Guyana Times - Friday March 10, 2023

“Talk to your children; break the silence” – Pres Ali on domestic violence

…urges collective effort in tackling violence against women

In a move to end the scourge of violence against women, President Dr Irfaan Ali has called on all citizens to check themselves and ensure they are not a part of the problem that contributes to the wanton disregard for women’s rights and lives.

He made this plea while addressing an International Women’s Day event held at State House on Wednesday evening.

According to the Head of State, despite the successes and significant achievements by women in Guyana, there are still some issues affecting their gender that have to and must be dealt with. Among those issues he raised is the societal scourge of domestic violence.

“As a country, I pray that we pledge to utilise every single ounce of energy we have to let this be a priority. Let this be a national priority. Sit and talk to your children. Let them understand that this is not part of humanity and human behaviour. We all must be part of the solution,” he implored.

President Ali noted that often times economic and social circumstances have been

labelled as the root cause of violence against women, but he argued that this was not the case. In fact, he contended that the root cause was the inaction by those in society who watch in silence as these atrocities are being meted out against women.

“I want us to pause tonight and to think a bit outside of the box. How many of us would witness violence against women and stayed quiet? How many of us will see it in our families, will see it in our communities? How many mothers will cover for their sons? How many wives will cover for their husband? How many? It is always one too many.

“So, the root cause is our silence. The root cause is our collective guilt. All of us have a collective guilt, not to stand strong and definitively against violence against women. If we do that, we can get rid of this monster and devil from the society. We must leave no space for this evil trend to grow,” he stressed.

To this end, the Guyanese Leader went on to outline there must be a collective decision as individuals, as families, as a community to fight

this regressive act of violence against women. He pointed out that there was “absolutely no excuse for raising a finger against women… we have to stop it. We have to play our part”.

As a matter of fact, the President pointed to various scenarios whereby victims of domestic violence were seen going before the courts and saying ‘oh, we don't want to pursue it anymore’; or when women are killed in the community, neighbours would speak up and say ‘oh, they always used to quarrel and fight’; ‘Oh, they always have problems’ or they always saw someone running someone with a piece of wood or something, but they stayed quiet.

According to Ali, citizens have the power to make a difference, and possibly save a life. He urged persons to change their thinking and play an active role in the elimination of this scourge from society.

This, he underscored, is one of the goals of his Men on Mission (MoM) initiative that sees its participants going to communities to raise awareness in order to uproot the little seeds that cause such behaviours.

“Sometimes, we look to the Police, to the court, to the lawyers to solve these problems. But we have to contribute to this [solution as well]. This is our collective problem. This is not only a problem for the homes in which this type of violence occurs,” the Head of State noted.

Back in January, Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud has disclosed that some 900 domestic violence cases were recorded in 2022.

Of this figure, a total of 360 cases were reported via the 914 DV hotline during the first six months of last year. This represents an in-

crease when compared to the 260 cases recorded during the same period in 2021.

Only on Monday morning, 26-year-old Aneeza Ishmael was stabbed to death by her reputed husband at their Hope Estate, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home after he accused her of being un-

faithful.

The suspect has since confessed to the heinous crime. He is currently under guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital receiving medical attention after he consumed a poisonous substance shortly after fatally injuring the woman. (G8)

Recidivism rates reduced by

in 2022 – Prisons Director

The rate at which convicted criminals recommit an offence – recidivism ? in Guyana dropped from 13 per cent in 2021 to 10 per cent in 2022, Director of the Guyana Prison Service (GPS), Nicklon Elliot has revealed.

During the handing-over ceremony for $30 million worth of Information Communications Technology (ICT) from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) earlier this week, Elliot credited the reduction to a cooperative effort at the leadership level.

“[The reduction] is quite remarkable, because of the number of activities that are ongoing at the ministerial level and the governmental level, and of course by extension, our strategic plan which drives this effort,” he said.

In 2022, the Home Affairs Ministry launched a programme aimed at upskilling prisoners, in order to reduce

the chances of them returning to prison after their release.

The $88.9 million programme, dubbed “Increasing the Peace in Guyana” saw 1400 inmates receiving skills training, in a number of areas including anger management, literacy and numeracy,

and tailoring.

Elliot said the Prison Service’s aim for this year was to ensure that all categories of prisoners were exposed to the various types of programmes made available through the GPS.

“Our general focus will be towards addressing holistically the rehabilitation efforts in prison, and externally to promote the reintegration aspect. Because we realise the stigma and discrimination is still there, we are working closely with our community partners and their family support bases, to ensure that when these prisoners receive this training and they go back out there, that their coping mechanisms should prevent them from committing those particular crimes,” he explained.

The Prisons Director also encouraged the Private Sector to assist in the rehabilitative efforts of the Government through the GPS.

3%

Director of the Guyana Prison Service (GPS), Nicklon Elliot

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, March 10 – 04:15h-05:45h and Saturday, March 11 – 05:30h-07:00h.

Women play leading roles in many sectors in Guyana – Pres Ali

Friday, March 10 –05:55h-07:25h and Saturday, March 11 – 06:20h-07:50h.

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

Sunny conditions are expected throughout the day, with clear skies in the evening. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to Easterly between 3.13 metres and 6.26 metres.

High Tide: 06:13h and 18:33h reaching maximum heights of 2.73 metres and 2.72 metres.

Low Tide: 12:07h reaching a minimum height of 0.44 metre.

country in Region can compare to Guyana’s advancement of women

sample of the women in the country who were making significant contributions to the development of the nation.

“Tonight, in this small sample of women across Guyana, we have women in the legal field, in aviation, in business, in culture, in arts, in politics, as home CEOs, in agriculture, manufacturing, industry, healthcare, education, law enforcement and, of course, diplomacy and beauty… all of it in the capsule of intelligence,” he declared.

Scholarship and training

The Head of State went on to outline that under the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) Scholarship initiative, some

Despite facing a host of barriers, women in Guyana are playing leading roles in many sectors and according to President Dr Irfaan Ali, this is demonstrative of greater inclusion of females in the country’s development – something which no other country in the Region can match up to.

The Head of State was at the time delivering remarks at an event held at State House on Wednesday evening in celebration of International Women’s Day.

LOTTERY NUMBERS

During his address, President Ali reflected on the successes of women in Guyana, which he described as “great, significant, important and transformative”. He told the gathering

of almost entirely females that they were just a small

72.6 per cent of the students studying are women, from

every single region across the country. In fact, one of the presenters during the event was a young Amerindian woman, Elisa Bascom, who spoke of the opportunity she got to further her studies and she was now a Management Development Officer at the Amerindian Affairs Ministry. According to President Ali, this is “…an example of how important this programme is for girls and women across our country”.

In the public sector, he noted that 57 per cent of the total number of scholarships given by the Public Service Ministry went to women. Similarly, training within the public sector has seen women accounting for 69 per cent of those who have benefited.

…says no other

A section of the massive gathering at the International Women’s Day event at State House on Wednesday evening

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Healthier behaviours

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony some time ago implored on Guyanese the need for healthier eating habits while calling out the nation on our bad eating habits.

To quote the Minister: “There are a number of bad habits that we have. They include consumption of alcohol and smoking cigarettes. We eat the wrong food, and move away from fresh, healthy foods. We eat a lot of fast foods and drink a lot of sugarsweetened beverages. These contribute to diabetes, and we have to change them. In addition, a lot of our population has moved to an inactive way of living.”

Every year, Guyana joins with regional countries as part of a unified response to promote health and prevent and control the epidemic of non-communicable diseases, or NCDs.

The COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impacts on individuals and communities as a whole are yet another stark reminder that both the health authorities and citizens must continue to take the issue of NCDs very seriously.

Based on what the medical professionals have found so far, most of the persons who died as a result of contracting COVID-19 had had some kind of underlying health complication, many of which were related to NCDs.

According to PAHO/WHO, people with underlying health conditions such as NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer, have a higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease, and are more likely to die from COVID-19. Risk factors for NCDs can make people more vulnerable to becoming severely ill. For example, smokers may have reduced lung capacity, which would greatly increase risk of serious illness.

Even before the pandemic, poor lifestyle choices such as tobacco use, alcohol abuse, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity had resulted in large numbers of people falling sick and dying.

It is also believed that around 40 per cent of Guyanese are either overweight or obese, and of that number, the majority are women.

Health experts say that chronic diseases result largely from bad food choices and low levels of physical activity. Reducing the risk of developing chronic illnesses, including Type 2 Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and various cancers, is associated with living a healthy lifestyle, which includes such factors as nonsmoking, a healthy diet, regular physical activity, moderate alcohol intake, and a sense of mental well-being.

For example, evidence suggests that half of all cancers could be prevented by following a healthy lifestyle.

Further, NCDs come at a high cost to individuals and nation states in terms of human suffering, expensive treatment, and loss of production. It is estimated that the direct and indirect costs of treating NCDs in Guyana are over 10 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

What is noteworthy is the realisation that most cases of chronic NCDs are avoidable, and it is within our individual power to prevent these diseases from affecting our lives.

So, how do we make the breakthrough when it comes to getting our citizens to adopt healthy lifestyles, considering the fact that some persons still operate with a high degree of ignorance?

To begin with, we believe that there is need for greater awareness and knowledge in the society about the dangers of chronic illnesses. On this basis, we urge that there be continuous public education and awareness campaigns across the country to address various health issues.

Research has shown that the numerous media campaigns on HIV/AIDS prevention and care, stigma and discrimination have impacted positively on attitudes and lifestyle changes; and messages in a similar fashion should be created towards addressing NCDs such as hypertension and diabetes, or dealing with overweightness and obesity.

The Government, even though it must take the lead as it relates to policy drafting and implementation etc, cannot do it alone; the entire society must be actively involved.

It is well accepted that better health is central to human happiness and well-being. It also makes an important contribution to economic progress, as healthy populations live longer, are more productive, and save more. Everyone should therefore aim to live a healthy and full life, and to avoid becoming trapped by NCDs.

We agree with the Health Minister when he said, “The earlier they (children) learn healthy behaviours, then they would have lifelong benefits from this type of behaviour. If we teach children the right thing, more than likely they would go through life using these techniques”.

What will it take to end the war in Ukraine?

By Serhiy Kudelia

More than a year after Russia’s fullscale invasion of Ukraine, the war appears to have reached a deadlock.

Since the liberation of Kherson by Ukrainian forces last November, both sides have been engaged in positional warfare, with only minor changes in territorial control. The widely expected Russian winter offensive barely moved the front line, and failed to seize long-contested towns in the Donbas region such as Avdiivka, Mariinka, Bakhmut and Vuhledar.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian army used heavily fortified positions and Western-supplied arms to successfully repel Russian armoured assaults. Even if Russian forces ultimately seize the largely destroyed Bakhmut, the heavily fortified Ukrainian positions around the SlovianskKramatorsk agglomeration would hinder any further movement.

On the other hand, the Ukrainian counteroffensive will likely target the southern areas of the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions, where Russian forces have been building layered defence lines since the fall. Given the increased density of Russian forces along the southern front line, it will be hard for Ukrainians to repeat the sudden pincer movements which allowed for the quick liberation of occupied towns in the Kharkiv region and parts of Donbas last year.

If there are no decisive shifts on the battlefield over the next six months, however, the pressure for peace talks from Western governments will most likely grow. So, would Ukraine and Russia be ready for negotiations?

Obstacles to peace talks in Ukraine

The string of successful military operations that led to the humiliating retreat of the Russian army last year strengthened public confidence in Ukraine’s eventual victory. In a January survey of Ukrainians residing in the country, 89 percent of respondents said they were optimistic about Ukraine’s future. The majority explained their optimism with their anticipation of victory over Russia.

NATO’s willingness to provide Ukraine with increasingly more advanced weaponry, such as long-range artillery, air defence systems, and tanks, has further boosted such expectations. As a result, while in May 2022, 59 percent of survey respondents favoured negotiations with Russia, by January, the number had slumped to 29 percent, with 66 percent opposing such talks.

Most importantly, the Ukrainian leadership and the public have started defining victory in maximalist terms. For 82 percent of those surveyed, peace with Russia is pos-

sible only upon the return of all territories occupied since 2014, including Crimea and the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces.

There is also overwhelming public support for joining NATO, with more than 80 percent in favour of it in all regions of the country. Membership in the alliance is viewed by many as a non-negotiable position. Only 20 percent of respondents indicated they would support giving up on this goal for the sake of peace with Russia.

Territorial claims and foreign policy are not the only irreconcilable differences between Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian leaders have also indicated that a complete victory would require the transformation of Russia’s political regime and reparations from Moscow.

As Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated during the 2023 Munich Security Conference, until Russia changes, the “war will continue in one or another form”.

In a recent interview, the Head of the Ukrainian Military Intelligence Service, Kyrylo Budanov, claimed that the return of all territories would mark the end of the first phase of the war only. In the subsequent stage, Russia’s territories bordering Ukraine would have to be demilitarised to establish a “security zone around Ukraine …100 kilometres in depth”.

These post-war scenarios thus presume Russian President Vladimir Putin’s removal from power as the main condition for peace.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had already established this expectation in October when he signed a decree dismissing the possibility of talks with Putin. Such a position, in his view, should incentivise other members of the Russian political elite to “start thinking about what to do internally, so that someone would agree to come to a negotiating table with them”.

Obstacles to peace in Russia

While Ukraine is weary of negotiating personally with Putin, the Russian leader sees the war in broader terms as a conflict with the Western alliance, and dismisses Ukraine as a Western puppet state. His press secretary Dmitry Peskov argued in a recent interview that by supplying arms to Ukraine, France, the United Kingdom and the United States had entered into a “direct military confrontation” with Russia. Hence, the Kremlin is willing to accept only Western leaders as counterparts in peace talks. Moscow further rejects the legitimacy of the Ukrainian authorities on ideological grounds, accusing them of “favouring Nazis and promoting Nazi sentiments within the society”.

The only Ukrainian politicians that the Kremlin has indicated as possible negotiating partners have long fled to Russia,

and hence could not realistically represent Ukraine. Since the West insists that nothing about Ukraine can be discussed “without Ukraine”, the prospect of such talks seems particularly remote at this point.

Another crucial obstacle to negotiations is Russia’s rigidity in its war aims, which combine territorial, ideological, and strategic demands. The annexation of four Ukrainian regions last September, only partially controlled by Russian forces, established a pretext for additional territorial demands.

At the same time, a law adopted by the Russian State Duma in 2020 precludes any consideration of territorial concessions by establishing criminal responsibility for calls or actual attempts to yield parts of Russian territory. Ideologically, Russia remains committed to framing the war as the fight against Ukrainian “neo-Nazis”, which has to end with regime change in Kyiv. Strategically, Putin presents the war as an existential fight to preserve the unity of the Russian state and prevent its subordination by the West.

This, in his view, justifies the need to push back the Western presence from its borders, and ensure that Ukraine remains outside of the Western alliance.

The latter demand has been indirectly endorsed by China in its newly released 12-point peace plan. While recognising the importance of upholding the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, it calls for respecting the “legitimate security interests” of other countries, and rejects the pursuit of security by “strengthening or expanding military blocs”.

Although public opinion has been a weak constraint on the Kremlin’s decision-making, its immense propaganda efforts suggest that Russian leaders still take public attitudes seriously. Over the last year, at least a third of Russians have consistently preferred talks over continued military operations. This share reached a peak of 44 percent in the fall of 2022 when Russian forces suffered a series of defeats in the southern and northern parts of Ukraine.

Similarly, in a February survey, 40 percent of respondents said they would like to see Russian troops withdraw from Ukraine without achieving their goals. Even more, about two-thirds of respondents (66 percent) indicated that they would support the signing of a peace agreement and an end to the military campaign if such a decision came from Putin.

This suggests that the Russian leadership has a wider leeway in choosing the direction of this war, including a path of de-escalation, than its Ukrainian counterparts. (Excerpted from Al Jazeera)

(Serhiy Kudelia is an Associate Professor of

Political Science at Baylor University.)

Dancers performing at a dinner hosted by President Dr Irfaan Ali and First Lady Arya Ali to celebrate International Women’s Day 2023. This year’s celebration was themed: "DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality" (Office of the President photo)

Rang Barse vs Chautal

Dear Editor,

Since this is “Holi Week”, the following discussion might interest the Guyanese readership of your newspaper. There is a growing misperception that the singing and performance of Chautal during Holi is extinct, or near extinction. One commentator to my social media websites, saddened by this perception, said, “No more chowtal singing since Rang Barse (popular Bollywood Holi song) took over!!”

I will attempt here to correct this misperception.

No, Rang Barse have not replaced Chautal. I would like to quote Mr Ravi Dev’s March 5, 2023 article in the Guyana newspapers: “The centerpiece of the pre-Phagwa programme was the performance of a Chautal group…Chautal is a folk musical genre associated with Phagwa. It originated from the Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Western Bihar

part of North India called the “Bhojpuri” belt, from where most of the indentured servants originated. However, Chautal has almost disappeared in India, but, very intriguingly, has survived and indeed flourished in Guyana, Trinidad, Suriname and Fiji, and their diasporas in North America and Netherlands. But both in the instrumentation –from the single dholak (barrel drum) and Jhaals (cymbals) and Dhantal (steel rod and U-shaped clapper) – Fijians and Surinamese now use several dholaks and sometimes the large booming Tadja drum, while Guyanese are introducing Tassa Drums.”

Chautal is also very much alive and well in the Hindu mandirs in NYC. I have visited many mandirs in NY, where, weeks before Holi, the Kirgan groups will begin practising their Chautal, eventually culminating with performances during the burning of

Holika and during the dedicated Havan & Puja ceremonies. The level of Chautal expertise ranges from the amateurish (which we still love!) to professionals performing with GREAT gusto!

Also, beyond the mandir, at Phagwah Motorcades, Chautal singing usually takes centre stage.

Secondly, Filmi ollywood Holi songs have always been - since the 1940s and 50s - an integral part of the observation of Holi/ Phagwa in the diaspora (including in Guyana); and even in India, even before the famous song from Mother India, “Holi Aayi Re Kanhai” by Shamshad Begum took pride of place in Phagwa singing decades ago.

Rang Barse is just the latest song that has dominated Holi song performances. As aforementioned, of course Chautal singing preceded all of this from almost the inception of Indian indentureship (1838). So,

Bollywood Holi songs were never in competition with Chautal performances, but were in conjunction with Holi observances.

These two completely different genres together made for sparkling musical extravaganza at our mandirs; it’s not one or the other, but a mixture and almost fusion of two SUPER, musically distinct genres.

With the explosion of the Internet and social media and computerised musical technology, the solo song genre has been given extraordinary visibility, giving the illusion that solo singing dominates and predominates. By definition, Chautal needs two groups of singers; in other words, more than one artist or participant. So, in social media, with the logistics burden that Chautal brings, the solo artist would tend to dominate there.

Sincerely,

Dev Persaud

Was Mia Mottley right in sidestepping achievements of Burnham in Southern Africa?

Dear Editor,

The question is asked: Was The Honourable Mia Mottley right in sidestepping the achievements of Burnham on the liberation of the peoples of Southern Africa issue?

And the answer is: She was within her rights to do so. She had every right to downplay Burnham's contribution to the liberation of the peoples of Southern Africa, because of documented damnable evidence on Burnham. Yes, Burnham spoke up for, and gave tremendous support to, our oppressed brothers and sisters in Southern Africa; however, one must not forget that many, if not all, of the issues he stood up against the regime for, the very same evils Burnham practised here.

The very same dastardly acts Burnham stood for here in Guyana.

I would just like to recount a few of these: Under Burnham, there were no free and fair elections. Like the South African Apartheid oppressors, no free and fair elections were allowed in this country. He systemically built up a black supremacist empire based on rigged elections, to the point where no one could dare challenge him. The Police, and by extension the Courts, were controlled by him, so that putting an end to the evil was almost an impossibili-

National programme to rehabilitate abusers needed

Dear Editor, While the Government, NGOs, and other entities and institutions are increasingly focusing on redressive acts and measures to tackle gender-based and domestic violence, that focus is missing a key element.

It was the view of The Caribbean Voice that when Men on a Mission (MoM) was launched, gender-based and domestic violence as part of the holistic focus on violence would have been a significant component of the MoM mission.

The simple reality is that, no matter how much focus is placed on victims, the critical need is to stop the abuse; and this can really be done only by putting the abusers and the abused under the lens. A number of Caribbean nations, such as St. Lucia, Barbados and Bermuda, have started this process, and Guyana needs to play catch-up with a national batterers' programme and campaign.

MoM is ideally placed to lead this charge, and thus should be provided with the requisite training, skills set, and resources. Change the mindset of one abuser, and that person's abuse stops. Help a victim as much as possible, and jail the abuser, but the potential for further abuse still remains; the victim has already been scarred for life, and in the case of femicide, the victim is no more.

So, we again say the Government and the related ministries must launch a national programme to rehabilitate abusers and sensitise other males, in order to change mindsets and behaviours towards our women folk. And as an editorial in one newspaper pointed out, this must be an inclusive process that also embraces the school; bend the willow while it's young, as a native American saying goes.

Sincerely, Annan Boodram

ty.

This subtle form of Black Apartheid saw the brutal slaying of many who dared to stand up against him, such as the "Ballot Box Martyrs" and Dr. Walter Rodney.

His was a system where political opponents were constantly harassed and killed. The Police and the courts were trained to prop up his regime. These were the blunt traumas we were called to bear, some of which are still visible today.

Further, Mia Mottley would have remembered the embarrassment she suffered when she had to lead 5 Prime Ministers into Guyana to end the disgraceful system of rigging and Black Apartheid, but was rebuffed. For five long months, this reprehensible situation dragged on, before a court put an end to it. The CCJ ruled that election results had to be declared on the basis of the votes cast, which was reflected in the SoPs.

So, yes, Burnham is noteworthy of good deeds towards the people of South Africa; however, his selfish and dictatorial efforts far supersede his good deeds, and the honourable lady hid her face in disgust on these counts. In this regard, she was duty bound. So the Honourable Mia Mottley was duty-bound to shy away from mentioning his name on an internation-

al stage.

The PNC must come to the realisation that not only was Prime Minister Mottley in her right not to highlight the virtues of Burnham, but the People of Guyana as a whole, who now live in a free democracy, would

like her to do just that. Mia Mottley does not stand alone on this note, but the people of Guyana stand together with her on this issue.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

NGSA Math Questions

GECOM sets April 17 as Nomination Day

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has appointed April 17 as Nominations Day in preparation for the hosting of Local Government Elections (LGE) in May.

Chief Elections Officer Vishnu Persaud made this announcement in a notice published in Guyana Times on Thursday. The notice was to inform all political parties, voluntary groups and individuals who are desirous of contesting the upcoming local government polls that the process to submit their applications for approval of their symbols has been further extended to Friday, March 24, 2023. This exercise was schedule to be wrapped up on March 1, 2023.

Section 48(1) of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Chapter 28:03, provides that those contesting the elections be required to submit a symbol for approval by the Elections Commission no later than 21 days before Nomination Day.

Persons are asked to submit their applications via mail or email to the Chairman. Those in outlying Local Authority Areas (LAAs) may submit their symbols to the GECOM Registration Office in their

area.

Last October, LGE was set for March 13 this year, but GECOM subsequently deferred the Nominations Day in December 2022 to address issues relating to its registration exercise. This postponement was after court action was filed by Opposition-aligned persons, challenging the process used to compile the List of Electors, or Voters’ List, for the impending LGE.

In February, Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall set Monday, June 12, 2023 as the date for the holding of the much-anticipated and long-overdue LGE in Guyana.

Section 35 (1) of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Chapter 28:03, empowers the Local Government Minister to appoint a day for the elections.

The previous week, GECOM Chairperson

Justice (retd) Claudette Singh had written the Local Government Minister asking him to set May 22 this year for the conduct of the local polls. Minister Dharamlall responded to the GECOM Chair and indicated that the LGE were set for June 12 instead. Consequently, the Elections Body extended the objections aspect of the Claims and Objections exercise to allow for proper examination of the names on the list.

The previous Claims and Objections period was scheduled to last from February 13 to February 22.

But according to GECOM, in a statement two weeks ago, “Acknowledging the need to allow persons to properly scrutinise the supplementary lists with those names, the Commission decided to extend the duration of the objections aspect of the Claims and Objections exercise until 2nd March,

2023.”

Persons are encouraged to scrutinise the supplementary lists posted in each Constituency/Local Authority Area (LAA), and to object to the inclusion of the name(s) of any person(s) whom they suspect may not be eligible for inclusion on the list.

Further, GECOM also indicated that a decision was taken to suspend the Cycle of Continuous Registration with effect from February 24 until further notice. The exercise commenced on 3rd January, 2023 and was scheduled to conclude on 31st May, 2023. However, this decision was necessary to facilitate the inclusion of all eligible persons who have registered thus far under Continuous Registration in the respective Registers of Voters (RoV) for the upcoming Local Government Elections.

The seven-member

Commission, after deliberations, ultimately decided to suspend the registration exercise, based on a proposal and advice submitted by the Chief Election Officer, in order to ensure the inclusion of all eligible persons in the final Registers of Voters.

GECOM noted that in order to facilitate the inclusion of those persons in the RoV, the Commission would have to compile supplementary lists by constituency and post them for public scrutiny.

Government-nominated

GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj had told reporters during a briefing that over 2000 persons were captured thus far in the exercise to the register of registrants in preparation for the local government polls. In addition to the people who registered during continuous registration, Gunraj said, claims and objections also resulted in 500

applicants.

GECOM had announced it would begin preparing the Register of Voters, from which the Official List of Electors will be drawn. Anyone eligible to be registered as a voter and not on the Preliminary List of Voters was required to make a claim to entry on/or before February 19. There was a requirement that persons objecting to a voter during this period could only do so if they were in the same constituency list as the voter.

LGE, which are constitutionally due every two years, was last held in 2018. At the November 2018 local government polls, the then PPP/C Opposition had secured 52 of the 80 Local Authority Areas (LAAs). This had followed the holding of the LGE in 2016, during which the PPP/C also claimed the majority of the LAAs. (G8)

Essequibo Coast duo fined for drunk driving

Two male residents of the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), were on Wednesday fined $30,000 each after they pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol.

Dwayne Thompson of Charity River Dam, Essequibo Coast, and Junior Norton of Reliance, Essequibo Coast appeared at the Anna Regina Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Esther Sam, where the charges were read to them.

Thompson committed the act on March 2 along the Anna Regina Public Road, while Norton was stopped by the Police on February 24 along the Reliance Public Road, Essequibo Coast. Both men were driving while their alcohol consumption was above the legal limit.

After entering their plea, the magistrate imposed on each of them a fine of $30,000, with an alternative of one month’s imprisonment. The licence of each of them was also endorsed.

In a bid to ensure safer roadways, draft amendments to the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act as well

as the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Bill were approved by Cabinet in March of this year, with a view to toughening up the penalties for drunk drivers and the bars that serve them.

The Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act sought to amend the principal act and put in place a new Section, 35A. This new Section makes causing the death of someone through drunk driving a case of vehicular manslaughter.

The draft Bill also amends Section 39A of the principal act – the penalty for driving while over the alcohol limit –

replacing the $7500 fine with $200,000, and the sentence of 12 months with 24 months.

It has also been proposed in March that the penalty for driving under the influence and losing control of your vehicle be increased from its current $30,000 to $60,000 fine/imprisonment for 12 months to $200,000 for firsttime offenders and $300,000 for second-time offenders.

Also passed during Monday’s sitting was the Suicide Prevention Bill 2022, which contains measures such as a National Suicide Prevention Commission to advise the Minister of Human Services and Social Security on legislation and regulations surrounding suicide prevention and mental health support.

The commission will also be responsible for the preparation of a National Suicide Prevention Plan, and the planning, design and implementation of public programmes to reduce suicides and suicide attempts in the country. It also has to carry out sensitisation and awareness training on suicide and suicide prevention, and establish Suicide Prevention

New beginnings...

…on health care??

As a colony for hundreds of years – first of the Dutch then of the Brits - medical care wasn’t exactly high on their agenda for their slaves. You’d think as a business proposition they’d want those slaves they paid good money for to be kept in fit condition as long as they could; to slave away and make them rich. But the slaves were treated like cattle, and they died like flies.

Centres across Guyana.

The Restorative Justice Bill 2022 was also passed, paving the way for the establishment of a body that would administer the new Act, as well as educate the country and its citizens on the relatively new concept of restorative justice in the justice system.

The Restorative Justice Bill will give more prominence to the cases of victims of criminal offences and offenders, and accentuate the injury it has caused to the persons involved, rather than the violation of the law.

It wasn’t till the indentured replaced the liberated slaves that hospitals started to spring up on the plantations, to join the two hospitals in New Amsterdam and Georgetown that catered to the elite. Those hospitals served to ensure that workers were back to the fields ASAP!! The colonial state, to its credit, did expand the hospital system so that, at Independence, we had cottage hospitals in most of the far-flung regions. Down in Lethem, even the Brazilians across from Boa Vista came over for medical care.

Sadly, when Burnham took over, that medical system collapsed, like everything else. Being sent to the “premier” hospital, Georgetown, was universally seen as being sentenced to death! It was rather ironic that Burnham passed away at that institution while on an operating table for a supposedly routine throat procedure. That it was Cuban doctors attending to him epitomised the medical decline, since all the famed Guyanese doctors who’d qualified in British medical schools had departed!

But, thank God, long gone are the days when rats nibbled away at the toes of newborns at the “Big Hospital” – now GHPC. There’s still a far way to go, however – since we’re starting from such a low base. But since the PPP’s stint first turn at the helm, following free and fair elections in 1992, we’ve come a long way. Of great help was the medical school at UG, but that wasn’t enough to staff the new hospitals built in the regions, as well as the expanded GHPC. And now, in its present iteration, it’s clear that the PPP Government is determined to bring us on par with the Developed World, as far as medical care is concerned.

Ground was broken in a multi-billion, state-of-the-art paediatric and maternal hospital at Ogle, and now the same’s been done for the first of six regional hospitals at Enmore. The others will be at Anna Regina, Reg 2; De Kinderen, Reg 3; Diamond, Reg 4; Bath, Reg 5; and Number 75 Village, Reg 6.

But there’s gonna be a problem – staffing!! Cuba’s been very helpful, both in supplying their doctors and in training ours. VP Jagdeo has disclosed that India will also be chipping in. From our experience with the Cubans, we must insist on English proficiency – or we’ll have a catastrophe on our hands!!

…with the PNC??

Now, your Eyewitness must be missing something. When the PNC were squatting in office, they had zero tolerance for squatting!! In fact, one of the founding members of the party, Eusi Kwayana – who introduced the entire notion of “cooperative socialism” to Burnham - broke with him on squatting on land. In the 70s on the East Coast of Demerara – home of the emblematic African ancestral villages – folks squatting on unused sugar lands were ejected by the PNC.

Kwayana pointed out the further irony, that a socialist Government dedicated to “housing the small man” was now expelling them from planters’ land!! He’d go on to launch the WPA - which became Burnham’s staunchest enemy. But we now have another irony exposed. While expelling those ordinary Guyanese from empty land, the PNC actually started squatting on Government property in Lethem! They got away with it - but like old people say –time is longer than twine! They’ve finally been ejected.

But who’s surprised they’re paying “wrong and strong”??

…pussycat??

In the 60s free love era, the movie “What’s up pussycat” spoofed the tale of a young man trying to stay faithful to his fiancée - but is pursued by a slew of attractive women. That’s now the modern male’s dream??

Charged: Dwayne Thompson

Charged: Junior Norton

Woman facing charge for act of terrorism granted $250,000 bail

the Clerk of Court, and report to the Cove and John Police Station on the 14th day of each month.

Meanwhile, Todd has described the allegations against his clients as being “a bit humorous”, and is adamant that “they have absolutely nothing to fear”.

Robin Nadata Simon, a 44-year-old housewife of Haslington, East Coast Demerara, is the tenth person to face terrorism-related charges stemming from the June 2022 unrest along the ECD corridor.

Simon was not required to plead to the indictable charge when she appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday, Police Headquarters said in a statement. The charge was laid contrary to Section 109 (A) (1) (b) (ii) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act.

As per the condition of her bail, which was granted in the sum of $250,000, Simon, who was arrested on Monday, March 6, is required to lodge her passport with the Clerk of Court, and report every fortnight to the Cove and John Police Station, ECD.

Her case has been adjourned until March 28.

Others charged

Last month, nine men were arraigned before Magistrate Alisha George at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts to answer similar charges. Those charged are: Phillip Burke, Mark Hercules, Dave Berkshire, Terrence Adolphus Nedd, Anthony English, Keyon Glasgow, Jullian Peters, Tony McLennon, and Carlos Kingston.

Particulars of the charges allege that on June 28, 2022, between Golden Grove and Mon Repos, ECD, while being in the company of others, with the intent to strike terror, they used wood and other materials to block, burn and damage the public road.

They, too, were not required to plead to the indictable charges that were laid contrary to Section 309 (A) (1) (b) (ii) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act.

Burke was represented by Attorney-at-Law Eusi Anderson, while the others were represented by Attorneys-at-Law Dexter Todd and Dexter Smartt. They were released on $300,000 bail each. As per the condition of bail, the defendants are required to lodge their passports with

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) issued wanted bulletins for 14 persons, including Simon who, several months ago, had allegedly attacked several vendors at the Mon Repos Market while reportedly ‘protesting’ the Police shooting death of Quindon Bacchus, a father of one and resident of Haslington, ECD.

Wanted bulletins were issued for the following residents of ECD: Walkie Glasgow of Golden Grove; Trotman Tixey, alias “Quincy”, of Nabaclis; Sukie Reginal of Golden Grove; “Carlos” of Golden Grove; “Ray Ray/Lilly” of Golden Grove; “Nedd” of Golden Grove; “Blammi” of Golden Grove; “Dave” of Nabaclis; “Burke” of Nabaclis; “Layne” of Nabaclis; “Kaldin” of Enmore North; “Peters” of Haslington North and of Victoria; Patrick Cummings of Middle Walk; and Robin Simon of Haslington.

In the following days, several of them turned themselves over to the Police in the company of lawyers. Four of the suspects are still on the run.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the suspects still at large is being asked to contact the Police at: 229-2557, 229-2700, 2292750, 225-6978, 225-8196, 229-2019, or at the nearest Police station. All information would be treated with strict confidence.

Terror and mayhem

In a report, the Police Force said the men committed acts of terrorism that occurred on June 28, 2022. The Police Force has explained that terror and mayhem were unleashed on persons on the ECD when several vehicles were burnt and a number of stalls were ransacked and looted at the Mon Repos Market.

“Roads were blocked by burning debris, and scores of persons were beaten and robbed during the acts of terror committed by ‘protestors’,” the Police Force has said.

On June 28, 2022, what was supposed to be a call for justice for the killing of Bacchus of Golden Grove, ECD, escalated into terror along the ECD corridor after several vendors at the Mon Repos Market were robbed while their stalls were vandalised and their goods were looted.

Armed with cutlasses, knives, iron bars and other handy weapons, looters stormed the Mon Repos Market, claiming that they were retaliating against the

shooting death of Bacchus, which had occurred on June 10, 2022. The looters pro-

ceeded to destroy goods, burn stalls and vehicles, shatter windscreens of ve-

hicles, and even assault vendors – who were forced to run into the adjoin-

ing streets in fear for their lives.

After the looters had made off with fruits, vegetables, clothing, shoes, and other articles, vendors were left counting their losses, which amounted to millions of dollars.

Then a protest, started on the morning of June 28, 2022 at the Golden Grove Market Square, had later seen residents blocking the main access roads on both sides with debris. Chanting and singing filled the air as residents called for justice for their fellow villager, Bacchus.

Following a thorough probe, Constable Kristoff De Nobrega of the Police Force’s Special Branch Unit was charged with murdering Bacchus, who was reportedly shot several times while allegedly attempting to sell undercover Police ranks an unlicensed firearm at Haslington, ECD.

TURN TO PAGE 16

Robin Nadata Simon

Eight of the nine men who were charged with committing acts of terrorism

FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Body of taxi driver found in Ogle canal

The lifeless body of 51-year-old Vendanand Khemraj of Ogle, East Coast Demerara has been pulled from a canal near his home on Wednesday evening.

It is suspected that the taxi driver might have been under the influence of alcohol at the time he met his demise.

The Police have said that the man was found with his face submerged while a portion of his body was on the western parapet of Well Street, Ogle.

The discovery was made at about 22:00h on Wednesday, and the body was subsequently identified

by the man’s wife, Pamela Khemraj. Police have confirmed that there were no visi-

Plaisance man nabbed with illegal gun, ammo

ble marks of violence on his body, which was subsequently taken to a funeral home to await a post mortem.

Relatives confirmed that the man had last been seen alive at about 18:20h on Wednesday. He has been described as an alcoholic who had also been a diabetic.

Earlier in the month, the body of 45-year-old Kevin Singh of Industry Crown Dam, ECD was pulled out of a trench at Ogle Embankment, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

That victim was said to be an alcoholic, and he had last been seen imbibing at a shop in the village. His body also did not bare any marks of violence.

Aresident of Plaisance, East Coast Demerara was on Thursday arrested during a 'cordon and search' exercise conducted along Victoria Road in Plaisance.

That exercise started at about 05:30h and lasted for about two hours, during which the 29-year-old

Britton Street resident was nabbed with an unlicensed firearm and 12 matching rounds of ammunition. Police have said that at about 05:30h on Thursday, while a patrol was on Victoria Road Plaisance, the suspect was seen riding a black bicycle heading in a southerly direction. The ranks stopped

him, and a search carried out on his person unearthed a Taurus semi-automatic .32 pistol with a magazine containing 12 matching rounds in the waist of his pants. The suspect was informed of the offence, cautioned and arrested. He is assisting with the investigations.

Ganja found during Police operation at Sparendaam Squatting Area

An investigation has been launched into the origins of a quantity of ganja discovered in the Sparendaam Squatting Area, East Coast Demerara on Thursday during a Police operation.

Police have said that a party of ranks who were on patrol found 49 Ziplock bags containing 51 grams

of cannabis during a 'cordon and search' exercise conducted in the Plaisance/ Sparendaam area between 05:30h and 07:00h on Thursday.

Based on reports received, at about 06:00h, while ranks were approaching the Sparendaam Squatting Area, several persons were observed

running from several small shops that are situated on the eastern side of an access road. As a result, the area was searched, during which a black plastic bag containing the cannabis was found in a clump of bushes. The ganja was later weighed and amounted to 51 grams. No one was arrested, but investigations continue.

The ganja that was discovered

Dead: Vendanand Khemraj

The gun and ammunition found in the suspect’s possession

Greenwich Park fatal accident

Truck driver slapped with 4 counts of causing death by dangerous driving

were adjourned until March 27 for report.

Those four persons died and several others were seriously injured following the horrific accident which occurred on the Greenwich Park Public Road, EBE on the morning of Monday, March 6.

Those injured are 21-yearold Shemar Alleyne of Tuschen, EBE; 46-year-old Samuel Ramda of Tuschen, EBE; Selmont Brisport, 64, of Tuschen, EBE; Samuel Ramdas of Ruby Backdam,

The 38-year-old man who was behind the wheel of a speeding truck when it became uncontrollable and slammed into a Route 32 minibus, killing four persons, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

Ewart Stewart of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara made an appearance on Thursday before Senior Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.

In relation to the four indictable charges -- which alleged that he caused the death of—72-year-old Margaret Kennedy of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE); 57-year-old Olga Reddy of Parika, EBE; 50-year-old

Vernon Prowell of Bent Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown; and 40-year-old Elvis Charles of Ruby, EBE —the defendant was not required to enter a plea, and was remanded to prison.

Prowell was the driver of the minibus, while the other persons were passengers of the said bus.

Police Headquarters reported that the truck driver was also charged with driving an uninsured motor vehicle, and driving an uncertified motor vehicle. For these two charges, bail was granted to him in the sum of $20,000, after he pleaded not guilty.

While the Police Headquarters did not release a photograph of the defendant, it said that his matters

Housewife charged with felonious wounding

Thirty-three-yearold Runda Emanuel, a housewife of Queenstown, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), was on Wednesday slapped with a felonious wounding charge when she appeared at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.

Emanuel pleaded not guilty to the charge, which stated that, on November 3, 2022, she wounded Sonya Moses, 21, a housewife, also of Queenstown, Essequibo Coast.

The charge was laid under Section 57(a) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01. As such, the presiding Magistrate,

Esther Sam, granted bail in the sum of $30,000, and Emanuel was instructed to return to court on April 4, 2022.

EBE; and Junior Jack, 25, of Tuschen, EBE. They were also passengers in the minibus.

Reports are that motor lorry GZZ 2285, driven by Stewart, was proceeding east along the northern side of Greenwich Park Public Road at a fast rate of speed; it was travelling behind motor car PWW 836. The lorry driver alleges that the driver of the car made a sudden stop to allow a pedestrian to cross the road, and that when this sudden stop was made, he applied

brakes and swerved right to avoid a collision with the car, but in the process, he collided with a minibus that was proceeding from the opposite direction.

As a result of the collision, several passengers in the minibus were seriously injured. In addition to the four passengers who died, seven other passengers have been admitted patients at the hospital, suffering from life-threatening injuries.

The impact of the crash

also caused a Guyana Power and Light (GPL) pole to break and fall into a house in the area. However, no one was injured in the home.

Following the accident, the scene was visited by a party of Policemen, who carried out an investigation.

According to the Police, the scene was canvassed for CCTV cameras and a breath analysis carried out on the driver of the motor lorry showed a reading of .00%. (G1)

The mangled vehicles

Dead: Vernon Prowell Dead: Elvis Charles

Dead: Olga Reddy

Dead: Margaret Kennedy

Senior Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul

Charged: Runda Emanuel

Scenes from International

International Women’s Day 2023

One person from an impressive lineup of eleven talented, beautiful and poised delegates is on her way to becoming the next Miss India Guyana 2023, and have the opportunity to represent Guyana at the 30th Miss

India Worldwide pageant, which is slated for India in June.

The 11 beauties are all newcomers to pageantry. One of these beauties will become successor to Miss India Guyana 2021 - Maya Persaud - and will have the task

Delegate #1

Anjalie Sukhdeo

Age: 18

Academic pursuit: Medicine

“Every fall is a chance to rise”

Delegate #4

Devina Persaud

Age: 24

Academic pursuit: Sociology & Phlebotomy (Class of 2022)

“Work for a cause, not for applause; Live life to express, not to impress. Don’t strive to make your presence noticed, just make your absence felt.”

Delegate #7

Leah Alves

Age: 20

Academic pursuit: Legal studies/ International Relations

“Hold fast to dreams; for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” –Langston Hughes

of continuing the mandate she acquired by being the third Guyanese to place in the top 5 at the international pageant last year in New Jersey, and ultimately to win the coveted title.

While the coronation date is

Meet the delegates:

yet to be announced, the delegates for the other categories will be announced in due course.

This year’s national pageant will surely be a kaleidoscope of talent, charm, poise and intelligence, as some of Guyana’s best will be on

Delegate #2

Anjalita Somwaru

Age: 20

Academic pursuit: Business management| Dancer|Model|Activist “True forgiveness is when you can say, ‘Thank you for that experience’.”

Delegate #5

Julia Williams

Age: 21

Academic pursuit: Human Resources Management

“We are all served challenges. Despite the serving size, digest and channel your energy towards fulfilling your aspirations”

Delegate #8

Mamta Singh

Age: 21

Academic pursuit: ACCA

“The two most important days of your life are the day that you’re born and the day that you find out why.” – Mark Twain

show.

On competition night, the delegates will compete in talent, evening gown, ethnic wear, and the intelligence segments.

Delegate #3

Aruna Sukhdeo

Age: 20

Academic pursuit: Business Economics

“True courage is pursuing your dreams even when everyone else says it’s impossible”

Delegate #6

Latchmie Vanesha Kawall

Age: 19

Academic pursuit: Currently a 2nd year Biology student at the University of Guyana. An aspiring doctor “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement”

Delegate #9

Neshilla Baksh

Age: 22

Academic pursuit: Business Management

“Here’s to strong women: may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them”

Delegate

#10 Rose Jacobs

Age: 18

Academic pursuit: I would like to further my education in Finance “You must be the change you wish to see in the world” Mahatma Gandhi.

Delegate #11 Zara Homed

Age: 23

Academic pursuit: Diploma in Business Management

“The most beautiful things are not perfect, they are special”.

Inaugural Women in Law Enforcement summit

Guyana made great strides to ensure equal opportunities for women – Teixeira

Women’s rights are being fought for all over the world; and, in Guyana, great strides have been made to ensure that women have equal access to opportunities.

While addressing the two-day inaugural Women in Law Enforcement summit held on Thursday at the Police Officers’ Mess Annexe, Eve Leary, Georgetown, Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira said that while Guyana has made a lot of achievements in this regard, women around the world are still unable to access equal opportunities as their counterparts do.

“One of the critical things, I think, in the women’s movement is the issue of the link between human rights, democracy and development. Without human rights and democracy, there can be no development, and women are the greatest sufferers when there is no democracy and no development”, the veteran politician emphasised in her brief remarks.

As the achievements of women are being celebrated in recognition of the

United States of America’s Supreme Court, which has essentially banned abortion in certain states. According to her, women must have a right to choose what they want, and have access to reproductive health services.

Irrespective of a person’s age, ethnicity, geographical location, gender, or social class, Minister Teixeira reminded, everyone is “equal” under the Constitution of Guyana.

“Equality is our right,” she said, while adding that equity has to do with how programmes, policies, and laws are structured to ensure that everyone can access services offered in society.

“Women are grasping and seizing at opportunities. They are open to learning and participating in everything, because women in workforces are trying to work to support their families, trying to better themselves in their own desires as what they want to become as women and manage families and expected to climb and do well,” she highlighted.

Meanwhile, acting Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken, said that de-

men and women to have equal access to resources and opportunities for a productive, innovative, and thriving environment, he added.

Women, historically known to be nurturers, according to Hicken, have evolved into masterpieces and champions of society, and this is why men and women need to continue to collaborate to shape the ever-changing world. “Women deserve full equality,” he remarked.

agement, skills and behaviours, communication skills, team building, decision-making, gender disparities, emotional intelligence, and planning the path to entrepreneurship are some of the competency areas that are being targeted.

International Women’s Day campaign theme for 2023 –Embrace Equity - Teixeira cautioned against overlooking that women are still faced with terrible conditions, including climate change disasters, natural disasters, civil wars, and limited access to reproductive health services.

In relation to the latter issue, the Minister alluded to a 2022 ruling by the

spite the many challenges, women are rulers of states and military organisations.

“We must embrace equality before we can have a just and equitable society for all groups. We cannot have fairness or justice without equality,” noted the Top Cop, while revealing that women account for 22 per cent of the Police Force.

Embracing equality embraces a level playfield for

The Police Force has said that the summit, which is being held in collaboration with its Community Relations Department, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce (GCCI), and the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WCCI), seeks to bring together several diverse representatives and prominent business leaders in one location.

Human resource man-

“The summit’s goals are to actively promote and support inclusivity, while fostering open and honest dialogues, activities to improve one’s professional and personal abilities, and the overall growth and development of female law enforcement professionals.”

Further, the summit will seek to address the difficul-

ties faced by female law enforcement officers, and aid in strengthening their resilience and responses, including exchanging personal and professional experiences. The summit will also provide instructor-led, oneon-one counselling to encourage emotional intelligence development, while fostering closer working relationships between women in the Public and Private Sectors with a focus on empowering women.

At the end of the conference, participants will be able to identify techniques to empower each other, discover tactics to thrive in their

profession, and achieve their goals, among other benefits.

The two-day summit is being held under the theme “Embrace Equity”, and will conclude today.

Besides Teixeira and Hicken, others present at the summit’s opening included Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas; President of the GCCI, Timothy Tucker; Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC; Crime Chief, Attorney-atLaw Wendell Blanhum; other senior and junior Police officers and special invitees. (G1)

Front row: Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira (fourth from right); Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mae Toussaint Jr Thomas (third from right); DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC (second from right); senior Police Officers and members of the Private Sector bodies were among those who attended the opening of the inaugural Women in Law Enforcement summit at the Police Officers’ Mess Annexe

Scenes from the inaugural Women in Law Enforcement summit

Guyana’s 1st female brokerage company adopts UN WEPs

RNS Insurance Brokers and Consultants, Guyana’s first female-owned insurance brokerage, has adopted the United Nations (UN) Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) as part of its commitment to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace, and community.

RNS General Manager, Ramona Singh, signed the Women’s Empowerment principles (WEPs) on December 5, 2022, and was congratulated by UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous.

Singh shared that she is delighted to sign these principles, and will be implementing them in the organisation.

“We are delighted to sign up to these principles, and will be implementing them with concrete actions and organizational policies geared to empower the women in our workplace and community. To begin, we are joining other WEP signatories in Guyana in implementing a Domestic Violence Workplace Policy to help reduce the overall incidence of this issue nationally.

“As a growing company, we will also work with our vendors and suppliers in encouraging them to embrace Gender Equality as part of their corporate goals,” Singh shared.

UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous

has congratulated RNS Insurance Brokers and Consultants for taking the first step on their WEPs journey. She added the Un considers RNS as a key partner in closing gender gaps in the workplace, marketplace and community, and in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS).

RNS Insurance Brokers was also acknowledged for its commitment by the Executive Director of UN Global Compact, another lead partner in the WEPs. UN Global Compact Executive Director Sandia Ojambo shared that, “For over a decade, the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) have helped companies accelerate gender equality and advance women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and community. With women representing half of the world’s

population yet remaining under-represented in business, the WEPs provide the necessary roadmap to break down barriers to women’s economic empowerment. I welcome you to this growing community of signatories, and thank you for using the WEPs as a guide on your journey to sustainability, to lead and shape the path towards a more equitable world, where women and girls thrive.

“With one of the themes for International Women’s Day 2023 being #EmbraceEquity, we felt today was opportune to announce our participation in the UN Women’s programme as a Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) signatory. I have personally always been an advocate for a level playing field so all women and men can do well, and as the founder of my company, I intend to grow and expand with these Principles as guidelines as we drive profitable and sustainable growth,” Singh added.

RNS Insurance Brokers and Consultants has joined the cadre of other WEPs signatories in Guyana, which include Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), Cerulean Inc, Nations School of Business, Caribbean Container Inc, and Denmor Garments among others.

UN Women introduced these companies to the WEPs under the Spotlight Initiative in Guyana, which is being implemented in part-

“Rum Mouth” acquitted of raping teen

Ajury in the Georgetown Sexual Offences Court has cleared a Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara man of a child rape charge when it returned a majority verdict of not guilty.

Shaquille Fernandes, called “Rum Mouth”, 24, stood calmly in the courtroom as the jury foreperson said “not guilty” to a count of rape of a child under the age of 16 in relation to a 15-yearold girl. It was alleged that he committed the crime on September 23, 2019 in Demerara.

The 12 jurors deliberated for over two hours on Wednesday after High Court Judge Priya-SewnarineBeharry summarised the evidence in the trial to them.

Fernandes was represented by Attorney-at-Law Teriq Mohammed, while

Attorneys-at-Law Simran

Gajraj, Latifah Elliot and Rbina Christmas prosecuted the matter.

It had been the prosecution’s case that on the night in question, the teen girl was playing with her cousins when Fernandes called her from her grandparents’ house and into an alleyway. It was there, the prosecutors submitted, that he raised the girl’s skirt, took off her underwear, and raped her (penetrated her vagina with his penis).

However, when called upon to lead a defence, Fernandes denied the allegation.

According to him, on the day in question, he was passing through the alleyway when he saw another guy from the village engaging in a sexual activity with the teenage girl. Upon

seeing him, he claimed, the girl ran to her grandparents’ house and told her grandmother that he raped her. A report to this effect was made to the Police and Fernandes was arrested and charged.

Pending his trial, he had been out on cash bail. (G1)

Woman facing charge for..

Constable De Nobrega is currently on remand for the capital offence.

Two other Police ranks, a Corporal and a Sergeant, were also charged in relation to Bacchus’s death.

Corporal Thurston Simon and Sergeant Dameion McLennon were each

slapped with a charge of attempt to obstruct the course of justice, contrary to Section 330 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act.

After the attack on the vendors, the Government had offered them compensation.

The compensation of-

FROM PAGE 9

fered by President Dr Irfaan Ali amounted to millions of dollars, with one vendor receiving as much as $3M. Another vendor, whose vehicle was damaged, received $1.5M, and another vendor received $2M to compensate for his minibus that was torched by a looter. (G1)

nership with the European Union. The Spotlight Initiative (SI) is a global, multi-year initiative focused on eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG). This project within Spotlight leverages the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) to support the Private Sector in reducing and eventually eliminating spillovers of domestic violence from the home into the workplace, and vice-versa. The Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) guide businesses on how to promote gender equality and empower wom-

en in the workplace, marketplace, and community. Jointly established by the UN Global Compact and UN Women, the WEPs are underpinned by international labour standards and human rights, and by the recognition that businesses have an important role to play in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. Adopting the seven principles is the best way that businesses can deliver on the ambitions for gender equality and women’s empowerment, as outlined in the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development and in the 17 SDGs.

Man seen in video beating dog charged with animal cruelty

…released on $5000 bail

The man seen in viral videos on social media beating a dog has been charged for the offence of animal cruelty contrary to Section 176 (1) of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

Twenty-two-year-old Johnathan Layne, who was arrested last Saturday by the Police at his West Ruimveldt, Georgetown home, has been placed on $5000 bail after entering a not-guilty plea. Layne’s case has been postponed until March 15.

According to that section of the Act, a person guilty of an offence of cruelty shall be liable to a fine of not less than $7,500 or more than $15,000, and to imprisonment for six months.

With the assistance of the Guyana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA), Police were able to track down Layne after the tough-towatch videos first surfaced on Facebook, prompting several people to reach out to the Police and animal welfare organisations.

In one of two short videos which were shared dozens of times on the app, a man, believed to be Layne, was seen beating a dog with a piece of wood. In the other video, the person was seen punching the animal in the face while it was hanging by the neck from a rope. The man was also seen speaking to the animal.

The incident of animal cruelty also caught the attention of the Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, who also reposted the two videos on his Facebook page with the caption: “This incident of animal cruelty was sent to me by a heartbroken citizen…the Police acted and the abuser was caught and arrested. The dog was rescued.”

The dog was examined by a vet, and is in the care of

the GSPCA’s shelter.

Meanwhile, in a Facebook post, Tails of Hope – Animal Rescue has extended gratitude to the GSPCA for its relentless efforts in animal welfare in Guyana. It also thanked the Minister for assisting in the apprehension of the alleged mastermind behind the act of animal cruelty.

In November 2021, a resident of Lancaster Village, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara was fined $20,000 by a Magistrate after he pleaded guilty to killing a cat. Raymond Waldron, called “Tongue Man”, admitted that in November 2021, at Lancaster Village, he unlawfully and maliciously killed the animal.

He was arrested after animal rights activist Syeada Manbodh of the GSPCA went to the Mahaica Police Station and reported that Waldron had killed the animal. While at the station, she provided the Police with a photograph of a cat hanging on a metal gate. As such, Police ranks went to Walrond’s home and arrested him.

“I chop the cat cause he kill nuff ah me chicken. Me didn’t intend to kill it,” Waldron had told the Police under caution. In the end, Magistrate Fabayo Azore fined him $20,000, in default of which he would serve two weeks’ imprisonment for the crime.

A letter penned by animal rescue volunteer Anurama Ramgobin, which was published in Sunday’s edition of Guyana Times, has called on Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn to commence training Police ranks to deal with reports of animal cruelty and abuse.

“Oftentimes we witness some of the vilest acts of cruelty meted out to animals, both companion and food animals, without any repercussions from the responsible authorities”, the writer said.

According to the letter writer, when reports of animal cruelty are made to the Police, they are “either not taken seriously or not taken at all”. In light of this, Ramgobin related that he is inclined to believe that some Police officers are not au fait with the Animal Welfare Act, while others are oblivious to its existence.

Ample research, Ramgobin noted, backs up the findings that there is a direct link between acts of cruelty to animals and violence towards humans; this includes domestic violence, abuse of the elderly, and other violent behaviours.

He expressed that animal cruelty must be taken seriously under the law.

“No form of abuse should be tolerated. Help us to help the voiceless,” pleaded Ramgobin. (G1)

A snippet from one of the videos in which the man is seen beating a dog with a piece of wood

Ramona Singh, General Manager, RNS Insurance Brokers and Consultants

Sima Bahous, UN Women Executive Director

Freed: Shaquille Fernandes

World Kidney Day 2023

Chronic diseases are too often incorrectly perceived as poor lifestyle choices – Dr Areefa Alladin

Approximately 850 million people worldwide are living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), which represents more than 10% of the world’s population. Risk factors for CKD include diabetes, hypertension, older age, and being female.

CKD is a leading cause of death globally, and the number of deaths associated with CKD continues to increase despite advances in treatment. Developing countries have a higher burden of CKD and less resources to properly treat CKD, making these countries vulnerable to disasters. The rise in risk factors such as obesity and diabetes has resulted in rising rates of kidney disease in low- and middle-income countries, especially in the Caribbean.

With limited resources to deal with the rising demand for dialysis and kidney transplants, it is imperative that we prevent CKD by screening for risk factors, and addressing those risk factors in primary care settings. Active screening for kidney disease can identify early stages of chronic kidney disease, and given the right interventions, kidney failure can be prevented or be significantly delayed.

Globally, health care systems have faced several disastrous events; these include natural disasters such as the COVID-19 pandem-

ic, earthquakes, floods, and extreme weather; and manmade disasters such as wars, crimes and political unrest. These disasters lead to disruption of access to services such as proper food, medications, laboratory testing, dialysis, kidney transplants, and follow-up care.

The World Kidney Day Steering Committee has dedicated 2023 to preparing for disasters, since the COVID-19 pandemic was a clear example of the challenges faced by health care systems in providing essential health services to patients with chronic diseases. Planning, anticipation, preparation for disasters with a forward-thinking approach, and being proactive would help to mitigate some challenges when the next disaster arrives.

As the kidney community was launching the theme ‘Supporting the vulnerable and preparing for the Unexpected’, Turkey and Syria experienced a massive earthquake which killed more than 40,000 persons, including health care providers and front-line workers; flattened hospitals, destroyed airports and access roads, limiting delivery of supplies and human resources; and resulted in significant damage. Persons trapped under rubble and buildings are at high risk of kidney failure, due to dehydration and crushed mus-

cles, which releases a product of muscle breakdown called myoglobin, which is toxic to the kidney.

Emergency dialysis is often required for persons with crush injuries. Anticipating crush injuries and early intervention are crucial for survival in disasters such as earthquakes and wars.

The most famous disaster that affected heath care in our time is COVID-19 pandemic, which placed an added strain on persons with kidney disease, who have had to deal with the risk of becoming infected while visiting health facilities, or indeed the suspension or cancellation of non-COVID-19 care due to health service capacity limits and lockdown policies. Health services have struggled to provide access to the ongoing incidence of new chronic dis-

ease cases needing diagnoses, management, and care. With no actual cure or treatment to prevent progression of CKD, the under-detected and unhindered progression of CKD to kidney failure will most certainly increase the global need for life-saving costly treatments of dialysis and transplantation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated an already insufficient global political health commitment on chronic diseases. During this pandemic, it was clear that those with noncommunicable diseases were more likely to develop serious illness and die, as the needs of providing and prioritising ongoing complex care for these patients were deprioritised in favour of acute health responses. Data from the United States and England showed that deaths for those with kidney failure and persons who received a kidney transplant were higher than anticipated during the pandemic, which may have been a reflection that chronic diseases were not prioritised during the pandemic.

The global health community has recognised that there is a real need for health care systems and jurisdictions to develop more resilient systems. Chronic diseases are too often incorrectly perceived as due to poor lifestyle choices, with policy deficits compounded by allocation of insufficient

public health funds that focus on management rather than prevention, and of only a few of the recognised non-communicable chronic diseases – cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease. Yet, it is estimated that 55% of the global non-communicable chronic diseases’ burden is attributed to diseases outside of this group, such as kidney disease.

Furthermore, the burden of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease is amplified in the presence of kidney disease, frequently co-existing. The World Kidney Day Steering Committee calls for public health policies that reflect preventative strategies and the importance of both the magnitude and synergistic aspects of kidney disease as part of the non-communicable chronic diseases burden. Preparation for unexpected events is incredibly important for kidney patients. Prioritising prevention, early detection, and management of non-communicable chronic diseases, including kidney disease, can improve health outcomes. Health equity and proper access to care for chronic patients in times of emergency, along with emergency preparedness plans are recommended by the World Kidney Day Steering Committee. In ad-

Women play leading roles in many sectors...

With regard to technical programmes offered by the Education Ministry, which include technical, vocational, education and training (TVET), and Family and Life Education programmes, 80 per cent of the total intake are women.

“This is a tremendous accomplishment. These are stats that are overwhelming. These are your stats,” the President declared.

Education

The President further informed the gathering that the University of Guyana also has a high percentage of female students, that is, 70 per cent of the total student population. But he pointed out that much more important is the fact that the withdrawal rate at the tertiary education institution among females is among the lowest in the Caribbean Region at 0.4 per cent.

“What that tells you is that not only are women enrolled, but women have the staying power, they have the fighting power, they have the sacrifice power and they have the ability to finish what they start. And this is something men must learn. This is something you have to teach men; you have to teach your brothers, your

sons, your husband. You have to teach them how to finish what you start,” he stressed.

According to the Guyanese Leader, similar statistics from UG show that the withdrawal rate among male students is significantly higher.

Health care

Turning his attention to the medical field, President Ali disclosed that some 60 per cent of the doctors in the local healthcare system are women and a staggering 98 per cent of all the nurses in the country are women.

Moreover, he noted that one of the latest programmes his government has launched with a specific effort to have women engage and take the lead in for the first time, is the shade house hydroponic system. Already, 40 per cent of those who are participating in this initiative are women.

“These numbers you don't see anywhere else in the Region. So, we have much, much to celebrate today,” the Head of State declared.

Housing

He went on to talk about women’s involvement in the local housing programme, which has seen a 64 per cent

participation rate by females – 46 per cent female-only applications and allocation as well as 17 per cent joint application by males and females.

In addition, 65 per cent of the total core homes have been allocated to females, mostly single women. Added to this, a whopping 85 per cent of the persons who have benefited from the Home Improvement Subsidy are women. This initiative allows low-income families who are living in poor structures to benefit from $500,000 worth of building

materials to carry out repairs or expansion to an existing property.

The President posited that these figures for women participating in the housing sector were not seen anywhere else. But in the same breath, he outlined that these achievements just do not fall into the hands of women.

“They work for it, because when you look at the housing programme,79 per cent of all the consultations are attended by women… That means that women are participating in the process to change

dition, persons with chronic diseases, including kidney disease, should plan for emergencies by preparing an emergency kit that includes food, water, medical supplies, and medical records.

In conclusion, as the burden of chronic kidney disease continues to rise globally, we are encouraged to implement effective primary preventative measures and treatments to prevent and slow the progression of kidney disease. Chronic kidney failure is devastating and irreversible, active prevention is the best option. Anticipating and planning for disasters as a global health community, being cognisant of the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, can improve health outcomes.

The Kidney Foundation of Guyana, the Chronic Disease Unit of the Ministry of Health, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Regional Health Services, and the Guyana Diabetic Association are working together to increase awareness of kidney diseases in Guyana. Details on events, medical outreaches, screening programmes, and medication education sessions are on our social media pages (https://www.facebook. com/GUYKIDFOUN).

(Adapted from the World Kidney Day Steering Committee 2023 editorial)

FROM PAGE 3

According to the Head of State, these are women who are working hard to protect citizens day and night.

Then in the Judiciary, he added that women account for another 60 per cent of those who administer justice in the country.

Business

their lives and uplift their lives. Women are participating in the development process. Women are participating in the transformation process in our country…,” the Guyanese Leader stated.

Law enforcement

President Ali went on to point out that women constitute about 22 per cent of Guyana’s total law enforcement personnel, and out of that figure, some 26 per cent are senior officers within their respective law enforcement field.

In terms of business support, 60 per cent of all investments from the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry in business support went to women. Additionally, 70 per cent of those training in Advanced Sales and Marketing Techniques are also women. Out of all the businesses that are certified under the Standards Development Programme, some 45 per cent are businesses owned by women. Then in terms of the empowerment grant, more than 55 per cent of the allocations went to women across all sectors.

“…I will say this without contradiction, the numbers I'm giving you tonight, no other country in this Region can come close to these numbers we have here in Guyana and you – the women of Guyana –are the owners of these numbers and you should be very, very proud,” President Ali contended. (G8)

Chair of the Kidney Foundation, Dr Areefa Alladin

A section of the massive gathering at the International Women’s Day event at State House on Wednesday evening

Regional

Brazil's Lula seeks dialogue with both Venezuelan Government and Opposition

The Brazilian President's top foreign policy adviser has met with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in the first outreach by Brazil's new leftist administration to both the Government and the Opposition.

The visit to Maduro on Wednesday by adviser Celso Amorim was organised in secrecy by Brazil and only became public when Maduro posted photos on Twitter.

On Thursday, Amorim, a former Foreign Minister who advises President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on international affairs, met with opponents of Maduro, including Gerardo Blyde, a lawyer who leads the Opposition's negotiations with the Venezuelan Government, sources in Brasilia told Reuters.

The sources, Brazilian Government officials with knowledge of the Venezuelan mission, said the trip was kept secret to avoid speculation about its goal: to establish dialogue with both sides before Venezuela's general elections next year.

Amorim's visit was the first by a high-level official in recent years to meet openly in Venezuela with both Maduro and the Opposition. Lula restored diplomatic relations with Venezuela as soon as he took office on January 1, ties that had been broken off by his far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro.

But Lula has expressed concern about the lack of free elections and an alternation of power in Venezuela, a member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting

Mexican cartel says sorry for attack on Americans, hands over henchmen

Suspected drug cartel members on Thursday handed over five purported henchmen as a would-be apology for the abduction of four Americans in the border city of Matamoros, according to media and a source familiar with the investigation.

Two of the Americans and a Mexican woman died after gunmen opened fire on the US citizens shortly after their arrival in Matamoros on Friday. The four Americans were found on Monday on the edge of the city, by which time two of them were dead.

Countries (OPEC) beset by an economic and political crisis.

Maduro again won elections in 2018 that were criticised by international observers on suspicions of fraud, vote buying and hurdles for Opposition candidates.

Lula sees himself as becoming a good mediator in the Venezuelan conflict, given his leftist credentials and past relationships with Venezuela and its late leader Hugo Chávez.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Honduras's 1st woman President legalises morning-after pill

Honduran President Xiomara Castro has overturned a 13-year ban on the emergency contraceptive pill.

The country's first-ever woman leader said she had made the change by executive order for International Women's Day, on March 8.

The morning-after pill was "part of women's reproductive rights, and not abortive", she said on social media.

President Castro, who took office in 2022, has promised to relax Honduras's restrictive reproductive rights laws.

"Today, 8 March commemorates women's historic struggle," President Castro tweeted. "I am signing the Executive Order for the universal use of the morning-after pill."

She added: "The World Health Organisation determined it is part of women's reproductive rights and not abortive."

Honduras, a largely Catholic Central American country, banned the use of the morning-after pill following a coup in 2009 that ousted Xiomara Castro's husband, then-President Manuel Zelaya.

Last December, following campaigns from feminist groups, the Health Ministry approved the use of the pill exclusively for victims of rape.

During an interview for a BBC documentary on black market abortion pills, filmed in July 2022, Honduran Health Secretary Jose Manuel Matheu said that the country would never change its stance on the issue.

"We are not going to promote the morning-after pill as contraception," he said at the time, adding that doing would lead to "sexual debauchery".

The term "desenfreno sexual" (sexual debauchery) went viral in Honduras on Twitter following the release of the documentary in December, with activists criticising Dr Matheu's choice of words.

On March 8, Dr Matheu was photographed alongside President Castro signing the executive order – although he did not respond to BBC requests for comment. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Mexican officials gave the bodies of the two dead men, identified as Shaeed Woodard and Zindell Brown, to US officials in Matamoros on Thursday afternoon, and they were taken across

the border into the US, a Reuters witness said.

An internal Government document seen by Reuters indicated that a faction of Mexico's Gulf Cartel was likely responsible for the kidnappings and that the gunmen may have believed that the Americans were encroaching on the gang's turf.

Mexican newspapers and social media published photos of a letter attributed to a different faction of the cartel in which it apologised for the events in Matamoros, and said it was handing over five men who were involved in the kidnappings.

The letter was left alongside five men with their hands tied in Matamoros, the photos showed. The Mexican source familiar with the investigation con-

firmed the handover, expressing scepticism the five were the ones responsible for the attack.

The Attorney General's office of Tamaulipas, the state where Matamoros lies, declined to comment on the reports.

Meanwhile, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Thursday rebuked calls from some US lawmakers advocating military action in Mexico against drug cartels, describing the proposals as threats to Mexican sovereignty.

"We are not going to permit any foreign Government to intervene in our territory, much less that a Government's armed forces intervene," Lopez Obrador said during a regular news conference. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Argentina’s grain harvest suffers under worst drought in 60 years

Ahistoric drought ravaging Argentina’s crops has deepened the grain-exporting giant’s economic crisis, heightening default fears and putting at risk targets agreed on with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The South American nation, the world’s top exporter of processed soy and number-three source of corn, is in the grip of its worst drought in more than 60 years, which has led to repeated sharp cuts to harvest forecasts.

Those forecasts were reduced again on Thursday by the Buenos Aires grain exchange after the Rosario exchange slashed its soy production outlook to 27 million tonnes, the lowest since the turn of the century, when far less of the crop was planted.

“We are facing an unprecedented climatic event,” Julio Calzada, the head of economic research

for the Rosario exchange, told Reuters.

He added that farmers, particularly in the fertile Pampas region, were facing losses of US$14 billion, with their output expected to be about 50 million tonnes less for crops of soy, corn and wheat.

“It’s unprecedented that the three crops fail. We are all waiting for it to rain,”

he added.

The drought is a huge blow for Argentina. As General Elections approach in October, the country is already contending with 99-per cent inflation and a wall of local and international debt repayments to bondholders and the IMF.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Peru court extends pre-trial detention of ex-President Castillo

AJudge extended Peruvian ex-President Pedro Castillo's pre-trial deten -

UWI student accused of torturing ex-girlfriend further remanded

Matthew Hyde, the University of the West Indies (UWI) student who was charged after he allegedly held his ex-girlfriend captive while he tortured her with a clothing iron for three days, has been further remanded until March 17.

Hyde, 20, appeared in

the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court to answer to charges of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm, false imprisonment, malicious communication, and assault occasioning bodily harm.

Hyde’s case file is said to be incomplete. Reports are that between

Monday, February 6 and Thursday, February 9, Hyde allegedly held his ex-girlfriend against her will in his room on a block of the George Alleyne Hall on the UWI, Mona campus where he repeatedly beat her and burned her all over her body with a clothes iron.

(Jamaica Observer)

tion term to 36 months, up from 18 months, on Thursday, following the former leader's ouster and detention for illegally attempting to dissolve Congress in December.

The three-year detention ruling is related to a criminal organisation charge. Castillo is also under investigation for charges of rebellion and conspiracy.

Castillo's ouster and detention sparked a wave of protests by his supporters and those unhappy with the new government

throughout the country.

"I have never committed a crime of rebellion, I have not taken up arms, nor have I called anyone to take up arms," Castillo said. "The one who rose up in arms to end the lives of more than 30 Peruvians is the current government..." Human rights groups have accused authorities of using firearms on protesters and dropping smoke bombs from helicopters. The Army says protesters have used weapons and homemade explosives.

(Excerpts from Reuters)

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Brazilian envoy Celso Amorim meet, in Caracas, Venezuela, March 8, 2023 (Marcelo Garcia/Miraflores Palace/Handout via Reuters)

Soy and corn, two of Argentina’s top exports, have been hard hit by ‘unprecedented’ drought conditions [File: Miguel Lo Bianco/ Reuters]

Honduran President Xiomara Castro

Oil prices slip 1% to 2-week low on recession worries

Oil prices slid about one per cent to a two-week low on Thursday on increased worries the US Federal Reserve may go too far with its interest rate hikes to control inflation, which could cause a recession and reduce future oil demand.

The US central bank uses higher interest rates to reduce inflation. But those higher rates increase consumer borrowing costs, which can slow the economy.

"The Fed is continuing to come ... for inflation and that is translating into fears over lower oil demand down the road because of a possible recession," said John Kilduff, a partner at investment advisory Again Capital LLC in New York.

Brent futures fell US$1.07, or 1.3 per cent, to settle at US$81.59 a barrel, their lowest close since February 22.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 94 cents, or 1.2 per cent, to settle at US$75.72, their lowest close since February 27.

That put both benchmarks down for a third day in a row with WTI down about six per cent and Brent down about five per cent during that time.

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits increased by the most in five months last week, but the underlying trend remained consistent with a tight labour market.

"Decelerating growth continues to weigh on crude prices," said Edward Moya, senior market analyst at data and analytics firm OANDA.

Renewed hawkishness from the Fed is pushing investors to game out how a regime of “higher for longer” interest rates could weigh on US stocks, with some market watchers saying the combination of higher bond yields and sticky inflation bodes poorly for equity returns.

Kilduff noted that the US bond auction Thursday afternoon "spooked the market" and "was the catalyst for the risk-off sentiment" for the oil and stock market declines.

Crude futures and Wall Street stocks were both trading higher Thursday morning on thoughts the US unemployment data could push the Fed to slow the pace of future interest rate hikes.

Wall Street stocks fell on Thursday, with all three major stock indexes, down as investors worried that a jobs report today could spur aggressive interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.

Analysts expect the US economy to have added 205,000 jobs last month – a sharp deceleration from January – and see the unemployment rate holding firm at 3.4 per cent.

Also supporting oil prices earlier on Thursday, TotalEnergies was unable to make deliveries from its French refineries on Thursday because of continued strike action a day after data showed an unexpected decline in US crude inventories last week.

"The halt in deliveries from TotalEnergies' French refineries due to the nationwide strikes together with the slight weakness in the dollar might attract some shorts to cover part of their positions," Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM told Reuters. (Reuters)

At least three people have been wounded in a shooting in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv and are being treated by emergency services, Israel’s ambulance service has said, as television footage showed large numbers of Police and medical workers at the scene.

The shooting took place next to a café on the corner of Dizengoff Street and Ben Gurion Street, the Magen David Adom (MDA) ambulance service said, according to The Times of Israel.

“We evacuated the three with gunshot wounds, one of them in critical condition, one seriously wounded and one lightly wounded,” MDA director Eli Bin told Israel’s Kan television.

Israeli Police said the assailant had been “neutralised”, but provided no details about the circumstances of the shooting, which they

Around the World

Russia kills civilians in 1st huge missile wave for weeks

Russia fired a huge wave of missiles across Ukraine on Thursday as people slept, killing at least nine civilians and knocking out power in an attack Kyiv said included six Kinzhal hypersonic cruise missiles, one of Moscow's most valuable weapons.

The mass strikes on targets far from the front were the first such wave since mid-February and shattered the longest calm since Moscow began an air campaign against Ukraine's civil infrastructure five months ago.

They also briefly forced Europe's biggest nuclear power plant off the grid.

"The occupiers can only terrorise civilians. That's all they can do. But it won't help them. They won't avoid responsibility for ev-

erything they have done," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, describing strikes that hit infrastructure and residential buildings in ten regions.

Russia's Defence Ministry said it had carried out a

"massive retaliatory strike" as payback for a cross-border raid last week. It claimed to have hit all its intended targets, destroying drone bases, disrupting railways and damaging facilities that make and repair arms.

Villagers in Zolochiv in Ukraine's western Lviv region carried a body in a black plastic bag over the rubble of a brick house completely destroyed by a missile. They put the body into the back of a white van with another. A dog lay curled up on a carpet in the ruins.

Oksana Ostapenko said the house belonged to her sister Halyna, whose body was still buried under the rubble with two other family members.

"They still haven't found them. We were hoping that they're alive. But they're not alive," she said.

Moscow says such hits are intended to reduce Ukraine's ability to fight.

Kyiv says the air strikes have no military purpose and aim to harm and intimidate civilians, a war crime.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

UN buys huge ship to avert catastrophic oil spill off Yemen

The United Nations has purchased a huge ship that it hopes will prevent an environmental catastrophe off the coast of Yemen.

For years, more than a million barrels of crude oil have been sitting on a decaying supertanker in the Red Sea.

There are fears the vessel could soon break apart or explode, risking one of the worst oil spills in recent memory.

But on Thursday, the UN said it had purchased a crude carrier that would head to Yemen and remove the oil from the stricken ship.

"The purchase of this suitable vessel... marks the

beginning of the operational phase of the plan to safely remove the oil and avoid the risk of an environmental and humanitarian disaster," Achim Steiner from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said, adding that it was a "major breakthrough".

A UNDP statement said the ship – which it purchased from major tanker company Euronav – was undergoing routine maintenance in China and would arrive for the operation in early May.

"A major spill would devastate fishing communities on Yemen's Red Sea coast, likely wiping out 200,000 livelihoods instantly. Whole communities would be exposed to life-threatening

Canadian Police investigate Chinese 'Police

in Quebec

said could be “a terrorist attack”.

Police and medics were still on the scene and it was unclear if they were looking for a second attacker.

Shootings in Tel Aviv – a densely populated commercial and cultural capital – are rare. “This is going to be very concerning to the Police,” Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan said, reporting from occupied East Jerusalem.

He added that the shooting took place in a busy street full of bars, restaurants and cafés.

“Ordinarily it would have been packed but given the huge amount of demonstrators who are in Tel Aviv it would have been busier than normal,” he said, referring to weeks of widespread protests against the government’s plan to overhaul the judicial system.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Canadian federal police are investigating reports of undeclared Chinese "Police service stations" in the province of Quebec.

The RCMP said they are looking at two Montrealarea sites believed to be operating on behalf of Beijing.

Human rights groups have accused China of using the stations to threaten and monitor Chinese nationals abroad.

China has denied running the stations, calling them "service centres" for its nationals overseas.

Speaking to media on Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said they are an issue that his Government is "very concerned about".

"We're in the process of making sure the RCMP is following up on this and that our intelligence systems are taking this seriously," he said.

The stations are believed to be among at least 100 operating across the globe in 53 countries, including the

UK and the US, according to Spain-based NGO Safeguard Defenders, which monitors disappearances in China.

In a report last year, the non-profit said the stations are part of efforts by China's regime to "harass, threaten, intimidate and force targets to return to China for persecution".

It said Chinese public security bureaus established the "overseas police service stations" in several continents, including two in London and one in Glasgow.

In North America, it found stations in Toronto, Vancouver and in New York.

Last November the RCMP confirmed they were investigating reports of such service stations operating in the Greater Toronto Area.

Chinese Embassies in the US and Canada have said the locations are "overseas service stations'' opened during the pandemic to assist nationals abroad with driver's licence renewal and similar matters. (Excerpt from BBC News)

The FSO Safer has been abandoned since 2015 and is carrying 1.1 million barrels of oil toxins. Highly polluted air would affect millions," it said.

The organisation add-

ed that a potential oil spill could cost up to US$20 billion to clean up.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Biden's US$6.8T budget challenges Republicans, raises taxes on rich

US President Joe Biden on Thursday unveiled plans for Government spending and higher taxes on the wealthy, choosing the swing state of Pennsylvania to reveal his playbook for an expected 2024 re-election bid.

Speaking at a Philadelphia union hall, the Democratic President challenged Republican opponents on fiscal responsibility, highlighting plans to cut US deficits by nearly US$3 trillion over 10 years by raising taxes on those earning more than US$400,000 a year.

Overall, the budget would increase federal spending in the 12 months starting in October to US$6.8 trillion from the US$6.2 trillion expected to be spent in the current fiscal year.

"For too long, working people been breaking

their necks, the economy's left them behind – working people like you – while those at the top get away with everything," Biden told Pennsylvania blue-collar workers, a group he also targeted in his 2020 presidential campaign.

Biden's budget proposal faces stiff opposition from Republican lawmakers emboldened by winning control of the House of Representatives in November's midterm elections. Large parts of his agenda are unlikely ever to be enacted by this Congress.

The plan, however, is a political statement that directly challenges Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's threats to block an increase in the US$31.4 trillion limit on federal borrowing unless Biden agrees to rein in federal spending.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

A view of emergency workers at the site of a Russian missile strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, March 9, 2023 (Reuters/Gleb Garanich TPX Images Of The Day)

stations'

3 wounded in Tel Aviv shooting, Israeli Police say

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Make your intentions clear, and you'll get the answers you need. Changing your location or trying something new will lead to new friendships. Make partnerships your priority.

(March 21-April 19)

The more precise you are, the better. Take a simple path that is easy for others to follow, and you'll get the backup you need. Giving someone encouragement will pay off.

(April 20-May 20)

Judge situations honestly and make your move. Understanding the ins and outs of what you are dealing with and the personalities involved will make your job easier. Love is featured.

PEANUTS

(May 21-June 20)

Clear your head and rethink your plans. Don't confuse personal feelings with professional needs. Call on someone who can offer a different perspective on a situation.

(June 21-July 22)

Your popularity will grow if you share your expertise and help those who need it. Show how much you care, and the response you receive will tell you what to expect in return.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(July 23-Aug. 22)

Take the high road, regardless of how others react. Courage, integrity and the truth will carry you to the winner's circle. A partnership will need your attention.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Don't give in to emotional manipulation. Stand your ground, follow your heart and refuse to let anyone take advantage of you. Use your imagination. Plan to do something with a loved one.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

You'll have trouble differentiating between what you want, what you can do and what you can have. Take the path of least resistance and be wary of overcommitting yourself.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Don't argue over something inconsequential. Time will heal all wounds if you are patient. Carry on and make the most of your time by concentrating on what you can achieve.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Take on challenges, seize the moment and show everyone what you can do. Stick to a plan, and steer clear of anyone trying to get you to extend yourself beyond your comfort zone.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Take a moment to put everything in its place. Preparation will make the difference between easy success and possible failure. Live in the moment and leave nothing undone.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

A secretive approach will help you bring about the changes you want with the least amount of interference. Avoid overindulgence. You must work to achieve a new perspective.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

WI Tour to SA 2023: Test 2 of 2… Holder's 81* keeps West Indies afloat on 13-wicket day

South Africa's openers were unbeaten at stumps after West Indies were rolled over for 251.

On a pitch with extra bounce on one end and turn on the other, batting was always going to be tricky, but South Africa also showed up sharply in the field, to make it even more difficult.

After scoring only one run in their first 19 balls, West Indies were anxious to rotate strike, so when Kraigg Brathwaite tapped Mulder into the covers, he set off on a single. But he didn't bank on Temba Bavuma's quick reflexes. The South Africa captain swooped in from mid-off, pulled off a one-hand pick-

From the other end, Kagiso Rabada extracted extra bounce with a short-ofa-length beauty that found Brathwaite's outside edge.

Elgar had to take the catch low down at first slip, and got his hands underneath it to leave West Indies at 22 for 2.

Gerald Coetzee took over from Rabada and got the second ball of his second over to straighten on Jermaine Blackwood, who was squared up and nicked off.

Chase and Reifer put on 23 runs in 25 balls - thanks largely to big gaps in the field as Bavuma sought to crowd the batters against the spinners - before Coetzee struck again. Reifer tried to flick Coetzee past Tony de Zorzi

nings before lunch, Chase and Mayers batted with a good blend of caution and aggression for most of the first 10 overs after the break. They capitalised on anything overpitched, and turned the strike over sedately but sensibly to stage a small recovery.

of Rabada for the first time since his opening spell, but it was Mayers whose patience he tested, particularly after drinks. After spending 76 balls to score 27 runs, Mayers wanted to get a move on, and threw his bat at any width Rabada offered, even as he was beaten.

up-and-release, and hit the stumps at the striker's end to find Tagenarine Chanderpaul short of his ground.

at short leg, but inside-edged onto his pad, and de Zorzi took a good catch.

After stabilising the in-

Their partnership had grown to 52 runs before Chase tried to take Mulder on and failed. He advanced on a full delivery and inside-edged onto his pads before the ball rolled back onto his stumps. A distraught Chase sank to his knees, perhaps knowing he had opened the door into the lower order, with West Indies still 217 runs behind.

Joshua da Silva's arrival saw the re-introduction

After one over in which he looked like he could be dismissed off every ball, Mayers wafted at one too many and edged to Elgar at first slip. When he was dismissed, West Indies were still five runs adrift of the follow-on.

Jason Holder's first runs, a gorgeous straight drive, ensured South Africa would have to bat again, and he soon outscored da Silva, who broke

GTTA names CAC teams

The Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) has announced the national teams that would be representing Guyana at the Men’s Team CAC Games’ Qualifier and Senior Caribbean Championships, as well as the Women’s Team CAC games’ Qualifier and Senior Caribbean Championships.

These events will be held from March 16 to 19, and from March 20 to 25 respectively.

For the Men’s Team, the following players have been selected: Shemar Britton, Jonathan Van Lange, Joel Alleyne, Elishaba Johnson, and Paul David. The Women’s Team comprises Chelsea Edghill, Natalie Cummings, Priscilla Greaves, Thuraia Thomas, and Jasmine Billingy.

The GTTA Selection Committee has carefully chosen the players based on their performance in recent

local and regional tournaments and overseas engagement at club and circuit level. The GTTA believes the mixture of seasoned players and youth during this transition period, along with their continued preparation, has what it takes to represent Guyana well in these tournaments, with emphasis on the CAC Qualifiers.

The players have been training daily for the events. Those sessions include practice and physical training.

The GTTA is grateful for the support partnerships which are aiding in providing the team with the necessary

resources and support to ensure that they are adequately prepared for the competitions. As part of the training, the GTTA has also been working with the players to develop their mental toughness and strategies, which are crucial in high-pressure matches.

GTTA President, Godfrey Munroe, expressed his confidence in the selected teams by saying, “We are very proud of the players that have been selected to represent Guyana at these important events. We believe that they have the potential to do very well, and we will continue to sup-

port them in any way we can. We wish them all the best, and hope that they will make Guyana proud.”

The Men’s Team CAC Games’ Qualifiers and Senior Caribbean Championships will take place from March 16 to 19, while the Women’s Team CAC Games’ Qualifiers and Senior Caribbean Championships will be held from March 20 to 25.

The GTTA is encouraging the people of Guyana to come out and support the national teams as they compete against the best players from the Caribbean and Central America.

had Alzarri Joseph caught at silly point, but Holder and Kemar Roach put on 31 runs in 40 balls, and both of them took on Maharaj. Roach's fun ended when Coetzee was brought back, and he tried to cut but edged to Elgar at first slip.

the shackles post tea. He was on 16 off 56 balls when he cut Keshav Maharaj for fours in successive overs, and South Africa seemed to be losing their shape slightly.

Simon Harmer pulled it back when he bowled da Silva through the bat-pad gap to open up the tail. Maharaj

Holder went on to bring up his fifty off 79 balls with an authoritative sweep that carried for six. With Gudakesh Motie being a more than capable #11, Holder continued to play his shots, and was especially profitable with the slog against the spinners. Their partnership reached 50 runs off 59 balls as West Indies continued to frustrate a South African attack that seemed to be waiting for the second new ball. They did not get there because, with three deliveries to go, Motie holed out to short cover off Simon Harmer, leaving South Africa with three overs to face to close out the day, which Markram and Elgar managed without too many troubles. (ESPN Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

South Africa 1st Innings

Dean Elgar c Chase b Motie 42

Aiden Markram c Blackwood b Motie 96

Tony de Zorzi b Motie 85

Temba Bavuma (c)

lbw b Holder 28

Ryan Rickelton c

†Da Silva b Joseph 22

Heinrich Klaasen †c †

Da Silva b Mayers 17

Wiaan Mulder b Mayers 12

Simon Harmer c †

Da Silva b Mayers 1

Keshav Maharaj

c Motie b Joseph 1

Gerald Coetzee c †Da Silva

b Joseph 1

Kagiso Rabada not out 6

Extras (lb 5, nb 3, w 1) 9

TOTAL 92.2 Ov (RR: 3.46) 320

Fall of wickets: 1-76

(Dean Elgar, 17.3 ov), 2-192

(Aiden Markram, 44.3 ov), 3-248

(Temba Bavuma, 64.4 ov), 4-278

(Tony de Zorzi, 75.2 ov), 5-286

(Ryan Rickelton, 78.1 ov), 6-309

(Wiaan Mulder, 87.6 ov), 7-311

(Simon Harmer, 89.2 ov), 8-312

(Heinrich Klaasen, 89.5 ov), 9-312

(Keshav Maharaj, 90.6 ov), 10-320

(Gerald Coetzee, 92.2 ov) •

DRS

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Kemar Roach 16-3-55-0

Alzarri Joseph 18.2-3-60-3

Kyle Mayers 9-0-32-3

Jason Holder 16-5-39-1

Gudakesh Motie 19-3-75-3

Roston Chase 14-2-54-0

West Indies 1st Innings

Kraigg Brathwaite (c) c Elgar b Rabada 17

Tagenarine Chanderpaul run out (Bavuma) 1

Raymon Reifer c de Zorzi b Coetzee 15

Jermaine Blackwood c †Klaasen b Coetzee 6 Roston Chase b Mulder 28

Kyle Mayers c Elgar b Rabada 29

Joshua Da Silva †b Harmer 26

Jason Holder not out 81

Alzarri Joseph c de Zorzi b

Maharaj 4

Kemar Roach c Elgar b Coetzee 13

Gudakesh Motie c Bavuma b Harmer 17

Extras (b 4, lb 7, nb 3) 14

TOTAL 79.3 Ov (RR: 3.15) 251

Fall of wickets: 1-1

(Tagenarine Chanderpaul, 3.2 ov), 2-22 (Kraigg Brathwaite, 10.4 ov), 3-28 (Jermaine Blackwood, 12.2 ov), 4-51 (Raymon Reifer, 16.3 ov), 5-103 (Roston Chase, 31.5 ov),

Gerald Coetzee celebrating after dismissing Raymon Reifer (Mar 09, 2023•Associated Press)

Brathwaite walking back after another failure this series

Natalie Cummings Shemar Britton

Cricket brings all Guyanese together, says Reds Perreira

- GCC honours legendary commentator

By Brandon Corlette

Veteran Cricket

Commentator Joseph

“Reds” Perreira returned to Guyana for a Night of Recognition at the historic Georgetown Cricket Club at Bourda. On a special Wednesday evening, tributes for Reds poured in from great individuals, including Sir Clive Lloyd, who appeared virtually.

During his virtual call, Sir Clive said: “We have been friends for quite a long while. He has seen me grow from a young guy to a Test cricketer. When I came to England for the first time in 1969, he was there, and I bought my first pair of shoes, he was my company. I must say he is very enthusiastic. He is someone I respect, and he has done extremely well with his commentary. We have been all over the world travelling. I can only wish him the best.

“When he (Reds) was injured in Australia, my friends looked after him and

nursed him back to health.”

The legendary commentator Reds also spoke at the event, where he emphasized on the importance of cricket bringing all Guyanese together. Reds, who did commentary for more than 50 years, and travelled to all cricketing nations with the exception of Bangladesh, said: “If it is one thing that brings us together, it is sport, and in particular cricket.

“The inter-colonial series started. When the likes

of Kanhai, Butcher and Solomon put together a score that beat the mighty Barbados team under Sir Garfield Sobers, Guyanese were happy. Guyanese were brought together, and it did not matter their colour, their race. Guyanese were happy that were beating Barbados. That was in the 50s.

“You then move on to 1965, when Lance Gibbs bowled out Australia here in a Test match. Nobody was thinking about which ethnic group he came from. It was a Guyanese making a contribution for the West Indies to win. Guyanese were brought together,” Reds said.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Reds had doubts about having an opportunity to ever return home to Guyana. “It is really good to be home. There were times during COVID-19 when I had my doubts if I would ever get back to Guyana, because it was a very rough time.”

Reflecting on his early

days, Reds overcome stammering, and his late mom allowed him to do imaginary commentary in his young days. “It was never written in the wind or written in the stars that I would be a commentator. It was like wanting to be a racing driver with bad eyes, but I fell in love with cricket when I came to live in Georgetown,” the veteran commentator said.

Renowned businessman Nazar Mohamed was also honoured at the event with a life membership card from GCC, Bourda for his continued support of the club, and in the development in Guyana in general.

While many individuals are calling for the Media Centre at Providence to be named after Reds, he said the players come first. He noted that the Blairmont Community Centre Cricket Club should be named after former West Indies opener Roy Fredericks. Reds now resides in St Lucia, where he hosts a radio programme. This Night of Recognition was made possible by some loyal sponsors. Royan Perreira, Nazar Group of Companies, Alphonso Group of Companies, Mohammed’s Enterprises, Ricky Sanasie, and other members of the GCC.

Republic Classic beach football…

By Brandon Corlette at enmore

On a day filled with glorious sunshine, leftarm spinners Ricardo Adams and Nigel Deodat dominated the opening day of Round Two of the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB’s) Senior Inter-County fourday tournament at Enmore, ECD.

A total of 19 wickets fell as Adams claimed 5-25 from 14 overs to blow away a new-

look Berbice team for 94 all out.

In response, Deodat had 5-42 from 14 overs to restrict Essequibo to 156-9 in 49 overs when stumps were drawn.

Essequibo has a lead of 62 runs, and the final wicket will be aiming to frustrate the Berbicians.

Earlier, Berbice won the toss and opted to bat first. The inexperienced top-order was blown away by the Essequibo seamers. Alex Algoo made three, while Javed Karim was removed for a duck, his second in as many innings as he continues to struggle in this tournament.

Garfield Benjamin was also trapped at the crease for two as wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Seon Hetmyer, elder brother of Shimron Hetmyer, looked promising for his 18, but he also failed to capitalise.

Captain Junior Sinclair, batting at number five, was struck on the leg and forced to retire hurt. He returned to bat, but managed only 10 runs.

West Berbice right-handed batsman Shamal Angel, batting at number seven, top-scored for Berbice with 34, but his innings contained only three fours, as Ricardo Adams proved too hot to han-

dle.

Adams, a left-arm spinner as his brother Antony Adams, ended with magical figures of 5-25 from 14 overs. He bowled five maidens and was well supported by Quinten Sampson, who had 3-12 from 5.4 overs as Berbice folded for 94 all out in 38.4 overs.

Essequibo had a better start to their innings than Berbice. At tea, Essequibo reached 47-2 in 16 overs. Kevin Boodie (07) and Avinash Persaud (04) were the batsmen to fall. Deodat removed the Essequibo Captain Kevon Boodie, while Keyon Sinclair bowled Persaud.

Ronaldo Renee was unbeaten on 16, while Malcolm Hubbard was on 14. The final session saw wickets tumble as batsmen looked to attack as if it was a one-day game. Deodat took the bulk of the wickets for Berbice, and also pulled off a splendid catch at long-off to send the batsman Sampson back to the pavilion.

Renee, looking to go over the top, eventually lost his wicket for 38. Top-scorer of the day, Ricardo Adams, brother of Antony Adams, who will be on national duties, also looked aggressive with the bat, but his innings was short-lived on 23, while Sampson played his usual pugnacious role in his 35 which came from 28 balls.

Deodat ended with 5-42 from 14 overs, inclusive of three maidens, as Essequibo ended the day on 156-9 in 49 overs.

Keyon Sinclair, one of three brothers in the Berbice playing XI, had one wicket, as did Gourav Ramesh, Suresh Dhani and Seon Hetmyer.

The second day will bowl off from 9:30h today at Enmore.

Following the opening last Saturday and play on Tuesday, results from clashes in the Republic Classic beach football tournament organized by Pinnacle Promotions Group make it difficult to predict the possible teams likely to advance to the knockout stages come tomorrow (Saturday).

On Tuesday night, the Group C game ended with Hi Stars gaining a win via the walkover route, as Dave and Celena could not take the field; but a similar result was obtained by Timehri Panthers when Ituni was also absent in a Group D schedule.

But in on-field action, Hard Knocks romped home by a 9-4 margin in their Group B encounter, and Turk Kings claimed a win as the Coomacka team did not show up for their Group A fixture.

The Group D game ended with Kwakwani Strikers gaining a win as Ituni were missing in action; but in Group B, Hustlers overcame a determined Haynes Hardnose Ballers 5-4, while Turf Kings prevailed 4-3

against Young Kings in their Group A match, and Timehri Panthers put away Kuru Kuru Warriors 2-0 in that Group D affair.

Last Saturday, the first night’s action was witnessed by President of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA), Wainwright Bethune, who wished the contesting teams the best of luck. The opening game in Group A ended with Young Guns winning 3-1 against Young Kings, then Aroaima won against Ituni in a Group D clash, before Hi Stars and Kwakwani played to a 1-1stalemate in a Group C match.

That was followed by Hustlers pounding their way past Golden Stars 5-0 in a Group B game, while Groups C’s Kwakwani Strikers and Dave and Celena could not be separated with that game finished 2-2. The Group D match ended 5-2 for the winners Aroaima, who prevailed over Kuru Kuru Warriors, and the final game that night finished with Hard Knocks rolling Past Golden Stars 3-2 in their Group B clash.

A section of the gathering at GCC on Wednesday evening

Businessman Nazar Mohamed and Reds sharing a light moment (Brandon Corlette photos)

Action in the Republic Classic beach football tournament

Football venues: The issues, the effects and Solutions

By Jemima Holmes

The Issues

If this writer were to describe the scenes during December of 2022, when severe and persistent rainfall inundated several grounds, not only in Georgetown, but in Linden and further afield; the words nightmare, dreadful and atrocious come to mind.

However, this article is not a matter of personal opinion, but rather, fact. And that fact is, Guyana currently has a shortage of proper football venues.

In good weather, this problem may not appear so easily to the eye, but whenever Guyana is blessed with showers from above, the issue arises in all its glory, much like floating garbage whenever a drain is flooded.

2022’s year end tournament, the One Guyana President’s Cup, was a victim of this scourge with most of the games being shifted to the National Track and Field Center, West Coast Demerara (WCD), owing to the state of other venues across the coast.

But, alas, the President’s Cup was not the latest victim of the football venue plight. In February, it was announced that Guyana’s ‘home game’ for the CONCACAF Nations League will be shifted to Barbados. While there have been differing reports on the issue with the pitch on the West Coast of Demerara, the point to take away is that what was considered our best football venue at present, was not even up to CONCACAF’s standards.

As such, the Guyana Times Sport sought to hear the opinions of those stakeholders closest to the sport. And on what better note to begin than with the Guyana

are already in motion. But truth be told, we have a crisis for football facilities.”

“In Linden, all the tournaments are being played in the schoolyard because of the ongoing works. And because many of the other facilities are just in pretty, pretty bad shape. In Georgetown, they GFA has very, very little opportunity to move games around because of the state of infrastructure. And this is the same for all 10 regions,” Forde said, painting a picture of how dire the situation is.

However, the problem has not only hindered the Federation but private organizers also. Sharing similar sentiments to Forde on the issue, was Petra Organization Co- Director Troy Mendonca.

“Well, I think that’s a big struggle for the country as a whole. I think that’s the biggest hurdle that football, sports in general, but football especially; its one of the biggest hurdles that the sport is faced with, in terms of having, not even proper venues, but venues in the whole,” Mendonca had told the Guyana Times Sport earlier this year.

Mendonca added, “We would have really enjoyed really good relationship with the Ministry of Education and their facility and they would’ve, during the COVID time, did some work on the facility and we would continue in every way, in our relationship, to enhance the facility. So, yes, it is a challenge, but it’s countrywide, it’s not a challenge Petra Organization alone faces,”

The Effects

As previously mentioned, the glaring lack of football venues has grown so much, that the Golden Jaguars will play a ‘home game’ on

they are now faced with, Forde divulged, “So, we now have to embrace the additional expenses that come with, because we have to pay the Barbados Football Association to use their venue. There are many other costs that we would not have likely incurred here that we now have to carry.”

He went on to add, “The opportunity to engage sponsors are almost not there because companies would have enjoyed having their brand displayed in a local venue and being carried.”

However, the GFF boss is approaching the problem, which is a trickle down of the country’s venue bugbear, optimistically.

He said, “So, we're going to make the best of it. We've already been communicating with the players that they need to rise to the occasion and put that behind us, it's already done. And, and God willing, and with the work that I know Coach Shabazz and team is doing, we will

solution that the Federation is focused on.

“In my discussions last

are suspended, because it's no longer safe, for games to be played on really water

pitch in each of our regional associations, which will allow multiple competitions to be played at the same time at those venues. So, there's a lot of work that we're doing behind the scenes to bring that to reality. But we do have a severe crisis and shortage for football venues Guyana.”

On the other hand, while the ground enhancement project takes shape, Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr, has shared plans for three international standard football venues across the country.

“The answer to your question is really, ‘Will we have any additional grounds that will be capable oof hosting FIFA matches’ and the answer is yes,” Ramson Jr. recently said, responding to an inquiry by the Guyana Times Sport.

The Sport Minister further revealed, “I have already procured for Region 6, FIFA standard lighting for the football field, which is going to be exactly what you have, maybe even better than Leonora. I already have procured FIFA standard lighting at New Amsterdam and we’re going to be doing that now for the track in Linden.”

“So, you’re going to have three locations here you have options of FIFA matches,” the Minister assured.

year with FIFA, when we were planning for the new year, we drove home as hard as we could, the desperate situation for infrastructure in Guyana, and the extent to which rainfall is impacting competitions, because many of our tournaments

logged and chewed up the pitches. And if you're able to meet your game time target for your players, you have to be able to play football,” Forde shared.

He went on to disclose, “So one of the goals that we are pursuing very aggressively, is having at least one artificial

Levelling the playing field for women in sports…

Between the Ground Enhancement project, the anticipated completion of the GFF’s Providence and D’Urban Park facilities, the outcome of their conversations with FIFA and the three International Standard facilities being built by the Ministry, there will be an abundance of proper facilities for football in future. However, the wait is on.

While we wait, the question that remains is, “Will that be enough?”

Dr Shallow supports PM Mottley’s call

With the Cricket West Indies (CWI) presidency in his sights, Dr. Kishore Shallow is supporting sentiments made by the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, and making it his priority to level the playing field for women in the game.

Football Federation

(GFF)

President, Wayne Forde, who labelled the situation a ‘crisis’.

“I would say that we have a crisis, with regards to proper facilities for football development,” the GFF President bluntly told this publication.

Forde went on to share, “We quite possibly only have about three decent quality facilities for football activities, whether it's training programs or competition, and let's be clear about that. And, you know, the GFF is doing what we can, but we understand that the state also has great plans, and those plans

Barbadian soil in a few weeks’ time.

On that note, Forde shared how these occurrences not only affect the game but the Federation.

“The game, it really belongs to the people. You know, the Golden Jaguar belongs to the people of Guyana, we just have the privilege to manage it on their behalf. And I know the team is also motivated to perform before their fans. So, when you take that element out, you know that it's not something that we take lightly,” Forde emphasized.

Turning his attention to some of the roadblocks that

be smiling at the end of the day when the final whistle is blown.”

The Solutions

While highlighting the problem is the first step, action needs to be taken to rectify the issue.

From the Government’s side, grounds such as the Fruta Conquerors venue in Tucville is currently being redone under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports’ ‘Ground Enhancement project’.

On the Federation end, Forde shared exclusively with the Guyana Times Sport, the

In a statement issued on Thursday, Dr. Shallow explained that, as President of Cricket West Indies (CWI), he would be pushing for women cricketers to receive treatment, coverage, and ultimately payment equal to their male counterparts.

“Today, we join our colleagues in cricket worldwide in recognising International Women's Day. And in the same breath, I acknowledge the unlevel playing field that exists in the Women's game, an issue that deserves due attention,” Dr. Shallow said.

“I thank Prime Minister Mottley for raising this important matter. I whole-

heartedly agree that it is time our West Indies women are placed on equal footing as the men’s team, starting with equal media coverage, same travel arrangements, and ultimately equal pay. This is what CWI must strive for as we seek to return to the summit of cricket in all formats,” Dr. Shallow added.

Prime Minister Mottley made the call during the launch of the Barbados

Netball Association last Sunday. She called for sportswomen, and specifically West Indian cricketers, to receive equal treatment on par with their male peers.

Dr. Shallow, who is currently CWI Vice-President, will be vying for the position of President on March 25, when the organisation hosts its 24th Annual General Meeting and elections in Antigua.

Dr Kishore Shallow

Sport Minister Charles Ramson jr.

GFF President Wayne Forde Petra Co- Director Troy Mendonca