Guyana Times - Friday, January 13, 2023

Housewife busted with ganja, ammunition during Police raid

Over $1.5B in ganja destroyed in Berbice River community

AJoint Services operation has resulted in the destruction of over $1.5 billion worth of ganja in the community of Gateroy Savannah, along the Berbice River.

Based on what has been reported, members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard, acting on information received, travelled to Gateroy Savannah in the Berbice River, where

they discovered a 12-acre field of cannabis plants measuring between six inches and four feet in height.

Before being destroyed, the cannabis plants were weighed, and amounted to approximately 23,100kg, which has a street value of

some $3,557,400.

In addition, ranks found a quantity of processed marijuana, seven makeshift tents, farming tools, one motorcycle, one water pump, and eight live 12-gauge cartridges. The dried cannabis weighed about 3,500 pounds, which has a street

value of approximately $1.4 billion.

The dried cannabis and camps were destroyed by

fire, while the other items were seized by the ranks as evidence. Police investigations are continuing.

Housewife busted with ganja, ammunition during Police raid

Afemale occupant of a house at Ogle Street, Triumph, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was on Wednesday busted with a quantity of ganja and ammunition during a Police operation.

Police have said that ranks in Division 4C executed a search warrant at the house on Wednesday between 13:40h and 15:30h. A search was conducted in a shop, and five transparent Ziplock plastic bags containing a quantity of cannabis were found in a small box. A further search unearthed US$40 and G$170,000 in a barrel.

The female who was at the premises at the time of the operation was told of the offence, cautioned, and arrested.

Ranks then went to a second house and conducted a search in the kitchen of the lower flat, during which they unearthed 417 rounds of .22 ammunition and a quantity of 12-gauge cartridges that were hidden in a yellow sack.

A black-and-red box that was found

The ammunition, ganja and cash found during the operation

in this kitchen was also searched, and four rounds of .32 ammunition and one 9mm bullet were found. The ganja, cannabis, bullets and cash were seized and

taken to the Beterverwagting Police Station as Police continue their probe. The ganja, when weighed, amounted to seven grams. The woman remains in custody pending charges.

A quantity of cannabis seeds that were found at the location

One of the camps found

One of the camps being destroyed by fire

The processed marijuana being destroyed by fire

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, January 13 – 09:00h-10:30h and Saturday, January 14 –10:00h-11:30h and 22:00h-23:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, January 13 –08:00h-09:30h and Saturday, January 14 – 08:50h-10:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light

Winds

High

Voice of the Global South Summit

Global food system needed to end hunger amid alarming food insecurity – Pres Ali ...says advancements in agriculture make India a leader in food security efforts

In decrying the grave impact of food insecurity within Latin America and the Caribbean, as he participated in the Voice of the Global South Summit in India, President Irfaan Ali has called for the mobilisation of a global food system to end hunger.

Currently in India, President Irfaan Ali has addressed leaders at the Voice of the Global South Summit on Thursday, a two-day initiative being attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders.

The Guyanese Head of State shared that India has demonstrated its ability to respond to global challenges and global needs, and its initiative to host the Summit is a demonstration of its noble intention of becoming a voice for the South.

He used the platform to highlight the plight of small island developing and low-lying coastal states and the mounting threats they face.

“Small island developing and low-lying coastal states, who face the threat of physical extinction as a result of the climate crisis, and whose populations have been encumbered by high debt burdens, imported inflation, and increasing energy costs, India’s presidency of the G20 and its proclaimed commitment of being the advocate of the South, offers hope that within the global governance architecture, the concerns of the South will enjoy greater traction,” the Head of State vocalised.

The President shared

that the international community’s confrontation with interconnected challengessuch as the global pandemic, climate, energy, and good crisis - and inter-state conflicts has exacerbated the vulnerabilities of small island developing and low-lying coastal states.

He reiterated that fending from the grasp of climate change will require increased and faster access to concessional financing for climate adaptation, as well as tangible efforts to achieve food security.

India’s experience in agricultural production and technology allows it to lead on this front.

“The climate crisis has imperiled food security in many parts of the world. It is intolerable that in a world of so much, so many have to subsist on so little. Sustainable development is unachievable without food security. The South therefore must act collectively to

guarantee its food security. It can do so by dismantling artificial and unwarranted barriers to trade in agricultural commodities, attracting greater investments in food production, and promoting the wider dissemination of agricultural technologies.”

He asserted that multilateral organisations have not brought the results needed in addressing hunger, as Latin America and the Caribbean take the title for the most food insecure region in the world. As a result, calls were made for the global food system to be introduced, which India can lead with its resources.

“I also propose a global food system that will incorporate a tax and financial system that would go directly to ending hunger. With India’s strength in technology, research, and development, agro-processing, and human and technical capacity, I strongly suggest that India must put together a

team of experts to help in the production of food in low-lying and small island developing states,” he said.

Small island developing and low-lying coastal states, he added, would like matters of energy security, climate security, social justice, human dignity, and food security addressed.

Calls were made for the conversation to move outside of the Voice of the Global South Summit to organizations such as the Commonwealth; Non-Aligned Movement; Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States; and the Group of 77 and China.

He added, “As India continues to forge pathways to find solutions to global concerns while highlighting the plight of developing and less developed countries, I assure you of Guyana’s unwavering support. Guyana pledges our unflinching support in the areas of food security, energy security, climate security, human dignity, and prosperity. Our future is built on these pillars, essentially as outlined in our Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030.”

Guyana currently holds lead responsibility for agriculture, agricultural diversification, and food security in Caricom, and is spearheading the regional body’s quest to reduce its US$5 billion food import bill. This is in keeping with a commitment by Caricom Member States to achieve the target of reducing food importation by 25 per cent by the year 2025.

President Irfaan Ali addressing the Voice of the Global South Summit

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Show our educators the respect they deserve

When consequences are not felt for wrongful actions, the likelihood of a recurrence is very high, and that is exactly what was repeated on Wednesday when a teacher was attacked and assaulted at the Graham’s Hall Primary; and less than one day later, another teacher, this time at St Angela’s Primary School, was assaulted by a parent.

There have been reported too many incidents of assaults on educators in Guyana. It is true that teachers have grown accustomed to students misbehaving, but today that has turned into a lack of respect. And who else to better teach children respect than their parents? But when a parent takes it upon himself/herself to walk into a school and assault a teacher over a dispute, what example is that parent setting for their children?

On Wednesday, the Education Ministry’s Chief Education Officer (CEO) Saddam Hussain, in a statement, said: “Whatever the circumstances, it is a reprehensible and ghastly act. It is unacceptable, and will not be condoned in the least…when parents or guardians are engaged in violent acts against teachers, it goes against established values, norms, and expectations. We cannot beat teachers and then ask them to teach our children peaceful conflict resolution. He also said the Ministry will take “all appropriate” actions to ensure that all teachers continue to work in a safe and secure environment, including prohibiting violent parents or guardians from having access to school premises; transferring any learner whose parents commit any act of violence on a teacher; or any other sanction deemed necessary, while encouraging the Police or any other institution or authority to take whatever action the law prescribes.

Each time a situation like this arises, a statement emerges almost instantaneously that “violence in schools cannot be condoned”. But rather, the question to be answered is: What tangible security steps have been implemented?

Some time ago, the media reported another instance when a teacher at St Agnes Primary School was attacked and kicked several times.

The hierarchy at the Education Ministry at the time of that attack at St Agnes Primary School in 2020 had said that some “crucial decision will be taken and instituted in an effort towards ensuring that incidents of this nature would not be repeated”, but that does not answer the question. As was previously stated, it is sad that Guyana’s school system has been reduced to such a capricious level. But while many may want to cast blame on the school system for this degradation, it must be understood that moral values and respect are aspects of children’s development that are learned at home. Families play an important role in creating and sustaining peaceful and inclusive societies, which are indispensable for sustainable an inclusive development.

While it is conceded that there is no quick fix in relation to the issue of violence in school, there must, however, be stringent security measures in place to protect our teachers. While we do not necessarily disagree with the Guyana Teachers Union’s (GTU’s) call for all teachers to dress in black in a show of solidarity with their assaulted colleagues, more than just that needs to be done. It is time the GTU sits with the Education Ministry to truly address the safety of our educators. To simply criticise on the sidelines each time a teacher is attacked is not offering any tangible solution to the problem. The GTU needs to do more representation than just criticism. Children spend the better part of their lives with their teachers, and these very teachers, with open hearts, pave the way for children, and often take on the impossible tasks of managing misbehaving children. There was a time when parents recognised this and showed teachers the respect they deserve. There was a time also when a strict warning from a teacher was enough to get a child back in line. Seems that those times have faded in our memory. The impact of assaulting a teacher takes an emotional toll, not only on the individual, but on his/her family. This can be devastating, but it does not stop there, since the school itself is impacted.

The act of a parent hitting a teacher should be condemned at all levels of our society. Lack of respect for our teachers has evolved into a more serious situation, and should be dealt with in the severest of manners.

Ethnic and religious strife must never happen in Guyana

Dear Editor, Over the last seven years in Guyana, the growth of ethnic and religious strife has been monumental and painful as has never been seen before. This is something that is very difficult for me to accept in my capacity as an Ambassador for Peace, Humanist and Religious Leader.

Politics

Unfortunately, for some people, while the two major political platforms often vie for power and hearts, they see any statement not aligned with their view of thinking as ethnically biased and racist. For me, Dr. Haji Roshan Khan, any accusation of racism goes against the grain of my existence, soul, heart and mind.

I truly believe in the concept of Islam: that Mankind is a Single Nation (Qur’an 2:213). The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), in his famous last sermon of Hajj, said: “{O people! Your God is one and your forefather (Adam) is one… white is not greater than black nor is the black greater than the white…, Arab not greater than a Non-Arab and a Non-Arab not greater than an Arab”.

The philosophy of Holy Father Sun Myung Moon, Founder of the Universal Peace Federation, is: “One Human Family under God”.

In the Holy Bible, it is stated: “Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is Love” (John 4:8). The Bhagwat Gita admonishes: “Bhakti or pure love for God and genuine compassion for all beings”.

In any sphere of the universe, we, as a people, cannot live without each other. While here in Guyana there is strife between the Indo and Afro-Guyanese, it is clear we cannot live without each other. This division only happens by political machinations, particularly at election time. I have personally found AfroGuyanese to be the best of friends; the best in skills; the best teachers, nurses, medical doctors, community leaders, statesmen, etc.

Afro-Guyanese have ingrained their wisdom, skills of leadership, and knowledge into my heart, and most of it I have passed on to my children and anyone else who shares time and space with me.

I have also observed that everything that was done by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government was looked upon with suspicion, and persons were taught that they were racist. Same for the PPP Civic or anyone that speaks on their behalf concerning action taken by them for the development of Guyana and the good of the nation as a whole. These

persons making these accusations have a limited view (myopic), have limited vision, and are the ones who are being racist or ethnically prejudiced.

Everyone has the right to his or her political view, or to support his or her political group of choice. Everyone has this inalienable right. This is a prerequisite of decency and elegance in any society. No one has the right to attack, target, or demoralise anyone.

Fortunately for Guyanese, we have a Government whose manifesto is to reach every “nook and cranny” of Guyana to foster peace, harmony, and unity. Some of the elements of the Opposition are opposing just for the sake of opposing and causing discord. This is destructive behaviour and unstatesmanlike, and does not foster peace and goodwill for all of Guyana.

I do believe in the principle of the One Human Family under God. The creation of a One World Society and a National Front Government. If the two political sides can cast aside their imaginations by overcoming suspicions, Guyana can rise to glory. Strife between the two major races in Guyana exists, but this strife must not overshadow the goodwill of the people to live in harmony and at peace with each other.

The two major political parties to look upon must work together, in my view, to create the “One Government Society”. In the Santayana Dharma (Hindu: Eternal Love) it is stated: “Let us exist together, let us work together, Om, Peace, Peace, and Peace.” The Holy Bible records in Hebrews 12:14– “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness, without which no one will see God”. In the Qur’an, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) teaches us: “The true servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk the earth with humility, and when the uncivilised address them, they respond with words of peace (Salman)” (The Holy Qur’an 25:43).

So, my appeal to the leaders of our great country, political and non-governmental, is to realise that Guyana can never reach that high platform destined for us by our Creator unless we make the effort to work in respect. I know it is impossible for mankind to have “absolute unity”, but we definitely can have “absolute respect”. And “respect” is the foundation on which we can build the great edifice of Peace, Happiness, and Joy.

Sincerely, Dr Haji Roshan Khan (Sr)

President Irfaan Ali was on Thursday conferred with the honorary doctorate by the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in India. He received that honour from Vice Chancellor Prof (Dr) Mahesh Verma (left) and Chancellor Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena (Newsroom Photo)

Electronic case management, e-litigation systems for local courts this year

– as Judiciary moves to modernise operations

With the Judiciary of Guyana joining the shift towards technology in order to enhance access to justice, initiatives such as an electronic case management system for the Magistrates' Courts and an e-litigation system for the High and Appeal Courts are scheduled to be rolled out this year.

Speaking at the launch of the 2023 Law Year recently, acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards said innovation and technology would play a major role in efforts to modernise the Judiciary.

In fact, she noted that the local Judiciary has benefited tremendously from international conferences and training which have informed Guyana’s path forward in advancing technology and the modernisation of the local court systems.

One such initiative is the pilot electronic case management System that is slated to go live by the end of the first quarter of this year in the Magistrates'

Courts.

“Our case management system … will soon be rolled out in the Magistrates' Courts and that will lead to efficiency in case management and the deposition of cases in the Magistrates' Courts,” she stated.

According to the acting Chancellor, a feasibility study was done by a consultant from the United States, which is facilitating this project, and a needs assessment of all the Magistrates' Courts and the Registry was done as well.

The Diamond Magistrate's Court will house the hub for the technological framework for this case management system.

In February 2021, the US Embassy in Georgetown had explained that the development of this automated court case management system would help Guyana’s Judiciary ensure criminal cases were handled expeditiously, reduce the case backlog, and increase public trust and confidence in the justice system. The court case management

system will utilise a shared, open-source, and cost-effective technology to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of Judges and court staff by automating document production, improving processes, and facilitating data sharing.

The US State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs is supporting this project, and the National Center for State Courts will be directly

involved in the implementation stage alongside the Judiciary of Guyana. It was noted that some US400,000 would be invested in the development of the system.

E-filing

Meanwhile, acting Chief Justice Roxane George further disclosed that the Judiciary has also been working on developing an e-litigation system – funded by the Guyana Government.

“We have also been working assiduously with our consultant – CrimsonLogic out of Singapore – on the development of an e-litigation system for the Court of Appeal and High Court. The development of the system is almost completed for the Court of Appeal and should go live by the end of this [2023 first] quarter,” Justice George noted.

The acting Chief Justice further noted that the consultants were currently in Guyana to commence work on the High Court system. They started working on Wednesday and are aiming to have this system ready to

go live by the last quarter of this year.

The Guyana Judiciary is part of the worldwide shift to the use of technology in courts and has participated in a host of international Court Technology Conferences over the past two years.

In fact, the Judiciary has been the beneficiary of a host of programmes funded by various bilateral partners of Guyana.

Under the Judicial

Reform and Institution

Strengthening (JURIST) Project – a multi-year (20142023) regional Caribbean judicial reform initiative funded under an arrangement with the Government of Canada – Guyana has received 10 digital court recording units along with other equipment.

Additionally, the JURIST project was instrumental in aiding the local Judiciary in its public education campaign during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to inform the public of the court’s operations.

According to the acting Chancellor, while all operations within the Judiciary will not be completely automated, Judges and Magistrates will be using the necessary software and technology available to conduct their work.

“So, we will have a hybrid system, but heavy emphasis would be on digitalisation and electronic case filings will continue as [well as] online trials...” Justice Cummings-Edwards stated.

Should Norton resign as Leader of the PNCR?

Dear Editor

News has reached Guyana that the Florida Chapter of the PNC/R has called for the resignation of its leader, Mr Aubrey Norton. In many ways, this is not surprising. Since taking office last December, Mr Norton has not shown an iota of leadership. Rather, he has navigated himself and the PNC/R through a labyrinth of missteps, blunders, and downright political tomfoolery.

The debacle with the Mocha squatters’ relocation is only the latest act of dramatic incompetence. The ejection of PNC/R General Secretary Geeta Chandan Edmond is just as damning.

The PNC/R is quickly following in the footsteps of the AFC’s hobo-politico, this last expression meaning a party that has no real foundation, migrating, as it were, from one moment of opportunism to another.

The Florida PNC/R group claims that Mr Norton has “severally tarnished” the party; and further, under his leadership, there has been a “downward spiral” (Guyana Chronicle, 12/1/23).

US-based PNC/R member Egland Gomes is demanding that “[a]n inves-

tigation…be done about… blank cheques” that apparently PNC/R treasurer Faaiz Mursaline had been asked to sign. The Mursaline Affair (as I would like to call it) is itself a comedy of errors very much resembling the hobo-politics of the AFC.

Mursaline had stepped down from the PNC/R, stating that he was the object of racial hostility in the party. He is the one who revealed the alleged financial improprieties in the PNC/R. Notwithstanding his disgust with things in the PNC/R, he has reportedly grovelled back to Sophia. I suspect that Mr. Gomes will insist Mursaline clarify his erratic behaviour. Was he pressured to return to a party he had just days before charged with financial skulduggery?

Kaieteur News columnist Peeping Tom points out that the no-confidence motion of the Florida group should trigger Mr. Norton’s immediate resignation. According to Tom, “the [PNCR] constitution makes provision for the possibility of the Leader resigning – and no doubt this has to include resigning following a motion of no-confidence” (Kaieteur News, 12/1/23).

Peeping Tom is on strong grounds here, but given the lengthy record of the PNC/R to dodge, delay, and divert, no one would be surprised if the no-confidence motion is simply ignored. Recall that the APNU-AFC did this at the national level.

Readers should know that the lack of confidence in Mr. Norton has been festering for some time, with many persons within the PNC/R claiming to have been disenfranchised. Thus

Gomes, of the US-based PNC/R has also raised “… concerns that were brought up last year by Annette Ferguson, who wrote the party’s Central Executive

Committee (CEC) about alleged irregularities which were observed during the October 2 [2022] polls of the party’s Georgetown District Elections” (Guyana Chronicle, 12/1/23).

Voting irregularities are perhaps the most immediate symbol of the PNC/R, (and now APNU+AFC). Annette Ferguson’s concerns about rigging within the PNC/R were simply brushed aside. Why, then, would anyone believe Mr. Norton would even respond to Mr. Gomes and the concerns of the Florida PNC/R?

Sincerely, Dr Randolph Persaud

Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards

Chief Justice (ag), Justice Roxane George

Cork Challenge

In this fun and easy science experiment for kids, we’re going to take on a cork challenge and see if we can keep a cork centred in a glass of water and away from the edge.

rim of the glass. This will create a slightly rounded surface with the highest point being centred. The cork will float to the highest point and will stay centred allowing you to complete the cork challenge.

Make this a science project:

Try different items that float. Try adding dish soap to see if it changes the surface tension. Try different shaped glasses. (science-

The Six Swans

could follow him. When evening drew near he stopped and looked around him, and then he saw that he had lost his way. He sought a way out, but could find none. Then he perceived an aged woman with a head which nodded perpetually, who came towards him, but she was a witch. Good woman, said he to her, can you not show me the way through the forest. Oh, yes,

of the forest, and will die of hunger in it.

What kind of condition is it, asked the king.

I have a daughter, said the old woman, who is as beautiful as anyone in the world, and well deserves to be your consort, and if you will make her your queen, I will show you the way out of the forest. In the anguish of his heart the king

consented, and the old woman led him to her little hut, where her daughter was sitting by the fire. She received the king as if she had been expecting him, and he saw that she was very beautiful, but still she did not please him, and he could not look at her without secret horror. After he had taken the maiden up on his horse, the old woman showed him the way, and the king reached his royal palace again, where the wedding was celebrated.

he BroThers Grimm

Guyanese companies ink MoU with Indian firm for biomass power generation project

Two Guyanese companies – Durable Wood Products (DWP) Inc and EMC Energy Inc – have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) based in India for the establishment of a 1.5-megawatt (MW) wood waste-based power generation system.

The signing was done in Delhi, India on Thursday in the presence of President Dr Irfaan Ali, who is leading a trade delegation of Cabinet Ministers and representatives of the local Private Sector to the Asian nation.

According to a missive, this collaboration will pave the way for the implementation of 1.5MW wood waste-based power generation system through the gasification route for energy consumption in DWP’s production operations and the excess power will go towards Guyana’s national grid.

This is in direct support of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (LCDS 2030) through which efforts are being undertaken to diversify Guyana’s energy sources and transition into cheaper and cleaner energy.

In fact, TERI, through previous MoUs inked with both the Guyana Government and Private Sector firms, has been working to reduce energy costs and implement innovative, efficient emission-reduction practices.

TERI supported the first gasifier power project on the Essequibo Coast in 2014. Rice husk was used

as fuel, and the gases emitted from the gasifier were cleaned of solid particles, tar/carbon and water/moisture, and directed into the combustion chambers of a 250-kW power generating set thus replacing 70 per cent of the diesel required to run the generating set.

As an international institute based in India and working globally, TERI has spent the last 45 years working on energy, environment, and sustainable development issues. For over 10 years, several entities in the private and public sectors in Guyana have been reducing their energy consumption significantly with help from TERI.

DWP Chairman Rafeek Khan said: “We welcome this opportunity to partner with EMC Energy and TERI to apply alternative energy in the wood sector, and technologies that can help us to utilise excess

biomass while reducing the cost of energy down and improve competitiveness.”

Meanwhile, EMC Energy Inc Managing Director Shyam Nokta added, “This initiative, a partnership between two local companies and TERI, an international leader in the area of energy and resource management, offers another opportunity to utilise cutting-edge technologies and expertise in a way that would realise economic and environmental benefits, while at the same time supporting the objectives of Guyana’s LCDS 2030.”

Director General of TERI India, Dr Vibha Dhawan, after the signing, related that his company remained committed to supporting the Government and people of Guyana in their transition to clean and renewable energy.

“We commend this ini-

tiative and will continue to provide support for efficient resources management and technology deployment in the areas such as energy, agriculture, water resources management, and infrastructure development. TERI is keen to also support education and capacity development in the fields of climate change and sustainability,” Dr Dhawan stated.

Also witnessing the signing ceremony alongside President Ali were the Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa; GO-Invest Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Peter Ramsaroop; Private Sector Commission (PSC)Chairman Paul Cheong and other Private

In addition to the rice husk gasifier mill in Essequibo, another fascinating technology introduced by TERI locally is small solar-powered stoves that have the capacity to store energy for minute usage, like charging phones or illuminating a tiny kilowatt light bulb. These energy-efficient stoves were designed to consume less fuel (wood), and aid in reducing indoor and outdoor pollution.

More than 100 of these inventions were distributed in hinterland communities across the country through the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) back in 2017.

At the time, TERI had also provided training to GEA engineers in conducting assessments of energy management and being able to identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency. It had also worked with GuySuCo to assess the operations of sugar factories and identify measures that would improve energy efficiency.

The India-based company also worked with the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) in providing support for a transmission and distribution loss reduction study with a focus on GPL’s large consumers.

TERI had also engaged several local manufacturing entities, including the Beharry Group and Sterling Products Limited, and has provided technical support on energy assessment and management measures.

More recently, however, the Guyana Government re-engaged TERI in 2021 to provide technical support in several sectors that will drive its achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

“These opportunities need to be upscaled if we are to respond with the urgency and boldness required to address climate change, sustained livelihoods, and protect the environment,” President Ali had told the World Sustainable Development Summit in February 2021 – an annual flagship event of TERI.

Sector representatives from Guyana.

President Dr Irfaan Ali and other officials witnessing the signing of the MoU by Director General of TERI India, Dr Vibha Dhawan; Managing Director of EMC Energy Inc, Shyam Nokta and Chairman of DWP Inc, Rafeek Khan

Eccles-to-Great Diamond Highway Project

Legal action will be taken in Mocha squatting dispute – Norton threatens

Despite being given several months’ notice to remove from the State’s reserve, and despite the Housing Ministry’s offer to have squatters relocated to a regularised housing area, among other benefits, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton has threatened that legal action will be taken against the Government on behalf of those whose houses were destroyed.

In Thursday’s press conference, the Opposition Leader disclosed that the party has been collecting the necessary material to pursue legal action against the Government.

“We have always been collecting material for legal action, and that action would come…I always contemplated legal action. We are in constant conversation with the persons in Mocha. We actually sent in lawyers who spoke with them, but there was also a feeling among some of the residents that there will be a resolution,

and we were acting in keeping with our consolation… rather than on our own accord, but the option was always placed to them,” he told the media.

The Mocha squatters have been asked to relocate

However, the remaining seven who refused to remove resorted to exacting compensation from the Government, including cash several times the value of the property they are illegally occupying, with individual demands

two-bedroom housing units in the Little Diamond Housing Scheme for these seven non-compliant persons, these efforts had been met with harsh and irrational resistance.

Last Tuesday, the

Coming...

…of Chinese Guyanese

Wednesday Jan 12 was “Chinese Arrival Day”, having been so declared by then President Granger via an “Executive Notice”. Now, this doesn’t mean it’s a public holiday or anything like that; just a well-deserved recognition that Chinese are one of our “Six Peoples” - and the country should acknowledge that publicly! As usual, your Eyewitness comments on these “Days” AFTER they’ve passed, because he wants to see “fair play” - as we say in the countryside! Meaning, he wants to see how and by whom the “day” is commemorated, by going through the dailies.

Well…as far as he can see, any observations were so low-key they appeared to have dropped off the radar of the media?? Was there that event by the Chinese Association at Windsor Forest on the West Coast of Demerara?? If not, why not?? Windsor Forest wasn’t just the first plantation that the Chinese were sent to after they arrived in 1853. And it also produced Guyana’s first President, Arthur Chung. He had a long and distinguished judicial career that epitomised the success of the Chinese as a group.

Like the Portuguese, the 13,000+ Chinese quickly quit the plantations, after serving their indentureship, and went into the retail trade in the countryside and in the two towns – Georgetown and New Amsterdam. But they didn’t earn the wrath of the Creole Africans, with whom they competed and might’ve helped displace. That’s quite intriguing, since there were at least two anti-Portuguese riots for those reasons. Why?? One can’t know for sure, but was it because they were generally Christians who’d been converted in China by missionaries?? Or was it thatunlike the Portuguese - they couldn’t be accused of getting easy credit, giving them an unfair advantage? Could be… but for sure, since there were very few women shipped in, they freely cohabited and married local African Guyanese women. Almost every Guyanese Chinese family from the colonial period had African relatives. For instance, President Granger’s wife.

in an effort to facilitate the development of the Ecclesto-Great Diamond Highway. Of the 35 squatters who were in the highway’s path, 28 have already been given ready-built houses in nearby residential areas through Government’s compensation.

reaching $100 million.

In totality, the squatters were demanding over $590 million for properties valued at just $56.5 million. As a result, the Ministry has disclosed that while it stands ready to make available move-in-ready, single-flat,

Ministry attempted to resume a demolition exercise, but the situation developed into a standoff with the squatters for several hours. During the confrontation, members of the APNU/AFC Opposition, including Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine, and several Coalition Members of Parliament, were present.

As recently as in November 2022, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal had called out the APNU/AFC Opposition for urging the persons occupying the Government reserves not to relocate. As such, he had said the Opposition was being ‘reckless’ and was not interested in the development and upliftment of the very people it claims to represent.

Croal further noted that the process to remove the squatters was done in a way to minimise living disruption of the families, while making sure that homeownership is legally achieved as a means of building generational wealth.

Last week, the Minister asserted that these tactics, supported by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), are to stymie developmental works carried out by his Government. He also reiterated that Government reserves have always been set aside for developmental works and expansion; and moreover, it is illegal to occupy such lands.

The Chinese didn’t only stand behind shop counters, they took to schooling pretty early, and soon were quite prominent in the professions, the Civil Service, and even in politics. In the lexicon of the Developed Countries nowadays - in the age of immigrant angst - they were a “model minority”!! However, starting with the ethnic riots of the sixties – even though they weren’t directly involved –they concluded that the business climate was irretrievably ruined. And most of them migrated – a lot to Toronto –where you can now find the best “Guyanese Chinese” food!!

Of recent, there’s been an influx of “new” Chinese immigrants. They seem determined to copy their indentured predecessors in dominating the retail business!! This time, will there be a backlash??

…going and returning

There’s something awfully strange about “The Case of the Resignation and Recantation” of the PNC Treasurer. First of all - to your Eyewitness and a lot of folks out there - he absolutely wasn’t a known character. So, the only conclusion drawn is that when he was elected Treasurer, Norton had him on his slate. In other words, he got in on Norton’s coattails, and in the PNC tradition famously established by Desmond Hoyte, he was “Norton’s creature”.

In his resignation letter to the PNC CEC, he took a quite principled stance in opposing instructions – by Norton? – to sign blank cheques. He added for good measure that he was also subjected to racism from certain members of the CEC. Now, these were quite damning allegations if for no other reason than that the first invoked fraud and the second antiIndian racism in the PNC. Both damaging to the party that’s accusing the PPP of “corruption” and “anti-African” racism!!

The fella has now recanted?? But to what effect??

…Indian businesses

There’ve been so many business delegations to Guyana since we struck oil that your Eyewitness frankly can’t keep up. Now, the President and a delegation from the Private Sector went after business deals in India.

How many will bear fruit??

Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton

An excavator demolishing one of the homes last Tuesday

One of the houses being bulldozed

Guyana working to strategically integrate more women into oil & gas workforce – VP Jagdeo

Guyanese authorities have said they are working to empower more women with the skills needed to tap into the growing opportunities in the nation’s booming economy.

Since 2015, a series of major oil discoveries and the start of production has propelled the small South American country to become the fastest growing economy in the world.

Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, during an interview with OilNow, said it is imperative that women, the bedrock of society, account for a greater part of the labour force in the future.

To achieve this, he said, the Government has launched a multi-faceted plan that seeks to break stereotypes that suggest that the man alone is the breadwinner of the home.

“Historically, we have not had enough women in our workforce. This is for cultural reasons and otherwise, so we need to have them integrated,” expressed the Vice President.

As oil sector activities

continue to propel further growth in agriculture, construction, services, tourism and other industries, Dr. Jagdeo said, the country would reach its tipping point with employment. He said it is critical that Government moves with alacrity to expand the labour force by 50% to 60%. If more women are empowered, the Vice President believes, gap can be closed. He said this does not negate the need to tap the expertise of the Guyanese Diaspora.

Dr. Jagdeo said this is an area in which the administration would continue to be aggressive. The Vice President said, “With the Part-Time Job programme that we have, we are seeing that we are starting to create a culture of leaving the home and coming out…and ultimately they (women) would move on to find more permanent placements; so that is the idea.”

Seven women in Government hold power to use oil revenues for a visible leap in Guyana’s social services

He also stressed the

importance of the role of the Education Ministry in upskilling educators and modernising institutions as Guyana accelerates development. “So, it is a Government policy to have more women supporting the development of this country; and we have strong, intelligent women in the Cabinet to lead the charge on this by using their respective portfolios.”

In 2022, Guyana was cautioned by the

International Labour Organization (ILO) about the impacts of labour shortage on its economic growth. ILO said in its report that Guyana lacks more than 60% of the technical skills needed to keep up with its rapid pace of development. It also stressed that the

country is not churning out enough graduates to meet the growing demand.

Guyanese authorities are forging ahead with the establishment of the Guyana Technical Training College Inc. ExxonMobil Guyana is supporting this initiative, along with other

key stakeholders, such as its prime contractor, SBM Offshore. The institution is intended to deliver worldclass training and certification to Guyanese workers in five main skills areas: electrical, mechanical, instrumentation, and process operations, to support the oil and gas industry as well as civil and building construction, to support the broader economy.

The Guyanese Government has also utilised loans from the InterAmerican Development Bank as well as the World Bank to expand the competencies of its people.

In 2021, the Government launched the Guyana Online Academy of Learning with the aim of providing 20,000 scholarships to pursue online tertiary-level programmes via partnerships with reputable international universities.

A Women’s Leadership & Business Conference event held in Georgetown, Guyana (OilNOW photo)

Pres Ali conferred with honorary doctorate from New Delhi university

President Dr Irfaan Ali was on Thursday conferred with an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy and Management Studies in recognition of his hard work, dedication, and responsible approach to leadership and development in Guyana.

He was bestowed with this Honorary Doctorate by his alma mater – the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in Delhi, India during a special ceremony.

President Ali was lauded as a “bright” alumni and role model for the partnerships he has created, his human resource management capability, and his commitment to continuous development.

In his address, the Guyanese Leader acknowledged the major role his lecturers, who motivated him

to remain committed to his pursuit of education, as well as colleagues and friends, met during his tenure at the university, played in his development into the person he is today.

“Today, I accept this honor on behalf of all my teachers, lecturers and friends, and students of my batch. Today, they are all over the globe but wherever they are, I want them to know that they are part of who I am today, that they are part of whom I have become. To the faculty, I must be eternally grateful to you too. I honour you,” he stated.

The Head of State lauded the Indian education system, which he said requires discipline and commitment. He added that it was that very highly disciplined environment that taught him to

be a better human.

“The education we received was not only academic, but it was also life-changing. It was preparing great minds to do great things in the humblest of ways. India has reinforced in me, the true meaning of humility; the true meaning of respect for elders, respect for parents and respect for the society in which we live,” he noted.

According to President Ali, the world today is constantly changing and presents many challenges – such as food insecurity, climate insecurity and energy insecurity, among others. In the face of these, however, he said India continued to demonstrate its ability to be a positive change and a positive light.

Fire destroys Christ Church Secondary School

“They’re writing in a couple of months, so we have a whole set of things to … figure out. We know that the building was properly wired, because last week…to get a connection back from GPL we had to have an inspection and approval from GPL… that says it’s properly wired. So, I’m waiting to see what is the reason for this fire,” the Minister added.

Expect a thorough investigation

probability that within two or three weeks we can have a fire at the same building, at a prominent building in Georgetown, where hundreds of children are working on their SBAs and other things. We cannot afford the loss of these assets.”

Benn clarified, “I’m not speculating. I’m merely saying that it’s passing strange and it’s a tremendous blow.”

By Jemima Holmes

In hindsight, last Wednesday’s fire at Christ Church Secondary School at Camp and Middle Streets, Georgetown can be considered a grave warning.

Then again, the small but controlled fire last week could not prepare those affected for the ravenous inferno that ripped through the same school in a matter of minutes, late Thursday afternoon.

Billowing orange flames erupted from the middle section of the Grade A Secondary School just after 17:00h on Thursday, and the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) was alerted thereafter.

On the scene, scores of citizens gathered, inclusive of teachers and students, but were forced to stay some distance away owing to the intense heat that emanated from the blaze.

The Guyana Fire Service’s best efforts could not contain the hungry blaze that soon swept westwards to the buildings at the back of the secondary institution. Springing into action, the firefighters first on the scene opted to utilise the resources of the nearby Colgrain pool and with pumps, directed heaps of water at the 71-year-old secondary school.

However, the wooden top half of the school stood no chance against the ferocity of the raging fire while the other sections, made of concrete, appeared quite flimsy, failing to stand the test of the heat.

Within the span of 45 minutes, one could see through the ruins of the

structure -- beams and crumbled concrete and walls.

In the famed Camp Street Avenue, a visibly-distraught Education Minister Priya Manickchand stood in the company of teachers and Ministry Staff, contemplating the new burden that the

This is the third school in Georgetown that went up in flames, and we’re struggling with space… to accommodate the other two schools so you can imagine the position this will put us in.”

“It’s going to cause problems for the children, the

heavily on the Minister is the fact that students preparing for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams have been disenfranchised by the destruction of their School-Based Assessments (SBAs).

Manickchand lamented, “And it’s an expensive enterprise, but it’s not just the expense, it’s the inconvenience. Schools take time to build, kids writing CXC this year have their SBAs in this building now, their lab books in this building now.”

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, under whose remit the Guyana Fire Service falls, indicated that he was in Port Kaituma when he learnt of the fire.

Benn pointed out the obvious elephant in the room: the coincidence needed for two fires to break out at the same building, one week apart.

“In general, I want to say and I want to call on all the communities and parents and teachers in the country, to stand in support of the education system and to watch out and to look out for their assets, in terms of educational infrastructure.

“It would appear passing strange and it would test the

Indicating that one can expect a full investigation into the Christ Church fire, the Minister added, “There is information which the Police are working on as we speak. And I’ll say no more on that.”

On June 19, 2021, the North Ruimveldt Secondary School located on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown saw a large portion of its building being gutted by fire.

A few months later, on September 24, 2021, the North West Secondary in Region One (Barima-Waini) was destroyed by an act of arson.

Back in Georgetown, it was only last year, on July 21, that St George’s Secondary School was gutted by yet another fire.

Pres Ali conferred with Honorary...

Ministry would now face.

Of course, Manickchand avoided a tragedy last Wednesday, when a confirmed chemical fire broke out in the school’s laboratory on the ground floor.

Although the origin of this blaze is still unconfirmed, the school was not spared this time around,

502 children who needed to come to school tomorrow and get educated. And it’s going to be problems for them not only tomorrow, and while the school is down, but long term, because for every day we fail to educate in a qualitative way, you have longterm consequences,” the Education Minister told Guyana Times

Moving forward

After the smoke-blackened skies cleared, night fell, and the flames were reduced to a quiet slumber, the ruins of Christ Church Secondary painted a distressing picture, especially for the Education Ministry.

With the displacement taking place, the numbers to consider were 502 children, 39 teachers, and nine auxiliary staff.

placing the Minister in a regrettably familiar position, with three secondary schools being destroyed by fire since 2021.

In response to the situation, Manickchand said, “It is beyond devastating, it’s indescribable, it’s a huge loss to us; this is a List A school…any school that we lose is a huge loss to us.

“I’m coming up with a plan of action. Today, the Minister will meet with teachers in order to formulate a plan of what is to be done to ensure the students of Christ Church do not miss out on their schooling.

“We’re looking for accommodations… we have a couple of possible sites. We’re going to meet with the teachers tomorrow at ten o’clock to plot a way forward.”

Weighing even more

“That is what I call a developed mind, a mature society, and a leader in the family of humanity. That is what defines who is a developed country and who is a developing country, not riches and wealth. Not the ability to demonstrate wealth, and riches, but the ability to serve humanity with dignity and honour; the ability to view humanity as part of one family – a collective whole in which all of us have a responsibility and a duty to make a difference,” the Guyanese Leader asserted.

He further stated that “…the value of education is nothing if we don't understand the value of humanity”.

Meanwhile, President Ali also accepted an invitation from the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University to have Guyanese students

study there.

In fact, the Head of State reassured the university officials that as soon as its new school opened to cater to online studies, the first batch of Guyanese students would be signed up.

“When the school that would allow online training begins its operation, we assure you of our partnership and we look forward to establishing an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the university, so that we can have a logical pathway through which we enable this process,” he stated.

Moreover, it was also announced that 10 low-income Guyanese students will benefit from scholarships to study at the university, in keeping with the President’s commitment to partner with the school for the education of more Guyanese.

The Guyanese Leader informed the university that there were more than 6000 Guyanese currently on Government of Guyana scholarships who are studying online at various institutions in India as part of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) initiative.

“Our development trajectory is to build an economy and a country in which education and health care is second to none globally. We are sparing no investment in ensuring that our health services and our education services are not only top quality, but it's accessible and affordable to every single Guyanese… And we would be more than happy to work with you in various fields of engineering, petroleum, nursing, medical technologists, and pharmacists,” the Head of State indicated.

President Dr Irfaan Ali delivering remarks after being conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in New Delhi

FROM

...incident “beyond devastating” – Min Manickchand ...over 500 students displaced

A look at the fire that ripped through Christ Church Secondary from the Camp Street angle

Education Minister Priya Manickchand comforts two students of Christ Church Secondary as they looked at the aftermath of the fire

The inferno just beginning to take shape at Christ Church Secondary on Thursday afternoon

First Lady donates computers to orphanages

First Lady Arya Ali on Thursday donated computers to three orphanages as part of her efforts to expand her ‘Adoptan-Orphanage’ initiative.

That initiative, which was launched last year, seeks to provide financial and other support to underfunded orphanages across Guyana through support from the Private Sector.

Mrs Ali has donated a computer and a quantity of exercise books to each of the following orphanages: St. John’s Bosco Orphanage, Bless the Children’s Home, and Hope Children’s Centre. A total of 88 children will benefit from these donations. The three orphanages are currently receiving sponsorship from local businesses through the Adopt-

an-Orphanage initiative.

“Ensuring children are provided with the tools which enable them to have greater access to education and information will always be a priority of ours,” the First Lady has said.

She added that having recognised the need for some of these orphanages to be provided with learning resources, she solicited the support of Cell Phone Shack to acquire the computers.

“Our partners are just

as invested as we are in the lives of these children. Personally, I want to ensure we prepare them for a better future, and that means providing them with the tools and resources that they need to get them there,” the

First Lady has posited.

She has also encouraged the children to use the computers for schoolwork, and other activities which would expand their knowledge or teach them a skill.

The administrators of

the orphanages have expressed appreciation on behalf of the children, noting that the devices were very much needed. More than 600 children are currently benefitting from the Adoptan-Orphanage initiative.

UG, Merundoi receive UNESCO grants

The Faculty of Education and Humanities of the University of Guyana (UG) on Thursday received a grant to the tune of US$25,000 for its programme ‘Reintroduction of the Post-Graduate Diploma in Translation’. And Merundoi Inc. has collected US$25,822 to continue

Education Minister Priya Manickchand as part of the UNESCO 2022/2023 participating programme. In the first instance, the grant was collected by the Dean of the Faculty of Education and Humanities, Dr Roslin Khan. The objective of the initiative is to develop persons with expertise in translation skills to facilitate

would be produced to serve the needs of the country.

Margaret Lawrence collected the grant on behalf of Merundoi Inc. In this instance, the grant will be used to enable youths between the ages of 16 and 25 to compete in a Poetry Slam addressing problems and solutions regarding Climate Change in Guyana through

effective

its

research and performance.

Using Edutainment and the performing arts, the causes and effects of climate change, and the actions to mitigate it, will be highlighted. In addition, a space will be created for youths in the arts to express themselves and build their self-esteem.

All projects are to be completed by the end of 2023.

Also present at the handing-over ceremony was the Secretary-General of the Guyana National Commission for UNESCO, Dr Olato Sam, along with Confidential Secretary to the Secretary-General, Sharda Seolall, and Technical Assistant Tonya France.

programme ‘Youth Slam Climate Change’. These grants were made possible by UNESCO, and were handed over by

communication between Guyana, neighbouring countries, and those who speak other languages. A cadre of skilled translators

Minister Manickchand presenting the grant to Dr Roslin Khan, Dean of the Faculty of Education and Humanities at UG

Merundoi’s Ms Margaret Lawrence receiving the grant from Education Minister Priya Manickchand in the presence of officials of UNESCO

One of the computers donated

Govt taking back private lands for developmental projects across Guyana – AG

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall has again bashed the PNC-led Opposition party for playing the race card in relation to efforts by the Housing Ministry to relocate squatters at the Mocha/Cane View area to facilitate the construction of the four-lane Eccles-toGreat Diamond Highway along the East Bank Demerara corridor.

During his weekly programme, ‘Issues in the

News’, Nandlall reminded of the PNC treatment of squatters across the country in the 1970s, during which dozens of homes were bulldozed without any notice or compensation offered.

In contrast, the Attorney General noted that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic Administration has adopted a different approach, not only regularising major squatting settlements such as Sophia, but also shifting persons to established housing schemes,

as well as offering compensation, where necessary.

In fact, the Legal Affairs Minister posited that Government is currently undertaking similar exercises by offering compensation in exchange for titled lands from citizens for developmental purposes across the country.

He made reference to the Gas-to-Shore project at Wales as well as the Parikato-Schoonord road and the new Demerara River Bridge.

“Currently, where the gas-to-shore is going…dozens of miles of property have to be acquired, and we are acquiring it. Most of them are Indo-Guyanese, and these are people who own the land, they’re not squatters, and they’re not resisting,” he pointed out.

“They don’t want to sell; they don’t necessarily want to sell, because some of them are earning their livelihood on those lands. Several miles of those lands

are farmlands, and these people own these lands by transport. We have a team of lawyers working, and we are negotiating a consensual arrangement with each of those persons, and they are cooperating!” he disclosed.

“Where the new Demerara Harbour Bridge is going, again persons’ private properties are being affected, and again we are negotiating with them to ensure that we acquire their properties in the pub-

lic interest; but we are doing it consensually, and they are cooperating. And these are owners, these are people who have houses that value millions of dollars,” Nandlall contended.

“The road from Schoonord to Parika, that’s an entire highway. Do you know how many private properties that road will now take up? Those persons have already been engaged, they own those properties, they’re not squatting, and they are negotiating peacefully,” he said.

According to Nandlall, the relocation of persons from their properties to facilitate national development is nothing new to Guyana. He said such things occur in other parts of the world, and he made it clear that it is never the Government’s intention to forcibly remove persons, noting that this is a measure of last resort.

“Moving persons, acquiring property for national development, has always been part of the repertoire of powers that a State must necessarily possess, and when the occasion arises, the State must be able to exercise it in the public’s interest,” Nandlall outlined.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

Ituni farmers call for Govt to issue leases for farmlands they occupy

Farmers of Ituni, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), on Tuesday sought Government’s assistance to expand their cultivation. While some own and operate small farms to sustain their families, many persons in the village are now engaged in large-scale production of a variety of fruits and vegetables.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha met with these farmers to discuss how the Government can assist with ramping up production. This is in keeping with the efforts of both Government and Caricom to reduce the regional import bill by 25% by the end of 2025.

Minister Mustapha told those present that the time for subsistence farming has passed, and that Government is serious about agriculture, as it is the only sector that can guarantee food security.

Referencing the impact that the closure of the bauxite industry has had on the economic status of many persons in the region, the Minister said building resilience in sectors like the agriculture sector remains a priority for the President Irfaan Ali-led Government.

“We’ve seen what happened to the economy in these parts when the bauxite industry closed. This is why we have to develop the agriculture sector. Although we are now an oil-and-gas producer, we have to continue to develop the sector. We have to use the earnings from the oil-and-gas sector to develop the productive sectors like the agriculture sector,” he noted.

Farmers present said they have taken note of the Government’s efforts to transform the sector so far. While explaining that they are also passionate about agriculture, several farmers indicated that access to farmlands to expand cultivation continues to be a hindrance. One farmer present said he believes in the

President’s vision for the sector, but needed land so that he can expand.

While expressing optimism that under this Government he would be is-

access to the necessary permits to cultivate industrial hemp.

Minister Mustapha told farmers that although the Ministry of Agriculture is not

to produce all of the food we consume, and also diversify and increase our exports. We’ll speak with officials

to set up a meeting soon in Ituni. Our officers will also come back with that team to have meetings, so that all the farmers who applied for lands to do agriculture can receive those leases as soon as possible,” the Minister said.

While answering questions about hemp cultivation, Minister Mustapha said the process to develop the regulatory body to guide the industry has commenced.

you will be able to apply for licences to cultivate industrial hemp. I want to assure you that smallholding farmers will benefit. This project will target farmers who have small acreages, maybe one or two acres,” he explained.

sued a lease for agricultural lands, the farmer said he is fully into agriculture, and, from the sector, would like to leave a legacy for generations to come.

“I chose to vote for this Government because I believe that the President is a man for the people. I’ve heard of instances where people applied for land and waited for years. I’m 48 years old, and I don’t want to have to wait for another 25 years to have a licence or a lease for this land. I am not doing this for myself, I am doing this for my children and grandchildren to come. So, I’d like to ask the Minister to please look into my application, because it is there. I want to be able to say that through my choice and President Ali being elected, I’ve been able to achieve what I wanted, which is to put things in place for my future generation,” he noted.

Additionally, farmers expressed their interest in getting involved in the cultivation of hemp. Citing the industry’s profitability, several farmers sought clarity on how they can be given

responsible for issuing farmlands, the Ministry often engages the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission on issues relating to leases for farming.

“Our President, His Excellency Dr. President Irfaan Ali, is very passionate about agriculture. Guyana is currently producing 60% of the food we consume, but, as a Government, we are not satisfied with that. We want

“We recently passed legislation to legalise the cultivation of industrial hemp in Guyana. The legislation stipulates that a regulatory body has to be in place, and we’ve commenced the process of having that body developed. Two regions were identified for the initial cultivation of hemp - Regions Six and Ten. So, when the regulatory body is in place,

Minister Mustapha, while encouraging persons to develop farmers’ groups, committed to assisting the Ituni Superfem Women’s Group with Black Giant chicks as they look to develop the poultry sector in the village. He also committed to supplying several bongo pumps and Acoushi ants’ bait to assist farmers who are constantly affected by the pests.

Officers from the Ministry are expected to return to the village in the coming weeks to deliver on commitments made by the Minister.

from the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission

One of the farmers who engaged the Minister about receiving a lease for agricultural lands

Minister Mustapha handing over agricultural inputs to Ituni farmers

Minister Mustapha engaging a farmer during the meeting

St Angela’s Primary School teacher injured after being attacked, beaten by parent

Less than one day after a teacher of the Graham’s Hall Primary School, ECD was attacked and beaten by a parent, a teacher of the St Angela’s Primary School in Georgetown was similarly dealt with by a parent on Thursday.

Based on reports received, this female teacher, whose name was not released, sustained injuries to her body, including a swollen face; and the security guard, who attempted to normalise the situation, was also injured, as well as several staff members who tried to intervene.

The injured teacher was taken to a city hospital to be medically examined. Up to press time, the Education Ministry had not issued a release about the incident, and according to President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Mark Lyte, the Ministry must do more to protect teachers.

“The union is here in solidarity with the teachers of this school. This is becoming too frequent, where teachers are being assaulted by parents and guardians; and it is something that has to be addressed forthwith. So, we are going to continue to make the call to the Ministry to take decisive action,” Lyte told media operatives.

General Secretary of the

Union, Coretta McDonald, has also condemned the assault and challenged the Education Ministry to not only issue a strong warning to parents, but to be consistent in its response to the attacks.

“We just had QC, not a sound. The Minister and the entire team, not a sound. If we are to debar parents from doing what they are doing, then we have to be consistent with our calls, and we have to take stern actions against these parents. We can’t do it for one parent and not do it for another

parent because of their socalled statuses,” McDonald told the media.

The Education Ministry on Wednesday condemned the physical assault of Shawn Marshall, the Graham’s Hall Primary School teacher. In a statement, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Saddam Hussain said, “Whatever the circumstances, it is a reprehensible and ghastly act. It is unacceptable, and will not be condoned in the least.”

According to the Ministry, schools are con-

sidered safe spaces, and any act of violence is deemed totally unacceptable.

“When parents or guardians are engaged in violent acts against teachers, it goes against established values, norms and expectations. We cannot beat teachers and then ask them to teach our children peaceful conflict resolution,” the CEO said.

He added that the Ministry will therefore take all appropriate actions to ensure that all teachers continue to work in a safe and secure environment. Such actions, it has been not-

ed, include prohibiting violent parents or guardians from having access to school premises, and transferring any learner whose parent commits any act of violence on any teacher, or any other sanction deemed necessary; while the Police or any other institution or authority would be encouraged to take whatever action the law prescribes.

The CEO has reminded all parents and guardians

that, in any instance where an incident occurs with a teacher, the matter must be brought to the attention of the head teacher or teacherin-charge of the school or institution.

The phenomenon of teachers being attacked at places of learning by parents or guardians, and even in some cases by students themselves, has been a cause for concern over the years.

1000 acres soya bean under cultivation for March harvesting

Soya bean harvesting is set for March of this year, after cultivation in Guyana yielded successful results, the Agriculture Ministry has updated.

Some 1,000 acres of land in the Tacama Savannah are currently under soya bean cultivation. Since 2021, the group, which operates under the name ‘Tacama Gold’, has been able to increase its cultivation from 125 acres.

The large-scale trial cultivation of corn and soya beans by private investors was announced by the Government in 2021. The collaboration came after President Irfaan Ali met with the group and proposed a public-private partnership to commence the production

of corn and soya beans - two of the main ingredients in livestock feed.

Harvesting is scheduled to take place in March,

bringing Guyana one step closer to being self-sufficient in the production of inputs necessary for the production of feed for the livestock sec-

tor, the Agriculture Ministry has relayed.

As part of the 2021 National Budget, some $500 million was allocated to im-

prove the requisite infrastructure to support the project. With Guyana spending close to US$25 million annually on proteins just for the poultry sector, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government, since taking office, has taken steps to promote domestic cultivation of grains like corn and soya bean.

Government, in its 2020 Emergency Budget, removed Value-Added Tax (VAT) on agricultural machinery, fertilisers, agrochemicals, and pesticides, making it more feasible for such investments.

In the feed industry, Guyana imports close to US$30 million annually. The aim is to not just attain

self-sufficiency, but establish the country as a net exporter of soya.

In 2021, harvesting started at a pilot project of 115 acres of soya bean and five acres of corn in Ebini, Upper Berbice River – a joint venture between various local and foreign investors aimed at proving all raw materials for the production of livestock and poultry feed for the local sector.

Additionally, the Government has reversed land lease fees across all sectors and water charges back to 2014 rates. President Dr Irfaan Ali had said that, via more diversified crops, the aim would be to reduce the Caricom food import bill by 25 per cent.

Harvesting in progress at a soya farm in Guyana

...more must be done to protect our teachers – GTU Head

Police called in to quell the situation

GTU President Mark Lyte at the school

Guyana procures consultancy services from Indian company for gas-to-shore project

As the Guyana Government forges ahead with its model gas-to-shore project, a contract has been signed with Engineers India Limited (EIL) to provide consultancy services for the Integrated Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) Plant and the 300-megawatt (MW) Combined Cycle Power Plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

On Thursday, President Dr Irfaan Ali, as part of his seven-day Official Visit to India, witnessed the signing of the contract between Guyana Power and Gas Inc – a wholly-owned company of the Government of Guyana – and EIL.

The Guyanese Head of State was at the time meeting with India’s Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Hardeep S Puri in Delhi.

The two leaders held fruitful and engaging discussions on increasing cooperation across the entire oil and gas ecosystem. Both sides noted the synergies which exist between the two countries.

In fact, note was taken of recent developments in bilateral energy partnership which included the meeting between Minister Puri and Guyana’s Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat on the sidelines of

ADIPEC-2022 in Abu Dhabi last October as well as the visit of Indian Energy Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to Guyana in August 2022.

During Thursday’s engagement, President Ali and the Indian Minister agreed on direct Government-toGovernment cooperation across the entire spectrum of the oil and gas sector including increased long-term offtake, participation in exploration and production activities in Guyana, technical cooperation in the mid-

stream and downstream sector, and capacity building.

Consequently, the two leaders agreed to set up two technical teams to take forward these discussions. The contours of future cooperation would be finalised during the visit of Guyana’s Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo to India in February 2023.

Thursday’s signing for the procurement of consultancy services for the gas-to-shore project comes less than a month after

the Guyana Government inked a US$759 million contract with US-based company LINDSAYCA, partnering with local firm CH4 Group – for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction of the NGL Plant and the 300-MW CCGT Power Plant projects.

As part of the gas-toshore project, both the power plant and NGL plant will be constructed within the Wales Development Zone (WDZ). When it comes to the construction of a combined

cycle power plant, this will generate up to 300 MW of power, with a net 250MW delivered into the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Grid at a sub-station located on the East Bank of the Demerara River.

The Guyana Government has already invited interested parties to make investments in the WDZ, which will be heavily industrialised and for which approximately 150 acres of land have been allocated.

Those lands were previously used by the Wales Sugar Estate.

Head of the Gas-toShore Task Force, Winston Brassington has previously stated that ExxonMobil Guyana, which is funding the pipeline aspect of the project out of cost oil, has found that there would be substantial savings from combining these two facilities.

The scope of the approximately US$900 million gasto-shore project also consists of the construction of 225 kilometres of pipeline from the Liza field in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, where Exxon and its partners are currently producing oil.

It features approximately 220 kilometres of a subsea pipeline offshore that will run from the Stabroek Block to shore. Upon landing on

the West Coast Demerara shore, the pipeline would continue for approximately 25 kilometres to the NGL plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

The pipeline would be 12 inches wide, and is expected to transport per day some 50 million standard cubic feet per day (mscfpd) of dry gas to the NGL plant, but it has the capacity to push as much as 120 mscfpd.

The pipeline’s route onshore would follow the same path as the fibre-optic cables and would terminate at Hermitage, part of the WDZ which will house the gas-toshore project.

At present, Government is engaged in negotiations with landowners who will be affected by the project, with a view to offering them appropriate compensation in exchange for their properties.

While the Guyana Government would own the 300MW power plant and NGL plant, it would be recruiting an international firm to operate the project to international standards and best practices.

The People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration is confident that this gas-to-energy project would significantly slash electricity costs in Guyana by at least half of what currently obtains.

132 roads to be constructed in Berbice - 8

additional roads upgraded in Cane Field, Enterprise

The county of Berbice continues to feel the Government’s presence as Public Works Minister Juan Edghill conducted several inspections and community meetings in the area on Thursday.

The Minister assured residents of the Government’s dedication to fostering development during a community meeting with the Cane Field-Enterprise Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).

He reminded them of the supplementary amount granted during the previous sitting of the National Assembly, allocated for the construction and rehabilitation of community roads.

Minister Edghill stated that those funds would see 132

more roads being constructed in the county. Of this lot, the Minister disclosed that some $150 million will be expended to construct and rehabilitate eight addition-

al roads in the Cane FieldEnterprise area.

This is a joint project being undertaken and supervised by the Public Works Ministry, the Housing and

Water Ministry, and the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry.

In December 2022, $18.2 billion was provided under the Public Works Ministry for the advancement of the Miscellaneous Roads/ Drainage Programme, which would see communities in the 10 administrative regions benefiting from improved roadways and drainage.

“Government is there to improve people’s lives, not to annoy them, and the

PPP/C Administration has been very careful in that while we are implementing projects and bringing development to communities that projects must bring satisfaction and joy to the people,” the Minister said.

He highlighted that amid the major infrastructural projects being undertaken, of equal importance is the rehabilitation, maintenance, and construction of smaller community roads to enhance the lives of residents in every community.

He said too that, “When

we talk about development and modernisation for Guyana, it must not only be about driving on a fancy highway. It must be about local roads as well. That is why there is this collaboration.”

The Minister was accompanied by Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne)

Chairman David Armogan, Regional Vice Chairman Zamaal Hussein, engineers from the Housing and Water Ministry, and other officials from the NDC and Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

President Dr Irfaan Ali, along with members of his delegation, met with Indian Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Hardeep S Puri in Delhi during which a contract was signed for consultancy services to be provided for the gas-to-shore project in Guyana

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill inspecting ongoing works

Public Works Minister Edghill on the ground in East Canje, where millions of dollars will be

Minister Edghill speaking with residents in Berbice

Regional

Bolsonaro supporters inside palace enabled riot - Lula

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has accused ex-leader Jair Bolsonaro's allies of aiding an attack on the presidential palace on Sunday.

Lula said he was convinced supporters of Bolsonaro inside the palace had been complicit by allowing rioters to enter key State buildings.

And he vowed to carry out a thorough screening of palace employees in the wake of the attempted insurrection.

Some 1500 persons have already been detained in connection with the attack.

"I am convinced that the door to the Planalto palace was opened so these people could get in, because I didn't see the front door had been broken down. And that means that somebody facilitated their entry here," Lula told reporters in the capital Brasilia.

"Many people in the military Police were complicit," the veteran leftist politician said. "There were many people in the armed forces here inside [the palace] who were

complicit."

In the wake of the attack on Sunday, Lula accused local security officials - who were commanded by Bolsonaro's former Justice Minister Anderson Torresof incompetence or active involvement with the rioters.

And he doubled down on the allegations on Thursday, telling reporters that the presidential palace "was full of Bolsonaristas and military officials and we want to try to correct this so we can

appoint career civil servants - preferably civilian ones".

"Nobody who is suspected of being a hardcore Bolsonarista can be allowed to remain in the palace," he went on. "How can I have someone at the door of my office who might shoot me?"

Arrest warrants have already been issued for a host of top officials accused of being "responsible for acts and omissions" that led to the riots.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

US sending delegation to Cuba to restart talks on law enforcement

The Biden Administration plans to send a delegation to Havana this month to restart US-Cuba talks on law-enforcement issues that were halted under former President Donald Trump, the US State Department said on Thursday.

US concerns about counterterrorism will be among the subjects addressed, a State Department spokesperson said. Trump placed Cuba on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism shortly before his term ended in January 2021, and the Biden Administration has been reviewing this since taking office.

The meeting will be the first of its kind since the law-enforcement dialogue, which was started in 2015 under former President Barack Obama, was stopped in 2018 under Trump as he rolled back his predecessor's historic detente with Communist-ruled Cuba.

President Joe Biden has begun reversing some of Trump's policies, but has maintained others, insisting the Cuban Government must improve its human rights record.

"This type of dialogue enhances the national security of the United States through improved international law enforcement co-

ordination, which enables the United States to better protect US citizens and bring transnational criminals to justice," the State Department spokesperson said in a statement.

But the official added that "this dialogue does not impact the Administration’s continued focus on critical human rights issues in Cuba".

A person in Washington familiar with the matter said the talks were expected to take place next week.

The Cuban Government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Union says UPP’s proposal for national minimum wage increase is fair and reasonable

The Antigua and Barbuda Workers

Union is supporting the United Progressive Party (UPP) plans to increase the national minimum wage to EC$10 an hour – and said they were both disappointed and flabbergasted by the Cabinet’s previous rejection of their recommended rate hike.

The UPP said if they were successful at the polls

next week, the minimum wage will be increased to that amount from its current EC$9 per hour.

ABWU General Secretary David Massiah told Observer on Wednesday that the body considers this to be a fair and reasonable rate that will allow those in the lowest income bracket to earn a livable wage.

He said the ABWU applauded the urgency with

which the Opposition party was proposing to implement the rise.

“The unpleasant reality is that many Antiguans and Barbudans, Caricom nationals and individuals from the Dominican Republic have been plunged into abject poverty through astronomical increases in the cost of living and the stagnation of the national minimum wage. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

Mexico City Mayor deploys National Guard to metro after accidents

Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Thursday the deployment of more than 6000 National Guard members to stations and "other facilities" of the capital's metro system after a series of incidents she described as unusual.

Sheinbaum, considered a top contender for the ruling Morena party ahead of Mexico's 2024 presidential election, said that she had asked President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Wednesday for the support

of the Guard, a militarised Police force, after several "atypical" episodes.

On January 7, a train crash killed one woman and injured 57 other persons. The accident followed the May 2021 collapse of the rail overpass between two stations that killed 26 persons.

The Mayor, a close ally of the President, said that the same day the trains collided another problem occurred at another station, followed by another incident the next day and another on Wednesday involving a train car that had

been serviced a day before.

"There are atypical actions, moments, events occurring in the metro," Sheinbaum said during Lopez Obrador's regular news conference.

The National Guard members will be in the metro for a few months, aiding surveillance and security, and could stay there permanently pending later evaluation, Sheinbaum said.

Mexico City's metro system is North America's second largest, after New York City's.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Rowley assures Carnival still on, but urges caution

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley has reassured the public that there will be no new restrictions placed on the population, or any previous ones reintroduced, when it comes to the fight against COVID-19 at this time. He said Carnival would go on as planned.

He was speaking at a press conference on Thursday morning at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's.

On Wednesday, Dr Rowley announced this press conference saying it was about the Government's response to COVID-19, which left some worried whether any changes would be made to Carnival 2023 celebrations.

He began the press conference by asking the public to calm down.

Noting that cases have

been increasing in T&T, he said, "The situation in T&T at this time does not warrant an intervention outside of (those) basic provisions."

He said the virus

was already here, so the Government would not be trying to "shut out the virus".

He urged personal responsibility.

(Trinidad Newsday)

Argentine Govt calls Congress to discuss Supreme Court impeachments

President Alberto Fernandez is seeking to impeach four members of the country's highest court, after a clash with the judiciary last month over a court decision to award more state funds to the Opposition-ruled city of Buenos Aires.

The ruling Peronist coalition would need at least two-thirds of the votes in both Houses of Congress to achieve its goal - a threshold it falls well short of after losing seats in the country's 2021 mid-term elections.

Gabriela Cerruti, the presidential spokesperson, told a news conference the sessions would run from January 23 to February 28. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Argentina's Government will convene extraordinary sessions of Congress to discuss the impeach-

ment of members of the Supreme Court of Justice among other bills, the presidential spokeswoman said on Thursday.

Fete lovers having a blast at Nailah Blackman's Origins Sokachella Carnival show at Southern Academy for the Performing Arts, San Fernando on January 8. The Prime Minister on Thursday said Carnival was still on, but urged caution as the COVID-19 pandemic was not over (Lincoln Holder photo)

Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez speaks at the Peace Forum in Paris, France, November 11, 2022 ( Christophe Ena/Pool via Reuters file photo)

Oil up more than 1% on US inflation data, demand optimism

Oil prices gained about US$1 a barrel on Thursday, supported by figures showing US consumer prices unexpectedly fell in December and by optimism over China’s demand outlook.

The US Consumer Price Index (CPI) dipped 0.1 per cent, suggesting inflation was now on a sustained downward trend. Top oil importer China is reopening its economy after the end of strict COVID-19 curbs, boosting hopes of higher oil demand.

Brent crude settled at US$84.03 a barrel, rising US$1.36, or 1.7 per cent. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude settled at US$78.39 a barrel, gaining 98 cents, or 1.3 per cent,.

Also boosting oil, the US dollar tumbled to a nearly nine-month low against the euro after inflation data lifted expectations that the Federal Reserve will be less aggressive going forward with rate hikes.

“The market was looking forward to the CPI data and the strong possibility the number would spawn a slide in the dollar, with the reverse correlation super sizing the bid in crude oil,” said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho in New York. “Crude oil is now feasting on the weak dollar.”

On Wednesday, both oil benchmarks jumped three per cent on hopes the global economic outlook may not be as bleak as many feared.

“A softer landing for the US, and perhaps elsewhere, combined with a strong economic rebound in China following the current COVID wave could make for a much better year than feared and stimulate extra crude demand,” said Craig Erlam of brokerage OANDA before the CPI data was issued.

The market is also bracing for an additional curb on Russian oil supply owing to sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine.

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said the upcoming European Union ban on seaborne imports of petroleum products from Russia on February 5 could be more disruptive than the EU ban on seaborne imports of crude oil from Russia implemented in December 2022.

Limiting oil’s gains was a hefty and unexpected jump in US crude oil inventories.

“Other than the China factor and recent lift in the equities amidst some weakening in the dollar, the complex doesn’t appear to possess much bullish impetus, especially when viewed within the context of transparent US crude and product balances,” said Jim Ritterbusch of consultancy Ritterbusch and Associates.

Crude inventories rose by 19 million barrels in the week ended January 6 to 439.6 million barrels. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected a 2.2 million-barrel drop. (Reuters)

Around the World

ExxonMobil predicted climate change in 1970s – scientists

One of the world's largest oil companies accurately forecast how climate change would cause global temperature to rise as long ago as the 1970s, researchers claim.

ExxonMobil's private research predicted how burning fossil fuels would warm the planet, but the company publicly denied the link, they suggest.

The academics analysed data in the company's internal documents.

ExxonMobil denied the allegations.

"This issue has come up several times in recent years and, in each case, our

answer is the same: those who talk about how "Exxon Knew" are wrong in their conclusions," the company told BBC News.

Corporations, including

ExxonMobil, have made billions from selling fossil fuels that release emissions that scientists, Governments and the United Nations say cause global warming.

The findings suggest that ExxonMobil's predictions were often more accurate than even world-leading NASA scientists. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Biden slams House Republicans' plans on taxes; probe into his handling of files announced

US President Biden criticised House Republicans who have taken control of Congress for backing tax measures that he said would benefit the wealthy at the expense of middle-class taxpayers, and make inflation worse.

The Republicancontrolled House passed a bill Monday night that would slash tens of billions of funding dollars for the Internal Revenue Service

(IRS). The measure is not expected to pass the Senate, where Democrats are the majority, and Biden vowed to veto it even if it did.

As part of the Inflation Reduction Act, passed on party lines last year, Democrats provided money to hire 87,000 new IRS agents who would focus on wealthy taxpayers with complicated returns. The new agents are expected to bring in additional revenue as they scrutinise the returns.

Nigeria Police made to scrap sacking of unmarried pregnant officers

Arule banning unmarried Nigerian Police Officers from getting pregnant and ensuring their sacking if they did has been scrapped.

In a landmark case, a Judge ruled the regulation was discriminatory as it did not apply to male officers who got co-workers pregnant.

The case was brought by a corporal who was sacked in 2021 after getting pregnant.

The woman was awarded five million naira (£9100) in compensation.

The ex-officer – who is named in Nigerian media as Omolola Olajide – challenged her dismissal on grounds of discrimination since her male counterparts are not dismissed in similar circumstances.

Although Olajide was compensated for the violation of her fundamental right to freedom from discrimination, she will not get her job back as she was on probation at the time of her dismissal.

In a ruling in the south-western city of Akure, Justice Dashe Damulak said the regulation was "discrim-

inatory, illegal, null and void" and struck it out.

The Judge ruled that the regulation "violates sections of the Nigerian Constitution as well as the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Ratification and Enforcement Act, which abolished discrimination on basis of gender".

Nigerian Police have not yet responded to the ruling, but experts believe it could have far-reaching consequences for other organisations which have similar regulations.

(BBC News)

Meanwhile, US Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed a special counsel to investigate President Joe Biden's handling of classified documents.

Robert Hur, a former senior Justice Department official during the Trump presidency, will lead the in-

vestigation.

Classified files were recently found in Biden's home and at an office he used after his term as Vice President.

The White House said Biden would fully cooperate with the investigation.

(Excerpt from Reuters and BBC News)

Sam Bankman-Fried has said he did not steal money and blamed the collapse of his now-bankrupt FTX exchange on a broad crash in cryptocurrency markets, in a highly unusual blog post, a month after his arrest on US fraud charges.

Federal Prosecutors in Manhattan in December said Bankman-Fried stole billions of dollars from FTX customers to pay debts for his cryptocurrency-focused hedge fund, Alameda Research, buy lavish real estate, and donate to US political campaigns.

He has pleaded not guilty. The Substack blog post – a rare public statement by a US criminal defendant – amounts to a preview of the defence case Bankman-Fried may present when his trial begins on October 2.

“I didn’t steal funds, and I certainly didn’t stash billions away,” Bankman-Fried wrote.

Defence lawyers typically advise clients to stay silent before trial, because Prosecutors may use their comments against them in court.

A spokesman for Bankman-Fried declined to comment. A spokesman for the US Attorney’s Office in Manhattan declined to comment.

In the post, BankmanFried did not directly address many of the other charges brought against him by Federal Prosecutors in Manhattan last month, namely that he misled investors and lenders about the financial conditions of FTX and Alameda. He wrote that he had “a lot more to say”.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Ukraine forces are holding Soledar positions, inflicting big losses – President

Ukrainian forces in the eastern city of Soledar are holding their positions and inflicting significant losses on Russia troops, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video address on Thursday.

A Russian-installed official in Ukraine's Donetsk region earlier said "pockets of resistance" remained

in Soledar, undermining claims that the town had been captured.

Zelenskiy thanked two Ukrainian units in Soledar which he said "are holding their positions and inflicting significant losses on the enemy". He did not give more details.

Zelenskiy also said he had met senior Ukrainian commanders on Thursday

and analysed in detail what reinforcements were needed in the fight for Soledar and nearby towns and what steps should be taken in the coming days.

"We also discussed the situation regarding the supply of weapons and ammunition to the troops and the relevant cooperation with our partners," he continued.

(Reuters)

"I didn’t steal funds", says former crypto titan Bankman-Fried

Climate change is making extreme weather, including flooding, more likely, scientists say

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Create a peaceful environment. Don’t let chaos infiltrate your life. Strive for simplicity, honesty and flawless work. Know when to walk away from deleterious situations.

(March 21-April 19)

(April 20-May 20)

Have confidence in yourself and your ability to figure things out. Don’t let someone talk you into something that isn’t right for you. Be clear regarding what you expect and are willing to do.

A positive shift will require you to have everything in place and ready to go. Things are starting to look good. A networking event will result in a propitious meeting.

(May 21-June 20)

(June 21-July 22)

You’ll face opposition while trying to resolve an emotional issue. Be conscious of what others want and how they feel before you pitch what you have to offer. Understand what’s important to others.

A perfect show of what you can offer will win favors. Attend an event geared toward what’s important to you. Establish yourself in a community of people heading down a similar path.

(July 23-Aug. 22)

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

If you don’t like what you see, reinvent yourself. Someone you respect will stand by you, even if those closest to you don’t. Change is favored and will help you further your interests.

Play to win, but not at the expense of hurting someone you love. Put friends and family first, and make calculated moves when it comes to business. Don’t mix business with pleasure.

SUDOKU

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) (Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Stop procrastinating. Don’t be shy; embrace the unknown and face challenges head-on. Use your intellect, experience and common sense. Talk to organizations or institutions that can help you.

Your ability to captivate your audience will boost your ego, but don’t let that push you to stretch the truth or promise more than you can deliver. Stick to the truth and map out a solid plan.

Do everything according to plan, and don’t leave yourself open to criticism. Offer positive solutions and incentives to avoid a stalemate or loss. Balance and equality are required.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Take a greater interest in investing in yourself, and you will find a window of opportunity. An energetic approach to domestic situations will pay off. Make health and romance your priorities.

Don’t share too much information. Being a good listener will give you the advantage. Offering your services to a group will give you a place to grow your ideas and execute your plans.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

ARCHIE PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

DILBERT

Sri Lanka Tour of India: ODI Series, Game 2 of 3…

Rahul seals chase after Kuldeep spins through Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka got to 102 for 1 in the 17th over, then threw their innings away in a collapse that cost them six wickets for 50 runs. The lower order pushed them up to 215 all out - the last wicket falling in the 40th over. But it was never going to be enough.

And though Sri Lanka's bowlers made India's batters work, reducing them to 86 for 4 at one stage, India's run rate was too healthy, and their batting resources too rich. Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul put on a 75-run stand for the fifth wicket, breaking the back of the chase. Then Rahul pushed on to 64 not out off 103 balls.

It has been India's bowlers, though, who defined this match. Kuldeep Yadav triggered Sri Lanka's collapse by taking Kusal Mendis's wicket, before picking up Charith

as well.

The only

Lanka

Lanka's batters in this game is perhaps that all but three of the XI got to double figures, suggesting the Eden Gardens pitch was decent enough. But a major collapse occurred nonetheless.

dle order in domestic cricket). The great indictment on Sri

gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana”

14-year-old Francis Gurahoo is gifted a bat

uted 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.

The nosedive of the innings was forged more of Sri Lanka's incompetence in this format than India's particular excellence. Mendis had batted nicely for his run-a-ball 34, but got hit on the back leg by a Kuldeep googly at the end of the 17th over, having misread the modest turn. Dhananjaya de Silva let an Axar Patel arm ball slide between bat and pad; Asalanka sent a leading edge back to Kuldeep, the bowler; Shanaka got too far inside the line and let Kuldeep spin one into his pads and then leg stump.

Later, the bowling allrounders (Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage and Chamika Karunaratne) were all caught by Axar at backward point, two of them off Malik. The lowest third of the innings had at least added some value before departing, however. Hasaranga made 21 off 17, Karunaratne 17 off 25, and Wellalage played perhaps the most responsible innings of the three, despite being the most junior, producing 32 off 34. It was thanks to them that Sri Lanka breached 200.

Hardik was dismissed with 55 still required, but Rahul ensured he remained at the crease to guide the chase home. Three of his six boundaries came behind square, and the other three in the arc between mid-off and cover; but it was the defen-

sive strokes and the singles square of the wicket that defined his innings. He forged a partnership with Axar, then took the chase home in Kuldeep's company.

Now, 2-0 up, India have sealed the series.

(ESPNCricinfo)

14-year-old Francis Gurahoo, an all-rounder from Hague, West Coast Demerara, recently received a bat from the abovenamed initiative, the joint property of Kishan Das of the USA and Anil Beharry of Guyana.

At a simple ceremony held recently, young Gurahoo expressed gratitude for his gift. “I am so madly in love with this game of cricket, and will try my utmost best to reach the highest level”, he explained.

The Uitvlugt Secondary School third-former is desirous of joining the Georgetown-based Everest Cricket Club for the 2023 season.

This Cricket Gear project is happy to be part of the development of young and talented cricketers in Guyana. Total cricket related items collected so far: $290,000 in cash, two trophies, twelve cricket boots, twenty pairs of batting pads, twenty-five bats, seventeen pairs of batting gloves, twenty thigh pads, one pair of wicketkeeping pads, three arm guards, two boxes of balls, 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, forty-eight young players from all three counties of Guyana have already benefitted from the receipt of three junior gear bags, two trophies, three arm guards, nineteen bats, two boxes, three helmets, sixteen pairs of cricket shoes, ten pairs of batting pads, one thigh pad, one bat rubber and fifteen 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 distrib-

Kishan Das of the USA and Anil Beharry of Guyana are expressing gratitude to 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 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.

Through Nuwanidu's fifty, though, Sri Lanka had at least one positive. He was cautious against the new ball, leaving often, and defending plenty, though he rarely seemed anxious, even when he faced 10 scoreless deliveries to start, then had got to only 6 off the first 20. He was strong behind square, finding most of his runs and four of his six boundaries there.

India's chase was not particularly clinical, and there were times when Sri Lanka had a chance to pull off an unlikely defence of a modest score. Shubman Gill raced to 21 off 11 balls, hitting five fours, four of those through cover or extra cover. But then he pulled Kumara straight to short midwicket and was out. Rohit Sharma had been dismissed before that, nicking off to Chamika Karunaratne.

And when Virat Kohli was bowled off an inside edge (Kumara the bowler), and Shreyas Iyer was trapped in front by Kasun Rajitha, it seemed like Sri Lanka had a shot. But Hardik and Rahul doused what small fires had been lit. Theirs was a leisurely, risk-free stand, playing out Sri Lanka's spinners, picking the singles and twos into space. The required rate was hardly relevant.

TOTAL 43.2 Ov (RR: 5.05) 219/6 Did not bat: Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Rohit Sharma, 4.6 ov), 2-41 (Shubman Gill, 5.3 ov), 3-62 (Virat Kohli, 9.3 ov), 4-86 (Shreyas Iyer, 14.2 ov), 5-161 (Hardik Pandya, 34.1 ov), 6-191 (Axar Patel, 39.5 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Kasun Rajitha 9-0-46-1

Lahiru Kumara 9.2-0-64-2

Chamika Karunaratne 8-0-51-2

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva 10-0-28-0

Dunith Wellalage 2-0-12-0

Dasun Shanaka 2-0-6-0

Dhananjaya de Silva 3-0-9-1

Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka to finish with 3 for 51 from his 10 overs. Mohammed Siraj, who had been excellent with the new ball, took 3 for 30, picking up a couple of late wickets.

Umran Malik snuffed out two promising lower-order innings

Sri

bat ter who made a half-centu ry was debutant Nuwanidu Fernando, who was batting out of position as an opener (he usually bats in the mid

Kuldeep Yadav celebrating after taking the wicket of Dasun Shanaka

KL Rahul swivelling into a pull

Francis Gurahoo (right) proudly displaying his bat in the presence of his dad, Joseph Gurahoo

Nuwanidu Fernando scored a half-century on ODI debut

“Cricket

WI Women’s Rising Stars win second warm-up match

West Indies

Women’s Rising Stars have knocked off the 71-run target set by Zimbabwe in 12.5 overs in the second of two warmup games ahead of their first match of the historic ICC Women’s U19 World Cup in South Africa, against Ireland on Sunday (January 15).

After winning the toss and deciding to bowl first, the West Indies Women’s Rising Stars were able to restrict Zimbabwe to the small total through a focused bowling performance. While Jahzara Claxton was the standout with figures of 2-0-42, the other bowlers were economical, with James, St. John and Cumberbatch each picking up a wick-

et. Only Zamunu (12) and Mavunga (11) were able to get to double-digit scores for Zimbabwe.

With a small total to chase, opener Shunelle Sawh (19) looked in good form as she set the pace for the innings. Naijanni Cumberbatch came to the crease after the fall of the first wicket, and made a fiery 22 that included three 4s, before Djenaba Joseph (7*) and Asabi Callendar (1*) saw it home for the West Indies team.

Ndhlovu, Chare and Mayo each picked up a wicket in the innings.

Head Coach Steve Liburd was happy with the performance, and said, “We definitely wanted to assess our game plans, so the focus was on how we

wanted to play going into the World Cup. The bowlers did a tremendous job in executing their skills and putting the balls into the areas we discussed.

From a batting perspective, Naijanni continues to show that she understands her role in this team. Sawh and Joseph supported well for a comprehensive team performance. With a few more days of training ahead of our first match, I am pleased with the players’ response.”

The West Indies Rising Stars will begin their World Cup campaign on Sunday, when they take on Ireland. (Windies Cricket)

WEST INDIES WOMEN UNDER 19s RISING STARS SQUAD

* Ashmini Munisar

(captain) * Asabi Callendar

Jahzara Claxton

Naijanni Cumberbatch

Earnisha Fontaine

Jannillea Glasgow

Realanna Grimmond

* Shunelle Sawh * Lena Scott

Abini St Jean

GROUPS

Group A: Australia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, USA

Ireland, New Zealand, West Indies

Group D: India, Scotland, South Africa, UAE

WEST INDIES MATCH SCHEDULE

Shalini Samaroo

Group B: England, Pakistan, Rwanda, Zimbabwe Group C: Indonesia,

Reggae Girlz to open Cup of Nations against Spain

Jamaica’s Reggae Girls will kick off the Cup of Nations tournament in Australia on February 16 against one of the top women’s teams in world football, Spain. They will then play two other powerhouses: the Czech Republic and Australia, respectively.

Football Australia announced today that, with the support of the New South Wales Government, through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, they will host the four-nations Cup of Nations, comprising three double-header matchdays in Gosford, Sydney and Newcastle.

The six-match tourna-

ment will kick-off at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford on Thursday, 16 February, with FIFA number seven ranked Spain playing Jamaica (44th), followed by the CommBank Matildas (12th) against Czech Republic (27th).

Three days later, the tournament will shift to Sydney, as Jamaica and the Czech Republic go head-to-head at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta, followed by a blockbuster clash between the CommBank Matildas and Spain on match day two on Sunday, 19 February.

Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium will play host to match day 3 of the Cup

West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach will be returning to Surrey for the first six games of the LV=Insurance County Championship season.

Roach, 34, is returning to the club for a third season, after successful spells in 2021 and in the title-winning 2022 season. In his time at Surrey so far, he has taken 47 wickets at 23.57, including best figures of 8 for 40 against Hampshire in 2021.

Twenty-five of Roach’s wickets came in seven matches in last year’s Championship triumph, including a second innings’ five-for against Warwickshire at the Kia Oval in July, to set up a six-wicket victory.

Roach, who last year became the sixth West Indian to reach 250 Test wickets, will join the squad ahead of Surrey’s first fixture away at Emirates Old Trafford against Lancashire, and his first game back at The Oval

will be against Hampshire (13-16 April).

Roach will then be available for the trips to Edgbaston and Chelmsford, before finishing his spell with two home derbies against Middlesex (11-14 May) and Kent (18-21 May).

“I really enjoy playing for Surrey, and winning the title last year was incredible to be a part of,” Roach said.

“It’s such a talented and exciting group of players, and I can’t wait to get back

out on the pitch representing the club.”

Gareth Batty, Head Coach at Surrey, added: “We’re looking forward to welcoming Kemar back to Surrey. He brings great ability and work ethic, and his experience plays an important role in the dressing room.

“Kemar has already shown what he can do in his time at the club so far, and we’re excited to have him joining us again this year.”

(Sportsmax)

of Nations on Wednesday, February 22, when Czech Republic will take on Spain, and the CommBank Matildas will meet Jamaica in the last game of the competition.

The highest-placed nation following the completion of all three match days will be crowned the Cup of Nations champion on 22 February in Newcastle.

Football Australia Chief Executive Officer James Johnson has said he is delighted with these opportunities for the Australian public to experience world-class football and cheer on the CommBank Matildas and their football heroes in the lead-up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign.

“In 2022, we have seen the drawing power of the CommBank Matildas with matches in Townsville, Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney, Gosford, and Melbourne drawing over 109,000 spectators as we took the CommBank Matildas to different parts of Australia,” Johnson has said.

“February’s Cup of Nations will build on the success of the first tournament held in 2019 and be one of the final opportunities for fans to

see the CommBank Matildas on home soil before the commencement of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

“The Cup of Nations will continue to take football to regional areas, with the Central Coast, Greater Sydney, and the Hunter presented an opportunity to farewell the CommBank Matildas ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, as well as get a taste for the international football festival that awaits in 2023.

Jamaica Football Federation President Michael Ricketts believes the tournament is excellent preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2023.

“Engaging in tough games like these in World Cup venues in front of large audiences will help to prepare our team for their World Cup challenges in July. The atmosphere will be similar to what can be expected come summer, so the coaching staff will be able to assess the conditioning and mentality of the players at their disposal. We are extremely happy that Jamaica has been invited to this prestigious tournament, and we anticipate some outstanding performances,”

Ricketts has said.

(Sportsmax)

Sunday January 15: vs Ireland at NW University, Potchefstroom – 4am Eastern Caribbean/3am Jamaica

Tuesday January 17: vs Indonesia at NW University, Potchefstroom – 7:45am Eastern Caribbean/6:45am Jamaica Thursday January 19: vs New Zealand, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom – 7:45am Eastern Caribbean/6:45am Jamaica

West Bank Demerara (Versailles, Vreed-en-Hoop) – Every Weekend. DJ Music. Groups and Excursions welcome – Phone: 264-2946-9.

SERVICES

VACANCY

Vacancy exists for one Nanny. Must be 40 years and older. Please call : 639-7980.

Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz

West Indies’ player Kemar Roach

Imlach eager to convert starts in 2023 West Indies Championships

Keemo Paul and Sherfane Rutherford being absent from the Guyana Harpy Eagles squad, Imlach has said he has always seen himself as a leader. Once the opportunity arises, Imlach has said, he is ready to take up the mantle.

“Yes, I always see myself as a leader. It is very important as a player that you have that understanding and that belief in yourself, not only to look after your own game, but having a good understanding of the game (in order) to be able to help the team in whatever way you can,” he said.

By Brandon Corlette

Guyana Harpy Eagles

wicketkeeper-batsman Tevin Imlach is eager to convert half-centuries into his maiden firstclass century in the 2023 West Indies Championships, which will commence on February 1 in Antigua.

Although the 26-yearold Imlach played only three matches in the 2022 season, he made an impact in scoring 215 runs at an average of 53.75, including three half-centuries, with a career best 79. In an exclusive interview with this daily publication, Imlach said he developed a method last season, and will build thereon.

“Getting an opportuni-

ty last year, getting a start against Barbados, you always speak of getting a monkey off your back, which is that first score; and I managed to get that against Barbados, and I managed to build on that. I developed a method that I feel worked pretty well for me. Hopefully, this year I will use that method again, and get more success,” Imlach explained.

The versatile righthander, who was the West Indies U-19 wicketkeeper-batsman in the Championship-winning team in 2016, said he is willing to bat at the top of the order, once he is not keeping wicket.

“It all depends; if you are keeping, probably not open-

ing. Around three or four, but generally, if I am not keeping, I don’t mind opening or coming three,” Imlach disclosed.

Last season, Imlach failed to convert one of his three half-centuries into a century. This time around, the fit and focused cricketer has said he would learn from his mistakes.

“I am aware of the mistakes I have made the last time around, and I have a method now and I understand how to go about getting there. I have not gotten there, but I know the mistake I have made, and I can learn from it moving forward,” Imlach said.

With Shimron Hetmyer, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Romario Shepherd,

The weather has been an issue for the Guyana Harpy Eagles’ preparation, but Imlach has been putting in the hard yards of work.

“I have been doing a lot of gym work. Physically, I think I am in a good place. I have been doing a lot of batting at my cricket club, the Demerara Cricket Club, so I am in a good place. I have a clear understanding (of) how I will go about scoring runs, and the keeping as well, I have been doing a lot of work,” Imlach added.

After seven first-class matches, Imlach has 282 runs at an average of 31.33. He has also shown promise and solidity in the 50over format, with 536 runs in 19 matches at an average of 33. Given the promise shown, and his high level of discipline and fitness,

Imlach is certainly one for the future.

He has also had the opportunity to play for West

While geared at boosting the skills of the country’s youngest players, the Tiger Rentals Under-13 Boys’ Developmental League has been designed with something in store for their older counterparts.

As the League kicked off at the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) National Training Center (NTC) at Providence two Saturdays ago, the country’s national Under- 16 players got in on some of the football action, but in an unconventional way.

Instead of utilising the regular referees, the national Under-16 team has been trained to officiate the games in which the younger ballers will compete over the next few weeks.

Shakem Welcome, Captain of the U16 national team, in a chat with <<Guyana Times Sport,>> shared that he and teammates are enjoying the new experience.

“It’s a very exciting opportunity for us. You know, a new experience seeing the referees’ views on how they officiate games,” Welcome has said.

The youngster went on to explain that being on the other side of the game would not only help with their perspec-

tive of calls, but will also provide them with additional knowledge of the sport.

Welcome explained, “Well, this will help with our knowledge of the game: when we approach the referee, how to approach the refer, if to approach him calm or aggressive, due to the calls that he makes. It just changes our knowledge.

“The knowledge we gain from this is like how to dive into fouls. If we go aggressive, if we go soft, we know not to go into the referee. Basically, helping us to better our performance,” the Under-16 captain went on to add.

Shifting focus to the Boys’ Developmental Tournament itself, Welcome praised the

nature of the tournament, while expressing elation at being able to serve the sport in some way.

“This helps for me to give back to the sport, after what I gain from it. I know I never had this opportunity, but for them. It’s just a great development tournament for them as youths, and hopefully, it helps them in the future,” Welcome told this publication.

The U13 Boys’ Developmental League has received $10M from title sponsors Tiger Rentals Inc, and this will see games being played between regional teams and clubs. The tournament continues this Saturday at the GFF’s NTC at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Courts Guyana Inc on Thursday afternoon made good on a promise to present the victorious team of the PetraOrganised Courts Under-11 Pee-Wee Football competition with tablets, following the tournament’s conclusion in November 2022.

As a means of giving the players an additional goal to work towards, the company made the announcement through their Brand Manager at the launch of the 2022 edition of the tournament, on October 29, 2022.

And on Thursday, some 15 students of the Enterprise Primary School in Georgetown, along with

their parents, gathered in the school’s auditorium for the simple presentation ceremony. The players were each presented with one Samsung Galaxy tablet, compliments of the company.

Courts’ Brand Manager Cristel Van Sluytman reiterated the Company’s commitment to community initiatives such as the Under-11 tournament. Van Sluytman also highlighted the massive support the team continuously received as she encouraged other businesses to continue supporting the Enterprise Team on their successful trajectory.

“I saw the support they

got on the first day, and in the back of my head I knew this was the winning team. Now we’re here,” Van Sluytman shared on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Petra CoDirector Troy Mendonca encouraged these younger ballers to utilise their new devices in ways that would enhance their education, especially since most of the team are now in preparation mode for the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations.

In the Courts Pee-Wee final, Enterprise Primary overcame St. Pius Primary by a 2-1 margin to clinch the coveted title.

Indies ‘A’ team, and he was included in the West Indies wicket-keeper camps in 2022.

Imlach has maintained a high level of fitness over the years

Imlach is eager to score a maiden first-class century

Tevin Imlach batting during the 2022 West Indies Championships (Brandon Corlette photos)

National U16 players performed refereeing duties during the Tiger Rentals U13 League

Courts makes good on promise to victorious Pee-Wee team

Courts’ Cristel Van Sluytman making a presentation to one of the players of the Enterprise Primary in the presence of the team, Coach Troy Wright, and the Petra Organization’s Troy Mendonca, Jackie Boodie and Nareeza Latif