Guyana Times - Friday, January 6, 2023

CANU seized $1.1B in narcotics for 2022

– 42 persons convicted

and 4.81 kg of cannabis were seized.

16.74kg of cocaine and 118g of cannabis were seized in Region Three, while 19.67kg of cannabis were confiscated in Region 10.

In respect to cases and convictions, CANU reported that, for 2022, from the 115 cases that were made out for narco-trafficking, 42 convictions were secured. This also showed an increase from 2021, when 75 cases made out and 24 convictions were secured.

By the end of 2022, the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) had seized a whopping $1.1 billion worth of narcotics, which amounted to 3,403 kilograms. By type, the seized narcotics comprised 121.31kg of cocaine; 3280.25kg of ganja; 818.7 grams of ecstasy; 302.6 grams of methamphetamine, and 1kg of cannabis seeds. This represented a 68.26 per cent increase in seizures when compared to the seizures of 2021, when 2022.88kg of narcotics were recorded as seized.

According to statistics provided by CANU, these seizures were made in Regions Four, Six, Nine, Three, and Ten, with Region Four accounting for the largest seizure of narcotics.

In Region Four, 104.49kg of cocaine, 410.12kg of cannabis, 302.6g of methamphetamine, 366g of ecstasy, and 1kg of cannabis seeds were confiscated. In Region Six, 50g of cocaine, 2845.52kg of cannabis, and 452.7g of ecstasy were seized by the unit; while in Region Nine, 22g of cocaine

Of the 115 cases made out in 2022, 80 were for possession of cannabis, 29 were for possession of cocaine, four were for possession of ecstasy, and two were for possession of methamphetamine.

Weapons’ seizure

CANU has also had a successful year with the removal of illegal guns, am-

of .22mm ammunition were confiscated, along with 25 rounds of .32 ammunition; 100 rounds of .38 ammunition; two rounds of .9mm short ammunition; 349 rounds of 9mm ammunition; 1170 12-gauge cartridges, and 12 rounds of .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) ammunition.

Monitoring Unit, Joint Maritime Control Unit, and Container Scanning Unit; its active involvement in investigating other criminal activities (terrorism, arms’ trafficking, human trafficking, wildlife trafficking); enhancing its human resource capacity through international and domestic training; and strengthening regional and international relationships through co-operation and sharing of information.

Further, there was greater collaboration among domestic agencies through several successful joint operations; the discovery and destruction of illegal airstrips, and sharing of information on trans-shipment routes –maritime & air.

slapped with drug trafficking charges when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, and were all released on cash

prison.

Meanwhile, back in August 2021, the Unit had reported that, as it continues to strengthen its efforts

munition, and other weapons off the streets. In fact, 21 weapons were seized, comprising of one crossbow, eight shotguns and 12 pistols.

In addition, 50 rounds

Apart from the successes in weapons and narcotics’ seizures, the Unit’s other notable achievements in 2022 were as follows: formation of several units to bolster operations - Metal

Also, over the past months, CANU has intercepted several persons who have been under surveillance for the past 25 years. These include Kay Butcher, James Herbert, Lena Narine, Michael Morgan, and others.

Back in April, Butcher, Narine, and Herbert were nabbed with $12.9 million worth of cocaine and ecstasy pills. They were later

bail.

Michael Andrew Morgan was also arrested with several firearms, ammunition, and a quantity of cocaine. The cocaine had a total weight of 3.27kg (7.1 pounds) and a street value of approximately $3.5 million. He was subsequently charged and remanded to

to clamp down on narcotics’ trafficking in Guyana, it would be focusing on tackling challenges such as new trafficking routes and secret airstrips with the hope of minimising trafficking activities and reducing the amount of illicit drugs on the market.

Michael Morgan

CANU Head James Singh

Kay Butcher

Lena Narine

James Herbert

In September, CANU officers conducted an operation at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, and it unearthed 11.188kg of cocaine

93.6kg of ganja was seized at Cambridge, Mahaica, ECD

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, January 6 – 04:15h-05:45h and Saturday, January 7 – 04:30h-06:00h.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Do not be used as “political tools, pawns” – Pres Ali urges Mocha/Cane View squatters

Friday, January 6 –15:50h-17:20h and Saturday, January 7 – 16:25h-17:55h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.

WEATHER TODAY

Cloudy skies in the morning are expected to give way to rain showers in the afternoon and into the evening. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 16:09h reaching a maximum height of 2.51 metres.

Low Tide: 09:43h and 22:12h reaching minimum heights of 0.87 metre and 0.71 metre.

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday called on those individuals who, backed by the People’s National Congress (PNC)led Opposition, are refusing to relocate to facilitate the construction of a major highway to not be used as political pawns.

Initially, there were seven squatters at the Mocha/ Cane View, East Bank Demerara (EBD) area who are in the path of the Ecclesto-Great Diamond Highway that is currently under construction. With the support of the Opposition, they have rejected Government’s compensation packages and are making outrageous demands.

However, by Thursday evening, after the Housing Ministry moved to demolish the illegal structures on the State reserves, four of those persons eventually accepted offers to relocate, which included new legally-owned houses and land along with farmlands for those farming.

But prior to this development, President Ali, in a live broadcast on his Facebook page, condemned the Opposition for its political opportunism and lack of responsible leadership. He contended that instead of leading persons towards a chance at a better and more secure life, the Opposition was using this issue as an opportunity to score political points.

“There is no political mileage or opportunism that can be extracted from this. I asked and I urge these families not to be used as political tools and pawns of a few who are only angry at the development of our country. All of Guyana, every reasonable person, can understand that what the Government has offered is above and beyond,” the Head of State noted.

Only on Tuesday, during a standoff between residents, with support from Opposition members, and demolition workers, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton claimed that these persons were not in the path of the highway and that the Government was relocating them for ulterior motives.

According to Ali, these political leaders are not con-

cerned about the benefits the construction of this highway will bring to not just residents in Mocha, whose home value and net worth will increase, but also to the community as a whole.

“We’re building the entire infrastructure out in Mocha that [the Opposition] neglected, passing a new four-lane highway through there that they neglected, increasing the value of lands in that area that they neglected. But in a politically-opportunistic manner, they find an occasion to arrive themselves in numbers as if they have any care and concern. A Government that has care and concern is a government that [would do] exactly what we did – moving illegality to legality, offering a better life, offering improved condition. The ball is in the court of those [three remaining] families,” he as-

serted.

In 2021, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) engaged 35 families from Mocha/Cane View on their relocation to prepare for the four-lane road.

Extensive consultations were done to ensure the residents were relocated to developed housing schemes at Farm and Herstelling on the EBD, equipped with all the amenities that will lead to their enhanced livelihoods.

Already, some 28 persons have been resettled in a more cohesive, sustainable and safe community after signing their compensation agreements in December 2021.

To date, some $250 million has been expended as compensation to those 20 plus persons along with over $6 million compensation for crops. Additionally, lands, assistance and titles were

Offer is still on table

President Ali pointed out on Thursday that despite these remaining persons being illegally on Government reserves, the offer was still there for them to take up.

“The Ministry has offered them to relocate in completed homes on legal land which they will have titles for, which will increase their net value, which they can take to the bank to have a loan – free of cost… This Government stands ready to welcome you and take you into your new homes and to remove you from the illegally-occupied reserve and to give you a better life. Choose wisely, think wisely and do not be used opportunistically…,” the Head of State implored the three remaining squatters.

made available to the residents free of cost.

…says illegality must stop, as defiant squatters channa bomb excavator

President Dr Irfaan Ali

The excavator on fire during the demolition exercise on Thursday

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Craving for the return of the Garden City

Over the years, the Government has always intervened in the garbage crisis facing Georgetown. As a matter of fact, the Head of State himself, Dr Irfaan Ali, can be seen around the City helping with cleanup as he leads the several clean-up campaigns.

This example set by the President has had ripple effect as it has been replicated countrywide in what is now known as “Operation Clean-up”.

The City of Georgetown has a rich history of attractiveness through cleanliness and aesthetics among other things. Those more advanced in age will be able to authenticate that beauty. During that memorable period, when the City was much more pleasing to the eye and with that standard sustained, there was also a profound sense of order that seemed to naturally unfold.

The Government’s intervention, however, in the City is not unexpected, as Georgetown’s garbage situation is always a dilemma. As a matter of fact, Government has had to pump millions into the always cash-strapped City Hall. Had this not been done on many occasions, then private garbage collectors would not have been paid. This, however, is the regular bandaid solution to one of the City’s major problems. The long-term solution is ousting an inefficient Council that has been at the helm of the City’s administration. The explanation proffered, that City dwellers will unfortunately have to bear with the Mayor and City Council for longer than expected in the absence of local government elections – as it seems like GECOM will not to be able to pull off these elections by March - is wholly overbearing.

City dwellers do not have to endure an inefficient Council, not when they have a way to correct the situation.

Year after year, City Hall has come in for heavy criticism over the management of its finances.

Sometime ago, the Local Government and Regional Development Minister raised questions regarding accountability for the $300 million Restoration Fund which was contributed for the restoration of the dilapidated City Hall building. As it is now, if one passes the area, they have finally started renovating the dilapidated structure. The iconic City Hall structure had become an eyesore.

This publication had reported, on his part, the Local Government Minister has accused City Hall of “gross incompetence and mismanagement”. It could be recalled also that the M&CC and then the APNU+AFC Government had embarked on a massive City-wide clean-up campaign in Georgetown and its environs.

While these efforts produced fairly good results regarding the general appearance of the City and its environs, the political Opposition at the time (PPP) and other stakeholders had raised questions in relation to the contracts awarded to carry out the works.

The mere fact that M&CC sees it fit on several occasions – with the past and present Government - to be asking for millions of tax payers’ dollars as bail out from its financial woes is enough reason for the Administration to act in the public’s interest.

Perhaps, a reason why the M&CC seems to think that it can always depend on Central Government for a bailout is because it is under no pressure to perform. The leniency that has been afforded the Council must stop if there is to be any improvements at City Hall.

Georgetown’s real problem is not the garbage; the real problem is the Council, and its inability to properly manage the financial affairs of the City.

Local elections are to be held soon, and wary residents and other citizens crave for the City to return to its glory days. Time will reveal if things will change if that party were to win, or if a new dispensation beckons. One way or the other, those residing in the Capital crave improved services and the country a true Garden City.

MoH rejects falsehood peddled by Guyana’s former Ambassador to Kuwait

Dear Editor, In recognition of Guyana’s remarkable economic and social growth, evidenced by the morethan-56% GDP growth in 2022, and in recognition of the growing global stature of President Irfaan Ali, Al Jazeera conducted a sit-down interview with President Irfaan Ali last week.

In an article that appeared in The Village Voice, a publication linked to the PNC, Guyana’s former Ambassador to Kuwait tried to dispute some of the points raised by President Ali in the interview. He accused the President of presenting half-truths.

The whole article by Dr Shamir Ally is full of misrepresentations and falsehoods. The Ministry of Health highlights some of Dr Ally’s misrepresentations and falsehoods in this statement relating to health in Guyana.

The former Ambassador to Kuwait, taking his cue from the new PNC/R leader, claimed that the President misrepresented the support given to dialysis patients. Dr Ally bemoaned the fact that the Ministry of Health currently provides an annual grant of $600,000 (US$3,000) to every patient on dialysis. He questioned the usefulness of this grant because he claimed that a patient on dialysis needs about $1.8M annually.

Up front, let us set the record straight: The PPP/C

Government is providing a dialysis grant to all patients on dialysis, and the former APNU/AFC Government, which Dr Ali supported, provided zero dialysis support. Our medical treatment records showed that, under the APNU/AFC, just 64 persons received a mere $360,000 one-off grant, while under the PPP/C-led administration, 327 persons benefitted from the $600,000 grant in 2022. This amounted to about $200M in 2022.

This $600,000 annual grant will be rolled out again this year, 2023, to benefit those in need of dialysis. Since the grant was introduced, more patients are now able to access dialysis in the country. Now patients in Region 10 can access treatment at the Linden Hospital Complex, while those in Regions 6 and 5 can access dialysis at the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital.

In November 2022, a Dialysis Centre was commissioned in PomeroonSupenaam, and, for the first time, patients in Region 2 can access dialysis at the Suddie Regional Hospital. While it is true that some patients require more than $600,000 annually, the grant is a life-changer for the families that have benefitted.

But APNU/AFC, Dr Shamir Ally’s political home, was the Government between 2015 and 2020. They did not provide $600,000 per dialysis patient. Very few patients were able to access

any funding for medical services from the Government. It is shamelessness on the part of Dr Ally to criticise the dialysis grant of $600,000 when the Government that he was a staunch supporter of provided none at all.

But even as Dr Ally criticised the dialysis grant, the MoH expects that, in 2023, there likely would be more than 400 beneficiaries, raising the annual grant to more than $300M.

In addition, Guyana’s health care is working to ensure that as many of the patients who must receive chronic treatment can also benefit from kidney transplants. Working with Guyana’s transplant team and with international partners, Guyana is hoping to triple the number of kidney transplants done this year.

It is true that Guyana received a field hospital to deal with COVID-19 patients. But former Ambassador Ally claimed that the coalition Government negotiated the deal with Qatar. This is totally false. Guyana received the hospital following discussions between President Ali and the Emir of Qatar, His Royal Highness Shiekh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, during his visit to Guyana in November 2020.

By then, while the field hospital was a useful addition to the COVID-19 response, the Government of Guyana under President Ali had also taken the debacle of the Ocean View Hotel building that the coalition spent

more than $2B on repurposing and transformed it into an international-quality Infectious Disease Hospital, which at the height of the COVID-19 crisis housed more than 120 patients, with more than 50 on ventilator-supported ICU beds.

Dr Shamir Ally failed to state the facts. The Infectious Disease Hospital that the PPP took over was simply a shell, with no beds, no oxygen supply, with simply nothing in it. By August 2020, with COVID-19 transmitted without any kind of sensible response from the APNU/AFC Government, Guyana’s capacity for testing was virtually non-existent. On August 2, 2020, the day when President Ali became President, Guyana was only conducting about 5 tests per day, there was a total of 12 ICU beds with ventilator support in the public health sector, with only seven at the GPHC, there was no quarantine centre that was adequately developed with Infection Prevention Control (IPC) systems in place.

By October 2020, a mere two months after, Guyana’s capacity for testing was lifted to more than 2000 tests per day. Guyana’s ICU with ventilator-supported beds increased to more than 75, with the Infectious Disease Hospital providing more than 50 of those beds, and there were IPC-supported quarantine centres in all ten regions.

Pope Francis leads a funeral mass of late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican (VOA)

Critique of Nigel Hughes’s claims of discrimination in Govt contracts (Pt 1)

Dear Editor, Nigel Hughes recently presented a so-called study on the award of Government contracts, among other issues on an Oppositioncontrolled podcast. The modus operandi of that presentation by Hughes was intended to lend credence to a certain popular Oppositionmanufactured narrative (not premised on facts) wherein he sought to demonstrate racial discrimination and/ or marginalisation of AfroGuyanese.

Suffice it to state that I would like to illustrate some of the obvious flaws which would render the findings of the study grossly weak and inconsistent, mischievous, and politically motivated.

In this regard, Hughes highlighted some of the largest contracts awarded by various Ministries, to show that no major contracts were awarded to any Afro-Guyanese company.

The inherent weakness with the methodology Hughes used to derive his findings, though, is such that he only presented the companies and ethnicities of the principal owners that were awarded the contracts. In order to do a proper analysis to carry out such an exercise, the researcher would first have to ascertain how many companies tendered for the contract(s), and then categorise them by ethnicity of the principal owners. This was not done in Hughes’s study.

The information in relation to the award of contracts and all the companies that tendered is publicly available on the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board’s (NPTAB) website. In fact, the entire process: from the opening of the tender box, publishing of the minutes etc., is done in a publicly transparent manner.

Hereunder mentioned are some examples of the contracts Hughes highlighted in his presentation.

Guyana Water Inc. (GWI): GWI awarded eight contracts to the tune of $6 billion, all of which the principal owners of the companies are Indo-Guyanese.

Eight of the same set of contractors tendered for these eight contracts, and some companies tendered for multiple contracts.

Six of the eight companies that bid for these eight contracts were awarded the contracts, and one company was awarded three contracts. Two of the eight companies that tendered were not awarded any contract.

Of note, all eight companies that participated in this process appeared to be owned by Indo-Guyanese. It therefore means that none of the companies that tendered for these contracts are owned by Afro-Guyanese, bearing in mind that the tendering process is a competitive and publicly transparent process.

The Eccles-to-Great

Diamond Bypass Road Contract: Hughes highlighted three companies that were awarded the contracts for Lots 1, 2 and 3 of the project, which went to one Indo-Guyanese company, one Chinese company and one Afro-Guyanese company, though the contracts awarded were for Lots 1 –12 for the project. A total of thirty-four contractors tendered for all of the contracts from Lots 1 – 12. Two out of the thirty-four companies that tendered for these contracts appeared to be owned by Afro-Guyanese, and it was also confirmed that these two Afro-Guyaneseowned companies have been awarded various contracts under the incumbent Government.

It goes without saying, therefore, that if there was no company owned by AfroGuyanese that tendered for these contracts - in the case of GWI, for example - one cannot conclude that no contract was awarded to AfroGuyanese companies when the record shows that there was none that tendered.

Similarly, in the case of the Eccles-to-Great Diamond Road Bypass Contract, where only two out of thirty-four contractors that tendered for the works are Afro-Guyanese, one cannot conclude that Afro-Guyanese contractors are marginalised using this premise. Consequently, it is a deeply flawed and mis-

leading perspective, or, at best, gross misrepresentation of the facts.

Shore bases: Nigel Hughes went on to argue that Shore bases in Guyana are like money-printing instruments, and argued that the shore bases in Guyana, the Government has only given Indo-Guyanese license to own and operate shore bases. This is an absolutely disingenuous statement, because Hughes did not care to fact check this and enquire how the first shore base was developed. The Government does not have to issue licences to anyone to own and operate a shore base.

In fact, let me explain briefly how the first and second shore bases were developed.

The first and only shore base that was developed is GYBI, which is majority owned by an Indo-Guyanese company, the principals of Muneshwers Group of Companies. Before any shore base was developed, all of the work was going to Trinidad and Tobago, where these facilities already exist. When the principals of GYSBI saw the opportunity to develop a shore base, they first approached the oil companies to finance the development, but were not successful. There were many challenges, especially to raise the financing, but it was a bold risk undertaken by the principals, who decided to raise their own financ-

MoH rejects falsehood peddled by..

Dr Ally disgraced himself and insulted the intelligence of the Guyanese people when he referred to the shortages of medicines in the public sector. Pharmaceutical supply in the health sector was an unmitigated disaster between 2015 and 2020, not only because of the unconscionable shortages, but also the corruption which has been well documented. Even Ministers of the APNU/AFC Government were forced to admit this on several occasions when confronted with the reality of medicine shortages between 2015 and 2020.

By August 2020, the MoH’s capacity to supply medicines had fallen to under 20%. Despite the difficulties that COVID-19 has caused in the global medicine supply since early 2020, the MoH has been able to raise supplies to almost 90%, with only sporadic shortages because of late deliveries from global suppliers.

Dr Ally must have been

speaking of the situation before August 2020 when he alleged that hospitals today are plagued with bed shortages. In August 2020, bed utilization capacity in more than 30 of the 46 wards at GPHC was over 100%, meaning more than two persons in a bed. In addition, almost 90% of the beds in the hospitals prior to August 2020 were in an ugly dilapidated state.

Since August 2020, more beds have been added to hospitals in all public hospitals across Guyana. In addition, more than 40% of all the old beds have been replaced by new ones. The chronic problem of two pregnant women in a bed at GPHC has now been eliminated.

When the former ambassador spoke of avoidable deaths, he failed to speak of the fact that Guyana made no progress in reducing maternal and child mortalities between 2015 and 2020. While maternal and child death mortalities remain high in Guyana, significant

progress was made in 2022. While fifteen pregnant women died in 2022, this was significantly less than the 26 that died in 2019. Further, the former ambassador did not mention that of the 15 that died in 2022, at least nine died from non-pregnancy-related problems, such as COVID-19 and vehicular accidents. Even one is too many, but, under the PPP, we continue to make progress in reducing avoidable deaths.

Clearly, Dr Shamir Ally is following in the footsteps of his leaders from the PNC and the AFC. Instead of doing their homework, they make up fake stories to oppose the PPP and President Irfaan Ali. The fact is that the PPP inherited a health sector that was in chaos and that had suffered serious regression, having lost much of the gains made before 2015. Since August 2020, major transformations have been taking place across the sector. By 2025, there will be about 15 new hospitals

FROM PAGE 8

in Guyana, and each hospital would have been upgraded. CT would become common in all ten regions of Guyana. Every hospital would have digital x-rays. Telemedicine would be providing higher-level health care for people living in remote areas. Cardiac interventions would be available routinely at GPHC and in New Amsterdam. Oncology service would be in place. Health is being transformed, even as we try to address the challenges that every country must face.

The MoH, therefore, totally rejects Dr Shamir Ally’s falsehoods and misrepresentations as presented by The Village Voice. We commend President Irfaan Ali for highlighting the significant upgrading of the health sector in Guyana during his Al Jazeera interview.

Sincerely, Public Relations/ Health Promotion Unit Ministry of Health

ing and develop the shore base. They were so confident, and rightly so, that as long as the infrastructure is developed in-country, it would be needed and would be utilised, given the development prospects of the oil industry. So, this is how the first shore base was developed. The Government had absolutely nothing to do with this. I should perhaps highlight that the GYSBI shore base actually started under the previous Government post oil-discovery.

The second shore base which is being built across the Demerara River over at Vreed-en-Hoop, which is owned by a consortium of Indo-Guyanese businessmen, again, the Government did not issue any licence for this.

Incidentally, I was deeply involved in this process, hence I am very familiar with how this shore base came about. It started with an expression of interest (EOI), which then led to a request for proposal (RFP) by ExxonMobil for a new shorebase in Guyana to service the Yellowtail development in 2025. Both EOI and RFP stages were advertised in the public domain. This process commenced about three years ago. So, firstly, it was a publicly transparent process: only three companies, namely GYSBI, the consortium (NRG), and one overseas-based Indo-Guyanese entrepreneur participated

or responded to the EOI and then the RFP. There were no Afro-Guyanese companies that participated.

The requirements, both technical and financial, were extremely tedious and costly. It cost the companies that responded to this process tens of millions of dollars to assemble a team of international experts and companies to put together the technical proposals. It was an extremely competitive process. Following the evaluation process by ExxonMobil, and subject to the approval of the Yellowtail project, a winner emerged, which was the consortium that is currently building the second largest shorebase across the Demerara River. This means that two prominent Indo-Guyanese entrepreneurs lost to the consortium, which is normal in business.

It is my understanding that there is no need for any other shore base in the medium term, as the current shore base and the new shore base being built are both sufficient to service the Stabroek block, as both existing and new shore base have the capacity to expand sufficiently to cater for the future needs. The need for new shore base facilities, however, will be dependent on the development of new oil blocks and new players in the market.

Yours faithfully, Joel Bhagwandin

Page Foundation

Question

1:

In this fun and easy kitchen science experiment for kids, we’re going to learn how to write a secret message on an egg.

Materials: White hardboiled egg White vinegar White crayon Jar

Instructions: Use you white crayon to write a secret code or message on your egg.

Place the egg in the jar.

Cover the egg with vinegar and let it stand for three hours.

Pour off the vinegar. Cover the egg again with fresh vinegar and let sit for another three hours.

Remove the egg and carefully give it a wash.

The shell will be fragile but the area where you left a secret code should remain and be apparent.

How it works:

The vinegar is an acid and the eggshell is made of

calcium carbonate which is a base. When an acid and a base come into contact with one another, a chemical reaction occurs. This chemical reaction releases carbon dioxide. Look closely and you will see tiny carbon dioxide bubbles on the eggshell that is the result of the chemical reaction. The white crayon is hard to see on the white egg shell making it easy to leave a secret message. The wax

from the crayon will protect the egg shell from the vinegar. As the vinegar depletes the eggshell over time, the area under the crayon remains untouched and your secret message becomes revealed.

Make this a science project: Try adding food coloring to the vinegar. Try a brown crayon on a brown egg. Try lemon juice.

The Little Peasant

They salted the meat, and the little peasant went to town to sell the hide, hoping to buy a new calf with the proceeds.

On the way he came to a mill, and there sat a raven with broken wings. Out of pity he picked it up and wrapped it in the hide.

But then the weather turned very bad with a wind and rain storm. Unable to continue on his way, he returned to the mill and asked for shelter.

The miller’s wife was alone in the house, and she

said to the little peasant, “You can sleep in the straw there,” and she gave him a piece of bread and cheese.

The little peasant ate and then lay down with his hide at his side. The woman thought, “He is tired and has fallen asleep.”

In the meantime the priest arrived. The miller’s wife received him well, and said, “My husband is out, so we can have a feast.”

The little peasant listened, and when he heard them talking about feasting he was angry that he

By The BroThers Grimm

had had to make do with a piece of bread and cheese. Then the woman served up four different things: a roast, salad, cake, and wine. They were just about to sit down and eat when someone knocked on the outside door.

The woman said, “Oh, God, it’s my husband.” She quickly hid the roast inside the tile stove, the wine under the pillow, the salad on top of the bed, the cake under the bed, and the priest in the hallway chest.

Eccles-to-Great Diamond Road Project

Refusal by squatters to move is part of Opposition’s ‘wicked’ attempts to stymie progress – Croal

way, and have rebuilt new homes in nearby residential areas through Government compensation. However, the seven that refused to remove have resorted to attempting to extract compensation from Government, including cash that is several times the value of the property they are illegally occupying, with individual demands reaching $100 million. In totality, the squatters are demanding over $590M for properties valued at just $56.5M.

“Some of these persons are asking for ridiculous compensation. The compensation that was provided is based on infrastructure that exists. One person is asking for $100 million, and their valuation is just $7.5 million,” Croal has disclosed.

Croal has contended that

Consultations with squatters

With accusations being hurled about lack of engagement, Croal pointed out that, since September 2021, he had led consultations with the illegal occupants. Those persons were cautioned that they were squatting along the alignment, and 20 lots at Herstelling and another 14 at Farm were subsequently made available for them to relocate. Some 28 persons who were squatting on reserves have already been relocated from the path of the highway, and have rebuilt new homes in nearby residential areas through Government compensation.

However, the Ministry has disclosed that while it stands ready to make available move-in-ready, single-flat, two-bedroom

have been met with harsh and irrational resistance.

“Persons who relocated are happy in the new environment which they occupy. They’re relocated very

“Over the last two months, we have published repeatedly in the dailies what we have done to date. We had published a final call for those persons to come in and engage us, because they keep saying that no one is engaging them, but how is it the others were dealt with?” the Housing Minister has questioned.

Exploiting situation

Refusal of Mocha squatters to relocate in order to facilitate development of the Eccles-to-Great Diamond Highway, and their subsequent demands for hundreds of millions of dollars from Government have been labelled as ‘mischievous’ and ‘wicked’ by Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal. During a programme broadcasted on Wednesday, the Minister shared that these tactics, supported by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), were intended to stymie de-

velopmental works being carried out by Government.

“The disruption that you see now is merely to disrupt Government’s programme. It’s wicked, mischievous, and we see it is being orchestrated and led by the Opposition elements. They’re trying to stymie the efforts of this PPP/C Government to bring development to our people and bring a better livelihood to our people,” Croal explained.

Twenty-eight of the original number of 35 squatters have already been relocated from the path of the high-

Government reserves have always been set aside for developmental works and expansion, and it is illegal to occupy such lands.

“In all PPP/C Governments, the foresight has always been there for us to look at expansion, growth, and planning. Reserves are already kept in part of our design for expansion as well as access, that is why it was easy for us to use that alignment…It was never owned by anyone else but the State,” he also shared.

housing units in the Little Diamond Housing Scheme for these seven non-compliant persons, these efforts

nearby. It is right within the Herstelling-Farm community. The school is right there. So, we must call a spade a spade,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues, has fired back at the Opposition’s race-baiting tactics over the situation between the Government and squatters at Mocha, East Bank Demerara (EBD) who have demanded exorbitant compensation for their removal.

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal

The area at Cane View/Herstelling (Mocha) that is being occupied by squatters who are hindering the Eccles-to-Great Diamond Highway Project

Scenes from Thursday’s demolition exercise which led to another standoff between the squatters and part of the demolition crew

Cop slapped with money-laundering charges

APolice corporal was charged with three counts of money laundering when he appeared at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD) on Thursday.

Represented by Attorneyat-Law Dexter Todd, Corporal Rawl Richards Haynes of Hydronie, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) was brought before Magistrate Zamena Ali Seepaul, a statement from the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) has said.

Two of these charges had similar particulars; to wit that on April 7, 2020, with the aim of concealing or disguising the illicit origin of the cash, he converted $7,000,000 and $1,000,000 respectively for part payment of properties located at Lots 284 and 285 Block 8 Tuschen, EBE, knowing or having reason to believe that the sums of money were the proceeds of crime.

According to the particulars of the last charge, with the aim of concealing or disguising the illicit origin of

the cash, on August 22, 2019, he converted $2,900,000 for payment of one Toyota Allion motorcar, PYY 357, knowing or having reason to believe that the sum was the proceeds of crime.

Rawl Richards Haynes was not required to plead to these indictable charges, which are in contravention of Section (3) (1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act.

In March 2021, Corporal Haynes, along with retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Kevin Adonis and Police Sergeants Michael Corbin and Jermaine Fraser, was charged by SOCU with conspiracy to defraud the Guyana Police Force (GPF) of $19M. Corporal Haynes, who had been under SOCU’s radar since 2020, was also charged with the offence of larceny by public officer.

These charges were laid after it was discovered by the GPF that millions of dollars were fraudulently stolen in conspiracies allegedly between several senior and junior officers. Hence, the cases were referred to SOCU for investigation and prosecution. Several senior and junior officers were charged and placed before the courts for several fraud-related offences and conspiracies to defraud the GPF.

According to SOCU Head, Assistant Police Commissioner Fizal Karimbaksh, the Police Corporal did a number of substantial cash-based transactions. On April 7,

2020, Corporal Haynes purchased a property at Lot 285 Block 8, Plantation Tuschen, EBE for $13M, and on the same day, he purchased a portion of land situated at Lot 284 Block 8 Plantation Tuschen, EBE for $2M. These properties are situated next to each other.

SOCU pointed out that official documents suggested that the properties would be transferred to Haynes upon completion of court proceedings which are presently pending.

The Head of SOCU noted that Haynes purchased two motorcars between August 2019 and February 2020, and SOCU currently has a restraining order on one of the vehicles. (G1)

Do not be used as...

The contradictions...

…of politricks

The Leader of the Opposition is in a tough spotbetween a rock and a hard place doesn’t even describe the half of it!! First of all, he was given basket to fetch water. Having opposed Granger - and never been chummy with his fellow Lindener, kingmaker Corbin, during the internal PNC leadership struggle pre-2011 - he wasn’t exactly in the inner decision-making circles of the Coalition. He was essentially a bit player between 2011-2020!! So, when the rig was on, he had to try to get out in front, since he’d built his reputation on being pugnacious!!

FROM PAGE 3

They are: Junior Ellis, who had his property valued at $5.5 million but is demanding $150 million along with farmlands from Government; Anneita Beaton, who signed the settlement agreement with the Housing Ministry, but has not uplifted the cheque and is now asking for $45 million in addition to farmlands when her property was valued at $14.3 million; and Sheldon Eastman, whose property was valued at $3.4 million and he is demanding an additional $3.5 million to complete his house at Plantation Farm, EBD and $100 million as a final settlement. The Ministry had said it hired a contractor to carry out the remaining works on Eastman’s home.

Nevertheless, during an engagement with Private Sector stakeholders on Thursday evening, President Ali, further speaking on the issue, pointed out that the highway construction has been held up for some seven months.

According to the Head of State, this has not only hindered development but has affected the contractor – KP Thomas and Sons Development Inc. In fact, earlier on Thursday, in protest of the demolition exercise, persons set the contractor’s $49 million excavator, on fire.

But even in the face of the Opposition peddling claims of racism against the squatters, the President declared that Government could not be any softer on this issue.

“Not every single illegality and nonsense you see, you will cry race and ethnicity and believe you will roll over the Government… We are trained in this country to think in a particular way… and I intend to change that nonsense.

“When are we going to stop this nonsense and call out illegality when there is illegality… As a society and as a people, we have to develop the maturity to embrace what is right and reject what is wrong. It is the only way we can mature and take the country forward,” President Ali posited. (G3)

And in the six months that Granger wavered against the Western forces of democracy before conceding, his star did rise. PNC folks felt Norton might’ve had the cojones to tough it out. But by the time he became leader, he had to deal with already selected MPs and a testy AFC that realized their erstwhile “outside” supporters didn’t want to stick around with an emasculated party. The AFC started to play a “hold me- loose me” game with Norton. And finally, they said sayonara on December 31, 2022!!

Unlike his bete noir Desmond Hoyte, he didn’t have Government office when he got the leadership – so he had no resources for rebuilding the PNC in his image. In so many ways, he’s in the exact spot Corbin had found himself in 2002…just a reputation as fellas who could “bruk up the joint” if they didn’t get their way. But, like old people say, dis time na lang time. This time, the PPP inherited a treasury on steroids from the oil revenues. And being the quintessential political animals they are, they’ve been giving PNC supporters the full court press with contracts, land and song!!

So, what’s Norton to do?? He knows that even if he comes out swinging, he gotta hold back some – since even if he consolidates the traditional PNC support base, there ain’t enough of them to vote him in come 2025!! But hold it!! That’s true only if he tries the usual garden-style political route of wooing voters and suchlike. And with the PPP getting coy glances from his base, it’s becoming clearer his built-in scowl ain’t enough!! There’s gotta be another way. And that would be to play on his strength and bruk up the place!! At least he’d have the bargaining chip if he brings the PPP to the table!!

So, your Eyewitness figures Norton’s gonna be flexin’ his muscles – and soon. The opening salvo was at the Mocha area, where the Government’s insisting on moving out those 7 hold-outs to bring progress with a new highway. But abstract “progress” of a highway’s never gonna trump the solid “evidence” of the PPP bulldozing PNC people!!

…of development

When your Eyewitness was in school, one of the first things the economics teacher pointed out was the difference between “growth” and “development”. Growth was about the economy – which includes building bridges, highways, factories and so on. And alphabet soup concoctions like GNP and GDP and so on describe it. On the other hand, development refers to people! So, all that growth – which could be negative, mind you, like during the Burnham years! – might take some time to improve people’s lives.

As such, development isn’t like instant coffee, where you just heat up the water, throw in the coffee, stir, and bingo!! So, the Government’s doing itself a disservice by insisting we’re experiencing “development” when most folks are still struggling to survive. What made it tougher for development was that we were hit by the COVID pandemic and then inflation. They became barriers to growth producing development.

So, let’s tell it like it is – we gotta bear strain with growth, but better (development) days are comin’!!

…of Guyana

OK…OK…now your Eyewitness has heard it all. He knows people give charity to other people – even though it’s rare!! But giving charity to a Government with US$1 billion in the kitty?? That’s the classic “man bites dog” scenario!!

Corporal Rawl Richards Haynes

Travellers from China now require negative COVID test to enter Guyana

As part of new travel guidelines instituted by the Health Ministry, persons travelling to Guyana from the People’s Republic of China will now be required to produce a negative COVID-19 test result to be granted entry into the country.

A travel advisory issued by Director of the National COVID-19 Task Force Secretariat, Colonel (retd) Nazrul Hussain, on Thursday indicated that this move is in light of the present surge in COVID-19 cases in certain parts of the world, and to decrease the chance of entry of a novel variant of concern.

The Health Ministry’s requirement is a negative COVID-19 test that is of no less than 48 hours’ duration, or documentation of recovery for all passengers two years and older travelling directly or in transit to Guyana from the People’s Republic of China and the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau. This new measure will take effect from January 8, 2023, and all passengers would be required to show a bona fide negative test result to the airline or carrier upon departure. It applies to these passengers regard-

less of nationality and vaccination status, and will also apply to persons travelling from China via third country transit and to passengers on connecting flights to Guyana.

“Passengers who tested positive more than 10 days before the flight can provide documentation of recovery from COV1D-19 in lieu of a negative test result. Airlines and other ports of entry must confirm the negative COVID-19 test results

CANU seized $1.1B...

In regard to new and emerging routes of trafficking narcotics to evade law enforcement, CANU said it is collaborating with other agencies in response.

“The Unit has discovered new trends in the routes used by illicit drug traffickers through extensive observation and analysis of the points of seizures. Though some of the routes are speculative, CANU intends to collaborate with sister law enforcement agencies to intercept drugs trafficked along these routes, as well as deter narcotics’ trafficking and cultivation within specific areas.”

Additionally, the anti-narcotics agency highlighted that clandestine airstrips, especially in the hinterland regions, are another area of concern. In fact, it was noted that throughout 2021 and in the first quarter of this year, there had been numerous reports of abandoned aircraft being discovered at such locations.

“The Unit plans to create tools to pinpoint the locations of any potential sites for clandestine airstrips, which are thought to be one of the means by which the drug trade is facilitated. The Unit is dedicated to increasing its ability to meet this challenge”, it has been said.

The Half-Year Report also pointed out that cor-

FROM PAGE 2

ruption within agencies is a deterrent to anti-narcotics’ efforts, while noting that, like many other countries, Guyana is no exception to corruption and illegal drug trafficking.

“There have been numerous reports of drug traffickers using their financial clout to influence officials working within the system in order to allow the free flow of their illicit activities. In the face of this dangerous and illegal practice, the Unit continues to strive unyieldingly to expose and root out this ill within agencies, identifying officials who facilitate these illegal activities.”

Head of the Unit, James Singh, in an invited comment, told Guyana Times that despite the challenges, the Unit will continue to pursue its mandate in the hope of minimising such activities and reducing the amount of illicit drugs on the market.

These include better interagency support; stakeholders’ involvement in the Private Sector; joint programmes with education, health and social services; and working with communities on outreach programmes.

Singh also commended the support his Unit has received from the Government of Guyana, especially the Home Affairs Ministry.

or documentation of recovery for all passengers before they board, or deny board-

ing to non-compliant passengers,” the Task Force has outlined.

According to the notice, it was highlighted that the requirement to show a bona fide negative test result has been shown to decrease the number of infected passengers boarding airlines, and it will help to slow the spread of the virus as Government works to identify and understand any potentially new variant that may emerge.

“The Ministry of Health will continue to monitor travel patterns, adjust our approach as needed, and keep the Guyanese public informed in a timely manner.”

Globally, there have been over 657 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 6.6 million deaths, reported to the World Health Organization. As of December 2022, over 13 billion vaccine doses have been administered.

This week, the Technical Advisory Group on Virus

Evolution met to discuss the COVID-19 situation in mainland China. The China CDC analysis showed a predominance of Omicron lineages BA.5.2 and BF.7 among locally-acquired infections. BA.5.2 and BF.7 together accounted for 97.5 percent of all local infections as per genomic sequencing. A few other known Omicron sublineages were also detected, albeit in low percentages. These variants are known, and have been circulating in other countries; and at the present time, no new variant has been reported by the China CDC.

Last year June, the Guyana Government had lifted the COVID-19 testing requirement for international travel. Then in October, persons travelling to Guyana had no longer needed to present proof of vaccination against COVID-19.

Travellers disembarking at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport

Students are not to be suspended, punished for hairstyles – MoE to Headteachers

ers must not be sent home, or suspended, denied entry to school, or access to teaching and learning sent to the Department of Education, administered corporal punishment or any other forms of punishment, for haying a hairstyle that is perceived to be a breach of the school’s rule.”

Headteachers have been reminded that their main priority is to ensure that all learners are in school and are being taught with an aim of reducing learning loss. In any instance where a learner is deemed to have an inappropriate hairstyle, the school must invite the parent or guardian to discuss the perceived infraction.

to address the issue with a national survey. Thousands of persons had responded, sharing their input on expectations and offering suggestions. More such conversations continued on the said topic.

At that time, the Minister had said that it was a dynamic issue, and a relaxation of some current rules would not affect the curriculum or retention of knowledge in students. She had added that school rules should not hurt learners.

The Education

Ministry has decided in its new hair policy that, in the future, students across the school system are not to be punished, sent home, or subjected to any form of penalisation for their hairstyles.

Chief Education Officer Saddam Hussain on Thursday issued a notice to

all headteachers, through the Regional Education Officers across all 10 administrative regions, informing them of this change.

The Ministry informed, “In keeping with the guidelines provided in the Ministry of Education’s Manual of Guidelines for the Maintenance of Order and Discipline in Schools, learn-

This change came about after several concerns were raised after the Ministry had facilitated a relaxation of hair rules for International Women’s Day last year. Persons had highlighted that some of their rights were infringed due to stringent requirements. Education Minister Priya Manickchand had sought

Hair rules at each school varies, and while the contention was that some schools should formulate their own rules, another cross-section of persons had wanted the Ministry to regulate the requirements.

In December, a report of the new hair policy was taken to Cabinet for approval, after advice had been sought from a consultant on the changes that could be made.

(Rupdai Seenaraine)

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

CCJ ruled in 3 murder cases, 1 rape matter from Guyana in 2022

Bisram’s committal on finding that there was not sufficient evidence for him to face trial by a jury before a Judge.

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) had issued decisions in four criminal cases from Guyana in 2022, according to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). One of those cases was in relation to an application by US-based Guyanese Marcus Bisram, who was charged with murder. He had asked the apex court to quash the DPP’s directive to the Magistrate to have him committed to stand trial for the 2016 murder of Berbice carpenter Faiyaz Narinedatt.

The CCJ, in its ruling, declared that Section 72(2) (ii)(a) of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act, which empowered the DPP to direct a Magistrate, was unconstitutional, as it violated Article 122A of the Constitution of Guyana, which mandates that all courts and all persons presiding over the courts shall exercise their function independently of the control and direction of any person or authority; and shall be free and independent from political, executive, and any other form of direction and control.

It consequently struck down this law, and quashed

The Government has since tabled a Bill to amend this law. Section 72(2)(ii)(a) of the Act will be amended in the manner recommended by the CCJ. With the amendment, the DPP, if aggrieved by the decision of a Magistrate to discharge an accused person at the end of a Preliminary Inquiry (PI), can now make an ex-parte application to a Judge of the High Court for a warrant to arrest and commit the discharged person to trial.

The judge may grant that application only if he/ she is of the view, from the evidence that was placed before the Magistrate who discharged the accused person, that such a course of action is required. If either the DPP or discharged person is aggrieved by the Judge’s decision, an appeal against that

fences of rape and murder.

One was for the offence of rape and assault causing actual bodily harm. In this case, Calvin Ramcharran, who was convicted of raping and assaulting a 20-year-old woman in 2012, had asked the regional court to quash his conviction and sentence, alleging numerous errors in law.

He was initially sentenced to 23 years’ imprisonment on the rape charge and three years on the assault charge, with the trial Judge ordering that the sentences be served concurrently.

The appeal against the convictions was dismissed by the CCJ. The apex court, however, allowed his appeal against sentence only, reducing the 23-year prison time to 12 years, which he has to serve concurrently with the three years for assault.

and asked her if she was “doing business.”

When she replied, “No”, he grabbed her hands, and a fight ensued between them, during which Ramcharran hit her several times with a bottle to her head, and then dragged her to the back of the building, where he choked and punched her, and then had sex with her against her will.

After committing the heinous act, he offered the woman $65,000 and instructed her to meet him at a car on the road. However,

years to 25 years’ imprisonment with no eligibility for parole before 15 years.

The CCJ allowed her lover’s appeal against conviction and sentence; he has been freed. In so doing, it decided, among other things, that he was “gravely prejudiced” at his trial back in 2015.

On October 2, 2010, the teenager’s badly decomposed body with the head bashed in was found stuffed in a suitcase in a creek at the Emerald Tower Resort at Madewini, Linden-

as due to multiple blunt force trauma to the head.

In the other murder case, the CCJ ruled that the appeals filed by two brothers be dismissed. Orwin and Cleon Hinds had appealed against their convictions for the murder of 71-yearold Clementine FiedtkouParris, who was gunned down at her Lot 42 Robb Street, Georgetown residence on June 30, 2011.

The court has reserved its decision on the siblings’ appeal against their 50-year prison term, with no eligibility for parole before 45

decision shall lie with the Court of Appeal of Guyana.

The other three matters the CCJ pronounced on were appeals from the Court of Appeal of Guyana’s decisions in relation to the of-

The evidence disclosed that, on the night in question – July 23, 2012 – the woman had gone to a party at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara (EBD) with some friends, and was making her way to the washroom when Ramcharran followed her

28-year-old seriously injured in hit-and-run accident

Days after 28-year-old Londale Todd was injured in a hit-and-run accident on the West Coast Demerara (WCD) roadway, the hunt for the driver who fled the scene is still ongoing.

Todd, a resident of Friendship, East Coast Demerara, had on Monday evening taken his family to a park at La Jalousie, WCD, where they were taking photos, little knowing that tragedy would befall them moments later.

In an interview with <<Guyana Times>> on Thursday, Todd’s mother, Ann Logan, shared that they arrived at the location, and were taking pictures. Todd then left them to go over the road where his car was parked, and it was then that

the incident occurred. Video footage shows a motorcar travelling at a fast rate along the near corner of the road subsequently hitting Todd.

“He (Todd) said, ‘Let us take out a family picture by a fountain’, but the place to sit was wet. So, he said he will go over to the car to get a rag. He crossed the bridge and everything and went to his car. All I heard (was) a loud noise, and I started screaming out to him,” Ms Logan relayed.

Todd’s mother said she went over to him as he was lying in a pool of blood. The motorcar that had struck him had already sped away, and she did not get a view of the vehicle, since the incident had unfolded in a split second.

“He was unconscious. I was calling and he wasn’t re-

sponding,” she recalled.

Todd was taken to the hospital with assistance from public-spirited citizens. An emergency surgery scheduled for Tuesday did not materialise. He is suffering from serious injuries to his knee, head, and right hand.

He regained consciousness on Thursday, but his condition is still regarded as serious.

Surveillance footage from the location has been reviewed to identify the car and driver involved. Investigations are continuing.

“The Police is waiting for more footage, but the person is in Essequibo. So, they have to wait until the person come before they could get the other footage,” Todd’s mother added. (G12)

the victim, whom the convict had stripped of her clothes, alerted her friends, who immediately carried her to the hospital.

The other two cases were for the offence of murder. In one of the cases, Bibi Shareema Gopaul, 50, along with her 44-year-old lover Jarvis Small, appealed against their conviction and sentence for the murder of her 16-year-old daughter, Neesa Gopaul. The former Queen’s College student’s body was found in a suitcase that was submerged by dumbbells in a creek along the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway back in October 2010.

The trial Judge had sentenced Small to 96 years’ imprisonment, and Bibi Gopaul to 106 years. The Court of Appeal of Guyana later reduced their sentences to 45 years each. While the elder Gopaul’s conviction was upheld, her sentence was reduced by the CCJ from 45

Soesdyke Highway. Also discovered were her passport, bank card, and other personal items.

The suitcase was wrapped with rope and attached to dumb-bells in an apparent effort to keep her body submerged. She was found weeks after she had been reported missing from her Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD) home. Her death had been determined

years, that was imposed by the local appellate court.

The brothers were initially jailed for 81 years each by the trial Judge.

The charge the men had faced detailed that, on June 30, 2011, they murdered Fiedtkou-Parris pursuant to an arrangement wherein money was intended to be passed from one person to another. The elderly woman was shot and killed on the night of June 30, 2011.

It was reported that three men had gone to the woman’s home asking for “Auntie”, and when she emerged from her bedroom, one of them pulled out a gun and shot her several times in her upper body. The men then fled the scene in a waiting motor car while the elderly woman was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

It is believed that a bitter dispute over a property might have been the motive for her killing. (G1)

Convicted killers Cleon and Orwin Hinds

Freed: Marcus Bisram

Convicted killer Bibi Shareema Gopaul

Freed: Jarvis Small Murdered: Neesa Gopaul

The rapist Calvin Ramcharran

Murdered: Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris

Former APNU/AFC Ministers, Opposition’s Chief Scrutineer refuse to testify

…after being summoned

Former A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government Ministers, Dr Karen Cummings and Volda Lawrence as well as the coalition’s Chief Scrutineer Carol Smith-Joseph were summoned and appeared before the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the 2020 elections fiasco.

The Opposition trio opted not to testify when they appeared before the CoI on Thursday morning.

Dr Cummings exercised her right to remain silent when the options were put to her by the Commission’s Chairman, Retired Justice of Appeal Stanley John, and so she did not give any evidence.

Meanwhile, Lawrence and Smith-Joseph were rep-

resented by Attorney-atLaw Nigel Hughes, who informed the Commission that his clients currently have pending charges before the courts hence they could not testify.

“Both of them are defendants in criminal proceedings with offences relating to the conduct of the elections and consequently, I think they face some jeopardy if they were to testify,” Hughes indicated.

As a result, the lawyer told the CoI that his clients were exercising their right as enshrined in Article 144 (7) so as to not incriminate themselves or put themselves in a position where they might incriminate themselves. Article 144 (7) states: “No person who is tried for a criminal offence shall be compelled to give

evidence at the trial.”

“Consequently, [they] won’t testify,” Attorney Hughes stated.

Nevertheless, the three coalition members had to enter the witness box before the panel of Commissioners during which they all reaffirmed their position to remain silent.

Lawrence and SmithJoseph are facing electoral fraud charges stemming from the events that played out during the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Those matters are pending in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Only last December, several staff of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) also appeared before the CoI and opted not to give evidence due to pending

Refusal by squatters to move...

FROM PAGE 7

investigations and criminal charges instituted against them as well.

Denise Babb-Cummings, Shefern February, Michelle Miller, and Carolyn Duncan were summoned to appear before the CoI on December 6, 2022.

However, BabbCummings, February, and Miller had filed a $150 million lawsuit in the form of an injunction one day prior, citing that the summons amount to a breach of their constitutional right against self-incrimination under Article 144 of the Constitution of Guyana. They had asked the court to quash the summons and to grant a permanent injunction preventing the CoI from compelling the attendance of anyone charged with a criminal offence.

But at the time when they appeared before the CoI, those orders were not granted. In fact, two days after the legal proceedings were filed, the High Court denied the requests and ordered the three GECOM staff to pay the state $75,000 in costs by January 16.

In 2020, Registration Officers February, Miller, and Babb-Cummings were slapped with charges in relation to electoral fraud. They were accused of inflating the results of Region Four – the country’s largest voting district – to give the APNU/AFC coalition a majority win at the polls.

Assistant Registration Officer Duncan is still being investigated by the Guyana Police Force and is on station bail. It is alleged that she, along with others, con-

spired to rig the elections.

In total, some 32 electoral fraud cases have been filed in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts against several political activists and GECOM officials including former Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield; his deputy, Roxanne Myers and former embattled Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.

The CoI was set up by President Dr Irfaan Ali to look into the events following the March 2020 elections and make appropriate recommendations to prevent any reoccurrence.

The CoI only resumed hearings on Wednesday after a hiatus of almost one month. The next public hearing is set for this morning. (G8)

During her weekly social media programme aired on Wednesday evening, Rodrigues called out the Opposition for exploiting the situation for “political gain”, while noting that the party’s behaviour “is absolutely sickening to watch”. She has also described the compensation packages being offered to the seven squatters as a “golden opportunity”.

“It is very, very unfortunate that we now have to take this step [demolition exercise]. And it has

become a necessary step, a step that we never wanted to take. That is why we have spent all of this time trying to negotiate with the people…to come to an amicable solution…” said Minister Rodrigues.

Instead of removing from there to facilitate the major road project, she said, the illegal settlers are making “irrational, outrageous and exorbitant” demands from the Government. One of these squatters, whose property is valued at $5.5M, is demand-

ing $150M along with farmlands.

According to Minister Rodrigues, members of the Opposition, including its Leader Aubrey Norton, are manipulating and exploiting this situation for political gain.

“Absolutely sickening”

She stressed: “It is absolutely sickening to watch. To see members of the Opposition running into Mocha and calling this Government racist, and say-

ing that we are discriminating against the people in Mocha because they are Afro-Guyanese. The allegation that our Government has taken any action, or made any decision, or implemented any programme that is racist in nature is absolutely false. I reject that outright, and I condemn those statements,” noted the Minister.

What is “amazing”,

she pointed out, is that the Opposition, while in Government for five years, two of which were illegally and unconstitutionally, “never spent a cent to improve the lives of the squatters in there, or to do any developmental projects in Mocha”. She alluded to the Government entering into negotiations with other illegal settlers, who have peacefully relocated, having rec-

ognised that development comes with a price.

“With development sometimes comes inconvenience, but you have a Government that cares. We would not act in a rash manner, and we would not make any decisions that would not be in the best interest of people, especially poor people. Our mandate is to ensure that people have affordable housing,” she has said.

Volda Lawrence

Carol Smith-Joseph

Dr Karen Cummings

Norton claims ignorance of racism as cause of PNC Treasurer's resignation

...says party has "mechanisms" to deal with racism

Mursalin.

Mursalin, who had been affiliated with the PNC/R for close to a decade, was elected Treasurer of the party in December 2021. In December 2022, he and that party’s General Secretary Geeta Chandan-Edmond both resigned from their respective positions.

Leader of the Peoples National Congress Reform (PNC/R), Aubrey Norton, is contending that the party has mechanisms in place to deal with members who “become involved in racism”.

He made the remark during a press conference held on Thursday, and after being hit with a series of questions in relation to allegations of racial hostility within the party, made by former treasurer Faaiz

Mursalin’s reason for resigning has now come to light in a letter he addressed to the PNC/R Central Executive Committee (CEC). In that letter, Mursalin contended that he faced racial discrimination during his time as Treasurer, including from a named well-known figure in the party.

According to Mursalin, the party leadership seemed not to care about addressing this behaviour, but Norton is claiming that no allegations of racism were made against him, and he is insisting that he and Mursalin share a good relationship.

Reminded by a reporter of the claims made in the letter, the PNC Leader argued, “I am in no position to trust your word…Mursalin never raised the issue of rac-

ism with me; and had he raised it, I would have addressed it.”

Nevertheless, Norton has said the PNC/R has mechanisms in place to deal with members who become involved in racism. However, he did not reveal what those mechanisms are.

“The PNC/R has always been a party that embraces all ethnic groups. The party’s policy is clear: the PNC/R is for all Guyanese, and if anyone in the party becomes involved in rac-

Over 1400 grants distributed by Small Business Bureau in 2022

The Small Business Bureau (SBB) has surpassed its 2022 grant distribution target by 631.

The agency had a budgetary allocation for the sum of $300 million for the distribution of 800 small business grants. However, by the end of 2022, the agency had distributed a total of 1,431 grants.

This was revealed to this publication on Wednesday by Director of Business and Entrepreneur Development, John Edghill. According to Edghill, the Bureau has also trained more than 2,000 business owners across the country in small business management, financial management, digital marketing, and business plan writing.

The SBB Fund has grown significantly since 2020. In the 2020 and 2021 budgets, the respective sums of $100 million and $250 million were approved.

In December 2022, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Small Business Bureau, Muhammed Abraham, had called on persons not to wait on promotions to become eligible for grants from the agency.

The Bureau last year

went on a countrywide outreach, encouraging entrepreneurs to become compliant and have their businesses registered.

Abraham noted that those who registered, had their businesses registered, and got their compliance certificates became eligible for business grants. Abraham said entrepreneurs do not have to wait on such promotions.

“We do continuous registration. Our focus is not only on grants, we are focused on developing businesses – sustainable growth,” Abraham told this publication. He was at the time speaking of the distribution of grants in Region Six (East Berbice-

Corentyne) on December 17.

More than 100 business persons have received grants to the tune of $150,000 in Region Six. A similar exercise is slated to take place in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) on Thursday.

Abraham has said that once a person becomes a client of the Small Business Bureau, that person would have access to all services offered by the Bureau, which include grants, loans and training.

“We have unlimited training, because we can develop training based on the needs of a group of clients; and we help with promotions,” he explained.

ism, the party has mechanisms to deal with it. I would have been told that, or had…in writing anything for Mursalin on the question of racism, I would have ensured that there was an investigation in the party and the appropriate action taken based on the outcome,” Norton contended.

In light of the recent letter sent by Mursalin, Norton indicated that he is not aware of the correspondence, but would doublecheck.

Moreover, he said the party is willing to have a proper investigation into any such accusation.

In an interview with this publication, Mursalin had emphasised that change is necessary for the party to regain the trust of the electorate and to be a more tenable environment for him to operate in.

“I think things need to change, and change rapidly. The party executive needs to take that action on how they want to see things change, maybe with new leader, maybe with a no confidence motion to make this leader call a biennial delegates conference as soon as possible.

“The PNC is not a bad party or a racial party, but its people within it. One

bad apple can make the whole basket get bad. The party is the bigger picture now. It’s about talking about what they are doing and saving the party integrity and face… I’m not the old party official… where I won’t talk about what is wrong and right. I’m one of the young politicians, when you’re wrong, I’ll say that you’re wrong. And the current leadership is wrong, and I couldn’t continue with them.”

Mursalin noted that Norton is like a “one man show” in the party, and said that if the PNC/R makes drastic changes, it could regain the confidence of the voting population.

Asked about the blank cheques, Mursalin admitted that he was worried about them in light of the fact that he still does not know how much money was written on these cheques, or how the money was used.

“I’m worried and saddened. I kinda knock myself up because I couldn’t speak out earlier. It came to a point where the racial hostility came in and it became overbearing…to regain confidence, we have to bite the bullet and say what is wrong is wrong and what is right is right.”

Mursalin had won 404 votes in the PNC/R’s internal elections in December of 2021 to become treasurer.

Director of Business and Entrepreneur Development, John Edghill

Former PNC treasurer Faaiz Mursalin

PNCR leader Aubrey Norton

In 5 years, T&T will be “seriously challenged” by Guyana in manufacturing – Gonsalves

With the Government’s financial injections into Guyana’s economy yielding major growth and transformation across the country, St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves sees a major shift coming in Guyana’s economic viability on a regional and international scale.

He made the prediction during his engagement with members of the President’s Youth Advisory Council (PYAC), the One Guyana Company, and members of the Youth in Natural Resources (YNR) programme on Thursday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

Citing the scale of fellow Caricom member Trinidad’s success in the manufactur-

ing sector, Gonsalves stated that up until now, no other country has been able to compete with that nation due to its low energy costs.

However, he stated, that may well change shortly.

“Trinidad will be, in the next five years, challenged seriously by Guyana in respect of the manufacturing sector, and the manufacturing trade in the region, be-

cause…the price of fuel will be competitive with that of Trinidad, the wage rates in Guyana are on an average low, the country’s wealth will source more productive workers, and you have more, cheap raw materials from which you can draw for your manufacturing sector,” he is quoted as saying in a Department of Public Information (DPI) article.

Critically, he added, Guyana’s Government has been encouraging other Caricom countries to invest and conduct business in Guyana.

Just last month, Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali announced that the Government was positioning the country to be second to none in energy and food security; climate, eco-

logical, biological, and technological services, as well as health and educational services, and manufacturing.

Through negotiations, collaboration, and trade with other Caricom member states, Guyana is being placed by the Government in a position of major growth and development to become a leader in the productive sector of the region.

PNCR leader justifies exorbitant demands by Mocha squatters

Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton is attempting to justify the high compensation demands that are being made by the squatters of Cane View/Herstelling (Mocha), East Bank Demerara for their removal from Government reserves which they currently occupy.

Norton, during a press conference on Thursday, without any evidence claimed that the area the squatters occupy was not in the way of the Eccles-toGreat Diamond highway which the Housing Ministry is seeking to construct.

He also made claims that the lands are ‘ancestral lands’ that were purchased by slaves, as stated in the 1894 official gazette, and do not belong to the Government, adding that the offers made by the Ministry were “ridiculous”.

“Anyone who would have seen the figures that the Ministry put out as offering the people would know that that is ridiculous and it doesn’t cater for 1) the inconvenience caused by the Government to the people; 2), the fact that these are community lands… really and truly the Government doesn’t own these lands,” Norton remarked.

“There was no area to

rear on the East Coast so they were prepared to give them some land on the highway. Now it will be stupid for somebody of little means to have their house on the East Bank, but then they farm on the highway, that is additional cost which they might not be able to afford,” Norton added.

He further said that though he could not say whether the demands made by the squatters were unreasonable or not, it should be taken into consideration when negotiating, that after the road has been completed the value of the lands could increase.

“It is not for me to decide whether it is reasonable or not. There are some things you should know about negotiations: 1) in negotiations people tend to go way above what they want because it is a process of negotiation and compromise and it might come down to what is acceptable to both parties. This is a road, when it is completed, those lands that now value 10 million in a very short time could value 200 million. So, in your negotiation for compensation that has to be taken into consideration,” Norton detailed.

According to Norton, “The people have the right, if the Government is a se-

Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton

rious government what it will do is allow these people to have counsel, engage them and have a negotiation and if they resolve it and the people are satisfied, the people will take what is offered and move.”

In a notice published in Thursday’s edition of Guyana Times by the Housing and Water Ministry, it was indicated that seven individuals remain non-compliant and continue to stall the development of the Eccles-to-Great Diamond Highway – a road

project that seeks to ease traffic congestion for thousands of commuters along the East Bank Demerara corridor.

Some 28 persons who were squatting on reserves have already been relocated from the path of the highway, and have built new homes in nearby residential areas through Government compensation.

The Ministry has disclosed that while it stood ready to make available move-in-ready, single-flat,

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

“The seven squatters have been offered full compensation for their existing illegal property, a free residential house lot, a grace period to facilitate construction of their new homes, and five acres each of lease lands by the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission. These offers have been rejected on all fronts,” the Ministry detailed in the Notice.

Of the seven squatters who are refusing removal, one woman, Lovella Doris, whose property has been valued at $7.2 million, is demanding $100 million along with the condition that she remained in the Cane View area despite being offered a two-bedroom, move-in-ready home.

Another squatter, Joyann Alexis Ellis is also asking for $100 million in farmlands in exchange for relocation from her property, which has been valued at $8.6 million even though she has been offered farmland at Long Creek, LindenSoesdyke Highway.

Meanwhile, Junior

Ellis had his property valued at $5.5 million, but is demanding $150 million, along with farmlands from Government. In relation to squatter Anneita Beaton, she signed the settlement agreement with the Housing Ministry, but has not uplifted the cheque, and is now asking for $45 million in addition to farmlands. Her property was valued at $14.3 million.

In the statement, it was revealed that some of these squatters have been served their notices since last year but still refuse to move.

Nevertheless, the Notice further stated, the Ministry, and the Government by extension, stands ready to work with all Guyanese in their best interest, but will no longer stand by and allow the nation’s development to be held hostage by illegal activities of any sort.

“Should the last offer be rejected by these illegal squatters, the Ministry will have no other choice but to proceed with a demolition exercise,” the Notice detailed.

However, on Thursday evening, four of the seven squatters – Lovella Doris, Joyann Alexis Ellis, Leon Liefde, and Mark Gordan accepted the Government’s offer to relocate.

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves meeting with members of the President’s Youth Advisory Council (PYAC)

Govt to push local Private Sector, Diaspora involvement in economic growth – Pres Ali

As Guyana continues to undergo unprecedented growth, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government is looking to push the increased involvement of the local Private Sector as well as the Diaspora in the expansion of the country’s economy.

This is according to President Dr Irfaan Ali during an engagement with key stakeholders of the local Private sector at State House on Thursday evening. The event – which was attended by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh – was organised to outline Government’s plans for “2023 and Beyond” and to also get feedback from stakeholders.

President Ali indicated that Government was currently working on a number of initiatives to help propel various sectors including forestry, insurance, construction and agriculture, among others. He disclosed that soon the Government would be rolling out specific ways in which the Private Sector could tap into the opportunities that were available.

“…You will hear some very innovative ideas in the coming weeks as to how we can get more of the local Private Sector and the

Diaspora involve in the expansion of the economy; how you can deploy your capital, even outside of a banking system – how we can work on deploying that capital... [How they can] be more directly involved in the building out of the country and the opportunities that are coming our way,” the Head of State posited.

He explained that the engagement with key stakeholders was critical to ensuring that there was clarity on where the country was heading.

According to the Guyanese Leader, his Administration is building a country that will have macroeconomic stability, resilience and sustainability – all of which will ensure continuous growth and development.

“That is key! How do we, in the next eight years, lay the foundation that will build the economy that will perform in a world ‘2030 and Beyond’ that will be very much different from what we see today and still be able to compete globally and be a leader in a number of areas?”

According to President Ali, key to building Guyana as one of the strongest economies in the world was the capability of the Guyanese people – which he strongly believes in.

“…We have the fast-

est-growing economy with oil and gas. But if you take oil and gas out, we’re still the fifth fastest-growing economy.

“So, there are a number of areas that the future platform of this country will be built on: energy security, food security, climate services, ecological services, biological services, financial services, technological services, health services, manufacturing, agro-processing. Now, what is common in all of this service, but you cannot build a services industry with a human resource base that is inadequate and incomplete,” he stated.

To this end, the Head of State outlined that Government was making efforts to ensure that the right complement of human resources with the right skillsets is being created to support this objective.

This, he added, is reflected in measures taken to provide tertiary education opportunities through the GOAL initiative as well as the hosting of TVET training programmes. These are coupled with improved working conditions, such as salary increases, for the various public sector employees as well as continuous training to operate in a modernised economy.

Another major aspect of

Caricom launches logo competition for 50th anniversary

Caricom Secretary General and will be featured on the Caricom Secretariat’s social media platforms.

The competition is open to all nationals of Caricom States and associate members.

Government’s transformation is the enhancement of the country’s infrastructural landscape. The Head of State noted that with major bridge projects such as the new Demerara River crossing and the Corentyne River Bridge along with improved road networks across the country including the Linden-to-Lethem highway, opportunities for trade and collaboration with neighbouring countries as well as the South American and Caribbean regions will consequently open up.

“Our economy ‘2030 and

Beyond’ will stand once we pursue this agenda diligently; once we are able to think maturely… and we have the good fortune of having many examples – around us, outside of us, within us – as to how easily you can get carried away and destroy the prospects of building a strong and resilient economy… We don’t want that at all.

“I want us to speak about how we can strengthen the banking sector, what is needed for the banking sector to deploy more capital?... It is not about the Government giving four, five, six tax in-

centives; that is not a budget. A budget has to be a visionary approach and undertaking in transforming a country… How are we going to build more consortiums around some of these transformative projects and in supporting the regional food hub? What are the binding constraints that need to be untangled, and how do we untangle that? Building this common platform and vision through which we approach the development and expansion of our country, this is what is key for us,” he asserted. (G8)

Cops in Berbice hunt for missing Police firearm

his direction.

Guyana Times understands that the senior officer was also at the event and had given the Constable his firearm for safekeeping.

There are reports that the rank who was attacked did not have the firearm in his possession when he was rescued.

Meanwhile, the operation to recover the firearm took place on Wednesday night, and ranks visited several homes in the East Canje area.

Police also rearrested a suspect who was first arrested when the initial investigations into the missing fire-

by Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) Commander

In commemoration of its 50th anniversary, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) has launched its 50th anniversary logo competition.

The competition aims to spread awareness of the organisation’s mandate and purpose. It will also promote a creative and educational celebration in recognition of its accomplishments.

The competition is being launched under the slogan, “50 years strong: A solid foundation to build on.” All logo entries should be centred on this slogan.

The winner will receive a cash prize of US$1500.

The logo will be utilised on all official anniversary documents and promotional items. The winner will also be invited for a photo opportunity with the

Also, logos must be submitted electronically using the logo competition entry form and must be signed by the entrant no later than January 25, 2023.

Entrants are invited to visit the Caricom website at https://caricom.org to learn more about the Caribbean Community, as well as for additional details on eligibility.

Caricom is geared at promoting regional integration, human and social development, foreign policy coordination, and security.

Shivpersaud Bacchus, law enforcement officers in the region on Wednesday conducted an operation aimed at recovering a firearm that went missing after last being in the possession of a Police Officer.

The firearm was reportedly issued to a senior Police Officer and went missing just over two weeks ago.

Police had issued a statement explaining that a Constable was at a Gymkhana Event in East Canje, Berbice with some friends when he was attacked by several males.

During the attack, several beer bottles were pelted in

arm began.

According, to Commander Bacchus, a motorcycle and a car were also seized by the Police during their operation. Timothy Sampson, who has had brushes with the law in the past, said that the vehicles belong to him. Sampson is questioning the Police’s operation after they

went into his home and ransacked the place while he was not there.

Meanwhile, during the course of Thursday afternoon, Sampson turned himself in at Central Police Station after being told that he was wanted by the Police. He was subsequently arrested and remains in custody. (G4)

Led

The house that was searched by Police

Region Six Commander, Senior Superintendent Shivpersaud Bacchus

Timothy Sampson

Key players in the local Private Sector attended Thursday’s consultation with top Government officials at State House

From right: President Dr Irfaan Ali, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh at the stakeholders’ engagement

Regional

Violence breaks out as Mexico arrests son of “El Chapo” Guzman

Mexican authorities have arrested Ovidio Guzman, son of the imprisoned drug trafficker Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, multiple news agencies reported.

Cars were set on fire and residents were carjacked by alleged cartel members in the city of Culiacan in Sinaloa province on Wednesday night and into Thursday. Authorities have not said what sparked the violence, but such actions sometimes occur following the arrest of a cartel member.

“We ask the citizens of Culiacan not to leave home due to the blockades that have occurred in different parts of the city,” Culiacan Mayor Juan de Dios Gamez wrote on Twitter.

Ovidio became an important figure in the Sinaloa Cartel after the arrest of his father, and was himself arrested and temporarily detained by Mexican security forces in October 2019.

In retaliation then, gunmen started shooting high-powered weapons throughout the city, and Ovidio Guzman was released in an embarrassing setback for the Administration of

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

In a Thursday press conference, Lopez Obrador acknowledged that there were ongoing operations in Culiacan, but did not offer more details.

Unverified footage on social media allegedly showed gunfire overnight in Culiacan, including from a helicopter, and the airport announced that it would suspend operations until Thursday evening. Work has also been suspended for all municipal employees.

“Don’t leave home!” the city posted on social media.

“The safety of Culiacan’s citizens is the most important.”

Another alleged drug kingpin, named ??Ernesto Alfredo Pinon de la Cruz and known as “El Neto”, was killed by authorities in the border city of Ciudad Juarez Thursday morning four days after fleeing prison during a violent mass breakout.

At least 19 people, including prison staff and other incarcerated people, were killed as armoured vehicles attacked the prison where Neto had been held in the deadliest raid of its kind in recent years.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

US unveils new border curbs for Haitians, Cubans, Nicaraguans

The United States will begin turning back migrants and refugees from Nicaragua, Haiti and Cuba who try to enter the country without permits at the border with Mexico, the White House has announced, drawing condemnation from rights groups.

The White House said on Thursday that it would accept as many as 30,000 people per month from the three countries – along with Venezuela – and give them two-year work authorisation, provided they have sponsors in the US and pass background checks.

However, anyone who seeks to irregularly cross the border will be ineligible for the programme and will be sent back to Mexico, which the US said had agreed to take back 30,000 people monthly from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Haiti.

“These four countries account for most of the people now travelling into Mexico to try to start a new life by

crossing the border into the United States of America,” US President Joe Biden said during a news conference on Thursday that announced the new restrictions.

“We anticipate this action is going to substantially reduce the number of people attempting to cross our southwest border without going through a legal process,” Biden told reporters.

“My message is this: If you’re trying to leave Cuba, Nicaragua or Haiti … do

not, do not just show up at the border. Stay where you are and apply legally from there.”

The move marks a massive change in US immigration rules, and it will stand even as the US Supreme Court considers ending a border expulsion policy known as Title 42 that has allowed authorities to rapidly expel asylum seekers without offering them a chance to seek protection.

Paraguay election race puts Taiwan ties on a knife-edge

Paraguay would cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan and open relations with China if the Opposition wins the election in April, its presidential candidate Efrain Alegre told Reuters, hoping to boost soy and beef exports that are its main economic engines.

The ruling party candidate, meanwhile, told Reuters he would maintain ties with Taiwan, a self-governed island that China considers one of its provinces and not a county, making the geopolitical question a centre-piece of the election race.

Paraguay is one of only 14 nations globally that retains diplomatic ties with Taiwan and the only South American country to do so. China has convinced a number of the island's al-

Presidential pre-candidate for the Liberal party Efrain Alegre smiles while attending his party's primary election at a poll station in Lambare near Asuncion, Paraguay, December 18, 2022 (Reuters/Cesar Olmedo)

lies to shift allegiance in recent years, the last being Nicaragua.

Alegre, candidate of a broad coalition that will seek to defeat the conservative ruling Colorado Party, said

Paraguay should establish relations with China to open access to its huge soy and beef markets, long a demand of farmers in the country.

"Paraguay must have relations with China," Alegre said in a recent interview after being named presidential candidate.

"Our interests in livestock and grain sectors are currently suffering a major loss," he added. "We hold this critical position towards relations with Taiwan, because we don't think we get enough back from this relationship."

Santiago Pena, the Colorado Party candidate, said Paraguay's over six decades of ties with Taiwan would remain intact if he won the April 30 vote.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Venezuela’s Opposition appoints 3 exiled lawmakers to leadership

Venezuela's Opposition national assembly on Thursday appointed three exiled lawmakers to direct it and create a commission to control foreign assets, including oil refiner Citgo Petroleum.

The assembly voted last week to remove Juan Guaidó, the public face of the fractious Opposition since 2019, as its interim President. The United States and other Governments had backed Guaidó after deeming the 2018 re-election of President Nicolás Maduro as fraudulent.

Legislators who backed ending the interim government say their control of foreign assets is not at risk – despite warnings from Guaidó and others – and the dissolution was necessary for unity ahead of presidential elections tentatively scheduled for 2024.

The new leadership triumvirate is assembly president Dinorah Figuera and vice presidents Marianela Fernandez and Auristela Vasquez – from Opposition parties Justice First, A New Era, and Democratic Action respectively.

All three have lived abroad since the start of Guaidó's interim Government because of what the Opposition says is Government harassment.

"I am convinced that this assembly, along with all the political parties ... will raise the flags of unity," Figuera, a 61-year-old doctor, said during the virtual session.

The new leadership will designate a five-member commission to manage foreign assets like Citgo, a subsidiary of State-owned oil company PDVSA. (Excerpt from Reuters)

The burnt wreckage of a bus and a burning truck, set on fire by members of a drug gang are pictured following news of the detention of Mexican drug gang leader Ovidio Guzman, a son of incarcerated kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, [Stringer/Reuters]

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Migrants and refugees from Venezuela huddle around a fire near the US-Mexico border [File: John Moore/Getty Images/AFP]

Around the World

Ukraine's Zelensky dismisses Russia truce order as trick

Oil rises after US fuel stocks drawdown; economic concerns loom

Oil prices rose around one per cent on Thursday after posting the biggest two-day loss for the start of a year in three decades with US data showing lower fuel inventories providing support and economic concerns capping gains.

Big declines in the previous two days were driven by worries about a global recession, especially following weak short-term economic signs in the world's two biggest oil consumers, the United States and China.

US distillate inventories fell more than expected as a winter storm gripped the United States at the end of December, data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed on Thursday.

US gasoline stocks fell 346,000 barrels last week, the EIA said, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 486,000-barrel drop.?

Distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, fell 1.4 million barrels in the week, versus expectations for a 396,000-barrel drop, the EIA data showed.

"The impact of the storm during that time period is on full display here," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in New York.

Brent crude futures settled higher 85 cents, or 1.1 per cent, at US$78.69 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude settled up 83 cents, or 1.2 per cent, at US$73.67 a barrel.

Both benchmarks' cumulative declines of more than nine per cent on Tuesday and Wednesday were the biggest twoday losses at the start of a year since 1991, according to Refinitiv Eikon data.

Supporting prices earlier in the session was a statement from top US pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline, which said its Line 3 had been shut for unscheduled maintenance with a restart expected for the products line on January 7.

Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM said the price rebound early in the session was due to the pipeline shutdown and added: "There is no doubt that the prevailing trend is down; it is a bear market."

Reflecting near-term bearishness, the nearby contracts of the two benchmarks traded at a discount to the next month, a structure known as contango.

On Wednesday, figures showing US manufacturing contracted further in December pressured prices, as did concerns about economic disruption as COVID-19 works its way through China, which has abruptly dropped strict curbs on travel and activity.(Reuters)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected out of hand on Thursday a Russian order for a truce over Orthodox Christmas, saying it was a trick to halt the progress of Ukraine's forces in the eastern Donbas region and bring in more of their own.

Speaking pointedly in Russian and addressing both the Kremlin and Russians as a whole, Zelensky said Moscow had repeatedly ignored Kyiv's own peace plan. The war would end, he said, when Russian troops left Ukraine or were thrown out.

"They now want to use Christmas as a cover, albeit briefly, to stop the advances of our boys in Donbas and bring equipment, ammunitions and mobilised troops closer to our positions," Zelensky said in his nightly video address, which he has delivered throughout the war that began with Russian forces invading last February 24.

"What will that give them? Only yet another increase in their total losses."

Russia's

have shifted their calendar to celebrate Christmas on December 25 as in the West.

Many Ukrainian believers

Evacuations ordered in California as deadly storm slams into coast

Heavy rain and powerful winds are pounding the northern California coast and forecasters have warned people to expect more flooding and mudslides.

The powerful storm system known as a bomb cyclone has killed at least two people, including a toddler who died when a redwood tree fell on his home.

California has been under a state of emergency since Wednesday. Over 160,000 home and businesses have lost power.

Officials say the rain is falling on ground already soaked by past rainfall.

Much of the state has been hit by atmospheric rivers –an airborne current carry-

ing dense moisture from the ocean – bringing heavy rain to low-lying areas, powerful winds to San Francisco and snow to the Sierra Nevada mountains.

The National Weather Service said California would continue to be impacted by atmospheric river conditions through Thursday, "with heavy to excessive rainfall, flooding with debris flows and landslides near recent burn scar areas, heavy mountain snow and high winds."

Evacuation orders and advisories were in place in parts of northern California, and local authorities have warned of threats to life and property, especially around San Francisco and Sacramento. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Hardline Republicans dig in against McCarthy's House Speaker bid

Hardline Republicans in the US House of Representatives rejected Kevin McCarthy's speakership bid for a ninth time on Thursday even after he offered to curb his own clout, raising questions about the party's ability to wield power.

After failing to put a majority behind the Republican McCarthy's candidacy, the House reached a level of dysfunction not seen since 1859, when it took 10 votes to select a leader in the turbulent runup to the Civil War.

As a 10th vote in three days got under way, there was as yet no sign McCarthy had a path to nailing down

the job. With its inability to choose a leader, the 435-seat House has been rendered im-

potent – unable even to formally swear in newly-elected members let alone hold hearings, consider legisla-

tion or scrutinise Democratic President Joe Biden and his Administration.

Republicans won a slim 222-212 House majority in the November midterm elections, meaning McCarthy cannot afford to lose the support of more than four Republicans as Democrats united around their own candidate.

McCarthy, a congressman from California who was backed by former President Donald Trump for the post, offered the holdouts a range of concessions that would weaken the Speaker's role, which political allies warned would make the job even harder if he got it. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Zelensky said that ending the war meant "ending your country's aggression ... This continues every day that your soldiers are on our soil ... And the war will end either when your

leave or we throw them out."

He urged Russians to challenge President Vladimir Putin's premise of portraying the war as necessary to safeguard Moscow's interests against the West and root out nationalists.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

US approves world’s 1st vaccine for declining honey bees

The US has approved use of the world's first vaccine for honey bees.

It was engineered to prevent fatalities from American foulbrood disease, a bacterial condition known to weaken colonies by attacking bee larvae.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved a conditional licence for the vaccine this week, according to the biotech firm behind its development.

As pollinators, bees play a critical role in many aspects of the ecosystem.

The vaccine could serve as a "breakthrough in protecting honey bees", Dalan Animal Health CEO Annette Kleiser said in a statement.

It works by introducing an inactive version of the bacteria into the royal jelly fed to the queen, whose larvae then gain immunity.

The US has seen annual

reductions in honey bee colonies since 2006, according to the USDA.

The USDA says many, sometimes overlapping, factors threaten honey bee health, including parasites, pests and disease, as well as a phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder, which occurs when worker bees abandon a hive and leave behind the queen.

Pollinators such as bees, birds, and bats are responsible for about a third of the world's crop production, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

American foulbrood disease poses a challenge for beekeepers as it is highly contagious and has no cure. The only treatment method requires burning the colony of infected bees along with the hives and equipment and treating nearby colonies with antibiotics.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Orthodox Church observes Christmas on January 7. Ukraine's main Orthodox Church has been recognised as independent by the church hierarchy since 2019 and rejects any notion of allegiance to the Moscow patriarch.

soldiers

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addresses Ukrainian people on New Year’s Eve, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, in this handout picture released December 31, 2022 (Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via Reuters)

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) pleads his case one-on-one with Representative Andrew Clyde (R-GA) after losing a seventh consecutive round of voting for Speaker of the House on the third day of the 118th Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, US, January 5, 2023 (Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein)

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Keep emotions out of important decisions. Distance yourself from outside influences and size up situations. Look for the best way to enhance your life through physical activity.

(March 21-April 19)

(April 20-May 20)

Mull over your choices before making a decision. Refuse to let anyone bully you into something that doesn’t fit your style, beliefs or desires. Be true to yourself. Accept a challenge you can win.

An energetic approach will encourage success. Showing others what you have to offer will stretch minds and bring positive input that will give you needed confidence. Engage and enjoy.

SUDOKU

(May 21-June 20)

(June 21-July 22) (July 23-Aug. 22)

Embrace and promote positive change. Educate yourself about something that piques your imagination; the information you obtain will help you make better decisions and connect with like-minded people.

Be the person everyone comes to for advice and looks to as an example. Stand up for your rights and beliefs, and don’t let anyone shake what works best for you. Discipline will pay off.

Align yourself with outstanding individuals in your community, and you will receive the help you need to bring about positive changes. Stop being hard on yourself. Let intelligence lead the way.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Don’t head in the wrong direction. Get involved in something that concerns you. Putting your energy where it counts and can do some good will be uplifting and attractive.

Ride whatever wave entices you. Look for adventure, strive for perfection and please yourself. Changing how you treat others will prompt them to show you more respect. Believe in yourself.

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

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Keep moving forward, and don’t let anyone interfere with your crusade. Make a point to have a good home workspace that helps you to increase your qualifications and strive to reach your goal.

Gear up and take charge. Staying in control will be difficult if you face opposition. Distance yourself from those trying to sabotage your attempt to head in a direction that’s better for you.

Physical activity is favored. Put your muscles to good use and make changes that add to your comfort and well-being. Do your best to entertain someone who interests you.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Change your priorities to suit your needs. Focus on how you feel and what you can do. The feedback you receive will help you decide which path will take you where you want to go.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

ARCHIE PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

DILBERT

Shanaka overcomes Axar to help Sri Lanka keep series alive

Axar Patel tried his absolute best with both bat and ball, but Dasun Shanaka continued his all-round domination of India to bring up a 16-run win for Sri Lanka in what turned out to be a thrilling contest at the MCA Stadium in Pune.

Batting first, the visitors - helped by some shoddy Indian bowling, including seven very costly no-ballsracked up 206 for 6 in their 20 overs. Kusal Mendis (52 off 31) and Shanaka (56* off 22) were their top-scor-

wicket.

Even as Suryakumar fell, Axar and Shivam Mavi kept the game in the balance. However, with India needing 21 to win off the final over, Shanaka picked up the ball for his first over, took two wickets, and helped his side get over the line.

Kusal Mendis starts on fifth gear before spinners strike

It started well enough for India. They won the toss and were able to bowl first, to avoid fielding in the dew later on. Hardik Pandya

spinners to pull things back. Axar and Yuzvendra Chahal put a lid on the scoring, and picked up wickets at the same time. The duo conceded just 54 runs off their eight overs combined.

Arshdeep and a tale of five no-balls

Arshdeep hasn't played

competitive cricket since the final ODI against New Zealand on November 30, and was bound to be rusty coming into this T20I. He was introduced in the second over, and started off with a half-volley on the pads that was clipped through square leg. No fuss - first ball after a fairly long break, happens.

The next four balls went for just a run.

Then began a saga of inexplicable no-balls - three on the bounce in his first over. The first was sprayed down leg, the next flicked to deep backward square leg for a four, and the third smoked over the fielder in the same region.

Arshdeep wasn't brought back till the 19th over, and when he was, the horror noballs continued. He bowled two more - Shanaka was caught at long-on off one of those - to finish with figures of 37 runs in two overs. His five no-balls changed the complexion of the game.

Shanaka continues his India domination

When the Sri Lanka captain walked out to the middle, his side had stuttered to 110 for 4 in the 14th over. He then saw Charith Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga fall to Umran Malik off successive balls, and faced the hat-trick ball - one that he pumped straight over the bowler's head.

ing away four runs.

ers. The Sri Lankan bowlers then broke India's back, reducing the hosts to 57 for 5 in the 10th over. The chase seemed to be done and dusted at that stage, but Suryakumar Yadav and Axar Patel staged a fightback for the ages, adding 91 runs off 40 balls for the sixth

bowled the first over and conceded just two runs. And then it all went downhill.

Mendis went on a rampage as Sri Lanka smashed 45 runs in the next three overs to trigger panic in the India camp. Mendis raced to a 27-ball fifty.

Hardik had to rely on his

Cristiano

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, 37, is now the highest-paid sportsperson ever, after he signed a lucrative A$305million-a-year deal with the Saudi Pro League club, The Sun reports.

Ronaldo, who was released by Manchester United last month after his explosive interview with Piers Morgan, arrived in Riyadh on Monday, and was greeted by a large group of adoring fans.

The forward then underwent his medical on Tuesday, ahead of his official unveiling, which took place at Al-Nassr’s home stadium - Mrsool Park. He later joined his new teammates in his first training session for the club.

Al-Nassr were hoping to hand the Portuguese star his big debut on Friday morning (AEDT), having sold-out

all of their 28,000 seats for their clash with Al Ta’ee.

However, he has been told he is suspended due to the punishment dished out by the FA after he slammed an Everton supporter’s phone out of that supporter’s hand.

Ronaldo received a twogame ban, and was fined by the FA in November following the incident with the autistic fan at Goodison Park in April, and did not feature for the Red Devils again.

Ronaldo, who was walking down the tunnel, was

cautioned by Merseyside Police after he shoved the young boy’s phone out of his hand after Everton had beaten United 1-0 at Goodison Park. He later issued an apology via social media for his “outburst”, and issued an invite for the supporter to be his guest for a game at Old Trafford “as a sign of fair play and sportsmanship”.

He wrote: “It’s never easy to deal with emotions in difficult moments such as the one we are facing. Nevertheless, we always have to be respectful, patient, and set the example for all the youngsters who love the beautiful game.

“I would like to apologise for my outburst and, if possible, I would like to invite this supporter to watch a game at Old Trafford as a sign of fair-play and sportsmanship.”

But the 14-year-old Jake - who has autism - declined the forward’s offer and refused to accept his apology.

Due to the break for the

World Cup, Ronaldo was unable to serve his suspension before his explosive United exit, and now that ban will carry on to his new club.

And that effectively bars Al-Nassr from playing their new talisman until they have completed two competitive matches that he is available for.

Article 12.1 of FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players says: “Any disciplinary sanction of up to four matches or up to three months that has been imposed on a player by the former association but not yet (entirely) served by the time of the transfer shall be enforced by the new association at which the player has been registered in order for the sanction to be served at domestic level.”

The FA clarified that Ronaldo must serve his suspension even if he moved abroad, in their written reasons when they imposed the ban days after his high-profile interview with Morgan. (Fox Sports)

There was no stopping Shanaka thereon. He brought up his fifty off 20 balls, the fastest by a Sri Lankan in men's T20Is, as they hammered 93 runs in the last six overs. Later, when the chase got tricky, he took it upon himself to bowl the final over, and picked up two wickets, giv-

Sri

Lanka quicks blow away India's top order

Seeing how Sri Lanka finished off their innings might have given hope to India's top order that the Pune surface was full of runs. They were in for a rude awakening. The Sri Lanka fast bowlers bowled with gusto, and had the batters in all sorts of trouble. By the time the powerplay ended, the hosts had been reduced to 39 for 4, with all of Dilshan Madushanka, Kasun Rajitha and Chamika Karunaratne on the board.

Axar, Suryakumar stage a fightback to remember India were languishing on 64 for 5 after 10 overs. With a long tail to follow, a heavy defeat seemed imminent. Then came a run-out chance, one that saw Axar and Suryakumar almost at the same end. Sri Lanka missed, and that turned a switch. Both Suryakumar and Axar went for their shots like two men possessed. Not one Sri Lanka bowler was spared, and a required rate often near 15 was being managed fairly well. Axar brought up his fifty off 20 balls, Suryakumar off 33.

Eventually, though, the target turned out to be a peak too big to scale.

(ESPNCricinfo)

Gill, 1.6 ov), 3-21 (Rahul Tripathi, 2.1 ov), 4-34 (Hardik Pandya, 4.4 ov), 5-57 (Deepak Hooda, 9.1 ov), 6-148 (Suryakumar Yadav, 15.5 ov), 7-189 (Axar Patel, 19.3 ov), 8-190 (Shivam Mavi, 19.6 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Dilshan Madushanka 4-0-45-2

Kasun Rajitha 4-0-22-2

Chamika Karunaratne 4-0-41-1

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva 3-0-41- 1

Maheesh Theekshana 4-0-33-0

Dasun Shanaka 1-0-4-2

Game recognises game - Dasun Shanaka patting Axar Patel after a fantastic knock

Kusal Mendis helped Sri Lanka get a good start

Sri Lanka celebrating

Ronaldo has been banned by the English Football Association from making his debut for Al-Nassr on January 6.

Ronaldo banned from Saudi Arabian debut with Al-Nassr over earlier ‘outburst’

Al-Nassr's new Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo

Sri Lanka tour to India 2023: T20I Series, Game 2 of 3…

West Indies Women eyeing fast start to U19 T20 World Cup

With budding talent already capped in senior T20Is and winnable matches in the group stage, the West Indies can make an early impact in the ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup 2023.

Squad: Ashmini Munisar (c), Asabi Callendar, Jahzara Claxton, Naijanni Cumberbatch, Earnisha Fontaine, Jannillea Glasgow, Realanna Grimmond, Trishan Holder, Zaida James, Djenaba Joseph, K D Jazz Mitchell, Shalini Samaroo, Shunelle Sawh, Lena Scott, Abini St Jean.

All squads for ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup 2023.

Schedule: January 15 vs Ireland, North-West University Oval, Potchefstroom

January 17 vs Indonesia, North-West University Oval, Potchefstroom

January 19 vs New Zealand, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom

Key player - Djenaba Joseph

The right-hand batter has risen rapidly from making a senior debut for Trinidad and Tobago in June 2022 to being called into the senior West Indies squad just six months later.

Joseph played four T20Is

in the recent senior series against England, initially appearing in the middle order, but having more success batting at first drop. The teenager showed maturity and composure beyond her years as

the only West Indies batter to reach double-figures in the fifth and final T20I in the series, holding out for 43 minutes as six teammates lost their wicket.

Joseph has shown plen-

African Cup of Nations soccer 2023…

More Cameroon U-17 players fail age testing enforced by Eto'o

tors, to ensure that the ages by category are respected."

The fight against age cheats

Many of Africa's international successes in junior tournaments have been clouded by allegations of the use of overage players.

Football's world governing body FIFA introduced MRI scans at the 2009 Under-17 World Cup, which took place in Nigeria. The MRI works by scanning the wrist to study how advanced the bone structure is.

In 2017, Fecafoot blocked 14 players from taking part in the Under-17 Afcon in Gabon after they failed the tests.

ty of promise at junior level, including with a quick-fire 48 off 33 balls against New Zealand in the West Indies' more recent T20.

As a clever medium-pace bowler, the West Indies will also turn to Joseph for a brief spell in the middle overs.

Expectations:

The West Indies will target wins against Indonesia and Ireland to ensure they progress from the group stage, while hoping to be more competitive against New Zealand than in two

Post-Qatar 2022 soccer…

losses to them in November. But after only tasting victory once in their past 10 T20s - with recent losses also coming against Sri Lanka, India and the USA - any success beyond the group stage could be considered a bonus.

Chelsea sign France defender Badiashile for

Chelsea.

£35m

He's an excellent young player who has quickly established a strong reputation for himself and has a huge amount of experience for his young age. We are sure he will form an important part of our team in the years ahead."

Graham Potter's side are currently without defenders Wesley Fofana, Reece James and Ben Chilwell through injury. (BBC Sport)

Cameroon's Under-17s face a race against time to field a team for regional African Cup of Nations qualifiers, after more players failed age tests ordered by Samuel Eto'o, President of the country's governing body, Fecafoot.

The former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker's insistence on using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) screening saw the squad ravaged at their training camp in Mbankomo, on the outskirt of Yaounde. Of the initial 30-member group, 21 failed the tests.

BBC Sport Africa now understands Cameroon have suffered a fresh setback, as 11 new players also failed tests on Tuesday,

with coach Jean Pierre Fiala struggling to find replacements.

Cameroon host Congo, Chad, DR Congo, and Central African Republic for the Central African Football Federations' Union (UNIFFAC) qualifiers between 12 and 24 January, with two teams progressing to April's Under-17 Nations Cup in Algeria.

A Fecafoot statement said Eto'o gave "strict instructions" for the actions to be taken "in order to put an end to the tampering with civil status records, which have in the past tarnished the image of Cameroon football.

"Fecafoot urges all actors, in particular educa-

Eto'o promised to take action to combat the long-running problem when he was elected Fecafoot president in December 2021, and Simon Lyonga, a journalist with Cameroon's national broadcaster CRTV, says the decision to weed out age cheats has been applauded by the public.

"Here, in Cameroon, people are by and large pleased that Fecafoot actually seem to be doing something to try to stop the cheating," Lyonga told BBC Sport Africa. "It is important for the country to give chances to players of the right age."

Cameroon have twice been continental champions at Under-17 level: in 2003 and 2019. (BBC Sport)

Chelsea have signed France defender Benoit Badiashile from Monaco for £35m on a seven-and-a-half-year contract. Badiashile, 21, has spent five seasons in Ligue 1 and made 135 league appearances for Monaco. The central defender made his senior international debut in September against Austria, and has two caps.

"I'm very happy to be here at Chelsea. I can't wait to see the fans and start playing in the best league in the world," said Badiashile.

Badiashile joined Monaco in 2016, and made his Ligue 1 debut against Paris St-Germain in November 2018 when Thierry Henry was manager.

He has featured in the

Champions League and Europa League for the French club, and has scored six goals and registered three assists.

"Benoit's growth over the last two-and-a-half seasons from a young player struggling to fully bring his talent to bear is testament to his and the staff's attitudes in adopting a higher professional standard," said Monaco Sporting Director Paul Mitchell. "Signing with one of Europe's biggest clubs is the fruit of the work being accomplished within our academy and first team, and once again highlights Monaco's ability to develop young players to the highest level."

Blues chairman Todd Boehly said: "We're delighted to welcome Benoit to

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Badiashile played as a left-sided centre-back at Monaco

Samuel Eto'o helped Cameroon to two successive Africa Cup of Nations in 2000 and 2002, and is the tournament's record scorer with 18 goals

Track resurfacing, CARIFTA preparation to coincide at Leonora

Regupol of Germany, are expected to return this month end or early February to initiate work. However, it will directly coincide with the Athletics Association of Guyana’s (AAG) preparation for the 2023 CARIFTA Games, set to take place over the Easter weekend in April.

As such, this publication reached out to AAG President Aubrey Hutson, who is not opposed to the track being resurfaced, but divulged that he is hoping for a long enough notice, so that the Association’s competition schedule would not be hindered.

lem shifting training sessions around, if facilities are available. Hutson explained, “I think I heard somewhere along the line that the intention was to finish Linden, and the same contractor was going to come to repair Leonora. So, if Linden is completed and then focus is

being put on Leonora, then I think we will just have to incur some transportation costs of shifting our events to Linden for that little window,” he said. “By and large, we should move our sport around the country.”

The Leonora Track was first laid in February 2014.

By Jemima Holmes

Over the past year, several parts of the track at the National Track and Field Center (NTFC), Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD) have become an eyesore. With the rubber lifting, and being absent or swollen in some places, it has resulted in the current urgency for resurfacing the track.

Notably, the track at Leonora is the only one of its kind, given that the two additional tracks, at Linden and Berbice, are yet to be completed; and that track is used extensively, especially now with the CARIFTA Games, World Championships, and other athletics events set for

2023.

Given the state of the track, Director of Sport, (DoS) Steve Ninvalle, informed Guyana Times Sport on Wednesday that resurfacing of the Leonora Track is of utmost importance, and is set to be completed by April, costing in excess of $70M.

“Also, we have planned in 2023 is to do the resurfacing of the Leonora Track to the tune of maybe $78M. That we should have completed by April month end,” Ninvalle informed <<Guyana Times Sport>>.

Obviously, the elephant in the room would be the local athletes’ need to utilise the track in order to prepare for a packed 2023 calendar.

Explaining that he was in no position to foretell the AAG’s plans, Ninvalle emphasised, “You see, it’s important that we do that resurfacing. It’s just like with the National Sports Hall; we’ve had to shift around certain sport disciplines to the Gymnasium, to other places, because the Sports Hall, at some time, we had to stop and say let’s fix this’.”

“So, it means that some people will be in some discomfort for a limited period of time, so that we could be in comfort for a longer period of time. As it relates to the Leonora track, it’s the same thing,” the Director of Sport added.

The company that laid the track initially, BSW

Hutson reasoned, “I don’t see the resurfacing of the track or, in my humble opinion, the work that has to be done on the track, lasting for more than 2 weeks. I don’t see it, because, I remember when they laid the last surface, it did not last that long. So, I’m hoping that once the Ministry can let us know, or the National Sports Commission can let us know, exactly when they plan to start working, and by when it will be completed, we will have to fashion our programme to suit,” the AAG Boss continued.

“I’m only hoping it will not fall in the time we have competition.”

Hutson went on to disclose that he has no prob-

BCB receives major sponsorship deals from Dr Puran Singh and Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has started the year with two major sponsorship deals with Dr Puran Singh renewing his sponsorship for the National Players scheme and Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh had renewed his countrywide sponsorship, pumping $2.3M into the development of Berbice cricket.

On the first day of 2023, the BCB was informed that long time sponsor, Dr Puran Singh has renewed his sponsorship of the National Players Financial Scheme. Dr Puran Singh, a Berbician by birth is based in Barbados and has been supporting the BCB over the last four years in its cricket development programme.

Under the scheme, all youths who made a national team at the under 13, 15, 17 and 19 levels along with senior females would receive a stipend of ten thousands dollars to assist them in their preparation for national duties. Last year, a record fifty Berbicians including seniors represented Guyana or the West Indies at all levels as the ancient county continues to produce players of a very high standard via a series of developmental programmes.

BCB President Hilbert Foster expressed delight that Dr Singh has renewed his support for the scheme, which is one of the several programmes that encourages youths in the county to excel on the cricket field. Foster noted that the BCB was targeting a total of about thirty six youths at all levels for the national teams .The active

BCB in 2023 hopes to build on the successes of 2022 and would be investing heavily in the development of new talents for clubs clubs via a robust primary and secondary school cricket programme that would include coaching and tournaments.The board would also be working overtime to obtain several crucial equipment for the effort including several bowling machines which would be placed across the county in an effort to assist in the development of batsmen and the way they play fast bowling. Twenty clubs across the county has already received practice nets towards the proper organising of practice sessions.

They have also receive cricket balls, Youth Information Booklets, gears and coaching manuals to assist them in the youth development programme. The BCB also assists with educational grants and cycles to assist youths to complete their educational careers.

Foster also disclosed that one of the main aim of the BCB in 2023 is the construction of four outdoor concrete batting strips ,one in each of the zones in the county- West Berbice, New Amsterdam/ Canje, Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne.As part of the comprehensive programme to lift the county cricket higher, the BCB is also working with Dr Frank Denbow to organise a tour to a Caribbean Island in April for a Berbice Under-21 team.

It would be the first tour by the BCB in over forty

years and the main objective is to encourage players to continue playing the game after the under 19 level.

Dr Puran Singh stated that he was delighted to be associated with the BCB once again as he was very impressed with the standard of Berbice cricket and the visionary leadership been provided by the executives under the leadership of Hilbert Foster.

Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh renews sponsorship of Berbice Cricket- to pump $2.3M into the county for 2023. Bowling machines for developmental programme.

The plans of the Berbice Cricket Board for the development of cricket in the ancient county for 2023 on Monday last received a major boost when long time sponsor, Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh renewed his sponsorship.

Dr Tulsi Singh, a highly respected medical doctor based in Texas, USA has been supporting the Hilbert Foster led board since 2018 and has invested millions of

dollars into a county wide coaching programme and assisting the county with a wide range of items including water pitchers, grass cutters, pitch covers and sponsored the restoration of the BCB Office in 2019.

Foster who led the BCB discussion with Dr Tulsi Singh disclosed that the 2023 sponsorship covers three major sections that includes tournaments, bowling machines and cricket academies. The deal would see Dr Singh sponsoring two days tournaments for four sub zones at the under 15 and under 19 levels . The major objectives are to get youth cricketers to play the longer version of the game and to get youths to developed concentration at the crease .At the end of the two tournaments, the Berbice selectors would select a twenty man squad for a special three day

coaching programme .

The second part of the multi million sponsorship would involve the purchasing of two bowling machine for the BCB Coaching programme. The machines were specially requested by the BCB nineteen members coaching staff during one of their meeting with Foster. The two machines would be obtained at the cost of about eight hundred thousand dollars.

The main objective is to work on the ability of Berbice young batsmen to play fast bowling. The BCB hopes to acquire at least two more bowling machines , so that every sub zones would have one for their own internal coaching programmes. The ancient county is also expected to collect a large amount of bowling machines from a friend of Berbice cricket, Australian Matt

Bruer later this year.

The final part of the cricket sponsorship covers expenses for the hosting of mini academies in West Berbice, New Amsterdam/ Canje, Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne. The four mini academies would be held in July/August and would cater for a combined one hundred and eighty youths between the age of nine to eighteen years old.

A panel of coaches headed by level three coach Winston Smith would conduct the academies that would be held over two days in each sub zone.

BCB President Hilbert Foster expressed thanks to the sponsor for his continued investment in the county cricket development. The year 2023, he stated would see unmatched development in the game especially at the youth level as the pro active board strives to unearthed new talents for the future.

The support of Dr Tulsi Singh would allow the BCB to successfully complete its comprehensive youth developmental programme which includes regular coaching at the club and school levels, youth tournaments, obtaining all the necessary equipment and providing youths with gears and all the necessary cricket educational materials.

Dr Tulsi Singh, stated that he was very impressed with the development currently taking place in the county and was delighted to assist. The long time sponsor also committed to assisting in the future.

Director of Sport, (DoS) Steve Ninvalle

Athletics Association of Guyana President (AAG), Aubrey Hutson

A look at some of the wear-and-tear at the National Track and Field Center (NTFC) at Leonora

Dr Puran Singh and BCB President Hilbert Foster

Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh