Guyana Times - Friday, February 23, 2024

Murder accused committed to stand High Court trial

73 lbs of ganja found at Bartica apartment, taxi driver arrested

20-member Constitutional Reform Commission to be sworn in next month – AG Guyana, Canada to ink Sovereign Loan Programme Agreement

P25

GPSU threatens industrial action if Govt refuses to meet at bargaining table Family calls for full probe following death of 3-month-old girl

The

Friday, February 23 –04:30h-06:00h and Saturday, February 24 – 04:00h-05:30h.

The

Friday, February 23 –15:50h-17:20h and Saturday, February 24 – 16:20h-17:50h.

Parika and Supenaam

– 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.

WEATHER TODAY

metres. High

We must zealously guard our sovereignty, promote democracy – Pres Ali …says Guyana seeking “friendly relations” with neighbours, wants peace &

resident Dr Irfaan

PAli has reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity while at the same time forging friendly relations with its neighbours to ensure peace and stability in the region.

These were the sentiments of the Head of State on Thursday evening during his address to the nation at the flag-raising ceremony to commemorate Guyana’s 54th Republic Anniversary.

According to the President, when Guyana declared itself as a Republic on February 23, 1970, it effectively severed constitutional attachments to the United Kingdom from which it attained independence in 1966. This Republican status, he noted, vested in the people of Guyana full sovereignty over the entirety of the country as well as the political, social and economic processes within.

“We, the custodians of the Republic, must zealously guard our nation's sovereignty, promote its development and safeguard democracy. A threat to our territorial integrity poses a direct challenge to our sovereignty, because it stakes a claim upon the settled geographical boundaries that define our nation,” he stated.

The Guyanese Leader noted that territorial integrity was not merely lines on a map but symbolised the autonomy and control which a nation exercised over its land, waters, air space, resources and people. He posited that without this total control over its territory, Guyana’s sovereignty was compromised.

“We shall never surrender an inch of our territory or cede national sovereignty. A threat to national development undermines the prosperity and well-being of our people,” he added.

Ali stated that Guyana would never return to the era where its Republic was tainted. He explained that over the years, the country has fashioned a Republic that is democratic and which continues to work to unite its people and defend its territorial integrity.

“We are protecting our motherland from all threats from outside of our borders.”

In doing so, he outlined that his government has been strengthening Guyana’s national defence and improving the capabilities of the national defence forces. “Defence diplomacy is being strengthened and defence cooperation is being fortified,” Ali added.

“Our Republic threatens no one… We are a peaceful nation. We settle disputes peacefully and repose our trust in international law. We seek friendly relations with our neighbours. We want peace and stability. We are for peace and stability and our investment is to ensure peace and stability remains in our region. Our investment is to ensure peace and stability is the foundation through which neigh -

bourly love is built. Peace and stability is the foundation through which goodwill is built,” the Head of State contended.

President Ali’s statements come on the heels of heightened tensions between Guyana and Venezuela. The Spanish-speaking country continues to lay claim to more than two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass, the Essequibo, and a portion of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in which almost 11 billion barrels of oil have been discovered over the past eight years, and in which oil production activities are ongoing.

In 2018, Guyana moved to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) after exhausting all means of negotiation with Venezuela, including the good office process between the two South American neighbours. Guyana is seeking a final and binding ruling on the October 3, 1899 Arbitral Award to settle the longstanding border controversy.

Venezuela had challenged Guyana’s move to settle the matter, but the ICJ ruled in

December 2020 that it has jurisdiction to entertain the application for a final settlement. Having rejected both of Venezuela’s preliminary objections, the ICJ has set April 8, 2024, as the time limit for the filing of a CounterMemorial by Venezuela.

Tensions between Guyana and Venezuela have been simmering since then, but escalated late last year when the Nicolás Maduro Government held a referendum on December 3, 2023, to annex Guyana’s Essequibo region.

Following the referendum, President Maduro subsequently announced a series of actions including, among other things, issuing identification cards to Guyanese living in Essequibo and issuing licences for mining and other activities in Guyana’s Essequibo County. Given Venezuela’s threatening posture, a historic face-to-face Caricom/CELAC/ Brazil-brokered meeting was held on December 14, 2023, between Presidents Ali and Maduro in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and was geared towards maintaining

stability

peace in the region.

The two South American leaders came to several agreements, including that Guyana and Venezuela, directly or indirectly, would not threaten or use force against one another in any circumstance, including those consequential to any existing controversies between the two States.

Even as Guyana reaffirms its commitment to the judicial process before the World Court, it was also agreed that a Joint Commission of Foreign Ministers and Technicians of Guyana and Venezuela would be established and meet on behalf of the two Presidents in Brazil to continue peace dialogue.

That first meeting of the Joint Commission of Foreign Ministers and Technicians was held on January 25 in Brasilia. Guyana’s delegation was led by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd, who described the meeting as a “good start” to creating a better future of good neighbourliness for the next generation.

Amid tension over the border controversy, however, President Maduro earlier this week formally accredited Dr Richard Van West-Charles as Guyana’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

The Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry in Georgetown said in a statement that during the ceremony in Caracas on Tuesday, “President Maduro requested Ambassador Van West-Charles to convey a message of high regard to President Ali, stating his great respect for the President and the people of Guyana.” (G8)

President Dr Irfaan Ali at the 54th Republic Anniversary flagraising ceremony

Editor: Tusika Martin

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54th Republic Anniversary

Today, we commemorate 54 years of being a republic, having cut all governance ties with Britain, which had ruled us for almost two centuries. Those who agitated for the rupturing of those ties went to great lengths to reveal and explain their exploitative nature, which left us so underdeveloped that after four centuries of the Dutch and the British using our human and physical resources for producing raw sugar, only this year we are finally proposing to refine that sugar for our own consumption rather than importing our sugar which was refined in Britain and resold to us at a premium.

And so it was in almost every other field of economic endeavour where expatriate firms exploited the resources with which we were blessed – bauxite, gold, diamonds, timber. Only with rice, which was totally indigenously founded, expanded and maintained, were we in control and ended up with the revenues generated by our sweat and blood. With the declaration of our republican status in 1970, the then PNC regime, with the support of the then Opposition PPP, embarked on the nationalisation of “the commanding heights of the economy” in an effort to retain a larger percentage of the profit from our resources.

Burnham and the PNC’s effort failed miserably for any number of reasons, not the least being that they staffed the upper echelons of the nationalised industries with only “yes men” from the PNC. The expression “square pegs in round holes” resonated in all areas of national life. We were left just barely above Haiti in the Western Hemisphere, when free and fair elections were finally returned through local sacrifice and foreign pressure, especially from the United States.

Under the PPP from 1992, our economic and social health were slowly rehabilitated so that by the first decade of the new millennium, we had moved from being a “Highly Indebted Poor Country” (HIPC) to a High Middle-Income Country with a very sustainable debt load. However, even though this progress was demonstrated through empirical World Bank studies which showed that poverty had been reduced equally in all ethnic groups on the coast, the Opposition PNC accused the PPP Government of “racial” discrimination in its programmes.

The first decade of the new millennium ironically also witnessed the PNC’s violent “slow fyaah; mo fyaah” street protests against the PPP segue into armed attacks against the State and purported supporters of the PPP by bandits ensconced in the village of Buxton. Armed groups sponsored by drug traffickers, businessmen under attack and even the State fought the bandits to eventually eliminate them, but unfortunately undermining key institutions of the State and leaving hundreds dead. The political cleavages consequently increased even though the economic situation improved for all groups – with the Indigenous Peoples unfortunately still lagging even though the Government gave them special attention.

Today, Guyana is being offered an opportunity for a new beginning with the discovery and production of oil – a new resource – off our shores. Learning from our experience with nationalisation of industries, we must accept that private industry – which works on the “profit principle” – must be allowed to take the lead in developing and running the industry. But since the oil resource is the property of the people of Guyana, the Government of the day must ensure that the sector is properly regulated and overseen so that we will share equitably in its monetisation.

As we had said before, Guyana is still a relatively young nation, and there is evidence that we have come a far way. Many of the developed countries took hundreds of years to achieve the level of development that they boast about, but this should not be an excuse for our leaders not to work hard enough to help our citizens achieve their dreams and aspirations. For example, while there remain many challenges, over the past couple of decades or so, there have been significant improvements in the delivery of education and health care, among other social services. The housing boom, which started and picked up pace under the PPP/C Government, is regarded as a model in the Caricom region. At the time, owning a home was just a dream for many Guyanese; today this has become reality, as quite a few new housing schemes were opened up and existing ones were expanded and upgraded. In essence, home ownership was made much easier.

There is still a far way to go, as quite a number of Guyanese are still living below the poverty line. Continued efforts must, therefore, be made by our political leaders and other development partners in ensuring that more persons are provided with the opportunities to raise their standard of living. In this regard, the PPP/C Government must be commended for their renewed efforts at generating wealth and creating jobs for citizens. As this publication stated a few weeks ago, with oil revenues to provide financing and natural gas to supply cheap electricity for the next three decades, Guyana is poised through the strategic developmental choices of the PPP to finally move “From Third World to First”.

Happy 54th Republic Anniversary!

Nelson Mandela taught me this: hope survives wherever people come together …even amid the despair that haunts our world, good can come out of evil. We need to believe that, for the sake of our future

By Gordon Brown

Astory is told about a British Ambassador and his fellow diplomats at the UN who were asked of their hopes for the festive season. “A box of the finest handmade chocolates,” the British official replied, only to find to his embarrassment that other countries’ Ambassadors had listed “Peace on Earth”, “Stability” and “An end to world poverty”.

At this time of year, facing a troubled and fractured world, our hopes cannot reflect only personal wishes. They have to be focused on solving the monumental crises paralysing our planet – the interminable RussiaUkraine war, the carnage in the Middle East, and rising poverty and inequality at home and abroad.

Of course, seeking hope amid the despair that haunts Kyiv, Gaza and the Israeli survivors of the Hamas terrorist attack may seem a futile exercise. But I am reminded of a painting whose facsimile briefly adorned the wall of Nelson Mandela’s prison cell on Robben Island. Titled “Hope”, and painted by Frederick Watts, the first sight of it suggests its title should be “Despair”, for it depicts a blindfolded young girl trying to play a harp on which almost every string is broken. But, as Mandela explained to me, there was no contradiction: even when facing what seem like hopeless situations, you have to retain hope. Which is what he exemplified: despite 27 years in prison, during which he suffered from TB, faced the threat of execution and watched friends being hanged, he never lost hope that he and his country would one day be free.

And there are flickers of hope at home amid the despair in communities Ministers will fly over but never deign to visit, and despite the desperation in the eyes of people they will never see. I find hope in the recent coming together of UK charities and corporates to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and aid the poor. There are spaces we reserve for the three sectors that are understood to comprise our soci-

ety – markets, government and communities. But today, in the face of the kind of abject and rising poverty that I thought I’d never see again, a fourth sector has started to emerge: of businesses and charities working together to create what we are calling the multibank in recognition of a simple truth – that companies have surplus goods people need (food, clothing, bedding, toiletries and furnishings) and charities know the people who need them.

So with companies aware that groups of consumers cannot currently afford their goods, and with charities ready to work in partnership to prevent urgently-needed goods being wasted or destroyed, this new multi-coalition of compassion is helping create a chain of hope connecting the richest corporates who can afford to be generous to the most hard-pressed of families who have nothing.

What I glean from this new development – and from wider history – is that even in the least propitious of circumstances, hope can come alive when and where there is inspired leadership. Vision without action is, of course, mere daydreaming, and action without vision is the stuff of which nightmares are made. But vision combined with action can change history.

Think of John Kennedy’s peace speech in June 1963, which moved America and Russia on from the Cuban missile crisis and within three months had inspired the first nuclear test ban treaty.

Think, too, of the unlikely chemistry between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, who bonded when Reagan asked the Soviet leader if he would come to the aid of the US if it were threatened by an asteroid from space. Their talks brought the biggest reduction of nuclear weapons in history.

Think, too, of the environmental breakthroughs in the 1980s, when far-sighted Russian and American scientists came together and finally addressed the hole in the ozone layer. Environmental activism led to the 2015 Paris climate accord, a pact achieved at a time when protectionism was the order of the day. I recall 2008

when, during the biggest financial crisis since the 1930s, China and India were prepared to join in a solution, and the 20 richest countries, now known as the G20, underpinned the world economy with US$1 trillion, the biggest international rescue package in history. None of these advances could have happened unless leaders, recognising the gravity of the crisis, were prepared to rally to a common cause.

These turning points give me reason to hope. We know the terms of a Middle East peace deal that would give us a two-State solution. I was involved in detailed negotiations in 2008 and 2009, when the then Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and the then Saudi Arabian King Abdullah, were looking at the redrawn maps of settlements and the financial and security arrangements that would shape a lasting peace. Now the whole world – the West, the Arab world and the BRICS bloc – needs to work together, and if they isolate the two biggest forces standing in the way of a two-state solution – Hamas and the Israeli far right – and build on the recently-acquired willingness on the part of most Middle East States to recognise Israel, good in 2024 might come out of the evil we have witnessed in 2023.

Ukraine should have the resources to stand up to a Russia that must learn it will only re-enter the international community if it gives up on its attempt to subjugate a sovereign State. We know how to avert climate catastrophe, but the wealthiest oil-producing states who have gained trillions in windfall profits should be persuaded to take the first steps to funding the mitigation and adaptation desperately needed in the global south.

And we also know what needs to be done to end poverty and illiteracy and fight disease, and that the richest countries need to step up to share the burden. As Mandela told us, the impossible is only impossible until we make it possible. (The Guardian)

(Gordon Brown was UK Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010)

President Dr Irfaan Ali and St Lucian Prime Minister Philip J Pierre attending the 45th Independence Anniversary parade in Castries, St Lucia on Thursday. Dr Ali, the current chair of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), is a special guest at the island’s independence celebrations

PNC is always on the wrong side of history, law

Dear Editor,

It took 57 years of Independence and 54 years of Republican status in Guyana before the PNC can finally, boastfully and openly admit to be culpable election riggers. Those in the court facing alleged election fraud charges are probably swearing, blaspheming and vilifying the most senior rigger, as he dropped their guard and exposed what the PNC wanted to hide in the shadow of the dark.

Fussing, fuming and fulminating each second as they spend sleepless nights and worrisome days, they fear a trial which promises to create a precedent that will scare all those who may want to attempt to travel that road again. Thanks to the learned teacher, this election fraud case has rekindled a new interest and impatience which will be detrimental to the PNC.

The philosopher was thrown out from the PNC by former President Desmond Hoyte. He once called Hoyte “an inexperienced schoolboy” .

Former President David Granger had brazenly advertised his party’s modus operandi in skullduggery and gaining power in November 2017 when he addressed a gathering in Atlanta, Georgia, “You have to ask yourself how did the PNC gain office in 1964?

Ask yourself how did the PNC remain in office, and what did it do during that period? Ask yourself, how did the PNC regain office in 2015, and ask yourself how will the PNC retain office after 2020?” He closed in on a confession and he did market their main weapon which is their trump card in winning the election – rigging! The ageable politician called him a “schoolboy in politics” .

The historian loves to

write, speak, pat babies and hide behind not only closed doors. During his presidency, David, the decorated soldier, spoke these (regrettable?) words, “I have never rigged an election in my life. I have no intention of ever doing so.” He further added (guiltily?), “I am not aware that rigged elections were an ideal of Forbes Burnham.” His sarcasm must have brought a loud laugh and thunderous applause from his audience. The Prime Minister for St Vincent and the Grenadines referred to him as “the sanctimonious gangster”.

PNC members are walking in shame with their heads hanging low and their eyes searching the ground these days for what’s not to be found! Eye contact is not salable as they avoid this conversation like the plague. They wish they could erase what their elder preacher had advised, but, in this E Age, the stage is set for his speech to be a permanent record and readily available at the tip of the finger. It is a hot-selling item and will be played forever. The PNC has to protect, preserve and promote their ideals which are still valid in their books ie, corruption, bankruptcy, mismanagement, propaganda, violence, racism and, of course,…. rigging.

Lawyer 007 in 2019 spoke some telling words, “We must have lawful, free, fair and credible elections, and no man is going to circumvent GECOM. No man will circumvent GECOM. We will take whoever to court if they tell us that GECOM can’t do their work. We will go to court.” His boomerang words backfired. As a member of the People’s National Congress, he witnessed

his party members being charged for alleged election fraud! Granger had illegally appointed Patterson as a GECOM Chairman. The PNC lost their case at the CCJ when they tried to defend his appointment.

The PNC has always been on the wrong side of history. They used the law to shield them from their illegal activities whenever they were in power. Their countless negative activities are too innumerable to mention as they only bring hurt to all the senior citizens of this country who are ashamed of the PNC. As the world witnessed their attempt to rig the 2020 General Election, it took the mighty hands of the American Government along with the international, regional and national communities to save this country from falling into the hands of a gang of rebels and restore democracy.

Former Head of the OAS Electoral Mission, Bruce Golding, had sadly declared, “I have never seen a more transparent effort to alter the results of an election.”

PNC members wished they hadn’t witnessed a weekend like last when their own “kith and kin” let them down by uttering the blasphemous and

revolting words, “I say we should keep rigging to save us from these devils, these bastards, these demons that we have.” Spilling the gut was evidentially eventual. Those who remain silent are obviously too embarrassed to express their feelings.

Those who do not reject his statement are his endorsers. “If the senior members are doing it, the junior members will automatically take the same position and posture,” a civil society commentator had once remarked. Old Man Time is very patient but passionate when it comes to punctuality.

Former Minister of State Dawn HastingsWilliams had publicly rejected the Caribbean Court of Justice’s appellate jurisdiction about the validity of the No-Confidence Motion, passed in the National Assembly in December 2018, after a mere 24 hours. This cavalier type of attitude is laughable now that the PPP/C party is in government. The PPP/C party do not have to rig any election, unlike the PNC.

Happy Republic Day, Guyana.

Yours respectfully,

Jai Lall

Hamilton Green’s confession is no small matter

Dear Editor,

Let us begin with what Mr Hamilton Green, a founding member of the PNC said last Friday at the Burnham Foundation. Here is Mr Green said about rigged elections – “I say we should keep rigging to save us from these devils, these bastards, these demons that we have…” These “devils, these bastards, these demons…” These are the words that have now come out of the mouth of the most senior living member of the PNCR-APNU apparatus.

Ironically, about the same time as Green’s cathartic outburst, Nigel Hughes called for truth and reconciliation in the country to facilitate a “massive overhaul”. There is your reconciliation, Sir. Hamilton Green is no ordinary man.

On the contrary, he is a towering figure, having served as the General Secretary of the PNC, as a senior Cabinet Minister, Prime Minister, and Mayor of Georgetown. This man knows the PNCR and APNU like no other.

And he is proud of rigging. To his credit, and unlike the denial of lesser mortals in the PNCR-

APNU-AFC and even WPA, Mr Green now publicly admits to election banditry, and he is proud of it.

I call on the intellectuals of the PNCR, WPA, APNU and their political (not civil) society comrades to pronounce on Mr Green’s declaration that the party known for rigging should continue to do so.

I also emphatically call on Stabroek News and Kaieteur News who regularly publish Mr Green’s disquisitions to inform their readers about their editorial policy given the admission of “The Elder.”

I take this opportunity to register a complaint to the diplomatic corps that Mr Green, who has now admitted to election rigging, has castigated his political opponents (meaning the PPP) as “devils,” “demons”, and “bastards”, language constitutive of the most vituperative Othering imaginable.

I call on Leader of the Opposition, Hon Aubrey Norton, to confirm or deny Mr Green’s admission of PNC-APNU-AFC rigging efforts. The matter is urgent.

Sincerely,

Dr Randy Persaud

Page Foundation

Commutative and Associative Properties

Numbers behave in specific ways. Each kind of number behaviour is called a property.

The Commutative Property of Addition: Addends may be added in any order without changing the sum. An addend is any number in an addition problem. It does not matter the order in which you add those numbers. The sum will always be the same.

The Commutative Property of Multiplication: Numbers may be multiplied in any order without changing the product.

The Associative Property of Addition: Addends may be grouped in any order without changing the sum.

The Associative Property of Multiplication: Numbers may be grouped in any order without changing the product.

Example: Find the answers to the following problems and tell which property they represent.

28 + 42 + 11 = ?

11 + 28 + 42 = ?

(Answers are 81 and 81 , examples of the commutative property)

26 x 3 x 4 = ?

4 x 26 x 3 = ?

(Answers are 312 and 312 , examples of the commutative property)

(12 + 18) + 9 = ?

12 + (18 + 9) = ?

(Answers are 39 and 39 , examples of the associative property)

(4 x 5) x 7 = ?

4 x (5 x 7) = ?

CONTINUED FROM THURSDAY

Exercises: Identify the property

1) 2 x 3 x 1 = 1 x 3 x 2 2) 2 + 10 + 23 = 23 + 10 + 2 3) 2 + 5 + 5 + 4 = 2 + (5 + 5) + 4

4) 3 x 1 + 1 x 2 = 1 x 3 + 2 x 1 5) 8 x 3 x 8 = 8 x (3 x 8) 6) 6 x 6 x 7 x 6 = 7 x 6 x 6 x 6 7) (9 + 8) + 6 = 9 + (8 + 6) 8) 3 x 4 x 4 x 3 = 4 x 4 x 3 x 3 9) 3 + 7 + 9 + 4 = 7 + 4 + 9 + 3 10) (5 x 3) x 1 = 5 x (3 x 1)

(Answers are 140 and 140, examples of the associative property) Materials

Instructions

Glue five maps together to form a cube with one open side.

Trim excess paper from each edge. Go slow and cut nicely– these edges will show!

Hot glue gun + glue sticks

LED tea light

Twine, ribbon or string

Line each side of the cube with hot glue and press a napkin smoothly into place. Repeat for the remaining four sides.

Glue a twine string to each corner to act as a hanger, then tie the four strings together evenly in the centre.

Add a tea light, hang and enjoy! (Excerpt from thecraftpatchblog.com)

WORD SEARCH

Norton defends "rigging" call

– says "Green was taken out of context" …AG hints at passing act to repeal Green’s $20.5M pension

Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton has defended the remarks made by former People’s National Congress (PNC) General Secretary Hamilton Green, contending that his statements on rigged elections were taken out of context.

Norton, when asked for a comment on the situation during a press conference on Thursday, argued that Green was speaking hypothetically.

“He said “if”,” Norton posited.

“I think what Green was saying [is], ‘you’re saying we’re rigging, if we are rigging, then we should rig to change the Government’,” Norton contended.

“The context was changed,” he insisted, further asserting that Green is a veteran politician who “has the ability to choose language”.

“He wouldn’t make wild statement[s].”

The Opposition Leader is also of the opinion that the remarks made by Green do not affect the image of the PNC, which has a history of electoral skullduggery, with the most recent being during the 2020 elections.

In fact, a number of PNC affiliates are currently before the courts on electoral fraud-related charges including Volda Lawrence and Carol Joseph-Smith.

Green, a former Prime Minister under the Burnham Government, on Friday last suggested that election rigging be used to remove the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration from office.

He was at the time addressing a group of persons gathered for the LFS Burnham Foundation Annual Commemorative Symposium – an event organised to commemorate the 101st birth anniversary of Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham – former PNC

leader and President of Guyana, whose legacy is largely attributed to his dictatorship-style leadership and blatant rigging of several elections.

Among other things, Green expressed, “…It was Burnham’s wisdom which got him into office in 1964. I was General Secretary at the critical time. And if, as I told one of the groups I met [Friday] morning, if they say he rigged elections, I say we should keep rigging to save us from these devils, these bastards, these demons that we have.”

Defence & distance

This is not the first time Norton has defended widely-criticised remarks made by PNC members. In March 2023, Norton defended the racist and divisive statements made by members of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA).

At a public meeting in Buxton on the East Coast of Demerara, Tacuma Ogunseye had made incendiary remarks about IndoGuyanese and called for the Disciplined Services “to turn their guns on the State”.

But Norton posited that “the Opposition believes that Mr Tacuma Ogunseye’s right to free speech must be respected, even though we believe that his language could have been better chosen. The choice of his language is his preserve.”

Interestingly, PNC’s James Bond – who oftentimes is at loggerheads with positions taken by party elders – has since distanced himself from the remarks made by Green, saying in a Facebook post that, “IF the words attributed to former Mayor Hamilton Green are true, he does not speak for me. I’m sure also he does not speak for the PNC either. Free and fair elections are here to stay and we support a democratic constitutional process to changing Government.”

Condemnation

Nevertheless, Green’s remarks have since attracted condemnation from the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and Attorney General Anil Nandlall.

Nandlall, during his programme “Issues in the News”, argued that the remarks “strike at the rule of law, they strike at the heart of democracy, they strike at the soul of our Constitution, and at the soul of constitutional rule, they strike at the root of rule of law”.

“It is no coincidence that Hamilton Green is saying

that at Burnham’s commemorative birth anniversary and at a function arranged by the Burnham Foundation, because the history of this country records Forbes Burnham, along with sidekicks and sycophants like Hamilton Green and many others… rigged the 1968 elections, the 1973 elections, the 1978 referendum, the 1980 elections, and the 1985 elections. Burnham had died by ’85, but Desmond Hoyte, his successor, continued with the rigging. The history of this country also recorded that when Desmond Hoyte acceded to democratic reforms, after the intervention of the Carter Center and after years and years of agitation by Guyanese and

the People’s Progressive Party and many other political parties, Hamilton Green opposed those reforms, and eventually opposed Desmond Hoyte as the leader of the PNC.

“Hamilton Green is on public record saying that Hoyte has given away the Government by agreeing to those democratic reforms,” the AG reminded, while also pointing to the events that unfolded during the 2020 elections.

Pension

Meanwhile, Nandlall highlighted that the very PNC-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government in 2017 honoured such a man with a national award and even passed an act to allow him to benefit from a whopping pension.

But the Attorney General asked: “Why should Guyanese use their hardearned money to pay him a pension that he is not entitled to?

“They passed a special Act in March 2017, the Prime Minister Hamilton Green Pension Act, to give him a special pension. You know why they had to pass an Act? Because he was not entitled to it,” he said.

The AG has since asserted that, “an Act of Parliament can be repealed by an Act of Parliament.

Why should this Act not be repealed for these kinds of statements that can lead to the destruction of Guyana and its people…?”

The Bill provides for

Green to receive all benefits provided for by the Former President (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act 2015.

The value of these benefits is an annual pension of $20.5 million, other benefits to the value of $3.1 million annually, two vehicles provided and maintained by the State, and two first-class tickets provided annually by the State.

Additionally, the former Prime Minister also qualifies for an ex-parliamentarian pension, together with whatever benefits accrued from his period as Mayor of Georgetown.

Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton

Hamilton Green

James Bond

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

High Court blocks Govt from deducting salaries of striking teachers

– also orders Govt to continue deducting and remitting union dues

The High Court on Thursday granted Conservatory Orders blocking the Government from cutting the salaries of striking teachers and moving ahead with a decision to discontinue the deduction of union dues from the salaries of teachers for the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU).

The orders were handed down by Justice Sandil Kissoon, and are to remain in effect until the determination of the substantive case with the hearing set to commence on March 20, 2024. The GTU is represented by Attorney-atLaw, Darren Wade while the State’s case is being led by Attorney General Anil Nandlall.

The GTU approached the High Court to challenge the Government’s decision to deduct the salaries of striking teachers.

According to the document filed about two weeks ago, the application includes a wide range of declarations and orders sought from the court.

GTU is asking the court for a conservatory order that the status quo remains the same, that is the Government will not deduct monies from the wages and salaries of teachers engaged in any industrial action.

The other order and declaration, inter alia, include discrimination, breach of freedom of association, and breach of protection from deprivation of property.

In addition, the GTU also asked the court to quash a decision by the Government to stop deducting fees from union-

ised teachers and remitting the same to the union.

The GTU had organised a countrywide strike by teachers from February 5 to 16, 2024, calling for better pay and working conditions – an action which the Government had labelled as illegal and politically driven. Consequently, the Education Ministry indicated to the GTU that it would stop deducting dues from the wages and salaries of teachers on behalf of the union.

In the application filed on Tuesday by the GTU and its President, Mark Lyte against the Attorney General, the union asked the court to declare, among other things, that it was discriminated against. It also wanted the court to declare that the Government ceasing to act as an agent for the GTU to deduct union dues was “unreasonable, arbitrary, and capricious”.

The GTU asked the court to issue, “An Order of Certiorari quashing the Government of Guyana’s decision to stop acting as an agent to deduct union dues from the unionised teacher and remitting it to the applicant. An order of mandamus ordering Mrs Shannielle Hoosein-Outar, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education to retract her letter dated February 6, 2024, and apologise to the Applicant on three consecutive Saturdays in daily newspapers of wide circulation.”

The union was also seeking a declaration that the Government’s use of the industrial action taken by the GTU as a reason for relinquishing the agency

is a show of “bad faith, improper purposes, and irrelevant considerations.”

Nevertheless, concerning the deduction of union dues, Attorney General Nandlall, SC, contends that the severance of this ‘agency service’ that the Government offers to unions has already been settled by both the High Court and the Court of Appeal (CoA), 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 the Government’s service of deducting union dues from public servants’ wages and salaries, and remit the same to the union.

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

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry has contended that it has already fulfilled 25 of 41 demands proposed by the GTU in a multi-year agreement, and of the 16 remaining requests, two are specifically for the ben-

efit of only GTU and its Executive Members, while two others are contrary to the laws of Guyana. The other 12 proposals are currently under consideration.

Only last month, the Ministry had an engagement with the Union on this matter. Hence, the Labour Ministry has determined that conditions for the strike organised by the GTU have not been met, and as a result, such an industrial action is “wholly illegal and unlawful”.

The Government is contending that the countrywide strike action called by the GTU was part of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Opposition’s tactics to mislead teachers for its own political agenda.

NA labourer charged with narcotics possession

Twenty-four-year-old Ryan Henry, a labourer of Angoy's Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice, was granted bail in the sum of $100,000 for having a quantity of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Henry was arrested on Monday last at Suddie Public Road, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) with 126.7 grams of cannabis in his possession.

He was charged and appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Anna Regina Magistrate's Court on Wednesday when the charge was read to him. He pleaded not guilty and was

Charged, Ryan Henry

granted bail. The case was adjourned to March 13, 2024.

The logic… …of Burnhamism

Over the last three days, your Eyewitness examined PNC’s Hamilton Green’s exhortation to the PNC faithful who’d gathered at the Burnham Foundation to commemorate the 101st birth anniversary of the Kabaka. Burnham’s acceptance of that sobriquet says a lot about him: the Kabaka was the king of the African kingdom of Buganda. And Burnham intended to rule Guyana absolutely as the monarchies of old: his favourite colour was purple –the colour of the British monarchy.

But the logic of absolute rule has its own logic: you can’t allow any individual or institution to challenge your power. So rigging elections or unleashing violence on challengers had to be practised in an era that demanded “democratic” approbation by the “people”!! Now you’ll object that the aforementioned “people” would know their will was being stymied – but that was of no consequence to the Kabaka. He knew he had control inside the country and as far as outsiders were concerned, he knew they never read the small print when his headlines announced he’d been reselected again by a landslide!!

The logic demanded that the control be absolute if he wanted to sleep well at night. So, we had the armed forces expanded by a thousand per cent and joined by all sorts of paramilitary bodies like the Guyana National Service and the National Guard Service. The Kabaka had to know whether rebellion was brewing within or without – so a ubiquitous spying apparatus had to be established where neighbours “carried news” on each other and comrades against each other – even as there were several “intelligence agencies” doing their thing.

As such, when for instance Rodney attempted to inspire a rebellion by recruiting members of the armed forces, Burnham knew about it even before some WPA leaders!! Rodney was then assassinated by someone from the GDF Burnham had planted – because he knew Rodney wanted someone knowledgeable in certain military skills!! Control of civil society was achieved by planting his supporters in the leadership of almost every civic organisation – including religious ones. Imagine he had one Hindu organisation he controlled – by paying the leaders out of Congress Place – insist he was an incarnation of one of their deities!! He sidelined the old Christian denominations by favouring the new evangelicals that sprung up all over the place like Jumbie Umbrellas!!

Like Roman Kings, he revelled in bread and circuses!! The former was doled out in PNC-controlled Knowledge Sharing Institutes (KSIs) and the latter brought the masses out in Mass Games he introduced from North Korea!! And these barely scratch the surface of the terror and destruction inflicted on the people by Burnham.

Yet the PNC want to rehabilitate him as the exemplar of the kind of leadership Guyana needs!

…of Maduro’s madness

Mad people are convinced they’re sane and the rest of the world is mad!! Imagine Mad Maduro sending a message – when accepting Ambassador Van West-Charles’ accreditation --- that he had great respect and high regard for the President and the people of Guyana. This isn’t just eye-pass, but rass-pass!! Imagine this madman isn’t satisfied with destroying his country and chasing out a quarter of its population, but wants to inflict the same on us!!

And is telling us that he holds us in “high regard”? Frankly, as far as your Eyewitness is concerned, he can take his good wishes and stick it where the sun never shines!! The Guyanese people already suffered from the ministrations of one dictator, thank you – the above-mentioned Burnham – and have no wish to have another megalomaniac repeat the horror.

He should be told we shall fight in Essequibo, we shall fight in the jungles and savannahs, we shall fight on the beaches. We shall never surrender.

…of the Qatari Hotel

The problem with the Opposition is they have no vision for the development of Guyana and are merely opposing for the sake of opposing – like with the Qatari hotel. They’re repeating their rejection of their now beloved Marriott!!

Attorney General Anil Nandlall Attorney-at-Law

Darren Wade

Justice Sandil Kissoon

20-member Constitutional Reform Commission to be sworn in next month – AG

President Dr Irfaan Ali will be swearing in the 20-member Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC) in March following the submission of all the nominees last week.

This was revealed by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, during his weekly programme – Issues in the News.

tives on the Commission.

The 20-member Commission had 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 were 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.

Two weeks ago, the main political parties revealed their nominees to sit on the eagerly-awaited Commission.

The ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo disclosed that they have 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 representa-

Similarly, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton also 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-at-Law 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 also submitted their nominee to the Government in the person of ANUG’s General Secretary, Timothy Jonas, SC.

During his programme, AG Nandlall disclosed the remaining 10 names nominated by civil society bodies.

ganisations; Radha Krishna Sharma by the Hindu organisations; and Attorney Adrian Anamayah as the farmers’ representative.

According to AG Nandlall, these persons were selected following consultations with

the various civil society bodies that they will represent on the Commission.

“These persons would be sworn in by His Excellency, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali in March, and they would formally begin the business

of the Constitutional Reform [Commission] in the manner provided for and contemplated by the legislation,” the Minister noted.

Constitutional reform was promised in the PPP/ Civic manifesto in 2020,

where it was further outlined that consultation with the populace and important stakeholders, and a broadbased Constitutional Reform Commission would drive the process.

TURN TO PAGE 15

These are Attorney Kamal Ramkarran by the Guyana Bar Association; Aslim Singh by the labour movement; Derrick John by the National Toshaos Council; Ramesh Persaud by the Private Sector; Attorney Kim KyteThomas by the women’s organisations; Dr Josh Kanhai by the youth organisations; Attorney Keoma Griffith by the Christian organisations; Imran Ally by the Muslim or-

Guyana Bar Association representative Kamal Ramkarran

Farmers’ representative Adrian Anamayah Labour movement representative Aslim Singh

Private Sector representative Ramesh Persaud

Women representative Kim Kyte-Thomas

Christian representative Keoma Griffith

Guyana, Canada to ink Sovereign Loan Programme Agreement

Canada’s Minister of International Development, Ahmed Hussen and Assistant Deputy Minister for the Americas, Glen Linder are expected in Guyana for several high-level engagements with the Government of Guyana and other partners.

The two officials, who arrive on February 25, will also attend the 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

During this two-day visit, Hussen will sign a Sovereign Loan Programme agreement between the Governments of Canada and Guyana.

Canada’s Sovereign Loan Programme provides loans on concessional terms to eligible countries, tailored to their needs and priorities as they relate to poverty reduction and peace and security.

Guyana is the first country to benefit from the Sovereign Loan Programme in the Western Hemisphere.

Canada’s Minister of International Development, Ahmed Hussen

The loan will be utilised to improve social protection under the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security in the areas of digital transformation, old age

pensions, gender-based violence, persons living with disabilities and trafficking in persons.

The agreement will be signed on Sunday.

Murder accused committed to stand High Court trial

Carl Welcome Jr, 22, of Swan Village, Linden-Soesdyke Highway who was charged with manslaughter was committed to stand trial in the High Court.

Welcome was charged with killing Shervin Melville of Capoey Lake, Essequibo Coast, back in November 2023. The incident y took place between December 16 and December 17, 2018, at Capoey Lake Top, Essequibo Coast, Region Two.

A preliminary inquiry was conducted before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court which proved that there was sufficient evidence against Welcome for him to stand trial in the High Court. As such, his trial will commence at the next practicable session at the Suddie Supreme Criminal Court.

He remains on remand.

It was reported that following the incident, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) had issued a wanted bulletin for Welcome Jr ,also known as “Ralph”. The 23-year-old Melville, an excavator operator, was found dead on December 17, 2018, with his throat slit at his Capoey Lake Top home.

Initial reports stated that Melville had a “holiday drink” for close friends

Committed to stand trial in High Court, Carl Welcome Jr

and relatives at his home the evening before the incident occurred.

Relatives of the victim had reported that Melville left his home to purchase cigarettes at a nearby shop and returned with a young man whom he invited in.

When asked about the stranger by relatives, the now-dead man said that he invited him to have a drink.

While relatives retired to bed, Melville continued drinking with the stranger. The following morning, Melville’s lifeless body was discovered lying face down in the house, but the young man he had invited was nowhere to be found.

He was subsequently arrested and charged.

46th Caricom Regular Heads of Govt Meeting kicks off in Guyana on Sunday

The 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) will formally open at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown, Guyana, on Sunday.

The Meeting is being convened under the chairmanship of President Dr Irfaan Ali, who will deliver the feature address at the open-

ing ceremony. In addition, Caricom Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett and outgoing Caricom Chairman and Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit are also slated to address the gathering.

The business sessions of the four-day Meeting will be held at the Guyana Marriott Hotel. Heads of Government will hold discussions with the Meeting’s special guest,

Commemorative stamp launched in honour of legendary Guyanese aviator

Acommemorative stamp worth $500 was launched on Thursday in honour of the late Captain Major Roland DaSilva at Base Camp Ayanganna in Georgetown.

Captain DaSilva was the first Guyanese to join British Guiana Airways and obtain both commercial and instrument rating pilot licences. His pivotal role in Guyana’s commercial aviation and his courageous actions during the Rupununi uprising in 1969 earned him the es-

teemed Cacique Crown of Valour in 1971, a testament to his bravery and dedication to his country.

sising his enduring impact as a great Guyanese and hero.

“I thank him [Major DaSilva]... Major DaSilva’s act of bravery allowed for the eventual uninterrupted and smooth handover of national and correct territory,” he explained.

Roland DaSilva Jr expressed heartfelt gratitude for the recognition bestowed upon his father while recalling his father's emotional reaction upon learning of the tribute before his passing in August 2023. Despite residing in the United States, he

With a career spanning 1953 to 2006, Captain DaSilva amassed an impressive 36,151 flying hours over 49 years, solidifying his place in both Guyanese and international aviation history as a strategic leader and a consummate professional.

Reflecting on the stamp's creation, the Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Omar Khan paid tribute to DaSilva’s remarkable life and achievements, empha-

said, his father’s unwavering love for Guyana remained steadfast.

“It's an honour… it’s a few things that a country can do to show their appreciation that will be etched in history and a stamp is definitely one of them… he was able to get the news that it was going to happen… I’ve seen him cry three times in my life and his reaction to it is etched in my brain for life,” he said.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as well as with other high-level guests.

Discussions during the business sessions will include the Caricom Single Market and Economy

(CSME) and an update on the implementation of the free movement of all Community nationals by March 31, 2024, as mandated at the 45th Regular Meeting in July last year.

The Caricom Chairman, as lead Head of Government with responsibility for Agriculture and Food and Nutrition Security in the Caricom Quasi-Cabinet, will update the meeting on the Community’s 25 by 2025 initiative to tackle the Region’s rising food import bill and improve intra-regional trade.

The Meeting will discuss climate change and climate financing; regional security, including the situation in Haiti and border issues; regional transportation; financial matters, including replenishment of the

Caricom Development Fund (CDF); global and hemispheric issues ,including developments in the Middle East; reparations; and the

2024 International Cricket Council (ICC) Men's T20

Cricket World Cup.

The Meeting will end with a press conference on February 28. Media participation will be in-person with accreditation, and virtual.

Caricom Chairman, President Dr Irfaan Ali

Special guest, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Outgoing Caricom Chairman, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit

Brigadier Omar Khan, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force

Roland DaSilva Jr

The unveiling of the stamp

“PNC always gets a free pass” – Jagdeo on Hamilton Green’s election rigging statement

General Secretary of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo has called out the civil society bodies in Guyana on their deafening silence over former Prime Minister Hamilton Green’s statement last week about rigging the upcoming 2025 elections.

During an address to a group of persons gathered for the LFS Burnham Foundation Annual Commemorative Symposium last Friday, Green suggested that election rigging be used to remove the PPP/Civic Administration from office.

His remarks were met with mostly silence with only one Private Sector body condemning it.

On Thursday, , Jagdeo

called out the various civil society bodies for not publicly denouncing the “outrageous statement” made by Green.

“Here is a former Prime Minister of this country… [saying] they must rig the elections – the PNC [People’s National Congress]… This is at a PNC conference and nobody challenged him there. In this country, where is the outrage there in civil society? Just imagine, if the PPP – say Sam Hinds [former Prime Minister] – were to say something like that, they would kill Sam.

“It’s a serious matter. Here is a former Prime Minister saying we should continue to rig to stay in power. We must do this, we must rig elections. It’s an ac-

ceptance that they’ve been rigging elections in the past and [there is] not any contrition about it, not any remorse about it. No attempt to reform past behaviour. [They’re saying] forget that we just tried it again [in 2020], but this is a foolproof way in the future and that should be our future policy for gaining and staying in power,” Jagdeo noted.

The PPP General Secretary called out the media and several local organisations for their treatment of the matter.

He contended, “This is a major bit of news and it just went out the window, because it’s done by the PNC. They always get a free pass on their failed economic policy, their failed projects, the massive corruption that they engaged in, their lack of vision, their outrageous statements, and their racism. They always get a free pass in this country from the media and civil society.

“If you thought that was just an aberration and an outlier statement, it is not so. It is core PNC value,” the GS posited.

Jagdeo also called out the Leader of the PNC –the ruling party in the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change

(APNU/AFC) Opposition, Aubrey Norton, for making excuses for Green.

During a press conference on Thursday, Norton, who is also the Opposition Leader, along with other PNC Executives essentially defended Green, saying his statement was taken out of context.

Green had told the gathering of mainly PNC supporters that he had engaged another group and mentioned the rigging of elections to get the PPP out of Government.

The symposium was organised to commemorate the 101st birth anniversary of Forbes Burnham – former PNC leader and President of Guyana, whose legacy is largely attributed to his dictatorship-style leadership and blatant rigging of several elections. This started after Burnham won the 1964 elections when Green was the General Secretary of the PNC.

“…It was Burnham’s wisdom which got him into office in 1964. I was General Secretary at the critical time. And if, as I told one of the groups I met [Friday]

morning, if they say he rigged elections, I say we should keep rigging to save us from these devils, these bastards, these demons that we have,” Green declared during the event that was live-streamed on Facebook.

During his remarks, Green proposed the use of the LFS Burnham Foundation building to not only “eulogise Burnham” but also educate young people on what needed to be done.

Further suggesting that the PPP/C Administration could be pressured into calling snap elections, Green posited, “I’ve been in this business long and we have to begin preparations to deal with that prospect today.”

Recalling that he was nursed into politics by his mother, the politician contended that the same needed to be done with young people today. Green even offered his services to engage young people.

“If the Captain on this Captain’s Deck is Bharrat [Jagdeo, who is also the Vice President] and [President Dr Irfaan] Ali, who is being portrayed as a saint, they have to learn the language

that they will understand, because if we don’t, we’ll be betraying the legacy of Burnham, Cuffy, Quamina and the Enmore Martyrs,” Green noted.

Under the Burnham regime, there was blatant rigging of the national elections in 1968, 1973, 1978/1980 and 1985 in the PNC’s favour. It was not until 1992 that the PNC was removed from office when the PPP/C won the elections and stayed in office until 2015.

However, when the PNC-led APNU/AFC coalition, under the David Granger presidency, fell to a No-Confidence Motion (NCM) in December 2018, it went against the Guyana Constitution and did not go to elections until more than a year later on March 2, 2020.

In another attempt to cling to power, the APNU/ AFC, after an almost smooth polling day, colluded with senior Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) officials to rig the election results – a move which plunged Guyana into a fivemonth political deadlock.

Several international observer missions, including the United States-based Carter Center, and other global bodies, world leaders and even regional powers had called out the PNC-led regime for its blatant attempts to derail the election results. This support from the international community coupled with strong and persistent pushback from local stakeholders ensured that democracy prevailed and saw the PPP/C returning to office in August 2020. (G8)

PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo

Hamilton Green

Bladen Hall fire leaves 9 homeless

Adevastating fire, suspected to be electrical in origin, ripped through a residence at Bladen Hall, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Wednesday, leaving nine persons displaced.

The blaze started about 07:54h at Lot 111 Bladen Hall, Railway Embankment, ECD.

Responding promptly to the distress call, several firefighters, tenders and water bowsers were dispatched to the scene.

Upon arrival, the firefighters observed a single-storey wooden structure, owned by Aubrie Mathew, engulfed in flames. At the time of the blaze, Mathew, along with eight others, was residing at the premises.

“The fire, believed to have originated from a faulty electrical connection to a duplex point, swiftly spread through-

out the building, resulting in complete devastation of the property and its belongings,” the Fire Service said.

Fortunately, there were no reported injuries among the occupants or the emergency responders.

Despite the ferocity of the flames, firefighters managed to contain the blaze, which they quelled using one jet from Water Carrier #16, by 07:59h. The swift and coordinated response from the Fire Service averted further catastrophe.

In light of the incident, the Fire Service has issued a series of safety recommendations to mitigate the risks of electrical fires. They asked residents to ensure electrical safety, it is essential to conduct regular inspections of electrical cords for signs of wear or damage, avoid overloading outlets and

power strips, and install surge protectors to safeguard electronic devices.

Additionally, it advised that persons keep flammable materials away from electrical appliances, seek professional assistance for any repairs or installation, and promptly replace damaged or outdated wiring.

“Ensuring appropriate wattage for light bulbs, unplugging appliances when not in use to mitigate potential hazards, and installing and regularly testing smoke detectors are further steps to enhance safety,” the Fire Service said.

Lastly, it said keeping a fire extinguisher readily accessible and familiarising oneself with its operation were essential precautions to prevent and mitigate the risks of electrical fires.

20-member Constitutional Reform...

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 a 20-member Commission to review the country’s supreme laws.

The government had previously said that this would not be a politically-dominated Commission but one that is comprised of half politicians and half civil society representatives, and their work will be driven by public consultation.

Nandlall said last week that the PPP/C’s diverse set of nominations for the CRC demonstrates that it is the only national party in the country.

“We have an ethnic mix. So, we have two IndoGuyanese, we have an AfroGuyanese, 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, once the long-awaited Constitutional Reform Commission is in place, a comprehensive consultation process is expected to begin with citizens on critical laws that need 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 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. He noted that the building is already furnished and ready for occupation. (G-8)

The fire that destroyed the house at Bladen Hall

National Toshaos Council representative Derrick John

Youth representative, Dr Josh Kanhai

Muslim representative Imran Ally

Hindu representative Radha Krishna Sharma

US$75M contract awarded for upgrades on Good Success-to-Timehri Road

Acontract to the tune of US$75 million was on Thursday awarded to China Road and Bridge Corporation and the Public Works Ministry for the rehabilitation of the Good Success-to-Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD) road.

The contract was signed by Public Works Ministry Permanent Secretary Vladim Persaud on behalf of the Government and Bo Zhang on behalf of the company.

The signing took place at the Ministry’s headquarters in the presence of Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and other officials.

The major East Bank roadway is being rehabilitated under the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) Programme to Support Climate Resilient Road Infrastructure Development.

This entails the upgrade of 23.7 kilometres of road, increased safety features including widening shoulders catering for pedal cyclists and pedestrians and signage, concrete drainage and the installation of LED street lights. China Road and Bridge Corporation will also reconstruct the bridges and culverts, as well as widen the culverts along the road from Good Success to Timehri.

The roadway is expect-

ed to be completed within 36 months, and the United States-based company, Sheladia Associates Incorporated was awarded the supervisory consultancy to oversee the project.

During his remarks at the simple ceremony, Minister Edghill urged the contractors to immediately get into execution mode as the Government wanted to execute more road projects in the region this year.

In this regard, Edghill said he also planned to engage the contractor to work through the nights.

“The traffic coming out of Region Nine, Region Eight, Region Seven and Region 10 depends heavily on this road. As well as all of the traffic at the main international airport, everyone living on Linden-Soesdyke Highway and the population centres along the East Bank corridor…because of the importance of this road I would expect that the contractor from day one engage the possibility of working at nights or early hours of the morning when we can have less traffic,” Minister Edghill said.

signs and start getting accustomed to that route,” the Public Works Minister added.

Further, the Public Works Minister hinted that several community consultations were already conducted for roads across the country.

The Minister, however, did not disclose when works, whether new construction or rehabilitative, would commence.

“There’s going to be a lot of major things that are happening; we have already

gone out for 100 community roads, because while we build these big fancy upgraded highways, the community when people get off the road to go home, they must be fixed,” Edghill said.

Also present at the signing were Public Works Ministry Chief of Operations, Ivan Gaviria; IDB Country Office (Guyana) Representative, Dr Francisco Perez; Head of the Ministry’s Work Services Group (WSG), Ron Rahaman and a representative from supervisory firm Sheladia Associates Inc.

Commemorative stamp launched in honour...

The project is deemed important for the Government as it is the first design-built project for Guyana funded by the IDB.

To ease traffic congestion, Edghill said, a bypass roadway has already been built through Jimbo Bridge to accommodate traffic during the construction period.

“We have already constructed a bypass route… I would ask that our team immediately put up signage so that all commuters who are not familiar with the area will be able to follow the

The captain’s wife, Jennifer DaSilva, thanked all those involved in the commemoration and underscored the profound significance of the moment.

Meanwhile, acting Post Master Tiffany Williams highlighted the pride of the Guyana Post Office Corporation in collaborating with the Guyana Defence Force to honour Captain DaSilva's legacy through the production of the stamp – the first commemorative stamp of the year. It will be available to the public from February 26. Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips,

performing the duties of President, lauded Captain DaSilva's military mind and his exceptional ability to plan successful operations with the Guyana Defence Force, underscoring his invaluable service to the nation and his unparalleled bravery, which earned him the highest honour in the Order of Service of Guyana, the Cacique Crown of Valour.

In commemorating Captain DaSilva's legacy, Guyana pays tribute to a true pioneer and patriot whose memory will forever be enshrined in the hearts of its people.

Public Works Ministry Permanent Secretary Vladim Persaud and China Road and Bridge Corporation’s Senior Engineer, Bo Zhang signing the contract

Linden man crushed by machine on worksite

Aforklift operator attached to the Alya Construction Company was on Wednesday crushed to death after the machine he was operating toppled. The dead man has been identified as Colin Joseph, 20, of Wisroc Housing Scheme, Wismar, Linden.

Reports indicate that Joseph was part of the team that is currently working on the Linden-toMabura road project.

The Labour Ministry has initiated an investigation into the fatal incident, which occurred at the Omai Port in Wismar, Upper Demerara River, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Preliminary investigations revealed that Joseph and a colleague were operating a forklift to load raw

materials and transport waste wood when the machine became lodged in the sand.

Seeking assistance from truck drivers, Joseph attempted to dislodge the forklift, but tragically, the machine began to tip over. In a desperate attempt to escape harm, Joseph leaped from the forklift, only to be struck by the falling machinery. He sustained injuries to his back and neck.

Despite receiving immediate medical attention from the company's doctor, Joseph succumbed to his injuries while on his way to the Linden Hospital Complex.

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton expressed deep condolences to the bereaved family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased, emphasising the importance of prioritising safety and health practices in the workplace to prevent similar tragedies.

"Investigations into the incident are ongoing," assured Minister Hamilton.

Only a few days ago, the Labour Ministry held a one-day seminar aimed at improving awareness and compliance with labour legislation following the recent workplace deaths of Domindra Narayan, Lennox McPherson, Trevor Jones, and Rusbel Azocar.

The event hosted at the

Regency Suites Hotel in Georgetown saw the participation of 115 individuals from various public and Private Sector entities. The seminar, chaired by Chief Labour Officer Dhaneshwar Deonarine, focused on crucial labour-related topics such as national minimum wage, probationary periods, workplace safety, and child labour.

During the event, Minister Hamilton

stressed the importance of adherence to labour laws and highlighted the Ministry's efforts in training workers and ensuring their welfare. He urged collaboration between companies and the Ministry to ensure compliance with regulations.

The event occurred against the backdrop of recent workplace fatalities, including four deaths in the first week of February.

Dead: Colin Joseph

The site where the incident occurred

Guyana-Suriname Chamber of Commerce attracting more businesses

Six months after being launched, the GuyanaSuriname Chamber of Commerce which represents the interest of businesses in the two countries is growing.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chamber, Rahul Lildhar, during the last day of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, spoke with members of the media about its operations.

He noted that the Chamber was the brainchild of Surinamese Ambassador to Guyana, Liselle Blankendal and ActionINVEST Caribbean Chairman, Dr Vishnu Doerga.

“This is one of our first calendar events to exhibit several of our members who have benefited from networking partnerships and even creating new clientele for their businesses, and that was the exposure we got here at the Energy

Conference,” Lildhar said.

The mission of the Chamber is to foster collaboration and networking, and to expand economic trade within both countries.

The Chamber consists of businesses from various sectors, including construction, consultancy, and oil and gas.

Dr Doerga noted that the Chamber was established because of the large number of Surinamese businesses in Guyana.

“Based on our records, we have well over 50 companies already working here, which is the second largest number of international companies,

operating, so it only made sense,” he said.

Ten Guyanese companies are operating in Suriname.

“Therefore, our Chamber is probably one of the few bilateral chambers that now exist that operate in both countries equally,” Dr Doerga stated.

While most Caricom countries have logistical difficulties, the proximity of the two countries is advantageous.

“Between Guyana and Suriname, we have at least four daily flights; we have a ferry service in operation that I understand from our

Government, will continue to improve in efficiency as well, with a new booking system in place, and, hopefully, more frequent ferries moving across and we are also hearing about the bridge that will come into existence,” he stated.

With the Caribbean Community (Caricom) creating a single economic space, Dr Doerga encouraged businesses to seize this boundless opportunity.

“It’s not the responsibility of Government to go put us together and to help us

take these steps – it’s our responsibility. We’re eventually going to be making the profit; we’re the ones who will be creating employment, so it’s our responsibility to come together and work together,” Dr Doerga stated.

Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, Rahul Lildhar

Region 2 celebrates Republic anniversary with hope of prosperity, unity

The Regional Democratic Council of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) hosted its annual flag-raising ceremony in observance of Guyana’s 54th Republic Anniversary, which is being celebrated under the theme "Celebrate Our Peoples and Our Prosperity."

The event saw Local Government and Regional Development Minister Sonia Parag; Member of Parliament Juliet Coonjah and senior officers from the

ernment to lead. All categories of persons will be taken care of by the Government and we committed in 2020 that despite …where you come from, what status and background you come from, we are committed to taking care of you all and that you are taken care of," she added.

Parag proudly announced the establishment of the first state-of-the-art hospital in Region Two, bringing advanced health services, training facilities, and job opportunities to the commu-

Disciplined Services in attendance.

The event unfolded with a dazzling array of cultural performances featuring the singing of national songs, folk tunes, diverse dances representing the peoples of Guyana, and engaging poems on the spirit of Mashramani.

Minister Parag delved into the significance of

nity. She underscored the Government's focus on equitable treatment for all ethnicities and commended President Dr Irfaan Ali for empowering women, noting her historic role as the first woman in Local Government and Regional Development leadership.

In his brief remarks, Regional Vice Chairman Humace Oodit emphasised the relevance of the chosen theme, highlighting its alignment with the Government's efforts to foster economic and social prosperity.

Reflecting on the region's transformational drive, Oodit praised President Ali for the substantial increase in budgetary allocations, enabling crucial infrastructure development and improvements across sectors.

"The theme illustrated every step and intention of the Government in fostering a country framework in building one Guyana for economic and social prosperity... observing Republic Day 2024 is to reflect on the region that attracts increased economic activity, a region that demonstrates real hospitality and a region that displays unity. We are witnessing the speed in the transformation-

al drive in Region Two."

Oodit urged unity and a collective approach to face challenges, commending the

President and the Cabinet for their resilience and success in overcoming obstacles. The ongoing infrastructure

projects in Region Two underscored the commitment to progress in all aspects of the region.

Guyana's 54 years as a Republic. She eloquently expressed the democratic essence of Republic Day, where the people choose their leaders and commit to caring for every individual, regardless of background or status.

Highlighting the Government's commitment to education, Parag encouraged students to seize scholarship opportunities, sharing her journey from Anna Regina Primary School to President’s College. She emphasised the utilisation of resources to ensure sustainability, resilience, and a brighter future beyond 2030.

"Today we have to celebrate what is democracy and we have to celebrate with the people who chose us as gov-

Parag further highlighted the tangible development across sectors, including the education sector where over 100 teachers achieved master's degrees through Government-sponsored GOAL scholarships. Over 2000 individuals in Region Two benefited from innovative programmes, reflecting a commitment to inclusive progress.

In closing, she extended gratitude to students and teachers, emphasising the collective effort toward a united Guyana. As the celebration culminated, she wished the crowd a joyous Republic Day, embodying the spirit of hard work, freedom, and the privilege to choose leaders shaping a prosperous future for all Guyanese.

Minister Sonia Parag and other officials at the event

A young lady performing one of her songs

A group of young ladies entertaining the crowd

GPSU threatens industrial action if Govt refuses to meet at bargaining table

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) issued an ultimatum to the Government on Thursday to meet at the bargaining table or it will be forced to take industrial action.

In an issued missive, the GPSU stated, “The Executive Council of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) unanimously decided at its Statutory Executive Council Meeting held on February 21, 2024, that an ultimatum be issued to the Government to meet at the bargaining table, the failure of which will result in industrial action to immediately end the Government's breach of the several guiding instruments.”

These guidelines include an agreement for the avoidance and settlement of disputes between the Government of Guyana and the Guyana Public Service Union (1987); Article 147 (3) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana; and Section 23 (1) of the Trade Union Recognition Act, Cap. 97:07.

Further, the GPSU stated that it places reliance on the Conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) ratified by the Parliament of Guyana, including Convention No 87 concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, Convention No 98 on the Right to Organise

and Collective Bargaining, and Convention No 151 on Labour Relations (Public Service) which espouses minimum standards of the conduct for collective bargaining and the protection of the rights of workers to be unionised and be to represented by their duly certified and recognised Union with respect to any decision on the part of their employer that affects their salaries, wages, benefits, and other conditions of service.

“This decision is also guided by the protections offered to workers in Guyana pursuant to the ILO's 'Declaration of the Fundamental Rights and Principles at Work' of 1998 (as amended in 2022), which is of weight and in force under the Laws of Guyana as

an unincorporated ratified treaty.”

In addition, the GPSU stated that issues affecting workers in the public service and the Government's reluctance to meet at the bargaining table or to conciliate to break the deadlock that has arisen were discussed extensively at the union’s meeting on February 21, 2024, with its members.

The union will continue to engage its members on this matter over the coming days through a committee that was established to ensure that the GPSU is mobilised and all grievance procedures under the existing agreement are followed as it issues, and thereafter executes the ultimatum, which will now be directed to the Government.

Norton confident of getting reelected at upcoming congress

Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton is positive that he will be re-elected as leader of the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNCR) when the party holds its congress later this year.

“I have no doubt that at the next congress, I will be returning as leader of the party,” Norton said during a press briefing on Thursday.

According to Norton, he has done a great job upholding the party and his work as leader of PNCR speaks for itself.

However, despite his certainty of being re-elected as leader, a definite date for the PNCR congress has not been set, instead, Norton hinted that it will be held no later than August 31, 2024.

Based on the established policy, Norton’s position as Opposition Leader of the PNCR practically expired in December 2023.

“I said that our congress will be no later than the 31st of August. As a party, we reserve the right to develop our own strategy and tactics and we will see when Congress is held, when the decision is made when congress will be held,” Norton said.

Further, following several lines of questioning from local media operatives about the congress, Norton issued a call for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to disclose when it will be holding its congress.

According to the Opposition Leader, the party has not held congress for

the past seven years and no new leader has been elected to head the PPP/C.

“…the State media can come to ask us about congress, feel free, we welcome your questions we’ll answer you, but again the PPP has no moral right to ask anything about Congress. Jagdeo has been there unilaterally for seven years,” the Opposition Leader added.

PPP General Secretary

Bharrat Jagdeo has already disclosed that the organisation will be electing new leadership in May of this year.

Meanwhile, when questioned about the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) partnering again for the 2025 General Election, Norton disclosed that both parties have to meet to discuss this.

On this point, Norton explained that engagements will be held for a decision to

be made as to whether both parties will form a coalition or go forward separately.

“In a coalition you work together, you discuss, you narrow the differences and produce some kind of confluence of interest to be able to move forward…the AFC makes its decisions. PNCAPNU make our decision and then we have to meet to find a confluence, but it's not a case where the PNC can decide for AFC or the AFC can make decisions,” Norton explained.

The AFC formally broke its coalition with APNU back in December 2022.

The revised Cummingsburg Accord, a political agreement between the two organisations, had provided for this separation.

At the time, AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan had indicated that the two political organisations would do their political work separately, but work in Parliament jointly.

GPSU President Patrick Yarde

Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton during the press conference

Family calls for full probe following death of 3-month-old girl

Four days after being given four injections at the Number 64 Health Centre in Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), three-month-old Tishika Latchminarine took her last breath.

The child’s parents believe that she died from adverse reactions to the injections and as such, are calling on authorities to launch a proper probe.

The child was born on November 12, 2023, weighing 980 grams as a 28-week or premature baby at the Skeldon Hospital.

The baby and her mother, Sheeliza Latchminarine were transported to the New Amsterdam Hospital where the child was placed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and remained there for two months.

However, during her stay in the NICU, she was given the BCG vaccine on January 30, 2024. According to the infant’s mother, she was asked to take the child to the Number 64 Village Health Centre for a check-up on February 14.

“When I take her they checked her length, her head, and everything. They told me that she has to receive four injections; two on her left arm, one on her right and one to drink which is a drop.”

The injections administered were Rotavirus for diarrhoea; the IPV, which is a Polio vaccine; and PVC13 which is to fight against

pneumonia. The child also received the Hep B vaccine.

According to a source from the health centre, since the child was a premature baby, the chances of her picking up an infection were very high.

The source explained those injections are usually administered to babies at age 2 months but in Tishika’s case, they were giv-

en at three months.

The source also pointed out that most children are born with an Apgar score of 8, 9, or 10, but Tishika’s Apgar score was 2, 3 and 5.

The Apgar score is a quick way for health professionals to evaluate the health of all newborns at 1 and 5 minutes after birth. The higher the score, the better the baby is doing after birth.

The 33-year-old mother said that her baby started to cry after receiving the vaccines.

“The nurse told me ‘if she get fever to take her to the hospital, but no medication at home’. So, I was waiting for the fever, but the baby didn’t get any fever but she

has other symptoms.”

According to the mother, by Wednesday afternoon, her daughter started acting unusually.

“She was drinking her feed slowly, she was not crying and just sleeping and it keep getting worse until Saturday afternoon when she went down more. She went to sleep very early in the night and she was not crying for her feed.”

She said on Sunday morning, the child refused to feed.

“I run to the hospital and I told the nurse that my baby is not reacting too much. The nurse run with her into the room, they pressed her heart and then put the oxy-

gen mask over her face. They were getting 70 per cent heartbeat. Within 10 minutes she came and told me that my baby was gone,” the woman, who is also mother to a 10-year-old daughter, said as she broke down in tears.

The Latchminarines are calling for a proper investigation into the death of their child.

Initially, the mother said she did not want a post-mortem to be performed on the body but has since changed her mind. When they informed the Regional Health Authority of their decision, the family was told that they would have to contact the pathologist. (G4)

Dead: Tishika Latchminarine

Minister Rodrigues urges vigilance and unity as Guyana marks 54th Republic Anniversary

As the nation celebrates its 54th Republic Anniversary, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, called on citizens to guard against complacency amid the level of development that our country now boasts.

These sentiments were echoed at the Bartica Community Centre Ground in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) where persons gathered for the Republic Anniversary flag-raising ceremony.

Joining the Minister on the occasion were Regional Executive Officer (REO), Kerwin Ward; the Prime Ministerial Representative, Ewrin Ward; Regional Chairman Kenneth

Williams; Mayor of Bartica, Anthony Murray; Deputy Mayor Gailann Persaud and other regional leaders.

In her address, Minister Rodrigues noted that as Guyana celebrates, its

people should be reminded of the values that bind us together as one people. Speaking of the journey to where Guyana stands today, Minister Rodrigues said it was one marked by

challenges and triumphs. Nevertheless, she stated, the Administration and its people have remained steadfast in our commitment to unity.

“Under the theme “Celebrating Our Peoples and Our Prosperity”, we reflect on the remarkable journey of our young nation… Guyana, though relatively young, has made significant strides in its development, a testament to the resilience and determination of our people,” she said.

She added that all citizens should be proud of the achievements made and the rapid development that is taking place. Bartica and the entire Region Seven have not been excluded from the Government’s development agenda. The region, she noted, has seen investments in the housing and water sectors, health and education, and roads and

drainage. She announced that within another month, a new housing development will be opened, which will add value to the people of Bartica.

Also, several communities in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region will soon benefit from the Hinterland Housing Programme as well as improved water supply systems. The region will benefit from 40 new wells in 2024, while the communities of Kangaruma, Isseneru, Quebenang and Ominaik will benefit from 10 houses each under the Hinterland Housing Programme.

“Many developed nations indeed took centuries to achieve the development we boast of today; however, this should not be an excuse for us to be complacent,” the Minister cautioned. Instead, she said the developments and strides should be motivation to work even hard-

er to help citizens achieve their dreams and aspirations.

She further urged citizens that as they continue to celebrate the many achievements, they must remember that there was still much work to be done.

“Let us also remain committed to the ideals of unity and oneness that have brought us this far, knowing that together, we can achieve even greater prosperity for all.”

Meanwhile, a resounding call was made by the Mayor and Regional Chairman for unity on the occasion. As part of the activity, the delegates for the 2024 Bartica Regatta were formally introduced. The festivities featured vibrant cultural performances, including songs and dances, leading up to the symbolic hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead.

73 lbs of ganja found at Bartica apartment, taxi driver arrested

Ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in Regional Division #7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) have arrested a male following the discovery of over 73 pounds of marijuana at his apartment in Bartica.

According to Police reports, the narcotics were unearthed around 22:00h on Wednesday when a group of ranks from the Bartica Police Station went to the home of Noel Tobin, a 28-year-old taxi driver of Bartica, and conducted a search at his apartment.

During the search, the officers found one suitcase containing 20 brown and red scotchtaped parcels, one multi-coloured shopping bag containing 16 parcels wrapped in transparent plastic; one multi-coloured shopping bag containing five parcels wrapped in brown scotch tape, and two parcels wrapped in transparent plastic.

“All the parcels, when opened, contained leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis (marijuana),” the Police said.

However, at the time of the discovery, Tobin was not at home. The ranks subsequently went to a house at Karabese Hill, Bartica, where the taxi driver was contacted and told of the offence committed and cautioned.

The Police said Tobin admitted to having the narcotics in his possession. He told the officers that about two days ago, he re-

The narcotics found in the suspect’s home

ceived the marijuana from a “brethren” to keep. The man was arrested and escorted along with the narcotics to Bartica Police Station, where he was placed in custody.

The narcotic was then weighed in his presence and amounted to 33,470 grams (33.47 kilograms).

Further investigations into the discovery are in progress.

The hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead in Bartica

A group performing a song

Minister Rodrigues delivering remarks

Be imbued with patriotism, pride – PPP on Republic Day

As our nation celebrates its 54th anniversary as a Republic, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) takes this opportunity to express best wishes to all Guyanese, both at home and in the Diaspora.

This auspicious occasion evokes pride among all of our people as our country celebrates its final transition to self-rule. On becoming a Republic, Guyanese were empowered on various fronts, including its right to choose its own Head of

State; a further demonstration of its sovereignty.

The jubilant celebrations through vibrant music and a multitude of colours reflect not just reveling after hard work as the name of our national holiday, Mashramani, connotes, but the rich diversity that defines us as a nation.

Our nation’s journey to becoming a Republic was fraught with many challenges. However, its attainment is testimony to the patriotism, fortitude, and resilience of all of our people who

remained steadfast in their commitment to nationhood.

Our Party remains cognizant of and commends the dedication and efforts of all involved in the various activities held across the country.

It is the Party’s fervent hope that all will reflect on Guyana’s journey as a nation since attaining the status as a Republic and continue to be imbued with patriotism and pride as we celebrate the occasion of Mashramani 2024. Happy Mashramani to all Guyanese

Reflect on importance of unity, inclusivity in Guyana’s journey – ERC

The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) extends Republic Day greetings to all Guyanese.

Fifty-four (54) years ago we became a Republic in 1970 and in the years since we have grown as a nation rich in the cultural heritage of its diverse peoples.

The ERC recognizes that our unique melting pot of cultures, traditions, and perspectives has enriched Guyana’s national identity.

Moreover, the Commission firmly believes that embracing our diversity is not only essential to further consoli-

dating our gains and freedoms as a Republic but also serves as a source of strength and resilience.

Republic Day marks a substantial milestone in our history signifying the ultimate, formal, political act to rid ourselves of the last vestiges of colonial rule, as we embarked on our journey as a sovereign nation. This year’s theme, “Celebrating our Peoples and our Prosperity,” resonates with the ERC’s mandate of promoting harmonious relations among all Guyanese.

The Commission therefore implores all Guyanese to participate in the nation-

al activities and celebrations planned for Republic Day/Mashramani, reflect on the progress Guyana has made as a nation, and the importance that unity and inclusivity extols in our continued journey of overcoming challenges.

The ERC remains committed to playing its role in fostering positive relations and promoting greater tolerance and respect in Guyana. We believe that by working together, we can build a stronger, more harmonious nation for all Guyanese.

Happy Republic Day from the Ethnic Relations Commission!

Reflect identity as a people, remove hindrances to togetherness – PNC

Fellow Guyanese, today marks the 54th anniversary of our country attaining republican status. While Independence Day in May celebrates our freedom from colonial rule and our determination to achieve full national self-determination, republican status conveys our aspirations to establish a national identity and a guiding development philosophy. On 23rd February 1970, we declared ourselves a Cooperative Republic to highlight our

national ethos of maximizing the use of local resources and working together for the greater good of all.

Let us, therefore, use the occasion of our 54th anniversary as a Republic to reflect on our Guyanese identity and consciousness as a nation and as a people. Let us reflect on the bonds and common goals that hold us together. Let us pledge to minimize or remove the hindrances that undermine our togetherness and cooperation. Let us further embrace

our shared destiny.

We believe Guyana can quickly become one of the best countries to live in. Our country has been blessed with the natural and human resources to deliver on the promises and pledges made decades ago. What is now required, given its current absence, is competent national leadership that puts the needs, rights, and entitlements of the people first and foremost.

A Blessed Republic Day to all Guyanese.

Unite to achieve genuine change for progress, lasting development – GAWU

It is truly remarkable to reflect on the significance of attaining republican status for our nation, which occurred 54 years ago. This momentous occasion marked the final shedding of our colonial linkages and ushered in a new era of true independence for our country. It was a significant step for us as a nation, following our Independence in 1966, and one that was intended to solidify our independent status further and strengthen our nationhood by appointing a President, elected by the people, as our Head of State; this step and other Constitutional reforms cemented our independent status. Today, we continue to remember this historic event with pride and gratitude for the sacrifices and efforts of those who made it possible.

On this significant anniversary of Republicanism, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) extends its heartfelt greetings to our nation. While we acknowledge the strides we have made in various socio-economic aspects over the past half a century, we recognise that there is still work to be done. The struggle for economic trans-

formation and a reasonable standard of living continues, but we remain steadfast in our pursuit of progress for all Guyanese.

The GAWU acknowledges that disunity is still one of our society’s most persistent problems, hindering progress and development. GAWU believes this issue significantly impacts our society, and we observe several national leaders stoking these tensions rather than dousing the flames. Indeed, such attitudes are unfortunate and call into question the sincerity of those socalled leaders. Our Union believes there is a need to take a mature and responsible approach to address it. The union urges our leaders to work towards unifying the country, which is generally recognised as a necessary step towards achieving progress and development.

As we commemorate our nation’s republican status, we acknowledge that we stand at the threshold of unprecedented economic progress in the post-independence era. The prospect of reaping the benefits of our natural resources fills our people with optimism and hope. However, we cannot ignore the valid concerns ex-

pressed by some members of our society. We must strike a balance between meeting the expectations of our citizens and securing a sustainable future for our country. We recognise that our newfound wealth must be utilised in the best interest of all Guyanese if we continue developing and building a more robust and prosperous Guyana for present and future generations.

The GAWU calls on all citizens of Guyana to play an active role in our country’s development and not be led astray by irresponsible persons who seek to thwart our progress. As the Mashramani celebrations take place to mark this significant occasion, we must remember our duties as responsible citizens to work towards a prosperous and progressive future that benefits everyone in our nation. We must unite and struggle to achieve genuine change that leads to all-round progress and lasting development in our beloved country. Let us celebrate this occasion and remember our shared responsibility to build a better future for all Guyanese.

A happy, peaceful Republic Anniversary and Mashramani 2024 to all!

Let our national motto be the beacon taking us into the future – AFC

The Alliance For Change extends greetings to all our Guyanese brothers and sisters on the occasion of the 54th Anniversary of Guyana becoming a Co-operative Republic.

The concept and spirit of cooperation are indelibly linked to the ethos of the Guyanese nation. Birthed through the indomitable spirit of our enslaved ancestors who on shaking off the chains of bondage joined together to own villages, this concept must remain a cornerstone of our development. Together we can achieve more.

More than half a century ago when our young independent Nation took that bold step into the future by severing the last of the proverbial apron strings to

our colonial masters it was with the intention and conviction that as a people, we were capable of establishing an equitable and just society. Today we must not lose sight of that goal.

While we have shaken off the bonds of colonialism, we must guard against neo-colonialists, who appear like us but, are appropriating our national patrimony for themselves and their cronies. These are the ones who would deny us our freedoms, our constitutional guarantees, even our children are not safe from these tyrants who seek to suppress their creativity and expression of self.

Today, the Co-operative Republic of Guyana is an oil producing nation, listed among the fastest growing economies of the world,

yet poverty abounds even as those in power and their cronies live in luxury while gorging themselves on the national coffers. Together, we can put an end to this.

Like our ancestors, we must be unwavering in our struggle. Standing together, as one people, we can create a nation where the needs of each citizen, especially, those of women and children, the elderly and differently able, the poor are addressed. There is enough for all.

As we celebrate our 54th Anniversary as a Cooperative Republic let our national motto, “One People, One Nation, One Destiny” be the beacon taking us into the future.

Long live the Cooperative Republic of Guyana!

DAILY HOROSCOPES

(March 21-April 19)

(April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

(June 21-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 22)

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

A change may not be what you want, but it will motivate you to be receptive to new beginnings. It’s time to discover how much you have to offer. Put your talents and skills to work.

Get involved in something that matters to you and make a difference. Sharing your ideas will motivate others to pitch in and help. Take a leadership position.

Don’t take anything or anyone for granted. If you want something done, do it yourself. Watch out for scammers, hidden costs and risky situations. Focus on getting fit and staying healthy.

A reunion will be eye-opening. Listening and offering sound advice will give you leverage when you need something. Avoid overspending or letting anyone take advantage of you.

Preparation will help you avoid getting overloaded. Protect your health by watching how much you eat, drink or spend. Personal gain and growth are apparent if you are open about your needs and feelings.

Open your mind to new experiences. The options will help you find cheaper, more efficient alternatives to your current lifestyle. A forthright attitude will help you gather information.

A motivational experience will help you decide what to do next. Becoming more self-aware will help you recognize the benefits of associating with the right individuals.

Less conversation and more action will be the way to go. Let your work speak for you and the changes you enforce set the standard for what’s next. Use your imagination and apply what you discover.

Take care of money matters and distance yourself from joint ventures and shared expenses. Refuse to let anyone lead you in a direction that doesn’t suit you.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Waiting for someone to make the first move won’t solve your problems. Don’t put up with something that no longer works for you. Consider what matters and incorporate it into your life.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Don’t avoid controversy. Stand up for your rights by offering alternatives. You may not convince everyone to see things your way, but once you know who is with you, it will be easier to move forward.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Initiate what you want, regardless of what others do or say. Adopt a minimalist attitude when dealing with temptation and people asking for too much. Be thoughtful and cautious.

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PICKLES

ARCHIE

T20 Men’s World Cup…

Tickets on sale with 100 days to go

The countdown is on to the largest International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup, which will be played in the West Indies and USA from June 1 to June 29, with Thursday, February 22 marking 100 days to the start of the historic event.

General ticket sales for the World Cup, which will feature the global superstars of the game, went on sale from 10:00h Antigua Standard time on Thursday at tickets. t20worldcup.com.

During the ballot period, over three million ticket applications from over 161 countries were received for the pinnacle global event for T20 cricket. Ticket allocations are currently unavailable to nine T20 World Cup matches scheduled in the USA, with the India v Pakistan fixture on June 9 in New York oversubscribed more than 200 times.

Both semi-finals in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, along with the final in Barbados, were oversubscribed in the ballot, as were

two Super Eight matches in Barbados and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Tickets to all other fixtures in the West Indies are available,

with fans encouraged to purchase their tickets now to be a part of the biggest T20 World Cup ever.

Travelling fans can also secure ticket-inclusive travel packages through ICC Travel & Tours and appointed official travel agents in various countries. To guarantee your place at the ICC Men’s T20 World

Cup 2024 please visit www. icctravelandtours.com.

The 100 days-to-go milestone also marked the launch of the “, which features T20 superstars Quinton de Kock, Kieron Pollard, Marcus Stoinis, Shaheen Afridi, Shubman Gill, and Ali Khan. The full campaign, which blasts off globally today, will utilise a variety of platforms to engage audiences on a global scale and will give the world a visual taste of what they can look forward to in the West Indies and USA come June.

A series of fan engagement events will also blast off at all nine host locations across the West Indies and USA, including a larger-thanlife cricket ball taking over Times Square in New York City, Bayside Marketplace in Miami, Klyde Warren Park, Dallas, and all Caribbean host locations.

ICC chief executive Geoff Allardice said: “With just 100 days to go until the start of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, there is huge anticipation from fans to witness

Guyana U15 player Arif Khan ready to shine bright at AJM T20

National Under-15 fast bowler Arif Khan will suit up for Cotton Tree Die Hard team on Saturday, February 24 at the AJM Mash It Up T20 tournament. Khan and his Cotton Tree teammates will be out to set the tone at Bush Lot Sports Complex Ground in Region Five when three other teams do battle for cash prizes of one million Guyana dollars.

“I am really looking forward for the AJM tournament again. I enjoyed the atmosphere last time I played and enjoyed the challenge. It’s a really great experience for me as well, so I’m really looking forward. I enjoyed it very much; being a national Under-15 cricketer, the tour nament gave me the expo sure of being under pressure at times and building my con fidence,” the talented youth said.

playing in an electric atmo sphere, described his AJM experience as great.

sphere, with the spec tators and live commen tary and so much more, it was great; it was also my first time playing un der lights so I enjoyed it very much, and looking forward again for it this Saturday.”

bowler, who finished with eight wickets in the last AJM tournament, said the key to success was sticking to the basics.

“Basically, I will just be sticking to the basics, and helping my team win the tournament. Once I get the opportunity to either bat or bowl, I will just do my best so my team would win this tournament again,” he said.

Quizzed about how he prepares for a high-octane tournament like this, Khan said:

“Well, I’ve been training every day for the past few weeks so coming into this tournament, I’m ready and fit to give it my all for my team.”

The AJM Mash It Up T20 tournament will see four teams in the West Berbice area on February 24. They are: AJM defending T20 champions Cotton Tree Sports Club; D’Edward Sports Club; Achievers A, and Bush Lot Sports Club.

The day’s activities 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

what will be the largest ICC event ever played, with 20 international teams playing across nine host cities. A large proportion of the more than three million applications for tickets across the event were from our host countries, so we are confident that this event will not only entertain fans around the world but leave a lasting legacy that will help us continue to grow the sport across the Americas.

“Celebrating the launch of our official campaign film that captures the energy of T20 cricket and features some of the game’s biggest stars is another important milestone, as excitement builds across the global cricket community for what will be a historic event.”

Cricket West Indies (CWI) chief executive Johnny Grave said: “With just 100 days to go until the start of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the global excitement is accelerating at pace, and all signs indicate that this World Cup is poised to make history on multiple fronts. With a significant number of games already oversubscribed, it is evident that the global appeal of T20 cricket is growing exponentially. Fans wanting to experience a T20 World Cup with Caribbean flair should seize the opportunity to get their tickets as soon as possible and join the celebration on the grandest stage of cricket –the West Indies and USA.”

T20 World Cup USA Inc chief executive Brett Jones

said: “Today is an extraordinary day for global cricket and that’s especially true in the US. While those of us involved in the sport know cricket’s popularity in our market, there is no data point like ticket sales to showcase the level of enthusiasm that’s out there and we’re thrilled with the support we’re seeing. The 2024 T20 World Cup is going to fundamentally change the game of cricket in the US, and it’s our job to capitalise on this moment.”

The stage is set for the biggest carnival of cricket which will captivate audi ences around the globe. Get your tickets today at t20worldcup.com

planning your ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 experience.

Messi stars as Inter Miami wins MLS opener

through injury.

This tournament would replicate the atmosphere of the Caribbean Premier isers have promised.

Cheerleaders will be on

AJM Enterprise aims to develop cricket in the West Berbice area and

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

LEarlier this week, Messi released a video to defend his absence from a friendly in Hong Kong on February 5 after a backlash from Chinese fans. (BBC Sport)

had a

goals

he helped Inter Miami beat Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer's season opener on Wednesday.

The Argentina forward played in Robert Taylor for the first, with the midfielder's first-half shot squeezing under visiting keeper Zac MacMath. Messi, 36, also had a hand in Miami's late second

goal scored by Diego Gomez. He linked up well with former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez, who registered an assist on his MLS debut.

"He looked loose, fine and showed a lot of speed," Miami Coach Gerardo Martino said of Messi's performance.

The 2022 World Cup winner missed the back end of last season for David Beckham's MLS franchise

ionel Messi

hand in both

as

Lionel Messi was integral in Inter Miami’s win

CWI CEO Johnny Grave

Guyana Under-15 player Arif Khan

10 clubs record 131 transfers ahead of Season Six

In a flurry of activity across the 10 Guyana Football Federation(GFF)-KFC Elite League clubs, a total of one 131 player transfers have been successfully completed.

Santos FC have seized the initiative by securing 23 new members to their roster, gearing up for the upcoming Season Six set to kick off on February 25 at the GFF National Training Centre in Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Reigning champions the Guyana Defence Force FC have bolstered their squad with the acquisition of 13 new players. Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force FC have made a significant move by securing 16 transfers. Additionally, Season Five's second-place winners Western Tigers FC, Ann’s

Grove United FC, and Fruta Conquerors FC have all strengthened their teams with the addition of 16 new players each.

Buxton United FC's roster has seen a boost with 12 transfers, while Den Amstel FC have welcomed seven new players.

Returning to the KFC Elite League this season, Monedderlust FC have made significant additions with seven new players, while Slingerz FC have successfully integrated five new transfers into their squad.

GFF General Secretary

Ian Alves said it has been an “active transfer season with clubs strategically fortifying their rosters for Season Six. All transfers have been successfully completed according to the FIFA and GFF rules and regulations,

ANSA McAL to present “Ultimate Golf Experience” at LGC

hilarating event is priced at $5000. In adherence to COVID-19 practices and protocols, all participants are reminded to maintain safety measures throughout the tournament.

The January transfer window opened on January 1 and closed on January 31, giving clubs a limited period to make strategic player ac-

A total of 90 games are

scheduled for Season Six at grounds in Georgetown, West Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara, and Berbice.

The League stands as the apex of local senior men's competition, serving as a crucial pathway for players to catch the attention of national team programmes, as well as scouts from regional

and international clubs.

The opening night will feature an exciting double-header at the NTC with Slingerz FC squaring off against Monedderlust FC at 18:00h (6pm), paving the way for the highlight of the evening at 20:00h (8pm) –Santos FC against the formidable Guyana Defence Force FC. A

Calling all golf enthusiasts! Get ready for an extraordinary weekend of golfing excellence as the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) proudly presents an ANSA McAL-sponsored tournament, set to take place on February 24 and 25.

In a bid to accommodate all golfers, the tournament will run on both Saturday and Sunday, with Sunday serving as the official tournament day and the day of prize-giving.

Tee times are scheduled for 12:30h on Saturday and 08:00h on Sunday, for registered golfers. Registration for this prestigious event is open, with interested participants urged to contact the Lusignan Golf Club at 220-5660. The registration deadline is set for 17:00h (5:00pm) today, Friday, February 23.

The tournament will feature a medal-play format,

On the day of the tournament, participants are advised to contact the club’s manager to collect their scorecards, pay tournament fees, and proceed to their allocated tee boxes for a prompt start at 12:30h on Saturday or 08:00h on Sunday. The presentation of prizes will follow at approximately 12:30h on Sunday.

Dey returns as GRFU President

divided into two divisions: 0-13 and 14-28. Prizes will be awarded for first to third place in each division, along with recognition for Overall Best Net, Best Gross, Nearest to Pin, and Longest Drive. Entrance to this ex-

Join us for an unforgettable weekend of skill, camaraderie, and sporting excellence at the ANSA

McAL-sponsored tournament, the LGC urged. We look forward to welcoming golfers of all levels to this thrilling event.

The Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) held its Annual General Meeting on Sunday last at the National Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue in Georgetown, where incumbent President Ryan Dey was voted into another term at the helm of the association.

At the meeting, elec tions were also held for the new executive body for the period 2024 to 2026.

In the presence of five Clubs, Coaches, Technical Directors, former GRFU President and now Patron Kit Nascimento, elections were held and through a unanimous vot ing process, a new execu tive was formed.

Members of the new ex ecutive are:

Ryan Dey - President

Jamal Scott – Senior

Vice President

Godfrey Broomes –Junior Vice President

Petal Adams – Secretary

Ryan Gonsalves –

Secretary/Treasurer

Ronaldo Griffith –Committee Member

James Osbourne –Committee Member

Scott Garraway-

Joseph Allen – Public Relations Officer(PRO)

The new executive consists of current players, former players, a returning President, and key administrative members.

President Dey, in his remarks at the meeting, said that his mandate would focus on the revitalisation and further development of the sport in Guyana through sever-

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 was on Thursday launched at various venues around the Caribbean and in the USA. In Guyana, the launch was hosted at the MovieTowne Mall on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), where several cultural displays, renowned cricketers and sport stakeholders captured the attention of cricket fans and shoppers alike. Here are some scenes from Thursday evening’s launch in Guyana, a full account of which will be published in tomorrow’s edition of the Guyana Times.

West Indies Championships… Spinners keep GHE in contention as batting wobbles again

The Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) spin bowling department kept them in the game against the West Indies Academy at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua on Thursday, but a spirited performance from their countryman on the opposing team, Ashmead Nedd spurred another shaky start to the Harpy Eagles batting.

Following Kevin Sinclair’s four-wicket haul the afternoon prior, on Thursday morning, Gudakesh Motie and Veerasammy Permaul combined to claim the remaining six wickets in the opening session.

Motie had 3-31 from 10 overs, while Permaul picked up 3-15 from 9 to restrict the Academy to 162 and maintain a 13-run lead

for the Harpy Eagles.

Rashawn Worrell topscored for the Academy team with 58 off 146 balls, while Joshua Bishop also slammed a half- century. Mnemonic Joseph and Nedd were the only other players to reach double figures, with 11 and 10 respectively.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Matthew Nandu perished for 22 runs and 19 runs respectively.

Sinclair ended the innings with 4-45 from 16 overs.

By tea on Thursday afternoon, the Harpy Eagles were well into their second innings on 84-2, with a lead of 93 runs.

Kevlon Anderson was unbeaten on 24 from 70 balls, while Tevin Imlach had 18 from 63 deliveries.

For the Academy, Nedd picked up both wickets, claiming 2-9 from 12 overs.

However, Nedd would continue his spectacular spell, removing Anderson and Perez in the final session. Anderson fell one short of his half-century, with 49 from 130 balls, while Perez only added 8 off 42 to the GHE total. Imlach fell for 29 off 84 balls, leaving the Harpy Eagles five down by close of play.

Today, Kemol Savory and Sinclair will continue their budding partnership. Savory is unbeaten on 20 from 31 balls, while Sinclair has 16 off 15 deliveries.

Nedd claimed figures of 4-27 from 26 overs, inclusive of a whopping 13 maiden overs. Joshua James

Kevlon Anderson fell one short of a half-century

picked up the only other wicket for 38 off 9 overs. The Harpy Eagles will resume the day on 165-5.

Gudakesh Motie

Ashmead Nedd performed well against his countrymen