Guyana Times - Friday, May 5, 2023.pdf

Pupils optimistic as curtains pulled on

Daycare owner secures High Court bail over death of baby

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Friday, May 5 – 04:30h-06:00h and

Saturday, May 6 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, May 5 – 16:20h-17:50h and Saturday, May 6 – 16:45h-18:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Sunshine is expected throughout the day, interrupted by early-to-mid-morning light rain showers . Clear to partly cloudy skies are expected at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 3.57 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tide: 16:33h reaching a maximum height of 2.70 metres.

Low Tide: 10:06h and 22:19h reaching minimum heights of 0.41 metre and 0.55 metre.

Arrival Day 2023

Work together to break shackles of divisiveness – President Ali urges ...reiterates no ethnic group is superior under "One Guyana" banner

tural society that now distinguishes the country from the rest of the world.

“Guyana’s multiculturalism brings together the cultural traditions of Asia, Africa, Europe and the West Indies, and in this process helps to forge a sense of oneness. These distinct and varied strands are being weaved into a singular, strong and unified national fabric, where differences are acknowledged, recognized and respected”, he said.

LOTTERY NUMBERS

While acknowledging that our ancestors have arrived from different parts of the world, President Irfaan Ali has called on Guyanese to work together to “unshackle” themselves from divisiveness.

“Arrival Day reminds us that while our ancestors may have come in different ships, today we are all in the same vessel – this beautiful country called Guyana, blessed with warm, friendly and hospitable people and abundant resources. It is for us to work together, unshackled from divisiveness, so as to create the conditions that would yield a better life for ourselves and progeny,” the Head of State said in his Arrival Day message.

Arrival Day, celebrated annually on May 5, coincides with the date when the first batch of Indian indentured servants arrived in British Guiana to work on sugar plantations. However, Arrival Day is observed to celebrate the arrival and honour the contributions of other indentured immigrants – Chinese and Portuguese – as well.

“Arrival Day also coincides with the celebration of Indian Arrival Day, the anniversary of the arrival of the first batch of Indian indentured immigrants to our country. One hundred and eighty-five (185) years ago, Indians set foot on this soil, and in the ensuing years, almost a quarter of a million indentured immigrants would arrive, the majority of whom stayed and made this country their permanent homeland.

“These indentured immigrants and their descendants have made an undeniable and unmistakable contribution to our country’s development and its struggles for national liberation and human dignity. Indians have been integral to our country’s quest for

freedom, economic empowerment, and its political, economic, and social development. They have enriched and added to Guyana’s multicultural diversity,” the Head of State noted.

President Ali, in his message, said Arrival Day is a celebration of the multicultural character of our nation. He added that the observance is also used to pay homage to Guyana’s African, Asian, European and West Indian ancestors who, together with Indigenous Peoples, laid the foundation of the country’s ethnic diversity, with each group contributing in no small measure to the country’s attainment of freedom and its development.

Ali further stated that the arrival of various groups of people to Guyana has created a diverse and multicul-

Since taking office in 2020, President Ali has been pushing a “One Guyana” agenda aimed at unifying the country. In his message, Ali said the One Guyana agenda esteems the diversity from which oneness

springs.

“Under the One Guyana banner, none are more equal to any other, and none will be treated as superior to the other. One Guyana is about fashioning a more inclusive and equal Guyana, where our people are bonded by shared values and common aspirations.

“Diversity must not become a spear of division. On this Arrival Day 2023, I beseech the people of Guyana to reject attempts from whichever quarter, that are aimed to fostering prejudice, hatred, strife and division. I urge all Guyanese, regardless of race, religion or class, to continue to work together to build a One Guyana,” he stressed.

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Indian Arrival Day

Today is Indian Arrival Day. One hundred and eighty-five years ago, two ships – the Whitby and the Hesperus, which had left the port of Calcutta more than two weeks apart – serendipitously arrived off port Georgetown on the same day: May 5th, 1838. The receiving depot was not ready to process them, so the Whitby was sent to Plantation Highbury, up the Berbice River, to disgorge some of its human cargo. The first Indians set foot on Guyana soil – and in fact in the entire Western Hemisphere – in Berbice.

The arrival of Indians to the then colony of British Guiana was a momentous occasion, one that would irremediably alter the trajectory of its social, economic, cultural and political development. Socially, the society was already “plural”, with the freed African ex-slaves and Portuguese (brought in since 1835) adding to the white planters, overseers and Government officials. There were also the Indigenous Peoples sequestered in the interior, and a “Coloured” strata issuing from the miscegenation between the white planters/overseers and African slave women. They formed a buffer zone between whites and blacks.

The Indians, however, with their vast numbers pouring in for the next 79 years, qualitatively altered the nature of the society; but it was economically that the Indians had their greatest impact. Even before the abolition of slavery, the planters were petrified at the prospects of sugar’s survival in a post-slavery economy in light of the vast tracts of land that were available for the freed slaves to occupy and make their own “living”. And it was this fear of the loss of a stable labour force that drove them to reintroduce “indentured” labour into the industry. In many of the small West Indian islands, there was not even the transitional “apprenticeship” scheme for the freed slaves: they had nowhere to go, but to return to the cane fields. In fact, over 30,000 of them were enticed to emigrate to British Guiana, since the conditions here were better.

But the planters had to also cater for the loss of their preferential British market. In addition to a stable workforce, they needed a cheap one; and this was where the Indians’ greatest economic impact was felt. While the Portuguese and the Chinese (who arrival in 1853) quickly abandoned the sugar fields at the expiration of their indentureship, the Indians stayed on and facilitated more than a doubling of the production of sugar than in the heyday of slavery.

But how could the Indians survive on wages that the ex-slaves, Portuguese and Chinese balked at? They supplemented their meagre sugar wages by cultivating rice on swampy lands leased or bought from the plantations, and by planting cash crops and rearing cattle to sell their milk. These endeavours, in time, became substantial industries on their own, and lowered the cost of living for the entire colony.

Culturally, the Indians’ different practices from the “Creole culture”, which had evolved between the African slaves and the white ruling class over hundreds of years, served the interest of the planters, since it helped to nip any ties that might be formed with the freed Africans who remained on the plantations. Interestingly, most of the latter were the small-island immigrants, who were all dubbed “Bajans”.

Guyana’s energy production is a quiet boon to the West

Dear Editor, Russia’s war on Ukraine has exposed the cracks in Western energy security. Russia’s gas deliveries to Europe have plummeted by 80 percent from their level before the invasion. One result: the U.S. is dealing with high prices and limited supplies of energy, creating one of the worst energy supply shortfalls in nearly five decades. But one little-known country in South America might provide the antidote to the West’s energy woes: Guyana.

Guyana is a small nation on the Atlantic coast of South America, wedged between Brazil, Venezuela and Suriname. Some Americans might recall the tragic 1978 shooting death there of U.S. Rep. Leo Ryan (D-Calif.). But today, the country is poised to become a major power in the global oil and gas market, potentially freeing Western countries of their dependence on OPEC and Russian oil.

Guyana has quickly become the fastest-growing crude-oil producer in the world. Commercial oil production in Guyana started in 2019, after major offshore fields were discovered in 2015. Since then, Guyanese oil has made up one-third of the crude oil discovered in the world, with more than 11 billion barrels of recoverable gas and oil found by an ExxonMobil-led consortium.

Guyana’s future is bright. Just last year, Guyana’s oil exports jumped 164 percent as global powers turned away from Russian energy.

The International Energy Agency predicts Guyana’s oil production would reach or surpass 1.4 million barrels a day by 2030. A study by Rystad Energy, an energy intelligence group, predicts that Guyanese oil production would increase at such a rapid pace that it would surpass levels in other large offshore basins, including Norway, the U.S., and Mexico by 2035, to make Guyana the world’s fourth-largest offshore producer.

To Western countries, Guyana offers a friendlier face to turn to than other major oil exporting countries. Guyana is English-speaking. It is among the top five nonOPEC energy producers in the world. The nation therefore is a way for the West to find enough supply, while minimising exports from sometimes problematic countries in the Middle East, and of course Russia.

Guyana is a parliamentary democracy that has had good relations with the U.S. since the early 1990s. Then, the Government embraced a free-market economy and open elections. As Guyana has become an oil-producing powerhouse, trade with the U.S. and Europe has significantly increased. For years, Guyana was one of the smallest and least developed nations in South America; now it is using its oil wealth to industrialise and democratise further. It boasts a gas-fired power plant, new roads, and a slew of solar energy projects.

Because it has come

late to energy production, Guyana has taken advantage of state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure. It also is part of the global shift toward clean-energy production. According to the Rystad Energy report, “The emissions intensity of Guyanese production is only half the global average.” Those emissions are expected to decline even further in the years to come. This is due in large part to the ExxonMobil-led consortium’s use of state-of-the-art floating, production, storage and offloading vessels.

As the globe emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic and grapples with the fallout of Russia’s war in Ukraine, demand for oil and gas is historically high. World oil de-

mand would increase by two million barrels a day in 2023 to a record 101.9 million barrels a day, even as a worldwide push towards renewable energy grows stronger. At the same time, oil production cuts by OPEC would push supply down by 400,000 barrels a day by the end of 2023. The global energy supply increasingly must rely on nonOPEC oil-producing countries to keep up with rising energy demand. Guyana offers a safe harbour in stormy seas for an oil-and gas-dependent world.

Sincerely,

Nazar Mohamed Managing Director, Mohamed’s Enterprise

Appreciate our diverse peoples, their cultures and contribution to Guyana’s development

Dear Editor, Today, May 5, 2023, marks the 185th anniversary of the arrival of indentured servants to Guyana. And while the day itself and the occasion it represents commemorate the arrival of the largest ethnic group - the East Indians - in 1838, it also pays tribute to the Portuguese from Madeira (they arrived in 1835) and the Chinese (January 17, 1853).

Arrival Day consequently salutes not only the historical arrival of a diverse group of people to our country, but

also the advent of the winds of change through their unique cultures, traditions, and religions that each group brought to the then British Guiana from their respective home country.

Arrival Day is indeed a time to celebrate this rich diversity: a celebration of a nation carved out of a meeting of what could be described as many worlds and cultures; for our ancestors came from various parts of the World: Europe, Asia, Africa.

Media workers from various entities across Guyana shared a light moment at a gala in celebration of World Press Freedom Day, hosted by the Department of Public Affairs at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Center on Wednesday evening

A trail of trials, traumas and tribulations

Dear Editor, May 5, 2023 denotes the 185th anniversary of the arrival of East Indians from India in the then British Guiana as Indian indentured labourers. A colony that was last ruled by the British saw the abolition of slavery in 1833, the emancipation of slaves, and the end to the chattel slavery system. The Africans, forcefully brought from Africa to work for the colonial masters, were then freed from slavery, and finally given freedom and the choice of living independently. Many left the sugar plantations and diversified to other opportunities, and that created a vacuum to replace the loss of the labour force.

There are two months in which the culture of Afro-Guyanese is highlighted. While February is celebrated as “Black History Month”, August also commemorates the anniversary of Emancipation for Blacks.

The importation of indentured labourers from India was conceived and implemented, but the conditions were concealed; and on arrival, the Indians found out that they were deceived when they saw and experienced the deplorable living and arduous working conditions.

Incidentally, May 2nd also commemorates arrival of the Portuguese/ Madeirans, and January 13th commemorates the arrival of the Chinese. West Indians and some “others” were also imported under this context. September signifies the observance of Amerindian Heritage. Doubt is still entertained about the ambiguity of this day, 5th May, whether it is to commemorate and generalise the arrival of people from all races, indentured labourers, or specifically to celebrate the historical arrival of Indians only. A transparent pronouncement is yet to be officially made, and officials have evaded this clarification by preferring to shelve the issue.

East Indians have struggled from day one in this country, and were viewed with skepticism by

others, patronised as unwelcome, and regarded as job-grabbers. They came with tangible wealth, being their few pieces of clothing, their religious books, and their culture. Hundreds died on the dangerous journey known as the “Kala Pani.” Toiling under the hot sun, and enduring much use and abuse, they had to tolerate a new strain of slavery, another form of British hardship, and they quickly had to adapt to a different way of life in order to accommodate a means of survival, losing an accustomed social respectability in the long run.

Not deterred by the presumptuousness of being referred to as “Coolies”, grinding away from Monday to Saturday, bearing strain from the whims and fancies of the British, who enjoyed punishing them for the flimsiest of excuses, and being agitated with numerous anomalies, they survived all disadvantages and oppression to establish themselves at the forefront, to gain the resentment of others. With a cultural hallmark of praying, working, playing, saving, being conservative, investing wisely, and building slowly but surely, this methodology transcended a fusion of lifestyle, aspiration, dedication, and cultivation to catapult suppression to impression.

Bonded with togetherness and banded with mutual compatibility, a primary generation of simpletons converted a despicable situation into a promising generation of prosperity. Today, being the envy of illusionists, there is the unfounded accusation of “wealth disparity” being sourced and funnelled by propagandists. Emerging from a level playing field, or perhaps an unfavourable circumstance not privileged by those earlier settlers, the false hueand-cry of favouritism is being beaten on a drum, resounding in a tasteless melody.

Such has been a trail filled with trials, traumas and tribulations; a journey saddled with many blocks and hurdles, and a pathway strewn with holes and

Appreciate our diverse...

And let us not forget that they met with our Indigenous People. Together they all belonged to a Nation of so many cultures, each adding richness and value to what could be described as our national tapestry.

And so, whether you are of African, East Indian, Portuguese, Chinese, European, Amerindian or mixed descent; Arrival Day is a reality we all must accept. It is intended to remind us that no matter our skin color, creed, class we are all

thorns; but never undaunted or deterred by the improbable, generations of Indians have battled the stormy seas and have not withered with the tempestuous weather. They preferred to toil the soil with their inherited cultural proclivities and agricultural skills, invest in their children’s education, and confine any exuberance with compassion and satisfaction.

A buddy system practised from the days of yore, this concept afforded the extension of a helping hand to take care and look out for the senior and junior members of the family. This principle has adumbrated the successive genealogy for success, and has manifested high dividends.

With the passing of time; inclement economic situation enforced by dictatorship; sidelining of unilateralism; prejudice, racial discrimination, political favouritism, social upheaval and religious suppression; Indo-Guyanese, with other ethnicities not favourable supporters of the then demeaning administration, were unavoidably migrating to greener pastures. They were all escaping from the devaluation of the dollar; the restricted foreign exchange system; the banning of food items; nationalisation and its repercussions; the paramountcy of the PNC party; the evil of Burnhamism; the party card passport; the political domination in the Ministries, Public Sector, and agencies; the downsizing of the economy, and the

ultimate collapse of a nation under siege by a cabal led by the Kabaka. The “Sanctimonious Gangster” also alluded to this infraction.

With the turning of the tide, Indo-Guyanese have proliferated, persevered, and propelled to a stage of predisposition, whereby everything must be relished with reservation. At each turn, a perilous trap is anticipated, and nothing can be accepted as granted. Many have sold out the rights of East Indians for personal greed, employment opportunities, financial satisfaction, and social advancement, all at the demise and expense of the struggling class. No wonder Indo-Guyanese are spectators and not consumers in the celebration of Republic Day, Mashramani and Independence Day. Not being fooled or tranquilised by magicians; circus performers; and dirty, dangerous, and devious ring leaders, they fashion a head on their shoulders, and can smell a rat from a mile. Any decoration of “mental laziness” is certainly supercilious from any irresponsible party, and castigates, chastises, and chars the dignity of individuality.

Arrival Day should be renamed as Indian Arrival Day to underscore the reflection of the sacrifices of the ancestors of East Indians from India, and their contribution towards the peace, progress and prosperity of all Guyana.

Yours respectfully,

Jai Lall

FROM PAGE 4

Guyanese and must love, respect and value each other.

On this Arrival Day, May 05, 2023 let us recommit/let us determine to work to develop and to promote greater harmony and improved relations among our people.

Happy Arrival Day to all Guyanese!

Sincerely,

Norman Whittaker Former Minister of Local Government and Regional Development

Page Foundation

CXC Questions: Maths

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

By Samuel Taylor Coleridge

PART II

The Sun now rose upon the right: Out of the sea came he, Still hid in mist, and on the left Went down into the sea.

And the good south wind still blew behind, But no sweet bird did follow, Nor any day for food or play Came to the mariner’s hollo!

And I had done a hellish thing, And it would work ‘em woe: For all averred, I had killed the bird That made the breeze to blow.

Ah wretch! said they, the bird to slay, That made the breeze to blow!

Nor dim nor red, like God’s own head, The glorious Sun uprist: Then all averred, I had killed the bird That brought the fog and mist.

‘Twas right, said they, such birds to slay, That bring the fog and mist.

The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, The furrow followed free; We were the first that ever burst Into that silent sea.

Down dropt the breeze, the sails dropt down, ‘Twas sad as sad could be; And we did speak only to break The silence of the sea!

All in a hot and copper

sky, The bloody Sun, at noon, Right up above the mast did stand, No bigger than the Moon. Day after day, day after day, We stuck, nor breath nor motion; As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean.

Water, water, every where, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water, every where, Nor any drop to drink.

The very deep did rot: O Christ!

That ever this should be!

Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs Upon the slimy sea.

About, about, in reel and rout The death-fires danced at night; The water, like a witch’s oils, Burnt green, and blue and white.

And some in dreams assurèd were Of the Spirit that plagued us so; Nine fathom deep he had followed us From the land of mist and snow.

And every tongue, through utter drought, Was withered at the root; We could not speak, no more than if We had been choked with soot. Ah! well a-day! what evil looks Had I from old and young! Instead of the cross, the Albatross About my neck was hung.

WORD SEARCH

Stabroek Block operations

Our institutions must be professional, not act on economic nationalism – VP Jagdeo on High Court ruling …Govt recently completed negotiations for US$2B parent guarantee

ed.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, has already indicated the Government’s intention, as a major stakeholder, to move in this direction. He stated that the Environmental Permit imposes no obligation on the Permit Holder to provide an unlimited Parent Company Guarantee Agreement and/or Affiliate Company Guarantee Agreement hence the Judge erred in his findings.

ly, and without any jurisdiction. Hence, the court order that the agency issues the Enforcement Notice to EEPGL on or before May 9 to provide an unlimited Parent Company Guarantee Agreement and/or unlimited liability Affiliate Company Guarantee, and failure to do so would result in the suspension of its Environmental Permit.

wants this more. I would’ve loved for Exxon to give us a US$500 billion coverage, but for them to offer us a guarantee, it has to be supported by money on their balance sheets too.”

Following the recent ruling by the High Court that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must enforce the liability clause in the Environmental Permit granted to United States oil major ExxonMobil for its offshore oil operations in the Stabroek Block, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has argued that Guyana needs to ensure that local bodies are acting in a professional manner and not focused on economic nationalism.

High Court Judge, Justice Sandil Kissoon on Wednesday ruled that the EPA has abdicated its exclusive statutory responsibilities and ordered that it issue ExxonMobil’s local affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production (Guyana) Limited (EEPGL), with an Enforcement Notice to provide, within 30 days, an unlimited Parent Company Guarantee Agreement and/ or unlimited liability Affiliate Company Guarantee, together with environmental liability insurance, as is customary in the international petroleum industry.

But Jagdeo pointed out during a press conference on Thursday that while Government wanted to ensure that there were adequate resources to cover the liabilities of any mishap, the country could not be capricious in its dealings, particularly at the level of regulatory agencies.

“We have to pursue diligently, professionally that outcome, which is to get as a country an insurance coverage that will meet all the circumstances, should we have an adverse event offshore. [But] it’s important that institutions act in that manner, in a professional manner because we are now attracting large volumes of capital from around the world. Eyes of the world are focused on Guyana and what could’ve passed in the past as economic national-

ism would not hold water in the new dispensation,” he posited.

According to the Vice President, the quality and professionalism of local institutions are important tenets to efforts of setting up Guyana as an attractive destination for more capital investments to transform the country and its people.

“So, our courts have to make predictable decisions – I’m not saying in favour of the Government or against the Government but it has to be well reasoned…”

“We’re not going to take [the court ruling] in a manner that’s hostile, but we need to make sure that our institutions don’t act based on economic nationalism or the peripheral noise out there. We’re playing the big leagues now. We’re not a backwater country where you can do whatever you want and get away with it. And for that reason alone, I think the decision should be appealed,” Jagdeo contend-

The AG, too, pointed out that this ruling could have profound ramifications and grave economic as well as other impacts on the public interest and national development.

In September 2022, Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI) President Fredericks Collins and Guyanese citizen Godfrey Whyte had moved to the court to get the EPA to implement the liability clause in the permit issued to ExxonMobil (Guyana) for its operations. They wanted the court to ensure EEPGL takes full financial accountability in the case of harm, loss, and damage to the environment from a well blowout, oil spill, or other failures in the Stabroek Block.

On the issue of whether the EPA acted in breach of its statutory duty and unreasonably permitted Esso to carry out petroleum production operations in the absence of compliance with the terms of the permit, Justice Kissoon ruled that the EPA has committed an illegality, acted unlawfully, ultra vires, unreasonably, in defiance of logic, irrational-

But Jagdeo maintained on Thursday that EPA has to be able to professionally justify its work without any interference or any rush to complete its work within a set timeline that can pressure the agency.

In fact, he pointed out the EPA has been engaging the oil major over the past year on the parent guarantee. Those negotiations, according to the Vice President, were only concluded last week to the tune of US$2 billion in liability coverage in compliance

with EEPGL’s financial assurance obligations under the Environmental Permit and the Environmental Protection Act.

“I’ve said about a month ago that it was close to finishing, and last week I said that the agreement has practically been settled for US$2 billion of the parent guarantee… But the EPA has been working… nobody

“I think a lot of things were not understood clearly and sometimes it gets a bit complex. Here, this decision needs to be appealed by the EPA, because it makes the EPA looks like it’s not doing its work. The EPA is staffed with professionals and it’s been doing its work, protecting the interest of the country… My own thing is the Judiciary can interpret maybe several issues… But I think it’s threading on murky waters when you start directing a regulatory agency as to how to do its own job and give them a timeframe to get it done in, because you can’t supplant yourself and know what the challenges they face are…,” VP

Jagdeo

posited. (G8)

High Court Judge, Justice Sandil Kissoon

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Daycare owner secures High Court bail over death of baby

she was not required to plead to an indictable charge alleging that, on March 21, she unlawfully killed sevenmonth-old Oriyah Gravesande.

She had been refused bail by the magistrate, and had been remanded until May 10.

Denise Benn, the owner of the Little Learners Day Care centre located at Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD), who was initially remanded to prison on a manslaughter charge in relation to the death of baby Oriyah Gravesande, has been placed on $500,000 bail by a High Court Judge.

Benn had first appeared before Magistrate Alisha George at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts on April 6. During her arraignment,

Defence lawyer Dexter Todd filed a bail petition on her behalf at the Demerara High Court. During that hearing, a Judge granted Benn bail in the sum of $500,000 on the condition that she reports to the Sparendaam Police Station periodically and lodges her passport with the court.

It was reported that on March 21, the child Oriyah Gravesande died at the Ogle facility, which authorities have confirmed had been uncertified for years, and ought not to have been in operation. An autopsy has since revealed that the infant died from haemorrhage and compression to the neck.

The child’s parents had revealed to the media that, on the day in question, they had received a call from the

daycare, informing them that their daughter was unresponsive.

“They called me and tell me that our baby was unresponsive when they took her to the health centre, and by the time they reached the Georgetown Hospital, she was pronounced dead… she left home good, smiling and everything,” the

mother, Shavanie Gravesande, had related.

The woman claimed she was contacted two hours after the incident, and by the time she arrived at the hospital, she was told that her baby had died. It was reported that the child had fallen off a bed and become trapped in some sheets; it is suspected that this had led to her demise. A joint investigation into the child’s death was conducted by the Police, the Child Care and Protection Agency, and the Human Services and Social Security Ministry. Pending the probe, Benn was taken into custody for questioning, but was subsequently released on station bail and was ordered to report to the Sparendaam Police Station daily.

After the Police had completed the probe into the incident, a file was sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and it was recommended that Benn be charged with manslaughter.

The woman faces up to life in prison if she is convicted.

Commemorating...

…Indian Arrival Day

Well, here we are again - discussing why the PPP governments are dead set against designating May 5th “Indian Arrival Day” - as opposed to the generic “Arrival Day”. After decades of agitation - culminating in some mega commemorations from the turn of the millennium by a group named GIHAthey’d established a Parliamentary Committee to take recommendations from the general public on whether the day should be made a public holiday. Every Indian group that appeared said, “Yes!!”

As the Committee reported to Parliament, “The proposals and counter-proposals supporting 5th May must be seen in the context of Guyana’s realities. Regards, therefore, that: - the call to designate 5th May as a National Holiday was made over 40 years ago, with increased support over time; Indians constitute the majority of the population of Guyana; they have made significant contributions towards the development of Guyana; while there were different assessments as to the nature of, or meaning of, Indian Arrival, all respondents accepted its landmark status as a seminal event that had permanent consequences for all Guyana.”

Unfortunately, PPP’s motion had specifically noted that the Committee was to consider designating May 5th as “Arrival Day” - not “Indian Arrival Day”. And as the Committee noted in a caveat, “While the aforesaid recommendation is in keeping with our mandate, the Committee wishes to note that all the submissions favouring 5th May as a Public Holiday recommended that it be designated “Indian Arrival Day”, as is the case in Trinidad and Tobago.” So, the question remains as to why the word “Indian” is taboo!!

Interestingly, it isn’t a case of “What will the PNC say to make political hay when they tell their base that the PPP is “favouring Indians”! The PNC have made it quite clear that they feel it’s a historical fact that it was “INDIANS” who arrived on that day, and it would be silly - not to mention disrespectful - to lump other groups under one rubric!! It’s one of the FEW instances when the PPP and PNC can make a common cause!! But noooo!!

The whole issue is unfortunate in that it shouldn’t have become an issue!! So, again, why is this so?? Is it becauseeven though they say they’ve dumped their Marxist dogma - the PPP still feel that talking about ethnic identities would solidify them further?? But no other ethnic group - Portuguese, Chinese, West Indians etc - who also arrived as indentured has taken the opportunity to commemorate their arrival on May 5th!! And every Indian group that “does something” calls it INDIAN Arrival Day!!

Your Eyewitness hopes this year will be the last that this non-issue would be regurgitated, and we can call the day for what it is. Indian Arrival Day!! One love!!

…the British Monarchy??

Your Eyewitness was surprised to read that President Ali’s going up to the Coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey. He hopes he’s been informed of all the protocols that have to be observed in this spectacle!! Where he sits, when he sits - if he sits! - and other such weighty matters!! At the funeral of Charles’s mother, Elizabeth II, some Commonwealth leaders thought they’d be pulling up in their limos to the function - only to find out they were all shoehorned into a bus. So infra dig!!

But as your Eyewitness just said, you gotta know the rules of the game - and they ain’t meant for the hoi polloi! Which is how most of the non-nobles are seen. While Indians may be panned for having a caste system - they could learn a thing or hundreds(!!) from the Brits!! Anyhow, Charles III should be given another medal - to add to the dozens on his chest - for waiting the longest to ascend on the throne.

Lots of others would’ve given up!!

…the next “Day”

It’s not for nothing that it’s called “the Merry Month of May”!! While we may not be traipsing around Maypoles any mo, we certainly have enough holidays - the next one being Independence Day - to make merry!!

Dead: Oriyah Gravesande

Daycare owner Denise Benn

Woman brutally murdered by husband in hotel room

...stabbed 13 times, throat slit ...suspect walks into CID, confesses

also slit. A black handle without a blade was found next to the woman’s body on the bed, while the blade was found in the now-dead woman’s hair and was covered in blood.

Police have said that one of the woman’s daughters related that the 56-yearold suspect, a businessman of Mahaicony, ECD, is her stepfather.

to crime

an alarm, and the Police were summoned. The EMT team arrived and pronounced the woman dead.

Prior to the discovery, a 19-year-old painter told detectives that he was painting on Thursday at about 8:00h when he saw the suspect at the security hut. He enquired about his purpose there, but was told that he was waiting on someone.

The lifeless body of a woman was on Thursday found in Room 235 of the Alpha Hotel on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD). Clad in a black bra and a pair of blue short pants, the body was facing upwards and was lying in a pool of blood, with the throat slit.

The dead woman was subsequently identified as 46-year-old Kim Halley of Lamaha Park, Georgetown and formerly of Mahaicony, ECD.

Upon examination, a total of 13 stab wounds were found on her face, hands, and body. Her throat was

The daughter related that her mother and the suspect had been married, but due to the abuse, her mother had moved to Georgetown about two months ago.

The receptionist related that on Thursday, at about 13:45h, she was on duty at the hotel when the suspect and the woman booked a room.

The receptionist recalled that at about 14:45h, she went to Room 235 and discovered the door was slightly open. She opened the door with the intention of telling Halley to keep the door closed, but instead found the woman lying motionless on the bed in a pool of blood.

She immediately raised

At about 13:30h, he saw the now-dead woman arriving in a car driven by another woman. Soon after, the suspect and Halley proceeded to their room. Further, he recalled that at about 14:40h, he heard screams emanating from Room 235, and about 15 minutes later, he saw the suspect exiting the room and making his way out of the hotel.

Meanwhile, at about 16:30h, the suspect went to the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters, where he told ranks that he had just murdered his wife. When Guyana Times arrived at the scene, Police were processing the area for evidence, and family members were inconsolable.

Investigations are continuing.

Dead: Kim Chichester Halley

30 months in jail for cutlasswielding bandit

– alleged gold chain snatcher released on bail

Essequibo duo nabbed with ganja

Two men were on Wednesday nabbed with a quantity of ganja by a Police mobile patrol operating along the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The Police have said that 49-yearold Imtiyaz Solomon was arrested in Affiance with 11.9 grams of cannabis after a Police search unearthed a transparent plastic bag in his trousers’ pocket. Soloman reportedly told law enforcement that he had “just bought the marijuana to smoke.”

In Henretta, 52-year-old Alex Simon, a miner, was arrested after a search also led to the discovery of a transparent plastic bag in his trousers’ pocket with seven grams of cannabis.

The total weight of the illegal substance amounted to 18.9 grams.

Both Solomon and Simon are in Police custody, pending charges.

Miner busted with gun, ammunition

Ayouth who was armed with a cutlass when he robbed another man has been sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment for the crime on Wednesday.

Kevin Grant, a 24-yearold resident of Lot 895 Fourth Field, Kaneville, East Bank Demerara, was arrested on April 27 for the offence of robbery-under-arms committed on 29-year-old Ramnarine Singh on April 27 at Macaw Drive in Kaneville. Arraigned before Diamond/ Golden Grove Magistrate Sunil Scarce on Wednesday, Grant pleaded guilty to the charge and was jailed.

Meanwhile, in a separate case, Jeremy Smith, a 31-year -old self-employed resident of Lot 139 Meadow Brook, Georgetown, was placed on $40,000 bail after appearing before Magistrate Sunil Scarce on Wednesday on a charge of larceny from the person.

He is accused of stealing a gold chain valued $91,000 from Lenese BobbSemple on April 19 at Little Diamond, EBD. The defendant pleaded not guilty, and was placed on bail. The matter has been postponed to June 2 for disclosure of statements.

A35-year-old miner of Karawab village, Upper Pomeroon River in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), is now in Police custody following the discovery of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Identified as Terry Williams, the man accepted ownership of the shotgun and four rounds of matching ammunition after the discovery was made on Tuesday by ranks of the Guyana Police Force.

The Police have said that on the day in question, at about 19:30h, ranks, responding to a report of threatening behaviour allegedly committed by Terry Williams against 26-year-old miner Dwight Allicock, proceeded to a mining camp belonging to Williams and told him about the allegations made against him, which he initially denied.

However, the officers requested to

search the camp and its immediate surroundings. The miner was present during the search, and Police found four live 12-gauge cartridges hidden under a fallen tree trunk about 10 feet away from his camp. After being questioned, the man admitted ownership of

the cartridges.

He was further questioned about the whereabouts of the firearm, and eventually led them to a location where the black 12-gauge shotgun was found. Williams is expected to be charged shortly.

The firearm and live rounds found at the mining camp

The cannabis was weighed and amounted to 18.9 grams

Jailed: Kevin Grant Alleged gold chain thief Jeremy Smith

CGX finds sweet crude in Corentyne Block

– yet to determine commercial viability

Canadian-based oil major CGX Energy Inc has announced that it found sweet crude oil during its exploration activities in the Corentyne Block offshore Guyana, but the commercial viability of this find is yet to be determined.

In an update on the Wei-1 Well operations on Wednesday, CGX said the well has encountered multiple oil-bearing intervals in the western channel fan complex of the northern portion of the Corentyne block in formations of Maastrichtian and Campanian ages.

“A comprehensive logging campaign in the Maastrichtian interval indicated the presence of medium sweet crude oil of 24.9 API (American Petroleum Institute gravity). Downhole fluid analysis confirmed light sweet crude oil in the Campanian interval,” the oil company stated.

It further said that logging while drilling (LWD) and cuttings indicated the presence of hydrocarbons in the upper portion of the Santonian, but fluid samples have not yet been obtained. However, core samples will be attempted in the Santonian interval when drilling resumes.

CGX, however, said it is unsure of the commercial viability of these finds.“It is not yet certain that the hydrocarbons encountered to date in the Well are yet sufficient to underpin commercial development on the Northern portion of the Corentyne block,” the Canadian oil company said.

The Wei-1 Well is being drilled by CGX and its joint venture partner Frontera Energy Corporation, which holds the majority interest in the Corentyne Block of 68 per cent. CGX holds the re-

maining 38 per cent of participating interest.

The JV Partners expect the Well to be completed within the original timeframe announced back in January; that is, four to five months after spudding the Well.

This, according to CGX, is despite operations being interrupted when a wireline fluid sampling tool became stuck in the Well and was not recovered. Nevertheless, an open hole sidetrack will begin shortly from below the last casing point, and will progress to the planned total depth.

There was a delay in spudding the well after the rig contractor, Noble Corp Plc, was tied up in contractual obligations in Trinidad.

Frontera and CGX were initially scheduled to begin drilling the well by November 27. Instead, drilling commenced on January 20, 2023 using the Noble Corp Discoverer semi-submersible mobile drilling unit.

As drilling operations continue, this delay has resulted in the Well’s total cost estimates increasing to

approximately CAD$175 to $185 million in order to successfully reach the target total depth, complete the anticipated logging runs, and complete the well.

CGX has said it is required to fund its 32 per cent interest, after partner carry, of approximately CAD$11 to $15 million, and is currently assessing strategies to fulfill this obligation.

The Wei-1 Well is planned to be drilled to a total depth of 20,500 feet, and to date has been successfully drilled to a depth of 19,142 feet.

Wei-1 is one of two wells in Guyana’s Corentyne Block that the companies have committed to drill. The other well, Kawa-1, struck light oil and gas condensate in May 2022, though the companies had not said how much oil was found, or whether it was commercial-

ly viable. The Wei-1 well is located approximately 14 kilometres northwest of the Kawa-1 discovery.

The JV Partners had also announced in January that the Guyana Government has approved an appraisal plan for the northern section of the Corentyne Block, which commenced with the Wei-1 well.

“Following completion of Wei-1 drilling operations, and upon detailed analysis of the results, the joint venture may consider future wells, as per its appraisal programme, to evaluate possible development feasibility in the Kawa-1 discovery area and throughout the northern section of the Corentyne Block,” it said.

It further stated that any future drilling is contingent on positive results at Wei-1, and that the joint venture has no further drilling obligations beyond the

Wei-1 well.

At the time, Executive Co-Chairman of CGX Energy’s Board of Directors, Professor Suresh Narine, said the Wei-1 will appraise both the Kawa-1 discovery as well as explore additional opportunities within the Corentyne Block.

“The Wei-1 well is ontrend, and well positioned for success with both Kawa1 and recent peer discoveries immediately adjacent to the northern section of the Corentyne Block. The joint venture is grateful for the Government of Guyana’s ongoing support as we worked towards spudding Wei-1 in accordance with the previously-agreed terms, and we look forward to potentially delivering another discovery for our shareholders and the Guyanese people,” Professor Narine had stated.

The Noble Corp Discoverer unit that is drilling in the Wei-1 well offshore Guyana

| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Landing of helicopter at New River Triangle

Brazilian pilot found at illegal mining camp jailed, fined $5.5M

Felix,

interfering with an aircraft, and illegally entering Guyana.

He had pleaded not guilty

to these charges, but when he reappeared in court on Wednesday represented by Attorney-at-Law Kezia Williams, Felix changed his not-guilty plea to guilty.

For the offence of operating a civil aircraft without an airworthiness certificate, Felix was fined $1.5M and sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment; and for operating an aircraft without insurance, he was fined $2.5 million with an alternative of 18 months’ imprisonment.

Felix arrived in Guyana by air, and disembarked the helicopter without the consent of an immigration officer, an offence for which he was fined $30,000 and sentenced to 12 months in prison. And for interfering with an aircraft, he was fined $1.5 million and sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment. The sentences

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) reported that its ranks destroyed an illegal mining camp and seized a helicopter and several other items in the New River Triangle.

According to the report, the soldiers had gathered intelligence on the mining oper-

will run concurrently.

Silva was charged separately with entering Guyana illegally. This publication is unaware of the legal status of this matter.

At the pair’s first court appearance, the prosecutor had objected to them being granted bail by citing that they were foreign nationals and the nature of their offences was serious, as were the penalties attached to offences. These objections were upheld by the magistrate and they were remanded to prison.

According to reports, the men were arrested on February 19 after illegal mining sites were found at the New River Triangle, South Rupununi, Region Nine.

ation, launched a search of the New River Triangle, and arrested Felix and Silva. Upon seeing soldiers, several others fled the camp into the surrounding jungle.

The illegal mining camp was secured and cleared by members of the GDF. A shotgun, 10 cellular phones, a generator, mining equipment, passports, identification cards, and a bank card were recovered. A quantity of equipment was seized, and mining tunnels were destroyed.

The GDF had said that the operation was conducted over a period of four days, involved two officers and 27 of their ranks, and was supported by the Air Corps.

One of two Brazilian nationals who illegally landed their aircraft at a mining camp in the New River Triangle of South Rupununi, Region

Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) has been jailed and fined $5.5 million after pleading guilty to a series of charges.

Alexander Felix Plan,

54, a pilot of Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD), and Luan Ricardo Braga Silva were initially charged in February with certain offences when they appeared before

Magistrate Alan Wilson at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court.

a father of two, was charged with operating a civil aircraft without an airworthiness certificate, operating an aircraft without insurance,

The helicopter that was seized by GDF ranks

Jailed: Alexander Felix Plan

The camp that was destroyed by the GDF ranks

Motorcyclist dies after slamming into lorry at Success

A26-year-old porter lost his life early on Thursday morning after he reportedly rode his motorcycle into the rear of a lorry along the Success Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Dead is Keon Marshall of Lot 28 Republic Drive Beterverwagting, ECD. At the time of the accident, he was not wearing a helmet.

Based on reports received, the accident, which occurred at about 08:20h, involved motor lorry GAD 2985, owned by NABI Construction Incorporated and being driven by a 42-year-old mechanic. The lorry driver alleges that he had exited the NABI Construction compound on the northern side of Success Public Road, and as he was

turning east on the southern driving lane, the lorry encountered a mechanical problem and ‘cut off’. As a result, he put on the hazard light, exited the vehicle, and went to get some assistance.

However, he noted, as he stood at the rear of the lorry, he observed motorcycle CK 6014 and another motorcycle driving at a fast rate of speed, with neither driver wearing a safety helmet. He said that Marshall rode his bike straight into the rear portion of the lorry.

As a result of the collision, Marshall sustained injuries to his head and body.

Marshall was picked up in an unconscious condition by Police ranks, and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pro-

nounced dead on arrival.

Police confirmed that the driver of the lorry has been taken into custody, and is assisting with the investigation.

Dead: Keon Marshall

The scene of the deadly accident on Thursday morning

Bee Hive home destroyed after gas cylinder explodes

Atwo-storey house at Lot 325 Bee Hive North Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was completely gutted following the explosion of a gas cylinder on Wednesday evening.

The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) in a release stated that a report was received at about 19:02h, and as such, a water tender and crew from the Melanie Fire Station was deployed to the scene. Upon arrival, they found the building, owned by 46-year-old Shawn Madramootoo and his family, completely engulfed.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire was started after naked flames from an unknown source ruptured an LPG gas line, causing the gas cylinder to explode and the fire to spread to nearby combustible materials.

As a result of the fire, the building and its contents were destroyed, leaving four people homeless. Additionally, two houses situated on the southern side of the building were affected by radiated heat, resulting in

two walls and a quantity of PVC guttering being slightly damaged.

The area where the fire started

The aftermath of the fire

Guyana is “way ahead” in supporting Indigenous people, respecting rights – Min Sukhai

Guyana is ahead of many countries in finding solutions to bettering the lives of Indigenous people while ensuring that their rights are respected and upheld.

This was highlighted at a press conference organised by the Amerindian Affairs Ministry and the National Toshaos Council on Thursday to provide an update on the outcome of the representation by Guyana’s delegates at the 22nd United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at the United Nations Headquarters, New York.

Amerindian Affairs

Minister Pauline Sukhai took the opportunity to explain that they were able to maximise their participation at the event in addressing issues relating to Indigenous peoples.

It was after this forum that she shared the realisation, “Guyana is way ahead of most of what is being discussed in terms of finding solutions, engaging with the Indigenous people, and actually having in place programmes that have allowed the protection of the rights, had a legislation, and also addressed the development

of grouping of Indigenous economies.”

The Minister made reference to interventions that have been instituted to better the lives of Indigenous people. These include the budgetary allocation of $1.8 billion towards the expansion of the telemedicine programme to 19 more villages this year. This initiative was officially launched in December 2022. Among other things, the initiative aims to provide equitable healthcare to Guyanese in remote communities.

Minibus driver slapped with child rape charge

Almost two years after he was acquitted of a rape charge by a jury, 27-year-old minibus driver and former Policeman, Waylon Jordan is back in court again for the same offence.

The Lot 15 Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD) man is now charged with the offence of rape of a child under 16, contrary to Section 10 (3) of the Sexual Offences Act. He is accused of committing the crime in February at Grove Public Road.

When the accused appeared before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Diamond-Golden Grove Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday, he was not required to plead to the indictable charge. Bail was granted to him in the sum of $500,000, and the matter was adjourned until June 1.

Police have not revealed the gender of the Virtual Complainant nor further details of the matter.

In September 2021, Jordan, who had been enlisted in the Guyana Police Force (GPF), walked out of the Sexual Offences Court a free man after a jury acquitted him of a rape charge.

The jury returned a majority not-guilty verdict of 111, finding Jordan not guilty

Another major factor is a multi-year agreement for the sale of high-quality carbon credits to United States energy major Hess Corporation, to the tune of a whopping

US$750 million – a significant portion of which will be injected into the development of Indigenous communities across the country.

Legal Officer Miriam

Andrew-Ming focused her address on Indigenous people’s rights and the constitutional policies and mechanisms in place.

“I was able to highlight our Constitution, our constitutional commission as well as our local Indigenous law, which is the Amerindian Act, the policies that the Government has undertaken in advocating for Indigenous people’s rights in Guyana,” the legal officer underlined.

National Toshaos Commission (NTC)

Executive Member Melena Pollard zeroed in on discrimination against Indigenous women and girls – a focal point of her presentation at the Forum. She highlighted that women and girls were better in a better position in Guyana to participate in the decision-making processes than in many parts

of the world as she lauded Government’s support in achieving this feat.

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament, Alister Charlie was tasked with speaking on Indigenous languages, as he noted the importance of their preservation. According to him, Guyana is on the right path in safeguarding languages through Government interventions as many tribes still speak their native tongue as their first language.

“I’ve listened to indigenous countries be represented and learned that Indigenous languages are facing extinction, but in Guyana, we are promoting our indigenous people’s languages… I was so proud to tell the United Nations that Guyana is on the right path in preserving and promoting its country’s Indigenous languages,” Charlie expressed.

of sexually penetrating a 17-year-old girl without her consent on April 26, 2019.

The prosecution had contended that on the night in question, the teen had boarded a heavily tinted hire car driven by Jordan, with whom she had travelled in the past.

When all of the other passengers had disembarked the car, instead of taking the Virtual Complainant to her destination, Jordan allegedly locked the doors and drove to a deserted area. While there, he allegedly raped the teen in the vehicle’s back seat. Jordan’s defence was that he did not commit the crime.

Rape accused Waylon Jordan

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai with members of the delegation

World Press Freedom Day 2023 Govt always

“readily available” to provide answers – Min McCoy

The PPP/C Government has posited that, in the wake of recognizing the role of the media in holding office-bearers accountable, it is ‘readily available’ to answer and provide information.

At a reception on Wednesday evening in celebration of World Press Freedom Day, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame Mc Coy, stated that Government does not dodge the media, and is always willing to engage.

“We are perhaps one of the most readily available sets of Government officials, especially from the Cabinet level, where we are on outreaches after outreaches in communities…We don’t dodge or hide from the media, because we know that you are playing an important role by pursuing us and seeking answers and wanting information,” the Minister claimed.

Mc Coy, who has responsibility for public affairs, contended that his administration also places emphasis on protecting the rights of media workers.

“We will always be the protector of rights in our country at all times. We will always protect the rights of journalists, media practitioners, groups in our society, and every single citizen of this country; and visitors too. We believe that we truly embody the true spirit and meaning of what it is to encourage and facilitate rights throughout our country.”

Mc Coy assured that, in the execution of duties, there will be no interference.

Meanwhile, at a Guyana Press Association (GPA) panel discussion earlier on Wednesday, Canadian High Commissioner Mark Berman used the opportunity to emphasise that the media must be able to report facts freely.

“Indeed, we must celebrate the role of press freedom in providing societies with access to accurate information, allowing for informed decision-making, the nature of threats, and the means to protect health and community. The media, whose work serves to defend and advance the truth, must be allowed to report facts freely and independently,” the diplomat underscored.

In recognizing freedom of the press, Berman called for mechanisms and laws to be enacted to preserve this, since the media is one of the four pillars of democracy.

“The political systems that we chose to care for, that being democracy, rely on it. Media is one of the four pillars of democracy, together with the Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary. Each pillar is as important as the other. They all need to be as equally strong and operate independently. The weakness of one of the pillars compromises the democratic process,” he zeroed in.

Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy

Pupils optimistic as curtains pulled on NGSA 2023

As the curtains were pulled on the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) on Thursday, pupils were quite happy with their performance and believe that they have done extremely well, confident that they will get their preferred high school later this year.

“It was good, but I was a little bit nervous, but I had confidence and I think I [did] a great job and I hope so, so I can make my family proud and I can get a good job when I grow old enough and live a happy life,”

Diffani Sharplac of Eccles

Primary School related.

The sixth grader acknowledged the help she received in preparation for the exams from her mother, sister, and aunt, adding that “sometimes I pick up a book when I go home and study by myself”.

Hoping to attend St Stanislaus College come September, Sharplac aspires to become a nurse one day.

“I love when my mom buys nurse clothes for me… and I play like my mom is

sick and I’m the nurse,” Sharplac said.

Princess Akeela Pollard of Eccles Primary School has mixed emotions about the assessment, expressing that it was “quite hard” with some easy questions, but overall, she believes she did well.

“I studied at home by myself, because my mother said I have to get a good school,” Pollard said. “I’m hoping to get the Bishops’ High School, because that’s what I’ve been working for all the time and that’s what I’ve been telling my family I want.”

Pollard shared that she hopes to be a teacher.

“When I was very small, I used to like to teach my little cousins and teaching makes me feel good…that I’m teaching little children and making them learn a few things,” she said.

Her schoolmate Ismaiel Bowen, who intends on attending Queen’s College, aspires to be a chef.

“When I was small, I used to enjoy [being] in the kitchen with my grandmother cooking, so I just

feel my pride and joy is cooking,” Bowen said.

For Bowen, the Maths and English sections of the assessment were easier than the Science and Social Studies.

“A part of the Social Studies [exam was] something with Independence. The question was tricky, but I feel like I aced it,” he added.

For Reuben Perreira of Peters Hall Primary School, the exams were easy and he was confident that he did well in every subject. “I’m trying to get St Stanislaus College or The Bishops’ High School,” Perreira said.

“I want to be a scientist, because I want to learn about the solar system and the universe,” he added.

Perreira’s classmate Jayden Millington, however, found Math slightly challenging, but enjoyed Science, leading him to want to pursue meteorology eventually.

“I would like to aim for The Bishops’ High School, but whatever school I get, I will work with it,”

School dropouts, security discussed during Police outreach in Onderneeming

Millington said.

“I would like to thank my teacher for helping me with my schoolwork when I didn’t understand something,” he added.

St Ann’s Primary School pupil Jasmain Hardy studied every day when she got home and even attended extra lessons for each subject in preparation for the assessment, with the aim of

attending Queen’s College.

While Hardy found Science the most challenging, Maths was the simplest for her.

Contrarily, Faith Beckles found Maths Paper

Two the most challenging, particularly the fractions. Beckles said she felt “pretty good” about finally completing the assessment that marked a close

to her primary school education and hopes to attend St Rose’s High School later on in the year.

“[I want to be] a teacher, because I like teaching,” Beckles added.

This year’s NGSA saw 16,268 students across the country writing the exam at 517 centres, with the results expected to be released by July 17.

Residents of Onderneeming Sand Pit in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) have raised several issues affecting the community, including the prevalence of truancy (school dropout) and issues with security, during a Police outreach in the area.

The outreach was led by Regional Commander Superintendent Khemraj Shivbaran. The commander and ranks interact-

ed with several residents, during which concerns were raised about the security posture in their community, youth groups and benefits, school attendance and dropouts, role and functions of Community Policing Groups (CPG), computer skills training, recruitment in the Guyana Police Force (GPF), strengthening relationships between the Police and residents; roles and responsibilities of parents and guardians relative to juve-

niles; and issues affecting juveniles.

The issue of truck drivers operating on the roadways at a fast rate of speed was also brought into focus.

“The residents, who complimented the team, noted that they have seen an increase in Police presence in the community, and stated they are willing to work with the Police for the benefit of their communities,” a statement from the GPF shared.

The Police ranks in discussion with Onderneeming Sand Pit residents during the outreach

Reuben Perreira of Peters Hall Primary School

Jasmain Hardy of St Ann’s Primary School

Ismaiel Bowen of Eccles Primary School

50 middle-income houses to be constructed in Hampshire – Min Croal …30 families identify house lots at Ordnance Fort Lands

As part of the Housing and Water Ministry’s effort to ease the process of homeownership for Guyanese across the country, construction of 50 new houses is expected to begin within the next two months at Hampshire in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

This is according to Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal on Wednesday during the distribution of Cement and Steel Vouchers to landowners within the region.

“We will start in another month or month and a half, construction of another 50 houses in the Hampshire area,” Croal said. “But we’ll be upping the type of design to be more like middle-income.”

The Minister clarified that these houses, costing $7 million, will have a different design directed towards middle-income

earners, in contrast to the low-income houses that the Ministry has been constructing for $5.5 million.

At 600 square feet, these houses are two-bedroom flat units that also include a bathroom and a kitchen.

“We’re trying to create opportunities for you, young people who are working in the system, people who don’t have time for their own construction, people who don’t have time to run behind contractors,” Croal said. “Once [you’re] in the formal system and [you’ve] been pre-approved by the bank, we will be sending you through similarly.”

As of January, the construction of 100 low-income houses in Leonora, Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) began, with the initiative also involving building access roads, bridges, and drainage networks in addition to

installing water and electrical supply networks.

The Housing Ministry continues to put in measures to aid land and homeowners. Alongside the Central Housing and Planning Authority, it has thus far allocated some 22,000 house lots across the country with an overall goal of 50,000 by 2025.

On Wednesday, 96 landowners in Berbice received Cement and Steel Vouchers to the tune of $225,000 each to fast-track their construction.

These vouchers, which expire within six months, can be redeemed at Ghafoor’s, David Persaud Investments, National Hardware, and N Singh Lumber Yard & Hardware Store, with the suppliers bound by the agreement to keep their steel and cement costs at a fixed price for voucher recipients.

“We want to be able to be a facilitator, an enabling environment, so that you can as quickly as possible move on to the state of homeownership,” Croal said, adding that this subsidy programme aimed to give residents a push to begin the

construction process.

During the Region Six exercise, several allottees of Ordnance Fort Lands, New Housing Scheme also received their Agreement of Sale and were able to move on to register for their land titles.

Meanwhile, some 30 families who were allotted house lots in Ordnance Fort Lands were invited to identify their lots and their respective boundaries, signalling full access to commence construction of their homes.

One resident identifies her plot of land

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal and Permanent Secretary Andre Ally at Ordnance Fort Lands on Wednesday

Opposition moves to High Court to stop LGE

…cites unlawful changes to Local Authority Areas, voter fraud among other issues

Contending that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) acted unlawfully when it changed the boundaries of 37 constituencies in 19 Local Authority Areas, the PNC-led Parliamentary Opposition has moved to the High Court to stop the June 12 Local Government Elections (LGE).

The party is insisting that the changes violate Article 72 of the Constitution of Guyana, and Section 3 (1) (a) and (b) of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act Cap. 28:03. Consequently, it argues that the LGE must be postponed until GECOM performs its functions in accordance with the law.

By way of a Fixed Date Application (FDA) filed by APNU Chief Scrutineer Carol Smith-Joseph, and an Affidavit in Support by Opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander, the Opposition wants the court to issue an order directing GECOM to comply with the legal provisions in relation to changing the boundaries before the long-overdue elections can be held.

In February, three months after it had to reverse the demarcation of constituency boundaries after recognising that Local Government Minister Nigel Dharamlall was not empowered to make such changes, GECOM approved Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Vishnu Persaud’s report on the demarcation of constituency boundaries. The changes were gazetted on February 8 despite objections from Opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioners.

The Opposition contends that in making the changes, GECOM blatantly disregarded the criteria and procedures for the demarcation of constituencies that it had previously used.

Alexander had previously told another section of the media that the demarcation process entails party representatives and registration officials going out into the fields to agree on the boundaries; however, GECOM would have the final decision on the demarcations.

This matter comes up for hearing on May 30 before acting Chief Justice Roxane George, SC.

Voter fraud

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton has announced that the party has instituted legal proceedings concerning, inter alia, instances of voter fraud it has brought to the attention of GECOM, but which the electoral body has continued to ignore.

“GECOM, as presently composed, chaired and mismanaged, does not have the competence, integrity, attitude, foresight and vision to

deliver free, fair and credible elections in Guyana… elections that can win the trust and confidence of the Guyanese public and all contesting groups and parties. Fixing the Guyana Elections Commission should begin now,” Norton told a press conference on Thursday.

GECOM Chairperson Justice (retired) Claudette Singh has advised contestants that they should seek redress about the alleged forgery of names of nominators and candidates through an appeal to a magistrate, or election petitions, according to Alexander.

Voters’ List

Next Thursday, May 11, the Chief Justice will rule on Smith-Joseph’s application challenging the process used by GECOM to compile the Voters’ List for the Local Government polls. In this case, the Chief Scrutineer contends that the election body acted lawfully in compiling the Voters’ List/Official List of Electors.

She is asking the court to make a series of declarations: that GECOM acted ultra vires and unlawfully in compiling the List of Voters for the LGE; that the action of the Chief Elections Officer and/or the Commissioner of National Registration in extracting a List of Electors under GECOM’s order is similarly ultra vires and unlawful; that GECOM acted in dereliction of its duty under the relevant electoral laws; and that GECOM has a constitutional duty to ensure that registration of electors is conducted in accordance with the law.

“The process employed by the Commission to prepare a Register of Voters for use at the next Local Government Elections has deprived the electors and/or voters of the opportunity to object to persons on the Register of Voters in the manner provided for in, and contemplated by, Local Authorities (Elections) Act Cap. 28:03”, Smith-Joseph has deposed in court filings.

Another ground in her application outlined that the process employed by GECOM to prepare a Register of Voters for use at

the next LGE has not been in accordance with the Local Authorities (Elections) Act.

To this end, Joseph has asked the court to grant orders setting aside GECOM’s order to extract a List of Electors for Local Government Elections “…on the ground and for the reason that the said Order, No. 55 of 2022, is ultra vires and unlawful.”

She also wants the court to set aside the extraction of the List of Electors by the Chief Election Officer and/or the Commissioner of National Registration; as well as for an order to be granted compelling the Elections Commission to comply with the relevant sections of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Cap 28:03. Another order is being sought to direct and/or compel GECOM to compile a register of voters in accordance with the provisions set out in the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Cap 28:03, before conducting any Local Government Election in Guyana.

Roysdale Forde, SC is the Opposition party’s lawyer, while GECOM is usually represented by its in-house attorney Kurt Da Silva.

These legal proceedings come at a time when GECOM is moving full steam ahead in preparing for the polls. In fact, Nominations Day was held on April 17, and saw parties or organisations/ groups or individuals running at LGE making their way to a designated location set by GECOM, where their representatives submitted their List of Candidates, as well as signed on to the required documents, such as a code of conduct, in order to contest the elections.

Local Government Elections were initially scheduled for March 13, but disagreements over constituencies and how lists were to be extracted caused a holdup.

LGE were constitutionally due at the end of last year, but GECOM was without a Chief Election Officer and could not have prepared to host the elections. GECOM, a constitutional body, was allocated $5.2B in the 2023 National Budget to carry out its functions.

The Albouystown (Constituency #10) APNU team with Party Leader Aubrey Norton (APNU photo)

We must work together to further advance development of our nation – PPP/C

Arrival Day reminds us of the rich history of strength, determination, and innovative spirit brought by the Portuguese, East Indians, and Chinese, and others who were brought to these shores as indentured labourers. It reminds us of the sacrifices and immeasurable contributions made by them to develop our individual communities and our country and emphasises for us the duty we have to build a better country for our children.

Arrival

As we commemorate this day, all Guyanese, here and abroad, are urged to reflect on the gruelling, inhumane journeys undergone to arrive here, the harsh living conditions withstood in the early days, and the successful efforts made, in spite of that, to thrive and develop their families and communities.

Their determined efforts have led to the creation of this multicultural and multireligious society of ours in which there is immense pride in our diversity. We

have been imbued with values of perseverance, sacrifice, brotherhood, and respect for one another as we share and participate in the various festivals that have come to identify us as a people.

Inspired by the sacrifices and achievements of our ancestors, the Guyanese people are determined to build upon the gains that have been made to: ensure our country remains a place for all of its sons and daughters; safeguard our hard-won freedoms; en-

Paanii between 1838 and 1917.

The IAC, as the organization has done over the years, continues to recognize the endeavours of these Indian immigrants and their descendants, the persons of Indo-Guyanese origin, to develop this country.

sure that peace is not compromised; and ensure that the safety of our people is paramount. Recognising the value of the gains that we have made; we must reject those views which will dishonour these inherited values and we must continue to work together as one people to further advance the development of our na-

tion for the betterment of all Guyanese.

The sacrifices made by the Indigenous people, those who were brought to our shores as indentured labourers and those who were brought forcibly as slaves have brought us to a place in 2023 where our country today is recognised as the country in

Arrival Day is yet another reminder of our nation’s rich cultural heritage. Our coming together from several backgrounds is what sets our country apart, and indeed makes us unique. We, of the GAWU, like many Guyanese, are proud of our rich and vibrant cultural tapestry, which has brought our people closer together and created a spirit of oneness as we work towards advancing and developing our country.

As we reflect on Arrival Day 2023, we could not help but be reminded of the sordid attempts to divide our people on ethnicity.

our region with the most robust social and economic development trajectory.

As we celebrate the successes and achievements of our people, we honour our fore-parents by our united commitment to ensure a country where all families can live and thrive in safety and prosperity.

Happy Arrival Day to All!

pointment over the intrigues of the former Coalition Government to minimise the industry. It is our concerted view that it was part of a larger plan to rid Guyana of sugar. Such plans, we believe, would have succeeded had the forces of democracy not stood in defence of our people’s franchise. Today we are heartened by the efforts to resuscitate the industry, and look forward to the resumption of Rose Hall Estate later in 2023.

The Indian Action Committee (IAC), in recognition of the arrival of 420 Indian immigrants aboard the coolie ships WHITBY and HESPERUS on 5th May 1838, wishes all Guyanese a Happy Arrival Day, and especially calls upon all citizens to remember the 185th Anniversary of the Arrival of East Indians in Guyana.

The IAC, an organization which promotes and preserves Indian culture, and deals with the issues and concerns of persons of Indo-Guyanese origin, wishes to remind all Guyanese that the organization protested in front of Parliament in 2003 for the recognition of Indian Arrival Day as a national holiday.

The IAC, over the years, has provided Guyanese with historical information regarding the arrival of just over 239,000 Indian immigrants, who came to this country aboard 245 coolie ships, which made a total of 534 voyages across the Kaalaa

The IAC, which acknowledges important contributions of persons from Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo, as well as Indo-Guyanese in the Diaspora, is aware that tens of thousands of East Indians have made valuable efforts in all fields of human activity in this country, including business and commerce; banking and finance; the sugar and rice industries; coconuts and other crops; fishery and livestock; mining and quarrying; forestry and sawmilling; education and academia; medicine and law; journalism and communications; accounting and insurance; private and national security; the hospitality and aviation sectors; the alcohol and beverage industries; sport and entertainment; culture and religion; and politics and governance.

The IAC, in light of the continuous discoveries of massive amounts of oil and gas offshore, is calling upon the authorities to, in future, expend some of this newfound wealth as part of the Government’s “One Guyana” initiative to promote and preserve the cultural history of Guyana in the form of new museums, cultural centres, and educational academies.

A Happy Arrival Day to all.

As our Union’s President, Seepaul Narine, said on Labour Day 2023, such attitudes and tactics belong in the past. Indeed, we remain disturbed by such attempts as we again denounce those who sow seeds of division. We reiterate our stance of condemnation, and urge our people to reject their racist narratives. We remind that their self-interest is a clear attempt to derail our national advancement towards betterment and prosperity.

Arrival Day is associated with our indentured immigrants hailing from Portugal, India, and China. Each group, like all other groups, has made a profound contribution to our nation. Indeed, our country is richer for their efforts, and stronger for their roles.

Their coming to Guyana was occasioned by the cane cultivation, and Arrival Day provides a suitable opportunity for reflection on the current state of the industry, and the efforts of those who succeeded them.

The GAWU remains heartened by efforts to reverse the decline of the sugar industry. We have never hidden our disap-

At the same time, we believe there is a need for the industry’s skillset to be strengthened. We recognize that many skills are lacking, and certain concerns have emerged regarding the current management. We remain unflinching that the role of the workers cannot be overemphasized. They have made, and continue to make, meaningful contributions, and we hold that they must be treated fairly and justly.

In this regard, we are disappointed with the inequity being perpetuated regarding internal and external resources. This imbalance should be addressed without further delay. We remain convinced that a motivated workforce is critical to the industry’s success, and the assaults and indignities that sugar workers have suffered during the term of the Coalition should never be forgotten, but those wrongs should be righted.

There is a great deal to reflect upon as we celebrate Arrival Day 2023. We urge sober consideration as we participate in various observances to remember the contributions of those who played no small roles in building our nation. At this time, the GAWU extends best wishes and greetings to all Guyanese on Arrival Day 2023.

The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) extends its warmest greetings to all Guyanese on the occasion of Arrival Day. Arrival Day symbolises the journey taken by numerous indentured servants - representing diverse cultures from various parts of the world, including India, China and Madeira - across the seas to these shores at different historical periods.

The erstwhile colonial power coerced a labour supply made up of diverse peoples, who have made, and are still making, unique and invaluable contributions to the development of Guyana.

The ERC urges that we all use this occasion of Arrival Day to reflect and draw inspiration from the selfless sacrifices of those ancestors who, despite their hardships, ensured the preservation of our various cul-

tures and traditions; which, over time, shaped who we are.

Today we also celebrate the enrichment of diversity that Arrival Day embodies in the shaping of Guyana and its modernity. Arrival Day is most significant for what it represents in the context of the multi-faceted mosaic it created, and for which our country is known.

As One Guyana, it is evident that many participate meaningfully in each other’s festivities that have become truly national observances.

Over time, that rich, beautiful and vibrant diversity has become our strength and common bond in the process of becoming one people working towards a common destiny.

Happy Arrival Day to all!

The PNCR extends best wishes to the entire Guyanese nation, especially those of Indian ancestry, on the occasion of Arrival Day 2023.

For this year’s observances, the PNCR has chosen the theme “CELEBRATING OUR CULTURAL AND RACIAL DIVERSITY, WHILE STRENGTHENING OUR UNITY.” This theme is reflected in the Guyana Constitution.

On May 5th, we pay homage to the arrival of Indentured workers to these shores, regardless of their origin. Of special significance, however, today marks the anniversary of the arrival of our East Indian ancestors in 1838. The arrival of these various Guyanese ancestors has added to the multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multi-cultural splendour of Guyana.

The untiring efforts and enormous sacrifices of these ancestors have helped to build a nation that today we are proud to call home and that we are prepared to represent, defend, and develop.

True, much more work remains to be done. The Guyanese people are yet to fully enjoy a comfortable standard of living and a high quality of life. Widespread poverty and

inequality still stalk our land. Arrival Day, therefore, provides an appropriate occasion for us to recommit to the call in the Preamble of the Constitution to “safeguard and build on the rich heritage, won through tireless struggle, bequeathed us by our forebears.”

Let us take this opportunity to restate our support for May 5th to be officially recognized henceforth as INDIAN ARRIVAL DAY.

Designating May 5th as INDIAN ARRIVAL DAY respects the historical fact that the date specifically marks the arrival of the first Indian Indentured labourers to these shores. May 5th therefore should be wholly devoted to celebrating the valuable contribution that our East Indian brothers and sisters have made to the development of our country, and to the shaping of its rich cultural tapestry.

Separate days to recognise the various ancestries and heritages of the Guyanese people should be seen as occasions to celebrate our distinct ethnic identities and cultural expressions, while we, at the same time, embrace our unity in diversity, our mutual respect, our shared values and beliefs, and our shared destiny.

HAPPY ARRIVAL DAY TO ALL GUYANESE!

Use Arrival Day to draw inspiration from selfless sacrifices of our ancestors –– ERC

Day a renewed opportunity to embark on preservation of cultural history –– IAC

Arrival Day, an appropriate occasion to build on rich heritage of our ancestors – PNCR

Arrival Day, opportune time to reflect on current state of sugar industry – GAWU

Nicaragua arrests 40 Opposition figures in new round-up of critics

Forty political opponents of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega have been arrested and charged with crimes including conspiracy and treason in a new round-up of Government critics, relatives of five of the detainees said on Thursday.

The Opposition figures were detained on Wednesday night, taken to the capital Managua to be charged, then transferred back home to be placed under house arrest, the relatives told Reuters.

The charges against the 40 were registered in the country's online judicial database. The Government did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Following violent anti-Government protests five years ago, Ortega's Government has toughened its stance on critics, jailing

dozens of Opposition figures that officials have accused of fomenting a coup.

Rights groups have denounced the actions as a descent into dictatorship.

Among those arrest-

ed are Journalists, farmers, lawyers, and activists, as well as Maricruz Bermudez, mother of one of the 17 students who died in the 2018 protests. She was taken from her house

and beaten by Police on Wednesday night before being arrested, relatives told Reuters.

The Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the accusation from Bermudez's relatives.

Yonarqui Martinez, a lawyer who has defended imprisoned Government critics in the Central American country, wrote on Twitter that hearings had taken place at dawn, leaving "innocent citizens stripped of their freedom".

In February, Ortega's Government expelled 222 political prisoners to the United States and stripped them of their citizenship. Many had been in prison for almost two years, accused in some cases of spreading false news or undermining national sovereignty.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Mexico President defends son after report alleging corruption

Lopez Beltran could not immediately be reached for comment.

Lopez Obrador acknowledged family friends had won Government contracts, but said they posed no conflicts of interest.

Mexicanos Contra la Corrupcion y la Impunidad, an anti-graft NGO, and Latinus raised questions

Latin American election influence operation linked to Miami marketing firm

AMiami-based digital marketing firm was behind a series of covert political influence operations in Latin America over the last year, Facebook-owner Meta said this week, a rare exposé of an apparent US-based misinformation-for-hire outfit.

Predictvia, which is registered as a business in Florida, says on its website that it stands on the "front line of the fight against misinformation" and combats "coordinated efforts to manipulate public discourse".

Meta analysts found, however, that Predictvia ran a network of fake accounts – four on Instagram and 24 on Facebook, along with 54 Facebook pages –that posed as news media outlets, Journalists, and lifestyle brands.

in Honduras they focused on alleged political corruption and criticism of the President of the Congress, Luis Redondo. Neither politician returned a request for comment.

Predictvia also ran extensive information operations that sought to interfere with politics in Honduras and Guatemala on Twitter, two former Twitter employees, who asked to stay anonymous, told Reuters. The extent of the company's Twitter activity established by the news agency has not been previously disclosed. Twitter did not respond to requests for comment on this article.

last year about another son of Lopez Obrador when it reported that he had rented a home with his spouse from an executive of a US oil services firm doing business with state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex).

Lopez Obrador denied any conflict of interest at the time.(Excerpt from Reuters)

The accounts posted criticisms of the Mayor of the Guatemalan city of San Juan Sacatepequez, Juan Carlos Pellecer, and

"It's a classic pattern that you tend to see with forhire influence operations," said Ben Nimmo, Meta's Global Threat Intelligence Lead. "There isn't a single narrative that they're pushing across different countries; it tends to be much more tailored per country."

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Bajan AG seeks info on abduction of Trinidad and Tobago arms dealer

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Thursday defended one of his sons against corruption allegations, rejecting a media report that his son had used his position to help friends win millions of dollars worth of contracts.

This week Mexican news outlet Latinus published a report alleging that Andres Lopez Beltran, a son of the President, had helped friends snare public contracts worth over 100 million pesos (US$5.6 million).

"My children are not corrupt," Lopez Obrador told a regular Government news conference, bringing up the story himself, and saying

that the media had published several articles about his children which are "totally false".

Among contracts won by friends of Lopez Beltran was one to build an ecological park on the site of a partly built Mexico City airport that the Government had abandoned, the report said.

Lopez Obrador ditched the airport upon taking office in 2018 on the grounds that it was too costly and tainted by corruption.

It also alleged friends of Lopez Beltran had staged sham competitions by bidding separately for projects using companies with the same owners, partners and addresses.

Colombia cancels flights returning migrants from US, cites mistreatment

Colombia's

migra-

tion agency has temporarily suspended a programme to return Colombian nationals found by immigration officers at the U.S. border with Mexico, it said on Thursday, citing cruel and degrading treatment and last-minute flight cancellations.

The number of Colombians trying to migrate north to the US has soared in recent years, with more than 125,000 apprehended at the United States' southern border in 2022, according U.S Customs and

Antigua: 2 men charged with smuggling migrants still awaiting committal hearing

The committal hearing for two men accused of human trafficking has been pushed back by more than two months.

The local men in question

– Alvin Goodwin and Kevorn Crump – are charged with smuggling 12 Indians and three Cubans into the country, and conspiracy to traffic said migrants. It is said that on December 23, 2022, the migrants – at least one of whom was said to be a minor – were intercepted on a boat in the Parham Harbor.

According to reports, the boat is owned by Crump, but was being piloted by Goodwin.

In early February 2023, the duo was arrested and charged, and so were some of the illegal immigrants.

The immigrants, who were reportedly coming from Dominica, pleaded guilty to entering the country illegally and were each fined EC$1000 and then deported.

Meanwhile, the two locals believed to have been smuggling them into the is-

land were brought to the All Saints Magistrate’s Court and were given bail in the sum of EC$200,000.

They were told to each pay EC$50,000 in cash, provide two sureties, report to a Police station a few times a week and surrender their travel documents.

The two men were told to return to court yesterday for their committal hearing, but it was instead adjourned.

They now have to reappear before Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel on July 18.

(Antigua Observer)

Borders Protection (CBP), up from around 6200 in 2021.

Colombia expected to receive some 1200 migrants in flights programmed to arrive from the US during the first week of May, the migration agency said in a statement. The pilot plan called "mom returns" looked to send mostly women, children and adolescents back to Colombia.

The plan saw expulsion flights to Colombia rise to around 20 per month according to Colombian authorities, following a push by US immigration officials to ramp up expulsions of migrants from the southern border before COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

The plan was suspended after flights programmed for May 1 and May 2 were cancelled, Colombia's migration agency said.

"Before the arrival of the scheduled flights ... both were cancelled by the North American immigration agencies," Fernando Garcia, head of Colombia's migration agency, said in the statement.

A US official said the pause was limited to flights carr ying families.

Colombia's migration agency did not immediately confirm whether flights carrying other migrants would go ahead. (Excerpt from Reuters)

The abduction of a T&T arms dealer from Barbados who was returned to the country to face criminal charges of possession of grenades and automatic weapons has sparked high-level intervention by Bajan authorities.

Barbados Attorney General Dale Marshall told Bajan media he had asked for a report from Barbados' Commissioner of Police (CoP) Richard Boyce on the matter.

"I am aware of the decision of the Trinidad and Tobago High Court Justice and I have requested a report on the matter from the CoP. Until then, I can make no useful comment," Marshall is quoted as saying in two media reports published on Tuesday.

Newsday tried to contact Marshall and Boyce by phone on Wednesday, but there has been no response to messages seeking further information.

In a report published by the Barbados Today newspaper, leading criminal lawyer Andrew Pilgrim, KC, said the claims of Barbados Police being involved in the abduction needed to be investigated.

"On the face of it, I think the Police ought to give an account of their involvement in the matter to say that they were not involved. If they were involved, who commanded them to do so? Let them account for it because a Trinidad court is saying that Barbadian Police facilitated this kidnapping.”

(Excerpt from Reuters)

A man watches a local TV channel streaming the news conference of Magistrate Octavio Rothschuh announcing that more than 200 political prisoners in Nicaragua have been released and are being flown to the United States, in Managua, Nicaragua, February 9, 2023 [Reuters/stringer file photo)

Barbadian Attorney General Dale Marshall

Andres Manuel Lopez Beltran, the son of leftist leader Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, arrives to a protest against an energy reform bill at the Senate building in Mexico City

Around the World OIL

Drones attack Ukrainian capital; Moscow says US behind Kremlin drone, drawing denial

Oil steady after smaller ECB hike, demand concerns linger

Oil prices were stable after the European Central Bank (ECB) decided on Thursday to slow interest rate hikes, but were unable to claw back much of this week's more-than-nine-per-cent decline as demand concerns in major consuming countries weighed.

Brent futures were up nine cents, or 0.12 per cent, to US$72.42 a barrel at 1338 GMT. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 13 cents, or 0.19 per cent, to US$68.47.

The ECB eased the pace of its interest rate hikes and kept its options open on future moves as it fights stubbornly high eurozone inflation.

The 25 basis point increase to the ECB's three policy rates was the smallest since it started lifting them last summer.

"Today's decision signals that the ECB has entered the final stage of its current tightening cycle," ING said in a note.

Oil prices have plunged this week on concerns about the US economy and signs of weak manufacturing growth in the world's largest oil importer China, sliding further after the US Federal Reserve raised interest rates on Wednesday. That capped near-term economic growth prospects.

However the market has seen some support from the Fed's signal that it may pause further interest rate increases to give officials time to assess the fallout from recent bank failures and to gain clarity on the dispute over raising the US debt ceiling.

"With the Fed possibly pausing, the debt ceiling hopefully resolved this month, the OPEC+ cut felt in a few weeks' time and global demand picking up in the second half of the year, we are growing in conviction that the question is not how low oil prices will fall, but how long," oil broker PVM's Tamas Varga said.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)and allies including Russia, a group known as OPEC+, started voluntary output cuts at the beginning of May.

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday Russia was abiding by its voluntary pledge to cut oil output by 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) from February until the end of the year. (Reuters)

Russian drones attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Thursday evening, the fourth assault in as many days subjecting residents to spasms of gunfire and explosions, and at least one drone was shot down.

City authorities had declared an alert for Kyiv and the surrounding area. Residents who had gone to air raid shelters said the drones arrived more quickly than usual after the alerts were declared. Reuters witnesses heard gunfire and repeated heavier explosions near the city centre.

The attacks started just after 20:00h (1700 GMT) and lasted around 20 minutes. Ukraine's air force said in a statement that it had destroyed one of its own drones after the drone lost control over Kyiv re-

gion, probably because of a technical failure. It was not clear how many drones in total were destroyed.

Russia said on Thursday that the United States was behind a purported drone attack on the Kremlin aiming to kill President Vladimir Putin. Washington and Kyiv

denied involvement.

Putin will head a scheduled meeting of Russia's Security Council today and the Kremlin incident could be on the agenda, TASS news agency reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, speaking in The Hague after

visiting the International Court of Justice, said Putin must be brought to justice over the war and that Kyiv would work to create a new tribunal for this purpose.

In other diplomacy, US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda ThomasGreenfield said on a visit to Brazil that she encouraged the Government to include Ukraine in any attempt to negotiate an end to the war. She was referring to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's comments calling on the West to stop arming Ukraine to allow peace talks to start.

There are currently no peace talks to end the war, which has devastated Ukrainian towns and cities, killed thousands of people and driven millions from their homes. (Excerpt from Reuters)

4 Proud Boys guilty in major US Capitol riot case

Five members of the far-right Proud Boys, including former leader Henry Tarrio, face decades in prison after being found guilty for their role in the January 6 US Capitol riot.

Four were convicted of seditious conspiracy, and all five were found guilty of obstructing official proceedings, alongside other felonies.

The most serious charges carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison.

More than 100 members of the far-right, allmale group joined the Capitol riot.

All five defendants were found guilty of con-

Sudan Generals unwilling to end fighting – UN

The United Nations’ top aid official has warned that the "will to end the fight still was not there" after speaking to Sudan's rival military leaders.

Martin Griffiths told the BBC that Sudan's descent into violence was now at a dangerous tipping point.

He called for security guarantees from the warring sides to allow humanitarian aid into the country.

The UN warns that the fighting could force hundreds of thousands of Sudanese to flee their homes.

In a BBC interview hours after his visit to Port Sudan, Griffiths spoke bluntly of what he called "the rigid existential fact that those at war are keen to keep it going".

During his time in Sudan's largest port, now a major evacuation and humanitarian hub, he had

separate telephone conversations with Sudan's rival generals.

Griffiths, the UN Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, called for their clear public commitments to guarantee urgent deliveries of aid.

"This is about specific protections for the movement of aid workers and goods and supplies – going

down roads at certain times, airlifts from being shot down," he emphasised when we sat down in the Saudi port city of Jeddah across the Red Sea from Sudan.

Evacuation ships now arrive daily at the port carrying foreigners and Sudanese, mainly with second passports, fleeing Sudan's sudden descent into rampant violence and wanton looting. (Excerpt from BBC News)

spiracy to prevent officials from discharging their duties, impeding officers during civil disorder, and destruction of a fence protecting the Capitol.

A mistrial was declared on a total of 10 charges against the men where the jury failed to come to a conclusion, after a complex trial that took nearly four months – more than twice as long as planned.

The Proud Boys were steadfast supporters of Donald Trump who marched several times in Washington DC after the 2020 election, often clashing with far-left anti-fascists.

Their protests culminated on January 6, 2021, as the election results were due to be certified by Congress.

Unlike his co-defendants, former Proud Boy chairman Henry "Enrique" Tarrio was not in Washington that day.

He was arrested two days before for previously burning a Black Lives

Matter banner and weapons charges. He was ordered by a Judge to leave the city and ended up watching events from a hotel room in nearby Baltimore. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Canada summons Chinese envoy over alleged legislator intimidation

Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly has announced that her country summoned Chinese Ambassador Cong Peiwu, following allegations that Beijing threatened an Opposition party legislator and his family.

Facing pressure to address allegations of Chinese interference in Canadian politics, Joly said that she had instructed her deputy to summon Cong to “convey to him directly that we will not tolerate any form of foreign interference”.

She also explained “that all options, including expulsion of diplomats, remain on the table as we consider the consequences for this behaviour”.

“What has happened is completely unacceptable. I cannot imagine the shock and concern of learning that your loved ones have been targeted in this way,” Joly said during a parliamentary committee hearing on Thursday.

The Globe and Mail newspaper, citing a classified report from Canada’s spy agency, reported on Monday that China had sought information about any relatives of a Canadian legislator “who may be located” within its borders, in a likely effort to “make an example of this MP and deter others” from taking anti-China positions.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)

report did not name the lawmaker, but the Globe said a national security source identified the politician as Michael Chong, a member of the Opposition Conservative Party of Canada.

China sanctioned Chong in 2021 after he spearheaded a Canadian parliamentary motion condemning Beijing’s treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority as a “genocide”.

The United Nations and other observers have accused China of committing “crimes against humanity” against the Uighurs in the country’s western province of Xinjiang, an allegation rejected by the Chinese Government. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

The attacks started just after 20:00h (1700 GMT) and lasted around 20 minutes

Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, the former national leader of the Proud Boys

A woman and young child evacuated from Sudan to escape the conflict

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Go out of your way to get things done. Clear your roster and refuse to take on too much. Turn your home into a place of comfort and convenience. Don't reveal secrets.

(March 21-April 19)

Deter people trying to pry into your personal life. Stick close to home and focus on what you can accomplish. A chance to do something constructive for someone who needs help will inspire you.

(April 20-May 20)

Uncertainty will develop. Consider the consequences before deciding to take a risk with your health or wealth. Look into different lifestyle choices, with a focus on paring down.

(May 21-June 20)

PEANUTS

(June 21-July 22)

Your ability to comfort people will put you in demand. Speak with confidence and compassion, and you'll set standards for others to follow. Your contributions will open a door to a better future.

Be careful not to reveal sensitive information. You'll face scrutiny if you aren't transparent about your motives. Your hard work and dedication will result in new opportunities.

(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.

Added discipline will help you train for a physical challenge. Pay attention to what your body is telling you and nourish it with a healthy diet. The better you look and feel, the better you'll do.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

An open mind and creative plan will encourage you to take on something unusual. Traveling for the purpose of discovery will feed your soul and help you gain insight.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Listen to what people are telling you, but verify what you hear before passing it along. Staying on the right path will require getting your facts straight and showing how they can help.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

A financial plan or home investment will help you attain personal freedom. Control your destiny by structuring how and where you work, and whom you work with. Don't let anyone pressure you.

Be aware of what everyone in your circle is doing and where they place their loyalty before you share your plans. A change at home or work won't sit well with you. Offer alternatives.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Use your insight and imagination to boost your finances. Don't trust someone who can't give you a straight answer. Don't take a risk with your health or your heart.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

LABA to host U23 3x3 tournament on Saturday

- Guyana Breweries Inc lends support

The Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) will on Saturday host their U23 3x3 tournament at the Retrieve Hard Court. It starts at 4:00pm. Colts basketball club and Kwakwani Untouchables will have two teams in the tournament, and Victory Valley Royals, Retrieve Raiders, Kid Rock Blazers, Block 22 Flames, Sixers and Kings would also be participating. President of the

LABA, Rawle Toney, said Kwakwani Untouchables had initially registered under the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA), due to the inactivity of basketball in Linden. According to the LABA president, while the GABA fine-tune preparation for the start of their season, Kwakwani will be invited to play in all LABA knockout tournaments.

“Kwakwani have signalled their interest in registering under the LABA,

so while that process is being undertaken, we will facilitate the club. However, if the team isn’t registered by the start of our league, they will have to continue playing under the GABA until next season,” Toney stated.

As it relates to inviting the Colts basketball club, Toney highlighted that the move was to make the tournament more competitive and help GABA keep their affiliated clubs active.

Toney said the tournament was scheduled for a

GBI Brand Manager Seweon McGarrell handing over trophies sponsored by his company to LABA president Rawle Toney week prior, but the weather forced the LABA to postpone the event to May 6. Meanwhile, the LABA president thanked Guyana

Breweries Inc for their continued support of local basketball. The company presented trophies and refreshments for play-

ers to the LABA president through Brand Manager Seweon McGarrell at their Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara headquarters.

TATA IPL 2023: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad…

Varun's end-overs’ mastery seals improbable KKR win

VarunChakravarthy bowled overs 16, 18 and 20 for 12 runsfour of them off byes and leg byes – and took one wicket as Kolkata Knight Riders pulled off an improbable win over Sunrisers Hyderabad, only their fourth in 10 matches this season. The defeat has left SRH in a situation identical to KKR's before the match: three wins in six matches. Both sides remained in must-win territory. When Heinrich Klaasen was dominating at the start of the second half of the chase, it seemed like a cruise for SRH in their pursuit of 172. When they needed 48 off the last six overs, Klaasen fell to Shardul

Vaibhav Arora, who got the wicket of Aiden Markram in the 17th over.

Jansen's bounce KKR's seventh opening combination of this IPL was the most anticipated: Jason Roy and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, both of whom have batted breathtakingly in different matches. The promise didn't materialize, as Gurbaz walked at Marco Jansen the first ball he faced, and ended up top-edging to mid-on. Later in the over, Venkatesh Iyer got a snorter: extra bounce from just short of a length, and straight at his face. It went off the glove to the keeper.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

ing his first match this year, Roy

ture a

pull from well outside off and toe-ended it to short third: 35 for 3 in the fifth over.

The recovery

Helped by some waywardness from Jansen in his third over, Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh set about rebuilding the innings at a fair clip. Aiden Markram saw the opportunity to slip in a couple of overs to two left-hand batters, and found some grip. It was when Tyagi tried to bounce Rana that KKR finally found proper momentum with two sixes and a four in the 10th over to move to 90 for 3.

Spinners shackle KKR With KKR looking to dominate, Markram went to his #1 spinner, Mayank Markande, who immediately applied the brakes. Markram himself got a change of ends, and Rana took a risk only to top-edge a slog-sweep. With Sunil Narine not in batting form, KKR didn't have an option but to send Andre Russell out to face wristspin. He managed to hit two sixes off overpitched balls, but Markande still overpitched, only wide of his reach, and had him caught at short third. Wickets then kept falling. KKR sacrificed Suyash Sharma by substituting in Anukul Roy with 15 balls to spare, but they never found the big overs at the death.

Harshit gives KKR new-ball bonus KKR have mainly relied on their spinners to win them matches, but they received a bonus through the impressive burly fast bowler Harshit Rana. He bowled with some heat, and had Mayank Agarwal gloving a bouncer. Shardul Thakur's golden touch continued, with Abhishek Sharma nonchalantly skying one up. Rahul Tripathi took Russell on with four, six and four in the sixth over, but fell to a ramp off a

slower ball against the same bowler.

Having taken three early wickets through the quicks, KKR fancied their chances, especially with Anukul getting Harry Brook for a duck on the paddle sweep in the seventh over. At 54 for 4, with their two main spinners in the pocket, KKR proceeded to tighten the screws.

Klaasen shifts the momentum

Klaasen and Markram, the two best batters of SRH, went 19 straight balls without even attempting a boundary, let alone hitting one. They knew there wasn't much behind them, so they were contented to rebuild. KKR were holding back their main spinners, telling them the batters would have to take big risks on a slow, low pitch to get the 97 they needed in the last 10 overs. Klaasen chose Anukul's third over as the moment to start the pushback. He charged the first ball of the 11th over, and went over longoff for a six. Then he slogged a 101m hit over midwicket. It rubbed on to Markram - he was on 11 off 21 then - who welcomed Varun with two square-cut fours.

It was as though the floodgates had opened, with 49 coming off four overs, leaving Sunrisers just 48 to get off six overs.

Thakur inspires, Varun executes Brought back, Thakur again imparted the golden touch. This length ball to start the 15th over looked onpace and in the slot, but it was a fast cutter, and Klaasen toe-ended it to long-on. SRH still had Markram in charge, and he had now moved up to a run a ball after his slow start. Two boundaries in that Thakur over calmed SRH's nerves. However, Varun sucked the life out of their innings. Bowling around the wick-

et, he denied them any hits down the ground by bowling into the pitch. Nor did he give them any pace to work with.

Markram felt obliged to take on Vaibhav, but chose a bouncer too high to go after. He ended up holing out to long-off for 41 off 40.

Varun kept tightening the noose. No boundary came off the 18th over. With 21 required off two overs, Gurbaz took a stunning left-handed catch off Jansen's inside edge. Arora then overcame a

no-ball, which Abdul Samad sliced for four, to leave Varun eight to defend in the last over. Samad, 20 off 16 at the start of the over, ended up hitting a slow short ball straight to deep midwicket. Bhuvneshwar Kumar had never ended up on the winning side on the 33 previous occasions when he had batted in a chase in the IPL; left with too much to do now, he finished on the losing side once again. (ESPNCricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Kolkata Knight Riders (20 ovs maximum)

BATTING R B

Jason Roy c Agarwal b

Kartik Tyagi 20 19

Rahmanullah Gurbaz †c

Brook b Jansen 0 1

Venkatesh Iyer c †

Klaasen b Jansen 7 4

Nitish Rana (c) c & b Markram 42 31

Rinku Singh c

Abdul Samad b Natarajan 46 35

Andre Russell c

Natarajan b Markande 24 15

Sunil Narine c

Agarwal b Kumar 1 2

Shardul Thakur c

Abdul Samad b Natarajan 8 6

Anukul Roy not out 13 7

Harshit Rana run out

(†Klaasen/Natarajan) 0 1

Vaibhav Arora not out 2 1

Extras (lb 1, nb 2, w 5) 8

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 8.55) 171/9

Did not bat: Varun Chakravarthy

Fall of wickets: 1-8

(Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 1.1 ov), 2-16

(Venkatesh Iyer, 1.6 ov), 3-35

(Jason Roy, 4.4 ov), 4-96

(Nitish Rana, 11.2 ov), 5-127

(Andre Russell, 14.2 ov), 6-130

(Sunil Narine, 15.3 ov), 7-151

(Shardul Thakur, 17.3 ov), 8-168

(Rinku Singh, 19.2 ov), 9-168 (Harshit Rana, 19.3 ov) •

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4-0-33-1

Marco Jansen 3-0-24-2

Kartik Tyagi 2-0-30-1

Aiden Markram 3-0-24-1

T Natarajan 4-0-30-2

Mayank Markande 4-0-29-1

Sunrisers Hyderabad (T: 172 runs from 20 ovs)

BATTING R B

Abhishek Sharma c Russell b Thakur 9 10

Mayank Agarwal c †Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Harshit Rana 18 11

Rahul Tripathi c Arora b Russell 20 9

Aiden Markram (c) c

Singh b Arora 41 40

Harry Brook lbw b AS Roy 0 4

Heinrich Klaasen †c Russell b Thakur 36 20

Abdul Samad c AS

Roy b Varun 21 18

Marco Jansen c †

Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Arora 1 4

Bhuvneshwar Kumar not out 5 5

Mayank Markande not out

Player of the Match,Varun Chakravarthy, picked up the crucial wicket of Abdul Samad in the final over

Johnson Charles joins KKR as replacement for Litton Das

Explosive West Indies batsman Johnson Charles has been called up by Kolkata Knight Riders for the remaining matches of the IPL 2023 season. In what would be his first stint in the IPL, the 34year -old Charles joins KKR

as a replacement for Litton Das, who departs to represent Bangladesh in a threematch ODI series against Ireland from May 9-14. He has been contracted by KKR at a cost of US$60,000.

Charles returned to the West Indies set-up in October 2022 after a six-

year absence from the team. In March 2023, he scored an explosive 39-ball ton against South Africa, and is expect ed to provide some stability to the KKR line-up, which has struggled this season. With only three wins from their nine matches so far this season, KKR are currently

Guinness “Greatest of the Streets”…

Semifinals set in Linden Championship

Massy Motors’ golf tournament set for this weekend

Defending champions

Swag Entertainment are among four teams that would do battle tomorrow night in the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Semifinals at the Amelia Ward/Wisroc Car Park.

Semifinal action which would also involve Anybody Got It, Universal Ballers and Speightland will be followed by the staging of the grand finale, also on Saturday night.

The four teams have

utes of the final game brought excitement to both spectators and the Anybody Got It team. Anybody Got It were at the time opposing Exodus for the last semifinal spot, and they eventually won 2-0.

The eventual winner of the Linden version of the “Greatest of the Streets” tournament is set to cart off a $400,000 grand prize. the second-place finisher will have to settle for $300,000, while third- and fourthplace finishers would pocket $150,000 and $80,000 respectively.

The semifinals, third place playoff and finals would also be held on Saturday night.

Come this Saturday, the Lusignan Golf Club will be host to the Massy Motors’ golf tournament, which tees off at 12:30h and will take the format of an 18-hole Medal Play, shot gun start. The prizes up for grabs will be for 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions, Best Net Front Nine, Best Net Back Nine, Overall Best Gross, Nearest to Flag – Hole #4; and Longest Drive – Hole #5. LGC Secretary Chet Bowling has said, “Massy is a longstanding sponsor. They sponsor every year. They are very significant, and we appreciate the collaboration. Massy demonstrates good corporate social responsibility by supporting all the different sporting activities, including golf. So, we are proud to be associated with Massy, and I think they are proud to be associated with the reputable brand of the LGC. So, it is a win-win situation, and we are looking forward to their continued support.”

are advised to contact the club’s manager on the day of the tournament to collect their scorecards, pay their tournament fees, and proceed to their allocated tee boxes to begin play at 12:30pm. Once on their respective tee boxes, players must await the sounding of the horn or siren as indication to begin teeing off.

Presentation of prizes will be held on completion of the tournament at approximately 5:30pm.

Massy Motors (Guyana) Ltd, formerly known as Massy Industries (Guyana) Ltd and Associated Industries Limited (AINLIM), was established on October 12, 1987. As one of Guyana’s largest automotive providers, Massy Motors (Guyana) Ltd offers a wide range of affordable transport and equipment solutions. With a wide range of products including SUVs, pickups, sedans, trucks, tractors, batteries, tyres, lubricants, generators, forklifts and hand pallet jacks, cement mixers, hygiene products, etc. Massy Motors represents major brands such as Nissan, JEEP, MACK, IVECO, Shell Lubricants, Mitsubishi Forklifts, Massey Ferguson, Power Master, Moura, GoodYear, Kimberly-Clark Professional. Full support is provided for all lines represented.

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West Indian batsman Johnson Charles eighth in the 10-team league.

Charles will team up with former West Indies players Andre Russell and Sunil Narine in the KKR line-up. (Sportsmax)

A snippet of the presentation to the LGC for sponsorship of this weekend’s tournament

A look at the Swag Entertainment (white) vs Silver Bullets’ encounter

For the fourth consecutive year, the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), through its Pepsi brand, has thrown support behind the Petraorganized ExxonMobil Schools’ Under-14 Football tournament.

This was confirmed during a simple presentation ceremony held on Thursday morning at the company’s Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) Head Office.

The tournament, which carries Boys’ and Girls’ components, is set to kick off next Saturday, May 13, 2023, and will see participating teams remaining refreshed and hydrated through DDL’s support.

In brief remarks at the presentation, DDL Brand Manager Larry Wills spoke of the company’s commitment and eagerness to support the development of youths. He said: “Demerara Distillers Limited, as mentioned be-

fore, under our Pepsi brand, we’re once again a part of the ExxonMobil Schools’ tournament - something that we would’ve started 4 years ago, and one that we intend to continue doing for an extended period,” Wills shared.

The DDL Brand

Manager added about the company’s vested interest, “As a company, we’re very happy and always ready to give back to grassroots programmes, and this one is very ideal. You know, we find pleasure in supporting the young kids, ensuring that they’re able to develop

their skills through these competitions.”

Petra Co-Director Troy Mendonca highlighted DDL’s longstanding support, while noting that such efforts help to advance the sport.

Mendonca said, “Over the years, DDL would’ve been very supportive of this programme and we don’t think it’s by any mistake or so on. The organization, through the Ministry and the GFF, we’ve put our best

(foot) forward, and as I said before, these programmes are the foundation to move the sport forward.

“This year, as you’re aware, we’re bringing teams from Regions 1, 2, 5, 7 and 10 that wasn’t part of the tournament last year. But these things can only happen, and the consistency that we’ve shown over the years can only happen with the support of the sponsors,” Mendonca shared.

The U14 boys’ and girls’ tournament is set to have 48 teams competing: 32 in the boys’ competition and 16 in the girls’ competition.

The teams are vying for a chance to win a $300,000 grand prize that would go towards a school project.

Aside from title sponsors ExxonMobil and DDL’s Pepsi, MVP Sports has also thrown support behind the tournament.

DDL on board ExxonMobil's U14 tournament Tiger Rentals U13 League Cup Championship kicks off today

The Tiger Rentalssponsored Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Under-13 League Cup Championship kicks off today at the GFF National Training Centre (NTC) at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

This championship will see teams from all districts - such as East Coast, Georgetown, Upper Demerara, East Bank, West Berbice, Bartica, West Demerara, East Berbice, Rupununi and Essequibo - battling for top honours between May 5th (today) and 7th (Sunday).

Teams will be placed in two groups of five, each group will then play a round robin format, and the two teams with the most points in each group would contest the championship match on Sunday.

“This component of organized competition allows us to truly assess the work done by our technical officers at the respective Regional Academy Training Centers. We are looking forward to witnessing the brightest stars of the next generation go up against each other,” GFF Technical Director (ag) Bryan Joseph shared.

The recently concluded GFF-Tiger Rentals Under-13 InterAssociation Development Football League academy phase was launched back in December with youngsters from East Coast Academy Training Centre becoming champions.

The competition was created with the express purpose of fostering young players' abilities to use their understanding of the

sport, and providing them with a competitive national stage to do so.

“These players will form the core of the performance side of our football pyramid. We’re getting a jump start on identifying the talent that will be integrated into our high-performance programs which will help to transform our national teams,” Joseph said.

He also thanked corporate sponsor Tiger Rentals for supporting the Federation’s vision for youth football.

“We are extremely thankful to our main corporate sponsor Tiger Rentals for sharing in our vision to take youth football to the next level. A special thanks to the parents, officials and fans for supporting the league.”

DDL Brand Manager Larry Wills

Petra’s Co-Director Troy Mendonca

A glimpse of what to expect at the NTC today through Sunday

DDL on board

ExxonMobil’s U14 tournament

Tiger Rentals U13 League Cup Championship kicks off today

Headley-Weekes Tri-Series:

Thomas and Permaul’s vital partnership ensures game stays in balance

West Indies Test players Devon Thomas and Veerasammy Permaul ensured Team Weekes had a slim lead in their first innings of the final match of the Headley-Weekes TriSeries.

Team Headley had posted 177 in their first innings on day one, while Team Weekes made 235 all out in 80.3 overs on day two. Thomas scored an important 57 from 150 balls, which had seven fours and one six, while Permaul scored an unbeaten 35. Permaul and Thomas added 80 runs for the tenth wicket.

Team Weekes resumed the second day on 61-3. Captain Alick Athanaze had a start, but fell for 37 from 51 balls. Guyanese Kevin Sinclair, batting at number seven, made only 12 as Team Weekes were tottering at 155-7 at one stage. Thomas and Permaul rebuilt the innings and ensured Team Weekes surpassed 200.

Left-arm spinner Kaveem Hodge had 3-46, while Anderson Phillip

Permaul said: “You’re always happy to achieve milestones, and this is one I will celebrate and cherish…but like I said, this is like a normal game for me. It’s just another game. I want to put the team in position to win…and we did that earlier by bowling them out for under 200.”

Day three will resume at 10:00h Eastern Caribbean Time at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.

Bowling

Team Weekes 1st Innings

Tagenarine Chanderpaul

lbw b Holder 12

Zachary McCaskie lbw b Mindley 2

Raymon Reifer b Holder 34

Alick Athanaze c Greaves b Phillip 37

Kacey Carty c Jordan b Phillip 17

Devon Thomas b Jordan 57

Kevin Sinclair c

Da Silva b Hodge 12

Dominic Drakes b Hodge 18

Veerasammy Permaul not out 35

Nial Smith not out 0

Jair McAllister b Jordan 0

(10 wickets, 80.3) (11 extras) 235

Veerasammy Permaul also scored vital runs with the bat

- for nine, by Dominic Drakes; and Kaveem Hodge made 26. He was removed by Sinclair, caught and bowled. Guyanese Matthew Nandu is un -

beaten at the crease on 28, while Sunil Ambris is on one.

On day one, Permaul snared his 600th First Class wicket. At stumps,

FOW: 2/1 (1.5) Zachary

McCaskie 50/2 (17.4) Tagenarine

Chanderpaul 61/3 (21.6)

Raymon Reifer 107/4 (32.6) Alick

Athanaze 112/5 (34.4) Kacey

Carty 125/6 (41.5) Kevin Sinclair

155/7 (57.2) Dominic Drakes

235/10 (80.2) Devon Thomas

Devon Thomas scored a fifty had 2-44 in 13 overs and Chaim Holder had 2-30 in 14 overs. In reply, Team Headley reached 67-2 after 31 overs. Kieran Powell was the first to be dismissed

235/11 (80.3) Jair McAllister

Akeem Jordan (12.3-3-41-2)

Marquino Mindley (8-3-21-1)

Justin Greaves (13-4-36-0)

Anderson Phillip (13-0-44-2)

Chaim Holder (14-4-30-2)

Kavem Hodge (18-5-46-3)

Sunil Ambris (2-0-11-0)

Team Headley 2nd Innings

Kieran Powell c Smith b Drakes 9

Matthew Nandu not out 28

Kavem Hodge c & b Sinclair 26

Sunil Ambris not out 1

Total (2 wickets, 31.0) (3 extras) 67

FOW: 22/1 (8.4) Kieran Powell

63/2 (25.6) Kavem Hodge

Bowling

Raymon Reifer (4-1-8-0)

Nial Smith (5-0-19-0)

Dominic Drakes (5-1-7-1)

Jair McAllister (2-0-12-0)

Kevin Sinclair (8-3-12-1)

Veerasammy Permaul (6-4-6-0)

Tagenarine Chanderpaul 1-1-0-0