Guyana Times - Friday, February 16, 2024

GPHC’s P5 doctors deliver baby successfully after umbilical cord prolapse Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 5644

THE BEACON OF TRUTH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024

Spending on teachers’ wages & salaries increased by $15B under PPP – VP See story on page 7

IMF deputy lauds Govt for successful management of Guyana’s transformation Page 3

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Wanted man P8 nabbed by Police with ammo, ganja …offers $350,000 bribe to Police

Torani wreck being removed from Mazaruni P16 River

Bush Lot man wanted for P15 attempted murder

…says maintaining macroeconomic stability, debt sustainability paramount

45 months' jailtime, $58.1M fine for drug trafficker P15

Convicted GTU rule book prohibits Coretta rapist McDonald as escapes from Guyanese, French commit General Secretary – Jagdeo Mazaruni Prison militaries to increase joint training Venezuela orders UN Human Rights Office to close, tells staff to leave country in 72hrs Page 14

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Page 18

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

BRIDGE The Demerara OPENINGS Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, February 16 – 22:30h-00:00h and Saturday, February 17 – 23:30h-01:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, February 16 – 08:40h-10:10h and Saturday, February 17 – 09:40h-11:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected throughout the day. Clear to partly cloudy skies are expected at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to Easterly between 3.57 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tide: 09:11h and 21:47h reaching maximum heights of 2.41 metres and 2.22 metres.

IMF deputy lauds Govt for successful management of Guyana’s transformation …says maintaining macroeconomic stability, debt sustainability paramount

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he Guyana Government has come in for high praise from the Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kenji Okamura, who commended its successful management of the country’s economic and infrastructural transformation.

Okamura and other representatives of the Fund, including IMF Executive Director Afonso Bevilaqua, were on a high-level two-day visit to Guyana, which ended on Thursday. During their visit, the IMF officials met with President Dr Irfaan Ali; Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, and Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh on Wednesday

President Dr Irfaan Ali, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh met with IMF Deputy Managing Director Kenji Okamura and his team on Wednesday at the Office of the President

avoiding the non-trivial risk of economic overheating. The authorities have managed this transformation success-

“The strategy, which includes marine conservancy and increased biodiversity goals, is ambitious,” he add-

Low Tide: 15:16h reaching a minimum height of 0.84 metre.

Minister within the Housing Ministry, Susan Rodrigues outlining Government’s housing policy during the IMF team’s tour of the Low-Income Housing Development Project at Cummings Lodge on Thursday

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at the Office of the President.

In a statement on the conclusion of his visit, the IMF Deputy Managing Director said he had a series of productive meetings that allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of Guyana’s impressive economic transformation.

Okamura congratulated the Guyanese authorities on the country’s unparalleled economic expansion.

He said, “Guyana today is in the position to reap the benefits of rapidly-increasing oil revenues due to the hardwon gains from implementing reforms and adjustment over the years. The plans put in place by the authorities and the strong progress are benefiting the entire population through better healthcare and educational programmes, housing policies, energy, and transportation infrastructure.”

Most importantly, the IMF official noted that these plans are also providing current and future generations with entrepreneurial and work opportunities through very strong economic growth and a more diversified and climate-resilient economy.

However, notwithstanding this recent economic boom, Okamura stated that Guyana still faced significant human and infrastructural development needs.

“I strongly support the authorities’ efforts to improve economic welfare through public investment, while

fully thus far, and we agreed that continuing to maintain macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability are paramount,” he asserted.

The IMF Deputy Managing Director said that he also had discussion with

ed.

Driving the charge

Okamura also applauded the Ali-led Administration for driving the charge to reduce food imports by 25 per cent in the Caribbean region

by 2025, and move closer to the goal of achieving food security.

The Deputy Managing Director also lauded the excellent and long-standing relations between Guyana and the IMF. “I look forward to our continued partnership through regular policy dialogue and technical assistance, including through the Caribbean Region Technical Assistance Centre,” he added.

During the two-day visit, the IMF delegation – which also included Alternate Executive Director Reshma Mahabir; Mission Chief Alina Carare, and Advisor to the Deputy Managing Director, Chad Steinberg – was taken on several site visits to major infrastructural projects as well as to the Amerindian community of Moraikobai, in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice).

The Finance Ministry said these visits were a collaboration with the Ministries of Amerindian Affairs, Health, and Housing and Water.

TURN TO PAGE 9

The IMF delegation with local health officials at the construction site of the Paediatric and Maternal Hospital at Ogle

the Guyanese Government on efforts to develop a large skilled labour force to ensure a balanced growth path with low inflation and opportunities for well-paying jobs throughout the country.

He further commended the Government for its visionary Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, specifically recognising the sale of the country’s carbon credits and use of the funds earned to support the Amerindian population, finance climate adaptation needs, and foster renewable and cleaner energy needed for development.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024

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Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Denting the drug trade L aw enforcement authorities in Guyana continue to face some real challenges in relation to tackling the issue of drug trafficking and the related problems that come with such activity. While there have been many successes at preventing traffickers from being successful in carrying out these illegal acts, there is still a far way to go if Guyana is to boast about putting a real dent on drug trafficking.

International and regional institutions have been trying for quite some time now to come up with a strategy that would reverse this growing threat, but traffickers are becoming smarter and are using other methods to “beat the system”, thereby creating more difficulties for law enforcement agencies.

Counter-drug efforts have pushed traffickers to use new routes through the Caribbean as they seek to ship illegal drugs from South America into the United States, Europe and other destinations. It is no secret that, in the past, large amounts of drugs have transited in and out of Guyana on cargo and other ships. Cocaine is often concealed in legitimate commodities and smuggled via commercial maritime vessels, air transport, human couriers, “go-fast” boats, or various postal methods.

On of the largest drug busts emanating from Guyana was in 2020, when Belgian authorities intercepted a vessel that allegedly left Guyana with a whopping 11.5 tonnes of cocaine which had a street value of some US$1B. The counter-narcotics prosecutors had tracked the transatlantic journey of the illicit item from Guyana, and seized it upon its arrival at the Port of Antwerp, Belgium. The drugs were disguised as scrap metal, and placed inside a steel container which was in turn packed into a sea container and loaded onto a transatlantic vessel.

Based on the report, the massive load of cocaine left Guyana in October 2020, and prosecutors were able to track it following the dismantlement of a drug trafficking gang led by a former Belgian counter-narcotics chief, which revealed the existence of tightly-knit links between criminal gangs and counter-narcotics and law enforcement officials.

On a regular basis, we hear stories of persons carrying illegal drugs slipping through our ports here undetected, it is only when they arrive at their destinations that they are discovered with the illegal substance. While these ‘pushers’ find it easy to bribe their way through the system here, it is very difficult to do so in foreign jurisdictions, except in rare cases, where there is a huge network of connections to allow the illegal drugs to pass smoothly.

In 2023, Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit seized approximately 1363.28kg of narcotics, consisting of cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy and hashish that had a total value of $461.5 million.

Cannabis has been the most confiscated drug, accounting for 94 per cent of the total narcotics seized for the year, with approximately 73 separate seizures amounting to 1,287.88 kilograms.

Earlier this month, Director of CANU, James Singh, had said the agency is making significant strides in combatting illegal narcotics, with its efforts resulting in denting the drug trade both locally and internationally.

A key report on the global fight against drug trafficking and money laundering, which was released by the United States Department of State, had noted that Guyana has a long road ahead in combatting the drug scourge.

The report, titled “International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR)”, had said that Guyana is a transit country for cocaine destined for the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe and West Africa. Traffickers are no doubt attracted by this country’s poorly monitored ports, remote airstrips, intricate river networks, porous land borders, and weak security sector capacity.

Drug trafficking and its related criminal activities represent one of the most potent threats to stability. It undermines the rule of law and governance. We therefore urge that authorities continue to step up their efforts at putting a dent on drug smuggling and related crimes.

There is optimism that this trade will be greatly impacted locally, with Head of CANU saying, “What we’re doing here in Guyana is making an impact (on) the drug trade…The fact that we have seized a lot more drugs destined for overseas, be it marijuana and cocaine in different regions of the country, is an indication that the systems we have in place are working, especially the partnerships that we have with local law enforcement agencies here in Guyana is making a difference.”

International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) Deputy Managing Director (DMD) Kenji Okamura and other representatives of the Fund, including its Executive Director Afonso Bevilaqua, visiting Moraikobai Village in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) (Finance Ministry photo)

Blatant misinformation and inconsistencies Dear Editor, The Ministry of Education is alarmed at the blatant misinformation and inconsistencies, apparently aimed at misinforming, contained in the recent editorials and articles published in the Stabroek News.

We have noted a deliberate attack on the Minister of Education, with more than 27 editorials written about her and the Ministry in the last months containing much misinformation, and had previously put that down to petty, personalised journalism. In the interest of the children we serve, however, we are duty-bound to offer the public these corrections.

In one editorial, titled “BOX”, published on February 11, 2024, the newspaper said “…the Education Ministry does not negotiate wages and salaries…” This is repeated in other editorials in the same newspaper when the paper was trying to make a particular point.

Only the day after, in another editorial, titled “Ministry in Disarray”, when the paper was trying to make another point, it said “the [education] ministry has failed, mainly due to low wages and poor working conditions…”

Which one is it then, SN? When one says something because it is convenient on that particular day, without regard for the truth, it is easy to conclude the effort was to deliberately mislead.

In only one editorial, several other blatant inaccuracies are noted, some of which will be highlighted here. The claim that Guyana has “failed both absolutely and comparatively to other Caribbean education systems at CSEC and in tertiary

enrolment” is preposterous.

We ask, “How?” The Caribbean has a tertiary enrolment rate of about 12-15%, while Guyana has one at about 10-12%, while Guyana spends half of what our counterparts spend on each tertiary student.

The issue in Guyana has been accessibility, something by which the flat Caribbean Islands are not hampered. The University of Guyana has set its sights and is working on making at least 1 out of every household a graduate by 2040, while the GOAL program has offered 21,000-plus persons, many of whom before had no such opportunity, the ability to access or attain tertiary education.

Additionally, Guyana has one of the most robust TVET post-secondary programs, with another 6 new facilities being built out now in coastal and hinterland communities.

Guyana has repeatedly topped the Caribbean, not only with the most outstanding student, but also in several areas, such as sciences, humanities, business and TVET, and continues to outshine our counterparts generally. In 1990, Guyana’s pass rate in mathematics was 16.89%, and in English it was 13.36%, while the Caribbean’s pass rate in mathematics was 48.7%, and in English it was 65%.

By 2022, Guyana’s pass rate in mathematics was 34.28%, and in English 70.84%, while in the Caribbean it was 37% and 74% respectively. Considering until recently Guyana has spent less on each child than her Caribbean counterpart, how is this not comparable?

From where is the SN get-

ting its information?

Another preposterous claim is that 50% of hinterland children drop out of high school. We ask where and when? This is not only a blatant untruth, but also insulting to the parents, teachers and children of the hinterland. We have no such record, and although the predictions around the world were that, postCOVID, there would be significant learning loss and early school leaving, Guyana has not recorded anything close to what was predicted, and nothing close to 50% that the SN claims.

In 2022, we recorded a dropout rate of 12% (across levels) in the hinterland.

Too high for us, but far lower than the worldwide prediction for places with similar conditions, and definitely far lower than the SN’s madeup 50%.

The SN makes bold assertion that “there was not one Grade One pass for hinterland or riverine school”.

Again, we ask, from where has the newspaper gotten its information? We note that the same information was posted by Nigel Hughes, who once told this nation that 33 was not bigger than 32, and that the court would vindicate his preposterous claim. We all know how that turned out. 199 hinterland students in 2022 earned Grade Ones in various subjects. In 2023, 289 students earned Grade Ones. In any event everywhere in the Caribbean, grades 1-3 are passes, and we have seen remarkable increases in the pass rate in hinterland communities. We are aiming for far better, and will get there.

We are certain of this. But not in the most fertile imagi-

nation did the students earn "zero grade ones" that the SN asserted.

“Another measure worth considering is the retention of employees/teachers. On this the ministry has also failed…many teachers are simply heading overseas where they can enjoy a far higher salary…” is another unfounded, untruthful claim. The number of teachers resigning from both board and non-board schools across levels has been consistent. In 2019, there were 42 resignations. In 2020, there were 24 resignations (covid year). In 2021, there were 30 resignations. In 2022, there were 33 resignations.

In 2023, there were 38 resignations. In 2019, we graduated 377 from the Cyril Potter College of Education.

In 2023, we graduated 1,796 trained teachers. Where then is this massive bleed that the SN writes about?

We could go through the editorials sentence by sentence and point out all the misinformation contained therein, but we believe the point is made. We call on the newspaper to issue corrections, and if they find that hard, then at least to be careful with sticking to facts. Our children deserve no less.

We remain available to offer statistics that we hope would be helpful and constructive in any nation-building conversation.

Assuming, of course, that it was a constructive conversation for which the SN was aiming.

Sincerely, Anara Khan Senior Public Relations Officer Ministry of Education

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024

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News

GPHC’s doctors deliver baby successfully after umbilical cord prolapse T

he Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) recorded a unique success story after a bouncing baby boy was delivered following a rare case of umbilical cord prolapse – a potentially life-threatening complication.

The surgery was performed by skilled professionals of the GPHC’s Department for Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and the swift and coordinated response of the team led to a successful outcome.

Umbilical cord prolapse is a rare occurrence, affecting approximately 0.1-0.6 per cent of pregnancies. It happens when the amniotic sac ruptures before the baby's head engages in the pelvis, allowing the umbilical cord to slip into the birth canal. This situation demands immediate medical attention owing to the risk of foetal distress and oxygen deprivation.

The key to successfully managing umbilical cord prolapse lies in the rapid recognition and response of the medical team. At GPHC, obstetricians, midwives, and nurses are highly trained to identify signs such as the sudden disappearance of the baby's heartbeat on the foetal monitor or the presence of a pulsating cord.

The team initiates an emergency protocol, employing various interventions to alleviate pressure on the cord and ensure the baby's well-being.

Dr Arona Matadeen, an Obstetrician, detected the umbilical cord prolapse as the mother, Loma was in labour and the Obstetrics team, led by Nurse Punch and Nurse LaRose, swiftly prepared Loma for an emergency caesarean section.

In eight minutes from diagnosis to delivery, Dr Ogbeiwi Owen and the operating theatre professionals successfully delivered a healthy baby boy.

The medical staff along with Baby Javion and his mother, Loma

“Born with an Apgar score of 9,10 and weighing 5.6 lbs, this little one's arrival was truly a triumph,” the GPHC shared.

Dr Derron Moonsammy, reflecting on the intense moment, recalled it as the most adrenalised experience of his life. The efficient collaboration of the medical team ensured both the mother and her baby emerged unharmed.

In light of this development, the GPHC also shared that its Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit is the safest place in the country for obstetric care.

“Umbilical cord prolapse is undoubtedly a frightening complication, but timely recognition, expert medical intervention, and a supportive healthcare team can lead to successful outcomes. The stories of triumph at GPHC serve as a testament to the advancements in medical knowledge and technology, as well as the unwavering dedication of our obstetrics and gynaecology professionals. The Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at GPHC has consistently made significant strides towards achieving first-world healthcare standards,” said the GPHC. The Hospital also extended gratitude to the team that attended to Loma and her baby boy, which included Dr Matadeen, Dr Owen, Dr Moonsammy, Nurse Punch, Nurse LaRose, Nurse Lynton, Dr Roberts and Dr Cano, calling the coordinated efforts a beacon of hope for expectant parents.

“In the face of adversity, the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at GPHC continues to inspire hope, reassuring all that the birth of a child can be a joyous and safe experience. Our commitment to excellence ensures that GPHC remains a pillar of strength for Guyanese, setting the standard for obstetric care in the country.”

Kudos to Govt for unhindered financial resources to GECOM Dear Editor, During the recent budget debate concerning the National Assembly’s consideration of Governments fiscal expenditure plans for 2024, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, defended the 2024 budget allocation to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), to enable the statutory body to be fully prepared for the holding of elections. Her excellent articulation of rational arguments drew no meaningful counter-challenge.

The preceding supports our constitutionally-enshrined democratic ideals, and our Dr. Irfaan Ali-led Peoples Progressive Party/ Civic Government, through this budget, recognizes the constitutional level of GECOM’s autonomy and needs for fulfillment. It is, without contradiction, demonstrative of the necessary commitment required to ensure removal of unnecessary financial obstacles to the roll-out of the organization’s readiness plans. Key in this respect is the avoidance of delays due to lack of funds, which can impact preparedness schedules for the institution’s hosting of national and regional elections due in 2025.

Critically, GECOM, during this year, is expected to focus on strengthening several essential pillars

to guarantee accelerated readiness from good preparation. Part of the imperatives for GECOM to focus on during this time must address capacity building and training. In addition, the Commission must ensure the review of the different areas requiring strengthening for preparing the Election Day staff.

Linked to the foregoing is the review and updating of the various training manuals. These essentially will have to be in alignment with the changes that were made to the Representation of the People Act (RoPA) Cap. 1.03, and the National Registration Act Cap. 19:08. The importance of these should never be underscored, given that they were born out of the highest levels of national and international recommendations made to counter former CEO Keith Lowenfield and others’ incessive abuse of the unamended formats of the legislation and the raw threat these realized to our country’s democracy.

A careful review of these two “Acts” will bring full awareness of the role of GECOM staff, along with their responsibilities, and particularly the consequences for failing to abide by the correct legal obligations. The reviewing of these two Acts would also introduce and reinforce a better training of GECOM

trainers, who would now have to prepare an estimated 14,000 staff to work and produce free and fair elections.

Most of the Elections Day staff are our teachers or other Public Service employees who meet the established criteria. The Presiding Officers, Deputy Presiding Officers, Polling Clerks, Ballot Clerks, and information officers must be fully trained, and work according to the revised and prepared manuals. Of note, these upcoming elections are likely to be conducted utilizing approximately 2400 polling places, with not less than five persons working at each polling station. Hence, it is appropriate and necessary for GECOM to make sure that they train and prepare enough persons to draw from, with particularly good capacity-building.

Significantly, GECOM must be fully cognizant of the fact that they will need ten quality Returning

Officers. At the last national and regional elections, the “culprits” at GECOM did not name all ten ROs in a manner that allowed sufficient background scrutiny and opportunity for absolute rejection.

The cabal clandestinely took a long time to catapult Clement Mingo from Region# 5 to Region Four as RO. The rest is history, as he is awaiting to spend his “time”. Further, GECOM must be careful in preparation and selection of the approximately 75 Deputy Returning Officers. This is crucial because one must not forget that several of the previous senior staff are before the court for not following the procedures, and the East Coast drama must never happen again.

Free and fair elections must be held in Guyana.

The approval of the requested appropriation of $3.5b will certainly enabled GECOM to undertake fluently, all their necessary procurement endeavours to

facilitate and advance their preparation for the holding of elections in a timely manner.

Kudos must be accorded to the Guyana Government for ensuring that the insti-

tution could deal transparently with a greater level preparatory activity, and in an unhindered manner.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024 06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:05 13:35 14:00 14:30 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 23:00 23:30 00:00

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024

Foundation ◄

Page

Dividing decimals by decimals If you know how to divide a whole number by a decimal, you also know how to divide a decimal by a decimal. Multiply the divisor by the smallest power of 10 that will move the decimal point all the way to the right. Then multiply the dividend by that same power of 10.

Example: Divide 28.5 ÷ 2.3 Step 1: Multiply the divisor by the smallest power of 10 that will move the decimal point all the way to the right : 2.3 x 10 = 23 Step 2: Multiply the dividend by the same power of 10: 28.5 x 10 = 285.0

Magic bending science experiment In this fun and easy science experiment for kids, we are going to explore static electricity and use it to make water move and appear to bend.

Plastic hair comb Faucet with running water

Materials:

Instructions: Run the plastic comb through your hair several times.

Next, hold the comb near a small running stream of water from a sink faucet.

Observe what happens to the stream of water.

Note: The lower the humidity, the better this experiment will work.

Step 3: Set up your division problem. If there is a decimal point in the dividend, line up a decimal point in the same place as the quotient.

Step 4: Divide: 12.391 23⟌285.000 23

55

46 90

69 210 207

Exercises: Divide

How it works: As the plastic comb moves through hair, it builds up a negative charge.

Things that have a negative charge attract things that have a positive charge.

The two hydrogen atoms of water have a positive charge. Due to the liquid nature of water, the hydrogen atoms are able to move freely and are able to attract or “bend” and move toward the negatively-charged plastic hair comb.

1) 1.8⟌42.4

Make this a science project: Try different liquids. Are you able to negatively charge other items like a balloon, piece of PVC pipe, piece of Styrofoam, etc. Test to see if different temperatures of water behave differently. (sciencefun,org)

4) 6.5⟌90.

2) 1.1⟌5.5

3) 13.26⟌53.04 5) 20⟌980

NEW DAY

By Martin Carter

Not hands like mine these Carib altars knew: nameless and quite forgotten are the gods; and mute, mute and alone, their silent people spend a ring of vacant days, not like more human years, as aged and brown their rivers flow away. yes, pressing on my land, there is an oceanís flood; it is a muttering sea, here, right at my feet my strangled city lies, my fatherís city and my motherís heart: hoarse groaning tongues, children without love, mothers without blood, all cold as dust, nights dim, there is no rest. ah! mine was a pattern woven by a slave dull as a dream encompassed in a tomb. now still are the fields covered by the floods; and those rivers roll over altars gone: naked, naked loins throbbing deep with life rich with birth indeed, rouse, turning to the sun.

37 and more fierce rain will come again tonight. new day must clean, have floods not drowned the fields killing my rice and stirring up my wrath?

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Spending on teachers’ wages & salaries increased by $15B under PPP – VP V

ice President Bharrat Jagdeo has disclosed that spending on wages and salaries for teachers under the current People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government has dramatically increased over the past four years.

He made this remark as the countrywide strike action organised by the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) continues with demands for higher pay for teachers.

But according to Jagdeo, the wages and salary bill for teachers has significantly gone up under the PPP/C Administration. In 2019, wages and salaries for teachers amounted to some $24.4 billion and by 2023, this had grown to $39.4 billion – a $15 billion or 61.4 per cent increase.

“You would see the across-the-board figure [6.5 per cent increase] is lower than that… because we have hired more teachers and we have adjusted the graduate-level [salary] significantly so that teachers who are better qualified would earn more… But since we got into office, the wage bill for teachers has increased by 61.4 per cent… So, teachers are getting in these years, $15 billion more as of end last year,” he stated.

Similarly, the budgetary allocation for the education sector this year is $135 billion – an $83 billion or 162 per cent increase from the $51.4 billion it received in 2019. This, according to the Vice President, is more investment than the previous A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition gov-

ernment made during its five years in office.

“I maintain that we have done more than any govern-

tion – which Government has labelled as illegal and politically driven. As such, the Education Ministry has

“I maintain that we have done more than any government has done for [teachers].

The education sector is not suffering from a lack of resources or commitment… but all can’t go into wages and salaries” – VP Jagdeo ment has done for [teachers]. The education sector is not suffering from a lack of resources or commitment… but all can’t go into wages and salaries,” he stated.

Jagdeo went on to point out that while Government was committed to addressing the concerns of teachers, the ongoing strike action was done in bad faith and unless credibility is restored to the process, then engagements with the union would become difficult.

The GTU had made 41 demands in a multi-year agreement it proposed to the Education Ministry, which has since fulfilled 25 of those requests. Of the 16 remaining proposals, two are specifically for the benefit of only GTU and its Executive Members, while two others are contrary to the laws of Guyana and the other 12 are currently under consideration.

In fact, only last month, the Ministry had an engagement with the union on this matter, and they were slated to meet again this month, but the GTU went ahead with hosting the strike ac-

announced that it would not be paying those teachers who are on strike.

Unreasonable

VP Jagdeo argued that it was unreasonable to expect Government to pay those teachers who do not turn up for work or even pay the level of increase that the union is requesting.

“People are criticising us for not taking tougher action against the 30 per cent of [teachers], who don’t show up, for their absenteeism…We cannot pay people for the days they are not [working],” he stated.

The two-week strike was initially slated to end today, February 16, but GTU President Mark Lyte has stated that the industrial action could go on beyond this time.

Despite this threat, however, VP Jagdeo has disclosed that more teachers were returning to the classroom.

“We have seen a significant number of teachers going back to school…

I’ve seen the statistics from some regions where 85 per

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

cent of teachers are back in the classroom when in the past you only had 70 per cent turn out,” he noted.

Moreover, there have been a few cases of headteachers closing the schools, for which the Vice President has made it clear that there could be disciplinary action.

“You can choose to withdrawn your labour, but not to prevent other people from working,” he contended.

Absent

But even as teachers return to work, Jagdeo said some of the children are not showing up for school.

“The teachers are there now and when I look, 10 per cent of the children have only return to school.

So, we need to urge [parents to send their children to school] and we need the same consideration to be given by the teachers to the children,” he stated.

The Vice President went on to acknowledge the difficulties that parents, especially those working and single parents, are facing because their children could not go to school and they have to find alternative arrangements for them during the school hours. He said Government was also cognisant of the learning loss that could occur.

On this note, Jagdeo said in the event that the strike continued beyond two weeks, Government would have to explore ways to en-

sure that learning was not further disrupted.

“If this is prolonged, we may have to explore online methods. In the whole period of COVID, almost a year and a half, most of the teachers did not work and we had to find different means of getting tuition to the children… The Ministry has been focusing on a lot, this online programme.

We’ve started focusing on that [method of delivering] education, preparing the materials, etc. So, I think in the future we have to explore this and if this [strike] persists for a long time, we have to find alternate ways of making sure our children are educated,” the VP posited. (G8)

8 NEWS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Wanted man nabbed by Police with ammo, ganja …offers $350,000 bribe to Police

J

amal Anthony Hazel, a 27-year-old construction worker who has been wanted for various offences linked to murder and robbery-under-arms, has been nabbed by Police at his residence at Hope, East Coast Demerara.

In an intelligence-led operation, Police conducted a search at Hazel’s residence between 16:00h and 17:00h on Wednesday, and discov-

ered a strap bag containing eight 12-gauge shotgun cartridges, four live .38 rounds of ammunition, eight small transparent containers, and one bulky transparent plastic bag filled with leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis.

Police have said that when Hazel was told of the offences and cautioned, he offered them a bribe to resolve the situation, saying:

Fossil fuels…

O

The cannabis and ammunition found on Hazel’s premises during the search

“Officer, let we deal with these rounds nah, and de weed? I get $350,000 fuh deal with this and done this scene here”.

He was promptly arrested, and a further search around the house unearthed a tray with approximately 15 seedlings suspected to be cannabis plants atop an old minibus in the front yard.

Hazel was escorted to the Cove and John Police Station, where the suspected cannabis was weighed and amounted to 42 grams. The tray with suspected cannabis plants and the black and grey bag were lodged there as well, while Jamal Hazel has been detained pending further investigation He is wanted by the Major Crimes Investigation Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters for various offences, including murder and robbery under arms.

(G12)

…energy

ver the last decade, there’s been a lot of buzz about “food security”. Nothing wrong about that, cause man gotta eat, doesn’t he?? That’s as primal as you can get: no food, no life!! Some say that “in the beginning was the ‘word’”, but as far as your Eyewitness is concerned, in the beginning had to be food!! That apple??!! But why food? Food, dear reader, is our “fuel”, to give us energy; without which we wouldn’t even be able to lift an eyebrow!! And in Guyana, we would know that, with the goings-on, eyebrows gotta be lifted all the time!!

This long windup is to emphasize that - projecting from our own lives - everything that moves in the universe gotta have energy. And the more energy we got, the more we can do. So, in the beginning, we started taming animals - like oxen and horses - and used them to do work we didn’t have the energy to do on our lonesome. Hence the word “horsepower” augmenting “manpower”!! After thousands of years, some smart guys thought about using the energy from wind and running water to turn wheels and grind our grains and such like. Then came the big breakthrough: the steam engine that burnt coal to turn water into steam to turn all those gears that moved whatever contraption we could think of!! Like ships and trains etc!!

Anyhow, two things happened. We started to burn all sorts of fossil fuels in addition to coal – like petroleum of various grades, and natural gases, to move the machinery now placed in “factories” to make all sorts of things to “improve our quality of life”. But in the last few decades, we realized that all actions have reactions: burning all those fossil fuels produced and increased the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. And this led to global warming, which now threatens our survival – even though we desperately want to catch up with the ‘developed countries’ - which became so by burning fossil fuels.

So, what to do?? Well, to your Eyewitness, there’s only one solution - the developed countries can now start preaching and practising to their people a Gandhian “small and less is beautiful” philosophy and quit burning all those fossil fuels!! In the meantime, those of us in the sh*th*le countries can catch up with them by getting as much energy as we can from running water, wind and solar – but use fossil fuels to fill any gaps. This is especially true for our country, which struck an ocean of oil and gas sloshing around off our Atlantic Coast!!

It's beyond ridiculous for some to demand we leave our oil in the ground while we’re living in the relative Stone Age!! …cheaper After decades of promises, we’re about to get electricity cheap enough so we won’t have to worry about keeping our lights on - or toasting bread!! Remember when Burnham hocked all the money in the land and shanghaied our youths to give us hydro-power up the Mazaruni?? We got HYDRO all right!! Right between our thighs!! Anyhow, during an earlier PPP incarnation, they’d put together all the pieces – plans, financing, contractors, etc – to deliver cheap power from Amaila Falls. But guess who torpedoed THAT plan?? The Opposition, of course!!

But you gotta hand it to the PPP…they never give up on a noble goal. And securing cheap energy is as noble as you can get. At a minimum, we’ll match TT’s manufacturing advantage, since it’s all built on cheap energy!! So, let’s all encourage the US Exim Bank to finance that American firm to construct a 300MW power plant – using our own natural gas!!

Especially when some of the gases would be used as feeder stock to start a petrochemical industry!! …vs lassitude As mentioned earlier, energy also keeps us going. So, could it be that the Opposition just don’t have the energy to match President Ali’s? Your Eyewitness understands that “steel drops” might do the trick!!

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GTU rule book prohibits Coretta McDonald as General Secretary – Jagdeo

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

B

ased on the provisions outlined in the rule book of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Coretta McDonald’s current position as General Secretary is a violation.

This is according to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who during a press conference on Thursday pointed to Rule 3 of the book which speaks to membership of the union and the various categories of membership.

According to the GTU Rule Book, Rule 3 (c) deals with associate membership, that is, teachers who leave the classroom to serve as Members of Parliament (MPs). A section of this rule states that “…Associate Members shall have the right to vote, but shall not be eligible to hold the office of President or General Secretary”.

McDonald, who has been the GTU’s General Secretary for more than a decade, became a parliamentarian in 2020 for the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Opposition.

This, the Vice President pointed out, is in violation of the union’s own rules.

“Coretta McDonald has been the General Secretary

from, I think, 2006, but these rules prohibit you [from holding that post as a MP] …This is their own rules. Under case law, this is their contractual obligation with membership…

It is saying that if you’re a Member of Parliament, you should not basically be the General Secretary of the union,” Jagdeo stated, McDonald, who is currently leading the countrywide teachers’ strike organised by the GTU, has already come under scrutiny after claiming she is only being paid as a teacher and not as an MP – something which the Parliament Office has debunked, saying all parliamentarians, with the exception of Jagdeo, are paid a monthly salary.

“McDonald is paid as a teacher, she herself said this publicly… She receives a teacher salary as well as the parliamentarian salary,” the VP said.

Since the commencement of the strike, however, the credibility of the GTU has also come into question. Last week, it was disclosed that the union’s records are not up to date. It has failed to file annual returns with the Registrar of Trade Unions since 2005.

Similarly, the GTU has not submitted financial statements to be audited by the Audit Office since 1989.

According to Jagdeo, Rule 33 in the Rule Book states that GTU Executives could be imprisoned for three months for failing to provide this information.

While Government could go after the union on these grounds of illegality, the Vice President said it has no plans to do so.

“Purely legally, we should have and the conclusion of this will be the derecognition of the union.

But I don’t think it’s a wise thing to do at this stage. And they would just use it propaganda-wise… that we hate this union. So, I believe that we have to, going forward, take firmer steps against the union, but also the membership of the union has a responsibility to hold the leadership to account,” the VP stated.

Rule book

In fact, Jagdeo further outlined that the GTU Rule Book contains a series of benefits for teachers that are not being provided. These include Rule 26, which contains provisions for strike relief for teachers.

“The teachers themselves can ask more questions because under the rules, a number of benefits are listed there for teachers.

For example, if they have a death in the family and if they need assistance with money, etc. The union, from the dues, should really be assisting them.”

“So, the dues are really not to fat-fowl the union’s executives. But the dues are there to accumulate so you can provide strike relief in the future if you have to take industrial action and to assist your members in times of need. So, the teachers have to hold the union

IMF deputy lauds Govt for...

At Moraikobai, the IMF team witnessed the development of the Indigenous villages through Government’s interventions such as the setting up of a solar farm that assists in providing electricity and boosting internet service to the community. Moraikobai is one of the Indigenous villages benefiting from the $4.7 billion allocation from the US$750 million carbon credit deal with Hess Corporation.

The visiting officials were also taken to the site of the €149 million Paediatric and Maternal Hospital under construction at Ogle, East Coast Demerara. Work on the 256bed hospital commenced on November 10, 2022, and is expected to be completed by October 15, 2025 by VAMED Engineering GmbH, an Austrian-registered company with funding from the UK

Export Finance (UKEF).

In addition, the IMF delegation also visited Government’s Low Income Housing Development Project at Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown. They were told that Government has constructed many of the low-income and moderate homes with a number of persons already occupying the homes, while a large number of other lots in the area have already been allocated to more Guyanese.

Prior to these visits, Okamura and his team met with Minister Singh at the Finance Ministry on Wednesday. During the meeting, Dr Singh provided an overview of economic developments over the years in Guyana and prospects looking ahead, as well as Government’s policies and programmes to enhance the

FROM PAGE 3

lives of the country’s citizens while containing risks during this current period of its stewardship of the country’s finances to improve all sectors of the economy.

In its December 2023 Article IV Consultation report, the IMF commended the Government of Guyana for its economic management, including the implementation of policies and initiatives geared at transforming Guyana’s economy. The findings were published following an official IMF mission visit to Guyana in September of last year.

The IMF in its findings had highlighted that Guyana’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to continue to grow rapidly, adding that the country’s growth should continue with an expansion of an expected 26.6 per cent in 2024.

GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald

more accountable,” the Vice President stated.

Every month, a $700 fee is deducted from each unionised teacher and remitted to the GTU. This adds up to about $3.1 million monthly, and approximately $37 million annually.

In light of the souring of engagement relations between the Education Ministry and the GTU, the Ministry has indicated to the union that it would stop deducting dues from the

wages and salaries of teachers on its behalf. This means the union would now have to collect its fees directly from teachers.

However, the GTU has since approached the High Court, asking it to quash the decision by Government to stop deducting fees from unionised teachers.

In the application filed on Tuesday by the GTU and its President, Mark Lyte against the Attorney General, the union is ask-

ing the court to declare, among other things, that Government ceasing to act as an agent for the GTU, to deduct union dues is “unreasonable, arbitrary, and capricious”.

But Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, has contended that the severance of this ‘agency service’ that Government offers to unions has already been settled by both the High Court and Court of Appeal, and declared as lawful.

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) had challenged a decision by former Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry, Nanda Gopaul, to withdraw Government’s services of deducting union dues from public servants’ wages and salaries, and remit same to the union.

Former Chief Justice, the late Ian Chang, had ruled against the GPSU in 2010 that Government’s action was not wrong or unlawful, and this ruling was upheld in the Appeal Court in 2022. (G8)

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

All nominees submitted for Constitutional Reform Commission – AG …says Govt nominees reflect diversity

not be a politically-dominated Commission but one that was comprised of 50 per cent politicians and 50 per cent civ-

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC

A

ttorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, has disclosed that his office has received the names of all the nominees from the various civil society bodies to be appointed to the Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC).

Youth nominee, Dr Daniel Josh Kanhai

On January 10, letters were dispatched to the various stakeholder bodies to submit their nominees to be appointed to the Commission within one month. While most of these names were received by the February 10 deadline, there were a few outstanding.

When contacted, AG Nandlall confirmed for <<<Guyana Times>>>that submissions have since been received from all the bodies. “[I’m] confirming that all nominations have been received,” he told this newspaper on Thursday.

The 20-member Constitutional Reform Commission has to be drawn from political parties (five from the ruling party, four from the main Opposition and one from the Joinder Parties), while the 10 remaining persons will be drawn from religious groupings, the Private Sector, the Guyana Bar Association, the National Toshaos Council, the labour movement, women’s organisations as well as nominees representing farmers and youths.

While AG Nandlall has insisted on not divulging the nominees submitted, stating that President Dr Irfaan Ali will make that revelation since it is a presidential commission, some of the names have already been publicised.

Last week, the main political parties revealed their nominees to sit on the highly-anticipated Commission.

The ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo disclosed that it had nominated AG Nandlall;

Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira; Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony; Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai; and Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, to be Government’s representatives on the Commission.

Similarly, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton revealed the nominees named by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Opposition to sit on the Commission.

They are Opposition Commissioner at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Vincent Alexander; Economist Sherwood Lowe; Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Ganesh Mahipaul and Attorney-atLaw Nigel Hughes.

In addition, the Joinder Parties – A New and United Guyana (ANUG); the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), and The New Movement (TNM) – which hold one seat in Parliament have also submitted their nominee to the Government in the person of ANUG’s General Secretary, Timothy Jonas, SC. Meanwhile, it has been reported that Dr Daniel Josh Kanhai has been selected as the youth representative on the Commission following months of consultation among youth representative bodies.

Those consultations wrapped up on Wednesday after which the nomination was submitted to the AG Chambers.

Constitutional reform was promised, in 2020 in the PPP/C Manifesto, where, it was further outlined that consultations with the populace and important stakeholders, and a broad-based Constitutional Reform Commission would drive the process.

The way was paved for the establishment of the Reform Commission, and the commencement of the reform process following the passage of the Constitutional Reform Commission Bill in the National Assembly in November 2022. Back in August of 2022, the Government presented the Constitutional Reform Commission Bill 2022 in the National Assembly. That Bill sought the establishment of the 20-member Commission to review the country’s supreme laws.

Diversity

Government had previously said that this would

il society representatives, and their work would be driven by public consultations.

During his weekly pro-

gramme – Issues in the News – on Tuesday evening, AG Nandlall said the PPP/C’s diverse set of nominations for

the CRC demonstrated that it was the only national party in the country.

TURN TO PAGE 16

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14 NEWS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Convicted rapist escapes from Mazaruni Prison A

keem Wong, called ‘Bin Laden’, a convict serving a 15year sentence for rape, has escaped from the Mazaruni Prison in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) in a brazen act that occurred on Thursday at about 07:20h.

According to the Guyana Prison Service (GPS), Wong and another inmate, Gilbert Gill, under supervision of a prison officer, were performing labour duties in a ‘wood bush’ when Wong requested permission to go defecate, and was granted same by the

prison officer.

About five minutes later, a check was made for Wong, and it was discovered that he had gone missing. An alarm was raised, and law enforcement officials widened the search perimeter around the area, but he was not located.

The Guyana Prison Service is continuing the search for Wong in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies.

Wong was 27 years old when he was convicted in 2020 for raping a 14-yearold girl. He pleaded guilty

Escapee: Convicted Akeem Wong

rapist

to the charge, which stated that on June 30, 2017, in the county of Demerara, he engaged in sexual penetration of the child.

A probation report had stated that Wong, a resident of Half Mile Wismar in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), had been associated with persons of unsavoury character, and had been involved in many delinquent activities.

According to the probation officer, Police records showed that Wong was wanted for a murder which

occurred in Mabaruma, Region One (BarimaWaini), and he was arrested only in 2018, after a wanted bulletin had been issued.

The probation officer

had informed the court that Wong had told her he had also previously been charged for break and enter and robbery, but he claimed those charges had been dismissed. (G12)

NEWS

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Castle Hotel blaze…

GFS working to confirm cause of fire T

he Guyana Fire Service (GFS) is now working to determine the cause of the Castle Hotel blaze which ravaged the New Amsterdam, Berbice establishment on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the GFS updated that it had swiftly responded to a distress call it had received from the Lot 12 Chapel Street, New Amsterdam building at 16:37h. Within minutes, the Fire Service said, personnel had arrived at the scene, and the first jet had been de-

ployed at 16:40h.

Upon arrival, two water tenders were deployed to combat the blaze, but the three-storey, wooden-and-concrete building still suffered severe damage. The ground floor, utilised as a club and lounge, and the first and second floors, serving as a hotel, were heavily impacted. However, there were no reported casualties.

The property is owned by Errol Azor, a 60-year-old resident of the United States of America.

“Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire. Four jets, along with assistance from an estate Land Rover, were instrumental in extinguishing the blaze, utilising hydrants in the vicinity. With a rapid response and coordinated efforts, the Guyana Fire Service contained the fire, preventing further escalation and safeguarding the surrounding area,” the GFS added.

While it has not been confirmed, it is suspected that

45 months’ jailtime, $58.1M fine for drug trafficker

Jailed and fined: Abdool Shakoor

A

bdool Shakoor, one of two men busted on Monday by Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) officers on the #65 Village Public Road, Corentyne with 142 pounds of marijuana in a car, was on Thursday jailed for 45 months and fined $58,140,000.

Arraigned with his co-defendant before Whim Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh, the 33-year-old Shakoor admitted that on Monday, on the #65 Village Public Road, Corentyne, he had in his possession 142 pounds (64.6kg) of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

According to CANU, Shakoor, of Lot 36 #78 Village Corriverton, and Yogindra Bheemsingh, 33,

Remanded: Yogindra Bheemsingh

in which they were travelling and uncovered three large, bulky parcels containing a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis. The men were thus arrested, and, with the narcotics, escorted to CANU Headquarters in Region Six. While Shakoor admitted to the offence in court on Thursday, co-defendant Yogindra Bheemsingh has pleaded not guilty, and has been remanded to prison.

The narcotics CANU found in the car

of Bank Road Corriverton, were intercepted by ranks, who searched the motorcar

His case will continue on March 20.

Bush Lot man wanted for attempted murder M

ahendra Dhanna, also known as ‘Blacka’, a 26-year-old who last resided at Lot 129 Bush Lot Village, West Coast Berbice, is wanted by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in connection with attempted murder.

The wanted bulletin issued by the Police is asking anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Dhanna to kindly contact the Police on telephone numbers 2320313, 225-8196, 225-6976, or at the nearest police station.

Wanted by Police: Mahendra Dhanna, called Blacka

The Castle Hotel on fire last Wednesday

the fire was electrical in origin. Dayal Jagdeo, who operates a printing business opposite the hotel, said Guyana Power and Light (GPL) personnel had visited the premises twice on Wednesday afternoon before the fire started.

“It took about fifteen minutes for GPL to answer the phone! I called them because the transformer was sparking. They came and they disconnected the power from one source and left the other one,” the eyewitness was

quoted as saying.

Castle Hotel is connected to both the Main Street and Strand power supply lines, giving the hotel the advantage of being still connected to the grid when there are power outages on either Main Street or at Strand.

“After GLP left, the transformer was still sparking, and we called them again! When they came, the main switch to the building was smoking, and they went in and look at it…When they

were leaving, the neighbour from the restaurant over there told them that (the transformer was still) sparking,” the man related.

This witness has said that, moments later, fire was seen coming from a section of the building. At the time, only the security guard and receptionist were in the building; there were no guests at the facility. However, reports are that there had been several reservations for the evening.

(G12)

16 NEWS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Torani wreck being removed from Mazaruni River ports and port facilities in Guyana meet international standards. This wreck removal project was expected to cover the entrances to the Demerara, Berbice, Pomeroon, Waini, and

Essequibo Rivers, as well as the coast in general.

Previously, three wrecks that were earmarked to be removed from the Demerara River under a $787.6 million project had been com-

pleted by the same company.

The company was contracted following unsuccessful attempts in the past to remove the wreckage that hindered the smooth movement of vessels in the river. (G12)

All nominees submitted for...

FROM PAGE 11

The Torani being removed from the Mazaruni River

N

avigation safety in Guyana’s waters is progressing swiftly, as yet another wreckage is being removed – this time, the Torani – a relic from the 1960s that was partially submerged in the Mazaruni River.

The Torani was once a vital transport link across the Essequibo and Berbice Rivers. After it encountered structural challenges in 2012, the vessel was rendered unfit for service.

Since its decommissioning in December 2018, the Torani has lain partially submerged near the Transport and Harbours Department’s dry dock facility in the Mazaruni River until now. Identified as a hazard to navigation, the Guyana Government has prioritised its removal, aligning with broader environmental sustainability goals aimed at safeguarding

our waterways.

Koole. B. V, a reputable Dutch company specialised in industrial and maritime services, contracted by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), has been tasked with the removal of 17 sunken vessels. Koole B.V brings expertise in submerged wreck removal, promising a swift and thorough execution of the project.

Progress has been steady, with seven vessels already successfully extracted and the Torani slated as the eighth. With an anticipated completion timeline of five weeks, this initiative signifies a significant step towards enhancing maritime safety and environmental protection in our country.

At the award of the $1.38 billion contract just over a year ago, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill had emphasised the urgency of efficiently removing wrecks,

noting that as Guyana’s maritime activities continue to evolve, ensuring the safe passage of ships and boats became paramount and the Government was committed to this endeavour.

The removal of these wrecks is key to port development in Guyana, in particular, the Vreed-en-Hoop port and the Gas-to-Energy Project.

Once completed, the wreck removal information will be submitted to the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) for similar removal from the navigation charts. These efforts are expected to garner renewed confidence for mariners and vessels that it is now very safe to navigate our waters. It will also significantly decrease the insurance risks posed to vessels calling on Guyana’s ports.

MARAD had said it is invested in seeing all

“We have ethnic mix. So, we have two Indo-Guyanese, we have an Afro-Guyanese, we have an Amerindian and we have a Portuguese. We have two women and three men… Look at the main Opposition, no gender and no ethnic balance,” the minister stated.

Meanwhile, now that all 20 nominations have been received, President Ali is expected to swear in these members soon to establish the long-awaited Constitutional Reform Commission. Once the Commission is in place, a comprehensive consultation process is expected to begin with citizens on critical laws that needed to be reformed.

According to the provisions of the CRC Bill, the Commission will review the Constitution to provide for the current and future rights,

duties, liabilities and obligations of the Guyanese people.

It is mandated for that purpose to receive, consider, and evaluate submissions for the alteration of the Constitution, and report its recommendations to the standing committee for transmission to the National Assembly.

The Commission is tasked with consultations for the reform process to continue, whereby a report will be prepared and sent to the standing committee. The committee will then refine the submissions into amendments for the National Assembly.

Last year, the Government had earmarked the sum of $150 million in the 2023 National Budget for constitutional reform activities.

This year, additional

monies have been allocated towards the establishment of the CRC, including the rental of a building to house the Commission. During the Consideration of the Budget 2024 Estimates last month, AG Nandlall disclosed that the Government had identified the building on Middle Street, Georgetown that was used for the conduct of several Commissions of Inquiry, as the office for the CRC. “I can safely say that just after these budget proceedings are concluded, His Excellency shall move to appoint the Constitutional Reform Commission, and this is the building in which that Commission will be housed. It is already furnished and ready for occupation by the secretariat and the Commission,” Nandlall had stated. (G8)

NEWS

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Investments in Charity Housing Scheme translating to individual growth of residents – Rodrigues

Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues, conducting a site visit in Charity Housing Scheme

P

ersons residing in the New Charity Housing Scheme, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) have been able to improve their lives, through an increase in their finances.

This is according to Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues, who visited the community earlier in the week and interacted with residents.

Previously, the Housing Scheme was a squatting area, however, upon assuming office in August 2020,

President Dr Irfaan Ali committed to regularising the area.

As a result, more than 120 families were provided with the Certificate of Title for their homes in 2022, and in 2023, $200 million worth of contracts were awarded through the Housing and Water Ministry for the construction of roads, walkways, and bridges in the community.

According to the Minister, today, the housing scheme is flooded with small businesses and entrepreneurs

Minister Rodrigues inspecting Onderneeming Treatment Plant

who have capitalised on the substantial improvements spearheaded by Government and executed by the Housing Ministry and agencies under its leadership.

During an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Rodrigues disclosed that during her engagements with residents, one individual reported that she was able to secure a loan to renovate her property, and construct a small grocery shop on her land.

She said that Government was pleased with this report,

Guyanese, French militaries commit to increase joint training

The meeting between the Guyanese and French militaries

T

he Guyanese and French militaries have agreed to conduct increased joint training, with more units of the local military slated to be engaged.

On Thursday, Colonel General Staff, Colonel Kenlloyd Roberts and a team of officers welcomed French Captain (Navy) Laurent Martin and his team for a courtesy call at Defence Headquarters, Base Camp Ayanganna, Thomas Lands, Georgetown.

In a post on social media, the GDF said that during discussions, Colonel Roberts thanked the visitors for their assistance to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in building ties with their counterparts in Paris.

Agreements for increased joint training were also solidified, with more units of the Force slated to be engaged.

The post went on to state that Colonel Roberts acknowledged the trainings conducted since bilateral relationships were established

French Captain (Navy) Laurent Martin signing the Visitors' Book at GDF

and their positive effect towards capacity growth within the Force.

Guyana and France have renewed their commitment to cooperate and mitigate shared challenges.

Meanwhile, Captain

Martin also visited Headquarters Coast Guard Ship Hinds where he and his team engaged Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard, Commander David Shamshudeen and other Coast Guard officers.

given that all its investments are geared towards

Minister Rodrigues interacting with engineers

across all of the communities,” Minister Rodrigues

A newly-constructed roadway in Charity Housing Scheme

improving families and their livelihoods.

“We want the infrastructure spending to translate into personal development and I believe that what I have seen here today is really an expression of that.

Just by doing some roads in this area, upgrading the infrastructure ,we were able to transform individual lives …

That is the type of progress and transformation that’s for every single Guyanese and that is the type of progress that is taking place

stated.

Onderneeming Water Treatment Plant

Meanwhile, the water treatment plant being constructed at Onderneeming, Region Two is on track for completion in August.

This was disclosed by Rodrigues during a site visit to the facility while in the region. She was accompanied by Guyana Water Inc (GWI) Hinterland Services Director Ramchand Jailal and Consultant Richard

Persaud.

The $1.1 billion plant will provide treated water to residents from Supenaam to Taymouth Manor. Another plant is also expected to be developed at Maria’s Delight to serve residents from Charity to Queenstown to help push treated water coverage.

The Onderneeming plant is one of seven for which contracts totalling $8.5 billion were signed in 2022. The contracts were signed under GWI’s Coastal Water Treatment Infrastructure Programme to provide 90 per cent treated water access to the coast by 2025.

Rodrigues said the plants would play a pivotal role in the removal of iron from water being provided to hundreds of residents in the region.

“With the construction of those additional two treatment plants along with the one we already have at Lima, the entire Essequibo Coast, everybody who lives along the Coast will receive access to treated water by the end of 2025. That is a commitment that we made,” the Minister said.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Venezuela orders UN Human Lula slams Israel on Rights Office to close, tells Gaza war, says UN failed staff to leave country in 72hrs

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V

e n e z u e l a ’ s Government has asked staff from the United Nations’ human rights body to leave the country within three days, saying it will conduct a revision of its cooperation with the organisation, with the UN saying it would evaluate next steps.

The South American country’s Government said it had made a decision “to suspend the activities of the technical advisory office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and carry out a holistic revision of the technical cooperation terms.”

The review will take place over the next 30 days, the Government said in a statement, adding that all UN personnel connected to the office must leave the country during the next 72 hours.

“We regret this announcement and are evaluating the next steps. We continue to engage with the authorities and other stakeholders,” UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said in response to questions from Reuters. “Our guiding principle has been and remains the promotion and protection of the human rights of the people of Venezuela.

Venezuelan State television on Wednesday harshly criticised comments by the UN’s special rapporteur on the right to food, Michael

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil speaking during a press conference as Venezuela’s Government asked staff from the United Nations human rights body to leave the country within three days, saying it will revise its cooperation with the organisation, in Caracas, Venezuela, in this handout distributed on February 15, 2024 (Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry/Handout via Reuters)

Fakhri, who just concluded a visit to Venezuela.

Fakhri had said in a statement the Government food programme did not tackle the root causes of hunger and is susceptible to political influences.

The UN Human Rights Office, which has operated in Venezuela since 2019 and has 13 staff in the country, must rectify its “colonialist, abusive and violating attitude”, the Government’s statement added.

The office has played an “inappropriate role” in the country and supported impunity for people involved in attempts at assassination, coups, conspiracies and other plots, it said.

The Venezuelan Government regularly accuses members of the political Opposition of plotting take-

overs or the assassination of President Nicolás Maduro, all accusations vehemently denied by Opposition parties and their members.

The United States, the UN and others have decried the detention and arraignment this week of defence expert Rocio San Miguel.

Some members of her family were also detained, though four have been released.

“Obviously that’s something that we are concerned about and obviously going to continue to monitor,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said when asked on Thursday about Venezuela’s decision on the human rights body.

Other UN bodies including the World Food Programme and children’s agency UNICEF also operate in Venezuela. (Reuters)

Tobago oil spill spreading to Grenada, could also impact Venezuela

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n oil spill that has stained Tobago's coastline in the Caribbean is entering into Grenada's waters and could impact neighbouring Venezuela, Tobago's Chief Secretary, Farley Augustine told Reuters on Thursday.

Eight days after Trinidad and Tobago's Coast Guard first spotted the oil from a capsized vessel whose owner and origin have not been confirmed, portions of the stain have moved about 144 kilometres (89 miles) into the Caribbean Sea at a rate of 14km per hour, Augustine said.

"It has now entered Grenada's territorial waters," the official said, following a fly-over by Trinidad and Tobago's Air Guard, which confirmed the distance the spill has gone and countries possibly impacted.

Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada's Foreign Affairs

Ministries did not reply to requests for comment.

Authorities in Grenada, Panama, Aruba and Guyana have been contacted by Trinidad and regional group Caricom for information as part of an investigation about the vessel's origin, intended destination and ownership, and an accompanying tugboat.

According to preliminary research, the ship departed Panama bound for Guyana, officials in Trinidad have said.

Guyana's Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo told reporters on Thursday that Trinidad has requested information from Guyana on the ship's destination. "If we have any capacity, then we are willing to share with our neighbours."

Venezuela, which said on Wednesday it was monitoring the spill, has been in touch with Trinidad to

coordinate response action. Trinidadian Energy Minister Stuart Young met Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez in Caracas on Thursday, her office said on social media, but the purpose of the meeting was not disclosed.

The overturned vessel continues to leak fuel, but the situation is now under control with a 40-foot (12-metres) perimeter supported by booms around the wreckage, Augustine said.

"We are unable to plug the leak and unless we have information on how much fuel is in the barge or what exactly it contains, we cannot move forward, except containment and skimming," he added.

Trinidad's National Security Ministry said on Wednesday that it remained unknown whether any lives were lost in the incident.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

razilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Thursday that the United Nations has failed to resolve international conflicts and harshly criticised Israeli actions in Gaza.

“Israel’s behaviour has no explanation: with the pretext of fighting Hamas, it is killing women and children,” he said after a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Speaking later to the Arab League, Lula said Brazil had condemned the Hamas attack on Israeli civilians on October 7, but he added that the Israel’s re-

sponse was “disproportional and indiscriminate” and unacceptable.

Lula said there would not be peace without the establishment of a Palestinian state and called for an immediate ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

“The killing must be stopped,” he said.

The Brazilian leader said Palestine should be recognised as a sovereign state and admitted to the United Nations as a full member, and he called for reform of the UN Security Council.

“The multilateral institutions that were created to help solve these problems

do not work, which is why Brazil is committed to making the necessary changes in global governance bodies, and we hope to count on Egypt’s support,” he said to reporters alongside Sisi.

Lula said the permanent Security Council should be expanded and its veto powers abolished. “It is the permanent members of the Security Council that foment wars,” he said.

Brazil has supported South Africa’s case brought before the International Court of Justice against the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, he added. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Haiti gang wars block aid routes for most vulnerable, UN agency says

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recent spike of violence in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, is preventing the World Food Programme (WFP) from reaching hundreds of thousands of people in urgent need of supplies, as conflicts between armed gangs worsen an escalating humanitarian crisis.

The United Nations’ food agency on Thursday said the latest violence, which broke out in early February and has forced nearly 10,000 persons to flee their homes in just 10 days, has prevented the agency from reaching over 370,000 persons in the most urgent need of food.

“The recent upsurge in violence has blocked cargo routes, restricted movement, and closed schools, forcing WFP to temporarily halt many activities across the country,” country director Jean-Martin Bauer said in a statement.

The WFP said school closures have prevented the group from helping to provide hot meals to some 300,000 children, while violence in

People fleeing violence arrive at a Haitian National Police station, following a shootout between rival gangs, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, February 12, 2024 (REUTERS/Ralph Tedy Erol/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab)

the hard-hit Cite Soleil neighbourhood was stopping it from reaching families there.

Plans to distribute food to displaced people through communal kitchens elsewhere in the capital had also been complicated, it said.

In recent weeks the agency said it has been unable to reach 56,000 people in Cite Soleil, including people on the brink of slipping back into the WFP’s worst category of food insecurity, marked by fam-

ine-like conditions.

“Interruptions in aid could push them back into what is officially known as ‘catastrophe’ levels of food insecurity,” WFP’s Haiti communications director Tanya Birkbeck said.

The UN estimates some 44 per cent of Haitians are facing acute food insecurity, and that as of January, children accounted for over half of some 314,000 forced to flee their homes due to the conflict. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Ecuador’s President ratifies military cooperation agreements with US

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cuadorean President Daniel Noboa on Thursday ratified two military cooperation agreements with the United States, including one for joint naval operations, amid a security offensive against criminal gangs in the Andean country.

Noboa earlier this year launched the operation against criminal groups, which he has designated terrorists, and has said he will accept all the help the international community can offer to fight organised crime in the country.

Though the agreements were signed by Noboa's predecessor, Guillermo Lasso,

Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa speaking during a ceremony to deliver equipment to the National Police, amid the ongoing wave of violence around the nation, in Quito, Ecuador, January 22, 2024. (Reuters/Karen Toro file photo)

last year, the President ratified them via decree, after a favourable ruling from Ecuador's constitutional court.

One of the agreements will allow Ecuador to carry out joint operations with the United States to combat illegal activities such

as drug trafficking, trafficking of weapons, people, and illegal fishing.

The Government did not publish the content of the ratified agreements.

Senior US officials visited Ecuador in recent weeks to discuss security cooperation. (Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024

19

Around the World

Israel raids main Gaza hospital OILNEWS OIL NEWS as Rafah concerns grow Oil rises over 1% I after US data weighs on dollar

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il prices rose over one per cent on Thursday after US retail data prompted a sell-off in the dollar, though investors eyed an International Energy Agency (IEA) report that flagged slowing demand growth this year.

Brent crude futures settled up US$1.26, or 1.5 per cent, at US$82.86 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose US$1.39, or 1.8 per cent, to US$78.03.

The US dollar index slid about 0.3 per cent after data showed US retail sales fell more than expected in January.

A weaker dollar usually boosts oil prices as it makes the commodity cheaper for holders of other currencies.

Retail sales dropped 0.8 per cent last month, the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau said on Thursday.

Data for December was revised lower to show sales rising 0.4 per cent instead of 0.6 per cent, as previously reported.

The data prompted optimism around interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve going forward, which could be positive for oil demand.

“Rate cuts are back on the table and that’s giving us a bit of a boost,” said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group.

Further oil price gains were limited, though, by an IEA report on Thursday which said that global oil demand is losing momentum, prompting the agency to trim its 2024 growth forecast to 1.22 million barrels per day (bpd) from 1.24 million bpd.

On the supply side, the IEA estimated that supply would grow by 1.7 million bpd this year, up from its previous forecast of 1.5 million bpd.

Both oil benchmark contracts lost more than US$1 a barrel on Wednesday, pressured by the rise in US crude inventories as refining dropped to its lowest levels since December 2022.

News that two major economies began recessions also weighed on prices.

Britain fell into recession in the second half of 2023 when its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted by 0.3 per cent in the fourth quarter, having shrunk by 0.1 per cent in the third quarter, official data showed.

Japan unexpectedly slipped into recession at the end of last year, surrendering its title as the world’s third-biggest economy to Germany. (Reuters)

sraeli forces said on Thursday they had raided the biggest functioning hospital in Gaza as footage showed chaos, shouting, and gunfire in dark corridors filled with dust and smoke.

Israel’s military called the raid on Nasser Hospital “precise and limited” and said it was based on information that Hamas militants were hiding and had kept hostages in the facility, with some bodies of captives possibly there.

Hamas called that lies.

Health authorities in the Hamas-run Palestinian enclave said Israel had forced out dozens of staff, patients, displaced people, and families of medical staff sheltering in the hospital. Some 2000 Palestinians arrived in the southern border city of Rafah overnight while oth-

ers pushed north to Deir AlBalah in central Gaza, they said.

The war began on October 7 when Hamas sent fighters into Israel, killing 1200 persons, mostly civilians, and seizing 253 hostages according to Israeli tallies.

Israel’s air and ground offensive has since devastated tiny, crowded Gaza, killing 28,663 people, also mostly civilian, according to health authorities, and forcing nearly all of its more than two million inhabitants from their homes.

In a new operation, the Israeli military said it carried out an air strike that killed a Hamas commander who had participated in the October 7 attack. He had also held captive a female Israeli soldier who was executed by Hamas, the military said.

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fire erupted in the vicinity of the city’s historic downtown rail station.

The adult was later released, according to local media.

The Kansas City Star, quoting a Police spokesperson, reported the third detainee was not implicated in the shooting and that Police were working with juvenile prosecutors to “determine applicable charges” against the two minors held in custody.

The Police Chief told

Separately, medical officials said an Israeli strike killed three Palestinians in a

R

ussia is developing a “troubling” new anti-satellite weapon, the US has said, but it emphasised that Moscow has yet to deploy it.

White House spokesperson John Kirby made the comments a day after a senior House Republican issued vague warnings of a “serious national security threat”.

The weapon is spacebased and armed with a nuclear weapon to target satellites, the BBC’s US partner CBS News reported.

But Kirby did not confirm this and refused to offer precise details on the threat on Thursday.

Moscow accused the US of using claims of new Russian weapons as a ruse to force Congress to pass additional Ukraine aid by “hook or by crook”.

Kirby, who was recently made a top aide to President Joe Biden, told reporters that there is no immediate

threat to the US public.

“We’re not talking about a weapon that can be used to attack human beings. or cause physical destruction, here on Earth,” he said.

President Biden was briefed on the intelligence, Kirby said, and his Administration was taking the development of the weapon “very seriously”. He added that the President had already ordered “direct diplomatic engagement with Russia” over the threat.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner issued a cryptic warning about a serious national security threat on Wednesday, sparking a flurry of rumours around the capital.

On Thursday, Turner and others from the committee met with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to discuss the matter further. (Excerpt from BBC News)

reporters several firearms had been recovered from the shooting scene.

“This appears to be a dispute between several people that ended in gunfire,” she said, suggesting the violence was incidental to the celebration rather than a targeted attack.

“Preliminary investigative findings have shown there is no nexus to terrorism or homegrown violent extremism,” Graves said.

The Chief did not elaborate on what Police knew

about the origins of the precipitating clash or details of the shooting itself, including whether gang activity was involved.

Wednesday’s parade and rally celebrating the Chiefs’ Super Bowl triumph over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday had drawn upward of a million fans, Graves said, and the sound of gunshots as the event was breaking up sent throngs scrambling for cover. (Excerpt from Reuters)

car in Gaza City. Their identities were not immediately clear. (Excerpt from Reuters)

UK economy falls into recession, adding to Sunak’s election challenge

Russia developing ‘troubling’ new antisatellite weapon, US says B

Kansas City Police link Super Bowl rally shooting to dispute, not extremism

quarrel among several people sparked the shooting spree in Kansas City, Missouri, that killed a woman and wounded 22 persons after a celebration of the city’s NFL Super Bowl victory, Police said on Thursday, ruling out any apparent link to extremism.

Two minors and an adult have been detained as “subjects” in the investigation, Police Chief Stacey Graves said at a press conference, the day after gun-

Palestinian patients rest as they arrive in Rafah after they were evacuated from Nasser hospital in Khan Younis due to the Israeli ground operation, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in the southern Gaza Strip, February 15, 2024 (Reuters/ Mohammed Salem photo)

ritain’s economy fell into a recession in the second half of 2023, a tough backdrop ahead of this year’s expected election for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has promised to boost growth.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted by 0.3 per cent in the three months to December, having shrunk by 0.1 per cent between July and September, official data showed.

The fourth-quarter contraction was deeper than all economists’ estimates in a Reuters poll, which had pointed to a 0.1 per cent decline.

Sterling weakened against the dollar and the euro. Investors added to

their bets on the Bank of England (BoE) cutting interest rates this year, and businesses called for more help from the Government in a budget plan due on March 6.

Thursday’s data means Britain joins Japan among the Group of Seven advanced economies in a recession, although it is likely to be short-lived and shallow by historical standards.

Canada has yet to report GDP data for the fourth quarter.

Britain’s economy stands just one per cent higher than its level of late 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic struck – with only Germany among G7 countries faring worse.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Greece legalises same-sex marriage

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reece has become the first Christian Orthodox-majority country to legalise same-sex marriage.

Same-sex couples will now also be legally allowed to adopt children after Thursday’s 176-76 vote in Parliament.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the new law would “boldly abolish a serious inequality”.

But it has divided Greece, with fierce resistance being led by the powerful Greek Orthodox Church. Its supporters held a protest rally in Athens.

Many displayed banners, held crosses, read prayers and sang passages from the Bible in the capital’s Syntagma Square.

The head of the Greek Orthodox Church, Archbishop Ieronymos, said the measure would “corrupt the homeland’s social cohesion”.

The bill needed a simple majority to pass through

the 300-member parliament.

Mitsotakis championed the bill, but required the support of Opposition parties to get it over the line, with dozens of MPs from his centre-right governing party opposed.

“People who have been invisible will finally be made visible around us, and with them, many children will finally find their rightful place,” the Prime Minister told Parliament during a debate ahead of the vote.

The vote has been welcomed by LGBTQ organisations in Greece.

“This is a historic moment,” Stella Belia, the head of same-sex parents’ group Rainbow Families, told Reuters news agency.

“This is a day of joy.”

Fifteen of the European Union’s 27 members have already legalised same-sex marriage. It is permitted in 35 countries worldwide.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

20

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2024

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Make health and well-being your priorities. Don't be tempted to follow someone who lacks common sense or hypes you up about something risky. Think for yourself.

(March 21-April 19) Watch your step. Don't feel pressured to speed up when you need time to contemplate what's best for you. Be resourceful and secretive about your intentions.

PICKLES (April 20-May 20)

Be resourceful, learn all you can and use what you discover to get ahead. You have plenty to gain if you put your head down and keep moving. Don't let temptation take the reins. Play to win.

(May 21-June 20) Handle money matters with care. A partnership that encourages shared expenses will cause difficulties. Use your insight and ingenuity to come up with a plan that allows you independence.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Invest more time and money in yourself and what you want to pursue. Set a budget and map out a practical plan, and you'll discover peace of mind and the road to gratitude and happiness.

(July 23-Aug. 22) You'll find it hard to decide what you want and need. Don't let temptation set in and lead you astray. Take a step back and look at the possible long-term effects of your decisions.

CALVIN AND HOBBES (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Do your best to make your home a place of comfort and convenience. A move or investment that helps you access a better lifestyle is apparent if you take the initiative to bring about change.

Be careful when dealing with friends, relatives and colleagues. Listen carefully and keep your thoughts private until you feel comfortable sharing your comments.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Handle money matters carefully for the best results. Don't let anyone dictate how you earn your living, handle your money or care for your personal needs.

Fight for your rights.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Take the initiative; reorganize your space to accommodate what you are trying to achieve. Setting the stage for success will make life easier for you and harder for your opponents.

YESTERDAY'S WORD -- THROMBUS

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Think for yourself. Refuse help from those trying to point you in a direction that's better for them than for you. Take an interest in where your money goes.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Keep your secrets to yourself. Don't give anyone a chance to make you look bad or put you in harm's way. Look for opportunities, and don't hesitate to implement changes that help you get ahead.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024

21

England tour of India 2024: Test 3 of 5…

INDIA RESCUED ON DAY ONE – through tons from Rohit, Jadeja; 62 off 66 from Sarfaraz I

ndia's batting finally came together on the first day of the third Test against England, but not without an early alarm.

Down at 33 for 3 on a pitch that was full of runs, and with two debutants to follow, India were looking at possible trouble. Then a 204run partnership between Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja for the fourth wicket - India's first century stand of the series - took them to 326 for 5 at stumps. Rohit and Jadeja got centuries, while Sarfaraz Khan made a sparkling debut, hitting 62 off 66 before being run-out.

This is the first time since 1999 that India has had three players in the top seven who had played fewer than two Tests. With that in mind, Mark Wood gave England a leg-up when, with the new ball, he got

the first six overs of a Test innings.

The early-morning moisture that had assisted Wood possibly helped Tom Hartley grip one in his ninth over, which took the front edge from Rajat Patidar. A day before the Test, Jadeja had said England were not a difficult side to beat. The team management asked him to go out and demonstrate it from No. 5 in the ninth over, the second-earliest he has walked in to bat in a Test innings, and the earliest in the first innings.

A promotion to Jadeja made double sense: protect the debutant Sarfaraz, and also introduce a left-hand batter. Coming back from possibly the first time he has missed a Test with a hamstring injury, and having to deal with a family dispute gone public, Jadeja would

do unconventional things at the start of the partnership.

Wood tried to bounce him with a fine leg, a deep backward square leg, and a deep forward square leg. For once, looking at the score and the situation, he decided not to hook, and had to wear one in his helmet grille.

He charged at James Anderson to cut down the movement, on one occasion chipping one just out of mid-

now though, we were seeing the usual Rohit. There were timely lofts, some paddle sweeps, and a lot of backfoot runs. His second six took him past MS Dhoni's 78, with Virender Sehwag as the only Indian ahead of him.

Once there was spin from both ends, Jadeja began to catch up too, hitting a six in the final over of the middle session, the first

Sarfaraz Khan brought up his fifty off 48 balls on debut

Rohit Sharma raised his bat after scoring a hundred

Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja put on the highest partnership of the series

rid of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill - India's only centurions this series before Thursday. Gill, in particular, got a ball that swung in and then nipped away, taking the outside edge. These two scalps have doubled Wood's tally of wickets in

have been excused for having a lot on his mind when he joined Rohit, but he batted with the most unencumbered mind: just purely reacting to the next ball in an old-school fashion.

Rohit, who had got off to a smashing start, had to

on's reach. With Hartley, he flicked in the air and against the turn. The first attempt brought four, the second an edge to slip, which Joe Root dropped.

Rohit will argue this was just the luck he needed after the lack of it in the first two Tests. By then, the early movement had begun to die down. Just after that miscued chip off Anderson, Rohit went back to punch him through extra cover for four, an emphatic sign that he was in.

Jadeja never looked less than in. The two took India to lunch without further bother. Just after lunch, Rohit became the 14th man in this series to hit a six. The added responsibility of being leader of an inexperienced line-up had messed with his approach a little, but

wicketless session of the series. Immediately after tea, Rohit brought up his 11th hundred with two easy couples off two short balls from Rehan Ahmed. For a long time, the team management would have hoped for the batters to not take risks and just benefit from the inevitable loose balls the inexperienced spin attack was bound to dish up. A little like how Rohit brought up his hundred.

It was happening now with ease, especially for Jadeja. England had to go back to Wood's pace. A top edge from Jadeja cleared long leg, who was 20 yards in off the fence. Rohit was getting freebies from Rehan.

Fifty runs came in 11 overs after tea without having to break a sweat. Then Rohit pulled one off Wood that was

probably not short enough to pull. It skidded on, got big on him, and was caught at midwicket.

Out came Sarfaraz, with whispers already around his game against quick shortpitched bowling. That Wood began with a deep fine third, two men deep on the hook, a short leg and a catching forward square leg suggested it was not a mere whisper. Around the wicket he went, and looked to bounce Sarfaraz. He ducked the first three nonchalantly.

Towards the end of his spell, Wood insisted on one more over. Sarfaraz ducked again, before bunting the surprise yorker down the ground.

With pace out of the way, Sarfaraz displayed remarkable skill against spin, helped no doubt by Ben Stokes's attacking fields. A series of one-twos followed: a loft over the infield followed by going deep into the crease to take a single off the seemingly inevitable shorter delivery. The feet moved perfectly according to the trajectory of the ball, the sweep was out early, and the

lofts down the ground were executed perfectly. Before one realised, Sarfaraz had a fifty off 48, the joint second-quickest for an India debutant.

Another byplay had begun to develop. Jadeja had got stuck in the 80s and 90s.

In the time that Sarfaraz scored 50, Jadeja had got only 12. He had three hundreds, but four dismissals between 80 and 99. He almost became passive. Had Hartley reviewed his lbw shout against Jadeja, he would have got him out lbw pad-first on 93.

Finally, on 99, Jadeja called Sarfaraz through for an impossible single, and unsuccessfully sent him back. Looking at India still leaving the door ajar, Rohit threw his cap in disgust in the dressing room. Jadeja got to the hundred next ball, but the celebrations were subdued since Sarfaraz was gone just one delivery before. Jadeja knew there was more work to do on day two, walking back unbeaten on 110 with Kuldeep Yadav by his side.(Cricinfo)

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024

BCB/Diors Bits and Pieces U23 tournament…

RHT Pepsi to face Albion CCCC in finals

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he longstanding battle between arch-rivals Albion Community Centre Cricket Club and the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club would continue, with both clubs having reached the finals of the Berbice Cricket Board/ Diors Bits and Pieces Under-23 tournament.

Albion defeated Tucber Park by three wickets at Port Mourant ground, while the visiting Rose Hall Town Pepsi team defeated home team Blairmont on the Blairmont ground by 71 runs. Former national junior player Jonathan Rampersaud and Seon Glasgow struck centuries, while Leon Cecil and Jeremy Sandia had four-wicket hauls for their teams.

At Blairmont, RHT Pepsi skipper Junior Sinclair won the toss and elected to bat first. He was the first batsman to be dismissed, run out for a breezy 30 when the score was at 37 for 1 in the 5th over. His 30 included five fours and a maximum.

Jonathan Rampersaud

His opening partner Romesh Bharrat was then run out for 11, and then former national under-15 player Ramzan Koobeer was stumped for 15, to leave the score at 70 for 3. National under-19 player Jonathan Rampersaud and Guyana U17 vice-captain Matthew Pottaya then added 152 for the 4th wicket, as RHT Pepsi took control of the match.

Rampersaud struck 11 elegant fours and five sixes

in his brilliant knock before he was caught at long on for 125 off the bowling of N Persaud. Pottaya, who has grown into a solid middle order batsman, scored 46, with three sixes and four boundaries, before he was run out at the non-striker’s end.

Lucas Arthur, who scored 18 not out, and Jermey Sandia then took their team to 289 for five at the end of the allotted 40 overs. By this time it was established that N. Persaud was the best bowler for the home team, with 2 wickets for 56 runs off eight overs.

Needing to score 290 off 40 overs to reach the finals, Blairmont were dismissed for 218, scored in 31.4 overs.

National under-19 player Seon Glasgow blasted five massive sixes and twelve fours in a brutal 111, and received support from S. Bissoondyal with 24.

Bowling for Rose Hall Town Pepsi, Jermey Sandia took 4 for 23, while Raj Tika took 2 for 30 and Junior Sinclair took 2 for 31.

Seon Glasgow

Kelvin Umrao

Batting first after winning the toss, Tucber Park were restricted to 134 all out off 32.4 overs at the Port Mourant ground. Former national player Caesar scored 21, Garfield Benjamin scored 19, Zaymul Ramsammy 17 and Leon Swammy 12, as the principal scorers in a disap-

pointing batting display by the New Amsterdam-based club.

Off-spinner Leon Cecil took 4 for 34 from 7 overs, and former national under-19 left arm spinner Kelvin Umrao took 3 for 25 off 8 overs as the main

wicket takers for Albion. Naeem Khan, Gourav Ramesh and Kumar Deopersaud each took a wicket.

Albion overcame a main collapse to win by three wickets. They were 72 for 1 in the 11th over, with Ari Afizal Kadir on 47 and Damion Cecil on 25 batting well. It took a levelheaded 19 not out by Devin Lalbehari to get them over the line and into the finals.

Off-spinner Ruben Latcha took 4 for 18 from 8 overs, and Zymul Ramsammy took 2 for 26 as the best bowlers of the losing Tucber Park CC. Date and venue for the finals would shortly be determined by the Competitions Committee of the BCB.

Angel ready to take AJM Mash It Up Jamaica Football Federation election… cricket tournament by storm

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enior Berbice all-rounder Shamal Angel is ready to take the AJM Mash It Up T20 cricket tournament by storm on Saturday, February 24, at the Bush Lot Sports Complex Ground, West Coast Berbice.

This premier cricket tournament will have more than one million dollars in cash and prizes up for grabs, and Angel has set his sights ‘in the right direction’. He has been in red-hot form with the bat, and this West Berbice local, who plays for Achievers, is fresh off good outings with the Guyana Defence Force team.

This is that right-hander who scored an unbeaten 129 against Cotton Tree Young Guns in the previous AJM second division tournament in West Berbice, and he is confident of recording good scores again.

“I am looking forward to doing good yet again, just continuing from the previous AJM tournament that I played last year,” a confident Angel has said. “It was usual conditions, a bit more competitive cricket from the teams, but I managed to pull through and was successful nevertheless.”

Asked if his hot streak with the bat would continue, Angel said: “Yes! I have that confidence to continue my bling form in the upcoming AJM tournament, no big changes. I just want to continue doing what worked for me previously, and do it with a bit more intent.”

The AJM Mash It Up tournament is a one-day event, and the matches will be

Garel, Beach Soccer Jamaica head to Court of Appeal

their vote for the development of football in Jamaica and for Jamaicans.”

Meanwhile, vice-president Raymond Anderson, who is challenging Ricketts for the post, has declined to comment on the matter.

JFF presidential candidates Michael Ricketts and Raymond Anderson (left), and Pat Garel - president of Beach Soccer Jamaica

T

Achievers finished fourth in last Second- Division tournament hosted by AJM

fast-paced, but Angel is up for the challenge.

“I will try my best to adapt to the conditions of that day as fast as possible, so that I can work to my game plan,” Angel explained.

The top-order batsman had scores of 129*,68, 61* and 36* in the previous AJM second-division tournament. Last weekend, Angel slammed 93 for the GDF side, and propelled his team to victory.

Four teams in the West Berbice area will be on show at the AJM Mash It Up T20 tournament on February 24: AJM defending T20 champions Cotton Tree Sports Club; D’ Edward Sports Club; Achievers ‘A’, and Bush Lot Sports Club.

The day’s activity will commence at 09:00h, and the final will be played under lights. There will be big screen, commentary, and live scores at the venue, with Crown Vibes International providing sounds.

This tournament promises a CPL atmosphere, the organisers have predicted.

Cheerleaders will be on show, in addition to other side attractions.

AJM Enterprise aims to develop cricket in the West Berbice area, and provide quality entertainment to the cricket-loving population.

This event is sponsored by AJM Enterprise and Jumbo Jet, and is powered by Banks DIH Limited.

he Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) election is set to face another delay, as the country’s governing football body has been served a notice of appeal filed on behalf of Patricia Garel as President of Beach Soccer Jamaica.

This follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that denied an application for the continuation of the temporary injunction, which initially barred the elections from proceeding on January 14.

That application was denied on the basis that the applicants, Garel and Beach Soccer Jamaica, did not establish that they are affiliates or members of the JFF. As a result, the court ruled that there was no serious issue to be tried by the court.

However, instead of heading to an elective congress, the parties are headed back to court, as Garel, whose initial application in the Supreme Court seeking an order to

compel the JFF to allow Beach Soccer to participate in the election of officers as the entity representing beach football in Jamaica, has appealed the recent ruling.

The JFF, in a release, has still said it remains confident of securing a favourable decision on the appeal.

“The JFF is on course to set a new date for elective congress, in order to ensure that the members are not disenfranchised,” the JFF statement noted.

With this latest move, said to be in violation of the JFF Constitution and the FIFA statutes, incumbent Michael Ricketts, who has been at the helm since 2017, has expressed discontent with the court action. Ricketts has said he is “opposed to the action, especially as it goes against the provisions of the JFF Constitution and the FIFA Statutes, and is a deliberate attempt to deny the legitimate members a right to exercise

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024

West Indies Championships…

23

Hurricanes take command against Harpy Eagles at Warner Park T

he Leeward Islands Hurricanes have asserted their dominance over the Guyana Harpy Eagles in their second-round West Indies Championships match at Warner Park in St Kitts.

After posting a commanding first innings total of 352, the Hurricanes, through some excellent bowling, restricted the Harpy Eagles to 188, establishing a substantial lead. Batting a second time, Hurricanes were 52-1, leading by 216 runs with nine wickets in hand.

Resuming their innings from an overnight score of 299-6, Rahkeem Cornwall

score, secured the second half-century of the innings, while Hayden Walsh Jr contributed an unbeaten 20 off just six balls.

Ronaldo Ali Mohamed, who had claimed 2-49 overnight, continued his impressive performance to fin-

Doram took 4-40 to help restrict Eagles to 188 (39) and Jeremiah Louis (3) pushed the Hurricanes to a

final total of 352. Cornwall, adding 15 to his overnight

Gold Cup Group spot would mean everything - Sandiford

…As Lady Jags get ready for clash with Dominican Republic

G

uyana’s senior women’s national football team, the Lady Jags, are one day away from one of their biggest assignments yet, a match that could book their passage to the Group stage of the inaugural CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup. The Lady Jags will come up against familiar foes, the Dominican Republic, at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California from 17:00hrs local time, with the winner advancing to Group A of the W Gold Cup. According to Lady Jags Captain Chante Sandiford,

the teams has been in high spirits. “So, for the past few days, we’ve been training, both to get ourselves sharp technically but also to iron out things that we want to do tactically against DR; and we’ve had a lot of opportunities to do that, including a scrimmage last night. So, the feeling in the group is very positive, and we’re really excited for the match, and we’re really focused on getting as much preparation as we possibly can for the match,” she said.

Sandiford went on to discuss the Lady Jags’ encampment, revealing that the intensity was high. “It’s really top- tier, to be honest,” Sandiford said about the team’s preparation thus far.

She further explained, “It’s like we had really good facilities and the weather’s been really nice, and we’ve been able to work on all the things that we wanted to work on, and we still have a few days left as well. So, we think we’ve had enough time, and the girls have been really focused and we’re put-

Ronaldo Alimohamed picked up his maiden first- class five-for

The Lady Jags have been in preparation mode over the past week ting in the effort. It’s been what players we have and a really good preparation, a where they could fit in and 100%.” where the best place to play The Guyanese team each player would be. So, that was a really important opportunity for us to have that scrimmage,” she added.

Quizzed on what a place in the Women’s Gold Cup Group stage would mean to the team, the Lady Jags captain described it as ‘everything’.

“Wow! It would mean everything, honestly. The team has been trying to get this kind of international notorialso got some game-time ety for some time. We have a in during the camp, with really big opportunity here to a scrimmage against the play against some of the top Rio Hondo College team. teams in the world, and just

SCOREBOARD Guyana Harpy Eagles 188 BATTING R Tagenarine Chanderpaul LHB c JN Hamilton b JS Louis 0 Matthew Nandu LHB run out CK Archibald 19 Raymond Perez RHB c JN Hamilton b JS Louis 18 Kevlon Anderson RHB c TR Warde b CK Archibald 10 Kemol Savory LHB lbw JS Louis 5 Kevin Sinclair RHB c J Andrew b DT Doram 29 Ronaldo Ali Mohamed RHB c M Louis b RRS Cornwall 41 Veerasammy Permaul RHB c M Louis b DT Doram 34 Anthony Adams LHB c RRS Cornwall b DT Doram 13 Neiland Cadogan not out 0 Isai Thorne RHB st JN Hamilton b DT Doram 14 Extras – 5 b: 0 lb: 3 wd: 0 nb: 2

Leeward Islands Hurricanes 52/1 BATTING R Mikyle Louis RHB not out 37 Kofi JamesRHB c KA Anderson b V Permaul 14 Kacey Carty RHB not out 1 Extras – 0 b: 0 lb: 0 wd: 0 nb: 0 Total 52/1 (15.0 overs) BOWLING O-M-R-W Isai Thorne PACE 4.0-0-14-0 Neiland Cadogan PACE 2.0-0-18-0 Ronaldo Ali Mohamed PACE 2.0-0-4-0 Anthony Adams SPIN 3.0-0-8-0 Veerasammy Permaul SPIN 3.0-1-6-1 Kevin Sinclair SPIN 1.0-0-2-0

ish with figures of 5-69 from 19.5 overs.

In response, the Guyanese side struggled against the spin of Daniel Doram and pace of Jeremiah Louis. Ali Mohamed (41) and Veerasammy Permaul (34) offered resistance, preventing the situation from becoming more dire.

Kevin Sinclair contributed 29 during the lower-order fight.

Doram led the bowling attack with figures of 4-40, supported by Louis with

3-42. Despite the individual efforts, the Harpy Eagles found themselves trailing by 164 runs.

At close of play on Thursday, Hurricanes were 52-1 in their second innings, extending their overall lead to 216 with nine wickets in hand. Mikyle Louis, who scored 113 in the first innings, continued his form with an unbeaten 37. Keacy Carty is also at the crease on one. Kofi James contributed 14 before falling to Permaul. (Sportsmax)

Total 188 all out (57.3 overs) BOWLING O-M-R-W Jeremiah Louis PACE 14.0-2-42-3 Colin Archibald PACE 12.0-3-45-1 Rahkeem Cornwall SPIN 14.0-9-28-1 Daniel Doram SPIN 12.3-4-40-4 Hayden Walsh SPIN 5.0-0-30-0

Keep putting in the work to achieve great things – Shamar Joseph advises

The newly-built billboard along with shareholders and Shamar Joseph (middle)

Highlighting some critical areas, Sandiford shared why the playing time was important. The goalkeeper divulged, “It was really important, because we can talk and train and do things technically in a training session, but you want to actually have an opportunity to see the team play 11v11 against another team, not just against ourselves.

“So, that was really important for us to go over our defensive shape: how we want to attack, and just see

to show how far Caribbean football has actually come,” the Lady Jags Captain candidly shared.

Sandiford went on to state, “I think it would be a huge opportunity for us. So, we are 100% focused on winning this next match, so that we can get that opportunity.”

If successful, the Lady Jags will move on to Group A and will battle the USA, Mexico and Argentina. Their first Group game would be on February 20th against the hosts. (Jemima Holmes)

A

billboard has been erected near the Berbice High School Ground in New Amsterdam to commemorate Shamar Joseph's historic Test debut against Australia during the West Indies tour of Australia in 2023.

Despite that being Shamar Joseph’s debut Test series with the West Indies, he managed to excite the fans of the Men in Maroon when he became the tenth man from West Indies to pick up five wickets on his Test debut.

As the billboard illustrates, 7-68 was the record number of wickets he attained as he powered the West Indies to their first Test win in Australia since 1997, and the first against them since 2003.

At the ceremony to launch the billboard on Wednesday, Shamar Joseph urged young cricketers to pursue their dreams to the fullest, and to never give up on their dreams.

“Giving up or quitting is not an option. All I have to

say is, ‘Keep working, look forward to what you want to achieve, and becoming successful doesn’t come as easy as you think. You have to work hard, keep working harder, and keep putting in the work to achieve great things’,” Joseph advised.

A representative of the Rotary Club congratulated Shamar Joseph on his spectacular performance, and spoke about the importance of community development throughout the area of sports.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024

Sport is no longer our game, it’s our business

Pg 23

…As Lady Jags get ready for clash with Dominican Republic

Keep putting in the work to achieve great things Pg 23

Hurricanes take command against Harpy Eagles at Warner Park Pg 23

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