understanding the root causes of these problems and finding ways to cultivate a culture of safety that fosters a different perspective on life

“

We must be able to know what the real problem is how we can create a culture of safety where people can start looking at life differently, treating life with greater importance and embracing the philosophy that we are one human family . We have to start looking at each other your recklessness is a danger to somebody else,” the Minister said In addition to addressing these behavioural issues, he also acknowledged the need to educate ministers’ drivers on proper road usage He emphasised that the fundamental problem with road safety lies with people , and thus , the

solution must involve engaging with individuals

He added that this will also be extended to the drivers of ministers as they should be educated about proper road usage

“The problem with road safety is people. And if we’re going to solve the problem with people, we have to engage people and engaging people cannot just be with signs and stickers - we have done that already and that did not change…,” he said as he called for a new culture of safety

“We have to get people to realise that in order for them to continue to operate, they have to comply with certain requirements If you don’t touch people’s pockets , sometimes they don ’ t change

So , when they realise , they can’t run up and down the road because their licence will not be enforced, then they will sit down and start reflecting,” he said.

ASSISTANCE FOR TRAFFIC RANKS

Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn at the event announced that 300 officers from Community Policing Groups ( CPGs ) will be deployed to assist the police in traffic management.

This initiative aims to enhance road safety measures and reduce the number of road fatalities.

He expressed his full support for the programme, emphasising the importance of preserving human life , which he referred to as the most valuable resource

By assigning additional personnel to traffic management, the government aims to improve road safety and minimise accidents

The inclusion of CPG members demonstrates a collaborative effort between the police force and the community to address traffic-related issues effectively

This joint approach recognises the significance of involving local communities in maintaining law and order

Through this initiative , Minister Benn and his ministry are committed to taking proactive measures to curb road fatalities and create a safer environment for all road users

The additional officers will work alongside existing police personnel to ensure smoother traffic flow , enforce traffic regulations , and educate the public about safe driving practices.

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill

Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn

Solicitor General, Nigel Hawke (Ministry of Home Affairs photos)

Exxon claims Liza Phase 1 operations would be suspended if High Court decision is upheld

PRESIDENT of ExxonMobil Guyana , Alistair Routledge, has said that the company is hopeful that the Court of Appeal case will go in their favour as the upholding of the High Court ruling would affect the company’s operations here.

Routledge made these remarks during a press conference held at the company ’ s Duke Street , Kingston office, on Friday

He stated that the company was disappointed with the previous ruling made at the supreme court

Early in May , High Court Judge, Sandil Kissoon, ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue an enforcement notice directing ExxonMobil to provide an unlimited parent company guarantee agreement and/ or unlimited liability affiliate company guarantee

along with environmental liability insurance within 30 days

During the press conference , Routledge told members of the media that there are very clear obligations in the environmental permit from the EPA which gives them the absolute obligation as the investor and operator in the Stabroek Block to prevent, mitigate and pay for cleanup of an oil spill

As such , he said : “ It says clearly in the permit that there should be an estimate that guides the value of that guarantee It’s important to have that because then the permit also goes on to say that it needs to be clear that affiliated companies have the substance, the wherewithal to provide those funds.”

He noted that in a worst-case scenario which is highly unlikely, ExxonMobil has committed to having all those resources available and have been working with affiliated companies to finalise the same and provide that to the EPA

When asked about the company ’ s appeal and whether it is a pushback against another safeguard, he indicated that it is not a pushback against safeguards as the company wants those safeguards to be in place financially

“What we disagree with is on the matter of facts, it’s clear in the permit what our obligations were and we believe that the ruling is incorrect,” he said

It was then that he clarified that the appeal is merely an objection that shows that the ruling contradicts the clauses in the permit

Meanwhile, he went on to add that this particular case directly affects the Liza Phase 1 project

“There are two aspects: one is the ruling itself on

the findings, then there’s the order that the judge issued which required certain measures to be taken If we can ’ t meet the requirements of the order then the Liza Phase 1 would be suspended,” he remarked.

He reiterated that if this ruling is upheld it could see the suspension of operations at the Liza Phase 1 project even as he noted that this would not affect the operations of the rest of the Stabroek Block at this time

The Court of Appeal is expected to assess the merits of the appeal filed by the Environmental Protection Agency to overturn Justice Sandil Kissoon ’ s decision that the agency and Exxon breached obligations related to its oil spill insurance policy

The judge had issued an order that directed the EPA to issue an enforcement notice to ExxonMobil ’ s local affiliate , Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL).

That order required EEPGL to provide an unlimited parent company guarantee agreement or unlimited liability affiliate company guarantee along with environmental liability within 30 days as is customary in the international petroleum industry

ExxonMobil subsequently filed its own appeal

ExxonMobil Guyana President, Alistair Routledge

Construction of new Harbour Bridge on track – says Edghill

MINISTER of Public Works , Juan Edghill , on Friday , said that the construction of the US$260 million Demerara Harbour Bridge is on track to be completed in 2024

Speaking on the sidelines of an event, the Minister said that the works are “progressing”.

Last year, the government signed a contract with Chinese joint venture – China Railway Construction ( International )

“They’ve already driven the piles to put in four concrete batching plants, two on the east side and two on the west side So work is progressing, and we are holding them [contractors] to the deadline,” Minister Edghill added.

On Friday , CRCCL presented its progress report on the new bridge to Minister Edghill

The team was led by Li Chongyang, President/ Director of CRCCL, who assured the Minster that

Limited (CRCCL) for the bridge

Supervision of this project is being done by Politecnica, an Italian supervisory firm

“The work on the Demerara Harbour Bridge is progressing We’re actually going to see a ramping up of the pile driving in the actual river because the contract is right now creating an area where they will have to cordon off to be able to start doing actual physical construction,” the Minister said He further explained that 250 containers of steel will be used to put in a temporary bridge right across the alignment to do the construction of the bridge

work is progressing well, and that the project should be completed within its contractual time period

The new bridge is expected to be some 2.65 kilometres long with two carriageways and four lanes

It is a hybrid design with a high span having a cable-stay design, even as the vertical height of the bridge is to be constructed at 50 metres from the mean highest watermark

This new bridge is said to have a design lifespan of 100 years and will take the place of the existing bridge , which has been in operation for more than 40 years, surpassing its projected lifespan.

A replica of new Demerara Harbour Bridge

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, and President/ Director of CRCCL, Li Chongyang

China strengthens ties with Central Asia, several arrangements brokered

By Suelle FindlayWilliams in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China

PRESIDENT of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, has said that China and Central Asia have committed to supporting each other in areas of mutual interest, such as sovereignty, independence, security and territorial integrity.

The Head of State was, at the time , addressing journalists at a closing press conference at the Xi’an International Convention Centre following a two-day China-Central Asia Summit

President Xi said that China and the Central Asian nations - Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan , have also committed to respecting “ the development path chosen based on each oth-

er ’ s national conditions , and firmly oppose interference in internal affairs by any force or under any pretext.”

He said that “ Central Asian countries fully recognise the significance of the Chinese path to modernisation for the world’s development” and have also reiterated their firm commitment to the One-China principle

At the summit , the countries signed the Xi’an Declaration of the China-Central Asia Summit, agreed on a list of outcomes, and created a plan for the future development of China-Central Asia relations

According to President Xi , efforts will be made to build better synergy among development strategies and promote trade liberalisation Through the Belt and Road Initiative , the countries have agreed to expand industrial and investment cooperation, further develop transport corridors connecting China and Central Asia ,

support the establishment of a China - Central Asia energy development partnership, and ensure- food security in the region

“Together, we will foster a new cooperation paradigm featuring high-level complementarity and mutual benefit.”

To this end, Xi noted that the six countries will strengthen their relationships in various areas , including sport, archaeology , tourism , education , training , and healthcare , with a focus on promoting people-to-people connections

He also stated that “the six countries will resolutely combat all forms of terrorism, separatism and extremism, as well as drug trafficking and transnational organised crimes.”

President Xi affirmed China ’ s commitment to supporting the Afghan people in maintaining security , stability , and achieving peace and reconstruction Furthermore, the group has agreed to enhance collaboration in

areas such as bio-security, cyber-security, and disaster relief

“ All sides have expressed support for and readiness to operationalise the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative , recognising their significance for world peace and development and for progress of human civilisation,” President Xi added

President Xi Jinping was joined by President of Kazakhstan , KassymJomart Tokayev; President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov; President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon; President of Turkmenistan , Serdar Berdimuhamedov ; and President of Uzbekistan , Shavkat Mirziyoyev

This is the first time that the China - Central Asia Summit was held in-person The next summit which is slated for 2025, will be hosted by the Government of Kazakhstan

Chinese President, Xi Jinping; Kazakhstan President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev; Kyrgyzstan President, Sadyr Japarov; Tajikistan President, Emomali Rahmon; Turkmenistan President, Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Uzbekistan President, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, walk to meet the press following the conclusion of the China-Central Asia Summit in Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, on May 19, 2023 (Xinhua/Li Xueren photo)

Four more officers selected for ITEC scholarships

FOUR more officers have been selected as part of the police and military training courses being offered by the Government of India under the Indian Technical and Economic Co-operation (ITEC) Programme, the Indian High Commission in Guyana has announced.

Assistant Commissioner Karimbaksh will be part of a one-week course in Economic Offences at the premier Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad

The four officers recently called on High Commissioner to Guyana , Dr KJ Srinivasa , where he briefed them

slots of which seven have been used . Meanwhile , the Guyana Police Force utilised seven slots last year and three thus far for this year, the release added

The recipients are the Guyana Police Force ’ s Assistant Commissioner, Fazil Karimbaksh , and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Officer’s Staff Sergeant Dork Pompey of Fellowship , West Coast Demerara; Sergeant Jamal Cambridge of Belladrum Village, West Coast Berbice and Corporal Dennis Pompey of Victoria, East Coast Demerara, a release said

It was explained that the three GDF officers were chosen for a twomonth General Intelligence and Security Course at the Military Intelligence Training School in Pune, Maharashtra.

on the courses , ongoing partnership between India and Guyana and advised them on the details and logistics of these training programmes

During their meeting, the officers expressed their gratitude to the High Commission and the Government of India

The ITEC Programme comprises short - term courses at prestigious institutions in India . The beneficiaries are chosen from selected partner countries across the world

In 2022, 19 GDF officers were selected to study in India. For 2023, the Government of Guyana was allocated 46

Region Seven Joint Services ranks participate in two-day training ahead of LGE

A TWO-DAY training exercise for officers and other ranks of the joint services concluded on Thursday , at Bartica, in keeping with preparations for the upcoming Local Government Elections

The Guyana Police Force, in a press release issued on Friday, said that the purpose of the training exercise was to further educate members of the joint services so they can be better equipped to handle any unlawful situations which

can arise during the upcoming elections period

The LGE will be held on June 12 A total of 46 parties, voluntary groups and individuals have been approved by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to contest

According to the press release, the training was divided into two categories: presentations and discussions were dealt with on day one, while the focus on day two was field exercise and practicals which were conducted at First Ave-

nue, Bartica Among those present at the training were Captain Kaya Dover of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF); Regional Commander of Region #7, Senior Superintendant Dion Moore ; Su -

perintendent Shepherd of the Guyana Prison Service ( GPS ); Assistant Superintendent Johnson of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), and other senior and junior ranks within the joint services

Ranks being briefed during a practical session at First Avenue, Bartica (Guyana Police Force photos)

Joint services ranks who were prepped for the upcoming LGE

High Court throws out Keron Bruce’s $101M lawsuit against ‘Guyanese Critic’

HIGH Court Judge Navindra Singh, on Friday , dismissed Keron Bruce ’ s $ 101 million lawsuit against social media commentator , Mikhail Rodrigues, who is well - known as the ‘Guyanese Critic.’

Bruce , in his Statement of Claim ( SoC ), sought damages for false statements Rodrigues reportedly made via his Facebook page in which he asserted that he, Bruce, was the person behind the animated character ‘Mudwata’.

However , Rodrigues filed a counterclaim against Bruce arguing that his “assumed character” published that he was a homosexual

Justice Singh in his ruling stated that the sole evidence advanced by Rodrigues in this regard is that he and Bruce had a conversation sometime in 2017 and he (Bruce) stated that he wanted to create a cartoon character by the name of ‘Mudwata’.

However , Bruce denied knowing Rodrigues or having such a conversation with him Bruce asserted that another person was present during that conversation , however , that person was not called as a witness

Justice Singh found

that Rodrigues was the only witness in support of his case , and he did not provide any evidence

who were making publications on social media under the name ‘ Mudwata.’

Smith had offered a $ 1

million reward to anyone who could identify the voice behind the animated character

Based on the information received , Bruce

was arrested , and police said that several pieces of electronic equipment were seized from his home

The police were also

able to acquire some voice messages , which when analysed, allegedly matched the ‘Mudwata’ commentary.

linking the claimant to the YouTube channel

‘ Guyana Uncut ’ where the ‘Mudwata’ character appears

After considering the application, Justice Singh ruled that the court finds that Rodrigues failed to prove that the claimant was indeed ‘Mudwata’.

“ Consequently , it is unnecessary to determine whether or not the words complained of are defamatory since it cannot be established that the claimant published those words,” the judge said

In light of the foregoing, the judge dismissed the claim and the counterclaim

Last year, Bruce was charged for a cybercrime allegedly committed against local media worker, Leroy Smith

Bruce had denied that, on January 25, 2021, he used a computer system to disseminate information about Smith, knowing it to be false with the intention of subjecting Smith to public ridicule, contempt, hatred, or embarrassment

The police launched an investigation in the matter after Smith made a report of cyber harassment from individuals

Keron Bruce

Mikhail Rodrigues, known as ‘Guyanese Critic’

Gunmen in speedboat help ‘Smallie’ escape from Mazaruni Prison

MEMBERS of the Joint Services are on “high alert” after death row inmate and convicted mass murderer Mark Royden Williams , known as “ Smallie ,” escaped from the Mazaruni Prison on Friday with the assistance of heavily armed men in a speedboat.

According to the Guyana Prison Service, Williams was returning to the Sibley Hall prison after receiving a visit from a female , when the escorting ranks came under gunfire The ranks dismounted their ATV and returned fire at the assailants

At that point, one of the boat occupants came to shore and continued to discharge several rounds towards the prison officers Williams, who was in foot chains, managed to run towards the riverbank He then jumped into the river

The men assisted him into the speedboat which headed upstream past Itaballi Landing, while prison guards and police in support undertook pursuit

William’s female visitor is currently in police custody assisting with investigation

No prison officer was injured during the ordeal

Members of the Joint Services have been mobilised to recapture Williams , who is considered to be armed and dangerous

The public is urged to report any sightings of the escapee to the nearest police station or any prison location The public is also being urged to relate any information to the Joint Services that would assist in his recapture and/or the arrest of his accomplices

The Ministry of Home Affairs in a press release urged all citizens in the Mazaruni and surrounding areas to take precautions and remain vigilant as the persons being sought are armed and are considered as being extremely

dangerous.

The Ministry also reminded the public that aiding and abetting a prison escapee can result in three or more years of imprisonment if convicted

In February 2017 , Williams was sentenced to death when a jury found him guilty of eight counts of murder in relation to the 2008 Bartica massacre, in which a dozen persons, including three police officers were shot dead

Several months later, in July 2017, Williams escaped from the prison at Camp Street, Georgetown during a riot It is believed that he was the mastermind

However, he was nabbed on October 9 , 2017 , at Weldaad, West Coast Berbice (WCB), while travelling in a public minibus

In 2013 , Williams was acquitted after a 12-member jury found him not guilty of the charges against him in relation to the 2008 Lusignan massacre, which claimed the lives of 11 persons, including five children

Last year , he was sentenced to death for the 2008 murder of Guyana Defence Force ( GDF ) officer Ivor Williams.

–– public urged to be vigilant; Joint Services on ‘high alert’

An aerial view of the Mazaruni Prison complex

Mark Royden Williams, known as 'Smallie'

Consumers to receive correct quantity of pre-packaged items

–– with launch of GNBS’ newest verification programme

THE Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) will now be working to ensure that consumers receive the right quantity of pre - packaged items after making purchases

On Friday , the GNBS officially launched its newest verification of net contents of pre - packaged goods products sold by volume, count, frozen, aerosol, length, and products in brine or mass

Head of the Legal and Metrology Department

Shailendra Rai said the objective of the programme is to ensure consumers receive the correct quantity of the product purchased, and also to ensure equity in trade

“We are going to be visiting the manufacturers to ensure that when they do the pre-packaging, they actually do it properly , to ensure that they are using the right equipment and so forth And we are going to be checking the packages coming off of the manufacturing line , to ensure that the net content is actually accurate , “ Rai stated

The initiative also ensures that people who are packaging the products com-

ply with the necessary regulations and requirements of the Weights and Measures Act

Persons involved in the pre - packaging process must be trained in the use of measuring instruments (GNBS-approved), and the metric system which is the only legally - accepted system

“

We could prosecute any person found selling a pre - packaged good that is underweight, or is short in terms of measurement It’s an offence under the Act to sell something that is below the net content ,” Rai disclosed

He noted that while checks have not yet been done at the manufacturing level , some issues were found at sale outlets

“In preparation to launch this particular service , we would have done some groundwork at the sale outlet level; that is primarily at the supermarkets, and what we find is that there are discrepancies I can tell you in some cases, they were over, and in some cases, they were under.”

In cases where dis -

crepancies are found , a non-conformity form will be issued , and products will be placed on hold , pending corrective action, for which a time will be given to do so. (DPI)

KOBINA Hammond , Minister for Trade and Industry of the Republic of Ghana will lead a government - private sector delegation here, from May 19 to 24 to further explore possibilities for trade and investment between Ghana and Guyana

Making the announcement on Friday, Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said that among other Ghanaian Government Ministers on the delegation will be Bryan Acheampong, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, and Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum , Minister of Education The delegation will also include the Deputy Ministers of Trade and Industry and of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, and a number of private sector representatives

Additionally, the Ghana Chamber of Commewwrce will be launched on May 22, at 09:00 hours on the third floor of the Amici building

The delegation will meet with Ministers of the Government of Guyana and the private sector over the period May 22 and 23 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, the Ministry disclosed

From left to right: Head of Legal and Metrology Department at the GNBS, Shailendra Rai; Executive Director (ag) Al Fraser; and Communications Officer Bibi Khatoon

Ghana’s Trade Minister to lead high-level delegation to Guyana on five-day visit

Minister for Trade and Industry of the Republic of Ghana , Mr . Kobina Hammond

$507M infrastructure works for new Lethem housing scheme

THE new Tract CHPA ( Poke Bridge ) Housing Scheme in Lethem, Region Nine , is set to receive an additional injection of $507 million for further development.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, made the announcement during an activity at the Regional Housing Office on Friday, where over 200 individuals who have been allocated lands in the area signed their Agreements of Sale, commencing the processing of their Certificates of Title

The infrastructure development works, which include the construction of a road network, will be executed by R Kissoon

Contracting Service

Minister Croal highlighted that an initial investment of $570 million has already been made for the first phase of works in the new housing development , over the past two years

“As it is right now, we have over 306 allottees identified to see their lands and to take up their space,” he informed the residents

Additionally , as part of the upcoming development, a new well will be drilled in the housing scheme, and electrical networks will be installed to improve the overall infrastructure and utilities in the housing scheme.

Approximately 575 persons have been allocated lands at Tract CHPA Early last month, a number of allottees also signed up for their Agreements of Sale and titles during a similar exercise “ This is a space that

you can be able to identify and not go through the hassle that you may have with continuing to rent,” he stated

Minister Croal also highlighted some of the other initiatives being executed by the housing ministry within the region including the Lethem Housing Support Programme

Through that initiative, some 100 homes will be constructed at Tract CHPA , Tabatinga , and Culvert City This initiative is the brainchild of President , Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali

The first 48 homes are currently under construction at Tabatinga and Culvert City

Minister Croal announced that the contract will be signed shortly for an additional 52 homes , of which 35 will be constructed in Culvert City and the remaining in Tract CHPA

Each home will be constructed at a cost of $3 million, of which $1 million in support for the building cost will be provided by the ministry

The Housing ministry is also partnering with the New Building Society , Republic Bank Guyana Ltd, and the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, as they will be offering loans to the tune of $2 million, at a rate of 3.5 per cent to the prospective homeowners.

Regional Chairman , Brian Allicock , Mayor of Lethem, John Macedo, and CHPA Director of Operations , Denise King-Tudor were also in attendance. (DPI)

A Lethem resident signs his Agreement of Sale at a CHPA event on Friday

ENGLISH RACING TIPS

Doncaster

12 :50 hrs Yorkindness

13:20 hrs Hooray Gor

Hazel

13:50 hrs Mccauley’s

Tavern

14:20 hrs Good Morals

14:50 hrs Little Muddy

15:20 hrs Golden

Maverick

NEWBURY

08:50 hrs Noble Style

09:25 hrs Israr

10:00 hrs Desert Hero

10:35 hrs Moden Games

11:10 hrs Intellogent

11:45 hrs Bluestocking

12:18 hrs Leap Abroad

NEWMARKET

08:30 hrs Jabaara

09:05 hrs Acotango

09:40 hrs Mutaany

10:15 hrs Powerdress

10:50 hrs Montassib

11:25 hrs Spring Impact

12:00 hrs Al Barez

AMERICAN RACING TIPS

Pimlico

Race 4 Arabian Lion

Race 5 Tequilera

Race 6 Havana Meltdown

Race 7 Whitebeam

Race 8 Atone

Race 9 Oxana

Race 10 Nothing Better

Race 11 Straight No

Chaser

Race 12 Nagirroc

Race 13 Mage

CANADIAN RACING TIPS

Woodbine

Race 1 Doc Fishman

Race 2 Walter Me Lad

Race 3 Uncle Joe

Race 4 C C’s Kingdom

Race 5 Dancing Duchess

Race 6 Kaukokaipuu

Race 7 Last Call

Race 8 Hey Cue

Race 9 Zady Brew

SOUTH AFRICA

RACING TIPS

Turffontein

08:05 hrs Autumn Moon

08:40 hrs Go Like Flo

09:15 hrs Going Up

09:50 hrs Han Solo

10:25 hrs Night Tiger

IRISH RACING TIPS

Wexford

08:40 hrs Cinsa

09:15 hrs Buttons And Bows

09:50 hrs Tennessee

10:25 hrs Bella Bliss

11:00 hrs The Flier

Begley

11:35 hrs Hardy Bloke

12:10 hrs Rhaenyra

West Indies A vs Bangladesh A Adverse weather forces draw

CMC – West Indies “A” had to settle for a draw against Bangladesh “A” in the first “Test” on Friday after adverse weather and opener Shadman Islam frustrated their effort to clinch a win

The Caribbean side grabbed two wickets early and had the Bangladeshis

on the ropes on the final day of the four-day, firstclass match at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, but only 49.1 overs were possible due to rain, and Shadman hit the top score of 64, enabling the home team to finish on 187 for seven in their second innings after they were forced

‘Return of the Scorpio’ Pro/Am postponed to June 3rd

THE highly anticipated ‘Return of the Scorpio’ Pro/ Am boxing card that was scheduled to hit off tomorrow at the National Gymnasium has been postponed to June 3rd because the Colombian fighters, who were scheduled to compete did not had sufficient documentation to travel to Guyana.

The organisers were made aware of this on the night the pugilists were set to arrive in the ‘Land of Many Waters’.

However, the organisers assured that the relevant documentation will be rectified in eight days and the fighters will be ready to compete on the new date

During a press brief yesterday at the 704 Sports Bar on Lamaha Street, president of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle, posited that this Pro/Am card, which is the first in Guyana for a few years, will be one of the best boxing meets in recent times

Ninvalle also explained that while he is aware that many of the fans were anticipating some fistic fury this weekend, postponement should be looked at with some optimism

“The positives is that the event will have an added two weeks to be marketed and, more importantly, the fighters will have more time to be in ship-shape for what some are dubbing as an important meet for their careers

AIBA three - star coach , Sebert Blake , mentioned during the ‘presser’ that his fighters will be training twice a day from today He shared that the boxers are hungry and want to ensure that they put on a good show for the fans. Blake also made a call for the fans, “To come out in your numbers, wave your rags and flags, and cheer the Guyanese fighters to victory.”

Promoter Seon Bristol was unfazed by the postponement and was also confident that the added time will help ensure that all systems are in place for a memorable event.

to follow on 163 behind on the previous day

The result meant that the three - match series , which continues next Tuesday at the same venue , remained level at 0-0

“ With all the rain around , it took a lot of time out of the game, and it did not allow us to get the result we wanted ,” West Indies “A” captain Joshua Da Silva said. “But it was a good pitch, and a good contest between the two teams.

“We had a really good performance from [ Jair McAllister]. He is still fairly new to the first - class scene, so to see him bowl the way that he did , and with the aggression that he did, it really goes to show

the fast bowling depth that we have in the West Indies Good pace and aggression is all we could ask from him, and he did fantastic to get seven wickets

“ In the remaining matches , we are looking to play the same brand of cricket that we played in this match We did a good job with the bat, but there are still a few things we can touch on, and try and play the best cricket that we can. We came here to play to win , so the guys are looking forward to the remaining two.”

After the new-ball pair of Akeem Jordan and leftarm pacer Raymon Reifer removed Zakir Khan and Saif Hassan respectively,

in the first half-hour, Shadman shared 66 for the third wicket with Mahmudul Hasan Joy to bring some stability to the innings

Five wickets – two apiece to left - arm spinner Gudakesh Motie and McAllister – had Bangladesh “A” wobbling on 132 for seven before Rishad Hossain , not out on 20 , joined Jaker Ali, not out on 36, and put on 55 – unbroken – for the eighth wicket to bail out the hosts.

Motie ended with two for 13 from five overs , and McAllister took two for 48 from 11 overs and ended with match figures of seven for 108 to earn the Player-of-the-Match award.

West Indies opening match against UAE rescheduled

THE three-match ODI Series between UAE and the West Indies will now begin a day earlier with the two teams playing the opener on Sunday 4th June at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The first match was originally scheduled for Monday 5th June. The West Indies Men’s team will arrive in Dubai on Thursday 1st June

The second match will be played on Tuesday, 6th June, with the third and final match scheduled for Friday 9th June All three day-night matches will start at 4:30pm with the toss at 4:00pm at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium Both teams will depart for Zimbabwe at the end of the series for their World Cup qualifying campaign which begins on 18th June

The all-important tournament will confirm the remaining two spots for the 10-team ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, in India.

UAE vs West Indies ODI series, matches to start at 4:30pm (8:30AM Caribbe-

an/7:30AM Jamaica)

4th June – UAE vs West Indies, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE

6th June – UAE vs West Indies, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE

9th June – UAE vs West Indies, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE

Please see full squad below.

Shai Hope (captain)

Brandon King (vice-captain)

Alick Athanaze

Shamarh Brooks

Yannic Cariah

Keacy Carty

Roston Chase

Dominic Drakes

Kavem Hodge

Akeem Jordan

Gudakesh Motie

Keemo Paul

Raymon Reifer

Odean Smith

Devon Thomas

Guyana’s Devin Permaul qualifies for Pan Am Games

ARCHERY Guyana ’ s Devin Persaud - Permaul has earned a spot at the Pan Am Games The Santiago 2023 Pan American Games serves as a qualifier for the next Olympic Games in Paris 2024

Guyana’s Devin Permaul retrieving his arrows at the target during the Ranking rounds vancing into the Elimination rounds on Thursday 13th , Permaul won against Andrees Icaza of Ecuador and then lost to Andres Gallardo of Chile , while De Abreu lost to Daniel Velarde Gonzales of Peru

Permaul and Wayne DeAbreu, who both competed at the recent Copa Merengue (Pan Am Games Qualifier)

in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, shared their scores . The official practice began last month with qualification matches which began on Wednesday 12th, with 12 rounds of 6 arrows at 70 meters

Permaul shot a ranking score of 610 and DeAbreu a ranking score of 534 Ad-

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Saturday May 20, 2023)

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

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Rohit Sharma (MI)

(2) Andre Russell (KKR)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who scored most runs in IPL 2015?

(2) What was the highest individual score made in IPL 2015?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Permaul stated, “It was a mediocre performance but enough to put me in the middle of the pack; finished ranking 22nd.”

However , this has put Guyana in a spot to qualify for the Olympic Games at the upcoming qualifiers, and will be encouraging for our locally based athletes to keep ‘aiming’ for the gold

The Board of Directors of Archery Guyana congratulates

Devin Persaud - Permaul for this high international ranking for Guyana for the first time Sincere thanks are also extended and recorded to the Executive Committee of the Guyana Olympic Association for the contribution recently given to assist Guyana’s top two Archers to participate in this event

Guyana Beverages Inc. joins KFC Elite League

–– Buxton United close out Den Amstel 2-0 to end round 1

THE company and the Guyana Football Federation ( GFF ), on Friday , signed a non - alcoholic beverage sponsorship deal to be the official provider of juice , soft drink and water during the twomonth KFC - sponsored Elite League tournament

Corporate Guyana continues to respond to Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali and GFF president, Wayne Forde ’ s calls to support football development and promotion initiatives in Guyana

The GFF president thanked Guyana Beverages Inc for supporting the league which gives top local talent a competitive national platform “ We are very happy to welcome Guyana Beverages Inc to the community of partners who have stepped forward to contribute generously to the successful staging of

Season Five of the KFC Elite League GBI has a long history in the development of football. Over the years, they have made significant investment in grassroots programmes , community football activities and international fixtures,” Forde said

The KFC Elite League is a priority for the GFF with the champions automatically qualifying for the CONCACAF/Caribbean Shield Championships

But first teams have to overcome the first hurdle of the knockout stages in the highly competitive league to make it to the two-million dollars championship match

Guyana Beverages Inc

General Manager, Samuel Arjoon, pledged his company’s continued support of Forde’s vision for football across Guyana

“ We are pleased to contribute to the Guyana

Football Federation Elite League Championship

This Championship allows young talent to develop their skills at a competitive level. Guyana Beverages Inc will continue to support the efforts of GFF in further developing the sport and football at all levels,” Arjoon added Meanwhile , Buxton united thumped Dem Amstel Football Club 2-0 as the League continued Thursday evening in a match which saw goals coming until the second half

In the 55th minute, Seon Heywood found himself perfectly positioned inside the box and after receiving a pass, notched it into the net to break the ice for Buxton Though Den Amstel upped their intensity, it was Buxton’s Lennox O’ Dean who found the back of the net in the 76 th minute after beating the Den Amstel defence

After Round 1, Western

CWI Coaching Education Courses…

Tigers currently lead the charge with three points and a +10 goal-difference They are followed by Santos with three points and a +7 goal-difference The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) FC, Guyana Police Force ( GPF ) FC and the

Twenty-five Commence the Level 1 Certification Coaching Course

CRICKET West Indies (CWI) continued their Coaching Education Course at the Guyana National Stadium(GNS), Providence on Friday, May 19, 2023.

Twenty-five (25) participants attended the first day of the CWI Level 1 Coaching Certification Course which commenced yesterday

Theory sessions were held in the President Suite of the GNS, Providence, under the tutorship of Coach Developers, Brendon Ramlal from Trinidad and Tobago, and Junie Mitcham from St Kitts and Nevis

To support this effort, the participants viewed a number of videos on the styles of coaching to enable them to comprehend the reasons for the use of the recommended implicit coaching approach

The day’s sessions addressed matters relating to the coaches’ lesson plans and the value of an organised approach to coaching, as well as a player-centred approach to coaching that included a significant focus on safety and mentorship.

Buxton United FC all have three points with goal differences of +4, +2 and +2 respectively

The League continues on Sunday at the GFF ’ s National Training Centre ( NTC ), Providence , East Bank Demerara, where Milerock FC will take on Santos FC from 15:00hrs Then on Tuesday, the action will move to the GDF ground, Camp Ayangana, Georgetown, where Western Tigers and Buxton United will lock horns from 19:00hrs

Then , the feature match of the night will see Den Amstel battling the soldiers on their home turf from 21:00hrs.

Coach Developer Brendon Ramlal spoke about the environment and how it impacts batters He explained that every person has the necessary skillset which needs to be harnessed at a young age Further, the instructor highlighted the uniqueness of each player, and the importance of coaches knowing their players and how they are likely to react to the learning environment created by coaches

Today , the potential CWI Level 1 Coaches are expected to undergo several practical routines geared at enhancing their capacities to deliver their coaching duties in an effective manner

The CWI Level 2 Certification Coaching Course commenced on Thursday with 22 participants

Ravi Rampaul, whose flight from Trinidad arrived on the start date of the course, was able to join the Guyanese potential CWI Level 2 Coaches to make the group an aggregate of 23.

From left: Ian Alves, GFF’s General Secretary and Fharis Hamid, Marketing Manager, Guyana Beverages Inc

AFTER achieving a personal best (PB) in the 400m heat, Tianna Springer continued to impress by setting another PB in the women’s 400m event at the South American under-20 Track & Field Championships, securing a gold medal for Guyana

Not only did Springer secure the country’s first gold at the Championships held in Bogota, Colombia, but she also shattered the women’s 400m record

Her remarkable time of 53.3s surpassed Brazil ’ s Bárbara de Oliveira ’ s previous record of 53.44s set in 2009 In the semi-finals , the 16 - year - old came close to her record-breaking performance, clocking in at 53.53s

Springer’s victory in the South American Championships adds to her impressive collection of achievements, including the 400m CARIFTA Gold medal she won during the

Springer smashes U-20, 400m record to win Gold for Guyana!

games in The Bahamas over the Easter weekend earlier this year.

On a similar note, Ezekiel Newton also made history for Guyana at the same Championships, securing the country’s first medal Newton finished third in the men’s 100m dash final with a personal best time of 10.42s

Renan Gallina of Brazil claimed the victory, setting a new meet record of 10.01s, surpassing his fellow countryman Erick Car-

doso’s previous record of 10.23s set in 2019 at the championships in Cali, Colombia. Colombia ’ s Ronal Mosquera finished second in the race with a time of 10.08s With this achievement, Newton adds a South American under-20 Bronze medal to his collection, which already includes a South American under-18 Silver medal earned in the 200m event in São Paulo, Brazil last year.

‘Return of the Scorpio’ Pro/Am postponed

Flashback, Tiana Spinger ( centre ) and her parents after arriving home for the 2023 Carifta Games

Steve Ninvalle

Jair McAllister picked up a match haul of 7 for 108 against Bangladesh