Guyana Times - Sunday, May 28, 2023

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, May 28 – 10:30h – 11:30h and

Monday, May 29 – 01:00h – 02:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, May 28 – 10:20h – 11:50h and

Monday, May 29 – 11:30h – 13:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times –05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily

WEATHER TODAY

There will be thundery showers and light rain showers during the day. Expect partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly North-Easterly to North-Easterly between 1.34 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 11:07h and 23:49h reaching maximum heights of 2.13 metres and 2.15 metres.

Low Tide: 17:14h reaching a minimum height of 1.04 metre.

LGE 2023

LOTTERY NUMBERS

SUNDAY, MAY 28, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

APNU a no-show at ERC Code of Conduct signing

…ERC warns political parties to comply with law on campaign trail

Anumber of political parties, groups and individuals participating in the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) 2023 were on hand to sign a code of conduct on Saturday. However, the absence of one major party - the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) - did not go unnoticed.

As is customary, the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) facilitated the signing of its code of conduct ahead of elections. The code of conduct binds contestants to promote ethnic harmony and avoid hate speech and actions that would disrupt the peace.

A number of political parties, groups and individuals participating in the upcoming June 12 polls signed on. However, a notable absence was the APNU.

ERC Chairman, Moeenul-Haq, lauded those who did show up while exhorting everyone to be mindful of how they campaign during the election season.

“While we welcome and remain encouraged by the related responses, however, sometimes the narrative of messaging creates reasons for concerns. At this important junction, we would like to reiterate that all endeavour for responsible approaches in an effort to ensure that the remaining period of the campaign is free from ethnic division, discrimination, hate speech, incitement and provocation.

“It is in that context that we urge, as a commission, that the efforts of all to participate in this process be reflected through adherence to the spirit and intent of the code of conduct. We can all agree the promotion of harmony takes a collective effort, including (from) all those who hold and those who aspire to hold public offices,” the Chairman further said.

Speaking afterwards, the ERC Chairman committed to keeping open the process for parties to sign on to the code of conduct. He also made it clear that the constitutional agency would be keeping a close watch on party rhetoric on the campaign trail, and would be fielding media monitors to ensure parties adhere to the law when it comes to racial hostility.

Full agreement

Meanwhile, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) representative Zulfikar Mustapha was on hand to sign on behalf of his party. Making it clear that his party is in full agreement of the code of conduct, and expressing hope that all the signatories to the code of conduct will adhere to it, Mustapha was also critical of APNU’s absence.

“Well, first of all, this code of conduct, as a party, we always adhere to good conduct in executing our campaign,

and we always try to promote harmony and good relations in the country. We abide always with the rules in campaigning. So this is good, and I hope that all parties would adhere to the code of conduct,” Mustapha said.

“It was very unfortunate that I am seeing parties who, in the past, would have caused problems with campaign - especially the Opposition - they are not here to sign. So, I was very, it's very unfortunate, but let's hope that good sense prevails. But as a party in Government and a party that has a long history in campaigning, we will continue to adhere to good relation, promote good harmony, promote peace, and campaign with the rules.”

Totally wrong

Former Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament Michael Carrington, who is now running to represent his village

of Hauraruni, Yarrowkabra, made it clear he has no problem with signing the code of conduct. Asked about the absence of APNU from the signing, Carrington noted that the major party should have signed the code.

“Recently, I decided that our village needs proper representation, so I decided that I’m going to run for that area. We have a vibrant group. Our group is not just a political group. Our group is a developmental group that will be doing a lot of skills training, job creation and marketing,” the former MP said.

“I think they should have signed it. If they did not sign it or don’t want to sign it, I don’t know the reason why. But we signed it because we think we need a code of conduct. People need to behave in the right way. Racism is high in Guyana. We need to change that. We can’t allow that to multiply in the future…if they say they’re not signing it, I can’t do anything about it. But

I think it’s totally wrong of them not to sign it,” he said.

Shaz Ally, who represents the Citizens Initiative and is campaigning in Constituency One, also expressed concern over the larger party’s non-committal to the code.

Ally noted that no one wants a repeat of the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

“I didn’t see any representation from the APNU party here. The Chairman did mention that there were some people who refused to be there for the signing. It is a little (worrying). You wouldn’t want a repeat of the last General Elections,” Ally further pointed out.

After some delay, APNU had publicly thrown its hat in the ring to contest LGE long after the other main political party, the PPP/C, had made clear its intentions to contest. However, APNU is contesting the LGE in less than half of the 610 constituencies across the country.

GECOM has already announced that there will be no voting in 13 areas because there is no one to challenge the incumbent, including in Lethem, where APNU failed to submit a candidate list.

Efforts to reach Peoples National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) Leader Aubrey Norton to enquire whether his party would be signing the code of conduct were futile. (G3)

Representatives of the various political parties, groups and individuals contesting the upcoming LGE were at the signing of the ERC’s Code of Conduct

Views

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Self-interest and competition in a market economy

After the PNC created a socialist economy after independence, successive Governments have been attempting to shift to a market economy, which needs to be appreciated by our citizens and politicians. The following was offered by The Federal Reserve Bank in St Louis. “A market economy is an economic system in which individuals own most of the resources - land, labor, and capital - and control their use through voluntary decisions made in the marketplace. It is a system in which the government plays a small role. In this type of economy, two forces -- self-interest and competition -- play a very important role.

Why do you go to work? Why do you go to school? There may be many reasons, but at their core you probably go to work and school because you are self-interested. To be selfinterested simply means that you seek your own personal gain. You go to work because you want to get paid, so you can buy the things you want. You go to school so you can get a better job someday, and earn more money to buy the things you want. In fact, most of the economic activities we see around us is the result of self-interested behavior.

Why does the baker choose to bake? The answer is selfinterest. The baker wants to earn enough money to feed his family and buy the things he wants, and the most effective way he has found to do that is to bake bread for you. In fact, his bread has to be good enough and the service friendly enough that you are willing to give up your money freely in exchange for his bread. The baker, while serving his selfinterest, has produced a good that is very valuable to you. The miracle of a market system is that self-interest produces behavior that benefits others.

“Is being self-interested greedy? Is it immoral? While the term self-interest has negative connotations, it does not necessarily imply greedy or immoral behaviour. Selfinterest just means that you seek your goals. In fact, your self-interest might lead you to study hard for your math test, give money to your favourite charity, or volunteer at a local school.

“Doesn't self-interest lead to price gouging, corruption and cheating? Sometimes it does, but most often it is held in check by competition. Because other self-interested people are competing in the marketplace, my self-interest is held in check. For example, if I were a baker, the only way I would be able to earn your dollars is to produce bread that is better, cheaper, or more convenient than the bread produced by the other bakers in town. If I were to increase my price too much, you would likely buy bread from my competitors. Thus, competition is the regulator, a check on self-interest, because it restrains my ability to take advantage of my customers.

“Adam Smith described the opposing but complementary forces of self-interest and competition as the “invisible hand”. While producers and consumers are not acting with the intent of serving the needs of others or society, they do. When you work, your goal is to earn money, but, in the process, you provide a valuable good or service that benefits others and society. The amazing part of this process is that there is very little government control. The bread you buy at the store arrived as the result of hundreds of self-interested people cooperating without a government bread agency managing production at each step along the way. In the words of Adam Smith, it's as if they were being guided by an invisible hand that guided resources to their most valued use.

“The discussion of self-interest and competition usually results in a discussion of the proper role of government regulation. Some see a market economy as largely selfregulating, assuming there are enough firms competing in the market to be a check on self-interest. Others point to examples of fraud where competition has failed to be an adequate check on self-interest - they argue that government must take a more active role regulating economic activity.”

US$2B parent company guarantee relative to size of operations

Dear Editor,

I have noted an article in today’s edition of Kaieteur News (May 25th, 2023), citing Tom Sanzillo, who argued that he finds it troubling that ExxonMobil (XOM) is pushing Guyana to accept a meagre US$2 billion parent company guarantee when the company itself is worth US$429 billion.

Be that as it may, the aforementioned contention is arguably a distorted perspective, as the parent company guarantee is not relative to the value of the enterprise or market value of the company. Rather, it is relative to the size of operations, together with a risk assessment of same. In other words, the size of operations must be considered in determining the extent of the environmental risk.

Any potential liability is the primary responsibility of XOM/EEPGL and its co-venture partners. As at FY 2022, the estimated total assets of the Guyana operations (EEPGL, HESS and CNOOC) was US$14 billion. As such, the parent company guarantee together with the insurance coverage represents 18.6% (almost 19%) of combined total assets of EEPGL and its co-venturers.

The current coverage is based on the operation of only two FPSOs (Liza One and Liza Two). Further, the insurance coverage and the parent company guarantee sum is subject to revision over time. That is to say, as production increases, the number of FPSOs will increase, which means that the potential liabilities would also increase proportionately.

With that in mind, since we expect to have ten FPSOs operating by 2030, this means that we can expect an upward revision of the parent company guarantee as well as the insurance coverage relative to this level of increased production. Isn’t this common sense, especially for someone who claims to be an international financial analyst?

More importantly to note is that the requirement for additional financial assurance is a secondary requirement, contingent upon if the total assets of the local subsidiaries are insufficient to cover any potential liability. To this end, pursuant to the Environmental Protection Act, Section 31 (1) states that “the Agency may include in any environmental authorization a requirement that the person to whom that environmental authorization is issued shall provide financial assurance to the State for any one or more of the following…”

a) the performance of any action or compliance with the condition specified in any environmental authorization;

b) the provision of alternate water supplies to replace those that the Agency has reasonable grounds to believe are or are likely to be contaminated or otherwise interfered with by the works to which the environmental authorization relates; and

c) measures appropriate to prevent adverse effects upon and following the cessation of closing of the works.

Section (2) of the Environmental Act states that… “A requirement under subsection (1) shall specify the amount of the financial

assurance, and may provide that the financial assurance may be provided, reduced, or released in stages specified in the environmental authorization”.

It should be noted as well that the total assets and projected future cash flow will grow substantially, by

This

Dear Editor,

The New York-based Guyana Democracy Project (NYGDP) issued a statement condoling the innocent victims of the Mahdia dormitory fire tragedy and offering its support in recovery and rehabilitation of victims and families. The organization commends the quick response of the Government to tragedy, sending high Government officials.

The organization issued a press statement, describing the inferno as perhaps the deadliest fire in the country’s history, it having claimed nineteen students’ lives and injuring several others. The organization says its prayers are with the group.

It states: "Members of our group and the diaspora in USA are devastated by this tragedy. We are in shock and grief upon learning about this horrific arson tragedy. Our group reaches out in sorrow (to) the many victims of this tragedy and to their school, fraternities, families, friends, associates and communities. We extend our sincere sympathy and support to the families of the individuals involved.

“This arson is uncon-

billions of U.S dollars, thereby amounting to adequate financial coverage (both in the form of liquid and illiquid assets) to cover any potential environmental contingent liability.

Yours sincerely, Joel Bhagwandin

scionable, and we recognize an emanating sense of loss and grief of so many families. That is why we pledge our support and endorse the actions of the Government to help the survivors and the families of all the victims.

“We grieve with the nation, and wish for a quick recovery to all those who were injured. We express our deepest sorrow and grief at the loss of lives, and to the injured. We join others in prayers for the souls of those who died, as well as for their families in this time of loss and grief. We also pray for those who received burn injuries and for those who were emotionally wounded (by) this nightmare.

“We are grateful to those who rendered heroic actions to save lives, and others who provided assistance to the affected. We also thank the Government for its quick, effective and compassionate response to provide assistance, including offering emotional support and counselling to the affected. And we stand in solidarity with all who grieve with the families of the victims.”

Yours truly, Vishnu

Bisram

Canada’s famous Niagara Falls was illuminated in the colours of Guyana’s Golden Arrowhead in observance of Guyana’s 57th Independence Anniversary on Friday (Mohamed Ishak photo reshared by Office of the President)

arson is unconscionable

Elections fever is heating up and drawing out some closet ideologues

Dear Editor, Local Government Elections (LGEs) are less than three weeks away, and the likely final result presents a haunting mental torment for Opposition elements. The countdown pace is agitating some closet-ideologue hopefuls, whose futile displays of ranting and raving can only hasten their long-lost relevance or recognition.

A PPP/C landslide victory in the upcoming Local Government Elections is highly anticipated, based on the Party’s aggressive and thorough preparation. Of critical importance is the genuine demonstration by PPP/C leaders to be all-inclusive in embracing the entire nation, and this is sending the remaining few, feeble PNC racists mad, because they are finding it challenging to create divisions based on ethnicity.

There remain brainwashed remnants of the latter setup, a few soloists whose rationale remains clouded and vendetta-driven in the attempts to deflect attention from the PPPC’s progression.

Henry Jeffrey, a former ‘ideologue’ of the YSM/ PNC, absolutely fits that profile, and reacts with the hope that he finds some new political footing. This well-known rabble-rous-

er is a proven opportunistic defector from his party of birth, the PNC, and his internal antagonisms have realized his sidelining by former PNC Leader Desmond Hoyte. He was given a second chance by Dr. Cheddi Jagan when he jumped ship, but later ran out from the Civic component of the PPP/C, and is now pretending to be a defender of “AfroGuyanese” people.

In a recent message in the free press in Guyana, this “political grasshopper” tried to paint a negative picture of the PPP/C, alleging discrimination concerning contract-allocation and the effects of slavery. Jeffrey, conditionally, is trying to position himself as being so concerned and disturbed with the vast amount of people crossing the floor to be with the PPP/C slate.

The situation begs the question about what he did when he crossed the floor, joined the PPP, and spent three terms as a senior Minister in the PPP Government. Specifically, what did he do then for the Afro-Guyanese people? Let him tell this nation what he did for Afro-Guyanese as Minister of Housing and Labour, and senior Minister of Education.

As Jeffrey falsely tries to speak of allocation of contracts to Afro-Guyanese peo-

ple, he must remember that he had had the responsibility of, benefitted from, and oversaw, contracts of his own.

Moreover, this Burnhamite ideologue benefitted from scholarships funded by taxpayers’ money, and was catapulted to the position of Principal of the Kuru Kuru Cooperative College when he returned to Guyana. In that position, Jeffrey did nothing significant to advance the capacity of Afro-Guyanese people to become bourgeoisie, or small entrepreneurs. Instead, he ensured the sustenance of a particular reputation from their services-oriented strengthening as public servants, teachers and nurses, and workers in the disciplined services.

As a Burnham ideologue, Jeffrey was at the helm of numerous elections’ rigging. Although Burnham used the disciplinary forces to rig massively in 1968, 1973, 1978, and 1980, Jeffrey did not choose then to give Afro-Guyanese contracts. Instead, the riggers put on the front page of the New Nation paper a caption which read, “The steel is Sharper now than ever.” Accompanying that caption were the photograph of five strong military men holding up military weapons and threatening anyone who

dared to resist the rigging of elections.

Guyanese will never forget all the terrorist activities of the PNC. Those days are long gone, but the likes of Henry Jeffrey should not pretend that those activities never existed. Indeed, the nature of these self-aggrandising ideologues contributed more to the suppression of the Afro-Guyanese people, whom they still do not wish to see emerge from their selfish grip.

Jeffrey is reminded that when one throws a stone tied to the end of a string, the centrifugal forces can likely ensure a force is redirected towards the centre when not adequately controlled.

Today, the tremendous development that is taking place in Guyana is attracting our diversity in support of a unified democratic position.

The “One Guyana” motto of President Dr Irfaan Ali and the PPP General Secretary’s ability to mobilise his forces and unite this nation must be the reason for this nation rising and being connected. As our intellectuals, youths and people of all walks of life live better lives, Guyana’s democracy would be strengthened at all levels.

Sincerely,

Neil Kumar

Is the US dollar still king?

Dear Editor,

The global financial landscape has long been shaped by the supremacy of the U.S. dollar. Yet, in the wake of Western sanctions against Russia and economic uncertainty in the U.S., emerging markets are increasingly motivated to reduce their reliance on the dollar, and explore avenues for financial independence. This plan, led by the so-called BRICS countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is well-intentioned but is not the right answer.

BRICS countries increasingly clamour to challenge the dollar’s dominant role as the world’s reserve currency. The reserve currency is held in great quantities by Central Banks, and is used by financial institutions for international trade. Until World War II, the British pound served as the reserve currency. Since then, the U.S. dollar has.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin said last June that the BRICS countries are developing a new reserve currency for member countries. Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also expressed support for a common currency. China, too, is in favour of challenging what its Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls U.S. “dollar hegemony.”

Members of the group have announced their intention to discuss the matter at a late-August summit in Johannesburg. Russia has already ramped up its use of the Chinese yuan to cope with the Western sanctions imposed on it.

After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the G-7 Group of Nations retaliated with onerous economic punishments on Russia. That forced Moscow to seek alternatives to the dollar and euro. Some BRICs backers have floated ideas such as expanding the use of the Chinese yuan in transaction settlements, but few have yet embraced as far-reaching a proposal as a common BRICS reserve currency.

That wouldn’t be easy to implement. The dollar’s dominance in the global market cannot be overstated. The dollar is the preferred currency of governments, accounting for about 60 percent of Central Bank reserves in late 2022, compared with the euro’s 20 percent and the Japanese yen’s 6 percent. The U.S. dollar is used in 84.3 percent of cross-border trade, compared to the yuan’s 4.5 percent. The pound, the Chinese yuan, and the Canadian and Australian dollars represent less than

5 percent of government reserves. The dollar is also dominant, although less so, in private markets.

The BRICS countries cannot compete with the dollar’s financial dominance and stability. One reason: BRICS nations often don’t get along. Political tensions between India and China make it nearly impossible for India to turn its back on the U.S. and side with China on currency or any other matter.

BRICS economies are also not especially stable. China is an economic superpower. India has a large but still-developing economy. The other three are essentially stagnant commodity exporters. The economies also are dramatically different in terms of trade, growth and financial openness.

Real Gross Domestic Product per capita between 2008 and 2021 rose 138 percent for China, 85 percent for India, 13 percent for Russia, and 4 percent for Brazil. South Africa had a 5 percent contraction. Trade between the members is severely imbalanced, with India and South Africa both running long-term deficits with the other members.

All BRICS members run account surpluses; meaning, they rely on other economies’ demand, and must ex-

port their excesses abroad. If the countries want to reduce their reliance on the dollar and on the West, their options for exports would be limited. China would have to absorb the demand, yet it has shown no intention of doing so. In fact, the country’s account surplus hit a 14-year high this year.

Deciding about reserve currencies can be complicated. The Government of Guyana, for example, might feel that it needs to show fealty to its big neighbour to the south, Brazil. But the BRICS effort is unlikely to produce results that are in the longterm interest of our country. Guyana’s big neighbour to the north, the U.S., remains the safest storehouse of financial investment.

In today’s interconnected global economy, the U.S. dollar is a pillar of strength. As the world’s premier reserve currency, it plays a crucial role in facilitating international trade and shaping the financial landscape across nations. The challenges facing BRICS countries make clear that the U.S. dollar is likely to keep its role as the world’s reserve currency for a long time to come.

Yours truly,

Nazar Mohamed Businessman

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

POPULAR PURE BREEDS (AND CROSSBREEDS) IN GUYANA (continued)

Last week we discussed the traits and capabilities of the Rottweiler breed, and included a photograph of a female Rottweiler with a naturally elongated tail, with which she was born. During the course of the week, many people wanted to know why the animal had a long tail. It seems that many Guyanese believe that Rottweilers are born with short tails. Well, they are not. However, for many, many decades, owners/caregivers have opted for an amputation of Rottweilers’ tails when

they are puppies/young dogs. If such cosmetic and unnecessary amputations are to be implemented, please let the veterinarian carry out this surgical intervention.

There is no real convincing reason to amputate this breed’s tail. Some caregivers/breeders argue that it is “custom and practice”, and they are just following suit. Others put forward the point that, since the Rott is being kept for security purposes, as a guard dog, it would defeat the purpose of wanting the dog to show aggressiveness

if its tail would be wagging when it confronts a thief, say. You would recall that I mentioned in last week’s article that Rottweilers are not naturally ill-tempered.

Actually, more and more veterinarians are advising Rottweiler owners/caregivers/breeders against mutilating the animals. On the other hand, it is always worrying to know that, if the vet is not prepared to amputate the tail, then the owner might be tempted to implement the surgery – incorrectly and without anaesthetic.

THE DOBERMANN

There is no debate where this dog originat -

has the aptitude of being a guard dog. Actually, as is often the case with breeding, someone else came

in the WORKING DOG GROUP. In addition, the Dobermann Breeders have extracted and repro -

ed, simply because it is well documented that its creator was a German tax collector (Herr Louis Dobermann) who needed protection. Yes, in those days, officials would have to go from house to house to collect taxes. Need I say more about the need to be safeguarded and defended? Mr. Dobermann created this giant terrier that

along to improve the breed even further. One Mr. Otto Galler did just that at the end of the 19th century, and added Pinscher to the name. By 1900, the German National Dobermann Pinscher Club was established, and this breed was solidified in the annals of dog breeds.

The Dobermann Pinscher has not changed much. It is sleek, and its coat is shiny, usually black and tan, which does not need much grooming. Gorgeous from its elongated nose and jaws to the tip of its tail. And speaking of tails, like the Rottweiler, the Dobermann is born with a long tail – which has been traditionally cut to make the animal seem even more terrifying and ferocious.

Its size -- weighing 65-90 pounds and with a height of 25-27 inches -makes it a medium-sized protective dog with rippling muscles in a well-set body and fearless carriage.

Dobermann Pinschers are usually black, with brown/ rust red, sharply defined markings on the chest and feet. Also, blue and fawn animals are accepted within the breed standards.

It is its elegance and constant expression of self–confidence that endears this animal to me, and to judges in Dog Shows. The Dobermann can outrun most breeds

duced several admirable traits, which include the animal’s ability to guard and track prey for lengthy periods. Working with Dobermann Pinschers in my early years, I have found them to be loyal, loving, intelligent, and given to great bursts of speed when pursuing the object of a chase.

The Dobermann is one of the few breeds popular with the Security Services (army and police), and yes, as a house dog as well; it enjoys being part of family life. The reputation for being overly aggressive is unjustified, and, to my mind, is only concocted and perpetuated to artificially create the myth of viciousness. Again, contrary to popular belief, the Dobermann Pinscher is one of the easiest breeds to train, and it is willing to learn that which is expected of it. Nevertheless, it does need firm and authoritative handling.

Finally, it behooves me to mention that, in some jurisdictions, the Dobermann’s ears may still be legally cropped and the tails docked. Let me hasten to add that such practices are illegal in much of Europe. Many of my colleagues no longer carry out surgical interventions on the ears and tails of hapless dogs, and rightly so.

Dobermann with unmutilated ears and tail

Dobermann with ears cropped and tail docked

Dobermann with unmutilated ears and tail

Critically injured teen medevacked to US hospital

One of the girls who sustained critical injuries following the Mahdia Secondary School’s deadly dormitory fire, was flown on Saturday to Northwell Health Burn Care Centre in New York to seek advanced medical care.

The critically injured 13-year-old child was picked up by the Global Rescue Ambulance via the Air Ambulance at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

In a statement on Saturday afternoon, the Health Ministry said that around 12:30h on Saturday, one of the two critically ill girls from the Mahdia fire, who was a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital

The child was among several others who was admitted to the medical facility on May 22 following the fire at Mahdia. While at the GPHC, she underwent two surgeries and her condition, though critical, improved

rive in New York at 23:30h on Saturday night.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues, who is presently serving as Guyana’s UN Representative in New York, will give all necessary sup-

other GPHC doctors, and Mr Robbie Rambarran, the Chief Executive Officer of the GPHC, were also present. The Minister of Health, Honourable Dr Frank Anthony and Advisor to the Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, present this morning to see the departure of the child and to give support to the father and mother,” the Ministry’s statement read.

support to the family to see the safe return of the child,” the statement said.

Over the week, the Government has received several offers of medical assistance from various regional and international partners.

13 female students, whose bodies were deemed unrecognisable, were obtained by specialist pathologist Dr Shubhakker Karra Paul, who flew in from Barbados on Tuesday.

Corporation’s (GPHC) Intensive Care Unit (ICU), was medically evacuated to the Northwell Health Burn Care Center, Staten Island University Hospital.

The thirteen-year-old girl was accompanied by her mother to New York. The mother will receive support from the Northwell Hospital, which has waived all costs for medical care.

steadily, the Ministry said on Saturday.

“This transfer was deemed necessary out of an abundance of precaution and made in the best interest of the patient,” the Ministry said.

The Global Rescue Air Ambulance departed CJIA with the child at about 14:25h and is expected to ar-

port to the mother and child, the Ministry noted.

“The GPHC team, led by Dr Shilindra Rajkumar, Head of the Burns Unit, and his team of doctors, were on hand to assist in the movement of the patient from GPHC to CJIA. The hospital’s Director of Medical and Professional Services, Dr Navin Rambaran and

The GPHC team, the Ministry said, had discussed with several of the top hospitals in the United States of America, the possibility of offering specialised medical care for the child and it was agreed that the child would be best managed at the Northwell Burn Care Center, Staten Island University Hospital in New York.

“Northwell Burns Center in New York is recognised among the top burn centres globally. The Ministry of Health and the GPHC wish the child a full and speedy recovery. President Ali pledges full Governmental

The Cuban Government pledged medical support where needed and a team of DNA experts from Barbados aided with the identification of students who died due to the fire.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, had said on Tuesday that regional airline LIAT, which is currently doing limited commercial flights, has been instructed to transport the burn victims to Barbados if needed. He noted that his Government will foot the bill for the airlifts and collaborate with the airline’s court-appointed administrator to coordinate the logistics of getting the injured children to Barbados for specialised medical treatment.

Samples from the forensic specimens taken from

Subsequently, Professor and System Chair, Dr Carlos Cordon-Cardo and a team of experts in the Pathology Laboratory of New Yorkbased Mount Sinai completed the DNA analysis and positively identified the bodies on Friday.

Meanwhile, during a press conference on Thursday, President Dr Irfaan Ali had revealed that requests made to Mount Sinai, Northwell Health, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and Southcom Health Clinic to provide specialised counselling were also approved.

He added his hope for these specialised councillors to aid the local mental health teams in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) in providing the best care to those affected by the tragic incident.

The critically injured child being transported to CJIA

Northwell Health in New York, US

Families now preparing to lay loved ones to rest

The dust has not yet settled as Guyana comes to grip with the Mahdia dormitory fire, and families are now facing the heart-wrenching duty of preparing to lay their loved ones to rest.

On Friday, the bodies of 13 of the 19 youths who died in the fatal fire at the female dorm, were positively identified. This meant they could now be released by the Government to their respective families for funeral arrangements.

Bibi Rita Fiona Jeffrey was one of these persons whose remains underwent

DNA analysis. As her sister, Rihanna Jeffrey spoke with Guyana Times on Saturday, she was busy making arrangements for the funeral. The young girl’s body would be transported to Karisparu, her home village in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni), where relatives and friends could say their final goodbyes.

“The body has been positively identified and we are now preparing for the funeral. The funeral should be on Monday. We have already paid for the coffin and so forth, and we are preparing the other things,” a dis-

traught Jeffrey relayed.

While the funeral arrangements are set, this could be hindered by the weather conditions, she added. Prior to this, the family was clinging on to hope that she might be alive since she was initially unaccounted for.

This publication understands that the bodies of two remaining girls from Karisparu: Loreen Evans and Belnisa Evans will also be taken back to the village. The fourth girl, Sabrina

What’s with… …Mahdia?

If nothing else, the tragic fire at the Mahdia Secondary School dorm -- which snuffed out the lives of 18 young women and one even younger boy -- has placed a spotlight on the “Town”. In 2018, David Granger, as President, decided to baptize the settlement of just 2600-odd (some would say “very odd”!) persons as a town!! As reported by Wiki, Mahdia has “four hotels; two guest houses and four brothels” - not to mention ELEVEN restaurants!!

John was the first to be buried earlier in the week with an emotional send-off in the community.

The other girls who perished include Lisa Roberts, Tracil Thomas, Delecia Edwards, Lorita Williams, Natalie Bellarmine, Arriana Edwards, Cleoma Simon, Martha Dandrade, Mary Dandrade, Omerfia Edwin, Nickleen Robinson, Sherlyn Bellarmine, Eulander Carter and Andrea Roberts.

As you can surmise, Mahdia’s a place for “sporting”!! Founded in the late 1880s when gold was discovered in the surrounding mountains, that activity has remained as the raison d’etre for the settlement. It always had a large, transient population of rough-and-ready, adventurous souls who’re willing to test the rigours of gold – and later diamond – mining in the mountains. Mahdia itself is some 1300 feet above sea level. In the beginning, the activity provided an outlet for the ex-slaves from the coast, who rejected the plantations where they’d been kept in subjugation for centuries. The additional freedom occasioned by the realities of the unpoliced interior was taken full advantage of!!

The stories of these early pork-knockers and their profligate ways when they returned to the coast are legend!! Wine, women and song it was!! With the Linden-Lethem road and an airstrip in the present, these revelries can be indulged right here in Mahdia. Hence the four brothels and the eleven restaurants!! Women from the coast, and later Brazil, always gravitated into Mahdia, which then earned its reputation of a Wild West town in the Guyanese wilderness!! Sadly, the Indigenous females were literally seen as fair game for male lechery, and have been exploited brutally since the 1890s gold rush. The incident that triggered the arson at the school was linked to the attentions of one of these lechers towards one young student.

Interestingly, small islanders – here from St Lucia and Dominica – also gravitated into the goldfields – as they’d done in the Bauxite town of Linden. Their descendants remain a feature of Mahdia’s colourful cultural life. Just outside of Mahdia is an Indigenous Peoples’ settlement, called “Campbell Town” after their pioneering leader Stephen Campbell -- who secured the right to title over the lands they were living on from “time immemorial” at the Independence Talks in 1965!! So those who quibble about Indigenous Peoples “getting land” are full of you know what!!

Now, you may be wondering how come the town didn’t develop any local industries, like jewelry-making, to add value to its products. Sadly, those of us who inherited the mantle of colonial rule at independence retained the colonial attitude of seeing the locals as marks to be exploited.

All the gold and diamonds are shipped to the coast!!

…the Mahdia Monument?

For the first time in the decade your Eyewitness has been writing this column, he’s including a picture: for the simple reason that you wouldn’t have believed the point he’s making

- and a picture’s worth a thousand words, anyway!! Now, can you imagine the moral depravity of the Sanctimonious Gangster for installing this “monument” to represent what Mahdia - with its four brothels - is all about??

…the PNC and LGE??

Your Eyewitness knows that the Mahdia Horror had hit us all very hard. But, as we – and the PNC -- know, political mobilisation waits for no man. With the LGE nigh upon us, what gives??

All 19 of the fire victims have been identified

The bodies have now been handed over to the families TURN TO PAGE

Drainage, security, infrastructure issues raised at Region 3 meetings

An outreach to Region

Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) led by President Dr Irfaan Ali has given assurances to residents that current issues will be addressed, especially as it relates to drainage, security and infrastructure.

The Head of State was accompanied by Minister within the Public Works Ministry Deodat Indar on Saturday and held a series of community meetings as they listened to complaints and problems facing residents. At the Hugh Anderson Sports Complex in Good Fortuin, the President said that his Government’s objective is to create positive change.

Ali said that the

fall on the West Bank of Demerara to enhance drainage in the area. According to him, it will be similar to Hope Canal and would ensure that water flows rapidly

Additionally, he affirmed that the area would be massively transformed with enhanced infrastructure, job opportunities and developmental projects being implemented. The President also listened to the concerns of the residents and made onthe-spot solutions.

Meanwhile, commitments were made to provide Good Fortuin with a Police outpost to curb crime, and to examine the squatting area for possible construction of foot paths. Second Street, Good Fortuin is slated for full reconstruction and a mobile pump will be installed at the community’s sluice to improve drainage.

concerns affecting their communities. Solutions were provided for matters relating to roadworks, drainage, and construction of revetments.

Warning to contractor President Ali issued a stern warning to the contractor executing a $157M road project at Hague Backdam to complete the project within the stipulated timeframe or otherwise face sanctions.

Residents from both communities commended the PPP/C Government for its investment in the execution of drainage works. Guyana is now experiencing the rainy reason, which typically prolongs until June.

Government is working on the creation of a new out-

out of rain-affected communities.

Hours after, the team also facilitated consultations with residents from Blankenburg and Hague on

As usual, the forecast for this period indicates that the highest rainfall totals and the possibility of flash floods during this season are expected to peak in the months of May and June. The highest amount of rainfall, according to the Hydromet Office, would be expected in Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice). However, all other regions are still to expect higher than normal rainfall values.

According to the seasonal forecast issued, rainfall

amounts, and frequency are expected to increase as the season progresses.

In Budget 2023, the Government had signalled that this year would see, among other things, a major shift to community building and improving infrastructure, which would include massive spending on community roads and drainage systems.

Since the beginning of May, Guyana has been subjected to increased rainfall. However, this has not resulted in any major accumulation of water or flooding. The last major occurrence of in-

undation was in June 2021, where torrential rains resulted in mass flooding countrywide. Over 50,000 households were affected.

These engagements follow a larger Presidential Outreach earlier in March where hundreds of issues facing residents of Region Three were addressed, where persons had lauded the swift response to have their concerns heard and remedied. At that time, a majority of the issues resolved related to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), housing, and other matters at the regional level. (G12)

Scores of persons turned up at Good Fortuin to participate and share their concerns

President Ali engaging residents during the outreach

Residents of WCD communities meeting with President Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday

“Very good work” being done by Administration

former APNU adviser now backs PPP/C

As the countdown continues to Local Government Elections (LGE) 2023, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) has been hit by yet another defection, this time, by longstanding party member Ronald Backer, who has thrown his support behind the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

Backer formerly served as a political adviser to former Director General under the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Government and former Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon.

In an interview broadcast, Backer spoke of why he will be backing the PPP/C. According to him, the current Administration has been doing good work.

“I’ve been trying to switch over to the PPP/C because of the amount of good work I see they are doing. I’m formally coming over to the

PPP… what I’ve been seeing in the Administration is very good work and I will support the PPP in getting votes out in this election,” Backer said on Saturday.

The Opposition has been rocked by a number of defections of notable figures in their party, who have gone over to the PPP/C over the past few months. Former Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and sitting APNU Councillor Trichria Richards were among the

new personalities who have gone over to the PPP/C as the party vies to take control of Georgetown at the Local Government polls.

They were among the large crowd of PPP/C members and candidates who arrived at the Critchlow Labour College last month to submit the party’s candidate lists for the LGE polls set for Monday, June 12.

Chase-Green and Richards were both once members of APNU on the Georgetown Mayor and City Council. Chase-Green had expressed confidence in both the vision of her party of choice and the list they submitted.

In an interview with this publication, Richards had said her decision to join PPP/C stemmed from her lack of confidence in her former party. According to her, she had confidence in the PPP/C’s plans.

“I have no confidence in

the APNU/AFC coalition, more so the PNC. And the PPP is all about development and progress, and I want my constituencies to be a part of that. That’s why I [opted] to go with them,” Richards had said.

Since her defection, however, Richards has been faced with harassment by members of her former party. This prompted her to eventually make a Police report last month, saying in a statement that “It is indeed shocking to see the lengths to which some individuals would go to humiliate and

intimidate persons who have exercised their constitutional rights to associate and to belong to any party, group or organisation of their choice.”

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, the General Secretary of the PPP/C, has also been vocal in urging those who have left the APNU, to report any instances of bullyism and intimidation, to the Police. A special hotline (592) 700-8117 was created to facilitate this.

While he was not a part of APNU, popular entertainer and former Councillor Malcolm Ferreira was an-

other new face to join the PPP/C. He had made it clear that he was with the PPP/C because of his confidence in its plan for the city, and his ability to work along with that party to get things done. He also noted that, since he was always an independent candidate, he could not be accused of “switching” allegiances.

APNU is only contesting 260 of the 610 constituencies, while groups and individuals are contesting, outside of those 260 areas, in another 58 constituencies. This means that APNU and other groups or individuals are contesting in a total of 318 constituencies.

Following the April 17 Nomination Day, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) had approved the List of Candidates for political parties, individuals, or groups who are contesting the June 12 Local Government polls.

GECOM has already announced that there will be no voting in 13 Local Authority Areas (LAAs) because there is no one to challenge the incumbent, including in Lethem (Region Nine) where APNU failed to even submit a candidate list. (G3)

Former PNCR member and political adviser Ronald Backer

From left; then APNU Councillor Trichria Richards, PPP/C General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo, former independent candidate Malcolm Ferreira and former Mayor Patricia Chase-Green on Nomination Day

What independence?

We commemorated our 57th anniversary of our 1966 independence from Britain, which in 1814 had taken over from the Dutch who had arbitrarily carved out colonies, starting in 1621, from lands occupied by our Indigenous Peoples. The tragedy at Mahdia brought the plight of those still-colonialised peoples to the fore by exposing the conditions under which their young “best and brightest” are schooled in the 21st century. But colonialism does not linger just for them –it envelops all of us Guyanese.

Ravi Dev

If nothing else, our history should have taught us that we are operating within a historical world system that developed from Europe’s even earlier colonization of the world, starting from the 15th century. After WWII, the dominant Liberal paradigm that promised political, economic and cultural independence after our long “tutelage” was challenged within a “Cold War” between the USSR and USA. The former promoted a socialist/ communist mode of socioeconomic development, while the latter pushed its modernisation theory with its Rostowian “stages of growth” economic component.

Burnham’s socialist co-operative experiment from the 1960s imploded through its racial and economic contradictions, exposed by the communist PPP and the Marxist/Black Power-influenced WPA. Guyana had to adopt the neo-liberal “Washington Consensus” prescriptions of privatisation, stabilisation, and liberalisation of markets by 1989.

As we are on the cusp of an incipient Cold War between the US and China, the world system still constrains our policy choices, and this absolutely must be factored in our deliberations/policies going forward.

One synthesizing critique which I have frequently adumbrated was presented by the Latin American theorist Anibal Quijano, which he called the “Coloniality of Power”. He demonstrated that while “colonialism” might have ended, its structural features, dubbed “coloniality”, remain firmly in place. Quijano posits that we were all conscripted by a European-defined “modernity” that began in 1492 with the conquest of the Americas. It has developed and extended the structures of power, control and hegemony that emerged during the era of colonialism. He demonstrated that the Coloniality of Power takes three forms: systems of racial hierarchies, systems of knowledge, and systems of culture.

“Race” was created by Europeans to justify African enslavement by using Christian myths, including a “Great Chain of Being” with God on top, followed by his angels, then mankind - with Europeans on top and Africans at the bottom. Other nonEuropean groups, like Indians and Chinese, were placed into intermediate positions – over which they still fight to exchange their ultimate subaltern statuses. In Guyana, Indentured Indians were relegated to the bottom of the racial ladder, and their subsequent efforts to challenge the ironic racism from the African and Coloured elite precipitated violence against them. “Race” still matters in every country in the world – even where there was no African slavery. Consequently, our local efforts to eliminate its effects must be joined globally.

“Race” always had a material base. Quijano asserts: “The other process was the constitution of a new structure of control of labour and its resources and products.” This was achieved through the development of the capitalist world system, with the global racial/ethnic hierarchy of Europeans and non-Europeans being an integral part. It included transitional forms such as Indentureship, which was an important cog in the extension of coloniality from slavery. Presently, immigrants to the West from the rest is the latest manifestation.

The Eurocentric “Systems of knowledge” should be taken into consideration as we tinker with our institutions and culture to deal with our unique contingencies. Quijano writes, “Europe’s hegemony over the new model of global power concentrated all forms of the control of subjectivity, culture, and especially knowledge and the production of knowledge under its hegemony.” In attempting to create liberating Guyanese cultures and institutions, we should be aware we will be using “the tools of the master”.

We therefore all live within a multiplicity of colonialities: conquest and modernity; race; the nation; sexuality; gender; the hegemonic and hegemonized mind etc. For us to create sustainable plans to alter our status quo positively, we need to appreciate the constraints at the individual, group, state/ nation and global levels. For instance, why should we denigrate other groups racially/ ethnically when we ourselves are suffering from that scorn from others through hierarchies of race? Then how do we deliver equity and equality of opportunity for all groups in our country within a neo-liberal paradigm that systematically generates inequalities?

Cognizant of our constraints, we have suggested a Nordic-type socialist democratic system.

Families now preparing to...

Little Adanye Jerome, the five-year-old son of the dorm mother, is also among those who passed. Thus far, he is the only person whose remains will be laid to rest in Georgetown, Guyana Times was informed.

The Mahdia school dormitory housed about 59 students from communities of Karisparu, El Paso, Micobie and Chenapao, Region Eight. According to a Guyana Fire Service, 14 youths died at the scene of the fire, while five died at Mahdia District Hospital after the fire broke out last Sunday evening.

Identification of the bodies via DNA analysis was needed as they were deemed unrecognisable. Families were promised that by Friday, they would receive word on the identification and this was upheld.

The analyses were conducted by Professor and System Chair, Dr Carlos Cordon-Cardo alongside a team of experts at the Pathology Laboratory of New York-based Mount Sinai.

Earlier in the week, samples from forensic specimens taken from the bodies of the female students were obtained by Dr

Shubhaker Karra Paul, a specialist pathologist from Barbados. The forensic specimen obtained from the five-year-old male victim was taken by Guyanese pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh. These samples were com-

pared to those taken from the parents and siblings of the children.

fire will help improve dorm facilities across the country. President Irfaan has assured that the Commission will be established soon to determine the cause and circumstances of the incident. (G12)

By Tassia Dickenson

Following recommen-

dations from a friend, 25-year-old teacher Abeda Alexander established her own business, selling sea moss gel and providing Guyanese with this nutritional supplement.

‘The Sea Moss Sanctuary’ was established in April 2023 after a friend of Alexander’s recommended that she starts a business selling it. The budding entrepreneur shared that, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, her uncle in London, United Kingdom, recommended the use of sea moss, as he highlighted some of the incredible benefits. However, it was not until she conceived her daughter later that year that she began using it, after he

Ambitious teacher starts ‘The Sea Moss Sanctuary’

persisted that she does.

“I started using sea moss in 2020 in the height of Covid, when an uncle of mine from London started lamenting on its use and the benefits it provides. I didn’t take his advice at the time, but when I got pregnant with my daughter later that year, he advised me again, and, as such, I started using it,” Abeda explained.

“The introduction to sea moss as a pregnant woman was amazing, I literally felt like superwoman. I was always on the go, and didn’t have many of the complications most pregnant women have. I wouldn’t give all the glory to sea moss for that, but the one thing I can attest to is the loads of energy I had,” Alexander told this publication.

“I eventually decided to turn it into a business in April, after I recommended it to a friend of mine that was complaining of feeling drained and overwhelmed all the time. He tried it, and he recommended starting a business selling it,” she added.

As all entrepreneurs can relate, venturing off into the world of business has its challenges. However, for Alexander, her only challenge was sourcing authentic sea

moss. She highlighted that there are lots of poorly grown sea moss on the market, but she managed to find a local supplier who retails authentic sea moss imported from St Lucia, and she learnt the method of making the moss from her uncle.

“The only issue I had while sourcing products to start was finding a company that sold real sea moss. Most of the sea moss found in supermarkets is farmed or pool grown, which means that they don’t provide as many

nutrients as real sea moss, and pose a threat to our bodies because we don’t know what chemicals are used in the water the sea moss is grown in,” she highlighted.

According to Alexander, in due course, she aspires to be one of Guyana’s largest suppliers of holistic products. She noted that, ever so often, people use tablets and other products to heal simple issues in their bodies, not knowing that there are natural products which can be used instead.

“We can just use natural products to solve the same issues that won’t harm our bodies in one way or the other. In addition to this, there aren’t many outlets in Guyana that provide these products, so my aim is to create one. The one thing our business ensures is that we provide quality products to our customers, because we care about their health and wellbeing,” an ambitious Alexander said.

Sea moss is a type of red algae, also known as Irish moss, that consists of 92 of

the 102 nutrients and minerals that the body needs to function and thrive. It’s known for providing the body with energy; aiding digestion; boosting your immune system; improving thyroid health, skin, hair, and nails; and a lot more benefits.

At this time, ‘The Sea Moss Sanctuary’ offers only plain sea moss gel in gold, purple and full spectrum, and a wide variety of flavoured sea moss gels. These products are not yet available in supermarkets, but are being distributed to Berbice and would soon be distributed to Linden. According to Alexander, after she has worked out the shelf life and proper storage of her products, she would be distributing them to supermarkets countrywide.

“I’m currently working out the kinks in relation to shelf life and storage. So, once that has been resolved, we’ll be supplying supermarkets and other stores countrywide. Distribution to Berbice has already started, and I’d like to start distribution to Linden soon,” she shared.

Persons desirous of purchasing from ‘The Sea Moss Sanctuary’ can make contact on Facebook at The Sea Moss Sanctuary, or via WhatsApp at (592) 635-1127.

Some of the products offered by The Sea Moss Sanctuary

Abeda Alexander, owner of The Sea Moss Sanctuary

Egyptian company scoping opportunities in Guyana’s shrimp industry

Evergreen Egypt United, a leading company in the field of fish farming and marine fisheries, is seeking to set up operations in Guyana.

According to a social media statement by the Agriculture Ministry, the company is hoping to establish fish and shrimp hatcheries, a fish and shrimp-feeding plant and production factory, as well as a research and development laboratory.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha on Tuesday met with a team of investors from the Egyptian company to discuss advancing this project. During this meeting, Mustapha said Guyana is both embarking on cage culture as well as increasing the production of brackish water shrimp, adding that groundwork to begin rearing brackish water shrimp in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) has already begun.

Meanwhile, brackish water shrimp production in Region Six (East Berbice-

Corentyne) has rapidly increased since its launch in July 2021.

In April, Minister Mustapha relayed an increase in production from 10,000 kilogrammes to

90,000 kilogrammes, with eventual plans to reach the target of 120,000 kilogrammes.

The Agriculture Ministry is also reportedly increasing cage culture this year to about 50-75 cages around the country, and improving facilities of some 75 landing sites.

The Government has been placing additional focus on the country’s aquaculture industry over the past year.

As such, Guyana is one of 12 countries participating in the fiveyear FISH4ACP program, conceptualized by the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and implemented by the Food and

Agriculture Organization (FAO), aiming to support the development of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.

In continued commitment to this goal, FAO and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in April collaborated with the Agriculture Ministry to develop three manuals to aid fisherfolk and other necessary stakeholders in their production methods.

The manuals are the WWF-produced Guyana Marine Industry Management Plan (20222027), the FAO-led Seabob Management Plan (20222027), and the Agriculture Ministry’s new Brackish Water Shrimp Production Manual.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha meeting with investors from Evergreen Egypt United

NM Trucking Auto Sales & Agri Machinery's Multi-Billion Dollar Dealership Agreement with XCMG

Subsidiary of the Jumbo Jet Group, NM Trucking Auto Sales & Agri Machinery signs has recently inked the final binding agreement with Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group (XCMG). Rated as the third largest supplier of heavy-duty equipment XCMG is eager to enter the vastly growing Guyana Market. NM Trucking and by extension Jumbo Jet has been responsible for importation of over 80 percent of the heavy-duty machinery and trucks for the past Twenty-Eight (28) years. The company has established a solid foundation in the mining and construction sector with their sales and efficient after service.

Mr. Nasrudeen ‘Juniour’ Mohamed and other representatives of the NM Trucking journeyed to Brazil and signed the initial MOU on February 9, 2023 at the office of XCMG Brazil Industria LTDA, the South American headquarters. After all the necessary preparations were made locally to accommodate a first shipment of machines form XCMG, Mr. Mohamed then travelled to China to close the deal and take a tour of the factory located at No. 1 Industry Area, Xuzhou Economic Development Zone Jiangsu, Mainland China.

With the value of the three-year term contract set at $90,000,000 USD, NM Trucking has assured Guyana construction of a state-of-the-art facility and showroom has commenced. Special attention and emphasis will be placed on heavy-duty construction, asphalt paving, mining and lifting equipment and machinery.

Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group was founded in 1943 and has since stood at the forefront of construction machinery and has grown significantly into one of the world’s largest and most influential enterprise groups with its global annual sales exceeding US$14B for three consecutive years.

Representing XCMG Group were General Manager and Head of XCMG South American countries Mr. LiHanguang, Commercial Director of XCMG South American Group Mr. Wu Shuxin, and Manager of International Business Department and NM Trucking Director Nasrudeen ‘Juniour’ Mohamed, Mr. Sanjeev Caimraj and associate Nishant Sudhakar.

When contacted via mobile phone Mr. Mohamed indicated, “NM Trucking and Jumbo Jet has been in this business for quite some time and continues to stay current. We understand the needs of the Guyana market and is willing to make the investment to boast the standard and quality of projects in Guyana. After singing the final documents NM Trucking can focus heavily on the completion of their new showroom. The first three (3) shipment is expected to arrive in Guyana in the month of June, July and August with Forty-One (41), Thirty (30) and Fifty-Four (54) pieces of equipment respectively per shipment.

In Photo: Nasrudeen Juniour Mohamed & Commercial Director of XCMG South American Group Mr Wu Shuxin signing the agreement

as one nation” – greatest tribute to Mahdia fire victims

Armogan tells Berbice

Region Six Chairman, David Armogan, is calling on Guyanese to live as one nation. This, he said, is one of the greatest tributes that Guyana, as a nation, can pay to the nineteen children who lost their lives in a school dormitory fire at the Mahdia Secondary School in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) on May 21.

Armogan made the call as he delivered an address at a flag-raising ceremony to usher in Guyana’s 57th Independence Anniversary at State House in New Amsterdam.

“The greatest tribute that we can pay to those students who lost their lives, some of whom were burnt beyond recognition, is to always remember them,” the Regional Chairman said.

The ceremony was held in the form of a vigil as Guyana mourns the death of the 19 children who died as a result of the fire. It has been reported that the fire was alleged to have been set by one student who was retaliating to her cellular phone being confiscated.

“We must take an example from this incident, and ensure that when people are aggrieved and disturbed, we need to pay attention, because we do not know when such things can happen,” Armogan pointed out. “We, in Guyana, must continue to look out for each other. We, in Guyana, must continue to live together. We, in Guyana, must continue to break down the racial barriers. We, in Guyana, must continue to live as one nation; and that is perhaps the greatest tribute that we can pay to these children who have lost their lives,” he admonished.

“Guyana is today pro-

gressing at a very rapid pace, and those children, I am sure, would have made important contributions to the development of our country. Unfortunately, they are gone, but their memory will remain with us,” Armogan declared.

The Mahdia fire occurred on May 21, just days before Guyana observed its Independence Anniversary, during which the country celebrates the progress that is made as a nation. It has been reported that the fire was started by a disgruntled student. Armogan said he is of the opinion that the teen did not imagine, in her “wildest dreams”, that her actions would have resulted in the type of consequences that took place.

“We also empathize with that young lady who did such a miserable act. But our nation must be grateful for the lives of those children that were saved. Our Government did all that was possible to assist in ensuring that those who were alive after the fire were given the best medical attention. Our Government acted responsibly, but it is something that we could have not avoided,” Armogan explained.

He said that even if the best sprinklers and fire extinguishers were in the building which was burnt, the nineteen deaths could not have been avoided.

“Perhaps it is something that we would have to look at in the future, but that incident that took place there on Sunday night, I don’t know how much those things would have helped,” he said.

“Such a tragedy will always be remembered. This nation will never forget that,” the Chairman added. (G4)

Region Six Chairman David Armogan, along with Joint Services ranks, ushering in Guyana’s 57th Independence Anniversary by paying tribute to the children who died in the Mahdia fire

“Live

–

81 land titles issued to Region 9 residents

…48 houses under Lethem Housing Programme near completion

The Housing Ministry has delivered 81 land titles to allottees of Tract CHPA in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), commonly known as Poke Bridge.

It represents the first set of allottees in the area who have received their ownership documents following a title processing exercise last week. Titles were presented by Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal and Regional Chairman Brian Allicock at the Regional Housing Office.

Minister Croal said the title document is an important step in the homeownership process, since it grants the beneficiaries legal possession of their properties. The housing scheme has been allocated to close to 580 persons from August 2020 to date, and over 300 persons have gained access to their lots as the infrastructure works progress.

Croal stated that over $1 billion is being invested by the Government to develop the housing scheme.

“That means developing the drainage; developing the road network, culverts, catering for water to put the pipe systems in place,” explained the Minister, adding that a new well would be drilled to service the scheme, and electrical networks would be installed.

Minister Croal further stated that investments in the region would continue under the President Dr Irfaan Aliled Administration, while outlining several housing initiatives in the region through the Housing Ministry and CHPA.

The first 48 houses under the Lethem Housing Support Programme are nearing completion, while construction of another 52

is expected to start soon.

Meanwhile, 58 vouchers have also been issued to Region Nine residents under the Steel and Cement Housing Subsidy, and the region will also benefit from the Hinterland Housing Programme.

The Minister said the region would receive spinoff benefits from these initiatives, such as job creation and expansion in a variety of sectors, including transportation.

These interventions were welcomed by the Regional Chairman, who stated that President Ali and his Cabinet have transformed the township of Lethem tremendously.

According to one of the beneficiaries, Christopher Sahibdeen, acquiring his title would enable him to provide his young children with a better life.

“I’m thankful for having my title here today… This is going to be something great for my two little boys - three years old and twelve months old - for having a home in Lethem, Rupununi, Region Nine,” said the allottee.

Meanwhile, mother of one, Sholisa Simon, expressed, “It would be nice for us, so we would get our own house, and I am happy we would live comfortable”.

The Lethem Housing Support Programme is the brainchild of President Dr Irfaan Ali. The agency will be constructing a $3 million low-income home and providing $1 million in support to each beneficiary for the building cost. Moreover, the Housing Ministry will be 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. (G12)

A resident being engaged by the CHPA team

Dr Tariq Jagnarine Family meDicine, enDocrinology/DiabeTes

Grief is universal. People often describe grief as passing through 5 or 7 stages. The 5 stages are: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

At some point, everyone will have at least one encounter with grief. It may

HEALTH TIPS GRIEF AND LOSS

be from the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, the end of a relationship, or any other change that alters life as they know it.

Grief is also very personal. It’s not very neat or linear. It doesn’t follow any timelines or schedules. Persons may cry, become angry, withdraw, or feel empty. None of these things is unusual or wrong.

THE 5 STAGES OF GRIEF

According to KüblerRoss, the five stages of grief are:

* Denial

* Anger

* Bargaining

* Depression

* Acceptance

STAGE 1: DENIAL

Grief is an overwhelming emotion. It’s not unusual to respond to strong and often

sudden feelings by pretending the loss or change isn’t happening. Denying it gives people time to absorb the news and begin to process it. This is a common defense mechanism, and it helps to numb people to the intensity

of the situation.

As people move out of the denial stage, however, the emotions they’ve been hiding will begin to rise. They will be confronted with a lot of sorrow they’ve denied. That is also part of the

journey of grief, but it can be difficult.

STAGE 2: ANGER

Whereas denial may be considered a coping mechanism, anger is a masking effect. Anger is hiding many of the emotions and pain that people carry.

This anger may be redirected at other people, such as the person who died, an ex, an old boss, or even inanimate objects.

Anger may mask itself in feelings like bitterness or resentment. It may not be clear-cut fury or rage. Not everyone will experience this stage of grief. Others may linger here. As the anger subsides, however, people may begin to think more rationally about what’s happening, and feel the emotions they’ve been pushing aside.

STAGE 3: BARGAINING

During grief, persons may feel vulnerable and helpless. In those moments of intense emotions, it’s not uncommon to look for ways to regain control, or to want to feel like the outcome can be affected by an event.

In the bargaining stage of grief, people may find themselves creating a lot of “what if” and “if only” statements.

It’s also not uncommon for religious individuals to try to make a deal or promise to God or a higher power in return for healing or relief from grief and pain.

Bargaining is a line of defense against the emotions of grief. It helps to postpone sadness, confusion, or hurt.

STAGE 4: DEPRESSION

Whereas anger and bargaining can feel very active, depression may feel like a quiet stage of grief.

In the early stages of loss, people may be running from the emotions, trying to stay a step ahead of them. By this point, however, they may be able to embrace and work through them in a more healthful manner.

They may also choose to iso-

late themselves from others in order to fully cope with the loss.

That, however, doesn’t mean that depression is easy or well-defined. Like the other stages of grief, depression can be difficult and messy. It can feel overwhelming. People may feel foggy, heavy, and confused. Depression may feel like the inevitable landing point of any loss. However, if there is a feeling of being stuck, or seemingly being unable to move past this stage of grief, talk with a mental health expert.

STAGE 5: ACCEPTANCE

Acceptance is not necessarily a happy or uplifting stage of grief. It doesn’t mean people moved past the grief or loss. It does, however, mean that they accept it and have come to understand what it means in their life now.

TIME PERIOD

Grief is different for every person. There’s no exact time frame to adhere to. People may remain in one of the stages of grief for months, but skip other stages entirely. This is typical. It takes time to go through the grieving process.

REPETITION OF STAGES

Not everyone goes through the stages of grief in a linear way. They may have ups and downs, and go from one stage to another, then circle back.

Additionally, not everyone would experience all stages of grief, and may not go through them in order. For example, they may begin coping with loss in the bargaining stage, and find themselves in anger or denial next.

Avoiding, ignoring, or denying ourselves the ability to express our grief may help us dissociate from the pain of the loss we’re going through. But holding it in won’t make it disappear. And we can’t avoid grief forever.

Over time, unresolved grief can turn into physical or emotional manifestations that affect our health. To heal from a loss and move on, grief needs to be addressed.

The key to understanding grief is realizing that no one experiences the same thing. Grief is very personal, and you may feel something different every time. You may need several weeks, or grief may be years long.

New PSA will secure over 60% more revenue share for Guyana – VP

…says APNU/AFC’s lack of ring-fencing in 2016 hindering Guyana’s profits

With the new model Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government is implementing for all new oil exploration projects, Government is optimistic that the State’s take will rise to over 60 per cent of the current revenue share.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo expressed this view during a recent press conference, noting that ExxonMobil has invested more than US$30 billion to finance its oil exploration and production activities in Guyana. This sum, according to him, is six times the money in Guyana’s banking system. But with the new PSA, Guyana’s take from similar investments will increase by over 60 per cent.

“We needed that to explore these big opportunities. So, our job is to try to get the investments in, but to get a growing share of the pie too. And to make sure that our people get the possibility of development, the supplies. With our new PSA… when you look at the total take, it will be (over) 60 per cent of the total take, when

you do the analysis of the investments,” he said.

According to the provisions of the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed under the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, 75 per cent of gross revenue goes to cost oil while Guyana gets a total 14.5 per cent take from the remaining profit oil and royalty and Exxon gets a 10.5 per cent take.

But while the new model PSA has implemented provisions for ring-fencing, Jagdeo noted that had the 2016 con-

tract done this in the first place, Guyana’s share of profits would have increased by now from the amortisation of some of Exxon’s earlier investments.

“The contract says 75 per cent goes to cost oil. That is to pay back loans and everything else, return on investment…. we had spoken about our disappointment with the lack of ring-fencing. Because at 75 per cent cost recovery, with ring-fencing, they would have already amortised already some of the earlier investments.”

“So, our share would have

gone up now, because if you amortise fully, you’re now 50 per cent of the total revenue, the sale of oil. So, the 155,000 barrels of oil per day, gets sold and you’re getting 50 per cent of that, plus the 2 per cent royalty. But because of the lack ring-fencing… although a huge part goes to cost recovery, they utilise a lot of those funds for the aggressive exploration that we’ve seen,” Jagdeo further posited.

Under the new conditions of the model PSA, Guyana stands to benefit from as high as US$20 million signature bonuses for the deep-water blocks and US$10 million for the shallow-water blocks. Additionally, all future PSAs would also include the retention of the 50-50

profit-sharing after cost recovery; the increase of the royalty from a mere two per cent to a fixed rate of 10 per cent; the imposition of a 10 per cent corporate tax, and the lowering of the cost recovery ceiling to 65 per cent, from 75 per cent.

At the time the new PSA was released, Exxon had already registered for the bidding round as one of the companies vying for the remaining oil blocks offshore Guyana that are up for auction. ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge had told Guyana Times that his company’s interest in the auction is fuelled by its successful oil finds offshore Guyana.

The end date for that very auction has since been extend-

ed to July 15, 2023, amid a plethora of interest being expressed by major international players. Previously, the auction had been expected to end on April 14, 2023, after which evaluations and negotiations would have followed and the blocks would have been awarded in May 2023

The sizes of the 14 oil blocks on auction range from 1000 to 3000 square kilometres (sq km). Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat had said in February that more than 20 companies had indicated their interest in buying oil blocks, and have already submitted bids. These companies, he had noted, are renowned in the oil and gas industry. (G3)

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Dispute over female ends in cutlass attack

Aman is currently hospitalised after reportedly being brutally chopped in Frenchman Backdam, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) on Friday morning.

Injured is 36-year-old shopkeeper Randy Tello, who suffered severe injuries to his face and other parts of his body.

Reports are that two men, armed with cutlasses, allegedly attacked Tello as he was preparing to leave his shop.

According to reports, the attack reportedly stemmed from a misunderstanding between Tello and the perpetrators about a woman. The assailants purportedly accused Tello of dancing

with a 19-year-old woman, leading to their anger and subsequent assault.

Immediately following the incident, Tello was rushed to Mackenzie Hospital for urgent medical attention. However, due

Amnesty report finds racial bias in Peru’s protest crackdown

The Peruvian Government was more likely to use lethal violence in marginalised areas of the country as part of its crackdown on recent anti-Government protests, a report by rights group Amnesty International has found.

to the severity of his injuries, he was transferred to Georgetown Public Hospital for further treatment.

Meanwhile, the Police have since apprehended the two attackers.

Thursday’s report, “Lethal racism”, alleges the Government’s actions may constitute extrajudicial executions in some cases. Amnesty calls for the Peruvian Attorney General’s Office to investigate the use of excessive force in response to the protests.

“Using lethal firearms against protesters shows a blatant disregard for human life,” Agnes Callamard, Amnesty’s Secretary General, said in a press release.

“Despite the Government’s efforts to paint them as terrorists or criminals, those killed were demonstrators, observers and bystanders. Almost all of them were from poor, Indigenous and campesino backgrounds, suggesting a racial and socioeconomic bias in the use

of lethal force.”

The report is the latest to find that Peru’s Government wielded disproportionate violence and targeted people from poor and Indigenous backgrounds during the protests that enveloped the country following the ouster of former President Pedro Castillo.

The crisis began on December 7, when Castillo faced his third impeachment hearing.

Rather than face an opposition-led Congress, Castillo attempted to dissolve Peru’s legislature and rule by decree, a move widely considered illegal. He was quickly impeached, removed from office and arrested.

Meanwhile, his former Vice President, Dina Boluarte, was sworn in as Peru’s first female President.

Castillo’s supporters, many of them from poor and rural areas seen as neglected by the state, took to the streets to protest his detention. Among their demands were calls for a new constitution and elections.

Boluarte’s Administration has since been criticised for its heavy-handed response to protests and failure to address popular discontent. The Amnesty report found that, between December and February, 49 protesters were killed. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Injured man feels ignored by Police

Amonth after the brutal attack on Andrew Arnold, a 25-yearold contractor from Good Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD), allegations have emerged regarding the Police's response to his case. Arnold, who was left for dead by someone he considered a close friend of 11 years, claims that the Police informed him he would not survive his injuries and therefore neglected to follow up on his report.

Adding to the distress, Arnold told Guyana Times on Saturday that despite being unable to speak due to damage to his vocal cords sustained in the attack, the Police insisted he provide a statement orally before taking action.

“I was shocked, I told them that I can write and they want me to talk when I can’t talk. I couldn’t believe that was coming from the Police,” he told this publication via Facebook messenger. While Arnold cannot speak, he has been communicating via writing.

With the alleged suspect still at large, Arnold said

he feels ignored by the authorities. The incident occurred on April 2 at Pigeon Island, ECD, where Arnold was lured into a trap by his supposed friend. According to text messages shared by the injured man, the assailant revealed that someone had hired him to carry out a hit on Arnold.

However, this newspaper could not independently verify the text messages shared about the alleged hit. The motive for the attempted murder remains unclear, although Arnold suspects it may be related to a dispute involving false accusations.

On the night of the at-

tack, the suspect convinced Arnold to accompany him to a secluded spot near the seawall on Pigeon Island, claiming they needed to collect money from his mother. Once there, Arnold was viciously assaulted with a sharp object that sliced his throat, causing severe bleeding.

Arnold recounted, "We were hanging out, and he asked me to go with him to his mom's place in Pigeon Island to collect some money, so we went...we took the seawall because he didn't want to ride on the road."

Describing the assault, Arnold shared, "He grabbed me from behind, put a knife to my neck, and informed me that he had been paid to kill me. He then slit my throat, threw me over the seawall, placed my bicycle on top of me, and callously declared, 'You're dead now,' before riding away."

Despite his grave injuries, Arnold managed to use his shirt as a makeshift bandage around his neck, retrieve his bicycle, and seek help at the Grand Coastal Hotel in order to contact the

Police. He was subsequently rushed to the hospital and underwent emergency surgery.

However, the alleged

suspect remains at large, and Arnold claims that the Police have been reluctant to search for him.

In his quest for justice,

Arnold alleges that he has been met with indifference from the Police since the incident. Desperate for action to be taken, he is now appealing to the Commissioner of Police to intervene and ensure a thorough investigation into the case.

“I want justice…dem say me can't talk so me can't give a statement… dem nah even check for him [the suspect]. Dem need to do their work,” the message read. Arnold hopes for a swift resolution and for the perpetrator to be held accountable for the heinous crime committed against him. Effort to contact Police in Division 4C for an update on the matter proved futile. (G9)

Pigeon Island attack

…“dem say me can't talk, so me can't give a statement” – victim

Andrew Arnold has been hospitalised after the incident

Better Hope fire

“Why I gonna burn down my house?” – ex-husband

Aman accused of setting a house ablaze in Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, has vehemently asserted his innocence. The man, who is the ex-husband of the own -

er of the building, Alexis Spooner, has denied any involvement in the fire.

The man took to social media on Saturday, saying that he co-owns the home with his ex-wife and would

not want to damage it.

In his social media post, the man said that there was a misunderstanding that occurred on the night of the incident, during which he claims to have left the scene to pick up his girlfriend.

He said to his shock, upon his return, he discovered the house engulfed in flames and found himself facing allegations of arson.

“Why I gonna burn down my house? I love my house bad,” the man said.

According to the accused, he and his ex-wife separated last year, and their relationship had been strained by accusations of physical abuse. As a result of a court order, he was instructed to stay away from the property for a duration of six months.

Despite this court order, he said, he occasionally visited the property with his ex-wife's consent.

However, on the night of the incident, he alleges a disagreement occurred between them, prompting him to leave the scene. Upon his return, he claimed that he found the house already set on fire.

The couple owned a car accessory business at the property but had separated after their relationship

was allegedly marred by persistent domestic issues.

It has been revealed that Spooner had obtained a restraining order against her ex-husband in the past due to alleged threats made to her.

The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has yet to confirm the cause of the fire.

The fire that gutted the house at Better Hope, ECD

Over 8,000 women die from pregnancy, childbirth in Caribbean, Latin America each year – PAHO …calls for action, investment, as 90% are preventable

In Latin America and the Caribbean, nearly 8,400 women die each year due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, showing disproportionate impact on poor women and those from minority ethnic backgrounds.

What has been more disturbing is that approximately 9 out of 10 of these deaths are preventable. This was revealed at the 76th World Health Assembly, taking place this week.

This week, a progress report on the Global Strategy for Women’s Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (20162030) was presented, urging countries to step-up investment in family planning interventions and routine postnatal care for women and newborns, all in a bid to reduce maternal and

child mortality.

The report outlined that in most regions of the world – with the exception of Southeast Asia – maternal and child mortality rates have either stagnated or increased. The majority of these deaths are preventable, and results from lack of access to sexual and re-

productive health services, as well as to prenatal care.

During the discussion, countries of the Americas highlighted the importance of recovering progress towards maternal mortality following the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on women from vulnerable populations as well

as on strengthening mental health initiatives for adolescents.

The WHO’s Global Strategy provides countries with a roadmap to end preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths, including stillbirths, by 2030, as well as to improve their overall health and well-being.

Data from the World Bank has shown that maternal mortality ratio in Guyana has improved from 231 in 2000 to 169 in 2017. Maternal mortality ratio is the number of women who die from pregnancy-related causes, while pregnant or within 42 days of pregnan-

cy termination, per 100,000 live births.

In Guyana, approximately 14,000 pregnancies are reported yearly. One target under Sustainable Development Goal 3 is to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 births, with no country having a maternal mortality rate of more than twice the global average. Countries from the region were also presented the chance to highlight other areas which are affecting their populations. Over the past decades, climate change has led to a rise in extreme weather

events, such as hurricanes and floods, as well as an increase in infectious and vector-borne diseases. This is of particular concern to small island developing states (SIDS) of the Caribbean, which are on the frontlines of climate change impact in the Region, yet contribute a comparatively minute percentage to greenhouse gas emissions, a main driver of global warming. During the roundtable, participants highlighted that health should be a powerful argument to advance the call for action in response to climate change in the run-up to COP28.

Regional Brazil says UN confirmed Amazonian city of Belem as COP30 host

Brazil's Government said on Friday the United Nations has confirmed the Amazonian city of Belem as the host of the COP30 climate change summit in November 2025.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva made the announcement in a video alongside his Foreign Relations Minister and the Governor of Para state, where Belem is located.

"I'm convinced it is going to be a great event," said Lula, who had previously pledged to try to bring the UN climate talks to a city in the world's largest rainforest.

The leftist leader last year attended the COP27 in Egypt as President-elect, pledging to recommit the rainforest nation to tackling the climate crisis. This year's talks are scheduled to take place in Dubai.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva poses with the Governor of Para state, Helder Barbalho and Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, during a meeting in the Alvorada Palace, after the United Nations confirmed the Amazonian city of Belem as the host of the COP30 climate change summit in November 2025, in Brasilia, Brazil May 26, 2023

"I've attended COPs in Egypt, Paris, Copenhagen and all people talk about is the Amazon, so I asked: why not host it in an Amazonian state, so you can know what the Amazon really is?" the

Former anti-corruption prosecutor arrested in Guatemala

leftist leader said. "That is very important."

Belem is the second most populous city in Brazil's Amazon after Manaus, which hosted games of the 2014 World Cup. (Reuters)

Guatemalan

Police arrested a former top prosecutor on Friday, accusing him of abusing his authority for investigating corruption allegations against an ex-President of the Central American country.

Stuardo Campo is the latest among a growing number of former prosecutors, judges and officials who have been jailed or forced into exile in recent years.

Campo said his arrest stemmed from accusations filed by the Anti-Terrorism Foundation, a far-right organization which has targeted politicians, activists and journalists over the past year.

"This is a spurious complaint," Campo told reporters as police were taking him to appear in court. "It's totally false."

In 2021, Campo was removed as the country's chief anti-corruption prosecutor and transferred to the anti-human smuggling

department of the Public Prosecutor's Office. Campo had requested that former President Jimmy Morales be stripped of his legal immunity to enable a probe into his alleged ties to a US$64 million fraud case.

During current President

US and Mexico sound alarm over cosmetic surgerylinked fungal outbreak

the spinal column.

Alejandro Giammattei's Administration, more than two dozen prosecutors and judges have gone into exile after threats related to their work as part of a United Nations-backed anti-corruption commission that is now defunct. (Reuters) US and Mexican authorities are urging the World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare a public health emergency over a fungal outbreak linked to cosmetic operations in Mexico.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said two people who got surgeries involving epidural anaesthesia have died of meningitis.

Almost 400 people in the US and Mexico are being monitored.

Two cosmetic clinics in the Mexican city of Matamoros have been shut.

Authorities in both the US and Mexico have urged people who had surgeries involving epidural anaesthesia at either the River Side Surgical Center or Clinica K-3 since January to get evaluated, even if they are currently asymptomatic.

The CDC said it had already identified 25 people in the US with "suspected" or "probable" cases of fungal meningitis.

Many US citizens travel to Mexico for cosmetic procedures such as liposuction, breast augmentation and Brazilian butt lifts, which all require the injection of an anaesthetic into the area around

The CDC's Dallas Smith said that medications used during anaesthesia in the current outbreak may have been contaminated either in the epidural itself or in other medications that are added in conjunction during the surgeries like morphine.

"There's a shortage currently in Mexico, and there could be potential for a black market that could have contaminated medicine," said Smith.

Last October, a batch of a local anaesthetic commonly used for operations such as Caesarean births was found to have been infected by the same fungus, leading to the death of 39 people in the Mexican state of Durango.

The most common early symptom of fungal meningitis is headaches, followed by symptoms like fever, vomiting, neck pain, and blurred vision.

Fungal meningitis is not contagious and can be treated with antifungal medicines - but it can quickly become life-threatening once symptoms begin.

Americans often travel to Mexico for low-cost medical services. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Sunday, May 28, 2023

06:00 (Sign on) Jewanram Rel. Hour 07:00 Cartoons 08:00 Shekinah Ministry 08:30 Evening News (RB)

09:30 Fast n Loud S13 E2

10:30 Cartoons

11:00 David Persaud Religious Program

11:30 Blippi

12:00 Explained

12:30 Movie - Tad, the Lost Explorer, and the Secret of King Midas (2017)

14:00 Movie - Let It Shine (2012)

16:00 Explained

16:30 Payless Power Hour

17:30 The Healing Touch

18:00 Wheel of Fortune

18:30 Week-in-Review

19:00 Lucifer S3 E25

20:00 Arrow S4 E14

21:00 Riverdale S4 E8

22:00 Unsolved Mysteries

23:00 The Office S3 E7

23:30 Grace & Frankie S6 E2 00:00 Sign off

Around the World OIL NEWS

Oleksiy Danilov interview: Ukraine counter-offensive 'ready to begin'

US oil & gas rigs fall in May by most in a month since 2020, Baker Hughes says

The US oil and gas rig count fell by 44 this month, the biggest drop in three years, after energy firms this week cut rigs for a fourth week in a row, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said in its closely followed report on Friday.

The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by nine to 711 in the week to May 26, the lowest since May 2022.

Baker Hughes said that puts the total rig count down by 16, or 2%, below this time last year.

US oil rigs fell by five to 570 this week, their lowest since May 2022, while gas rigs dropped by four to 137, their lowest since March 2022.

In May, the oil count fell by 21 rigs, which was the biggest monthly drop since June 2020.

The gas count dropped by 24 rigs in May in its biggest monthly rig decline since January 2016.

Data provider Enverus, which publishes its own rig count data, said drillers cut 13 rigs in the week to May 24, dropping the overall count to 767. That put the count down about 42 rigs over the past month and down 7% over the past year.

US oil futures were down about 10% so far this year after gaining about 7% in 2022. US gas futures, meanwhile, have plunged about 50% so far this year after rising about 20% last year.

The massive drop in gas prices has already caused some exploration and production companies like Chesapeake Energy Corp to announce plans to reduce production by cutting some rigs - especially in the Haynesville shale in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.

"Our view is that current gas prices incentivise Haynesville producers to ultimately halt growth, so we see further declines from the current count as likely," analysts at Goldman Sachs said in a note this week.

Most of the rig reductions this week were in the Haynesville where the total count dropped by three to 54, the lowest since February 2022.

Analysts at energy advisory Ritterbusch and Associates said in a note this week that there would likely be "several weeks of lag time before reduced rigs translate to a meaningful cut in production." (Reuters)

Pakistan avalanche kills 11 people from nomadic tribe

Atleast 11 people from a nomadic tribe, including a four-yearold boy, have been killed in an avalanche in northern Pakistan.

The snow struck as the group crossed a mountainous area in the Shounter Pass with their goat herds.

A further 25 people have been injured and a rescue operation is ongoing.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the deaths, and said incidents such as avalanches were increasing due to climate change.

The avalanche happened in the early hours of Saturday in part of the pass that bridges the Astore district of the Gilgit Baltistan region to neighbouring Azad Kashmir, in Pakistanadministered Kashmir.

Four women and a fouryear-old boy were among those who died, said senior Police Officer Ziarat Ali said, as quoted by the Associated

Ukraine is ready to launch its long-expected counter-offensive against Russian forces, one of the country's most senior security officials has told the BBC.

Oleksiy Danilov would not name a date but said an assault to retake territory from President Vladimir Putin's occupying forces could begin "tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or in a week".

He warned that Ukraine's Government had "no right to make a mistake" on the decision because this was an "historic opportunity" that "we cannot lose".

As Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, Danilov is at the heart of President Volodymyr Zelensky's de facto war cabinet.

His rare interview with the BBC was interrupted by a phone message from President Zelensky sum-

moning him to a meeting to discuss the counter-offensive.

During the interview, he also confirmed that some Wagner mercenary forces were withdrawing from the city of Bakhmut, the site of the bloodiest battle of the war so far - but he added they were "regroup-

ing to another three locations" and "it doesn't mean that they will stop fighting with us".

Danilov also said he was "absolutely calm" about Russia beginning to deploy nuclear weapons to Belarus, saying: "To us, it's not some kind of news."

Ukraine has been plan-

ning a counter-offensive for months. But it has wanted as much time as possible to train troops and to receive military equipment from Western allies.

In the meantime, Russian forces have been preparing their defences.

Much is at stake because the Government in Kyiv needs to show the people of Ukraine - and Western allies - that it can break through Russian lines, end the effective military deadlock and recapture some of its sovereign territory.

Danilov said the armed forces would begin the assault when commanders calculated "we can have the best result at that point of the war".

Asked if Ukrainian armed forces were ready for the offensive, he replied: "We are always ready. The same as we were ready to defend our country at any time. And it is not a question of time.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Press news agency.

Rescue teams have faced challenges in reaching the area due to its remote location and difficult terrain.

Troops have been helping local officials with the rescue operation, and two military helicopters were scrambled. According to witnesses, local residents also joined the effort to rescue people trapped under the snow.

Pakistan's northern areas are vulnerable to climate change and have been experiencing frequent extreme weather events.

The northern region is sometimes referred to as part of the "third pole" because it contains more glacial ice than anywhere in the world outside of the polar regions.

Some of these immense glaciers are already melting due to climate change, creating more than 3000 lakes. And last year, the country saw devastating floods that killed more than 1700 people.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Ukrainian troops have spent months training on Western equipment ahead of the expected attack

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

GEMINI (MAY 28June 20)

CANCER

(June 21July 22)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Sign up for something challenging, invigorating or competitive. Pumping yourself up to meet demands will make you feel alive. Protect yourself and your ideas from interference and manipulation.

Plan to have fun with people who share your interests. Consider making a positive lifestyle change. Don’t let anger set in if someone heads in a different direction. Go your own way.

Don’t reveal secrets or share your concerns or intentions. Be a good listener and take care of unfinished business before you move on to something new. Think about updating your appearance.

A change will lift your spirits. By looking at the big picture, you’ll get a clear idea of how to make a difference. Romance is on the rise and will encourage greater intimacy.

Mull over financial concerns regarding a joint venture or cause. Choose a path that doesn’t deter others from pitching in and donating what they can. Uncertainty will get in the way.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Head in the direction that feels comfortable. Start conversations, and you’ll discover who agrees with your ideas. Dazzle everyone with your detailed plans; you’ll get the backing you require.

Check out a place that makes you feel at home. Schedule meetings with someone who can offer the lowdown on a project you wish to pursue. A gift, reward or special find will take you by surprise.

It’s up to you to bring about change. Discuss what you want to do with someone who’s easy to work with. Use your imagination and surprise a loved one. A get-together will change your feelings.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22Jan. 19)

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES

(Feb. 20Mar. 20)

You shouldn’t mislead people to spare their feelings. Either tell the truth or don’t say anything. A financial challenge will surface if you let temptation set in.

Start a home improvement project or change your living arrangements. Take a partnership to the next level. Be open about your feelings and plans. Shared expenses will lead to savings.

Keep your thoughts to yourself. Redefine your idea of success. Do what feels right for you, not what someone else wants. Rethink your methods and make adjustments.

A realistic approach to life, love and relationships is to your benefit. Consider what you can and want to do, and sign up for what you can afford to take on.

NAMILCO ‘Flour Power’ U17 football…

Buxton & Haslington stay atop with wins

TFootball Association’s (EDFA) National Milling Company (NAMILCO)

‘Flour Power’ Under-17 football league continued on Friday last (Independence Day) at the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) National Training Center (NTC) at Providence, where Buxton & Haslington maintained their lead at the top of the points standings with respective wins.

Dynamics FC continued their purple patch with a triumph of their own, as all three matches produced results.

In the first game, which kicked off at 13:00hrs,

work of Mahaica Determinators, defeat ing them 2-0 through strikes from Akini Baynes (25th minute) and Isiah Alphonso (50th minute) in the relatively easy win.

The second clash saw Shaquan Frank’s 56th minute strike being the decisive factor, as Buxton Stars nee dled Beterverwagting / Triumph in that fixture.

Meanwhile, the fea ture clash of the day saw Dynamics FC orchestrate a commanding 4-0 victory over Ann’s Grove. Bryan Wharton led the charge with

IPL 2023 comes full circle…

ear ly goals in the ninth and 13th minutes, which came after Joshua

Holder’s opening strike in the fifth minute of the encounter. Kelvin Richardson made it 4-0 after his shot found the back of the

net in the 35th minute.

Matches continue today at the Buxton Community Center ground, where three matches will be played. In the first game, from 14:00hrs, Victoria

Wily Chennai Super Kings face defending champs Gujarat Titans

Big picture: Dhoni vs Hardik one more time as IPL 2023 comes to an end

Theseason started with Hardik Pandya's Gujarat Titans taking on MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad.

In today’s final, the two teams will again be facing each other at the same venue. Titans had come out on top in the opening game.

Earlier this week, CSK levelled the score with a comprehensive win in Qualifier 1. But that match

yet to register a win. Titans, meanwhile, have six wins in nine outings here.

Having said that, CSK will be looking to embellish their already fabulous record; they are the second-most successful team in the tournament's history. One more trophy and they will draw level with Mumbai Indians, with five.

On the other side, Titans will be keen to establish

the previous four matches. With him having rolled his arm over against Mumbai, there are no known injury concerns in either camp.

Kings will match skills with Ann’s Grove. This will be followed by Haslington versus Melanie from 15:30 hrs. The feature clash will pit Buxton Stars against Mahaica Determinators.

was played on a slow, spinning surface in Chennai. The pitches in Ahmedabad have been much more batter-friendly, with the ball coming onto the bat nicely.

Moreover, CSK have lost all three games they have played in Ahmedabad so far. This is the only venue in the IPL where they have played at least three games and are

their dominance.

They surprised everyone by emerging as champions in their debut season. They will be focused on making it two in two.

Apart from this being a battle between two sides built around the same philosophy - of keeping things simple, backing their players, and creating a relaxed team environment - there is the sub-plot of Hardik, the protégé, looking to trump Dhoni, the mentor.

Today's game will be Dhoni's 11th IPL final (his tenth with CSK); no player has featured in more. Hardik has been a part of five before 2023; he has never finished on the losing side. Hardik has always said he learnt a lot, not just about cricket but also life, from Dhoni.

This evening will be a test of all that he has learnt over the years.

Team news: No injury concerns Coming into Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians, Hardik had not bowled in

Impact Player strategy: Sticking to the template Both teams are expected to be unchanged. Either Shubman Gill or Josh Little will be Titans' Impact Player, depending on whether they are bowling first or batting. For CSK, either Shivam Dube or Matheesha Pathirana is likely to be the Impact Player.

Gujarat Titans (probable XII): 1 Shubman Gill, 2 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 3 Sai Sudharsan, 4 Hardik Pandya (capt), 5 Vijay Shankar, 6 David Miller, 7 Rashid Khan, 8 Rahul Tewatia, 9 Noor Ahmed, 10 Mohit Sharma, 11 Mohammed Shami, 12 Josh Little.

Chennai Super Kings (probable XII): 1 Ruturaj

Gaikwad, 2 Devon Conway, 3 Shivam Dube, 4 Ajinkya Rahane, 5 Moeen Ali, 6 Ambati Rayudu, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 MS Dhoni (capt, wk), 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Tushar Deshpande, 11 Maheesh Theekshana, 12 Matheesha Pathirana.

Pitch and conditions:

Win the toss and bat?

Ahmedabad has been a high-scoring venue this season, with an average first-innings total of 193 across eight games. Five of those games have been won by the team batting first. Overall, this IPL, teams batting first have been more successful, winning 40 games and losing 32 so far. Given it's the final, and dew is not expected to play a big role, both Titans and CSK may prefer having runs on the board.

The weather is expected to be cloudy, but there is no serious rain threat.

(ESPNCricinfo)

Dynamics FC scorers, from left: Joshua Holder, Bryan Wharton and Kelvin Richardson

IPL 2023 will have its final showdown today

CSK are likely to again rely on PathiranaMatheesha at the death

Shubman Gill is chasing down Virat Kohli's record for the most runs in an IPL season

Buxton’s Shaquan Frank

Waramadong Secondary to host U18 football tournament for Upper Mazaruni villages

-gets support of G/town entities

Agroup of persons from the Desiree Caesar Fox Secondary School at Waramadong are embarking on hosting an Upper Mazaruni under-18 village football tournament, which would give school-aged players in the Region 7 (CuyuniMazaruni) area opportunity to showcase their skills.

The inaugural Upper Mazaruni U18 village football tournament is set to be hosted on June 18th in Waramadong, and such entities as the Petra Organization, MVP Sports, and Trophy Stall have thrown their support behind the tournament.

During a simple presentation ceremony on Thursday, a quantity of equipment for the tourna-

ment was handed over to coordinator Neil Henrito, who explained the need for such a tournament, and expressed gratitude to those involved.

“Why we have decided to run off this tournament is because we realized that it’s difficult to have sponsorship up in our area, because of costs associated with the running of this tournament. So we, as a school, felt that if we can organize this tournament, the first of its kind, and have it publicised, it can go,” Henrito explained.

He added, “We’re happy that we have Petra Organization, an entity that we can see trying to develop youth sports in Guyana, and our area is left out of development at the national lev-

PPP/C Linden Beach Football…

Dynamo Ladies

el because most times focus is placed here (Georgetown). Petra has given us support, and trying to bridge the gap in equity in sports here and in the hinterland. We’re fortunate we crossed paths with this organization.”

The teams set to feature in the tournament are Arau & Kaikan, Paruima, Waramadong, Kamarang, Kako, and Jewalla. The format will see round robin play in two groups before the best two teams from each group move on to the semifinals.

Petra Organization’s CoDirector, Troy Mendonca, has expressed elation at being involved in such a significant tournament.

“As we would have mentioned before in the past

how chal lenging it is to actually get these interior teams involved… but as we saw in the past, the success of these teams and what they have to of fer to the sport at large in this coun try,” Mendonca re marked.

The Petra CoDirector fur ther stated, “So, we’re very proud to be asso ciated, and offering our logistical sup port and other areas of importance to the Desiree Caesar Fox School.” The tournament will be

Tournament organizer Neil Henrito played at the Edwin United Ground in Waramadong, and is expected to conclude on June 25th.

McGill Super Stars to play tournament in Barbados

The battle for quarterfinal slots in the million-dollar “One Guyana” Beach Football tournament hosted by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic continues with play in both the male and female categories taking place outside that party’s office in Mackenzie, Linden from 6.00pm.

This follows another exciting night on day four, Independence Day, when Swag displayed fine form in the men’s division and female sides Dynamo FC and Speightland were equally impressive.

In the opening game on Friday night, Good Fellas handed Rockstone a 2-0 defeat, with Kelvin Blake and Akel Plass getting the goals for Good Fellas. Then, in the first female clash, Dynamo FC dispatched the Milerock Scorpions with a 6-0 sting.

Shanice Johnson and Glendy Lewis each recorded a double, while Jalade Trim and Sandra Johnson got the other two goals for the victorious Dynamo team.

The next men’s game was an enforcement matter between tournament favourites Swag and the Police, and Swag showed the Police little respect when they arrested them with a 5-1 victory. Colwyn Drakes read the Police the Riot Act when he scored all five goals, and Ezikiel Prince shot home

the lone goal for the law enforcers.

In another men’s toss-up R9s scored a 4-3 win over Young Ballers, with Omar Brewley netting thrice and Tyric McAllister getting the other for the winners, while Dequan Samuels scored twice and Shemiah Samuels once for the Ballers team.

Speightland then flooded River’s View with a torrent of eight goals. Lakisha Pearson got the brace, and Sheenesa Cornelius, Nikita Wayne, Prescilla Rose, Alliyah Venture, Lavisha Cornelius and Tandi Smith each stitched in one.

Quiet Storm overcame Sandbox 2-0 in another men’s clash, as Quacy Cadogan and Zidane Ramdeholl netted for the winners.

In the final men’s match, Golden Stars ‘B’ won 2-0 over Exodus, Kenroy Gills and Crandon Samuels being responsible for the goals.

Ballers Empire men then advanced after Blueberry Hill did not turn up for their clash.

Matches set for this evening (Sunday) in the men’s competition are: Main Street facing Amazing; YMCA tackling Minerals; Speightland taking on Kara Kara United; and Young Gunners challenging Elite Ballers. In the lone female game, Exodus will meet Nurses.

The West Demerarabased Mc Gill Super Stars Sports Club recently departed Guyana's shores for Barbados. The Canal #1-based unit will be competing against prominent Barbadian clubs in five fixtures, and are scheduled to arrive home on June 6, 2023.

The Fixtures are as follows:

Game 1 (T20) - 27th

May, 2023

Mc Gill vs Cupid

Cavaliers

@Lears

Game 2 (40 Overs) -28th

May 2023

CC

Mc Gill vs Inch Marlow

@Inch Marlow CC

Ground

Game 3 (40 Overs) 29th

May, 2023

Mc Gill vs Cupid

Cavaliers

@UWI Ground

Game 4 (40 Overs) - 31st

May, 2023

Mc Gill vs Barbados

Defence Force

@Police SC Ground

Game 5 (T20) - 1st June, 2023

Mc Gill vs Police SC

@Police SC Ground

Game 6 (40 Overs) - 3rd June, 2023

Mc Gill vs Maxwell SC

@Maxwell SC Ground

Game 7 (40 Overs) - 4th June, 2023

Mc Gill vs Mappwest SC

@Mappwest SC Ground

One of the top clubs on the West Demerara Cricket Association’s Club Panel, this well-established club has been in existence for more than 30 years and boasts an excess of 10 WDCA titles.

The Mc Gill Super Stars Sports Club previously toured Barbados in 1994, 1995, 1996 and 2022, and decided that a tour to Barbados is long overdue.

The tour was made possible through the generosity of some prominent businessmen, former members of the club, current members of the club, and residents of Canal #1.

The Mc Gill Super Stars

Sports Club would like to express heartfelt gratitude to these sponsors:

Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (Hon Charles Ramson Jr.)

Anand Persaud

Nankishore Persaud

Deodat Persaud

Ganesh Persaud

Ramroop Parsram

Jagat Parsram

Liloutie Bahadur

Shines Beepat

Amanda Beepat

Karan Beepat

Rameshwar Persaud

Chichanand Shiwram

Peter Persaud

Gangaram Lochand

Gowkarran Dially.

In an exclusive interview with Sudesh Persaud, captain of the McGill Super Stars Sports Club, the skipper mentioned that he is very confident in the abilities of his unit and thinks they can return to Guyana without losing a single match in Barbados.

He also stated that the pitches in Barbados are a whole lot different from those in Guyana, and players would have to adapt to the conditions as quickly as

possible if they are going to have a positive impact for the club.

The Mc Gill Super Stars Sports Club will boast two former Guyana Under-19 players in Travis Persaud and Narendra Persaud, and two current national athletes in Sachin Balgobin and Nityanand Mathura. Off-spinner Abdul Razack has been one of the go-to bowlers for Mc Gill over the years, and he will be one to look out for in Barbados. Young leg spinner Ganesh Puran is also one of the players who might have a big impact in Barbados.

Veteran Sudesh Persaud (C), an experienced campaigner in the set-up, is expected to share his knowledge and expertise with the young and talented group.

Mc Gill squad reads: Sudesh Persaud (C), Travis Persaud, Sachin Balgobin, Nityanand Mathura, Shafiek Deen, Adesh Mohan, Abdul Razack, Matthew Salim, Ganesh Puran, Joshua Rahaman, Taijnauth Jadunauth, Narendra Persaud, Navindra Persaud and Joshua Ferrell.

The McGill Super Stars team prior to their departure from Guyana

Guyana pulls off remarkable win in defence of 39 runs

Led by Mandy Mangru's four-wicket haul, Guyana

Women's team defended 39 runs against Trinidad and Tobago Divas in the Women's T20 Blaze.

Playing in round five of the tournament in St Kitts, Guyana finished second as Barbados completed the double, claiming both the T20 and 50-overs title. Guyana and Barbados were tied on the points table, but Guyana lost the tournament on a headto-head basis, after they suffered a defeat against Barbados.

Batting first, Guyana posted 39 all out in 19.3 overs. Anisa Mohammed destroyed the Guyanese with 4 for 5 from four top overs. Only Shemaine Campbelle reached double figures for Guyana with a top-score of 13. Kaysia Schultz made nine.

In reply, Trinidad and Tobago were bowled out for 38 in 18.4 overs. Mandy Mangru had 4-11 from 3.4 overs, while Ashmini Munisar had 2-8 from three overs. For Trinidad, Britney Cooper, with eight, was top-scorer as spinners dominated.

McFarlane eager for Jackman rematch

Jamaica’s Britney

McFarlane will be arriving on Guyanese shores on June 2 with one thing on her mind: revenge.

McFarlane has declared that she is a vastly improved fighter from their previous encounter. This is as the female pugilist issued a stern warning to her Guyanese rival, Alesha Jackman, ahead of their highly anticipated amateur rematch at the ‘Return of the Scorpio’ boxing extravaganza on June 3rd.

McFarlane, 22, who previously competed in Guyana in 2018 and emerged as Best Female Boxer in the Caribbean School Boys and Juniors Championships, will battle Jackman, the 58th ranked Elite Women 60-63 Kg or junior welterweight pugilist, at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue, in the headline event of the amateur section.

This encounter is a rematch from their titanic 2019 bout in Trinidad and Tobago, from which the Guyanese emerged victorious. McFarlane has declared, “I am looking for revenge, and I’m coming back to claim that title.”

Queried if she feels pressured to emerge victorious, given the outcome of the previous encounter, McFarlane said, “Yes! The pressure is on, but I fought against her before, so I know what to expect.”

According to McFarlane, representing the Jamaican flag is of significant importance. She noted, “National pride is very important to me. To be someone that is always representing my county, I always put them first.”

Probed if the postponement from the initial date of May 21 has afforded an improved preparatory phase, McFarlane said, “Yes! It has, and it gave me more time to work on my combinations.”

She further noted, “I have been sparring for four

SCOREBOARD

Guyana Women Sheneta Grimmond

c Britney Cooper b

Anisa Mohammed 0

Katana Mentore b

Anisa Mohammed 0

Shabika Gajnabi c Britney

Cooper b Anisa Mohammed 0

Shemaine Campbelle

(c & wk) c Britney Cooper b

Anisa Mohammed 13

Mandy Mangru lbw b

Steffie Soogrim 5

Cherry Ann Fraser b

Steffie Soogrim 1

Kaycia Schultz b

Karishma Ramharack 9

Ashmini Munisar c Britney Cooper

b Shalini Samaroo 1

Realeanna Grimmond

b Shalini Samaroo 5

Tilleya Madramootoo b

Samara Ramnath 3

Plaffianna Millington not out 0

Extras (wd 1, lb 1) 2

Total (10 wkts, 19.3 ov)39 (CRR: 2.00)

Fall of wickets: 0-1

(Sheneta Grimmond, 0.3 ov), 0-2

(Shabika Gajnabi, 0.4 ov), 9-3

(Katana Mentore, 4.2 ov), 14-4

(Shemaine Campbelle, 6.3 ov), 16-5

(Cherry Ann Fraser, 8.5 ov), 22-6

(Mandy Mangru, 10.4 ov), 25-7

(Ashmini Munisar, 13.3 ov), 35-8

(Realeanna Grimmond, 15.2 ov), 37-9

(Kaycia Schultz, 16.2 ov), 39-10

(Tilleya Madramootoo, 19.3 ov)

Bowlers O-M-R-W

Anisa Mohammed (c) 4-1-5-4

Karishma Ramharack 4-1-8-1

Samara Ramnath 3.3-1-8-1

Steffie Soogrim 4-1-7-2

Shalini Samaroo 4-1-10-2

Earlier the match was interrupted by rain when

Trinidad & Tobago

Women38/10 (18.4 Ov)

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amended budget at Ordinary Congress

The Guyana Football Federation’s Consolidated Financial Statements for 2022 and the 2023 Amended Budget were today approved by regional associations, clubs and affiliate associations during the Federation’s Ordinary Congress, held at the National Training Centre at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

rounds and more, and I have been sparring with the guys in my gym.”

Quizzed about what she would tell her opponent, given the state of preparation, the pugilist from the ‘Land of Wood and Water’ said, “Well, all I have to say is that she should look out, because I'm coming stronger than before.”

The ‘Return of the Scorpio’ pro/am card is regarded by many experts as the largest fight card in more than a decade, and is expected to surpass the overall quality of the critically praised Patrick Forde Memorial Championships, which is the yardstick for a local boxing event.

Five exciting professional bouts which will be headlined and co-headlined by Elton Dharry and Dexter 'De Kid' Marques respectively, as well as an amateur section of equal measure, are confirmed for the fight card.

Dharry will make his return to the squared circle against Ramos Ronald in an eight-round Bantamweight fixture, while Marques will engage Luis Carrillo in an eight-round Super Bantamweight encounter.

A Caribbean rivalry will

also recommence, as local star Terrence Adams will battle Ricardo Blackman of Barbados, while Anthony Augustin will face off against Barbadian Emmanuel Anderson. The card will also feature a six-round Super Flyweight bout between females Natalya Delgado and Darianis Garcia.

In the amateur section, Trinidad and Tobago’s champion Lee Ann Boodram will face off against local standout Abiola Jackman, the IBA world 27th ranked Elite Women 81 and over Kg, or heavyweight division pugilist, in the second marquee encounter of this segment.

The other matches are as follows: Akeelah Vancooten vs Tafina Barker [51-54kg]; Isaiah Joyce (PPBG) vs Jamal Jones (VBG) [5760kg]; Dexter Ray (Police) vs Shaquain James (FYF) [60-67kg].

Tickets can be purchased at the sole location of Hot & Spicy Creole Corner. The prices are: VVIP $10,000, VIP $6000, Ringside $3000, and Stands $1000.

GFF President Wayne Forde opened the May 27 Congress with a minute of silence for the 19 students who died in the Mahdia Secondary School Dormitory fire, and for Vice President of the Essequibo- Pomeroon Football Association, Albert Tucker, who passed away on May 24.

The overall focus was to candidly discuss the state of football in Guyana with an aim to taking the sport to the next level across the ten administrative regions.

General Secretary Ian Alves introduced the agenda for voting and discussions.

Congress accepted The President’s Report, which contains the federation’s achievements between August and May, including the launch of the current KFC Elite League, national Under-13 and Under-17 youth competitions, the much-anticipated historic match between Ethiopia and Guyana’s Senior Men’s National Team, and the start of phase one of the multi-million-dollar Durban Park Complex and installation of the FIFA-standard floodlights at the NTC ground.

Additionally,

members ratified the Independent Auditor's Report on the 2022 Statement of Accounts, which was presented by Chris Ram, Managing Partner of Ram and McRae Chartered Accountancy firm, and the new three-member Electoral Committee - Marcel Bobb, Partner of Innovative Legal and Business Solutions Inc, Attorney-at-Law Shercola Exeter-Sardina and journalist Iva Wharton - was approved.

In his address, GFF President Forde stressed on the importance of putting football and the players first as the federation focuses on ensuring good governance, accountability, and capacity building at all levels.

“As always, it was my pleasure spending time with the football family, doing the important work we have all been called to do.

Today’s Congress was yet another example of the high standard of good governance that guides the affairs of the GFF and its members. We are a unified fraternity dedicated to the growth and well-being of our players and stakeholders,” President Forde said.

Speaking after the Congress, Bartica Association President Alden Marslow said capacity building is “of huge importance to us. We have been discussing it at our administrative level, and we’re looking forward to all of these programmes that GFF has in mind.”

President of the Women’s Football Association, Andrea Johnson, added that she is pleased to see the focus has remained on the development of the women’s game in Guyana.

“I was happy to hear of the plans for the leagues, especially for Guyana’s female footballers,” Johnson noted.

Alesha Jackman

A moment of silence was observed on account of the recent Mahdia Secondary’s Dorm tragedy

Guyana was batting, but the spinners dominated in the thrilling match. Guyana recorded four wins

in the tournament, and suffered a narrow defeat against Barbados early in the T20 Blaze.

Anisa Mohammed had 4 for 5 for T&T

‘Return of the Scorpio’ card…

GFF members approve 2023