Guyana Times - Friday, November 25, 2022

Pedestrian killed in Corentyne accident

Apedestrian was on Wednesday af ternoon killed af ter he was struck down by a motor car along the Friendship Public Road, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Dead is 35-year-old Parmanand Budhu of Lesbeholden North, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne.

He had just exited a car when he was struck.

According to the Police, he was struck by motor car PAC 960, driven by an 18-year-old lad of Alness Village, Corentyne.

The accident oc curred around 01:30h on Wednesday.

The now-dead man’s mother, Nandrine Budhu said family members were working on the farm and not at home and it was late in the afternoon when a neighbour informed her about the accident.

“Dem boys over there came and told us that a car knock him down and he dead,” she said, not ing that one of her other

sons went to the scene and then to the hospital where Police showed him a pic ture of the accident victim and asked him if it was in deed his brother.

Budhu said she re ceived no information as to what may have transpired.

Police said the motor car was proceeding east along the northern drive lane of the said road at a fast pace. According to re ports, Budhu is said to have just exited a car on the western side and al legedly ran from west to east across the road and into the path of the mo tor car. He was picked up in an unconscious condi tion by the driver and pub lic-spirited citizens and conveyed to Port Mourant Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Budhu, apart from be ing a farmer, also worked as a tractor operator. According to his broth er Chetram, the now-dead man had gone to get mate rials for his farm. He said he spoke with his broth er at home on Wednesday and he left to get shrubs which they use on the farm to support vegetable vines. Chetram said he was told that the car was speeding and supported that notion by pointing out that there were no skid marks on the road.

Guyana Times saw Police markings at the ac cident scene. According to those markings, the car would have stopped 100 feet away from the point of impact. “You see that the car did not pull brakes. There is no impressing on the road and the car front bend. The car knock the guy and they say the guy pitch up on the road and fall down back,” Budhu’s elder brother said.

driver remains in custody pending investiga tions. (G4)

The

Dead: Parmanand Budhu

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Friday, November 25 –04:00h-05:30h and Saturday, November 26 – 04:15h-05:45h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, November 25 –05:05h-06:35h and Saturday, November 26 – 05:50h-07:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Cloudy skies are expected with light rain showers and thundery showers in the late afternoon and early evening hours . Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to West South-Westerly between 0.89 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 17:21h reaching a maximum height of 2.84 metres.

Low Tide: 10:55h and 23:26h reaching minimum heights of 0.56 metre and 0.37 metre.

President Ali announces additional 5%21% salary increases for Joint Services

…some 8000 persons to benefit from over $1B

One week after an nouncing across-theboard salary increas es for all public servants, President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday further rolled out additional salary adjust ments for members of the Joint Services that will see ranks getting pay raises ranging from 5.8 per cent to 21.7 per cent.

This latest announce ment is in keeping with a promise the Head of State made last week regarding phased increases for select categories of employees, in cluding the Disciplined Services. This pay hike, which will take effect from January 2023, was an nounced for ranks at vary ing levels within each of the Joint Services’ agencies and will be in addition to the re cent eight per cent given to all public servants.

According to President Ali, these increases will ad dress the anomalies and dis parities in the disciplined forces as it relates to compa rable positions and differen tiated levels of experience. He added too that there was a mindfulness of the need to improve competitiveness, particularly at the entry lev el, so that the Disciplined Services continue to be an attractive employment pros pect for young people in Guyana.

Guyana Police Force

In the Guyana Police Force, Constables got their salary adjusted upwards from $94,907 to $102,488, representing an additional eight per cent increase on the current minimum salary paid to this rank level.

Further, Constables with five to 10 years of experi ence will now receive no less than $110,000, and those with more than 10 years’ ex perience will get $115,000, which in some instances is almost a $19,000 increase.

For Lance Corporals, their minimum salary is now $115,000 – a 5.8 per cent in crease from the $108,719 they are currently paid. Lance Corporals with five to 10 years’ experience will also get an increase to $120,000, while those with more than 10 years’ experience will get no less than $125,000.

With regard to Corporals, their current minimum sala ry of $111,327 has been ad justed upwards to $125,000,

representing a 12.3 per cent increase. Similarly, Corporals with five to 10 years’ experience will now get $130,000, and those with more than 10 years will get no less than $135,000.

The minimum sala ry for Sergeants will also be increased by 9.3 per cent from $128,056 to $140,000. Additionally, Sergeants with five to 10 years of service will now re ceive $145,000, while those with more than 10 years will now receive $150,000.

The pay for Inspectors went from $163,712 to $170,000; while those with five and more years of ex perience will get $175,000. Moreover, Chief Inspectors will receive an increase from $178,630 to $185,000 while those with in excess of five years’ experience will re ceive no less than $185,000.

Regarding Cadet Officers, their minimum sal ary was adjusted upwards from $171,224 to $185,000, reflecting an eight per cent increase. Cadet Officers with five and more years of experience will now get $185,000.

Assistant

Superintendents also got a pay hike to $200,000 – a 21.7 per cent increase from the current $188,978 mini mum salary. Another 21.7 per cent increase was given to Deputy Superintendents, whose salaries went from $188,978 to $230,000.

Superintendents too will benefit from a 19.8 per cent increase, taking their cur rent minimum salary from $200,299 to $240,000. For Senior Superintendents, an eight per cent increase will see their salary adjusted upwards from $296,296 to $320,000.

Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioners will also have their current minimum salary raised from $418,518 to $425,000.

Rural Constables will benefit from a pay hike to $85,000, a 13 per cent increase from the cur rent $75,203 being paid. Neighbourhood Police also got a 12.6 per cent salary adjustment from $84,387 to $95,000.

Guyana Fire Service

With regard to the Guyana Fire Service, fire men and firewomen with

five to 10 years’ experience will now get $110,000, a 7.3 per cent increase from the $102,488 being paid. Those fire officers with more than 10 years of experience will now receive a salary of no less than $115,000.

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) will also receive a pay hike from $88,143 to $95,000 – a 7.8 per cent increase. Further, EMTs with five to 10 years of experience will now get $105,000, and those with more than 10 years will re ceive $110,000.

Leading Firemen/ Firewomen will also ben efit from an increase to $130,000. This represents an additional 6.3 per cent hike from the current $122,241 minimum salary.

A salary adjustment from $154,172 to $174,172 for Section Leaders reflects a 13 per cent increase.

Sub-Officers also got a 13 per cent increase from $154,181 to $174,181.

In relation to Cadet Officers, their minimum sal ary was adjusted upwards from $171,938 to $185,000, a 7.6 per cent increase.

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Police Officers rejoicing at the salary increases announced by the President

Editor: Tusika Martin

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No more 1 in 3: Save our women

The World Health Organization estimates that worldwide, about 1 in every 3 (30%) women have been subjected to either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.

It is always heart-breaking to read in the media that one of our women was killed simply because of her decision to end a relationship and move on with her life. This year, so far, numerous women have lost their lives in brutal domestic violence clashes. As we observe 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, two incidents which occurred this year are stark remainders of the magnitude of this issue in Guyana.

On Sunday, 22-year-old Linden teacher Kelly Cornette was stabbed over 30 times by the father of her young child. Prior to that incident, 20-year-old Analee Gonsalves, a month of two, died after the father of her children had doused her with hot porridge.

These two cases are just a few of the long list of women who have been murdered over the years, most times during domestic disputes. Over the years, there have been countless stories reported in the media of some form of gender-based violence, with women especially being at the receiving end of the beatings; and in some cases, even ending up dead.

The victims’ stories have been heartbreaking, as many of them were killed after years of abuse, and perhaps with very little help from those who should have provided the muchneeded support mechanisms.

In many of these cases, children have been witnesses to brutality meted out to their parents. In one case reported by the media some time ago, the brutal killing of a woman44-year-old Nicola Sueanna Wilson – was witnessed by her 14-year-old son, who had rushed to her aid but was helpless after he, too, was threatened with death. There was a similar situation with another boy who went to the aid of his mother in Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), as she was being stabbed by his father. In that case, the child pushed his father aside while telling his mother, who was covered in blood, to run for her life. The magnitude of the impact of this incident on that child, and other children who witness these incidents, cannot be underestimated. Those ghastly images, especially when life was snuffed out, are not only lasting, but profoundly traumatising. When young minds are so broadsided, the impact, if not managed, lingers for life. Not that it is erasable, but with meaningful and sustained interventions, the trauma can potentially be mitigated, thereby aiding to better shape lives. The entire spectrum of what therefore constitutes counselling then becomes vital.

The bottom line is that something must be done urgently to arrest the situation, as it is clear that what currently obtains has not been very effective. While protection orders have been effective to an extent, quite often, the abusers do not abide by them; hence the need to undertake an urgent review of mechanisms currently in place to protect women from being killed.

Violence against women and children has tremendous costs to communities, and can remain with women and children for a lifetime. If not dealt with effectively, it can also pass from one generation to another. Numerous recommendations were made to the previous and current Administrations, yet nothing much has been forthcoming.

Over the years, the United Nations has been pushing countries towards implementing proactive measures to combat domestic violence. These measures have included criminalising gender-based violence, hosting massive public awareness campaigns, and providing training to equip both men and women to act as first responders and to support victims of the scourge at the community level.

Additionally, this newspaper had stated before that one of the greatest challenges Guyana faced in countering domestic violence was in changing the attitudes of the Police, Magistrates, social workers, and health-care providers.

Importantly, too, is that the lackadaisical attitude of relatives, neighbours and community leaders, who are in most cases aware of domestic abuse cases but yet choose to remain silent, also needs to be changed. Everyone needs to be proactive in their response to the scourge. #nomore1in3

FDI drives economic growth

Dear Editor, Based on articles in the letters’ sections of our news papers, too many people are suspect of foreign invest ments. Some are even hos tile, and see everything through the lenses of old co lonial relationships, or new forms of what is labelled neo liberal (foreign) domination. The attacks on the foreign oil companies in Guyana pro vide adequate evidence of this attitude.

Only recently, forty-five Guyanese citizens (many of whom live overseas) sent an ill-conceived letter to President Ali for a moratori um on oil and gas.

I can state upfront that I share the view that colonial economic exploitation was real, and that foreign cap ital today can be a conduit for regressive trickle-down policies to be embedded. Yet we need a more nuanced ap proach, for no other reason than Guyana simply does not have either the magnitude or the rate of capital formation to foster sustained growth.

In fact, since 1964, Peter Newman had noted: “unless one has financial support such as revenues from oil… ,then…large projects must be financed from outside… by giant private concerns… (Newman, 1964:12). Foreign investments in the oil sector are indispensable.

We need go no further than our own post-indepen dence economic record to prove the point.

I draw on World Bank data to show that the con tribution of FDI to GDP leaves no doubt on the mat

ter. Simply put, higher lev els of FDI generate higher levels of growth, and impact associated variables such as GDP per capita. Let us begin with the period 1970 -1990. During these two decades, the average contribution of FDI to GDP was a meagre 0.69%. An argument could be made that 1983, 1984 and 1985 dragged down the av erage, but the reverse could be argued; namely: that 1974 and 1975 were ‘outliers’ on the positive side of the equa tion. For 14 years during the two decades, FDI contribu tion to GDP was less than 1%. FDI-to-GDP reached 3% in only one year - 1970. GDP expanded a mere 48% over these two decades.

From 2001-2020, the av erage contribution of FDI to GDP was 8.74%. The aver age is, no doubt, driven up by the dramatic increase in 2020 (43.48%). During this period, GDP expanded by a staggering 670%, compared to the 48% in the 1970-1990 period. There should be no complaints against 2020 as a distortion, because the key point is that FDI drives growth.

In the 1970-1990 peri od, per capita crawled from $380 to $534, a mere 40% increase over two decades. By contrast, per capita GDP for the second period moved from $954 in 2000 to $6956, a huge increase of 629%.

A particularly revealing period is 1980-1990. In this decade of PNC governance, not a single year recorded a 2% or higher FDI contribu tion to GDP, with 9 years be low 1%. The economy shrank

by 33%, and per capita GDP dived a horrific 32%. Not surprisingly, Guyana’s for eign debt jumped by US$1B during the 1980s. In the longer

flow deprivation, 1970-1990, Guyana’s foreign debt sky rocketed from US$82M to nearly US$2B. Foreign ex change could not even cover the interest payments.

Some actions of the GCB are perplexing

Dear Editor, It is nearly six years since I have exited the me dia; however, I have man aged to stay abreast with current affairs, and though there has been a change in administration within the GCB, I still question the de cisions made at that Regent Road, Georgetown office.

Lately, some of the GCB’s actions have left me per plexed, and I consider clarity in this respect of utmost im portance, because I believe that dysfunction at any terri torial board of Cricket West Indies contributes to poor performance by the regional board. Therefore, there must be accountability and/or de tailed explanation to stake holders and fans in regard to the daily operations of the GCB.

My queries can be consid ered in the same light as the case of the value-for-mon ey audit wherein the GCB sought transparency in the financial operation of the Berbice Cricket Board. Such lucidity may not be conve nient, but the GCB ought to answer why, as part of their development, the Upper Demerara Cricket Association received, in May

2022, gear to the value of $800,000, but could not com plete the Demerara Cricket Board’s (DCB’s) tourna ment that is being used to select players to represent Demerara in the upcoming GCB inter-county under-16 competitions.

(Kindly refer to https://m. facebook.com/newsroomgy/ posts/3525998387677169/?lo cale=ne_NP)

Further, it is ironic that the Berbice Cricket Board is targeted for audit when the records show the BCB has been the main supplier of players to the national teams.

Additionally, the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) is the only association within the DCB that is actively coordi nating and executing crick et development programmes and tournaments.

And despite Georgetown’s dominance, no technical per sonnel from the GCA has been appointed to coach any Demerara youth team, al though the GCA have won all inter-association tourna ments held by the DCB.

Sincerely concerned fan, Delvon McEwan

period of capital in

A traffic police rank discussing road safety and traffic awareness at St Cuthbert’s Mission Primary School. During the visit, several topics including kerb drill, use of the pedestrian crossing and roadways, no playing on the roadways, wearing safety gear, peer pressure, drug abuse and domestic violence were discussed with the students (GPF photos)

'Grant' is a misnomer and an insult

Dear Editor, I read a missive from EB John, captioned ‘Public Servants 8% is a subversion of equality’, and the first idea which came to mind was: What was the writer’s reac tion to the paltry increases given to these categories of workers when the Coalition was in Government, in the midst of rising costs, puni tive increases in taxes, thou sands of job losses, et cetera?

Mr John must realise that the increases given to Public Servants were taken back by the huge increases in taxes. I have not read anywhere

that he condemned the uni lateral and meagre wages and salaries’ hikes thrown at the Public Servants after they had been promised ‘sig nificant’ wages and salaries’ increases in 2015, and whilst the Coalition were rewarding themselves with 50-100% tax free increases.

According to the Human Resources Consultant, “This announcement is noth ing to be excited about; it is merely another ‘grant’ for Christmas”. This is typical of a person who feels that work ers must be given humon gous salary increases despite

the negative effects it would have on the economy.

However, it is a known fact that the human resource departments of business en tities would normally oppose unsustainable salary in creases, since they are acute ly aware of the financial abili ty or inability of the company to offer such increases.

The wellbeing of the economy is in the hands of the Government, and Government must be trusted to implement its macro-eco nomic policies. The beneficial trends over the last 2 years bear testimony that these policies are bearing fruit.

on fuel, capping the freight charges used in calculating import taxes, providing fer tilizer and other support to farmers to boost food produc tion, and direct cash trans fers to especially vulnerable communities.

Dear Editor, The Caribbean Voice (TCV) applauds the decision of the Ministry of Education to finally place counsellors in high schools across Guyana. TCV has been lobbying for this since 2014. We hope the rollout will start immedi ately, and that once all high schools are staffed, primary schools would also then get counsellors.

The fact is that the issues affecting students in high schools and negatively im pacting their development usually have their genesis long before these students enter high schools, and ad dressing them at the entry level is so much easier than after the issues have become embedded, ingrained, and often times chronic.

We note, in the media, reports that counsellors would focus on addressing school dropouts (truancy). However, we hope that their 'job descriptions' would be much more embracing and inclusive, and that all psy chosocial issues would be identified, diagnosed, and addressed. We further hope that these counsellors would also be tasked with address ing the psychosocial needs

of school staff, and provide scope for staff to become partners in dealing with is sues faced by students.

Any economist worth his salt would tell you basical ly that if wages and salaries are increased too much, this would severely impact the labour costs that employers must pay. This, in turn, could trigger price inflation, hurt exports, and reduce the level of employment. Should wag es and salaries be increased without analysing the eco nomic reality, then it is high ly probable that the so-called “wage-inflation spiral” would lead to higher price inflation, which in turn makes work ers demand higher wages. This vicious circle would con tinue if there is no ‘wages re straint’, and the real dollar value would crash.

It would be worthwhile for Mr John to peruse the statement made by President Ali, in which he outlined the various cash benefits re ceived by all Guyanese: 7% increase across-the-board in 2021; the reintroduction of the one-month tax-free bo nus for the disciplined ser vices; the restoration of the cash grants, increased to $30,000 per child; removal of the punitive taxes that had been imposed by APNU/AFC on electricity, water, medi cal and educational supplies, basic household necessities, and basic construction ma terials; implementation of a number of measures to mit igate the effects of the high rise in imports’ costs, such as the removal of the excise tax

All of these measures and many more would en sure that the general cost of living remains stable while the standard of living is im proved by ensuring that ev eryone enjoys a better life. The 8% wages and salaries’ increases must never be looked at in isolation, and this is exactly what Mr John has done. Moreover, the President has made it quite clear that “options will be identified for adjustments to the salaries paid to a number of specific categories of pub lic sector employees” such as nurses, interns, doctors and other healthcare profession als, and he promised “a more detailed announcement in the course of next week”.

gave wages and salaries’ in creases, they took it back with a skilful sleight of the hand. They taxed Guyanese to the hilt, so that any in crease in wages became meaningless. They gave a lit tle, but took more in the end. Not so with this Government; the evidences are profound. The increases given by this Government are indeed worth a lot more.

It certainly discredits Mr John’s intelligence that he should see all of these mea sures as nothing more than another grant for Christmas. I am willing to bet my bot tom dollar that, during the tenure of the Coalition in Government, if they had given these to the Public Servants, Santa Claus would have been extremely envi ous, and maybe ‘constipated’. Imagine the immeasurable joy which Public Servants and all Guyanese would ex perience this season.

It must be emphasised that whenever the Coalition

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Counsellors’ rollout should start immediately Settling the public record

We also suggest that each school should have a family outreach/parent co ordinator, who would li aise between the home and the school, ensuring timely communication and total in volvement of the home, since issues often originate in the home/ community, and thus the home must become part of the redress and solution, even necessitating unlearn ing and relearning by par ents. Without this school/ home nexus, addressing the issues affecting students would be rather difficult, if not impossible.

Finally, given that par ents must be facilitated and provided with scope to be come part of the solution, the parent coordinator can be the person who would work with the counsel lor and school to plan focus groups with, and training of, parents, as well as actual home visits when those be come necessary.

Sincerely, Annan Boodram The Caribbean Voice

FDI drives economic ...

Editor, note that the pos itive effect of FDI is not lim ited to GDP growth, but step-level improvements in other aspects of our quali ty of life. Stabroek News re ported the UNDP 2021 HDR findings thus: “The report… states that between 1990 and 2021, Guyana’s HDI val ue changed from 0.509 to 0.714, a change of 40.3 per cent. For the same period, Guyana’s life expectancy at birth rose by 3.3 years, mean years of schooling climbed by 3.3 years, and expected years of schooling increased by 2.8 years. Guyana’s Gross National Income (GNI) per capita escalated by about 996.3 percent between 1990 and 2021, a reflection of the oil revenues being received” (9/11/22). Note that the posi

FROM PAGE 4 ►

tive developments absolutely coincide with the decades of rising FDI.

It is important that those who use anecdotal evidence to generalise think carefully about the damage they are doing by railing against for eign investments in the oil and gas sector, as well as in agriculture, manufacturing and tourism. One hearten ing finding here is that FDI generally drives economic growth, regardless of which party is in power. Yet, to get a fuller picture of the im pact of FDI, we must also assess the quality of gover nance. Overall, FDI works best when there is democrat ic governance.

Sincerely, Dr Randolph Persaud

Dear Editor,

I refer to a letter pub lished on the 24th day of November 2022, authored by a Mr. Andre Brandli, Professor at LudwigMaximilians University, Munich.

The letter, in so far as it is relevant to me, invites me to ‘‘comment in public how the very voter turnout numbers of the 2020 General elections ranging between 91.3 and 98.8% are to be explained best (sic).’’

It must strike your read ers as a little more than strange that this Professor would conjure up his own numbers, evoke a conclusion, and then invite me to offer

an explanation for his brew! Unfortunately, unlike the goodly Professor, I have nei ther the time nor inclination to embark in such conjecture and surmise.

I prefer to be guid ed by the statistics provid ed by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in respect to the rate of voter turnout at elections, as this

is the constitutionally autho rised repository of such data.

I set out hereunder the said information as gener ated by GECOM in respect of the last four Regional and General Elections in Guyana.

I hope I have assisted in

settling the public record on this issue.

Yours faithfully, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, MP Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister

Jello Lenses

Materials:

1 package of gelatin dessert mixture (like Jell-O). Light co lours (lemon, lime) work better than really dark ones (grape or blue raspberry)

3/4 cup of water in a mug Round-bottomed measuring spoons and measuring cups

A paper towel

A cutting board or tray

Instructions:

Get an adult to help you with this one – we’re dealing with near-boiling water! Start by heating the 3/4 cup of water in the microwave for a minute and a half.

Pour the gelatin powder into a bowl, then pour the hot water over the powder. Mix them to gether for two minutes.

Let the liquid cool for about ten minutes.

Cover a cutting board or a flat tray with a paper towel.

Scoop out some liquid with the small measuring spoons, then place them on the paper towel.

To fill the larger measur ing cups, place the empty cups on the paper towel and careful ly pour the gelatin liquid in. Try not to spill, this stuff makes a pretty sticky mess to clean!

Carefully move your tray or cutting board to the fridge. Wait four hours for it to cool com pletely.

After four hours, you can gently remove your lenses from the spoons and cups. Wash your hands in the sink before your touch them, wet hands mean the gelatin won’t stick to your

skin while you are pulling them out.

Add a little water to the bot tom of a glass plate or bowl. Then place a lens inside, flat side down.

Move the bowl over different things to see them up close!

How it works:

Lenses bend light as it moves through them. Your gel atin lenses work just the same way as telescopes, microscopes, binoculars, and eyeglasses!

Extra Experiments:

You made a few different sizes of lenses, how are they dif ferent? Is your biggest lens the best one? The lenses in micro scopes are pretty small, can a small lens still magnify things? (sciencefun.org)

Little Red Cap (or Little Red Riding Hood)

By The BroThers Grimm

Salary increases to public sector

Recognise importance of workers’ salaries, benefits – Hamilton tells Private Sector

…says Govt pushing to make lives of every citizen better

I

n light of recent salary increases announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali for public servants, Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton on Thursday said that the local Private Sector need ed to now step up in terms of the salaries and bene fits offered to workers as the Guyana Government pushed to make the lives of every citizen better.wages remaining the same amid the rising cost of liv ing.

Hamilton pointed out that Private Sector play ers needed to recognise that “change and transforma tion” were upon Guyana, so they had to adjust accord ingly.

Government that could not compete with them years ago is now competing as re gards salaries and wages, and emoluments,” Hamilton explained during an inter view with Guyana Times

The Minister’s statement comes on the heels of con cerns expressed by Private Sector employees, who took to social media to complain about their salaries and

“A year ago, two years ago, five years ago, people were leaving public sector to go work with Private Sector. Today, we have a reverse sit uation and therefore, at the level of the Private Sector companies, they have to recognise that, because the

According to the Labour Minister, “there is enough opportunities for Private Sector companies to rise up from where they are and di versify themselves, and to be able to pay comparable wag es and salaries to people.”

He went on to note that the Government was not in competition with the Private Sector and would contin

President Ali announces...

An increase from $251,639 to $260,000 will be paid to Station Officers.

Similarly, Divisional Officers will benefit from a salary adjusted upwards from $337,364 to $345,000.

Guyana Defence Force

Meanwhile, in the Guyana Defence Force, re cruits’ current minimum salary has been adjusted upwards from $94,485 to $100,000, representing a 5.8 per cent increase.

Privates will also bene fit from an 8.1 per cent pay hike, moving their salary from $94,771 to $102,488. Privates with five to 10 years of experience will now receive $110,000, and

those with more than 10 years will get $115,000.

President Ali said during Thursday’s an nouncement that these in creases would benefit some 8000 service members, whose disposable incomes will be increased by over $1 billion annually.

He further told those ranks that under this People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government, they could be assured of a Guyana that would get better for everyone, as he urged them to up their per formance.

“These salary adjust ments come with great costs to the Treasury. We expect you to honour these

FROM PAGE 3

adjustments with dignity, with hard work, with ac countability, with trans parency. And we expect you to perform at all times at the highest level. We ex pect you to deliver a better service to the people of our country. Things will only get better. Our country and conditions under which you live will only get better, I assure you of this,” the President stated.

Moreover, the Guyanese Leader went on to reas sure other categories of public servants that more announcements would be made in the coming days regarding their salaries. (G8)

ue to support businesses so that they could thrive and help further boost the coun try’s economy. In fact, he contended that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration has been doing everything pos sible to assist Private Sector companies to navigate new circumstances in which they find themselves in Guyana.

For its part, the Labour Minister outlined, the Government has worked to implement the national min imum wage, which was been increased to $60,000 back in July, to put more mon ies in the pockets of Private Sector employees. Despite this move; however, the pub lic sector minimum wage is much higher.

As such, Hamilton en couraged private companies to recognise the importance of their human resources, warning that their inaction could see them facing con sequences that would nega tively impact their business es.

“They [companies] have to recognise that it’s a new day and new time…workers now, potential employees, they have options and they can make some determina tions that can affect you neg atively,” he posited.

Minister Hamilton re

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton

servants and on Thursday, of major salary adjustments for members of the Joint Services as well as pending increases for other catego ries of public servants along with more provisions in the upcoming 2023 Budget. (G8)

Drunken driver fined for assaulting cop, disorderly behaviour, DUI

Nicholas Balkishun, a 28-year-old tai lor of Lot 108 Best Road, West Bank Demerara, on Thursday pleaded guilty to three charges stem ming from his assault of a Policeman, which was cap tured on video.

Arraigned before Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty at the Wales Magistrate’s

Court, Balkishun pleaded guilty to behaving disorder ly, assaulting a peace officer, and driving under the in fluence (DUI). He has been fined a total of $27,500, bro ken down as follows: $10,000 for the disorderly behaviour charge; $10,000 for assault ing the Police officer, and $7,500 for the DUI charge.

According to reports,

Balkishun was arrested by traffic officers for driving under the influence (DUI) on Wednesday, and was tak en to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station. While there, he became involved in an al tercation with about three Policemen, and was caught on video slapping one of the Policemen in the face.

“I would cuff yuh in yuh

f$#%ing face!” Balkishun was heard telling another Policeman.

Police Headquarters have reported that Balkishun has also been charged with dam age to property and with us ing abusive language. He will appear at the Vreed-enHoop Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Earlier this week, two teenagers from Angoy’s Avenue in New Amsterdam, Berbice, who were caught on video assaulting a Policeman, were arrested. Their arrest came shortly af ter a video recording which began circulating on social media showed the duo joint ly attacking and assault ing the Police rank. That incident occurred just af ter 08:00h on Tuesday. The duo, Quincy King, 18, and Christopher Abrams, 19, are expected to be charged with multiple offences, including assaulting a peace officer.

Police Headquarters re ported that the Policeman was providing the teens with traffic instructions and directions, but they failed to comply with those instruc tions and an argument en sued. Upon trying to caution the men, the Policeman was knocked to the ground by the duo, and was then forced to get on his feet and defend himself from an aggressive and abusive Abrams, whom the video showed punching the cop about his body. (G1)

War drums...

…from PNC??

Well, there you have it…no beating around the bush about what’s going on in Guyana from the PNC camp!! Prime Minister Brigadier (rtd) Mark Phillips told it like it is!! Maybe it’s part of their training?? After all, when giving orders in the army, you can’t afford any ambiguity, can you?? No Siree Bob!! Remember General Colin Powell against Saddam Hussain’s army in Desert Storm?? “Our strategy in going after this army is very simple. First, we are going to cut it off, and then we are going to kill it.” Short and (no so) sweet!!

Well, PM Phillips has taken on the PNC and their attacks against him as an “Uncle Tom” and a “house slave”. Both expressions take aim at his identity as an African Guyanese, and view his being part of the PPP Government as betraying “his people”. This, of course, betrays a mindset that views Guyanese as incapable of looking beyond their ethnic identities and act with Guyanese of other ethnicities for the national good!!

By this yardstick – for the PNC to be consistent - it’s clear they see Ramjattan, for example, as a “neemakharam”, which is the Indian Guyanese equivalent of a “house slave”. Imagine how they must snicker whenever Ramjattan denounces sugar workers!! Anyhow, responding to the stance and actions of the PNC, to claim there’s an “emerging apartheid state” -- after they were forced to hand over power when their rigging attempt was exposed -- the PM declared: “The APNU+AFC cabal and affiliated groups continue with desperate attempts at race-baiting, which they hope will incite civil unrest against the democratically elected People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government and end the tremendous benefits being experienced by all Guyanese”!!! The APNU+AFC cabal is inciting civil unrest against the PPP!! Can’t get clearer than that, can you?? PM Phillips has concluded – and we know he’s been trained to analyse security threats against the Guyanese state – that the PNC ain’t interested in electoral politics to achieve office. Nah…that’s too uncertain.

Like their Founder-Leader Burnham, they’ve concluded they gotta take a shortcut to power. They tried the rigging thingy…but discovered “dis time na lang time”!! The Yanks and Brits don’t have that old-time ideological challenge no mo’!! So, what’s left?? Gotta be a direct assault against the state under the cover of “civil unrest”!! Remember the old aphorism?? “When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”

In the words of the retired Brigadier, “The APNU+AFC is on a treacherous road that they hope will create civil unrest and allow for the breakdown of democracy in Guyana, which happened under the PNC in the 70s and 80s.”

We wouldn’t want that, would we??

…against “alternative facts”

But PM Phillips didn’t just call out the PNC for their nefarious agenda, he exposed their “race baiting” dog whistling!! Every day - 24/7 - all the PNC does is scream that the PPP Government’s discriminating against African Guyanese!! COVID vaccines? Discrimination!! Even when they pushed the anti-vaxxer agenda!! The 8% Public Servants’ salary increase?? Discrimination!! As against who? Cane cutters?? They ain’t get anything!! But sadly, the PPP Government doesn’t release the ethnic breakdown of their direct assistance – because they don’t like to mention “race”.

But the PM knows better!! He disaggregated the most significant transfer of intergenerational wealth in the life of the average citizen – housing!! He revealed that his Government has “issued over 11,000 house lots and lowincome houses. The beneficiaries are “over 50 per cent Afro-Guyanese”!! Imagine that!! Combined with the sling of cement, the steel rods and the low-income mortgages from the NBS, in two years, the PPP would’ve helped more African Guyanese in home ownership that the PNC did in their 33 years!!

…from the young tiger??

Your Eyewitness has commended Shivnarine Chanderpaul for his lifetime achievement – recently recognised by the ICC in Australia. His son Tage just hit 119 runs for the WI against the Aussie PM XI!!

Good luck, kid!!

Quincy King

Christopher Abrams

Nicholas Balkishun is pictured here grabbing the Policeman’s uniform

Body of US tourist who went missing in Rupununi found

Two days after he went missing during a fishing expedition in the Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), authorities have found the body of US tourist Thomas Carsten Jr.

The body has been transported to Lethem, Commander Raphael Rose said on Thursday.

The US tourist had gone missing on Tuesday during a fishing trip in the Rupununi River. He was in a boat with several other tourists when it capsized. In a state ment on the matter issued on Wednesday, Tourism Minister Oneidge Walrond has urged that persons en sure their tours and tour op erators are approved by the Guyana Tourism Authority.

The Minister has warned that tours that are not ap proved often do not have the necessary safety systems and protocols in place.

Just last month, a

Brooklyn cop vacationing in Guyana went missing while swimming in Orinduik Falls. His body was subse quently recovered near the popular tourist site.

Rupununi tourism

“Desperate need” for easier access to products – Visit Rupununi President

Extensive awareness initiatives have fos tered a success ful tourism product in the Rupununi region, but many undiscovered, low-hang ing fruits can be leveraged to enhance the experience within this zone in Guyana.

Calls have been sounded for easier access to both fi nancing and infrastructure to have a thriving eco-tour ism product in a post-oil economy.

Visit Rupununi President Melanie McTurk shared this position on Thursday as the Department of Marketing and Sustainable Tourism Management within the University of Guyana in col laboration with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) hosted the virtual forum ti tled “New Opportunities for Enhancing Tourism Awareness”.

Main attractions in the region include wetlands, tropical rain forests, majes tic rivers and savannahs. Endangered species and Indigenous cultures are also part of the experience.

Low-hanging fruits in tourism opportunities in clude driving maturity in

tourism services, expan sion of luxury products, and transformative experiences.

“There is a real oppor tunity for us to focus on transformative experienc es. Today’s tourists do not want to just come and ob serve from afar. They want to participate; they want to contribute. These are oppor tunities for us to integrate: conservation, education and even cultural preservation into the experiential offer ings,” she identified.

McTurk also called for increasing ease of access through online financial ser vices, air access, and infra structure.

“There is a desper ate need for us to increase ease of access, not just in Guyana but especially in the Rupununi region. If we want our tourism product to expand and if we want tour ism to really take its place as a future money-earner in a post-oil economy, then we need to fix things like our financial structure,” she stressed.

Visit Rupununi was established in 2017 as Guyana’s first non-prof it Regional Destination Marketing and Management Organisation where over 70 enterprises across the tour ism value chain are repre sented. Even as stakehold ers seek to capitalise on tourism openings, the Visit Rupununi President re minded that the aim was to develop, improve and pro mote sustainable tourism in the region coupled with preservation of the culture, landscape and wildlife.

McTurk relayed, “We are building a culture of re

spect for wild spaces, tra ditional culture and wild life; and building profitable businesses and this idea of a responsible business cul ture in which communities are empowered and have a sense of ownership of natu ral tourism resources.

“The other core of Visit Rupununi’s work is that as Guyana is acknowledged as the premier destination for nature-based tourism in the world, so is it our re sponsibility to become advo

cates and protectors of those assets on which our na ture-based tourism is vest ed.”

The tourism official high lighted that equal access has been high on the agen da, in ensuring that sub-dis tricts like the Deep South and North Pakaraimas were also benefiting.

“In order to have a vi able tourism product and tourism assets, we have to educate our stakehold ers and our community at large. There is a lot of work that’s being done in trying to communicate not just what a tourism value chain is but the roles and impor tance of every member of our community,” it was un derscored.

Push tourism

In her remarks, UG Vice Chancellor, Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin expressed that the Amerindian Studies Unit of the institution was not lev eraged well, but it could be used to push tourism. She added that regional talks on education tourism have pushed UG in this direction.

The Vice Chancellor

shared, “Indigenous commu nities and their services but also the way in which they live, their cultures are sig nificant tourism products, which, of course, have to be handled very sensitively. This is something that our Amerindian Studies Unit do a lot to support.”

UG is also work ing on Memorandums of Understanding with the Rupununi Jazz Festival and the Theatre Guild.

Aletha Connelly of the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation’s Department of Marketing and Sustainable Tourism Management noted that the institution’s role could not be static, especially since there were interconnect ed mandates and require ments. She added that tour ism awareness was needed to change or enhance per ceptions, foster critical en gagement, and to increase meaningful participation.

It was pointed out that the role of the University can be one of a scientific ad visor, communicator, inno vator, facilitator, and revit aliser of tourism. (G12)

Visit Rupununi President Melanie McTurk

UG Vice Chancellor, Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin

Time for a definitive position on corporal punishment in schools – Education Minister

…hints at fresh consultations

Administration, recalled that massive consultations were done countrywide on the abolishment of corporal pun ishment around 2012, but the appetite to abolish was not there at the time – a position which she believes has since changed today.

The Education Minister is contending there should be limited imposition of corporal punishment in institutions such as schools.

teachers against breaching those regulations.

“I hope teachers under stand that, and inform them selves of different ways they can discipline children with out hitting and flogging,” she has stressed.

child had been “abused” and “so badly beaten” by a teach er that the matter could have resulted in criminal charges being instituted.

In light of growing com plaints about teachers se verely beating children in schools, Education Minister Priya Manickchand has said she believes it is time that Guyana decides on a defini tive position when it comes to corporal punishment in schools.

“We should not be hitting, we should be beating [chil dren in schools]; but that’s a decision that the country is going to have to make, and we’re going to have to exam ine that again…,” she said.

“We’re at a good place to examine whether we could abolish corporal punishment from schools completely, or at least offer parents the abil ity to buy in or buy out, or opt in or opt out. So, as a par ent, I should be able to say to a school that I don’t want my child to be beaten,” the Minister said during a recent appearance on a GlobeSpan programme.

Manickchand, who had served as Education Minister under the previous PPP/C

She explained that clear regulations put in place during the early 2000s stip ulate that only headteach ers are authorised to admin ister corporal punishment. She has said that someone delegated by a headteach er could also administer cor poral punishment, but only in circumstances with other specifications. According to Manickchand, if those reg ulations had been followed strictly, there would not have been such a high prevalence of abuse meted out by teach ers.

“Recently, you have seen all over social media differ ent children with black and blue marks all over their (bodies), and it does not ap pear as though regulations were followed, because if they were followed, we shouldn’t be having black and blue all over [children’s] bodies. Of course, those things have to be properly investigated. We have to get to the bottom of it, and we do,” she stated.

In fact, the Education Minister has noted that a number of teachers have been fired annually by the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) for breaching those regulations, and she is using this opportunity to caution

Further, the Minister has disclosed that she received a report of a teacher hitting a child twice behind her head; and she received anoth er report, from West Coast Demerara, indicating that a

“Here is what is complex about this issue: Many of the same parents who have ob jections to their children be ing beaten black and blue will tell you, ‘I don’t mind a lash or two in [his/her] hands, but you mustn’t beat them so bad’; and that’s where the problem comes. Sometimes

countries have to draw lines – you can or you cannot. We can’t leave people with dis cretion about what is ap propriate and what is not,” Manickchand has reasoned.

Only last week, while addressing young trainees of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), the Education Minister warned teachers against abusing or beating students in the class rooms. “You can’t beat peo ple’s children black and blue.

You can’t abuse people’s chil dren and believe somehow or the other that is the or der of the day. Look at you: young, fresh citizens of this world who must inform your selves of what is the new ci vilised behaviour,” she told the trainees.

Further, the Minister has pointed out that whatever be haviour is presented in the classroom by teachers would affect children either posi tively or negatively. (G8)

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

16 Days of Activism

EU, UN Guyana commit to ending violence against women, girls

…as The Caribbean Voice launches Project Change Agents

The European Union and the United Nations Guyana have committed to ending violence against women and girls on the occasion of “16 Days of Activism against GenderBased Violence”.

A joint statement was is sued as November 25 marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The agen cies highlighted that violence against women was a prob lem in every country in the world and would escalate in times of crisis. Globally, glar ing figures show that one in three women have experi enced physical or sexual vi olence in their lifetime and one in five girls become a vic tim of child sexual abuse.

“We strongly condemn all forms of violence against women and girls, includ ing harmful practices, as a blatant violation of human rights. The COVID-19 pan demic has further aggravat

ed the situation, leading to record high levels of domes tic violence. Since the start of COVID-19, 45 per cent of women reported that they or a woman they know had ex perienced a form of Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG),” the statement out lined.

It was mentioned that the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative grew out of this urgent need to address VAWG. VAWG in

Guyana is widespread, driv en by an intersection of cul tural, economic and social fac tors. Findings from Guyana indicate that 20 per cent of women have experienced non-partner sexual abuse while one in two women will experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime.

The Spotlight Initiative in Guyana acts with a com munity-level focus, de signed to address Gender

Based Violence and Violence Against Women and Girls by making interventions in crit ical areas such as laws and policies, institutions, preven tion, essential services, qual ity data, and civil society/ women’s movement.

“The hard work with com mitted partnership of the Government of Guyana led by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security with other partners with in civil society, has already realised the achievement of many significant milestones. This has set the stage for strengthening our collective efforts to create an environ ment for women and girls to live a life free of violence, harmful practices, and in tersecting forms of discrimi nation. We are committed to doing all we can to tackle vi olence against women,” the missive read.

Activities

Throughout the 16 Days of Activism, the Human Services

and Social Security Ministry will roll out a series of events beginning on November 25, and culminating on December 10, which is International Human Rights Day.

The series of activities under the theme, “UNiTE! Activism to end violence against women and girls”, will get underway with a grand launch at Camp and Lamaha Streets. Dubbed “Orange Avenue”, the launching will see members of Cabinet and international representatives taking part in a tree-wrapping exercise, paint for purpose and a mini exhibition.

Other activities include a grand rally, featuring perfor mances from Vanita Willie, Omiaha Hall, and Signature Productions coupled with a pop-up market by wom en. Another key feature is the Invincible Games which feature a host of sports for persons with disabilities on December 3 and We Lift, lift ing women out of domestic violence on December 9 in Linden.

One of the premier events, “DefendHer”, will take place on December 4 at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary, where the Ministry has col laborated with MAXIDO adult self-defence training to provide a free and open sem inar to females 16 years and older.

Among the other initia tives planned are the engage ment on Guyana’s Committee on the Elimination of

Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Report, a nationwide consultation on the new Family Violence Act, campaigns to raise aware ness on sexual violence, bul lying, body shaming, cyber abuse, elderly abuse, and do mestic violence and men.

Project Change Agents

Meanwhile, The Caribbean Voice (TCV) will be launching Project Change Agents (PCA) to tackle vio lence in the Caribbean.

The project aims to in volve schools, Government Ministries and other stake holders in a process that will result in young people being identified and trained to be come anti-violence change agents in communities across the English-speaking Caribbean, with special focus on domestic violence but also with skills sets to address sexual abuse, child abuse, and substance abuse.

At the crux of the proj ect is an essay contest for fourth to sixth form students during the 2023-2024 school year. A Fundraising Virtual Concert of Hope is also set to bring performers from across the Caribbean and Diaspora to showcase the variety of Caribbean culture.

This concert has a lineup of 33 performers and four hosts with new items such as Limbo, Masquerade and Amerindian dances, steel pan, Chinese dances and a host of singers and drum mers.(G12)

Jury in deadly piracy attack trial to deliberate on Monday

commanded Persaud and others unknown to murder the five fishermen.

Like Premnauth Persaud, Nakool Manohar has pleaded not guilty.

Justice Navindra Singh, presiding over this matter in the Berbice High Court, will sum up the evidence in the case on Monday before putting it to the 12-mem ber jury for deliberation on a verdict.

Attorney-at-Law

Pedal cyclist nabbed with ganja, community service for trafficker

Two men who have been charged in con nection with a 2018 pi racy attack that had left five fishermen dead will know their fate next Monday, November 28, when the jury returns from deliberating.

One of these two men is 47-year-old Premnauth Persaud, also known as “Sand Bat”, of Cromarty Village, Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). He has been in dicted on five counts of the capital offence of murder, but has pleaded not guilty.

It is alleged that between April 14 and June 3, 2018, Premnauth Persaud mur dered Bandara (only name given), called “Spanish Man” or “Dora”; Lalta Sumair, called “Bora” or “Puduck”; and Lokesh De Couite. The murders are alleged to have

been committed on board the vessel Joshua SK 1418, which was under attack during the piracy incident.

Premnauth Persaud is also accused of murder ing Mahesh Sarjoo, called “Kuba” or “Vishal”; and Tilaknauth Mohabir, called “Camion” or “Kaimon”, “Pollom” or “Palam,” and “Cold Record”, between April 14 and June 3, 2018 on board the vessel Romina SK 764, which was under attack during the incident of pira cy.

The other man impli cated in this incident of pi racy is 43-year-old Nakool Manohar, called “Fyah”, of Number 43 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. He has been indicted on two charges which allege that, between the aforementioned dates, he counselled, procured and

Latchmie Rahamat has been granted a fiat by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to prosecute the case in as sociation with State Counsel Nafeeza Baig. Manohar is being represented by Senior Counsel Mursaline Bacchus, while Persaud is being rep resented by attorney -at-law Horatio Edmondson.

Aside from these five fishermen, 15 others are still missing and are considered dead. According to reports, the piracy attack reported ly stemmed from the execu tion-style killing of Somnath Manohar, who was gunned down on March 30, 2018 in Suriname. As a result of Somnath Manohar’s death, his brother Nakool Manohar had travelled to Suriname and had offered US$50,000 to the pirate gang, alleged ly headed by Persaud, to take revenge for his broth er’s death.

The badly decomposed re mains of the fishermen were discovered in Surinamese waters, and Police had had to rely on DNA testing to properly identify them. (G1)

Apedal cyclist has been nabbed with a quan tity of cannabis af ter he was stopped and searched by ranks stationed at the western end of the Demerara Harbour Bridge on Thursday, November 24.

Reports are that at about 09:30h on Thursday, Police ranks performing duties at the western end of the Demerara Harbour Bridge stopped and searched a ped al cyclist and discovered 14.8 grams of suspected can nabis on his person.

This 22-year-old resident of La Parfaite Harmonie,

West Bank Demerara was arrested and escorted to the La Grange Police Station, where he has been placed into custody. The suspected cannabis was then weighed in his presence, and it amounted to 14.8 grams. He remains in custody pending charges.

And an East Coast Demerara resident who was caught with a quantity of drugs has been sentenced to

serve six months of commu nity service.

Arraigned on Thursday before Vigilance Magistrate Fabayo Azore on a charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, 41-year-old Trevor Harold, a labourer of Lusignan Pasture, East Coast Demerara, admitted to the offence and had the sentence of community ser vice imposed on him.

Canada’s Federal Court has dismissed the application of a man who allegedly failed to report, as required by law, the exportation of currency of a value equal to or greater than the prescribed amount.

Section 12(1) of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act provided this reporting requirement, while the Cross-border Currency and Monetary Instruments Reporting Regulations, SOR/2002-412, set the prescribed amount at $10,000.

In February 2021, the applicant was boarding a flight to Guyana at Toronto Pearson International Airport. He revealed, in re sponse to questioning, that he possessed $38,500 in cash. He also had $661, US$179, 15,000 Guyana dol lars, and 105 Trinidad and Tobago dollars in his wallet or in envelopes. He did not report these currencies to customs before departure.

An officer of the Canada Border Services Agency seized the $38,500 as for feit based on the applicant’s failure to report it under s. 12(1). The officer found that the applicant failed to show a clear legitimate source of the money.

The applicant asked the minister of public safety and

emergency preparedness to review the officer’s enforce ment action. He alleged that part of the seized money came from revenue from his construction business.

A delegate of the pub lic safety minister issued a decision maintaining the enforcement action based on the failure to report. He made the following findings: 1) the seized currency should be held as forfeit under s. 29 of the Act; 2) the applicant failed to demonstrate that the seized $38,500 came from a legitimate source; 3) the applicant gave no doc umentation confirming the existence of his construction business or of its legitimate operation; 4) the applicant’s bank information showed money flowing in and out of his account but, with few ex ceptions, did not provide the sources of the e-transfer de posits; 5) the applicant iden tified a deposit correspond ing to an $14,180 insurance payment for a stolen work truck but failed to point to a subsequent withdrawal linking the insurance pay out to the seized currency.

In Evans v. Canada (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness), 2022 FC 1516, the Federal Court dismissed the judicial review application.

First, the court found the decision reasonable, trans

parent, intelligible, and of fering justification for its findings. The reasons were adequate since they stated that the applicant had the onus, summarized and ad dressed the applicant’s ev idence, and explained why the evidence was insuffi cient, the court held.

The decision reason ably concluded that the ap plicant’s evidence failed to show a legitimate origin or a link between the seized cur rency and the income in the applicant’s bank or the in surance payment, the court said.

Second, the court saw no breach of procedural fair ness. The court noted that a notice of circumstances of seizure, sent on Feb. 19, 2021, informed the appli cant that he had the onus to show the legitimate origin of the seized currency. The notice stated the evidence that the applicant needed to produce and the deficien cies in the evidence so far provided.

Thus, the applicant knew the case that he had to meet and took advantage of the opportunity to respond by submitting further docu ments, the court said. The minister considered all the documentation that the ap plicant offered, the court added. (canadianlawyer mag.com)

Murder accused Premnauth Persaud

Murder accused Nakool Manohar

The cannabis that was found in the pedal cyclist’s possession at the DHB

Community service: Trevor Harold

Man destined for Guyana with CAD38,500 unable to show legitimate origin of cash …money seized

The Health Ministry has made arrange ments for sam ples from the three recent COVID-19 deaths to be sent overseas for analysis, in or der to determine which strain of the virus is circu lating locally.

In October, zero corona virus deaths were report ed, with 87 overall cases. However, three deaths and 107 positives have already surfaced for November.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony informed on Thursday that medical professionals have been put on alert amid the growing trend of cases and hospital isations.

“We have put all our doctors, medical personnel again on alert. The system at the Ocean View Hospital is fully deployed, so really sick patients would go there. All the units in the country and regional hospitals are available if people get really sick,” Dr Anthony notified.

In reporting that the samples from the deaths would be sent for sequenc ing, the Health Minister

explained that this would provide clarity on what vari ants were causing deaths. He added that sequencing would be carried out rou tinely to understand the changing dynamics of the disease.

“The three deaths that we’ve had over the last week, we have made ar rangements to send those samples to be sequenced. That’s because we want to understand which variant is circulating here and wheth er it is the same types of variants that are causing death among our patients. This is something we would do routinely to get an idea of what is circulating and what we need to look out for,” he explained.

To date, 76,131 persons have received their first booster dose, but only 4276 have returned for their sec ond booster. Concerned about this low uptake, the Health Minister remind ed that vulnerable groups are older persons, individu als with comorbid conditions or underlying illnesses and those who are immune-com

promised.

He stated, “Not a lot of people in Guyana has been coming to get their boosters and that has been a problem for us…We are giving boost er doses and we really en courage people to come and get them. We just want peo ple to come and make sure that they’re immunised, mo reso that if we’re seeing cas es going up, it is important that you stay protected.”

Statistics

Active COVID-19 cas es are at 102 with 10 per sons hospitalised at the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Ocean View. This includes four persons in the Intensive Care Unit.

On Thursday, the up dated COVID dashboard reflected two new cases. Confirmed cases are pegged at 71,560 with 1284 total deaths to date.

There are six persons in institutional isolation, 92 in home isolation and one in institutional quarantine. Thus far, 705,349 test sam ples have been analysed and 70,174 recoveries achieved.

Guyanese among sex offenders arrested during US operation

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has said on Wednesday that a Jamaican, two Haitians and a Guyanese are among 18 unlawfully present non-citi zens convicted of sex offenc es, who were recently appre hended during a nationwide enforcement effort.

ICE has said the ac tion by deportation officers with its Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) New York Field Office re sulted in a total of 138 ar rests nationally, including some who had already been ordered removed from the US but had failed to leave.

The Jamaican, two Haitians and lone Guyanese were among those arrest ed in the sweep conduct ed between October 22 and November 4. ICE has said the 29-year-old Jamaican national was apprehended in Boston, Massachusetts. He was living in Waterbury, Connecticut, and was con victed of two counts of fourth-degree felony sexual assault.

One of the Haitians, a 44-year-old man living in

Queens Village, Queens, New York, was convicted of felony rape in the second degree, promoting prosti tution in the second degree and promoting prostitution in the third degree. The oth er Haitian, a 43-year-old male residing in Springfield Gardens, Queens, New York, was convicted of a felo ny in regard to a sexual per formance by a child.

And the 48-year-old citi zen of Guyana, who was liv ing in Brooklyn, New York, was convicted of felony sex ual abuse in the first degree: sexual contact with an in dividual less than 11 years old.

The others who were ar

rested were nationals of Bolivia, Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala, Uruguay, El Salvador and Canada.

ERO New York Field Office Acting Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo has said: “The emotional damage inflicted by sexu al perpetrators on their vic tims can last a lifetime. The work of our officers on this operation has prevented fu ture potential victims from such harm.

“This invaluable contri bution to community safety should be specially valued at this time of year, when fam ilies all over gather to cele brate together,” he added.

(CMC)

In the Region of the Americas, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 179 million while the death toll has gone up to 2.8 million.

Globally, there are 627 million confirmed cases with 6.5 million deaths.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associ ated with COVID-19, or need

any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 2311166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www. health.gov.gy. (G12)

Man for trial for Skull City labourer’s murder

Fifty-two-year-old Hemraj Bramdeo, called “Rickey Scrawley”, who has been indicted for the mur der of 25-year-old Dellon Bradford, called “Chicken”, on Phagwah Day in 2016, will go on trial for the of fence from next Monday, November 28.

Bramdeo is accused of murdering the father of three, a former resident of Skull City in Patentia, West Bank Demerara, on March 23, 2016 at Patentia.

Following the murder of Dellon Bradford, the Police had issued a wanted bul letin for Bramdeo, former ly of Back Street, Patentia, WBD. Upon his arraign ment before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall at the High Court in Demerara this

week, Bramdeo pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.

It is alleged that on the day in question, while a cer tain woman was at her moth

er’s residence, Bradford had broken into her home at Lot 1 Skull City, Patentia and stolen $200,000 in cash and other items. The woman had reportedly come home and caught Bradford in the act, and a scuffle had en sued, during which he was stabbed multiple times.

The injured Bradford was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, but was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he died. A post-mor tem examination revealed that Bradford had been stabbed six times, and his death had been due to kid ney failure, spinal damage, and brain injuries.

At the time of his demise, Bradford had been employed as a labourer at the sugar estate at Wales, WBD.

Murder accused Hemraj Bramdeo

Regional

Latin America faces “prolonged crisis” following pandemic – UN

Areport by the United Nations has said that Latin America and the Caribbean could face a “prolonged social cri sis” in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) re leased on Thursday found that 56.5 million people in the region were impacted by hunger. An estimated 45.4 per cent of people aged 18 or younger in Latin America were living in poverty.

“We are facing a cascade of crises that has exacer bated the region’s inequal ities and shortfalls,” said ECLAC Executive Secretary Jose Manuel SalazarXirinachs, in a press release on Thursday. “This is not a time for gradual changes, but instead, for transforma tive and ambitious policies.”

The report underscores the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with poverty rates remaining above pre-pandemic levels and approximately 13 per cent of the region’s population living in extreme poverty.

Factors including high inflation and the fallout

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on Latin America, killing hundreds of thousands of people and leading to an increase in extreme poverty [Rodrigo Abd/AP file photo]

from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will likely create a challenging landscape for Governments seeking to push such numbers lower.

The report notes that rising prices could lead to an increase in malnutrition and a slowdown in economic growth. The report forecasts a 3.2 per cent growth in the region’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2022 and

1.4 per cent in 2023, down from 6.5 per cent in 2021.

Overall, 12 million more people are facing extreme poverty in the region since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It has not been possi ble to reverse the impacts of the pandemic in terms of poverty and extreme pover ty,” said Salazar-Xirinachs. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

UNICEF appeals for help for cholera response in Haiti

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday said children ac count for roughly 40 per cent of the confirmed cholera cas es in Haiti, as it appealed for US$27.5 million to save more lives from the disease.

The outbreak began two months ago and is unfolding amid economic crisis and rising insecurity due to gang violence. Ninety per cent of confirmed cases have been in areas with a high bur den of severe acute malnu trition.

UNICEF said children suffering from the condition, which is also known as se vere wasting, are more vul nerable to cholera and at least three times more at risk of dying from it.

“In Haiti right now, there is a triple threat to children’s lives –malnutrition, chol era and armed violence. And sometimes all three togeth er,” said Manuel Fontaine, Director of UNICEF’s Office of Emergency Programmes, who has ended a four-day visit to the French-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) country.

Fontaine was able to view first hand, how mal nourished children are re

ceiving life-saving care at UNICEF-supported cholera treatments in the capital, and in the Cité Soleil neigh bourhood there.

“I was shocked to see many children at risk of dying in the cholera treat ment centres. In just a few hours, acute watery diar rhoea and vomiting dehy drate and weaken them so much they may die without timely and adequate treat ment. Cholera and malnu trition are a lethal combi

nation, one leading to the other,” he said.

The senior official also went to a centre which pro vides medical, psychological, and psychosocial care to sur vivors of gender-based vio lence.

As of Monday, there were 924 confirmed cholera cas es in Haiti, more than 10, 600 suspected cases, and 188 deaths, according to the Health Ministry.

(Excerpt from Nation News)

Stakeholders from Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have wel comed the decision to es tablish a loss and damage response fund from the re cently-concluded United Nations Climate Conference (COP27) in Egypt.

“We have literally ex hausted all of our efforts … to bring home the cli mate action commit ments our vulnerable peo ple desperately need,” said Antigua and Barbuda’s Environment Minister, Molwyn Joseph, chair of the Alliance of Small Island Developing States (AOSIS), in a recent statement.

“Our Ministers and ne gotiators have endured sleepless nights and endless days in an intense series of negotiations, determined to secure the establishment of a loss and damage response

fund, keep 1.5° alive, and advance ambition on criti cal mitigation and adapta tion plans,” he added.

AOSIS has represent ed the interests of some 39 SIDS and low-lying coastal developing States for more than two decades in climate negotiations and sustain able development process es.

Labelled a breakthrough decision, the agreement to establish a loss and dam age fund forms a part of a package of decisions from the international negotia tions. It follows years of de liberations on the call for financial support to help developing countries re spond to post-climate-re lated impacts, including livelihoods loss; and the addition of loss and dam age to the COP agenda for the first time.

However, even as stake

holders celebrate, they are mindful of the work ahead to operationalise the fund.

Executive Director (ED) of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), Dr Colin Young, said while the hard-fought-for loss and damage decision was cer tainly welcomed, it is now time to ensure the fund be comes operational and ben efits SIDS and other devel oping countries.

“The details will need to be worked out, the criteria established, and the fund ing sources identified. The design of the fund must be fit for purpose and not re peat the mistakes of oth er funds that are very dif ficult to access and take years,” said the ED, who was present in Egypt from November 6 to 18.

(Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

Trinidad and Tobago Planning and Development Minister Pennelope Beckles- Robinson says new tax incentives will soon be rolled out in an attempt to protect Trinidad and Tobago's heritage sites.

She was speaking at the National Trust's Heritage Listing Ceremony on Wednesday where 16 new heritage sites were named. Beckles-Robinson said these measures would help sustain heritage restoration in T&T.

“The upcoming heritage tax allowance programme, [is]an incentive created to encourage corporate sup port of heritage preserva tion projects. I hope this first step will spark Trinidad and Tobago's heritage economy.”

Beckles-Robinson stat ed that these heritage sites can open new doors and op portunities for T&T, and if done correctly, can become a self-sustaining industry.

effort to ensure T&T's her itage is safeguarded for fu ture generations.

Jamaica

The Office of Disaster and Preparedness Management (ODPM) in Trinidad has reported im passable roads, landslides and flooding on Thursday afternoon.

As a result of bad weath er this week, the ODPM said, there was street flood ing at Trantrill Road, St Augustine, making the road impassable. On Thursday afternoon, the Caroni River was at 81 per cent capacity, the North Oropouche River at 68 per cent and the South Oropouche River at 60 per cent capacity .

There were two land

slides in the South/Central areas. At Mayo, Corosal Road, Gran Couva there was a landslide resulting in only small vehicles be ing able to pass. The second landslide was at Sahadath Road, Princes Town earlier this week.

In north Trinidad, there were reports of landslides along the Toco Main Road, Salybia. The Sangre Grande Regional Corporation was addressing that, the ODPM said. The regional corpora tion also responded to flood ing at Guy Trace, North Oropouche Road, Sangre Grande.

Fishing Pond Road, near Seecharan Road and Gordon Miller land settlement, also had street flooding and was impassable to small and low vehicles. Valencia Road leading to the Toco Main Road was also flooded, as well as Vega de Oropouche off the Toco Main Road, near the North Oropouche River.

In central and surround ing areas, the ODPM said there was flooding at El Socorro South.

Flooding was report ed in east Trinidad as well. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

She said, “The social and economic implications of a heritage economy are boundless with enormous potential for job creation, tourism development and investment climate en hancement. Spillover effects can also be felt in science, education and technology and can promote social co hesion into cultural dia logue and exchange in our ethnically diverse nation.”

According to the Minister, 59 sites have been listed to be legally protect ed by the State and as time passes, they hope to in crease that number in an

A71-year-old American man who hid in Jamaica for more than a decade to avoid child molestation charges has been deported to his home land after being captured in St James last week.

Charles Manord Rainey is accused of molesting a girl under the age of 16 in Georgia, USA back in 2010.

Investigations led to him being charged for aggravat ed child molestation, child molestation and sexual bat tery. However, he did not show up for his scheduled July 2011 court appearance leading to a bench warrant being issued for his arrest.

After his arrest in

Norwood, St James last week, Rainey reportedly ad mitted to authorities that he had overstayed his visa, is sued in 2011 that was only good for six months.

Rainey was captured in a raid carried out by members of the Lotto Scam Task Force, Fugitive Apprehension Team, Counter Terrorism & Organized Crime Investigations Branch (CTOC), and the United States Marshals Service.

He was deported to Georgia last Friday, November 18.

Rainey is being held in the Paulding County Jail without bond. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

deports accused child molester who hid in island for 11 years

T&T Government proposes tax incentives to save heritage sites Mission accomplished – Caricom stakeholders welcome loss and damage win from climate summit

CEF Director of the Office of Emergency Programmes, Manuel Fontaine, visits the UNICEF-supported GHESKIO health centre in Port-au-Prince, Haiti (UN photo)

Also present at the event, was Port of Spain Mayor,

Joel Martinez who com mended the National Trust for the work they have done. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Trinidad: ODPM reports impassable roads, landslides, flooding

Planning and Development Minister Pennelope BecklesRobinson, Port of Spain Mayor Joel Martinez, and National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago Chairperson Margaret McDowell with several recipients of enlistments

Around the World

Ukraine battles to restore power as millions face blackouts

General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said in a statement on Thursday.

Oil muted as price cap proposal eases supply concerns

Benchmark Brent oil edged lower on Thursday while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude held steady, hovering in sight of two-month lows as the level of a proposed G7 cap on the price of Russian oil raised doubts about how much it would limit supply.

A bigger-than-expected build in US gasoline inventories and widening COVID-19 controls in China also added downward pressure on crude prices.

Brent crude futures were down 29 cents, or 0.3 per cent, to US$85.12 a barrel by 15:15h ET (2015 GMT), while WTI crude futures rose two cents, to US$77.96.

Trading volumes were thin because of the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States.

Both benchmarks plunged more than three per cent on Wednesday on news the planned price cap on Russian oil could be above the current market level.

European Union Governments remained split over what level to cap Russian oil prices at to curb Moscow's ability to pay for its war in Ukraine without causing a global oil supply shock, with more talks possible today if positions converge.

The G7 group of nations is looking at a cap on Russian seaborne oil at US$65-US$70 a barrel, a European official said, though EU Governments have yet to agree on a price.

A higher price cap could make it attractive for Russia to continue to sell its oil, reducing the risk of a supply shortage in global oil markets.

Some Indian refiners are paying the equivalent to a discount of around US$25 to US$35 a barrel to international benchmark Brent crude for Russian Urals crude, two sources said. Urals is Russia's main export crude.

"The Russian price cap is another catalyst that served to get prices lower over the last little while," said Bart Melek, global head of commodity market strategy at TD Securities, adding he was fairly bullish on oil despite the headwinds.

Oil prices also came under pressure after the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Wednesday that US gasoline and distillate inventories rose substantially last week.

But crude inventories fell by 3.7 million barrels to 431.7 million barrels in the week to November 18, compared with expectations for a 1.1 million-barrel drop in a Reuters poll of analysts.

China on Wednesday reported the highest number of daily COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic nearly three years ago. Local authorities tightened controls to stamp out the outbreaks, adding to investor concern over the economy and fuel demand. (Reuters)

Ukrainehas been bat tling to reconnect water and electric ity services to millions of people after a barrage of Russian missiles and drones hit energy infrastructure on Wednesday, leaving nearly 80 per cent of the country in the dark.

By Thursday evening, more than 24 hours after the Russian strikes smashed ar eas of Kyiv, the city’s Mayor

Vitali Klitschko said 60 per cent of homes were still suf fering emergency outages. With temperatures falling below zero, Kyiv authori ties said they were able to restore water services, but were still working to get the lights and heat back on.

“The very strong impres sion is that the Russians are having warfare on ci vilian infrastructure,” Jan Egeland, the Secretary

Algeria fires: Dozens sentenced to death for lynching

An Algerian court has sentenced 49 people to death after they were found guilty of lynching a man wrongly suspected of starting forest fires last year ,the State news agency says.

The sentences are likely to be reduced to life in prison as there is a moratorium on executions.

In 2021, Algeria experi enced the worst fires in the country's history, with mul tiple blazes killing 90 people.

The lynching victim, Djamel Ben Ismail, had gone to help fight the fires.

After the fires broke out in August last year, the 38-year-old tweeted saying he would travel over 320 ki lometres (200 miles) from his home to "give a hand to our friends" fighting the blazes in the Kabylie region, east of the capital Algiers, which was the worst-hit area.

Soon after he arrived, lo cals falsely accused him of starting fires himself.

On August 11, graph ic footage began circulat ing purportedly showing Ben Ismail being attacked. People tortured and burned him before taking his body to the village square.

The videos caused nation al outrage.

Ben Ismail's brother urged social media users to delete the footage of the at tack. His mother, he said, still did not know how her son had died.

His father, Noureddine Ben Ismail, said he was "dev astated". "My son left to help his brothers from Kabylie, a region he loves. They burned him alive," he said.

The AFP news agency re ports that the father's calls for calm and "brotherhood" were praised by Algerians.

The fires took place amid dry conditions and very high temperatures, but authori ties also blamed "criminals" for the blazes. (Excerpt from BBC News)

China's COVID infections hit record as economic outlook darkens

China reported record high COVID-19 in fections on Thursday, with cities nationwide im posing localised lockdowns, mass testing and other curbs that are fuelling frustration and darkening the outlook for the world's second larg est economy.

The resurgence of infec tions, nearly three years af ter the pandemic emerged in the central city of Wuhan, casts doubt on investor hopes for China to ease its rigid zero-COVID policy soon, despite recent more targeted measures.

The curbs are taking a toll on locked-down residents as well as output at facto ries, including the world's

biggest iPhone plant, which has been rocked by clashes between workers and securi ty personnel in a rare show of dissent.

"How many people have the savings to support them if things continually stay halted?" asked a 40-yearold Beijing man surnamed Wang who is a manager at a foreign firm.

"And even if you have money to stay at home every day, that's not true living."

The streets of Chaoyang, the capital's most populous district, have been increas ingly empty this week.

Sanlitun, a high-end shopping area, was nearly silent on Thursday, but for the whirring of the e-bikes

of delivery riders ferrying meals for those working from home.

Brokerage Nomura cut its China GDP forecast for the fourth quarter to 2.4 per cent year-over-year from 2.8

per cent, and cut its forecast for full-year growth to 2.8 per cent from 2.9 per cent, which is far short of China's official target of about 5.5 per cent this year. (Excerpt from Reuters)

“The civilian population cannot sustain an entire winter without electricity, warmth and running wa ter. And it’s now a break ing point,” he said referring to sustained attacks on the power grid by Moscow.

The energy system in Ukraine is on the brink of collapse, and millions have been subjected to emergency blackouts over recent weeks as Russia has attacked pow er facilities in an apparent effort to force capitulation after nine months of war that has seen its forces fail in most of their stated terri

torial objectives.

Viewed from space, Ukraine has become a dark patch on the globe at night, satellite images released by NASA showed.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of “life-threaten ing” consequences and es timated that millions could leave their homes as a re sult, while the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda ThomasGreenfield, said Russian President Vladimir Putin was “clearly weaponising winter to inflict immense suffering on the Ukrainian people”.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Russia passes “Answer to Blinken” gay propaganda law

Russia's

Lower House of Parliament has unanimously voted to extend its ban on so-called "gay propaganda".

Under the latest version of the law, any promotion of homosexuality – including in books, films and online –is illegal and carries heavy penalties.

It was nicknamed the "Answer to Blinken" law, after the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken criti cised it as a "blow to freedom of expression".

Activists say it is a fur ther attempt to repress Russia's LGBT community.

It was approved by 397 votes to none in the Duma –Russia's lower house – with no abstentions.

The bill still has to pass in the upper house and be signed off by President Vladimir Putin, but this is largely seen as an adminis trative step.

The original version of

the controversial "gay pro paganda" law was adopted in 2013, banning "propagan da of non-traditional sex ual relations" – depictions of same sex-relationships –among children.

It categorises any posi tive depictions of same-sex relationships in mass me dia or advertising under the same umbrella as distribut ing pornography, the promo tion of violence, or stoking racial, ethnic and religious tensions.

Advertising, books and films with positive presenta tions of LGBT people will be banned – raising concerns from publishers who have warned that it could affect classics of Russian litera ture.

Anyone who breaks the law will face a fine of up to 400,000 rubles (US$6600), while companies could have to pay up to 5 million rubles (US$82,100). (Excerpt from BBC News)

UN rights council moves to investigate Iran’s protest crackdown

TheUnited Nations Human Rights Council has voted to establish a fact-finding mission to in vestigate potential abuses in Iran’s crackdown on an ti-Government demonstra tions, with a particular fo cus on women and children.

Thunderous applause broke out as the 47-mem ber council passed the res olution on Thursday, with 25 countries voting in fa vour and 16 abstaining. Six nations – Armenia, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Pakistan, and Venezuela – voted against the measure.

“The people of Iran, from all walks of life across eth nicities, across ages, are de manding change,” said UN human rights chief Volker Turk, urging Iran to end its “disproportionate” use of force against the protesters.

“I call on the authori ties immediately to stop us ing violence and harassment against peaceful protesters and to release all those ar rested for peacefully protest ing, as well as … a morato rium on the death penalty,” he said.

The resolution is the lat est move by the internation al community to pressure Iran over alleged abuses linked to the protests, which broke out in September after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died after being arrested by the “morality police” for vi olating the country’s strict dress code.

Demonstrations have since spread across the country, prompting a harsh response from the Iranian authorities.

Turk said more than 300 people had been killed since Amini’s death, while 14,000 had been arrested, includ ing children. He added that Tehran had not respond ed to his request to visit the country.

In a statement announc ing new sanctions against Iranian security officials earlier this week, the United States said the crackdown has been “particularly se vere” in areas of the country with large Kurdish popula tions.

Iran has given no death toll for the protesters.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Kyiv residents fill plastic bottles at a water pump in a park in Kyiv on Thursday amid blackouts [Genya Savilov/AFP]

Epidemic prevention workers in protective suits sit in a lockeddown residential compound as outbreaks of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue in Beijing, November 23, 2022 (Reuters/Thomas Peter)

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Put more thought into how you han dle your money. Look for an investment that encourages you to upgrade, and be ready for anything that comes your way. Call on those who have your best interests at heart.

(March 21-April 19)

(April 20-May 20)

It’s OK to change your mind and head in a different direction if you tidy up loose ends first. Don’t settle; do what makes the most sense and brings you closer to your long-term goal.

Be a good listener, fact-finder and friend. Don’t share sensitive informa tion or make changes without doing your homework. Be open to suggestions, but put your needs first.

(May 21-June 20)

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

Think about what you want to see happen and how you propose to get things done. An innovative approach will plant seeds and give others a chance to see the possibilities. Invest in your future.

Put your skills to the test and take on a challenge. Get in the game and make a difference. A change someone makes may not be to your liking but will turn out better than anticipated.

You are overdue for a change. Try something new and let your imagina tion run wild. Put some thought and ef fort into your home and lifestyle, and you’ll devise a plan that excites you.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

You have the drive and power to get things done your way. Traveling, pur suing educational opportunities and getting together with positive people will pay off. Stick to the truth.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

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

Don’t limit what you can do; take hold of whatever situation you face and turn it into something spectacular. Think big, budget wisely and put your energy where it will bring the highest return.

Check your ego at the door and get down to business with honesty and in tegrity. How you treat others and allow them to treat you will be key. You must build respect by being fair.

A quiet approach will work best. Don’t step in and take charge prema turely. Give others a chance to do their thing before you act. You will get the highest return if your timing is impec cable.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Put your emotions aside and move forward cautiously. Go over every detail and size up situations before you share your thoughts and intentions. Your ap proach to responsibilities will be im portant.

Regroup and assess your next move. Align yourself with people you know you can trust, and keep an eye on those you know will disappoint you. Stand back and observe until you see an op portunity.

ARCHIE PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

DILBERT

FIFA World Cup: Qatar 2022…

Favourites Brazil start with ominous victory to top Group G

Richarlison's sec ond-half goals have earned World Cup fa vourites Brazil a deserved 2-0 win over Serbia in their Group G opener in Lusail.

The European side had stifled the No 1-ranked team for over an hour, but the Tottenham forward's closerange finish after Vinicius Junior's shot was pushed into his path by goalkeep er Vanja Milinkovic-Savic finally brought Brazil their hard-fought lead.

Richarlison then lit up the Lusail Stadium in Qatar with a stunning strike on the turn that arrowed be yond the Serbia goalkeep er to double the advantage. His brilliant performance has more than justified his

is a slight worry. Such is the depth of attacking talent in this squad, however, that optimism will be the prevail ing emotion after this.

Jesus, Antony, Rodrygo and Gabriel Martinelli all came on as Brazil really started to enjoy themselves. Given that they looked ro bust at the other end of the pitch with Casemiro protect ing the defence, this showed why many see them as the team to beat in Qatar.

Player of the match: Richarlison

Richarlison has made no secret of his passion for representing his country, often becoming emotional about it; and this was surely the night that he had been

Portugal beat Ghana to top Group H

a brace on his World Cup debut and the first since Neymar in 2014.

Since his debut for the national side in September 2018, Richarlison has scored more goals in all competi tions for Brazil than any

other player (19).

Before being subbed off in the final 15 minutes, Vinicius Junior had been involved in 50 per cent of Brazil's 16 shots in this match, with four shots and four chances created. (Sky Sports)

Uruguay and South Korea play to goalless draw in Group H

selection as Brazil's striker ahead of Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus.

Raphinha had earli er wasted chances to make the breakthrough on either side of half-time by shooting tamely on both occasions; while Alex Sandro's swerv ing effort from distance had struck the foot of the post, as Tite's side pushed to break down a resolute Serbia team.

Brazil were defensive ly strong as they extended their unbeaten run in World Cup openers to 20 games. Although there will be big ger tests as the five-time champions seek to end their 20-year wait to win this tournament, this turned out to be a commanding start.

How Brazil broke down Serbia

For an hour, Serbia had made it tough; but by the end, it was difficult to re member that, so dominant were Brazil, so rampant were they in overwhelming their opponents. As soon as Serbia had to go in search of a goal, the gaps were there for them to exploit.

Vinicius looked so dan gerous in creating all sorts of problems. Neymar had his moments, though his appar ent injury late in the game

dreaming of for much of his life. Here he was, leading the line for Brazil and lead ing the way too.

There is talent around him in this team, players who will create opportuni ties. He had Vinicius to his left and Raphinha to his right, with Neymar conjur ing in support. Richarlison's job was to stay central, and seize the chances when they came; and that is just what he did.

The first was the sort of poacher's finish that Tite ex pects from him, nipping in ahead of the defender. But the second was so much more that it was a vicious strike. It hints at his confi dence.

In this mood, and with this support, Richarlison could have even better days ahead.

Brilliant Brazil - Opta stats

Brazil are unbeaten in their opening game in each of the last 20 editions of the World Cup, winning 17 and drawing three.

Brazil's Neymar was fouled nine times in this match, at least four more fouls won than any other player at the 2022 World Cup so far.

Serbia are one of four

Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first man to score at five FIFA World Cups, as Portugal be gan their campaign with a thrilling victory over Ghana.

Playing for the first time since his controversial tele vision interview last week and his subsequent release by Manchester United fol lowing those comments, the 37-year-old Ronaldo scored the opening goal from the penalty spot, hammering in after being tripped in the box by Ghana's Southampton de fender Mohammed Salisu.

Captain Ronaldo had a couple of chances early on, but a low shot was smoth ered by Lawrence Ati-Zigi, and he also headed wide at the far post. The forward had a goal disallowed for a push on Alexander Djiku, while at the other end, Ghana did not have a single shot in the opening period.

The Africans improved in the second period as

Mohammed Kudus drilled narrowly wide of the far post, and Ghana got their reward when Andre Ayew equal ised from close range. But Portugal responded with two goals in two minutes to seal the points - Joao Felix con verting a delightfully clipped finish, and substitute Rafael Leao coolly stroking in just seconds after coming on.

Osman Bukhari head ed in a late consolation for Ghana, and there could have been real drama in the ninth minute of stoppage time.

Goalkeeper Diogo Costa put the ball down, seemingly unaware that Inaki Williams was behind him, but after racing to intercept the ball, the Ghana forward slipped at the crucial moment, and a scuffed shot was cleared off the line.

Victory means Portugal top Group H, after Uruguay and South Korea played to a goalless draw earlier on Thursday. (BBC Sport)

Nothing could sepa rate Uruguay and South Korea in their World Cup opener in Group H, despite plenty of at tacking quality on show in Qatar.

In front of a vibrant crowd at the Education City Stadium, the South Koreans frustrated Uruguay, but did not create many clear-cut opportunities. Their best fell to Hwang Ui-jo, who fired over the bar in the first half, before Uruguay captain Diego Godin headed a cor ner against the post.

Hwang stood with his head in his hands after wards, while team-mates fell to their knees in disbe lief, all in front of a group of South Korean fans behind the goal, who were in fine

voice throughout.

South Korea controlled most of the first half, but Uruguay began to dominate as the game wore on, and they almost won it in the fi nal minute of normal time, when Federico Valverde’s long-range effort crashed off the post.

There was one last chance for Tottenham strik er Son Heung-min – South Korea’s star man – but he dragged his shot wide, much to the relief of the Uruguayan supporters.

The draw leaves Group H wide open, with many seeing it as a three-way battle for qualification to the knockout stages between Uruguay, South Korea and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. (BBC Sport)

Luis Suarez beating Kim Jin-Su in an aerial duel

Ronaldo netted in a thrilling win

Brazil started in style

The Richarlison double ensured favourites Brazil started in top gear

sides not to have had a shot on target at the 2022 World Cup so far.

Richarlison has scored

nine goals in his last seven appearances for Brazil in all competitions, becoming the eighth Brazilian to score

-Christiano Ronaldo nets at record fifth World Cup

KFC Goodwill Tournament returns on December 14

Returning for its 3rd installment on December 14th, 2022, the KFC Goodwill Tournament, which is aimed at exposing Guyanese school-aged ballers to their counterparts around the region, would for the first time in the tournament’s history feature not one, but two overseas teams; name ly, Trinidad and Tobago Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) champions St. Benedict’s College, and the SVB Academy out of Suriname.

Speaking at the tourna ment’s launch at the KFC Vlissengen Road Head Office, Petra Organization’s Co-Director Troy Mendonca reiterated the tournament’s vision and the platform it

mance on and off the field,” Mendonca has said.

“It also aims to provide experience, inspire learn ing, and improve perfor mance at an international level. We regret the absence of the two years due to COVID-19, but…we are happy to be alive here to day to launch the third edi tion of the tournament,” he added.

Shifting focus to inclu sion of a second overseas team, as opposed to one in the tournament’s first two editions, Mendonca related, “Our vision clearly remains to have this event grow into a featured event among the Caribbean countries, and so we are proud to have an in ternational brand sharing the same vision with us in

pleased to take part in this (tournament) for the third time. This contest ampli fies everything our compa ny stands for; it’s not only to aid in the athletic devel opment of our youths, but to also impart valuable life les sons, like how we get along with others. We are thrilled to be part of this event, and we wish the participants the very best,” Manasseh has said.

Also sharing remarks at Thursday’s launch were National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman Kashif Muhammad, Ministry of Education’s (MoE’s) Kurt Braithwaite, and Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) Keeran Williams, who collectively empha sised the quality of the tour

would be played until December 23rd, when the grand finale is expected to take place.

In Group A, champions of the twin-island Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, St. Benedict’s, would do bat tle with Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers League run ners-up Golden Grove Secondary and the D.C

Caesar Fox Secondary School from Waramadong in Region 7.

In Group B, Annai Secondary out of Region 9 would begin their title de fence with tests from Milo and Guyoil 2022 Champs Christianburg Wismar Secondary out of Linden in Region 10, and Suriname’s SVB Academy.

FIFA World Cup: Qatar

can lay for Guyanese play ers.

“The KFC Goodwill Football Tournament was conceptualised against the backdrop of exposing our top local school teams against teams from our sister coun tries, especially those who have a very vibrant school programme. The main aim is to positively impact the players and coaches, and to enhance their perfor

the KFC franchise. And so we would like to commend the management of KFC and the Beharry Holdings for supporting the idea.”

KFC Guyana’s Marketing Manager Pamella Manasseh has, on behalf of the Company, expressed elation at the tournament’s return and growth. “On behalf of Beharry Restaurant Holdings, KFC Guyana is

nament and the role that Government and Corporate Guyana can play in its de velopment.

The initial round of this KFC tournament would em ploy a group format, with the six teams being sorted into two groups of three. At the end of the group stage, the two best teams from each group would advance to the semifinals.

The 5-day tournament

14-member squad announced to represent BCB

The Junior Selection Committee (JSC) of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), under the chairmanship of Balram Samaroo, recently met at the Albion Ground and an nounced a fourteen-mem ber squad that would rep resent Berbice at the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-13 Inter County tournament.

That squad would be led by Richard Ramdeholl, with Tameshwar Deonandan as his deputy. The coach is Tremayne Smartt, and the manager is Egbert Lyken Edwards.

Female cricketer Jade Campbelle has creat ed history by been named as a standby player in an all-male team. She is the younger sister of nation

al under-19 player Jamie Campbelle. The Campbelle sisters are among the rich female productions from the Rose Hall Canje Community Centre Cricket Club.

Switzerland needle Cameroon in Group G opener

Breel Embolo scored the winner against his birth nation Cameroon as Switzerland beat that African nation 1-0 at Al Janoub Stadium in their World Cup Group G opener on Thursday.

The Yaounde-born at tacker refused to celebrate his second-half tap-in, but his goal sparked jubilant scenes for the Swiss at fulltime, as Murat Yakin's side inflicted Cameroon's eighth successive World Cup de feat, one shy of the record.

The Indomitable Lions had the better of the first half, and kept Yann Sommer relatively busy in the Switzerland net, though there were a couple of warn ing signs for Cameroon just before the break. Embolo had been involved in one of those incidents, and was fit tingly the man to break the deadlock in the 48th minute, with Switzerland ultimately good value for the win after an effective second-half dis play.

Cameroon began with the greater purpose, and should have scored 10 min utes in, as Bryan Mbeumo blasted at Sommer and Karl Toko Ekambi inexplicably blasted over on the rebound. Undeterred, Cameroon con tinued to look more threat ening, with Martin Hongla testing Sommer from a tight angle 20 minutes later, and a crucial Silvan Widmer clearance denied Toko

Ekambi a tap-in. Switzerland finished the half stronger, however, and only a last-ditch JeanCharles Castelletto tack le prevented Embolo from scoring a certain goal before Manuel Akanji nodded just wide in stoppage time.

But there was no deny ing Embolo just after the break, as the Monaco for ward swept home from Xherdan Shaqiri's low rightwing cross.

Andre Onana kept Cameroon in the contest just past the hour with a fine stop to thwart Ruben Vargas, but Rigobert Song's men were unable to cap italise at the other end. (Sportsmax)

Two games will be played each day at 17:00hrs and 19:00hrs.

(Jemima Holmes)

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Talented female Jade Campbelle has been named as a reserve player for an all-male team in a first in the history of Berbice cricket

Flashback! Annai Secondary are the last school to have clinched the KFC Championship, back in 2019

KFC Guyana’s CEO Roger Hay making a presentation to Petra Organization’s Jackie Boodie in the presence of KFC’s Pamella Manasseh, MoE’s Kurt Braithwaite, GFF’s Keeran Williams, Petra’s Troy Mendonca, and NSC Chairman Kashif Muhammad

Breel Embolo scored against his birth nation Cameroon

2022… -Embolo condemns birth nation to eighth successive World Cup loss

WI tour to Australia 2022:Warm-up game against Prime Minister’s XI…

Tagenarine Chanderpaul makes compelling case for Test debut

Tagenarine Chanderpaul seemingly has a Test debut against Australia in his sights after making a composed century against the PM’s XI in Canberra.

Son of the Tiger, West Indies great Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Tagenarine Chanderpaul has boosted his chances of a Test debut against Australia by produc ing a hard-fought century against the Prime Minister's XI. He scored 119 runs off 293 balls on Thursday to lift his side to 234-7 at stumps on day two of the pink-ball match in Canberra. The

ond-highest run-scorer in West Indies first-class cricket this year, averaging 73.16 while also starring for the country's A team. The 26-year-old's knock against the PM's XI has put his name up in lights ahead of the first NRMA Test against Australia at Perth's Optus Stadium, starting on November 30.

Even before the tour match began, West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite backed Chanderpaul to suc ceed at Test level.

The PM's XI added a fur ther 25 runs to their over

PM's XI made 322 in their first innings, leaving the four-day clash delicately balanced.

Chanderpaul is the sec

night score of 9-297 before Mark Steketee was last man out for 15. Paceman Alzarri Joseph was the pick of the touring bowlers with 4-65,

while spinner Roston Chase finished with 2-72.

The tourists have made a bright start to their innings, moving to 94 without loss following strong efforts from Chanderpaul and Kraigg Brathwaite (47). But when Brathwaite chopped on a Steketee delivery, it sparked a collapse of 4-44, as West Indies began to wobble.

WA paceman Joel Paris found the edge of Nkrumah Bonner's bat to send him packing for a duck, be

fore spinner Todd Murphy bowled Devon Thomas and then trapped Kyle Mayers eight overs later.

Chanderpaul held the innings together, striking 13 fours and one six on the way to posting triple figures. Murphy (3-27 off 22 overs) and Paris (3-31 off 14.1 overs) were the pick of the bowlers.

Schedule of Men's NRMA Insurance Test Series vs West Indies Nov 17-19: ACT/NSW XI

SCOREBOARD

Prime Minister’s XI 1st Innings

Matt Renshaw c Seales

b Reifer 81

Marcus Harris c Mayers

b Seales 73

Henry Hunt c sub

(JO Holder) b Mayers 13

Peter Handscomb st † Da Silva b Chase 55

Josh Inglis (c)†c sub (JO Holder) b Roach 0

Aaron Hardie b Chase 23

Ashton Agar b Joseph 33

Michael Neser b Joseph 10

Joel Paris b Joseph 2

Mark Steketee c Seales

b Joseph 15

Todd Murphy not out 10

Extras(b 1, nb 3, w 3) 7

TOTAL 91.5 Ov (RR: 3.50)322

Fall of wickets: 1-134 (Marcus Harris, 41.4 ov), 2-162 (Henry Hunt, 49.3 ov), 3-190 (Matt Renshaw, 55.6 ov), 4-202 (Josh Inglis, 59.1 ov), 5-250 (Aaron Hardie, 75.3 ov), 6-253 (Peter Handscomb, 77.1 ov), 7-278 (Michael Neser, 83.1 ov), 8-294 (Joel Paris, 87.6 ov), 9-297 (Ashton Agar, 89.3 ov), 10-322 (Mark Steketee, 91.5 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Kemar Roach 16-6-51-1

Jayden Seales 16-2-60-1

Alzarri Joseph 19.5-4-65-4 Roston Chase 21-2-72-2

vs Windies, Canberra

Nov 23-26: PM's XI vs Windies, Canberra (daynight)

Nov 30–Dec 4: First Test, Perth Stadium, 10:20am Dec 8-12: Second Test, Adelaide Oval, 2:30pm (daynight)

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus

Kraigg

(c) b Steketee 47

Tagenarine Chanderpaul c †Inglis b Paris 119 Nkrumah Bonner c †Inglis b Paris 0

Devon Thomas b Murphy 8

Kyle Mayers lbw b Murphy 6 Joshua Da Silva

†lbw b Murphy 25

Roston Chase c Hardie b Paris 10

Alzarri Joseph not out 14

Extras(lb 1, nb 4) 5

TOTAL 91.1 Ov (RR: 2.56) 234/7

Fall of wickets: 1-94

(Kraigg Brathwaite, 34.5 ov), 2-95 (Nkrumah Bonner, 35.3 ov), 3-116 (Devon Thomas, 42.6 ov), 4-138 (Kyle Mayers, 50.5 ov), 5-194 (Joshua Da Silva, 76.6 ov), 6-208 (Roston Chase, 83.6 ov), 7-234 (Tagenarine Chanderpaul, 91.1 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Michael Neser 13-2-48-0

Joel Paris 14.1-4-31-3

Mark Steketee 13-1-33-1

Aaron Hardie 10-2-28-0

Todd Murphy 22-8-27-3

Ashton Agar 19-1-66-0

Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner.

West Indies squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Roston Chase, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Anderson Phillip, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Devon Thomas. (CA)

The New Doctor's Clinic backing Guyanese Powerlifter Roger Rogers Quitting captaincy is best thing for Pooran, says Jeffrey Dujon

Guyanese Powerlifter

Roger Rogers has got ten a financial boost from The New Doctor’s Clinic to attend the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in New Zealand from November 28 to December 4.

Rogers is expected to compete in the 120 MII cat egory after his recent ex ploits at the North American Powerlifting Federation (NAPF)/Pan American Champions in Orlando, United States of America, where he won a gold medal and established two Master II Pan-Am records for squat and deadlift.

Managing Director of The New Doctor’s Clinic, Satyendra Khemraj, ex pressed that Rogers has rep resented Guyana with great distinction, and it was a straightforward decision to support him. He hopes oth er businesses would support Rogers, since Rogers has not met the required funds to at tend the event.

Persons desirous of sup porting Rogers can contact this Guyanese athlete on 641-2564, or make contribu tions to the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation via the Republic Bank account #96235655-219-4.

West Indies Cricket…

ahead of him, and shedding this responsibility might just help his cricket as time goes on,” he added.

T20 team for 23 matches, winning 8 and losing 14 for a win ratio of 35 percent. (Sportsmax)

West Indies wick etkeeping great Jeffrey Dujon has said he believes the decision taken by captain Nicholas Pooran to step down is best for the player at this point in time.

The 27-year-old Pooran, who took charge of the re gion’s white-ball team ear lier this year, made the sur prise decision to step down as captain after just 7 months on the job.

As captain of the team, Pooran had faced severe pres sure following the team’s poor showing at the T20 World Cup. The West Indies failed to advance from the first

round of the competition, fol lowing losses to Scotland and Ireland. The results led to the resignation of the team’s head coach, Phil Simmons; but, having only just been ap pointed to the post, Pooran was widely expected to keep the position.

Dujon admitted to being surprised, but has said he be lieves the player has done the right thing, given the circum stances. “I think it’s a good thing for him. As a young player, you have been giv en responsibility, but things haven’t worked out for him,” Dujon told the Mason and Guest radio programme.

“He still has a career

Raymon Reifer 6-0-38-1 Kyle Mayers 8-1-12-1

Kraigg Brathwaite 5-0-23-0

West Indies 1st Innings

Brathwaite

Managing Director of The New Doctor’s Clinic, Satyendra Khemraj (right), handing over a cheque to Guyanese Powerlifter Roger Rogers

Pooran captained the

Jeffrey Dujon

Nicholas Pooran

Joseph claimed four wickets

Tagenarine Chanderpaul has scored his sixth first-class century

Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in New Zealand…

WI tour to Australia 2022:Warm-up game against Prime Minister’s XI…