The Guyana Times - Friday, May 26, 2023

President Ali commits to full compensation for affected families

– says 6 young people on suicide watch as int’l partners continue to offer assistance

…Capitalising on people’s grief is "unconscionable" – VP Jagdeo

…2 girls remain critical at GPHC, others listed as stable – Health Ministry – results of DNA analysis on 13 bodies expected within 72 hours

…CoI needed to understand issues, find solutions to prevent reoccurrence – Shuman

Over 1000 rounds of ammunition unearthed during CANU raid

4 Prison Officers among 6 remanded for aiding escape of death row inmate “Smallie”

Duo jailed for trafficking meth, cocaine

About 50 gaps plugged in RoPA to ensure electoral security – Jagdeo

businessman builds well in Yemen

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, May 26 – 09:00h-09:45h and 23:00h-00:30h and Saturday, May 27 – 23:30h-00:15h.

Friday, May 26 – 08:00h-09:30h and Saturday, May 27 – 09:05h-10:35h.

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

Light to heavy showers with instances of thunder are expected during the day and night, interrupted by late-afternoon sunshine. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to South-Easterly between 2.23 metres and 3.58 metres.

High Tide: 08:44h and 21:33h reaching maximum heights of 2.19 metres and 2.08 metres.

Low Tide: 14:56h reaching a minimum height of 1.02 metres.

We have proven our trustworthiness to this nation – President Ali in Independence Day address

As Guyana celebrates its 57th Independence anniversary, President Dr Irfaan Ali has stated that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government has proven its track record and fulfilled its promises made to the Guyanese people.

“We have proven our trustworthiness to this nation. Our track record on how you can trust us as your Government and as leaders is undeniable. We are a listening government that listens, hears, analyses, and acts on people’s concerns. We have fulfilled our commitment to every segment of the Guyanese population,” the Head of State said in his Independence Day message to the nation.

Among the areas, according to President Ali, that his Administration has acted upon the trust instilled in it is enhancing the lives of the country’s senior citizens through the increase of the monthly old age pension to $33,000 – an overall increase of 60.97 per cent since assuming office in 2020; reinstating the light and water subsidy; and giving a one-off cash grant to Old Age Pensioners in 2020 and 2021.

For 1400 vulnerable single mothers, women, and persons who were unable to complete basic secondary education, he noted that the Government has given them a chance to graduate with the SCQF Level 6 qualification of the Get Ready for Opportunities to Work (GROW) initiative.

With regard to the Amerindian people, the President said not only were

they equipped with promised tractors, tools, chainsaws, and All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), but more than 2000 Community Service Officers (CSOs) were reinstated with jobs and received training in outboard engine repairs, solar installation and repairs, tractor repairs and maintenance, garment sewing, and tourism and hospitality. Additionally, Amerindians also benefited from 15 per cent of the first-ever forest carbon credit sale agreement to the tune of $4.6 billion.

In the area of education, President Ali pointed to the 14,500 GOAL scholarships that were awarded to more than 13 accredited institutions across the world, the reinstitution of the cash grant and uniform allowances for children which now stand at $30,000 per child, the reinstitution of the hot meals programmes in schools, and teachers being offered

the chance to advance their training and qualifications.

For farmers, the Head of State outlined that his Administration has reduced the VAT on inputs and equipment, spent one billion dollars on fertilisers, spent tens of billions of dollars on ancillary services and infrastructure, including drainage and irrigation and farm-to-market roads.

Moreover, Ali further pointed out that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) reversed over 200 A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Governmentimposed taxes that stifled Private Sector growth.

In housing, he disclosed that some 23,056 house lots have been distributed since August 2020, while Guyanese have also benefited from the steel and cement subsidy programme that has received 1542 applicants to

date, with 776 applications already approved.

The Guyanese Leader added that his Government was building six new modern regional hospitals, a state-ofthe-art maternal and paediatric hospital and offering to train any person who is desirous of being a nurse or patient care giver.

“Just as you have trusted us and we have delivered, so too can you trust us in the good times and the notso-good times. In the sunny days and in the cloudy days and at this tragic moment in our history, you can trust us to do what is right – trust us to have the best interests of the families of these children at the centre of everything we do,” he contended.

President Ali made this remark as Guyana mourns the tragic loss of 19 lives –18 girls between the ages of 12 and 17 and a five-yearold boy – who were killed in a massive fire that gutted the secondary school dormitory in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) on Sunday.

According to the Head of State, celebrating the shining stars of the nation is important now more than ever in this moment of mourning.

To this end, he recognised the many athletes who brought Guyana medals at the South American Games and the Carifta Games, the national football and national cricket teams and the students especially, all of whom he said earned Guyana glory regionally.

“I recognise those who toil every day for the health, safety, upward mobility, and edification of our people,” President Ali posited.

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Our 57th Independence Anniversary

Today we are commemorating the 57th Anniversary of our Independence from Britain. This usually highly celebrated event will today be toned, as the nation mourns the death of the 19 children who tragically lost their lives in the Mahdia Secondary School dormitory fire. We agree with President Dr Irfaan Ali when he decided to change the independence celebration activities to a Night of Reflection to remember the lives of the children who died.

Whenever we examine events that occurred in the past, we must acknowledge that we inevitably do so from the present, in which we are enmeshed. This implies that, no matter how hard we try, we cannot totally escape being influenced by the challenges and opportunities that confront us contemporaneously. It behooves us to consider that context in looking backward.

The Dutch, English, and French established colonies in what is now known as Guyana, but by the early 17th century, the majority of the settlements were Dutch. During the Napoleonic wars, Britain took over the Dutch colonies of Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo, which became British Guiana in 1831.

British Guiana became a Crown colony in 1928, and in 1953 it was granted home rule. In 1950, Dr Cheddi Jagan became the leader of the newly-formed People’s Progressive Party (PPP), which struggled for human rights and Independence. In the 1953 elections, Dr Jagan was elected Chief Minister. The British, however, suspended the Constitution and Government within months and installed an interim Government. In 1955, the PPP split, with ambitious member LFS Burnham breaking off to create the People’s National Congress (PNC). In 1961, Britain granted the colony autonomy, and Dr Jagan was elected Prime Minister (1961–1964). Strikes and rioting, later proven to be the result of covert operations, forced Dr Jagan to make compromises inimical to his leadership in efforts to save his supporters from destruction. In 1964, Burnham succeeded Dr Jagan as Prime Minister – a position he retained after the country gained full Independence on May 26, 1966. British Guiana was renamed Guyana after Independence.

Guyana was a land roamed by its Indigenous Peoples, who comprised several tribes that lived sustainably in the rainforests. However, man’s lust for adventure and wealth brought the Europeans to these shores. With initial cajolery and barter, then trickery when they discovered the rich agrarian lands in these regions, the European nations tried to enslave the freedom-loving native tribes, with scant success, to farm the riverine areas.

Subsequently, enslaved Africans were transported to these colonies to work on the sugar plantations. After manumission, satisfying their desperate need for freedom, with monies they had saved literally from the sweat of their brows, they bought lands and contrived village structures, and their endeavours at farming provided sustenance out of the plantation landscape.

This left the plantocracy in a quandary. They needed a workforce that could withstand the burning sun and labor-intensive work of sugar cultivation and production; heralding the indenture of Chinese, Portuguese and Indians. However, only the Indians had the fortitude to work under the gruelling conditions imposed on the indentured servants. The Chinese and Portuguese became the merchant class.

These are the peoples who comprise the Guyanese nation. The fact is that, even with the granting of the Instruments of Independence by Great Britain, this country did not achieve real freedom, but was ruled by an iron fist under a dictatorship.

Down the corridors of Guyana’s history, the dictatorship continued to act in ways inimical to Guyana’s developmental trajectory, because the Guyanese people have become mere statistics – in the words of one politician, “collateral damage” in the drive of pseudo-leaders for self-aggrandizement/empowerment and wealth-acquisition.

After 28 years of PNC rule, October 5, 1992 heralded the dawn of a new era, as a PPP/C coalition Government – a combination of the PPP political construct and civil society, took the reins of administration, subsequent to which the country’s developmental paradigm began climbing on an upward trajectory that was nearmiraculous.

The vehicle taking this nation on an inexorable climb toward the eventual attainment of individual and national progress and prosperity was taken over by the PNC-led APNU/AFC in 2015. Many questionable things happened during the period 2015-2020, forcing much discussion in Guyana as to whether the country was once again seeing the ghost of the dictatorship of the past.

When PPP/C was restored to the Government after agonising post-elections of 2020, the Irfaan Ali-led administration once again was constrained to clean up the Augean Stables, which is the aftermath that is Guyana under PNC rule.

The success of this Herculean task is clearly visible, as the visionary PPP/C leadership continues to guide this nation’s fortunes inexorably on an upward trajectory of social development and economic stability and growth.

Sleep well, angels

Dear Editor,

The fire at Mahdia was a national tragedy that tainted the year 2023 and the history of Guyana. This deadly blaze, headlined by CNN, BBC, AlJazeera, The Guardian, The New York Times and The Washington Post, allowed millions, if not billions, to see such a tragic disaster.

It is a tragedy that shocked the entire nation. It traumatised families and has shaken many around the globe.

The grilled building that caught fire in the wee hours of Monday morning claimed the lives of 19 children. There are no words of comfort I can say to the mothers, relatives and friends of the children who perished. I cannot lift your pain from your shoulders, nor mend your broken hearts. The pain in my heart and the tears in my eyes are certainly no match to the depth of immense heartache and hopelessness you are feeling. The death and loss of a child is known as the ‘ultimate tragedy’. Along with the usual symptoms and stages of grief, many issues make parental bereavement particularly difficult to resolve. And this grief over the loss of a child can be exacerbated and complicated by feelings of injustice — the understandable feeling that this loss should never have happened.

Grief is normal to experience; we will all lose someone that we love in our lifetime. We all go through the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

To the relatives and loved ones, I mourn with you. Guyana mourns with you.

To the citizens, we should refrain from political overtures. We should not participate in petty politics and misconstrued discussions. We should all share empathy and sympathy, and grieve for the loss of our children. We should think of the privacy and safety of the Mahdia children, and be mindful and respectful of the pain their loved ones are going through.

It is unimaginable, indescribable and impossible to fathom the pain of losing a child.

When we lose our children, we do

not just lose them at the stage they were when they passed, we lose them at every stage missed; and our hearts will forever ache with that knowledge. There is a whole crock of crap that says grief follows a method. It stays neatly in lines: clean, tame, and strategic. There is nothing normal, neat, clean, or tame when a child dies before a parent.

Though malicious and unlawful, we should never threaten the life of a child and her parents. The mere fact that she admitted shows the immense guilt and pain that she is feeling. We should seek empathy and understanding that sometimes mistakes are made, and such consequences result in events that spring out of control.

Arson aside, a building equipped with fire safety measures and a strong safety system would allow for prevented or minimal fire risk.

As a society, we should all learn from this national disaster, and take into consideration our lack of civility, decency and development. The fire at Mahdia is something that has been fuelling for decades. It has been a common cultural crisis that has been replicated generation after generation. We need to resolve this for the betterment of our children.

We would sit in a speeding and overcrowded minibus without speaking up. We board speed boats without life jackets. Road safety is absent in Guyana. It baffles me that, at every turn, you would come across a motorcyclist without a helmet. We would hop on a motorbike or bicycle and invite family and loved ones without any form of protection to meet their demise. We construct buildings and infrastructure with little to no work safety in place. We litter and pollute without a care or concern.

How many more of our loved ones do we have to bury before we can implement basic laws to protect our nation? How much more grief and heartbreak can one endure before we abide by civilised regulations? If our society had implemented and abided by sensible and civilized standards, then the chances of those innocent little kids perishing in a building locked from the outside with no means of escape in the face of an emergency would

have been prevented or avoided.

It is 2023, and we, as a nation, ought to adhere to the fire safety and prevention regulations. We must ensure that buildings in Guyana have fire safety implantations, smoke alarms, and fire alert mechanisms with functioning fire extinguishers or fire blankets and accessible fire escape and exit routes. We must also implement regular fire safety training in our homes, businesses, and places of social gatherings.

A good fire-safe building depends on three complementary systems to decrease the danger of death and other risks. They are: a detection system to warn inmates of a fire, a contaminant system to restrict or limit the spread or extent of a fire, and an automatic suppression system to limit or control the fire until extinguished.

All buildings should demonstrate and implement regular fire training and drills. At every few metres, a fire plan should be depicted in buildings for people to study and learn in the event of a fire. It should never be considered a norm for buildings to be grilled for safety reasons without a disaster escape plan instilled and implemented.

Our President, Prime Minister, and Minister of Education have demonstrated compassionate leadership in this difficult and tragic situation. Our hearts bleed for the Mahdia losses. To the loved ones, do not let anyone tell you how to grieve, do not let hurtful words destroy you further, and do not blame yourselves for what happened. Things happen for a reason, we may never understand God’s wisdom, but we must trust His plans. I wish I had words to lighten your agony.

I hope our prayers can comfort you. Grief does not end. Out of a broken, beating heart comes endless love as it ebbs and flows through the constant cycles of grief. Sometimes gentle, sometimes heavy, the reminders are always there, the love is always there. After all, a mother never stops loving the child she carried. Sleep well, angels.

Your truly,

Nazar Mohamed Businessman

This Latchman Singh photo shows a section of Lethem township, with the Kanuku Mountain Range in the background

Richmond Hill holds candlelight vigil for fire victims

Dear Editor, Dozens of Guyanese from the Greater Richmond Hill area gathered on Wednesday evening, May 24, in Smokey Park, 125 Street and 95th Ave., Little Guyana, Queens, for a remembrance and mourning candlelight service for the victims of the Mahdia horrible fire tragedy.

The deadly inferno at a secondary school student dormitory on Sunday night claimed the lives of 19 school children and injured several others, who suffered burns. Several others escaped injury, thanks to the good-spiritedness and heroism of neighbours, who broke down windows and doors to rescue them. The victims were innocent children. The Little Guyana vigil

was organized by community groups in Queens, including the Federation of Hindu Mandirs. It grew from within the Guyanese community in Queens as a way to support the Guyanese nation and the grieving families of the victims of the fire tragedy as they process their loss. Some individuals brought flowers at the vigil.

Organizers said it’s not just they or those who showed up at the rally who are mourning the loss of the victims. It's the entire diaspora that has been devastated, not just the families and communities of the many victims. The tragedy has been the talk in New York among every Guyanese and Caribbean national. There were invocations by Imaam Safraz Bacchus representing the Muslim

Mahdia tragedy

Dear Editor,

It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that I express sincere condolences to the immediate families, relatives and friends, and the community of Mahdia as a collective, on the tragic death of 19 young students who were trapped in a dormitory fire.

As a community, as a nation, we are all in shock as we join with you in grief over this devastating event.

No amount of platitudes and expressed compassion would ever be enough to comprehend the grief and pain that you, the families, are experiencing during this difficult time. However, despite our inabilities, we offer our deepest sympathy and love to the families who have lost their loved ones in this terrible tragedy.

We truly understand that nothing can ease the pain of losing a loved one, and you will need time to heal and come to grips with this reality. However, we want to assure you that our community and all conscious-minded Guyanese are here to support and stand with you during this difficult time. We offer our thoughts and prayers to those who are grieving, and ask that you do not hesitate to lean on us for support.

As we process this tragedy, we all must also take proactive steps to ensure that this never happens again. The Government and community leaders must take swift action to prevent future incidents from occurring in any part of the country. I believe some of the following measures can help prevent tragedies like this.

It is my humble view that regular inspections of such facilities are needed Government and private officials must ensure that regular inspections of dormitories and other buildings are conducted to detect any potential hazards.

community, Dharmacharya Ram Hardowar representing the Hindu community, and Pastor James Richmond and Ms. Rogers representing the Christian community. It was a solemn occasion. Attendees held lit candles. Several uttered remarks in support of the victims.

Speakers included Ambassador Michael E Brotherson, Consulate General of Guyana in New York, and Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Burkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations. Also delivering remarks were community leaders Albert Baldeo, City Council Candidate Rusat Ramgopaul, NYGD Project Leader Dr Tara Singh, and a Representative from the Sikh community.

The opening remarks were delivered by broadcaster Ossie Rogers. The emcee of the proceedings was Ken Rampersaud, and the Vote of Thanks was moved by Colleen Chattergoon.

tical support to rescue and aid the victims.

While the vigil was in progress, there were simultaneous vigils in Bartica, Mabaruma, Georgetown, and Port Kaituma. New York City Hindu, Muslim, and Christian spiritual leaders blessed the proceedings and offered prayers for guidance to deal with this tragedy. The diaspora prayers and goodwill are with the victims’ families.

As Dharmacharya Pandit Ram Hardowar commented, during this period of sadness in our Guyanese community, we come together in prayers and light to remember the victims and fast recovery of those affected.

Dr Singh said it was senseless arson that destroyed a school dormitory and took so many young innocent lives. He commended the organizers of the memorial service.

Fire alarms and sprinklers should be installed. It is critical that we install fire alarms and sprinklers in all student dormitories. These early warning systems are essential in preventing fire disasters.

Fire Safety Education should be promoted in all learning institutions with a focus on educating students on how to safely exit a building on fire, and how to use electronic appliances and other hazardous materials.

Grilling of dormitory windows and doors should be prohibited. Dormitories are usually in fenced compounds. Those fences should be upgraded with barbed wires and security cameras around the building, and a security hut should have a monitor to observe the surrounding area.

Further, public awareness should be increased to report incidents of fire Members of the public should be encouraged to immediately report incidents of fire, to prevent a minor incident of fire from becoming a catastrophe.

Fire extinguishers should be placed in all buildings where people congregate

These proposed ideas, which can work along with many more that others will share, can help improve the safety of our children.

We encourage everyone in the community to work together to ensure that our environment is safe for all to live, work and study in.

We assure you that we will continue to make representation and take all necessary steps to prevent future tragedies, as we mourn the loss of our dear students.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, students, and the community affected by this tragedy.

Sincerely,

Jermaine Figueira, MP

The speakers expressed their deep grief and sorrow, and extended solidarity with the victims and their families. They pledged to continue praying for them to deal with this colossal tragedy.

The speakers praised the President of Guyana for his exceptional leadership during this monumental tragedy. Great leadership was also attributed to Cabinet, supporting staff, the Police, the army, the Fire Service, heroic volunteers, the medical team, and those who provided logis-

Speakers urged the audience not to politicize this tragedy, and focus their prayers and support for the victims and their families. They praised President Irfaan Ali for his exceptional leadership during this time, as well as his Cabinet and supporting staff, including the medical, army, the Police, the Fire Service, the airplane companies and pilots who transported the survivors and staff, and all those who provided logistical support to aid the families of survivors and the victims.

Yours sincerely, Vishnu Bisram

FRIDAY, MAY 26, 2023

Multiplying fractions and mixed numbers

To multiply a fraction and a whole number, you need to multiply the numerator by the whole number. Then place the product over the denominator.

By KimBerly Blaeser

Exercises: Multiply

We all have the same little bones in our foot twenty-six with funny names like navicular. Together they build something strong— our foot arch a pyramid holding us up. The bones don’t get casts when they break. We tape them—one phalange to its neighbor for support. (Other things like sorrow work that way, too— find healing in the leaning, the closeness.)

Our feet have one quarter of all the bones in our body. Maybe we should give more honor to feet and to all those tiny but blessed cogs in the world— communities, the forgotten architecture of friendship.

WORD SEARCH

Mahdia tragedy

Capitalising on people’s grief is "unconscionable" – Jagdeo

Calling it an unconscionable act, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has slammed persons who have been capitalising on the grief of the Mahdia tragedy for political mileage.

At his weekly press conference on Thursday, the Vice President called out actions to politicise the grief of those affected by the tragic

respectful to try to politicise this national tragedy and to capitalize on people’s grief as unconscionable. Any attempt to do so should be condemned by the entire public. We’ve seen it happen sometimes in veiled forms, and in other cases almost a flagrant open manner. Whatever the manifestation, whether by insinuation or by openly try-

and Tobago. Nevertheless, Jagdeo posited that the country will overcome this current devastation, reiterating that full support is being given to the bereaved.

“We will overcome this. The parents and all of the families know that the Government will stand by their side. There is a time and place for everything, and

our country, and it’s almost palpable. Anywhere you go you feel it.”

As the country continues to mourn, Jagdeo said this year’s Independence Day celebrations will be subdued, but it is also a time for reflection.

The students who lost their lives are Tracil Thomas, Lisa Roberts, Delicia

ranged between 12 and 17.

In addition, five-yearold Adanye Jerome, the son of dorm parents, also lost his life.

With several others injured, either hospitalized or discharged, families are still recovering from the shock. According to Jagdeo, this incident is the number one priority of the administration.

those who tragically died.”

In an earlier engagement, President Irfaan Ali also assured family members that the Government will ensure every step is taken to assist them following this tragedy.

“Every conceivable help, every conceivable assistance, every conceivable action that is required of the Government, we will do, we will support and we will ensure that we are with you, not only this day, but through this difficult time,” Ali was quoted as saying.

Mahdia dormitory fire, less than one week after 19 children lost their lives.

It is an incident that shook the nation, as many families await the recovery of those who are still hospitalized with injuries.

“There is a time and place for everything. I want to urge those who have been so dis-

ing to politicize people’s grief, we must condemn this,” the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary asserted.

The VP specifically mentioned Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton allegedly politicising the incident during an appearance in a media outlet in Trinidad

we will have all the answers in the future.”

He added, “We know this devastating loss has taken away the joy from so many families, and I want them to know that they can count on our unconditional support now and in the future. Since this has happened, a profound sadness has fallen on

Edwards, Lorita Williams, Natalie Bellarmine, Arriana Edwards, Cleoma Simon, Subrina John, Martha Dandrade, Loreen Evans, Belnisa Evans, Mary Dandrade, Omerfia Edwin, Nickleen Robinson, Sherina Daniels, Eulander Carter, Andrea Roberts and Rita Jeffrey. The ages of the girls

He told the media, “People don’t see what is happening behind the scene. They see a few pictures on social media and all of that and think that’s the extent of the work. This became the number one priority of the Government of Guyana: bringing comfort and support to those who are injured and the families of

Initial investigations by the Guyana Fire revealed that the fire was maliciously set, and the origin was identified as the south-western end of the building. It is alleged that the fire was set by a student who was upset by the confiscation of her phone following concerns that the dorm administrators had with her behaviour.

On Tuesday, the Police stated that a file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice on the way forward. The student accused of setting the fire remains under supervision. (G-12)

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Bourda man granted bail 5 months after charged with drug trafficking

After… …Independence

After spending five months on remand, 35-year-old Yancy Garraway of North Road, Bourda, Georgetown was on Thursday granted bail in the sum of $600,000 on a drug trafficking charge.

Senior Magistrate Leron Daly, presiding at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, granted the accused bail on condition that he lodges his passport with the Clerk of Court and reports to the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) every Friday at 09:00h.

During his initial arraignment in December of last year, Garraway had pleaded not guilty to separate charges which alleged

that on December 2, 2022, he had 3.312 kilograms of cocaine and 1.520 kilograms of cannabis sativa (marijuana) in his possession for the purpose of trafficking. The case will be called again on May 31 for disclosure.

Besides Garraway, the others arrested in relation to the drug bust were: Samantha Nascimento, 32, and Javed Ragnauth, both of 89 Smyth Street, Charlestown, Georgetown; and Charles Jones, a 48-year-old miner of Four Miles Housing Scheme in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Ragnauth, however, pleaded guilty to two narcotics trafficking charges when

he made a virtual appearance before former Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

In relation to the charge of trafficking 3.312 kilograms of cocaine, worth $4,968,000, Ragnauth has been sentenced to four years’ imprisonment and fined $6,336,000. And he has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and fined $129,000 for trafficking 1.520 kilograms of cannabis, valued at $656,000. The sentences are to run concurrently.

It has been reported that several men and a woman were arrested by ranks of

the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) following a surveillance operation conducted on December 2, 2022 in the vicinity of Church Street in Georgetown. The operation involved CANU ranks observing a suspicious transaction, as a result of which the officers pursued Ragnauth to his residence at 89 Smyth Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, where a subsequent search unearthed five brick-like parcels, amounting to 3.3 kilograms of cocaine, and two plastic bags containing 1.520 kilograms of cannabis.

Well, here we are – a year further down the road of independence. Can’t you tell?? Aren’t you walking with that swagger and joie de vivre that signal you’re the master of your fate and the captain of your destiny?? And that, by golly…nobody can tell you what to do?? You aren’t?? Well, maybe you didn’t get the message. We’ve been independent since 1966 – FIFTYSEVEN years ago – and your Eyewitness will count some of the ways by which you should’ve known.

Before independence, the Brits used to be able to tell us what was “good” for us – and had done so for hundreds of years, cause we didn’t know better. Left to our own devices, we’d be hacking away at each other at the least disagreement - and life would be nasty, brutish and short!! You say we’re still doing that, dear reader?? Well… OK. But look at it this way: we’re hacking away all on our own…and doing things “our way” is being independent, isn’t it??

Another way we can tell we’re independent is to look at how we’re getting the benefit of our resources all to ourselves. No foreigners exploiting what Mother Nature has given us, using our labour to produce “primary goods” like sugar and bauxite, and sending it to “foreign” to make huge profits while we earn pittances!! Are you quibbling that the same thing’s going on with our newfound oil - now that nobody wants our sugar no mo?? Haven’t you been listening to all those noble, nationalistic environmentalists that we’d be polluting our dear mudland by refining the oil and some such?? Haven’t you been following the news about their virtuous opposition to the gas-to-shore project?? That’s independence, Baby!!

And then look at culture. In the pre-independence days, we’d we aping all the manners and mannerisms of the colonials. Look how far we’ve come in food, drink and dress!! Haven’t we thrown away sliced bread for cassava bread?? Piwari for beer? Suit and tie for shirt jacs?? We haven’t?? Well…we DID do it for a couple of years after 1966!! And independence means doing what WE want –even if it’s the same thing we used to do under the big, bad imperialists!! We’re making the choice, and the heck with those who say we have a “colonial mentality”!!

You can also tell we’re independent cause we’re able to trade and do business with whichever country we want to!! We’re not tied to the whims and fancies of the old colonials as far as foreign affairs are concerned!! Didn’t you see us giving the bum’s rush to the Ruskies by shuttering their Embassy that was bigger than the Americans??

Ooops!! They closed that on their own?? Well, you get the point: we’re independent!! OK??

…virtue signalling

Ahh…your Eyewitness is so touched by all the activities our schoolchildren performed to show how much they cared about their sisters – and brother, from Mahdia - who perished in that conflagration. Those were such spontaneous shows of empathy and unity with our longneglected “First Peoples”. Your Eyewitness knows for sure these coastlander children will now stop referring to them as “Buck” – which means “wild” - cause it’s so demeaning and is equivalent to the “N” word. This will now become a taboo “B” word.

All this outpouring of grief also means we’ll be sympathetic to the fact that we’re all squatters on their land, and we won’t begrudge them having title to the portions on which they live. And that we’ll ensure they have all the opportunities available to us coastlanders to develop their land, since we now realise we’re “one people”!!

Or will we be going on with the same ole, same ole scorn and derision that’s been the norm forever?? Cause all we’ve done is virtue signalling??

…Tina

The inimitable Tina Turner’s no mo. You young whippersnappers don’t know what a force of nature she was when she went on stage to belt out those hits that came out of her life of overcoming!! She’ll always be the Queen of Rock and Roll!!

Yancy Garraway

The cocaine and marijuana that were discovered at the Smyth Street, Georgetown premises

Jailed: Javed Ragnauth

4 Prison Officers among 6 remanded for aiding escape of death row inmate “Smallie”

It was reported that on the day in question, Perez visited Williams before his escape, and the boat captain who allegedly facilitated his flight was also arrested by the Police.

(WCB). The Police have advised persons to take precautions and remain vigi-

lant, as Williams and his accomplices are armed and are considered extremely

dangerous. Investigations are ongoing.

Atotal of six persons, four of whom are Prison Officers, were on Thursday remanded to prison after answering charges of aiding the escape of death row inmate and mass murderer Royden “Smallie” Williams from the Mazaruni maximum security Prison last Friday.

The Prison Officers charged are Alexander Hopkinson, 58, of Bartica Housing Scheme, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Oldfield Romulus, 50, of Victoria Street, Cumberland Village, East Canje, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); Conroy Hosannah, 35, of East Canje, Berbice; and Omar Witherspoon, 26, of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam Berbice.

They have been charged along with Rajmohan Autor, called “Chico”, a 48-yearold businessman of Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE); and Venezuelan national Frangeliz Jugandry Flores Perez, 28, of Kitty, Georgetown.

Hopkinson, who was rehired by the Prison Service after retiring, is the Superintendent of Prisons at the Mazaruni Prison, while Romulus is the second-in-command. They all appeared virtually before Bartica Magistrate Christel Lambert.

According to information, the defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit a felony, contrary to Section 34 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01.

Hosannah and Witherspoon were represented by Attorneyat-Law Patrice Henry, Romulus was represented by Attorney Eusi Anderson, and Hopkinson was represented by Attorney-at-Law Bernard Da Silva. The others were unrepresented. The case will be called again on June 22.

Nevertheless, the search continues for Williams, as law enforcement officials intensify their efforts following his well-planned escape from Mazaruni Prison.

Williams made a daring escape from the prison with the assistance of heavily armed accomplices. The escape occurred in broad daylight and involved the use of a speedboat. During the escape, the escort party accompanying Williams was attacked with AK-47 rifles by the individuals on the boat, which was in the Mazaruni River. No Prison Officer was injured during the ordeal.

Following the escape, a reward of $10 million was announced by the Guyana Police Force for any information leading to Williams’s arrest.

Williams was found guilty of killing 12 persons, three of whom were Policemen, during the Bartica Massacre in 2008. He was sentenced to death in September 2022 for the murder of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Corporal Ivor Williams, who was shot dead on January 23, 2008.

Williams had previously escaped from the Camp Street Prison on July 9, 2017, but was eventually recaptured on October 10, 2017 on the Weldaad Public Road, West Coast Berbice

Mass killer and death row inmate Royden Williams, called “Smallie”

Superintendent of Prisons Alexander Hopkinson

Prison Officer Oldfield Romulus

Prison Officer Conroy Hosannah

Prison Officer Omar Witherspoon

President Ali commits to full compensation for affected families

– says 6 young people on suicide watch as int’l partners continue to offer assistance

Six Mahdia Secondary School students, whose dormitory was set aflame on Sunday, were placed on suicide watch and air-dashed to Georgetown to seek further assistance.

This is according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali during a press conference on Thursday.

“This is the proactive work of the counsellors on the ground and psychologists for high-risk persons. We are bringing them for further counselling and treatment. That is the type of work that is going on the ground,” Ali said.

The medical teams within Mahdia are current-

ly providing mental health support to children and families involved in the fire, placing keen attention on those who seem high-risk.

Nevertheless, President Ali has committed to fully compensate the aggrieved families.

“We are working in the interest of these families and children,” he noted, while adding that the Government is committing itself to short-, medium- and long-term support for the families where necessary.

In addition, according to a Newsroom report, the Head of State related, “At the appropriate time, this will be discussed with the

families.” The President added that compensation is just a part of the menu of measures his Government is committing itself to.

Further, he hinted at the possibility of conducting a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to further investigate the circumstances surrounding the deadly fire.

However, Security Adviser Gerry Gouveia told the press that ‘one boy’ who reportedly attempted to commit suicide was extracted through yet another medical evacuation (medevac) effort on Thursday, while later in the day, six more young people who were placed on suicide watch were shifted as well.

Mental Health teams were dispatched to the mining town, including one child psychiatrist, one child psychologist, three adult psychiatrists, two general psychologists, six social workers, mental health assistants, and two mental

health-trained family physicians.

According to a Thursday Health Ministry press release, these teams will work in Mahdia and surrounding villages over the next three months, while plans to establish a strong mental health team permanent-

ly will be implemented. Meanwhile, the President disclosed that requests made to Mount Sinai Hospital, Northwell Health, the Pan American Organization (PAHO) and Southcom Health Clinic to provide specialised counselling were also approved.

“Every child, every parent, every family member who would like to support their children with counselling, we will offer full, unhindered support through flights and transportation,” Ali said.

“We’re hoping that these specialised counsellors will support our local team in the communities, in the schools, to support the families during this difficult time,” Ali added.

President Dr Irfaan Ali and members of the Joint Services at the press conference on Thursday

2 girls remain critical at GPHC, others listed as stable – Health Ministry

…over 260 persons receive mental health support

– results of DNA analysis on 13 bodies expected in 72 hours

Twelve girls remain hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) after suffering burn injuries from the tragic Mahdia dormitory fire in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) last Sunday evening.

The Health Ministry on Thursday stated that the children who were admitted to the Mahdia District Hospital were discharged.

Of the 12 girls, a breakdown showed that three are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and nine are in the Paediatric High Dependency Unit (PHDU). Two of them are listed as critical and are in the ICU, while the others are listed as stable.

“Their conditions are improving, and discharges for some are possible in the shortest possible time,” the Ministry stated in a release to the media.

In addition, after arriving in Mahdia, President Irfaan Ali had requested that 11 children who had gone home without seeing a doctor be medically assessed. These children arrived in Georgetown on Wednesday and were examined by a spe-

cial team.

Presently, there is an enhanced medical team in Mahdia. The Director of Primary and Family Health Care, Dr Ertenisa Hamilton, is on the ground coordinating the medical response. She is being supported by the Hinterland Health Coordinator from the Regional Health Services Department, Michael Gouveia, and Deputy Director of Regional Health Services, Dr Veronica Griffith.

Director General of the Health Ministry, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, is providing over-

all oversight of the medical response in ensuring that an enhanced medical team remains in place at Mahdia for follow-up in the next three months.

“At the end of the three months, a review will be conducted to ensure an enhanced capacity continues in Mahdia,” the Ministry outlined.

The GPHC Emergency Team and Specialist Departments are fully on alert, emergency and heightened mode. All the senior administrative and medical management teams, including Chief Executive Officer

Robbie Rambarran, Director of Medical and Professional Services, Dr David Samaroo; Director of Nursing, Leslyn Holder; Director of Emergency Medical Services, Dr Zulfikar Bux; and Head of the Burns and Plastic Surgery Department, Dr Shilindra Rajkumar, were fully mobilised and have been on the ground at GPHC on 24-hour alert. The GPHC teams have assessed and treated 29 children thus far.

Mental health response

Under the coordination of the Director of NonCommunicable Diseases, Dr

Lachmie Lall, several mental health teams were dispatched to Mahdia. They comprise one child psychiatrist, one child psychologist, three adult psychiatrists, two general psychologists, six social workers, mental health assistants, and two mental health-trained family physicians.

Priority was given to all the children who were in the dorm at the time of the fire, parents, guardians and teachers on the first day. They were all evaluated and offered psychosocial support.

On the second day, the 14 children who were hospitalised in Mahdia, and their parents, were evaluated, including the parents of the children who died in the fire.

“Auxiliary staff in direct contact with the fire, and first responders, which were inclusive of teachers, Police officers and other support staff were also assessed and given psychosocial support. Students who were not hospitalized but were in direct contact with the incident, and students that were not in direct contact with the incident but were affected were also assessed and provided

psychosocial support.”

Thus far, in Mahdia and other villages, the teams have worked with 260 persons, including 126 children.

Pathology

The pathology team was led by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh. Six autopsies were conducted in Mahdia. In addition, 13 bodies that could not have been positively identified were transported to Georgetown for DNA analysis.

The Police Services arranged for an RSS specialist pathologist to come into the country to assist with DNA identification. The Pathologist, from Barbados, arrived in Guyana and completed the post-mortem on the remaining bodies, and DNA samples were collected. The DNA samples were transported through a charter aircraft jointly organised by Mount Sinai and Hess Corporation. The samples arrived before midnight on Wednesday, and rapid results for identification purposes are expected between 48 and 72 hours.

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation

About 50 gaps plugged in RoPA to ensure electoral security – Jagdeo

Since the glaring attempts to steal the March 2020 General and Regional Elections, the People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government has plugged over 50 gaps that existed in the Representation of the People Act (RoPA), to have a secure system that cannot be abused.

This is according to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, in light of the recent report released by the EU Election Follow-up Mission (EU EFM) which commended the Government for implementing some of the priority recommendations that were made following the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, to enhance and strengthen the local electoral system.

Deployed to assess Guyana’s progress towards electoral reform, the team was quoted as stating that two of the priority recommendations were implemented in full, and this had been through the adoption of the Representation of People (Amendment) Act and the National Registration (Amendment) Act.

However, the Vice President sought to clarify that many gaps which were not in the recommendations were addressed by the Ali-led administration upon their assumption to office.

“There were numerous - in fact countless - other gaps that were not part of their recommendations that we plugged in the Representation of the People’s Act. Although they didn’t recommend them, there are several other things that we thought [former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield] abused to create uncertainties in the electoral process, and we were determined to fix those.”

The Vice President further stated, “Not just the two things they were commending us for doing in the Act, which is publishing the Statements of Poll and making clear the process in which the declarations have to be done…There are about 50 things that could have been abused that we have plugged in the Representation of the People Act.”

An example is that, initially, the establishment of polling stations was at the discretion of the CEO. In the amendment, this has been fixed so that poll-

ing places are located within certain proximity along with the population count of that area being taken into consideration.

Jagdeo reminded that the EU played an important role in trying to ‘stave off’ attempts to steal the elections.

In total, the 2020 EU Observation Mission comprised 26 recommendations in its final report on diverse aspects of the elections, including the legal framework, election administration, the campaign and campaign financing, the media and social media, and electoral dispute resolution. Of these recommendations, eight had been identified as a priority.

Campaign financing

Meanwhile, Jagdeo also responded to the Observer Mission’s position of the two main contestants having significant funding while the small parties lack the capacity to run a nationwide campaign.

“Some of the smaller parties couldn’t even muster 2000 votes. How could you compare campaign finance with the major parties that have 200,000 supporters? It’s natural that they will run bigger campaigns. Our job in political parties is not to ensure that every single party has equal financing. You have to raise financing on the basis of your policy-making and whether people find you attractive or not.”

However, he did share the concern that ‘big money’ could alter the results of elections. This is one of the reasons towards committing to exploring campaign financing reform –a factor that is in the PPP/C’s manifesto.

Jagdeo, who is also the General Secretary of the leading People’s Progressive Party (PPP), also contended that the issue of people being victimized for supporting a specific party is also another reality that must be taken into account.

The Follow-up Mission will be presenting its final report on Guyana’s progress in implementing electoral reform in the coming months. This is in an effort to strengthen the local electoral system ahead of the next General and Regional Elections due in 2025.

Meanwhile, Local Government Elections are slated for June 12.

Over 1000 rounds of ammunition unearthed during CANU raid

Occupants escape unharmed after boat explodes

Atotal of 1,070 rounds of ammunition of varying calibre were unearthed in an abandoned house at Avocado Square in East Ruimveldt, Georgetown on Thursday.

The discovery was made by agents of the CustomsAnti Narcotics Unit (CANU)

who were conducting a raid in the area. The cache comprised of 600 rounds of .40mm ammunition; 330 rounds of .380mm ammunition; 33 rounds of .45mm ammunition, and 107 rounds of .22mm ammunition. The large cache was transported to CANU Headquarters

as investigations continue.

CANU, in a release, stated that no arrests were made.

In 2022, the drug enforcement unit unearthed and seized 21 weapons, comprising of one crossbow, eight shotguns and 12 pistols. In addition, 50 rounds of .22mm ammunition were

confiscated, along with 25 rounds of .32 ammunition; 100 rounds of .38 ammunition; two rounds of .9mm short ammunition; 349 rounds of 9mm ammunition; 1,170 cartridges of 12-gauge ammunition, and 12 rounds of .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) ammunition.

Aboat burst into flames while traversing the Pomeroon River, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) on Thursday morning, but all the occupants have escaped unharmed.

The boat was captained by a man identified only as “Scarface”; he, too, escaped without injuries.

Guyana Times understands that at the time of the incident, the vessel was heading to Martindale,

Lower Pomeroon. Another boat captain who plies the route explained that he heard Scarface was trying to connect a wire to a battery onboard, and that caused a spark that ignited the entire vessel.

As the fire began to spread, all occupants reportedly jumped overboard, but were quickly rescued by another boat. Up to the time of publication, the matter was not reported to the Police.

The boat on fire

The ammunition was found in the abandoned house

Mahdia deadly inferno

“Uncle, help! Uncle, help!”– 1st responders recall cries of children trapped in building

At approximately 23:00h on Sunday, Samantha John was alerted by her husband of a fire that engulfed the female dormitory of Mahdia Secondary School in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

John, a former Deputy Toshao of Campbelltown, Mahdia and the closest neighbour to the dormitory, recalled her husband’s immediate efforts to save some 56 children who were trapped in the one-flat wooden and concrete building.

“It was already a lot of fire on both sides when my husband said, ‘Samantha, the dorm is on fire!’ …He run out and went to help the children there,” John said in a social media post on Thursday.

“When he go in, the door was open and he run

in, snatched some children and run out in the smoke. It was fire from the front, the smoke heading to the back. And he went and saved how much he could save,” John explained.

“He saw some of the children that he couldn’t

save hollering ‘Uncle, help! Uncle, help!’ and he couldn’t help them,” she lamented.

Following the fire, 18 female students between the ages of 12 and 17 died as well as the five-year-old son of the dormitory’s caretakers.

John added that while some reports stated that the dorm mother was not present at the scene, this was totally a false accusation.

“People are saying the dorm mother was not there. She was right there with some of the children,” John

said.

“[I] asked [her] if all your children are safe. She said no, some of the children are trapped in there, my baby is in there, too… And I started to cry, because I feel her pain – the children there are like my children and I feel for them. I love them and I care for them,” John said.

John also said that statements claiming that the five doors of the building were locked were also false.

“They are saying how the door was locked. When my husband went there to the dorm, the gate was locked, no guard was there. My husband opened the gate. When he went in, the door was open and he run in,” she said.

The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) in a Monday press release stated that the 26 windows of the building were heavily grilled and the five doors were locked with keys.

“Fire moved really fast. We had no time to think to do this, to do that, they tried and just saved a few. We are in pain, we are grieving,” John said.

Medevac

For medical personnel Gillian Allicock, this experience “hit home” as she was a former dorm student of St Ignatius Secondary School in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

“I remembered having to travel hours from home (Surama) to St Ignatius, about one-hour-[and]-30minute drive now because of good roads, but back then was more like six to eight hours because of how bad the road used to be, leaving the comfort and safety of home, your loving family just to get a better education and break generational curses and trends,” Allicock said in a Monday social media post.

“I can proudly say that we have managed to break generational curses and trends, which is why I can now be part of this rescue medevac team today,” she added.

According to Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief of Staff Brigadier Omar Khan, during a press conference, the medical evacuation [medevac] operation was a

concerted effort requiring resources from the Health Ministry, Joint Services, and the Private Sector, and involved five aircraft, six ambulances, and more than 80 personnel specialising in emergency response, medical care, and security.

Head of the Georgetown Public Health Corporation (GPHC) Burn Unit, Dr Shilindra Rajkumar led the medical team in assessing the injuries of the children and determining those who were required to be transported to the country’s national referral hospital.

These efforts were overseen by National Security Advisor, Captain Gerry Gouveia and spearheaded by President Dr Irfaan Ali who received incoming patients at the Eugene F Correia International Airport, Ogle before being shifted to the hospital.

In a social media post on Wednesday, Gouveia related immediate efforts taken to organise the safe evacuation of the victims.

“[When] the Trislander [aircraft] departed, I instinctively knew, and by memory clear as day, what the pilots would have to do to penetrate the dark, stormy skies. I did it countless times myself,” Gouveia wrote.

“The pilots would have to have nerves of steel as they hold the aircraft steady and wings level as they descend into the darkness that night,” Gouveia continued.

Pilot Learie Barclay, who flew this first flight out, described the experience as “hellish” in a social media post.

“What happened last night [Sunday] was like a bad dream…hellish…and will stay with me for the rest of my life as I am one of the few from the coastline to actually see the effects up close and personal,” Barclay said.

“These children needed to be stabilised before departure. A fire is not just burns, but smoke inhalation and lung damage. What I saw come out of the lungs of one is indescribable,” Barclay added.

Six children were initially air-dashed to the GPHC on Monday – one was rushed to the Operating Theatre (OT) to undergo limb-saving surgery, two received ventilation support in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the remaining three were in less critical condition and were aided in the Paediatric High Dependency Unit (HDU), a step-down from the ICU.

Since then, some 20 girls have been discharged from the hospital, while nine remain. Two are still in critical condition in the ICU and one is in the Burn Care Unit receiving treatment for burns over 40 per cent of her body. (Pooja

Rambaran)

Medical evacuation (medevac) efforts underway at the Eugene F Correia International Airport, Ogle

Sir Mars’s murder

Lawyer of murder accused writes GPF over leaked video recording of purported confession

that the video was published without “due process” being observed, and that its “ill-advised” release would inevitably cast a dark shadow of prejudice in regard to a fair trial for his client.

“As you are aware, any statement given by an accused prior to a trial is subject to judicial testing before admissibility is pronounced upon by a court of competent jurisdiction. The subject video interview is not excluded,” the defence counsel said.

Guyana.

According to Da Silva, he expects the Police Force to issue a directive that the video be removed immediately from all forms of circulation.

to travel to Diamond, EBD via the Mandela-Eccles Highway.

Attorney-at-Law

Bernard Da Silva, who is representing Brian Richards, the labourer charged with the murder of long-time educator Kirwyn Mars, has penned a letter to the acting Police Commissioner, expressing concern over a leaked video-recorded interview of his client.

In that video, which was first published by the News Room on May 13, Da Silva said his client allegedly admitted involvement in the murder of the popular comedian.

Da Silva, in his missive, told Top Cop Clifton Hicken

While he contemplates legal remedies, the lawyer has requested an explanation from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) as to why the video was released to the public before the judicial pronouncement on its admissibility.

In the letter dated May 23, which was copied to the Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, and the Guyana Bar Association (GBA), Da Silva has also raised concerns about a breach of his client’s fundamental right to a fair hearing, guaranteed by Article 144 (1) of the Constitution of

Twenty-four-yearold murder accused Brian Richards, of John Fernandes Squatting Area, Georgetown, appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce on May 12 for the capital offence. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which alleged that on Sunday, May 7, in the Georgetown Magisterial District, he murdered Mars, 51, of Lot 211 New Settlers Street, Mocha, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

The accused, who is said to be married with three children, was remanded to prison until June 23. The preliminary inquiry (PI) into the matter will commence on August 7.

The body of Mars, popularly known as “Sir Mars”, was found pinned between his car and the fence of an apartment building at Perseverance, EBD. An autopsy revealed that he was stabbed eight times, including to his chest, right shoul-

der, collarbone, left hand, and right elbow, and has given the cause of his death as injuries to the chest as a result of being crushed, compounded by “multiple cutaneous wounds.”

It has been reported that, two days after committing the crime, Richards was arrested at his place of employment. He has since allegedly confessed to the murder. In his alleged confession, he detailed that, on the day in question, he and Mars arrived at the Green City Bar in Georgetown, where they consumed about two cases of beer altogether, before departing the bar

On their way to that location, a misunderstanding arose between them, and a scuffle ensued. The murder accused related that, during the argument, he picked up a bottle and struck Mars in the head, but in retaliation, Mars collected a knife that was in the car and attacked him. He alleged that he managed to relieve Mars of the knife, and in turn stabbed him several times.

He told detectives that after receiving the stab wounds, Mars brought the car to a stop at a location in Providence, EBD, then exited from the driver’s seat and walked to the back of the vehicle. Richards said while he was trying to retrieve his phone, which had fallen in the car during the scuffle, his hand touched the lever and accidentally put the car in reverse, ultimately crushing Mars. After realising that Mars was motionless, he said, he panicked and fled the scene.

Nevertheless, despite his alleged confession, relatives of the accused are hold-

ing out that he is innocent. In fact, they claimed that the accused was dropped off at his home at 21:00h by Mars on the night in question.

Further, they stated that he did not have any evidence on his body to show that he was involved in a scuffle. “He was at home when they claimed the murder was committed… he did not commit the act… he is innocent…” a relative told reporters.

Mars, who was Deputy Principal at the New Central High School in Georgetown, had been a teacher since 1992. He was also an actor.

Dead: Kirwyn Mars, popularly known as Sir Mars

Murder accused Brian Richards

Attorney-at-Law Bernard Da Silva

Guyanese businessman builds well in Yemen – to benefit over 3000 residents in remote areas

ly affected by preventable water and sanitation-related diseases. As such, the IDRF is committed to providing sustainable relief to vulnerable regions.

The Yemeni health system is operating under extreme pressure owing to ongoing problems such as the cholera outbreak, and poor hygiene conditions leading to more cases of dengue fever and malaria throughout the region.

Instability in Hadhramaut has caused greater fragmentation in the already-increasingly fragile region. The current situation has, unfortunately, pushed resources to the brink of collapse leading to the re-emergence of preventable water and sanitation-related diseases.

Cop charged for stealing gun from Police Force granted $100,000 bail

newly-constructed

Guyanese business tycoon Nazar

“Shell” Mohamed has extended his generosity to the country of Yemen with the construction of a well to provide clean water to more than 3000 residents in an underdeveloped region.

Despite major setbacks with the construction, the well was finally completed and is now serving clean water to hundreds of families in the Al-Drija region and surrounding villages.

The targeted area is remote and needs proper infrastructure.

The construction was done through the International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF) out of

Canada. There has been a civil war in Yemen since 2014, with a lot of high conflict seen over the past two years which has only been exasperated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The IDRF worked with local partners on the ground who assisted in the assessment needs of each region before building a well.

Across Yemen, an estimated 20.5 million people are in need of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) resources with an estimated 11.2 million in acute need of safe and clean water for consumption.

Across the country, millions of households and individuals are severe-

“With your act of generosity, thousands of people and their families will now have access to clean, potable water which will, in turn ,support the hygiene and nutrition of the Yemeni people,” the IDRF highlighted in a letter to Mohamed.

The building of the well helps to provide safety for women, girls, and other school-age children. In the past, young girls and women were mostly responsible for fetching water from nearby wells some two to five kilometres from their villages.

This had not only resulted in a physical toll, but also exposed them to potentially dangerous situations. Further, with the availability of water through the generosity of Mohamed, several agricultural activities, including the watering of livestock, would be assisted.

Jumbo Jet subsidiary signs US$90M dealership agreement with Chinese company …modern showroom being built in Guyana

Asubsidiary of the Jumbo Jet Group, NM Trucking Auto Sales and Agri Machinery, has signed a US$90 million final binding agreement with Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group (XCMG) for the importation of a wide variety of heavy-duty equipment and machinery.

Rated as the third largest supplier of heavy-duty equipment, XCMG says it is eager to enter the vastly growing Guyana market, according to a press release issued by Jumbo Jet.

It was noted that NM Trucking (Jumbo Jet) has been responsible for importation of over 80 per cent of the heavy-duty machinery and trucks in Guyana for the past 28 years, a move which allowed the company to establish a solid foundation in the mining and construction sectors.

Mr. Nasrudeen ‘Junior’ Mohamed and other representatives of NM Trucking had, in February 2023, journeyed to Brazil and signed the initial MOU at the office of XCMG Brazil Industria LTDA, the South American headquarters. After all the necessary preparations were made locally to accommodate the first shipment of machines from XCMG, Mohamed then travelled to China to close the deal and take a tour of the factory located at No. 1 Industry Area, Xuzhou Economic Development Zone Jiangsu, Mainland China.

With the value of the three-year term contract set at US $90,000,000, NM Trucking has assured that the construction of a state-of-the-art facility and showroom in Guyana has commenced. It was noted that, through

this deal, special attention and emphasis will be placed on heavy-duty construction, asphalt paving, mining and lifting equipment, and machinery.

“NM Trucking and Jumbo Jet has been in this business for quite some time, and continues to stay current. We understand the needs of the Guyana market, and are willing to make the investment to boost the standard and quality of projects in Guyana. After signing the final documents, NM Trucking can focus heavily on the completion of their new show-

room. The first three shipments are expected to arrive in Guyana in the month of May, June and July, with 41, 30, and 54 pieces of equipment respectively per shipment,” Mohamed stated.

Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group was founded in 1943, and has since stood at the forefront of construction machinery, and has grown significantly into one of the world’s largest and most influential enterprise groups with its global annual sales exceeding US$14B for three consecutive years.

Aserving member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has been charged with stealing a gun from that law enforcement organisation.

Thirty-six-year-old Police Sergeant Relando Sandy of Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was arraigned before acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus on Thursday.

Particulars of the charge against him state that between January 23 and 24, at Rabbit Walk, Georgetown, he stole a Glock 17 9mm pistol from the Government of Guyana.

The Policeman’s defence Attorney, Patrice Henry, requested that his client be released on reasonable bail, submitting that he is not a flight risk, and that he is ready to clear his name.

With no objection raised by the Prosecutor, Sergeant Sandy was granted bail in the sum of $100,000 and instructed to return to court on June 13.

In April of this year, acting Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken revealed that 21 Police ranks are currently facing charges for various criminal offences. And while he did not share the nature of the crimes they are accused of committing, Guyana Times recently reported that several Police ranks are before the courts for several offences, including murder, corrupt transaction, conspiracy to obstruct the course of justice, assault causing bodily harm, simple larceny, larceny by a public officer, assault, and drug trafficking.

2 girls remain critical...

FROM PAGE 11

The Ministry has already received medications for critically-ill patients from Mount Sinai. Both Mount Sinai and PAHO/WHO provided kits for burn patients. The world-famous Cornell Burns Department has been consulting with the Ministry, and is providing both guidance and supplies.

The Ministry’s Emergency Protocol has been effectively mobilized, as Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony works feverishly with the international communities to ensure the medical response is of the highest international standard.

Recount

The Health Ministry detailed that it was alerted at about midnight last Sunday and into Monday morning that a catastrophic event was taking place in Mahdia, where a fire had engulfed the female dormitory at the Mahdia Secondary School.

The Health Emergency Protocols were activated immediately. A team of doctors and other public health officials from both Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and the Ministry headed by a Burns Specialist and Plastic Surgeon, Dr Shilindra Rajkumar, were assembled and departed the Eugene F Correia International Airport at about 01:45h. Earlier departure was impeded by inclement weather, resulting in the team arriving at 02:50h.

By that time, the local health team at the Mahdia District Hospital had already

been responding to the crisis, and had already prepared three patients for a medivac to the GPHC, with one person’s condition listed as critical. They arrived at Ogle and were immediately transferred to GPHC.

Subsequently, two other medivacs brought in six additional patients. By the afternoon of Monday, five of those patients were stabilised and admitted into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Another underwent surgery and was admitted into the Burns Care Unit (BCU), and three others were admitted into the Paediatric High Dependency Unit (PHDU).

On Tuesday, 10 more patients were medevacked to the GPHC. Their condition was listed as stable. Only three of these ten children were still patients at the Mahdia District Hospital at the time of medivac. The other seven were housed at the hospital because it was the most convenient accommodation at the time.

The MOH, out of an abundance of caution, decided to medivac the ten children for further general, medical and psychiatric examination at GPHC. The three children who were hospitalised at Mahdia Hospital were assessed and admitted into the PHDU, while the other seven were admitted for further observation and subsequently discharged into the care of the Education, Human and Social Services Ministries and Amerindian Affairs Ministry.

Police Sergeant Relando Sandy

The

well that was funded by businessman Nazar "Shell" Mohamed

Nasrudeen Junior Mohamed & Commercial Director of XCMG South American Group, Wu Shuxin, signing the agreement

Pres Ali, senior Govt officials meet OAS SG

Investigative arm to follow up on tragic Mahdia fire – RCC

The Investigative Subcommittee of the Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) will be exploring the findings and information garnered on the deadly Mahdia fire which broke out on Sunday evening.

On Thursday, Chairperson Aleema Nasir penned in a statement that support will be offered to the families of the 19 victims who lost their lives, as well as those who were injured or affected.

children.”

The Commission offered its sincerest condolences and prayers for the parents, relatives, teachers, and friends of the students who lost their lives in the fire.

President Dr Irfaan Ali and senior members of the Guyana Government met with Organisation of American States (OAS) Secretary General Luis Almagro Lemes on Thursday morning at State House in Georgetown.

The OAS Secretary General and his team are currently in Guyana for his first visit here since his appointment to the post in 2015.

At the State House meeting, President Ali was joined by Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips; Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, and several Cabinet Ministers as

well as Guyanese diplomats.

There was no official statement on the purpose of the OAS official’s visit to Guyana. However, Guyana Times was informed that the Secretary General also attended a civil society engagement that was hosted by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance at the Marriott Hotel on Thursday.

This is the second meeting between the Guyana Government and the OAS official. Back in September 2021, President Ali had led a team to meet the Secretary General at the Office of the Permanent Mission to Guyana in New

York.

Meanwhile, the OAS official was one of the key international figures who were outspoken during the March 2020 elections fiasco in Guyana, calling for democracy to prevail and the will of the majority of Guyanese to be respected.

The OAS had also mounted an Election Observer Mission for the 2020 elections.

The OAS is the world’s oldest regional organisation. It brings together all 35 independent States of the Americas, and constitutes the main political, juridical, and social governmental forum in the Hemisphere.

“As the constitutional body with responsibility for oversight and monitoring of agencies and other bodies who are required to observe children’s rights, we are cognizant of the many questions and concerns that are naturally arising after this tragic occurrence. While there is no apparent cause and the pronouncement of the Guyana Fire Service is awaited, our investigative subcommittee will be following up to garner relevant information for the purposes of the mandate of the RCC. Support to the affected families and surviving children will also be offered.”

The Commission commended the significant outreach of the Education Ministry; Human Services and Social Security Ministry; the University of Guyana, and non-governmental or-

Mahdia fire: CoI needed to understand issues, find solutions to prevent reoccurrence – Shuman

Former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Lenox Shuman has stated that a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into Sunday’s deadly fire at the Mahdia Secondary School dormitory that took the lives of 19 children is key to understanding the issues that caused the blaze and finding solutions to prevent a reoccurrence of such tragedy.

In a statement on Friday, Shuman, who is the leader of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) and also a former Chairman of the National Toshaos Council (NTC), extended sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who perished in the tragic blaze at the Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) dorm and to the survivors.

“There is no greater tragedy than to have your child leave this world before you. Such a tragic loss hits the heart of the nation and most notably, the Indigenous community to the extent that there is a blanket of malaise

over the nation,” he stated.

Nevertheless, Shuman noted that the outpouring of support nationally and internationally has been tremendous and welcomed. He similarly recognised the efforts of the Guyana Government is responding to this horrific incident.

In fact, he specifically lauded a commitment made by President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday to launching a CoI into the events of the Mahdia tragedy as well as his commitment to providing compensation to the af-

fected families.

“It is my sincere belief that this support is multifaceted and comprehensive. While there is nothing that one can do to reverse the tragic events nor their effects, these are critical and important first steps to understanding the issues and finding comprehensive solutions to ensure these things never occur in the future of this nation,” Shuman posited.

During an update on the Mahdia dormitory fire, the Guyanese Head of State

ganizations to provide immediate critical support to sorrowing relatives and traumatised students.

“Few words could realistically bring comfort to the family members and peers of the deceased children. Still, we trust that they would find comfort in knowing that they are surrounded by many who are empathetic towards them in this almost unreal situation.”

It added, “As more information becomes available, we shall endeavour to do our part in the assessment of this occurrence with the intention of ensuring that, as far as is reasonably possible, such a tragedy will never again be experienced by our

Thus far, the Guyana Police Force has confirmed that the fire was purposely set by an allegedly angry student who retaliated after her mobile phone was confiscated by the dorm’s mother and a teacher.

The Police statement also confirmed that, on the evening of the fire, there were 57 female students in the dormitory – a one-flat concrete building measuring about 100 feet by 40 feet, with several windows, all grilled, and five doors.

On Wednesday, the first victim of the fire was laid to rest in her home village of Karisparu, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni). Sabrina John was buried in the presence of her family and members.

Duo jailed for trafficking meth, cocaine

hinted at the possibility of an inquiry.

“We must learn from this tragedy, and we have to evaluate this tragedy so that we can ensure that proactively, this never occurs again in our country. The appropriate mechanisms will be established to ensure this is done. We have a responsibility as a country to take this tragedy and use it as an instrument of unity and an instrument to do better for our children,” President Ali stressed.

Meanwhile, Shuman went on to laud the Guyanese Leader for dedicating three days of national mourning for this tragic loss to the Indigenous families, communities, and nation.

“I ask the public to please respect the families’ right to privacy, give them room to grieve and room to give their little loves their last rites respectfully. It is only after the conclusion of the CoI as is committed by His Excellency that we will see our way through this,” Shuman stated.

Amale resident of Norton Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown has been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for trafficking 88.6 grams of methamphetamine.

Forty-one-yearold Delon King, called “Ninja”, of Norton Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, who was initially charged in November 2022, was found guilty of the offence on Thursday. This was following a trial at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The drug trafficker was also fined $132,900.

King was busted with the meth on October 31, 2022 by ranks of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) who were conducting an operation in the vicinity of the Route 48 Bus Park in Georgetown.

A subsequent search was conducted on his person, revealing a quantity of transparent Ziploc bags containing a clear, crystal-like substance, methamphetamine. As such, King was arrested and escorted to the CANU Headquarters, where

the drug, when weighed in his presence, amounted to 88.6 grams.

Meanwhile, in a separate matter, 63-year-old Roy Thomas of Lot 188 Atlantic Ville, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was handed an 18-month prison sentence for trafficking 16.8 grams of cocaine.

He had been on trial for the offence of possession of a narcotic for the purpose of trafficking at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts, and was found guilty on Thursday. A $25,200 fine was also imposed on him.

On Tuesday, October 24, 2022, a group of CANU officers intercepted motor car PXX 3869 on the Goedverwagting Public Road, ECD. A search was carried out on the vehicle, but nothing was found. However, a search was subsequently conducted on the driver, Thomas, who was the lone occupant of the vehicle, and a quantity of cocaine was unearthed in the crotch of his pants. As such, he was arrested and taken to CANU headquarters.

Jailed: Delon King Jailed: Roy Thomas

President Dr Irfaan Ali and senior Government officials with OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro Lemes at State House on Thursday

Former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Lenox Shuman

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) extends greetings to all Guyanese, both here and in the Diaspora, on the occasion of Guyana’s 57th Independence Anniversary.

The 57 years since the Golden Arrowhead was first hoisted in May 1966 were not without their challenges. Our nation and its people were tested at various points, but on every occasion, despite the severity of what confronted us, our resilience and indomitable will to rise to those challenges and forge ahead prevailed.

Once again, we are challenged as a people to be brave

Independence Day messages

in the face of tragedy following the death of 19 innocent souls in the devastating fire at Mahdia. We join all of Guyana and the rest of the world in mourning this tragic loss, and express our condolences to the affected families.

We also pray for a speedy recovery for all those who remain hospitalized, and pledge our full support at ensuring no effort is spared towards this end. As our nation struggles to come to grips with the enormity of the moment, it is especially important that, as Guyanese, we uplift each other and offer hope and support.

In observing anoth-

er milestone in our independence, our Party urges reflection on the valiant efforts of those who made untold sacrifices during the struggles for self-rule. Those sacrifices must continue to be valued, and remain a source to imbue us all with pride and patriotism.

We must also remain cognizant of our nation’s vast potential; which, through prudent management, can create the brighter future we all desire. Let us continue to remain hopeful, so that our challenges can be overcome.

Happy Independence to all Guyanese!

Today, on the 57th Anniversary of our country’s Independence, we wish we could say Happy Independence Day to our fellow Guyanese.

Unfortunately, recent crises and tragedies have filled our collective and individual hearts with anxieties, fears and anguish. We have reached another potential turning point in our country’s trajectory, where citizens are again unified in rejecting the failures in our country’s governance, and are demanding a Government that is competent and caring, one which accepts that it exists solely

to serve the people. We mark this 57th Independence Anniversary with greater national unhappiness and self-doubt, and with diminishing national self-esteem and pride.

We, as a people, today recognize more than ever that massive oil wealth means little if our Government lacks competence, empathy and compassion; if it cannot connect to our struggles, frustrations, and despair.

As a Party, we firmly believe Guyana can, and must, do better. We have built our vision on our conviction that prosperity can be guaranteed to all citizens; that good governance can prevail; and

that national happiness and self-confidence can abound.

But these transformations will not occur automatically. They must be envisioned, planned, and implemented with zeal for the benefit of all persons. As the national crisis deepens, citizens must, more than before, use their voices and their votes to demand and get the changes they desire and deserve for their families, communities, and country.

On this Independence Anniversary, therefore, it is fitting to wish all our fellow Guyanese a better future. We pledge to work on your behalf towards achieving it.

GPSU calls on Guyanese to imbue new country-oriented mindsets

Happy fifty-seventh Independence Anniversary, Guyana! As a people, it is our desire to improve the quality of our lives and our relationships with each other. This was manifested in the National Motto of unanimous consent, “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”.

But over these post-Independence years, the real fruits or true value of our labours still seem beyond our mortal reach. The absence of a living wage, evenhandedness, and real employment opportunities are stumbling blocks to betterment, coupled with the cost-of-living juggernaut that is relentless and unforgiving…

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has, for decades, reminded Governments of the need to have a national policy on wages and salaries, and for the minimum wage to be upward-

ly reviewed… On the discovery of oil, one would have thought that the opportunity would have been seized to rectify the age-old imbalances in wages, salaries and allowances, in order to create a new era for the working class, but this proved to be nothing more than wishful thinking…

On this point, President Ali was quoted in a Guyana Chronicle report of February 21, 2023 as uttering the following words during an engagement with Guyanese in The Commonwealth of the Bahamas, viz: “And that is what I’ve been working on; creating this ‘One Guyana’ in which we build a system that delivers prosperity for every single Guyanese and every single Guyanese family.” “This, for me, is the important project, changing the mindset, changing the way we relate to each other, community by community, household by household. And I as-

sure you I will not rest until this country is unified.”

The GPSU, because of its interests in national unity as a necessary basis of national development and the harmonious existence of Guyanese with each other, had always advocated that Government should take the lead towards bridging the racial divide. As such, the GPSU dispatched a letter to President Ali on March 2, 2023 indicating its willingness to partner with him “…on the journey towards the achievement of National Unity…”

The discovery of oil on our shores heralded a new era, where there was much expectation from the people of higher standards of living… An investment in oil and gas training and other spin-offs may create opportunities for employment of citizens within oil and gas undertakings and also stem the migration of jobless citizens to other

ERC encouraged by Guyanese compassion, spirit of brotherhood

The Chairman, Commissioners and staff of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) share the grief the Guyanese nation is experiencing as a result of the Mahdia Dormitory fire, and at this time of our country’s 57th Independence Anniversary.

Following the loss that night, families, Mahdia, neighbouring communities and our country are deprived of 19 of its very young, bringing unimaginable pain and grief.

Cognizant of the trag -

edy, the ERC is pleased that the traditional celebrations associated with Independence have been redesigned to a Night of Reflection, in keeping with the sombre atmosphere that has engulfed the nation.

The Commission is encouraged by the signs of compassion, maturity, and spirit of brotherhood displayed by all during this horrific tragedy.

The ERC wishes to also recognize and commend the show of unity and outpouring of sup -

port that was manifested through expressions of empathy demonstrated by concerned citizens from all sides; demonstrating that, as a nation, we can unite for a common cause.

The Commission reiterates on this Independence Anniversary that its prayers are with the grieving families and friends, who are currently suffering unimaginable trauma from their recent loss.

Let’s embrace solemnly this Independence Anniversary in peace and hope!

countries.

As an independent nation, Guyanese need to stand together in defence of its patrimony and demand that persons elected to serve as leaders deliver to the expectations of the people… I therefore call upon the people, irrespective of individual political beliefs and persuasions, imbue new country-oriented mindsets. Summon the strength and independence to stand for what is just and right. Our minds must dispel all things

that threaten harmony and/ or strive to make the achievement of the virtues of our national motto a myth. As a priority, the law-abiding citizens of Guyana must stand in defence of each other, recognizing that power resides in the people. It is only with such unity that positive development can be achieved in Guyana for the benefit of all, and to achieve the timely emergence as either “El Dorado” or “Dubai of the Caribbean”.

Therefore, with the ex-

pectation of a unified stance in favour of rooting out systemic corruption and piloting Guyana on a correct course as an independent nation, I would like to extend best wishes on the occasion of the 57th Independence Anniversary to all Guyanese, on behalf of the Executive Council, Members, and Staff of the GPSU, and myself and my family. Together we must aspire to achieve a bright future, working and living together in love, unity and harmony.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) extends warm wishes to all Guyanese at home and abroad on the occasion of our country’s fifty-seventh (57th) Independence Anniversary.

The shedding of our colonial chains, now nearly six decades ago, marked a monumental achievement for our country and its people. Moving from one colonizer to the next over several centuries contextualises the significance of independence.

We of the GAWU recollect that the struggle for political freedom began in earnest following the silent pledge of Dr Cheddi Jagan as he witnessed the outpouring of grief at the funeral of the Enmore Martyrs. That struggle ignited that consciousness of the Guyanese people to secure their self-determination and to be released from the bondage of colonialism.

We believe, as we ob-

serve Independence Day, that we must pay tribute to all those who advanced the struggle for independence and an end of colonialism in Guyana. Our observances this year are subdued, as we still reel from the tragedy at Mahdia a few days ago. The GAWU and its thousands of members across the country are saddened by the tragic loss of nineteen (19) young Guyanese. Our prayers and thoughts are with the family, friends, and the communities as this trying time. We pray for their strength and solace in this difficult period, and offer our fullest solidarity.

Though the times are certainly difficult, we are heartened by the collective response of the Guyanese people. The outpouring of support from all corners of the country is yet another reminder that, despite our differences, we stand together in support of each other in times of difficulty and challenge. As we celebrate our

independence, we take heart that our people remain united and together.

We must lament, too, those who, at this difficult time, have sought to pursue divisiveness, undoubtedly towards narrow selfish ends. At time of tragedy, there is need to put petty partisan behaviour aside as we seek, as a country and people, to heal.

The GAWU remains proud of our independence, and looks forward to upward and greater development in the coming times. Indeed, we remain in exciting times, but we need to assure that the boats of all Guyanese rise together and equitably.

As we reflect on the journey leading up to independence, and after an enduring message, let us be reminded that, as One Guyana, we can overcome any challenge, succeed in difficult times, and attain new and higher goals.

Happy Independence Day from GAWU!

Opposition Leader pledges to work for better future for Guyanese

Guyanese must uplift each other, remain hopeful to overcome challenges – PPP

As One Guyana, we can overcome any challenge, attain higher goals – GAWU

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Get involved in something that moves you. Volunteer your skills or time; you’ll make a difference and meet people who inspire you. Make plans with someone who enjoys a physical challenge.

(March 21-April 19)

Be responsible. Don’t do anything to jeopardize your position, health or financial well-being. Update your appearance or lifestyle to fit your age and expectations. Make sure your motives are valid before you start something new.

(April 20-May 20)

PEANUTS

(May 21-June 20)

Choose a path that motivates you. Listen to suggestions and decide what’s best for you. Weigh the pros and cons, stick to a budget you can afford and push your way forward.

Refuse to let anyone take you for granted or manipulate your emotions. A change of heart will give you space to find happiness. You must think ahead and come up with innovative plans.

(June 21-July 22)

Work alone, and you’ll get things done correctly. Expect others to interfere with your plans or try to take control if you are too easygoing. Keep a low profile for the best results.

(July 23-Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Visit someone you enjoy being around and share your ideas. A partnership will inspire creativity and the discipline to follow your plan through to the end. An offer will change how you live.

You’ll surpass your potential if you seek an expert’s advice. You’ll receive information that can change your life. Don’t stop until you are happy with the results. Work to help others.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

A professional change will take you in a different direction. Press forward alone. Don’t waste time arguing with someone who can’t grasp your vision. Seek out people who can help you.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Bypass anything or anyone distracting you. Concentrate on what you can do at a price you can afford. Weigh the pros and cons, then contact people who can fill you in before you begin.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Alter your surroundings to meet your demands. Confirm what’s possible and get things started. Surprise a loved one with a thoughtful word, act or gift. Treat others with respect and kindness.

Forge ahead until you are happy with the results. Leave no room for criticism or for someone to step in and make you look bad. Challenge yourself to get fit and be healthier.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Consider how to use your skills to bring in more money. A trendy look will attract attention and make you feel more like socializing. Romance or a new friendship will lift your spirits.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Trophy Stall on board GAPLF Intermediate/Masters Championships

TheTrophy Stall has once again stepped up to assist the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) as the body prepares to host the 2023 edition of its Intermediates and Masters Championships.

Yesterday, Mr. Ramesh Sunich, Manager of The Trophy Stall, made a donation of trophies that’ll be presented to the respective overall male and female winners in the Intermediates and Masters, Classic, and Equipped segments of the competition.

Making the presentation on behalf of Sunich and The Trophy Stall was Graphic Artist Ms. Tanya Crossman, to GAPLF President

Franklin and Organising Secretary/Public Relations Officer Denroy Livan.

Ms. Crossman shared that Trophy Stall has been a good friend of powerlifting

Boss batters vs Boss bowlers as Mumbai

take on Titans in Qualifier 2

Big picture: Defending champions vs serial winners.

For probably the first time in the franchise's young history, Gujarat Titans will be feeling the pressure in a knockout game.

and recent vibes, Mumbai would appear to have the edge. Their bowling unit has been red hot of late, but that wasn't quite the case early on in the tournament.

Titans, on the other hand, have proven performers

for a very long time, and will continue to be a good partner, as this is the entity’s way of fulfilling its corporate responsibility. She also said that the development of athletes is important, and recognising their efforts by rewarding them can go a long way in motivating them to do even better.

Livan, who responded on behalf of the Federation, thanked Mr. Sunich and Trophy Stall for sticking with the body despite the change of executive over the years. He echoed Ms. Crossman’s conviction that rewarding athletes goes a long way in motivating them, as their efforts are recognised.

Rain postpones Group A Games in Concacaf U20 Qualifiers

Jamaica's young Reggae

Girlz will have to wait to get their Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship campaign underway, as their opening Group A contest against Canada was postponed due to adverse weather conditions in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday.

The other Group A fixture featuring reigning seven-time champions United States and Panama was also called off, a new schedule is expected to be announced in short order.

Coached by US-based Hugh Bradford, the 20-member Reggae Girlz squad is hunting an historic spot at the FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup next year after they defeated Anguilla 6-0, Bermuda 2-0, and Honduras by a similar scoreline on their way to the final leg of qualifiers.

They are scheduled to next face United States

against Panama on Sunday at 2:00pm.

Meanwhile, Mexico, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, and host nation Dominican Republic will do battle in Group B. After round-robin play, the two best teams from each group will advance to the competition’s knockout stage. The two finalists and the third-placed team will qualify for next year’s World Cup.

Jamaica's best placing in 12 appearances at these Concacaf Women’s Championship was a fourthplace finish in 2006, when they lost a third-place playoff to Canada.

Freshly jolted by a defeat in Qualifier 1, this is the first time they're ever playing an IPL game to stay alive. The best team from the league stage didn't really play like it against Chennai Super Kings, to the point that it suddenly seems like they aren't entirely sure of their best XI. Getting that wrong in the playoff stages usually proves expensive.

On the other hand, Mumbai Indians are peaking at the right time. They produced one of their most complete performances in the Eliminator to go with four wins in their last five games in the group stages. From the batting point of view, everyone has unlocked the most dangerous version of themselves, and among bowlers, Piyush Chawla and Jason Behrendorff are doing enough for Akash Madhwal to shine at the death.

Mumbai beat Titans the last time the two sides met in IPL 2023, and purely based on recent results

with the ball, including the season's top two wicket-takers. How Madhwal and co can match up to Mohammed Shami and Rashid Khan may well decide the outcome of this game.

Titans' batting though, at least in the present moment, lacks the clarity their bowling has. They need to figure out if Dasun Shanaka is offering enough. And also do more to ensure Vijay Shankar bats when he can have the most impact. Most of all, they have to find a way for Hardik Pandya - the batter - to make the best use of his skills. If that clarity is there, Titans will feel that the Qualifier defeat was a mere blip on their journey towards defending their IPL title.

It won't come easy against a side that just knows how to win crunch games.

Team news: Worry for Titans seamers?

Titans played Darshan

Nalkande against Super Kings for Yash Dayal, but Nalkande was hobbling after his bowling spell. If Nalkande is unfit, one could see Dayal coming back in. Titans could also bring in Josh Little as a replacement, but that would see Shanaka dropped. Little is a frontrunner for his experience and better bowling numbers compared to the uncapped Indians, more so in a knockout game.

With Tilak Varma returning to their side against Lucknow Super Giants, Mumbai have no injury concerns.

Impact Player strategy: What will Mumbai do?

Mumbai could use an extra batter - like in the Eliminator with Nehal Wadhera - and sacrifice an extra bowling option to give their first-innings total a push if they bat first. Otherwise, the default route is Suryakumar Yadav being used as an Impact sub for an Indian bowler.

Titans are likely to go with Vijay as the Impact Player in a chase, or bring in a fast bowler if they are defending.

Pitch and conditions

It has touched 43 degrees in Ahmedabad. Curators have covered the pitch to ensure it doesn't break down abnormally. The pitch for the game is among the least used strips - the centre has nine surfaces - and is being brought in to seemingly provide a run fest.

It has been watered adequately to ensure some amount of moisture helps bind it underneath. The curator expects good pace and bounce like all season. Dew isn't expected to be a major factor, helped by the chemical they use to prevent its formation.

Reggae Girlz Squad: Andrene Smith, Shaneil Buckley, Una Moy Lue, Davia Richards, Liha Williams, Taijah Fraser, Tiny Seaton, Kaitlyn Ennis, Natoya Atkinson, Destiny Powell, Akeila Johnson, Janiel Mignott, Amelia Zanten, Liya Brooks, Avery Johnson, Maya Raghunandanan, Anaiyah Robinson, Njeri Butts, NjerI Lewis, Katie Oakley.

Ms. Tanya Crossman of the Trophy Stall is flanked by GAPLF’s Franklin Wilson (left) and Denroy Livan as she displays some of the trophies

The Mumbai Indians and the Gujarat Titans will battle for a place in Sunday’s IPL 2023 final

Nehal Wadhera scored quick runs coming in as an Impact sub

PPP/C Linden ‘One Guyana’ Beach Football…

Swag, DC, Kara, Gunners register wins in male competition

… Sides Super Stars, Coomacka win female tourney

Street.

KFC Elite League resumes this weekend after national mourning

Daythree was very entertaining as the People’s Progressive Party/Civic ‘One Guyana’ Linden Beach Football promotion, with $1M in cash and trophies at stake, saw Swag Entertainment batter Universal Ballers 7-1 on Sunday last, with Deon Charter blasting in six goals while Colwyn Drakes hit in the other in the second game of the night.

Playing outside the office of the PPP/C Linden branch in Industrial Area, the only reply was from Amanykie Kingston with the brace for the losing Universal Ballers team.

The first game of the night resulted in a 5-3 victory for DC Ballers, who won behind a triple of goals from Nicholas Gentle and the others from Manny Dow and Kwesi Quintin.

Tyrese Samuels got the consolation goal for Main

Kara Kara United got past Alya Construction via the penalty route 4-3, after both sides were locked 4-4 in open play.

Antoine Yansen and Delon Grant each scored one goal, and Teral Backer scored the other two goals; while, for Construction, doubles were recorded by Odida Briggs and Ricardo Estwick.

As the female competition began, Super Stars prevailed against Aroiama 2-1 via a penalty shootout. The teams were tied 2-2 when regulation play ended, with Sherrylyn Kingston scoring both goals for Super Stars, while Cindy Alexander accounted for the two goals Aroiama scored.

In another men’s clash Gunners defeated Golden Stars 2-0, with Rodension Tudor and Denaka Tappin scoring for the Gunners.

To bring the curtains down on day three, the

Coomacka Females beat Pakuri 2-0 after a double from Jade Simmons.

The competition continues tonight (Friday) with matches in both the male and female segments at the tournament venue in Mackenzie.

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has announced the rescheduling of KFC Elite League matches this week, in adherence to President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s call for 3 days of national mourning owing to the Mahdia School dormitory fire which claimed 19 young Guyanese lives.

As such, double headers that were scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday of this week have now been shifted to Saturday and Sunday.

Round 2 games intended for Tuesday, featuring a Western Tigers-Buxton United FC clash and a Guyana Defence Force-Den Amstel FC battle will now be played on Saturday May,

Meanwhile, the Ann’s Grove vs Fruta Conquerors and Guyana Police Force (GPF) FC vs Victoria Kings games will now be played on Sunday, May 28th. Action on both days is set for the GFF’s

Demerara (EBD) at 17:00hrs and 19:00hrs respectively on both days.

Other changes to the league fixtures will see Milerock and defending champions Fruta Conquerors locking horns on Saturday June 3rd at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary, instead of Saturday, May 27th.

In addition, GPF FC and Milerock will go toe-to-toe on Thursday June 8th at Eve Leary, instead of Saturday, June 3.

Santos FC currently leads the

league, with two wins from two rounds. Santos and Milerock FC opened the second round of League action on Sunday last, where the former overcame the Lindenbased team 3-0.

While Santos leads the points table, Western Tigers FC are in the second position with 3 points and a +10 goal difference. They are followed by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) FC, Guyana Police Force (GPF) FC, and the Buxton United FC, who all have three points, with

Bangladesh 'A' stage fightback against West Indies 'A'

Bangladesh ‘A’ staged a fight back against West Indies ‘A’ on the third day of their fourday unofficial Test at Syhlet International Stadium on Thursday.

After bowling the West Indies out for 345, Bangladesh ‘A’, trailing by 108 runs on first innings, reached 274-6 at stumps, for a lead of 166 runs heading into the final day of play on Friday.

The hosts owe their position to half-centuries from opener Shadlam Islam, Shahadat Hossain and Irfan Sukkur, the latter being unbeaten on 64. Along with Nayeem Hasan, Sukkur has so far added 65 runs for the seventh wicket.

The West Indies ‘A’, resuming from their overnight score of 268-6 with Joshua da Silva on nine and Kevin Sinclair on one, took the score to 329, a stand of 63 for the seventh wicket, which was broken when Sinclair was dismissed for 32 by Hasan Sakib, who eventually took all four West Indies wickets.

Akeem Jordan, Anderson Phillip and Jair McAllister all fell cheaply, leaving da Silva high and dry on 47. The West Indies ‘A’ cap-

tain was visibly irritated when McAllister went for an ill-advised pull shot and was out caught for a duck first ball of the 97th over, to be last man out, thus denying his captain a chance to achieve another 50.

Trailing by 108 on first innings, opener Shadlam Islam made 74 while helping to lay the foundation for the Bangladesh ‘A’ fightback. At 51-2 after losing the wickets of Zakir Hasan for 13 and Saif Hasan for 16, Islam featured in a 56-run third wicket partnership with Mohammad Naim, who was eventually dismissed by Sinclair for 28.

The loss of Naim’s wicket brought Shahadat Hossain to the crease, and he and Islam further frustrated the West Indies bowlers while putting on 68 for the fourth wicket.

Sinclair eventually broke through, trapping Islam for 74 before dismissing Afif Hossain for four, as Bangladesh ‘A’ slipped to 180-5. Sinclair picked up his third wicket when he dismissed Shahadat Hossain for 50, with the lead at 101.

That was the last success for the West Indies bowlers for the day, as Sukkur and

SCOREBOARD

Bowling Khaled Ahmed (17-1-59-1)

Tanzim Hasan Sakib (19.1-2-59-4)

Nayeem Hasan (21-0-94-1)

Saif Hasan (7-0-37-2)

Tanvir Islam (29-7-75-1)

Afif Hossain (3-0-9-0)

Bangladesh A 2nd Innings

Shadman Islam lbw b Jordan 74

Zakir Hasan c Da Silva b Reifer 13

Saif Hasan c Sinclair b Jordan 16

Mohammad Naim b Sinclair 28

Shahadat Hossain Dipu

lbw b Sinclair 50

Afif Hossain c Athanaze b Sinclair 4

Irfan Sukkur not out 64

Nayeem Hasan not out 14 (6 wickets, 66.0) (11 extras) 274

FOW: 30/1 (9.2) Zakir Hasan 51/2

(14.1) Saif Hasan 107/3 (27.3)

Mohammad Naim 175/4 (39.4)

(4.1) Tagenarine

Chanderpaul 132/2 (33.4) Raymon

Reifer 139/3 (35.3) Kirk McKenzie

139/4 (35.5) Brandon King 218/5

(55.5) Alick Athanaze 266/6 (71.4)

Keacy Carty 329/7 (90.2) Kevin Sinclair 333/8 (92.4) Akeem Jordan

339/9 (94.5) Anderson Phillip

345/10 (96.1) Jair McAllister

Shadman Islam 180/5 (42.1) Afif

Hossain 209/6 (52.2) Irfan Sukkur

Bowling

Akeem Jordan (14-2-38-2)

Raymon Reifer (9-1-48-1)

Anderson Phillip (8-0-49-0)

Jair McAllister (7-1-30-0)

Kevin Sinclair (23-6-76-3)

Kirk McKenzie (2-0-15-0)

Nayeem Hasan kept the tourists’ attack at bay until the close.

Sinclair’s three wickets cost 76 runs, while Akeem Jordan has so far picked up 2-38. (Sportsmax)

A scene from the opening round of the KFC Elite League

Jade Simmons

CPL working on ‘Pre-Sale’ ticketing issues

The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is aware of, and working to rectify, an issue with their Exclusive Pre-Sale ticketing system, the organization said via a statement on Thursday.

This is on the heels of the CPL being made aware of numerous instances in Guyana where fans were unable to purchase their knockout games and finals tickets for this year’s grand finale in Guyana during an ‘Exclusive Visa Pre-Sale Window’ which opened on Tuesday May, 23; even with international banking cards.

The Republic Bank CPL said, “We are aware of an

issue where a small number of banks have blocked their customers from being able to purchase on the CPL ticketing platform. While the block was by the customer’s bank rather than by our system, we are

Women's T20 Blaze: Campbelle leads Guyana to big win over Jamaica

working with our ticketing platform, bank and payment gateway to resolve further such issues. This affected a small number of people versus the large number of successful transactions, and we would like to reassure fans that the vast majority of tickets for the CPL finals are yet to be put on sale, which will happen in due course both at the box office and online.”

The Exclusive window was set to be opened until May 30, or until tickets were sold out. Tickets for CPL Eliminator, Qualifier 1, Qualifier 2 and the final on September 19th, 20th, 22nd and 24th were made available via the online medium at www.cplt20.com.

Shemaine Campbelle played a captain's knock of 50 not out to lead Guyana to an eight-wicket win against defending champions Jamaica in round four of the Regional Women's T20 Blaze.

Playing at Warner Park St Kitts, Jamaica posted 109-6 in their allotted 20 overs.

Fast bowler CherryAnn Fraser, who is returning to bowling after an injury, was the best bowler on show, claiming 3-18 from three overs. Off-spinner Plaffianna Millington and Ashmini Muniar had one wicket each. Captain Stafanie Taylor top-scored for Jamaica with a runa-ball 48 which had five fours and one six. She was

Space Gym 2.0 powers GAPLF’s Intermediate/Masters Championships

In their continuing efforts to back the upliftment and development of sports in Guyana, the Principals of Space Gym 2.0, located at the Royal Orchid Garden Hotel and Mall on Mandela Avenue in Georgetown, are the latest corporate entity to support this Sunday’s Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) Intermediate/Masters

Manager of Space Gym

2.0, Mr. Lucas Matos, who said, “It’s an absolute pleasure for Space Gym 2.0 to be supporting the efforts of this new executive as you strive to keep the sport of powerlifting going and to take it to another level. We are also cognizant of the challenges faced when it comes to attaining sponsorship for pulling off these competitions, thus our com-

ally, and that this is one of the platforms available for more champions to come to the fore. We wish the athletes the very best, and look forward to a very exciting competition.”

supported by the explosive Natasha McLean, who scored 27 from 21 balls, and Keneshia Ferron, who made 20.

Guyana had a rocky start to their chase, with Sheneta Grimmond (06) and Katana Mentore (02) falling cheaply. At 10-2, Jamaica were looking firm to win, but captain Campbelle and vice-captain Shabika

Gajnabi took the Guyanese team to a crushing victory, ending on 110-2 in 18 overs. The unbroken century-run

stand ensured Guyana their third victory in four matches in the T20 Blaze tournament.

Campbelle's even 50 came off 49 balls and had five fours. Gajnabi, played supporting role with her 46-ball 37, which had three fours. Celina Whyte was the lone wicket-taker for Jamaica, with 2-11 in four overs. Guyana's final match will be against Trinidad and Tobago on May 27 from 8:00h Eastern Caribbean Time.

SCOREBOARD

Jamaica Women Batting Rashada Williams c Campbelle b Fraser 1

Keneshia Ferron c & b Munisar 20 Stafanie Taylor lbw b Millington 48

Natasha McLean c

Campbelle b Fraser 27

Chedean Nation not out 5

Sherene Burnett b Fraser 0

Sheneta Grimmond (4-0-25-0)

Kaysia Schultz (2-0-12-0)

Ashmini Munisar (4-0-14-1)

Shakibi Gajnabi (3-0-14-0)

Guyana Women Batting

Sheneta Grimmond c

McLean b Whyte 6

Katana Mentore c Taylor b Whyte 2

Championships.

Yesterday, Federation President Franklin Wilson was presented with the sponsorship by the

mitment to you.

“We are aware that this sport has produced numerous champions locally, regionally, and internation-

Wilson expressed gratitude on behalf of the Federation to Lucas and his dad, Sergio Matos, for their commitment to the sport, not only in this instance, but in previous ones as well.

“The GAPLF is appreciative of your support, not only for this competition, but for your continued sup-

port to a number of our athletes, which has been ongoing quietly. I would like to assure you that your commitment is well-documented and valued by this executive committee. We look forward to strengthening of the partnership in the coming months for the further advancement of the sport.”

Neisha-Ann Waisome run out 1

Nicole Campbell not out 0

Total (6 wickets, 20.0) (7 extras) 109

FOW: 2/1 (1.3) Rashada Willims

Keneshia Ferron 57/2 (11.6) Stafanie

Taylor 89/3 (16.6) Stafanie Taylor

105/4 (19.2) Natasha McLean

105/5 (19.3) Sherene Burnet 107/6

(19.5) Neisha-Ann Waisome

Bowling

Plaffiana Millington (4-0-25-1)

Cherry-Ann Fraser (3-0-18-3)

Shakibi Gajnabi not out 37

Shemaine Campbelle not out 50

Total (2 wickets, 18.0) (15 extras) 110

9/1 (1.5) Sheneta Grimmond

10/2 (3.3) Katana Mentore

Bowling

Vanessa Watts (4-1-16-0)

Celina Whyte (4-1-11-2)

Neisha-Ann Waisome (2-0-15-0)

Nicole Campbell (3-0-23-0)

Sherene Burnett (1-14-0-0)

Chedean Nation (3-0-20-0)

Campbelle led with a half-century against Jamaica

Manager of Space Gym 2.0, Mr. Lucas Matos (right), presenting the sponsorship cheque to GAPLF President Franklin Wilson

A glimpse of what to expect at the GAPLF’s Intermediate/Masters Championships