Guyana Times - Monday, December 23, 2024

GECOM to conduct Claims and Objections exercise in January 2025

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Monday, December 23 –22:30h-00:00h and Tuesday, December 24 – no retraction.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, December 23 –10:50h-12:20h and Tuesday, December 24 – 11:50h-13:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery to light rain showers are expected throughout the day and at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 10:26h and 22:53h reaching maximum heights of 2.17 metres and 2.16 metres.

Low Tide: 16: 23h reaching a minimum height of 1.06 metres.

GECOM to conduct Claims and Objections exercise in January 2025

…final

voters list changes by February 2

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has announced schedules for Claims and Objections, with the electoral agency revealing that Preliminary List of Electors (PLE) will be published by December 24, which persons can scan to make claims for or objections against names on the list.

According to a notice from the Commission, after the lists are published and affixed on buildings by the registration officers, claims for persons to be included on the list can be made to the registration officer of each registration area between January 2 and January 15, 2025.

The qualifying date for electors to be 18 years old, is December 31, 2024. This means that persons who have reached the age of 18 years and older as of December 31, 2024 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,” are eligible to vote in next year’s General and Regional elections.

Persons can therefore make claims on their behalf for them to be included on the revised list of electors, if their names are not present on the posted preliminary lists. Additionally, persons can apply for a transfer from an address they no longer live at. They can also apply for a change of name or for a correction, if incorrect information is on the PLE.

Meanwhile, GECOM set out January 2 to January 22, 2025, for objections to be made to names on the preliminary list. Objections typically allow persons the opportunity to contest the inclusion of the names of any deceased individuals on the PLE. Family members or other residents can present necessary documentation to GECOM to validate their claims and objections, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the electoral roll.

According to GECOM, registration officers will begin hearing and determining objections by January 5, 2025. Meanwhile, GECOM has appointed January 25, 2025 as the day by which all forms of claims, objections, applications and decisions will be sent by the registration officers to the Commissioner of Registration. The Chief Elections Officer, Vishnu Persaud (CEO), will then begin hearing and determining appeals the very next day. Additionally, any changes to the PLE will be made by February 2, 2025. At the end of the previous claims period of the second cycle of the 2024 Claims and Objections timeline, GECOM had announced it recorded over 4,500 total transactions between July 2 and July 15, 2024. This included a total of 1,599 new registrations, 885 transfers, 597 changes or corrections, 1,179 replacement ID cards, 336 requests for photo retakes… a total of 4,593 transactions.

GECOM has also been working closely with the General Register Office (GRO) to verify deaths and remove the names of deceased individuals from the Official List of Electors (OLE).

In addition to the last claims and objections exercise that lasted from July 2 to July 15, the continuous registration process ended in November 29, 2024. As of September 20, 2024,

GECOM Public Relations (PR) Officer Yolanda Warde had reported, 6,941 new voters were registered. During this period there were 2,614 applications for changes to addresses; 1,800 requests for changes in personal particulars; 6,600 applications for replacement ID cards; and 705 requests for photo retakes.

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Christmas and the poor

Wednesday will be Christmas – the birthday of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem two millennia ago. The narrative of his birth is very important for us today, and not only because the religion founded in his name but for the message encapsulated in his life. Born in a manger among the domesticated animals kept there, the baby Jesus was of humble stock since his nominal father Joseph was a carpenter. Joseph was made the patron saint of workers by the Catholic and even some Protestant denominations, while Jesus ministered mostly to the poor during his sojourn on earth. In the Bible, it is written:

“When he (Jesus) came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.”

The circumstance of his birth is intriguing since it illustrated Benjamin Franklin’s aphorism: “…in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Jesus, the “Son of God” would die, and his birth in Bethlehem was occasioned by the Roman rulers mandating that a census was to be taken to ensure all paid their taxes. It was the Jewish custom to be counted in their ancestral town or village. For the poor, however, Jesus pointed out taxes fall on them much more heavily:

“He (Jesus) sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

In a world of increasing inequality, Jesus’s message is very apropos on this day, even though named after him, many will be hosting sumptuous feasts. They should be reminded of this example of Jesus: “He (Jesus) said also to the one who had invited him, ‘When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbours, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

To a large extent, the centrality of the poor to the ministry of the poor has been lost to governments that are run by some who claim to be Christians and presumably are living in accordance with the teachings of the Christ. Maybe it is not a coincidence, but a reminder to us that Jesus once fed 5000 persons who were hungry. It is to the credit of the present government that they have embarked on sharing the wealth with all Guyanese, including the poor. We are reminded by Jesus that ultimately, it is our treatment of the poor that will determine our fate in the hereafter: “Whatever you did for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did for me.”

Jesus conceded, “Ye have the poor always with you.”

But as St Mark noted, he added, "and whensoever ye will ye may do them good." This was in strict accordance with the old Law from Deuteronomy 15:11: "The poor shall never cease out of the land; therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy in thy land".

Syria has been liberated from Russia and Iran – but outsiders still threaten its new freedom

By RoBin yassin-KassaB

The liberation of Syria was long hoped for, but unexpected. Over the past weeks, Syrians have experienced the full range of human emotions, with the exception of boredom. On the first two Assad-free Fridays, millions of celebrants swelled the streets to chant and sing and speak formerly forbidden truths. There was a huge presence of women, who had been less visible during the years of war. Relatives are meeting again and assuaging their pain as hundreds of thousands return from the camps of exile. At the same time, millions are having to accept at last that their loved ones have been tortured to death. It now appears that most of the 130,000 lost in Bashar al-Assad’s prisons (a bare minimum figure) are dead. Dozens of mass graves have already been discovered.

Working hard to crawl out from under the corpse of one of the worst torture states in history, Syrians are now looking to the future.

A key factor in the final fall of the regime was the remarkable discipline and social intelligence shown by the rebel coalition led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). When it became clear that neither Christians nor unveiled women were being harassed in liberated Aleppo, that there was no looting, and that Shia towns which had hosted foreign militias were not being subjected to revenge attacks, then tens of thousands of Assad soldiers felt safe enough to defect or desert.

But some still harbour deep suspicions of the HTS leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, previously known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. He has

enormous charisma, which may ease the path to a new dictatorship, but, so far, the signs are more hopeful than that. Sharaa is popular precisely for his non-dictatorial qualities.

Indeed, the first motivator for the moderation of HTS since the revolution began in 2011 has been its need to be accepted by the complex, multicultural and assertive Syrian society. Sharaa wouldn’t be where he is today if he hadn’t followed a pragmatic and accommodating path, and he knows it. “Someone who rigidly clings to certain ideas and principles without flexibility,” he told CNN, “cannot effectively lead societies or navigate complex conflicts.”

Thus far at least, Sharaa appears intelligent enough to understand that neither he nor his political faction can rule Syria on their own. HTS played a key role in the liberation, but it wasn’t the only player. Rebels from Daraa, the Homs countryside and eastern Ghouta, and the Druze militias in Sweida all liberated themselves.

The HTS-led coalition has assured all sectarian and ethnic communities that their rights will be respected, and issued directives that women’s dress choices should not be interfered with. (In Idlib, HTS stopped fielding a religious police years ago.) All rebel groups will soon dissolve in favour of a professional national army.

Mohammad al-Bashir has been appointed the Prime Minister of a transitional government until March 2025. Bashir was previously head of the “salvation government” in Idlib, which was HTS-aligned, but civilian, technocratic and fairly successful in its provi-

sion of services.

So far so good, but there is a need for greater inclusiveness, particularly in the process of drawing up a new constitution. Inclusion here means not just symbolic participation or quotas, but the kind of practical involvement that will ensure unity and stability by giving key constituencies the sense that they hold a stake in the new order. Among these constituencies are Alawites – from which Assad and most of the old regime emerged – and secularists. Both are currently feeling bruised, though cautiously optimistic.

The opposition’s coalition – which has been active for more than a decade and covers a range of factions, from the Muslim Brotherhood through nationalists to liberals – contains illustrious individuals who should be brought in to the new government, but it is disabled by its lack of governance experience and relevance, and its proximity to foreign powers, especially Turkey.

The biggest challenges at present, though, are not domestic. Syria has been liberated from Russia and Iran, but other occupations remain and even expand. North-east Syria is racked by its own complexities and other people’s wars. Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK) are clashing. Turkishfunded militias notorious for their criminality have abused and murdered civilians. So has the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition dominated by the PKK (not “the Kurds”, as commentators insist on calling it; Syrian Kurds are as politically diverse as anyone else).

The new government will have to negotiate the dimin-

ishment of these opposing forces. As I write, the SDF is seeking to avoid a Turkish invasion of Kobani by declaring the city a demilitarised zone. It is hoped that the PKK core will withdraw to its base in the Qandil mountains of Iraq, that the Kurdish parties it banned will be able to operate again, and that Kurds will flourish in a post-Arabist Syria. Already, Sharaa has assured them this will be the case.

An even more serious challenge is the enmity of the West. The EU and the US are not lifting sanctions on Syria, though the regime has gone, which makes them unprecedented “pre-emptive” sanctions. Worse, Israel, armed and excused by the US, UK and Germany, has invaded still more Syrian territory (after its theft of the Golan Heights) and is bombing intelligence as well as military targets, presumably to destroy evidence of collaboration with Assad.

This unprovoked assault, an attempt to render the country defenceless, is a shameful and stupid way to welcome newly independent Syria. I predict Syria will eventually manage to defend itself. It has already seen off one set of regional and international imperialists.

The future will certainly be influenced by hostile foreign powers, but the Syrian people will play the leading role in the drama. That’s because on December 8, eternity came to an end, the statues of the tyrants fell, and history resumed.

(Robin Yassin-Kassab is the co-author of Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War and the English editor of the Isis Prisons Museum)

People dressed as Santa Claus row during a Christmas regatta along the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy (Reuters)

VP exposes Nigel Hughes misleading claims on Finance Minister's role under NRF Act

According to the Natural Resources Fund (NRF) Act, the Minister of Finance can be imprisoned for breaches under the Act, such as non-disclosure of oil money coming into the fund. This was implemented by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government in 2021, after the former government failed to disclose it received a US$18 Million signing bonus from ExxonMobil.

However, Alliance For Change (AFC) leader Nigel Hughes recently claimed that there is a loophole since there is no designated Finance Minister. This is despite the fact that Senior Minister in the Office of the President, Dr Ashni Singh, was gazetted as having responsibility for Finance since 2020. In his recent press conference, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo took Hughes to task for misleading the public.

“Now they’re concerned, oh the Minister will not go to jail. Because in this case, (they say) the President is the Minister of Finance. That is their new found criticism of the law. Not to deal with their own sordid past. So, if Nigel Hughes. He and his (party), they

live in an echo chamber about how great they are and how sophisticated they are. But they’re shallow. Very shallow people.”

Jagdeo pointed out that once a Minister’s duties are assigned in the Guyana Gazette, this makes them responsible in an official capacity for that position. According to Jagdeo, the only time the President retains a portfolio responsibility is when it is unassigned.

“If he were to go to the official gazette. I thought as a lawyer they do that. And look at the official gazette of December 23, 2020, you will see that there are assigned responsibilities to the Minister of Finance.

And you will see that Ashni Singh was officially assigned responsibilities for several things, including budget, public financial management including budget and accounting control, all of these come here.”

“Once they’re assigned, then the Minister is responsible. If their portfolio remains unassigned and ungazetted, then it remains with the President. These responsibilities were assigned since December 2020,” Jagdeo added.

The Vice President noted that if anyone had any doubts about who bore responsibilities for finance under the NRF Act, one merely had to look at practice. For instance, Jagdeo pointed out that Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton himself wrote to Dr. Singh, in his capacity as Finance Minister, when it came to nominating Terrence Campbell to the NRF Investment Committee.

In 2017, then Finance Minister in the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) government, Winston Jordan, when questioned by the media about whether Guyana had received a signing bonus from ExxonMobil, had de-

nied knowledge of such a bonus.

This was until a missive dated September 20, 2016 and addressed to the Governor of the Bank of Guyana came to light, bearing the subject: “Signing bonus granted by ExxonMobil – Request to open bank account”. It showed that then Finance Secretary at the Finance Ministry, Hector Butts, had requested that a foreign currency account be opened at the Bank of Guyana in order to receive a deposit in the form of a ‘signing bonus’ to be given by ExxonMobil.

The letter stated, “This account should not be treated as part of the Bank’s reserves. Instead, the proceeds should be held

in the currency of the deposit, that is United States dollars, and invested in secured interest-bearing securities.”

After its return to office in 2020, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government sought to create greater transparency when it comes to the management of oil funds. As such, the very next year the government passed the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Act.

Among the legal provisions in the Act, is Section 33 (2) of the NRF Act 2021 which compels the Minister or persons designated by the Minister, to publish in the gazette, notifications of all receipts of oil funds paid into the NRF. Additionally, these notifications must be tabled in the National Assembly. Section 36 meanwhile states that failure to publish this information carries a fine of $5 Million and imprisonment

of 10 years, upon conviction on indictment. The funds in the NRF have their origins in the oil-rich Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, where US oil major ExxonMobil and its partners – Hess Corporation and CNOOC – are producing light sweet crude using the Liza Destiny, Liza Unity, and more recently, the Prosperity Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels. (G3)

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23,

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Senior Minister in the Office of the Presidency with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh

AFC leader Nigel Hughes

Page Foundation

Types of angles cont’d

Complementary angles are two angles that form a right angle. Their sum will be 90o

When two lines intersect the angles opposite each other are called vertical angles. Those angles are equal. 1) 2)

Example:

If angle A = 30o, what is the measure of angle B?

Step 1: Think: A right angle = 90o

Step 2: Subtract: 90 – 30 = 60

So angle B = 60o

By Christina rossetti

Exercises: Identify the complementary angles and vertical angles

Toy drum ornaments

Would you believe that these adorable drum ornaments are crafted from old toilet paper rolls? With a bit of paint, tape and ribbon, the once paper rolls are completely unrecognizable.

Cut down a toilet paper roll with scissors to about 1.5”2” tall. Paint the outside of the roll with acrylic paint and let completely dry.

Cut out two circles the size of the opening of the roll out of craft paper and attach using a thin line of hot glue to secure.

Add details onto the side of the drum making a crisscross pattern with washi tape or attach ribbon with hot glue.

Attach a strip of washi tape, ribbon or craft paper onto the top and bottom of the ‘drum’ to create a clean, straight line.

Add a loop of ribbon with a dot of hot glue onto the side to hang. (goodhousekeeping.com)

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign. In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day, Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay; Enough for Him, whom angels fall before, The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there, Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air; But His mother only, in her maiden bliss, Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part; Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart

Appears in ***A Poem for Every Night of the Year***.

WORD SEARCH:

“We are on target” – PM on 2nd power ship connection for Christmas …says testing within 48

hours

Ongoing preparatory works to connect the new 75-megawatt (MW) power ship to the national grid are in its final stages and according to Prime Minister, Brigadier {Ret’d) Mark Phillips, testing will be done soon with

working on the installation of the transmission line.

The power ship is being connected to the grid via 3.9 kilometres of double-circuit 69 kilovolt (kV) transmission line. Supported by approximately 22 pole structures, the power ship will

the aim of delivering power by Christmas.

On Sunday, PM Phillips conducted a site visit at the New Georgetown Substation on Mandela Avenue and at the newly-arrived power ship that is docked in the Demerara River in the vicinity of Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

During his inspection of the ongoing works to connect the power ship to the national grid, the Prime Minister was accompanied by Team Leader of Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc, Kesh Nandlall, along with UCC Americas Director, Antonio Neto; members of GPL Executive Management Team; technical teams from GPL and Kalpataru Projects International Limited (KPIL) – the contractor

inject electricity at the New Georgetown Substation, with additional distribution to the Sophia substation.

In the initial phase, the floating power plant will supply 60 MW of electricity to the national grid and then a further 15 MW to follow in its second phase.

Prime Minister Phillips, during Sunday’s visit, expressed confidence in the project’s progress, saying it was a “a commendable effort” to get the infrastructure ready to evacuate the power from the vessel into the grid within weeks.

“Based on the briefing I received this morning [Sunday]; we are on target. Soon we’ll be connecting the ship, and the power will be available as planned for Christmas,” Phillips said at the site on Sunday.

The Prime Minister, who has responsibility for the country’s energy sector, later told Guyana Times that works on the transmission line is in its “final stages”. He explained that the poles have already been constructed and connecting the lines from the power ship to the Mandela Avenue Substation is almost completed.

“They’re just at the end where they're doing the final touches, so to speak… We're doing the final connection, then they have to go through the usual testing and so. So, they will be ready to deliver the power, as promised, for Christmas,” he related.

According to PM Phillips, the teams – GPL, the contractor and the power ship operators – have been working all day to complete the line connection and be ready for the testing phase, which he said would be done within the next 48 hours.

“They're almost finished stringing the cables. They're connecting everything to the substation, then connect to the ship, and then after… evacuate the current but before we evacuate the current, we'll do a test… before they start delivering the power. So, within the next 48 hours, that will happen,” the Prime Minister noted.

Meanwhile, PM Phillips acknowledged the challenges posed during this period of preparatory works, which required controlled power outages especially in the areas where the transmission lines are installed. However, he assured these will be a thing of the past once the power ship becomes operational.

“We want to ask the people, especially those suffering from power outages as a

result of this project, to bear with us. This is a controlled power outage to ensure that we connect and test, so everyone will have more electricity available,” the PM stated.

He further commended the efforts of GPL and its contractor, emphasising the swift execution of the project within the six-week timeframe.

Addressing the stateowned power company’s readiness to manage this new power source, the Prime Minister expressed complete confidence in

GPL's capabilities. He highlighted that senior GPL personnels have been overseeing the project from its inception and will continue to manage the power distribution process.

Drawing on their successful experience with the 36 MW power ship setup in the Berbice River, the Prime Minister conveyed his full assurance in the team's ability to effectively manage and distribute the additional power to Guyanese consumers.

The power ship is a crucial part of the Government’s

ongoing efforts to enhance the reliability of electricity nationwide, paving the way for more stable energy for all Guyanese.

The 75 MW power ship, which arrived in the Demerara River earlier this month, is part of a two-year contract between GPL and the Joint Venture of Turkish-based Karpowership Global DMCC and Qatar-based UCC Energy International LLC – the same company that provided the first power ship. (G8)

Prime Minister Mark Phillips being given a tour of the power ship in the Demerara River

The transmission line connected to the power ship

Operators of the 75 MW power ship giving a demonstration to PM Mark Phillips on Sunday

Drunken driver in fatal accident fined $200,000 for DUI

…to be charged soon for causing death by dangerous driving

Vickash Dhunao, the driver responsible for a tragic accident on December 15th at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, which resulted in the deaths of two pedestrians, has been formally charged.

The accident occurred early last Sunday morning when Dhunao's vehicle, a motorcar bearing registration number PKK 9890, collided with Yvette Daniels, 54, and Vishnudat Mohabir, 48, both of Tuschen Housing Scheme.

Dhunao, 29, was charged with driving a motor vehicle with a Breath Alcohol level exceeding the prescribed limit, in violation of Section 39 A (1) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, and driving an unlighted motor vehicle, breaching Regulation 35 (1) of the

Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Regulation.

He appeared before Magistrate Alisha George at the Leonora Magistrate's Court, where he pleaded guilty to the charges. Dhunao was fined $200,000 for the Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charge or, in default, sentenced to two months imprisonment. He was also fined $10,000 for the unlighted motor vehicle offense.

In addition to these charges, the police have prepared a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) regarding the charge of causing death by dangerous driving, which is still under review.

The fatal accident oc-

curred at approximately 02:00h on December 15, when Dhunao's motorcar, traveling at high speed along the Tuschen Public Road, struck Daniels and Mohabir as they were crossing the road. The impact of the collision threw both pedestrians into the air, and they were pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical technicians.

Following the crash, Dhunao's vehicle collided with a stationary car, PGG 5073, before coming to a stop about 100 yards from the scene. Dhunao initially fled the scene, but he was later apprehended by the police. A breathalyzer test confirmed that he was above the legal alcohol limit for drivers.

16 speeding violations recorded during EBD Police crackdown

In a continued effort to improve road safety, officers from the Madewini Police Outpost Traffic Department conducted a traffic exercise on the Soesdyke-Linden and Timehri Public Roads, East Bank Demerara, on Saturday. The exercise, which took place between 07:00h and 11:00h, resulted in several traffic violations being recorded.

A total of 16 drivers were cited for speeding, while one driver was charged for failing to produce a valid driver’s license upon request. The operation is part of the Guyana Police Force’s ongoing initiative to tackle reckless driving in the region, particularly speed-

ing, which has been a growing concern along the East Bank Demerara corridor. This exercise follows a similar one conducted two weeks ago, where 26 speeding tickets were issued to drivers along the Heroes Highway. In addition to the speeding violations, the earlier exercise saw one driver charged for failure to comply with police directions, another for using abusive language, and others for having obstructed or tinted vehicle registration plates. These combined efforts brought the total number of cases to 30. The police crackdown is aligned with recent statements by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who an-

nounced measures to suspend the licenses of drivers caught speeding more than three times on the Heroes Highway. The new penalty aims to address the increasing number of road accidents and reckless driving, particularly by truck and public transport operators.

The Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department has been issuing a significant number of fines in 2024, with over 60,000 tickets issued to date, totaling approximately $400 million in fines. The department has also been working in coordination with the government, which has recently passed amendments to the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, toughening penalties for drunk driving and other traffic-related offenses. While road fatalities have decreased in 2024, with 99 deaths reported compared to 148 in 2023, authorities are committed to further reducing accidents. The government is also planning to introduce speed advisories and digital speed boards along major roadways to enhance road safety.

Preparing…

…for Christmas

Christmas may officially be two days away – but here in our dear ole Mudland, Christmas has been here since businesses followed custom and paid their workers by the 15th of the month – one week ago!! Have you noticed how Georgetown’s once again crowded beyond bursting point?? That’s them shoppers blowing their early pay and any bonus that might’ve come their way!! Prezzie had intended for every family in the land to collect $200,000 before Christmas – but sadly all sorts of obstacles were strewn in his way. And now it looks like only those in the hinterland – along with Public Servants and pensioners on the Coast – will have the $100,000 finally agreed upon for every Guyanese adult to get in their hand to spend.

Your Eyewitness wondered why only Public Servants and pensioners hit the jackpot before Christmas – and was told it’s because they move at the same pace when they gotta do something!! Anyhow, Christmas does come early in Guyana and we enjoy it lustier than elsewhere. In your Eyewitness’s household, the Christmas black cakes were “set” months ago and it was the job of yours truly to “season” them periodically with the spirits of the season!! He, of course, was duty bound to ensure that the said spirits were of the requisite proof!!

So from last week, he’s been distributing black cakes from his Missus’s list and he must confess that he’s been made welcome as if he were Santa Claus himself!! He had to contain himself from belting out the old geezer’s trademark” ho ho ho’s” – even though there aren’t any chimneys for him to slide down!!! There’s also the ginger beer that had been set – even though your Eyewitness thinks that sadly, this is a dying tradition!!

But we have some new traditions being created. For one, there’s the “office social” that’s now so de rigueur that a boss would be a veritable Scrooge if he didn’t spring for one!! This’s now being expanded exponentially by the burgeoning gaggle of trade associations and Chambers of Commerce holding cocktail parties so their members can expand their networks!! But nothing can beat the good, ole Guyanese “sport” that started back in the day in the rum shops after Christmas. Today, rum shops have become “bars” – from which no one is barred!!

Now some may think your Eyewitness is overstressing the imbibing of the “spirits”. But he’s only tellin’ it like it is!! It goes back to our history – when during slavery and indentureship, Christmas was one of the few guaranteed holidays. And liquor was handed out “to lift the spirits”!!

The tradition of not working on Boxing Day, was because of all the accidents caused by those who hadn’t overcome their hangover!!

…for Mad Maduro

Mad Maduro never gives up…does he?? He reminds your Eyewitness of the story of the elephant who came across the camper in his tent in the jungle. The elephant tells the camper it’s raining and could he allow him to put his trunk into the tent. The kind camper agrees. And then the elephant asks for his head to be in…and so on. Before long, the camper is out in the rain and the elephant is snug as a bug in a rug.

Venezuela invaded and occupied our half of Ankoko Island back in 1966 – just after we got independence and they’d signed the Geneva Agreement. We complained to the international community but – nothing! Fast forward to last year and Mad Maduro held a referendum to annex Essequibo, then we signed the Argyle Agreement for peace!! He then passed a law affirming the annexation and builds a bridge to Ankoko with a military airstrip. Now he just declared the Bridge open!! We in de Ankoko rain!!

…for northern visitors

Your Eyewitness saw a pic of a Guyanese Santa Claus, Mrs Claus and a helper greeting travellers arriving at CJIA. Now these planes are arriving from the north. Shouldn’t THEY be bringing in Santa and his posse?

Vickash Dhunao

Some of the tickets that were issued during the exercise

Business owners robbed of millions during home invasion

Ahome invasion in Little Diamond, East Bank of Demerara (EBD) has left business owners shaken and their residence ransacked, with millions in cash and valuables stolen.

The robbery took place on Sunday morning at Molly’s General Store. The business establishment is located at the bottom flat of the business owners’ home.

In an interview on Sunday, the wife recounted the traumatic events that began when her husband heard a knock outside their home.

"My husband heard the knocking, so he came outside. I didn’t even know he came outside," she explained. "He thought it was rats in the ceiling, right? So, he took the mop stick from the kitchen and started hitting at the ceiling."

She explained that the attackers, who were already inside the house, heard the noise and quickly responded.

"When they heard the hitting, they went already and cut the ceiling," she said. "They pushed down,

and then they grabbed him [her husband]. He tried to fight back a little, but they overpowered him. He started getting aggressive, and then they put the gun to his head and told him to stop or they would shoot."

The couple's nightmare only escalated from there. "They tied him up and put him in a chair," the wife continued. "They asked me if I knew where the stash was and I said there wasn’t no stash. They told me how we could get so big business and don’t have no stash. Then they pushed me into the room where there were two men with guns. There were four of them in total, but two had guns."

The robbers, after confronting the couple, demanded money. Fearing for their lives, she said that they led the bandits to the money.

"They didn’t hurt us that badly, but the whole situation could’ve gone differently," she explained. "They kept demanding more, but thankfully, we were able to give them what they wanted."

When asked about the amount of money stolen, the couple confirmed a significant sum. "It was over six million dollars in cash, and they took a lot of jewelry too, along with US dollars," she said.

At the time, she said five persons including her son who was visiting for the holidays were at home. He was also beaten and tied up.

The couple's retail business, Molly's General Store, was also targeted, though the robbers seemed intent on cash and valuables rather than business-related goods.

Police are investigating the incident, and the couple has expressed hope that while CCTV footage from their property will help identify the criminals, the men would have scanned their home and realized that there were no cameras at the back of the house.

“They were smart, they came through the back and they came in from the roof. There are no cameras up there on the roof,” the woman said.

As the investigation continues, police are urging anyone with information to come forward.

"After my husband heard what they were saying that they were going to shoot me. He told me to give them the money. They then told us, 'This can’t be real. You have to have more,' and started tumbling the whole room," the wife said. "They weren’t satisfied with the first set of money we gave them. They told us to give more."

2020 elections' rigging attempt

Video footage contradicts David Granger’s claims of no election victory celebration

…video shows him thanking supporters, looking forward to 5 more years in Govt

Former President David Granger’s claim, in a letter to the editor over the weekend, that he “did not declare victory” following the 2020 General and Regional elections, has not stood the test of time particularly since video footage from 2020 contradicts his assertion.

In a letter to the editor dated December 22, 2024, Granger took issue with testimony given by a witness in the ‘low life’ case brought by Opposition Parliamentarian Cathy Hughes against Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.

The witness, Robin Singh, testified that back in 2020, Granger hosted a victory celebration near the 704 Sports

Bar, Club, and Sky Lounge on Lamaha Street, Georgetown. This is despite the fact that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) had not even made an official declaration of the election results.

In his letter to the editor, however, Granger claimed that he did not “declare victory”, nor host a victory party. Granger suggested that the witness may have been mistaken since the APNU/AFC coalition headquarters was located on Lamaha Street.

According to footage from 2020 seen by this publication, however, there was indeed a victory celebration during which the former President

thanked his supporters for helping them during the campaign and made clear references to what his administration would do “over the next five years.”

“Tonight, APNU and AFC have come to tell you thanks. We worked hard, we covered all of the regions, we laid out all our plans. You know what we stand for and you supported us. Over the next five years, we are going to make life better for you,” Granger had said according to the video footage.

“We are serious about our promises to you. We want you to have a better life. It is about Guyanese living a decent life. So, I thank you from the bot-

tom of my hearts. APNU thanks you, AFC thanks you.”

After a nearly smooth polling day on March 2, 2020, Guyana was embroiled in a prolonged electoral impasse for five months following blatant attempts by senior GECOM officials and the then People’s National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, which refused to concede defeat and demit office.

The ABCE diplomatic missions in Guyana, at the time, were vocal in their calls for democracy to prevail and for the will of the Guyanese people be respected. In fact, even after a Caricom-led national recount confirmed the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) electoral victory, the David Granger-led coalition regime continued with its delay tactics by moving to

the courts.

The Western diplomats had deemed the tabulation process for Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) –Guyana’s largest voting district – as lacking transparency and credibility. This was after attempts were made by embattled Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, along with others to inflate the votes in favour of the then coalition Administration.

As the electoral impasse continued months after the March 2020 polls, the ABCE diplomatic community continued mounting pressure on the APNU/AFC to concede defeat, warning of Guyana facing isolation and consequences.

In fact, the United States (US) had gone ahead to impose visa sanctions against several Government and electoral officials, and their immediate family members, for

their role in undermining democracy in Guyana. The UK, Canada as well as the EU had also indicated that they were also considering following suit.

The heightened pressure from the West led to the APNU/AFC eventually conceding and allowed the Dr Irfaan Ali-led administration to finally take office on August 2, 2020.

Following those events, several senior GECOM officials and political activists have been charged and placed before the courts on a series of electoral fraud charges including misconduct while holding public office, presenting falsified documentation, and planning to manipulate Guyana’s voters by presenting an inaccurate vote total. Those charged include former Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield; Deputy CEO, Roxanne Myers; former Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, and GECOM employees Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Denise Babb-Cummings, and Michelle Miller.

Former People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chairperson Volda Lawrence and PNCR activist Carol Smith-Joseph, are also before the court on election fraud related charges. However, years after those charges were instituted in 2021, these cases continue to languish in the Magistrates’ Courts, marred with constant and prolonged delays. (G3)

Surinamese man found dead near trench in Port Mourant

The motionless body of a Surinamese national was discovered at Bangladesh, Port Mourant, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) on Sunday morning.

There were marks of violence on the body which was discovered lying in a trench.

Police later identified him as 23-year-old Marciano Michel Lelon, a labourer of Bangladesh, Port Mourant.

Regional Commander Senior Superintendent Shivpersaud Bacchus said the dead man was known to the police and previously had brushes with the law.

There are reports that screams were heard in the area at about 02:00h on Sunday but there are no reports of anyone seeing any-

thing until the body was seen floating in the trench sometime after 07:00h on Sunday.

Lelon was arrested and questioned following the killing a teen bandit at Port Mourant Market in October.

On October 26, 18-yearold Parmand Pertab, also called “Mikey”, of Lot 45 “C” Hampshire Village, Corentyne, died after being attacked by a vigilante group at Port Mourant.

Pertab and an accomplice had robbed a goldsmith who was plying his trade at the Port Mourant Market. In the process of fleeing with the booty, he was attacked and injured and managed to escape from his attackers.

However, a few minutes later he was pursued and

caught at a construction site. The incident was video recorded and shows a group of armed men inflecting injuries of a helpless Pertab. He collapsed and died shortly after.

A man is currently before the court charged with the murder of Pertab. Meanwhile, there are reports that Lelon was a part of the mob that attacked Pertab at the construction site.

On Sunday morning, a house situated adjacent to where the body was is where Lelon is believed to have been living alone.

According to the police commander, one person was taken into custody. However, the police have not yet determined a motive. (G4)

File photo: Former President David Granger back in 2020, during the ‘victory’ celebration

Musical Beat House brings Christmas cheer to Canefield, East Canje

The ‘Musical Beat House’ has become a beacon of Christmas cheer in Canfield East Canje, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

In Canfield East Canje, Berbice, the Christmas season is more than just a time for celebration; it’s a time for giving back, and Steven Persaud’s ‘Musical Beat House’ is a shining example of that spirit. What began as a simple way to spread holiday cheer has blossomed into a beloved tradition that attracts visitors from across the region, offering a heartwarming blend of festive lights, free photo shoots, and charitable giving.

“The event is called the “Musical Beat House”, it is a charitable event where we have a Christmas light up from December 1, to December 31. We do free photo shoots every night. From the 1st to the 31st you can come with your family or singly and have your photos taken. We don’t have a limit to the amount of photos that you can get. What we do is that we have the photos professionally edited and we send them out to you. You get digital copies of it,” Persaud explained.

People have been traveling from the capital city Georgetown for photo shoots at the musical house. There is also a huge turn out from Corriverton which in 50 miles

away. According to Persaud, it is open to all persons.

Earlier on through a clothing drive, Persaud was distributing free clothing to persons who wanted.

“The excitement is here for all Guyanese and I want to wish all of them a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. They can come with their family and take part in whatever we have here. Remember Christmas is all about family and love,” he added.

Persaud said his inspiration came from growing up in a home where many things desired during this time of the

year were beyond the family’s financial reach, but it was a home filled with love and care for one another.

“When you grow up in a certain manner you try to give back to society and investing in what I do here as a charitable activity makes me happy and it comes directly from my heart. I wouldn’t stop doing it until my heart stops beating.” Persaud says the aim is to bring joy and make children happy, noting that people can still find happiness even with financial constraints.

This year’s event has a significant increase in visitors when compared with last year. (G4)

Stephen Persaud

President Dr Irfaan Ali and First Lady Arya Ali along, with Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips, weekend. The Head of State was at the BK Quarries in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) while the First Lady International Airport. The Prime Minister accompanied by his wife, Mignon Bowen-Phillips joined residents the annual Independence Boulevard Christmas Tree Light-Up and Toy Distribution activity (President

Phillips, joined in spreading the joy of Christmas, bringing smiles and cheer to thousands of children over the Lady joined in the festive celebrations with over 6000 children from Soesdyke-Timehri at the Cheddi Jagan residents of the Castello Housing Scheme, Albouystown, and surrounding communities on Saturday evening for Dr Irfaan Ali’s social media photos; Office of the First Lady photos and Office of the Prime Minister photos)

Unlock urban tourism potential – Mexican Ambassador urges local stakeholders

Whilst Guyana is well known by the tourist community for its lush rainforests and diverse ecosystems Mexico’s Ambassador to Guyana, Mauricio Vizcaíno Crespo, recently urged stakeholders within the industry to explore unconventional areas within the sector, highlighting that Guyana has major potential to develop tourism products within its urban centres.

The Ambassador made this highlight on Sunday

during a recent edition of the energy perspectives podcast. When asked about what lessons Guyana could learn from Mexico on how to develop its own tourism product. Ambassador Crespo explained that whilst both country’s have scenic natural destinations, he urged Guyanese stakeholders within the industry to explore areas outside of ‘beach and sun tourism’ noting that the country’s urban centres have several locations that offers unique tourism ex-

periences.

“But even for Guyana, with a more homogeneous territory, you also have so many scenarios that you have the rivers, you have the rainforest, you have the mountains, also the seaside. But there are so many other sides to the typical, we call it the beach and sun tourism.”

The Ambassador added. “Because many, many people think of Mexico, oh, beautiful beaches. We're going to enjoy wonderful seafood. And they forget about the towns in the mainland all the development, for example, in Mexico City, which is also offering all sorts of tourism, medical tourism, shopping tourism, business tourism. And there are other places besides the beaches that are offering wedding tourism destinations so I think that Guyana has this particular opportunity to look around”.

“It's already beautiful, it's gorgeous, it's exuberant. You have the bird watching and I was listening to one of my colleagues saying like, you don't even have to drive into the for-

est to do the bird watching. You can do it standing on your garden on the street. There are like toucans,

Crespo noted that it is important for stakeholders to preserve these areas whilst undergoing this

parrots, falcons. Every day I see falcons standing out of my window and that's something that I think very few capital cities in the world can say.”

Recognizing that the government is currently working assiduously to develop the country’s infrastructure Ambassador

tranformation.

“you're trying to modernize the infrastructure of the country, but keeping those streets available for you, the Guyanese, but also for the people visiting, must be the priority and that's what we've done with our touristic destinations, like preserve

Christmas bonding initiative

the natural beauty, but at the same time, offer what people want, relaxation, again, medical services, business….i think that's one thing that Guyana is starting to do and that you should continue on that path.”

Meanwhile, earlier this month, during the launch of the Annual One Guyana Christmas Village, President Dr Irfaan Ali announced that, thanks to robust policies and government interventions throughout the year, Guyana’s tourism sector has experienced significant growth in 2024.

On this point, the President revealed that come 2025, the tourism sector will reach its alltime high.

Only recently, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) launched seven new tourism experiences, in collaboration with the tourism private sector. These include the Rupununi Hiking and Cultural Expedition, Jaguar Tour, Jungle Survival Tour Rockstone, Kato Hiking and ATV adventure, Essequibo River Jungle Trip and Jonestown Memorial Tour.

Nearly 300 inmates reconnect with families over 2 years – GPS

Nearly 300 prisoners across Guyana have reconnected with their loved ones over the past two years through the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) “Christmas Family Bonding Visits” initiative. This year’s visits, held over the last two weeks, offered inmates and their families a unique opportunity to spend quality time together, sharing meals, exchanging hugs, and capturing precious mo-

ments in photographs.

According to the prison service, the emotionally charged atmosphere was filled with love, joy, and the healing power of family connections. Conversations flowed freely as families relished the chance to interact in a setting that normalized

their relationships, away from the usual constraints of incarceration. For those behind prison walls, the chance to connect with their families in a more intimate and personal way was a rare and cherished departure from their daily routines.

Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot, praised

the dedication of the staff who worked tirelessly to make the initiative a success. Recognizing the profound impact of incarceration on family life, Elliot emphasized that the Prison Service’s role is not to sever family bonds but to actively promote and sustain them. The Christmas bonding visits were designed to foster reconnection and strengthen the ties between inmates and their families. During the visits, families shared meals in a relaxed setting. According to the prison service, the initiative is a part of its commitment to humanize the incarceration experience and supporting inmates in their journey toward positive change.

Toucans spotted in Georgetown eating fruits in a tree

Mexico’s Ambassador to Guyana, Mauricio Vizcaíno Crespo

Prisoners reuniting with their families

US$20M DDL Dairy Farm

A model for Private Sector investment to benefit entire region – ASG

The highly anticipated state-of-the-art

that I like about the project is the integration of the community and the fact that the community of Moblissa is also being included and lifted up. I am also very happy to see today that Vision 25 x 2025 is not just a soundbite, it has underpinned this company’s goal and is part of their overall strategy.”

Shaun Baugh, Programme Manager, Agricultural and AgroIndustrial Development highlighted that the farm will help promote similar investments within the Caribbean region.

“I am pleased to see this happening and policy moving into practice. A project like this sets the tone and creates the atmosphere and the appetite for other projects to start. This is a model of how the regional private sector can put our money

to use…using it to invest to benefit our entire Region.”

Meanwhile, last month Guyana Times reported that the new state-of-the-art facility is slated to supply the local and regional market by the third quarter of 2025. Speaking to members of the media during a tour of the site Demerara Dairy Inc Finance Director, Vasudeo Singh highlighted that works at the facility are progressing. He explained that already some US$9 Million has already been expended on the project.

With construction works moving apace, Singh revealed that the facility should harvest its first batch of milk by the third quarter of 2025.

The facility, which is located at Moblissa along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway stemmed from an agree-

ment which was signed in February, 2023 by DDL subsidiary Tropical Orchard Product Company Limited (TOPCO) and the LR Group of Israel.

The new facility, aims to produce some 5 million liters of milk annually, this goal will be achieved by the use of some 500 specialized cows which will be sourced from the United States (US). Guyana Times understands that these cows which are known for their milk Producing capabilities will be able to produce some 20-35 liters per day.

These cows will be monitored digitally, through the use of electronic devices. This will provide stakeholders with the necessary information needed to ensure the cows are producing in line with the required standard.

US$20 Million dairy farm, the first of its kind in the Caribbean, which is being built by Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) aims to transform the industry through a unique combination of innovation and private sector-community partnership. Supported by several local business entities, the farm’s operations are based on efficient milk production using new technology and ensuring that the community benefits through job creation.

the regional private sector, regional organisations, producer groups, development partners and civil society. It outlines actions and critical areas of intervention to tackle the rising food import bill and reduce food insecurity, improve intra-region-

tural projects implemented in Guyana. This farm is in line with Caricom’s Vision 25×2025 Initiative, a regional strategy to reduce the Region’s food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025. The strategy is a longterm social and economic partnership between Caricom Member States,

Recently officials from the Caricom Secretariat, led by Assistant SecretaryGeneral (Ag.) Economic Integration, Innovation and Development (EIID), Dr Wendell Samuel participated in a tour of the site for the new dairy farm, one of the transformational agricul-

al trade, and create wealth and economic opportunity for every Caricom Member State.

According to the Assistant Secretary-General (ASG), “This project has a lot of potential to transform the Guyanese economy and the entire industry within Caricom. One of the things

The Caricom ASG (ag), Dr Wendell Samuel; DDL Chair, Komal Samaroo; David Prendergast, Director of Sectoral Programmes, Caricom Secretariat; Shaun Baugh, Programme Manager, Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Development, Caricom Secretariat and Dike Noel, Manager, Communications, Caricom Secretariat

Construction works ongoing at the

US developer, local bank partner on new gated community

…to redefine luxury living in Guyana

United States (US)based housing developer, Coastal Rim Properties Inc, has partnered with Guyana’s NewHayven Merchant Bank to establish a new gated-community – The Oasis at Ogle – which will redefine luxury living in the country.

This development is set to be coming on stream in 2025, according to a statement on Sunday.

It was noted that this upcoming launch of The Oasis at Ogle, an innovative luxury mixed-use com-

munity, will transform Georgetown's residential and commercial landscape.

“Located just minutes from ExxonMobil Guyana’s headquarters and Ogle International Airport, The Oasis at Ogle will feature modern residences, upscale retail, and world-class amenities in a secure, fully gated community. This landmark project promises to redefine luxury living in Guyana, offering residents and visitors a unique blend of comfort, convenience, and sophistication,” the missive detailed.

Set across lush natural beauty, The Oasis at Ogle redefines luxury as Guyana’s first fully integrated lifestyle community. Blending modern architecture with the tranquility of the rainforest, it is a place where every comfort is considered and every moment feels exceptional.

It was designed by the award-winning Macro Design Studio with one bedroom, two bedrooms and three-bedroom estate houses as well as condominium style apartments available.

Residents are surround-

ed by curated gardens, serene blackwater-inspired lagoons, private pools, and exclusive recreational spaces—enjoying peace of mind within a fully gated community with 24/7-armed security, and the indulgence of a luxury spa just steps away, the official project website stated.

The Oasis at Ogle will set

Programme at The Oasis at Ogle offers a flexible way to earn up to a 13 per cent annual rental yield.

For select units, the developer provides the option to lease your property back from you for a term of 1 to 5 years, ensuring consistent and hassle-free rental income.

This optional pro-

As a premier real estate developer with a robust portfolio across Hawaii, Texas, and the West Coast, Coastal Rim Properties Inc., according to its website, is dedicated to developing properties that not only meet the highest industry standards but also contribute positively to the communities they serve. Our

a new standard as Guyana’s premier shopping and lifestyle destination, featuring over 100,000 square feet of world-class retail, dining, and entertainment.

For the first time in Guyana, shoppers will enjoy the convenience of secured covered parking, alongside a curated mix of top global retailers and exceptional dining options.

From luxury boutiques and fine dining to vibrant entertainment, The Oasis at Ogle will blend worldclass brands with local artisans, businesses, and cuisine, creating a unique and immersive experience.

The Optional Developer Guaranteed Rental

gramme is designed to provide a passive income solution while you retain full ownership of a premium residence in Guyana’s most exclusive community. With Guyana’s rapid economic growth and rising property values, your investment offers the potential for both immediate returns and long-term appreciation.

This transformative development is the result of a strategic joint venture, combining NewHayven's local expertise with Coastal Rim's proven 50-year track record of delivering over 6,000 homes and millions of square feet of commercial and office space across the US.

award-winning team continues to push the boundaries of real estate development, ensuring that their projects are synonymous with quality, sustainability, and community enrichment.

Dubbed as Guyana’s merchant bank, the NewHayven Merchant Bank is a dynamic and resourceful conduit of opportunity for investors. According to its website, the bank provides clients with a full range of investment services, facilitating solutions through professional management and meaningful partnerships in Guyana, the Caribbean, and the wider World.

Firefighters battle blaze twice at abandoned NA building

Members of the New Amsterdam Fire Service were called out twice on Sunday to put out a fire at Main and King Streets, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

There was a fire reported at the three-storey building which has been unoccupied for at least 20 years. Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze without much damage to the build-

blaze, the fire department was recalled to the building as flames were seen bursting through the roof of the building.

Even with the aid of a heavy downpour and a steady water supply from the Republic Road trench, they could not prevent complete destruction, as items, including piles of books, continued to fuel the fire within the walls of the old wooden structure.

It is not known who owns the building but it was previously owned by a doctor who migrated more than

ing. At the scene, police discovered clothing along with a few articles and concluded that the building was being

used by vagrants.

However, about four hours after leaving the scene after concluding that they had extinguished the

two decades ago.

There are reports that an insurance company had purchased the property. (G4)

14 successfully graduate from Grade 3 Special Forces’ Course

Fourteen participants successfully graduated from the Grade Three Special Forces’ Course, which concluded recently. The 14-week course drew participants from various units within the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), along with one student from the Guyana Police Force (GPF). Training was conducted at the Colonel Robert Mitchell Jungle

and Amphibious Training School (CRMJATS).

In a social media post, the GDF said that the intensive training prepared participants to operate effectively within a Special Forces team, troop, or equivalent, and to conduct operations in accordance with the GDF Grade Three Special Forces’ Course Manual. Key modules included Close Country

Warfare, among other specialised areas, equipping the graduates with essential knowledge and skills for dynamic operational environments.

“The successful completion of this rigorous training demonstrates the GDF’s ongoing commitment to fostering professional development and operational excellence among its ranks,” the post read.

Shots fired at Agricola brothers during wash bay confrontation

Police are investigating an incident involving the alleged discharge of a firearm that occurred on Saturday evening at about 10:45h, involving two men both of Second Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Reports are that the suspect and the victims are familiar with each other and were on speaking terms prior to the incident.

According to reports, the incident began when one of the victims, who operates a wash bay on First Street, asked the suspect to move his vehicle to allow a truck to enter for washing. The suspect initially responded that the man would need to wait, prompting a verbal exchange in which the victim allegedly called the suspect an "Auntyman."

Shortly after, the suspect mounted a motorcycle and left the area, only to return minutes later. This time, he parked his motorcycle, retrieved a firearm from his waistband, and discharged three rounds towards the wash bay operator. None of the shots hit the victim.

The other victim, who witnessed the incident, grabbed a cutlass and confronted the suspect. The brothers then drove to the Ruimveldt Police Station to report the matter.

Police have since processed the scene, but no spent shells were found. Statements were taken from individuals in the area, but efforts to locate the suspect, police said, have proven unsuccessful so far. Investigations into the matter are ongoing.

Fire destroys the abandoned building

The 14 participants successfully graduated from the Grade Three Special Forces’ Course

Private plane crash in São Paulo kills pilot, 9 members of his family

Ten members of a family have died after a private plane crashed into the city of Gramado in southern Brazil.

Brazilian businessman Luiz Claudio Galeazzi, who was piloting the plane, was killed in the crash alongside his wife, three daughters and other family members, a statement from his company said.

The small plane reportedly hit the chimney of a building, as well as a house and a shop as it fell.

Local authorities say 17 people on the ground were injured in the accident, including two in serious condition.

Galeazzi, 61, was taking his family on a trip to Jundiaí, in the São Paulo state, according to reports in Brazilian media.

All 10 victims of the crash were members of Galeazzi's family, Rio Grande do Sul state governor Eduardo Leite told a press conference. He added that the plane had taken off in unfavourable weather conditions.

The plane reportedly flew for 3km (1.8 miles) before falling into the urban area of the city just minutes after take-off on Sunday morning.

"At the time, it was revving up. You could see that

it was accelerating a lot," an eyewitness, Nadia Hansen, told Reuters news agency.

"Then there was a bang as it hit the building and then it passed close to my house and then it fell, and I thought it had dropped in front of the house," she said.

Pictures from the scene show emergency workers attending to the smoking wreckage among debris from badly damaged buildings.

Galeazzi was the chief executive of Galeazzi & Associados, a corporate restructuring and crisis management firm based in São Paulo.

The company issued a statement on LinkedIn, paying tribute to the 61-year-old.

"Luiz Galeazzi will be eternally remembered for his dedication to his family and for his remarkable career as the leader of Galeazzi & Associados," the statement said.

"We also sympathise with all those affected by the accident in the region," it said, adding that it would cooperate with investigations into the accident. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Guatemalan authorities rescue 160 children from Jewish Lev Tahor sect

Guatemalan authorities rescued 160 children and adolescents from the fundamentalist Jewish sect Lev Tahor in southeastern Guatemala on Friday following allegations of child abuse, including rape, prosecutors said.

The rescue operation in the agricultural municipality of Oratorio, 78 kilometres (48.47 miles) southeast of Guatemala City, highlights ongoing concerns over the controversial practices of the Lev Tahor sect, which has faced similar allegations in the past.

"Based on the statements of the complainants, the evidence obtained, and the medical examinations,

it was possible to establish that there are forms of human trafficking against these minors, such as forced marriage, abuse, and related crimes," Nancy Paiz, a prosecutor at Guatemala's Prosecutor's Office Against Human Trafficking, said at a press conference.

The Lev Tahor community, founded in 1988 in Israel, practice an austere form of Judaism with interpretations of Jewish law that includes long prayer sessions and arranged marriages.

Lev Tahor ("Pure Heart" in Hebrew) has faced multiple allegations of kidnapping, child marriage and physical abuse since it was founded in the 1980s.

The Jewish Community of Guatemala in a statement said the sect was foreign to its own organisation and expressed its support for Guatemalan authorities in carrying out necessary investigations "to protect the lives and integrity of minors and other vulnerable groups that may be at risk".

It called on the "government and diplomatic corps of countries from whose nationalities make up members of Lev Tahor, to join forces to protect those whose rights may be violated."

The minors are now under the protection of the Government and investigations remain underway.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Tobago House of Assembly and Warner in legal battle

Amulti-million-dollar legal battle is brewing between the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and Warner Construction and Sanitation Limited (WCSL) over the island’s 2019-2021 Road Resurfacing Programme. WCSL, owned by Allan Warner, took the THA to court earlier this year seeking approximately TT$46 million in outstanding payments allegedly owed for works done as part of the road programme. However, in a countersuit on November 25, the THA issued a pre-action pro-

tocol letter demanding that Warner WCSL and its owner repay TT$66.9 million. WCSL’s claim is before the courts and is subjudice, but Guardian Media obtained a copy of the THA’s pre-action protocol letter to Warner and WCSL. In response to the THA’s claims, Alan Warner said: “I find it strange a matter of such simplicity took the THA almost three years to investigate and issue a pre-action protocol letter. I find it strange knowing that the matter is before the court and it has been allowed into the public in the

Missing man's wife distraught after

oil rig collapses

The family of Well Services employee Pete Phillip are distraught after he was confirmed missing after the partial collapse of an oil rig he was working on.

Phillip was one of 75 workers on Rig 110 in the Heritage East Offshore Area when the incident happened around 3:09h on Sunday.

At his family's home on George Street, La Romaine, his wife Kandasie was too emotional to speak for long.

"This morning, his sister and brother were here and some friends and they said that he is missing. He's the only one they can't find," she

told Newsday on December 22.

Asked if anyone updated her about the situation, she said, "They said the Coast

Guard is searching."

The

Brazil bridge collapses, spilling sulphuric acid into river

Abridge connecting two states in Brazil's northern and northeastern regions collapsed on Sunday as vehicles were crossing, killing at least one person and spilling sulphuric acid into the Tocantins River.

The National Department of Transport Infrastructure said the central span of the 533-metre (0.3-mile) bridge, linking the cities of Estreito in Maranhao state and Aguiarnopolis in Tocantins state, gave way in the afternoon. A tanker truck carrying the acid plunged into the water, officials said.

According to the fire department, one person has been confirmed dead and another was rescued alive.

Aguiarnopolis city councilman Elias Junior was recording a video asking authorities to fix problems with the bridge, which he said could no longer handle the heavy trucks passing over it. As he pointed to a large crack on the shoulder of the bridge, the structure collapsed in front of him, causing him to run back. Reuters could not immediately independently verify the video. Junior did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Preliminary estimates indicate at least 11 people were involved in the accident with

papers. I seem to recall that there is an election coming and the THA’s popularity in Tobago is at its lowest point. And, therefore, a target is needed.”

In the pre-action protocol letter, the THA accused Warner Construction of gross financial misconduct during the 2019-2021 Road Resurfacing Programme leading up to the 2021 December 6 THA elections.

The allegations are based on a forensic audit conducted by Trinidadbased Caribbean Institute of Forensic Accounting (CIFA). (Trinidad Guardian)

two trucks, a car, and a motorcycle falling into the river, which is more than 50 metres (164 feet) deep.

By early evening, rescue divers halted their efforts after identifying that one submerged tanker was leaking sulphuric acid, said the fire department from Tocantins.

The Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge, inaugurated in 1960, was built with reinforced concrete and is part of the BR-226 highway, connecting the federal capital Brasilia to Belem, a northern city set to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference next year. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Attorney Sturge among latest 5 UNC candidates

Attorney-at-law and former United National Congress (UNC) senator Wayne Sturge has been selected by the UNC as its candidate for Toco/Sangre Grande for the 2025 general election.

Sturge was among five candidates the UNC announced in a media release on December 22.

Also on the UNC slate are John Michael Alibocas (San Fernando East); Dr Natalie Chaitan-Maharaj

(Arouca/Lopinot); Richard Smith (Trincity/Maloney) and Devesh Maharaj (Aranjuez/ St Joseph).The UNC screened its first nominees in Chaguanas on November 29.

Saddam Hosein, Vandana Mohit and Michael Dowlath were chosen as candidates for Barataria/San Juan, Chaguanas East and San Fernando West respectively.

The UNC said it will not field candidates for the two Tobago seats.

The party congratulated

the latest successful candidates and thanked all those who submitted nominations and were screened.

"The UNC appreciates every member who has come forward and offered themselves for service. There is a place and role for all," the party said. It said it will continue its screening process and party mobilisation as it gears up for the general election. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Emergency workers attending to the smoking wreckage among debris from badly damaged buildings

An aerial view shows a collapsed bridge between Aguiarnopolis and Estreito, in Brazil, December 22 2024, in this picture obtained from a social media video (Corpo De Bombeiros Militar Do Maranhao/ via Reuters)

couple have four children: Jesiah, 13, Justin, 11, Jelicia, nine and Giselle, three. (Trinidad Newsday)

Well Services employee Pete Phillip

Around the World

AOIL NEWS

Oil depot in Russia targeted by Ukrainian drone strike, Governor says

Suspect in German Christmas market attack held on murder charges

Aman suspected of ploughing a car through crowds at a German Christmas market in an attack that killed five persons and injured scores faces multiple charges of murder and attempted murder, Police said on Sunday.

“massive” Ukrainian drone attack targeted an oil depot near the city of Oryol in western Russia overnight, causing a fire at the site, Oryol Oblast Governor Andrey Klychkov reported on December 22.

Klychkov claimed that Russian forces downed 20 drones over Oryol Oblast targeting fuel and energy infrastructure facilities. Local authorities reported the attack at around 1 a.m. local time.

Videos posted on social media and shot by local residents show large explosions lighting up the night sky around the city. The extent of the damage caused was not immediately clear.

Klychkov claimed that no casualties or injuries had been reported as a result of the attack. He said at around 08:00h local time that the fire was extinguished.

The Kyiv Independent cannot verify the claims made by Russian officials, and Ukraine's military has not yet commented on the attack.

The attack comes just one week after Ukrainian drones struck the same oil depot, causing a large fire to break out. The fire reportedly burned for several days following the attack. The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said after the Dec. 14 attack that the depot in the Stalnoy Kon village is among the largest oil product terminals in Russia and is “part of the Russian military-industrial complex, providing supplies of petroleum products for the Russian army."

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin met Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in the Kremlin on Sunday, a rare visit by a European Union leader to Moscow as a contract allowing for Russian gas to transit through Ukraine nears expiry.

Slovakia is dependent on gas passing through its neighbour Ukraine, and it has ramped up efforts to maintain those flows from 2025 while criticising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for refusing to extend the contract expiring at the end of the year.

Fico's trip to Moscow was only the third by an EU Government Head since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Slovak opposition politicians called the visit a "disgrace".

Fico said on Facebook after the meeting that top EU officials were informed of his trip on Friday.

He said it came in response to talks last week with Zelenskiy, who, according to the Slovak leader, had expressed opposition to any gas transit through Ukraine to Slovakia.

"Russian President V Putin confirmed the readiness of the (Russian Federation) to continue to supply gas to the West and Slovakia, which is practically impossible after January 1, 2025 in view of the stance of the Ukrainian president," Fico said.

His visit to the Kremlin follows Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who visited in April 2022, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who went to Moscow last July. EU allies had criticised both of those visits.

Russian television showed Putin and Fico shaking hands at the start of their talks. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the meeting had been arranged a few days ago.

In the talks, Fico said he and Putin exchanged opinions on the military situation in Ukraine, chances of a peaceful end to the war and on Slovak-Russian relations "which I intend to standardise". (Excerpts from Kyiv Independent and Reuters)

Woman dies after being set on fire on NYC subway

Asuspect has been arrested in New York over the death of a woman who was set on fire on a subway train in Brooklyn.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the incident on Sunday as "one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being".

She said the woman was sleeping on a stationary F train to Brooklyn when she was approached by the sus-

pect who used a lighter to ignite her clothing. The victim died at the scene, she said, adding that the suspect had been taken into custody after he was detained on another subway train.

Police said the woman, who has not been named, was sleeping in a subway carriage at the Coney IslandStillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn at about 07:30 local time (12:30 GMT) when a man approached her.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Friday evening's attack in the central city of Magdeburg shocked the country and stirred up tensions over the charged issue of immigration.

The suspect, who was in custody, is a 50-year-old psychiatrist from Saudi Arabia with a history of anti-Islamic rhetoric who has lived in Germany for almost two decades. The motive for the attack remained unclear.

There were scuffles and some "minor disturbances" at a far-right demonstration

attended by around 2100 people on Saturday night in Magdeburg, police said. They added that criminal proceedings would follow, but did not give details.

Protesters, some wearing black balaclavas, held up a large banner with the word "remigration", a term popular with supporters of the

far right who seek the mass deportation of immigrants and people deemed not ethnically German. Other residents gathered to pay their respects to the dead.

A sea of flowers stretched out in front of St John's Church in Magdeburg, close to the scene of the crime,

which attracted a steady stream of tearful mourners over the weekend.

Those killed were a nine-year-old boy and four women aged 52, 45, 75 and 67, the Police statement said. Among the wounded, around 40 had serious or critical injuries. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Israeli order to evacuate Gaza hospital

“next to impossible” to obey, say medics

Israel ordered the closure and evacuation on Sunday of one of the last hospitals still partly functioning in a besieged area on the northern edge of the Gaza Strip, forcing medics to search for a way to bring hundreds of patients and staff to safety.

The head of the Kamal Adwan hospital in Beit Lahiya, Husam Abu Safiya, told Reuters via text message that obeying the order to shut down was "next to impossible", because there were not enough ambulances to get patients out.

"We currently have nearly 400 civilians inside the hospital, including babies in the neonatal unit, whose lives depend on ox -

ygen and incubators. We cannot evacuate these patients safely without assistance, equipment, and time," said Abu Safiya.

"We are sending this message under heavy bombardment and direct targeting of the fuel tanks, which if hit will cause a large explosion and mass casualties of the civilians inside," he said.

The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment on Abu Safiya's remarks.

Hamas released a video on Sunday that it said had been filmed in northern Gaza. It showed fighters positioned in blown-out buildings and in piles of wreckage, clad in civilian

Trump threatens to try and regain control of Panama Canal

President-elect Donald Trump has demanded Panama reduce fees on the Panama Canal or return it to US control, accusing the central American country of charging "exorbitant prices" to American shipping and naval vessels.

"The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, highly unfair," he told a crowd of supporters in Arizona on Sunday.

"This complete rip-off of our country will immediately stop," he said, referring to when he takes office next month.

His remarks prompted a quick rebuke from Panama's President, who said "every square metre" of the canal and surrounding area belong to his country.

President José Raúl Mulino added that

Panama's sovereignty and independence were non-negotiable.

Trump made the comments to supporters of Turning Point USA, a conservative activist group that provided significant support to his 2024 election campaign.

It was a rare example of a US leader saying he could push a country to hand over territory – although he did not explain how he would do so - and a sign of how American foreign policy and diplomacy may shift once he enters the White House following his inauguration.

The 82-kilometre (51mile) Panama Canal cuts across the central American nation and is the main link between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. (Excerpt from BBC News)

clothing and firing projectiles at Israeli forces.

The Israeli military said on Sunday forces operating in Beit Hanoun had struck Hamas militants and infrastructure. Hamas and the allied Islamic Jihad group said they caused casualties among Israeli soldiers.

Meanwhile, At least nine, including children, killed in Israeli morning attacks on northern Gaza. (Excerpts from Reuters)

Syria's de-facto ruler reassures minorities, meets Lebanese Druze leader

Syria's de-facto ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa hosted Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt on Sunday in another effort to reassure minorities they will be protected after Islamist rebels led the ouster of Bashar al-Assad two weeks ago.

Sharaa said no sects would be excluded in Syria in what he described as "a new era far removed from sectarianism".

Sharaa heads the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the main group that forced Assad out on December 8. Some

Syrians and foreign powers have worried he may impose strict Islamic governance on a country with numerous minority groups such as Druze, Kurds, Christians and Alawites.

"We take pride in our culture, our religion and our Islam. Being part of the Islamic environment does not mean the exclusion of other sects. On the contrary, it is our duty to protect them," he said during the meeting with Jumblatt, in comments broadcast by Lebanese broadcaster Al Jadeed. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Magdeburg, December 22, 2024 (Reuters/Annegret Hilse photo)

Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt shakes hands with Syria's de-facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, after the ousting of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, December 22, 2024 (Reuters/Khalil Ashawi photo)

SUDOKU

Put more force behind the things that spark your interest. Participate in something that makes you feel good about yourself. Helping others will lead to unexpected opportunities.

Bide your time and pay attention to detail before you express your ideas, and you'll avoid criticism. Use excess energy to take care of all the little things you've left undone.

How you handle yourself and present what you have to offer will lead to opportunities. Attending networking or social events that mix business with pleasure will pay off.

Have an open mind, and you'll gain insight into what, who and how you can improve yourself, your position and your future. A passionate approach will open doors that lead to new beginnings.

Integrate business with pleasure, and you'll meet someone with information that will help you gain ground. Personal gains are within reach if you follow your heart.

Don't feel obligated to put others' needs before your own. Set boundaries to ensure you have time to reach the demands you put on yourself. A change will encourage you to take an appealing path.

Set the groundwork for what you want to achieve, and the feedback and connections you make will boost your morale and set you on the road to victory. Embrace chance meetings at celebrations.

Be an observer, and you'll gain the confidence of those eager to share their secrets. Your ability to be a good listener will help you manipulate whatever happens to your advantage.

You'll gain the most through your actions and a desire to help others. Join forces with colleagues who want to make a difference in your community, and it will benefit you down the road.

A creative or social diversion will point you in a direction that is engaging both mentally and physically. Reaching out to help others will have its rewards. Update your image.

It isn't in your best interest to unleash your temper. Put your energy into lending a helping hand and deter anyone from trying to make you look bad. A little love will go a long way.

Stick to the script; if you exaggerate, you'll fall short when the time comes to stand behind your promises. Uncertainty will make you appear weak; honesty is always in your best interest.

3rd ODI, Johannesburg, Pakistan tour of South Africa

Saim Ayub’s hundred condemns South Africa to maiden home ODI whitewash

South Africa were blanked for the first time in a bilateral One-Day International (ODI) series at home after losing by 36 runs to Pakistan in a rain-affected game at the Wanderers. Saim Ayub starred with bat and ball by scoring a second hundred in the series and with figures of 1 for 34. Debutant wristspinner Sufiyan Muqeem took 4 for 52 to again ask questions of South Africa's ability against spin.

The loss means South Africa have won only one out of three ODI series this year, after also losing to Afghanistan in Sharjah, and two out of six ODI series under whiteball Coach Rob Walter, who took over in February 2023. Pakistan, on the other hand, completed a fifth successive bilateral series win after beating New Zealand, Afghanistan, Australia, and Zimbabwe.

liveries before rain kept the players off the field for an hour and a quarter.

Pakistan could have lost Babar 14 balls after the restart, when he cut Jansen to point. Fortuin leapt to his right but got his hands in the wrong position and dropped the chance. Babar was on 10, and would take some time to get into his rhythm. Instead, It was Ayub who took South Africa on with two drives off a Rabada over in the "v" and then two pull shots off Jansen to end the powerplay with Pakistan on 42 for 1.

Ayub became Bosch's first international wicket when he gloved him down leg to Klaasen, but left them in a good position. By then, Rizwan was on 45 off 44 balls and joined by big-hitting

en his right hand off the handle as he played a shot, which may concern South Africa ahead of the Tests. Bavuma has only just regained fitness after a left elbow injury.

Tony de Zorzi looked dan-

Ayub has enjoyed a stunning summer in South Africa so far. He scored 98 not out in the T20 International (T20I) in Centurion and 109 in Paarl, and then anchored a strong Pakistan effort at the Wanderers, with 101. He also shared in a 114run second-wicket stand with Babar Azam and a 93-run third-wicket partnership with Mohammad Rizwan to give Pakistan the perfect platform. Both Babar and Rizwan brought up half-centuries as well. Pakistan had mini-collapses either side of Salman Agha and Tayyab Tahir's sixth-wicket stand of 74 off 47 balls which pushed their total above 300. Their template of slow starts and explosive finishes continued to work well for them while South Africa's top-order batting concerns continued.

tury, and he did it in all three matches. He was also the leading run-scorer in the series with an average of 88.00, but had no support from anyone else until Corbin Bosch's 44-ball 40, on debut at number eight, kept South Africa in

Maphaka was expensive in his first spell, which lasted only two overs and cost 17 runs, but Bosch immediately showed his potential with deliveries above 140 kilometres per hour (kph). Ayub inside-edged one of his deliveries onto his box, but no

Heinrich Klaasen was the only batter to score a half-cen

SCOREBOARD

Pakistan (47 ovs maximum)

Saim Ayub c †Klaasen

b Bosch 101

Abdullah Shafique c Markram

b Rabada 0 Babar Azam c Miller

b Maphaka 52

Mohammad Rizwan (c)† c Rabada

b Fortuin 53

Kamran Ghulam c Bavuma

b Fortuin 0 Salman Agha c van der Dussen

b Rabada 48

Tayyab Tahir

c & b Jansen 28

Shaheen Shah Afridi c van der Dussen

b Rabada 0 Naseem Shah not out 5

Mohammad Hasnain c Miller

b Jansen 4 Sufiyan Muqeem not out 0

Extras (b 1, lb 1, w 15) 17

Total 47 Ov (RR: 6.55) 308/9

Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Abdullah Shafique, 0.2 ov), 2-115 (Babar Azam, 22.3 ov), 3-208 (Saim Ayub, 34.6 ov), 4-209 (Kamran Ghulam, 35.3 ov), 5-223 (Mohammad Rizwan, 37.6 ov), 6-297 (Salman Agha, 45.5 ov), 7-297 (Shaheen Shah Afridi, 45.6 ov), 8-298 (Tayyab Tahir, 46.1 ov), 9-302 (Mohammad Hasnain, 46.3 ov) •

DRS

Bowling

O-M-R-W

Kagiso Rabada 10-0-56-3

Marco Jansen 9-0-58-2

Kwena Maphaka 6-1-50-1

Corbin Bosch 9-0-69-1

Bjorn Fortuin 10-0-56-2

Aiden Markram 3-0-17-0

South Africa (T: 308 runs from 47 ovs)

Tony de Zorzi

c & b Shaheen Shah Afridi 26

Temba Bavuma (c)c Saim Ayub

b Naseem Shah 8

Rassie van der Dussen lbw

b Mohammad Hasnain 35

Aiden Markram c Kamran Ghulam

b Sufiyan Muqeem 19

Heinrich Klaasen † c Tayyab Tahir

b Shaheen Shah Afridi 81

David Miller c †Mohammad Rizwan

b Saim Ayub 3

Marco Jansen c Saim Ayub

b Sufiyan Muqeem 26

Corbin Bosch not out 40

Bjorn Fortuin c Abdullah Shafique

b Naseem Shah 8

Kagiso Rabada lbw

b Sufiyan Muqeem 14

Kwena Maphaka

b Sufiyan Muqeem 0

Extras (lb 4, nb 1, w 6) 11

Total 42 Ov (RR: 6.45) 271

Fall of wickets: 1-25 (Temba Bavuma, 3.2 ov), 2-44 (Tony de Zorzi, 6.3 ov), 3-80 (Aiden Markram, 15.1 ov), 4-120 (Rassie van der Dussen, 19.5 ov), 5-123 (David Miller, 20.5 ov), 6-194 (Heinrich Klaasen, 28.4 ov), 7-212 (Marco Jansen, 31.6 ov), 8-250 (Bjorn Fortuin, 38.2 ov), 9-271 (Kagiso Rabada, 41.5 ov), 10271 (Kwena Maphaka, 41.6 ov) • DRS Bowling O-M-R-W Shaheen Shah Afridi 7-1-70-2 Naseem Shah 9-0-63-2 Mohammad Hasnain 7-1-41-1

Saim Ayub 10-1-34-1

Sufiyan Muqeem 8-1-52-4 Salman Agha 1-0-7-0

the chase.

After opting to bowl first in overcast conditions, South Africa were unable to maximise their chances, despite Kagiso Rabada beating the edge several times early on, and then struggled with their discipline later on. Bjorn Fortuin and Aiden Markram bowled 13 overs of spin between them at a collective economy of 5.6 to the over, but the seamers were costly. Marco Jansen's nine overs cost 58 runs while Bosch and Kwena Maphaka, in his second ODI and first on his home ground, bowled 15 overs between them for 119 runs and picked up a wicket apiece.

Things started well for South Africa when Abdullah Shafique edged Rabada to second slip to register his third successive duck of the series. All Shafique's dismissals have come nicking off, which South Africa will remember ahead of next week's Test. Play only continued for another 17 de-

major damage was done and he brought up 50 off 54 balls. Maphaka returned from the other end and initially Babar had the better of him, but the 18-year-old had the final say. He hit Babar on the bottom hand and then tempted him with a short ball that Babar sent straight to David Miller at short mid-wicket. This year will be the first since Babar made his debut in 2015 that he will not score an ODI hundred.

Pakistan were 115 for 2 after 23 overs and added only six runs in the next three overs as Fortuin led the squeeze. The pressure was released when Ayub smoked Maphaka through the covers, fine leg and long-off in an 18run over. Runs kept coming boundaries for Ayub and he hit four fours and a six in the next seven balls to gallop into the 90s. He reached his century off 91 balls, in the 34th over with Pakistan 199 for 2 after 34 overs.

Kamran Ghulam. He could not repeat his antics from Newlands, where he smashed a 32-ball 63, but he tried. He sliced Fortuin high above cover and was caught by Temba Bavuma.

Rizwan got to 50 off 48 balls, but then top-edged Fortuin to short third to give him a second. Fortuin was one of two bowlers to deliver 10 overs and finished with 2 for 56. Rabada was the other and struck late in his final spell when he removed Salman and Shaheen Shah Afridi in successive deliveries to take 3 for 56. South Africa took four wickets in five balls for five runs to prevent some big-hitting from being fruitful at the end, but Salman and Tayyab had already done major damage. They hit five fours and three sixes in their time together.

Pakistan innings was delayed by 15 minutes and interrupted by rain after 3.1 overs. The 75-minute break meant the match was reduced to 47 overs a side. Pakistan were 10 for 1 when the rain began and South Africa's target was adjusted, so they had to chase 308. At 212 for 7, it looked like that was only mathematical, but Bosch's 40 and run-a-ball stands of 38 and 21 for the eighth and ninth wicket kept them in it. They were bowled out for 271 in 42 overs.

It was always going to be a tough chase, but South Africa's reply started strongly and they were 24 after three overs before Bavuma played Naseem Shah to Ayub at point. This is the second time in the series Bavuma has tak-

gerous on the drive and the pull, but was bounced out by Shaheen Shah Afridi. Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen took South Africa to 15 overs on 80 for 2 before Markram gifted his wicket to Muqeem's first ball. Markram hit a filthy short ball straight to deep mid-wicket to leave South Africa in trouble even before enough overs had been bowled to call it a game. Klaasen walked in to light rain and the DLS par score of 136 in 20 overs hanging over him and got to work. He took on Muqeem, who bowled too flat and too short, but van der Dussen's dismissal on the penultimate ball of the 20th over pegged South Africa back. Van der Dussen was out lbw to Mohammad Hasnain for 35, making it his 10th completed innings without an ODI half-century.

David Miller might have been South Africa's last hope, but Rizwan anticipated his lap-sweep off Ayub and was ready to take the catch at a leg slip position. South Africa were 123 for 5 and not even Klaasen's lone hand could get them over the line. He reached fifty off 29 balls, smashed Shaheen Shah for four fours in an over and 10 runs off three balls in his next over before hitting him to deep square leg and all but ending South Africa's fight. Bosch proved his worth as a lower-order hitter, but ran out of partners to bat out the overs. Rabada and Maphaka were dismissed in successive balls to give Muqeem his four-fer and South Africa many questions ahead of the Champions Trophy.(ESPNcricinfo)

Heinrich Klaasen fought for South Africa with a hard-hitting fifty

Saim Ayub brought up his second hundred of the series

Ayub fell to Corbin Bosch, as he took his maiden ODI wicket

After a T20 International (T20I) series that went to the decider, the first of three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) between India and West Indies was a thoroughly one-sid ed fare. The hosts dominated from start to finish despite not batting to full poten tial, while still scor ing an imposing 314 for 9, and then hardly flexed their bowling muscle to run past a West Indies line-up that folded like nine pins.

The architects of the win were Smriti Mandhana, who topscored with 91, and Renuka Singh, who had an unchanged opening spell of 8-1-19-4 en route to a maiden ODI five-for. Two of those strikes happened to be of Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin inside the first five overs of the chase. The game was decided right there. India will look back at their batting performance with mixed emotions despite the massive victory margin. For the first half of their innings, they appeared to be stuck in second gear, with that safe ty-first approach that has troubled them in ODIs lately yet again taking precedence despite Mandhana looking in sparkling form, like she has in the format all through the year.

1st ODI, Vadodara, West Indies Women tour of India

Renuka, Mandhana consign West Indies to record loss

batting partner at the top of the order after a number of ex-

Mandhana brought up her half-century off 62 balls, her 28th in ODIs, and shifted gears to sweep and drive imperiously, but Harleen Deol's struggles forced her into attempting cheeky strokes, one of which had her lbw. Harleen's cautious approach at number three despite a solid start made you wonder if India miscalculated by not promoting Jemimah Rodrigues or Harmanpreet Kaur. This became evident almost immediately when Harmanpreet changed the tempo of the innings upon arrival, dashing to 32 off 20 through her trademark sweeps and ferocious lofted hits, before a mix-up with Ghosh, while attempting a run to short third, cut short her innings.

her full range of power, timing and fineness – all in one, as she made a 13-ball 26, while Rodrigues, now seen as a finisher, made 31 off 19. India could've scored a lot more if not for a series of rash shots towards the end

that brought Zaida James, the young left-arm spinner, a maiden five-for ODIs. That, as it turned out was one of the few positives for West Indies on a forgettable night as they had no answers to Renuka's devious in-duckers that kept miss-

SCOREBOARD

India Women (50 ovs maximum)

The caution at the start was largely down to a nervous debutant – Pratika Rawal –auditioning to be Mandhana's

tween the two, she survived a tight run-out opportunity. To Rawal's credit, she overcame all of these to slowly build her innings, before falling to an unreal return catch to Mathews, as she threw herself fullstretch to pluck a one-handed

Ghosh and Rodrigues played fine cameos that helped provide with India the finishing kick, while also allowing them to paper over the muddle in the middle overs, with the last 20 overs bringing 160. Ghosh showed off

Smriti Mandhana lbw

b Zaida James 91

Pratika Rawal

c & b Matthews 40

Harleen Deol

b Dottin 44

Harmanpreet Kaur (c) run out (Fletcher/†Campbelle) 34

Richa Ghosh † c Connell

b Matthews 26

Jemimah Rodrigues

b Zaida James 31

Deepti Sharma not out 14

Saima Thakor lbw

b Zaida James 4

Titas Sadhu c Joseph

b Zaida James 4

Renuka Singh c Gajnabi

b Zaida James 0

Priya Mishra not out 1

Extras (b 8, w 17) 25

Total 50 Ov (RR: 6.28) 314/9

Fall of wickets: 1-110 (Pratika

Rawal, 23.2 ov), 2-160 (Smriti Mandhana, 31.6 ov), 3-226 (Harleen Deol, 40.4 ov), 4-237 (Harmanpreet Kaur, 41.5 ov), 5-264 (Richa Ghosh, 43.5 ov), 6-297 (Jemimah Rodrigues, 47.4 ov), 7-301 (Saima Thakor, 47.6 ov), 8-309 (Titas Sadhu, 49.1 ov), 9-309 (Renuka Singh, 49.3 ov) •

DRS

Bowling O-M-R-W

Deandra Dottin 10-0-63-1

Hayley Matthews 10-1-61-2

Shamilia Connell 1-0-6-0

Karishma Ramharack 10-0-62-0

Afy Fletcher 5-0-31-0

Aaliyah Alleyne 6-0-38-0

Zaida James 8-0-45-5

West Indies Women (T: 315 runs from 50 ovs)

Hayley Matthews (c)c †Ghosh

b Renuka Singh 0

Qiana Joseph run out (Rodrigues/†Ghosh) 0

Rashada Williams

b Sadhu 3

Deandra Dottin

b Renuka Singh 8

Shemaine Campbelle † c Kaur

b Renuka Singh 21

Aaliyah Alleyne c Kaur

b Renuka Singh 13

Shabika Gajnabi

b Renuka Singh 3

Zaida James lbw

b Priya Mishra 9

Afy Fletcher not out 24

Karishma Ramharack c Renuka Singh

b Sharma 11

Shamilia Connell c Rodrigues

b Priya Mishra 8

Extras (lb 1, w 2) 3

Total 26.2 Ov (RR: 3.91) 103

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Qiana Joseph, 0.1 ov), 2-3 (Hayley Matthews, 2.1 ov), 3-11 (Deandra Dottin, 4.6 ov), 4-11 (Rashada Williams, 5.2 ov), 5-26 (Aaliyah Alleyne, 10.6 ov), 6-34 (Shabika Gajnabi, 12.6 ov), 7-52 (Zaida James, 17.4 ov), 8-66 (Shemaine Campbelle, 20.1 ov), 9-84 (Karishma Ramharack, 23.3 ov), 10-103 (Shamilia Connell, 26.2 ov) •

ing. The effect of Renuka's spell has a mesmeric effect on the others too. Titas Sadhu picked up her first ODI wicket and young legspinner Priya Mishra delivered 4.2 crafty overs for two wickets. All told, the look of horror on Shemaine Campbelle's face when she nailed a lofted hit only for an acrobatic Harmanpreet to intercept the ball at mid-on by leaping high and pulling off a one-handed grab summed up the evening for the West Indies It was no less than a horror show with the bat, which they'd hope to improve on as they build towards a 50-over World Cup on these very shores in 10 months. (ESPNcricinfo)

Harmanpreet Kaur made a 23-ball 34 before being run out

Zaida James finished with 5 for 45 in eight overs

Smriti Mandhana continued her splendid form

Renuka Singh's 5 for 29 were her best figures in ODIs

Harleen Deol played a busy innings of 44

K&S/One Guyana National Futsal Championship…

Round of 16 kicks off tonight, following enthralling end to round of 32

As the business end of the inaugural Kashif & Shanghai/One Guyana National Futsal Championship draws nigh, the much-anticipated round of 16 will kick off tonight at the National Gymnasium with four potentially-explosive matches.

Gold is Money which trounced Touches 6-0 on Saturday night will face off against Back Circle B that got past California Square 5-2 on Saturday night. They will collide from 20:00h.

Next up will be Team Cruel and Albouystown Ballers, the two advanced because of wins over Paradise Invaders and Agricola Ballers. They will take centre court from 21:00h.

One hour later, Bent Street and Stabroek B will face off to advance to the quarter-finals, with the final match of the night between the highly-fancied Road Warriors from Region Nine and Ballers United.

Saturday night was certainly a night at the movies as sung by the American

pop and R&B/soul vocal group, with fans witnessing some pulsating action in the eight matches that were served up. Two of the matches were brought forward owing to a citywide power outage on Thursday night.

Spaniards of Linden almost upset one of the wellknown teams in the city, Bent Street, it took a special strike off the boot of Colin Nelson his second of the game, to separate the two sides and secure Bent Street’s place in the round of 16.

Jamaine Beckles had

Jackman, James lined up for Pro-Am Card this Saturday

The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) has confirmed two of its four slated bouts for the impending Elton Dharry-promoted ProAm Fight Card, which is slated for December 28 at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue.

World-rated local heavyweight star Abiola Jackman is slated to face-off against a Barbadian opponent, Kemara Stuart while youth welterweight sensation Shaquan James is slated to match skills with Darnell Sinaswee of Trinidad and Tobago.

The remaining two bouts will be confirmed shortly.

GBA President Steve Ninvalle said, “There is a

noticeable sense of excitement as the year comes to a conclusion regarding the upcoming ProAm card. These gatherings give up-and-coming talents a stage. Many amateur pugilists view these fights as the result of months or even years of dedication and hard work.”

He added that " Fighters represent the values of sportsmanship, tenacity, and the unwavering quest for progress as they enter the ring. These competitions provide fans with a rare opportunity to see quality international amateur boxing in action.”

According to the GBA boss, the year comes to a memorable close with

high-stakes fights, exciting match-ups, and the celebration of personal bests, giving both fighters and fans enduring memories and newfound optimism for the future.

Meanwhile, in the professional realm, Dharry is scheduled to match skills against undefeated Colombian Randy Ramirez in the feature contest while Keevin Allicock is slated to oppose Dexter Wray in his second outing at this level in a main supporting role.

The other professional encounters that have been confirmed will see Keevin Isaacs exchanging blows with Julian Clarke and Anson Green engaging Dillon Charles.

handed the early advantage to the victors in the fourth minute, with the Lindeners responding in like manner 10 minutes later through Tyric Mc Allister. After the break, Spaniards jumped into the lead with a 21st-minute goal from Jashawn Moore, but one minute later, Nelson blasted the equaliser at 2-2.

It seemed like the game was heading to extra time, but that was not to be as Nelson from some distance out fired past goalkeeper Norbert Sansculotte much to the dismay of his teammates, but ecstatic delight of the Bent Street players and fans. It was the perfect end to an exhilarating round-of-32.

But, the game of the night was the Road Warriors v Victoria Eagles shindig which saw the Region Nine unit, which has displayed the best brand of futsal of all the teams to date, putting on a great show in their demolition of the Eagles, 8-3.

Road Warriors’ custodian from the start of the match played at will in the oppo-

nent's half which showed little regard for the potency of the opposition. This team have been the team to gain the most attention from the fans with their controland-free-play style of futsal, which is new to the seasoned teams in the city and elsewhere.

It will take some shrewd technical and tactical alterations by the other teams in their path in order to stop their march to the top prize of two million dollars. Road Warriors were led by their Captain, Wendrecky Gois De Souza with a hat-trick in the third, seventh, and 12th minute.

Matheus Monteiro De Souza tucked in a brace (13th, 21st) with one each from Daniel Alves (9th), Jaleei Alcindor (29th), and an own goal in the 17th minute. Victoria Eagles got their goals from Sherwin Skeete, a double (14th, 18th) and Inceford Charles in the 24th minute.

The tournament’s leading goalscorer, Beveney Marks of

Back Circle A was in destructive form in his team’s demolition of Vryheid’s Lust, 160. Marks, who lashed in six goals in their round-of-64 match against Essequibo, which they defeated 12-0. He scored in the second, fifth, seventh, 15th, 24th, 25th, 27th, 28th, and 30th-minute. Support in the form of a hat-trick came from Darren Benjamin (3rd, 22nd, 29th), a brace from Stephen Reynolds (24 persons, 26th) and one each from Cecil Jackman (1st) and Stephan McLean (20th).

Results from the other matches on Saturday night: Back Circle B beat California Square 5-2. Team Cruel got the better of Paradise Invaders 6-4; Ballers United of Berbice edged North Ruimveldt 3-2 and Albouystown Ballers were better on the night against Agricola Ballers, 5-2. Meanwhile, the second set of round-of-16 matches will be played at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Christmas night.

McDoom/Prospect Kobras record 50-point demolition of East Coast All-Stars

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as Trojans

bag 1st win against Guardians

McDoom/Prospect Kobras and the University of Guyana Trojans recorded contrasting victories on Sunday at the National Gymnasium in the Guyana Basketball League, organised by the Guyana Basketball Federation.

In the opening game, the East Coast All-Stars started the campaign on the losing side, victims of a persistent McDoom/Prospect Kobras. The Kobras controlled the tempo of the game from the jump ball, establishing a lead in the first quarter with the scoreline reading 26-9.

The Kobras continued to show their ability to make shots in the second quarter, scoring 14 points and elevating their score to 40, while the All-Stars were restricted to six points, bringing their total to 15.

With the All-Stars failing to score baskets, it seemed to be a practice session for the Kobras. They once again maximised their lead, scoring 21 points and elevating their score to 61, while the All-Stars scored 7 for 15 more points on the scoreboard.

With a dominant fourth quarter, the Kobras showed their consistency and abili-

ty to attack the All-Stars’ defence as they were the second team to hand down a 50-point defeat, 100-51.

Closing off the night’s action, the University of Guyana Trojans, in their first game, pulled off a miraculous upset as they handed Plaisance Guardians their second consecutive defeat. The Trojans led from the opening quarter with a score 15-13 at the break.

The Trojans added seven points while the Guardians were limited to nine points, with the score 22-31.

Abiola Jackman’s challenger Kemara Stuart Abiola Jackman Shaquain James

Intense focus! Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr taking in the action on Saturday night at the National Gymnasium

Another goal scored by Road Warriors in their impressive display against Victoria Eagles