Guyana Times - Friday, November 10, 2023.pdf

Khushal Singh is UG’s 2023 Valedictorian Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 5549

P17

THE BEACON OF TRUTH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023

Pres Ali announces $1.9B in salary increases, dutyfree allowances for graduate teachers See stories on pages 3 & 9

PRICE $100 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

2-month-old baby found P2 dead at Agatash GAWU, GTU welcome P16 announcement of bonus, increases for working class

…one-off bonus for public servants, pensioners, PWDs ...farmers, CIIP workers to also benefit from $5B cost-of-living allocation Continuous El

Presidents Ali, Lula discuss Venezuelan border controversy, military defence & cooperation See story on page 10

…UN chief concerned by recent escalation in tension, reminds ICJ is chosen means of settlement

Mahdia tragedy “More vigilance” was a "disaster will be exercised during contract waiting to happen" – CoI counsel negotiations Oil blocks

– VP Jagdeo

See story on page 7

Page 11

...says authorities clearly disregarded reports on deficiencies of dormitory ...lauds Govt's response, support for affected families Neesa Gopaul murder

Killer mom Bibi Gopaul recalled to prison – GPS orders – blames ‘error’ in sentence calculation for early release Page 2

– Teachers’ Union remains optimistic on agreed "sustainable package" for educators

Niño conditions expected from Nov 2023 to Jan 2024 P15

Man found guilty for P8 2nd time for raping woman at knifepoint GPF launches Road Safety Month in Reg 2

P16

Labourer gets 16 years for “senseless killing” of Coldingen fisherman P17 in 2020

2 NEWS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Neesa Gopaul murder

Killer mom Bibi Gopaul recalled to prison – GPS orders – Blames ‘error’ in sentence calculation for early release

F

ifty-one-year-old Bibi Shareema Gopaul, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the brutal murder of her 16-year-old daughter Neesa Gopaul, has been returned to prison after it was discovered that an error had led to her early release some three months ago.

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which handed down the sentence in August of last year, stipulated that it would take effect from March 5, 2015, the day a jury found Bibi guilty. Several reporters had questioned the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) to find out why the woman was released so early, after word leaked of her resettling in West Demerara.

The Guyana Prison Service (GPS) on Thursday issued a directive to bring Bibi back to prison to finish completing her lawful prison term. According to the Prison Service, Bibi’s early release from prison was caused by an error in the sentence computation. The murderer was resentenced by the regional court to 30 years in prison, with the

prison sentence of the teenager’s stepfather, Jarvis Small, 45.

The father of three was freed owing to the CCJ’s finding that he was “gravely prejudiced” at his trial back in 2015 before Demerara High Court Judge Navindra Singh.

Decomposed body in suitcase

Convicted killer Bibi Gopaul following her arrest at Parika

Murdered: Neesa Gopaul

possibility of being paroled after 15 years had been served.

As a result of the CCJ’s ruling: to deduct five years from this sentence for time spent in imprisonment while on remand, Bibi has to serve a maximum of 25 years in prison, starting from the date of her conviction way back on March 5, 2015.

Regrettably, the Prison Service said, a calculation error caused the sentence to begin on October 10, 2010, the day Bibi was initially charged and remanded to

prison for her child’s murder, rather than March 5, 2015, the day of the conviction and imposition of sentence by the High Court.

However, the convicted killer was rearrested on Thursday at Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), and has since been placed behind bars.

The more than a decade-old murder of 16-yearold Neesa was settled on Friday, August 19, 2022 with Guyana’s highest court — the CCJ —overturning the conviction and 45-year

On October 2, 2010, the badly decomposed body of the younger Gopaul was found with the head bashed in, stuffed in a suitcase in a creek at the Emerald Towers

Resort at Madewini, LindenSoesdyke Highway.

Also discovered were her passport, bank card and other personal items. The suitcase was wrapped with rope and attached to dumbbells in an apparent effort to keep her body submerged.

The straight-A Queen’s College student was found weeks after she was reported missing from her Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD) home. Her cause of death was given as multiple blunt force trauma to the head.

Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot

2-month-old baby found dead at Agatash

T

he lifeless body of twomonth-old Allison Ram of Agatash Village, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) was found on Wednesday moments after her teenage mother had returned from using a washroom.

The Police have said that at about 14:30h on the day in question, the infant’s 17-year-old mother left her child lying in a chair wrapped in a sheet and went to use the washroom, which is about 20 metres away.

She returned about 10 minutes later, and upon checking her baby, she found her lying motionless in the chair.

The child was rushed to the Agatash Health Centre, where a Medic on duty examined the baby and referred her to the Bartica Regional Hospital.

The baby was further examined by a doctor at the Bartica

Regional Hospital, who later pronounced her dead.

The baby’s body was checked, but there were no marks of violence thereon.

Her body is at the Bartica Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

BRIDGE The Demerara OPENINGS Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, November 10 – 02:30h-04:00h and Saturday, November 11 – 03:00h-04:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, November 10 – 14:45h-16:15h and Saturday, November 11 – 15:10h-16:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected throughout the day, with clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 24 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-Easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 14:43h reaching a maximum height of 2.51 metres.

Low Tide: 08:17h and 20:38h reaching minimum heights of 0.77 metre and 0.67 metre.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2023

LOTTERY NUMBERS J

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FREE TICKET

Bonus Ball

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 DAILY MILLIONS

10 11 21

02 05 LUCKY 3

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Afternoon Draw

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DRAW DE LINE

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PAY DAY

PAY DAY

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DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Crude Oil

$80.37/barrel

+0.45

Rough Rice London Sugar

$295.92/ton $757.10/ton

-0.45 0.00

Live Spot Gold Bid/Ask Low/High Change

Change %

USD Per Ounce $1959.60 $1943.90 +1.40

$1960.60 $1966.60 +0.07%

Pres Ali announces $1.9B in salary increases, duty-free allowances for graduate teachers

I

n keeping with his promise, President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday announced approximately $1.9 billion in measures for teachers, including salary increases as well as duty-free allowances.

Following a meeting with Head Teachers across the country last month, Cabinet members held consultations with several trade unions, including the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), resulting in these interventions.

During a live stream on Thursday, President Ali outlined upward adjustments to the salary and allowance of graduate teachers including holders of a relevant Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Guyana (UG), a degree-awarding institution under the GOAL Programme, or a degree certified by the National Equivalency Board.

“All graduate teachers… shall be moved to the maximum of the scale applicable to the post they currently occupy. This will benefit over 4000 teachers at an additional annual cost of $1 billion, effective from December 1, 2023,” he stated.

Teachers will also receive an additional education allowance of $10,000 monthly for bachelor's degree holders, which would be equivalent to $120,000 annually; $20,000 monthly for master’s degree holders, an additional $240,000 annually; and $30,000 month-

President Dr Irfaan Ali during his recent engagement with teachers

ly for doctorate degree holders, which is equivalent to $360,000 annually.

This revision in allowances will benefit more than 4500 teachers at an additional annual cost of $500 million. Additionally, any preexisting allowances paid in relation to the Post Graduate Diploma in Education (DipEd) will remain in place.

According to the Head of State, the adjustment to the salary and allowances of these categories of teachers, depending on the salary scale, represents a 10 to 17 per cent increase in the current minimum salary paid to these workers.

With regard to Remote Areas Incentive (RAI), there will be an upward adjustment from its current

level to $20,000 monthly, effective from December 1, 2023. The President said this would benefit more than 2400 teachers at an additional annual cost of $260 million.

For example, these adjustments and salary increases will see a Graduate Senior Mistress/Head of Department now having their current salary move from $243,069 to $262,917, and with the inclusion of the revised education allowances, represent an overall 12 per cent increase, compared to the previous minimum salary paid to a Graduate Senior Mistress/ Head of Department.

In the case of a Graduate Senior Assistant Master or Mistress working in the Hinterland, this catego-

ry of worker will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $223,232 to $243,076, and with the inclusion of the revised education allowances and RAI, this will represent an overall 16 per cent increase when compared to the previous minimum salary paid to a Graduate Senior Assistant Mistress in an RAI area. “…If you look at the average of the increase in salaries alone, the annualised benefit that will go to a teacher is close to $240,000 at a minimum level. When we add the allowances that will, of course, take this up further,” the President noted.

TURN TO PAGE 5

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guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023

Views

Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Our boys

O

ver the last four decades, developing Caribbean countries have been struggling to maintain law and order within their respective territories, while simultaneously causing a reduction in the increasing levels of crime and criminality in their societies, which pose the most serious threat to their forward movement and the notion of national security.

While these countries have all approached the subject matter differently, most of them have failed in addressing the root causes of crime and criminality, so much so that their judicial systems have become ineffective and slothful in the dispensation of justice.

This is not as a result of poor management on the part of the judiciary, or the lack of adequate resources in the form of magistrates or lawyers, but can be directly attributed to a breakdown in the traditional family structures within our societies; the changing socioeconomic, domestic and regional environment; the shifting of gender roles; the emergence of new, complex gender identities; and the changing dynamics of a world now driven by newer forms of information and communication technologies.

While all the abovementioned factors are important to any discussion on solving the proliferation of crime within our regional economies, many researchers and policy-makers underestimate the role of males and boys in growth and sustenance of the Region’s crime problem.

The truth is, many Caribbean men and boys are being poorly socialised, and are many times not given enough attention during their early years of development at home, in school, and within the wider society.

At an early age, boys within developing countries are told that they must be tough, and the burden to provide for their families still falls on their shoulders, despite the shifting gender roles and the advances made in gender equality. They are socialised to hide their weaknesses and sensitivities, and to shun anything that even slightly appears feminine.

We must re-educate our boys, therefore, and change how they perceive the importance of an education, despite the economic hardships and feminisation of this tool by the societies in which they dwell.

A renowned Jamaican educator, Wayne Campbell, offers a number of solutions for saving our boys and reducing their involvement in crime, which could see them moving from not populating jails, but universities and think-tanks that arrive at solutions for male empowerment and the economic advancement of the entire family as a unit.

Campbell asserts that “there is also the need to urgently recast our current gender policy. One way of doing so is to incorporate more men in the discourse to shape our national gender policy. It’s ludicrous to think that women only, or a gender board dominated by women, can advocate the needs of our boys and men. We also need to examine the possibility of creating so-called ‘boyfriendly’ curricula, assessment and pedagogical practices.

We now know that boys learn differently than girls, and therefore we should use this knowledge to refashion teaching methodologies that speak to both sexes in the classroom.”

In Guyana, there is a need to view the issue of underperformance and underachievement with a sense of urgency and dispatch. If not, we are going to continue to witness the spread of a deviant strand of hypermasculinity sweeping across our society.

This reconstruction of masculinity is already manifesting itself. Our boys have become violent in recent years, even to the point of physically abusing teachers.

Male teachers, over the years, have endured physical attacks also. This should have been viewed as a wake-up call in regard to the urgent need to rescue our boys.

Miss Guyana Universe Lisa Narine has departed for El Salvador, where the 72nd edition of the Miss Universe Pageant will be hosted on Saturday, November 18, 2023

A DOCTORATE FOR ROHAN KANHAI It’s an honor too long overdue, an honorary doctorate for Rohan, a genius with the cricket bat.

He made poetry out of willow using cricket balls for his ink.

Some described him as mercurial: in full flow he was imperious, in defense he was majestic, possessing the most elegant forward defensive stroke I’ve ever seen.

He was my foremost childhood hero.

He gave credence that we belonged in a world of superstars and possibilities even if we were born in Corentyne

PS: Thanks to my friend from our primary school days, Prof. Clem Seecharran, for the framed print of the “triumphant fall” which hangs in one of my guest rooms at home; and for dedicating his book “From

and the children of a darker god.

I’ve met him only once, in Jamaica, at a benefit match on his retirement.

He paid rapt attention to every word I said and thanked me for every thought I praised on him for the confidence and panache that he bestowed.

Congratulations to Rohan with gratitude from a teenager of the sixties for the joys he brought to my rural life allowing dreams beyond cane fields, fish ponds, canals and rice fields opening the world of other possibilities.

Ranji to Rohan” to me on my 60th birthday, fourteen years ago.

Thanks too to my friend from our high school days, Dr. Latiff Ayub, for getting Rohan to autograph the cricket ball above and presenting

Tulsi Dyal Singh, MD

it to me at a small class reunion in Toronto earlier this year.

The “Tied Test” autographed cricket bat is a Father’s Day present from my two daughters about 20 years ago.

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023

5

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

A message to the Opposition and its media mouthpiece Dear Editor, Earlier this week, The House unanimously affirmed its position on Guyana's sovereignty over the Essequibo.

It was a bipartisan approach and a united front that is unstoppable, given the circumstances. However, this did not stop the Opposition Leader from taking a few jabs at the Government, as well as lead Caricom Prime Minister Mia Mottley on certain statements she made.

The Opposition Leader, as the opportunist he is, did not mince words as he made a last-ditch effort to lash out at the two entities. On the Government, he was having the usual grumblings about

the influx of refugees from Venezuela. In his biased view, those refugees translate into votes for the PPP/C to come to the next election, an act that would make his chances of winning the election a remote possibility.

This move is giving the Opposition Leader sleepless nights. But let me allay Norton's fears: in the first place, your party never - and I repeat, never - won an election, even in the heyday of Burnham's rigging; so his undue concern that refugees are coming here to vote is a delusional thought on his part.

Further, a sizeable number - 80%, to be exact - are

returning Guyanese, or second-generation Guyanese who are returning home because of the hardships in Venezuela. We cannot turn our backs on our own people, sir. You must remember that many of us, yours truly, sought refuge in other people's countries when his very own PNC chased us out during those harsh times. Guyanese are in every habitable place in the known world, thanks to the PNC and its draconian governance policies. So, Mister Norton, you need to hush up with that delusional nonsense talk of yours!

On the Barbadian Prime Minister's charge, Norton is

griping over the statements she made. Miss Mottley stated that "Guyana and Venezuela need to maintain the region as a zone of peace." Now, this is an innocuous statement, which in simplistic terms means that she would like the two neighbours to settle their differences in an amicable and peaceful manner, and live as good neighbours should.

Let the region maintain that peaceable ambiance that it is known for.

This did not go down well with Norton, because he took issue with the statement.

But why Norton would take umbrage with that statement is anybody's guess. You

would recall that it was Mia Mottley who led four others of her counterparts into Guyana during that disgraceful period of PNC rigging. She was here to help talk some sense into the PNC Leadership: that rigging is a shameful undertaking which portrays the region in a terrible light. "The thing looks bad."

But Norton could not care less with what a bad image would cause the region.

His concern only centred around the point that Mia was "meddling in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation."

So there is reason for him to be annoyed with Mia,

but we are not careful to know of his feelings, we are concerned with the rule of law and what constitutes the democratic will of the people; that's all that matters.

So, I close with a message to Mr Norton and that desperate tabloid that shores up his image: Do not bring your sordid political nonsense into our territorial dispute with Venezuela? We want a vigorous, united approach to this external threat. In this regard, we will pursue the legal route with all sincerity to its final resolution. Long live a united Guyana!

Respectfully, Neil Adams

Pres Ali announces $1.9B in salary increases...

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Duty-free concession

In relation to duty-free allowances, the Guyanese Leader disclosed that all teachers who hold a substantive appointment as a Senior Master/Mistress or above and are within three years of retirement and have not previously received a duty-free concession on a motor car shall be entitled to this benefit for a motor car up to 1500cc.

“This intervention is expected to cost $150 million annually. As of now, we have approximately 100

concessions that are given to teachers annually. Outside of these 100 concessions now, we are putting the position that every teacher once you are a senior master, mistress, and above, you are entitled to this concession three years before retirement in keeping with the laws. This additional benefit will cost $150 million annually,” the President noted.

According to Ali, these interventions for teachers aggregate a total of $1.9 billion in additional disposable income annually. He pointed

out that these benefits will also significantly impact the pension and gratuity payments teachers would be entitled to, on their eventual retirement.

“This is the point we have to understand too. Not only the immediate benefit, but this also will bring longterm benefit to teachers in the calculation of their pensions and their gratuity,” the Head of State posited.

During last month’s engagement with Head Teachers and Deputy Head Teachers at State House, President Ali had committed to have $700 million

paid out to teachers who are below the minimum of their applicable scale. The payout, which was done in October, was a one-off arrears payment for eligible teachers between the period of September 1, 2020, to September 30, 2023.

The Guyanese Leader had also pledged special housing solutions and taxfree allowances for teachers.

At the time, he disclosed that at least two commercial banks have agreed to prequalify and approve loans for teachers to start building and or to continue building their homes once they have

been allocated house lots.

These loans of up to $15 million will attract an interest rate of 3.75 per cent.

To lend further assistance, the President had further said that teachers who are yet to commence construction will receive subsidies from the Government for steel and cement to build their foundations.

On Thursday, President Ali said these salary increases for teachers came as the Government continued to work to resolve anomalies

FROM PAGE 3

and disparities across comparable positions within the Public Service.

Just one year ago, the Head of State had rolled out the first phase of salary adjustments, which took effect in January of this year, benefiting more than 5000 healthcare workers and almost 9000 members of the Disciplined Services. These interventions resulted in an additional $3 billion in disposable income in the hands of these workers each year.

(G8)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023 06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:05 13:35 14:00 14:30 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 23:00 23:30 00:00

(Sign on) Inspiration Time Cartoons Evening News (RB) Stop Suffering Guy's Grocery Games Grand Designs Paternity Court Divorce Court News Break Movie - Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Vows We Have Made (2021) Wheel of Fortune Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir S5 E9 The Tom and Jerry Show S2 E11 Indian Soaps Sydney to the Max S1 E14 Austin & Ally S2 E24 The Young & The Restless Jeewan Ki Roti CNN The Evening News Stop Suffering Stand-up Comedy Friday Night Smackdown Ballers S2 E9 Kim's Convenience S4 E10 Sign off

6

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023

Foundation ◄

Page

Test Questions

BY WALT WHITMAN CONTINUED FROM THURSDAY

6 Now if a thousand perfect men were to appear it would not amaze me, Now if a thousand beautiful forms of women appear’d it would not astonish me.

Now I see the secret of the making of the best persons, It is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.

Here a great personal deed has room, (Such a deed seizes upon the hearts of the whole race of men, Its effusion of strength and will overwhelms law and mocks all authority and all argument against it.)

In this fun and easy science experiment, we’re going to explore and investigate colours by pulling them apart.

Materials:

Paper towel Green food colouring A glass with one inch of water inside

Instructions:

Tear the paper towel into a long narrow strip.

Put a drop of green food colouring about two inches from the bottom of the strip of paper towel.

Hang the paper towel into the water so that the spot of food colouring is above the water.

Wait about 15 minutes.

The original green spot will be gone and a yellow and blue spot should be visible.

How it works:

As the food colouring is drawn up the paper towel, the different pigments separate. The reason is the pigments are different weights, travel at different speeds, and thus end up in different places. Chromatography is the technique of separating mixtures.

Make this a science project:

Try different colors. Try different types of paper. Try substituting water with vinegar. (sciencefun.org)

Here is the test of wisdom, Wisdom is not finally tested in schools, Wisdom cannot be pass’d from one having it to another not having it, Wisdom is of the soul, is not susceptible of proof, is its own proof, Applies to all stages and objects and qualities and is content, Is the certainty of the reality and immortality of things, and the excellence of things; Something there is in the float of the sight of things that provokes it out of the soul.

Now I re-examine philosophies and religions, They may prove well in lecture-rooms, yet not prove at all under the spacious clouds and along the landscape and flowing currents.

Here is realization, Here is a man tallied— he realizes here what he has in him,

The past, the future, majesty, love—if they are vacant of you, you are vacant of them.

Only the kernel of every object nourishes; Where is he who tears off the husks for you and me?

Where is he that undoes stratagems and envelopes for you and me?

Here is adhesiveness, it is not previously fashion’d, it is apropos; Do you know what it is as you pass to be loved by strangers?

Do you know the talk of those turning eye-balls?

7 Here is the efflux of the soul, The efflux of the soul comes from within through embower’d gates, ever provoking questions, These yearnings why are they? these thoughts in the darkness why are they?

Why are there men and women that while they are nigh me the sunlight expands my blood?

Why when they leave me do my pennants of joy sink flat and lank?

Why are there trees I never walk under but large and melodious thoughts descend upon me?

(I think they hang there winter and summer on those trees and always drop fruit as I pass;) What is it I interchange so suddenly with strangers?

What with some driver as I ride on the seat by his side?

What with some fisherman drawing his seine by the shore as I walk by and pause?

What gives me to be free to a woman’s and man’s good-will? what gives them to be free to mine?

To be continued

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Oil blocks

“More vigilance” will be exercised during contract negotiations – Jagdeo V

ice President Bharrat Jagdeo says there will be heightened due diligence as Government engages the successful bidders from the recent oil blocks auction with the aim of finalising contracts.

Since last month’s announcement of the six companies that won the bids for eight oil blocks offshore Guyana, there have been concerns expressed about the integrity of at least one of these companies.

Consequently, VP Jagdeo was questioned at his weekly press conference on Thursday about the review process of bids submitted during the auction. He disclosed that the consultants that the Government hired to review the submissions had found that only two of the international companies had met industry standards in their bids.

However, Jagdeo explained that the Government took a decision to forgo the weaknesses identified in exchange for big financial penalties, a signing bonus, and a massive upfront fee of US$20,000. This move, he pointed out, was specifically geared towards not disadvantaging locals in the bidding process.

“The review process done by our consultants, which I saw, identified deficiencies and weaknesses in almost several of the bids with the exception of the two major ones – the one involved Total and Qatar, and the ExxonMobil… [But] if you

finalising the agreements, all these issues will be verified,” he asserted.

Government, through its consultants and technical team at the Natural Resources Ministry, has started engaging the bidders to commence negotiations for the potential award of contracts/licences.

More vigilance

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

look at all the weaknesses there, you would have never awarded anything else; only those two the big companies and nothing else,” he said.

“Now, where does that leave us with these blocks unallocated? So, we made it clear that we will, given the upfront fee, the risks then get transferred onto the bidding company …we moved away from prior experience as a requirement for the bid, because that would’ve excluded all the locals and we inserted instead, a big financial penalty and a big upfront fee,” he noted.

“Many of them have not had any major track record in working in not just shallow waters but like the local group which put in a bid [and won] for deep water, which is complex,” the VP posited.

He further outlined that the government never prevented anyone from participating in the bidding process based on their nationali-

ty. The Vice President said that if there were companies with Guyanese as principals then they would have still had to meet certain requirements stipulated.

These include the ability to pay a signing bonus, which ranges from US$20 million for the deep-water blocks and US$10 million for the shallow-water blocks.

Failure to pay this would result in the Government’s refusal to approve the exploration licence, Jagdeo noted, adding in the past, these licences were given away for free.

Another requirement is for these companies to come up with development plans which will be part of the agreement and failure to do so, will incur a massive financial penalty.

“So, we were not assessing based on nationality. It is whether their proposal meets our requirements and, in the negotiations, now, as we move from the award to

Nevertheless, as the Government moves towards the negotiations for the contracting stage, the Vice President said there would be more focus on due diligence.

“I don’t think they assessed the individuals.

They assessed the proposals made. So, that’s how the due diligence was done – on the proposals. So, the consultants did that and then our evaluation team looked at the consultants’ report.

“Now, when we get to the contracting stage, this is where [we will be more vigilant], because now you have to talk about concluding deals and the ability to deliver on what you put in a proposal, because your proposal was assessed. So, when you come to that stage, this is where more vigilance has to be exercised,” Jagdeo contended.

Following its launch in December 2022, the bidding

round closed in September 23, with six companies bidding on eight of the 14 blocks offshore that were up for grabs. Of the 14 blocks in the auction, three in deepsea areas and the other 11 in shallow areas, and range from 1000 to 3000 square kilometres (sq km). Offers were made on two deep-sea blocks and six shallow-sea blocks.

Among the notable awardees was Sispro Inc, a Guyanese company owned by four women, which has received two oil blocks offshore Guyana – a shallow block (S3) and a deep-water block (D2).

Other shallow blocks were awarded to: Total Energies EP Guyana BV in consortium with Qatar Energy International E&P LLC and Petronas E&P Overseas Ventures SDN BHD (Malaysia), which got Block S4; Liberty Petroleum Corporation of the US and

Ghana-based Cybele Energy Limited, which got Block S7, and International Group Investment Inc of Nigeria, which got two Blocks – S5 and S10.

Another shallow block, S8, was also awarded to the Stabroek Block partners – ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Hess New Ventures Exploration Limited, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited.

Meanwhile, the second deep-water block – D1 – was awarded to Delcorp Inc Guyana which comprises Watad Energy and Communications Limited, and Arabian Drilling Company of Saudi Arabia.

When asked for a further update on the licensing process, the Vice President indicated that the Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat would be holding a press conference next week and would speak further on this matter. (G8)

8 NEWS Man found guilty for 2nd time for raping woman at knifepoint FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guilty: Julius Branker

J

ulius Branker, 46, was unanimously found guilty on Thursday after hours of deliberations of raping a 28-year-old woman at knifepoint.

On February 15, 2014, Branker, a father of three, broke into the woman's home in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and sexually penetrated her without her consent.

He is now on remand awaiting sentencing, set

for December 18, at the Demerara High Court, pending the submission of probation and other social reports to Judge Navindra Singh.

State Counsel Marisa Edwards presented the prosecution's case. Branker held out that he did not rape the woman. Defence Attorney Adrian Thompson represented him.

This was Branker’s second trial for the sexual offence.

In 2018, a jury unanimously determined that Branker had raped the same woman. He was given a sentence of 40 years in jail with a 35-year parole eligibility period by trial Judge Simone Morris-Ramlall.

However, the conviction was reversed in December 2022 by the Court of Appeal of Guyana, which found, among other things, that Branker had received an unfair trial.

The court had agreed

Justice Navindra Singh

with Branker’s contention that there were issues with the identification evidence and that the trial Judge had failed to adequately put his defence to the jury. The Court of Appeal, in quashing his conviction, ordered that he be retried for the offence.

It was the prosecution’s case that on the day in question, the woman was in her home sleeping when, at around 04:00h, she was

awakened by noise coming from the television.

As a result, she ventured into the living room, switched off the television, and went back to take a nap.

Shortly after, she was awakened by a man standing at her bedside, and she began screaming. The man, in demanding that she “shut up”, threatened to “bore her” with a knife.

The individual, who was later identified as Branker, then pushed his hands into the woman’s pajamas and had intercourse with her against her will in full view of her young child.

After committing the act, Branker made good his escape, and the victim sought help from neighbours. She was taken to the Police Station, and then to the hospital, to be examined.

Branker was subsequently arrested after the woman had identified him as the perpetrator.

New Horizons…

S

…in food production

ome folks say, “Man shall not live by bread alone”.

But that implies he gotta have bread, to begin with, no?!! If you wanna add cheese, then go ahead… but you gotta have bread!! And for that, you gotta have wheat…no two ways about it. While we may talk about “cassava bread” and “rice flour bread” they’re just not the same – as Burnham found out back in the day.

Faced with no foreign currency in an imploding economy because of his hare-brained “co-op utopia”, he restricted the importation of wheat. And lo and behold, the people who gotta have bread – in all its ethnic end varieties - like roti and bake etc – concluded bitterly that he’d banned flour just to spite the Opposition supporters.

Now to be fair, his supporters probably depended on their “daily bread” more than PPP supporters!!

But anyhow, by then the Americans had rewarded him for betraying the national cause - by splitting the PPP and subsequently the Guyanese people - by erecting a flour mill to which they supplied wheat under a subsidized PL480 aid program. So when they cut off this source to rein him in on his foolish detour and frolic co-op escapade, he just couldn’t find money to enter wheat markets.

He advised folks to start adding rice and cassava flour to their mix – but if it’s one thing you don’t do is mess around with people’s palates!! The shortage of flour was resisted far more than the curtailment of political rights!!

Smugglers risked everything and trekked to Suriname and Venezuela to bring back flour for bread – but not guns for a revolution!!

Anyhow older folks from both sides of the aisle still remember Hoyte fondly for “bringing back flour”!! So, against that background, maybe it is quite understandable that ensuring that we have bread might be just another reason for the PPP Government to embark on the cultivation of wheat locally!! Yep…that right!! While most of us believe that rice is a temperate zone crop – and so it is, by and large – Durum wheat is one variety that’s been shown to be viable in the tropics – and in high humidity!!

Specific varieties of Durum wheat have been developed by the African-based “International Center for Research in the Dry Areas” (ICARDA) that can withstand constant 40C temperatures.

Over in neighbouring Brazil, Mauricio Lopes, president of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), boasted: "Already we’re growing wheat in tropical areas around Brasilia with the same quality as Argentine, Uruguayan or European wheat. But this requires a lot of irrigation, and in central Brazil, the cost is very high.”

As we launch a new flour mill mixer and expand NAMILCO, that’s what we gotta watch: our local costs vs imported costs! …in foreign policy Seems the only thing that gets our foreign policy establishment into high gear are threats from the Venezuelan front. But this has been an existential condition since 1962, Shouldn’t we have had a standing unit inside the Foreign Ministry; a Standing Parliamentary Committee, and a battalion of our crack GDF jungle troops keeping an eye out for the inevitable hijinks that are sure to come from that direction?? Even if it wasn’t Mad Maduro circling his wagons for his upcoming elections, we would’ve been aware of the Venezuelan Sindicato mafia that’s been infiltrating our Region 1.

Anyhow, it’s never too late - so your Eyewitness urges that the above suggestions be implemented ASAP. On the diplomatic front, while we understand that our brothers and sisters in Caricom – like Mia and Keith – gotta protect their national interests and make nice with Mad Maduro in the hope of new Petrocaribe oil – and for Keith, that Dragon gas field – we gotta remind them that they gotta play the long game.

Which includes Guyana. …in justice??

Mankind long ago moved from “an eye for an eye” to notions of justice that incorporate the “greater good”. But what kind of justice frees a mother - who murdered her own daughter - after 13 years?

The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

NEWS

9

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$5B cost-of-living allocation

One-off bonus for public servants, pensioners, PWDs – Pres Ali announces ….farmers, CIIP workers to also benefit

ments will benefit almost 160,000 persons and increase their disposable incomes by over $4.1 billion.

Back in 2021, the Government distributed a $25,000 one-off cash grant to persons with disabilities.

Then in August 2022, the Head of State announced a $100,000 one-off cash grant to about 5000 children with disabilities.

Farmers and CIIP workers

President Dr Irfaan Ali

U

tilising the $5 billion that was set aside for measures to offset the rising cost of living for Guyanese, the Guyana Government has rolled out a series of measures that will see various categories of persons benefiting including public servants; old age pensioners; persons living with disabilities (PWDs); farmers and community enhancement workers.

In the 2023 Budget, the Government allocated $5 billion for cost-of-living measures to alleviate the impact of increases in prices owing to global developments.

On Thursday, President Dr Irfaan Ali announced that this money would be used to pay a $25,000 oneoff bonus to all public servants next month. Among the public servants, which include teachers and members of the Disciplined Services, to benefit from this payout are staff of semi-autonomous agencies and public enterprises such as entities like the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

“So, all workers in this category will receive a oneoff $25,000 bonus payable in December 2023. This will benefit 67,000 workers across the spectrum of these categories; 67,000 workers at a cost of $1.7 billion. These adjustments will benefit workers including Policemen and women, Prison Officers, soldiers, nurses, and doctors, as would also … employees of public enterprises, including GuySuCo, GPL (Guyana Power and Light Inc), and NIS (National Insurance Scheme),” the President announced.

According to the Head of State, this will be separate from the annual acrossthe-board salary increase for the public servants, teachers, and members of the Disciplined Services, which, he indicated, would be announced “very shortly”.

In November 2022, President Ali had announced an eight per cent

salary increase for all public servants and a onemonth bonus for the Joint Services, which saw more than 52,000 employees in the Public Sector benefiting.

During Thursday’s announcements, the Head of State announced some $1.9 billion in salary adjustments and various allowances, including duty-free concessions, for graduate teachers.

Pensioners and PWDs

Meanwhile, old age pensioners will also receive a $25,000 one-off payment in December, the Guyanese Leader revealed on Thursday. According to Ali, over 72,000 pensioners will benefit from this intervention which costs $1.8 billion.

This is not the first time the Government is making a one-off payment to support elderly citizens.

Last year, a one-off grant of $28,000 was paid to all old-age pensioners, and in 2021, they received a $25,000 one-off grant.

Under the Ali-led Administration, the old age pension has been increased from $20,500 in 2020 to $25,000 in 2021, then to $28,000 in 2022 and now $33,000 this year.

In the Finance Ministry’s 2023 mid-year report released in September, it was revealed that the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has so far expended $13.5 billion on old age pensions for the first half of this year.

Meanwhile, it was also announced on Thursday that a one-off bonus will also be paid to persons with disabilities (PWDs).

“Differently-abled persons or persons living with a disability on the Public Register will also receive a $35,000 one-off bonus payment in December of this year. This one-off bonus payment of $35,000 to persons on our Public Assistance Register will benefit 19,000 persons at a cost of $660 million,” the Head of State noted.

These one-off bonus pay-

President Ali also announced interventions for farmers as well as community enhancement workers on Thursday.

“The Government will also allocate $850 million for the purchase of fertiliser for distribution to farmers. It is expected that this support will benefit 287,000 acres of cultivation and 35,000 farmers. And this will ensure increased food production and containment of cost,” he related.

Last year, the Government had expended $1 billion to purchase fertiliser for free distribution to farmers across Guyana as a means of absorbing the rising global costs for the

CIIP workers

commodity and preventing the costs from being passed on to consumers at the market.

Furthermore, under the Community Infrastructure Improvement Project (CIIP), community enhancement workers' monthly earnings would be adjusted upwards to $40,000. According to the Guyanese Leader, this increase takes effect from

January 1, 2023, and will benefit of over 2000 workers, thus placing an additional $130 million in disposable income in their hands annually.

In 2022, some $5 billion was set aside to facilitate further advancements in the CIIP programme, which is aimed at improving community aesthetics, and sanitary and environmental conditions across

the country.

President Ali said during Thursday’s broadcast that this $5.1 billion in measures represents “…a further instalment of my government’s unwavering commitment to continue to improve the working conditions of our employees in the public sector, support to the vulnerable segment of our population and assistance to our farmers.” (G8)

10 NEWS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Presidents Ali, Lula discuss Venezuelan border controversy, military defence & cooperation …UN chief concerned by recent escalation in tension, reminds ICJ is chosen means of settlement

President Dr Irfaan Ali in a virtual meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Thursday afternoon

I

n continued efforts to alert bilateral partners of the heightened aggression from Caracas, President Dr Irfaan Ali has held discussions with his Brazilian counterpart, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, on the border controversy with Venezuela and military cooperation, among other matters.

A brief statement on the Guyanese President’s Facebook account revealed that the two leaders had a virtual meeting on Thursday afternoon to have bilateral discussions on a range of issues.

During the virtual engagement, Presidents Ali and Lula “…discussed defence and military cooperation; respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity; respect for the rule of international law;

the Venezuela border controversy; and infrastructure and economic cooperation among other issues”.

The Portuguese-speaking nation shares borders with both Guyana and Venezuela.

The Brazilian Government has already declared its support for a peaceful resolution of the border controversy through the process before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Only last month, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd updated his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira, on the recent developments on the Venezuelan border controversy.

The Brazilian Foreign Minister, in expressing his country’s support for the cur-

rent ICJ process to resolve the controversy, indicated that Brazil adhered to the peaceful settlement of boundaries.

Vieira also underscored that Brazil has great respect for the ICJ and awaits the final verdict of the Court which it believes is the best solution, in accordance with international law, especially since the matter was referred by the United Nations Secretary General.

On Thursday evening, Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, indicated that the UN chief was following with concern the recent escalation in tension between Guyana and Venezuela over the border controversy.

TURN TO PAGE 15

NEWS

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Mahdia tragedy was a “disaster waiting to happen” – Col counsel …says authorities clearly disregarded reports on deficiencies of dormitory …lauds Govt’s response, support for affected families

By Rupa Seenaraine

U

nleashing total terror and claiming the lives of 20 children back in May, the Mahdia dormitory fire was a disaster waiting to happen – a deduction drawn after it was found that reports of the dormitory’s condition and need for intervention were overlooked by authorities.

In his closing submission on Thursday, this was the stance taken by Counsel to the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Mahdia dormitory fire, Keoma Griffith.

Griffith referenced the inspection carried out by Officer-in-Charge at the Mahdia Fire Station, Ryan Scott on the building back in February 2023. The findings were submitted to the Chief Fire Officer, Gregory Wickham and Regional Education Officer (REdO) Annesta Douglas.

This report drew attention to the preparedness of both the male and female dormitories in the eventuality of a fire and flagged that

there were no fire alarm systems, no fire detection systems, no exit signs, while there were grilled windows and only three fire extinguishers.

He had also informed the Guyana Fire Service of the need for upgrades to the fire truck, and that the fire station was ill-equipped to respond to fires. In the aftermath report, the unfulfillment of these recommendations was listed as a hindrance in effectively saving the lives of those trapped in the burning structure.

“It is my view that the problems in the after report of sub-officer Ryan Scott after the fire were the very same issues identified

by Ryan Scott in their reports…It’s as if it was a disaster waiting to happen because Ryan Scott had been telling them all along these are the issues affecting the Mahdia Fire Station, recommendations that need to be put in place in the inter-

The Commission of Inquiry panel comprising National Toshaos Council (NTC) Chairman Derrick John; Retired Major General Joe Singh and Attorney-at Law Kim Kyte

est of saving lives and preserving property. Yet, there was no response,” Griffith noted.

Among the 12 recommendations following the building’s inspection were the installation of a suitable fire alarm system, fire exits that open outwards, suitable signs, precise instructions in the event of a fire, proper storage facilities, and hydrants; the removal of the grills from all windows and training for staffers.

policies and the curriculum, the responsibility for staff, welfare, and the well-being of students, and the management and maintenance of the dormitories fall within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, through the Regional Democratic Office.

The Commission had heard that the Regional Education Officer received the report, but never read it until she found herself in the witness box to testify.

The CoI panel will also

However, the Counsel noted that this urgent report saw little action from the level of the Regional Department, as well as the leadership of the GFS. “This report should have been taken seriously, that required urgent attention and that no effort and the spirit in the implementation of all of the relevant requirements and recommendations contained therein.

“The Chief Fire Officer told this Commission that according to the standard operating procedures of the GFS, his only urgent response to this urgent report and to ensure the recommendations were complied with was to ensure that the REdO was in receipt of the report. And I try to wrap my head around this response because I could not believe this response was coming from the Chief Fire Officer of this country,” he positioned.

While the Education Ministry is responsible for

be considering the 2017 Commission of Inquiry into the state of the education sector, which had placed high emphasis on the ‘deplorable state’ of dormitories in Guyana. It had made recommendations for the Government of the day, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition, to address these circumstances immediately.

Among the observations was that attention had to be given to the level and quality of supervision in the dorm as it was reported that the dorm parents were ‘overwhelmed’ and not properly trained.

“What happened with the report? The report, we heard, was submitted to the Minister of Education sometime in 2017. What happened following the report?

According to the account of the [Chief Education Officer (CEO)], nothing was done by the Government at the time to implement the rec-

ommendations,” Griffith told the CoI. Another report, commissioned by the Priya Manickchand-led Education Ministry and executed

by UNICEF titled: “The Gender Sensitive Standards for Dormitory Schools” also assessed these facilities in 2022.

It ranked the 24 dormitories based on priority, but Mahdia dormitory was not within the top five requiring the most essential action.

Cabinet responded to the report by allotting some $882 million of the $3 billion – a cost which would ensure full compliance with the recommendations.

Griffith underscored that from evidence tendered, the report was submitted outside of the budget period and these funds could not be easily sourced.

“The CEO said that immediately following Cabinet took a decision to comply, as far as it was practicable and possible with the recommendations of the report. In so doing, $882 million was expended by the Government to comply with the report.”

Concerted effort

As it relates to emergency response and intervention, the Commission’s Counsel highlighted that the Government displayed concerted efforts to provide key assistance and support to grieving families, the injured, survivors, responders, and members of the community among other categories.

The efficient and dedicated response of the agencies under the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, Education Ministry, Finance Ministry, Legal Affairs Ministry, and Office of the President.

“Based on all the evidence, there was a frontal approach and involvement in senior and junior Ministers of the Government including the President, Dr Irfaan Ali. From all indications, the evidence before this Commission shows that these functioning officials showed their human

and caring side and above all others, the care and welfare of all those involved was most important.”

As it relates to the medical response of the Government, it was noted that this was a well-planned operation, utilising medical professionals of the highest standard and international support. Intermediate and long-term follow-up plans and support were established and opportunities for training and local staff were provided.

In terms of financial assistance, the Government has provided $5 million for the families of the deceased, $3 million for those who were severely injured, and $500,000 for others who suffered minor injuries. It is for the Commission to now determine whether these sums disaggregated were sufficient.

Recount

The May 21 inferno, which caught the attention of international media, resulted in the deaths of 19 female students between the ages of 12 and 17 and a fiveyear-old boy, who was the son of the dorm parents.

The dormitory housed students from the communities of Karisparu, El Paso, Micobie, and Chenapau, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni).

At the time of the fire, there were 56 females and a five-year-old boy inside. The remaining students had gone home for the weekend.

The dormitory’s 26 windows were heavily grilled and the five doors were locked when the fire broke out.

According to the surviving female students, they were awakened from sleep by screams, and upon checking, they saw fire and smoke in the bathroom area. This quickly spread in the building, causing several students to receive burns to their bodies and to suffer from smoke inhalation, while several managed to escape. Several girls were air-dashed to Georgetown hours after for emergency treatment. One of them was later sent to New York to a specialised burn care facility for treatment owing to the severity of her condition.

A 15-year-old girl was charged in June with 20 counts of murder for the arson. She has since been detained at a juvenile holding facility. She was charged with the murders of Subrina John, Belnisa Evans, Loreen Evans, Bibi Rita Fiona Jeffrey, Lisa Roberts, Tracil Thomas, Delecia Edwards, Lorita Williams, Natalie Bellarmine, Arianna Edwards, Cleoma Simon, Martha Dandrade, Mary

Counsel to the CoI, Keoma Griffith

Dandrade, Omerfia Edwin, Nickleen Robinson, Sherlyn Bellarmine, Eulander Carter, Andrea Roberts, Sherana Daniels and fiveyear-old Adanye Jerome.

Recommendations

President Irfaan Ali had ordered a CoI into the circumstances surrounding the deadly incident.

The Terms of Reference (ToR) detailed that the Commission will inquire into and report on everything leading up to the dormitory fire that claimed the lives of 20 juveniles back in May, as well as the causes of the fire.

The Commission was required to investigate and report on what actions were taken to provide care, medical attention, and support to the injured and deceased and their relatives, in a timely manner.

Recommendations are also expected from the commission, which will include necessary measures to prevent a reoccurrence of such tragedies.

Chairman of the Commission, Retired Major General Joseph Singh has notified that the report would be completed by next week and then handed over to the President before the end of the month.

While the fire would have resulted in the death of 20 children, it was emphasised that this incident has altered the lives of 112 students and the two dorn parents.

“The citizens of this country will have a right to know what transpired on the 21st May, 2023 and all the action that was taken thereafter. It is true that the events of this day will continue to live in this country’s history. For this reason, it is essential that there is closure on this matter and also efficient and effective documentation of what transpired and what has followed since this event,” Griffith contended.

With the evidence collected, the cause of the fire at the dormitory is consistent with the reports of professionals who investigated the cause. The panel heard that the fire was not caused by electrical malfunctions associated with the building and secondly, the fire was malicious in nature and caused by an individual.

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Some of the performances at Deep Jale at Kitty Seawall

Some of the winners last year

NEWS

15

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Continuous El Niño conditions expected from Nov 2023 to Jan 2024

T

h e Hydrometeorological Service of the Ministry of Agriculture has, in its

most recent forecast, dated November 2, 2023, predicted below-normal rainfall and above-normal average tem-

perature across Guyana from November 2023 to January 2024.

The rainy season that

Research on mammals’ use of Iwokrama forest roads yields promising results

UG’s PhD Researcher Arianne Harris in the Iwokrama Forest

A

s Guyana joins the rest of the world in observing International Science Day 2023 under the theme “Building Trust in Science”, the Iwokrama Science Programme has announced exciting new results from research that was done in monitoring the Iwokrama Forest.

This recently published study done within the Iwokrama sustainable forestry operation area has shown positive results regarding how mammals use logging roads. Entitled “Use of logging roads by terrestrial mammals in a responsibly managed neotropical rainforest in Guyana”, the study was led by Guyanese PhD student Arianne Harris, who is part of the University of Guyana’s (UG’s) School of Graduate Studies and Research.

This study aimed to assess how logging road use in an internationally certified, low-harvest RIL forest influences terrestrial mammal occupancy.

The reason for looking at this aspect is that poor road development and management can lead to increased vulnerability of terrestrial mammals.

Key takeaways from this study include mammal occupancy in the logged forest and control sites (unlogged forests) were similar; detections of mammals in logged sites were higher along secondary and feeder roads compared to skid trails and the control sites (natural trails); and the results indicate that ‘proper road management geared towards the

the University of Guyana under the Iwokrama Science Programme with data supplied from Operation Wallacea expeditions through Dr. Matt Hallet, with funding support from the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.

Noteworthy is that three rangers associated with Iwokrama are recognized as co-authors of this publication.

Harris’s PhD was funded by the ExxonMobil Foundation.

She has submitted her thesis to UG for review and assessment, and she is currently an Instructor in the Biology Department at the University of Guyana.

Iwokrama has been conducting sustainable forestry operations using Reduced Impact

Camera trap image of a jaguar on a forest road in the Iwokrama forestry area

monitoring and guarded access of logging roads can have a positive effect on terrestrial mammal occurrence within responsibly managed rainforests.’

This research was conducted in partnership with

Logging (RIL) techniques (RIL) since 2007. These activities are executed within its Sustainable Use Area, and are internationally certified for the use of best practice methods.

Presidents Ali, Lula discuss...

After calling for good faith and the avoidance of any action that would aggravate or extend the controversy, Dujarric noted that “in January 2018, after carefully analysing developments in the good offices process that had taken place over the preceding years, the Secretary General, in the exercise of the power and responsibility conferred on him by the 1966 Geneva Agreement, chose the International Court of Justice as the means that was next to be used for the solution of the border controversy between the two countries”.

President Ali on Thursday also briefed President Lula on the upcoming Caribbean Community (Caricom) Heads of Government meeting in Guyana in February 2024 and discussed the possibility of a Brazil-Caricom Summit during that time.

Guyana will assume the chairmanship of Caricom in January 2024 for six months.

President Ali was joined

by Minister Todd during Thursday’s virtual meeting with the Brazilian leader.

Last month, the Venezuelan National Electoral Council published a list of five questions that it plans to put before the

Venezuelan people in a referendum set for December 3, 2023. The referendum will seek the Venezuelan people’s approval to, among other things, annex Essequibo and create a Venezuelan state.

This particular question (#5) also seeks the citizens’ approval for Venezuela to grant citizenship and identity cards to residents of Essequibo.

The Guyana Government has since sought the ICJ’s intervention to prevent Venezuela from taking action through its planned referendum to annex Guyana’s Essequibo region.

The World Court has set Tuesday, November 14, 2023, for a special sitting to hear Guyana’s request regarding Venezuela’s planned referendum. The court will also hear from the Venezuelan side as well.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Government on Monday passed a motion in the National Assembly, denouncing Venezuela’s effort to threaten Guyana and by extension, the Region’s peace and security, as well as Venezuela’s illegal referendum on annexing Essequibo. The motion was approved unanimously by the Government and Opposition

FROM PAGE 10

sides during a special sitting.

Over the past few weeks, Guyana has been informing regional and international partners of Venezuela’s planned referendum, which has been criticised by the United States; Caricom, and the Organisation of American States (OAS) as well as several nations in the region, including Brazil. There is a consensus that Venezuela’s referendum threatens the peace, security, and stability of the region.

Last week, Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips, appeared before the OAS Permanent Council during a Hybrid Special Session requested by Guyana, where he highlighted concerns regarding the planned referendum on the Essequibo region and also of the Spanishspeaking nation’s increase in military troops near the border.

At that session, hemispheric members of the OAS Permanent Council also joined in showing solidarity towards Guyana against Venezuela’s heightened aggression. Among the countries declaring their support for Guyana was Brazil, through its Representative at the OAS, Ambassador Benoni Belli. (G8)

lasts from December to January usually brings wet conditions in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, and northern Region 6. This period is also considered the ‘short’ wet season, with the transition starting from mid- to late November.

The highest occurrence of short-duration, high-intensity rainfall is observed during this period, which often leads to flash flooding.

The ongoing El Niño phase is expected to continue throughout and beyond the November 2023 to January 2024 period. As a consequence, rainfall amounts are expected to be less than the historical average. Further, southern sections of Regions 6 and 8 and all of Region 9 will continue to experience dry conditions.

As a result of the projected drier-than-usual conditions, water supply in conservancies, reservoirs, and inland rivers across Regions 9, 8 and southern Region 6 can be expected to remain

low, while supply levels in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and northern Region 6 would be increased, but slower than usual.

Though higher-than-usual dry days and spells can be expected, the potential for flash flooding due to heavy rainfall events remains high during December and January.

When compared to recent months, a general cooling of temperatures is expected. In spite of the temperature reduction, both day and nighttime temperatures are expected to be warmer than usual (above normal) for this time of year. Additionally, the forecast indicates that dry days will be significantly warmer than wet days.

The Hydrometeorological Service recommends that opportunities for rainwater harvesting be maximized across the country. Heat will continue to be of concern during dry days, and it is therefore recommended that citizens

take steps to maintain their health, and farmers provide shelters for animals.

Notwithstanding, outdoor activities may be interrupted by high-intensity, shortduration rainfall events that are likely to cause localized flash flooding. While cooling temperatures and increasing rainfall activity will reduce the risk of bush/forest fires along the coast, the risk remains high for southern Guyana, including Region 9 and parts of Regions 6 and 8.

The Hydrometeorological Service will provide updates to its seasonal outlook as new information becomes available, and recommends that special attention be paid to daily short-range forecasts emanating from the National Weather Watch Center, including the daily weather briefs, outlooks, and advisories. Further information can be accessed via the Service’s website www.hydromet.gov. gy or by calling the forecast desk at 261-2284 or 261-2216.

16 NEWS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GAWU, GTU welcome announcement of bonus, increases for working class - Teachers’ Union remains optimistic on agreed "sustainable package" for educators

P

resident Dr Irfaan Ali has recently announced a one-off bonus of $25,000 to sugar workers, and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) believes that this is another positive step towards addressing the needs of the working class in Guyana.

“It clearly indicates the President’s and his Administration’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of ordinary citizens. It is worth noting that President Ali has, on several occasions, emphasised the importance of ensuring that all Guyanese benefit equally from the country’s wealth. This latest move is a concrete demonstration of Irfaan Ali Government's commitment to fulfilling that promise, and a testimony to being an ally of the workers,” the trade union stated in a missive to the media.

Further, the union stated that during the coalition regime, sugar workers were subjected to differential treatment, and were denied any pay rise or bonus. This unfair treatment, the union added, indicated that sugar workers were considered inferior and unworthy of the same bene-

The Guyana Teachers’ Union has also welcomed the announcement made by the Head of State, while adding that it will immediately benefit approximately 4,500 teachers, which is 37.5 per cent of the number of teachers nationwide.

GTU President Mark Lyte

fits and improvements their colleagues in other state sectors received.

“That discrimination against the hard-working and dedicated sugar workers was a blatant disregard for their contributions to the industry and the economy. It is therefore commendable that the current administration has included them, marking a significant departure from past practices”, the GAWU has said.

Further, GAWU stat-

ed that the current Administration's treatment of sugar workers, including the reopening of the Rose Hall Estate, is well received, and the workers are grateful for the return of dignity and respect.

“The one-off bonus is cause for celebration. The workers are optimistic that their pay will soon be addressed, and they look forward to continuing their work with enthusiasm and dedication”, GAWU has said.

“This is apart from the across-the-board bonus of $25,000 for all public servants and other categories of workers. The teaching fraternity has over 13,000 teachers, most of whom are below the status of SM/HoD. One thing that is noted from this announcement is that there are incentives for improved qualifications, inclusive of GOAL degrees,” the GTU has said.

“The Guyana Teachers’ Union is not averse to teachers receiving added financial benefits whenever it is of-

fered, but still sees the need for collective bargaining so that teachers of all categories (senior or junior) benefit. The President, in his announcement, stated that another statement would be made regarding salary increases for teachers (at) some time; hence the union believes there is still time for engagement to address the percentage before the year ends.”

The Teachers Union added that teachers across Guyana, especially seniors, would be elated about duty-free becoming available for those with three years remaining.

“We have long advocated that all seniors be given a duty-free concession. Presently, there are over five hundred teachers that will be eligible this year. The Union welcomes this decision to award teachers within the status duty-free, but hopes that 2000cc will be the ceiling.”

In addition, the Union stated that teachers with added qualifications would certainly enjoy the allowances; however, it asked that these allowances be tax-free.

“Currently, allowances given are taxed after being add-

ed to the teacher’s gross salary. Hinterland teachers will also benefit from the increased RAI, which should cushion in some way the high cost of living these teachers endure there”, the GTU has said.

Further, GTU noted that the Government has been incrementally addressing proposed matters outlined in its submitted multi-year proposal.

“We believe that the collective bargaining process would have enabled us (Government and Union) to arrive at a consensus early, so that teachers would have had a clear understanding of their benefits.”

The Union remains patient and optimistic that the Government will agree to sit, discuss, and agree on a sustainable package for educators, who have been making Guyana proud at external examinations.

“Teachers have been putting in the hard yards over the years; hence, the compensation packages must reflect early on how each teacher will benefit over time. This would facilitate long-term plans for teachers' families”, the GTU has said.

GPF launches Road Safety Month in Reg 2

School children as they march in observance of Road Safety Month

Police officers during the parade on Wednesday

I

n an effort to emphasize road safety as a crucial societal concern, the Guyana Police Force (GPF), in collaboration with the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) and the Home Affairs Ministry (MoHA), on Wednesday launched National Road Safety Month in the Region 2 township of Anna Regina.

Under the theme “Road safety is not a slogan”, the launch saw a colourful road parade followed by poetry and dances that emphasized the profound effects that traffic deaths have on families and communities.

To promote awareness and education, GPF Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh, called for engagements in bars, schools, and parking lots as part of a comprehensive outreach plan.

Singh also emphasized the necessity of eliminating any complacency or compro-

A dramatic poem done by students

mise in the application of regulations, as he emphasised the critical role that enforcement plays in preserving the integrity of the road safety process.

As such, he urged those present to use the road properly in order that they and others can save lives, time, and money.

He advised that since the Christmas season is ap-

proaching, people must take responsibility for their actions. He also cautioned that persons intending to drink should have a designated diver.

The Traffic Chief also admonished, "Every life lost is one too many; avoid speeding and drinking, and follow all traffic laws."

During his feature presentation, Minister Robeson

A section of the gathering on Wednesday at the launch at Anna Regina

Benn emphasized that the collective responsibility resides not just within Government programmes, but also requires active participation from businesses and residents alike in maintaining road safety.

He stressed that road safety transcends individual concerns, and is in fact everyone's concern. Benn

detailed how road safety affects public health, societal well-being, economic stability, and transportation.

"The statistics reveal that a significant portion of accidents - nearly 80% - are linked to speeding. However, this term encompasses various aspects beyond merely accelerating; such as alcohol misuse, distracted driving

due to texting, smoking, or even listening to loud music while in public transport," Minister Benn posited.

Further, he said, "We must pivot our focus on changing the behaviour of our youth beyond just delivering messages. The concern lies in how we can effectively shift their mindset and habits."

Benn advised drivers to adhere to the rules of the road, and be cautious at all times. He noted that many of the lives lost in accidents are those of young people, who may have played a vital role in society.

In addition, he urged members of the public not to be hostile to law enforcement officers when they are carrying out their duties, roles, and functions. And Minister Benn urged traffic ranks/officers not to get involved in confrontations with members of the public.

National Road Safety Month is a significant step toward instilling behavioural changes, encouraging accountability, and eventually ensuring safer roads for all. This collaborative effort shows the critical need for a cultural transformation in views toward road usage, and the need for concerted action from all sectors of society.

Road safety is more than a catchphrase; it is a way of life.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Khushal Singh is UG’s 2023 Valedictorian …cops President’s Medal for Best Graduating Student

K

hushal Singh, a 26-year-old who completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Public Management with a perfect GPA of 4.0, has emerged as the University of Guyana’s 2023 valedictorian.

It was announced during the institution’s convocation ceremony on Thursday that Singh copped both the President’s Medal for the Best Graduating Bachelor’s Degree Student and the Prime Minister’s Medal for the Best Graduating Student with a Degree in Public Management.

Singh, a resident of Enterprise, East Coast Demerara (ECD), is one of more than 3000 graduands who are walking the graduation stage during 57th Convocation exercise. In his reaction to the news of receiving the valedictorian award, Singh said he was extremely happy to cop the coveted prize.

He shared, “I feel very happy, proud and fortunate. It is an incredibly rewarding experience. It is a sign that I have worked hard, achieved success, and earned the respect of my peers. It is a reminder of how far I have come, and the potential I have to achieve even more. It is also a great opportunity to inspire others and show them what hard work can achieve.”

The graduate, the second of three siblings, attended the Enterprise Primary School and then

Honorary doctorate recipient, Keith Waithe

Honorary doctorate recipient, Frank Woon-A-Tai

went on to acquire his secondary education at the Bishop’s High in Georgetown. Coming from very humble beginnings, this never stopped him from dreaming big.

“My family understands the value of education, and always kept pushing me to do the best I can and to complete the programme, even though I was faced with some challenges,” he said.

The Valedictorian, who is also an avid chess player, explained that he was able to accomplish this feat in three years.

“I had to pull additional courses and do summer courses. This meant lectures clashing, several tests in one day, and a greater amount of effort and work being required.

With classes, assignments, work, social activities, and other commitments, it can

be hard to balance everything,” he explained.

In response to how he managed to achieve this level of success, he said, “I was able to overcome these challenges by being disciplined, consistent, and utilise goal-setting. I had to prioritise lectures and tutorials, and set short- and long-term goals. This enabled me to keep track of remaining assessments and plan accordingly.

Taking on so much in a short time requires you to be persistent and highly organised.”

Singh said that this is not the end of his academic journey, as he intends to keep going after new knowledge so that he is equipped with the skills needed to make a positive difference in his community and country.

“I aspire to develop myself academically with a

master’s degree and a doctorate, and serve in a capacity where I am able to positively influence policies, as I believe these greatly shape the future of individuals, societies, and nations. Additionally, I aim at becoming a successful entrepreneur and creating fruitful businesses that will make a progressive impact on my nation.”

Speaking directly to persons who have not yet taken the step of pursuing tertiary education, he encouraged, “Take the leap. I would encourage anyone to pursue an education at the University of Guyana, as the institution is a springboard for achieving your dreams and a better life.

The experiences will be life-changing and the opportunities that will come will be endless. Have faith in yourself. I know there will be obstacles, but those, too, shall pass.”

In addition to Singh, several other outstanding graduands will be receiving special awards. These include Dhanraj Baljit who completed a Bachelor in Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), and will be receiving the Prime Minister’s Award for the Best Graduating Student in the School of Medicine.

Keon Heywood, who will graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education (Secondary) will share the Council of the University Prize with Marleysa Bishop, who will

UG Valedictorian Khushal Singh

graduate with a Degree in Food Science.

The Council of the University prize is awarded to the graduating student who has attained at least a “Pass with Credit” and has made the greatest contribution in other areas of university activities. Heywood will also share the Dennis Irvine Award with Shedella Hodge, who completed a Degree in Social Work and will be recognised for being the student who has made the greatest contribution to the cultural life of the University.

Ruth Manbodh will be presented with The Chancellor’s Medal for being named the Second-Best Graduating Bachelor’s Degree Student. Manbodh will be graduating with a Degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences.

Sarah Hannah Grannum, who is graduating with a Degree in

Law, will be given The Pro-Chancellor’s Medal for being the best graduating Law student at the University.

Feryal Khan will be presented with The Campus Award for The Best Graduating Student at any of the campuses, apart from the winner of the President’s Medal.

Khan, who attends UG’s Tain Campus, will graduate with a Degree in Management.

Moses Rover, who has completed a Degree in Biology, will receive the University of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS) Award for being the best Graduating Student.

This year's convocation ceremonies are extremely special as the University is proudly celebrating its sixtieth anniversary under the theme “Consistently We Rise, Changing the World in Infinite Ways”. The ceremonies for graduands of the Turkeyen Campus are being held at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) in Georgetown from November 9 – 11 and for Tain Campus on November 18 on the University Lawns, Berbice Campus.

The University is also conferring Honorary Doctoral Degrees on ten outstanding Guyanese in various areas of expertise.

On Thursday, these were conferred on decorated karate master Frank WoonA-Tai and award-winning flutist Keith Waithe.

Labourer gets 16 years for “senseless killing” of Coldingen fisherman in 2020

Jailed: Vivekanand Ramroop

O

n Thursday, V i v e k a n a n d Ramroop — who had earlier entered a guilty plea to a charge of murder — was slapped with a 16year prison sentence, less time already served on remand.

The 24-year-old had the punishment imposed on him

by Justice Simone MorrisRamlall in the Demerara High Court when the case was called.

In January 2020, Ramroop, formerly of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara (ECD), confessed to killing Mukesh Mangra, 23, a fisherman of Coldingen, ECD.

Murdered: Mukesh Mangra

Freed: Roy Jaglall

Ramroop was represented by defence attorney Donette Anthony, while the State was represented by prosecuting attorneys-at-law Delon Fraser and Rbina Christmas.

A probation officer disclosed during Ramroop's sentencing hearing that the now-dead man's mother

had described the dead man as loving and kind.

“I cry every day, especially when it is his birthday.

My son used to take care of me. Since the death of my son, my life has not been the same,” the grieving mother said in her impact statement, which was read aloud by the prosecutor.

As a result of her son’s untimely demise, the woman related, she now struggles to maintain her family financially. She said that following her husband's passing, Mangra had left school and started working to provide for their family.

Mangra's mother demanded that Ramroop receive the harshest punishment possible, telling the probation officer that she has not forgiven him.

Meanwhile, defence counsel Donette Anthony submitted that her client has expressed remorse, and is filled with regret over the loss of a young life. She pleaded with the Judge to take sentencing guidelines into account while determining her client's punishment in light of this.

“He has not sought to waste judicial time,” said Anthony as she alluded to Ramroop’s early guilty plea.

Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall

Anthony stated that her client is an ideal candidate for rehabilitation because of his young age and his promise not to break the law again.

For her part, Prosecutor Christmas emphasized several aggravating elements in her arguments; such as the high frequency of violent murders, the gravity of the offence, and the use of a deadly weapon during the commission of the crime.

TURN TO PAGE 20

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

20 NEWS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Man suing Police, Unicomer Labourer gets 16 years for malicious prosecution for “senseless killing...

FROM PAGE 17

Stanwick Rose

O

n Wednesday, Stanwick Rose filed a lawsuit for malicious prosecution and false imprisonment against the Attorney General of Guyana; the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP); the Commissioner of Police; Police Constable Mark

Griffith and Unicomer Incorporated.

The claim seeking more than $10 million in damages was filed by Attorneyat-Law Donavon Rangiah.

Rose, a former cashier of Unicomer, was charged with two separate indictable offences of ‘larceny by clerk or servant’, contrary to Section 184 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act Chapter 8:01 in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on November 14, 2022.

It was alleged that Rose, being a clerk or servant of Unicomer, stole from Unicomer, $4,697,747 between December 1, 2018, and January 14, 2022.

Further, it was alleged that he stole $500,000 from the business on December 31, 2021.

Rose appeared before Magistrate Rhondell

Attorney-at-Law Donavon Rangiah

Weaver who, in dismissing the charges against him on June 6, held that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case.

Consequently, Rose is now seeking compensation for malicious prosecution and false imprisonment.

According to her, Ramroop had a “round of beers” with his friends after stabbing Mangra and leaving him for dead on the roadway. The prosecutor further declared the murder to be "unprovoked and premeditated," pointing out that the fisherman was denied the chance to have a prosperous and fulfilling life.

According to Justice Morris-Ramlall, this is a situation where a person's "young life" was "snuffed out" before they could realise their full potential. Ramroop and others, according to her, "hunted down" Mangra.

Citing the impact statement of the mother of the deceased, the Judge said a mother has lost her son as well as her caregiver and provider.

Judge Morris-Ramlall noted that she considered

the convict's early guilty plea to be "tactical" in light of the overwhelming evidence against him, but she nevertheless diverged from the customary one-third deduction for an early guilty plea when sentencing the man.

Ramroop's youthful age and his sincerely remorseful attitude were factors that the Judge found favourable.

According to Justice Morris-Ramlall, the fisherman's death was a "senseless killing”.

Mangra, also known as "Paul”, was found dead on the road in his community on the evening of January 18, 2020. He had two stab wounds to his abdomen and lacerations about his body.

The horrifying discovery was made by a painter riding his bicycle home.

Mangra and Ramroop

were not known to each other, court documents revealed.

The evidence showed that Ramroop was one of the men who attacked Mangra and stabbed him twice in the abdomen. The wounded man died a short time after being found bleeding on the road.

Approximately 50 feet from the body, a knife with a blue handle was found. It is unclear why the now-dead man was attacked.

Last month, Ramroop’s co-accused, Roy Jaglall of Annandale, ECD, was freed of murdering Mangra after a jury found him unanimously not guilty on a murder charge. Additionally, the panel voted 10-2 to find him not guilty on the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Attorney-at-Law Domnick Bess represented Jaglall.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023

21

ICC ODI World Cup 2023: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka…

New Zealand almost into 5th consecutive semifinal

-as Sri Lanka’s hopes fade

Lockie Ferguson returned figures of 10-2-35-2

N

Trent Boult struck twice in one over

ew Zealand all but booked their place in the World Cup semifinal against India with a dominant five-wicket win, with 160 balls to spare, against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru.

The result took them to ten points, and a net run rate (NRR) of 0.743; leaving Pakistan needing to beat England by 287 runs, and Afghanistan needing an even more fantastical 438-run win over South Africa, if either are to surpass New Zealand's NRR. As for Sri Lanka, the margin of defeat against New Zealand left them languishing in ninth place, thus out of qualification for the 2025 Champions Trophy. They now need one of England or Bangladesh to suffer defeat

- and Netherlands to lose to India - to the extent that their respective NRRs drop below Sri Lanka's.

New Zealand's win was the product of an all-round performance with bat and ball. While the threat of rain in Bengaluru ultimately proved to be a red herring, winning the toss and putting Sri Lanka in seemed to be the most prudent way to ensure both an NRR-boosting victory as well as hedge against any rain interruptions and DLS interventions.

And so it proved. Despite the loss of some late wickets, Sri Lanka's total of 171 was comfortably dealt with, as Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell all pitched in with forties.

On a pitch that proved

SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka (50 ovs maximum) BATTING R B Pathum Nissanka c †Latham b Southee 2 8 Kusal Perera c Santner b Ferguson 51 28 Kusal Mendis (c)† c Ravindra b Boult 6 7 Sadeera Samarawickrama c Mitchell b Boult 1 2 Charith Asalanka lbw b Boult 8 8 Angelo Mathews c Mitchell b Santner 16 27 Dhananjaya de Silva c Mitchell b Santner 19 24 Chamika Karunaratne c †Latham b Ferguson 6 17 Maheesh Theekshana not out 38 91 Dushmantha Chameera c Boult b Ravindra 1 20 Dilshan Madushanka c †Latham b Ravindra 19 48 Extras (lb 1, w 3) 4 TOTAL46.4 Ov (RR: 3.66) 171 Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Pathum Nissanka, 1.5 ov), 2-30 (Kusal Mendis, 4.1 ov), 3-32 (Sadeera Samarawickrama, 4.4 ov), 4-70 (Charith Asalanka, 8.2 ov), 5-70 (Kusal Perera, 9.3 ov), 6-104 (Angelo Mathews, 16.4 ov), 7-105 (Dhananjaya de Silva, 18.3 ov), 8-113 (Chamika Karunaratne, 23.3 ov), 9-128 (Dushmantha Chameera, 32.1 ov), 10-171 (Dilshan Madushanka, 46.4 ov) • DRS BOWLING O-M-R-W

Trent Boult Tim Southee Lockie Ferguson Mitchell Santner Rachin Ravindra Glenn Phillips

10-3-37-3 8-0-52-1 10-2-35-2 10-2-22-2 7.4-0-21-2 1-0-3-0

New Zealand (T: 172 runs from 50 ovs) BATTING R B Devon Conway c de Silva b Chameera 45 42 Rachin Ravindra c de Silva b Theekshana 42 34 Kane Williamson (c) b Mathews 14 15 Daryl Mitchell c Asalanka b Mathews 43 31 Mark Chapman run out (Samarawickrama/Mathews) 7 6 Glenn Phillips not out 17 10 Tom Latham † not out 2 2 Extras (w 2) 2 TOTAL23.2 Ov (RR: 7.37)172/5 Did not bat: Mitchell Santner, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult Fall of wickets: 1-86 (Devon Conway, 12.2 ov), 2-88 (Rachin Ravindra, 13.3 ov), 3-130 (Kane Williamson, 18.2 ov), 4-145 (Mark Chapman, 20.3 ov), 5-162 (Daryl Mitchell, 22.4 ov) • DRS BOWLING O-M-R-W Dilshan Madushanka 6.2-0-58-0 Maheesh Theekshana 7-0-43-1 Dhananjaya de Silva 2-0-22-0 Dushmantha Chameera 4-1-20-1 Angelo Mathews 4-0-29-2

even better to bat on under lights, Ravindra and Conway put on 86 to break open the chase, before Mitchell's 43 off just 31 balls rammed home the result.

All three fell before the

first slip. Both those wickets were grabbed by the excellent Boult, taking him past 50 wickets in World Cups. He ended this game with a tally of 52 wickets.

But even as wickets fell

Mathews was the first to go in what might have been his last World Cup innings, perhaps even ODI innings. He lunged forward at one that was floated up and then dipped. He failed to get to the pitch, and the bounce and turn did the rest, grazing the outside edge to Mitchell at slip. It was a similar story for Dhananjaya, after another flighted delivery with some a d d e d bounce found its way into Mitchell's h a n d s .

C h a m i k a Karunaratne, mak-

ing just his second appearance at this World Cup, did not fare any better, edging behind Ferguson.

A swift end to the innings seemed imminent, but Maheesh Theekshana, in partnerships with Dushmantha Chameera and Dilshan Madushanka, showed the resistance that was lacking throughout the rest of the innings. In facing 91 deliveries, Theekshana played more balls than all of Sri Lanka's frontline batters combined.

Even Madushanka's 48 balls were more than what any other batter faced, apart from Theekshana.

Theekshana remained unbeaten on 38 - the second-highest scorer of the innings - as the ninth and tenth wicket stands, despite only contributing 58 runs, spanned 139 deliveries. Sri Lanka lost their eighth wicket in the 24th over, but it wasn't until the 47th that New Zealand dismissed them, with Ravindra finding Madushanka's edge for Latham to complete a sharp take.

It took a while for New Zealand to get there, after winning their first four matches and then losing their next four, but this victory has all but ensured a fifth consecutive ODI World Cup semi-final.(ESPNCricInfo)

Young talents to feature at “One Guyana” Basketball League

Daryl Mitchell notched up 43 off 31 balls

finish, but the win was never in doubt. That it was so easy in the end was down to a solid bowling effort and a haphazard outing with the bat for Sri Lanka. New Zealand shared the wickets around, with Lockie Ferguson, Mitchell Santner and Ravindra each picking up two. Trent Boult's 3 for 37 was what had set his side up at the top of Sri Lanka's innings, and it earned him the Player-of-the-Match award.

Such was New Zealand's dominance that they won so comfortably despite dropping three catches. The first was of Kusal Perera without scoring, as Tom Latham grassed a straightforward caught behind. Latham got his shot at redemption a ball later though, with Pathum Nissanka nicking through for an even more simple chance.

Kusal Mendis fell a few overs later, splicing a leading edge to deep third while looking to hit over midwicket; and Sadeera Samarawickrama following soon after, as he edged through to Mitchell at

at one end, Perera functioned as a one-man army, finding boundaries all around the Chinnaswamy Stadium and punishing New Zealand for that early drop. Two pickedup sixes over long-on off Tim Southee were highlights of some belligerent ball striking as he brought up his 50 off just 22 deliveries - the joint second-fastest by a Sri Lankan in ODI World Cups.

An over later, though, Charith Asalanka was adjudged lbw off Boult after a well-taken review, and Perera fell a few deliveries later, getting under a delivery from Ferguson that was not full enough to drive, and slicing it to cover.

Sri Lanka were in free fall at 70 for 5 in the tenth over, before Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva put up mild resistance. Dhananjaya was reprieved too, courtesy of Latham's second drop of the game, a tough chance off Santner during that stand of 34. Santner's guile, control, and subtle variations in pace, however, were eventually too good for the pair.

T

he One Guyana Basketball League will be rejuvenated at the National Gymnasium on Saturday 11th November with three exhilarating games.

The Harpy Eagle will commence the action at 17:00hrs as the Black Caimans will look to secure their first win against the GDF, currently sitting in fourth place with one point.

The Ravens are currently sitting in second place, and will be looking to become victorious against the Mambas, who have a game in hand and currently occupy fourth place.

The action will conclude with the Harpy Eagle Conference seeing young and furious Bounty Colts featuring Domitre Rankin coming up against The Nets.

Eagerly looking for a win, they are placed in 5th.

The tournament kicked off with 14 teams in the Harpy Eagle and Jaguar Conferences, with a projected 56 to 63

games. The tournament will see teams from the Jaguar and Harpy Eagle Conferences playing the teams within their conference twice, with the top four teams qualifying for the playoffs. The number one-ranked team plays the four-ranked team, and the number two team plays the third-ranked team. Winners of the playoff games will then advance to their Conference Finals, where they will play the best two of three games to determine who advances to the National Finals.

The tournament-winning team will receive $1 million along with trophies, while the runners-up will receive $500,000 plus trophies.

The tournament was made possible by sponsorship from the Culture, Y o u t h and Sport Ministry; G-Boats Guyana; the National Sports Commission; Guyana Basketball Federation, and Georgetown Basketball Federation.

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023

Hurricanes thrash Pride to book spot in final A

dominant performance from the Leeward Islands Hurricanes against Barbados Pride, yesterday at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, earned them a place in the CG United Regional Super50 final against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

Hurricanes won the toss

overs. Thus the Hurricanes won the match by a massive 155-run margin.

From inception of the match, the Hurricanes paced their innings with precision, their openers forging a 61-run foundation. Justin Greaves was the architect of that partnership, scoring his third half-century of the

Hayden Walsh scored a brisk half century (CWI photo) and decided to bat first, posting 290 all out in 49.4 overs before restricting Barbados Pride to their lowest total of the season: 135 all out in 30.2

season to add to his one century. Greaves, who now sits as the tournament’s leading run-getter, stroked five boundaries during his 76-

ball 63.

His opening partner Kieran Powell had a good start, hitting 28 runs from 23 balls, inclusive of two fours and a six, as they reached the 50-run partnership from as many balls.

When Powell fell to Dominic Drakes, Greaves added 57 runs for the second wicket with Keacy Carty, who played a patient knock for his 55-ball 32. Greaves fell shortly after, bowled by Kemar Smith with his side at 131 for three; but it was over to Jahmar Hamilton, who coasted to a top score of 76.

Hamilton, who also chalked up his third half-century and highest score of the season, carved 10 boundaries, including four sixes.

With Hurricanes slipping to 179 for six and an interruption by rain with the score on 185 for six, Hamilton added 101 for the seventh wicket with Hayden Walsh, who smashed five sixes and a four on his way to 57 from just 45 balls.

Smith was the pick of the bowlers, registering his maiden five-wicket haul: 5-43, while Drakes and Raymon Reifer each took two wickets.

In the chase, the Pride batsmen struggled to counter Alzarri Joseph early on, losing three wickets inside the first powerplay, including the prized wicket of Shai Hope, as they slipped to 49

ExxonMobil Guyana/New Era Ent Futsal kicks off tonight

Aubrey Major Jr, Co-Director of New Era Entertainment, accepting the sponsorship cheque from Ryan Hoppie, ExxonMobil Guyana’s Community Relations Advisor for Public and Government Affairs. They were joined by Kenrick Noel, Shareef Major, and Keeran Willam

E

xxonMobil Guyana and New Era Entertainment joined forces in a grand spectacle that excitedly made even the futsal ball blush, as they launched the 2023 tournament which kicks off tonight.

The tournament, set to unfold over nine riveting days, will take place on the revamped Retrieve Hard Court in Linden.

Kenrick Noel, one of the principals of New Era Entertainment, declared that they’re “committed to ensuring utmost professionalism in team attendance during the march past and the conduct of teams throughout the tournament”.

This tourney adopts the round-robin format, and the winners, 1st through 4th place, are to receive the following financial rewards: $1,000,000, $500,000, $200,000, and $100,000, respectively.

Twenty formidable teams from Linden are poised to engage in epic battles, with five teams on standby (as the name suggests), just in case someone decides to ditch the parade on opening night.

The roster of participating teams reads like a who’s who of futsal: Anybody Gets It, Blueberry Hill, Coomacka, DC Ballers, Fearless, Finishers, Genna Syde, Goal is Money, Gorilla, Golden Stars, Hard Knocks, HH Ballers, Hill Side Ballers, LA Ballers, One Side, The Money Team, West Side Ballers, YMCA, Young Gunners, and Youths United.

Ryan Hoppie, ExxonMobil Guyana’s Community Relations Advisor, shed light on the goals of this escapade by stating, “One of the goals is to ensure that we have good, wholesome fun at this year’s tournament, and to ensure

that this provides a platform for alternative types of social activities that can foster camaraderie and a level of discipline while also providing an opportunity for players to earn some winnings”.

Mark your calendars for the November 10, 11, 12, 15, 17, 18, 22, and 24 spectacles, with the grand finale taking place on Nov 25th. The victors will not only bask in glory, but also execute a community project in collaboration with ExxonMobil Guyana.

Team Unknown, last year’s champs, lit up the Green Valley community with streetlights.

Retrieve Hard Court received a Cinderellalike makeover in partnership with New Era Entertainment, ExxonMobil Guyana, and the Ministry of Sport. The result? An upgraded playing surface, washroom facilities, a fence, lighting, and seating.

Alzarri Joseph took 3-30 (CWI photo) for three. Hope fell for 19, which included four bound-

aries.

Shamarh Brooks was re-

moved for 13 off the first delivery after the powerplay, while Kraigg Brathwaite followed shortly after for 11.

Roston Chase revived the innings for a short while with 35 runs from 36 balls, hitting three fours and a six; but with Daniel Doram in ripping form, he found the going too much to handle.

Reifer scored 14, while Roshon Primus made 10, but no other batsman could get into double figures.

Joseph ended with 3-30 while Doram picked up 3-33; however, Walsh returned to bag 2-13, propelling himself to the top of the bowling charts as the leading wicket taker. Kofi James supported with 2-36.

Durban Park Football Complex will revolutionise football in Guyana - McIntosh

stone of President Forde’s vision for Guyana’s infrastructure development.

CLASSIFIED ADS ASTROLOGY

GFF President Wayne Forde and One CONCACAF Head Howard McIntosh inspecting work ongoings at Durban Park

T

he Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) Durban Park Football Complex will, on completion, transform the landscape of football infrastructure in Guyana, says Head of One CONCACAF and Caribbean Projects, Howard McIntosh.

The One CONCACAF official conveyed this statement during an official 6th November site tour, alongside Guyana Football Federation President (GFF) Wayne Forde, to assess the completed first phase of the project, which included the clearance and filling of half of the 7.3 acres by local contracting firm McGregor’s Real Estate Development Inc. McIntosh restated CONCACAF’s commitment to the construction of a stateof-the-art, multi-million-dollar stadium in Georgetown with a seating capacity of 10,400, a main pitch, mini pitches for grassroots programmes, and office space for the GFF. Phase one of the contract was funded to the tune of $23.6 million by CONCACAF One. “The potential that exists here at Durban Park, for what we know is planned, is tremendous, and will change the landscape, change the infrastructure landscape forever for football in Guyana.

CONCACAF is in full support of what’s happening, and working closely with FIFA of

course to make these things happen,” McIntosh has said.

He added that infrastructure remains a significant challenge in the region, and noted that he is pleased to see the project moving forward.

“We want to see the other half get done, but more critically, we want to see that vision which I know would be unfolding in a short period of time,” McIntosh said.

During the site visit, President Forde expressed his gratitude to CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani for the introduction of the One CONCACAF initiative, which continues to provide essential support in helping Guyana elevate football to new heights.

“I was able to share with CONCACAF and my colleagues at FIFA the conceptual designs that have been worked on by SRKN. At the moment, we are having active conversation with huge private partners that will be a part of this historic stadium that we intend to build here”, he said.

The top GFF official added that GFF Technical Director Bryan Joseph and his team are working on soon hosting “some of the grassroots activities that are being organised within the Wortmanville area on the site.”

The Durban Park Football Complex, projected to be finished within four years, represents the corner-

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23

GOA elated with Pan Am Games performances – Munroe

GOA President Godfrey Munroe and General Secretary Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon taking in a boxing match at the Pan Am Games

O

n Sunday last, Guyana concluded their outing at the 2023 Pan American Games with a 3-medal haul, a feat that the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) is happy with.

As told by President Godfrey Munroe, there were also a number of commendable performances and inspiring stories, with the medals being the cherry on top.

“I think we’re truly elated, from the Guyana Olympic Association side, about the team’s performance. One of the unique aspects of sports in Guyana is that we were able to qualify 9 disciplines.

That’s tremendous, because it

shows that we have a strong sports programme,” Munroe shared in an invited comment with Guyana Times Sport.

He went on to break down some performances, stating, “Ultimately, at the Pan American level is a very high level. We saw a lot that we could build on if we go along the sports disciples. We had the girl from taekwondo, Ceili; she narrowly lost her match 2-1. We had a young lifter, Krystol Chanderban, she showed great potential.

There was also Shammah.

You know, he was lifting above his kilograms.”

In hailing the achievements of Guyana’s medalists at the Games, Munroe made

a revelation that adds more inspiration to Leslain Baird’s triumph. The GOA President divulged, “In the realm of the athletics, I think that was the crowning one. Quite elated. I know for Javelin - historic in its nature – Leslain, in one point in time, people don’t know, but these are the stories that need to be told.

[Leslain] was not even on the list to participate, then we were looking at, it was a mistake on the organizers side and the IAAF, in that his throw was still better than some of the other persons that qualified. So, that was pointed out, and we made the necessary representation. That could’ve been a missed medal.

“It was great to see Jasmine coming to the fore and winning. That, in our estimation, inspires a whole generation of athletes. In addition to Emanuel, you could’ve seen just by a couple seconds he missed out gold. So, a lot of building blocks for us, for which we’re truly elated. Shows us that we just need to put the other aspects in place,” he further related.

Munroe went on to reveal that rewards for outstand-

11 graduate from MACORP/GFF scholarship programme

MACORP General Manager German Consuerga and GFF President Wayne Forde taking a photo opportunity with the graduates

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a c h i n e r y Corporation of Guyana (MACORP) has expanded its roster of certified excavator operators with an additional eleven graduates from the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) scholarship programme.

The batch of new operators, comprising nine men and two women, were congratulated by GFF President Wayne Forde and MACORP President and General Manager German Consuegra during a simple graduation ceremony held on November 8 at the heavy-duty machinery company headquarters in Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Sasha Greaves, Anneicia Cole, Jomar Adams, Trevon Alder, Diquan McLean, Ian McLennan, DeAndre Linton, Antonio Allen, Mark Hilkes, Gaibert Salty and Benedict Gomes, originating from

the Rupununi in Region Nine (Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo), were praised for proficiently completing the three-week comprehensive theoretical and practical training programme that commenced on September 4.

MACORP's President and General Manager, Consuegra, affirmed the company’s ongoing commitment to providing players with additional skills that contribute to their personal well-being and the overall development of the country.

“We have been committed to the Guyana Football Federation to provide training to our players as part of our social responsibility commitment to Guyana,” he told the graduates, adding that the scholarship programme helps participants to “acquire real knowledge and abilities”.

We give you the skills to be able to contribute to the

growth and to the progress of your country,” he explained.

Launched in 2021, the scholarship programme is structured to offer individuals engaged in football the chance to gain new skills that can be applied for livelihoods beyond their active football careers. As of now, 32 footballers and federation officials have accessed the life-changing skills development scholarship programme.

During his brief comments, GFF President Wayne Forde emphasised that it was the third graduation ceremony for the federation's scholarship recipients, and he expressed gratitude to MACORP for their ongoing generosity.

He added that the central focus of the federation on football development includes the nurturing of individual development.

“The Guyana Football Federation can sometimes be perceived as an organization that is purely concentrating on football activities; such as running tournaments, developing coaches and referees.

The truth being that while we are tasked primarily with developing football, our core duty is to develop people.

Because the people that serve our fraternity is at the heart of everything we do”, he said.

President Forde conveyed to the graduates that the skills and education acquired over the past three weeks would open doors as Guyana expands its economic opportunities for all citizens.

The federation remains committed to enhancing the lives of footballers across Guyana.

The GOA is quite elated with the achievements of Jasmine Abrams, Emanuel Archibald and Leslain Baird ing performances are on the boss highlighted a few factors doing baseline evaluation of cards for the GOA, but not- that can produce better re- where they are, working with ed that corporate entities can sults for Guyana’s athletes. nutritionists to see their paralso play a role in that proMunroe explained, ticular diet, working with “Facilities are a key pillar on blood group testing and so cess.

“One of the key things which sport has to be played. on to see where nutritionally we’d want to do also is reward I think Government is doing they’re lacking, and stuff like those efforts. I think (that) as its part in that regard. It will that. Good things to come, an Olympic Committee, we take time. I think one of the and we want to set these as have to lead; and I think sim- key elements is, tactically, foundational things that will ilarly Guyana and the corpo- we’ve got to evolve, our ath- move sport along,” he further rate side and so on can help letes also, in terms of strat- disclosed. support these athletes as egy. You know, the aspect of Guyana’s medals at the they move into the Olympic fitness is one, and the smart- Games came from Jasmine Abrams in the Women’s year, because a lot of invest- er science, nutrition.” ment will be necessary but “Those are the things 100M, Emanuel Archibald in we’ve got to start moving to. the Men’s 100M, and Leslain quite enthused,” he shared.

With the Paris 2024 We’ve actually started the Baird in the Men’s Javelin.

Olympic Games and a num- sports medicine science work- Guyana secured one silver ber of other international shop. We’re basically going to and 2 bronze respectively. events still to come, the GOA be working with the athletes (Jemima Holmes)

National Seniors Championships set for December 2 at NCC

Flashback! A look at some of the competitors in last year’s National Senior Championships

T

he Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GBBFF), in collaborative with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, is set to host its flagship competition: the National Seniors Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, on December 2 at the National Cultural Centre.

As its last Seniors competition before the hosting of CAC in Guyana next year October, all CAC 2024 hopefuls will be on stage at the Mandela Avenue venue.

Fittingly, the Championships have been titled “Mr. Guyana 2023: Clash of the Baddest”.

While the competition has so far attracted the financial support of the Sport

Ministry and consistent supporter Fitness Express, several other business entities and individuals are expected to come on board financially.

Registration of athletes has already commenced, with several elite athletes already confirming their participation. Among the athletes confirmed for the much anticipated ‘Clash of the Baddest’ are reigning Mr. Guyana Bodybuilding Champion Darious Ramsammy, reigning Mr. Guyana Men’s Physique Champion Emmerson Campbell, reigning Ms. Guyana Bikini Champion Hannah Rampersaud, CAC 2023 gold medalist Nicholas Albert, CAC 2023 silver medalist Julio Sinclair, CAC

2022 medalist Christina Ramsammy, reigning Novice Bodybuilding Champion 2023 Anthony Mc Lean, reigning Intermediate Champion Seon Budhan, reigning Novice and Intermediate Bikini Champion Melitha Anderson, reigning Novice and Intermediate Champion Vanisha Munroe, and many other senior athletes.

An official list of all athletes competing will be presented by November 24, 2023. On the night of the competition, there will be in excess of 30 athletes competing in the 5 (five) different segments of competition. Those segments are: Bodybuilding, Men’s Physique, Bikini, Wellness and Fitness.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023

Sport is no longer our game, it’s our business

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