Guyana Times - Monday, December 18, 2023

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 5587

THE BEACON OF TRUTH MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023

Large amount of feedback received on Gas Strategy being incorporated – VP Jagdeo …says complete review to be done before finalising strategy Page 3

Page 7

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

P 2-year-old 10 drowns after falling into Essequibo River

Man appeals P conviction, 10 life sentence over killing of neighbour

2 dead, 2 injured during robbery at construction party WBD resident

doused with unknown P11 substance suffers burn injuries

Appeal against 98year jail sentence

Mother convicted in poisoning P8 death of her children to know fate Wednesday

Govt extends deadline for arrested proposals for Man after Guyanese son Amaila Falls project woman, found dead in T&T Page 7

A speeding car, which overtook another vehicle, slammed into the vehicle in which Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha was travelling along the West Coast Berbice Public Road on Sunday afternoon. No one was seriously injured

P10

GECOM announces start of Claims and Objections next month …as work begins on Official List of Electors for 2025 See story on page 2

2 NEWS GECOM announces start of Claims and Objections next month MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…as work begins on Official List of Electors for 2025

W

ith General and Regional Elections over a year away, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has announced the start of Claims and Objections next month, which will contribute to the forming of an Official List of Electors (OLE).

According to GECOM in its latest notice, Claims and Objections will last from January 2 to 29, 2024. The exercises are aimed at forming a Preliminary List of Electors (PLE), thence an OLE. Accordingly, the PLEs have been posted at prominent locations across the country.

GECOM explained that persons who will be 18 years and older by December 31, 2023 and are Guyanese citizens by

birth, descent or naturalisation or “is a citizen from a Commonwealth country living in Guyana for one year or more,” meet the criteria to be included in the OLE and eventually vote in the expected 2025 elections.

When it comes to claims, persons can make a claim to be included in

the OLE if their name is not on the list, or can apply for a transfer from an address they no longer live at. Additionally, they can apply for a change of name or for a correction, if incorrect information is on the PLE. GECOM made it clear in their notice that the claims aspect of the

Claims and Objections exercise will end on January 15, 2024. Meanwhile, the objections aspect will end on January 22, 2024.

“If you have changed your address since you were registered, you are required to visit the registration office responsible for your new area of residence to apply for transfer, that is to get your address changed in the list.”

“Your failure to apply for transfers will result in you having to go back to the area where you previously lived to vote at any future election. Avoid any such inconvenience by applying for a transfer,” GECOM explained.

During last year’s Claims and Objections period, which captured persons who would have been eligible to vote by October

31, 2022, GECOM had recorded more than 3000 new applicants, as well as a total of 18 objections to names on the PLE. The claims aspect of the exercise came to an end on September 21, 2023, while objections ended on September 25. GCEOM Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward had said that the exercise ran with little to no hiccups and extensions had allowed for maximum participation of the population.

At the time the Claims and Objections exercise had been extended, GECOM had explained that the decision to do so by a week was for persons to have further opportunities to make changes to the voters’ list. Further, they had explained who could make objections.

“Further, objections against the inclusion of names in the PLE can be tendered to the Registration Officer of the Registration Area.

Objection(s) can be submitted by an Elector who is listed in the same Division list/Sub Division list in which the person being objected to is listed,” GECOM had explained.

“Objections can also be made by approved Scrutineers of political parties, provided that any such Scrutineer has monitoring responsibilities for the Division/Sub Division in which the person being objected to is listed,” the elections body had further said, explaining that original documents must be presented at the hearing, to support the objection being made. (G3)

NEWS

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

BRIDGE The Demerara OPENINGS Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, Dec 18 – 21:30h – 23:00h and Tuesday, Dec 19 – 22:30h – 00:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, Dec 18 – 08:15h – 09:45h and Tuesday, Dec 19 – 09:20h – 10:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be sunshine and cloudy skies during the day. Expect partly cloudy skies at night.

Temperatures should range between 24 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 08:41h and 21:03h reaching maximum heights of 2.36 metres and 2.41 metres.

Low Tide: 14:33h reaching a minimum height of 0.9 metre.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

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14 17 20

08 11 LUCKY 3

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Large amount of feedback received on Gas Strategy being incorporated – VP Jagdeo …says complete review to be done before finalising strategy

F

ollowing the release of the draft national Gas Monetisation Strategy two months ago, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said there was a significant amount of feedback received and Government is now in the process of incorporating those into the draft document.

“I’ve seen a document from [Natural Resources] Minister Vickram Bharrat about all of the comments that we received; the large number of comments that we received. The next step is to incorporate those comments and then have a total review [of the strategy]. So that will be the next stage,” Jagdeo told reporters at a press conference last week after he was asked for an update.

According to the Vice President, there has been a bit of reluctance on his part in aggressively pushing this matter forward given the recent events and the previously heightened tensions with neighbouring Venezuela, which has since been quelled following a series of agreements between Presidents Dr Irfaan Ali and Nicolás Maduro during the historic December 14 face-to-face meeting in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Back in October, Government had released the draft National Gas Monetisation Strategy to the public for their feedback. The aim was to simultaneously work on finalising the strategy while getting comments from the public, thus saving time.

Government has already made it clear that its goal is to find the best option forward to monetise its gas resources.

VP Jagdeo had noted that now is the time for Guyana to move swiftly in developing this resource, which has a small window as the world transitions from fossil fuel.

“This is the appropriate time to develop the gas resources given what is happening globally.

There may still be a window given this enhanced global demand and the recognition that gas will have to be a transitional fuel…

So given that, we have to move swiftly on this matter,” Jagdeo had stated during a previous press conference last month.

Consequently, he disclosed that Government will have to engage ExxonMobil, which along with its partners Hess Corporation and CNOOC Limited is producing oil in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana where at least two commercial gas fields have been found.

Not pleased with pace

According to Jagdeo, Government is not pleased with the pace at which the development of gas is moving and is looking at another partner.

“Moving swiftly means getting ExxonMobil at the table [and] getting maybe another partner who will trying to develop this industry and who wants to push it faster than Exxon.

We’re not pleased with the pace at which they want to approach the development of the gas assets. I think they’re more interested in oil and so, my personal assessment is that they’re not treating our desire to monetise the gas assets with the same sense of urgency as they are with moving the projects to pro-

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

duce more oil,” he had stated.

According to the Vice President, after the finalisation of strategy, Government would like to nudge the gas development process along, and bringing in another partner will help to underwrite some of the expenses and the risks associated with monetising the gas.

“Following the finalisation of the strategy, once the comments come in, we would then probably have to go out to RFP (Request For Proposals) to see other partners, who might be willing to work with us and Exxon to monetise the gas. It has to be tripartite because we own 50 per cent of the gas and Exxon owns 50 per cent. But if you don’t have a development [plan] then you can’t get any of the gas out…”

“We know how much gas we have out there. We know where they are. It’s now getting a partner to move on it, make sure we capitalise on this window of opportunity and then we will go through an internal process of seeing, with of course the partners, what yields the maximum value-added to the country’s benefit? Is it Liquified Natural Gas, is it an onshore facility – which we have one coming onstream, is it just having a vessel out there liquifying the gas and shipping it directly, is the using it for fertiliser, should we use the gas to generate a lot of power and try to supply Brazil, should we use it to generate power and process bauxite…

That’s what we’re hoping this strategy will do, bring up all the potential ideas that we can use

it for,” VP Jagdeo had posited.

In the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, some 17 trillion cubic feet of gas has been found with the Pluma and Haimara wells being proven gas fields.

Gas-to-energy project

Government is planning to pipe the natural gas onshore for its gas-to-energy project at Wales, West Coast Demerara, where an Integrated Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) plant and a 300-megawatt power plant will be built.

With Guyana seeking to develop the infrastructure to transport and store gas, a pertinent question will be capital costs. According to the draft gas strategy, the Government will be seeking to attract private funding for the gas infrastructure.

It was pointed out that gas transmission pipelines usually require Government investment in the early stages.

When it comes to domestic gas and power projects, the strategy pointed out that initial Government investment is particularly done in countries with minimal existing gas infrastructure.

The strategy notes, however, that once the sector is more developed and private companies have the capacity, then the Government’s direct participation in these projects may be reduced and the projects themselves privatised.

“Infrastructure investments such as gas transmission pipelines and gas distribution systems typically require initial

Government investment, particularly in countries with minimal existing infrastructure.

When the sector and regulations are more developed, private companies can build and operate whole integrated systems.”

“At which point the Government participation may be reduced to regulation and the collection of taxes and fees. As projects for which Government has provided the initial investment near the point of becoming economically self-sustaining, there is then the opportunity for the Government to divest the project through privatisation,” the document states.

One benefit of this, according to the strategy, is for the State to avoid the risks and debts, as well as diversifying the investment in the sector.

It was noted that private investment is necessary considering Stabroek Block operators ExxonMobil and its partners, as they produce oil from the floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels.

“GoG will seek to attract private funding for the timely and cost-effective development of its gas infrastructure to avoid the large upfront capital required to develop such projects and eliminate the risk associated with the debt infrastructure given uncertainty related to the revenue streams required for repayment.”

“Additionally, by diversifying the participants in the gas value chain and securing private investment, the GoG will avoid significant capital charges into the cost bank through the current PSC structure, which will significantly accelerate revenues to the GoG given the current upstream plans and FPSO deployment by the Stabroek Consortium,” the strategy states.

The strategy meanwhile noted that generally, power generation and electricity distribution projects are initiated by Government. It noted, however, that some power generation projects, such as Independent Power Producers (IPPs), are done with private participation.

(G8)

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023

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Be prepared

W

hile most people might recognize the exhortation, “be prepared” as the motto of the Scouts, they may be unaware that the values the founder of Scouts attempted to inculcate in youths came out of his experience in battle. At another level, one of his contemporaries Theodore Roosevelt quoted an African proverb to offer some advice to nations jostling for room in the international order: “speak softly and carry a big stick”.

It would not appear that his advice is appreciated by Pres Maduro of Venezuela, who, while following faithfully in the footsteps of his mentor Chavez to bait the US and its defence of democracy in the hemisphere, prefers to speak in stentorian tones while wielding his big stick of Russianmade armaments.

The recently-concluded Argyle meeting, organised by Caricom and CELAC between Presidents Ali and Maduro in St Vincent, emphasised the need for their two nations to speak softly to each. But it raised the fallacy of false equivalence in which there is the mistaken assumption that the stricture applies equally to both participants. At no time since Venezuela under Maduro resurrected its Border Controversy – even before Exxon struck oil off our Demerara coastline – has Guyana been strident in its articulation of our position on the matter. In October 2013, Caracas went as far as seizing a vessel, MV Teknik Perdana, in our waters while it was gathering data on hydrocarbons in our Roraima Block.

When Exxon dispatched a rig in March 2015 to drill in its Stabroek Block concession, the Venezuelan Government objected directly to the local corporation. We responded by following settled diplomatic protocols; “speaking softly” to send the Venezuelan Embassy a note verbale: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested that the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela desist from taking any actions that could only result in the stymieing of the development of Guyana and its people and that would be in contravention of international law.” The Ministry also informed Caricom, UNASUR, the OAS, the Commonwealth, and the UN Secretary General about the Venezuelan action.

When oil was struck by Exxon in May 2015 and our Administration changed, Maduro issued a decree expanding Venezuela’s maritime borders and activating the so-called Atlantic ZODIMAIN (for Insular and Maritime Defence Zones). This new decree added “the entire Atlantic Ocean off the Essequibo Coast” to Venezuela's territory. Newlyelected President Granger pointed out that “Guyana at the moment is facing a challenge to its survival by a larger state” and informed the diplomatic community of the outrage.

Later in the year, Maduro massed troops near the Essequibo border and then GDF’s Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips, had to state that Guyana is “ready to defend the country against any act of aggression at the country’s border with neighbouring Venezuela.” By 2018, the Guyana Government invoked the diplomatic process incorporated in the Geneva Agreement of 1966 to submit the Border Controversy to the UN Secretary General to choose one of the mechanisms outlined in Art 33 of the UN Charter. The latter chose the ICJ and Guyana submitted its case after the Court accepted that it was possessed of jurisdiction to pronounce conclusively on the controversy. Venezuela vehemently and intemperately rejected the jurisdiction on the Court.

As such, Venezuela’s aggressive pursuit of its claims to our Essequibo has been a relentless one that is unlikely to disappear with our continued reliance on only speaking softly diplomatically or otherwise. Speaking softly is an aspect of non-violence that will not be taken seriously by an aggressor – which is what Venezuela under Maduro has consistently proven to be with his latest annexation of Essequibo. The Argyle Declaration has offered simply a break in Venezuela’s aggressive behaviour and we must use it wisely to “be prepared”. Theodore Roosevelt also noted that foreign affairs was “the exercise of intelligent forethought and of decisive action sufficiently far in advance of any likely crisis”.

We know that the crisis on our western border can reerupt at any moment: it is time that we obtain a “big stick” to accompany our “soft speaking”.

Making a wish? Top Cop Clifton Hickens shares a light moment with children by sitting on Santa’s lap at the Children's Gift Drive hosted at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary on Saturday (GPF photo)

Beyond the degree

By Shawn Stultz

I

n our society a firstclass honours degree is often perceived as the pinnacle of academic achievement. It represents years of hard work, dedication, and intellectual prowess. However, when it comes to the working world, the correlation between first-class honours and competence is not as straightforward as it may seem.

Additionally, first-class honours graduates may suffer from overconfidence and unrealistic expectations. Excelling academically often breeds a sense of superiority and entitlement. Graduates may believe that their academic achievements alone will secure them esteemed positions and rapid career progression. However, the reality of the work environment is much different.

Success is determined by a combination of factors, including practical skills, work ethic, adaptability, and continuous learning.

Academic assessments predominantly focus on theoretical knowledge and the ability to excel in exams or assignments. While these skills are essential in an academic setting, they might not accurately reflect real-world competency. The workplace demands a diverse skill set that includes problem-solving, communication, adaptability, and critical thinking.

These abilities cannot always be captured by formal examinations alone.

Soft skills, such as effective communication, teamwork, leadership, and emotional intelligence, play a

crucial role in professional success. Unfortunately, these skills are often overlooked or underdeveloped during the pursuit of academic excellence. While a first-class honours degree may indicate a person's ability to learn and apply information, it does not necessarily demonstrate his or her capacity to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics or work effectively with others.

Gaining practical experience through internships, part-time jobs, or extracurricular activities is vital for success in the working world. These experiences provide valuable insights into the realities of different industries and help individuals develop relevant skills that cannot be acquired solely through academic study. Someone with first-class honours may lack the hands-on experience required to meet the challenges of a professional environment.

Furthermore, continuous learning and professional development are essential for staying relevant and competent in today's fast-paced world.

Completing a degree is merely the beginning of a lifelong learning journey. Graduates must actively seek opportunities to expand their knowledge, acquire new skills, and stay updated on industry trends. This commitment to growth and self-improvement will enable them to remain competitive and adaptable in the ever-evolving work environment.

Real-world work environments often involve ambiguous problems, com-

plex decision-making, and the need to balance multiple priorities. Academic settings, on the other hand, tend to provide more structured and controlled environments. Excelling in academia does not guarantee the ability to navigate these complexities effectively. Adaptability, flexibility, and the capacity to think critically are skills that must be developed beyond the classroom.

The job market is evolving rapidly, and many industries prioritise practical experience and skills over academic qualifications alone. While a firstclass honours degree showcases academic excellence, employers are increasingly seeking individuals who possess a combination of academic achievements, practical skills, and relevant experiences.

Therefore, securing lucrative employment opportunities often requires more than just a strong academic background.

Wealth creation is not solely dependent on conventional career paths.

Many successful entrepreneurs and innovators have achieved significant financial success without holding advanced degrees.

Entrepreneurial skills, creativity, and a willingness to take calculated risks can often lead to greater financial rewards than academic qualifications alone. The ability to recognise opportunities and think outside the box can open doors to wealth creation.

Academic achievements do not necessarily translate into financial literacy and effective mon-

ey management skills.

Understanding personal finance, investing wisely, and making informed financial decisions are crucial for building and sustaining wealth.

Many individuals with impressive academic backgrounds may lack the practical knowledge required to navigate the intricacies of personal finance, which can impact their ability to accumulate wealth.

The monetary value of a degree is influenced by market demand and economic conditions.

Regardless of academic qualifications, the availability of job opportunities and salaries in specific fields can fluctuate over time. Therefore, a first-class honours degree may not always align with high-paying job prospects if economic circumstances are unfavourable.

While a first-class honours degree is undoubtedly a significant personal achievement, it does not automatically make someone competent in the work environment. Success in the professional world necessitates a wide range of skills. Employers need individuals who cannot only apply theoretical knowledge but also effectively communicate, collaborate, and innovate.

By recognising the limitations of academic success, we can better prepare ourselves for the diverse challenges and opportunities that await us beyond the degrees we earn.

(Jamaica Observer) (Shawn Stultz is a PhD candidate at the University of the West Indies. He is also a Justice of the Peace.)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023

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If a woman can be raped in broad daylight… there are tough questions for all of us

By Gaby Hinsliff

I

t was broad daylight, and there were other people in the tube carriage. She should have been safe.

She’d fallen asleep, missed her stop, and ended up at the end of the Piccadilly line. But still, on a weekend morning in a bustling city, she should have been safe. And yet, hauntingly, she wasn’t.

Last week, Ryan Johnston was sentenced to nine years in prison for raping a 20-year-old woman on the tube in front of a horrified French tourist and his young son, in a case the detective leading the investigation described as one of the most disturbing of his career.

Something about this story, which unfolded in the space of just two tube stops, punches through all women’s comforting illusions about when and how we are safe. It has spread like wildfire through female WhatsApp groups, prompting questions about how on earth it could have happened: how could anyone not intervene in a rape unfolding in front of them?

Yet the judge noted that the fact that the French father had returned to Britain to provide evidence that helped secure a conviction suggested it wasn’t because he didn’t care. Which leaves the uncomfortable and more morally complex possibility of a parent alone with a young child, facing someone evidently

dangerous enough to commit an unthinkable crime, forced to decide whether intervening to help someone else’s daughter would put his own child at risk.

The whole thing stirs memories of a notorious attack on a woman on a train in Philadelphia in 2021, where initial reports suggested none of the other passengers came to her aid and some even callously filmed it on their phones. But later more nuanced versions emerged of a slowly unfolding horror that began with the attacker trying to strike up an unwanted conversation, then groping his victim, before finally progressing to rape. Since some bystanders weren’t on the train throughout, they didn’t all understand exactly what they were seeing, and those filming it may have been trying to capture evidence for the police. The initial story felt true, chiming with fears about cities becoming lawless or people more uncaring, but in some

respects it clearly wasn’t – small comfort though that must be to the poor woman who was nonetheless very publicly raped.

In fact, research suggests that far from standing around gawping, people who witness violent crime surprisingly often intervene to help – and not always the people you might imagine. This week, the 74-year-old Conservative MP (and former SAS reservist) David Davis reportedly stepped in to prevent two men viciously attacking a homeless man on the street in Westminster.

When the soldier Lee Rigby was brutally murdered on a London street in 2013, it was a 48-yearold cub scout leader called Ingrid Loyau-Kennett who got off a passing bus to help and ended up keeping Rigby’s agitated, bloodsoaked killers talking.

(When asked afterwards what had given her the courage to intervene, she explained that she used to be a teacher: someone used, perhaps, to imposing authority and quickly assessing overheated situations.)

And, many years ago now, when a man followed me off a tube train and wrestled me to the ground in an empty corridor, it was a nervous-looking middle-aged woman who came to the rescue. It was only afterwards that I realised how many men had been standing a few feet away on the platform, close enough to have heard me screaming yet staring fixedly at their shoes.

Now that I am also a middle-aged woman, that surprises me less than it did. A man confronting a violent man must be prepared to fight, with potentially lethal consequences, but an older woman intervening might sometimes be read as less of a threat. Or perhaps we’re quicker to recognise the danger signs: the man staring wolfishly at a young girl on the bus, pressing too close, pestering her into a conversation she clearly doesn’t want to have. Which is, of course, how the Philadelphia attack started.

For the thankfully less violent crimes many of us will witness over the course of a lifetime, such as sexu-

al harassment in a public place, women’s groups preach the five Ds. If Direct action feels unsafe, either Delegate (ask someone else to help, or call 911, or Document the evidence, or Distract, perhaps by striking up a conversation with a woman being hassled that gives her a chance to escape. If all else fails, there’s Delayed action, or offering sympathy afterwards. But perhaps the missing D is just the ability to suspend disbelief.

It’s a small thing, but somewhere in the middle of a long solo train journey last year, I looked up from my own phone long enough to realise what the man next to me was actually doing with his. He was surreptitiously but repeatedly taking pictures of a tiny girl sitting nearby: reviewing them, cropping

them, saving them. It took a minute to work out how to alert her parents without frightening her or possibly getting punched. But what took the longest time was simply accepting that it was happening. Yes, you saw what you think you saw. No, there isn’t an obvious, innocent explanation. So now you have to act.

When did he realise exactly what he was seeing, the Frenchman on the Piccadilly line? At what point did he understand he had a choice to make? And how often since, for all we know, might he have tortured himself by wondering what would have happened if he’d chosen differently?

(The Guardian) (Gaby Hinsliff is a Guardian columnist)

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023

Foundation ◄

Page

MATH QUESTIONS

By WRA Pilgrim

Mini canvas ornament This super-easy craft lets you explore your inner artist and create mini masterpieces that make a great addition to any tree. Simply use acrylic craft paint and paint pens to decorate mini canvases.

Once dry, attach a ribbon hanger to the back with glue and then add to your tree. These make great ornaments and

decorative gift tags for grandparents, teachers, babysitters, and friends as well!

Starburst ornament and tree topper You can easily make use of toilet paper rolls and leftover scraps of wrapping paper in this DIY craft — which can be designed as an ornament or a tree topper. Start by painting the inside and outside of the toilet paper rolls with contrasting paint colours and let dry completely. Measure two inches down the roll and mark all the way around, and then flip the roll over and measure two inches down and mark all the way around so you have a ½ wide inch gap marked in the middle of the roll. Starting on one end cut eight evenly-spaced lines stopping at the two-inch mark you made.

Flip the tube around and repeat step three on the other side. Fold down the cuts you made on one side and cut the rectangles into points with your scissors. Repeat step five on the other side. Finish the star off by flattening the folds down to make sure

they stay in place. Add a ribbon and hang the ornament onto the tree or use it as your tree topper this Christmas season.

(Adapted from goodhousekeeping.com)

We hail thee, Guyana, our country, our home, From coast to the hinterland your wonders abound.

Your mountains, savannah lands, all with beauty crowned Will always live in our memory wherever we roam.

We sing of Guyana, In village and town We pledge our allegiance as onward we go, United together our strength we will show And build a new Guyana, a land of renown.

We love you, Guyana, blessed may you be, Our flags we will honour, our motto uphold; Inspired by our leaders our destiny we’ll mould And proudly face the future – undaunted are we.

WORD SEARCH

BUTAKARI ENDEAVOUR ENETUIK CREEK SABAINA

RIVER ROSE HALL TOWN LEREKURU L'ENTERPRISE

SHIRLEY FIELD BYGEVAL PARAPI

NEWS

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt extends deadline for proposals for Amaila Falls project T he Guyana Government has extended the deadline for the submission of proposals for the long-awaited Amalia Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP).

The reinvite for the Request for Proposals (RFP) under a Build-OwnOperate-Transfer (BOOT) model was first launched in October with a November 28 deadline. However, this timeline has since been further extended to December 29, 2023.

According to published documents from the Prime Minister’s Office, the project will integrate and expand Guyana Power and Light’s national grid capacity to include Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Interested parties must submit one proposal based on a BOOT model, which includes the construction of a hydro dam, transmission lines from Amaila to Linden plus sub-stations at the Amalia site as well as upgrades and completion of roads and bridges to the site.

According to documents, the hydro project may be re-engineered to take account of changes in turbine technology thus allowing more than 165 MW to be generated and transmitted.

Responses to this RFP will be conducted in three stages: Stage 1: PreQualification of Parties capable of undertaking each of the above (hydro and transmission lines/substa-

We’ve had a company from Austria [and] several from Korea so now I think there is a large number of people approaching us and the best way to do this is through a public process – a bid process,” Jagdeo had stated.

Brazilian companies

tions.

Pre-qualifications will be conducted on a rolling basis, following which pre-qualified candidates will be allowed access to the data room.

Stage 2: Pre-qualified parties will be asked to provide feedback on the preliminary project structure and project documents. This response will be used to revise the initial project structure and project documents to issue the final RFP by January 31, 2024.

Stage 3: Formal RFP submissions based on the final Project Structure and Contractual documents – due 45 days after issuance of the final Project.

Additional details of the project are found in the daily newspapers where the RFPs are published by the

Prime Minister’s Office.

The AFHP – a brainchild of the previous PPP/C Administration has been on the cards since 2011.

However, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) Opposition parties having majority seats in 2014, barred the project from becoming a reality.

The PPP/C outlined the resuscitation of the project in its 2020 Manifesto.

Fast forward to 2021, the Cabinet granted a no-objection for the Prime Minister’s Office to engage the China Railway Group Limited to construct the hydro project.

However, discussions ended in a deadlock when the company wanted to change the model.

According to reports,

the company was unable to secure the necessary financing for the BOOT model, thus the request to change the contract to an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model.

At the time, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo made it clear that the Government was not keen on the EPC option since the BOOT model will allow the Administration to assume low risk.

Only in October, Jagdeo indicated that there have been mounting interests in the Amaila Falls project from firms in the Region as well as around the world, including in Europe and Asia.

“Up to [September], we’ve had another interest from a Brazilian company.

Meanwhile, the Vice President had disclosed in July that at least two proposals were received from companies in Brazil to do the hydro project. He had noted too that companies out of the United States have similarly submitted proposals to take over the initiative.

During a visit to the US in December 2022, President Dr Irfaan Ali said he told Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and her team that the Amaila Falls project is open to US investors.

Back in October 2022, Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mark Berman had disclosed that the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) had also held discussions with the Guyana Government on the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project.

Canada is well-known for its hydropower infrastructure. In fact, the clean and renewable energy supplied by hydropower accounts for over 60 per cent of all the electricity generated in Canada, and Berman has said this is an area in which Canada could provide assistance to Guyana.

The 165-megawatt AFHP was the flagship initiative of the Bharrat Jagdeo-crafted Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). But the project failed to take off despite having a developer in United States-based Sithe Global, which was backed by investment major – The Blackstone Inc. In August 2013, Sithe Global announced that it was pulling out of the project, which it said was too large to continue without national consensus and had cited the lack of consensus in Parliament. At the time, the then APNU and AFC Oppositions had both expressed concerns about the project and voted down key pieces of legislation which consequently halted the project.

Then during its term in office from 2015 to 2020, the APNU/AFC coalition Administration again shelved the project.

The Amaila Falls project plays an important role in the Government’s plan to create an energy mix to address the increase in electricity demand while phasing out dependency on fossil fuels that are contributing to global climate change.

The hydropower project coupled with the 300 megawatts (MW) gas-to-energy project and the solar power project, is expected to cut electricity costs by 50 per cent, bringing with it, tremendous benefits for citizens and businesses across Guyana. (G8)

2 dead, 2 injured during robbery at construction party

A

Dead: Youfie Eusi Bobb

celebration in the village of Victoria, East Coast Demerara (ECD), turned deadly, resulting in the death of two men while two others have been hospitalised.

Dead are 24-yearold Youfie Eusi Bobb of 51 Victoria, East Coast Demerara, and 26-year-old William Montrose, a miner/ construction worker of Side Line Dam, Victoria.

Those injured are 25-year-old Delex Skeete,

Dead: William Montrose

a plumber, and 19-year-old Siani McFarlene, a mason, both of whom are currently hospitalised. The men are all said to be from Victoria, ECD. Reports are that the men were all at a construction party called “Bank on it” in the area when at about 03:15h on Sunday morning, Bobb along with Skeete and McFarlene allegedly attacked Montrose and took away his 30-pennyweight gold chain.

Police on Sunday eve-

ning said that during the attack, Bobb along with the others dealt Montrose several stabs about his body. According to Police, Montrose then left and returned with a cutlass and dealt Bobb, McFarlene, and Skeete chops about their bodies, after which he escaped. Bobb and the two others were escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where Bobb was pronounced dead on arrival while the other two were

The area where the stabbing occurred

admitted as patients.

The ranks then combed the area of the scene and discovered the body of Montrose in a trench about 500 feet north of the scene.

His body was facing upwards. The body was fished out of the trench and examined, where three wounds were seen on the forehead, one to the left side upper chest, and two to the rightside jaw.

Police said one

black-handled knife was found tucked in his left side waist. The body was escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.

Investigators said Skeete's condition is regarded as serious and McFarlene's condition is regarded as stable. Bobb's body was examined and severe wounds were seen to the right-side shoulder.

According to eyewit-

nesses, while at the party, they saw a group of men walk up to Montrose, attack him, and was robbing him of his jewellery and other valuables.

This allegedly led to a brawl between Montrose and the group of men, who all chopped and stabbed at each other.

Police said several persons were questioned as investigations continue.

(G9)

8 NEWS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Appeal against 98-year jail sentence

Mother convicted in poisoning death of her children to know fate Wednesday

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he Court of Appeal is scheduled to render a decision on Wednesday in an appeal brought by a mother who wishes to reverse a 98-year prison term for poisoning her two children to death.

Hosfosuwa Amena Rutherford, 30, was found guilty of the offence of manslaughter in regard to the deaths of her two children — four-year-old Hodascia Cadogan and one-year-old Jabari Cadogan — by a jury in the High Court of Demerara following a trial before Justice Navindra Singh.

She had fed the children rat poison in May 2014. On the first count, for the killing of Hodascia, Rutherford was sentenced to 45 years in jail; while on the second count, for the killing of Jabari, she was sentenced to 53 years’ imprisonment.

The prison terms were ordered to be served consecutively, meaning that her cumulative sentence is 98 years.

Rutherford’s appeal was heard on June 19, by acting

Inside…

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Convicted killer: Hosfosuwa Amena Rutherford

Dead: Hodascia Cadogan

Dead: Jabari Cadogan

Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards and Justices of Appeal Dawn GregoryBarnes and Rishi Persaud.

Attorney-at-Law Dexter Smartt represented Rutherford while Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (ADPP) Teshana Lake presented the State’s case.

Rutherford has claimed, via her lawyer, that the Judge presiding over her trial neglected to consider the voluntariness of the self-incriminating statements the Police said she made.

She also argued in her appeal of her conviction that the 98-year prison term she received for the killing of her children was excessive and out of compliance with sentencing guidelines.

Lake, in her submissions, acknowledged that the voluntariness should have been decided by the trial Judge. Nevertheless, she stated that a thorough examination of his summary to the jury, particularly the instruction to the jury regarding how to handle Rutherford's caution statement, would have taken into consideration the

circumstances surrounding the giving of the statements.

When the facts and circumstances of the extant case are examined, Lake said that “concurrent sentence may have been the way to go, especially since the overall criminality from the sentences of 45 years and 53 years would have been reflected based on the sentence.”

She agreed with defence counsel that the 98 years’ sentence is disproportionate and excessive.

TURN TO PAGE 11

…Venezuela

ow that we’ve been reminded that the Venezuelan Border Controversy ain’t going nowhere – (surely you didn’t think, Dear Reader, that Argyle “solved” anything, did you?) – your Eyewitness thinks we gotta start paying more attention to what’s happening west of the border! Your Eyewitness has already been stressing the unique position of their armed forces over there. That they have a role in Government ain’t just a Mad Maduro manoeuvre to stay in power – but actually authorised by the 1999 constitution that Chavez foisted on Venezuela!!

An integral part of the Chavismo ideology is that the armed forces are the main vehicle to transmit the policies of the Government to the “people”. Sounds familiar??

While most young folks mightn’t know about Burnham’s “cooperative socialism” – those who do remember would remember he also used the “Disciplined Forces” for the same purpose. Burnham felt that Guyanese weren’t disciplined enough to create the Guyana he had in mind, so he created several different military units to do the job: the GDF, GNS, People’s Militia, the YSM, the WRSM, and not to forget: kick down the door bandits!! Well, over in Venezuela, all these are alive and well in their Spanish incarnations!! Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans are marching up and down to “defend the Bolivarian revolution”!!

Ah yes…the Bolivarian Revolution, can’t forget that, can we?!! It wasn’t just throwing out the old oligarchy that used to run Venezuela – but rejecting all they stood for!! Chavismo policies include nationalisation, social welfare programmes and opposition to neoliberalism – particularly the policies of the IMF and the World Bank.

Don’t forget Burnham dubbed the IMF as “International Mother F**ker”!! Your Eyewitness ain’t sure they go around calling each other “comrade”, but you get the idea, don’t you?? We’re all equal…which translates in today’s Venezuela – and yesterday’s Burnham’s Guyana – as “equally miserable”, with severe food shortages, skyrocketing poverty and rampant violence!! We can’t say Chavez and Burnham didn’t achieve their goal!

And just like in Burnham’s Guyana, El President Mad Maduro has all sorts of powers he claims from directly representing “the people”. That referendum to annex our Essequibo wasn’t unusual: in these “peoples’ democracies”, they’re tools through which the people speak and which the Big Man (Caudillo) executes!! And that’s why we just can’t dismiss the “mandate” Mad Maduro claims he’s got.

If he doesn’t follow through, he’s be cutting not just the limb he’s sitting on – but the entire goddamn tree!!

So on that “election” due next year, let’s not forget that the last (2018) elections was just like one of Burnham’s classics – “more crooked than barbed wire”!! They just rigged the damn thing!! Even the US’ Opp leader Guaidó couldn’t do a thing!!

The more things change….! …Venezuela’s democracy We shouldn’t forget that Mad Maduro – like Burnham – is very proud that he’s a “democratic” leader!! And that’s why he goes through all the trouble to rig elections!! He pretends that the almost eight million Venezuelans who’ve fled his (mis)rule haven’t voted with their feet! So, yes… that election due next year!! The Venezuelan Opposition parties held their primaries earlier this year and one Opposition Leader, María Corina Machado came out on top!! But a small hitch – uh, uh: she was immediately disqualified by a Mad Maduro henchman, because she supported US sanctions against Mad Maduro after his 2018 stunt!!

Well, after insisting for months that she wasn’t appealing that decision, because she hadn’t done anything wrong – she’s just reversed her stance and submitted a last-minute appeal to the Supreme Court. This was first revealed by the US Embassy in Caracas – implying that they agree with – if not initiated – the move. In Venezuela, this would be tantamount to trying the Devil in Hell!!

Maybe the US knows something?? …the Venezuelan melting pot When Mad Maduro’s delegation deplaned at Argyle, did you wonder how come all of them were so…well… white?? What happened to the million plus Venezuelans of African ancestry? The policy of blanqueamiento, or "whitening" erases them??

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

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

NEWS

9

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Communities in Regions 1, 8 benefit from Govt’s solar panel initiative

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Around 105 households in Itabac and Kanapang receive solar systems in time for Christmas

ome hinterland and riverine communities in Regions One (Barima-Waini) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) will be ‘bright’ for the Christmas holidays after receiving solar photovoltaic (PV) home systems from the Government over the weekend.

These distribution exercises align with the Government’s commitment to provide 30,000 solar panels to families residing in hinterland and riverine communities.

On Saturday, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal visited Region One to spearhead the distribution of solar PV home systems to residents within the Matarkai sub-district.

A total of 45 panels were distributed to residents in

Tassawini, 55 in Eyelash, 35 in Bamboo Landing, 50 in Big Creek, 375 in Arakaka, 35 in Five Star, and 330 in Oronoque.

In his address to the residents, Minister Croal emphasised that the initiative aims to bridge the gap between hinterland and coastland communities, ensuring equitable access to a reliable electricity supply.

He urged residents to take proper care of the systems for their longevity and maximised usage.

“As a Government, we have a mandate to develop the lives of all our citizens. Every community, every settlement, every village equally sees development taking place,” Minister Croal affirmed.

He spoke about specific development projects ear-

marked for the communities. At Tassawini, a new school was constructed to accommodate nursery and primary pupils, along with a new trenchers’ quarter.

Residents also received presidential grants for community development projects, and a new water distribution system will be installed to supply potable water.

Arakaka residents will also benefit from an extended electricity distribution network to include more households and a new well will be drilled. The community will also be included in the Hinterland Housing Programme.

Meanwhile, at Big Creek, the residents will also benefit from the construction of its first school and health centre, while representa-

Solar panels were distributed to communities across Region One on Saturday

tion will be made to upgrade the road at Eyelash.

“Your Government has your community at heart, and we will be advocating for more development in these areas,” Minister Croal assured residents.

The residents also expressed gratitude to the Government for the timely interventions that will allow them to have electricity in time for the Christmas holiday. In total, over 8000 panels are being distributed in Region One. Over in Region Eight, Itabac and Kanapang residents were also beneficiaries of the Government’s solar panel distribution exercise.

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai travelled to these remote communities on Saturday

to deliver the solar systems, ensuring that the houses are lit in time for Christmas.

Around 60 households in Itabac received their panels over the weekend while 45 households in Kanapang are expected to benefit.

Each system is designed with a 160-megawatt solar PV panel, a charge controller unit with a lithium-ion battery to power two ninewatt LED lamps, and one 12-watt desk fan.

Each home energy system is equipped with two USB ports for charging portable electronic devices.

The initiative by the PPP/C Administration seeks to address the energy disparity in Indigenous communities and empower them by granting reliable sources of energy.

Addressing resi-

dents during the exercise, Minister Sukhai highlighted that households in these areas were expected to benefit from the programme prior, but the initiative was halted by the previous Administration.

“Since we left office, the other Government parked the project…When we came back in office, we were able to reintroduce not only the solar panel project but the ICT and the CSOs (Community Service Officers), among other bigger projects,” she pointed out. Distribution to other communities continued on Sunday and will continue today. Already, Paramakatoi, Bamboo Creek, Arasawa, Taruka, and Monkey Mountain among other villages have received their panels.

10 NEWS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Man arrested after Guyanese 2-year-old drowns after woman, son found dead in T&T falling into Essequibo River

P

olice officers have held a man in relation to the murders of Guyanese woman Hollice Thomas and her son, eight-year-old Noel Thomas, who were found dead in their apartment at Battoo Street, Marabella, Trinidad.

The mother and her son were found on Tuesday with stab wounds in their neck, Trinidadian Police said.

According to Trinidad Guardian, the woman’s reputed husband claimed that upon getting home on Tuesday last, he came face to face with his stepson, Noel, lying lifelessly, murdered in his sleep with a single stab to his neck.

His common-law wife Hollice, 40, lay on the bedroom floor, fighting for breath, as blood poured from a wound on her neck.

Before she died at the San Fernando General Hospital, it was revealed, according to the Trinidad Guardian report, that the woman tried to mutter the name of their attacker.

In a statement given to Police, the woman’s reputed husband said he left home at 06:00h to go to work. He returned at home at 09:00h and called out to Thomas, who was supposed to be with Noel at the time. There was no answer.

As the reputed husband walked into the house, he saw blood on the bedroom floor.

Then he saw little Noel lying dead on his bed, his body still warm. There was a gaping wound to the child’s neck.

The reputed husband then saw Thomas lying at the side of her bed, gasping for breath.

She too was bleeding from the neck. She was still conscious but couldn’t speak.

Thomas was rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital, where she died shortly after.

A neighbour who requested anonymity told Trinidad Guardian that the family had moved into the apartment building less than six months ago. They lived downstairs while other families lived upstairs. Despite their close proximity, they kept to themselves.

“I would see her but I didn’t

A

Hollice Thomas and her son, eight-year-old Noel Thomas

know anything about her,” the neighbour is quoted by the Trinidad Guardian as saying.

Noel attended the St Madeleine Government Primary School in Trinidad, while Thomas worked as a security guard.

According to the Trinidad Guardian report, Jennifer Ramdin, 78, who lived opposite them, said she saw Hollice on the porch hanging up some clothes a few hours before her body was found around 09:05h.

“It is so frightening. I am shaking right now,” Ramdin whispered.

She recalled hearing some screams but did not investigate, as she thought people were playing on the road outside her house.

“People always making noise. At the time I didn’t think anything about it,” she revealed.

Lamenting the state of crime, Ramdin said she is now afraid to come out of her home. Meanwhile, Police said Hollice and her son had been victims of domestic violence in the past.

Hollice was born in Guyana and attended the University of Guyana before moving to Trinidad and Tobago. She got engaged in 2012 and was married one year later.

In 2019, Hollice report-

ed that a male relative had attacked her and chased her then-four-year-old son, Noel, with a chopper. The relative was later charged with assaulting Hollice, occasioning a wound, and was jailed for a year.

Trinidad Guardian reported that a medical report from the San Fernando General Hospital presented in court, showed Hollice suffered bruising and swelling to her right cheek, a laceration to her inner bottom lip, bruising and tenderness, and blunt trauma to her head, which caused headaches.

At the time, the relative told the court he and Hollice had a “little argument” over an uncooked meal which later turned violent. Hollice told the magistrates she had another incident in 2018 and was afraid for her life, but the Police never took her report seriously. Apart from the crime involving Thomas and her son, the relative also faced other charges of attempted murder against another person.

Police in Trinidad said while they could not link Tuesday’s murders to the 2019 attacks, they were searching for the suspect/s.

The murder weapon was also recovered.

two-year-old boy tragically lost his life on Saturday morning after falling into the Essequibo River near the Kurupukari crossing, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

Dead is Marlon Felix.

Reports indicate that the toddler's mother took him to a beach located a short distance upstream from the crossing along the river. While the young mother and other residents were washing clothing at the riverside, they realised that the child was missing.

An immediate search ensued, and after some time, Marlon's lifeless body surfaced in the water.

Marlon had been playing on a beach near the Kurupukari Crossing on the Essequibo River when he accidentally slipped into the water.

This unfortunate accident marks the second child drowning in less than two months. In October, a oneyear-old child went missing during a family outing at Top Side Paruima Falls in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and was later found dead in the Kamarang River.

Family members of Romeil Delgado conducted an all-night search to recover his body. The child's mother explained to investigators that she had taken him and

other relatives to the river in the afternoon, accompanied by her boyfriend.

She left her son in her brother's care at the river's edge while she checked on her sleeping daughter.

However, upon her return, they discovered that the toddler had gone missing, prompting an immediate alarm and search.

Tragically, just before midnight on the same day, Romeil's lifeless body was found in the river.

Man appeals conviction, life sentence over killing of neighbour

A

dvancing that he is dissatisfied with the trial court’s decision, 57-year-old convict Deonarine Bhikhari has appealed his conviction and sentence for the murder of his neighbour.

Earlier this year, a jury unanimously found Bhikhari guilty of killing Daniel Singh, 49, of Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD), who died on May 21, 2000.

Justice Jo-Ann Barlow, who conducted the trial at the High Court in Demerara thereafter sentenced him to life imprisonment, stipulating that he must serve 30 years— from which the period he spent in pretrial custody must be deducted — before he is eligible for parole.

Singh, a single father, was living at Hope West, Enmore, ECD, with his four children.

Guyana Times understands that Singh and

Convicted murdered: Deonarine Bhikhari

Bhikhari usually had confrontations, since Bhikhari and Singh’s then teenage daughter had reportedly liked each other, but Singh did not approve of this.

At the time, Bhikhari was in his 30s while the young girl was in her late teens.

It was reported that, on that day, Singh was sitting

Dead: Daniel Singh

on his front step when he was attacked by the cutlass-wielding man, who also killed three of the family’s dogs while injuring his young daughter.

After the attack, Bhikhari had fled to neighbouring Venezuela, but he later returned home, and was arrested by Police in May 2018 at a house in Enmore. (G1)

NEWS

11

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Poor financial management WBD resident doused leads to late 2024 budget with unknown substance at City Hall – Councillors suffers burn injuries

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2 2 - y e a r - o l d Bagotville, West Bank Demerara (WBD) resident fell victim to burn injuries following a scuffle near his home. The incident involved four individuals, believed to be longtime harassers of the Phillips family.

Injured is Daniel Phillips, who suffered burn injures about his body after an unknown substance was thrown at him.

This publication understands that the Police officers who were present at the scene, were reportedly responding to a prior complaint filed by the Phillips family regarding persistent harassment. A family mem-

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PPP/C Constituency 4 Councillor Alfonso De Armas

PPP/C Constituency 8 and 9 Councillor Odayson Ashby

ddressing what they described as poor financial management

by City Hall’s administration, People’s Progressive Party Councillors have expressed concern over several issues at City Hall causing the entity not to be able to present a draft of the 2024 budget.

This was one of the issues discussed at the final statutory meeting for the year, held last week.

“Once again, we see a big relapse with M&CC budget even after presenting a late 2023 budget. City Hall now finds itself being delayed to

complete mismanagement from administration and leadership.

As it is, we’re going into 2024 and City Hall have not yet presented the draft of the 2024 budget,” Ashby stated, noting that only a few months ago the 2023 Budget was present by APNU Councillors.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has control of the Finance Committee, which is chaired by Lelon Saul and other (APNU) Councillors Tahirih Adams, Troy Garraway, Clayton Hinds and Yvonne Ferguson and

meet directly with his administration and make decisions if the council keep operating in this manner,” Odayson emphasised.

Meanwhile, Alfonso De Amas, who is also a PPP Councillor, highlighted that the financial management of the city must be addressed with urgency.

While dismissing the narrative that Government is playing politics with city council, he said: “We are ready to work with all parties involved in order to move forward because we know it’s for the betterment of the city.”

present a draft of the 2024 budget which was expected to be presented since November 15, 2023. City Hall has been controlled by the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)/A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), for the longest time since the party holds a majority of seats at council, while the PPP only takes up eleven seats,” Councillor Ashby Odayson told this publication.

Odayson, a PPP/C Councillor, added that work cannot continue to be delayed because of APNU’s Councillors’ behaviour.

“What we continue to witness in City Hall is a

Don Singh being the only People’s Progressive Party/ Civic member. While no audit of City Hall has been done for the past decade, this continues to be a major concern for the PPP/C Councillors.

Meanwhile, Odayson underscored that they have raised concerns about the budget and other issues at City Hall meetings on numerous occasions but to no avail.

He added that City Hall has no accurate asset register, whilst calling on the city’s Mayor, Alfred Mentor, to immediately address this matter.

“The Mayor needs to

According to the Councillors, recommendations will continue to be made regarding the poor management of funds at City Hall since Central Government is being relied on for bailout each year.

Meanwhile, the continued lack of essential financial record-keeping, the Councillors said, calls into question the M&CC’s capability to responsibly manage resources. Additionally, the prolonged absence of audited statements emphasises the serious issues at City Hall. The last M&CC budget was in excess of $2B

Daniel Phillips after he was burned with an unknown substance

ber disclosed that one of the aggressors had issued threats earlier that day.

The situation escalated and an unknown substance

was thrown at Phillips during the confrontation.

A family member claimed that between 12:30h and 01:00h on Sunday, Police officers arrived at the hospital to document the incident.

Phillips received medical treatment and has since been discharged.

Expressing desperation, a relative of the victim pleaded with authorities to intervene and put an end to the prolonged harassment. The family, in their plea for help, emphasised the urgency of the situation, expressing concerns about potential escalation and the need for preventive measures. (G9)

Mother convicted in...

FROM PAGE 8

Bearing in mind that the Court of Appeal stated that the starting point for manslaughter would be 25 years, Lake submitted that the sentences ought to have run concurrently and asked the court to consider the totality principle when resentencing Rutherford.

During the woman’s trial in 2018, the State had adduced evidence that this mother had given each of her children half of a tablet of aluminium phosphide (rat poison) on March 27, 2014, at their home. Rutherford’s defence was that she had

bought cold tablets at the Plaisance bus park in Georgetown from a man who sells rat poison, but the logic behind this story was not accepted by the jury. Rutherford had been hospitalised for seven days after the poisoning of her offspring, and she had said she had drunk two rat poison tablets after giving the same to her children.

“No one in this world loves my children more than I do. I love them to my soul. I am sorry for my shortcomings and my faults,” the convicted child killer had stated at her

sentencing hearing.

She had then turned her attention to Justice Singh, whom she begged to have mercy on her.

“Justice Singh, even God in Heaven above is merciful, and I am asking you to grant me a second chance, so I can make things right,” a crying Rutherford had pleaded.

Justice Singh had, however, seemed perplexed as to why the State had indicted this mother for the lesser offence of manslaughter. He had contended that “everything points to murder”. (G1)

12 NEWS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Mahaicony rice farmers complain of irrigation issues, El Niño effects …construction of more canals to cushion effects imminent – Mustapha

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rainage and irrigation works are ongoing in communities along the Mahaicony River and surrounding areas in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) to cushion the effects of the prolonged dry season on rice cultivation on the area.

On Saturday, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha met with farmers in the area at Green Mill, Mahaicony Branch Road.

During the meeting, farmers expressed concerns about the Mahaicony River’s saline water intrusion, freshwater availability and excavation works to be done.

In response, Mustapha committed to ensuring the famers have an adequate supply of irrigation water in a week’s time, among other mechanisms.

This includes the installation of several pumps to improve access to water and the provision of fresh water, which will be delivered on a daily basis to the farmers, temporary.

“Two days, maximum three days, this system over here will work, Lionel will take a pump and we’ll get water. The canal that you talk about behind you, the cross canal, works com-

mence today. We’ll look at other mechanisms to see how we can modify the system so people can get water over this side…We have to monitor it. The main thing is that the creeks are running salt. We will look at that. We will put all systems in place to get it done.”

He also disclosed that Regions Five and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) will benefit from the construction of canals, and the designs are currently being finalised by a consultancy team, contracted by the Ministry.

The Minister pointed out that Government is working to ensure that procedures are in place to deliver the canals by the stipulated deadline in February 2024, given that the extended dry period is expected to last until the first quarter of 2024.

“These will be canals that will help us when we have rainfall and excessive water in the system to drain the system without putting pressure on our drainage now that we have, draining our cultivation areas, drainage that we are draining our housing areas…We’ll have these canals run directly to the Atlantic and also I asked the consultants and the people who are working on the design, last

week I had a meeting with them and they promise also that they will make it in a kind of way, that we can store water so that when we have prolong dry period like these we can also use it to have irrigation,” Mustapha told the gathering of farmers.

Additionally, some farmers, who requested excavation works to be conducted, were informed that a machine would be made available today.

Salinity tests

Further, to keep an eye on the river’s salinity levels, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) was assigned to conduct four salinity tests every day.

Mustapha also suggested that a rotation system can also be implemented to ensure all the farmers are provided with irrigation. In addition, the situation with the farmers will be constantly monitored by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), GRDB, and the Mahaica Mahaicony AbaryAgricultural Development Authority (MMA-ADA).

In a few weeks, Mustapha and his technical team will return to the area to ensure the systems

The rice farmers and residents of Mahaicony River, Region Five meeting with Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha

installed are operating well and giving the farmers access to enough water.

Some 190,000 acres of land have already been prepared around the country. Lands in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) to Six, along with Mahaicony and parts of the BerbiceCorentyne were mostly affected by the El Nino phenomenon.

Rice production

During the re-certification of the Guyana Rice Development Board’s (GRDB) Central Laboratory on November 29, Mustapha disclosed that notwithstanding the difficulties caused by El Nino, Guyana’s rice output in 2023 exceeded the goals that were set and the previous year’s achievements.

The Minister noted that the rice industry has shown remarkable resilience in the face of hardship, and the amount of work put into preventing El Nino and lessening its effects has demon-

strated Government’s dedication to using sustainable farming methods.

“There have been a number of achievements in the rice industry for infrastructure development, which include the construction of five drying floors at a cost of 79.1 million, the seed clearer and dryer at Black Bush Polder (Region Six) at a cost of 46 million, the research and development of three laboratories at a cost of 48 million, two new varieties, GRDB 16 and the bio-fortified (zinc).”

With regards to assistance to farmers and millers, Minister Mustapha said, “we have given flood relief assistance to 1894 farmers who received a total of $1,994,811,521, seed paddy assistance to farmers at a total of $275,000,000, a reduction in commission effective April 1, 2022, a reduction of commission from US$8 to US$6 per MT amounting to $1,019,011,920 going into the farmers pockets.”

“We also gave fertiliser assistance to farmers at a total of $871,079,200, the purchase of five cannon jacto sprayers for the rice industry at $6.6 million, and a reduction in commission effective March 4, 2023.

Millers did not pay any commission for the first crop of 2023, and they will pay farmers at least $4000 per bag of paddy.”

By 2025, he said, some “50,000 bags of seeds will be produced, with two new varieties of high-yielding and aromatic varieties being released”.

Rice production is also expected to increase to 847,000 tonnes next year.

The Minister was joined by the Chairman of NDIA, Lionel Wordsworth, CEO of Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), Dr Dwight Walrond, Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal, other heads of agencies and representatives of GRDB and MMAADA.

Prosecutor makes full disclosure in West Ruimveldt murder case T

he Police prosecutor has provided the defence with evidence in the case stemming from a murder at West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, including witness statements, pictures, and videos.

Last Friday, the prosecution fully disclosed the evidence in the charge against 34-year-old Anthony LaRose of Kuru Kururu, SoesdykeLinden Highway, who is accused of killing Dexter Horsham.

At the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts, when the case was called before Magistrate Rhondell Weever, LaRose's attorney, Gordon Gilhuys, asked that his client's aunt sign for and uplift the items. His request

Murder accused: Anthony LaRose

was granted.

Regarding how the matter will proceed, the Magistrate inquired from Gilhuys as to whether he preferred a Paper Committal or a Preliminary Inquiry.

The defence attorney

Dead: Dexter Horsham

asked for a brief postponement, stating that he wanted to examine the evidence before reaching a decision.

Another hearing is scheduled for February 12, 2024.

LaRose is accused of murdering Horsham on August 10.

He has not been required to plea to the indictable charge.

Horsham, 43, a construction worker, was fatally shot and chopped while trying to protect a soldier from a mob of men who came to evict him from the house he had been occupying with his young son and pregnant wife. The incident had also left Horsham’s cousin, Corwyne Abrams, a 38-year-old taxi driver from Charlestown, Georgetown, injured and hospitalised.

It was reported that Ezekiel Subhan, a 25-yearold Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lance Corporal, who resides at Lot 426 West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was

at home with his 23-year-old reputed wife when he heard someone knocking at his door and calling for “inside”.

As a result, Subhan went out to the front door, looked outside and saw a man at the door who told him to remove from the house. “The man claimed that he bought the house from his (Subhan’s) great-uncle.

However, Subhan told the man that he was not going anywhere and that he should get the Police involved since he did not come with a document of ownership for the property,” said a Police report. As a result, they argued, and six other identifiable men exited a black pick-up vehicle with

registration number GLL 7950 and aggressively entered the yard and rushed to the GDF rank.

By then, a crowd had gathered, which included the victim, Horsham, and Abrams.

A fight then broke out, and one of the men who came out of the pick-up vehicle and who was armed with a handgun discharged three rounds.

Horsham and his cousin were struck by the bullets. They were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where Horsham was pronounced dead. After committing the act, the group of men went back into the vehicle and drove off. (G1)

NEWS

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Thousands of toys distributed to children in Region 6

C

lose to 10,000 toys were on Sunday distributed to children across Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne)

by Agriculture Minister

Zulfikar Mustapha on Sunday.

The distribution was part of Government’s con-

tinued support for children.

According to Mustapha, the annual feature is an

initiative he started in the region more than a decade ago when he was Regional Chairman.

“You can see the joy on the children’s faces and

while I am doing this in Berbice, [people] who are in different parts of the country doing the same

thing in other regions,” he said in an invited comment as he interacted with children at the Welfare

Community Centre in East Canje.

“We want to make sure that every child enjoys the festive season and also gets a gift. That is what we want to do for this period; giving and sharing. Today we are seeing that the future of our children is bright and there are more opportunities for our children. We are seeing more development. We are seeing our children are excelling in different fields and this is one way we think we can help them to enjoy themselves during this festive season and for the holidays,” the Minister said.

According to the Minister, who distributed toys at 12 venues in the region, other Government Ministers were also in the said region doing the same.

“Some parts of Region Six that I did not cover, they covered. We are trying to ensure that in every single community, the children receive toys so that they can enjoy themselves. This is one we

as a party in and out of Government have been going this. Since I became Minister, I have been us-

ing the Government resources to assist the children but this has been a

Speaking distribution Community

tradition when we were not in Government be-

Mustapha pointed out that before the reopening of the

and East Canje is moving in terms of development and we are seeing more people coming back into East Canje now and the community is becoming vibrant again.

While not being able to give the figure as it relates to the total number of toys being distributed countrywide, the Agriculture Minister noted that he would have distributed close to 10,000 in Region Six. “Where I cannot get to go to, I will be sending toys. We are seeing a number of these toys going to different parts of the country. For example, in Region One on Saturday, Minister Collin Croal would have gone to different villages. Today

tween 2015 to 2020, I was still doing this with resources from the party and now as a Minister within the Government I am doing it.”

Rose Hall Sugar Estate earlier this year, the community was being referred to as a depressed one.

“We are seeing more economic opportunities

(Sunday) Minister Ashni Singh is in Moraikobai and other parts of Region Five, so different Ministers are going into different regions,” he added. (G4)

about the at Welfare Centre,

14 NEWS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Prisoners reconnect with 166 girls complete Guyanese Girls Code Programme families in Christmas family bonding visits

O

ver the past two weeks, inmates across various prisons nationwide were granted a unique opportunity to spend quality time with their families in a setting that aimed to normalise their interactions.

The initiative, labelled "Christmas family bonding visits," allowed families not only to reunite but also to share a meal with their incarcerated loved ones.

The atmosphere during these visits was emotionally charged, fuelled by the love and affection that only family ties can generate. Hugs were exchanged, meals were enjoyed together, conversations flowed freely, and families took the time to capture precious moments in photographs.

Expressing their gratitude, both family members and inmates highlighted the significance of this extended period of togetherness. For those confined behind prison walls, the opportunity to connect with family in a more intimate setting was a welcomed departure from the routine constraints of incarceration.

The top performers of Guyanese Girls Code Programme with officials from the Office of the Prime Minister

An incarcerated woman gives her child a gift for Christmas

Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot commended the dedicated staff members who played a crucial role in overseeing the success of the initiative.

Recognising the profound impact that incarceration can have on family life, Elliot emphasised that the role of the Prison Service is not to hinder but to actively promote and maintain familial bonds.

Having worked with prisoners and their families for many years, Elliot

acknowledged the daunting nature of the incarceration experience for everyone involved.

In light of this, he reassured that the Prison Service is steadfastly committed to providing both practical and emotional support.

"We are always here to offer practical and emotional support," Elliot affirmed, underscoring the ongoing efforts to foster a sense of connection and understanding within the prison community.

A

total of 166 girls have successfully completed the Guyanese Girls Code Programme, which is being implemented through the Office of the Prime Minister’s Industry and Innovations Unit.

The programme ran from July to October and saw young ladies aged 12 and over benefitting from a wealth of ICT knowledge, instructed in various aspects, including coding/ programming, robotics, micro bit, and introduction to the development of video games.

According to the Industry and Innovation Unit, the programme was able to capture a diverse range of females, hailing from Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, and Ten.

It was delivered in four cohorts, with the first three being delivered online, and the remaining one being conducted faceto-face.

The top performers selected were Aaliyah Andrews, Tomika Wallace, Aliana Porter, and Ariel Craig.

These participants were awarded with tokens, which were provided through the efforts of the training consultant/ specialist of the Guyanese Girls Code Programme, Dave Sarran, with sponsorship from USA-based Guyanese Loren Lorick and Naitram Baboolall.

According to a release from the Industry and Innovation Unit, Director, Shahrukh Hussain reaffirmed that the unit is dedicated to enhancing

the ICT sector in Guyana through education and awareness.

Meanwhile, ICT consultant, Sarran urged the participants to continue pursuing opportunities within the growing ICT sector, and congratulated them for completing the programme.

A key aim of the programme is to address and combat gender discrepancy in the ICT sector, while simultaneously creating and solidifying ICT skills in the young female population.

In 2024, the programme is expected to be expanded to several regions in a physical setting This year’s edition of the programme was delivered under the theme: Digital Skills for Life.

NEWS

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Indian Navy monitors Israel Gaza: Hostages shot by IDF put out 'SOS' sign written with leftover food ship hijacking in T the Arabian Sea hree Israeli hostages mistakenly killed by soldiers in Gaza on Friday had used leftover food to write signs pleading for help, Israel says.

The men had been staying at the building next to where they were shot "for some period of time", according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Officials have admitted that killing the men who

T

he Indian Navy is closely monitoring the hijacking of the Malta-flagged vessel MV Ruen in the Arabian Sea, India's Ministry of Defense informed on Saturday.

The ship, with 18 crew members on board, sent a distress message on Friday reporting that six unidentified individuals had boarded the vessel, according to an official press release.

In a quick response to the developing situation, the Indian Navy diverted its Naval Sea Patrol aircraft to surveil the area, and its warship on anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden to locate and assist the MV Ruen, the press release noted.

The plane flew over the hijacked vessel on early Friday and other Indian Navy aircraft are continu-

ously monitoring the movement of the ship, which is now heading to the coast of Somalia, the military body revealed.

The text added that the Indian Navy warship, which has been deployed in the Gulf of Aden to patrol against piracy, intercepted the MV Ruen in the early hours of Saturday.

There is close monitoring

of the overall situation in coordination with other agencies in the area, the Defense Ministry pointed out.

The Indian Navy remains committed to being the first responder in the region and ensuring the safety of merchant ships, along with international partners and friendly foreign countries, it concluded. (plenglish.com)

Church of England blesses same-sex couples for first time

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couple have become one of the first same-sex partnerships to receive a blessing at a Church of England service.

Prayers of love and faith were granted to Catherine Bond and Jane Pearce on Sunday morning, celebrating their shared “love and friendship” and “commitment to one another”.

Blessing same-sex couples was sanctioned by the House of Bishops just days ago and they were allowed to be handed out from Sunday.

Not all clergy members agree with the decision to permit the blessing for same-sex couples – some welcome it as progress, others believe it has gone too far, and many hold that the real change needed is marriage recognition.

The couple knelt in front of the vicar, Canon Andrew Dotchin, at St John the Baptist Church in Felixstowe, Suffolk, where they are both associate priests in the parish.

Rev Dotchin held their heads and said: “We give thanks for Catherine and Jane, to the love and friendship they share, and their commitment to one another as they come before you on this day, trusting you as the keeper of all goodness, strengthening their love by your love, and gladdening their hearts with your joy.”

He added that they are continuing on a “pilgrimage graced by your (God’s) blessing, with you as their companion in the dark where they can rejoice and hope in sustaining their love for all the days of their lives”.

Ms Bond, wearing a mustard yellow jacket and black trousers, and Ms Pearce, in a grey jacket and black patterned skirt, smiled as they stood in front of the congregation and received a round of applause initiated by Rev Dotchin.

The service was otherwise a usual Sunday Eucharist, and prayers of love and faith have been permitted during regular public worship such as the Eucharist or Evensong.

Before the blessing, a woman read a passage from Isaiah promising that God will “bring good news to the oppressed”.

It said: “They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations – they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

“For I, the Lord, love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

“Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples.

All who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed.”

The General Synod, known as the Church of England’s Parliament, of which Rev Dotchin is a member, voted in favour of offering blessings to samesex couples in civil partnerships and marriages for the first time in February.

It came after a near eighthour debate across two days.

On Tuesday, the House of Bishops met online to confirm its earlier decision to commend the prayers for use in regular public worship such as Sunday Eucharist or Evensong, agreeing it should take effect this weekend. The motion was passed by 24 votes to 11, with three abstentions.

There has been no legislative change in the Church and offering blessings is a voluntary decision for clergy. (independent.co.uk) Caption: Catherine Bond (left) and Jane Pearce after being blessed at St John the Baptist church in Felixstowe, Suffolk (Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

and Alon Shamriz, 26 - were killed in the Shejaiya neighbourhood of Gaza City on Friday as Israeli troops face stiff resistance.

According to an Israeli military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the men emerged shirtless from a building, with one carrying a stick with a white cloth.

One of the soldiers, the of-

porary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas earlier this month, families of the hostages have urged the Israeli government to reach a new truce for at least some of the captives to be freed. The initial deal led to the release of more than 100 hostages, in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli jails.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has deflected the

Left to right: Alon Shamriz, Yotam Haim and Samer Talalka

were holding a white flag was a breach of "rules of engagement".

Israel is under increasing pressure for a deal to free more hostages.

About 120 are believed to be still in captivity in the Gaza Strip.

They were seized by militants during the 7 October Hamas attacks that killed around 1,200 in southern Israel.

Israel has launched a massive retaliatory operation it says is aimed at destroying Hamas.

More than 18,000 people have been killed in Gaza since, according to the local health authorities, with hundreds of thousands of others pushed out of their homes.

The hostages - Yotam Haim, 28, Samer Talalka, 22,

ficial added, felt threatened, as the men were at a distance of tens of metres, declared them "terrorists" and opened fire. Two were immediately killed while the third, wounded, returned to the building.

A cry for help was heard in Hebrew and the battalion commander ordered the troops to cease fire. The wounded hostage later reemerged, and was shot and killed, the official said.

It is not clear if the hostages had been abandoned by their captors or escaped.

On Sunday, the IDF said a search of the building was carried out, revealing the messages "SOS" and "Help, 3 hostages" written on fabric.

Officials believe the hostages had been there for some time.

Since the end of a tem-

calls, insisting "military pressure is necessary both for the return of the hostages and for victory".

Amid mounting Palestinian civilian casualties, Israeli authorities have come under growing international pressure, including from the country's main ally, the US. On Sunday, France's Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna went to Israel calling for an "immediate and durable truce".

Her Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen said a ceasefire would be an error, describing it as a gift to Hamas.

The UK and Germany have also called for a "sustainable ceasefire", whilst stopping short of saying it should be immediate.

(Excerpted from BBC)

16 NEWS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Queensland floods: Airport submerged and crocodiles seen after record rain

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ecord rainfall is causing widespread flooding in far north Queensland, in what authorities expect will be the Australian region's worst-ever flood.

Thousands of people have been evacuated but others remain stranded.

Extreme weather driven by a tropical cyclone has dumped a year's worth of rain on some areas.

Images from the region show planes submerged at Cairns airport, a crocodile seen in the middle of a town, and people fleeing homes in boats.

So far no deaths or missing people have been reported.

Intense rainfall is expected to continue for another 24 hours.

Hundreds of people have been rescued - with many homes inundated, power and roads cut off and safe drinking water dwindling.

The city of Cairns has received more than 2m of rainfall since the weather event began.

Queensland Premier

Planes submerged, crocodiles swim in Australia floods

Steven Miles told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation the natural disaster was "about the worst I can remember".

"I have been talking to Cairns locals on the ground... and they say they have never seen anything like it," he said.

"For someone from far north Queensland to say that, that is really saying something."

He said the immediate concern was getting those trapped in rising waters to safety, like those in the remote town of Wujal Wujal,

about 175km (110 miles) north of Cairns.

Nine people - including a sick child - spent the night on the roof of the hospital after emergency crews were unable to reach them.

The group on Monday were relocated to another spot, but Mr Miles said the entire town would now need to be evacuated.

"After that, we have concerns about drinking water, about sewerage, power and telecommunications, the roads - many of the roads are blocked and we can't get aerial support in."

Floods have inundated many places in far north Queensland, including Cairns Airport

Forecasters said the torrential rain would continue for most of Monday and coincide with a high tide, intensifying the impact on low-lying communities.

While the rain is expected to begin easing on Tuesday, rivers are yet to peak and will remain swollen for days.

Several rivers are expected to break records set during a mammoth flood event in 1977. The Daintree River, for example, has al-

ready exceeded the previous record by 2m, after receiving 820mm of rain in 24 hours.

State officials estimate the toll of the disaster will top A$1bn (£529,000; $670,000).

Eastern Australia has been hit by frequent flooding in recent years and the country is now enduring an El Nino weather event, which is typically associated with extreme events such as wildfires and cy-

clones.

Australia has been plagued by a series of disasters in recent years - severe drought and historic bushfires, successive years of record-breaking floods, and six mass bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef.

A future full of worsening disasters is likely unless urgent action is taken to halt climate change, the latest UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report warns. (BBC)

Chutney singer Budram Holass dies T

RIBUTES continue to pour in for the Boodram Holass, also

known as the "Chatham Lion," who died on December 15 from a series

of medical complications.

Holass who was just a few days shy of his 70th

Singer Budram Holass

birthday, was credited as one of the pioneers who helped to establish the chutney music industry.

With over 250 songs recorded and much more that he wrote, Holass was considered as a legend who continued to passionately promote the craft despite his challenges.

At the 2023 Chutney Soca Monarch competition in February, Holass, who lost a leg to diabetes complications and an eye in a vehicular accident, was brought on stage in a wheelchair to perform one of his classics.

His voice belied his visible weakened state and resonated with the audience.

The Ganesh Ustav Foundation said he had a voice like no other. Big Rich (Zaheer Khan) said his death is another great loss to the industry.

Family members said Holass died at the San Fernando General Hospital

(SFGH) on Friday, where he was being treated for diabetes and other complications.

Fans and others in the industry took to Facebook to remember the powerful singer who has entertained audiences locally and around the world with traditional chutney, bhajans and Indian classical songs.

Bheemal Ramlogan wrote, “Prayers go out to my uncle Boodram Holass, the champion of Chatham.

The legend that helped establish the chutney music industry. Half blind, half deaf, one hand and a dozen health complications, yet his dominance and powerful singing remains unmatched."

Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh said he was saddened to learn of the passing of this beloved Trinidadian East Indian singer and friend.

He said Holass was a trailblazer who paved the way for generations of ar-

tistes.

“His extraordinary talent and unwavering commitment to his craft, left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape.

“Earlier this year, Holass was honoured at a concert held at the Couva South Multipurpose Hall.

"While we mourn the loss of this legendary artist, we celebrate his music and life, which will forever serve as a testament to his memory."

In a statement, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Randall Mitchell said, “Holass was one of the most iconic figures in IndoTrinidad culture. His influence on the growth and development of local East Indian culture and to the culture of TT is immeasurable.

“Despite the physical health challenges that he endured, Holass’ years of work as an educator, mentor and performer has undoubtedly shaped the talents of many within the cultural fraternity today and will continue to do so for many years to come.

“We will always be grateful for his sterling contributions to TT.” The business community of Point Fortin via Kalliecharan’s Store also extended condolences, “as we mourn the loss of a son of the south, an icon in our culture. Your music will live on.”

Holass' funeral service will be held today at Southern Main Road, Chatham at 8 am, to be followed by a cremation at the Mosquito Creek cremation site. (T&T Newsday)

FEATURE

17

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

HEALTH TIPS

MANAGING LOW BLOOD PRESSURE

Dr Tariq Jagnarine

L

ow blood pressure can cause dizziness, fainting, and other symptoms. Lifestyle changes, such as drinking plenty of fluids, wearing compression stockings, and eating more salt, may help raise blood pressure. In some situations, natural solutions can raise low blood pressure and relieve some of the symptoms that accompany it. In other cases, intervention in the form of medications and therapies may be necessary to raise blood pressure to a healthy level.

Healthcare professionals measure blood pressure using millimetres of mercury (mmHg). Low blood pressure or hypotension is any reading lower than 90 mmHg over 60 mmHg. However, most doctors will only describe low blood pressure as a problem if a person has the symptoms of low blood pressure. Low blood pressure is not a concern if there are no symptoms present. However, when low blood pressure causes symptoms, it can be a sign that not enough blood is getting to the organs. If this happens for too long, it can cause serious consequences.

CAUSES There are several potential causes of low blood pressure. In some cases, treating the underlying cause may help to increase a person’s low blood pressure. Some of the most common causes include: * Nutritional deficiencies * Prolonged bed rest * Pregnancy * Medications * Severe infections * Allergic reactions * Fall in blood volume * Heart issues * Shock * Stroke * Kidney failure However, low blood pressure can indicate good health if a person is not experiencing any symptoms.

SYMPTOMS Some people with low blood pressure have no symptoms. In these people, low blood pressure is generally not dangerous or concerning.

However, even showing one or two symptoms may signal a problem. Low blood pressure can cause the following: * Dizziness * Fainting * Inability to concentrate * Blurry or distorted vision * Nausea * Fatigue Some people may have symptoms of low blood pressure only when standing.

Usually, this is not dangerous unless positional changes cause a person’s blood pressure to drop rapidly, which may lead to fainting.

Symptoms of shock In more extreme cases, low blood pressure may lead to shock. Shock is a serious medical emergency caused by reduced blood flow throughout the body. It can damage the organs at a cellular level. The symptoms of shock include the following: rapid or shallow breathing, clammy skin, confusion or disorientation, rapid heartbeat, and weak pulse. People experiencing symptoms of shock need urgent medical attention.

NATURAL REMEDIES Many people with low blood pressure do not need medications or other medical interventions to raise blood pressure. Healthcare professionals may suggest natural ways and lifestyle changes to raise low blood pressure, including the following options. * Eat more salt.

Contrary to popular advice, low-sodium diets are not suitable for everyone with blood pressure problems. People with low blood pressure should consider increasing their sodium intake moderately to help raise blood pressure. A healthcare professional can help someone ensure they are getting the right amount of salt.

People could include the following salty foods in their diet: olives, bacon, pickles, soy sauce, condiments, such as mustard or ketchup.

However, people should be careful not to consume too much salt, which can increase the risk of high blood pressure. People can check food packaging labels to monitor how much salt they consume. * Avoid alcoholic beverages.

Alcohol can lower blood pressure up to 12 hours after consumption, so people with low blood pressure should avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. * Discuss medications with a doctor.

Low blood pressure can be a side effect of a variety of medications, including be-

son needs to understand the symptoms and learn what to look out for if their low blood pressure starts to cause problems.

ta-blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, and narcotics.

If symptoms of low blood pressure begin after starting a new medication, people should discuss the symptoms with their doctor. * Cross legs while sitting.

Crossing the legs while sitting can increase blood pressure. For people with high blood pressure, this can be a problem. For people with low blood pressure symptoms, crossing their legs may help increase blood pressure with minimal effort. * Drink water.

Drinking more water can help increase blood volume, which can alleviate one of the potential causes of low blood pressure. It can also help people avoid dehydration. * Eat small meals frequently.

Eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day may help with low blood pressure. This is because the smaller meals help prevent a drop in blood pressure associated with eating larger, heavier meals. * Wear compression stockings.

Compression stockings help reduce the amount of blood that gets caught in the lower legs and feet, shifting it elsewhere. Compression stockings may also help relieve pressure and pain that occurs with varicose veins. * Avoid sudden position changes.

Sitting up or standing up rapidly can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure.

This may lead to feelings of light-headedness, dizziness, or potential faint in people with low blood pressure.

Healthcare professionals may refer to this drop in blood pressure as postural hypotension or orthostatic hypotension. In these cases, the heart has not pumped enough blood through the body quickly enough to account for the sudden change in position or elevation. * Raise the head when sleeping.

Sleeping with extra pillows to elevate the head will

help prevent sudden position changes but may also promote blood flow. * Lower shower temperatures.

Taking hot showers and baths or being in a hot environment may worsen the symptoms of orthostatic hypotension for some people. * Lower body strength training.

A 2022 article suggests that lower body strength training and moderate exercise may benefit people with orthostatic hypotension by increasing plasma volume.

Low-stress exercise options may include rowing, cycling, swimming, in cool tempera-

tures, hiking with a walking stick. * Eat a balanced diet.

If someone has low blood pressure due to nutritional deficiencies, eating a balanced diet to address those deficiencies may help to increase their blood pressure.

For example, deficiencies in folic acid and vitamin B-12 can cause anaemia, which may contribute to low blood pressure levels. * Be aware of symptoms.

Low blood pressure is only a concern if symptoms exist. If there are no symptoms present, doctors may take low blood pressure as a sign of good health. A per-

WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR Doctors typically agree that low blood pressure is only an issue if symptoms exist. Someone with low blood pressure should be aware of possible symptoms and what medications may cause a further drop in their blood pressure when they start taking them. Experiencing symptoms of low blood pressure can also indicate an underlying condition that may require diagnosis and treatment.

Anyone experiencing signs and symptoms of shock needs to seek immediate medical attention, as shock is a life-threatening medical emergency.

Unlike high blood pressure, which doctors associate with many potential health problems, low blood pressure is often considered a marker of good health. However, a person should be aware of the signs and symptoms of low blood pressure and talk with a doctor if low blood pressure is causing problems for them.

18

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Storm claims more lives Cuba will register deaths due in Argentina and Uruguay, to gender violence in real time bringing death toll to 16 T

T

he death toll from a severe electrical storm that struck Argentina over the weekend has risen to 16 persons in Argentina and the neighbouring country of Uruguay.

Uruguay's meteorological agency said two persons were killed as strong wind gusts swept in from the southeast early Sunday morning, according to a statement posted on the agency's website.

In Argentina, a woman died early Sunday after being struck by a falling tree branch in the town of Moreno, according to local media.

Thirteen others died on Saturday in the town of

A woman waits for the bus near a damaged tree, after a severe storm, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, December 17, 2023 (Reuters/ Agustin Marcarian TPX)

Bahia Blanca after a wall collapsed during the storm.

Argentine President Javier Milei visited the accident site on Sunday.

The storm's powerful winds also downed trees and lamp posts across the capital, Buenos Aires.

(Reuters)

he Attorney General's Office of the Republic of Cuba will maintain an Interoperable Administrative Registry with real-time information on violent deaths of women and girls for gender reasons, media outlets said on Sunday.

The proposal for this tool was presented the day before during the final session of the VII Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (CCPCC) which, among other topics, examined actions to address gender violence.

The Attorney General of the Republic, Yamila Peña, explained that since 2020,

E

The drive for a new constitution started in 2019 after massive anti-Government protests rocked Chile, which is normally seen as a haven of stability in the region.

The protesters, many of whom were left-wing students, demanded drastic social and political change.

After months of disruption, the conservative President at the time, Sebastián Piera, agreed to launch a process to rewrite the 1980 constitution.

But the first draft, crafted by a constitutional convention chosen by voters,

proved too radical for many.

Many balked at its sweeping reforms and its proposals to change many of the country's established institutions, such as replacing the 200-year-old Senate with a new Chamber of Regions.

It also proposed declaring Chile a "plurinational state", recognising the rights of Chile's Indigenous groups – which make up about 13 per cent of the population – to their lands and resources.

In September 2022 it was rejected by 62 per cent of voters. (Excerpt from Reuters and BBC News)

Attack at Mexico holiday party leaves 12 dead – authorities

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dozen people were killed in an attack at a holiday party in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato, Mexican authorities said Sunday.

The attack took place at dawn in the town of Salvatierra when an armed group opened fire on partygoers attending a posada, a traditional Mexican party held in the days leading up to Christmas, according to local media.

The state's Attorney General office said on X that 12 people had been killed without giving any more details.

Guanajuato, home to a significant number of automotive and aeronautics fac-

Authorities work at the scene where members of an armed group opened fire to partygoers attending a posada, in Salvatierra, in Guanajuato state, Mexico, December 17, 2023 (Reuters/Juan Moreno photo)

tories, has in recent years become one of the most violent states in the coun-

try, amid clashes between powerful drug trafficking groups. (Reuters)

and adolescents were left motherless after the death, reports the Cuban News Agency.

Faced with these realities, Cuba strengthens its National Programme for the Advancement of Women (PAM) that identifies and corrects all types of discrimination present in society.

In this sense, the member of the Political Bureau and General Secretary of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), Teresa Amarelle, highlighted the approval by the Council of Ministers of the Protocol for action against labour discrimination. (Excerpt from Prensa Latina)

45,000 new tourism workers needed over next decade to keep pace with growing demand – Bartlett

Majority of Chileans reject T new conservative constitution – early results arly results show that a majority of Chileans voted to reject a new conservative constitution to replace its dictatorship-era text.

A total of 54.30 per cent voted against the text while 45.70 per cent voted in favour of it with 7.97 per cent of ballot boxes tallied.

A previous draft put forward by an elected body dominated by left-wing delegates was rejected last year.

A constitutional council, this time dominated by right-wing delegates, has drafted a new, more conservative version.

work has been done more intentionally on these issues from a comprehensive perspective, with a social focus and not as a problem between and for women.

Peña reported in the plenary session that at the end of October, 117 cases of violent death of women were reported, with predominance of cases in the provinces of Matanzas, Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Granma and Guantánamo.

The head of the Prosecutor’s Office stated that 75 per cent of these phenomena occurred in homes shared by couples.

Meanwhile, 70 children

ourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says Jamaica will need an additional 45,000 new tourism workers over the next five to 10 years in order to keep pace with the “significant growth” taking place in the industry.

Bartlett, who was speaking recently at the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation’s (JCTI) Recognition and Awards Ceremony, stressed the need for training and preparation to meet the increasing demand. He highlighted the importance of developing Jamaica's human capacity to provide the highest level of service and create

the best possible experience for visitors.

"We are building 20,000 new rooms, and we have already created 2000 of them... but how many workers will we need? We are going to need at least 45,000 more workers and they are going to have to come from our people, who must be trained," Bartlett said.

He pointed to the potential of Jamaica’s tourism growth, stating, "I have a new KPI (key performance indicator); we are going after eight million visitors to Jamaica and US$10 billion in earnings".

With projections indicating an additional one billion

tourists travelling worldwide in the next 10 to 15 years, Jamaica aims to attract a significant share of these travellers.

The Tourism Minister mentioned several developments in different parishes, including St Ann, Trelawny and St James that will contribute to Jamaica’s accommodation capacity and job creation.

To meet this demand, the JCTI, along with local educational institutions, will play a crucial role in preparing individuals for employment in the tourism industry. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

IMF approves funding for Suriname

S

uriname will receive US$53 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after the Executive Board of the Washington-based financial institution Friday completed the fourth review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement for Suriname.

It said that the completion of the review allows the authorities in the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) country to draw the equivalent of SDR 39.4 million bringing total purchase under the EFF arrangement to SDR 197 million or an estimated US$263 million.

In completing the review, the IMF Executive Board also approved Suriname’s request for an augmentation of access equivalent to SDR 46.8 million or US$63 million and an extension of the EFF arrangement to endMarch 2025.

“With this augmentation, the total access expected under the EFF arrangement is SDR 430.7 million or about US$577

IMF Deputy Managing Director Kenji Okamura

million,” the IMF said.

It said Suriname was implementing an ambitious economic reform agenda aimed at restoring fiscal and debt sustainability through fiscal consolidation and debt restructuring, protecting the vulnerable by expanding social protection, upgrading the monetary and exchange rate policy framework, addressing the financial sector’s vulnerabilities, and advancing the anti-corruption and governance agenda.

These policies are supported by the EFF arrangement, which was approved by the Executive Board on December 22, 2021.

IMF Deputy Managing Director Kenji Okamura said Suriname authorities have shown continued commitment to fiscal discipline and macroeconomic stabilisation under the EFFsupported programme.

He said the economy was stabilising, pressures on the exchange rate have eased, and inflation is on a downward trend. (CMC)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Israel opens aid crossing to Gaza while stepping up bombardment

Russia eyes I additional oil export cuts of about 50,000 bpd in December – Novak says

R

ussia said on Sunday it would deepen oil export cuts in December by potentially 50,000 barrels per day or more, earlier than promised, as the world's biggest exporters try to support the global oil price.

Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world's two biggest oil exporters, called in December for all OPEC+ members to join an agreement on output cuts after a fractious meeting of the producers' club.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Riyadh shortly after the meeting of OPEC+, which brings together the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Russia and other allies.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, Putin's top oil and gas point man, was quoted by Russia's three main news agencies as saying that Russia would deepen cuts beyond the 300,000 barrels per day of cuts already agreed for this year.

"Already in December we will add additional volumes," Novak was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency. "By how much, we'll see based on the results of December there may be an additional 50,000 bpd, maybe more."

Russia had pledged to a cut of 300,000 bpd compared to the May-June exports - and to keep at that level until the end of the year.

In December, Russia agreed to deepen those cuts to 500,000 bpd in the first quarter of 2024, the Russian agencies said.

Due to promises made to OPEC+, Russia's oil exports in 2023 will total less than the 247 million tonnes used in Russia's main macro-economic forecasts, Novak said.

Novak said he hoped that Gazprom and Chinese producer CNPC could soon agree on the contract conditions for gas sales through the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline.

Russia has been in talks for years about building the Power of Siberia-2 which will carry about 50 billion cubic metres of gas a year from Yamal in northern Russia to China via Mongolia.

"We expect that the company should reach an agreement as soon as possible," Novak said. (Reuters)

‘We barely make ends meet’: In Italy, some women are postponing motherhood

“H

aving kids has never been a question for me, and my boyfriend and I discuss it as he would also like to have them. But then we think about our precarious situation and realise that becoming parents now would not be sustainable.

We barely make ends meet – imagine with a child.”

Working in Italy as a woman is fraught with challenges.

The country is home to the lowest female employment rate in the European Union and a steep gender pay gap. Women are also often more likely to be employed in “non-standard” arrangements, such as parttime and temporary jobs.

And it is mothers and young women who are the most affected.

According to a recent Department of Health report, Italian women are, on

average, older than 31 when they have their first child.

About 62 per cent of babies in 2022 were born to mothers aged between 30 and 39. Those aged between 20 and 29 accounted for 26 per cent of births, compared with 30 per cent in 2012.

The average number of children per woman is now 1.24, one of the lowest rates in Europe. To compare, France’s rate, which is considered high, was 1.8 in 2021 while Greece’s was 1.4, according to the World Bank.

The Department of Health said the trends are partly down to a “decrease in the propensity to have children”.

While women are under less societal pressure to have children, in Italy, the biggest obstacle to motherhood for some is being able to afford it. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

srael opened a direct crossing for aid into Gaza for the first time in its more than two-month-old war on Hamas on Sunday while also stepping up attacks on the Palestinian enclave, saying military pressure was the only way its hostages would be freed.

The Israeli attacks took place amid fierce fighting the length of the coastal strip, according to residents and militants, with communications down for a fourth day, making it hard to reach the wounded.

"The communication blackout in #Gaza is the longest since the start of the Israeli escalation," the Palestinian Red Crescent said on X. Telecommunications were gradually being restored in central and southern areas,

telecoms companies said later.

Hopes for peace had been raised on Saturday when a source said Israel's spy chief had spoken on Friday with the Prime Minister of Qatar, which mediated hostage releases in return for a weeklong ceasefire and the freeing of Palestinian prisoners.

In a further positive sign, the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza opened for aid trucks on Sunday for the first time since the outbreak of war, officials said, in a move to double the amount of food and medicine reaching Gazans.

But Israel accused aid officials of not distributing the deliveries.

Aid agencies say their work has been disrupted by the violence. "You cannot de-

Israeli soldiers operate in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in this handout picture released on December 17, 2023

liver aid under a sky full of airstrikes," Juliette Touma, communications director of the UN Palestinian refugee agency, wrote on X. Hungry crowds have also been stopping trucks at the

Rafah crossing with Egypt and grabbing aid, the agency says. Men took boxes from one vehicle, which shed much of the rest of its load as it sped off. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Putin says Russia has no plan to attack NATO, dismisses Biden remark as 'nonsense'

K

remlin chief Vladimir Putin dismissed as complete nonsense remarks

by US President Joe Biden that Russia would attack a NATO country if it won the war in Ukraine, adding that Russia had no interest in fighting the NATO military alliance.

The war in Ukraine has triggered the deepest crisis in Moscow's relations with the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, and Biden warned last year that a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia would trigger World War Three.

In a plea to Republicans not to block further military aid earlier this

month, Biden warned that if Putin was victorious over Ukraine then the Russian leader would not stop and would attack a NATO country.

"It is complete nonsense - and I think President Biden understands that," Putin said in an interview published on Sunday

by Rossiya state television, adding that Biden appeared to be trying to justify his own "mistaken policy" on Russia.

"Russia has no reason, no interest - no geopolitical interest, neither economic, political nor military to fight with NATO countries," Putin said.

The US-led NATO alliance was founded in 1949

Tunisia's historic Kairouan walls collapse, killing 3

T

hree stonemasons have died after a section of the historic walls around the Old City of Kairouan in Tunisia collapsed on Saturday.

Officials say a 30m section of the wall near the Gate of the Floggers crashed to the ground.

Two others were also injured in the accident and are said to have suffered fractures.

An investigation has been opened into the accident. Authorities say it could be linked to recent heavy rain.

Moez Tria, a spokesperson for the Civil Protection Department said a perimeter had been set up to stop people from walking under part of the wall which is

still at risk of further collapse.

The city of Kairouan was founded in 670 AD and is one of North Africa's holiest cities.

It was the capital of the Muslim world in North Africa for four centuries, before Tunis was chosen as Tunisia's political capital in the 12th century.

Kairouan became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988 and is home to the Mosque of the Three Doors, the oldest known mosque with a sculpted facade.

UNESCO describes the mosque as "an architectural masterpiece that served as a model for several other Maghreban mosques".

(BBC News)

to provide Western security against the Soviet Union.

After the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, it was enlarged to include some former Soviet and Warsaw Pact countries.

Putin has repeatedly cast the post-Cold War expansion of NATO as evidence of the West's arro-

gant way of dealing with Russia's security concerns.

Under Article 5 of the NATO treaty, "the Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all". (Excerpt from Reuters)

Thousands urged to higher ground as Australia battles floods

A

ustralian authorities on Sunday urged thousands of people in north Queensland state to move to higher ground because of the danger of flooding from torrential rains.

Queensland authorities said major flooding was underway in some suburbs of Cairns, a tourist hub of around 170,000 people located around 1700 km (1060 miles) north of state capital Brisbane.

"Properties in these areas may continue to experience flooding with the approaching high tide and continued rainfall. Residents should move to higher ground now," Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said on its website in one of several emergency alerts for parts of north Queensland.

The flooding came with heavy rain from ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, which hit the region this week, leaving tens of thousands without power and forcing evacuations.

Australia's weather forecaster predicted "dangerous and life-threatening flash

flooding" in Cairns - a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef - and said water levels later today could exceed a 1971 record flood peak of 4.1m (13.45 feet).

Cairns Local Disaster Management Group said homes, buildings, roads and bridges had been inundated.

There was also flooding about 120 km north of Cairns in the tourist town of Daintree Village, where around 350mm (13.8 inches) of rain had fallen since 9 am on Saturday (2300 GMT on Friday), the weather forecaster said.

Frequent flooding has hit Australia's east in recent years including "once in a century" floods that inundated neighbouring Northern Territory in January during a multi-year La Nina weather event.

Australia is now enduring an El Nino weather event, typically associated with extreme events such as wildfires, cyclones, droughts and heatwaves such as the one that baked parts of the country on Saturday. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

DAILY HOROSCOPES Address money matters swiftly.

Don’t take a risk or trust someone’s discretion. Say little and do a lot. Your actions will be what save the day, not your words.

(March 21-April 19) Opportunity awaits. Reveal your thoughts and intentions, and put your plans in motion. Your drive and determination will help you cover a lot of territory. Romance is on the rise.

PICKLES

(April 20-May 20) Stand still and be observant.

Knowing what everyone else is thinking or doing will help you make better decisions. Keep your money and possessions safe and your thoughts to yourself.

(May 21-June 20) Be true to yourself and set a course that encourages exploration. Feeling passionate about what you do or the people you align with will give you the courage to fulfill your dreams.

PEANUTS

(June 21-July 22) Challenge yourself, and you will surpass your expectations. Turn on the charm, network and attend events that can open doors to new beginnings.

Physical events are favored.

(July 23-Aug. 22) Don’t trust what you hear. Verify information before passing it along. A change of scenery will give you a different perspective on a confusing situation.

Romance is on the rise.

CALVIN AND HOBBES (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Plan your actions. Scurrying about without a clear picture of your goal will waste valuable time. Trust your instincts. Rethink how you make and spend your cash and whom you trust.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Be bold, and the opportunities that develop will stabilize your domestic life.

Size up what’s important to you and put a plan in place that will help you get what you want.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Take care of matters before they escalate. Refrain from letting anger set in.

Pour your energy into something worthwhile like self-improvement, physical fitness or upping your game by adding to your skill set. Say no to pressure tactics.

Compassion and understanding will help you gain support and point you in a direction that benefits you enormously. Delve into the possibilities, and don’t fear change.

LAST PUBLISHED WORD -- GONDOLAS

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Pay attention to what others do and say. Protect your reputation, health and meaningful relationships. Put your energy into taking care of unfinished business and furthering your position.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Slow down and allow yourself to let things sink in. Refuse to let your emotions take control when secrecy and planning are your best bets. Take control instead of being controlled.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023

21

Arshdeep and Avesh demolish South Africa I

ndia's pace attack for the Pink Day One-Day International (ODI) came in with seven wickets between them, but took only 13 overs to double that tally and then went past it to bowl South Africa out for 116, their lowest total at home. India chased down the total with ease to hand South Africa only their third defeat in Pink Day ODIs. While Arshdeep Singh took five wickets and Avesh Khan four, Mukesh Kumar was no less incisive as he started with a first over in which Reeza Hendricks could not lay bat on ball.

Both sides wanted to bat first, because the match

ners enjoyed plenty of assistance, both sideways as well as up and down.

In a day match, though, South Africa turned out to be the unfortunate side to win the toss and have their death wish on a treacherous pitch, with both seam and swing readily available to go with uneven bounce.

Still nursing the World Cup heartbreak, the losing finalists and the losing semi-finalists came into the match with their frontline fast bowlers resting and preparing for the Test series. South Africa retained their middle-order core, but India's line-up looked completely raw. Captain KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer

Avesh Khan celebrates a wicket

the bowlers and then responded to the consequent short balls by punching and pulling them for two sixes.

Visually he looked at odds with Markram, who struggled to come to terms with the uneven bounce from the pitch.

Eventually, de Zorzi made a mistake on 28 off 21, pulling a ball not short enough, and the big top edge settled with Rahul.

Arshdeep continued the damage with seam move-

back in and had Markram playing on when looking for a regulation single to deep third. The next ball was a peach, seaming away like a legcutter, getting Wiaan Mulder lbw.

Arshdeep bowled two more overs, but could not get the fifth wicket he was after. Avesh, though, kept striking. In his seven-ball stay, David Miller was given two sucker balls. He resisted the first one, but ended up edging the oth-

but Tabraiz Shamsi enjoyed luck with a couple of slogs.

Yadav then wrapped the innings up with a wrong'un.

Arshdeep said they were themselves caught by surprise at how much the ball did for the seamers, and once they realised that, it was all about bowling a disciplined line and length and letting the pitch do the rest.

The conditions were not quite as helpful by the time the second innings began at 1pm. It showed in how South Africa pulled their lengths back pretty early. They did manage to get the early wicket of Ruturaj Gaikwad, though.

In a short innings, Sai Sudharsan found enough time to make an impressive debut. The first ball he received was a half-volley, which he cover-drove for four. Soon he was reprieved as his bat hitting his boot created two noises to mislead both the umpire and the fielding team, who did not review it.

The class was soon apparent, though, as he drove with ease, used his feet against spin, pulled down every chance he got and brought up his half-centu-

Tony de Zorzi scored 28 off 22 balls

was being played on the same strip that hosted the final T20I between the same sides three days ago.

On that night, India's spin-

and left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav were the only ones who played the World Cup final.

Rahul was in action im-

SCOREBOARD South Africa (50 ovs maximum) Reeza Hendricks b Arshdeep Singh 0 Tony de Zorzi c †Rahul b Arshdeep Singh 28 Rassie van der Dussen lbw b Arshdeep Singh 0 Aiden Markram (c) b Avesh Khan 12 Heinrich Klaasen † b Arshdeep Singh 6 David Miller c †Rahul b Avesh Khan 2 Wiaan Mulder lbw b Avesh Khan 0 Andile Phehlukwayo lbw b Arshdeep Singh 33 Keshav Maharaj c Gaikwad b Avesh Khan 4 Nandre Burger b Kuldeep Yadav 7 Tabraiz Shamsi not out 11 Extras (b 1, lb 2, w 10) 13 TOTAL 27.3 Ov (RR: 4.21) 116 Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Reeza Hendricks, 1.4 ov), 2-3 (Rassie van der Dussen, 1.5 ov), 3-42 (Tony de Zorzi, 7.5 ov), 4-52 (Heinrich Klaasen, 9.6 ov), 5-52 (Aiden Markram, 10.1 ov), 6-52 (Wiaan Mulder, 10.2 ov), 7-58 (David

Miller, 12.6 ov), 8-73 (Keshav Maharaj, 16.1 ov), 9-101 (Andile Phehlukwayo, 25.1 ov), 10116 (Nandre Burger, 27.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Mukesh Kumar 7-0-46-0 Arshdeep Singh 10-0-37-5 Avesh Khan 8-3-27-4 Kuldeep Yadav 2.3-0-3-1 India (T: 117 runs from 50 ovs) Ruturaj Gaikwad lbw b Mulder 5 Sai Sudharsan not out 55 Shreyas Iyer c Miller b Phehlukwayo 52 Tilak Varma not out 1 Extras (nb 1, w 3) 4 TOTAL 16.4 Ov (RR: 7.02) 117/2 Did not bat: KL Rahul (c)†, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Ruturaj Gaikwad, 3.4 ov), 2-111 (Shreyas Iyer, 15.5 ov) • BOWLING O-M-R-W Nandre Burger 5.4-1-35-0 Wiaan Mulder 4-0-26-1 Keshav Maharaj 3-0-19-0 Tabraiz Shamsi 3-0-22-0 Andile Phehlukwayo 1-0-15-1

mediately as Mukesh appealed vehemently first ball. The inswinger seemed to have trapped Hendricks right in front, but two sounds misled both the umpire and Rahul. It was neither given out nor was the decision reviewed.

Mukesh continued to play around with both his edges in the rest of the over, a repeat of the third T20I three days ago when Hendricks could not touch Mohammed Siraj for a whole first over. Arshdeep did not move the ball as much as Mukesh did.

Hendricks saw a wide one and had a go, and ended up playing it on for an eightball duck. Arshdeep then bowled the perfect inswinger to trap Rassie van der Dussen in front for a golden duck.

Aiden Markram survived the hat-trick ball and went on to add 39 for the third wicket with Tony de Zorzi, who countered the movement by walking at

Arshdeep Singh appeals

ment back in to Heinrich Klaasen, taking his leg bail with the last ball of the 10th over.

Usually in ODI cricket, even if the new ball does a lot, the movement seems to die down pretty quickly.

Here, though, after an average swing of 1.4 degrees and average seam of 1.2 degrees in the first 10 overs, the ball was still doing plenty for Avesh, the firstchange bowler. At the start of the 11th, one nipped

er. Keshav Maharaj soon chipped one to cover as it got big on him.

Mukesh went for a few in his second spell as Andile Phehlukwayo middled a few shots, which gave Arshdeep a second shot at the five-for. In his last over, Arshdeep, who had taken no wickets in his first three ODIs, picked up the fifth wicket, trapping Phehlukwayo lbw on a slog.

Avesh got one more over to try to get his own five-for,

ry off just 41 balls. Perhaps the on-drive against Shamsi's turn, after having danced down the pitch, stood out.

Iyer, Sudharsan's partner for 88 runs, contributed to the highlight reel with a lovely cover-drive on the up as Nandre Burger looked to tuck him up. He scored 52 off 45 and perished as he looked to end the game in a hurry. India still won with more than 33 overs to spare. (ESPNcricinfo)

22 Bishops' High, UG win Titan Bowl, tertiary tournament T

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023

he 11th edition of the Titan Bowl and the Tertiary Knockout Basketball tournament culminated under lights at the National Gymnasium as The Bishops’ High School and the University of Guyana respectively emerged as champions.

In the first seconds of the first game, both teams looked tense. LTI's attack was persistent, and that paid off as it was LTI's Lerone Joseph securing

tators on their feet as Bishops’ managed to continue dominating the playfield 33-27.

The LTI came out in the third quarter as they looked to conquer Bishops’ defence. With the help of Carmelo Mansonhing, however, the latter managed to come out on top with the scoreline reading 51-40 at the end of the third quarter.

With a series of threes raining, Bishops’ went on

Arrindell with 27 points, 7 assists and rebounds.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sport, Bishops’ High School Coach Timothy Richmond emphasised the need for the mental aspect of the game and the amount of work put in to secure this win.

“Well, it was a well-deserved win, because the team has been playing together for quite some time and they have been work-

The Bishops’ High School Team

and they’ve been working on that in the classroom rather than on the court,” Richmond expounded.

In the second game, the University of Guyana managed to come out on top once again as they secured the third consecutive Tertiary Basketball League conquering New Amsterdam Technical, with UG’s Captain, Jether Harris dominating the field with his ability to The University of Guyana Team

the first point of the game.

Bishops’ showed their class as they went ahead up 11-6 with their first timeout being requested. LTI then looked to minimise Bishops’ lead with the scoreline reading 13-11 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter was unwavering and had spec-

to secure the championship title in the fourth quarter with the scoreline reading 67-48 at the end of the game.

Mansonhing, in a Most Valuable Player (MVP) performance, managed to score 29 points, 4 assists, and seven rebounds and his team-mate, Matthias

ing tremendously hard over the past three months since the school opened in September and thus the team has had a case of mental breakdown, which is the mental aspect of the game … was 60 per cent while the game is 40 per cent physical and they lacked the mental aspect

score points. He secured 14 points to carry UG’S score to 64 while the New Amsterdam Technical Institute were limited to 47 points.

The Titan Bowl XII and the Tertiary Knockout dual tournaments have received the generous support of the following community partnersBanks DIH LTD, ENET, John Fernandes, Starlite Trading, Pizza Hut, Thai

Suriname win international friendly against Guyana

J

range finish was allowed to stand, Villarreal pounced with their first chance of the second half as Morales held off pressure from Nacho and Antonio Rudiger to slot past keeper Andriy Lunin in the 54th minute.

However, Diaz danced through the Villarreal defence and unleashed a low strike to re-establish Real's lead in the 64th minute before Modric latched on to a loose ball to claim the fourth goal.

It was not all good news for Los Blancos, though, as full-back David Alaba limped off the pitch in the first half with what appeared to be a serious knee injury. (BBC Sport)

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Amenities include TV, Restaurant, Bar, Swimming Pool, Gym. Free Parking, Free WiFi. Spend 7 nights and get 1 Free. Rates from $65 US. Breakfast included. Long term rates available. Phone : 264-29469. www.aracariresort.com

ENTERTAINMENT

I

their Champions League group with a 100 per cent record, Real piled the pressure on a Villarreal side determined to play out from the back.

Bellingham missed a chance to give the hosts an early opener, but he did not have to wait long to make amends, heading home a superb chipped cross from Modric, who had clipped the crossbar moments earlier.

The former Birmingham City midfielder has now scored 17 goals in 20 appearances since his 103 million euros move from Borussia Dortmund in the summer.

After Rodrygo's close-

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Champions! The victorious Guyana male basketball team at the Caribbean championship in Suriname

Jude Bellingham is the top scorer in La Liga this season

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Bellingham scores as Real beat Villarreal to go top ude Bellingham continued his fine goalscoring form as Real Madrid beat Villarreal to return to the top of La Liga.

The England midfielder headed in a superb cross from Luka Modric to claim his 13th league goal of the season and put Real ahead in the 25th minute.

Rodrygo added a second for Real after an offside decision was overturned by a Video Assistant Referee (VAR), but Jose Luis Morales halved the deficit after the break.

However, Villarreal's hopes were short-lived as Brahim Diaz and Modric scored within four minutes of each other in the second half to seal the three points.

Carlo Ancelotti's side were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Betis and replaced at the top of the table last weekend by Girona, who beat Barcelona 4-2.

But Girona, playing only their fourth-ever topflight season, can leapfrog Real Madrid again if they beat Alaves on Monday.

Fresh from topping

Express, P & P Insurance Brokers, Praetorian Executive Protection, Real Value, Housty Design, KW Guyana, GTT, Ronald Burch Smith, and NSC.

n preparation for next year’s Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship, the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) hosted Suriname in an international friendly at the National Gymnasium court last Saturday in which Guyana missed out on a win.

The Guyanese outfit came out with their feisty style of play and their home advantage, showcasing their ability to score points as they would at the start of the first quarter go up netting 20 points while the Suriname outfit was limited to 16 points.

The Guyana team did not give up the fight to keep their composure to continue to dominate Suriname’s defence, scoring 21 points to increase their score to 40 , while Suriname were limited to 17 points with their score at 33 at the end of the first quarter.

The Suriname outfit then showed their strength, scoring 17 points in the face of Guyana’s tight defence to increase their overall score to 50 points at the end of the third quarter while Guyana scored 12 points to increase their score to 62 points.

The game concluded with Suriname showcasing their shooting skills, swishing the ball for nine points, for a final score of 82 points while Guyana scored eight points for their final score of 77.

The team also welcomed new additions to the senior men’s basketball team, including Brandon Bento, Oquacey Shortt, Zian Gray, and Domair Gladstone, and returning players, including Shelroy Thomas, Harold Adams, Orlan Glasgow, Dominic Vincente, Nikkolai Smith, Travis Belgrave, Shane Webster, and Yannick Tappin.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023

23

Salt and Brook announce Beharry elected new BCB President themselves as England's next gen

…GCB sends well wishes

T

he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has sent congratulations to the new President and executives of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), following Sunday's Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The new-look BCB executive body will now be tasked with carrying out the Board’s plans and agenda as it relates to the continued development of cricket in Berbice.

Dr Cecil Beharry, who was Treasurer of the BCB for a few years, clinched the role after voting went 18-14, in his favour, following Sunday's well-attended meeting.

Emphasis on development had been among the

areas the previous President Hilbert Foster and his executives focused heavily on over the past six years.

There was a veteran presence among the executives which included long-serving BCB member David Black, who was named Vice President, along with Junior Blair and Qualis Winter.

Ryan Algu was appointed new BCB Secretary, with Ameer Rahaman Assistant Secretary, while the Treasurer's role was given to Rovin Bahadur, who will have Devindra Ramdihal as his assistant.

Meanwhile, GCB President Bissoondyal Singh and his executives sent their

A

best wishes to the new BCB executive arm, as they seek to revamp and strengthen the level of cricket in the Ancient County, heading into 2024.

New BCB executives: Cecil Beharry – President David Black – Vice President Junior Blair – Vice President Quails Winter – Vice Resident Ryan Algu – Secretary Ameer Rahaman – Assistant Secretary Rovin Bahadur – Treasurer Devindra Ramdihal – Assistant Secretary

s Harry Brook launched his first ball back over the bowler's head, West Indies Captain Rovman Powell at long-on started to walk in.

The ball had gone high, with the angle blurring whether it had gone far, or just gone up. Powell continued to walk in, but just as you expected him to look up and settle himself for a catch, his stare remained gun-barrel straight. The ball had gone.

And he had the next over to prepare for.

"Yeah, I knew I'd got it," Brook smiles. "It came straight out of the screws…I was waiting for the slower ball and I was looking straight the whole time.

Thankfully he missed and I took the opportunity."

Brook had walked in to bat with 37 runs required off 13 deliveries. A total that was hauled in with a ball to spare as he contributed with a scarcely believable 31 not out off 7 balls.

The 21 runs he struck off the final over to win the match was a figure that had only ever been achieved once before in the history of T20 International cricket.

"I was trying to stay as cool as possible and relaxed.

KFC Goodwill International Series…

Semi-finals set after exciting 3rd round

C

hase’s Academic Foundation is the last Guyanese school standing, while the likes of Jamaica’s Clarendon College, Trinidad and Tobago’s St Benedict’s College and Suriname’s VMO 4 will all proceed to the semi-finals of the KFC Goodwill International Series, set for Tuesday.

This is based on the results of four games played in the third round of the tournament on Saturday.

At the Queen’s College Ground, Thomas Road, St Ignatius Secondary pulled off their first win of the tournament, defeating Bartica Secondary by a 4-2 margin.

Bartica’s Reizer Reid opened the scoring in the 20th minute, but 11 minutes later, Stephon Sprosta levelled the scores. However, Bartica’s Arvel Smit handed his team the lead once again in the 35th minute.

Three minutes before the first half ended, Sharukh Nedd found the back of the net to equalise the scores once again, setting up an interesting second half. St Ignatius dominated the second segment as Reuel Aldie and Glenn Fredericks found the back of the net in the 59th and 69th minutes respectively to pull off the victory.

The second game of the day, also at QC, saw Carmel

Clarendon College (dark blue) and Chase’s Academy in action

going down to Trinidad’s St Benedict’s College, who won to keep their preliminary record clean.

Malachai Webb was the man with the golden boot for the Trinidadian outfit, netting a hat-trick in the 12th, 38th and 50th minutes.

The KFC schools’ football action then moved to the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground on Carifesta Avenue, where 2022 champions DC Caesar Fox (Waramadong) Secondary bowed out of this year’s tournament on a losing note.

DC Caesar Fox found themselves ahead by two in the first half, as Kemron Thomas and Anthonio Isaacs found the back of

the net in the 20th and 36th minutes respectively.

The half ended 2-1 in the Guyanese team’s favour, as Suriname’s Matthew Soetosenojo brought up VMO 4’s first goal in the 45th+1.

VMO started the second half with high intensity and were rewarded almost immediately, as Keith Felter beat the Waramadong keeper in the 47th minute, while his teammate, Justin Jackson ,made it a 3-2 affair in the 53rd.

Arivin Djojoseparto extended the Surinamese lead once again in the 58th minute to 4-2, but Waramadong were able to pull one back before time expired. Their third goal in the 3-4 loss

came off the boots of Bruce Williams in the 76th.

Finally on the day, a riveting contest between Jamaican powerhouse Clarendon College and a depleted Chase’s Academic Foundation finished in favour of the visitors, 2-0.

Missing four of their key players due to international duties, including their highest goal scorer Bryan Wharton and another striker Omar Sam, Chase’s Academy managed to hold their own, but the Jamaicans went one up in the first half, by way of a Daniel Clark strike in the 30th minute.

It was only until the dying minutes of the game that Jamaica would extend the lead, as Terron Williams netted in the 89th. While Chase’s had a handful of opportunities, their finishing was off on the day.

The tournament continues tomorrow, Tuesday, December 19, with the semi-finals at the Ministry of Education Ground.

Jamaica’s Clarendon College will take on Suriname’s VMO 4 from 18:00h, while Guyana’s Chase’s Academy and Trinidad’s St Benedict’s College clash at 20:00h, all for a spot in this Friday’s final. The teams are vying for a 2500 USD ($500,000 GYD) grand prize.

Harry Brook launched the final over of the third T20I for 21

As soon as I get tensed up that's when I lose my shape and I don't quite hit the ball as cleanly. So, I was just trying to stay as cool as possible and free-flowing."

Brook's summary of the wave of emotions he felt when the winning runs came off his bat was typically understated, taking a moment to reflect, before sighing that, "yeah, it's a pretty good feeling."

Whilst Phil Salt, who himself had contributed with the small matter of 109 not out off 56 balls, was more superlative, "There is no more special feeling than walking off the ground in an England shirt, winning the game."

Brook's talent is such that in an era where every other white-ball batter to-be has had to wait their turn, he's been given a VIP wristband and allowed to jump the queue. Since the summer of 2022, Brook forced his way into the T20 side in time to play every single match of the victorious World Cup campaign before scoring four Test centuries in his first six matches, which in turn paved the way for his entry into the OneDay International (ODI) setup and eventually the World Cup squad.

By contrast, Salt is three years his senior and made his England debut a year earlier, but has lived a bridesmaid's international career.

There to help out whenever required, but never afforded his own special day. Until yesterday.

"We spoke about that actually the other day," Brook said of England wanting to build a team of characters who can win when their backs are against the wall.

"Trying to play with personality and go out there and show what you can do.

Salty's done that beautifully today, it's his first hundred for England in T20 cricket and I'm sure if he keeps on batting like that he'll get many more."

In Brook and Salt's embrace at the end, you had a picture of two players with different routes, but the

same destination as integral members of England's next white-ball generation.

A point of particular pride for both players was that England, having scored 13 fewer sixes than the West Indies across the first two matches of the series, had turned the table in the third and out-Windied the Windies. Salt himself struck nine, Brook four, England 18 and the West Indies 16.

"It's an incredible effort," Salt said. "The power that those guys have. I've played with a lot of them, played with Dre in the Hundred, played with Rovman in the IPL [Indian Premier]. Even in the nets over there, I was a bit shocked at times with the raw power they have and then when you're playing against them, seeing the ball fly over your head, it's not just going 10 metres over, it's a good 30, 40, 50 metres over the fence. Sometimes you are genuinely in awe of it.

"To out-six them today, it shows we've got what it takes. Mo (Moeen Ali) talked in the huddle before the game about fighting fire with fire, so that's a nice little stat, that."

Brook has long been considered a lock, but Salt's innings could for the first time have officially shifted the dial of England's white-ball pecking order. It was only a matter of months ago that Salt had lost his place at the top of the order to Will Jacks, but such is his propensity for attacking the powerplay that this series saw Salt get the nod at the top of the tree, with Jacks relegated to number three. And now, with Jonny Bairstow's return on the horizon, it is difficult to imagine a world where England refutes the opportunity to keep Salt where he is, with Bairstow replacing Jacks at first drop.

It has taken eight years for the next generation to be afforded the chance to come through, but in Salt and Brook, England have the backbone of a batting line-up that will serve them well for years to come.

(ESPNcricinfo)

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023

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

Pg 23

…GCB sends well wishes Pg 23

KFC Goodwill International Series…

Semi-finals announce themselves set after exciting as England's next gen 3rd round Pg 23

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