Guyana Times - Friday, January 27, 2023

GO-Invest onboard for 2nd edition of Int’l Energy Conference and Expo

Security officer arrested after attempting to bribe Police following gun find Tuschen brothers nabbed with ganja during Police operation

Norton Street fire caused by illegal electrical connection – GFS

5-year-old girl gets muchneeded surgery under FFTP’s Benevolence Initiative

Wife concerned at lack of justice 10 months after husband killed in accident

Security officer arrested after attempting to bribe Police following gun find

Amale resident of Wismar, Linden who attempted to bribe a team of Police officers following the discovery of a firearm has been taken into custody on Wednesday.

Based on information received, Police ranks were performing duties at 28 Miles Amelia’s Falls Access Road, Upper Essequibo River when they intercepted the 35-yearold suspect of Phase 1B Wisroc, Wismar, Linden.

Police said ranks were on patrol when they observed a makeshift wooden-and-tarpaulin camp a short distance away from the Essequibo

The gun that was seized

River. The ranks proceeded to the camp, where they observed the suspect, who identified himself as a security officer. During a search of the camp, the ranks found a shotgun wrapped in a hammock. Upon examination, one 12-gauge cartridge was found in the firearm, which had no serial number.

The suspect, when questioned about the firearm,

Norton Street fire caused by illegal electrical connection – GFS

stated: “Officer, I hunt with this gun to make me lil side hustle on my lil security work, I get $200,000, what y’all can do for me?”

He was immediately arrested and escorted to the Mackenzie Police Station along with the shotgun and cartridge, which were lodged there. He remains in custody, pending further investigation and charges.

The fire that ravaged a two-storey building at Lot 24 Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown was caused by an illegal electrical connection, preliminary investigations of the Guyana Fire Service have suggested.

The GFS, in a release to the media, has said the Fire department received reports of the fire at about 15:32h, and water tenders from the Central and West Ruimveldt Fire Stations responded, with the Prison water bowser supporting. Upon arrival, firefighters observed the wooden-and-concrete building, which was unoccupied at the time, engulfed in flames.

As such, three jets operating from a water tender were used, along with the Prison bowser, to extinguish the fire, but the building and its contents were completely destroyed.

However, investigations revealed that the fire was the result of illegal electrical wires and wiring, which caused arcing and sparking, resulting in the fire, which spread to nearby combustibles and the entire building.

Also affected by the fire was another two-storey building located at Lot 25 Norton Street, owned by Carl Gill.

Due to radiated heat from the building of origin, one black tank, a quantity of PVC pipe, ceiling, and guttering were destroyed, and one washing machine was severely damaged.

The Guyana Fire Service is warning citizens to desist from using illegal connections to obtain electricity. “These connections present a serious risk to both life and property, since they could cause fires or electrocutions,” the GFS has added.

The aftermath of the fire on Wednesday

FRIDAY,

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Friday, January 27 – 09:00h-09:45h and 22:00h-23:30h and Saturday, January 28 – 10:00h-11:30h and 22:30h-00:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, January 27 –08:10h-09:40h and Saturday, January 28 – 09:00h-10:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Sunny conditions are expected during the day, with clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 19 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Northerly to North-Westerly between 1.78 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 08:38h and 21:03h reaching maximum heights of 2.49 metres and 2.41 metres.

Low Tide: 14:34h reaching a minimum height of 0.75 metre.

President Dr Irfaan Ali has signalled an open invitation for Caribbean financial institutions to visit Guyana and explore the potential opportunities while highlighting concerns that more responsibility was needed to fill the financial gaps and needs within the Region.

The President delivered a presentation on Thursday at the Jamaica Stock Exchange Regional Investments and Capital Markets Conference 2023, where he expressed that development was not fixated on oil and gas.

The Guyanese Head of State pointed out that the country was set to become the energy and industrial capital of the Region, a regional food engine, ecotourism destination, major aquaculture producer, the centre of regional cricket, and potentially the financial epicentre.

Citing the importance of investments, Ali shared that the Caribbean financial sector needed to play a more important role in increasing capital. Gross financial needs in 2020 were in excess of US$10 billion in the Region.

Dr Ali told stakeholders, “The Caribbean financial sector needs to play a more instrumental role in mobilising capital to fill the Region’s financial gap…The challenge facing our financial system in the Caribbean is whether it can rise to the occasion of mobilising the capital requirement for financing regional development…We’re just as keen to partner with the regional institutions as we are into forging national partnerships. We’re seeking partnerships not only to develop our oil and gas sector but also to modernise our traditional sectors such as agriculture, gold, diamond, bauxite, manganese mining, and forestry.”

To this end, the President underscored that the Region could not develop a “silo mentality”, whereby the Region’s financial sector became segregated.

“Our financial sector also must have a regional focus. We do have a few banks which are regional players but more such banks, as well as Indigenous banks, are needed to take up greater space,” Dr Ali indicated.

According to him, the regional financial sector’s investments have to be more aligned with the key regional economic objectives.

These include food and energy security, and transition, which require large sums of money. Without funding, the security of energy, food, and security will not be achieved. Along with this, he noted that the entities should also be able to respond to the needs of the Region – which could not be achieved without combined efforts.

Oil and gas have become a new frontier for Guyana –instrumental in it taking its place as the economic powerhouse of the Caribbean, but he shared that the country would remain anchored in

realising the goal of regional integration.

“Guyana will become an economic powerhouse and will fulfil the grand but realisable ambition which for a long time has eluded the country. Guyana, however, sees itself as being beholden to regional development. We have envisioned our future development by taking into account our place and role in the Caribbean. We are firmly committed to the goal of regional integration. Thus, while we are pursuing winwin partnerships with other countries and regions in the

world, we remain firmly anchored within the Caribbean family.”

Quantified reserves in Guyana have exceeded 11 billion barrels of oil since exploration commenced in 2015 and production subsequently in 2019.

In 2021, Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth was almost 20 per cent, and in 2022, it was more than 60 per cent –making it the fastest-growing economy in the world. However, growth was not confined to the oil sector, with the non-oil sector growing by 11.5 per cent.

“With more exploration taking place, new oil blocks to be auctioned and the ever-increasing production, Guyana is projected to become one of the richest countries per capita in the western hemisphere. Our oil finds have also made us a major player in the oil and gas industry in the Caribbean and a hotspot for new discoveries.

“The growth of the nonoil sector is important to us, because transformation is not only due to the discovery of oil alone, but also the use to which the oil revenues will be put and the trigger which the industry is already playing in boosting the economy,” Ali underscored.

Editor: Tusika Martin

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School violence: Fun of learning can evaporate

In some schools in the USA, metal detectors are common, as sometimes is the presence of a Police patrol on the outskirts.

Some may be tempted to ask why, in a country that is rich and is the bastion of freedom and democracy. Others may counter that exactly because of what the country represents, it can afford to have such mechanisms in place. The answer basically lies in trying to curb violence in schools.

While the measures may appear to some as being extreme, given what unfortunately happened in the past, when lives were senselessly lost to bullets, the measures may be deemed inadequate. After all, violence in schools has not stopped. Other menaces are bullying and gang-related violence. These are the harsh realities in some institutions of learning there, with an obvious negative impact on the student population involved.

Violence in schools is not confined there, and is prevalent in many other places. In Guyana, we have, in the past, seen a collaboration between the Guyana Police Force and the Education Ministry wherein random searches were conducted at schools for potential weapons. Surprisingly, screwdrivers, knives, scissors, and toy guns were found during some of these random searches.

An important aspect of the Education Ministry’s collaboration with the Police is that the partnership involves discussion on topics of violence, crime committed at schools, gang fighting, offensive weapons and, significantly, consequences.

Who would have thought that in the process of getting an education here in Guyana, safety in schools is becoming a primary concern? With the threats in question, it seems rightfully so.

Of recent, we have seen several teachers being severely beaten by parents, and also, in the past, there were several cases in which students fought their teachers. Over time, there were other reports of students being stabbed by others, or hurt by other means. Bullying, which is just another form of abuse, and even violence, was reported to be highly prevalent in many schools. The recent fight among St Joseph High School students, which went viral on social media, is a good example of violence in schools.

Those represent reported cases, as the understanding is that many cases are unreported out of fear of repercussion.

Solace must not be taken in living in a changing world. Violence, over the years, and its extensive coverage through the media, have led to seeming immunity to the gory images, and now make for casual reading.

This must not be allowed to slip into the mindsets of students and teachers. They must be free from such psychological stress and be able to focus on learning, to build much-needed capacity for the future of the country. All have an integral role to play in helping to repel this scourge.

While there may be compelling arguments over what may be the reasons perpetrators act the way they do, and the spread of violence, immediate mitigating measures have to be derived and implemented.

Police random searches, while a potential deterrent, may not be enough in the long term, as sustainability could become an issue.

Many have argued that parents and guardians need to be more involved and aware of what their children are doing, keeping an eye on any possible worrying signs. While that could still be effective in many ways, there is a challenge as the child approaches adulthood. At that stage, one’s space and privacy could present barriers. There are also social factors that contribute to disallowing such necessary interventions to some extent, which further complicates an already complicated situation.

The situation would probably demand the establishment of a non-partisan special task force, comprising skilled personnel from the relevant sections of Government and civil society, to examine and recommend practical solutions within the shortest possible time.

Whatever the findings are, the resources must be found to implement, given what’s at stake. If not, the fun of learning could be evaporated.

Dear Editor,

The current debates in Parliament around Budget 2023 are allowing us to witness, live and direct, the dynamics of racialisation and de-racialisation of Guyana’s politics.

The term “racialisation” as used here refers to the unnecessary insertion of race and racism into political discourse. “De-racialisation,” on the other hand, is part of a process of anti-racism whereby speakers refuse to allow political discourse to be infected with racio-political utterances.

Readers may already know that, for some time now, the APNU and AFC have been trying to paint Guyana in the language of an apartheid society. These political parties have been supported by local and dispora intellectuals who produce dystopian narratives that find ready expression in local outlets, as well as on various social media platforms. The highly inflammatory charge of racial discrimination found its way into Guyana’s 2023 Budget Debate when APNU Member of Parliament Vinceroy H Jordan ventured into a nearly uncontrollable performance laced with innuendos of racial discrimination, and in at least one instance, use of the term apartheid.

It appears that Mr. Jordan is not aware of what constitutes apartheid, either in law and history, or in the practice of that dastardly form of power politics, as practised in Southern Africa. For his sake, and those who support his project of racialisation in Guyana, the definition of apartheid by the African Union Human Rights Project should be instructive. It reads as follows – “The Apartheid (1948 to 1994) in South Africa was the racial segregation under the all-white government of South Africa which dictated that non-white South Africans (a majority of the population) were required to live in separate areas from whites and use separate public facilities, and contact between the two groups would be limited. The different racial groups were physically separated according to their location, public fa-

cilities, and social life (AUHRM Project Focus Area: The Apartheid).

South African History Online offers the following on apartheid – “Apartheidmade laws forced the different racial groups to live separately and develop separately, and grossly unequally too. It tried to stop all inter-marriage and social integration between racial groups. During apartheid, to have a friendship with someone of a different race generally brought suspicion upon you, or worse. More than this, apartheid was a social system which severely disadvantaged the majority of the population simply because they did not share the skin colour of the rulers. Many were kept just above destitution because they were 'non-white”. (https://www. sahistory.org.za/article/history-apartheid-south-africa).

Mr. Jordan, as well as Mr. Rosydale Forde, who bellowed charges of discrimination, must know now that there is nothing remotely resembling apartheid in Guyana. A quick check of the Guyana Parliament shows that there are approximately twenty-five Africans, twenty-five Indians, and fifteen persons of Amerindian, Portuguese, and/or ‘mixed’ background. Where is the separation? Who is dominating whom? All of the parties have mixed representation beyond tokenism.

Let us go back to the South African Parliament for comparison. The Britannica historical archive describes the situation well. Here is what they observe - “After its victory [1948] the National Party rapidly consolidated its control over the state, and in subsequent years won a series of elections with increased majorities. Parliament removed Coloured voters from the common voters’ rolls in 1956. By 1969, the electorate was exclusively white: Indians never had any parliamentary representation, and the seats for white representatives of Blacks and Coloureds had been abolished” (https://www.britannica.com/place/South-Africa/TheNational-Party-and-apartheid).

Editor, Mr. Jordan’s allegations,

though unfounded, were subjected to an informed and impassioned critique from Bishop Juan Edghill. The Hon. Minister of Public Works also noted three key elements of apartheid, namely: political parties are of one ‘race’, there is a subjugated population based upon race, and there are laws that regulate the spatial dynamics of the society. Specifically, apartheid laws prohibit persons of different ‘races’ from being in the same place.

Edghill went on to charge that the real issue is anyone who does not support the APNU-AFC is considered a racist. He went on to say that if you are Afro-Guyanese and you do not support the PNC, you are not considered ‘Black’. What makes you ‘Black’, in other words, is to join a party or support a party that has the longest streak of authoritarian tendencies in the history of the Caribbean.

In a moment of veritable pride, Juan Anthony Edghill turned to the PPP/C’s side of the House and challenged the Opposition to say that it was of ‘one race’. Juan Edgill disallowed Mr. Vinceroy Jordan’s play of racialisation to ground itself in the National Assembly.

Minister Kwame McCoy also played a significant role in pushing back against the epistemology of racism offered by the young and cantankerous MP Mr. Jordon.

Editor, the efforts at refuting charges of apartheid in Guyana are not only for our national good, but also in defense of the noble and courageous people of Southern Africa, who know what apartheid was, and who mounted one of the great fights for human rights in all of modern history. Anything less would amount to disrespect for the victims of apartheid, something that Guyana, including the PNC, fought against.

Let us have some decency, at least where references to apartheid are concerned.

Sincerely,

Dr Randolph Persaud

An aerial shot of Annai, in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), nestled in the foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains, and situated close to the Rupununi River. Considered the gateway to the Rupununi, the village is 416 kilometres (258 miles) by road from Georgetown, and is predominantly populated by members of the Macushi people. Annai is mainly an agricultural community, living on cassava and peanut farming and cattle ranching (Aerialguyana.com photo)

APNU/AFC references to apartheid are disrespectful to the victims of racial domination

The truth will always prevail Tenders for security services and others

Dear Editor, I recalled a quote from Mahatma Gandhi, which stated that ‘An error does not become truth by multiplied propagation, nor does Truth become error because nobody sees it. Truth stands even if there is no public support. It is self-sustained’.

The Guyanese people are witnessing the lies and the truth as the Budget Debate 2023 progresses, and it is easy for the public to discern who are peddling the lies and who are presenting the facts.

I will just give two examples on Day 3 of the Budget Debate, analysing the presentation by Mr. Roysdale Forde, SC, and the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Zulfikar Mustapha. These two presentations will provide evidence that whilst Mr. Forde was spewing untruths and misinformation about the socio-economic conditions which currently exist in Guyana; even as he did his mischief, he was respectfully allowed to make his presentation by those on the Government side, notwithstanding the fact that they knew that his presentation was riddled with errors and inaccuracies meant to misinform.

But not so Minister Mustapha’s presentation. The Opposition side of the House had to be rebuked by the Speaker, since they behaved in the most despicable manner, more suited for the gutters than for the sanctity of Parliament.

I shudder to think that maybe there is an affinity of sorts between the gutter and the Opposition members of the House.

Listening to Mr. Forde’s presentation, one would have thought that he was describing what took place in Guyana during the years of hardships and deprivations that Guyanese had to endure under the late LFS Burnham, and then his successor, the late Desmond Hoyte; and which Guyanese narrowly missed from 2015 to 2020 under Burnham’s acolyte, Mr David Granger. Those were the times when putting food on the table was a criminal activity.

As a senior legal luminary, Mr. Forde ought to know that the harrowing conditions which he depicted in his presentation are falsehoods meant to ‘win’ his case; they do not depict the current reality. His quoted statistics are related to the Coalition’s tenure in Government.

The 26 (including the current term) years of the PPP/C Government, which he decried as being the cause of the dire conditions which he falsely attributed, were the years that brought Guyana from being a highly indebted poor country (poorer than Haiti) to a progressive upper-middle income country in which Guyanese can own their own homes and cars, and go on vacation to North American countries.

Mr. Forde should understand that even though his mentor Burnham spoke about the equality of all races and that all races are important, in reality, he never practised that. He hated all those who opposed him, and many persons were severely persecuted in many different ways; they endured all sorts of persecution. The late Dr. Walter Rodney immediately comes to mind.

Burnham was a dictator in all negative forms and connotations of the term. His rigging, corruption and squandermania, combined with his Machiavellian strategies, are indelibly etched in the annals of our country. The name Burnham will always be synonymous with dictatorship.

Please do not rewrite our history, Mr Forde.

On the other hand, Minister Zulfikar’s presentation was truthful and accurate, with no intent to deceive the Guyanese public. The facts can be verified. His well-constructed speech clearly recalled the horrors and rapid decline that the Agriculture Sector had to endure under the Coalition, especially sugar and rice. It was the Coalition’s Budgets from 2015 to 2019 which were the recipe for the Dutch Curse that Mr. Forde went at pains to attribute to the PPP/C Government’s Budget. The Coalition severely cut the agriculture

budget year after year, and saw the rice industry as a private business, as outlined by Minister Mustapha. Minister Mustapha pointed out the massive taxation and other debilitating measures which crippled the rice industry as well. Both rice and sugar were seen as populated by PPP/C supporters, hence the vindictiveness.

The comprehensive and excellently crafted plan for Agriculture will definitely not only realise 100% self-sufficiency by 2025, but will boost the export earnings of both traditional and non-traditional high-value crops.

I exhort those who have missed the Minister’s 2023 Budget presentation to view it on Youtube. There has never been such a solution-oriented plan ever for the Sector, and it definitely will make massive progressive strides from what was already achieved since 2020. The Opposition cannot dispute these hard facts, and as the Minister said in his conclusion, it is worrying when elected officials ignore the facts and go to lengths to distort and present their lies as facts in the Honourable House.

Undoubtedly, the 2023 Budget was well-planned and crafted; was flexible, realistic, and clearly communicated. One can easily discern the connections of the many facets which will promote the economic and social well-being of every Guyanese as the year progresses.

The Coalition must understand that Joseph Goebbels’s Nazi propaganda strategy of repeating a lie often enough and it becomes the truth will not work in this day of easy access to credible information. ‘Truth alone will endure, all the rest will be swept away before the tide of time’-Mahatma Gandhi.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Dear Editor, I wrote on this subject sometime in the past. It would appear that our system for the process of tendering for any kind of Government services and contracts is based on the lowest tender. I therefore wish to use the opportunity to articulate this ‘to open up the eyes of persons in authority and those responsible for tenders, to get a grip of the realities of low or lowest tender’.

I am more familiar with security, and therefore most of what I will say would be based on security, due to the fact that I have been a security practitioner in this country for almost four and a half decades. I have observed in recent times our company has been losing several contracts, and I am not complaining or criticising or attacking, except that I am trying to highlight a problem in the system of tendering.

It goes also for construction: construction of bridges, dams, schools, roads, etc., etc. We have seen recently that large awards went out to persons who build roads, especially roads in communities where the Government budgeted large sums of money to bring convenience and joy to people. It is a painful thing to see a school constructed and not too long after construction it begins to collapse. It is painful to purchase school furniture and to find later that they are of poor quality. It is painful to build a wharf or stelling and find it floating away.

Recently, we saw the Hon Minister Juan Edghill of the Ministry of Public Works has had to stop many road construction projects due to timeline factors, due to poor quality construction, due to unreliability or commitment issues, due to not paying the subcontractors and employees. We know that the Hon. Juan Edghill is a “no-nonsense” person.

The same goes for security services. Persons tendering at the lowest rates, and at times some of the newer guys on the block wanting to make as much as they can, and even some older ones, constantly tendering below cost. Our company recent-

ly lost a major security contract, which went to the lowest bidder. When we did the math, we found that it was grossly below cost, taking into account the National Insurance costs, administrative expenses, transport, uniforms, licences, etc.

So how do these companies manage to survive?

Some do it by unethical and dishonest ways. I will highlight some points hereunder:

1. The theft of NIS (National Insurance Scheme) deductions has become a major revenue earner for some security services, and other businesses as well.

2. The theft of the VAT (Value Added Tax) or underpaying the VAT as if giving part of it as a donation to the Government in an attempt to “pull wool over their eyes” from the accurate job that they have to do in this area.

3. Stealing large sums of the PAYE taxes, and again giving a donation to GRA; rarely ever paying corporate taxes.

In the case of NIS, the theft of NIS is such a criminal act, in my opinion. To steal employees’ NIS, which has been deducted, and to fail to pay your two-thirds (2/3) as an employer, is a ‘mighty killing’ for a dishonest employer. Some companies are known to be paying for a small amount of employees in order to obtain compliance to tender. The same for the GRA: pay for a small amount to get the compliance. The theft of VAT hampers the country’s development. In addition, some companies are employing security guards as subcontractors or contractors,

and offering them no insurance coverage. The salary looks attractive, but in time the employed persons get no protection under the National Insurance Scheme. This is a very unethical practice by companies.

At times, I wonder if the group or the department responsible for awarding of contracts - security, and otherwise - if they do the math, would realise that it is the Government of Guyana and the employees of the contractors would be the ones ultimately taken advantage of. Whenever there is tendering below the cost, it is always the country and the employees who will suffer. Employees suffer in the form of manipulation of overtime, wages, weekend premiums, annual leave, etc. Many Ministries and Departments become alarmed and confused when they see new security companies without an established record in the industry being awarded security contracts for their sensitive locations, because they now feel they have to become security tutors to train these new persons.

All I am advising is that it should not be that the lowest tender wins the contract, and that other factors should be taken into consideration when the awarding of contracts is being done. From the above points that I have raised, the fact has been clearly established that tendering below cost would be catastrophic to a number of projects, and to the lives and properties of the people of Guyana/Government of Guyana.

Sincerely,

Haji Dr Roshan Khan

Question 1:

Foundation

Friction Fun

Have fun exploring friction with this easy science experiment. All you need is a clear plastic bottle, a bag of rice, a pencil, and a funnel.

Materials:

Clear plastic bottle

Funnel

Rice

Pencil

Instructions:

Place the funnel in the bottle. Fill the bottle all the way with the rice. Insert the pencil straight down into the bottle.

CONTINUED FROM THURSDAY

The sun rose, and she slept on, and she was still sleeping when it was full day. Then it so happened that the king to whom this forest belonged, was hunting in it. When his dogs came to the tree, they sniffed, and ran barking round about it. The king said to the huntsmen, just see what kind of wild beast has hidden itself in there. The huntsmen obeyed his order, and when they came back they said, a wondrous beast is lying in the hollow tree, we have never before seen one like it. Its skin is fur of a thousand different kinds, but it is lying asleep. Said the king, see if you can catch it alive, and then fasten it to the carriage, and we will take it with us. When the huntsmen laid hold of the maiden, she awoke full of terror, and cried to them, I am a poor child, deserted by father and mother, have pity on me, and take me with you. Then said they, Allerleirauh,

Try to lift the pencil.

If your pencil slips free, gently tap the bottle on a table to settle the rice around the pencil. How it works:

The friction between the rice grains and pencil become so strong that you can lift the bottle without the pencil slipping free.

Make this a science project:

Try different items in the bottle to see if the friction is strong enough to hold onto the pencil. Try different sized bottles. Try items other than pencils in the bottle to see if they work. (sciencefun.org)

By The BroThers Grimm

you will be useful in the kitchen, come with us, and you can sweep up the ashes. So they put her in the carriage, and took her home to the royal palace. There they pointed out to her a closet under the stairs, where no daylight entered, and said, hairy animal, there you can live and sleep. Then she was sent into the kitchen, and there she carried wood and water, swept the hearth, plucked the fowls, picked the vegetables, raked the ashes, and did all the dirty work. Allerleirauh lived there for a long time in great wretchedness. Alas, fair princess, what is to become of you now. It happened, however, that one day a feast was held in the palace, and she said to the cook, may I go upstairs for a while, and look on. I will place myself outside the door. The cook answered, yes, go, but you must be back here in half-an-hour to sweep the hearth.

Then she took her oil-lamp, went into her den, put off her dress of fur, and washed the soot off her face and hands, so that her full beauty once more came to light. And she opened the nut, and took out her dress which shone like the sun, and when she had done that she went up to the festival, and every one made way for her, for no one knew her, and thought no otherwise than that she was a king’s daughter. The king came to meet her, gave his hand to her, and danced with her, and thought in his heart, my eyes have never yet seen any one so beautiful. When the dance was over she curtsied, and when the king looked round again she had vanished, and none knew whither. The guards who stood outside the palace were called and questioned, but no one had seen her.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

WORD SEARCH

Opposition supporters among Govt's “favourites” to benefit from Budget 2023 – Minister Bharrat

In response to claims by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) Opposition that Budget 2023 has nothing for ordinary citizens and only seeks to benefit allies of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat pointed out that supporters of the Opposition were among the “friends” of the Government who would be benefiting from the host of programmes and measures proposed.

The Minister was at the time responding to remarks made by APNU Member of Parliament, Coretta McDonald, who, during her debate presentation, said Budget 2023 failed to address the needs of Guyanese.

“This Budget of $781.9 billion is a Budget for friends, families, and favourites. This is the fourth Budget of this installed regime and it doesn’t really do any good to the small man… The oil money will never reach the pockets of the small man… The little fecks that have been identified [in] this Budget fail to address the macro issues that are affecting the working class… I cannot support this fallen Budget which is short of satisfying the people of this country,” she posited.

But McDonald’s statements were debunked by the Natural Resources Minister, who, during his contribution to the ongoing debate, noted that Budget 2023 sought to benefit all Guyanese – even the Opposition’s own supporters.

“The PPP programmes and policies will benefit the friends, the families, the favourites, and our new friends who are your supporters who are coming over now to the PPP/Civic now…

the people in Linden, like the people in Berbice, are supporting us now; they are our new friends and they will benefit from Budget 2023 like every other Guyanese,” the Minister stated.

He added that Budget 2023 contained provisions for the more than 9000 Disciplined Services members and the 5000-plus health workers who will be benefiting from salary adjustments from this month as well as the thousands of public servants who got an eight per cent retroactive salary increase last November.

These Public Sector workers – all of whom, along with thousands of Private Sector employees, will also benefit from the income tax threshold rising to $85,000.

Cost-of-living measures

According to the Natural Resources Minister, the suite of cost-of-living measures initiated by the administration over the past two years to not only offset the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic but also the rising global prices caused by the Russia-Ukraine war would continue to benefit “friends”.

These measures include billions of dollars in cash grants to several categories of persons, as well as reducing the tax on fuel by 10 per cent, and slashing freight charges – both of which have been extended in Budget 2023.

“We took off all taxes on fuel so that the loggers can benefit, so that the miners can benefit, so that the farmers can benefit, so that the commuters can benefit and those are all our friends… 214,000 schoolchildren will benefit from an increase in the cash grant in 2023 –$40,000 [per child] including the uniform allowance. And

those students and their parents are our friends,” Bharrat declared.

As part of the Government’s continued efforts, Budget 2023 has allocated another $5 billion for additional measures this year to combat the rising cost of living and supplement household income.

Part-time jobs

Turning his attention to the Government’s parttime jobs initiative, which has been heavily criticised by the Opposition, Minister Bharrat pointed out that APNU and the AFC had no similar alternative during their time in office to provide employment opportunities to Guyanese, especially females.

“What was your alternative in Government? What did you do when you were in Government? Imagine we have employed over 10,000 people who were un-

employed, mostly women… What did you do for them? Nothing! But you come here and you talk about $40,000 [being too little but] $40,000 is better than nothing,” the Minister argued. The part-time job programme was launched last year as one of the measures aimed at cushioning the rising cost of living and it allows for one person per household to work in public offices for 10 days per month to earn $40,000. With more than 11,000 beneficiaries in Regions Two, Three, Five,

Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, and 10, a whopping $10 billion has been set aside in Budget 2023 for the continuation of the initiative, which is laying the foundation for persons to take up full-time employment.

In fact, Minister Bharrat stated that this programme was meant to be a springboard for the beneficiaries to elevate themselves in order to get better opportunities.

“It is a transition; it is a springboard; it is a stepping stone for them to at least get something now until they move on,” he stressed.

Reiterating the Government’s commitment to ensuring that the oil and gas revenues are used to benefit all Guyanese including Opposition supporters, the Minister further called out the Opposition for using the excuse that they did not have oil money during their

time in office to enhance the lives of Guyanese and stimulate the country’s economy.

“After 2015, we have not seen any progress up to 2020… and the progress we have seen over the last two years, the oil money ain’t starting spending yet. It is this year’s Budget that you will see more oil money going into the Budget… today, they come here with the excuse “we didn’t have oil revenue”. But if you don’t have oil revenues, you have to incentivise the other productive sectors like we are doing now,” Bharrat contended. According to the Natural Resources Minister, after finding almost all of the extractive industries in the red when it took office, the PPP/C has managed to increase the bauxite, diamond, forestry, aggregates, and sand sectors, among others, in just two years.

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat

…debunks claims that nothing’s there for “the small man”

CoA reserves decision in Parliamentary Secretaries’ case

With a plethora of arguments submitted by attorneys on Thursday, the Court of Appeal (CoA) has indicated that it will notify parties if it has any queries.

Otherwise, the panel will deliberate and rule in the appeal against the annulment of Vickash Ramkissoon and Sarah Browne’s appointments as Parliamentary Secretaries to the Amerindian Affairs and Agriculture Ministries respectively.

The appellate court bench comprised acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud.

Back in December

2020, Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones had moved to the High Court challenging Browne and Ramkissoon’s appointments. He had contended that Browne and Ramkissoon cannot be appointed as non-elected parliamentarians, since they were named on the List of Candidates presented by the PPP/C for the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. This, he had contended, made them elected members of the National Assembly, since their names were extracted from that

party’s list.

Acting Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, in cancelling their appointments, had relied on Attorney General vs Morian, which was first decided by nowlate Chief Justice Ian Chang, whose decision was later affirmed by the Court of Appeal.

In 2015, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) member Dennis Morian had filed a constitutional motion against then-Attorney General Basil Williams, SC, challenging the legality of the appointments of former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Technocrat

Ministers Keith Scott and

Winston Felix.

Felix, who was at the time the Minister of Citizenship, and Scott the Minister with responsibility for Labour, were candidates on the APNU/AFC’s List of Candidates for the 2015 General and Regional Elections.

In 2016, the now-late Justice Chang declared that both Scott and Felix were unlawfully and unconstitutionally occupying seats in the National Assembly due to their status as elected members (named on the Coalition’s List of Candidates). Williams had appealed Justice Chang’s decision to the Court of Appeal, but lost.

Applying the reasoning in the Attorney General vs Morian, Chief Justice George, in April 2021, had held, inter alia, that Browne and Ramkissoon’s appointments violated Articles 113, 186, and 103 (3) of the Constitution. She had ruled that they cannot be appointed as non-elected Members of Parliament (MPs) since they were named on the List of Candidates presented by the PPP/C.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, then appealed Justice George’s decision to the appeal court, arguing, among other things, that her findings are erroneous

Wrap up...

…on Budget Debate

If your Eyewitness didn’t know better, he’d swear the Opposition were trying to goad the PPP MPs to join them in adding so much hot air into the atmosphere that the former’s LCDS goals would be irretrievably ruined!! Cause, in the week-long “debate”, it was all heat and very little light –which ain’t good for our global warming commitments!! As it was, the Opposition weren’t interested in the debate per se, since many generally left the hall when the Government MPs were speaking.

and misconceived in law.

“The decision does not accord with the clear and unambiguous binding language of the Constitution,” he had argued in one of his grounds of appeal. According to him, the Chief Justice erred and misdirected herself in law by failing to appreciate that although there are similarities in the two cases (Technocrat Ministers/ Parliamentary Secretaries), there are also differences in the constitutional regime regarding the appointment of Technocratic Ministers in comparison to Parliamentary Secretaries.

He had submitted that historically, in Guyana, Parliamentary Secretaries were appointed from among members of the National Assembly, and the category of persons who may be appointed as Parliamentary Secretaries was expanded in the 1980 Constitution to include persons who were qualified to be elected.

In fact, he reminded that in the ninth Parliament, Pauline Sukhai, now Amerindian Affairs Minister, whose name appeared on the List of Candidates for the PPP/C, was appointed a Parliamentary Secretary to assist the Tourism Minister as a non-elected member of the National Assembly, without any objection for the duration of that Parliament.

He also reminded that during the tenth Parliament, Joseph Hamilton, now Labour Minister, whose name did not appear on the List of Candidates for PPP/C or any other List of Candidates, was appointed a Parliamentary Secretary as a non-elected member without any objection for the duration of that Parliament.

Having regard to these circumstances, Nandlall had argued that the appeal against the Chief Justice’s ruling is not only grounded in merit, but raises fundamental issues of interpretation of the Constitution, as well as issues integral to Guyana’s parliamentary and constitutional democracy.

In the extant appeal, Nandlall is being represented by T&T Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes, while Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde is appearing for Jones.

Now, it may appear your Eyewitness is focusing on form, and not substance. But if we want to move ahead in this country, we gotta follow the forms designed to make the other side to listen. Because if we ain’t listening to each other, how can we even cooperate on matters on which the two sides may be in agreement? Take, for instance, the record $94 billion spending on Education. Do the Opposition really disagree with the 20,000 GOAL scholarship programme?? Did they listen to Minister Parag’s statement that 48% of the awardees up to the end of 2022 were African Guyanese?? Did it cross their minds that they can mobilise these trained individuals to move to the next level and earn their trust –and votes?? Or have they conceded them to the PPP??

Or, the $84.9 billion budgeted for Health. Do they really think we don’t need the pediatric and maternal hospital to be constructed?? Do they really accept the atrocious maternal death rate in this day and age?? Then there are the six regional hospitals on the cards: isn’t it high time that each of the hospitals in the regions be brought up to a level of being equipped for medical care, so that patients don’t die while being medevacked? The upgrade of the New Amsterdam and Georgetown hospitals has to be a plus, no??

Now, while the Budget measures to assist various sectors, like pensioners and schoolchildren, could’ve been bigger, surely the Government can be congratulated for not completely abandoning our welfare policies - as is happening even in developed economies like Britain!! Heard about their sick sleeping in the hallways of hospitals cause there ain’t enough beds?? And why are the Opposition so opposed to the infrastructure investment?? They really think that we can progress without fixing that road to the airport; a new bridge across the Demerara River etc? Or we should wait another decade for the AFHEP “clean energy”, and not use our gas to generate electricity cheaply - to make our manufacturing sector competitive??

Anyhow, now that the screaming matches are over, the Government better deliver the goods. 2025 is coming up, and voters will be judging them at the polls!! Watch them!!

…CGX challenges

If he thought it’d help, your Eyewitness would pray that the latest well spudded by CGX in their block off the Berbice Coast hits the black gold pouring out of the Stabroek Block to its west!! But he knows that the dice were already rolled eons ago when our sunken forests were transmuted by pressure and heat into the oil. Guyanese should remember that while Exxon had that contract for 600 blocks since 1999, they sat on it - even though a satellite-generated US Geologic survey showed there was oil “under them thar Atlantic waters”!!

It was tiny CGX that started the (drilling) ball rolling –only to be chased away by Surinamese gunboats. We took recourse to the World Court, emerged winning, and had our maritime border with our eastern neighbour fixed for good measure!! But sadly, the underfunded CGX, after returning to drilling, hit five dry holes.

It brought home the point that Deep Water oil exploration ain’t for the faint-hearted – or bereft of deep pockets!!

…on Trini gas

While courting us for our gas, the Trinis were two-timing us with the Venezs. The US just licensed to exploit the latter’s Dragon gas field. With no cash payments permitted, the Trinis says they’ll barter food.

From us??

Vickash Ramkissoon

Sarah Browne

Finance Minister outlines Guyana’s development trajectory with UK envoy

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh on Thursday met and held discussions on Guyana’s current development trajectory with Small Island Development States (SIDS) envoy Rebecca Fabrizi at the Finance Ministry.

The meeting was facilitated by British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller.

During the meeting, Dr Singh outlined Government’s policies and programmes while emphasising the various sectoral areas to which the Government is committed to continuously developing and expanding for the benefit of all Guyanese.

Both officials reaffirmed Guyana’s and the UK’s commitment to continued collaboration and improved relations in a number of areas. Also accompanying the British officials was the UK Country Director for Trade and Investment at the

British

High Commission

in Georgetown, Sherwyn Naughton.

The Minister, during the discussion, reminded that SIDS such as Guyana should be provided with access to concessional financing given their vulnerabilities, and he continued to advocate for a universally-accepted multi-dimensional index in order to form a basis on which access to concessional financing is allowed. He called on the UK to continue its advocacy for the adoption of a multi-dimensional index.

Minister Singh posited that as a result of the country’s ramped-up oil production and with Guyana being one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, Government, in its quest to prudently manage the country’s resources, was striving to keep a balance between investing in some major areas such as energy and infrastructure which will benefit Guyanese in

the long term, and simultaneously investing in the social sector to improve the lives of citizens daily.

Dr Singh alluded to Guyana’s sale of carbon credits, and while referencing the recently-presented $781.9 billion National Budget, noted that notwithstanding the size of the Budget, it was still modest with a few large projects included, such as the hydropower project and the new Demerara River bridge.

He also referenced some of the other provisions, including those to assist the agriculture sector, as he linked the need for an improved electricity supply in the country to Guyana working towards moving from being a primary producer of commodities to being a secondary producer; in addition, cheaper electricity costs would reduce the cost of doing business in the country and catalyse the manufacturing sector.

Dr Singh also posited that Government’s focus on infrastructure was to address the longstanding infrastructure gaps over the years. It is with these in mind, as well as more large projects in the pipeline, that the Minister alluded to concessional financing by Guyana’s development partners, some of which continue to provide this aid and partner with the Government to accelerate programmes and projects. Guyana recently collaborated with the UK Caribbean Infrastructure Fund, with the latter providing US$66 million toward the US$190 million Linden-to-Mabura road project.

The two-lane highway between Linden and Mabura Hill forms part of the arterial link between Linden and the Lethem Highway and links Georgetown to the Brazilian border. Additionally, through the UK Export Finance (UKEF), the Government

of Guyana is constructing a modern Paediatric and Maternal Hospital. The building and equipping of the state-of-the-art hospital costs 149 million pounds.

Other cooperation programmes/projects between Guyana and the UK include the Diamond hospital, the Lethem hospital, the Leonora Cottage Hospital, the Mabaruma Hospital and the Paramakatoi

Hospital. As of November 9 last, through collaboration between the two countries, Guyanese are now able to visit the UK visa-free.

President Dr Irfaan Ali had stressed as well during the announcement of the visa waiver, that the two Governments aimed to further expand bilateral relations with the hope of furthering investments, including expansion of Guyana’s tourism market.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh in discussion with the UK envoy

Dr Singh and British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller

Rystad Energy says T&T Energy Conference did not use finalised map

...Stabroek Block is wholly contained within Guyanese territorial waters – CEO

within Guyanese territorial waters.

“Rystad Energy does not consider that the Stabroek Block extends into Venezuelan territorial waters. It is the position of Rystad Energy that the Stabroek Block is wholly contained within Guyanese territorial waters,” Parker told OilNOW in an exclu-

sive interview.

The Maduro administration expanded its decades-old claim to Guyana’s territory after US oil major ExxonMobil discovered crude off the Guyana coast in 2015. A decree issued by Venezuela laid claim to large swaths of Guyana’s maritime space, including its oil-rich waters, following

the announcement of the world-class Liza discovery.

Then, in 2018, the Venezuelan military intercepted an ExxonMobiloperated vessel in the Stabroek Block, claiming that the vessel was operating in the Bolivarian Republic’s territory without its permission.

It is because Venezuela

continues to lay claims to Guyana’s territory that the matter of the erroneous map has raised concerns. Guyana is currently before the International Court of Justice, seeking a judgment that would uphold an 1899 arbitral award that effectively settled the boundary with Venezuela. (OilNOW REPORT)

Tuschen brothers nabbed with ganja during Police operation

Norway-based Rystad Energy said on Wednesday that a map used this week by the Trinidad and Tobago Energy Conference showing a portion of Guyana’s Stabroek Block in Venezuela’s waters was part of an “unfinished draft presentation”, and not its final version of the document.

The Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago – the conference organiser – came forward this week apologising for using the “erroneous” map during a panel discussion, while pointing out that it was developed by Rystad Energy.

On Monday, Rystad Energy wrote to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Energy Chamber, Dr. Dax Driver, pointing out that it has come to the energy research and business

intelligence firm’s attention that the unfinished draft version of the presentation was made available to certain individuals outside of his team.

“We ask kindly that you dispose of the previous unfinished draft and recall any emails, correspondence, or any other reference to this map which contained the projection error,” the letter, signed by Rystad Energy’s Senior Vice President and Head of Latin America, Schreiner Parker, stated.

In the letter, seen by OilNOW, Parker said the firm does not consider the Stabroek Block to extend into Venezuelan territorial waters. To ensure there is no misunderstanding, Rystad Energy on Wednesday reaffirmed its position that the Stabroek Block is wholly contained

Kevin De Cruz, 24, and Patrick De Cruz, 25, brothers of Tuschen New Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, were arrested on Thursday with a quantity of ganja at Tuschen, and are expected

to be charged shortly.

Police have said that, acting on information received, they went to Tuschen Housing Scheme, EBE, and carried out a search on the residence of the brothers, where they unearthed one large transparent Ziplock plastic bag containing several smaller Ziplock bags under the bed of Kevin De

Cruz.

He was told of the offence committed, and under caution replied, “Is just a small portion, I can deal with that.”

However, a further search was carried out in the sitting room, where another transparent plastic bag containing another portion of cannabis was found on the table.

In this instance, the older brother responded, “Is me

thing, is a lil thing.”

They were arrested and escorted to the Leonora Police Station, along with the cannabis. On arrival, the cannabis found under Kevin’s bed was weighed in his presence and amounted to 54.5 grams, while the other portion was weighed in the presence of Patrick and amounted to 13.3 grams. Both brothers remain in custody pending charges.

Students at Tutorial Academy Secondary School attacked by bees

Several students of the Tutorial Academy Secondary School in New Amsterdam were on Thursday attacked by a swarm of bees, and the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) has had to take action to remove the bees. The incident caused classes at that learning institution to be suspended. Some of the injured students were taken to hospital, where they were kept for observation, while other were treated and sent away.

Reports are that the bees first attacked a security guard at the school. The guard told Guyana Times that the sound of an exca-

vator working in the area had reportedly disturbed the bees, but by the time she had received that information she had already come under attack.

She detailed that she was in the guard hut next to the front gate when a bee

entered and stung her in her head. She said she was able to kill that bee, but several others entered the hut shortly after, and she subsequently learned that persons in the school building had also been stung by the bees.

Rystad Energy’s Senior Vice President and Head of Latin America, Schreiner Parker

The ganja that was found during the operation

Kevin De'cruz Patrick De'cruz

Some of the bees

The Tutorial Academy Secondary School

PM reiterates Guyana’s commitment to region’s sustained economic advancement – tells CELAC Summit teamwork integral to regional development

Prime

Minister, Brigadier (Retired)

Mark Phillips has reiterated Guyana’s commitment to the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) towards the attainment of sustained economic advancement and growth that would ultimately benefit the region.

The Guyanese Prime Minister was at the time addressing issues of inequality and marginalisation at the Seventh Summit of Heads of State and Government of CELAC in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Phillips added that “cooperation and unity” were necessary to advance growth and development in the region.

“It is important for the citizens of the region to enjoy peace, security, and fundamental freedoms. This will be essential for democracy to flourish. Guyana remains committed to the common principles of democracy, good governance, respect for the rule of law, and the protection of sovereignty and territorial integrity of States. These are critical elements to the maintenance of peace and security across our region,” he said.

The Prime Minister related that as the world began to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and all of its socioeconomic effects, it was crucial to keep in mind that “our survival as a region demands a collective response through a comprehensive programme of action”.

He noted that CELAC provided the opportunity for “us to strengthen these partnerships not only within the region but through third-party engagements”.

He added that climate change, food security, and managing debt remained priority issues to be collectively handled.

Speaking on climate change, Prime Minister Phillips stated that the crisis has worsened, with Small Island and Low-Lying Coastal Developing States like Guyana being particularly affected.

“It is imperative that a balanced and commensurate global response, addressing mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage, be realised; our very lives depend on it,” he said.

Guyana, he explained, has adopted a Low Carbon Development Strategy, which aims to combat climate change, emphasise services provided by forests and other ecosystems, promote future growth through clean energy and sustainable economic activities, and align economic and social policies with global climate goals.

Food security measures were also highlighted along with Caricom’s drive to reduce its food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

The Prime Minister had

also signalled Guyana’s support for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, prior to it winning CELAC’s rotating presidency for 2023.

The island nation was the first of the Englishspeaking Caribbean to present its candidature for the position.

On Tuesday, representatives from 33 member states signed and released the “Buenos Aires Declaration”.

The Declaration emphasises CELAC member states’ commitment to collaborate in order to safeguard the rights and interests of the regional populace and to accelerate the process of regional integration.

It called for the end of the US blockade against Cuba. The CELAC countries also expressed their support for dialogue between the Venezuelan government led by President Nicolás Maduro and the political Opposition.

The Buenos Aires declaration also endorsed Argentina’s legitimate rights to the Falkland Islands, which are currently listed as a United Kingdom Overseas Territory.

Representatives of Member States at the event

Prime Minister Mark Phillips at the Summit

GO-Invest onboard for 2nd edition of Int’l Energy Conference and Expo

The Guyana Office for Investment, (GoInvest) has again thrown its support behind Guyana’s International Energy Conference and Expo, the second edition of which is slated for February 14-17, 2023.

This endorsement was given by the Chief Investment Officer of Guyana, Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, on Wednesday.

In remarks, Dr. Ramsaroop said, “The Guyana Office for Investment is proud to be a partner of the Energy Conference. We believe it will allow Guyana to stand out in many aspects and in

many sectors, energy and renewable energy being chief among them; but it will also benefit other sectors, like agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and mining.”

He added, “As we saw in the first edition last year, this conference provides many opportunities for faceto-face engagements with a broad range of investors. While Guyana’s oil and gas development is at the centre of focus, it has drawn attention to all investment opportunities for Guyana.

Go-Invest acts as the main point of contact for investors, and communicates with Government organi-

zations throughout the investment process for people or companies interested in investing in Guyana. In addition, it gives investors a thorough rundown of the procedures required to launch a firm, along with a number of other advantageous procedures for investment.”

In response to the endorsement from GoInvest, Chief Executive Officer of the International Energy Conference and Expo Guyana 2023, Kurt Baboolall, related, “Guyana Invest’s continued support of the Conference and Expo is exemplary, and we

Wife concerned at lack of justice 10 months after husband killed in accident – DPP orders inquest into matter

Amother of two is expressing concerns about the justice system in light of the fact that, ten months after her husband was killed in a motorcycle accident, no one has been held accountable.

In March last year, 31-year-old Joshua Inshanally Ramdeen of Overwinning, New Amsterdam, Berbice was killed in an accident involving a Canter truck and a motorcycle on which he was the pillion rider. Ramdeen, who worked as an electrician at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, died on the spot at the scene of the accident at Main and Kent Streets, New Amsterdam.

After the collision, the driver of the Canter had

failed to stop and render assistance.

Ramdeen’s wife, Shellanie Inshanally, has said the rider

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are pleased to have the opportunity to partner once again with them, as we aim to not only bring energy discussions to the fore, but also help in providing investment opportunities for Guyana’s energy and other sectors. I believe their return can prove to be very strategic in positioning in-

vestors with the right people from across all sectors as we continue to build a strong economy.”

The International Energy Conference and Expo Guyana 2023 is just under three weeks away, and continues to garner support, both locally and internationally. Earlier this

week, the Conference and Expo received an endorsement from the Minister of Natural Resources with responsibility for Energy, the Hon. Vickram Bharrat.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali; the President of Suriname, H.E. Chandrikapersad Santokhi; and for the first time, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Keith Rowley, are expected to deliver remarks at the conference.

This year, the Conference and Expo is being hosted under the theme ‘Harnessing Energy for Development’ and is expected to assemble Heads of State and Government, Government officials, policymakers, academics, industry professionals, and global energy thought leaders.

Registration for the Conference and Expo continues, and can be done via the Secretariat’s website www.guyanaenergy.gy or by downloading the Guyana Energy which can be found on the Google Play Store or the Apple Store.

Chief Investment Officer of the Guyana Office for Investment, Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, with Chief Executive Office of the International Energy Conference and Expo Guyana 2023, Kurt Baboolall

of the motorcycle and/or the driver of the Canter should be held accountable.

Dead: Joshua Inshanally Ramdeen

Ramdeen’s wife, Shellanie Inshanally

5-year-old girl gets much-needed surgery under FFTP’s Benevolence Initiative

together completely during pregnancy. For some babies, both the front and back parts of the palate are open. For other babies, only part of the palate is open.

In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times on Thursday, the Chief Executive Officer of FFTP Guyana, Kent Vincent shared that the organisation fully funded Daniels’ first surgery which was done at the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital.

Five-year-old Aneeza Daniels, who was born with a cleft palate, has benefited from much-needed surgical intervention under a Benevolence Programme offered by Food For The Poor (FFTP) Guyana.

The healthcare initiative, which was established in May last year, provides assistance to persons who need

medical assistance but lack the necessary finance. More specifically, it caters to persons who need to undergo medical procedures that the public health sector is unable to provide.

A cleft palate is an opening or split in the roof of the mouth; this happens if the tissue that makes up the roof of the mouth does not join

the execution of its mandate.

One of the most pressing challenges is reaching vulnerable persons in remote areas such as Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine. Other challenges include the increase in shipping costs and cost of living.

“Everything is going up as you know…so we’re looking at ways of improving efficiency, of how we clear contain-

ers, how we can accelerate our distribution, and then, of course, we continue to negotiate with shipping companies so that we can keep our cost as low as possible,” Vincent outlined.

Despite the challenges, the organisation aims to make 2023 a successful year.

“This year, we’re going to continue to work on community development projects in

The child, who hails from Region One (Barima-Waini), is scheduled to undergo a second surgery in March.

In addition to the healthcare programme, FFTP Guyana offers help to vulnerable persons across the country in other areas such as housing and meals, among other things.

The CEO noted that the organisation – just like any other – faced challenges in

those (interior) regions and continue to provide support for food security to a number of those hinterland communities,” Vincent posited.

FFTP began working in Guyana in 1991, delivering food and other basic items.

Since then, the Florida-based non-profit has expanded its services to meet the growing needs of the country’s disadvantaged residents.

Wife concerned at lack of...

Police had issued a statement saying that a breathalyzer test conducted on the driver of motor lorry GWW 9178 had read 13 micrograms.

“March 23 will be one year for my husband, and I can’t seem to be hearing anything about the case, or where the case stands at this moment,” the grieving woman expressed. She said she had visited the Office of the Police Commissioner in November last in her quest for answers.

“And I met with the Commissioner and he called in someone…He said that the file was sent to the DPP and the DPP ordered an inquest, and the inquest was completed and the case was sent to court.”

However, Inshanally said she subsequently learned that the information might not have been accurate. One of the first things she did after returning to Berbice was to contact the New Amsterdam Court, where she learnt that the matter had never been filed there.

She said that visits to the regional Police Headquarters revealed that the file was still there, and had not gone to the court. She said it was while she was meeting with a senior officer at Central Police Station that the file on the said matter was sent.

“So, I asked why I was told that the file went to court already when you guys still have it here. He said one more signature is need-

ed and then the file will be sent to court,” she recounted. Two months later, the widow has not heard anything.

An autopsy revealed that Ramdeen had multiple fractures to his skull, and broken ribs which punctured his lung. Additionally, his neck was broken. The woman has argued that the injuries indicate the force at which the Canter was travelling when it collided with the motorcycle.

Meanwhile, according to a source from the Chambers of the DPP, the file was received for legal advice, and based on the evidence contained therein, an Inquest has been ordered. This will commence shortly. (Andrew Carmichael).

Aneeza Daniels before and after the first round of surgery

“Less lethal” approach taken in Policepublic engagement – Minister Benn

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn stated that as part of the Government’s efforts to improve public trust in local law enforcement agencies, active efforts are being undertaken to ensure that engagements between Police and citizens were less lethal.

“Our approach now is a more empathic approach… We have taken the results here on the floor of this Assembly to take less lethal resorts in the engagement between the Police and the public,” Minister Benn stated on Thursday during his presentation in the ongoing debate on Budget 2023, which allocates $58.6 billion towards strengthening security in Guyana.

According to Benn, the Government’s policies and programmes have seen a 20.6 per cent reduction overall in serious crimes between 2015 and 2022.

“We have reduced total robbery, serious crime, murder and violence by average figures of 20 per cent… Crime and violence have been reduced and it has a lot to do with our support to the Guyana Police Force with the provision of new vehicles, new training, new ef-

forts in respect of crime and violence and the prevention and mitigation of that.”

In fact, in recognition of good policing coupled with professional, well-trained officers being critical to promoting order, safety, and a welcoming environment, some $140 million has been allocated in Budget 2023 to improve the capacities of about 3000 security personnel, which would result in heightened public confidence and support of local law enforcement institutions.

Moreover, the Home Affairs Minister noted that there has been a dramatic increase in the seizure of narcotics owing to the efforts of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) as the country continues to have more arrests regarding illegal and unlawful activities here.

However, Minister Benn pointed out that in some instances, it has been found that lawless behaviours are fuelled by negative political messaging.

“We have identified that the problems subconsciously engendered in some people’s minds with respect to lawless behaviour and not pursuing ambitious issues

in personal self-development have to do with political messaging of a negative kind,” he stated.

One such instance, Benn highlighted, are calls being made by an overseas-based political activist, who is associated with the People’s National Congress (PNC)led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), for

‘Georgetown to burn’ if the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) was not removed from office.

This, according to the Homes Affairs Minister, comes at a time when steps are being taken by the Government to address the increase in fires in public buildings, especially schools.

Over the past two years,

there has been a spate of fires at school buildings across the country with the most recent being the blaze at the Christ Church Secondary on January 12 which displaced over 500 students and staffers including teachers.

The Guyana Fire Service has concluded that the fire was an act of arson, and the Home Affairs Minister has already warned that the perpetrators would face the full brunt of the law.

However, Minister Benn noted that Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Coretta MacDonald’s remark Thursday morning that “only when PPP/C in Government that school [does] burn” is an admission by that side of the National Assembly that there was a “rational beneficiary” of such acts.

“A rational, logical beneficiary – it was admitted to at that podium over there this morning,” the Minister insisted.

However, he outlined that the Government was pushing for a more empathic environment, especially in the National Assembly and encouraged Opposition MPs to distance themselves from any acts of arson, especially on school buildings.

“We are talking largely across the country that we are pursuing a programme called ‘increase the peace’… but the first place peace has to be increased is on the floor of this Honourable House… I ask before that the Honourable Members of the House, the APNU/AFC [Alliance For Change], separate themselves [and] disavowed the remarks made [by both the political activist and the MP]… If schools are burnt, if public property is burnt down [then] whose taxes, whose monies, whose efforts over the years, whose children are inconvenienced – it is all of ours,” Benn asserted.

In response to the Home Affairs Minister’s challenge, his predecessor –former Public Security Minister under the coalition Government – AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, stood up in the National Assembly to declare “I disavow all violence and destruction of schools!”

Nevertheless, the Home Affairs Minister highlighted that to further enhance the Guyana Fire Service’s efforts to tackle fires, Budget 2023 has provisions for seven new ‘fire assets’ and three modern ambulances.

Guyanese Attorney selected for Foreign Attorney Program in Washington DC

Attorney-at-law and university lecturer

Chevy Devonish has been selected by multinational firm Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP to take part in the firm’s prestigious ‘Foreign Attorney Program’.

Devonish is the first Guyanese to be selected for this programme, which is not a Government initiative. Recruitment and vetting are handled exclusively by the firm.

Arnold & Porter is a multinational firm employing almost one thousand (1000) attorneys practising in approximately forty (40) areas in fourteen (14) offices across the globe. Practice areas include International Corporate Law, International Financing, and International Arbitration.

It is expected that Devonish will be an active member of the firm’s international corporate, financing and, time permitting, international arbitration practices at the firm’s Washington, D.C. office until July 2023. Since Devonish is not licensed to practise law in the United States, he will not func-

tion as an attorney-at-law during the programme, but will, among other things, actively observe and participate in cases along with Arnold & Porter attorneys.

“These are areas of increasing relevance and importance, due to the unprecedented commercial growth prompted by oil and gas exploration and development in Guyana. I look forward to learning from Arnold & Porter, and returning to leverage that knowledge to assist Guyana’s development. Arnold & Porter is an ideal place to develop these skills, as the firm routinely represents sovereign states in these areas,” Devonish has said.

“I also look forward to exploring ways in which I can employ the skills I have accumulated in journalism, lecturing, and legal practice in Guyana to the benefit of Arnold & Porter. Guyana is developing, but Guyanese have much to offer the world,” Devonish added.

Arnold & Porter’s Foreign Attorney Program is designed to allow foreign attorneys to understand firsthand the variety of services the firm provides for

its clients.

Foreign attorneys observe and participate in US law firm practice, and learn about various legal proceedings. They also attend seminars and training programmes on US legal issues and international legal issues, and actively observe and participate in cases in their areas of practice, including attending client meetings, hearings, strategy sessions, and reviewing relevant case documents. The participants also un-

dertake legal research and writing, and work collaboratively with Arnold & Porter attorneys on various matters.

Both the Attorney General’s Chambers and the University of Guyana are immensely proud of Devonish as he proceeds on this endeavour, and look forward to his return.

He graduated as valedictorian of the Hugh Wooding Law School’s graduating class of 2019, was admitted to the Bar in Guyana in November 2019, and was appointed State Counsel at the Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs in February 2020, where he has since

performed with distinction, being appointed to various cases of national significance, including Election Petitions 88 and 99 of 2020.

Further, Devonish, with the Attorney General’s approval, also resuscitated the Chambers’ liaison system, and conceptualised, implemented, and coordinated the Chambers’ LLB internship initiative, which has seen several LL.B students benefitting from internships at various State entities, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Natural Resources. He has served as a liaison to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance,

and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. He has also assisted in the coordination and implementation of the Summary Court Prosecutors Programme, which has seen the training and deployment of thirty (30) LLB holders into Guyana’s Magistrates’ Courts.

Additionally, since being admitted to the Bar in Guyana, Devonish has lectured and or tutored in Public International Law, Jurisprudence, Administrative Law, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Real Property, and Politics at the University of Guyana.

Students at Tutorial Academy...

“Is only after (that) I know that when you kill one the others would get the smell and come and attack you,” the woman said after speaking with a GLDA staff.

Sheon Chisholm of the GLDA has said that her team is responsible for the removal of bees. They were able to remove the bees, which were in a clump of bushes next to

the school’s fence.

“The bees were in a tyre. It looked like someone was trying to remove them before, but the stuff is still there,” Chisholm explained.

According to the GLDA officer, they were told that someone was operating a slasher in the compound next to the school.

“When we came, we saw

FROM PAGE 10

the impression, indicating that someone was slashing at School of the Nations, which is very close to where the bees are,” she explained.

There has been no official statement from the Department of Education. However, this publication understands that none of the students had suffered serious injury.

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn

Chevy Devonish

Minister Ramson justifies Govt’s decision to withhold IDPADA—G subvention

…tells Chief Justice organisation deprived qualified persons of help

the Financial Statements for 2018, 2019, and 2020.

“These Financial Statements provided by the Applicant [IDPADA-G ] reflected not only subvention monies, but included all income and expenditure of the Applicant, and further, did not set out a detailed report of expenditure from the subvention, as specifically requested. However, an examination of the same, in my respectful opinion, corroborated and supported the disaffection and concerns expressed by the persons and organisations who complained to me,” Ramson has said.

“I have been informed by numerous persons and organisations, and do verily believe, that they are qualified to benefit from the subvention disbursed to the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana (IDPADA-G) but were wrongly excluded and thereby deprived by the IDPADA—G from benefitting properly, or at all, from the monies disbursed.”

That was among Culture, Youth, and Sports Minister Charles Ramson’s assertions to acting Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, in the lawsuit brought by the IDPADA—G against the Government over its decision to withhold the AfroGuyanese organisation’s $8 million monthly subvention.

In his Affidavit in Defence of IDPADA—G’s claim, Minister Ramson deposed that he is aware that the organisation was birthed out of representations made by former President David Granger on August 7, 2016 at a symposium organised

by the Cuffy 250 Committee.

According to him, in 2018, the organisation received a subvention of $68,438,000; in 2019, $100,000,000; in 2020, $107,223,607; in 2021, $100,000,000; and as of August 2022,$66,666,672.

The minister said that $100M has been set aside in the 2023 National Budget to support the activities associated with the observance of the International Decade of People of African Descent.

In his capacity as minister, Ramson submitted that he has been informed by numerous persons and organisations who are qualified to benefit from the subvention disbursed to the IDPADA—G, but were wrongly excluded and deprived of benefitting properly from the monies.

In light of this, Minister Ramson pointed out, he requested IDPADA-G to provide detailed records of how the subventions have thus far been applied. In reply, he said, the organisation’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Olive Sampson gave

Under Sections 48 and 49 of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, and at common law, Minister Ramson noted that he has a statutory duty to ensure that public monies are not in any manner misused, misapplied, or improperly disposed of; shall be personally liable in the event of any such public monies being misused, misapplied or improperly disposed of through misconduct or deliberate or serious disregard of reasonable standards of care; and can be liable to be charged criminally for the same and similar reasons.

“The glaring reality is that in every year (2018, 2019, 2020), the highest expenditure of the subvention went towards salaries, wages, and allowances, whilst training and scholarships received the lowest allotment in every corresponding year,” said Minister Ramson as he further examined the organisation’s financial statements.

Considering this, he contended, the IDPADA—G’s

use and expenditure of the subvention was grossly disproportionate to the purpose and objectives of its mandate, as set out in its Articles of Incorporation and its Charter.

Having taken into account the complaints and concerns highlighted by stakeholder organisations and persons, and given the public interest, the Culture, Youth, and Sport Minister added, “I considered that I would be in breach of my fiduciary and statutory duties were I to make further disbursements of subventions to the Applicant, pending the resolution of those concerns.”

Nigel Hughes is IDPADA—G’s lawyer. Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, is represent-

ing the Government. Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, during a hearing on Wednesday, described the dispute over the monies as a national embarrassment, and urged the parties to consider mediation. On February 27, the lawsuit will come up for another hearing.

The IDPADA-G, which is chaired by Oppositionnominated Guyana Elections Commissioner (GECOM) Vincent Alexander, is ultimately seeking a court order to have its subvention reinstated.

According to the organisation, there is a legitimate expectation, given the money was granted by the Government based on an undertaking in the form of an annual subvention paid monthly.

It noted that the Government has committed itself to an annual subvention, which began under the A Partnership for

National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) administration.

By withholding the monies, IDPADA-G has argued, the Government has broken its legitimate expectation, therefore the organisation is entitled to the intervention of the court on the violation of this legitimate expectation. It argued further that the withdrawal of the subvention is a breach of contract; that the withdrawal is an abuse of power; is unlawful and without basis; and that it was not given notice of the withdrawal, nor was it allowed by the Government to be heard regarding changing the decision. Moreover, IDPADA-G contended that it is entitled to damages.

Minister Ramson, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh are listed as the respondents in the organisation’s claim.

Cops, ECD mason remanded on narcotics, ammo-possession

Nabbed at a roadblock on Monday, January 16, 2023 with a large quantity of narcotics and illegal ammunition, Constable Albert Beresford, 29, of Clonbrook Police Station, Constable Julius Cambridge, 22, of the Cane Grove Police Outpost, and Sheldon Benjamin, 32, a mason of Vigilance, East Coast Demerara, were arraigned on Wednesday, January 25, before Cove and John Magistrate Fabayo Azore, and have been remanded to prison.

It is alleged that on January 16, at Cove and John, ECD, they had in their posses-

sion 170 grams of cocaine and 9.4 kilogramme of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Further, it is alleged that on the said date and at the same location, they had in their possession two rounds of .38 ammunition, two rounds of .40 ammunition, and 11 rounds of .9mm ammunition when they were not holders of firearm licences.

These three men have each pleaded not guilty to the charges, and have been remanded to prison. Their matters will continue on February 28 at the Cove and John Magistrate's Court.

At about 2:30h on the day

in question, motor car PAB 7863 pulled up at a roadblock being manned by Police at Cove and John, ECD. Benjamin was the driver, with Police Constables Beresford and Cambridge being passengers.

Policemen manning the roadblock observed that their colleagues in the car were acting suspiciously, and they requested to search the car.

During that search, one bag containing ganja and another containing cocaine were found. A further search carried out in the motor car resulted in the discovery of the rounds of ammunition.

Culture, Youth, and Sport Minister Charles Ramson

IDPADA-G Chairman, Vincent Alexander

Chief Justice Roxane George, SC

Remanded: Sheldon Benjamin Remanded: Police Constable Julius Cambridge Remanded: Police Constable Albert Beresford

$500M for land titling to fix failures under APNU/AFC – Sukhai

A$500 million allocation in Budget 2023 for land titling in Amerindian communities would better the lives of persons within these communities, Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai has announced.

In her budget presentation, the Amerindian Affairs Minister lambasted the former APNU/ AFC Government for failing to issue land titles to Indigenous communities, as she expressed this was a failure to the people.

Reports highlighted by Minister Sukhai quoted former Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock accepting that the former Government had not issued titles in three years, and due to this failure, the administration had sought extensions.

“The land tenure for Amerindians was simply not a priority. Upon our resumption of office, the PPP/C Government has reaffirmed its commitment towards ensuring the fulfillment of our manifesto commitment and governmental obligation to ensure that we complete the land tenure project,

which will benefit numerous Amerindian villages.

“The APNU/AFC has no moral standing to speak about effective Government nor taking credit for land extensions to Amerindian villages. They failed the Amerindians miserably. I want to assure this honourable house that the PPP/C Government will continue to support the Amerindian Land Titling Project,” Sukhai expressed.

She reported that her Ministry has demarcated seven villages and issued five certificates of ti-

tle to villages in under two years. In addition, it has completed revision of 23 investigative reports to date. The Ministry will be pursuing 19 demarcations and 11 land extensions in 2023.

“We will act on them. We will not sit down for five years and watch them on the shelves. The Government will further support the ALT programme through the allocation of $500 million for land titling activities to further safeguard and improve the security of land tenure… We have a vested interest in ensuring

that the hinterland and the Amerindian villages which populate the hinterland get the benefit of our country’s resources under our Government.”

Amid requests for training for Indigenous communities, the Amerindian Affairs Minister set the record straight: that under the APNU/AFC tenures, there was no training.

“Training was resumed in 2020, 2022, and again another sum has been provided in this current budget for training of toshaos… They talked about transportation for school children. Long before they came into office, our Government provided 38 minibuses in the hinterland. When we came back into office, we have already been providing transportation, both land and water. Even leaders who were denied ATVs to do administrative work and to use it as a tool to move about in the region was denied. I’m proud to say that every village in Region 8 now have ATVs,” she asserted.

This year, $205 million will also be allocated towards women, culture and language revival.

GBTI approves US$10M loan for construction of Robb Street hotel

Guyanese-owned

Arimu Investments Inc. has secured a US$10 million loan from the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited (GBTI) to finance the ongoing construction of an Aiden by Best Western Hotel in Georgetown.

Streets, Georgetown location early last year.

The sod for the Aiden by Best Western Hotel was turned in March 2021, and construction works commenced subsequently.

Over

surgeries in 2022 slash current backlog – Dr Anthony

ed to this system.

“Later this year, we will be introducing telepathology services. This is a collaborative project between the MoH and Mount Sinai Hospital. This project, once completed, will reduce the turnaround time for the analysis of pathological samples. Currently, there is a long waiting time for a biopsy to be sent to the lab. With this new system, we are projecting that we will cut waiting time to less than a week.”

Upgrades

hearing aids. Previously patients had to pay $65,000, but it is now free.

“Moving from a rudimentary to a world-class system required innovation and application of technology. With this in mind, the Government of Guyana has started a remote e-medicine Clinic at Nappi, Parikawaranau, Yupukari, and Gunns Strip. Each of these sites has a computer with internet-enabled devices, powered by solar energy and connected to the internet using satellite technology,” the Health Minister added.

This was announced on Wednesday by the Guyana Americas Merchant Bank Inc. (GuyAm Bank), lead arranger of the loan for the hotel development project being constructed at Oronoque and Robb Streets, Georgetown.

“This facility is being financed by the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited (GBTI). GuyAm Bank extends its congratulations to Arimu Investments Inc. on this accomplishment, and commends its plans for the development of the tourism and hospitality sector in Guyana,” GuyAm Bank said in a statement.

To clear the existing surgical backlog, the Health Ministry was able to execute a whopping 13,691 surgeries in 2022.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony made this revelation during his budget debate earlier this week. He noted that it is the highest number of surgeries done at the Georgetown Public Hospital in a single year. This was 3,000 more than the number of surgeries done in 2019.

“Last year, the GPHC pioneered several new surgical interventions. This includes the first breast reconstruction surgery, the first pregnancy through artificial insemination, and the first laparoscopic bariatric surgery,” Dr Anthony expressed.

In partnership with Operation Walk Maryland, the Orthopaedic team implanted 52 hips and knee joints. Joint implantation will soon be done routinely, as discussions have started for the establishment of an

Orthopaedic Training Centre at the GPHC.

Meanwhile, as part of the telemedicine programme, the Ministry expanded its tele-diagnostics programme, expanding the existing tele-ophthalmology, and teleradiology programmes.

“Tele-ophthalmology is now available at several sites in Guyana. This allows us to scan the retina and transmit the image to a central hub for interpretation. With the expansion of this programme, more diabetics will be closely monitored to prevent diabetic retinopathy.”

The teleradiology programme is also expanding. As of now, the programme operates with the GPHC to provide real-time interpretation of X-rays and CT scans. With the new digital X-rays now available at an additional 13 sites, these two will be connected for interpretation, and when the nine new CT Scanning machines are installed, these will be connect-

In fixing primary healthcare between 2021 and 2022, Dr Anthony disclosed, upgrades were done at more than 250 health centres and health posts across all administrative regions. The Ministry has collaborated with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to develop a comprehensive package of services consisting of 216 interventions that will be offered at this level.

It includes the diagnosis and treatment of the most prevalent infectious diseases, maternal and child health services, immunizations, and diagnosis and treatment of the main chronic non-communicable diseases.

The MoH has also started offering eye screening, dental checkups, and screening for hearing impairments.

For eye screening, some 4500 spectacles were distributed free of cost, while over 100 patients from the hinterland benefitted from cataract surgeries. Another 500 patients were assisted with

In the past two years, the Ministry added surgical theatres to Kumaka and Port Kaituma in Region One, Kamarang in Region Seven and Mahdia in Region Eight, and Aishalton in Region Nine.

Under the UK-financed SMART Hospital project, refurbishments were rolled out at the Lethem and Mabaruma surgical theatres, which are now fully operational. In addition, the US Government has donated two oxygen plants which have been sent to these two hospitals.

“In the last two years, we have started to upgrade our medical imaging. All hospitals now have an ultrasound. In the last two years, we have bought 13 new X-rays, both mobile and fixed systems. Fixed digital X-ray systems are currently being installed at Suddie, West Demerara, Diamond Diagnostic Center, Mahaicony, Fort Wellington, New Amsterdam, Port Mourant, Mibicuri and Linden.”

GuyAm Bank, a subsidiary of GBTI and Secure International Finance Corporation, is known for offering world-class investment banking, investment advisory, and stock brokerage services in Guyana. The bank has said it is also committed to helping clients raise capital through the private placement of securities, public issue of shares on the Guyana Stock Exchange, and access to loans from various banks within Guyana and the region.

This loan will partially finance the US$20 million Aiden by Best Western Hotel, which will span nine floors of a 74,000 square foot modern building. The vision is to have more than 100 executive rooms, an executive bar and lounge, executive conference rooms, private dining rooms, a state-of-theart gym, bar, and restaurant.

Initially, the hotel was slated to have a 101-room capacity, but this has been increased to 150 rooms following the investor’s acquisition of additional land at its Robb and Oronoque

On December 16, 2022, Arimu Investment’s Inc. announced that it has signed a contract with a Chinese company, CNQC Engineering and Construction Limited, to take the Aiden by Best Western to its “completion and turnkey stage”.

Despite delays and other hindrances, the company has said that the hotel is on track for its scheduled opening, sometime between December 2023 and January 2024.

Aiden is a boutique-style hotel under the world-renowned Best Western Hotel and Resorts. It is part of a trendy collection of laid-back boutique hotels that blend cool, casual and charm with an eclectic neighbourly feel.

No two hotels are alike, as each is designed to reflect the unique personality of each community/country it serves. Guests would discover local flair and imaginative designs with Aiden as their welcoming and stylish host.

The Aiden by Best Western Hotel would be providing guests with executive chauffeur services, shuttle bus tours around Guyana, Demerara River tours, and the investor is also engaging the aviation sector for helicopter tour packages.

This hotel will be the 12th Aiden Hotel worldwide and the first for the Caribbean and South America.

Arimu Investments Inc’s Director Geraldo Alphonso had indicated that the project would provide jobs for as many as 150 Guyanese workers throughout its construction phase, and a total of no less than 50 when it becomes operational.

“It was high on our company’s construction agenda to ensure that we utilise every inch of the Guyanese workforce,” Alphonso has posited.

Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

13,000

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Size up situations and review what others want from you. If you have a plan, you’ll find it easier to take care of business and have ample time to enjoy friends or family.

(March 21-April 19)

Haste makes waste; rushing around will result in mistakes, misunderstandings and misfortunes. Pay attention to the way you present your ideas to others. Delegate responsibilities wisely.

(April 20-May 20)

Look for opportunities. Reconnect with people you enjoy working with and you’ll learn something valuable. Your hard work will pay off, but don’t let it debilitate you. Know when to take a break.

PEANUTS

(May 21-June 20)

You’ll make headway if you follow your heart and do what matters to you most. Practice makes perfect; hone your skills and display your accomplishments. Work to make a positive change.

(June 21-July 22)

Treat money and shared expenses responsibly. Decline to get involved in joint ventures. Pay only for what you want, and be blatant regarding money matters and someone’s overindulgence.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(July 23-Aug. 22)

Make unique plans for two. A getaway will bring you and a loved one closer together and give you time to map your goals. Don’t neglect your work responsibilities.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Speed things up and leave nothing incomplete. An opening you’ve been waiting for will unfold, but you’ll have to act fast, or someone will snatch what rightfully belongs to you

TODAY’S

(CLUTTER: KLUT-er: A crowded or confused mass or collection.)

Average mark 19 words

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Speak up, find out where you stand and clarify your objective. Dealing with people who don’t share your opinion will involve compromise. Know what you are willing to give up.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

You may feel competent, but someone’s waiting for you to slip up. Be ready to defend your beliefs and plans, regardless of what or who tries to intervene.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Don’t expect to fly under the radar if you do things differently. Someone will question what you are doing. Be prepared to use charm and persuasive tactics to win acceptance. Maintain momentum.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Keep your intentions and feelings to yourself. Don’t jump from one thing to another. Being consistent and passionate about what you want to accomplish will make it easier to get things done.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

You’ll have to read between the lines if you want to know what will happen next. Don’t expect others to be upfront or accommodating. Look out for your interests and do your own thing.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

England vs South Africa 2023: ODI Series, Game 1 of 3…

Archer's return set to headline low-key series

Big Picture

Excuse me while I interrupt myself, as the great Murray Walker once put it, but we've got an international series about to butt into the schedule in South Africa. A nation newly energised by the successful launch of the SA20 will be putting that tournament on ice for a week to host the team that welshed on them two years ago - when what some might term a convenient COVID outbreak forced the last-minute cancellation of England's three pre-Christmas ODIs.

Notwithstanding the fast-approaching World Cup in India this year, and the need for international teams to re-acquaint themselves with the rigours of 50-over cricket, this bizarre stop-over rather epitomises the current moribund state of bilateral international cricket - a format that has long been beholden to the whims of TV contracts, but which has been made to feel extra extraneous in recent months.

England's last ODI series (do you recall any details? Thought not) was a benighted affair in Australia, similarly shoehorned into the schedule as part of the COVID backlog, while this month's explosion of franchise T20 leagues offers the other side of a potential pincer movement on the international game.

Will the crowds flock to Bloemfontein and Kimberley as they have done to Newlands and Paarl these past few weeks? Or will they park their affections and wait for their new favourite tournament to resume? The early indications of ticket sales are not promising. For a country that has openly sacrificed its international calendar in order to pivot to the franchise world, this feels like a significant test case.

There is, however, at

least one good reason to fork out the R250 for entry this week. The return of Jofra Archer after nearly two years out of the England set-up is a joyous development, even if South Africa's batters might not feel quite as enthused at the prospect. One of the purest talents in world cricket has been through the wringer since twin elbow operations in 2021, and last year's back stress fracture was a cruelly timed blow, just when it seemed he was stepping up for a comeback.

In his own assessment, he is currently "80 percent fit", but Archer's displays in the SA20 have sent a strong message that his mechanism is no less primed to purr for the indignities he's endured. He's got a big year ahead of him, with another Ashes and World Cup double-header to work towards, and in England terms, it starts right here.

Who knows quite where England are at in general terms, however. As the newly-crowned double World Champions, they can assem-

form terminal? Is Dawid Malan the long-term answer at No.3, or just a placeholder while Joe Root focuses on Bazball? Do Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali have another World Cup in them? And can Mott get through a press conference without being obliged to address the elephant who is most emphatically not in the room, Ben Stokes? Just as the T20 World Cup XI came together as if on the back of a packet of Tepal Tea in Pakistan, so you suspect the 50-over side won't have any look of permanence until the final approach in October.

South Africa, by contrast, have a pretty good idea of their best XI - their major issue would appear to be settling on a style in which to unleash it. Temba Bavuma, their captain, acknowledged on the eve of the series that England's recent Test exploits would serve as an inspiration of sorts, although seeing as he added that South Africa's interpretation of Bazball might include "blocking the s*** out of it", it sounds as though their tactics are a work in progress.

now, he just needs runs from whichever berth he so chooses.

All eyes will be on Archer, of course, but this series is just a staging post in his gradual return from injury. For Jason Roy, by contrast, there are huge amounts at stake in the coming three games, as he strains every sinew for a semblance of form.

His returns for Paarl Royals in the SA20 have been desperate, with a topscore of 33 in eight matches. Team-mate Jos Buttler, meanwhile, has only been dismissed for less than that total on two occasions - while his stiff-limbed displays in the Australia ODIs realised 39 runs from 61 balls. For seven years, Roy was the totem of Morgan's reboot-

Spanish League football…

ed England team, fearlessly gung-ho at the top of the order, and never afraid to fail in his determination that the collective should succeed. More recently, however, he's batted as if a trapdoor has opened up beneath his feet. With the coming man Will Jacks tearing it up in the SA20, if anyone needs a dose of the Bazball mindset, it is Roy. (ESPNCricinfo)

ble for these contests with rather more strut than they displayed in a confused home campaign last summer, when Jos Buttler and Matthew Mott were still bedding in as the new captain/coach alliance, and when South Africa not only swiped the T20I Series, but were well placed to pinch the ODIs too when rain interrupted Quinton de Kock's best efforts in the series decider at Headingley. Either way, the settled England side that, by this stage of the 2019 World Cup cycle, was on cruise control is a thing of the past. All manner of questions will need answering in the coming months, and only a handful of them are likely to be addressed in the next three days.

Is Jason Roy's slump in

Either way, the form of Heinrich Klaasen in the SA20 bodes well as an example for the rest of the side to follow, and if de Kock has been short of a few runs, the class he exudes at the top of the order remains permanent. And lest we forget, in this era of cross-pollinated red- and white-ball mindsets, it was an attack spearheaded by Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi that got the better of England's Test team at Lord's last summer - the only match in 10 that Stokes's men have so far lost. A repeat of that showing, and the Free State crowds might just decide that there are legs in the international game yet.

In the spotlight

Despite his conspicuous lack of Test centuries, Temba Bavuma has arguably been South Africa's best red-ball batter for the best part of two years. His white-ball form, on the other end, has been a work in progress, to put it kindly; and as his country's captain, that's a particularly tricky state of affairs.

He did manage to reach three figures against India this time last year, but his form fell off a cliff in the leadup to the T20 World Cup (and the less said about their eventual elimination, the better). Arguably, he would be better off moving up to the top of the order to emulate his T20 role, but right

Effigy of Vinicius Jr prompts

condemnation in Spain

La Liga says it "strongly condemns acts of hatred and intimidation against Vinicius Jr", after an effigy of the Real Madrid winger was hung from a bridge near the club's training ground. A banner reading "Madrid hates Real" was attached to the railings of the bridge.

Atletico Madrid and Real meet in the Copa del Rey on Thursday, and Atletico said the incident was "repugnant".

Brazil international Vinicius Jr, 22, said last month the Spanish league had to act on racists attending games.

Before the Madrid derby in September, a minority of Atletico fans sang racist songs aimed at the player as they entered their Wanda Metropolitano stadium before Real's 2-1 win, which the club condemned as “unacceptable”. However, Spanish prosecutors closed an investigation into the chants three months later, saying it was impossible to identify those responsible.

Earlier this month, the Spanish league said it

had filed charges relating to the racist abuse of the Brazilian to the "relevant judicial, administrative, and sporting bodies". And La Liga on Thursday said it "will press for an investigation by relevant state security forces and bodies" into the effigy and banner, and will "seek convictions for those responsible, and request the most severe sentences".

Atletico stressed that while the rivalry between the two clubs is "the greatest…so is respect". They added: "No individual, whatever their intentions or colours, can tarnish the coexistence between different supporters. It is everyone's

responsibility to avoid this.

"Such acts are absolutely repugnant and inadmissible, and shame society. Our condemnation of any act that attacks the dignity of persons or institutions is categorical and unreserved. We do not know the perpetrator or perpetrators of this despicable act, but their anonymity does not avoid their responsibility.

We hope that the authorities succeed in clarifying what happened, and that justice helps to banish this type of behaviour."

The quarter-final of the Copa del Rey takes place at Real's Bernabeu at 20:00 GMT. (BBC Sport)

Vinicius Jr experienced racist abuse during Real Madrid's victory over Atletico Madrid in September

Jofra Archer bowling in the nets at Bloemfontein ahead of his England comeback

Temba Bavuma driving during a net session at Bloemfontein

Nedd excited but focused to play First-Class cricket

By Brandon Corlette

Former West Indies

Under-19 and current West Indies Academy

left-arm spinner Ashmead

Nedd has received his maiden First-Class call up to the Guyana Harpy Eagles team. Nedd has been selected in the 13-man squad that will face Barbados Pride from February 1 in Antigua.

The youngster has said he is excited but focused to play the longer format. He also disclosed that he gathered certain knowledge from former West Indies and Jamaica

spinner Nikita Miller.

"It is a great feeling being able to represent your country at the First-Class level.

Looking at First-Class cricket and Test cricket, it is basically the highest played format. All the greats are looking at it. It is very good Test players, and they all came through a First-Class season at some point in their career. So, this is a good step (for me) moving forward," Nedd explained.

The man from the capital city in Guyana, Nedd, had a solid season with the West Indies Academy in the 2022 Regional Super50. In fact,

Nedd's overall List A career is solid, as he picked up 22 wickets in 17 matches at a

Stage set for opening rounds of the 2023 WI Championship

…To be played in Antigua and Grenada

good average of 22.59 and a top economy rate of 3.75, considering the game being dominated by bat.

The 22-year-old Nedd has also had stints with the Leeward Islands Hurricanes in Super50 cricket. "For the West Indies Academy and List A cricket, we have been together for a month before the Super50 tournament. I was working a bit with Nikita Miller, he showed me a few stuff while I was on camp, and we were mainly focusing on

red-ball for myself, because it was something I stress on, I feel like I need red-ball cricket to get some more skills in my game; so that was good," he explained.

For the upcoming West Indies Championships, the Regional Four-Day, Nedd is in the squad of 13 that includes Veerasammy Permaul, a leftarm spinner like himself, and off-spinner Kevin Sinclair, his former West Indies Emerging Player teammate.

Sharing his sentiments on playing alongside Permaul, Nedd said: "Looking at Permaul, I don't have a close relationship with him, but I always look at him, how he carries himself as a professional. He leads by example. He is a very good bowler, so it is just going and play with him for the first season, and it is just for me to gather as much information as I could."

Ashmead will be under the guidance of his father, Coach Garvin Nedd, Assistant Coach for the cur-

rent Guyana Harpy Eagles team. He has described his father as someone he can rely on, and someone who keeps him calm.

"He has been there from day one, my personal coach. He is someone that I can rely on. He keeps me calm a lot. He is the only person that can talk to me in certain situations. So, it is good to have a father and a coach on tour, that can lead you in the right direction," the youngster has said.

Nedd has also gained great experience as a net-bowler in the Indian Premier League for Royal Challengers Bangalore. He has also played with the Jamaica Tallawahs in the Caribbean Premier League. The left-arm spinner also played cricket at all junior levels for Demerara and Guyana. He also represented West Indies at the Under-16 and Under-19 levels. Certainly, Nedd is one for the future in Guyana and West Indies cricket.

Cricket

West Indies (CWI) on Thursday announced the match schedule and venues for the first two rounds of the West Indies Championships, the region’s first-class four-day red ball tournament which will be played in Antigua and Grenada.

The tournament will open with Windward Islands Volcanoes hosting Trinidad & Tobago Red Force at the Grenada National Stadium (GNS). This match will start on January 31, and will continue on February 1 to 3.

In Antigua, defending champions the Barbados Pride will start their bid for a third straight title when they face Guyana Harpy Eagles in the feature match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (SVRS) on February 1 to 4.

The third contest will see Leeward Islands Hurricanes hosting the Jamaica Scorpions at the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) from February 1 to 4.

The second round will be played from February 8 to 11, when the Barbados Pride will meet the Jamaica Scorpions at CCG; Trinidad & Tobago Red Force travel to face the Leeward Islands Hurricanes at the SVRS, and the Guyana Harpy Eagles take on the Windward Islands Volcanoes at the GNS.

The third round of the West Indies Championships resumes on March 15 with the final round concluding on April 1, when the 2023 Champions will be crowned and presented with the Headley Weekes Trophy.

The final three rounds will all be played in Trinidad, and the venues will be announced at a later date.

Roland Holder, CWI Manager of Cricket Operations, has said: “We are happy to announce the match schedule and venues for the first two rounds of the West Indies Championships, Our flagship regional tournament on the annual calendar. The six teams have been preparing diligently for the upcoming season, and we expect to see keen competition this year as they battle for the Headley Weekes Trophy. From the tournament, the best performers also have the reward of playing for Team Weekes and Team Headley in the new tournament announced by CWI, scheduled for April and May.”

The new Headley Weekes Series will follow the West Indies Championships, and will feature three matches and three teams. Team Headley and Team Weekes will select from the best performers in the 2023 West Indies Championships and players outside the starting West Indies Test XI. The new West Indies Academy will provide the third team in the new Series.

Team Headley and Team Weekes are named in honour of West Indies pioneers and legendary batting greats George Headley and Sir Everton Weekes, whose names are also honoured on the Trophy for the winners of the West Indies Championships. All three matches will be played from 18 April to 6 May at CCG in Antigua.

Every West Indies Championship match will be streamed live on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel. Fans can follow each and every game from their mobile devic-

es, computers or connected TVs, including access to live ball-by-ball scoring on the Windiescricket.com live match centre.

2023 WEST INDIES CHAMPIONSHIPS

MATCH SCHEDULE

All matches start at 10am Eastern Caribbean time (9am Jamaica time)

GNS – Grenada National Stadium, Grenada SVRS – Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua

CCG – Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua

ROUND 1:

31 January to 3 February - Grenada

Windward Islands Volcanoes vs Trinidad & Tobago Red Force at GNS

1 to 4 February - Antigua

Barbados Pride vs Guyana Harpy Eagles at SVRS

Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs Jamaica Scorpions at CCG

ROUND 2:

8 to 11 February – Grenada and Antigua

Windward Islands Volcanoes vs Guyana Harpy Eagles at GNS

Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at SVRS

Jamaica Scorpions vs Barbados Pride at CCG

ROUND 3:

15 to 18 March in Trinidad – Venues to be confirmed

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force vs Guyana Harpy Eagles

Jamaica Scorpions vs Windward Islands

Volcanoes

Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs Barbados

Pride

ROUND 4:

22 to 25 March in Trinidad - Venues to be confirmed

Trinidad & Tobago Red Force vs Barbados

Pride

Guyana Harpy Eagles vs Jamaica

Scorpions

Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs Windward Islands Volcanoes

ROUND 5:

29 March to 1 April in TrinidadVenues to be confirmed

Trinidad & Tobago Red Force v Jamaica

Scorpions

Guyana Harpy Eagles v Leeward Islands

Hurricanes Barbados Pride v Windward Islands

Volcanoes

Headley Weekes Tri-Series

All matches to be played at CCG, Antigua

Match 1: 19 to 22 April: Team Headley vs West Indies Academy

Match 2: 26 to 29 April: Team Weekes vs West Indies Academy

Match 3: 3 to 6 May: Team Weekes vs Team Headley

Guyana Breweries Inc (GBI) have pledged to support today’s (January 27) ‘Basketball Bounce back’ activity at the Burnham Basketball Court, in which players from Georgetown, Bartica, Berbice and Linden would be featured.

Bartica would collide with Berbice in a U21 match from 6:00 pm, while Linden and Georgetown would look to reignite their age-old rivalry in the sport in the night's second match, at 8:00 pm. The event is a collective effort by the associations affiliated to the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), and GBI’s Country Manager Kelvin Singh has said the entity is happy to play its part in helping to sustain the sport of basketball in Guyana.

With the distribution of a wide-range of products, GBI is known for their sponsorship of many sporting events and national athletes.

President of the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA), Rawle Toney, and president of the Georgetown Amateur

Basketball Association (GABA), Jermaine Slater, were on hand at GBI’s Beterverwagting Head Office to receive the trophies.

They have each expressed gratitude for the GBI contribution, and highlighted the company’s usual support for local basketball over the years.

Meanwhile, Linden will be led by senior men’s team national players Yannick Tappin, Terron Welch, Harold Adams, Orlon Glasgow, Shane Webster and Captain Stanton Rose Jr.

Quincy Easton, Dennis Niels, Juel Webster, Vibert Benjamin and Daniel Benjamin are the other members of the team, coached by Kevin Joseph, Junior Rodney and Abdullah ‘Zico’ Hamid.

The Georgetown team will depend on players Dominic Vincent, Nikolai Smith, Jude Corlette, Shamaar Hunt, Travis Belgrave and Elijah David.

Ravens’ Marlon Rodrigues and National Coach Junior Hercules will dictate the bench for the ‘City Boys’.

ACCOMMODATIONS

FIRST AID/CPR/AED; HOME NURSING COURSES AND FIRST AID REFRESHER COURSE. Starting soon. Contact St. John Association Tel: # 225-9082

EDUCATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT

Swimming Pool Family Fun & Picnic – Crystal Clear Pool. Kids and Adult Sections. Very Safe. Aracari Resort: West Bank Demerara (Versailles, Vreed-en-Hoop) – Every Weekend. DJ Music. Groups and Excursions welcome – Phone: 264-2946-9.

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Factory Workers Male and Female. Apply in person to R.P’s Enterprise, Area ‘K’ Le Ressouvenir, E.C.D. Tel# 220-2818

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

$5+VAT

223-7230-1

Ashmead Nedd bowling during the trial match at Providence

GBI supports ‘Basketball Bounce Back’ at Burnham Court - Linden, Georgetown ready to reignite rivalry

Devon Dover, GBI’s Trade Marketing Executive (first from right), making the presentation of trophies to GABA president Jermaine Slater and LABA president Rawle Toney (first from left)

Laying of synthetic tracks to be completed by April – Ramson Jr …as

he slammed the previous Administration for lethargy on the projects

Aquestion posed by Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Tabitha Sarabo-Halley regarding the two new synthetic tracks, during the ongoing Budget 2023 debate in the National Assembly on Wednesday morning, was met with a fiery response from Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr. Ramson Jr was at the time responding to an inquiry about when the work at the synthetic track in Linden would recommence and conclude.

In an effort to clarify that the sitting Government did not maliciously halt the project, Ramson Jr presented a series of news articles to the National Assembly, as evidence of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration’s failure to even purchase the necessary synthetic material when it was announced that the tracks would be completed in October 2018.

“That was December 2019, none of that was completed and here’s the kicker. Here is the kicker, that they promised that the track would be completed. First, started by the end of 2018, then they said it would be assured that it would be completed by the end of 2019. Here’s the kicker, they never even paid for the synthetic material,” a spirited Ramson Jr told the National Assembly at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC).

The Sport Minister went on to address the alleged insinuation that the projects were halted, highlighting that upon his Ministry’s undertaking of the two projects, there were several other components to be completed before the asphalt and synthetic materials could be laid.

Ramson Jr declared, “What I consider to be repugnant is that members of the APNU/AFC have been going around telling the country, holding press conferences, etc, and saying that the People’s Progressive Party

Government had stopped the project – which was a complete falsehood.

“They know better because if you examine the budget estimates – 2020, 2021, 2022, there are capital allocations for projects that needed to be concluded contained in there.”

He further stated, “And just for the sake of clarity, let me also say, that the People’s Progressive Party Government also had to complete a number of projects in order for us to get to the stage of laying the asphalt, which was completed at the end of

By Brandon Corlette

The non-selection of

Antony Adams to the Guyana Harpy Eagles team has certainly been the buzz around the Guyanese cricketing population.

On what was deemed a rare occasion for Guyanese media, the Guyana Harpy Eagles selectors made an appearance to face questions at a media interaction, and Lead Selector Ravindranauth Seeram and Selector/Manager Albert Smith disclosed that Adams was still part of the Harpy Eagles plan.

"What happen is that we were given a timeline to select the team. We selected the team on Friday, January 20. Antony Adams got his four wickets after the team was selected. Based on that, we saw [Ashmead] Nedd bowling pretty well, chances were given off him. That is the reason why Nedd was selected," Seeram said.

During the two Guyana Harpy Eagles trial matches, Adams had six wickets, while Nedd picked up three wickets, but as Seeram noted, the team was selected before Adams had claimed four wickets in the final innings.

"Nedd had bowled pretty well. Adams had two wickets prior to the selection of the team, and I think that was the call that was made. Adams is not the best role as a spinner."

Nedd, who played with the West Indies Academy in Antigua last year, has shown his ability to pick up important wickets. Gudakesh Motie will play for West Indies in

Zimbabwe in the current two-Test series. When asked if Adams’s experience would have been important, Seeram said: "We thought about that. Nedd was bowling pretty well, he is a West Indies Emerging Player as well. That has given him a chance to get into the side."

Meanwhile, Smith said:

"With the Nedd issue: [the factors were] the weather we had, the limited cricket we had, and Nedd having played with the regional 50-over, when he would have been exposed already

to some of the regional batsmen. And as manager what I would have seen in the last few series, is that the bowlers, even the top bowlers, Motie and [Veerasammy] Permaul, the control and consistent control in Fourday, you need someone who

the quality of the bowling, the quality of the batsmen you got out. Many times when you had partnerships, Nedd came in and pegged away and you got results. Sometimes, he got a dropped catch. At the level he was and then being in the loop with West Indies cricket, we had to make a decision on that. We thought it would have been better to the man coming up there," he said.

As it relates to Adams's future in Guyana cricket, the selectors responded positively, noting that Adams is still one of the best spinners in Guyana.

"Well, of course, it was said to him many years, most of the times he has been around and did not get a chance. Adams needs to be talked to. Yes, he is still part [of]…. Guyana’s set-

October, early November, last year.”

Currently, the tracks at Berbice and Linden have already had the asphalting phase completed, but inclement weather halted further work.

As such, Ramson Jr told

the National Assembly that the Ministry was awaiting better weather and should this persist, the laying of synthetic material would be completed by April.

“It was scheduled for November-December to complete the installation of the synthetic track, which is supposed to be no more than 30 days, but then the rain came early in November and there was a curing period that was required for the asphalt to be cured and we were unable to do it,” the Sport Minister explained about the current hindrances to the project.

Ramson Jr continued, “The other consultant has to come to supervise the laying of the synthetic material and that’s scheduled for April of this year. So, once we don’t have any weather conditions that would be disruptive during that period, the laying of the synthetic material would be completed.”

German company BSW Regupol was awarded the contracts to lay synthetic material at both venues.

Lara to assist CWI as performance mentor

can lock down and Nedd has established that in his bowling."

Smith also noted that Nedd created a lot of chances when he was bowling in the trial matches. "He was on top of his control. When we people get wickets, as selectors we have to look at

up. Adams is one of the better spinners after Motie and Permaul."

The Guyana Harpy Eagles will play against Barbados Pride from February 1 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua in the West Indies championships.

Former West Indies Captain and batting legend, Brian Lara has agreed to assist Cricket West Indies (CWI) as a performance mentor – working across all international teams and with input into the West Indies Academy, a CWI missive revealed on Wednesday.

Lara’s new role will be to support the various Head Coaches in providing players with tactical advice and improving their game sense, as well as working closely with the Director of Cricket on International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup Tournament strategic planning.

Jimmy Adams, CWI Director of Cricket said, “I am really looking forward to Brian making a significant contribution to our cricket system by providing invaluable guidance and advice to our players and coaches.

We are confident that Brian

will help to improve our high-performance mindset and strategic culture that will bring us more success on the field across all formats. Everyone is excited to have Brian involved in supporting our players.”

Lara said, “Having spent time with the players and coaches in Australia and in discussions with CWI, I really believe that I can help the players with their mental approach to the game and with their tactics to be more successful. I'm looking forward to joining the group in Zimbabwe and the opportunity to work with other West Indies teams later in the year."

Lara’s first assignment will be with the West Indies Test squad. He has joined the Test squad in Zimbabwe, where he will assist in the team’s preparations ahead of the first Test match in Bulawayo on February 4, 2023.

Asphalting at the tracks in Linden and Berbice is now completed, and the tracks await the laying of the synthetic material

Brian Lara’s new role will include supporting various Head Coaches in providing players with tactical advice and improving their game sense

Adams still in Guyana’s senior team plans despite being axed – selectors clear the air

Guyana Harpy Eagles selectors Albert Smith and Ravindranauth Seeram