Guyana Times - Friday, February 2, 2024

Top US Air P14 Force General in Guyana to discuss defence partnerships Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 5630

THE BEACON OF TRUTH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024

Guyana pledges US$150,000 to support displaced …calls for ceasefire in Gaza as Guyana takes Palestinians up February-month Presidency at UNSC Page 3

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Combatting efforts denting drug trade P2 locally, internationally – CANU Head

Amaya Milk P15 Company faces several challenges in reaching startup targets

More cells to be constructed at Haags Bosch There were celebrations all around when Guyanese Shamar Joseph, who gained international acclaim for his heroics in a dream Test series debut for the West Indies against Australia, returned home on Thursday afternoon. In the photo above, Joseph poses with the First Family, including staunch supporter President Dr Irfaan Ali, Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr, and members of his family and community at State House. Joseph took 7-68 to lead West Indies to their first victory Down Under in 27 years

…waste product stench at landfill to be addressed P11

Over 10,000 Guyana Govt clamping down Visas, 300 Certificates on contractors Protect yourself from Saharan damaging state Dust – Health of Citizenship Ministry warns properties, utilities issued in 2023 …to deduct payments from contract sums vulnerable groups Page 5

P17

See story on page 17

“Be cautious” in negotiations with Venezuela – Jagdeo advises T&T …amid violated Barbados Agreement

See story on page 14

GTU Strike

Opposition trying to mislead P7 teachers for political agenda – VP

2 NEWS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Combatting efforts denting drug trade locally, internationally – CANU Head T

he Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) is making significant strides in combatting illegal narcotics, according to CANU head James Singh, who said these efforts have resulted in denting the drug trade both locally and internationally.

During the Home Affairs Ministry’s review and 2024 projection, an exercise held on Thursday, Singh expressed these sentiments and disclosed that, during the 2023 period, CANU had recorded five international seizures -- an achievement he described as a testament to the strategic measures being implemented at the various ports of entry countrywide.

The measures being implemented, according to Singh, are making it more difficult for narcotics to be transported. “What we’re doing here in Guyana is making an impact (on) the drug trade…The fact that we have seized a lot more drugs destined for overseas, be it marijuana and cocaine in different regions of the country, is an

CANU Head James Singh is flanked by Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn and Permanent Secretary Andre Ally

indication that the systems we have in place are working, especially the partnerships that we have with local law enforcement agencies here in Guyana is making a difference,” Singh declared.

He said further that CANU had assisted in overseas operations that had led to the confiscation of narcotics being transported from Latin America and the Caribbean region.

“This is a demonstra-

tion that our role in the narcotics fight -- not just here in Guyana, but internationally -- is making a significant impact,” he emphasised.

The CANU head has attributed the unit’s success to support provided by the Home Affairs Ministry, and by extension the Government, as well as through partnerships with local and international law enforcement agencies. He added that engagements

with President Dr Irfaan Ali have also proven fruitful with training opportunities for CANU ranks.

“I would say that the relationship is a lot stronger than before; not just based on what we’re doing, but all the commitment of the Government of Guyana in fighting the narcotics trade,” he declared.

However, Minister Robeson Benn has noted that, while CANU is functioning remarkably, there

is room for improvement.

“We have to grow and make bigger and larger efforts at CANU. They are also involved in the question of firearm seizures…On the whole, we are pleased with what the unit is doing,” the minister has posited.

Permanent Secretary Andre Ally has added that, with the success recorded, the ministry has seen it fit to invest heavily in the unit. To this end, the sum of $827.4 million has been

earmarked in budget 2024 for the drug enforcement body.

This sum will advance the construction of a new headquarters on Homestretch Avenue, and acquire additional vehicles, tactical gear, and modern technology to detect narcotics at the various ports of entry.

In 2023, CANU cleared approximately 1363.28 kilograms of narcotics, consisting of cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy and hashish totalling $461.5 million.

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

There were 18 seizures of cocaine, amounting to 75.17 kilogrammes; three seizures of ecstasy, totalling 0.124 kilograms; and one seizure of hashish, amounting to 0.102 kilograms.

The seized cannabis was valued at $386.3 million, while the cocaine was valued at $475.1 million.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

BRIDGE The Demerara OPENINGS Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, February 2 – 22:30h-00:00h and Saturday, February 3 – 23:00h-00:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, February 2 – 08:30h-10:00h and Saturday, February 3 – 09:35h-11:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunshine is expected during the day. Clear skies are expected at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to Easterly etween 2.68 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 09:13h and 21:44h reaching maximum heights of 2.34 metres and 2.25 metres.

Low Tide: 15:14h reaching a minimum height of 0.88 metre.

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Guyana pledges US$150,000 to support displaced Palestinians …calls for ceasefire in Gaza as Guyana takes up February-month Presidency at UNSC

T

he Guyana Government on Thursday pledged US$150,000 towards the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in support of Palestinians who are displaced and affected by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

UNRWA is the primary humanitarian agency in Gaza, with over two million people depending on it for their daily survival.

A statement from the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry on Thursday states, “Guyana's contribution to UNRWA aligns with our appeals for a more robust international response to the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip and the protection of civilians impacted by the ongoing conflict. To this end, as an elected member of the United Nations Security Council, Guyana supports a ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza.”

The Foreign Ministry said over the years, Guyana has made several financial contributions to UNRWA, in alignment with the country’s consistent support for and solidarity with the Palestinian people in their quest for freedom and a secure homeland. Further, Guyana is a member of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.

Not wait another day

These positions were echoed by Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, who said that in her national capacity, “Guyana has called for a ceasefire and Guyana will continue to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. We believe that we should not wait another day for that.”

During a press conference on Thursday at the UN Headquarters in New York, Rodrigues-Birkett, who assumed presidency of

Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett

the UN Security Council for the month of February, said Guyana intended to adopt a constructive approach towards the resolution of the conflict between Palestinian group Hamas and Israel which heightened in October 2023 and has since escalated.

Based on international reports, some 27,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 66,000 wounded – many of whom are women and children.

According to the UNSC President, Guyana is concerned about the humanitarian situation that the Palestinian people are facing in Gaza.

Last year, the UN passed two resolutions for humanitarian efforts to increase in Gaza, however, these are being hindered by Israel.

Asked about what actions can be taken at the UNSC level to address this situation, Rodrigues-Birkett said “…for those two resolutions to be implemented, you need a ceasefire and this is why we continue to call for this.

We are very, very concerned about the humanitarian situation and the access to aid, because what we know is that there is aid, but access is the problem and getting it to the people who really need it.”

Similarly, the Guyanese UN Ambassador noted that the provisional measures issued by the International

Court of Justice (ICJ) also could not be adopted unless there was a ceasefire.

Following a Genocide Convention case brought by South Africa against Israel, the ICJ last week ordered the adoption of six provisional measures: take all measures within its power to prevent genocide; ensure that its military does not commit genocide; take all measures within its power to prevent and punish incitement to genocide; take immediate and effective measures to enable urgent humanitarian assistance and basic services; preserve evidence relating to allegations of acts under Article 2-3 of the Genocide Convention; and report to the Court within one month about measures taken to give effect to the order.

Ceasefire

“We have consistently called in our national capacity for a respect for international law, for international humanitarian law, and, of course, human rights, and we will continue to do so…

We welcome the provisional measures of the ICJ and we look forward to the consideration of the larger matter as we go forward. We understand that that will take some years, but we are concerned of the overall situation in Gaza, of the women and children that died, of everyone that is suffering

in Gaza,” the current UNSC President posited.

Ambassador RodriguesBirkett made these remarks at Thursday’s press conference, which was hosted to brief the media on the work programme of the UN Security Council during her one-month presidency. She was questioned about another UNSC resolution drafted

by Algeria, demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

In response, the current UNSC President confirmed the draft resolution is being discussed. She also indicated that there was no planned visit to Gaza by the UN Security Council.

In her capacity as Guyana’s Representative to the UN, she welcomed this move as appropriate.

Rodrigues-Birkett also reiterated Guyana’s support for the recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state should this matter come up during its onemonth UNSC presidency.

Moreover, the UN Representative expressed concern over the possible spillover and heightened tension in the Middle East over the recent drone attack by Iran-backed militants that killed three United States service members and injured 34 others in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border. The US has since said it was planning an extensive military response.

Nevertheless, Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said in its statement on Thursday evening that “The Government of Guyana looks forward to a new day for Palestinians and Israelis beyond the constant shadows of war. Guyana is prepared to work as a member of the UN Security Council and with the entire UN membership to accelerate the vision of two independent States living side by side in peace and security, and of a peaceful Middle East.” (G8)

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

Affirmative action programmes

T

he norm of equality has become the mantra of the age, and certainly in Guyana. However, equality has become a very contested issue, which has to be unpacked very carefully so that it may be achieved as broadly as possible.

Even in economic terms, as Thomas Piketty has shown, most of the world have moved further away from this goal, and we must question why. The reasons are legion, but not being confined to Guyana suggests they are structural. One salient one is that "equality” is an aspirational term frequently invoked without its users being clear about its meaning. With such subjectivity, no wonder its attainment is so conflictual.

Most would agree with the statement “we are all equally human”, but what does that mean? Isn’t it a tautology?

We are not equally tall, strong, intelligent or beautiful, so whither equality? For the term to have any content, we have to choose particular areas of endeavour, personal attributes or treatment, and then measure whether or not we are all equal in terms of the identified criteria. As such, things or persons can be said to be equal only with some specific property that we have identified. Equality, from this perspective, has therefore to be contingent on the context or criteria wherein we speak. Equality is a triadic relationship; we may talk about three types of equality – those pertaining to personal characteristics, to treatment, and to distribution.

The last two categories become relevant to politics, but may be dependent on personal cultural attributes.

There are some theories of equality that are purely formal; they specify no substantive content, but are simply a formula or policy. As such, once the rule is followed – for example, in colonial Guyana, where only “men of property could vote” one could claim there was equality even though women and slaves could not vote. Statements such as “equality before the law” also fall under this category: no questions arise as to what the content of the law was. Formal equality only demands consistency, and is nettlesome.

It is generally accepted that, in any society, some inequalities would be morally permissible. But should differences in ethnicity, interests, aptitudes, intelligence, and conceptions of “the good” justify such inequalities? Rawls’ difference principle proposes that “any unequal distribution of social or economic goods (e.g., wealth) must be such that the least-advantaged members of society would be better off under that distribution than they would be under any other distribution principle.” In Guyana, these are questions that have to be discussed, debated, and agreed on.

Normally, the rewards or punishment from one’s efforts are also seen as permissible (meritocratic), even if not equally distributed. Once indefensible inequalities have been identified, then the state/society has to decide what to do about them. Items identified from the latter category at some time or place have been political power, opportunity for scarce resources, welfare or social position, social position/ class, economic resources, welfare etc. In general, some stress political equality while others focus on economic equality: Conservatives and Libertarians balk at increased governmental intervention, while Socialists/Marxists/liberals expect the state to intervene to mitigate inequalities. In Guyana, questions of the equality of social status and political and economic parity are intensely contested between the ethnic groups in the society.

As we indicated, we can only have substantive equality when there is a specific criterion identified by which policies can be assessed. For instance, in terms of “equal treatment” or opportunity, there can be formal equality if the law states that offices are open to anyone who is qualified. In this instance, one is being told that all existent inequalities of talent, birth or station etc. are morally permissible. But what happens when equality of opportunity does not lead to equality of outcome because of social, cultural, or other personal attributes of some citizens?

It has been suggested that where there are historically determined structural conditions that undergird some inequalities, there may be the need for affirmative action programmes to rectify those imbalances.

Students competing in the Georgetown Department of Education Children’s Mashramani Competition 2024 at the National Cultural Centre on Wednesday (Education Ministry photo)

Tribute to Rev Seopaul Singh of Guyana Dear Editor, It is with sorrow that I learnt of the passing (on Sunday) of Rev Seopaul Singh, one of Guyana’s finest sons, who had had 25 years of service to the Ministries of Works, Mines, Housing, and Energy, from 1966 thru 1991.

His death prompted a flood of tributes from friends and peers, who praised his contributions to the Guyanese community in Queens and his participation at several diaspora events.

From a most humble beginning, having been born in a rural village, Seopaul built a public service career, and also served in other diverse fields, from social work to religion to journalism; at one time serving as Asst Editor of the Guyana Journal.

Seopaul, or Rev, as we called him, had been a teacher, intellectual, activist, trainer of staff, preacher, and commentator who published on several issues relating to Guyana, including on race relations and what he called the genocide in Wismar-Mackenzie. He had well remembered the racial violence of the 1960s, which had impacted his life. He had been a victim of the racial violence in Mahaicony, where he had been born, and where he and his parents had lived before squatting and settling down in Better Hope.

Friends told me that Seopaul had been an outstanding civil servant and administrator. He had served the Guyana Government with dignity and distinction, and had also been commended for his service in New York while working for Morgan

and Stanley, the Wall Street investment firm.

Converted to Christianity from a Hindu family, and a trained pastor in NY, he had attended events of all religious communities. He had been approachable and caring, and had put everyone at ease in his engagements. He had won the respect and affection of the Indian diaspora from Guyana, Trinidad, Jamaica, and India, and of other countries as well as of other races with whom he had interacted in NY. He had impressed with his knowledge of Guyanese and world affairs, and had been a repository of information on Guyana. He had not been afraid to speak his mind about the violence unleashed on Indian Guyanese.

Seopaul had been known to be a strong Indian rights activist. He had worked closely with groups and activists in New York on Indian Guyanese diaspora affairs, and had addressed and/or attended seminars I had organized in NY on the community and Guyanese affairs.

He had also attended several Indian diaspora conferences, including in Trinidad and Guyana, that I had co-organized. And he had helped found the Indian Caribbean Writers Organization.

He had been an outstanding writer, including of a book on race relations in Guyana that spoke of his personal experience as well.

Although he had not contributed to the media or publicly joined the movement for free and fair elections while in authoritarian Guyana for obvious reasons, he had been very supportive of the strug-

gle. He praised those of us like Ravi Dev, Baytoram Ramharack, myself and others for our courage in penning articles in the Guyanese media and abroad condemning human rights violations in the homeland. He had also commended those of us, including Chuck Mohan, Mel Carpen, Arjune Karshan, Roop Persaud, Mike Persaud, Vassan Ramracha, Ravi, Baytoram, Gary Girdhari, among others for our contributions to the struggle that led to free and fair elections in Guyana in 1992. Just last year, Seopaul had interacted with Ravi Dev in person in Queens, reminiscing about life in Guyana during the difficult period of the dictatorship.

We had also spoken on the phone.

As extracted from an article on his biography, penned

by Dr. Dhanpaul Narine and published in West Indian News, “Seopaul was born at Supply, Mahaicony, on the East Coast. Seopaul’s father was Mooni Singh and his mom Boach Singh. Mooni was popularly known as Uncle Rattan. Seopaul is the seventh of eleven children.

He attended Zeskenderen Government School and later went to Ashram High School, founded by Indian missionary Pandit Ushar Bhode Arya. The school was located at Mortice, Mahaicony.

Pandit Ushar Bhode and Shruti Kant, Principal of Guyana Oriental College in Georgetown, opened its doors in 1960 with around 250 students”.

Seopaul was a brilliant student. According to Dhanpaul, Seopaul prepared

for London GCE O’ Levels exam in earnest, but because of racial disturbances during the 1960s, his studies were interrupted. His family was forced to move to Liliendaal, and then to Better Hope, where they squatted on public lands and built a house.

Seopaul passed his O’ Levels and began teaching at Annandale Primary School from 1964 to 1966. Seopaul joined Public Service in November 1966, was posted to Supply Division in the Ministry of Works and Housing, where he worked for twenty-two years. He was then transferred to Ministry of Mines and Energy.

Seopaul migrated to America in 1991, first to Florida and then to New York. He was employed by Morgan Stanley for 18 years.

Seopaul recounted to Dr. Dhanpaul one of his most unforgettable memories. In 1982, in Delhi, India, he was outside the BOAC office. He began thinking of Pandit Ushar Bode, the founder of the school he attended. He had not seen or heard from Ushar ji for twenty years.

“I really wanted to meet with him. As I came out of the BOAC office…there was Ushar Bode”. They exchanged pleasantries. That was indeed a remarkable thought that was instantly realized.

Rev. Seopaul will be remembered for his contributions to Guyana and the diaspora in the greater Richmond Hill area.

Condolences to his family!

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024

5

News

Govt clamping down on contractors damaging state properties, utilities …to deduct payments from contracted sums

I

n a move to clamp down on the destruction of state properties and utilities, contractors carrying out public works would now be held accountable for any damage they cause to state properties or utilities, and would be required to repair any damages they cause or face deductions in their payments.

This has been announced

by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Ministry in a statement on Thursday.

It has been explained that in order to reduce the wanton destruction of public property and utilities, all contracts for infrastructural projects and other public works would now contain a clause compelling contractors to conduct repairs for any damages they cause.

“The Government of Guyana has resolved that, with immediate effect, all contracts executed by the Government of Guyana, Public Authorities and State Agencies shall contain express clauses that would compel contractors to repair and rehabilitate all damages or destruction caused or occasioned to any public property or the property of any public utility in the execution of their contracts, with the intent of restoring the property damaged, as far as possible, to the state it was in prior to the said damage or destruction,” the missive from the AG’s Chambers detailed.

Should any contractor fail to make the necessary repairs of damages caused, then the new clauses also include provisions for sanctions. “…a breach of the aforesaid clauses by contractors shall empower and authorise the other party of the contract to assess the value of the damage or destruction caused, the public loss and inconveniences suffered thereby and the cost of repairing and rehabilitating the said damage or destruction in the manner aforesaid; and the total value thereof shall be deducted from or levied against performance or other bonds lodged, retention securities provided, or from payments due under the contracts,” the Ministry said in the statement.

According to the AG’s Chambers, the implementation of these new clauses is supported by Article 32 of the Constitution of Guyana, which imposes upon the State - and by extension the Government - a duty to take care of, and protect, public property.

Government has long been lamenting the destruction of public properties by

GWI workers repairing a broken main at Penny Lane Street in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown. This main was damaged by a road contractor back in September 2023

GPL poles were damaged by a contractor operating an excavator on Aubrey Barker Road in Georgetown in January 2023

road users and contractors.

It has been noted that such actions not only hinder infrastructure development, but also incur costs to the state for the repair works – monies which Government said can be used otherwise to foster further developments.

Consequently, a policy has already been implemented to have reckless road users pay for the costs of repairing damages to public properties such as road barriers/ medians, roundabouts, etc.

Damage to utility infrastructure

Utility companies have also been moving in this direction to recover repair costs from members of the public who damages their infrastructures. In fact, the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI), in October 2023, reminded contractors that any damage to its infrastructure would result in their being billed for the repairs. This was after residents of La Grange, West Bank Demerara complained about the quality of water coming through the main.

However, the water company explained that its mains were damaged by a contractor carrying out road expansion works at Old Road, La Grange, thus leading to a temporary interruption in water supply to residents in and around the area. Additionally, while these repairs were ongoing, contractors working on the Harbour Bridge proj-

ect damaged another GWI main, potentially contaminating the water distribution system, but that has since been fixed.

There were other incidents in Georgetown as well as East Bank Demerara communities, where GWI pipelines were damaged by contractors. Many of these incidents were recorded in EBD communities earlier this month.

Meanwhile, just last September, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) announced that, in collaboration with the Public Works Ministry and the Guyana Police Force, charges would be instituted against reckless motorists and contractors for damages caused to its network infrastructure.

At the time, the power company was reporting that 25 incidents had been recorded up to September 2023, causing widespread service disruptions to customers in Demerara and Berbice, as well as incurring substantial costs for the company through repairs and loss of revenue.

As a result, charges will be instituted and fines im-

posed under Section 160 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act Chapter 8:01 and Section 61 of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act Chapter 8:02 for damage to property.

GPL would also initiate civil proceedings in the High Court to seek compensation for damages incurred and other consequential losses related to its network infrastructure.

Private contractors and Government agencies executing infrastructural works within close proximity – approximately 20 feet – to GPL’s network are required to notify the company within 72 hours prior to commencing work, in order to ensure the safe execution of the work. Similar requirements also apply for the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) infrastructure network.

Weight limit on roads

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill on Wednesday disclosed, during the Consideration of the Budget 2024 Estimates, that Government has acquired the services of a consultancy firm to review weight restriction laws geared at significantly reducing infrastructural damages cause by overladen vehicles, especially trucks. This is being undertaken with support of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Edghill argued that implementing the fine alone on an offender has greater repercussions. “If you

fine the person and you allow them to go through with the weight, then the damage will be more exorbitant than the fine,” he strongly advised.

As a result, weight offenders would be required to remove excess product, which would be placed on the corner of the road with a 12-hour retrieval time. The minister noted that failure to do so would result in additional “trouble”.

“So we have to come together as a people, as a mature country, people that is modernising Guyana. We

are building out Guyana, whether we are Government or Opposition. These are things that we want to see: better streets, better maintained streets. We want to be able to see safety on the roads, this is something that everybody wants together.

So, these are things we got to work on jointly,” he emphasised.

Meanwhile, the minister has acknowledged the stellar works executed by the Works Ministry’s’ Special Projects Unit (SPU) in repairing damaged infrastructure across the country. (G8)

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024 06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:05 13:35 14:00 14:30 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 23:00 23:30 00:00

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Power Up Maths

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024

Page

Foundation

Adding and subtracting money

◄

You may not realise it, but you work with a great many decimals in your life.

Look at this problem: $198.20 + $10.80

Adding subtracting money A dollar is divided into 100 and hundredths, each of which is called a cent.

You may not realise it, but you work with a great many decimals in your life.

Adding and subtracting money is done exactly the same way as adding and subtracting decimals.

Look at this problem: $198.20 + $10.80 A dollar is divided into 100 hundredths, each of which is called a cent.

Adding and subtracting money is done exactly the same way as adding and subtracting decimals.

Example: Add $198.20 + $10.80 Step 1: Line up the decimals $198.20

By E McG Keane

+$10.80 Step 2: Add, just as you would any other decimals: $198.20 +$10.80 $209.00

Remember

You can add placeholder zeroes to money , too. Doing this

Rememberdoes not change its value! For example, $40 = $40.00

You can add placeholder zeroes to money , too. Doing this does not change its value! For example, $40 = $40.00 Bubbling slime chemical reaction science experiment

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n this fun and easy science experiment, we’re going to explore and investigate endothermic chemical reactions by making bubbling slime.

Materials: 2 cups of white vinegar Bowl or plastic storage container Food colouring Enough baking soda to cover the bottom of your bowl or container 1 1/4 teaspoons xanthan gum Instructions: Add the vinegar into a bowl.

Stir vigorously as you shake the xanthan gum across the top of the vinegar slowly and gradually. Add food colouring, if preferred, and stir it in.

There will be little clumps of xanthan gum in your slime at this point so put it in the refrigerator for a few hours so the clumps will be absorbed.

Once ready, remove the slime from the refrigerator and stir the slime with the whisk until it is smooth. It should be a little cloudy, and the consistency should be virtually creamy but really gooey.

Check the consistency by raising some of the slime up on the whisk and allowing it to run back into the bowl. If it’s too thick to run and pour, whisk in a small amount of extra vinegar to thin it out.

Now cover the bottom of your container with a layer of baking soda.

Pour the slime over the top of the baking soda and enjoy as the bubbles begin to rise up through the goo!

Side note: You can increase the bubbling effect by stirring the slime around and mixing it with the

baking soda.

How it works: When baking soda and vinegar mix, an endothermic chemical reaction occurs. During this chemical reaction, carbon dioxide is released. As the carbon dioxide rises toward the surface of the goo, it creates the bubbling slime effect.

Make this a science project:

Find an area that can get messy. Put the baking soda in a ziplock bag and add the slime.

Zip the bag close securely. Step back and observe. (sciencefun.org)

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GTU strike...

Opposition trying to mislead teachers for political agenda – VP V

ice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo is contending that the countrywide strike action called by the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) is part of the Opposition’s tactic to mislead teachers for its own political agenda.

At the helm of the Guyana Teachers’ Union leadership is General Secretary Coretta McDonald, who also is an Opposition Member of Parliament (MP).

During his press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo underscored that under the former APNU/AFC coalition, the GTU had suffered from rescinded benefits introduced by the former PPP administration, among other issues.

“This is the same Coretta Mc Donald who used to come to my office as Leader of the Opposition and complain that she couldn’t even secure a meeting with the Minister of Finance or anybody in the APNU Government…

Who complained that APNU was taking away the benefits that we had given to the Teachers Union. She has no credibility whatsoever, and (is) vilely trying to mislead the teachers of this country in pursuit of her own political agenda,” he asserted.

Calling the proposed strike political, Jagdeo is urging teachers not to fall prey to such traps, even as he highlighted the 27 initiatives taken by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

(PPP/C) Government to improve the lives of teachers, among other meaningful interventions.

The Vice President said, “This is a political strike…

Just recently, the President approved 4,000 graduates that will move to the top of the scale now. That will cost us $1 billion more.

That is apart from the 6.5 percent [increase for public servants] that they got…

Teachers are also eligible to go on the GOAL programme now, so we’re spending $11 billion on training now.

They’re saying don’t build schools, but the teachers are going to be the ones working in these same new schools, and being paid more money.

“The grievances there are not real, and we constantly have to engage the teachers. We’re investing more and more (into) education, training and teachers’

improvement. I would urge every teacher in this country…that they should not fall prey,” he added.

The GTU has planned strike action from February 5 to 16, 2024. In fact, the union has reportedly adopted scare tactics, threatening to fire teachers and block their promotions if they fail to participate in the strike.

Already, Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton has said the GTU does not have the authority to take such actions against any teacher, and has also called the planned strike illegal – something which was reiterated by the Education Ministry in a public notice issued on Wednesday.

Chief Education Officer Saddam Hussain had this to say in an open letter to all headteachers and teachers, “The decision to strike is illegal, and goes contrary to the agreements signed by the MoE and GTU (10th April, 1990)…This threat of industrial action sets a bad precedent, since this is the final term before the NGSA (National Grade Six Assessment) and CSEC (Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate) exams. Any disruption to the teaching-learning process could affect individual children and their entire future, thereby hampering the ability of families to use education to exit poverty…

Consequently, I call on all head teachers and teach-

GTU General Secretary and Opposition MP, Coretta Mc Donald

ers to reject GTU’s call to strike.”

According to Hussain, this call for strike action is “quite unexplainable and incongruous”, considering the relationship between the Education Ministry and the GTU, who only met on Wednesday morning in a pre-arranged engagement to address a number of issues.

Previously, the GTU had proposed 41 areas identified for better working conditions for teachers. Over the three years, the Education Ministry has fulfilled 25 of those requests, and of the 16 proposals remaining, two are specifically for the benefit only of GTU and its Executive Members, and two others are contrary to the laws of Guyana.

The areas in which the Ministry and the Union have not reached an agreement

include: salary increases for some scales (MoE has gone above GTU’s request for some scales), allowances, rehired teachers being paid at the scale that they retired at, housing fund (which the Union has repeatedly failed to give a way forward for, although the fund has a few hundred million dollars put there by the Government), and salary scales for different HODS and Sixth Form Deputy Heads, payment for the marking of SBAs, and house lots for teachers in each new housing scheme.

Moreover, 12 unresolved issues are currently being examined for their practical implementation and sustainability.

The Education Ministry has taken several actions to simplify the teaching process, while reducing the burdens of being a teacher – all of which are outside of the GTU’s requests.

Among these interventions are: the removal of the Child Development Index Card (CDIC) as a required school document; the removal of the General Scheme of Work as a curriculum document; the weekly preparation of lesson plans, rather than daily; all trained teachers being eligible to be Senior Assistant Master/Mistress after six years, rather than seven years; 50 duty-free vehicles for teachers per year, PLUS the granting of a duty-free concession to all senior teachers who have

three years left to serve and have not received a concession previously; all teachers being provided termly with grants to purchase teaching materials; and all Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) pre-service trainees being paid $90,000 rather than a $10,000 stipend per month, except a trainee teacher refuses same.

In addition, the Education Ministry requested the Teaching Service Commission and the School Board Secretariat to do two senior promotion cycles per year, so that more teachers can be promoted and earn higher salaries. Other inventions include: a general waiver letter to allow teachers to travel abroad without collateral; the issuance of one waiver letter to cover the teacher’s contracted period; the holders of the Technical Teachers’ Certificate being appointed as Assistant Master/Mistress; the creation of more senior vacancies in nursery, primary and secondary schools; the reduction in teaching periods for secondary teachers; the assignment of an assistant teacher to senior teachers in primary and nursery schools; the appointment of floating teachers to schools to reduce the workload and substitute for teachers who are absent; and the implementation of the EMIS system which would eliminate most aspects of manual record keeping. (G12)

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One… Y

…diaspora?

our Eyewitness is in a nostalgic mood, so he’s gonna reflect a bit at the way it was when the PNC were in office. It’s also meant to remind the unwary how it might be again if – by some miracle (nightmare?!)

- they’re allowed back in!! One of the most significant outcomes of the first Burnham PNC regime was to push so many folks to flee that North America became “Region 11”!! Today there are more Guyanese living there than “back home”. Seeing the important roles other diasporas played in the development of their countries of origin, you’d think the PNC of 2015 would’ve tried get them to return and invest.

When the PPP had been elected in 1992, a horde of expats had turned up to “help”. However, unlike other diasporas, they didn’t return with capital that coulda been harnessed to their newfound knowledge base to launch industries. And this was the role the Jagan Government wanted them to play. Our diasporans instead wanted to “help” with their skills in various capacities in local institutions. In other words, they wanted big jobs, but wouldn’t say so!! This created considerable resentment – and a backlash among locals, who wanted to know why jobs would go to those who’d “fled”. It didn’t help when the idealistic Dr Jagan offered them a token $1 salary!!

Sadly, however, even though when PNC returned in 2015 the Region 11 diaspora had become quite loaded, the PNC were so constitutionally anti-business that they never capitalised on that asset. They only saw them as milch cows, rather than cows that could be encouraged to create a herd of investment. The PNC so muddied the (investment) waters that, even with us today becoming the fastest growing economy in the world, we still can’t get our Guyanese diaspora to start investing, and take advantage of their Guyanese status giving them priority in our Local Content regime.

So, what are we supposed to do?? The PPP Government gotta become totally focused on building our stock exchange into a world-class organization. And then encouraging the children of the diaspora to invest for returns that’d make the DOW seem like a piker. And that’s the paradigm change that has to be made – quit courting the old diaspora that Burnham has chased away. They are folks who’re still conservative from their background; so, while they have made their money from real estate they can feel and touch, they’re not gonna liquidate and invest in Guyana.

But their children will!! They have grown up on making intangible investments in stocks and bonds…they can understand the lingo – and the opportunities. Even the PNC snorting fire can’t scare them away!! …colour?

Everyone knows “politics is dirty”. But “dirty” comes in all colours, and it’s particularly irking when the colour green gets dragged in the dirt, as it was by the PNC when they took office - along with the AFC back then. Green is, after all, the colour that’s associated nowadays with a clean environment – thanks a lot to the work of Jagdeo and his LCDS. So how could the PNC drag green into Guyana’s gutter politics? A clue is the shade of green they chose – that of the slime found in the gutters.

Your Eyewitness, of course, talking about Granger painting the Office of President – THE ENTIRE BUILDING!!

- slime green!! Obviously, it has nothing to do with the environment and being clean, but everything to do with slime green being the colour of the PNC from its inception!

And to rub in where they were coming from, they planted green palm trees in a “beautification” programme across the country.

Your Eyewitness thanks God that the PPP didn’t paint and plant everything red when they returned! We all woulda seen red!! …flock?

The reticence by some in the Government to not condemn the genocide that’s being committed by Israel in Gaza has been dubbed by wags as the “Silence of the sheep”.

But surely, even sheep bleated as the shears were wielded?wielded?

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

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

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NEWS

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

More cells to be constructed at Haags Bosch …waste products’ stench at landfill to be addressed ies and surveys, and installation of waste management equipment, among other things.

“We will be happy to know that we are not lazy.

From day one in 2020, we work very hard, and we are committed again to ensuring that we have waste removal; and so, fourteen more (landfill sites) are on board…it’s studies on the geotechnical and the hydrogeological surveys (that have) to be done, and also for operational and maintenance purposes,” Minister Parag stated.

T

he sum of $400 million has been set aside in the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry’s budget for the construction of cells at the Haags Bosch sanitary landfill facility at Eccles, East Bank Demerara.

This allocation was approved by the Parliamentary Committee of Supply on Thursday, during day three of the Consideration of the 2024 Budget Estimates of revenue and expenditure. The $400 million for Haags Bosch is an increase of $100 million over the $300 million budgeted in 2023.

Haags Bosch closure

The cells are part of a strategic plan devised by the LG&RD ministry to eliminate the stench emanating from the dumpsite, which affects residents in surrounding areas and commuters utilizing the Eccles to Mandela and Heroes highways. According to Local Government and Regional Development Minister Sonia Parag, a portion of the $400 million will be spent on further upgrading the facility.

“We, as a Government, (are) taking care of all Guyanese… We are building more cells at the Haags Bosch, as well as the operational systems we have un-

der the waste management equipment. We will be getting one portable tyre shedder, two stationary compacter bins, two water and air quality testing equipment for landfill, skip bins and skip lift trucks, one truck and 25 skips, 211 litter bins,” Parag explained.

Further, some $1.3 billion has been budgeted to purchase waste management equipment and upgrade landfill sites across the country, including the six new sites created in 2023 and others to be established this year. Parag disclosed that several sites would be closed to facilitate works, which include stud-

On day two of the Consideration of the 2024 Budget Estimates of revenue and expenditure, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill told the National Assembly that the Haags Bosch dumpsite would not be there forever, hinting that it would be closed in the long term.

That closure, he explained, would make way for massive construction of new hotels and Government towers/ complexes to be built

on the nearby Eccles to Mandela Highway and the Ogle to Haags Bosch road.

“We wouldn’t forever dump garbage at Eccles… we have development in mind,” Edghill said.

At the time responding questions from Opposition Parliamentarian Annette Ferguson, Edghill added that, all over the world, dumpsites - and even in Guyana, cane fields - are being transformed into livable areas.

Landfill site development

Some $1 billion had been allocated in the 2023 budget for solid waste management interventions, while another $885 million had been set aside to upgrade and expand the solid waste management system. The then Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, had announced that an additional six landfill sites would be established at strategic areas in 2023. Those areas included Byderabo in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Bon

Success in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo); Kildonan Village in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); and Kara-Kara in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The minister had explained to the Committee of Supply that the management of solid waste is one of Guyana’s biggest challenges, and had added that the current disposable sites could not resolve the nationwide issues.

Since assuming office in August 2020, Government has made significant investments to enhance awareness of sanitation practices and solid waste management countrywide.

The approach is in keeping with the PPP/C administration’s commitment to promoting integrated sanitation management to safeguard human health and the environment. Already, the Government has held a number of consultations to create a strategic plan to strengthen and develop the country’s solid waste management system.

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“Be cautious” in negotiations with Venezuela – Jagdeo advises T&T …amid violated Barbados Agreement

T

he Trinidad and Tobago Government has been advised to be cautious in its dealings with Venezuela on the Dragon gas field, owing to the latter’s violation of the Barbados Agreement for free and fair elections to be held later this year.

This was the position taken by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday during his press conference, when the question was raised about Venezuela’s trustworthiness.

Trinidad is currently imbedded in the natural gas project to be developed in Venezuelan waters, undertaken by its State firm National Gas Company (NGC) and Shell. The 30year licence, issued in December, granted Shell and NGC the rights to produce the gas and export it to Trinidad.

When asked about Government’s concern on such actions regarding the December 2023 Argyle Declaration between Guyana and Venezuela, the Vice President said, “You’re dragging me into a minefield.”

Given these developments, Jagdeo opined, “A

number of people who are investing or planning to invest in Venezuela based on the removal of the embargo in the oil and gas and gold sector would now be constrained by that new development…I don’t want to say at this stage what I truly think, but I just want to urge Trinidad and Tobago to be very cautious in those negotiations.”

In October, Venezuela’s Government and Opposition had signed agreements for new electoral conditions in the South American country, raising the possibility of the removal of sanctions by the United States against Caracas.

The agreements were brought about following talks mediated by Norway and after multiple rounds of talks in 2021 and 2022 that had been hosted by Mexico.

The partial agreement signed in Barbados had outlined that the parties would promote together, a number of electoral guarantees for all the actors ahead of the presidential elections.

It also proposed that the electoral process would be done during 2024 in accordance with the constitutional programme, making provisions for electoral

observers including those from the European Union, the United Nations, the African Union, and the Carter Center.

However, this week, the United States Government shared that actions by President Nicolás Maduro and his representatives in Venezuela, including the arrest of members of the democratic Opposition and the barring of candidates from competing in this year's presidential election, were inconsistent with the agreements signed in Barbados.

As a result, the US State Department has indicated that it does not intend to renew a wider licence after it expires on April 18, allowing Venezuela's oil to freely flow to other countries.

Despite Trinidadian Energy Minister Stuart Young stating that the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) licence issued is separate from that which expires in April, Jagdeo contended that Venezuela’s track record has been one which does not respect agreements.

He pointed out that even in the weighty 1899 Arbitral Award which was agreed to

by Venezuela to establish its boundary with Guyana,

Guyana’s Vice Bharrat Jagdeo

President,

was later backpedalled on by the Spanish-speaking country. Moreover, there were significant threats to Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity just last year.

No respect for agreements

“I don’t want it seem presumptuous that we’re advising Trinidad and Tobago because they’re doing what’s good for their country too.

We need to respect that in Caricom and as a sovereign Government, but the Venezuelan Government often doesn’t respect agreements. If it had respected agreements, it would see that it has absolutely no evidence whatsoever that the 1899 Agreement is flawed.

And if it can repudiate an agreement of that nature…

T&T PM, Dr Keith Rowley

then it cannot, in my view, be a trustworthy partner in negotiations until it demonstrates otherwise,” Jagdeo shared.

Venezuela regenerated its claims to Guyana’s Essequibo region after American oil giant ExxonMobil found nearly 11 billion barrels of oil off Essequibo in 2015.

In November 2023, the Venezuelan National Electoral Council had published a list of five questions that it planned to put before the Venezuelan people in a December 3, 2023 referendum. The referendum sought the Venezuelan people’s approval to, among other things, annex Essequibo and create a Venezuelan state. It also sought the citizens’ approval for Venezuela to grant cit-

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro

izenship and identity cards to residents of Essequibo.

Later, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a ruling barring Venezuela from taking any action emanating from the referendum, to seize Essequibo while the Court makes its decision about the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award.

After years of failed good offices process via the United Nations, Guyana is seeking a final and binding judgement from the ICJ to reinforce that the 1899 Arbitral Award remains valid and binding on all parties, as well as legal affirmation that Guyana’s Essequibo region, which contains much of the country’s natural resources, belongs to Guyana and not Venezuela.

Top US Air Force General in Guyana to discuss defence partnerships

U

nited States Air Force Major General Evan L Pettus, 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) Commander, is visiting Guyana (January 31-February 2).

As the Air Force component to US Southern Command, 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) conducts security cooperation and provides air, space, and cyberspace capabilities throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

The 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) supports US Southern Command to deter aggression, defeat threats, rapidly respond to crises, and work with allies and partner nations to build regional capacity to ensure a secure, free, and prosperous Western Hemisphere.

Major General Pettus’ visit to Guyana underscores the continued importance and strong commitment the United States places on the US-Guyana bilateral security partnership in support of regional stability.

During his stay, Major General Pettus is scheduled to meet with senior leaders in the Government of Guyana, Guyana Defence Force (GDF), and US Embassy to discuss the US defence partnership with Guyana.

During his visit with GDF leadership, Major General Pettus planned to discuss air domain awareness and collaborate on advancing Guyana’s airspace awareness capacity to protect its national security and sovereignty.

United States Air Force Major General Evan L Pettus

Pettus’ visit to Guyana is his first trip overseas in 2024 and signifies the importance of the bilateral security partnership as the GDF continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

The US continues to work closely with its allies around the world to strengthen alliances and partnerships by improving interoperability, deepening information sharing and planning, and conducting complex joint and combined exercises.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Amaya Milk Company faces several challenges in reaching start-up targets

Amaya Milk Company Chief Executive Officer Omkaar Sharma

L

aunched last year with an ambitious plan to push locally-produced dairy products such as milk and paneer, the Amaya Milk Company is facing several challenges as it struggles to reach its start-up targets, even after close to one year of operation.

Currently, the company cannot engage a wide cross-section of farmers to supply milk to the plant. This is because of the difficulty of transporting freshly-produced milk without first cooling it.

Amaya Milk Company Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Omkaar Sharma said this was one of the challenges currently facing the company.

He noted that there was a need for collection facilities to be established in different regions. This, he explained, will allow the company to be able to cool the milk before transporting it to the Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice plant.

“This is one of the things

that is going to be key in helping us to have resilience when the next dry season comes, because we will

be taking milk from a wider area,” Sharma told Guyana Times in an interview.

The current prolonged dry spell has negatively impacted the production of pasteurised

milk.

Despite the product taking the market by storm, production remains much lower than projected as the company has had to battle with many challenges.

Among those challenges, the CEO said, was one supplier in Canada sending the wrong bottles a few months after start-up. It took one month for the correct order to arrive and by the time it did, the dry season was impacting the volume of milk being produced by cows.

“There were a lot of grass fires in the area.”

The milk supplied to Amaya comes from cows that consume organic food -- grazing in open pastures. The grass-fed cows were affected by the unusual prolonged dry spell, which led to several grass fires.

“Having those grass fires

and the heat also really impacted the animal's ability to produce, because they are not able to get the nutrition that they are accustomed to, but then also the slaughtering also meant that we saw a decline in milk production, but coming on to December and the start of this year has been better, because the weather has been improving, because we are seeing our numbers climbing up again,” the CEO explained.

The company initially projected 100 gallons of milk per day and to have that number gradually increase until the plant reached its capacity production level.

However, the plant has never been able to produce 100 gallons of milk in any given day, with the highest figure being just over 80 gallons.

“At capacity, our plant can actually do 2400 litres per day which is about 600 gallons per day. So, 100 gallons per day is still a fraction of what we can produce per day. For about two or three months we were able to produce between 79 to 83 gal-

The milk plant at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice

lons for a little over a month, but then for a number of reasons like I mentioned earlier, those numbers started dropping. We are seeing those numbers going back up again and we are very excited for what 2024 holds,” CEO Sharma said.

Despite surging production, none of the major supermarkets in Region Five

(Mahaica-Berbice) or Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) have any of the company’s products on their shelves.

Sharma explained that in Region Five, which is the country’s largest cattle-pro-

ducing region, many persons have access to fresh milk without going to the supermarket.

He pointed out that currently, the company only targets the capital city of Georgetown.

“As I mentioned before, we had the bottling issue and then production numbers dropping...”

Currently, 14 farmers supply all of the milk they produce to Amaya.

According to the entrepreneur, initially, farmers were sceptical about taking their milk to the plant because of experiences dealing with persons who attempted to start similar projects in the past.

“That created a little bit of scepticism with some of the farmers, because they already had a market whether it was riding around the village selling and they were a little bit hesitant to give up that and take a chance by supplying us, because they would have lost those customers by that point, but what happens if we don’t fan out, but I think over the last couple of months even when we went through the down period, we were consistently operating seven days a week and taking in milk; [that] has definitely inspired confidence

and we are seeing more farmers reaching out in the last two to three weeks,” Sharma explained.

He added that the company was keen on working with small farmers as his longterm aim is to have the dairy sector developed.

Despite these setbacks, the businessman remains optimistic and committed to the local market.

According to the CEO, plans are afoot to expand the supply base to include farmers outside of Region Five. He says farmers in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) have expressed an interest in supplying milk to the plant.

It was in 2021 that it was first announced that Canadabased Amaya Milk Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) and the Agriculture Ministry for the establishment of a milk plant to process, bottle, and sell high-quality pasteurised cow’s milk on the local market.

Soon after, a $150 million facility was commissioned.

In addition to producing milk, the company is producing paneer, a non-aged, non-melting soft cheese made by curdling milk. (G4)

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US EXIM Bank loan

Govt has contingency options to fund Gas-to-Energy Project – Jagdeo …after US halts approval of new LNG projects

The Gas-to-Energy Project, once completed (model)

T

he Guyana Government has already considered other options to fund the completion of the Gas-toEnergy Project should the US Export-Import (EXIM) Bank loan be denied, amid the Biden Administration’s temporary pause on pending Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects.

Maintaining that the Project would be completed, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said on Thursday that Government would always have options to see the Project to fruition.

Currently, there are two: 1) -- a contingent line of credit or 2) -- financing through the National Budget.

The US recently halted the approval of new licences to export LNG, owing to scrutiny on how such could impact climate change and security, among other issues, and that would hamper new projects in the pipeline worth billions of dollars.

Guyana is currently seeking a $134 billion loan from the US EXIM Bank to fund the Gas-to-Energy project.

As Jagdeo entertained clarifications on

Government’s contingency plans, he outlined during his weekly press briefing, “We anticipate that the funding will be available, and, as I said before, it would be retroactive funding. However, without disclosing sources, we have already been talking about a contingent line of credit that could easily supplant that, and secondly, from the budget. We have already been financing beyond the first US$100 million that we put into the project from budgetary sources. We have been making payments to the company from the bud-

get. So, those are potential sources.”

The Vice President also highlighted the fact that Guyana’s Gas-to-Energy Project is different in the sense that the product is not intended for exportation, but rather, for the country’s use. This is coupled with the country’s strong environmental credentials, which should pose no issue for the loan approval.

“It is not for export. It is to supplant our supply, which is a bunker C diesel supply, which is very polluting. The mere fact that we’re investing in the power plant that would use gas now, we can cut our emissions from the same output by more than 45 per cent. It would make a big difference here. Secondly, we’re a country that is already carbon-negative and we will remain so in the future. The circumstances are very different,” he noted.

Back in April last year, it was announced that Guyana had applied for a US$646 million loan from the US EXIM Bank to finance its model Gas-to-Energy Project, which includes the construction of an Integrated Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) plant and a 300-megawatt (MW) combined cycle power plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD), utilising natural gas

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

from the country’s offshore operations.

This loan application for the Gas-to-Energy initiative comes on the heels of Guyana and the US EXIM Bank signing a US$2 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in July 2022 to finance infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, water treatment and sanitation, and agricultural projects here.

The multibillion-dollar transformational project will see gas being piped from the Liza Field in the Stabroek Block to Wales, WBD via 225 kilometres of pipeline that will be procured, installed, and operated by US oil major ExxonMobil to the tune of US$1 billion.

ExxonMobil, as the operator along with its co-ven-

turers, is currently engaged in exploration and production activities in the oilrich Stabroek Block offshore Guyana. Based on studies conducted, the US oil giant would be able to produce up to 50 million cubic feet of gas per day for this initiative without impacting oil production activities offshore.

In Budget 2023, the Government allocated a whopping $43.3 billion for the Gas-to-Energy Project.

This allocation was in addition to the $24.6 billion injected into the start-up of the transformational project.

In Budget 2024, a whopping $80 billion is budgeted to advance this project and its associated infrastructure, including transmission and distribution upgrades to offtake the power. (G12)

Fifth Form Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) physical education and sport students held the second compulsory cores exhibition at Marian Academy.

The event, which was held to showcase their School-Based Assessment and entailed examining the five compulsory cores namely history and development; anatomy and physiology; fitness and performance; health and nutrition and trends and social issues. Students were divided into groups and assigned individual roles to examine the five areas on Saturday last.

Within these groups, members were also tasked with doing an informative presentation on the various elements of their core, as well as creating a booth to effectively illustrate topics pulled from their presentation.

The programme was declared open by Principal, Sr Marie Harper, OSU, and concluded at noon.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Balwant Singh’s Over 10,000 Guyana Visas, 300 Certificates of Citizenship issued in 2023 Hospital Lab accredited

H

ead of Immigration Support Services, Michelle Davis, on Thursday reported that 10,155 Guyanese visas have been issued for 2023.

She made this announcement during the Home Affairs Ministry’s Agency Review and 2024 Projections, held at its headquarters on Brickdam, Georgetown.

Of the more-than 10,000 visas issued, she explained, 4978 were for employment, 66 were for business, 64 were to facilitate students studying, 1764 were for visitors, and 3283 were landing permits.

Further, she said that these visas were issued under various categories, including extension of stay.

Permanent Secretary of the Home Affairs Ministry, Andre Ali, related that 300 Certificates of Citizenship had also been issued for 2023. In the case of marriage, citizenship takes two years after all the relevant documents had been submitted.

In September 2023, a total of 42 persons from 10 countries had received their Guyanese citizenship following the Home Affairs Ministry’s naturalisation and registration ceremony.

“We all should embrace diversity; we can all learn from each other,” the

A young boy receiving his Certificate of Citizenship from Permanent Secretary Andre Ali in September 2023

Permanent Secretary told the audience while giving brief remarks.

The ceremony also included remarks from the Head of Immigration Support Services, Michelle Davis, who expressed elation at being part of this inaugural ceremony.

Ali had told Guyana Times that that was the first time such a ceremony had been hosted, thus making it a historic event.

He noted that among the nationals who had become Guyanese citizens were Cubans, Brazilians and

Indians.

Only recently, a section of the media reported there had been an increase in applications for Guyanese citizenship.

Back in 2019, only 13 Haitians had received Guyanese citizenship since 2015, while 141 persons from 35 different nationalities, including a single Haitian, had being given Guyanese citizenship. The following year, 2020, some 192 persons were given Guyanese citizenship. The successful applicants were from 34 countries, includ-

ing one from Haiti.

In 2017, nationals from 40 countries were given citizenship. The amount totalled 230 and included seven Haitians. In 2018, some 252 persons from 42 different countries were given citizenship; seven were from Haiti. For 2020, just over 100 persons from 30 countries had received citizenship, including two Haitians.

The Ministry of Home Affairs’ website states that a person is eligible to apply for citizenship by naturalisation once that person shows they are ordinarily resident in Guyana and have been so resident throughout seven years immediately preceding the application; that they are of good character; and that they intend to reside in Guyana.

On approval, the website said, the person would be granted a Certificate of Naturalisation, and would have to take the Oath of Allegiance to Guyana.

Included in a list of requirements published on the Ministry of Home Affairs’ website is that the “applicant must advertise in the newspaper for two consecutive days that he or she is applying to the Ministry of Home Affairs for Naturalisation as a citizen of Guyana.” (G10)

new ISO Standard

D

r Balwant Singh's Hospital on Thursday announced that it is the only laboratory to have been accredited the new ISO 15189:2022 by A2LA, a USbased accreditation agency.

ISO 15189 is a globally recognised standard that reflects the laboratory's commitment to quality, competence, and excellence in medical testing and analysis. The accreditation covers a wide range of areas, including Biochemistry, Immunology, Haematology, Clinical Pathology, Point of Care Testing (POCT), and Histopathology.

According to the hospital, the laboratory has expanded its scope to include Histopathology testing, which includes various tissue section diagnoses and advanced methods like special staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC), and these are also fully accredited. This is the only lab providing Liqui prep pap smear

testing also.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Hospital, Dr Madhu Singh, who is also the Laboratory Director, has expressed her dedication to the laboratory's commitment to quality and excellence in laboratory services.

The laboratory's journey includes implementing cutting-edge technologies and methodologies to optimise workflows and enhance test accuracy and reliability.

A robust quality assurance programme supports this, featuring regular internal audits, proficiency testing, and continuous staff training.

A release from the medical facility has also stated that the laboratory has also established the first telepathology lab in Guyana, offering the shortest turnaround time in the region. “Our histopathology can be read across the globe due to our telepathology cutting-edge equipment”.

Protect yourself from Saharan Dust – Health Ministry warns vulnerable groups

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he Health Ministry is warning persons with vulnerable conditions to protect themselves amid the low air quality brought on by the Saharan Dust, which can post significant health risks.

Poor air quality conditions have been detected on the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara, and in some parts of Georgetown.

While particulate pollution would affect everyone, some people are more vulnerable to experiencing health problems. They include babies, children, older adults, and persons with asthma and other respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.

According to the Health Ministry, breathing in dust can immediately affect a person, causing coughing, asthma attacks, scratchy throat, irritated sinuses, and skin and eye irritation.

“This is a result of the Saharan Dust, a type of particulate matter that comes from the Sahara Desert in Northern Africa (and) can be harmful to your health,” the Health Ministry has said.

The dust comprises particles that can be blown through high-speed winds and transported thousands

Bank Demerara; Vilvoorden; Central Georgetown; and Linden in Region 10 all show particulate matter levels significantly above the WHO standard for ‘good’ air quality.

It has been forecasted that the haze caused by Saharan Dust would contin-

ue to develop; and, as such, extra caution should be taken on the roadways.

The Saharan Dust plume is a layer of sand, dirt and dust lifted from the Sahara Desert in North Africa. It is transported by the trade winds from North Africa as they travel over

the Atlantic Ocean and through the Caribbean and South America. The reach of the plume is dependent on the wind and weather.

The Saharan Dust plume is a normal phenomenon that may occur several times throughout the year.

Education Minister to serve on board of Global Partnership for Education

E of miles through the air. The Health Ministry is advising that persons take necessary measures to reduce exposure to the polluted air. This can be done by limiting the amount of time spent outside.

“If you have to be outside, reduce your exposure to the dust by wearing an N95 or KN95 face mask.

Ensure it fits tightly, and you wear it correctly at all times”, the Health Ministry has advised.

It has also been recommended that persons per-

form easy activities, like walking as opposed to running. The ministry has outlined, “If you experience difficulty breathing, or other symptoms that are quickly progressing, visit your nearest health facility for medical assistance.”

The Environmental Protection Agency has reportedly predicted that this Saharan Dust phenomenon is expected to last until February 7. The agency had said its air quality sensors located at Whim; West Coast Berbice; Eccles, East

ducation Minister Priya Manickchand will, for the next two years, serve on the board of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), having been appointed as an alternate board member of the Global Partnership for Education from January 2024 to December 2026.

The GPE is a leading organization that ensures inclusive and equitable education for all, and is the only global fund solely dedicated to education, thus ensuring that every boy and girl could have hope, opportunity and agency.

Through its partnership, GPE brings together all partners invested in ed-

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

ucation; consisting of more than 60 developing countries, donors, international organisations, civil societies, teacher organisations, the private sector, and foun-

dations; and through this mechanism, GPE mobilizes financing and knowledge to create sustainable solutions to education issues around the world.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

IMF backs Milei’s reforms, says Brazil investigates alleged risks to Argentina’s US$44B oil spill from tanker in 2023 loan programme remain B razil is looking for information on an alleged September 2023 tanker oil spill off its northern coast, after NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO) Arayara InstituteArayara Institute, which is focused on environmental issues, on Thursday said satellite images showed an apparent 170-square-kilometre (66-square-mile) spill.

According to a prelim-

T

he International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Argentina was committed to accumulating international reserves and stemming a central bank financing of Government debt under the latest review of its US$44 billion loan programme, as the global lender backed a set of reforms proposed by President Javier Milei’s new Administration.

The IMF called Milei’s stabilisation plan for Argentina’s embattled economy “bold” and “far more ambitious” than those put forth by his predecessors in the South American country, citing the reform mandate of his landslide election victory late last year as a positive given the challenges of its implementation.

“The authorities’ strong ownership and electoral mandate to eliminate fiscal deficits and long-standing impediments to growth (many benefiting vested in-

President Javier Milei

terests) mitigate implementation risks,” the IMF said in a staff report on Argentina published on Thursday.

Yet the IMF acknowledged that risks to the programme’s success were high, given the “very difficult inheritance” from failed policies and a “complex political and social backdrop, with a fragmented Congress, falling real wages, and high poverty”.

The Fund said Argentina

also committed “in the near term” to eliminate “distortive exchange restrictions and multiple currency practices” and to ban central bank credit to the Government.

Separately on Thursday, the Fund’s Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Argentina and the IMF were at this point “not discussing a new programme”.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Cardinal found alive after missing for 2 days – Police

J

ose Luis Lacunza, a Roman Catholic Cardinal who was reported missing for two days, has been found “safe and sound” in Boquete, an area near his diocese in western Panama, the Panamanian Police said on X on Thursday.

A video shared on the social platform shows a Police Officer speaking with the 79-year-old SpanishPanamanian bishop of the Diocese of David -- the country’s senior Catholic cleric -through a car window.

(Reuters)

A Police officer speaking to Jose Luis Lacunza, a Roman Catholic Cardinal, who has been found “safe and sound” after being reported missing for two days, in Boquete, Panama February 1, 2024, in this screen grab obtained from social media video (Policia Nacional de Panama @ProtegeryServir via X/via Reuters)

inary assessment, the potential leak may have originated from a Panamanian vessel, the institute said in a statement.

The Executive Secretary at Brazil’s Environment Ministry, Joao Paulo Capobianco, told Journalists in Brasilia the Government was seeking more details and monitoring the “alleged oil spill”.

Capobianco said preliminary information the

Government gathered pointed to a potential oil spill located in international waters off Brazil’s coast, though the information needed to be corroborated.

The Government planned to contact the International Maritime Organisation and was coordinating with the Brazilian Navy to ascertain which vessels were present in the area around the time of the alleged incident.

(Reuters)

Tesla opens 1st South America store in Chilean capital

T

esla opened its first South American store this week, displaying its sleek electric vehicles (EVs) at an upscale mall in Chile’s capital Santiago, as the automaker grapples with a slowdown in EV demand and the growth of Chinese rivals.

Tesla has retail outlets in Mexico, but had yet to expand into South America, according to its website.

Chile has a target to sell only electric vehicles by 2035, although EV-adoption is still low in general in Latin America, with consumers wary of high prices and limited charging station networks.

The company led by billionaire Elon Musk hosted a launch event on Thursday at the new Santiago store that attracted fans of the highend auto known for its autopilot features.

“Seeing it here in person is so exciting,” said Noemi Schuffeneger, who stopped to take a photo alongside the red, white and black model Y and 3 vehicles. “It’s one of

People stand by a Tesla booth during the inauguration of its first store in Santiago, Chile, February 1, 2024 (Reuters/Pablo Sanhueza photo)

my favourite cars.”

Tesla staff explained features such as the air conditioning, with one representative pointing out air vents that he said worked differently than in a “conventional car”.

The company took some of its first publicly known steps into South America in September, when it registered the business in Chile with the purpose of “the import, export, manufacturing,

marketing, distribution and sale of vehicles, especially electric vehicles”.

The registration also included other commercial activities like the generation and supply of energy and electricity.

The company has not further detailed its plans for Chile, which holds one of the world’s largest reserves of lithium, a key component for the batteries used in EVs. (Excerpt from Reuters)

UWI classes go online Former Panama President’s return to as strike continues office endangered by graft sentence

T

he strike at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus, Barbados has started to affect on-site teaching.

Some students turned up for classes on Thursday morning only to discover that classrooms were still locked. Bathrooms are also locked.

Classes are now online as the West Indies Group

of University Teachers (WIGUT) has agreed to continue teaching.

Workers at the Cave Hill Campus went on strike on Wednesday, protesting the long delay in receiving a salary increase, dating back to August last year.

UWI says it has correspondence from March 2023 when it first engaged the Ministry of Education on the matter. (Nation News)

F

ormer Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli is hoping to convince voters to give him a second chance in an election on May 5, but a decade-long prison sentence for money laundering could imperil his run.

Martinelli’s candidacy could implode if Panama’s top court upholds a 128-month prison sentence for money launder-

ing handed down last year for his role in a case known as “New Business”, which alleges public funds were used to buy a media conglomerate and give him a majority stake.

His lawyers announced they would appeal the sentence in a press conference held hours after the ruling was published in July last year, denying that the former President had used

public funds for the transaction.

Panama’s Constitution bars from the presidency anyone condemned to a prison sentence of five years or more.

One of Martinelli’s lawyers, Carlos Carrillo, told Reuters the defence expects the court to accept the appeal, adding that even a rejection would not rule out his candidacy immediately.

Martinelli said on X this week that he would be “happy to” pass on his votes to running mate Jose Raul Mulino if he is barred, arguing his party would win under that scenario too.

Martinelli, a multimillionaire supermarket magnate, held office from 2009 to 2014 after a campaign in which he called himself “the crazy man”.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024

19

Around the World

Biden imposes sanctions on Israeli OILNEWS OIL NEWS settlers accused of West Bank violence Oil prices fall as market T monitors Middle East developments

O

il prices fell Thursday as traders monitored efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) contract for March fell US$2.03, or 2.68 per cent, to settle at US$73.82 a barrel. The Brent contract for April fell US$1.85, or 2.30 per cent, to settle at US$78.70 a barrel.

The benchmarks had risen more than one per cent earlier in the session as the market digested the outcome of an Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) committee meeting and the Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates.

The OPEC committee said Thursday the group’s members were adhering to production cuts after reviewing data from November and December of 2023. The committee proposed no change to OPEC’s decision to slash 2.2 million barrels per day from the market this quarter.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday held benchmark interest rates steady and indicated that rates had likely topped out. Lower interest rates typical boost economic growth which buoys oil demand. Chairman Jerome Powell, however, indicated that rate cuts were unlikely to come in March.

“Any kicker that investors were seeking from Jerome Powell’s post-FOMC, unchanged rate decision, was sadly lacking,” wrote John Evans with oil broker PVM in a note Thursday. “Still, Powell’s language implies that the market is likely to get interest rate relief at some point this year.”

Oil posted its first monthly gain since September in January on stronger-than-expected economic growth in the US, a disruption to US output due to winter storms, and stimulus in China.

The US and Iran are also on the brink of a more direct confrontation in the Middle East after a drone strike by militants allied with Tehran killed three US troops in Jordan last weekend.

Anxiety about China’s economy has weighed on the market over the past several months, but JPMorgan is forecasting growth of 4.9 per cent this year as Beijing ramps up stimulus.

There are few signs that China’s oil demand is slowing, according to Natasha Kaneva, head of global commodities strategy at the investment bank.

“Geopolitics aside, our view remains that 2024 will be fundamentally a healthy year for the oil market and we recommended using December's sell-off as a buying opportunity,” Kaneva told clients in a Wednesday research note.

“We believe the lows are behind us and continue to see Brent oil trading in high $80s by May with a distinct possibility of crude overshooting our price target to the upside,” Kaneva wrote. (Reuters)

he Biden Administration on Thursday imposed sanctions on four Israeli men it accused of being involved in settler violence in the West Bank, signalling growing US displeasure with the policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

President Joe Biden issued an executive order on Thursday that aims to punish ill-behaved Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinians envisage a future State.

The order establishes a system for imposing financial sanctions and visa restrictions against individuals who attack or intimidate Palestinians or seize their property, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in a state-

Israeli troops standing guard near a shooting scene in Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 1, 2024 (Reuters/Mussa Qawasma photo)

ment.

"Today’s actions seek to promote peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike," he said.

The State Department

Ukraine support package worth €50B agreed by EU leaders

EU leaders at a pre-summit meeting on Thursday morning (Getty Images)

A

ll 27 European Union (EU) leaders have agreed on a €50 billion (£42 billion) aid package for Ukraine, after Hungary stopped blocking the deal.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomed the new funding, saying it would strengthen the country's economic and financial stability.

Ukraine's Economic Ministry said it expected the first tranche in March.

There had been fears Hungary's Prime Minister would again block the package as he did at a European summit in December.

PM Viktor Orban, Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest ally in the EU, had said he wanted to force a rethink

State of emergency declared in Catalonia as region faces worst-ever drought

T

he Spanish region of Catalonia has declared a state of emergency as it faces its worst drought on record.

From Thursday residents will be banned from washing their cars and filling up empty swimming pools under measures brought in to tackle the crisis.

More than six million Catalans will be affected across 200 towns and cities, including the capital Barcelona.

The restrictions were announced after reservoirs fell to close to 16 per cent of their capacity.

"It's still not raining,"

Farmers have been hit hard by the drought

Anna Casòliva Freixe told the BBC, looking out of the window of her bakery. "It's worrying if you don't have enough water."

Anna lives and works in Berga, a town high up in the mountains north of Barcelona which has been

sanctions, freezing the US assets of the four men and generally barring Americans from dealing with them, are the latest since Palestinian Hamas militants on October

7 carried out an attack on Israel and Israel responded with an assault on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.

In December, the United States began imposing visa bans on people involved in violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

"Israel must do more to stop violence against civilians in the West Bank and hold accountable those responsible for it," US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said in a separate statement.

"The United States will continue to take actions to advance the foreign policy objectives of the United States, including the viability of a two-State solution, and is committed to the safety, security, and dignity of Israelis and Palestinians alike." (Excerpt from Reuters)

hit hard by the drought.

"We need water to make bread -- we need water to make the dough," she said.

"But we need it at home as well: for the washing machine, to shower and so on."

Spain is familiar with dry conditions and other ar-

eas of the country are also suffering droughts, including Andalusia in the south and the eastern region of Valencia.

However, Catalonia, which borders southern France, is less used to such conditions, forcing officials to consider bringing in water by ship to Barcelona should it run dry. This measure was previously adopted in 2008.

Other initial emergency restrictions will include a sharp reduction in the use of water for crop farming and industry, and the capping of water supplies per inhabitant per day. (Excerpt from BBC News)

of the bloc's policy towards Ukraine and questioned the idea of committing funds for Kyiv for the next four years.

The new funding promise comes as aid from the US -- the largest provider of military support for Kyiv -- is being held up by Congress.

"I think it will be an encouragement for the United States also to do their fair

share," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

The agreement was announced less than two hours after the summit started, surprising many observers who had expected talks to go on much longer due to the depth of disagreement between Orban and the other EU leaders. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Tunisian Opposition Leader sentenced to 3 years

A

Tunisian court has sentenced Opposition Leader Rached Ghannouchi to three years in prison over accusations that his Ennahda Party received foreign contributions, official news agency Tunis Afrique Press (TAP) reported, amid an escalating crackdown on dissent in the North African country.

The trial court, which specialises in financial corruption, also fined Ennahda US$1.1 million for receiving foreign funds, TAP said on Thursday.

Ghannouchi’s son-inlaw Rafik Abdessalem, a former Foreign Minister, was sentenced to three years in jail as well.

Ennahda rejected the accusations against the party, Ghannouchi and Abdessalem, describing the sentence as part of the “steam of injustices” that the group and other “democratic forces” in Tunisia are facing.

“Ennahda has never received foreign funding, and its only bank account is under the inspection of all the

Rached Ghannouchi, head of the Ennahda Party, was arrested on separate charges in 2023 (File: Zoubeir Souissi/ Reuters)

judicial and financial institutions,” the group said in a statement, vowing to continue to work to defend democracy.

A former Speaker of the Tunisian Parliament, Ghannouchi, 82, was arrested last year and sentenced to one year in jail on separate charges of incitement.

Rights groups previously denounced Ghannouchi’s detention, accusing the Government of President Kais Saied of repressing political opposition. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

20

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

(March 21-April 19)

Spend more time creating and putting everything in its place and less time trying to convince others to support your goal. Move forward alone and prove you can call the shots and finish what you start.

Think before you act. Put a plan in place if you want to be successful.

Opportunity is apparent and working for yourself will be necessary, so do what needs to be done.

PICKLES (April 20-May 20)

Talk to experts, learn all you can and consider what’s valid. Have the confidence to follow through with your plans.

Refuse to let anyone put you down or make you feel inadequate.

(May 21-June 20) Dive in and show everyone what you can offer. Mingle, share thoughts and make plans with people who have something to contribute. A change of plans will encourage an opportunity to learn.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Implementing too much too fast will slow you down. Concentrate on doing one thing at a time, and you’ll put a dent in your to-do list. A partnership will weigh you down and lead to regret.

(July 23-Aug. 22) Live and learn. Step into the mainstream and discover what’s available to help you advance. Network, share your thoughts and be ready to act. The changes you make will serve you well.

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

Stay focused on your responsibilities.

Refuse to let outside influences take control or manipulate your time and skills to serve their purposes. Protect what you’ve worked hard to achieve.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Set the record straight, say what’s on your mind and move forward with gratitude and determination. Step outside your comfort zone if it will help you get the results you need to prove your point.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Rely on the people who have never let you down. Question anything that might jeopardize your position or reputation. Poor behavior will change how others perceive you. Be a straight shooter.

Pay attention to detail. Don’t brag about your accomplishments; if you proceed with confidence and determination, you’ll gain the respect and opportunity you deserve.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Take a moment to rethink what makes you happy. Fine-tune your life; a simple adjustment can make a difference. Expand your options to include laughter, learning and love.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Don’t limit your achievements. Be innovative and use your skills uniquely, and you’ll attract the people and opportunities that enable you to achieve your goals.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2024

21

Public ticket ballot now opened for historic Men’s T20 World Cup

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he countdown to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, which takes place in the West Indies and USA from 1-29 June 2024, starts today with the launch of the public ticket ballot, giving fans around the world a fair and equitable chance to apply for tickets to the biggest cricket carnival spectacle ever.

For fans wanting to watch their favourite teams and players in action at some of the most iconic cricket stadiums in the world, the ballot is the best opportunity for them to get tickets to all the matches they want, at the venues they want, and for the ticket category they want.

With demand for all games expected to be high, at any stage during the ballot period, fans can apply for up to six tickets per match, and for as many matches as they want, from now until 23h59 (11:59pm) Antigua Standard Time on 7 February 2024. The ballot is not a first-come firstserved system, and all applicants within the seven-day window would have an equal chance to obtain tickets.

Following the ballot, any remaining tickets will go on general sale on 22 February at tickets.t20worldcup.com.

Tickets to all 55 matches are accessibly priced to entice both cricket enthusiasts and new fans to the sport. Prices start at just US$6 and over 260,000 tickets will be on sale across the group stage, Super

Shakera Selman, Women’s T20 World Cup winner 2016 Eight and semi-finals; and are priced at US$25 and under.

Ticket categories and prices can be viewed here.

Following the closure of the ballot, successful applicants would receive an email notifying them of the matches to which they have secured tickets, and would be provided with a link through which payment would need to be made.

If payment is not completed within the allotted time, those tickets would be returned to the pool of tickets that would be released for general sale on a first-come, first-served basis.

Start times for all matches are now confirmed here, and the evening semi-final in

Trinidad and Tobago will now be played on 26 June (reserve day 27 June) with the morning Guyana semi-final moving to 27 June (reserve day 28 June) to allow suitable travel time for the teams that progress to the final.

ICC Head of Events, Chris Tetley, said: “We are thrilled to launch tickets for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the USA. The ticket ballot process will give all fans from across the world an equal opportunity to get their hands on tickets, and applications can be made at any point over the next seven days, as long as it is submitted by the closing time and date. Don’t miss the chance to be a part of the biggest Men’s T20 World Cup ever, with 20 teams competing in 55 matches across 29 days.”

Cricket West Indies (CWI) Chief Executive, Johnny Grave, said: “With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 being 121 days away, the countdown to the most thrilling ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on the planet has begun.

The ballot period, which runs from 1 – 7 February 2024, is the perfect opportunity for cricket fans to apply for match tickets to any of the 55 games.

“The ticket ballot process is rooted in our commitment to fairness, inclusivity, and providing a memorable experience for fans worldwide. It is used at major world events,

World Cup winners: Desmond Haynes (50 over 1979); Ashley Nurse (T20 2016); Fidel Edwards (T20 2012); Sulieman Benn (T20 2016) and is established as a fair and equitable way to ensure that all fans have an equal opportunity to secure tickets to the games they want to attend.

“One of the other advantages of the ballot system is that fans do not have to rush to apply for tickets the minute the window opens, as the ballot system is not operated on a first-come, first-served basis. All applications received at tickets.t20worldcup.com. during the ballot window have an equal opportunity to acquire tickets, regardless of if those applications were submitted on the first day of the ballot window or the last.”

Peter Hutton, Chair of T20 World Cup USA, Inc. said:

W

Joshua DaSilva will lead T&T Red Force in the upcoming 4-Day Championships

matches in March at Queen’s Park Oval.

On March 13-16, T&T will face the Windward Islands Volcanoes at the Oval, before facing Barbados Pride at the same venue later that month.

The Red Force will then travel to Jamaica to face CCC from April 10-13 at Chedwin Park, before ending their campaign against hosts Jamaica Scorpions from April 17-20 at Sabina Park.

The Red Force will leave for St Kitts on Sunday, where they will play three matches, starting next Wednesday.

RED FORCE SQUAD:

Joshua Da Silva (captain), Bryan Charles (vice-captain), Amir Jangoo, Imran Khan, Terrance Hinds, Jason Mohammed, Jyd Goolie, Jayden Seales, Anderson Phillip, Vikash Mohan, Cephas Cooper, Tion Webster, Khary Pierre.

Sebastien Edwards (manager), David Furlonge (coach), Rayad Emrit (assistant coach), Ruel Rigsby (physio), Shane Burnett (S&C coach).

(Sportsmax)

ent countries, with the semi-finals to be played in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana on 26 and 27 June respectively, and the title decider to be played in Barbados on 29 June.

For a full list of starting times for matches, click here.

Traveling 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.

Hospitality options will also be available soon, so you can register your interest to be the first to hear when these are released.

Magnum Mash Cup…

Champs Back Circle open defence against Team Family

Da Silva to lead T&T Red Force in West Indies Championship D

est Indies wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva has taken the reins from Darren Bravo and will captain the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force during the upcoming West Indies Championship.

Having led the West Indies ‘A’ team on their tour to South Africa late last year, Da Silva isn’t new to the captaincy. However, he would have to also step up with the bat in the absence of Bravo, who was the leading batter for the Red Force last year.

Meanwhile, Bryan Charles has been named vice-captain of the squad, which includes fit-again pacers Jayden Seales and Terrance Hinds, as well as veterans Imran Khan and Jason Mohammed.

T&T will open their campaign against defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles at Conaree Cricket Ground in St Kitts from February 7-10, before facing the West Indies Academy at the same venue from February 14-17.

T&T will complete their St Kitts leg of the tournament on February 21-24 against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Warner Park, before returning to Trinidad for two

“Hosting this event in the U.S. is a watershed moment for cricket in this country.

Cricket is beginning to take off in the U.S., and in advance of the sport’s inclusion in the LA2028 Olympic Games, this will be an extraordinary opportunity for long-time fans and those new to the excitement of T20 cricket to get a first-hand, in-person look at the carnival of cricket.”

Ten of the 20 teams will play their first match of the 29-day tournament in the USA, with 16 games to be held in Lauderhill, Florida, Dallas, Texas, and Nassau County in New York. The remaining 39 matches will be played in the West Indies across six differ-

efending champion Back Circle will open defence of their title against Team Family in this year’s one-night Magnum Mash Cup, which is scheduled to be played on February 18 at the National Park.

According to Organiser Edison Jefford, sixteen teams have been invited to participate in the competition, which has prize monies totalling more than $1million, along with trophies.

Among the other top teams that received invitations are Sparta Boss, Gold is Money, Bent Street, Agricola, Stabroek Ballers, California Square, Festival City, Team Cruel, Team Extreme, and North East La Penitence.

This experienced organizer, in an invited comment, promised fans another tournament in which they can expect end-to-end action. He added that the defending champs would have to be at their best to stave off the anticipated challenges of the other teams.

“I am going out on a limb here to guarantee fans one night of fireworks and adrenaline-charged ac- tion. The

teams have been engaged in other tournaments leading up to this big night, so they are ready and excited to put on a good exhibition of street-style football,” Jefford disclosed.

He added that apart from the lucrative prizes on offer, teams are known also to take bragging rights seriously, so the eventual winner would no doubt feel proud to walk around the Capital City with the title of the best on their shoulders for one year.

The winning team will take home $500,000; while second, third and fourth place finishers would receive $250,000, $150,000 and $100,000 respectively.

Questioned whether one day was sufficient to conclude such a highly anticipated event, Jefford has said the punctuality and discipline of teams would be crucial, so he is depending on all the teams to exhibit the necessary requirements to make the tournament a success.

“Preferably, I would have liked to play eight of the best teams, but because of the

demand by other teams to be included, I was left with no choice but to increase the number of participants to sixteen. It was a difficult call; these were teams who supported all my tournaments in the past, and I felt obligated to include them, with strict emphasis on punctuality,” Jefford has mentioned.

“I am going to create an atmosphere similar to that of Mashramani, which is traditionally littered with colour, pomp and ceremony, so fans will be getting an early glimpse of the annual celebration and at the same time having the opportunity to get in the mood for the festivities,” he explained.

He has extended profound gratitude to all members of the corporate community who have pledged support for the event, while Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken has been commended for his usual support to augment safety and security for patrons.

The date for the launch of the tournament will be announced shortly.

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2024

‘Something different’ - Pollard …As Slingerz face Brazilian club in friendly

R

ecently qualified Elite League team Slingerz Football Club will this Saturday, February 3rd, come up against São Raimundo Esporte Clube in an international friendly match in preparation for the Elite League’s commencement later this month.

The game will be hosted in Boa Vista, Brazil, and as such, the Guyanese team travelled to Boa Vista, through the Lethem trail on Thursday.

Before the team’s departure, however, Guyana Times Sport was able to catch up with Head Coach Charles Pollard

“I think we didn’t have much time to prepare; it’s only our first week, 8 days.

Brought in some new players, they take a little while to blend, but I’m feeling a little confident with the squad itself. But with the preparation, I think we about 40-50% with preparation. Not complaining and making excuses, but the game will be a difficult game; but we up to the challenge,” Pollard shared with this publication.

Western Tigers’ Curtez Kellman and Marcus Wilson, Santos’s Darron Niles and Guyana Police Force (GPF)

The coach divulged, “I want to play football a specific way, and these guys that I brought in, I handpicked them. These are ingredients I need to make my team fluctuate and play better. I think I looked for quality, leadership, a little bit of desire, and also discipline.”

Turning his attention to Saturday’s friendly, Pollard related that it would offer a different experience to the Guyanese team. He explained: “A lot respect must go to the President [of Slingerz FC, Javid Ali], he did his best to make this game possible. I Slingerz FC Head Coach, Charles Pollard (Jemima Holmes Photo)

Curtez Kellman and Darron Niles are among the new faces that were ‘handpicked’ for the Slingerz team (Jemima Holmes Photo)

the result he is hoping to get from the friendly. “I don’t know what to expect from the team basically, but I think we’re prepared. We going with fight. I think a win would be good for us, for our morale; but we looking to see that players enjoy themselves in the game most of all,” Pollard revealed to Guyana Times Sport.

The team opposing Slingerz has been competing in the Brazilian Championship Serie D, and has won nine consecutive league titles from 2016 to 2023. Meanwhile, the Elite League Season 6 is scheduled to kick off on Sunday, February 25th at the NTC, Providence, EBD. (Jemima Holmes)

coach added, “I think it’s a good thing for the players. It’s something different in Guyana football especially. Most times we just play, we train, and waiting for the tournament. I think this brings a different experience to the guys.”

The Head Coach went on to respond to inquiries about Slingerz FC will face off with São Raimundo Esporte Clube on Saturday

at a practice session at the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) National Training Center (NTC), Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD); where the Head Coach shared how preparation has gone since booking their spot in the Elite League three weeks ago.

FC’s Shemar Fraser are among the players who were picked up by Slingerz in the recently closed January transfer window.

In explaining what he was looking to add to the team, Pollard noted that the group was carefully handpicked.

think it’s a lot of sacrifice, a lot of funds; but he reached out to the Brazilian team and we negotiate, agree and disagree to certain things, and then we come to agree that, look, we can play the game”.

The former Golden Jaguars international turned

DCB SVC Senior Inter-Associations T20 Tournament finals…

High-octane finals set for Saturday at Bourda Ground

T

he Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) SVC Inter-Association T20 culminates this Saturday, February 3rd, with teams putting all their chips on the table as action takes place at the Georgetown Cricket Club Ground.

East Bank Cricket Association (EBCA) Eagles versus East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) Canje Pheasants Opening Saturday’s double-header will be the Eagles looking to prey on the Pheasants in the 9:00h game.

Eagles have been playing well to date, having reached the final stages thanks to their collection of all-round pieces.

Veteran Ricky Sargeant will be a key piece for East Bank in both departments, especially with the bat.

Another key player for the Eagles will be Leon Swamy, who has been exceptional with the ball, alongside Budan Bakash, who had 4 wickets against the mighty Georgetown.

On the side, former Test batsman and current team captain, Rajendra Chandrika, will be keen to utilize all his experience as the Canje Pheasants seek to finish the competition on a high note.

Chandrika, along with Nicholas Shiopersaud, Robin Williams, Sachin Singh, Nizam Khan and others, will prove more than enough for the Eagles.

West Demerara Cricket Association (WDCA) Jaguars versus Georgetown Cricket

with speedsters Dwain Dick, Ronaldo Alimohamed and Barnwell likely to continue their wicket-taking form.

Spinners Devon Lord and

Ronaldo Alimohamed

Raymond Perez

Association (GCA) Panthers Arguably the best team of the tournament to date, GCA Panthers will be seeking to maintain their dominance when they face the Jaguars of West Demerara in a battle of the big cats.

With Shemroy Barrington, Raymon Perez, Johnathan Van Lange, Chris Barnwell all in impeccable batting form throughout the stretch of the competition, more could be expected from Georgetown’s core during this final assignment.

GCA will also rely on their in-form seam bowlers,

Steven Sankar are also key figures, and have been among the best spinners in the tournament.

West Demerara have been playing good cricket, and should Skipper Akshaya Persaud continue his cracking batting form, should put up a strong fight against the star-studded Jaguars.

Persaud, Richie Looknauth, opener Ushardeva Balgobin and Sheldon Alexander will need to continue their form with the bat, while Mahendra Dhanpaul and Kishaun Tracy have been solid wicket-takers for the Jaguars.

GCF Grand Prix series to continue this weekend

T

he Guyana Chess Federation, in collaboration with tournament sponsor International Import & Supplies, will embark on the second leg of the 2024 GCF Grand Prix series in February.

The consecutive weekend event, being played at the National Stadium, Providence, will begin this weekend, February 3rd–4th, and continue on 10th–11th February. The Grand Prix 2 tournament will consist of 8 rounds under a time control of 90 minutes, with 30 seconds of additional time after each move. Matches will be assigned using the Swiss system for the tournament.

The GCF expects a strong turnout of players, including those who competed in the Grand Prix One event.

The lineup of players, a mix of seniors and juniors, will compete in 2 divisions: the open and female.

The sponsor, International Import & Supplies, has provided a prize fund of $70,000, and the top 3 finishers in each division will take home $20,000, $10,000 and $5,000.

The tournament is FIDE (International Chess Federation)-rated, allowing players to improve their international rating with each point gained throughout the event.

A glimpse of what to expect in the GCF Grand Prix series Grand Prix one winner, National Junior Champion Keron Sandiford, and runner-up Kyle Couchman will

return to contest the open division, while Shazeeda Rahim, back from her hiatus, will compete to hold her lead along with rising star Aditi Joshi and reigning Women’s Champion Jessica Callender. The tournament would also feature veteran player Candidate Master Ronuel Greenidge, who is returning to the national chess scene after four years.

The Guyana Chess Federation’s 2024 Grand Prix series is part of the qualification system for the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary in September this year. This event will pro-

vide more opportunities for players to test their skills and work on improving their strategies for the opening, middle and endgame.

The Federation welcomes its new sponsor, International Import and Supplies, to the Guyana chess community, and extends its sincere thanks for their support and commitment to the development of chess. The GCF looks forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership with IIS, one of the premier names in the construction industry.

Caption: Evin Lewis and Rashid Khan were teammates at St Kitts & Nevis Patriots last season

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2024

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Joyous scenes as Shamar Joseph is greeted by family, supporters upon return M

any were moved to tears on Thursday afternoon as joyous cheers, bright smiles, and celebrations met Guyanese fast bowler Shamar Joseph when he disembarked a British Airways flight at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) as he returned home after his heroics in Brisbane, Australia.

Joseph, who hails from Baracara, a Canje riverine community in East Berbice, gained international stardom on Sunday last when he routed the Australian batting line-up by taking 7-68, to lead West Indies to their first victory Down Under in 27 years.

A smiling Joseph was immediately embraced by his mother, while he took his son into his arms even as the hugs ensued from his partner and other close relatives.

Apart from his immediate family members, it appeared as though the entire village of Baracara had made the trip to the capital city to give Joseph the hero’s welcome that he so deserves.

“The win? That was one of our favourite moments as a team, you know. For myself, I was very happy that we achieve a great win in Australia. It’s something great!” Joseph shared as he reflected on the historic win

Shamar Joseph addressing those gathered at the CJIA to welcome him home

Sport Minister Charles Ramson jr.

Shamar Joseph is flanked by members of the Baracara community and family

A section of the jubilant supporters who gathered to give Shamar Joseph a hero’s welcome

Shamar Joseph is surrounded by Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr., DoS Steve Ninvalle, and GCB President Bissoondyal Singh

Shamar Joseph taking a photo opportunity with his Guyana Harpy Eagles teammates

with Guyanese media operatives. He added, “All we were thinking about was getting that win and be happy as a team and make our country

proud.”

Touching on the grand reception at the CJIA on Thursday and the support from the wider Caribbean, the fast bowler related, “It

lift me up a lot, you know.

Knowing that you have support and people that believe in you is actually great. So, going out there to play with a lot of support behind your

back is actually important to us. We felt it all the way from the entire Caribbean, not just Guyana. The entire Caribbean supported us! So, that was great for us.”

Possibly beaming even more brightly than Joseph were his parents, who were overcome with emotion at his arrival.

Joseph’s mother, Carlin Joseph, shared, “Well, I must say that we don’t have a TV up there, we look on our phone; but I’m so proud when I see all these things that he’s doing, and I’m happy. Right now I can’t even express my feelings, with so much joy in my heart; because I feel so sad afterward

to know that he’s trying to do so much, and God will see him through.”

A proud Eustace Joseph, the cricketer’s father, expressed, “I just cannot express! It is a joyous occasion! I’m extremely happy to welcome my son back to Guyana!”

Joseph’s father continued, “It was a joyful moment, because everybody loves Shamar and everybody going out for him. People in Baracara never come out to watch cricket, but that particular night, the entire village come out to see Shamar perform.”

Among the officials who welcomed Joseph was Sport

Minister Charles Ramson jr., who had an outpouring of encouragement for the cricketer. The Sport Minister declared, “This is God’s work!

I don’t often get moved by a lot of things, but when I saw on that night - in fact, I don’t usually stay up late for particular events. I happened to have been up that night, and thank God I was up. I had the opportunity to see this young man,” Ramson Jr. stated.

“Our pure intention and goal for you is that you must be the greatest that you could possibly be ever,” the Sport Minister further related.

Joseph is also expected to meet with President Dr. Irfaan Ali at State House.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2024

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

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GCF Grand Prix series to ‘Something different’ - Pollard continue this weekend …As Slingerz face Brazilian club in friendly Pg 22

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