Guyana Times - Friday, February 3, 2023

Dancers wow patrons at Reg 2 Mashramani competition

Presidential office to be relocated to a different region for 2 days every month – President Ali

...says initiative will strengthen governance, enhance delivery of services to citizens

...Corentyne woman gets land title on spot, elderly man to get one-year free medical supply

$781.9B Budget 2023 passed in National Assembly – Govt, Opposition MPs underscore need to work together

See story on page 3 Page 13

$24.6B spent thus far on gas-to-shore project – PM tells National Assembly

Page 7

P14 Page 10

Motorcyclist dies after colliding with pedestrian at Canal No 1 Polder

Law to be tweaked for diplomats, senior Govt officials to use sirens, flashing lights – Min Benn ...says $400M for acquisition of private lands for pipeline Cuban national perishes after minibus, pick-up explode at Mabura

GPF partners with NAPS, UNDP to provide "stigma-free environment"

Prices of livestock, nontraditional agricultural items remain stable − GMC Alarming hike in drug smuggling through personal consignments worrying – GRA Granger objects to Justice Singh presiding over $2.6B libel trial

Norton Street businessman nabbed with $5.9M worth of ganja

Fifty-year-old businessman Kirk Browne, aka “Coco Tea”, of Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, has been arrested following the discovery of a quantity of ganja on his premises during an operation executed by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) on Wednesday, February 1. CANU, in a release, has said that on the day in question, officers conducted an operation at the premises of the businessman, and unearthed several parcels of cannabis. Browne and others were arrested and taken to CANU Headquarters,

where the cannabis was weighed and amounted to 42 pounds, which has a street value of $5.9 million.

The suspects remain in custody assisting with investigations.

Butcher remanded on attempted murder charge

Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Wednesday remanded to prison 24-year-old Omesh Ramdan of Vreeden-Hoop Squatting Area, West Coast Demerara, on an indictable charge of attempted murder.

Particulars of that charge detail that on January 27, at the Georgetown Ferry Stelling at Stabroek, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded David Pear with intent to murder him.

The prosecution’s case is that Pear was at a stall in the Stabroek Market area at about 18:10h on the day in question when Ramdan, a butcher, ran towards him with a knife. Pear hid behind a stall as Ramdan ran past him in proceeding towards the stelling. He then followed Ramdan, approached him, and asked him if he had just robbed someone.

Annoyed by the question, Ramdan dealt Pear several stabs to his body with the knife. The injured man collapsed to the ground, and was later picked up by an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he remains hospitalised.

Police later arrested Ramdan and charged him with the crime.

Businessman Kirk Browne

The ganja that was found on the premises of the businessman

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Friday, February 3 –04:00h-05:30h and Saturday, February 4 – 04:30h-06:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, February 3 –14:50h-16:20h and Saturday, February 4 – 15:35h-17:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light rain showers are expected throughout the day and into the evening. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North North-Easterly to East NorthEasterly between 1.78 metres and 4.92 metres.

High Tide: 15:20h reaching a maximum height of 2.35 metres.

Low Tide: 08:54h and 21:25h reaching minimum heights of 1.02 metres and 0.84 metre.

OP 2-day outreach to Reg 6

Presidential office to be relocated to a different

for 2

every month – President Ali

President Dr Irfaan Ali launched the Office of the President (OP) Direct in New Amsterdam, Berbice, on Thursday with the aim of bringing essential Government services directly to citizens.

The Head of State, who delivered brief remarks at the opening ceremony of the operations at State House in New Amsterdam, Berbice, said that the initiative stemmed from his Government being people-centred and focused on the growth and development of all Guyanese.

“Since we assumed office, we have been working in every community. We have been going to you and not waiting for you to come. The

Ministers and the Cabinet have been out in every community.”

The President said that the initiative would see

region

days

...says initiative will strengthen governance, enhance delivery of services to citizens ...Corentyne woman gets land title on spot, elderly man to get one-year free medical supply

Agatha Ramjohn receiving her title from President Dr Irfaan Ali

James Davis will receive one year’s worth of free medical supplies

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Battling with drunk driving

The year is only one month old, and, almost every day, the local press is reporting gruesome and horrific accidents caused by drunk driving. Within the past week, more than four deaths have been reported, with the most horrendous being the fisherman whose head was severed after a 21-year-old drunk driver had crashed into him.

Drunk driving is one of the most troubling traffic offences. Driving while either intoxicated or drunk is dangerous, and drivers with high blood alcohol content or concentration (BAC) are at a greatly increased risk of being involved in car accidents and sustaining highway injuries and/or vehicular deaths.

Every single injury and death caused by drunk driving is fully preventable. Although the proportion of alcoholrelated crashes locally may not be as significant as they are in other countries, those that occur are still worrying. Unfortunately, in spite of these concerns, alcohol-impaired driving remains a serious national problem that tragically affects many victims and their families.

The approach to combat drunk driving has been severely lacking for years. Now, with the passage of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2022, aimed at toughening existing laws to prevent drunk driving and the carnage on the road, it is hoped that this would be properly enforced. We agree that this is not a Police issue only, but full responsibility must be taken by the driver; however, full enforcement will send a pellucid message to drivers.

We agree with Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, when he said during his presentation on the Bill that the nation needs to change its mindset. To quote the AG: “This can’t be the Government’s job alone, and legislative changes alone can never be able to curb this horrendous, tragic loss of human life in our country. Every member of society, every responsible organisation in this country, must join hands with our Government as we begin to chart a new course of making our roads safe.”

As the country continues to battle with the effect of drunk driving, more needs to be done as the holidays approach. Public messages via the media should be issued to citizens to constantly remind drivers about the impacts of drunk driving, and what is the law’s position on it. Cautioning drivers every time, about getting behind the wheel after surpassing the drink limit, is necessary, as every year there are scores of young and new drivers who are not familiar with these issues or the reality of the roads. Drunk driving aside, World Health Organization (WHO) data had shown that alcohol kills a whopping three million people worldwide each year — more than AIDS, violence and road accidents combined. It was stated that men are particularly at risk.

According to the WHO, alcohol causes more than one in 20 deaths globally each year, including by drunk driving, alcohol-induced violence and abuse, and a multitude of diseases and disorders. Men account for more than threequarters of alcohol-related deaths.

Here, in Guyana, there are many social ills affecting citizens, and alcohol abuse is seen as one of the contributing factors.

WHO has, over the years, been urging countries to do more to counter harmful drinking, and to reach a goal of cutting global consumption by 10 per cent between 2010 and 2025. It is also urging countries to further tax alcohol, and ban advertising of such beverages to reduce consumption. However, this is not enough, there is need to push for a change in attitude and lifestyle changes in general, especially among the younger segment of our population.

While the Government must play a crucial role in respect to relevant programmes and policies, and put in place the necessary legislative framework and other support mechanisms aimed at addressing the harmful use of alcohol, this burden must also be shared by all citizens.

Dear Editor,

As I listened, over the years, to the senior elected officials, both past and present, of the Georgetown Municipality, and their utterances, I am reminded of the famous statement by Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, who said that if you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth.

There is a big lie that has been peddled about for about three decades now, and that is that Central Government has been starving the Georgetown Municipality of resources; those being money, manpower and machinery. There is nothing further from the truth. In fact, to the contrary, Central Government has been leaning over backwards in meeting all of its financial obligations to the Council in a very timely manner, quite often paying property rates for Government buildings well in advance of the stipulated timelines to help out an always-cash-strapped Council.

Central Government has been paying over its subventions fully; and by the way, Georgetown gets the highest subvention of all municipalities.

Central Government has been funding and effecting most, if not all, of the road- and bridge-building and repairs in the City for the longest while; doing the vast majority of landscaping; has paid off huge sums of money owed by Council to garbage contractors time and again; has donat -

ed trucks, large amounts of skip bins and other garbage-collecting equipment to the City Council; has helped to clean the cemetery more than once; and has been investing huge amounts to purchase drainage pumps to help out the City with its flooding problems.

Under the direct leadership of His Excellency the President, Central Government agencies -along with military and paramilitary servicemen and women, and in collaboration with the Private Sector, Civil Society, and community groups -- not so long ago, embarked on a Citywide clean-up and desilting exercise. It should be noted that the Mayor and his party’s Councillors refused to participate.

At a cost of more than G$4B, Central Government developed the Haags Bosch sanitary landfill in the East Bank Demerara region, which receives waste from all the wards of Georgetown, after the M&CC incinerator became unserviceable and its landfill at Le Repentir was overflowing and frequently catching alight, to the peril of neighbouring communities. And the list goes on and on.

Psychologists, psychiatrists and others have explained why the ‘big lie’ technique works. Repetition is important, because the ‘big lie’ works through indoctrination. The ‘big lie’ then becomes its own evidence base; if it is repeated often enough, people believe it, and the very rep -

etition almost tautologically becomes the support for the ‘lie’.

Georgetown has had political leaders who have no care for the common good of the citizenry; who are grandiose, arrogant, and willing to exploit and manipulate people for solely their own political agenda and that of their par -

ty. With Local Government Elections around the corner, one can only hope that we get a new batch of City Fathers and Mothers who are not as megalomaniacal and narcissistic as we have had over the last three decades.

With thanks, Riley Matthews

Alternatives to the gas-to-shore project

Dear Editor,

The author who responded to my published letter by stating that the administration should first show success in its ongoing undertakings (the GuySuCo turnaround, integration of the Skelton Power Plant into the grid, and the effective running of GPL) before venturing into the gas-to-shore project has avoided the core of the discussion as it relates to the pipeline.

What CRG had proposed was the use of sea vessels to transport the gas to sell it overseas. The funds from that undertaking should then be used to both subsidise the cost of electricity and to build the new power plant. The author's technical analysis is interesting, but it does not address the business case being discussed.

The current approach being taken by Government does not have, as a key objective, the focus on earning revenue from the gas during the initial stages of the project. A fully or partial-

ly self-financed project would establish our presence in the natural gas market, and would ensure that our citizens reap the benefits of our gas resources sooner, rather than later.

What is also interesting in the technical data shared by the author is the assumption that a sea vessel as an alternative to a pipeline is not economically feasible. I would caution against such a rash conclusion, especially when the total cost of the venture is unknown. As stated previously, the maintenance costs can be substantial, not to mention the inherent risks of such a project in Guyana, where arson is ongoing.

A full analysis of the project with the relevant scenarios is lacking. CRG strongly suggests that this be done before additional funds are invested. In the interim, selling of our gas overseas should be a top priority.

Best regards, Jamil

Changlee

President Dr Irfaan Ali gifted internationally-acclaimed Black Panther actress Letitia Wright a painting of a jaguar during a dinner and reception hosted in her honour on Wednesday evening at State House. The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star is visiting her home country upon the invitation of President Ali

Central Government has been leaning over backwards to meet financial obligations of City Hall

Where is the smoking gun?

Dear

Editor,

The APNU-AFC propagandise that they were the rightful winners of the March 2020 elections, but how is it that the statements of poll in the possession of observers and others record the majority of votes cast for the People’s Progressive Party? How come the SoP totals for Region Four differ from those presented by Mr. Mingo?

At one point, the APNU/ AFC Government reported to Guyanese and others that it had deported Russian operatives who were clandestinely working in Guyana to rig the elections to produce an outcome unfavourable to the APNU-AFC.

Prior to this claim, election campaign operatives and several party operatives had shared that President Granger had won and would be sworn in within 24 hours of the close of poll. I was told this by a high-ranking campaign official and current Member of Parliament. News had so spread of his impending victory that cool down carts and other food and drink vendors were setting up shop on the avenue directly across from the building that served as the APNU-AFC election campaign headquarters.

Instead of a victory or pre-victory speech, well-wishers and others were reassured that victory was in hand. Riled up, they were asked to exercise patience in order to allow the system to work. Two days after the close of polls, a small group of campaign officials and other persons holding various positions within the APNU-AFC Government, including Ministers and Advisors, planned and mobilised a group of volunteers to take photographs of SoPs

Dear Editor, The PNC, having lost Election 2020 to the PPP/C Party, have resorted to the outdated and washed-out statement that the PPP/C is an installed regime. To this day, the verification of that statement they cannot explain, yet they keep rehashing it over and over again like a mantra; so, let us examine the genesis of that nonsensical trilogy.

Let's follow the story from the very beginning: After a string of rigged elections, starting from 1968 up until 1992, the PNC installed themselves into Government.

It is a practice they are well versed in, and are very proud of. There is well-documented proof of this atrocity, so there is no reason to doubt my statement.

After the elections of 2015, that party came back into power, but was that "win" a verified and above-board exercise? So, let us examine the circumstances of that election carefully. In the first place, Election 2015 could not be verified because Lowenfield ensured that this exercise was not done. The reason being he did not want to suffer the em-

at several polling places in Region Four.

Why was this necessary?

Did APNU-AFC election representatives at polling stations forget this most basic of responsibilities, to take pictures or scan the final tally of votes affixed to a secure spot outside of polling places on election day? I hardly believe so, not only because they would have had to see their colleagues representing other political parties taking pictures or scanning the images, but also because it is a core duty of party agents trained to observe elections and polling places.

Did the incumbent APNUAFC Government, with several of its members having fought twenty-plus years for the opportunity to lead the Guyanese nation, really forget to take photographs of SoPs?

Let’s say they forgot to take photographs or scan SoPs after the final votes were tallied and posted, could this be a lapse or willful act in an election that was oftentimes referred to as the “mother” of all elections by Government officials and other Guyanese on and off social media? Would the heightened importance of the March 2, 2020 elections in Guyana make it all the more necessary to exercise due diligence?

It just seems to me that there are too many coincidences, outlandish propaganda, and zero substance and credibility in the big messages pushed by the APNU-AFC during the five months that the Guyanese nation waited for an official announcement from GECOM.

It would seem that the Coalition has some explaining to do about other aspects of its campaign and persuasion

barrassment of being exposed by an election that was riddled with fake SoPs.

This fact was highlighted by the sitting President, Donald Ramotar, who stated emphatically that the election was flawed by way of the imposition of false statements of poll. His exact words were, "I can show you all that I won the election, let us examine the SoPs," something Lowenfield vehemently denied, and did not assent to a verification. Further, he bluntly refused to recount the votes, having knowledge of the fact that there were fake SoPs in the system; and not wanting to be shamefully exposed, he held out that there should not be a recount.

While all of this was going on, the PNC were doing what they know best: that is, they were busy marshalling their forces for a violent showdown. At this juncture, US Ambassador Brent Hardt intervened. He went up to Freedom House and corralled Ramotar into an agreement that "for peace sake, let it slide, concede defeat then seek redress in an election petition. This was exactly what Lowenfield wanted, because

tactics too. I am knowledgeable of a pen drive that was received by three representatives of the APNU-AFC election campaign from GECOM through a third-party. The pen drive has on it the figures and results by region and party from the five elections. It also contains results of the March 2, 2020 elections listed in Excel spreadsheets. Unlike results of the prior five elections, the March 2, 2020 files showed three separate sets of results which are titled: (1) How GECOM have it, (2) How the PPP have it, and (3) How the Coalition have it.

Thinking back about the Coalition SoPs conundrum, where did the figures contained in the file titled How the Coalition have it derive from? Were they derived from the SoPs they did not have in their possession, or have failed to produce thus far?

Readers might be surprised to know the Ministers, Presidential Advisors, campaign communications personnel and young APNUAFC volunteers involved in the pen drive sharing and the planning and mobilizing of said volunteers to take photographs of SoPs at numerous polling places across Region Four. For example, at least one of the coordinators of this exercise is the founder and director of an Information Technology business in Guyana. He not only worked on the elections campaign of the APNU-AFC; his company provided ICT services for the Government prior to the elections. Other key figures include a PNC intelligence officer and former advisor to the President, three APNU-AFC Parliamentarians, and an academician who also served as a Presidential Advisor.

As a Guyanese, I can only anticipate that the findings report produced by the Commission of Inquiry into the March 2, 2020 Elections in Guyana contain more credible contextual details about significant events that took place that the vast majority of the general public remains unaware of.

The final major election propaganda was to decry the legitimacy of the elections. It started with the Russian operatives trying to rig the elections, and concluded with only valid votes count. The recount was not about determining which votes should count and which should not; the Laws of Guyana do not permit this. The recount was another propaganda tactic to counter the legitimacy of the results, which favoured the PPP and its own coalition by attacking the integrity of the voting exercise.

One of the hardest pills to swallow for the coalition is that many of its traditional supporters in several institutions, even some of the rookie politicians who worked at National and Regional Government levels, openly disagreed with their attempts to persuade the nation and international community that it won the elections, and the integrity of the voting exercise was violated severely. Unfortunately for the coalition, when it shifted into winning at all costs, not only were many supporters confused and morally uncomfortable, several of Guyana’s traditional allies in the region and international sphere were unwilling to support the cause of the coalition.

Sincerely,

Chris Singh

PNC-led Coalition

soon after Ramotar conceded, he filed an injunction blocking any election petition and a recount. In true PNC bullying style, Lowenfield was the sole arbiter in that election, he decided who should win that election.

This CEO tried the very same strategy in March 2020, when he acted in the capacity of Lone Ranger and determinator of who should be the winner of that election; only, this time the plan was very clumsy and barefaced. Lowenfield hid the SoPs for Region 4, and made his own declaration. But that was fraught with danger, in that the GECOM Chairwoman did not affix her signature to that declaration, so he resorted to a concoction of signatures of his party's comrades in arms.

The point is: they were already at odds with Claudette Singh for initiating a recount, and for Granger to agree with it, in their scheme of things, the two should never have assented to a recount. Their intent was to just rig the election and que sera sera. As a consequence, they call Granger and Claudette Singh all the vilest names in the book. Those "high-sounding derogatory

Let us work together for a better Guyana

Dear Editor, It is undeniable that the Guyanese workforce should have the opportunity to work actively in the construction of our country. It is a great way to develop the economy of the nation and boost the morale of our citizens.

Having the Guyanese workforce involved in the construction of the country allows for the nation to be built to meet its own needs, instead of relying on outside sources. This will ultimately reduce the economic burden of importing the goods and services that are needed.

Involvement of the local workforce would also help to create better job opportunities and career paths for our citizens. This can help to reduce unemployment rates, as well as improve the general standard of living for our population.

Moreover, the presence of locals in the construction process can help to ensure that the projects are completed efficiently and in accordance with the standards of the nation. This can help to ensure that the projects are built in accordance with the highest standards, and are built to last for a long time.

Overall, it is crucial to allow the Guyanese workforce opportunity to work actively in the construction of this country. This would help to create a stronger and stabler economy, create better job opportunities, and ensure that projects are completed efficiently and in accordance with the highest standards.

Subcontracting the local workforce is a great way

to ensure Guyanese contractors have opportunity to be involved in construction projects in Guyana. It is a win-win situation for both investors and contractors, as investors can benefit from the expertise and low cost of local labour, while contractors gain job security and economic development.

I know that subcontracting has its challenges; however, investors must ensure that local workers are employed under legal and fair terms and conditions, as well as receive fair compensation.

Additionally, contractors must have adequate insurance and safety standards in place to protect employees and the environment. It is also important to ensure that local businesses have access to the necessary resources. This includes access to funding, training and technology. Investors and contractors should also collaborate to create a programme that provides support to local entrepreneurs, and helps them gain access to new opportunities.

Finally, I think it is essential that investors and contractors prioritise the needs of the local community, and take into consideration their feedback and concerns. Taking these measures would help ensure that construction projects have a positive impact on the community and the environment, and that local contractors are able to benefit from these projects.

Sincerely,

Vishul Ishwaridin

terms" attributed to these individuals all attest to their frustrations with the two for giving the go-ahead for a recount. Lowenfield and company knew that, with a recount, the handwriting was on the wall for his party.

Norton, in his diatribe with Vice President Jagdeo, gave full meaning to the foolishness; meaning that once Mingo and Lowenfield made that fraudulent declaration, we were obliged to accept it without question. Talk about legitimising a bullying fraud, and the March 2020 declaration was a sure manifestation of this. That asininity was quickly dealt with, in that all the guilty parties are being brought before a court. We anxiously await their trial and subsequent punishment.

So, while we wait for the outcome of their trial, the PNC continue to be annoyingly obtuse with their talk of the PPP/C being an installed Government. But if anyone is equipped with even half a brain, they would readily discern these miscreants for who they really are.

Respectfully,

Neil Adams

14:30

15:00

Friday, February 3, 2023

If ever a Government were installed, it was the

NGSA Questions: Maths

$24.6B spent thus far on gas-to-shore project – PM tells National Assembly

…says $400M for acquisition of private lands for pipeline

US$759.8 million.

He added that an additional $400 million was given to the Public Works Ministry to pay those persons whose lands are in the path of the pipeline route.

“The amount of $400 million represents the sum that is more than double the fair-market value that was determined by the Chief Valuation Office. As such, persons are being compensated for no less than the valuation for the land… That amounts to [total] payments made so far of $24.612 billion,” the Prime Minister indicated.

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government has set aside some $400 million for the acquisition of private lands to facilitate the laying of pipelines for its model gas-toshore project.

According to Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips, whose office is responsible for the country’s energy sector, this sum is part of the $24.6 billion that has already been injected into the start-up of the transformational project, which includes the construction of an integrated Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) plant and the 300-megawatt (MW) combined cycle power plant at Wales on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD).

The Prime Minister was at the time fielding

questions from Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) on Thursday during the National Assembly’s consideration of Financial Paper No. 4 of 2022, which contains advances made from the Contingency Fund to the tune of $3.8 billion for the period November 30 to December 31, 2022.

Since the supplementary funds were earmarked for the gas-to-shore initiative, Opposition MP Ganesh Mahipaul asked for an update on the project.

PM Phillips disclosed that 15 per cent of the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract, which was awarded to US companies CH4 and Lindsayca in late 2022, has been paid to the tune of $24.213 billion. The total cost of the EPC contract is

He was further questioned as to how many landowners were engaged and how much of the $400 million was spent.

In response, Phillips said all the landowners were involved in this acquisition process and further indicated that a comprehensive report would be provided on the project, outlining all the information being requested by the Opposition.

“We are committed to transparency and the report will be submitted in due course… The report will have all the information, including the money paid for the acquisition of the land, the names of the people, the date when they sign for the cheque – everything will be in the report,” the PM stated in response to the barrage of questions on the project.

In addition to the $24.6 billion already spent, anoth-

er whopping $43.3 billion has been allocated in Budget 2023 for the project, which is expected to directly cut carbon emissions by 70 per cent as well as reduce electricity costs by some 50 per cent, thus triggering a series of major economic development initiatives in Guyana.

Only last month, PM Phillips disclosed that Government would be funding the NGL and 300 MW power plant components of the project by use of State funds and loans.

This was detailed in written answers submitted to the National Assembly by Phillips, who was responding to questions raised by Opposition MP Volda Lawrence.

In her questions for written replies, Lawrence asked for details on the cost of the gas-to-shore pipeline.

Phillips explained in his response that the pipeline, supporting works, and supervision for the pipeline would cost US$1 billion.

This is being funded entirely by ExxonMobil, through cost oil. Some 225 kilometres of the pipeline will run from the Liza field in the Stabroek Block offshore and will land onshore in Region Three.

“The Government is sourcing the funding of the EPC costs from the proceeds of the National Budget over a multi-year period from 2022 to 2025. An early estimate was included in the 2022 capital budget, this

figure will be revised in the 2023 budget in line with the above sum. The Government expects to fund a portion of the EPC contract from loan financing to be pursued in 2023,” the PM explained.

Meanwhile, the PM was also asked if the Government would be held liable should Exxon be unable to repay its loan for the pipeline. The PM assured that no contingency liability was likely and that the Government would make annual payments to Exxon subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL).

“When the project is completed, Government will make an annual payment to EEPGL co-venturers over a 20-year period to recover the cost of their investment in the pipeline used to deliver a minimum of 50 million cubic feet of gas per day to Wales.

“The total cost of electricity exiting the power plant which includes the payment to EEPGL co-venturers, operating costs of the power

plant/NGL plant, and recovery of capital costs, shall be less than US 5 cents per kWh,” the Prime Minister also said.

With a timetable to deliver rich gas by the end of 2024 and the NGL plant to be online by 2025, works are progressing on getting the gas-to-shore Project off the ground. When it comes to the construction of a combined cycle power plant, a net total of 250 MW is expected to be delivered into the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) grid at a substation located on the East Bank of the Demerara River.

In addition to the US$759.8 million EPC contract, the supervision of the NGL and 300 MW power plant components of the project will cost another US$23 million.

Only last month, Guyana signed a contract with an Indian company, Engineers India Limited (EIL), to provide consultancy services for the NGL Plant and the 300 MW power plant.

Model of the power plant component of the gas-to-shore project

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips

ECD man remanded for trafficking $7M in marijuana

though he tried to evade law enforcement officers in Buxton, has been remanded to prison for drug trafficking.

Arraigned without legal representation before Vigilance Magistrate Fabayo Azore on Thursday, Phillips pleaded not guilty to a charge which stated that he had in his possession, on February 1, 2023, 23.1 kilograms of cannabis sativa (marijuana), worth $7M, for the purpose of trafficking. The accused was refused bail, and the matter has been adjourned until March 20.

Raising...

…Cain in Buxton

Ever since Adam and Eve’s son Cain killed his brother Abel, “raising cain” meant to cause serious trouble in society. Well, in this century, the village of Buxton has unfortunately earned this moniker after those five “freedom fighters” broke out of Camp Street jail and found refuge there. They, of course, killed fellow villagers, wreaked murder and mayhem in surrounding communities, and took on the Disciplined Forces – not to mention kidnapping the US Caribbean Security head!! Now that’s more than chutzpah!! That’s (brass) balls!!

Now, while it’s been said that those bandits held the village hostage, there’s also evidence that a significant section supported them – even though they raped a number of village girls!! They also recruited a bunch of youths as lookouts, who now gotta be grown men and women who’ve tasted life on the wild side!! Buxton had become a state within a state – where the gangsters enforced their roughand-ready law!! As a result, Buxton shrugged off its early reputation for education and a grounded rural lifestyle, and could now be counted to provide bodies to be thrown into any fray - at the drop of a hat.

On the day in question, Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) officers were conducting an operation on

the East Coast of Demerara to intercept a particular motor vehicle. That vehicle drove into Buxton, and evaded the officers on several occasions, including at a roadblock set up on the Buxton Public Road.

An eventual search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 12 parcels of seeds, leaves

and stems suspected to be cannabis in an amount of 23.2 kilograms (51 pounds), and the driver, Odearie Phillips, was arrested.

According to CANU, after Phillips had been arrested, residents of the community of Buxton became hostile, and assaulted several officers even as they damaged several of the unit’s vehicles in an attempt to free the man, who was in lawful custody, by pulling him out of the CANU vehicle. This, CANU has said, resulted in its officers discharging several shots in the air.

That, however, led to residents of the community taking to the main thoroughfare to protest the man’s arrest. Scores of persons gathered on the roadway and burnt debris, while a truck driver was pulled from his vehicle and the vehicle was set alight.

The driver of a Canter transporting wood was also attacked, and the windshield of his vehicle was damaged by debris thrown at it.

This was demonstrated clearly last Wednesday when – from reports – CANU was in hot pursuit of a suspected drug dealer, and it took them through Buxton. Well - who told them to do THAT!!?? Didn’t they know that Buxton operates under a different law? So, even though there are now international treaties that permit countries to enter the territory of other states under the doctrine of “hot pursuit” – Buxton’s laws transcend even those!! As the lawmen tried to corner the drug smuggler in his car, they evidently fired some shots at the car.

And that was when bedlam broke out!! Enraged villagers started attacking the CANU forces, causing bodily and material damage. The lawmen fired some shots in the air to warn them off and - since what goes up must come down – some of the shells must’ve fallen on some roofs. No one was injured however; not even the fleeing drug smuggler, who ended up in a canal. There was a bag in his trunk with 50 pounds of ganja!! Seems that CANU’s intelligence was spot on!!

But that wasn’t the end of the matter. The villagers’ demands now escalated to demand the smuggler be released!! Guess by the laws of independent Buxton, 50 pounds of ganja is below the forbidden quantity!! Pass many Dutchies on the left-hand side, man!! And not getting their proclamation followed by the regular Police that had arrived by then, they proceeded to torch a truck laden with rice, as well as pulling all sorts of debris on the Public Road that stopped traffic cold!! !

And so it was for four hours – even as the army was called out!!

…corruption concerns

Your Eyewitness mentioned Transparency International’s giving us a score of 60 on their Corruption Index - making us the 85th most corrupt country in the world!! But how did the big boys - whom we wanna become when we grow up - score?? The US weighed in at 24th place with a score of 69, while the UK scored much better with 73 and 18th place. Now, what concerns your Eyewitness is: how come they scored so much better than us??

We know, after all, that right off the bat, while folks in the Third World steal oodles of cash, most of them stash the loot with UK and US companies that run those havens!! Isn’t that at least the crime of “aiding and abetting??” And doesn’t the US$22 BILLION stolen by Sam BankermanFried in five years with his crypto Ponzi Scheme just about match all the cocaine shipped by Pablo Escobar in his entire lifetime??

And he’s just one!!

…questions

If lawyers are disbarred and priests are defrocked, then are electricians “delighted”; Corpses “decrypted”; Cowboys “deranged”; Models “deposed; “Underwear models “debriefed”; Jilted women “debrided”; Florists “deflowered”; Students “detested”; Hostels “debunked”; and Spies debugged and detailed???

Odarie Phillips of Vigilance Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, the 25-yearold who was nabbed with $7 million in marijuana al-

With CANU ranks hot in his pursuit, alleged drug trafficker Odarie Phillips crashed the motorcar into a trench at Buxton

Remanded: Odarie Phillips

The 12 parcels of suspected cannabis that were discovered in the vehicle

Law to be tweaked for diplomats, senior Govt officials to use sirens, flashing lights – Min Benn

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn has announced that the legislation pertaining to the use of sirens and flashing lights would be tweaked to cater to appropriate users, including senior Government officials and members of the diplomatic corps.

Currently, there are no laws that allow for those in these senior positions to install and use these lights.

Benn was at the time responding to questions of the Shadow Home Affairs Minister Geeta ChandanEdmond, during the consideration of the 2023 estimates of expenditure during a sitting of the House at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

“It has become unfortunate that [at] some stores in the city and place we are working at, Police lights are

available for sale and people put them up and misuse them. There are a few senior officials and also diplomats where we have to have reciprocity in relation to the use of lights,” he said.

When questioned if Guyana’s Ambassadors and High Commissioners abroad, specifically in the United States of America, were allowed similar privileges, Benn could not give an answer, but promised to investigate.

“All members of the diplomatic corps at that top level are required to have these lights, both on the vehicle of the Ambassador and High Commissioner and perhaps on an escort vehicle….” Benn added.

He said that they must take into consideration the chain of traffic on the roads that affected people, resulting in them not being able

to get to where they wanted in time and when there was a situation. However, he promised that this situation would be rectified soon.

Presidential Office to be...

FROM PAGE 3

“The President’s office will be situated here at State House in Region Six for the next two days, operating from here; so that we can be in touch with you, so that you can feel the highest office at your disposal, and have easy access to the highest office,” he said.

President Ali added that the initiative would strengthen governance, improve efficiency, and enhance the delivery of services to citizens.

“We believe strongly in serving the people. We are not a Government that is distant from the people or a Government that operates in a vacuum or in a locked compartment. That is not how we operate. We operate with you, taking your concerns and your realities into consideration,” the Head of State declared.

President Ali also explained that in addition to having essential Ministries and agencies present, video and audio connections would be established to every office in Georgetown so that all issues could be dealt with at the venue.

“This is the level of seriousness that we’re taking in dealing with our issues. It is not passing the buck, but it’s bringing the heads, and the agency heads here so that they can work with you,” he noted.

During the first day, several persons received onthe-spot assistance. One such person was 73-yearold Agatha Ramjohn, who told the Head of State that for three years she had been waiting for her land title, and even though she spoke to local housing officials, the matter was never resolved.

Upon hearing this, he gave Ramjohn her official land title.

“This is like a blessing and a miracle; this is the best thing that has ever happened in the recent times. This is fantastic, the

President has been doing an excellent job. The man of action gets it done, he told me the title will come before 12 o’clock and it was here,” an elated Ramjohn stated.

Another resident, James Davis of Canefield Settlement, East Canje, will receive oneyear free medical supplies after his brief interaction with the President. “I would use Timolol eye drops which I am having a problem to collect and I also use Doxazosin which is one [for] $100 a day, and every day I have to drink. I met the President and told him my problem, and he told the doctors to carry a year supply to my home today,” David related.

The elderly man is even thankful for the President’s promise to send a representative to assess his home in hopes of repairs soon.

According to him, the previous A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government used to speak about helping Guyanese, but that was far from the fact since he never felt the love.

“They never did nothing for me as an African man, but now they are talking about African people when they get kick out of office. The President came, I met him and interacted with him, and everything that I asked him for he give me as an African man,” he declared.

In May last year, former Traffic Chief, Superintendent Ramesh Ashram warned that the use of sirens and flashing lights on security vehicles was not authorised to get through traffic or clear the roadway

for right-of-way.

Ashram was at the time speaking to Heads and representatives of private security firms at the Police Officers’ Training Centre in Georgetown during a meeting. The meeting was facilitated to identify issues and concerns and offer suggestions related to security, especially now that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was encouraging collaboration through very structured and developmental approaches.

Ashram, in his address, made it clear that security vehicles were not categorised as “emergency vehicles”, adding that only vehicles from the GPF and Guyana Fire Service (GFS), and ambulances were considered as emergency transport vehicles.

As such, he said that the private security services would need to comply with road rules and regulations, and not have sirens or flash-

ing lights on their vehicles. If caught with such, Ashram said, the revocation of the motor vehicle’s Certificate of Fitness would result.

Meanwhile, Benn, in his remarks, told representatives of security firms that he was also prepared to revoke the licence of any private security firm found in breach of the law.

Also in November 2022, President Dr Irfaan Ali called on Police Commissioner (ag) Clifton Hicken to enforce a clampdown against the unauthorised use of blue and red lights and sirens.

Government agencies, several public officials, and security companies are among those have abused the use of the lights and sirens.

The blue and red lights and sirens are to be used by Police vehicles and other law enforcement personnel, but persons have been buying and using them to avoid traffic.

Another resident, Ava Smith of Ulverston Village said for some time now she has been complaining about a deplorable street and bridge in her community.

And although she sought the attention of several regional representatives in times past, those attempts proved futile.

“They took my matter in hand and promised it is going to be resolved. He said the person will come next week,” Smith noted.

The woman said despite the fact many would try to talk negatively about the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, its ‘One Guyana’ mantra was evident across every community in Guyana.

Technical teams from the Housing and Water Ministry; Human Services and Social Security Ministry; Local Government and Regional Development Ministry; Education Ministry; Agriculture Ministry; National Insurance Scheme; Guyana Office for Investment (GOInvest); Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA); Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission; Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) all have booths at State House in New Amsterdam, where the President would be based until Friday afternoon.

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn during the parliamentary sitting on Thursday

Ava Smith was pleased at the President’s intervention

Alarming hike in drug smuggling through personal consignments worrying – GRA

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has expressed concern over an alarming increase in efforts to smuggle refined narcotics and other illicit items through personal consignments at all ports of entry into Guyana.

In a statement, the Authority shared that these illegal substances have been placed in barrels, boxes, packages, and containers for the purpose of smuggling.

“Recently, the Authority and CANU seized quantities of cannabis and refined marijuana found in personal effect consignments and suitcases, which have led to several persons being arrested and placed before the court,” the entity highlighted.

The GRA has said that, in collaboration with its sister agencies: the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF), it intends to pursue and minimise all such illic-

it trade or activities. This means that anyone who fails to adhere to the laws of Guyana, and is found in pursuit thereof, will be condignly dealt with, in accordance with the respective laws.

“The Authority once again advises all such persons dealing in, or in contemplation of engaging in, such illegal activities to cease and desist therefrom.”

The GRA has said it continues to work together with the general public to ensure compliance with the nation’s tax, trade, and border laws.

The Authority is encouraging persons to report any illicit, unlawful, or smuggling activities on telephone number 227-6060, extensions 3201, 3204, 3205, 3211, 3212, or 3408; and has promised that the information provided would be dealt with in a confidential manner.

Last month, a quantity of imported cannabis was

intercepted at Muneshwers Shipping Limited in a box shipped from the United States. It was reported that on the day in question, agents of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) were contacted by the shipping company after several packages of cannabis were dis-

covered in a box. Upon arriving at the location, CANU officers conducted additional searches before taking possession of the box, which was subsequently transported to its headquarters along with an employee of the shipping company who had made the discovery. The cannabis

was weighed and amounted to 1.920 kilograms. The employee was however, released.

Only recently, CANU

Head James Singh noted that the unit wants to send a strong message that the Government is serious about fighting narcotics trafficking within Guyana, and also that Guyana will not be used as a point for narcotics to be trans-shipped to other territories.

He made these comments earlier in the year, when CANU destroyed 140.6 kilograms (kg) of seized cocaine and 454.7kg of seized marijuana. This totals around 596kg of narcotics that were destroyed, and are from cases that have been concluded in the Magistrates’ Courts.

In 2022, 3.7 tonnes of marijuana and over 124kg of cocaine were seized from various ports of entry and through operations conducted by CANU. Some mat-

ters are pending in the Magistrates Courts. On this note, Singh raised concerns about the amount of time it takes for a person found with narcotics to be prosecuted.

“While I do not want to criticise the Judiciary, I guess there’s a backlog, but it doesn’t help when you arrest someone today and they’re placed on bail and their cases are being called until four, five months after. It’s been seen as not mocking us, but here it is we have seized you with the drugs, we have seized the drugs, we have arrested you, we have put you before the court, only for you to be placed on bail. It’s a bit disheartening at times,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn has assured that Government would continue to support CANU as it works to prevent Guyana from being used as a transshipment point for drug trafficking.

Cuban national perishes after minibus, pick-up explode at Mabura

ACuban national perished in a fire that erupted following a collision between a Route 94 minibus and a pickup along the Mabura Road on Thursday.

Police reports stated that the accident occurred about 15:20h between 39 Miles and 40 Miles Mabura Trail, and resulted in the death of a female Cuban national.

At the time, the minibus was being driven by a 35-year-old licensed male and had 13 passengers.

However, preliminary investigations revealed that the minibus was proceeding to Mabura on the left side of the trail and while

negotiating a left bend, the motor pick-up, which was proceeding in the opposite direction on the right side of the Trail, collided with the front of the minibus.

As a result of the collision, both vehicles burst into flames.

The now-dead female Cuban national was seated behind the driver and was pinned in the minibus when it exploded.

The driver and the other passengers received injuries. They were taken to the Linden Hospital Complex, where they received treatment and four persons – two males and two females – were referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital for further treatment.

The imported ganja found at the shipping company

The ruined vehicles after the explosion

MoH Head Office for 2023 completion – Dr Anthony

...says an additional $74.1M allocated in 2023 Budget

contractor.

“We have $74.1 million for the construction and $5.2 million for the supervisory contractor,” he shared during the Consideration of Estimates and Expenditure.

Some $1.9 million has been set aside for maintenance of the old administrative buildings.

“We need to do some drainage works, and for gutters on the building, because we noticed some leakages. It would cover the maintenance of the Head Office Building, MMU, and Food Policy Buildings. These are the three main categories of building,” Dr Anthony detailed.

The Health Ministry’s Head Office will be completed this year; a sum of $74.1 million has been allocated for this in the 2023 National Budget.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony disclosed on Thursday that since the construction period of the building was extended, an additional fee of $5.2 million

has also been budgeted for the supervisory contracting firm.

In 2021, Government retendered the contract to construct the Ministry of Health Headquarters at Brickdam – one of several troubled contracts that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) had to terminate over breaches by the

After repeated contractual breaches, protracted delays, and almost tripling of the contract costs, in November 2020, Government terminated the $356.8 million contract that was awarded to Chung’s Global Enterprise to construct the Headquarters of the Health Ministry. Attorney General Anil Nandlall had written to Chung’s Global Enterprise, informing that the contract was being terminated ef-

fective October 31, 2020 on the ground of contractual breaches.

Chung’s was awarded the contract, worth $356.8 million, in 2017 to construct the Public Health Ministry’s Head Office Building at Lot 1 Brickdam. Works commenced on July 19, 2018, and the contractor was supposed to complete the project within a year. However, in September 2020, despite receiving $308.4 million for advance payments and mobilisation expenses, as well as two extensions totalling 317 days, permanent works were only 70 per cent completed at the site.

To add insult to injury, the contractor submitted a repriced bill of quantities, demanding an additional sum of $513.3 million on August 3, 2020 – a mere day after the Government had officially changed hands with the swearing-in of President Dr Irfaan Ali. The Attorney General therefore instructed the contractor to immediately stop all works, and secure and vacate the site as soon as possible.

According to Nandlall’s letter, the Government was

not only terminating the contract, but was also instituting legal proceedings against the contractor for breach of contract and liquidated damages.

Auditor General Deodat Sharma had himself previously flagged the delayed state of the project under the nose of the former A

Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government.

In the 2017 Audit Report, it was pointed out that the project was at a standstill during an August site visit. By that time, the contractor had already collected $71.3 million in advance payments.

The Health Ministry’s Head Office at Brickdam

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony during the Consideration of Estimates on Thursday

Motorcyclist dies after colliding with pedestrian at Canal No 1 Polder

Motorcyclist Shaquan Jeremiah Joe lost his life on Monday after the motorcycle he was driving collided with a pedestrian on the public road at Canal No. 1, West Bank Demerara.

The Police have said that the 21-year-old Joe was driving motorcycle CL 9686 at a fast rate of speed along the access road at Canal No. 1 when the pedestrian walked into his path. In the resulting collision, Joe fell on the roadway and sustained injuries to his head.

Picked up in an unconscious condition by public-spirited persons, Joe was placed in the tray of a motor pickup and was being taken for medical attention at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH). However, while the pickup was proceeding with its hazard lights on, in the process of overtaking a long line of traffic, the front right-side portion of that vehicle collided with motor car PAB 5231 in the vicinity of the Versailles turn.

Joe was eventually taken to the WDRH, but succumbed to his injuries while being treated by doctors. His body is currently at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Joe’s family members are contending that, following the accident, they are still waiting on the Police to give them details on what would be done to the Police officer who caused the second accident, since they believe it was the second accident that led to Joe’s death.

In fact, they are claiming that they could not locate the vehicles involved in the accident after visiting several Police stations on the West Side. According to Police, the vehicle involved in the accident belong to a Police Constable attached to the Vreed-enHoop Police station.

Joe’s family members are also alleging that, up until Thursday morning, they saw the officer who was involved in the accident on duty directing traffic. They are calling for justice to be served.

Contacted on Thursday for informa-

tion on the accident, Regional Commander Mahendra Siwnarine has said that based on the information he received, when the accident occurred, the now-dead man was in an unconscious state, and had already sustained major injuries.

“The Police vehicle that hit him hit his tyre. That accident was a minor accident…if they claim that they did not see the vehicle at the Police station, the Police vehicle does not have to be at the station. Both parties’ vehicles were already examined by the certifying officer, the scene visited, and the measurements were taken… the vehicles were returned to them,” he said.

The Commander has said the Police would not be investigating the rank for causing death. However, the rank will be investigated for the accident caused after the other party had collided.

“The matter would be sent to the DPP for advice, but based on the status so far, there is no reason to put the Police under close arrest”, he explained.

Unidentified man found dead on church stairs

The lifeless body of a man who has so far not been identified was on Thursday afternoon found on the steps of the Brickdam Cathedral in Georgetown.

According to information reaching this publication, the body - clad in a yellow t-shirt and brown pants, and without shoes - was lying on its stomach with its face draped in blood, which eventually streamed down the stairs of the cathedral.

While the circumstances surrounding this man’s death remain a mystery, Guyana Times has been told that from all appearances, the man might have been a vagrant and had no fixed place of abode.

The Police have launched an investigation into the discovery, even as the man’s body was taken to the Memorial Gardens Mortuary to await identification and post-mortem examination.

Just two months ago, the body of a male was found stuffed under a bridge at Schuler and Gomes Optical Services along Brickdam, Georgetown. That man was

identified as Abdool Shaheed Khan, 77, of Lot 137 Best Road Squatting Area, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

While it is still unclear how he ended up under the bridge, and how he turned up dead, investigators have revealed that they were called to the Brickdam area after receiving reports that a body was seen under a bridge in the vicinity of the Schuler and Gomes Optical Services.

Upon arriving at the scene, the cops spent hours trying to break the bridge, which is partially concealed, to reach the body.

Neighbours said that for days they had been smelling a foul odour in the area, and had thought it was emanating from the body of a dead animal. One man said the smell had become unbearable for him and his family, and he had been hoping that something could soon have been done in regard to the odour.

Reports are that, in an effort to get rid of the smell, the owner of the Schuler and Gomes business place had decided to clean the trench in front of the property, and thus had discovered the body under the concrete bridge.

Dead: Shaquan Jeremiah Joe

The body that was found on the steps of the Brickdam Cathedral in Georgetown (Photo by Shervin Mendonca Belgrave)

$781.9B Budget 2023 passed in National Assembly –

Govt, Opposition MPs underscore need to work together

Budget 2023 which, according to the Finance Ministry, is historic in the sense that not only does it impose no new taxes but it is the first budget to be partially financed from monies earned through the sale of Guyana’s carbon credits to United States oil major Hess Corporation, which paid its first instalment to the tune of US$75 million in December last.

Two more payments of US$37.5 million each will bring the total amount appropriated in this year’s National Budget to US$150 million.

Without any changes, the National Assembly on Thursday afternoon approved the whopping $781.9 billion 2023 Budget – the first to be financed in part by revenues earned from Guyana’s historic carbon credit sale agreement.

Senior Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh had presented the National Budget on January 16, 2023, after which both sides of the National Assembly participated in five days of debate last week. On Monday,

the House transformed itself into the Committee of Supply and during the following four days, the Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) meticulously examined the estimates and posed questions to Government Ministers on various line items under each sector and Ministry, providing an opportunity for the public to get a better understanding of what is in the Budget.

This process concluded on Thursday when the National Assembly passed

The US$750 million deal will run up to 2030 and has placed Guyana on the world stage as the first country to receive such a payment for its carbon credits, which were the first to be certified by the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions Environmental Excellence Standard (ARTTREES) mechanism.

In addition, Budget 2023 will also benefit, for the second year, from withdrawals from the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) of US$1 billion this year, equivalent to G$208.9 billion to finance developmental priorities.

The NRF, an overseas account, holds all of Guyana’s direct earnings from oil production activities ongoing in the Stabroek Block offshore.

During his presentation last month, Minister Singh noted that this year’s National Budget would strike a balance between addressing the pressing needs and irritants of today, while simultaneously investing in the future. This is reflected in the theme of Budget 2023: “Improving Lives

Today, Building Prosperity for Tomorrow.”

Consequently, a number of transformational projects are included in the budget for critical projects across the agriculture, education, health and infrastructure sectors.

As the Government remains committed to working towards achieving the vision of world-class standards of education and health care, Budget 2023 allocates $84.9 billion for the health sector

and $94.4 billion for the education sector to ensure that the country’s young people are prepared for the future.

Importantly, within these sums, there is an allocation of $13.1 billion to advance work on the paediatric and maternal hospital, and six regional hospitals at Lima, De Kinderen, Diamond, Enmore, Bath and No 75 Village, as well as $12.4 billion to improve educational infrastructure countrywide.

TURN TO PAGE 14

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

GPF partners with NAPS, UNDP to provide "stigma-free environment"

ready trained throughout the 10 administrative regions about how to identify a person's sex, identity, or gender and how to cope with bullying and gender-based violence among other topics.

Owing to the positive feedback from ranks, Dr Jagnarine said the training has now been integrated into the Guyana Police Force’s training curricu-

lum.

UNDP Programme

Management Officer

Winston Setal made it clear that the UNDP was pleased to be part of this partnership effort. He said this formed part of an important initiative whereby Police Officers were trained to recognise and assist vulnerable groups that may face stigma and discrimination when seek-

The Guyana Police Force (GPF), as part of a coordinated national response, is partnering with the Health Ministry's National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to build awareness of stigma and discrimination in the provision of services to people living with HIV.

Representatives

from two agencies on Thursday met with acting Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken in the Commissioner's Boardroom at the GPF Headquarters Complex at Eve Leary, Georgetown, during which they explored ways and options to create a stigma-free environment when it comes to people living with HIV.

National AIDS Programme Secretariat Programme Manager, Dr

Tariq Jagnarine said part of his organisation's strategic plan was to promote an environment without stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV. With that in mind, NAPS was able to secure funding from the UNDP to train Police ranks.

Dr Jagnarine noted that more than 200 Police ranks, from the level of Constable up to Assistant Commissioner, were al-

$781.9B Budget 2023 passed...

This year’s Budget also includes a number of large projects that will transform the energy supply in the country including provisions for the construction of an integrated natural gas liquids plant and a 300 Megawatt (MW) combined cycle gas turbine power plant within the Wales Development Zone.

Other large infrastructural projects include provisions for the upgrading and widening of the Corentyne Highway from Palmyra to Crabwood Creek, with a sum of $27.7 billion allocated in Budget 2023; upgrading of the East Coast Railway Embankment road into a four-lane highway from Sheriff Street to Orange Nassau, continuing to the Mahaica River bridge, continuing of the upgrade of the East Coast Highway from Belfield to Orange Nassau and constructing a second bridge across the Hope Canal, with $16.6 billion allocated in Budget 2023; constructing the East CoastEast Bank road link from Ogle to Eccles (first phase of a four-lane highway intended ultimately to link the East Coast of Demerara and the Linden-Soesdyke Highway), with $10.3 billion allocated in Budget 2023; and, constructing the new Demerara River bridge, the first high-span, four-lane permanent hybrid concrete and cable-stayed structure, with $5.2 billion allocated in Budget 2023 to advance works.

Meanwhile, among the key measures in Budget 2023 are an increase in the income tax threshold from $75,000 to $85,000 monthly releasing a total of $3.3 billion into the hands of taxpayers and removing 12,000 taxpayers from the tax net; increasing Government “Because We Care” cash grant from $25,000 to $35,000 to benefit over

214,000 schoolchildren in public and private schools; easing the cost of living through maintaining zero excise taxes on fuel to absorb volatile fuel prices; expansion of Government’s part-time job programme, with a budget of $10 billion; supporting the vulnerable through an increase in old-age pension from $28,000 to $33,000 monthly; an increase in public assistance from $14,000 to $16,000 monthly; and an increase in the low-income mortgage ceiling from $15 million to $20 million, reducing the cost of borrowing within this range from commercial banks and further incentivising home ownership.

This is added to the salary adjustments announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali last year that are benefiting more than 5000 healthcare workers and another 9000 members of the Disciplined Services from this year, amounting to an additional $3 billion in disposable income.

Meanwhile, upon the passage of the Budget 2023 in the National Assembly on Thursday afternoon, praises were sung of all the public servants who contributed to the compiling of the budget especially staff at the Finance Ministry by the subject Minister and Prime Minister Mark Phillips.

While the staff of the Parliament Office was also lauded for ensuring the smooth flow of the process, the MPs from both sides were similarly hailed for their contributions. However, the Opposition MPs were singled out for their “intense and informed” scrutiny of the Budget estimates by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir.

According to the Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) – the minority partner of the APNU/AFC parliamen-

ing HIV services. He said the UNDP looked forward to continued engagements with NAPS and the GPF in this regard.

Commissioner Hicken, in his remarks, mentioned that this was another way in which the Police Force would continue to strengthen relationships with the public and its corporate partners to make our communities safer.

Dancers wow patrons at Reg 2 Mashramani competition

FROM PAGE 13

tary Opposition – Khemraj Ramjattan, the Opposition MPs utilised their learning from previous years to showcase their capacity to get beyond the figures.

“It means that we are learning and those young ones that we have are learning… All that you might have seen from our side is but a necessary, normal course routine. We have no hatred for those Members of the Government… And the peace that Mr [Home Affairs Minister Robeson] Benn indicated would be supported by every member of the Opposition,” he asserted. Similar sentiments were expressed by Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones, who lauded the improvement of the Opposition’s interrogation of the Budget Estimates. He also echoed the need for both sides of the House to continue working together in the interest of the nation – something which he says requires all the parliamentarians to make an effort.

On the other hand, Government’s Chief Whip, Minister Gail Teixeira said the two sides have to learn to work together and agree to disagree. She described the budgetary process in the National Assembly this year as one of the better experiences, and hoped it laid the foundation for further collaboration in 2023.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker and representative of the Joinder List in the National Assembly, Lenox Shuman challenged his fellow MPs to be better representatives of the people. Shuman, who is the Leader of the Liberty and Justice Party –one of three parties that form the Joinder List to take up one seat on the Opposition side, is slated to vacate his seat and make way for another representative to serve.

Scenes from the competition on Thursday

The Anna Regina Community Centre Ground in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) was transformed into a kaleidoscope of colours on Thursday when the Education Ministry’s Children’s Mashramani Competition continued.

Primary and secondary school students did not disappoint as they took to the stage to perform their dance and masquerade routines.

Abram Zuil Secondary School, Mainstay Primary School, Charity Secondary School, Huis t’Dier-

en Primary School, Anna Regina Secondary School, and 8th of May Secondary School were some of the schools that picked up wins as the day ended.

Speaking at the opening, Regional Chairperson Vilma De Silva thanked the students for participating in the event, noting that the variety and level of performances displayed since the launch of the regional competition showed their dedication and hard work concerning co-curricular activities.

The community ground was flooded with students,

parents, and teachers, who cheered and encouraged the performers to execute their routines to the best of their abilities.

One of the groups that definitely stood out was the all-girl group with their wellled routine and skilful dance moves.

The Mashramani competition will continue today at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground with the much-anticipated costume competition. This category will undoubtedly bring out the creative instincts of both teachers and students.

Police Commissioner (ag) Clifton Hicken and officials from NAPS and UNDP

FFTP, Partners of the Americas wrap up 5-day training for farmers

Food For The Poor (Guy) Inc., in collaboration with the Partners of the Americas’ Farmerto-Farmer Programme, brought the curtains down on an Organizational Management Workshop on Thursday at the FFTP (Guy) Inc Headquarters, where fifteen successful farmers each received their certificate of participation.

The programme was held to boost the capacity of the Central Mahaicony Perth Village Farmers Association, and sessions were facilitated by Kaitlan Mahoney, a USbased volunteer recruited by Partners of the Americas.

Speaking at the simple ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of Food For The Poor (Guy) Inc., Kent Vincent,

praised the farmers as he spoke on the importance of the work they do daily. He emphasised that the role of the organisation is not only to move on from a project after it is completed, but to seek ways by which the lives of individuals, groups and organizations are impacted.

The CEO also stated that Food For The Poor (Guy) Inc is pleased to be a part of this initiative, and views it as a future step to be a part of other collaborations with Partners of the Americas’ Farmer-toFarmer Programme.

Country Director at Partners of the Americas’ Farmer-to-Farmer Programme, Guyanese Kelvin Craig, noted that Guyana has been benefit-

ting from funding from the project under the USAID for several decades. While it was a first-time collaboration between Food For The

CoWIN software to be used for all vaccine records – Dr Anthony

The 2023 National Budget has catered for implementation of the COVID-19 Vaccine Intelligence Network (CoWIN) software, but this tool will be used for all vaccines offered in the country.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony disclosed during Thursday’s Consideration of Estimates and Expenditure that new software is being procured and implemented this year, bringing the sector closer to a digitalised landscape.

Dr Anthony was responding to Opposition Member of Parliament Dr Karen Cummings, who sought clarity on the $754.1 million for other operational expenses.

CoWIN is a vaccination tracking software that was developed by India and is currently being used in numerous countries around the world, including those in Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

“For the Ministry’s Information Department, they are going to get a number of software, including software from India called CoWIN, that is going to be used for not just COVID vaccination, but all vaccines. That is something that we have been work-

ing on for quite some time. We also have sums of monies set aside for the systems we’re using at the Materials Management Unit, which include licensing fees for that,” he relayed.

Another software, Delta Dynamics Facilities Management, will also be procured this year, and the funds for this are included in the budgetary allocation.

The sum also supports efforts to improve efficiency and the establishment of new services at GPHC, after consultancy services were offered by Mount Sinai through a contract signed in June 2022.

“It is to help us develop new oncological services and cardiovascular services, and

we’re also looking at upgrading national guidelines in terms of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and so forth. They have helped us to do the electronic health records system,” Dr Anthony explained.

Back in October, it was shared that a working group has been established within the Ministry, and it has collaborated with the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York to design the electronic patient record system. This, he noted, would reduce waiting time and save patients a lot of hassle. Doctors would also be able to access patients’ records quickly, and when a diagnosis is made, a prescription for medication would go directly to the pharmacists to dispense medication to the patient.

“There are numerous advantages to going to an electronic system. One, we can be able to store large amounts of data; retrieve it readily, and have all the patient’s records in one place. But it’s also very convenient for both patient, doctors, medical staff, and so forth,” Dr Anthony had stated.

This is just one of several measures the Health Ministry is taking to create a more efficient healthcare system in Guyana.

Poor (Guy) Inc and his organization, he pledged his continued support to work with Food For The Poor (Guy) and the Central Mahaicony Perth Village Farmers Association.

“You have to work together, remember all you have learned over the last five (5) days, and keep on growing; because it is all about empowerment. We are here, and we are not going anywhere, and we want to

see progress,” Craig has posited.

Mahoney, however, thanked the farmers for their time, while explaining that the purpose of the training was to take the Mahaicony Perth Village Farmers Association and allow them to regain their confidence. He noted that they are a strong and dedicated association.

“I have no doubt that this group will get back into pig production, they will get back into ham production, and I have no doubt that this group will find the right market, and I look forward to following the progress. I think the most important strategy was the willingness to include youths. It is very important that the knowledge this group has, they share and pass on and empower the youths to be very proud of where they come from,” he added.

Over the course of the five days, which commenced on January 26, 2023 and concluded on February 1, 2023, the farmers benefited

from SWOT analysis, which is expected to better aid them in understanding their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, organizational structure, roles and responsibilities, leadership, vision plan, and action points on how to achieve long and short-term goals.

The farmers have all agreed that the programme was refreshing, as it allowed them to see things from a new perspective. As it relates to the weaning of piglets, they explained that the method which they were taught would now see them doing less work and earning more.

Some farmers who are in the business of managing fruit and vegetable crops relayed that the programme has given them a feeling of empowerment and confidence, as they know they could take better care of their gardens. In unison, the farmers have thanked Food For The Poor (Guy) Inc and Partners of America’s Farmer-to-Farmers Guyana for this joint initiative.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

US-based trainer Kaitlan Mahoney

Officials and the farmers who participated in the training

Chief Executive Officer of Food For The Poor (Guy) Inc., Kent Vincent

Country Director at Partners of the Americas’ Farmer-to-Farmer, Guyana, Kelvin Craig

Granger objects to Justice Singh presiding over $2.6B libel trial

terest, costs, and any such further or other orders the Court deems just.

No consent

At the hearing of Granger’s appeal on Thursday, before High Court Judges Damone Younge and Gino Persaud, Forde submitted that Justice Singh determined that he would hear the libel suit without the consent of the parties, in particular that of the claimant, Granger.

pired, he has an issue with his client not consenting and the Judge still opting to conduct the trial without considering the necessary factors.

“Judge-shopping”

Former President

David Granger has raised objections to High Court Judge Navindra Singh presiding over the trial of the $2.6B libel suit he filed against Guyana Times, Stabroek News, Kaieteur News, and Public Relations Specialist Christopher “Kit” Nascimento.

In fact Granger, through Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, an Opposition Member of Parliament, has filed an appeal at the Full Court of Demerara against Justice Singh’s decision to hear the case.

In the lawsuit, filed in 2021, the former Guyanese Head of State has alleged that he was defamed in letters relating to the March 2020 General and Regional Elections and the events that unfolded after that. He said letters were sent to the newspapers’ editors by Nascimento, and they were later published.

Apart from the billion-dollar award for damages, he wants the Court to grant him aggravated and exemplary damages, in-

According to Senior Counsel Forde, in a letter that was sent to Justice Singh via email, he clearly stated that his client did not consent to Singh being both the pre-trial review and case management conference (CMC) Judge.

He recalled that the first CMC in the lawsuit came to an end on June 15, 2022, and that Justice Singh “purported” to exercise powers vested to him under ‘Part 38: Pre-Trial Review’ of the Civil Procedure Rules of 2016. Since the lawsuit comes up for trial on February 13 and 14, and Granger does not want Justice Singh to proceed, his lawyer Forde is asking the Full Court to stay the commencement of the trial until the determination of the appeal.

“A

difficulty”

For his part, Nascimento’s lawyer Kashir Khan has said that a pre-trial review was not held by Justice Singh. He explained that such a hearing is conducted to explore the possibility of a settlement. Given Granger’s pleadings and the defen-

dant’s defences, the lawyer argued, the purposes for which a pre-trial review are to be held were not satisfied.

“There was no narrowing of any issues; there was no settlement,” Khan told the Full Court.

He contended that the hearing Forde is holding out to be a pre-trial review was another CMC. Although the flysheet uses pre-trial review, Khan submitted, one cannot look at it and say it was that, because it was labelled such; one has to examine what transpired at the hearing.

The lawyer expressed that he has “a difficulty” with persons coming to the court and getting to decide which Judge hears their case. He argued that such a request should not be made unless there is a reasonable apprehension of bias — a legal standard for disqualifying judges and administrative decision-makers.

Forde, in reply, explained that it was not that Justice Singh is biased. In the context of what trans-

Justice Persaud remarked that the law contemplates a different Judge for the pre-trial review, and the same Judge for the CMC and trial. “It is not open to the litigant to choose who hears a trial; that is tantamount to Judge-shopping,” Justice Persaud has said.

Judge-shopping is the practice of trying to replace a judge that has been assigned to your file with another one in the hopes that the new judge would be more favourable to your case.

According to Justice Persaud, this practice is a “dangerous road to go down”, especially since the High Court is operating with only 50 per cent of its stipulated complement of Judges. Adding to what Justice Persaud has said, Justice Younge alluded to the Judges’ large caseloads.

If one desires a Judge to recuse himself/herself, Justice Persaud has noted, a formal application has to be made, laying out the reasons for sucha request. In closing, the Judges indicated that they needed time to peruse the record of appeal and to consider the submissions made by the parties. Since the trial is set to start in less than two weeks, they granted a stay (suspended) of the trial proceedings until they rule on April 27 at 13:30h.

Statement of Claim

Claiming that his reputation was tarnished, former President David Granger, in a 134-page Statement of Claim (SoC), has accused Nascimento of launching and sustaining a series of defamatory attacks against him, from March 2020 to August 2020, through opinions published by the newspapers. According to Granger’s counsel, the attacks were “relentless, and displayed a complete disregard for the truth”.

Granger has said the publications suggested that he was of unsound mind, was a liar, was involved in criminal and illegal activities and practices, and was unfit to be the President of Guyana. Moreover, he said that the pieces penned by the PR Specialist inferred that he was not innocent of any attempt to force fraud on the country, and that he lied to the people of Guyana and the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC), and that he wanted to remain in Government regardless of the will of the people expressed at those elections.

The former President said he denied accusations

Suffered Granger has claimed that as a result of the publications, he and his family have suffered and continue to suffer financial injury, constant grave distress, humiliation, embarrassment, indignity, pain, and suffering. He has also claimed that besides damaging his character and reputation, the “statements have no basis in fact, are malicious, grossly inaccurate, and are intended to deceive the public”.

that he encouraged and/or supported efforts to move to the Courts, inclusive of the Court of Appeal of Guyana and the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), to strip the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairperson, Justice (retd) Claudette Singh, of her authority to produce the election results.

He also denied that he is dishonest, deceitful, habitually hypocritical, of dubious credibility, and wanted to remain in office as President to rule without any regard or care, regardless of the consequences to Guyana.

Granger further denied that he used invented irregularities to claim a victory for the APNU/AFC and for himself as President at the national elections, and refused to accept the election results.

He is denying that he permitted his Attorney General (Basil Williams) to argue that the Recount Order was illegal, and that he, along with his lawyers, attempted to throw out the recount he agreed to abide by.

Additionally, he has rejected accusations that he permitted Williams to argue that the GECOM Chairman was obligated to accept the declaration made by former Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield.

According to Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, during the election period, his client made several public broadcasts to the nation, in which he communicated to the nation, the diplomatic community and civil society that: “As President of Guyana and Leader of the Government, it is my policy that any declaration coming from the Chairman of GECOM will be accepted by the Government of Guyana.”

The Senior Counsel submitted that following the declaration of another candidate as the winner of the elections, Granger accepted the said declaration “as he always stated that he would accept any declaration coming from the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission.”

“The effect of the publications was intended to, and calculated to, damage the reputation of [Granger] and expose him to unwarranted hatred, ridicule, vilification, and contempt… The effect of the publications was intended to, and calculated to, also disparage the record of [Granger] as the President of Guyana and as an honest person,” Forde has contended.

“As a result of the said headlines and articles and their dissemination online and offline, [Granger’s] personal and professional reputation and standing has been irreparably and severely damaged, lowered in the estimation of right-thinking members of society, and [Granger] has suffered and continues to suffer financial injury, constant distress, humiliation, embarrassment, indignity, pain, and suffering.”

Having regard to the foregoing, Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde is asking the Court to grant the orders asked for in the claim, as well as substantial costs.

Granger had applied for injunctions to restrain Nascimento and the newspapers, whether by themselves or by their servants and/or agents, from posting, printing, publishing, sharing, recording, or otherwise recreating and disseminating the defamatory letters.

The former Head of State is also seeking a mandatory injunction compelling the newspapers, whether by themselves, their servants and/or agents, to forthwith permanently remove the letters to the editors in question in their online editions.

Nascimento, in an invited comment to this newspaper, had said he was standing by his remarks about the former Head of State. “I am astonished at Mr Granger’s lawsuit. He certainly places an extraordinarily high price on what he believes to be his reputation. I am satisfied that anything I have written or said about Mr Granger was in defence of democracy and the freedom of Guyana,” the PR specialist had said briefly.

Forde was appointed Senior Counsel by Granger. (Feona Morrison)

Former President David Granger

Christopher “Kit” Nascimento

High Court Judge Navindra Singh

Govt to continue footing GWI electricity bill, after clearing arrears – Dr Singh –

as Finance Ministry’s budget approved

Government has historically supported the finances of GWI by either paying their electricity bill or significant parts of their electricity bill. That continues to be the case,” he noted.

In late 2020, it was disclosed that the GWI owes the GPL some $7 billion in arrears. This was in addition to monies owed by oth-

Despite having to clear its electricity arrears in 2021, the Guyana Government will still be financially assisting the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) to foot its massive energy bill – a move which Senior Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh explained can be considered as a subsidy to deliver water to people across the country.

He made this remark during the consideration of the 2023 Budget Estimates for the Ministry of Finance in the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly on Thursday.

Dr Singh was questioned by Opposition Member of Parliament Volda Lawrence about a $4.062 billion allocation for electricity charges under his ministry. She was enquiring how much of the amount is for a subsidy to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Limited, and how much would cover arrears.

While he did not give a breakdown of the figures, the Finance Minister did explain that most of the money

would go towards clearing the electricity arrears at the power company. “It would be recalled that, when we came into office, there was a stock of arrears that we inherited, which we’ve been trying to clear and we’ve been making progress with clearing… And so, thus far, what we’ve paid and what we’re anticipating to pay in 2023 represents clearance of arrears and keeping us current in terms of electricity charges,” he explained.

However, Dr Singh pointed out that there are some public sector entities, such as GWI, that are incapable of covering their electricity cost, and therefore need help to foot their bills. “There are some entities that in fact do have a challenge with their capacity to pay, because they simply don’t generate [sufficient revenues to meet electricity costs]…

“GWI is a good example of an entity whose revenues simply won’t suffice to meet the cost of their entire energy cost. They’re not the only example… [But] the Central

er state agencies, such as the Bureau of Standards.

GPL’s Divisional Director of Finance, Loris Nathoo, had indicated in March 2022 that substantial payments were made in 2021 on several Government accounts.

In fact, he had noted at the time that the GWI arrears were almost up-to-date, while other state accounts were liquidated.

According to Nathoo, GWI’s average monthly electricity bill is approximately $220 to $250 million.

In May 2022, the Chief Executive Officer of GWI, Shaikh Baksh, had revealed that prudent financial management at the utility company had not only result-

ed in its financial stability, but also a reduction in electricity costs. He noted that the $8 billion bailout from Central Government in 2021 to pay GPL had significantly helped the power company. Nevertheless, during Thursday’s consideration of the Budget estimates, Lawrence further asked what mechanism is

in place to ensure that these state agencies pay their bills on time, instead of relying on bailout from Central Government.

In response, Minister Singh revealed that staff at the Finance Ministry have been working closely with those agencies to ensure they meet their obligations.

Regarding the GWI situation, however, the Finance Minister stated that there would have to be a comprehensive look at the company’s operations to address this issue. But in the same breath, Dr Singh posited that “…in some sense, the Government’s support to an entity like GWI to pay electricity bill really can be con-

sidered a Government subsidy to support the cost of delivering water.”

He further reminded that Government has absorbed the global increase in the price of fuel, paying GPL the difference so that Guyanese are not burdened with an increase in the cost of electricity.

Budget 2023 has allocated $17.7 billion to GWI, almost doubling the $9.9 billion the water company received last year.

Meanwhile, the Committee of Supply on Thursday also approved some $600 million for the implementation of the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB’s) Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) 10th Cycle here in Guyana.

In outlining the overview of the projects to be executed this year, Dr Singh noted that the approved sums will be used for the construction of educational facilities, including nursery, primary, and special schools, as well as early childhood facilities in vulnerable communities.

In addition, the BNTF

would undertake the rehabilitation of community roads, livelihood enhancement projects, and skills training programmes, as well as the construction of water supply systems in Nappi, Warawatta, Kariako, Kurukubaru and Surama.

Another $100 million would also be injected into special support to vulnerable communities through community development programmes and projects.

The Minister noted that the programme is not new, and a dedicated three-member committee has been established to ensure its proper implementation.

Under contributions to local organisations, the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) received the sum of $50 million to continue its mandate of providing financing to small businesses.

The Finance Minister also gave an update on the National Census, which would continue this year in some regions. He noted that a preliminary report would be done later this year on the exercise.

Prices of livestock, non-traditional agricultural items remain stable – GMC

cent in Region One, while it was reduced by 14 per cent in Region Ten and by 29 per cent in Region Six.

And chicken, notably, was reduced by 26 per cent in Region Four, by 30 per cent in Region One, and by 20 per cent in Region Six.

Average market prices for selected livestock and non-traditional agricultural commodities over the three-week period January 4 to 24, 2023, projected by the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), show an easing in prices at some of the major markets across the country.

GMC carried out checks at Kumaka, Anna Regina,

Parika, Vreed-en-Hoop, Diamond, Stabroek, Bourda, Mon Repos, Mackenzie, Rosignol and Skeldon markets. Price checks on beef saw a reduction of 20 per cent in Regions One and Six, while the price of beef in Region Ten decreased on average by 11 per cent for the corresponding period.

The price of pork was again reduced by 20 per

The prices of staple produce such as cassava, eddoes, plantains, potatoes and yams remain unchanged, or have been reduced significantly at the markets. Notably, seasonal vegetables such as bora saw a 43 per cent reduction in cost per bundle on average, compared to what it was in December 2022.

Overall, other vegetables remained under $500 per parcel and/or lb. For example, cabbage is 4 per cent less, while pumpkin dropped by 8 per cent and carrots by 5 per cent at the various markets.

In the recent 2023 Budget Presentation, Government allocated $2 billion towards food security as it moves ahead with plans to increase food production to become a regional food hub. In addition, $200 million has been earmarked for innovative agriculture that would improve food production. A correlation can be drawn that improved food production is having a marked positive impact on price reduction at the markets.

Guyanese can look forward to the continuation of this stable trend as farmers encounter more favourable weather conditions, and improved policy execution in the coming months is expected to incentivise production.

In 2022, food production received some $38 billion, which saw an increase in climate-smart agriculture as well as an increase in agro-processing facilities and training. Moreover, food security continues to be

a paramount policy initiative for the Government of Guyana, which holds lead responsibility for agriculture, agricultural diversification, and food security in CARICOM – spearheading the regional body’s quest to reduce its food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

According to the World Bank, “Guyana’s economy is expanding at an extraordinary rate…and is expected to remain one of the world’s fastest-growing economies in the medium term.”

Senior Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh

Opposition MP Volda Lawrence

GWI Headquarters

Brazilian Senator says he attended election conspiracy meeting with Bolsonaro

ABrazilian Senator said on Thursday that a close ally of former President Jair Bolsonaro tried to persuade the Senator to join a conspiracy to overturn the far-right leader’s electoral loss last year.

Senator Marcos do Val told a news conference that he had been invited to a meeting on December 9 with then-President Bolsonaro by his associate, former lawmaker Daniel Silveira. At the meeting, Silveira asked the Senator to try to get the Head of the electoral court to make compromising comments in a taped conversation that could lead to the Judge’s arrest, Val said.

The Senator told reporters that Bolsonaro “sat in silence” while Silveira laid out the plot against Justice Alexandre de Moraes, a Supreme Court Judge running Brazil’s top electoral authority (TSE).

The former President had made baseless attacks on the integrity of the electronic voting system, which Moraes defended in decisions that Bolsonaro blamed for his defeat.

Silveira was arrested by Police on Thursday on a warrant issued by Moraes, who

Guantanamo Bay detainee transferred to Belize

Majid Khan, a Pakistani man who has described in graphic detail his torture by the Central Intelligence Agency in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, has been transferred from the Guantanamo Bay US detention facility in Cuba to Belize, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

Khan, 42, admitted in 2012 to conspiring with members of the al Qaeda Islamist militant organisation responsible for the 2001 attacks to commit murder as well as providing material support for terrorism and spying and had been serving as a

accused him of disobeying court rulings and “complete disrespect and mockery” of the Judiciary.

It was not immediately possible to reach representatives for Bolsonaro, who has been reclusive in Orlando since late December. His party, the Liberal Party, declined to comment.

Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the former President’s son, said in a statement that there was never any coup at-

tempt and that his father is a “defender of law and order and has always played within the four lines of the Constitution.”

Val’s account is the strongest testimony yet to support accusations that Bolsonaro tried to overturn the result of the October election won narrowly by leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who took office on January 1. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Venezuela’s Maduro complains about US cash-less authoriSations

Venezuela’s President

Nicolás Maduro on Thursday lashed out at US licences barring companies doing business with sanctioned Venezuelan State firms from paying cash to his Administration.

Washington last year authorised US and European firms to resume taking Venezuelan crude oil on the condition no funds be paid to Venezuela. Last week, the United States authorised Trinidad and Tobago to import gas from a Venezuelan offshore field and barred cash from changing hands.

The permits were part of US President Joe Biden’s move to encourage political talks between Maduro and the Venezuelan Opposition with the main goal of securing a fair presidential election.

“They tell a country it has permission to negotiate with Venezuela, but it cannot pay in dollars or any form of cash. It must pay with food or products,” Maduro said in a broadcast. “That is colonialism.”

Maduro criticized the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which issued the

licences, and said it tries to dictate how to do business with Venezuela to State and private companies.

“It is a joke to sovereign countries. I call sovereign countries and Governments in America and the Caribbean to denounce this colonial model. We do not accept it, we will go on our way,” he said.

Maduro did not elaborate on any coming actions.

Following the licence to Trinidad last week, Venezuela has not said publicly if it will negotiate with the Caribbean country. (Reuters)

Government witness since, according to US officials.

He was captured in Pakistan and held at an unidentified CIA “black site” from 2003 to 2006 before being placed at the detention camp at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay.

In a statement issued through his legal team, Khan welcomed what he called a second chance in life.

“I deeply regret the things that I did many years ago, and I have taken responsibility and tried to make up for them. I continue to ask for forgiveness from God and those I have hurt. I am truly sorry,”

Khan said.

Khan was the first Guantanamo detainee released since last October, leaving 34 detainees –down from a peak of 800 – at the facility, with 20 others already deemed as eligible for transfer to another country, according to US officials.

There were 40 detainees at Guantanamo when President Joe Biden, a Democrat, took office in 2021. Biden has said he hopes to close the facility. The Federal Government is barred by law from transferring Guantanamo detainees to U.S. mainland prisons. (Excerpt from Reuters)

T&T AG hires ex-Judge to probe disappeared Naipaul-Coolman file

Retired Appeal Court Judge Rolston Nelson, SC, a former Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice, has been appointed to advise the State on its next move in the debacle which led to a court awarding TT$20 million to nine men once accused of killing businesswoman Vindra Naipaul-Coolman.

On Thursday, the Office of the Attorney General said AG Reginald Armour, SC, had retained Nelson to advise “on issues relevant to the missing file and the provenance of the decision” of Master Martha Alexander on Monday.

The statement provided little information, and only added that “Attorney General Armour remains consistent with his commitment to ensuring the urgent investigation and keeping the public updated on the progress of this matter.”

In addition to launching the investigation, Armour said he would be seeking legal advice on whether the

State could appeal the default judgement and subsequent assessment of damages.

After the State failed to defend a malicious prosecution lawsuit (which Armour blamed on the disappear-

ance of the case file), the nine men who sued after being acquitted of the charge of murdering NaipaulCoolman, were collectively awarded over TT$20 million in compensation.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Argentina OKs new 2000 peso bill as inflation bites

Argentina will roll out a new 2000-peso bill, the central bank said on Thursday, which would double the face value of the country’s top denomination bank note, but would still only be worth US$11 officially and US$5 in commonly used parallel markets.

The South American country is battling one of the world’s highest inflation rates, with prices

climbing 95 per cent last year, and a steady devaluation of the peso, which means Argentines and tourists often carry huge stacks of bills to make payments.

The largest current bill, the 1000 peso note, is worth just US$2.70 on the alternative markets most people use to exchange currency, including through formal money exchange firms. Buying dollars at the official rate is

strictly limited.

Given the new 2000 peso note would still leave Argentina’s largest tender as one of the lowest-valued in the region, a 5000 peso bill is being studied, according to a source from the central bank, though has not yet been given approval.

“The 2000 peso denomination will be integrated into the current peso series,” the central bank said

in a statement. It did not directly refer to the rising pressures of inflation or say when the new note would enter the market.

Bankers have raised concerns about the cost of storing an increasingly large volume of bills in bank vaults, while consumers and tourists often complain about having to fill bags with cash to make even regular payments.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Brazilian Senator Marcos do Val speaks during a news conference in Brasilia, Brazil, February 2, 2023 (Reuters/Ton Molina)

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro

Retired Appeal Court Judge Rolston Nelson, SC

Oil slumps on economic data, stronger US dollar

Oil prices settled lower on Thursday as US industriallinked factory orders dipped, while the dollar strengthened, making crude more expensive for nonAmerican buyers.

Brent crude futures settled at US$82.17 a barrel, shedding 67 cents, or 0.8 per cent. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) settled at US$75.88 a barrel, down 53 cents, or 0.7 per cent.

While new orders for US manufactured goods rose broadly in December, orders for industrial equipment and other machinery fell, according to the latest Commerce Department data.

"It was highlighting more slowing in the economy, particularly on the industrial side, which is a negative for petroleum," said John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital.

A rebound in the dollar index , which hit a nine-month low earlier in the session on softer US Federal Reserve rate hike bets, also weighed on oil prices, according to Jim Ritterbusch of Ritterbusch and Associates. A stronger greenback makes dollar-priced oil more expensive for holders of other currencies.

The Fed raised its target interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point on Wednesday, but continued to promise "ongoing increases" in borrowing costs as part of its battle against inflation.

"Inflation has eased somewhat, but remains elevated," the US central bank said in a statement that marked an explicit acknowledgement of the progress made in lowering the pace of price increases from the 40-year highs hit last year.

While inflation appears to have slowed in major economies, the response of central banks and the speed of reopening from COVID-19 lockdowns is uncertain.

"Investors have become less confident in the strength of the outlook; something we could see change repeatedly in this first quarter due to the lack of visibility on interest rates and China's COVID transition," said Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at OANDA.

Helping to keep oil from moving lower was a European Union ban on Russian refined products set to take effect on February 5, potentially dealing a blow to global supply.

EU countries will seek a deal on Friday on a European Commission proposal to set price caps on Russian oil products after postponing a decision on Wednesday because of divisions among member states, diplomats said.

The European Commission proposed last week that from February 5 the EU apply a price cap of US$100 a barrel on premium Russian oil products such as diesel and a US$45 per barrel cap on discounted products such as fuel oil.

Meanwhile, an Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (OPEC+) panel endorsed the producer group's current output policy at a meeting on Wednesday, leaving production cuts agreed last year unchanged amid hopes of higher Chinese demand and uncertain prospects for Russian supply.(Reuters)

Around the World

Putin evokes Stalingrad to predict victory over 'new Nazism' in Ukraine

President Vladimir Putin evoked the spirit of the Soviet army that defeated Nazi German forces at Stalingrad 80 years ago to declare on Thursday that Russia would defeat a Ukraine supposedly in the grip of a new incarnation of Nazism.

n a fiery speech in Volgograd, known as Stalingrad until 1961, Putin lambasted Germany for helping to arm Ukraine and said, not for the first time, that he was ready to draw on Russia's entire arsenal, which includes nuclear weapons.

"Unfortunately we see that the ideology of Nazism in its modern form and manifestation again directly threatens the security of our country," Putin told an audience of army officers and members of local patriotic

Chinese spy balloon flying over the United States, Pentagon says

Asuspected Chinese spy balloon has been flying over the United States for a few days, and senior U.S. officials have advised President Joe Biden against shooting it down for fear the debris could pose a safety threat.

The old-fashioned spymovie-like intelligence collection method recalls lengths to which Beijing and Washington have been willing to go to spy on each other amid increased tensions.

"Clearly the intent of this balloon is for surveillance," a senior US defence official told reporters on Thursday, adding that it did not include technology that was revolutionary.

China and the United States, the world's two largest economies, have experienced tensions of late, clashing over Taiwan and China's human rights record and its military activity in the South China Sea.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to visit China in the coming days.

Washington has been tracking the balloon since it entered US airspace a couple of days ago, including by observing it with manned US military aircraft.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, while travelling to the Philippines, convened a meeting of senior Pentagon officials on Wednesday to discuss the balloon incident.

US military leaders considered shooting down the balloon over Montana, but eventually recommended President Joe Biden against it because of the potential safety risk from debris, the official told reporters.

The official said the current flight path would carry the balloon over a number of sensitive sites, but did not give details. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Republicans kick Ilhan Omar off US House foreign affairs panel

United States Republicans have removed progressive Congresswoman Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee over her past criticism of Israel, drawing rebuke and accusations of bigotry from Democrats.

In a 218-211 vote along party lines, the House passed a resolution on Thursday to strip Omar — a former refugee from Somalia and one of two Muslim women in Congress

— of her committee assignment.

Republican lawmakers argued that Omar engaged in “anti-Semitic” and “anti-Israel” rhetoric that disqualified her from serving on the foreign policy panel.

But prior to the vote, Omar suggested that Republicans were targeting her because of her identity.

“There is this idea that you are a suspect if you are an immigrant or if you are from certain parts of the world or a certain skin

IIhan

tone or a Muslim,” Omar said. “It is no accident that members of the Republican Party accused the first

and youth groups.

"Again and again we have to repel the aggression of the collective West. It's incredible but it's a fact: we

are again being threatened with German Leopard tanks with crosses on them."

Russian officials have been drawing parallels with the struggle against the Nazis ever since Russian forces entered Ukraine almost a year ago.

Ukraine – which was part of the Soviet Union and itself suffered devastation at the hands of Hitler's forces – rejects those parallels as spurious pretexts for a war of imperial conquest.

Stalingrad was the bloodiest battle of World War Two, when the Soviet Red Army, at a cost of over 1 million casualties, broke the back of German invasion forces in 1942-3.

Putin evoked what he said was the spirit of the defenders of Stalingrad to explain why he thought Russia would prevail in Ukraine, saying the World War Two battle had become a symbol of "the indestructible nature of our people". (Excerpt from Reuters)

Israel says Sudan peace deal to be signed in Washington

being a secret Muslim.”

Israel and Sudan will sign an "historic peace agreement" in Washington in a few months' time, Israel's Foreign Minister announced following talks in Khartoum.

Eli Cohen said the text of the agreement was finalised during his one-day visit to see Sudanese leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

Sudan agreed two years ago to normalise relations with Israel, but a deal has never been implemented.

It would become the latest Arab League country to establish such ties.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Morocco have officially normalised relations with Israel since 2020 as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords.

Historically, members of the Arab League had refused to recognise Israel, a factor in perpetuating the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Egypt became the first Arab country to sign a peace

treaty with Israel in 1979, followed by Jordan in 1994.

An accord with Sudan holds particular symbolic importance as Khartoum was the venue for an Arab League meeting in 1967 where members vowed not to recognise Israel, after the Arab-Israeli war three months earlier.

Sudan's Foreign Ministry said Cohen and LieutenantGeneral Burhan had "discussed means for establishing fruitful relations with Israel" and strengthening cooperation in "agricultural, energy, health, water, education fields with special emphasis on security and military fields".

It did not say whether a peace agreement would be signed.

The growing number of Arab countries formalising relations with Israel has been condemned by the Palestinians, who see it as a betrayal of their cause.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Russian service members drive a tank during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of Red Army over Nazi Germany's troops in the Battle of Stalingrad during World War Two, in Volgograd, Russia, February 2, 2023 (Reuters/Kirill Braga)

Sudan would become the latest Arab League country to normalise ties with Israel

Black president, Barack Obama, of

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Omar co-sponsored a resolution recognising “Israel as America’s legitimate and democratic ally”, but she said her criticism of Israeli policies towards Palestinians has not changed [Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo]

(March 21-April 19)

Focus and discipline are fundamental. Don’t stop until you reach your destination and have something to celebrate. There is money to be made if you reconnect with an old business contact.

You must earn trust today. Don’t let anyone talk you into something you are unfamiliar with or don’t want. Follow your intuition if you want to come out on top. Change is tempting, but implement it wisely.

(April 20-May 20)

Don’t let too much time go by between an offer and your decision to accept or reject it. Indecisiveness will put a dent in your reputation and lessen the respect you get from others.

PEANUTS

(May 21-June 20)

Take an interest in something unusual, and new beginnings and friendships will develop. Don’t offer too much information; listen carefully and gain insight into how and what others think.

(June 21-July 22)

Difficult situations will arise between you and a close partner, boss or authority figure. Deal with any situation that can make you look bad or cost you financially.

(July 23-Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

You’ll be the go-to person for solutions. Enjoy the attention, do your best to be forthright and offer hands-on help. You’ll buy respect and gain confidence by taking care of other people’s dilemmas.

State the facts and procedures. Your clear-cut approach will make it easier to get what you want. Someone you are close to will question your motives. Be prepared to disclose your intentions.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Take notes, do things by the book and surround yourself with like-minded people. Reconnect with someone who can offer insight into a long-troublesome situation. Deal with a problem at home.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Choose your side carefully. Be rational and distance yourself from controversial people trying to involve you in something that contradicts who you are and what you believe.

SOLUTION

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Take precautions if you are bent on moving quickly. Patience and tolerance will help you maintain integrity and progress. Positive change is within reach; all you must do is follow through.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Be ready for anything and everything. Use your discipline to get things done on time. Your innovative ideas and versatility will lead to positive change and a happier home life.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Waiting for others to do things will prove futile. Take the initiative and follow through with your plans instead of discussing what you want to do and expecting others to fulfill your dreams.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

As many as 40 countries could boycott Paris 2024

-Poland’s Sports Minister

As many as 40 countries could boycott the next Olympic Games, Paris 2024, making the whole event pointless, Poland's Sports and Tourism Minister Kamil Bortniczuk has said.

His comments came after Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia jointly rejected an International Olympic Committee (IOC) plan to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete in 2024. Ukraine has threatened to boycott the Paris Olympics if that occurs.

The IOC said on Thursday that any boycott would only "punish athletes".

Bortniczuk has said he believes it would be possible to build a coalition of 40 countries, including Great Britain, the United States and Canada, to support a block on the International Olympic Committee's plans before a meeting on 10

February.

He added: "Considering this, I don't think we will face tough decisions before the Olympics; and if we were to boycott the Games, the coalition we will be a part of will be broad enough to make holding the Games pointless."

The IOC announced last week that it would "explore a pathway" to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in Paris under a neutral flag, adding that "no athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport".

The move has prompted condemnation, with the UK Government saying the plan was a "world away from the reality of war".

Ukraine Sports Minister Vadym Guttsait has said the country's sporting bodies need to "strengthen communication" with international federations to keep a ban in place on Russian and

Belarusian athletes, which was imposed by the IOC's Executive Committee immediately after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February

Archer revels in “surreal” return from injury

Jofra Archer reflected on a "surreal" feeling after a "long road" back from injury, following his six-wicket haul for England in Wednesday's ODI victory over South Africa.

The fast bowler has endured a torrid time with injuries across the last three years, and had not featured for England in any format since March 2021, before the white-ball series against the Proteas. Archer managed just one wicket for 81 runs on his long-awaited return, as England succumbed to a 27-run opening defeat on Friday in Bloemfontein.

The 27-year-old was rested as South Africa wrapped up the ODI Series with a five-wicket win in the second encounter, but helped England avoid a 3-0 whitewash in the last clash. He took 6-40, the third-best bowling figures for England in an ODI, as England cruised to a 59-run victory after Jos Buttler paved the way with a dominant 131 in the first innings.

"It is good being back. It has been a long road," Archer said after his maiden five-wicket haul in 50over international cricket. "This is a small tick,

but I want to see how I am in April, June, July and September. Being back after however many weeks, months, it is kind of surreal. This is just the first series; there is loads of time to get the fine-tuning done."

A fearsome pace-bowling display reinvigorated memories of the 2019 Cricket World Cup victory and the Ashes Series in the same year, when Archer caused Australia problems with his aggressive style.

"He is like gold dust," former England captain Nasser Hussain told Sky Sports. "He is so valuable for English cricket and world cricket.

What I took today was not just his class and wicket-taking potential, but what I've missed is just the

effortless grace he has."

Archer will head to the Indian Premier League to test his T20 credentials, before returning to train for the upcoming Ashes Series with Australia, which starts on June 16.

Former England captain Michael Atherton wants the star bowler to be managed carefully, though, with his previous injuries remaining a concern. "Back and elbow are absolutely critical, so there would have been some doubt there about whether he would get back," Atherton told Sky Sports.

"He's got some way to go yet to show he can do it across formats and then cope with an ever-demanding schedule, but it was a wonderful day for him."

(Sportsmax)

2022. However, IOC President Thomas Bach has since said that was only intended as a "protective" measure towards those athletes, and now insists they should not be discriminated against.

On Thursday, sports ministers from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and

Poland said, "Any effort by the International Olympic Committee to bring back Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete, even under a neutral flag, should be rejected". They added: "Efforts to return Russian and Belarusian athletes to international sports competitions under the veil of neutrality

legitimise political decisions and widespread propaganda of these countries."

And they called on "all international sports organisations and federations" to remove Russian and Belarusians athletes from international competitions until the war ends.

The IOC reiterated that no discussions on the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to competition had yet taken place, and warned Ukraine and other nations about the implications of threatening a boycott.

"Threatening a boycott of the Olympic Games, which the NOC of Ukraine is currently considering, goes against the fundamentals of the Olympic Movement and the principles it stands for," the IOC wrote in a question-and-answer document published on Thursday.

"A boycott is a violation of the Olympic Charter, which obliges all NOCs to 'participate in the Games of the Olympiad by sending athletes'. As history has shown, previous boycotts did not achieve their political ends, and served only to punish the athletes of the boycotting NOCs." (BBC Sport)

Attempted rape charges against Greenwood dropped

Charges of attempted rape and assault have been dropped against Manchester United footballer Mason Greenwood.

The 21-year-old was arrested in January 2022 amid allegations surrounding images and videos. He was later charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The Crown Prosecution Service said the charges were discontinued after key witnesses withdrew their involvement. A spokesman said: "We have a duty to keep cases under continuous review. In this case, a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction. In these circumstances, we are under a duty to stop the case.

"We have explained our decision to all parties. We would always encourage any potential victims to

Mason Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 after the allegations emerged

come forward and report to Police, and we will prosecute wherever our legal test is met."

Within hours of the allegations surfacing at the beginning of 2022, the forward, who has made one appearance for England, was suspended from playing or training with the Old Trafford club. The club has been asked by the BBC to comment.

Greater Manchester Police said it was "only fair" to announce Greenwood

would no longer face criminal proceedings. Chief Superintendent Michaela Kerr said the decision had "not been taken lightly". She added: "I would, however, like to use this opportunity to reiterate the Force's commitment to investigating allegations of violence against women and girls, and supporting those affected, regardless of their circumstances, throughout what can be a hard and upsetting time for them." (BBC Sport)

The IOC is working on plans to allow Russian and Belarussian athletes to compete at the 2024 Games under a neutral flag

England vs South Africa 2023: ODI Series, game 3 of 3…

Jofra Archer smiling brightly with his 6-fer ball

Patrick Forde Memorial tourney to have international flavour

For the first time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the Patrick Forde Memorial boxing tournament is set to ignite the National Gymnasium. The action is set for Sunday, February 19, 2023.

With its resurgence, this tournament is poised to have several features to appease the palates of local boxing fanatics, including international boxers, female bouts, and ‘the promising talent of tomorrow’.

Sharing an update on the tournament with Guyana Times Sport, Guyana Boxing

Association (GBA) President Steve Ninvalle disclosed that international boxers are lined up to oppose local stars.

“Preparations for the 2nd annual Patrick Forde Memorial tournament are going excellent. We expect to have Barbados, Trinidad, St. Lucia and Suriname coming to compete against Guyana,” Ninvalle shared.

He related to this publication, “In addition, our 2022 Sportsman of the year, Desmond Amsterdam, is scheduled to be on the card to fight against overseas opposition, as is Colin Lewis

and Keevin Allicock.”

Recently voted as Guyana’s Sport Association of the Year for 2021-2022, the GBA has an eye on preparation for international competition, and as such, female bouts will be on the card for the Jackman sisters, Abiola and Alesha.

The GBA President has announced, “Also, we’ll have both of the Jackman sisters.

They, of course, are earmarked to go to the World Championships in India in March. So, this will be much needed ring time for both of them,” he enlightened.

In addition to the senior

Project “Cricket gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana”…

competitors lined up, the Patrick Forde Memorial is set to feature up-and-coming under-16 talents.

“What would be a feature of this year’s tournament is that we would be having 5 bouts for under-16. We’ve said before that we’re placing a lot of emphasis on our nursey, and by part we’ll have them included,” Ninvalle related.

The Patrick Forde Memorial is held in honour of former pugilist Patrick Forde, who became the first Guyanese to contest a world title. Forde passed away in 2011 at the age of 55.

Fast-bowling all-rounder Shamar Joseph gets support

Guyana Senior Cricket Team’s latest selectee Shamar Joseph has received support from Project “Cricket gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana”, the joint initiative of Kishan Das of the USA and Anil Beharry of Guyana.

Basically unknown in cricket circles a few months ago, this young fast-bowling all-rounder from the Tucber Park Cricket Club announced his presence by his outstanding performances in the 2022 Guyana Cricket Board Inter County Senior 50 Overs Tournament, which has returned after close to a decade, and the recently concluded National Senior Cricket Trials. As a result, he has been selected for the Senior Team, which is in Antigua to participate in the Regional 4 Day Tournament.

At a simple ceremony held recently, Joseph expressed how thankful he was for a pair of cricket shoes, and was happy to learn, “We wish him well, and the initiative is happy to be part of his development. We advise that he stays fit, focused, disci-

plined and grounded”.

Total cricket-related items collected so far: $310,000 in cash, two trophies, thirteen cricket boots, twenty-one

pairs of batting pads, twenty-five bats, eighteen pairs of batting gloves, twenty thigh pads, one pair of wicketkeeping pads, three arm guards,

two boxes, six cricket bags and three helmets.

In addition to the above, $600,000 worth in gear was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former national wicketkeeper -batsman.

To date, fifty young players from all three counties of Guyana have already benefitted from receipt of three junior gear bags, two trophies, three arm guards, nineteen bats, two boxes, three helmets, eighteen pairs of cricket shoes, eleven pairs of batting pads, one thigh pad, one bat rubber and sixteen pairs of batting gloves.

In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area have benefitted from the receipt of two used bats. Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenaam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also received one box of red cricket balls each, while RHCCCC received two boxes, fifteen white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicketkeeping gloves, and a set of stumps and bails. The Essequibo Cricket Board and the town of Lethem have also benefitted.

Cricket-related items,

used or new, are distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Talent spotting is being done across the country, and club leaders also assist to identify same. Progressive and well managed clubs with youth programmes will also benefit.

We take this opportunity to thank Javed and Imran of West Indian Sports Complex, Option Group of USA, Hilbert Foster, Bish Panday of P and P Insurance Brokers, Sean Devers, Trevis Simon, Årïêl J. Tïlkú, Aaron Beharry, Leanna Bachan and Imran Saccoor, Devon Ramnauth, Teddy Singh, Romash Munna, Ravi Etwaroo, Kelvin Brijlall, Ravin Harkishun, Surendra Harkishun, Allan Mangru, Dennis Mangru, Vishal Mahabir, Sherman Austin, Huburn Evans, Rajendra Sadeo, Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Sheik Mohamed of Star Sports Awards and Trophies, and Ajay Gainda of Cricket Equipment Guyana, Gajanand Singh, Peter

Top Brandz to host season-opening golf tournament at LGC this Saturday

Golf is back in a big way, with big prizes up for grabs, including free overseas golf at year end.

The Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) is partnering with TOP BRANDZ Distributors – sole distributor of Corona beer, Modelo and Goya brand products – to host the Top Brandz inaugural Medal Play tournament, which would be the LGC’s grand season-opening tournament featuring 18 holes of competition.

Prizes would range from first to third best overall net scores, best gross score, closest to the pin, and longest drive. In addition to trophies and prizes, contestants would earn points based on their positions.

The 2023 season would feature a season long point chase competition that will run throughout the year. Players will earn points at

each sponsored tournament. The top-five points earners will be rewarded richly at the conclusion of the season, with the overall winner earning free entries to both the Guyana Open and Suriname Invitational golf tournaments. The points chase will culminate with the awarding of the top 3 winners getting free entry to the season- opening Guyana Open golf competition and positions four and five getting free entry to the Macorp Golf Challenge.

Saturday’s Top Brandz Medal Play tournament will feature some of the best golfers from Guyana, along with a few golfers from other countries. Competition is expected to be intense, as golfers have waited for the rain to stop and are champing at the bit to get back into the swing.

Other products offered by Top Brandz are Corona

beer, Clorox bleach, Welch's, Pinesol, Glad, and the Sprayway Brands. Managing Director of Top Brandz, Mr. Wayne James, has com-

mitted to growing the partnership with the Lusignan Golf Club, not just through the sponsorship of this season-opening golf tournament,

but through other avenues of partnerships that have been discussed, which would help to open the Lusignan Golf Club to more patronage.

Ramkissoon, Rabindranath Saywack, Roshan Gaffoor, Ameer Rahaman, Chin Singh, Denesh Chandrapaul, Dr Cecil Beharry, Davo Naraine of UK, and Latch Mohabir and family, Raj Mathura and Raj Bharrat. Thanks to the media for the role they are playing in promoting this venture. Distribution will continue. Anyone interested to contribute can contact Anil Beharry on 623-6875 or Kishan Das on 1 718 664-0896.

GBA President Steve Ninvalle

Shamar Joseph

Top Brandz Marketing Manager Dinesh Ramsahai making a presentation to LGC VP Brian Hackett in the presence of LGC PRO Paton George

West Indies 4-Day Championships 2023…

Guyana

Harpy Eagles claim 3 wickets after Nandu's marathon century

By Brandon Corlette in antigua

Matthew Nandu's memorable maiden

First-Class century on debut has led Guyana Harpy Eagles to 371 all out against Barbados Pride in the first round of the West Indies’ 4-Day Championships

solid.

Kevin Sinclair got one to go past McCaskie's outside edge with the first ball he bowled, but the opener took the score past 50. Sinclair broke the opening stand, at 69-1 after 23.5 overs, when he removed McCaskie, caught at short mid-wicket

Sinclair had 1-26 in eight overs.

Nandu exceeds a century

Resuming the second day on 205-5, Nandu and Kevin Sinclair piled on the runs. Sinclair got off to a bright start on the second morning, milking boundaries off spinner Chaim Holder. Set for a half-century, Sinclair followed a wide delivery and was caught behind by standin keeper Shamarh Brooks. He, however, contributed a 69-ball 43 in an innings decorated with eight fours.

After the 62-run partnership between Sinclair

Permaul was solid on 23 at the interval, as he used the ploy of walking towards the Barbadian bowlers. Nandu, who was dropped on 40 on day one off the bowling of an unlucky Keon Harding, also survived some close calls by the umpires, especially to deliveries that went down the leg-side. However, the 19-year-old Nandu continued to display grit and determination in showcasing his sound technique to the handful of spectators.

Upon resumption of the second session, Guyana required 17 runs in five overs to gain extra batting points. The purposeful duo of Nandu and Permaul ensured that

behind for 126. His innings came off 337 balls, and he struck 15 fours while occupying the crease for 503 minutes. Nandu was the first Guyanese to score a FirstClass century on debut since Sudesh Dhaniram in 1987.

Joseph, another debutant, looked capable with the bat as he scored a promising 20, including four boundaries. He was trapped leg-before by the off-spinner Chaim Holder, while Nial Smith was run out for nine when the Harpy Eagles innings ended on 371 in 121.1 overs.

Barbados bowlers were sloppy, yielding 54 extras.

Jair McAllister was the pick of the bowlers with 3-43 in 18.1 overs, while the off-spinner Chaim Holder

Guyana 1st Innings

Chanderpaul Hemraj

lbw b McAllister 11

Matthew Nandu c Brooks

b McAllister 126

Tevin Imlach lbw b Jordan 0

in Antigua.

The 19-year-old Nandu’s marathon innings of 126 came off 337 balls in 503 minutes, and was decorated with 15 fours.

At stumps on day two, Barbados Pride were 1053 after 39 overs, trailing by 266 runs. In the Pride’s reply of 371 runs, they reached tea on 16-0. Despite an early chance created by Nial Smith, and Shamar Joseph striking Zachary McCaskie on his helmet, the openers negotiated well for Pride.

Shayne Moseley was fluent in his off-side stroke-play, while McCaskie was rock

for 26.

One run later, Permaul sent back Jonathan Drakes leg-before for a duck. Moseley reached his 12th First-Class fifty, but fell soon after to debutant Shamar Joseph. The 23-year-old Joseph who was bowling quick in the final hour, had Moseley caught at the wicket for 65. Moseley faced 107 balls and struck nine fours in a well-constructed innings.

At stumps, Brooks was unbeaten on 10 and nightwatchman Keon Harding was on three. Pride will resume on 105-3. Permaul had 1-18 in nine overs, Joseph

and Nandu, the veteran Veerasammy Permaul partnered Nandu, and the duo batted until lunch, taking the score to 283-6 in 105 overs. Nandu reached his maiden century in 295 balls, after punching pacer Akeem Jordan to the boundary. The little left-hander had struck 13 fours at that stage in his innings.

occurred as they went hunting quick runs. Permaul eventually fell for 37, after resisting for 92 balls and stroking six fours. Nandu and Permaul added 90 for the seventh wicket, the highest of the innings.

Nandu played some lovely square cuts and cover drives, but eventually chased a wide one and was caught

Kemol Savory c Dowrich

b Holder 25

Leon Johnson c Jordan b Holder 26

Anthony Bramble c

Kirton b Jordan 20

Kevin Sinclair c Brooks

b McAllister 43

Veerasammy Permaul c

McAllister b Harding 37

Shamar Joseph lbw b Holder 20

Nial Smith run out 9

Ronsford Beaton not out 0

Total (10 wickets, 121.1)

(54 extras) 371

FOW: 30/1 (12.5) Chanderpaul Hemraj 35/2 (15.4) Tevin Imlach

80/3 (29.2) Kemol Savory 126/4

(47.1) Leon Johnson 163/5

(62.2) Anthony Bramble 225/6

(84.1) Kevin Sinclair 315/7

(111.3) Veerasammy Permaul

354/8 (117.1) Matthew Nandu

claimed 3-72 in 36 overs. The last five wickets for the Guyana Harpy Eagles produced 146 runs, after the top order, excluding Nandu, had failed to fire.

The third day is expected to bowl off at 10:00h Eastern Caribbean Time.

Summarized scores of West Indies Championships:

TTRF vs WIV: WIV 243 & 397/3 (108) Melius 192, Hodge 80, Athanaze 49*; Charles 2/92. TTRF 315 (92.1) Jangoo 86, Webster 79; John 5/18. Volcanoes lead by 325 runs.

LIH vs JS: LIH 260 (118.3) Louis 78*; Mindley 3/28, Mansingh 3/47. JS 186/6 (60) Lugg 79; Cornwall 3/47. Scorpions trail by 74 runs.

370/9 (120.3) Shamar Joseph

371/10 (121.1) Nial Smith

Bowling

Akeem Jordan (26-8-54-2)

Keon Harding (23-1-128-1)

Shemar Springer (17-5-46-0)

Jair McAllister (18.14-43-3)

Chaim Holder (36-15-72-3)

Nicholas Kirton (1-1-0-0)

Barbados Innings

Zachary McCaskie c

Hemraj b Sinclair 26

Sheyne Moseley c Bramble b Joseph 65

Jonathan Drakes lbw b Permaul 0

Sharmarh Brooks not out 10

Keon Harding not out 3

Total (3 wickets, 39.0) (1 extras) 105

FOW: 69/1 (23.5) Zachary McCaskie 70/2 (24.6)

Jonathan Drakes 102/3

(35.2) Sheyne Moseley

Bowling

Nial Smith (7-2-25-0)

Ronsford Beaton (6-2-15-0)

Shamar Joseph (9-2-20-1)

Kevin Sinclair (8-0-26-1)

Veerasammy Permaul (9-1-18-1)

Mosley stroked his 12th First-Class fifty

Guyanese living in Antigua came out to support Guyana Harpy Eagles

Nandu soaking in the applause after scoring a fine hundred (Brandon Corlette photos)