Guyana Times - Monday, December 5, 2022

All-male panel calls for more to be done to combat violence against men

Research has shown that male victims of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) do not speak out un til the issue has become a cri sis because they, among other things, worry about their im age—that they would be per ceived as less masculine if they reported the abuse.

This was a topic of conver sation when the University of Guyana (UG), last Friday, held a panel discussion entitled: “Guyanese Men Can: Disrupt Tolerance for Violence” in commemoration of 16 Days of Activism against GenderBased Violence (November 25-December 10).

According to Dr Astell Collins, a man is less likely to go to the Police station to re port that he is being abused by a woman. “So, not only is violence against men underre ported, it is not even reported at all”, Dr Collins pointed out. Considering this, he called for an aggressive and all-around approach to GBV whether it is violence against women or vi olence against men.

He suggested that there be a national programme that sets targets to reduce the is sue.

“We really need to have a national day where we can

just discuss and have the ex perts inform the decisions. When I was at Caricom, you usually bring in people who are affected [by violence] … like a cross-pollination. So, you have the intellectual cap ital and those who are actual ly enduring the abuse and you have a framework that ad dresses the issue…,” he said.

For his part, Dr Lidon Lashley shared that it is a “normalised thing” for male victims of violence to conceal it because it is expected that they are the perpetrators. In making his point, he pointed to studies conducted on the underperformance of males at the elementary level.

“It shows that those males that underperform are often flogged (beaten). The associa

tion with that is that when we socialise males and females in the elementary level of ed ucation, it is more likely that when that boy does some thing, he is punished more se verely that when a girl does something. And sometimes the action the boy is being punished for is an action that is natural for a man—to run, to explore, to probably look a little untidy earlier on in the day—than the female who so cialise differently but yet he is punished. When that boy grows up and becomes a man, women or other persons in au thority are trying to tell that man how to behave and what is expected of his behaviour as if he cannot process for him self what his behaviour should be…So, then you are trying to

make a man a child for a sec ond time. No wonder when something happens, the man is intimidated and reverts to his inner child when violence is perpetrated.”

Pastor Patrick Findlay, who is also the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), said that over the years, there has been a greater prev alence of violence perpetrated against men. However, when it comes to GBV, he pointed out that “we limit the scope of what happens”.

According to him, men might not get beaten and go to report it to the Police station but they are verbally abused and emotionally emasculated.

“A lot of women who abuse men are victims of their own childhood experiences. They

may have seen in their homes, their father beating their mother and she vowed that that would never happen to me—no man ain't knocking me. And so, she comes as the aggressor…”

He explained that the home is the foundation and “what we do in the home is be ing reproduced when the kids leave the homes.”

Healing spaces

Apart from being abused by women, Vidyaratha Kissoon, an activist, related that men are also abused by other men. He also noted the importance of men seeking healing spaces.

He told those gathered that all the services that exist in Guyana to tackle violence

provide support to men, add ing that the domestic violence and sexual offences legisla tions are all gender-neutral.

It is okay for a man to go and get help from the Human Services and Social Security Ministry’s 914 toll-free ho tline, Help, and Shelter, or their doctor, said Kissoon.

Pastor Findlay disclosed that the Human Services and Social Security Ministry’s Gender-Based Unit, the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the different religious organ isations, and counsellors also provide help but there re mains a problem: “We have to get men to go to these places.”

UG student Marlon Hernandez, on the other hand, said there needs to be more awareness of GBV spe cifically against men, and the different avenues of therapy and coping mechanisms.

“For females, they will also get to see a therapist. Whereas for males, it is not really a topic that is dis cussed. If we can normalise therapy because it is taboo.”

He said, too, that people of ten associate therapy with being “insane” or “a weak link”. However, he made it clear that this belief is whol ly misguided. “If therapy is normalised, it would contrib ute to a space where men can feel more comfortable in expressing their emotions,” Hernandez offered. (G1)

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Monday, Dec 5 – 03:15h – 04:45h and Tuesday, Dec 6 – 04:00h – 05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, Dec 5 – 14:30h –16:00h and Tuesday, Dec 6 – 15:00h – 16:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be sunshine and light rain showers during the day. Expect light rain showers and partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South South-Westerly to West NorthWesterly between 1.34 metres and 2.68 metres.

High Tide: 14:39h reaching a maximum height of 2.55 metres.

Low Tide: 08:13h and 20:39h reaching minimum heights of 0.78 metre and 0.64 metre.

Forest Conservation compensation

IDB procedures hinder access to our funds; carbon credits direct and transparent – VP Jagdeo

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has lament ed on the slow pro cess at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for Guyana to access the remain ing revenues earned from its 2009 forest protection deal with the Kingdom of Norway.

In 2009, Jagdeo, who was the President and spearhead ed this ground-breaking deal, signed a US$250 million agreement with Norway for Guyana to preserve its forest in order to offset global carbon emissions. Guyana was ex pected to reduce its deforesta tion rate and meet a number of other benchmarks in order to cash in from the arrange ment.

Based on that forest pro tection accord with Norway, the monies earned would be kept in the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF). The IDB was named custodian of the GRIF and as a result, Guyana had to seek IDB’s ap proval to spend the monies it earned, which were expect ed to be invested in the coun try’s low carbon development, financing renewable energy, flood protection, green job cre ation, as well as land titling and development of funds for Indigenous peoples.

However, while the coun try has already received ma jority of the earnings from the Norway deal, Jagdeo, who now serves as Vice President in the current People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Administration, disclosed the burdensome pro cess to access some US$85 million it has remaining at the IDB.

“We have US$85 mil lion sitting, since 2010, in the Inter-American Development Bank. We are now trying, for the last year and a half, to get our solar project launched to get it going and we have to go through two sets of process es [at the IDB]. We thought this is money we earned al ready [but] now we have to go through the IDB process and another set of processes just access our own money that we want to go to bid for to put in solar farms in Linden, and in Essequibo and in Berbice,” he contended.

Signed deal

Only back in June 2022, the Guyana Government signed a deal with Norway and the IDB for a 33-mega watt (MW) solar power proj ect, under the Guyana Utility Scale Solar Photovoltaic Programme (GUYSOL) initia tive, to be financed by US$83.3 million – monies earned from that forest protection accord.

Initially, this US$83 mil lion was earmarked for the Amaila Falls Hydro Power Project, which was voted down in the National Assembly by the APNU/AFC and left lan guishing for five years under the coalition rule.

However, when the PPP/C returned to office in August 2020, efforts were made to re vive the 165 MW initiative and China Railway Group Limited

was selected to construct the project after it was retendered. Negotiations for what should have been a US$700 million contract were abandoned by Government after the Chinese company experienced difficul ties financing the project un der the Build-Own-OperateTransfer (BOOT) model.

Nevertheless, the monies will now be invested in the construction of several solar power initiatives including a 10 MWp of generation capaci ty connected to the DemeraraBerbice Interconnected System (DBIS) in the Berbice

slow at the IDB.

“Their procedures are no toriously slow. It’s not that they’re saying anything but you almost have to jump through hoops to get through their procedures. They treat it like a regular loan but it’s our money [and] you were sup posed to only ensure transpar ency in its use not to have just justify using our own money again.”

“I must say that our expe rience with that has been a really terrible one, using the multilaterals [and] the inter mediate funds because our ex

tached that usually racks up.

“We have paid implemen tation fees to the some of the international agencies that are managing these funds to us – sometimes as much as, [of] the total expenditure, nearly 20 per cent of the mon ey has gone to implementa tion fees or management fees already,” he stated.

Carbon credits deal

Jagdeo made these re marks on Friday during the signing of the historic US$750 million multi-year deal for the sale of Guyana’s “high-qual ity” carbon credits to United States oil major, Hess Corp.

He pointed out that while the Norway deal was good for Guyana at the time, there were some lessons learnt from that model and so Government knows now what to avoid. In fact, the Vice President dis closed that accessing funds has been much easier with the

“Their procedures are notoriously slow. It’s not that they’re saying anything but you almost have to jump through hoops to get through their procedures. They treat it like a regular loan but it’s our money [and] you were supposed to only ensure transparency in its use not to have just justify using our own money again”

Area; an eight MWp in the Essequibo Coast Isolated System, and a 15 MWp con nected to the Linden Isolated System.

However, even as Government inked a subse quent agreement with the IDB in September last, VP Jagdeo said the process is too

perience in the last 10 years show that many of them are not ready to intermediate cli mate funds,” he explained.

Further, the Vice President went on to outline that when these funds are kept for ex tended periods at these mul tilateral agencies such as the IDB then there is a cost at

– VP Jagdeo

sale of carbon credits to Hess Corp over the next 10 years, and was done without compro mising transparency.

According to Jagdeo, these revenues will be placed into an account here that will be audited annually and have parliamentary scrutiny.

TURN TO PAGE 11

Editor: Tusika Martin

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MoE and schools’ administration

Against the background of increasing Government revenue, we suggest the Ministry of Education consider the following desiderata to buttress the education landscape:· Creation of student personnel departments, to include counsellors, social workers and school psychologists available to students, teachers, parents, administrators and the community.

· Full-time reading and writing specialists in every school, who can operate both as push-in (during reading instructional times) and pull-out (with the requisite space and resources) teachers.

· Broadband, smart boards and other audio-visual resources in every classroom and each student should have computer access.

· Teachers’ aides to help with classroom management, students’ instructional understanding and engagement.

· Self-contained special ed-classes with schools becoming wheelchair accessible.

· Comprehensive, ongoing data collection on schools, to be aware of real-time developments, ensure ongoing evaluation, continually strengthening areas of weaknesses, and distributing best practices across the education landscape. Migrate to electronic data collection, including a portal for students’ evaluation that can be accessed by parents and guardians.

· Ongoing training of all teachers to ensure readiness for new challenges. Selective, piecemeal training leaves huge gaps and adds to the existing inequity, while placing some teachers and schools at a disadvantage. Further, teacher training should transcend administrations. For example, under the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Government, the ProFuturo Programme in appropriation of technology with pedagogical uses, leadership and educational innovation was launched to help close the digital gap and ensure digital education nationwide. It appears to have been shelved.

· Reduction of class sizes. Researchers generally agree that a class size of no larger than 18 students is required to produce the desired benefit, especially individualisation and personalisation of instruction.

· Establishment of a school safety unit within the Police Force. To facilitate quick response, large schools should be equipped with intercoms.

· Incorporation of anti-violence and related issues such as self-esteem and self-confidence; anti-bullying and cyber bullying; saying no to drugs and alcohol; dealing with violent and/or toxic home environments; teenage pregnancy and sexual abuse into the Health and Family Life Education programme, where this is not yet in place.

· Setting up school leadership teams (SLTs) comprising parents and community members along with administration rep/s, selected teachers including the union rep, one or two student reps, perhaps from the Students’ Council and a Ministry of Education rep such as the education officer. SLTs develop educational policies for their schools and make sure there are resources to support those policies.

Also school administrations should be empowered to:

· Harness students’ creativity: poetry slam club with students’ performances recorded and shared; art club enabling students to create murals on school walls and within school communities; drama clubs, music clubs, dance clubs with talent tapped to enable fundraisers and participation in contests and online high school newspaper clubs. To facilitate all of this, schools should be allowed to use one afternoon session weekly for club activities. Implement a creative arts programme to supplement the clubs with subjects such as fashion design and cooking, enabling students to leave high school with portfolios and a body of work that they can use to seek further training and career possibilities.

· Set up work study and internship programmes. That only a few schools have such programmes is vastly unfair to other students and fosters the existing inequity.

· Establish mentoring and remedial programmes in high schools to close the gaps among students.

· Build an inclusive sports programme that encompasses a minimum set of sports for all schools and include PE as part of the curricula for all schools. In this respect, schools can build relationships with sports clubs and associations whereby they can access training for their various teams and with alumni, local and overseas, for resource support.

· Add a vocational programme to the curricula, along with STEM and a technical programme, where these do not yet exist, so that needs of all types of learners can be fulfilled and all students provided with career pathways.

Together we can do extraordinary

Dear Editor,

The worse life one can live is one of ingratitude. Against this backdrop, I pub licly thank His Excellency of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, and, by exten sion, his Government for recognising my gifting and allowing me to serve for two years beyond retirement as Chief Education Officer. My career as an educator and, more so, as Chief Education Officer spanning more than 33 years could have end ed disastrously after being sent on extended leave for doing what I do best: serv ing the children and people of this nation. There was a deafening silence on this matter by those with a pen

chant for talking.

It remains a mystery why someone without a deep understanding of ed ucation delivery would at tempt to malign their great est human resource asset at the nation’s children’s ex pense upon the pandemic’s arrival. But a good man can never be kept down.

One night, I was going through my ordeal, still grappling with why some one would perform such a dastardly act. I was asleep around midnight when my wife brought my cell phone, saying the President want ed to talk to me. Out of sheer compassion, I heard President Ali say, “You can not finish like this. Go to Priya.” I did, and she wel

comed me with open arms. The President and I had no prior relationship, yet he reached out to me. They tried to bury me but did not know I was a seed.

During the extra two years given to me, I was able to impart years of ac cumulated wisdom, knowl edge and skills to the young er officers in the Ministry that have been a contribu tory force to their efficiency and effectiveness in the exe cution of their roles, partic ularly during the pandem ic. I left the CEO’s office not in despair but with a smile. As an Executive Director of the National Accreditation Council, I am at the heart of education delivery at the level posts secondary and

tertiary institutions such as universities and colleges, a job I relish. Thanks to all my supporters and those who offered kind and en couraging words.

I closed by asking these questions to every citizen of this country. What do you want to be remembered for? What will your legacy be when you die? Is it one who thrived on chaos and contro versies or one who brought enlightenment, peace and goodwill to the brothers and sisters of our country? The time for healing in this na tion is now. Together we can do the extraordinary. Much love.

Sincerely, Dr Marcel Hutson

Indigenous leadership must craft plans to benefit from carbon credit sale

Dear Editor, The Liberty and Justice Party commends the Government of Guyana on their recent sale of carbon credits. It is the actuali sation of visionary leader ship and thinking by the Government of Guyana in recognising the impor tance of sound environ mental stewardship and its importance to sustain able and responsible eco nomic development.

Having had an oppor tunity to contribute to the

Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), the LJP sees the LCDS as one of the most progressive steps forward to support ing Indigenous peoples in terms of land tenure se curity, economic devel opment, and governance. Within the context of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), the re cent sale of carbon credits and the earmarking of over GY$23 billion in support for Indigenous commu nities demonstrates that

the Government is reso lute in fulfilling their com mitment to the Indigenous peoples of Guyana.

The initial sale of US$750 million of car bon credits is expected to be followed by a second tranche of another sig nificant quantum. These financing will support Guyana’s upward trajecto ry while maintaining our world leading responsible forest management. Very rare it is to see in the glob al environment an oil pro

ducing nation enjoying a carbon negative economy.

We now call on the Indigenous leadership to carefully craft plans to support the Government in assimilating this support to the people’s benefit and developing transformative frameworks that will fos ter their communities’ de velopment.

Sincerely, Lenox Shuman, MP Deputy Speaker

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo on Sunday evening interacted with shoppers and commuters during a visit to the Giftland Shopping Mall, where he was taken on a tour of the facility by Managing Director Roy Beepat (Office of the Vice President photo)

Rhetorical flourishes are no substitute for evidence

Dear Editor,

There has been a pletho ra of letters in mainstream media blaming the PPP/C Administration for allegedly practicing race discrimina tion, and for engaging in the furtherance of marginalisa tion and thus creating deep er levels of poverty, and with the victims belonging to one ethnic group. These crit ics and advocates have the right to defend and promote the welfare of their ethnic group if they perceive that such rights are being threat ened or eroded. However, if they do not produce ev idence to buttress their cause, this will not play to their advantage. To make claims that Afro-Guyanese experience twice the rate of poverty than any other eth nic group in Guyana is not only false and alarmist, but also insipid.

Mr Nigel Hinds, for ex ample, asserted in a Letter to the Editor on 11/29/2022: “A country cannot be gov erned in a multi-racial man ner, when the poverty rate of one group is double the poverty rate of any other race group, it simply means that the governance is not multi-racial but instead the governing administration is implementing racist poli cies, projects and programs.”

The ethnic group that has the highest poverty level is not Afro-Guyanese but the Amerindians.

Making incendiary re marks that are devoid of ev idence is dangerous. There has not been any systemat ic study on poverty beyond 2006, except for the World

Bank’s (WB) study of 2019 for which details are not yet available. Economist Dr Tarron Khemraj referring to the “Household Income and Expenditure Survey” in 2006 noted that Afro-Guyanese had a poverty rate of 31.6 per cent; Indo-Guyanese had a rate of 30 per cent; Mixed had a rate of 33.7 per cent; and the national rate was 35 per cent. (This national rate was also reported in IMF Article IV Consultation: 2022). Astonishingly, the Amerindian poverty rate (of 73.5 per cent) was dou ble the national rate of 35 per cent. It should be noted that the poverty rates cit ed by these organisations were based on a baseline of US$2.15 per day.

The World Bank (WB) report does not carry an ethnic breakdown of pover ty. What is known, howev er, is that during the period 1993 to 2006, the national level of poverty declined by 7.1 per cent with an ethnic breakdown as follow: AfroGuyanese rate declined by 11.4 per cent; Amerindians’ rate declined by 12.5 per cent; Indo-Guyanese de

clined by 3.7 per cent; and Mixed by 11.0 per cent. When translated into raw figures, it shows “89,248 Indo-Guyanese lived below the poverty line compared to 69,041 for Afro-Guyanese, 58,869 for Amerindians and 50,055 for Mixed people.” (Gampat: 2021). Whether the declining trend in pov erty reduction across all eth nic groups has continued be yond 2006 is not known but at the national level, the WB report indicates a pover ty reduction rate during the period 2006 to 2019 from 61 per cent to 48 per cent (using a new baseline for poverty at US$5.50 per day consequent upon Guyana being reclassi fied as an upper middle-in come country). It is noted that the different poverty rates as shown in the chart are due to different method ological approaches.

Closely related to pover ty is income inequality for which some data are avail able. A popular method of measuring income/consump tion inequality is by the Gini coefficient. Dr Khemraj cit ing a CIA report, noted that Gini coefficients were calcu

lated on 2007 data on a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 represent ing perfect equality and 100 representing extreme in equality. Guyana’s score of 45 was slightly better than Jamaica with a score of 46 and Suriname with a score of 53. However, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados scored better than Guyana (39 and 40, respectively). While an ethnic breakdown is not available, there is greater disparity in income between urban and rural/ hinterland areas with the latter having higher levels of income inequality than urban areas.

While ethnic based data on income inequality are not available, it is logical that current research would show that income inequal ity would narrow and that the poverty levels across all ethnic groups would decline, given the rapid expansion of investments in both the oil and non-oil sectors and the growing wealth of Guyana (GDP more than doubled be tween 2014 and 2022). This growth allows for fairer dis tribution of State resources through several ongoing re gional empowerment proj ects in education, health, housing, physical infra structure, job creation, and neighbourhood revitalisa tion. The 2022 Census might provide insights into pover ty and income inequality as well as other critical issues. Rhetorical flourishes are no substitute for evidence.

Sincerely, Dr Tara Singh

President Ali’s vision for Guyana

Dear Editor, It is said by many in and out of Guyana that President Dr Irfaan Ali is the right President at the right time for Guyana amidst the oil reve nue which he stated will be used to modernise the coun try’s aging infrastructure, im prove education and health care, expand the agriculture, mining and poultry sectors, but most importantly, to de velop the country and improve the lives of all Guyanese. President Ali’s recent visits to some of the poorest and rough est areas of the city, includ ing Albouystown and Leopold Street, perhaps the two areas with the most notorious rep utation of violent crimes, pov erty, high unemployment and hopeless youths. Not to men tion his engagement with the residents of Herstelling and Grove on the East Bank of Demerara not only shows the true character of a President who cares, but they also re vealed that he is sincere and is concerned with the develop ment of every community.

In many of his speech es, President Dr Ali has stat ed that he is the President of

all the people and that one of his Administration’s prima ry goals is to create 50,000 new jobs, provide houses and house lots to those who need them, increase old age pen sions and salaries for public servants and the military and para-military, improve the well-being of the people, espe cially the poor, and transform Guyana from an underdevel oped nation to a developed country. His “One Guyana” vision is the embodiment of a united country of one people, one nation striving to achieve one destiny.

A young, ambitious and vivacious President, Dr Ali strongly believes in a unit ed Guyana and has so far has done and continues to do ev erything in his power to bring unity to a nation that has been divided for more than six de cades. Many experts on de velopment believe that since independence in 1966 the di vision of the races has stalled progress and hampered the development of the country. However, history has shown that no other President has gone to the extent as President Ali has done to heal the racial

divide in the country. His vi sion for Guyana rests heavily on his “One Guyana” initiative which is solid proof of his se riousness, sincerity and reso luteness to reconcile the differ ences and bitterness between Indo and Afro-Guyanese and merge them into one as Guyanese. But make no mis take, President Dr Ali knows that he cannot do it alone. To this end, he has summoned every individual from every race and ethnicity, regardless of party affiliation, every or ganisation, public and private and his cabinet to contribute to this noble and worthy mis sion.

Unlike the past, develop ment is happening all over Guyana today, in every com munity and neighbourhood, thanks to President Dr Ali, who believes that every area of the country is vital to the country’s improvement, ex pansion and growth. The President has emphasised that it is crucial for everyone at home and in the diaspora, regardless of race, ethnicity or party affiliation to be involved in the development of Guyana. He has maintained that his

Administration will make sure that no region and no one will be left out of the development process because Guyana be longs to all Guyanese. This is one of the reasons that he has launched the “One Guyana” initiative and his 1000-Men on a Mission programme which is to address the problems faced by men and youths, such as crime, domestic violence, un employment, poverty and the lack of proper education, among others.

Since assuming office in August 2020, President Ali has focused much of his at tention on the problems facing youths who are 65 per cent of the country’s population. His goal is to provide them with alternatives to crimes and vio lence and to make them good, decent and productive citizens in the 21st century. With the discovery of more than 10 bil lion barrels of oil and billions of dollars in revenue expect ed, Guyana is well poised to be the wealthiest country in the world on a per capita basis un der President Ali’s leadership.

Sincerely, Dr Asquith Rose

Adequate countermeasures will serve to evade potential security threats

Dear Editor, I was not very surprised when I read the report that a prominent security com pany had been robbed on December 3, 2022, of the salary to pay its guards. My first thought was that with an almost sole reliance on CCTV and other surveil lance security cameras, the importance of the human element has all but dimin ished. These cameras simply record what occurs and have no control over the space they are covering.

The fact that two perpe trators could have the au dacity and opportunity to rob a security company of its payroll is enough to make real security experts won der if there is some kind of quality control and assur ance system complied with by the plethora of securi ty companies. In my opin ion, the Guyana Association of Private Security Organisations ought to have such a system in place to monitor adherence to set na tional standards and inter national good practices. For example, apart from initial training upon recruitment (if that at all happens), is there an in-service training regimen which keeps securi ty officers upskilled?

I think that we could agree that nothing will re main static in this expanding economy with an increasing demand for security cover age ranging from physical property to executive pro tection. In that regard, se curity service providers will of necessity have to up their

game and move away from an attitude where the mere detailing of a guard to a post is the sum total of their un derstanding of security cov erage. It is not unheard of that security chiefs can be asked to provide security as sessments which consider factors including within the social, political, legal, eco nomic and environmental framework.

Notwithstanding the foregoing however, we must keep an eye on the basics, among which is the under standing that as much as there are crimes of oppor tunity, it behoves securi ty service providers to put measures in place to thwart those which are meticulous ly planned. One oft-ignored measure is surveillance de tection which can best be described as “the art of pre vention” “an effective early warning system for prevent ing crime and terrorism”. The advent of foreign oil and gas executives and line workers makes it imperative that we as a nation put all systems in place to ensure that Guyana does not gain the unenviable reputation of being a hotbed for incidents where foreign nationals and their families are targets of transnational extremists. Therefore, the employment of adequate surveillance countermeasures will serve to evade and elude potential security threats. As some one asked, is anyone listen ing?

faithfully, Patrick E Mentore

Yours

Page Foundation

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You’ll need:

Crepe paper in various shades of green, red, pink, and white 22-gauge cloth-covered floral wire Hot glue gun Paintbrush

Question

1:

Acrylic paints in various shades of red, pink, and green Flower stamens Floral tape

Instructions: Petals:

Cut out the petals and leaves, use 4 petals of each size for one poinsettia (16 petals total). Make sure you arrange the paper so the petals and leaves lay perpendicular to the grain.

Cut each petal/leaf in half

Glue the two sides of the leaf/petal together by overlapping the inner edges slightly and gluing together with a thin line of glue. Make sure the grain of the crepe paper is going up and out from the centre for each side of the petal.

If you’d like to add some texture, water down your acrylic paint slightly and either splatter the leaf or make feather-like brushstrokes down the middle of the petal.

Glue a piece of wire down the middle of the back of the leaf/petal, leaving about an inch below the leaf/ petal

Stamens:

For the middle part of the poinsettia cut small pieces of pink/red crepe paper about .5-inch by 1-inch.

Twist the piece of crepe paper in the centre and mould over the flower stamen and twist. Hold in place with a dot of glue.

Repeat for all the flower stamens. Use 16 heads (8 stamens if they’re double-sided).

Paint the base of each stamen green and add a few dots to the pink/red part if desired.

Bunch all the stamens together in a group and secure them together with floral tape.

Add the small petals first to the cluster of stamens, then increase in size as you go.

Bend the petals gently to create some shape.

Arrangement:

Create a few leaves in the same manner you created the petals. Use 16 leaves for this arrangement.

Choose a vase or vessel and fill with florist foam and arrange leaves and poinsettia as desired. (thehousethatlarsbuilt.com)

CONTINUED FROM SATURDAY

The wind had blown away the trail of ashes, but the peas and lentils had sprout ed and grown up, and showed them the way in the moonlight. They walked all night, arriving at the mill the next morn ing. Then the girl told her father every thing, just as it had happened.

When the wedding day came, the bride groom appeared. The miller had invited all his relatives and acquaintances. As they sat at the table, each one was asked to tell something. The bride sat still and said nothing.

Then the bridegroom said to the bride, “Come, sweetheart, don’t you know any thing? Tell us something, like the others have done.”

She answered: Then I will tell about a dream. I was

walking alone through the woods, when fi nally I came to a house. Inside there was not a single human soul, but on the wall there was a bird in a cage. It cried out: Turn back, turn back, you young bride. You are in a murderer’s house.

Then it cried out the same thing again. Darling, it was only a dream. Then I went through all the rooms. They were all emp ty, and there was something so eerie in there. Finally I went down into the cel lar, and there sat a very old woman, shak ing her head. I asked her, “Does my bride groom live in this house?”

TO BE CONTINUED

COTED suspends tariffs on several items following request from Guyana

…move part of plans to reduce costs for construction materials – Govt

Coming out of the re cently held 55th ses sion of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), the Common External Tariff (CET) on a number of items has been suspend ed at Guyana’s request.

According to an in formation note from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the 55th session of COTED addressed matters of in ternal and external trade in the Region, as well as the outcomes of the 12th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) which was held in June of this year.

2nd victim in Le Ressouvenir accident dies

The second victim in the Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara (ECD) crash, which occurred about two weeks ago and claimed the life of 18-yearold Sudesh Mahadeo, has died.

Dead is 19-year-old Richardo Singh, of 8th Street Foulis Village, ECD. Guyana Times was informed that Singh, succumbed to his injuries on Thursday.

Singh, who was the driv er of the vehicle that was involved in the accident on November 19, was left in critical condition. Mahadeo died almost immediately af ter the crash.

It was reported that the two dead teens along with another, Komal Rewtie, a 19-year-old of Bee Hive, were in motor car PKK 2362, and were proceeding east along the northern carriageway of Le Ressouvenir Public Road, ECD, at a fast rate of speed when the driver lost control of the vehicle.

In the process, the vehicle spun twice and collided with a concrete fence just off the

road’s northern edge.

As a result of the collision, Mahadeo was flung through the front windshield, and onto the road. He was found lying motionlessly whilst the Singh and Rewtie were stuck in the vehicle.

An ambulance was sum moned but Mahadeo was pro nounced dead at the scene, while Singh was hospital ised. Rewtie had escaped un hurt.

Following Singh’s death,

scores of families and friends took to social media to ex press sadness at his sudden death.

One relative said “words can’t explain how I’m feel ing right now… A family photo would never look the same without you not being here. But I know deep down you’ll not be here physically but you will always be in our hearts. We’ll forever cherish the 19 years you spent here with us…”. (G9)

Guyana has for some time been pushing for the removal of trade barri ers, which have impact ed the trading of various items. During the meeting, which saw Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd lead ing the local delegation, there was progress on that front.

“Guyana was granted approval on request, for the suspension of the Common External Tariff on several items which serve as part of the Government's plan to support the local man ufacturing sector,” the Ministry announced.

The 55th session was held under the chairman ship of Alva Baptiste, Minister of External Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation, Saint Lucia. Guyana’s delegation to the COTED included Ambassador George Talbot, Guyana’s Ambassador to Caricom, and other officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The COTED is respon sible for the promotion of trade and economic devel opment within Caricom as well as overseeing the implementation of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME).

Within its own bor ders, Guyana has already been making efforts to lower the cost of construc tion. In July of this year, President Dr Irfaan Ali had announced sweeping new benefits for homeown ers, with lowered inter est rates for banking and construction materials in the pipeline after Building Expo 2022.

The expo returned this year after a hiatus, un der the theme: “A New Frontier for Building a One Guyana” and was dubbed the blueprint of the future infrastructure. Building Expo is a cre ative hub where investors, homeowners and business es can engage on creative and smart housing.

He had announced that after consultation, com mercial banks had agreed that there will be no per centage requirement for loans under $6 million once persons qualify under the joint window system. Banks have also agreed that the interest rates will be reduced for housing loans under $9 million to now 3.8 per cent.

Additionally, for homes $6 million and lower, Government will support homeownership by giv ing every builder the steel and one sling of cement. Secondly, for every oth er category over $6 mil lion until $25 million, two slings of cement will be provided.

Since assuming office, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has lifted the low-income mortgage ceil ing from $8 million to $15 million. The New Building Scheme (NBS) ceiling was lifted from $12 million to $15 million. Value Added Tax has also been removed on construction items.

The President Ali-led Government has been at the forefront of an ag gressive campaign to dis mantle regional barriers to trade. Specific to agri culture, President Ali has said that in the next four years and with the assis tance of more diversified crops, Guyana would aim to reduce Caricom’s food import bill by 25 per cent.

Months after assum ing office, President Ali had charged the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry to assess and address the hurdles related to export ing food and agricultural products to markets with in the Region. As such, concerns about barriers to trade in some Caricom markets were raised with the COTED earlier this year.

The Ministry subse quently formed a National Working Group on Barriers to Trade against Exports from Guyana. According to the assessment on mar ket access by the Working Group, most of the chal lenges found were related to technical measures in cluding sanitary and phy tosanitary measures. It also found several tech nical and administrative regulations that were all hampering the export of Guyanese products. (G3)

Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd and his delegation participate in the meeting with COTED

Dead: Richardo Singh

Dead: Sudesh Mahadeo

“Old Police” jailed for 2 years over brush cutter theft

…labourer remanded for robbing British engineer

A50-year-old man, who pleaded guilty to stealing a STIHL brush cutter and sever al tools, was handed a two-year jail sentence by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly.

Roy Hollingsworth, called “Old Police”, who is unemployed and of no fixed place of abode, was ar raigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for the offence of simple larceny.

The items valued at over $159,000 are the

property of Randy Ronaldo and were stolen on October 5 at Sheriff Street, Georgetown.

Another man faced a similar charge when he was arraigned at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court but he was not re quired to plead to the in dictable charge and was granted $50,000 bail.

Twenty-nine-year-old Ryan Glasgow, who is un employed and of Lot 23 Two Friends Village, East

Coast Demerara (ECD), was arrested for the of fence of larceny from the person.

Magistrate Fabayo Azore refused to grant bail to the accused and re manded him to prison un til January 18, 2023, when the matter will be called for disclosure of state ments.

In a separate case be fore Magistrate Daly, a 20-year-old labourer of Lot 13 Tucville, Georgetown,

was remanded to pris on for allegedly robbing a British national.

Keyambo Gervis plead ed not guilty to the charge which alleged that on November 11, he robbed the 62-year-old foreign na tional, an engineer at the Agriculture Ministry, of a laptop and other items val ued at $500,000. He was arrested for the crime on November 16.

Gervis was remanded to prison until February 18, 2023. (G1)

Conceding…

…(list) reality

After screaming for more than two years that they wuz robbed on March 2020 by the conniving PPP –who were able to raise the dead and apparate the emigrated from a “bloated” list to vote for them – the PNC now (sheepishly) accepts that whatever else the list may be, its only “sin” – if we may call it that – is that it doesn’t “shock out” Guyanese just because they’ve emigrated!! And isn’t this what your Eyewitness’ been saying all the time??

But having Guyanese in foreign climes retain their citizenship rights isn’t a sin, is it? Problem is, the PNC’s been rigging so long they’re incapable of thinking about elections without rigging coming up. After all, in the very first election they rigged back in 1968, LFSB fiddled with the voters’ list!! Well, now that they’ve accepted what had always been obvious to the rest of the world, the question is whether they’re willing to do what it takes to “correct” what THEY see as a flaw. That is to demand all overseas Guyanese be stripped of their franchise!! Like the mentally incompetent and the incarcerated, they shouldn’t have the right to vote in our elections!!

Really, if they feel so strongly about the issue, that’s all it’ll take to resolve it!! But your Eyewitness knows they’ll never go down THAT road. Why? Because most of their funding and other support – including racial/violent ideological sustenance – come from those same overseas Guyanese. They’re the hardcore base who emigrated because Burnham had destroyed the economy, the society and even their houses. But THAT they’ll never concede – they yearn for the return to the “Burnham days”!! And they’re gonna be really pi55ed off to be told that they’re not REAL Guyanese!! But the PNC can’t have it both ways, can they??

They’re trying to finesse the issue by phrasing it in such a way that the blame is thrown at the Chief Justice – who’d based her ruling on the CONSTITUTION that GECOM can’t just throw people off the list because they aren’t RESIDENT in Guyana. That is, they aren’t at their address indicated on the list on the day of any “house-to-house” exercise!! So the PNC needs a change in the Constitution – which will take a two thirds majority vote in Parliament!!

Now your Eyewitness knows, Dear Reader, that YOU know all of this – if nothing else than it’s been regurgitated in this space ad nauseum!! But he’s doing it on behalf of the PNC and members of the Opposition. Since they must’ve blocked their minds to all information on the issue, this is gonna be news to them!!

The reaction from up north, however, is gonna be a death sentence!! Between a rock and a hard place!?!

…the evil in man

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few months, you gotta be wondering what’s going on – what with a slew of young people slaying their elderly relatives. We’ve always heard of relatives killing each other. Even if you aren’t Jewish or Christian you would’ve been regaled at some point or other as to how Cain killed his brother Abel. Seemed Abel was a shepherd and killed a sheep as an offering to their God. Abel, the farmer, offered his produce – but their God preferred the meat. Guess he wasn’t a vegetarian!!

Anyhow Cain killed Abel in a rage – further displeasing their God who made him wander forever. Here, it doesn’t appear the killings are done out of jealousy. Seems it’s all about greed: the younger relatives just want to enjoy some ill-gotten loot. Now we can’t have that going on, can we? Next it’ll be OUR turn!!

Your Eyewitness says we gotta hang ‘em high!!

…Guyanese culture

Guess if it’s one thing that makes us “Guyanese”, it’s our looking forward to Christmas. It has long ceased to be a “religious” thing – excepting that it’s celebrated “religiously”!!

So, you gotta understand the public servants cheering their “back pay”!!

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

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

Jailed: Roy Hollingsworth

Remanded: Ryan Glasgow

Remanded: Keyambo Gervis

8000 house lots allocated to women in 2 years

Of the 18,000-plus house lots allocated to Guyanese since the PPP/C Administration took office in 2020, some 8000 were solely distrib uted to women. This was revealed by the Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues, at the Third Annual Founders’ Dinner of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana (WCCIG) on Saturday evening at Pegasus Hotel.

Rodrigues made a state ment during her key note address, highlight ing that in just two years the Government has made significant advances in creating gender parity in Guyana.

Referencing the 2022 Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum, the Minister stat ed that Guyana ranked 35th out of 146 countries on gender parity. This, she noted, is 18 levels higher compared to Guyana’s 53rd position in 2021 and was

accomplished in just one year of governance.

“When you see women achieving all of the things they are achieving, it’s be cause we have the right policies and the right pro grammes. These things don’t happen by accident,” said Rodrigues.

She added that, “when crafting a policy, you have to think about how this benefits everyone but more so you have to put an emphasis on vulnerable

groups and women fall into that category, people with disabilities and young peo ple.”

In terms of Economic Participation and Opportunity, Guyana is currently 53rd, compared to 105th in 2021. As women take up more parliamen tary positions, the coun try earned the 37th place in the world for such rep resentation, thereby sur passing Jamaica, Barbados and the United Kingdom.

Moreover, Guyana has also achieved equal rights for justice, reproductive auton omy, the rights to divorce and rights to inheritance. Near equality was also at tained for access to finance and land assets.

Since taking office in 2020, the administration allocated over 18,000 house lots by the end of October 2022. Rodrigues noted that approximately 8000 (44 per cent) of these allocations were women, who were sole applicants. Meanwhile, al locations to women with joint applications stood at 5137 (28 per cent). It was further highlighted that the New Building Society (NBS) and Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) have loaned $17.3 billion and $4.4 billion, re spectively, to women for mortgages and commercial purposes.

“We’ve come from a period in history where women had no rights. We didn’t have the right to vote. We went through the Suffragette Movement so

that women could be al lowed to vote. Women could not own land, now more and more women are own ing land, owning their own homes and owning their own businesses. And that’s because too you have a cli mate here in Guyana creat

ed by the Government, the PPP/C Government, that is private sector friendly and that’s because we under stand the importance that the private sector plays in any country,” Rodrigues stated.

Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry Susan Rodrigues speaking at the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana event

Gas-to-shore project

Govt will provide Parliament with all agreements – Bharrat to Opposition

In keeping with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s commitment to transparency and account ability, the Government will be providing the National Assembly with copies of all the agreements it signs with ExxonMobil for the Gas-toShore project.

This commitment was given by Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat in written responses to ques tions posed by Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament (MP) David Patterson.

Patterson, who is the Opposition’s point person on oil and gas, had asked the Minister to inform the National Assembly wheth er any agreements have been signed with Exxon for

the Gas-to-Shore project. Additionally, the MP had asked the Minister to provide the House with copies of such an agreement.

An agreement with Exxon subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) was indeed signed since June

of this year for the project, which only recently received environmental approval.

“This agreement sets out the principles and con ditions for the commercial and technical arrangements of the Gas to Energy project. There are other agreements on supply, buyers’ agree ment, field development, li censing conditions, onshore works and land matters that are currently being drafted,” Bharrat said in his response.

According to the Minister, the agreements will be completed in time for the December 2024 deadline en visioned for completing the Gas-to-Shore project. He as sured that when this is done, they will all be presented to the National Assembly.

“The respective agree ments and policy documents

will be presented to this hon ourable House when they have been agreed upon and executed. All agreements are being done in a timely man ner to meet the final invest ment decision which will allow for the project to be completed by our committed deadline of December 2024.”

With a timetable to deliv er rich gas by the end of 2024 and the Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) plant to be online by 2025, works are progressing on the project. The project will have a 25-year lifespan and is expected to employ up to 800 workers during the peak construction stage, as well as some 40 full-time workers during the opera tions stage, and another 50

workers during the decom missioning stage.

The Gas-to-Shore project will include a power plant and a NGL plant, all of which will be constructed within the Wales Development Zone (WDZ). When it comes to the construction of a combined cycle power plant, this will generate up to 300 mega watts (MW) of power, with a net 250MW delivered into the Guyana Power and Light grid at a sub-station locat ed on the East Bank of the Demerara River.

The Guyana Government has already invited interest ed parties to make invest ments in the WDZ, which will be heavily industrialised and for which approximately 150 acres of land have been allocated. Those lands were previously used by the Wales Sugar Estate.

Head of the Gas-toShore Task Force, Winston Brassington has previous ly stated that ExxonMobil Guyana, which is funding the pipeline aspect of the proj ect out of cost oil, has found that there would be substan tial savings from combining these two facilities.

The scope of the approxi mately US$900 million Gas-

to-Shore project also con sists of the construction of 225 kilometres of pipe line from the Liza field in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, where Exxon and its partners are currently producing oil.

It features approxi mately 220 kilometres of a subsea pipeline off shore that will run from <<<Liza Destiny>>> and <<<Liza Unity>>> Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels in the Stabroek Block to the shore. Upon landing on the West Coast Demerara shore, the pipeline would continue for approximate ly 25 kilometres to the NGL plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

The pipeline would be 12 inches wide, and is expected to transport per day some 50 million standard cubic feet (mscfpd) of dry gas to the NGL plant, but it has the capacity to push as much as 120 mscfpd.

The pipeline’s route on shore would follow the same path as the fibre optic ca bles, and will terminate at Hermitage, part of the WDZ which will house the Gas-toShore project. (G3)

Natural Resources Minister

Vickram Bharrat

AFC MP David Patterson

Scholarships offered to high school graduates from children’s homes

Scholarships from the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) will now be of fered to high school gradu ates from Children’s homes across the country to pur sue their studies.

During a Christmas cer emony held for young peo ple from multiple children’s

homes, President Dr Irfaan Ali said that in order to en sure the children are given opportunities, he has asked the Education Ministry to place special emphasis on their education, including at the tertiary level.

“So, all the children from the homes who will finish CXC will get a schol

arship under the GOAL programme to pursue your studies,” he stated.

The Head of State also implored the youngsters to take advantage of the op portunities given to them as they are part of the de velopment of the country. He also encouraged that they continue to be good

IDB procedures hinder...

“So, all the funds will be in one account, and we have set up that account which will be reported to Parliament and there will be an internation al audit of the account. So, it’s under our control now com pared to the past where you had to go through a multilat eral agency.”

“It’s money that we [will] earn as a country. Just like ex porting sugar or rice or baux ite or gold, we’ve exported for est carbon and so now we’ve earned the money. So, the money will now come into the treasury as revenue but will be in a separate account though so that the Auditor General, everyone can know what’s go ing on and then Parliament can be notified about it,” the VP stated.

LCDS – 1st of its kind

Guyana boasts unrivalled forest conservation creden

tials. In fact, the country’s for est is over 18 million hectares and stores over 21 gigatons of carbon. Guyana has also suc cessfully maintained 85 per cent of its forest cover, with a deforestation rate that is 90 per cent lower than other trop ical countries. Its forests also store about 18 per cent of the world’s carbon.

It was for this reason that Guyana and Norway’s re sults-based deal was entered into by the Jagdeo-led regime under his brainchild initiative, the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) – the first of its kind from a developing country. Under the current Irfaan Ali-led regime, this strategy has been revised and relaunched as the LCDS 2030, which includes diversifying Guyana’s energy grid with other forms of clean and re newable energy – namely nat ural gas, hydropower, wind

FROM

power and even biomass. It is anticipated that by 2030, 70 per cent of Guyana’s energy mix will be supplied through green energy.

Chief of among these is an other PPP/C brainchild – the Gas-to-Shore project which in cludes a 300-megawatt Power Plant and a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Plant, using natural gas from offshore that will be pipelined to Wales, West Bank Demerara where the facility will be constructed.

Already, Cabinet has ap proved the selection of the CH4 Guyana Inc/Lindsayca Inc consortium to construct the two plants and that con tract is expected to be signed before the end of this month.

Moreover, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) only recently also grant ed approval for the proj ect’s Environmental Impact Assessment. (G8)

ambassadors and work to gether, while lauding the caregivers for their ser vices.

Also highlighted during the celebration, were the works of his Office, the Office of the First Lady and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MHSSS) over the past year.

“In the last year, we have been able to support many of the homes, many of the children. We have been able to get more corpo rate support to make your

life easier.”

He also assured the children that in the com ing year, the Government will be working on many new programmes to further enhance and enrich their lives, giving them more op portunities at an individu al level, while strengthen ing support through new programmes at the differ ent homes.

One of which will be the nurturing of talented youngsters. “We also want to ensure that children in the homes who have spe

cial talents that we can identify those children and we can also give them op portunities… In many of the homes, you have chil dren who are gifted; some gifted in sport, some gift ed in different talents, ar tistic talents. So we also want to work on supporting children in the homes who have special talents,” he ex pressed.

The President said dif ferent teams will be dis patched to other homes across the regions for sim ilar exercises.

President Dr Irfaan Ali interacting with the children during the celebration at State House

No marketing commission for BP to sell Guyana’s crude – Jagdeo

…says contract is a standard one

United Kingdom’s BP International Limited, which won a contract last month to market Guyana’s share of petroleum from the two floating pro duction storage and offload ing (FPSO) vessels producing oil offshore, is not receiving a marketing commission for this service.

This was reiterated by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo,

8000 house lots...

Underscoring a num ber of other initiatives by the Government to develop women, the Minister spoke of the recently inked carbon credits agreement with Hess Corporation that will see US$112 million injected into Amerindian communities.

She highlighted that a number of Amerindian households, which are head ed by women will be di rectly impacted. Under the multi-million Black Belly Sheep Project launched by President Ali, at least 20 per cent of farms are expected to be women-led and 30 per cent have youth involvement.

Further, the International Building Expo 2022 hosted by the Housing and Water Ministry in July, saw scores of women-led businesses re porting growth following the

exposure to local, region al and international compa nies.

The Government has also implemented a number of other programmes and pol icies through the Office of the First Lady and sever al Ministries including the Human Services and Social Security Ministry; Education Ministry; Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry among others to improve the lives of Guyanese women.

While the World Economic Forum reports that it will take another 132 years to attain global gender pari ty, Rodrigues said that the PPP/C Administration will continue to make the neces sary investments to ensure it is accelerated in Guyana.

“I believe that Guyana will be a shining example in

creating gender parity sooner than many countries in the Caribbean, in South America and in the world as a whole because we have shown great strides already and the prosperity that is coming to our country will ensure we get there even faster,” the Minister affirmed.

She also applauded WCCIG for its role in cre ating a space for the social and economic development of women and encouraged more public and private sector or ganisations to play their role to stimulate equality.

WCCIG also launched its Women Empowerment Programme Theme Song: “More Than Worthy” by Simeon Browne and also presented several awards to women in business at the event.

during an interview with the media on the sidelines of a re cent event. A marketing com mission is a percentage of the revenues generated from the sale of crude, which would go to the third party acting as Guyana’s agent. But in this case, Jagdeo assured that there is no commission for BP to market Guyana’s crude.

“They had a bid and BP came out as number one. There’s zero marketing com mission. It’s a standard con tract, to sell our oil for a year,” Jagdeo explained, when asked about calls for the con tract to be released.

“Most of the world doesn’t have what we have. You go to jail if you don’t publish the revenue flow from the oil and gas companies within three months. You ask in any EITI country, if they have that,” the Vice President further ex plained.

When it was announced last month that BP had won the contract, the Natural Resources Ministry had said that 14 companies respond ed to its Request for Bids that was published on September 16 ahead of the October 11 submission deadline.

Of the 14 bids submitted to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), an Evaluation Committee set up by the Board recom mended in its report that BP

International be awarded the marketing contract. That re port was cleared by NPTAB and subsequently received Cabinet’s “no objection”. The duration of this contract with BP will be for 12 months.

The services required of BP include providing sup port and guidance to the Government of Guyana in all operating and back-office re sponsibilities of managing the crude sales and each individu al lift whilst facilitating time ly and cost-effective crude operations; supporting the Government in the continued introduction of the grade to multiply geographies and re finery systems, and providing benchmark and performance comparisons of prices paid for Guyana’s crude; and working closely with the Government to understand the behaviour

and yields of the Liza blend and how these can affect pric ing differentials.

“The Guyana Government will continue to employ trans parent and international best practices in the management of the nation’s petroleum re sources so as to attain max imum returns and advance the livelihoods of all citi zens,” the Natural Resources Ministry had said.

Previously, Saudi Aramco was contracted in September 2021 to market Guyana’s share of profit oil from ExxonMobil-led operations in the Stabroek Block over the past year. The Stateowned Saudi Arabian com pany, whose contract has now ended, was the low est responsive bidder of the shortlisted companies. Prior to Saudi Aramco, Guyana’s crude lift share was market ed by Shell Western and Hess International.

Guyana, with US oil gi ant ExxonMobil as the oper ator, began producing oil on December 20, 2019, in the Stabroek Block. Guyana’s oil revenues are being held in the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) at the New York Federal Reserve Bank, where it is earning interest.

The oil rich Stabroek Block, which is producing the oil, is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres).

Exxon, through its local sub sidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), is the operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent inter est.

With the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity FPSO vessels op erating offshore, Guyana is entitled to 13 of 94 lifts from the oil-rich Stabroek Block this year. ExxonMobil has also said it anticipates at least six projects offshore Guyana will be online by 2027.

FROM PAGE 9

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

A sign that Christmas is here

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips; his wife Mignon Bowen-Phillips along with Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond shared in the cheer and merriment at Rahaman’s Park for the annual Christmas tree light-up

National Clean-up exercise

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond along with Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister Kwame McCoy, on Sunday morning joined residents of B Field Sophia for a cleanup exercise. Additionally, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill also led a National Clean-up Exercise in E Field Sophia. The team of CDC and Police officers, and members of the Guyana Defence Force have started work at Dennis Street, Sophia (Red Shop). Also joining in the clean-up exercise at A Field Sophia were Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry Susan Rodrigues and Minister within the Public Works Ministry Deodat Indar

WORLD SOIL DAY 2022 "SOILS: WHERE FOOD BEGINS"

Soil is of utmost importance, as it contributes to the growing of food, reduction of biodiversity loss, and securing of energy. Due to the loss of soil and the ongoing phenomena faced by the world, such as climate change, the United Nations saw the need to raise awareness of the importance of soil loss; thus the creation of World Soil Day, which is to be officially celebrated on December 5 every year.

Illegal parking barriers removed from Regent St

In a bid to ease traf fic congestion around the country, especial ly in the city during the Christmas season, the Guyana Police Force (GPF)

Regional Division 4 A, Assistant Superintendent Raun Clarke, along with Inspector Gavin Boyce and a team of traffic ranks on Friday.

stacles placed on the road way in front of business places along Regent Street,” they said.

This exercise also comes at a time when drivers are complaining about encoun tering a variety of barriers placed on the street by lo cal retail business owners, banks, and other organisa tions. According to them, it is as if they own not only the sidewalks but curb space as well.

mainder of the season and beyond, so persons desir ous of having any such sign erected in front of their buildings should do so for mally through the Ministry of Public Works," Clarke said.

Additionally, Clarke and his team met with hire car drivers at Stabroek Market Square, where they dis cussed several issues and concerns, including care and consideration of other road users.

World Soil Day 2022 is being celebrated under the theme “Soils: Where food begins”. This campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being by addressing the growing challenges in soil management, increasing soil awareness, and encouraging societies to improve soil health.

Soil nutrient loss is a major soil degradation process that is threatening nutrition. It is recognised as being among the most important problems at a global level for food security and sustainability all around the globe. Problems like deforestation, bad agricultural practices, and pollution cause soil degradation and erosion.

World Soil Day 2022, "Soils: Where food begins", aims to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human wellbeing by addressing the growing challenges in soil management, increasing soil awareness, and encouraging societies to improve soil health.

Soil is like a world comprised of organisms, minerals, and organic components that provide food for humans and animals through plant growth. Just like us humans, soils need a balanced and varied supply of nutrients to be healthy. Within the agricultural systems, nutrients are lost during each harvest, and if soils are not managed in a sustainable manner, fertility is progressively lost, and soils would produce nutrient-deficient plants – a situation which directly affects crop production and impacts the economic growth.

Remember, soil nutrient loss is a major soil degradation process that is threatening nutrition. It is recognized as being among the most critical problems at a global level for food security and sustainability all around the globe. We can work to correct this global phenomenon!

* Apply fertilizer during selected periods to prevent storm run-off

* Select fertilizers that do not have a high phosphorous and/or nitrogen content

* Reuse crop-production waste as fertilizers for the land

* Use vegetative buffers, which work as filters around surface water

“Did you know that there are more living organisms in a tablespoon of soil than people on Earth?”

(#WorldSoilDay)

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O Communications, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

has begun removing ille gal parking barriers along Regent Street, Georgetown.

The exercise was con ducted by Officer-inCharge of Traffic for

“The aim of the exercise was to assist in mitigating the expected traffic conges tion during the holiday sea son by removing illegal 'No Parking' signs and other ob

In this light, Clarke mentioned that his traf fic team observed this be haviour of business owners erecting illegal signs along Regent Street, which some times contributes to major traffic congestion.

"As such, we will be re moving these obstacles to facilitate adequate park ing for motorists travers ing Regent Street. We intend to continue this ac tivity throughout the re

One of the complaints raised by the hire car driv ers was the issue of pri vate hire cars plying their trade in the same vicinity as them, frequently causing a conflict.

As such, Inspector Boyce related to the hire car driv ers that they should not en courage private cars and the Police will do their part to eradicate this behaviour.

(G9)

Sophia man charged for ganja trafficking

The bag was retrieved and therein, the Policemen found a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis. McFarlane

As a condition of bail, he is required to report to the Police weekly until the hearing and determina tion of his trial. The mat ter was adjourned until December 14. (G1)

A32-year-old man was taken before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on a charge which alleged that he traf ficked marijuana. Salassie McFarlane, a vendor of Lot 933 South Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was released on $100,000 bail after de nying the allegation.

At the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, he pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on October 22, at the

The court heard from the Police prosecutor that a party of Policemen were making checks in the area when they observed the defendant holding a black plastic bag in his hands.

But as the Police ranks approached him, he dropped the bag and ran away.

Stabroek Market Square, Georgetown, he had 189.6 grams of Cannabis sativa in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

was only arrested for the crime on November 14.

Police removing the barriers

On bail: Salassie McFarlane

Govt to market “Guyanese Christmas” as unique tourism product

…Guyanese customs, practices are truly unique – PM

The annual Christmas tree light-up at Rahaman’s Park at the mouth of the East Bank Highway was held on Sunday evening, and according to Prime Minister Brigadier Ret’d Mark Phillips, this event not only signifies the ushering in of the upcoming holiday season but a bright future for Guyana as well.

“As we light this tree this evening, it is with great an ticipation for the Christmas season and for the future of Guyana… This tree will illu minate the mouth of the East Bank corridor for persons traversing to and from their destination. Tourists and Guyanese returning home will all have a chance to marvel at this tree, and it will be the centrepiece of many photos that will form part of the eter nal memories that we seek to make at Christmas time,” he stated.

With an 18-year history, the PM pointed out that the lighting of this tree, which is located at Houston, Greater Georgetown, is one of the most anticipated events during this festive season in Georgetown.

“I always take a moment to marvel at Guyanese tra ditions and the time we take to ensure that they are kept alive. Guyanese customs and practices are truly unique, and originate from a myriad of cultures that all converge to make a magnificent melting pot of traditions,” he added.

According to Phillips,

Guyanese are privileged to share in these moments that enable them to bond and find common ground as a people. He noted that Christmas is not only one of the most an ticipated and sacred times for the Christian community in their observance of the birth of Jesus Christ but is also a sea son of good cheer, love, gener osity and thanksgiving.

He outlined that re gardless of religion, many Guyanese partake in the cus tom of decorating their homes with lights and festive colours and decor, cook traditional foods and make Christmas

Mocha Arcadia residents

The Mocha Women on Track on Sunday con demned what they described as “abusive com ments and shameless be haviour” of APNU/AFC Member of Parliament Nima Flue-Bess, perpetrat ed against the residents of Mocha Arcadia.

In a statement to the media, the Mocha Women on Track said, “…we wish to register our grave disap pointment over the recent abusive social media post by Flue-Bess which refers to the hard-working resi dents of our community as ‘dunce-thugs’.”

The group noted that it is encouraged by the swift response and bravery from residents to protest against the continued confronta tional and crass behaviour of Flue-Bess.

“This is a worrying sign of sustained aggres sion against the residents. Notably, the APNU+AFC MP’s social media post fol lows on from her despicable act a few weeks ago where she confronted a camera man, who lives in the com munity, as he recorded the APNU+AFC rally,” the group said in a statement.

They noted that they

wished to place on record that the group of over 40plus women, including mothers, is also deeply dis appointed by the continued vilification of young men and women by Flue-Bess and others because they refuse to join the APNU/ AFC’s bitterness towards the development of the com munity.

“As a community we have suffered enough hu miliation in the past and we can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines and be dominated by the self-serv ing political interests of a few misguided individu als,” the group said, add ing that it remains apoliti

Day a time for merriment and bonding.

While many of these cus toms are observed worldwide, the Prime Minister contended that “a Guyanese Christmas is unlike that of any other coun try and our celebration of this holiday begins with momen tous observances such as this evening’s tree lighting.”

Nevertheless, as festivities fast approach, Phillips urged persons to remember the true reason for this season – the birth of Christ, who taught the lesson of love, compassion and understanding towards others.

“Through his example, we are guided to live peacefully with others and practice gen erosity among our fellow men. Christmas brings out the best of us as we partake in gift tak ing and goodwill. I urge that you continue to give to those in need and be thankful for your own blessings even as you ex tend blessings to others,” the PM stated.

Moreover, he went on to note that as the end of the year nears, it brings about a time for reflection and there is much to be thankful for as Guyanese. He said Guyana is a blessed country that is on the brink of exponential devel opment and sees new and ex citing enhancements that will

all add to its holistic growth and expansion.

“We are building a pros perous country and a future for our children and grandchil dren, and this is a great oppor tunity to reflect how far we have come as a country and be thankful even as we contin ue to build. Our Government is committed to ensuring that this prosperity continues and that all Guyanese can enjoy and partake in a life that is comfortable and bountiful,” the PM stressed.

“Guyanese Christmas” product

Meanwhile, Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond in her remarks posited that a major component of the de velopment of Guyana is di versification of its economy, and tourism is expected to play a major role in this ap proach. She noted that since Government decided to make tourism one of the pillars of the economy, there are lots of activities and initiatives to build the country’s tourism product.

“We are more convinced than ever that the ‘Guyanese Christmas’ is a compelling tourism product especially for diaspora. There is just some thing unique about Guyana and Christmastime here, and we miss it when we’re abroad. So, we find that there are many visitors coming here… We’re going to be building on this – this is our tourism product and I want us all to buy into it and understand that what we have here is so unique,” the Minister stated.

This includes pepper pot, which the Minister pointed out is like nothing else like it in the world. She added too that the black cake, ginger beer and the foods but more importantly the people are what collectively make the “Guyanese Christmas” ul tra-unique.

To further build this as a tourism product, Walrond disclosed that Government intends to replicate the Christmas village initia tive that was launched by President Dr Irfaan Ali on Friday evening along the av enue on Main Street, which has been beautifully illumi nated and lined with vendors offering a variety of products, across the country.

The Tourism Minister also went on to laud the Rahaman family for their continuous efforts to spread joy and cheer with their an nual Christmas tree light-up.

Elan Rahaman said his family has been hosting this event for the past 18 years and they do it not only to usher in the Christmas sea son but also for the people who turn up to watch the lights being switched on, on the 70-foot structure.

“We enjoy seeing every one get together from dif ferent communities to share a common goal of living as One People and One Nation in Guyana. We love to give away the food, the drinks, the presents and put a smile on everyone’s face to kick off what is one of the most beau tiful [holiday] seasons in this country,” he stated. (G8)

Improvised weapons, other contraband found at NA Prison

cal and open to constructive engagements with vari ous groups that will lead to the upliftment of residents of Mocha Arcadia and lead to development for all resi dents of the community.

Additionally, the group called on Flue-Bess to is sue an unreserved apology to the residents of Mocha Arcadia for her ill-advised classification of youths as “dunce thugs”.

“Such behaviour has no place in our discourse, es pecially at this time of our developmental history,” the group added. Efforts to con tact Flue-Bess for a com ment on the issue proved futile.

Asearch

exercise con

by ranks of the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) resulted in the discovery of a number of con traband items at the New Amsterdam Prison.

ducted

It was reported that the exercise was carried out in the wee hours of Thursday morning by prison officials, with the assistance of ranks from the Guyana Defence Force, and other ranks of Police Regional Division No 6.

The contraband items found during the joint opera tion include a quantity of fer mented wine, 10 cell phones,

a Digicel SIM card, six pairs of scissors, 23 lighters, 24 razor blades, an improvised grater, 15 improvised weapons, three metal spoons, a fork, a knife, GY$4660 in cash, 47 Ziplock bags containing a number of marijuana leaves, seeds and stems weighing 87 grams.

They also found 30 Pall Mall cigarettes, 18 Bik blades, five packs of bam boo, a small quantity of nico tine gum, two mirrors, and an AirPods case.

The items were taken to Central Police Station where they were lodged, to be dis posed of.

Only a few days ago, a search exercise conduct

ed by ranks of the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) result ed in the discovery of a num ber of prohibited items at the Mazaruni Prison, Mazaruni River, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

During the search, three cell phones, 42 improvised weapons, eight chargers, fif teen lighters, one knife, three pairs of scissors, and a num ber of suspected cannabis leaves, seeds, and stems were discovered.

The narcotics were weighed and amounted to 116 grams. The prohibit ed items were lodged at the Bartica Police Station. (G9)

The items found during the search of NA Prison

Prime Minister Brigadier Ret’d Mark Phillips and his wife Mignon Bowen-Phillips, along with Tourism Minister Oneidge Walrond, British High Commissioner Jane Miller, Chargé d'Affaires Adrienne Galanek, ExxonMobil Country Manager for Guyana Alistair Routledge among the gathering at the Christmas tree light-up at Rahaman’s Park on Sunday evening

condemn being called “dunce thugs” by APNU/AFC MP

Waikin Ranch: Home to 400 bird species

By Andrew CArmiChAel

The Rupununi

Savannah encom passes 5000 square miles of virtually untouched savannahs, swamplands and rain-forested moun tains. In the middle of it in the North Rupununi and along the Kurupukari/ Lethem Road is Waikin Ranch.

Sitting on 33,000 acres, much is which is savan nah; the ranch is home to many of Guyana’s large an imals including the Giant Anteater and several spe cies of monkeys.

On any day, a visitor can see most of the 400 species of birds documented there.

Yes, that many differ ent birds live there – of that number, two are endan gered and one rare.

The ranch offers horse back riding, canoeing, fish ing, bird watching and a few novelty activities.

Those who might not want to chance horseback riding can learn to drive a tractor, feed the pigs, sheep, or milk the cows, while sip ping on juices made from fruits from the farm.

Operator of the ranch Victor Pires said one of the fun activities is fishing.

“We have a pound here stocked with Tambaqui –a lovely fish to catch on a rod; it fights very heavily. We have an excellent record with anteaters. Our guest would come and see anteat ers at a 90 per cent success

rate.”

How did it get started?

Victor Pires is the CEO at Caribbean Chemicals. He said his father was a ma jor shareholder in Livestock Development Company (LIDCO) which went out of operation almost 30 years ago.

the land to make money.

First, as an agricultural ist and owner of Caribbean Chemicals, Pires went straight into agriculture, producing fruits, vegetables and spices.

“We tried almost ev erything. That yellow wa termelon was first planted here but we did not know

but the focus has shifted to tourism.

Shift to tourism

According to Pires, the Brazilian dollar dropped by 50 per cent against the US dollar.

“That immediately made every product in Guyana

into tourism, which has been improving since the restrictions imposed as a re sult of the COVID-19 pan demic have been lifted.

The shift to tourism came in 2017.

The ranch boasts that at least 90 per cent of the food consumed by guests is

stated.

About 50 per cent of visi tors are locals, with the rest being shared equally be tween North America and Europe.

Located 20 minutes from the town of Lethem by road, Waikin Ranch should be at the top of your “to-visit” list.

The company had 500,000 acres of land and when the company was closed, Pires was given 33,000 acres of land in lieu of his 18 per cent shares.

Though he believes what he received was less than one per cent of the assets of the company, Pires utilised

how good it would do. So, before Georgetown knew about it, we had grown it up here.”

At one time, Waikin Ranch had 25 employees as both the fruits, vegetables and spices were making money. Now there are just 14 persons on the ranch,

more expensive than a prod uct from Brazil; so, Lethem started buying everything from Brazil,” Pires ex plained to this publication.

This forced Pires to go

grown on the ranch.

“All the vegetables, the fruits, the chicken, duck, pig, beef; so, you get every thing farm fresh as they would say,” Pires proudly

Pires added with the road from Georgetown to Lethem being improved, it is becoming easier for peo ple to get to Waikin Ranch for day and overnight trips.

Regional Colombia says agreement made with ELN rebels on displaced people

Colombia has reached an agreement in peace talks with the ELN rebel group to al low the Indigenous Embera community to return to its lands in the west of the country, President Gustavo Petro said.

The pact is the first sig nificant success achieved at peace negotiations tak ing place between the Government and the leftwing National Liberation Army (ELN), the country’s largest remaining rebel group.

The talks, aimed at ending the country’s de cades-long conflict, resumed last month in Venezuela af ter being suspended in 2019.

“The first point of agree ment that we reached with the ELN – in barely a week of these dialogues – is the return of the Indigenous Embera people … to their reservations,” Petro said on Saturday in a public appear ance in Dabeiba, a town in north-western Colombia.

Petro did not say when the Embera would return to their lands in the de

partments of Choco and Risaralda in western Colombia. They had fled vi olence between drug gangs, outlawed right-wing armed groups and the ELN.

Many of the dis placed Embera now live in Colombia’s capital and hold highly-visible protests in parks, clashing frequently with Police.

As of Saturday, ELN del egates to the talks had not made any statements di rectly related to the human itarian agreement on the

Embera.

The push for peace ne gotiations came from Colombia’s new first-ever left-wing President Gustavo Petro, who was a former member of the M-19 rebel movement.

After taking office in August, the President en gaged the ELN as part of his “total peace” policy and the negotiations resumed even though no ceasefire between the two parties has been reached yet. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

OAS to observe Dominica elections

The Organisation of American States (OAS) has deployed an Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) to observe the upcoming general elec tions in the Commonwealth of Dominica.

The OAS said the mis sion is headed by former two-time Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Perry Christie, who also served at various times as Minister of Finance, Minister of Tourism, Minister of Agriculture, Trade and Industry and Leader of the Opposition.

It comprises 16 experts and observers from 10 dif ferent countries of the re gion, the OAS said.

“The mission will ob serve areas such as elector al organisation and regis tries, electoral technology, electoral justice, political fi nance and the political par ticipation of women,” the OAS said.

It said that the EOM, which began its deploy ment on November 29, will meet with Government offi cials, electoral authorities, political leaders and candi dates, representatives of civ

il society and other relevant stakeholders.

On Election Day, the mission will be deployed in different constituencies to observe the voting process

According to the OAS, this is the fourth time that it will deploy an EOM in Dominica.

Following the general elections, the OAS said the mission would present a pre liminary report with its ob servations, “along with rec ommendations that will seek to support the strengthen ing of the electoral processes in the country”. (CMC)

Venezuelan Opposition demands date to resume dialogue with Maduro in Mexico

Venezuela's Opposition asked President Nicolás Maduro's Government to set a date to resume polit ical talks in Mexico that could alleviate the county's long-running political and economic crises.

Government and Opposition delegates met in Mexico City on November 26 after more than a year of hiatus, and signed a "so cial agreement", but did not announce a date to meet again. The Opposition lat er said they would meet with the ruling party in December.

The Government "sets

new conditions to advance on (the) political issue", the Opposition said in a state ment on Twitter Saturday afternoon, but did not give details of what the new offi cial requirements were.

The head of the Opposition delegation, Gerardo Blyde, said this week that talks would enter a challenging phase includ ing political issues and hu man rights.

Venezuela's Communications Ministry did not immediately re spond to a request for com ment.

"We demand that Nicolás Maduro not con

tinue delaying the commit ment assumed in Mexico and proceed immediate ly to set the date, with in the month of December, to continue the negotiation with the political and free dom agenda as agreed," the Opposition said.

At the November meet ing, the parties agreed to create a fund administered by the United Nations with frozen Venezuelan money.

The funds would be used to recover part of the elec trical system, hospitals and schools in the nation, where at least half of its 28 million inhabitants live in poverty. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Mexican Judge killed in state of Zacatecas

AMexican Judge died on Sunday after be ing shot in the vio lent state of Zacatecas in northern Mexico, according to state government sourc es.

Judge Roberto Elias died Sunday, according to a state government source and so cial media posts by Arturo Nahle, presiding magistrate of the Zacatecas justice de

partment. Nahle called for peace in Zacatecas.

Zacatecas has become one of the most violent re gions in Mexico amid dis putes between organized crime gangs for control of the state.

The head of the National Guard in the state, one of the highest-ranking com manders of Mexico's milita rised police force, was killed

last month in a confronta tion with armed men during an operation against organ ised crime.

The state security sec retariat told Reuters that Police attended to reports of gunfire Saturday morn ing and found Elias injured in his vehicle. He was later brought to the hospital in serious condition.

(Reuters)

El Salvador: Thousands of troops surround city in gang crackdown

Around 10,000 troops have sur rounded the city of Soyapango in El Salvador as part of a massive crack down on gangs, President Nayib Bukele has an nounced.

All roads leading to the city have been blocked, and special forces have been searching houses for gang members.

Officers have also been stopping everyone at tempting to leave the city and checking identity pa pers.

The operation is part of a massive crackdown on gangs after a surge in vio lence earlier this year.

The Justice Minister said 12 people had been ar rested so far.

Soyapango is one of El Salvador's largest cities and is home to more than 290,000 people. The city –which sits just 13 kilome tres (8 miles) west of the capital San Salvador – has

long been known as a hub for gang activity.

"As of this moment, the municipality of Soyapango is totally surrounded," President Bukele wrote on Twitter. "Extraction teams from the Police and the Army are tasked with extricating all the gang members still there one by one."

He added that ordi nary people "have nothing

to fear" and said that the crackdown was part of "an operation against crimi nals, not against honest citizens".

Images released by the Government showed heav ily-armed troops clad in body armour and carrying assault rifles outside the city.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Moonilal: Gang leaders, drug lords taking over

Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad Opposition Member of Parliament, Dr Roodal Moonilal has shared his shock and dis pleasure that no scanners are working at the port. In fact, he believes gang lead ers and drug lords now run things in the country.

He was speaking at the Opposition's press briefing in Port of Spain on Sunday morning.

During a sitting of a Parliament joint select committee on national se curity last Wednesday, there were major reve lations of deficiencies at the Customs and Excise Division.

One such deficiency was that all scanners at the port were not working, so fewer than 4000 shipping containers of the 23,000 imported into Trinidad

and Tobago from JanuaryAugust were inspected.

Any inspections done were manual.

Calling it a "bombshell revelation", Moonilal said when the United National Congress (UNC) was in power, the party procured scanners, but, "Anytime

the PNM is in power, the scanners don't work.

"Technology is very im portant if you're dealing with illegal entry, guns, ammunition, drugs and in deed human beings where you have human traffick ing and so on...

"If you leave it to the PNM, they have no sense of technology. Their idea of screening is raising your hand and feeling around your arm and your waist... They are still in that age where you rub down some body to look for gun."

On Saturday, Finance Minister Colm Imbert is sued a press release say ing TT examines five times more shipping containers than the US and ten times more than the European Union. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

The Indigenous Embera community fled their lands in the west of the country due to violence between drug gangs, outlawed rightwing groups, and the ELN rebel group [Jaime Saldarriaga/Reuters file photo]

Soyapango is a known stronghold of criminal gangs

Oropouche East MP, Dr Roodal Moonilal

OPEC+ keeps steady policy amid weakening economy, Russian oil cap

OPEC+ agreed to stick to its oil output targets at a meeting on Sunday as the oil markets struggle to assess the impact of a slowing Chinese economy on demand and a G7 price cap on Russian oil on supply.

The decision comes two days after the Group of Seven (G7) nations agreed a price cap on Russian oil.

OPEC+, which comprises the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia, angered the United States and other Western nations in October when it agreed to cut output by 2 million barrels per day (bpd), about 2 per cent of world demand, from November until the end of 2023.

Washington accused the group and one of its leaders, Saudi Arabia, of siding with Russia despite Moscow's war in Ukraine.

OPEC+ argued it had cut output because of a weaker economic outlook. Oil prices have declined since October due to slower Chinese and global growth and higher interest rates, prompting market speculation the group could cut output again.

But on Sunday the group of oil producers decided to keep the policy unchanged. Its key Ministers will next meet on Feb 1 for a monitoring committee while a full meeting is scheduled for June 3-4.

On Friday, G7 nations and Australia agreed a US$60 per barrel price cap on Russian seaborne crude oil in a move to deprive President Vladimir Putin of revenue while keeping Russian oil flowing to global markets.

Moscow said it would not sell its oil under the cap and was analysing how to respond.

Many analysts and OPEC Ministers have said the price cap is confusing and probably inefficient as Moscow has been selling most of its oil to countries like China and India, which have refused to condemn the war in Ukraine.

Neither an OPEC meeting on Saturday nor the OPEC+ meeting on Sunday discussed the Russian price cap, sources said.

Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Sunday Russia would rather cut production than supply oil under the price cap and said the cap may affect other producers.

Sources have told Reuters several OPEC+ members have expressed frustration at the cap saying the anti-market measure could ultimately be used by the West against any producer.

The United States said the measure was not aimed at OPEC.

JP Morgan said on Friday that OPEC+ could review production in the new year based on fresh data on Chinese demand trends and consumer compliance with price caps on Russia crude output and tanker flow. (Reuters)

Around the World

Putin takes war to new level of “barbarism,” US diplomat says

Russian President Vladimir Putin is not sincere about peace talks with Ukraine while he is taking the war to a new level of "barbarism" by trying to turn off the lights of civilians, a top US diplo mat said on Saturday.

US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland met President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other senior Ukrainian of ficials in Kyiv to show sup port at a time when Russia is trying to destroy the country's energy infra structure.

"Diplomacy is obvious ly everyone's objective but you have to have a willing partner," she told report ers. "And it's very clear, whether it's the energy attacks, whether it's the

rhetoric out of the Kremlin and the general attitude, that Putin is not sincere or ready for that."

US President Joe Biden said on Thursday he was

prepared to speak to Putin if the Russian lead er was interested in ending the war. But the idea died quickly when the Kremlin said the West must recog

nise Moscow's declared an nexation of four Ukrainian regions.

This reaction from Russia, Nuland said, showed "how not serious they are".

Russia has been car rying out huge attacks on Ukraine's electricity trans mission and heating infra structure roughly weekly since October, in what Kyiv and its allies say is a delib erate campaign to harm ci vilians, a war crime.

"Putin has taken this war to a new level of bar barism, taking it into ev ery single Ukrainian home as he tries to turn off the lights and the water and achieve what he couldn't on the battlefield," Nuland said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Mount Semeru: Indonesia raises alert to highest level as volcano erupts on Java island

Indonesia's Mount Semeru volcano has erupt ed, sending ash billowing into the sky and sparking evacua tions on the country's main is land, Java.

Authorities raised the vol cano's warning status to the highest level, meaning its ac tivity had escalated.

No injuries have been re ported but nearly 2000 people were evacuated from the area around the volcano.

People have been urged to keep at least 8 km (5 miles) away, as "hot avalanches" of lava poured from Semeru.

The increased threat lev el from three to four also means the danger threatens people's homes, a spokesman for Indonesia's Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) told a national broadcaster.

The organisation said a bridge being rebuilt after a previous eruption had been badly damaged.

Volcanic ash mixed with

Iran to disband morality police amid ongoing protests, says attorney general

Iran's morality police, which is tasked with enforcing the country's Islamic dress code, is being disbanded, the country's at torney general said.

Mohammad Jafar Montazeri's comments, yet to be confirmed by other agencies, were made at an event on Sunday.

Iran has seen months of protests over the death of a young woman in custody.

Mahsa Amini had been detained by the morality po lice for allegedly breaking strict rules on head cover ings.

Montazeri was at a re ligious conference when he

was asked if the morality police was being disbanded.

"The morality police had nothing to do with the Judiciary and have been shut down from where they were set up," he said.

Control of the force lies with the Interior Ministry and not with the Judiciary.

On Saturday, Montazeri also told the Iranian Parliament the law that re quires women to wear hijabs would be looked at.

Even if the morality po lice is shut down this does not mean the decades-old law will be changed.

Women-led protests, la belled "riots" by the author

ities, have swept Iran since 22-year-old Amini died in custody on September 16, three days after her arrest by the morality police in Tehran.

Her death was the cat alyst for the unrest but it also follows discontent over poverty, unemployment, in equality, injustice and cor ruption.

If confirmed, the scrap ping of the morality police would be a concession but there are no guarantees it would be enough to halt the protests, which have seen demonstrators burn their head coverings. (Excerpt from BBC News)

monsoon rain was falling on nearby villages and 1969 people, including children and seniors, had been evac uated, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB)

said.

At least six villages had been affected, it added.

Videos of the event showed the sky turning black as a massive plume of ash

blocked the sunlight.

Japan issued a tsunami warning for its southernmost islands after the eruption, but meteorologists said no tidal changes had been observed.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where tectonic plates collide, caus ing frequent volcanic activity as well as earthquakes.

Semeru - also known as "The Great Mountain" - is the highest volcano in Java at 3676m (12,060ft) and one of the most active. Its last erupted exactly one year ago, killing at least 50 people and leaving streets filled with mud and ash. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Rare anti-Government protest turns deadly in southern Syria

At least two people have been killed, including a policeman, when pro testers in the southern Syrian city of Sweida stormed a pro vincial Government building in a rare anti-Government protest over rising prices and other economic hardships.

The activist media col lective Suwayda 24 and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, confirmed the two deaths on Sunday and said four people were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds in the Druze-majority city.

Suwayda24 posted images on social media that showed dozens of protesters calling for the fall of the regime as secu rity forces stood guard outside the building.

Other images showed a military vehicle on fire and tyres burning on main streets of the city.

Anti-government demon strations are rare in Syria,

A police vehicle burns as Syrians take part in an anti-government protest in Sweida

where President Bashar al-As sad stamped out a pro-democ racy uprising more than a de cade ago. Nearly half a million people have been killed and half the country’s popula tion has been displaced since the peaceful uprising in 2011 evolved into a bloody war.

Although the province of Sweida, which borders Jordan, has generally been spared the worst of the war, tensions have been simmering between residents and the Assad re gime, and anti-corruption pro tests have occurred there over

the past few years.

Sweida and other cities have been hit hard by nation wide electricity rationing and chronic fuel shortages that se verely impact daily life. The government in recent days announced further austeri ty measures, including more electricity rationing.

Ninety percent of the pop ulation now lives below the poverty line and 12.4 million people don’t have enough to eat, according to the United Nations. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council via a video link from the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia December 2, 2022

Residents of six villages were evacuated by rescuers

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Analyze facts and figures that will help you better understand what’s avail able to you. Knowing what you can do and being able to express your concerns and ideas will put you in a good position.

(March 21-April 19)

(April 20-May 20)

You’ll find it challenging to remain consistent or to control your emotions. Take a step back and think before you share your thoughts. Keep your money and possessions in a safe place.

A steady pace forward will get you where you want to go. Refuse to let out side influences lead you astray or cause you to second-guess your ideas or plans. Evaluate relationships.

(May 21-June 20)

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

Use your imagination and you’ll ex cel. Check facts. You’ll figure out how to positively impact those you are trying to help or a project you want to put to rest. Don’t underestimate your ability.

Gather all the information required to make a good decision. Change can be good, but if there are mitigating circum stances, you may have to put what you want to do on hold.

Outside influences will help you see more clearly. Distance yourself from neg ative or troubling situations, and you’ll figure out how to combat something that doesn’t feel right.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Look for bargains and educate your self regarding debt, savings and in vestments. Discussing prospects with a friend, relative or colleague will help you figure out your next move.

Welcome change instead of drown ing your sorrows in negative behavior. Examine what’s unfolding, and look for an angle that can help you turn things to your benefit. Spend less and do more.

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

Keep moving, and don’t stop until you are satisfied with the results. Highenergy projects that keep your mind and body busy will help you leave behind those who hope to outmaneuver you.

Dreams are great, but when it comes time to act, be realistic. Do not jeopar dize your financial or physical well-be ing. A change at home will make your life easier.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Concentrate on what you are trying to achieve, not on what others are doing. Understanding what people want will help you decide if you wish to join them. Emotions will escalate.

You’ll think of terrific ways to pay off a debt, find a better position or connect with someone who complements your skills. Be honest about what you want and what you have to offer.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

ARCHIE

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

DILBERT

FIFA WORLD CUP: QATAR 2022 Roundup…

England will meet France in the World Cup quar ter-finals on Saturday af ter an impressive demolition of Senegal at Al Bayt Stadium.

Gareth Southgate’s side sur vived a nervy opening in which goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made an outstanding save from Boulaye Dia to run out convinc ing winners 3-0 with a powerful display of attacking strength.

Jude Bellingham was England’s star man, setting up the first goal for Jordan Henderson with a perfect cross after 38 minutes then having a hand in the second on the stroke of half-time, combining with Phil Foden as Captain Harry Kane powered home his first of the

tournament.

It left Kane just one behind Wayne Rooney’s all-time record of 53 England goals and he now has the perfect stage in Qatar to write a fresh page in the histo ry books.

Foden was the creator once more as England wrapped the game up in the 57th minute, crossing for Bukayo Saka to show great awareness and touch to flick a delicate finish past Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

It capped the perfect night for Manager Southgate, who opt ed to restore Saka and keep faith with Foden, leaving out Marcus Rashford despite his two goals in the win over Wales. Raheem

Sterling was not considered as he dealt with a family matter.

England’s World Cup taking shape England took a while to move through the gears against Senegal, but when they clicked they showed a level of creation that gives them real edge and makes them genuine contenders for this World Cup.

The early worries came when Senegal attempted to expose Harry Maguire’s lack of pace, which they did twice and will be noted by France and Kylian Mbappé, but once Bellingham exerted his authority over the midfield, England were able to take control and cruise to victo ry. (BBC Sport)

Olivier Giroud became France’s all-time lead ing men’s goals scorer as the World Cup holders coast ed past Poland 3-1 to reach the quarter-finals.

The AC Milan striker scored his 52nd goal for France to claim the country’s outright record, surpassing the great Thierry Henry.

The historic goal came on the stroke of half-time af ter Giroud controlled Kylian Mbappé ‘s pass before convert ing low into the net beyond the reach of Wojciech Szczesny.

But having provided the as sist for the first goal, the bril liant Mbappé turned on the style by scoring two fabulous strikes in the second half.

He hit a powerful drive into the roof of the net from 16 yards for his first and curled home a wonderful second in injury time to take the lead in the Golden Boot race with five goals.

Didier Deschamps’ side had been left frustrated up until the opener and could well have fallen behind.

Poland’s best opening in the first half came when the ball dropped for Piotr Zielinski in the centre of the penalty area, but his strike was straight at Hugo Lloris.

Robert Lewandowski did manage a consolation for the Poles, rolling in a pen alty with the last kick of the game.

France will play England in the quar ter-finals on Saturday, December 10 (19:00 GMT) after England beat Senegal 3-0.

Giroud and Mbappé set new records

Premier League football followers may have thought Giroud was past his best when he left England after 10 seasons with Arsenal and Chelsea to join Milan.

But the 36-year-old scored 14 goals in all competitions last term as he helped the Rossoneri claim the Serie A title for the first time in 11 years.

On his 117th cap, Giroud was desper ately looking for that record goal against Poland, grimacing and shaking his head whenever a chance went begging.

He had a great opportunity when

Ousmane Dembele flashed a cutback across goal, but could not get sufficient contact on the ball and screwed it wide.

He was presented with another big moment on 44 minutes, and this time he converted before being mobbed by all his team-mates during the celebrations.

France will see another of their na tional records broken should Captain Lloris line up in the quarter-final to win a 143rd cap that will take him past legend ary defender Lilian Thuram.

But it was Poland who had their goal keeper Szczesny to thank for just a onegoal deficit at the break. The Juventus stopper dealt with Tchouameni’s low drilled strike from range, a Dembele effort after a weaving run and Jules Kounde’s shot from a narrow angle.

However, Szczesny was unable to stop Mbappé from breaking another record as he surpassed Pele’s tally of scoring seven World Cup goals before the age of 24. The 23-year-old, who celebrates his next birth day two days before the final, scored both his goals came from similar positions in the penalty area to take his World Cup goals to nine in 11 matches.

He has scored 16 goals in his past 14 games for France and 33 overall from 63 appearances.

Barcelona striker Lewandowski bare ly had a sniff, but stroked home a retaken 99th-minute consolation from the penalty spot – after Lloris moved off his line too quickly in saving the first effort. The Poles are now winless in their last eight meet ings against France. (BBC Sport)

West Indies’ Women moved from 84-2 to 165 all out, in a collapse of great proportions that led to their defeat in the first One-Day International (ODI) against England’s Women in North Sound, Antigua.

The West Indian Women won the toss and opted to field first, allowing the English Women to post a mammoth 307-7.

Though their top order went early, it was Nat Sciver who steered the English to safety with a tantalising 90 from 96 balls. Eventual pick of the bowlers, Chinelle Henry, rained on Sciver’s parade when she was in sight of her sixth ODI century. Sciver’s innings comprised nine boundaries, but came to an end when she was caught by Rashada Williams off Henry’s bowling.

England’s Women were never in a spot of bother however, as Danni Wyatt picked up where Sciver left off, smashing 68 from 60 balls. Contributions also came from Amy Jones (30 runs from 29 balls) and Tammy Beaumont (33 runs from 44 balls), as the visitors got past 300 easily.

It appeared as though Henry was magnetised to the big hitters, also picking up the wicket of Wyatt in figures of 3-59 from her allotted 10 overs. Guyana’s Cherry-Ann Fraser had one scalp for 37 runs from her six overs, while Afy Fletcher and Shakera Selman accounted for the other three wickets, with figures of 2-66 from 10 and 1-45 from 7, respectively.

In reply, the home team stumbled initially, losing Aaliyah Alleyne to Kate Cross’s bowling in the third

over. To add to their woes, Captain Hayley Matthews retired hurt not long after. Their recovery was one to watch as Kycia Knight and Rashada Williams build a solid foundation, before Williams was sent back to the dugout for 34 after being run out by Sciver.

In what was her 100th ODI game for the West Indies, Guyanese Shemaine Campbelle failed to trouble the scoreboard. Knight departed for 39 from 61, compliments of her namesake, Heather Knight. The Women in Maroon were now in hot water and try as Captain Matthews did, she could not help her team out of that rut. Matthews got to 34 from 32, inclusive of five fours, but West Indies’ Women were falling into a slow collapse.

By the 41st over, the hosts were bundled out for 165, losing by 142 runs. England’s Charlie Dean impressed with the ball, picking up a four-wicket haul for 35 runs from nine overs.

West Indies Women’s CG United ODI series against England will continue tomorrow, Tuesday, December 6 at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua from 14:00h (2pm) Eastern Caribbean time.

England’s players celebrate one of their 3 goals

Charlie Dean rattled WIW’s batting lineup

Nat Sciver was dangerously close to another ODI century

MVP Sports Futsal….

Tiger Bay, Fruta, Future Stars, Bent Street into female/male finals

Excitement will reign at the National Gymnasium this weekend with the final of the MVP Sports/Petra Organisation futsal tournament, following an exhilarating semi-final round on Saturday last, filled with goals and thrills galore.

On Saturday, December 10, two block buster finals are in store in the female and male tournaments. In the women’s tourna ment, Fruta Conquerors will take on Tiger Bay in what is expected to be a clash of expe rience vs street ball style, while in the male final the usurpers Future Stars will battle the ever- experienced Bent Street.

The semifinal games took place at the same venue on Saturday last, where Tiger Bay’s Women displayed superb defensive tac tics to deny the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Women.

The game’s entire complement of goals came in the first half, with Police’s Tiandi Smith becoming the first player to find the back of the net. After Smith’s fourth-minute goal, Tiger Bay’s Chastady Archer immedi ately found a reply to level the scores.

However, what the GPF women did not expect was Tiger Bay’s instantaneous hunt for the lead. Afena Baptiste connected a screamer in the sixth minute to push the scores to 2-1. The remainder of the game wit nessed several near-misses, but Tiger Bay held on skilfully to book their spot in the Women’s final.

The next women’s semifinal was even more thrilling as Fruta Conquerors pulled off a last-minute victory. Commendations must go to the GT Panthers Women, who con

trolled the game for most of the time. Fiona Benjamin struck the first goal in the seventh minute, while Gwendy Lewis beat the goal keeper in the 12th to hand GT Panthers a 2-0 lead.

Whatever was said to the ladies hailing from the Tucville-based outfit at the interval seemed to have inspired them, as was evi dent in their better plays in the second half. Fruta Conquerors’ opening came via penalty opportunity in the 16th, which was success fully converted by Jessica Teasdale.

Two minutes later, Sandra Johnson hit a screamer into the top corner of the nets to equalise the scores and give Fruta Hope.

Just when it appeared as though extra time would have to be employed, Johnson tucked the ball into the corner of the net for her team’s third and decisive goal.

In the male semifinal games, there were fireworks as some of the big names were made

to duke it out. Future Stars and Stabroek Ballers, who have picked up the reputation of ‘upsetters’ in this year’s tournament were tasked with battling each other for a spot in the final.

Future Stars’ narrow 2-1 victory over Stabroek Ballers came exclusively as a re sult of Tyrese Dennis’s efforts. Dennis net

ond semi-final between powerhouses Gold is Money and Bent Street. While Darren Benjamin hit a hat-trick for Gold is Money, the game was truly the Omari Glasgow show, as he set up opportunity after opportunity for Bent Street, before taking matters into his own hands and netting four goals.

While Benjamin found the back of the net in the 4th, 10th, and 20th; Glasgow replied in the 6th, 9th, 16th and 23rd. In addition, Deon Alfred added another goal in the 21st minute to secure Bent Street’s 5-3 victory.

The final is set for the same venue this Saturday. In addition to over $500,000 in cash prizes, the male Most Valuable Player (MVP) and a lucky fan will ride away with a motorcycle. The tournament is support ed by MVP Sports, ANSA McAL through its Magnum and Lucozade brands, Luminous and the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry.

(Jemima Holmes)

ted the opening goal in the sixth minute and then again in the 22nd for Future Stars’ 2 goal lead.

Dorwin George, who had trouble finishing for the duration of the encounter, finally hit the back of the net in the 26th, but his efforts were a little too late for Stabroek Ballers.

There were goals galore in the sec

40 medals for ISKF-Guyana Karate Team at 2022 US Int'l tournament

Forty medals – 10 gold, 13 sil ver, and 17 bronze – were won by the International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF) Guyana team at the 42nd ISKF US Nationals and International Goodwill Karate Championships.

This is usually an annual event, where all ISKF territories rendez vous for fellowship and training and culminates with a tournament. This is the first major ISKF international event held post-COVID-19 and Team Guyana were revved up. The 31-mem ber team travelled from Guyana at midnight on November 18 to arrive in Philadelphia at the Marriott Old City Hotel just after lunch the next day.

They were accompanied by par ents/guardians and other support ers of ISKF Guyana Dojo bringing Guyana’s total contingent to 56 per sons.

The launch of this year’s Camp & Tournament commenced with a me morial service to recognise the pass ing of ISKF founder Master Teruyuki Okazaki on Friday, November 18, 2022.

The US Nationals was held on Saturday, November 19, 2022, and the International Goodwill Tournament was held on Sunday, November 20, 2022, which started at 8:30 am.

Given the prestige and high lights associated with the interna tional tournament, 15 countries en listed. Among the largest contingents were teams from Guyana, the USA, Canada, and Australia.

The local team were up against fierce competition. Recognising this, our local karatekas stepped up to the task and that led to the propelling of our country’s reputation as formi dable. It was this step up that ele vated the junior kata team to secure bronze after a synchronised and ex cellent kata display, facing off against Australia and the USA who won gold and silver respectively.

Another performance highlight

was the adult male team kumite (free sparring) contest where the heat was pervasive. In this division, Guyana met with its South American coun terpart Argentina, but lost owing to the use of excessive contact when young adult phenom Alex Rodrigues floored his Argentine opponent with a Jodan punch (reverse punch to face).

His disqualification led Argentina to cop the bronze, Canada the silver, and Australia ultimately copping the gold medal. Full details of the 31-man team results are listed below by divi sion and categories.

After the tournament, a grand banquet was the culmination of this year’s Camp and Tournament where all the karatekas were able to inter act and network with each other and share about their respective countries and training methodologies.

Chief Instructor of ISKF Guyana, Sensei Christopher Chaves expressed great satisfaction with the team’s performance and conveyed his grati tude to the competitors for their com mitment. He also thanked parents, sponsors, and his assistant coaches – Shermon Best, Storm Katchay, and Alex Rodrigues – for being instrumen tal throughout the process.

Sensei Chaves posited in clos

ing that whilst competing at the in ternational level brought unmatched exposure, training at the National Park, Thomas Lands dojo continued as normal upon their return, since one’s character development is an un derpinning philosophy of Shotokan Karate.

Gold medals for Guyana:

5-7 years old yellow to green belts kata: Gia Mc Pherson

5-7 years old yellow to green belts ku mite: Gia Mc Pherson

8-10 years old yellow to green belts kata: Davidge Rock

8-10 years old yellow to green belts kumite: Javier Davenand

10-12 years old yellow to purple belts kumite: Jeremy Persaud

10-12 years old yellow to purple belts kata: Leia Pugsley

11-13 years old brown to black belts kumite: Aiden Persaud 12-15 years old brown to black belts kata: Malachi Hall

15-17 years old yellow to green belts kata: Brandeia Simpson 15-17 years old yellow to green belts kumite: Yohance Nedd

Silver medals: 5-7 years old yellow to green belts

kata: Sven Clementson

5-7 years old yellow to green belts ku mite: Sven Clementson

7-9 years old yellow to green belts kata: Chelsea Harrison

7-9 years old yellow to green belts ku mite: Emily Ibbott

8-10 years old yellow to green belts

kumite: Davidge Rock

8-10 years old yellow to green belts kata: Javier Davenand

10-12 years old yellow to purple belts kata: Jeremy Persaud

10-12 years old yellow to purple belts kumite: Leia Pugsley

15-17 years old yellow to green belts kumite: Brandeia Simpson 15-17 years old yellow to green belts kata: Yohance Nedd

11-13 years old brown to black belts kata: Gael Mc Pherson 11-13 years old brown to black belts kumite: Leisha Bhimsain 12-15 years old brown to black belts kata: Jedediah James

Bronze medals:

5-7 years old yellow to green belts kata: Christopher Harrison

5-7 years old yellow to green belts ku mite: Christopher Harrison

11-13 years old brown to black belts kumite: Gael Mc Pherson

11-13 years old brown to black belts kumite: Leraj Bhimsain 12-15 years old brown to black belts kumite: Malachi Hall

14-15 years old male green to purple belts kata: Govinda Prasad 14-15 years old male green to purple belts kumite: Govinda Prasad 14-15 years old female green to purple belts kumite: Nashavia Davis

16-17 years old male black belts kata: Kristian Chaves

16-17 years old male black belts ku mite: Kristian Chaves

15-17 years old female black belts kata: Tempest Katchay 18-44 years old male brown belts kata: Vishnu Ramlagan 18-44 years old male brown belts ku

mite: Vishnu Ramlagan 45+ female black belts ku mite: Rosita Katchay

Team Kata 7-17 years old Bronze Medals: Team Guyana (Kristian Chaves, Jedediah James, Malachi Hall)

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Tiger Bay’s Women break into celebration at the sound of the final whistle

Sandra Johnson’s double was instrumental in Fruta Conquerors’ win

Omari Glasgow netted four to push Bent Street into the final

A snapshot of several of the young awardees

WI vs AUS Test Series…

Lyon continues outstanding Perth record with 6 to secure victory over WI

athan Lyon took six wickets to superbly lead a Pat Cumminsless attack as Australia were made to work against a gritty West Indies before recording a convincing 164-run victory in the first Test at Optus Stadium.

Looming as the attack’s talisman in the absence of Cummins, who took to the field on day five, but did not bowl after experiencing quadricep soreness, Lyon starred with 6 for 128 off 42.5 overs. He claimed the final two wickets in successive balls late in the second session as Australia claimed the series-opener.

Lyon had earlier taken the key wicket of Captain Kraigg Brathwaite in the first session to sink West Indies, who were playing their first Test in Australia since January 2016. He continued his strong record at Optus Stadium having now taken 22 wickets from three Tests.

Australia seemed set to wrap up victory shortly after lunch, but were made to work by Roston Chase and Alzarri Joseph, who combined for an enterprising 82run eighth-wicket partnership.

They swung mightily to ruin Lyon’s figures and power West Indies past 300 runs as Australia looked flat without Cummins.

Australia perhaps started to think of the ghosts of their recent inability in bowling out opposition in the fourth innings. But the part-time spin of Travis Head, who had earlier dismissed Jason Holder, did the trick and he broke the pesky stand by bowling Joseph.

Cummins did not bowl to increase doubt over his availability ahead of the day-night second Test starting on Thursday at Adelaide Oval. Like he did late on day four after starting the innings in the dressing room, Cummins was on the field, but appeared to move gingerly at one

point in a chase to the boundary.

West Indies started day five at 192 for 3 and needing 306 runs for an unlikely victory with their hopes revolving around Brathwaite, who batted through two sessions on day four.

But the task perhaps predictably proved too difficult despite their best rearguard efforts. Kyle Mayers had a fortunate early escape after surviving an lbw shout from Lyon with replays later showing that he had inside edged to silly point.

Lyon had the last laugh when Mayers edged a goodlength delivery to first slip. It was Lyon’s 443rd Test wicket to move him past fellow offspinner R Ashwin and into eighth spot on the all-time Test wicket-taking list.

After aggressive batting late on day four, Brathwaite reverted to his trademark defensive approach in an effort to blunt Australia’s attack. Having effectively collared Lyon the previous day, particularly countering the bounce with superb sweeps, Brathwaite finally counterattacked with a belligerent boundary over long on.

But Brathwaite’s brilliant knock soon ended when he was bowled by Lyon and West Indies’ faint chances of avoiding defeat went with him as he trudged off the ground to a loud ovation from the smattering of fans who took advantage of the day’s gold coin entry.

After Brathwaite’s dismissal, Jason Holder attempted to stonewall but fell rashly to Head ,with Steven Smith taking a brilliant diving catch at slip and it was just a matter of time before Australia sealed victory.

In the first Test match in Perth since December 2019, there was much hype over the surface heightened by 10mm of grass left on it. But despite occasional sharp bounce, the pitch lacked the expected fireworks with bowlers made to toil for wickets.

After gritty batting across their two innings, defying pre-match expectations, West Indies rued sloppy bowling and poor fielding as their attack claimed just six wickets in 189.4 overs.

They had no answer to Australia’s top order, particularly Marnus Labuschagne who made 308 runs for the match to continue a personal run spree at Optus Stadium after he scored 143 and 50 against New Zealand

three years ago.

Smith also scored a double century in the first innings and Australia’s dominance was underlined by all-rounder Cameron Green not getting a chance to bat in his first home Test.

A beleaguered West Indies will need to rebound quickly after their 25-year Test drought in Australia continued. Adding to their woes, West Indies have fitness concerns with spearhead Kemar Roach forced off on day four after injuring his left thigh, while Mayers did not bowl in Australia’s second innings due to a strain in his right teres major muscle.

Top batter Nkrumah Bonner was on day three substituted out of the match with concussion after being hit in the back of the helmet from a Green short delivery.

After limited fanfare in the build-up, crowds were modest with about 40,000 fans attending during the match. There was anticipation on how local fans would react over the fallout of ex-Coach Justin Langer’s recent inflammatory interview, but there wasn’t any visible sign of animosity towards the Australian team.

Despite being pushed perhaps longer than expected, Australia ultimately made a strong start to the Test summer after a difficult recent period on-and-off the field. (ESPNcricinfo)

Extras(b 2, lb 7, nb 6) 15

TOTAL 110.5 Ov (RR: 3.00) 333

Fall of wickets: 1-116 (Tagenarine Chanderpaul, 36.3 ov), 2-133 (Shamarh Brooks, 41.4 ov), 3-191 (Jermaine Blackwood, 59.6 ov), 4-207 (Kyle Mayers, 67.1 ov), 5-212 (Kraigg Brathwaite, 71.4 ov), 6-216 (Jason Holder, 78.2 ov), 7-233 (Joshua Da Silva, 84.2 ov), 8-315 (Alzarri Joseph, 103.6 ov), 9-333 (Roston Chase, 110.4 ov), 10-333 (Kemar Roach, 110.5 ov)

BOWLING O M R W

Mitchell Starc 23 4 65 1

Josh Hazlewood 22 8 52 1

Nathan Lyon 42.5 10 128 6

Cameron Green 13 2 45 0 Marnus Labuschagne 2 0 9 0 Travis Head 8 1 25 2

The fourth night of the Diamond Mineral Watersponsored Hockey Tournament did not disappoint, as fans were treated to a spectacular showing of what a good hockey competition is all about.

QPCC dealt a 9-2 blow to GCC Vintage in the Over-45 category. The men, playing with all their heart, surrendered to their competitors at the end of the first half since they failed to register any more goals in the game’s final half. Top goal-scorer Jarezona Bell was outstanding with four goals for the QPCC Trinidad men.

For the other veteran category – over 35, QPCC went down to YMCA Old Fort Expendables 3-1. Jonathan Roberts of Canada added much-needed support to the team he once played with as a youngster. He found the net of QPCC all three times. Darren Cowie of Trinidad registered his name for QPCC.

In the same division, Sherwyn Caesar of Antonio’s Hikers was outstanding with the ball as he converted three passes successfully. Devin Munroe and Randy Hope contrib uted to the success with one apiece. At the end of the final whistle, GCC The Sequel was scoreless after receiving a 5-0 drubbing from the Hikers Over-35 men.

Action in the Over-35 division proved to be exhilarating as YMCA Old Fort Legends and QPCC played to 2-all as no one surrendered. Derek Tang Niam scored both goals for his team, and John Abrams and Dexter Wyles netted one each.

GCC The Sequel was disposed of once again, but it was the YMCA Old Fort Expendables this time. Jason DeSantos and Aderemi Simon netted doubles, and Dwight Sullivan added a single for Old Fort. Kevin Spenser and Devin Hooper contributed one apiece to the GCC Over-35 men.

George United took advantage of the YMCA Old Fort women in the ladies’ category after suffering the worst de feat of the night. Savannah DeFreitas and Brianna Govia were on point with five goals each’ Shaniah DeFreitas with two, Krizia Layne and Captain Amanda George with one apiece led to a total of 14-nil to George United.

The Woodpeckers Hikers ladies suffered a similar, but not-so-drastic fate as the Old Fort ladies. George United Brianna registered her name yet again, but this time with two goals. However, Krizia was not to be outdone, as she did

the same. Other support came from Savannah and Zena, with one goal each. The Hikers ladies went down 7-1, with Kenisha Wills finding the net once.

After a significant defeat at the hands of George United, the Old Fort women sought revenge on TTPS. They man aged to register five goals, while the latter team only man aged to record three.

The Hikers ladies suffered another defeat, this time at the hands of GBTI GCC. At half time, the score was 1- nil to GCC, but with 20 minutes to go, the game was up for the taking. While Hikers managed to convert a penalty cor ner through the athletic Clayza Babb and even the score in the third quarter, the GCC women responded by ending the game 2-1 in their favour.

QPCC took on Saints in the Men ‘A’ category, and under the guidance of C oaches Govia and Cowie, the men beat Saints 4-1. Saints were the first to register on the score board in the fifth minute after they were awarded a penal ty corner. Shomere Garnette took the shot; however, in the

ninth minute, QPCC responded through Jordan Vieira, who scored a field goal in the 37th minute. After an infringe ment was signalled against Saints, Mahinder Malli very confidently took the penalty stroke. Also contributing to the team was his Captain, Shawn Lee Quay, and for Saints, Shakeem Fausette.

Two of the local teams with a point to prove clash in the Men’s Group B category. In the third quarter, Pepsi Hikers were leading Bounty GCC 4-3. At this point, it was anyone’s game; however, the Hikers men pushed ahead, and the score ended 6-4. Skilful and flamboyant Aroudy Brandford and veteran Devin Munroe both netted doubles for the Hikers and were supported by Captain Robert France and Jamraj Assanah.

The showdown is set to occur at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Homestretch Avenue, where teams have separated themselves and are ready to hoist the trophy. Who will be crowned the new Diamond Mineral Water hockey champi ons is the question on everyone’s mind.

A glimpse of the action in the Diamond Mineral Water Hockey Festival

Roston