Guyana Times - Monday, February 5, 2024

PM Mark Phillips on India visit this week, P13 will meet with President Murmu Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 5633

THE BEACON OF TRUTH MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024

Guyana holds security talks with top US officials

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

P12 Truancy, domestic violence discussed during Police outreach

Page 3

“This thing P8 happened in seconds” – woman recalls being robbed in Sophia

…democratic governance, economic stability, hemispheric matters also discussed

Guyana, UWI in talks for School of Medicine in Berbice …Cuba wants to help build vaccine development capacity here See story on page 7

GPHC gets $474.6M Region 2 to Pathology Laboratory actively Page 10

P8 Bartica man nabbed with illegal ammo

Guyana faces escalating P11 challenges with roadside vending – Traffic Chief Old-age pension, public assistance increases P11 payable in March

participate in “Refined effort” "Vision 25 by 2025" being taken to …farmers to start producing high-value

UK-Caribbean Heads of Defence Conference

Page 2

crops, brackish water shrimps, coconut

Campbellville man gunned down at wake house See story on page 14

enhance regional security – GDF P13 Chief

2 NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GPHC gets $474.6M Pathology Laboratory …to reduce waiting time for diagnosis, enhance patient care

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ith cutting-edge equipment such as pathology scanners and tissue processors, healthcare service delivery at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) will be massively enhanced through its new state-of-the-art Pathology Laboratory.

The $474.6 million lab was commissioned by President Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday morning. This multimillion-dollar facility aims to significantly reduce waiting time for diagnoses, and improve patient care through telepathology, which is the digital transfer of high-resolution images between distant locations for diagnosis, education, and research.

There have already been marked improvements in turnaround time from biopsy to diagnosis. Previously, the results of a biopsy took approximately three months to become available.

This time has been reduced to less than seven days at the GPHC. Moreover, with this pathology lab, the waiting time is expected to be further slashed to 48 hours.

The project is a collaborative effort between the Health Ministry and Mount Sinai Health Systems.

Delivering the feature address at the commissioning ceremony, President

President Dr Irfaan Ali; Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony and other officials being given a tour of the new $474.6 million Pathology Lab at the GPHC

Ali underscored the importance of Guyana partnering with institutions such as Mount Sinai in closing the gaps within its healthcare system through the introduction of new and modern equipment.

Use of technology

“The digitisation and the use of technology and the deployment of technology is an important tool in helping us to close this gap [in the healthcare sector].

And today, we are seeing a scenario where we are utilising this tool with Mount

Sinai to close this gap that exists – a gap that will make monumental changes in the delivery of quality health care, from 30 days to between 24 hours and seven days. That means a lot to the patient, that means a lot to the treatment regimen. But importantly, it also allows us to embrace a more equitable platform in the delivery of health care by having this lab available to us in Guyana,” he stated.

According to President Ali, the new Pathology Lab is one of many interventions that his Government is

making to improve service delivery at the city hospital, which, he noted, will undergo massive transformation in the future. He pointed to the need for Government to invest in a new CT scan given the increased load at the GPHC. The hospital currently conducts a minimum of 35 scans per day, and as such, the Head of State noted that adjustments would be made this year for a second machine to be procured.

New MRI facility

In addition, efforts are also underway to procure a new MRI facility – which the Guyanese Leader noted – is critically needed at the public hospital. “So, we want to examine the possibility of bringing to GT Hospital, a trailer-type MRI facility that is available on the market,” he noted.

However, even as Government continues to heavily invest in the GPHC,

President Ali noted that the burden on the hospital has to be reduced. It is for this reason, he pointed out, there have been heavy investments in enhancing the infrastructure, the capacity, and the level of service at regional and sub-regional hospitals across the country.

“We are not satisfied with the level of service at regional and sub-regional Hospitals. I'll be very frank with you, we have to, and we must, improve the level of service at regional and sub-regional hospitals.

We have no other choice…

And with the investments we are making, the population deserve to have a better quality of service,” the Head of State noted.

Among some of the interventions already taken to boost capacity at these regional facilities is the procurement of 15 digital X-ray machines. President Ali noted that seven more of these machines were on the way and another 25 digital X-ray machines would be purchased this year.

He added that new regional hospitals at Lethem, Linden, and Bartica would also be equipped with CT scanners.

“These additional investments will, no doubt, help us tremendously in advancing care and moving many steps closer to the development of a world-class health-care system and facilities here in Guyana,” he posited.

According to the Head of State, these investments are geared towards making Guyana a regional healthcare hub with firstclass services not just for the Caribbean but further afield.

“In building ahead of time, we have to build a healthcare system that is capable of servicing a population of at least 2.5 million people in the medium term. And it may not be 2.5 million people living in Guyana, but 2.5 million people that will need to pass through the economy of our country, that would rely on our different services, including health care,” the President underscored.

More accurate data

Meanwhile, also speaking during Sunday’s commissioning ceremony was Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, who added that the operation of the $474.6 million Pathology Lab will assist in updating the country’s cancer registry with more accurate data.

“With this Pathology Lab, we realise that these tests that we need to do if we are going to advance how we treat cancer in Guyana are not just about doing the imaging, but we need to make sure that we can do the various types of testing to differentiate the types of cancers. We can look at which type would be more responsive to which type of treatment, and once we are able to do that, then we would have better outcomes. This laboratory will assist us to do that,” the Minister explained.

GPHC Chief Executive Officer Robbie Rambarran; Resident Representative of the World Bank Group for Guyana and Suriname, Diletta Doretti, and Chief Transformation Officer of the Mount Sinai Health System, Arthur Gianelli, also delivered remarks at the ceremony. (G8)

NEWS

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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BRIDGE The Demerara OPENINGS Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, February 5 – 00:00h-01:30h and Tuesday, February 6 – 01:30h-03:00h.

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

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Guyana holds security talks with top US officials …democratic governance, economic stability, hemispheric matters also discussed

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resident Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday met with two senior security officials of the United States Government who are in Guyana to continue dialogue on a number of areas between the two countries, including regional security.

Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer and the White House National Security Council’s Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere, Juan González travelled to Georgetown on Sunday to continue cooperation with the Guyana Government on issues of mutual interests, including democratic governance, economic stability and regional security, the US Embassy here said on Sunday.

The US national security aides met with President Ali on Sunday afternoon at State House in Georgetown.

According to a brief statement on the President’s social media, the discussions focused on areas of mutual interest between Guyana; the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and the United States.

“Issues of democratic governance, economic stability, and regional security, and other pressing hemispheric matters were discussed,” the post detailed.

US Ambassador, Nicole Theriot; Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Mark Wells and National Security Council Senior Advisor Laura Updegrove were among the US officials present during the meeting.

President Ali was joined

by Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud; Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Omar Khan and National Security Advisor, Gerry Gouveia, along with GDF Colonel Sheldon Howell and former Army Chief, Brigadier (Retired) Godfrey Bess.

This visit by the two senior security officials comes on the heels of a series of similar engagements between the Governments of Guyana and the United States over the past weeks. In fact, last month, there were two high-level visits of US officials to Guyana.

On January 9, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for the Western Hemisphere at the US Department of Defence, Daniel Erikson, was in Georgetown to meet with President Ali and other officials, including the GDF Chief.

President Dr Irfaan Ali along with senior officials – met with the two visiting US officials Principal Deputy National Security Advisor, Jon Finer and the White House National Security Council’s Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere, Juan González at State House on Sunday afternoon

Those discussions were based on areas of mutual interest, including regional security, food security, climate change, information sharing, narcotics monitoring, and disaster risk management.

Days prior, former US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo was also in Guyana and met with President Ali. Pompeo had first visited Guyana in September 2020.

In addition to engagements at the Government-toGovernment level, collaborations have been continuing between the GDF and the US Army, with several exchange programmes – the most recent being last month when a team of US Army advisors assigned to First Security Force Assistance Brigade visited Georgetown to facilitate knowledge exchange and leadership training with the Guyanese military.

Moreover, just last week, the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Air Force Commander, Major General Evan Pettus was in Guyana on a three-day visit to continue discussions on strengthening the GDF’s air domain awareness and collaborating to advance Guyana’s airspace awareness capacity.

During a media briefing, Major General Pettus was asked about the narrative being peddled by Venezuela that the US is setting up a miliary base in Guyana, which he dismissed.

“That's an interesting rumour. It’s not one that I'm aware has any foundation,” the SOUTHCOM Commander stated.

According to the Air Force Commander, the US military, especially through SOUTHCOM, has had a strong bilateral security partnership

with Guyana, dating back several decades, which spans a vast spectrum of areas.

Similar sentiments were expressed by the GDF Chief of Staff, who pointed out that Guyana not only has military cooperation with the US, but with other Western nations as well as those within the Region.

Collective regional security

Asked whether the Army is concerned that the GDF’s continued military engagements with various partners could be viewed by Venezuela as aggression, Brigadier Khan contended that these collaborations are geared towards not only ensuring Guyana’s security but the collective security and the stability of the region.

Back in December 2023, the UK sent a Royal Navy patrol vessel to Guyana’s waters as part of a series of engagements in this region – a move which was viewed by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as a threat to the peace and sovereignty of his country by the UK. He also said the deployment of the British warship to Guyana’s waters violated the spirit of the December 14, 2023 Argyle Agreement between the two South American neighbours signed in St Vincent and the Grenadines and called for the vessel to be withdrawn.

However, President Ali had argued that, “Guyana has long been engaged in partnerships with regional and international States, aimed at enhancing internal security. These partner-

ships pose a threat to no one, and are in no way intended to be aggressive or constitute an offensive act against any State.”

Britain’s Ministry of Defence had said the HMS Trent, a river-class patrol vessel, would take part in joint exercises with Guyana after Christmas.

In response to the deployment of the British naval ship, Maduro ordered “the activation of a joint defensive action of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces” off the coast of Guyana’s Essequibo region, to which the Spanish-speaking nation is laying claim.

Those tensions were eventually calmed following the intervention of St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, in his role as interlocutor between the two nations following the Argyle Declaration.

In that declaration, Guyana and Venezuela agreed, among other things, to not threaten or use force against one another, and to continue dialogue in Brazil.

A first meeting was held on January 25 in Brasilia between the Joint Commission of Foreign Ministers and Technicians of Guyana and Venezuela. Guyana’s delegation was led by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd, who described the meeting as a “good start” to creating a better future of good neighbourliness for the next generation. (G8)

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024

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

A discourse of “us” is needed

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arratives play a critical role in our historical accounts, not least to act as filters for events as they occur in the world around us. These narratives are part of a whole welter of formal and informal processes, language and performance – dubbed “discourses” - that serve to fix the acceptable meaning of a given notion and literally “hail” it into existence.

While not denying the importance of structural features, discourses are most crucial because they sanction certain kinds of action, and not others. In times of heightened tension and conflict, narratives and discourses link individual and group identity, producing a sense of intertwined fate among groups.

When violence is in the air, the fears also include concern for physical security and fears of extinction of self, family, and the group and its culture. Political actions – and reactions are therefore highly influenced by the dominant discourses circulating at any given time.

The power of discourse lies in their ability to naturalise a particular way of interpreting something. In Guyana, discourses of hate have marred our politics and social relations, and we should examine their production, dissemination and consumption in our society in order to note their effects.

Discourses are rarely constructed out of thin air, but are built on previous narratives and themes that are topical.

The discourse of “sin and sinners”, for instance, justified the genocidal treatment of Africans and other “natives” during and after slavery. They loom large in our national psyche.

There are two parts to the construction of identity within a discourse: firstly, the creation of the ‘other’ – with all negative qualities; and secondly, the comparison of that ‘other’ to the self – the antithesis imbued with all the “good” qualities. The archetypal binary hegemonic discourse owed its success to its divisive framing of the identities in play, as well as to the ‘truthful’ nature it attributed to that framing.

After a brief moment of “us” (all Guyanese) against “them” (the British) the struggle for independence introduced complications into the narrative. Between 1958 and 1964, it was an African narrative constructed by the PNC - “the PPP government locking African-Guyanese out of development”, or a “communist government determined to deliver B.G. into Moscow’s arms” (the narrative of the West).

During the 1964-1992 PNC regime - ushered in by a virtual civil war between Indian and African Guyanese – the narrative flipped to marginalisation of Indians through “racial” policies of all African-Guyanese political opponents. After PPP’s return in 1992, the “us “against “them” discourse between Indians and Africans again flipped. Between 1993 and 1997, the discourse of hate was sharpened by PNC claims of “ethnic cleansing” and other alleged excesses of the PPP, and precipitated anti-Indian Guyanese riots after assertions that the 1997 elections were rigged.

As dozens of Indian Guyanese businessmen were killed amidst a spate of robberies, kidnappings and robberies, African-Guyanese ideologues revived the narrative of “overcoming oppression”. Relations degenerated into a fullscale assault against the state and perceived supporters of the PPP by violent terroristic gunmen. The latter were dubbed “Resistance Fighters”. In a tit-for-tat response when the state institutions mandated to protect it buckled, private “Phantom Gangs” engaged the armed gangs, and hundreds of citizens from all ethnic groups were killed across Guyana. The gangs were eliminated by 2008, and electoral politics resumed to address differences among the citizenry.

Because of demographic changes, the 2011 elections saw the PPP receiving only a plurality of votes to secure the presidency, while the Opposition APNU and AFC controlled the legislature. In 2015, the Opposition parties coalesced and won the elections outright. Unfortunately, after a studied refusal to follow constitutional rules, the APNU/AFC refused to accept defeat at the 2020 elections. What is troubling is a revival of the narratives of hate by representatives of African Guyanese inside and outside APNU. This is the time for a national narrative, since each of the two major parties - concededly grounded in ethnic communities - can only secure the government democratically if they garner votes outside their bases.

A man is walking past a dragon figure at a lunar new year fair in Beijing, China (AFP)

GPL’s management, accountability and transparency (Pt 1) Dear Editor, There are credible reasons to believe that His Excellency the President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, is being misled in a major way about issues in relation to the Guyana Power and Light Inc (hereinafter “GPL”). I don’t know by whom, but here is why.

Although I am cognizant of the macro challenges over the last 15 years, when the political opposition successfully blocked some of the major long-term investments, such as the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project in 2011, and the lack of investments during their tenure in government for the period 2015-2020, there may be institutional and managerial limitations on the part of GPL. With this in mind, in the height of the blackout season in 2023, I conducted my own independent analysis on GPL in order to have an understanding of the entity’s internal challenges. As such, the analysis and findings presented herein (summary of the analysis and findings) were derived from an examination of various GPL development and expansion plans for the period 20122016, 2016-2020, and 20212025, together with the National Budgets for the period 2012-2023, GPL’s annual reports and audited financial statements.

The aims of the analysis conducted were as follows: * To identify the expansion and development programmes of GPL, and the planned capital investments, * To determine to what

extent were the expansion plans and capital investments implemented, and * To identify the implementation and investment gaps based on the expansion plans and the actual capital budgets as per the National Budgets.

The deterioration of GPL management actually began since 2012. In this respect, GPL failed to produce annual reports for the years 2012-2022; those ought to have been laid over in the National Assembly pursuant to Section 67 (1) of the Public Corporations Act (1988). Resultantly, it is difficult to independently scrutinize the work of this entity for that period.

Of note, GPL’s failure to produce annual reports for the past eleven (11) years is a flagrant violation of Section 67 (1) of the Public Corporations Act (1988).

Section 67 (1) of the Public Corporations Act states the following: “A Corporation shall, not later than six months after the expiry of each calendar year, submit to the concerned Minister a report containing” – a) An account of its functioning throughout the preceding calendar year in such detail as the concerned Minister may direct; and b) A statement of the accounts of the corporation audited in accordance with section 48.

Section 67 (2) states that: “A copy of the report mentioned in subsection (1) together with a copy of the report of the auditor in relation to the same period shall be laid before the National Assembly not lat-

er than nine months after the expiry of the calendar year to which it relates”.

Moreover, section 68 of the said Act establishes the “General Penalty” that shall be applied to everyone who is guilty of the contravention of any provision of this Act. Synopsis of financial performance GPL’s operating revenue grew from a position of $29 billion in FY 2012 to $37.9 billion in FY 2022, representing an increase of $8.9 billion, or 30.74%. For the same period (using FY 2012 as the base year), generating cost increased from $27 billion to $39.6 billion, representing an increase of $12.6 billion, or 46%; while operating cost increased by $6 billion or 91.34%, and the net operating loss increased by $9.4 billion, or 242.24%. The entity’s total assets increased from $47.9 billion in FY 2012 to reach $81.5 billion in FY 2022, reflecting an increase of $33.6 billion, or 70%. Notably, non-current assets increased by $26 billion or 78% for the ten-year period under review.

Considering that the budgetary allocations in the National Budgets are used to finance both capital expenditure and the shortfall in operating expenses, it therefore means that the increase in GPL’s non-current asset and the cumulative net operating deficit of GPL of $54.9 billion for the period were financed by the $75.9 billion from the budget. This leaves a difference of $21 billion, or an average of $2 billion

annually that was not reflected in GPL’s balance sheet. Notwithstanding, it is likely that those sums were allocated to the other programmes in the energy sector, such as the Hinterland Electrification Programme, etc., that would be accounted for by other [isolated] entities; for example in Linden, Lethem, Port Kaituma, Bartica etc.

The total funding gap for the period 2012-2022 is a whopping $78.3 billion. This gap can be explained by several factors.

Ironically, the years 20122015 and prior (before crude oil was discovered offshore Guyana), there were no funding gaps save and except for the transformational investment of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project that was blocked by the Opposition.

Another explanation is that there could be an overestimation of the proposed capital budget in the expansion plans. However, this may be an unlikely factor, given that the assessment conducted found a series of expansion and development plans for the period under review, which remained unverified to determine whether those were implemented.

GPL’s Development and Expansion Plans for the period 2012-2025 Proposed development that was implemented based on the budgetary allocations in the National Budgets: CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024

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

Lakshmi Persaud wrote on the Indo-Caribbean Experience

Dear Editor, It is with a heavy heart that I read of the passing in England of celebrated writer Lakshmi Persaud (nee Seetaram), who had taught for a time at Queen’s College, when she lived in Guyana with her Berbician husband Prof Bishnodat Persaud; who, at age 82, pre-deceased her in 2016.

She had also taught in Trinidad and Jamaica, and had spent time in Barbados, where her son is a prominent economic advisor.

She was admired for her writing skills and articulation of views and positions on issues. Lakshmi had a large following of Guyanese and Caribbean literary enthusiasts in UK, Canada, USA, Guyana, and the Caribbean. Those she had taught at Queen’s have said she was an outstanding teacher. She and her husband had loved interacting with Guyanese and other West Indians wherever they travelled.

In New York, the diaspora honours the memory of Dr. Lakshmi Persaud and her important contribution to the field of literature, and specifically of Caribbean women’s writing. Whenever she (and/or her husband) visited USA, they were hosted by Guyanese writers for lectures. It was an honour for me to have met her and Bishnodat in London, New York, and Trinidad on multiple occasions, and to have heard them sharing personal experiences.

What a lovely couple!

They had been very good to Guyanese and other groups at home and in the diaspora, sharing their books and experiences, and hosting several of us at different locations.

Lakshmi was born in Trinidad, and studied in Trinidad and at Queen’s University in Belfast, where she earned her doctorate.

There she met Canje-born Bishnodat (called Vishnu), who was doing a doctorate in Economics, and they later got married.

Bishnodat was an eminent economist who headed the Economics Department of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. He led the group that prepared the ERP of 1988 in Guyana, and several other missions on economic reforms in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. He was a shy and private person who did not like to share economic views publicly, unlike wife Lakshmi. They had held me in confidence, and had related several private incidents, anecdotes, and engagements they had had with Guyanese politicians, including Sir Shridath Ramphal, Desmond Hoyte, Clive Thomas, Cheddi Jagan, Bharrat Jagdeo, Hamilton Green, JE Green (when he was lecturing at Mona).

Dr Bishnodat had worked closely with Ramphal to reform several state-centric Commonwealth economies.

He was at one time the leader of a research group

that comprised Manmohan Singh, who went on to become Finance Minister and Prime Minister of India; he advised the Indian Government to pursue market reforms. He had also worked with the eminent economist Prof Clive Thomas. Bishnodat and Lakshmi had hosted several visiting Guyanese at their home in Jamaica. He had also hosted me at a private, posh exclusive club in London, where we had reviewed economic policy of Guyanese rulers. Bishnodat had a special bonding with me, and trusted me with revelations on the lives of prominent Caribbean individuals, including Guyanese politicians. We had also had many conversations on the phone, and he had clarified several economic concepts that I thought I understood. He had spoken of the errors of Jagan, Burnham, Janet, and Hoyte in economic policies; had praised some of Jagdeo’s policies, and had been critical of others.

Given his experience and prominence internationally, Bishnodat had felt that Jagdeo should have accepted a trans-global leadership position, like head of an international organization (on climate, or on economic reform) even of Caricom (that would have required an exemption, since a host country national can’t head the organization).

Dr Lakshmi, who had also done a postgraduate Diploma in Education at

the University of Reading in England, had made immense contributions in the field of Indian Caribbean literature.

Her novels were masterpieces depicting real life. She had written with great feeling and warmth, and her writings have helped to focus literature on Indo-Caribbean people. She elevated the reach of Indian Caribbean literature to a wider circle in the UK, North America, and the Caribbean, where she had large number of admirers. Her novels focused on the Indo-Caribbean experience, and she had revealed to me her first-hand experience of the marginalisation of Indians in Guyana, Trinidad, Jamaica, and UK. She had been a forward thinker, and her novels were focused on different subjects, including on the most difficult period of living in Guyana during the 1970s and 1980s, and about exploitation of women. She had shown women a new light in being a strong, independent individual. Her intellect, knowledge and experience about writing and literature, and her teaching skills were a guiding spirit for many youngsters to write in English literature. Her usage of simple language as well as usage of mellifluous words would continue to remind us of the power of expression. The vivid imagery of her writings about life in the societies where she had lived will always remain a rich encapsulation of the

Indo-Caribbean experience.

She had deservingly been recognized for her prize-winning novels and contribution to literature and education by universities in England, and at UWI with an honorary doctorate. She had also been a recipient of several other honours, including by the Government of T&T. In NY, those who had met Lakshmi and Bishnodat have only words of praise for their kindness and gen-

erosity, and of her writing skills and his brilliance as an economist. They both have left behind a cherished memory, and great works for us to read and enjoy. On a separate note, Bishnodat had been a cricket enthusiast and an outstanding player, captaining his university’s West Indian team while he was a student.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

GPL’s management...

2012-2016 * Expansion of Kingston Power Plant by 15.8MW. Equipment and materials for construction of new sub-stations, land acquired for Ruimveldt, Liliendaal, Good Hope, Columbia Mahaicony, Vreed-en-Hoop, Edinburgh, and Golden Grove. * Integrated transmission of 69 KV transferring power from Skeldon to Essequibo Coast. * Installation of submarine cable linking Vreed-enHoop and Kingston. * 3 Wartsila generators procured with total capacity of 26MW * Installation of new Wartsila engines at Vreeden-Hoop, upgrading of 7 substations, installation of transmission lines from Sophia to Onverwagt, with a supervisory control and data acquisition system. * Pilot project to rewire sections of the distribution network to improve efficiency and reduce incidents of il-

FROM PAGE 4

legal connections. * Two new substations built at Sophia and Good Hope, rehabilitation of and extension of transmission and distribution networks.

2017-2023 * Construction of Kingston Vreed-en-Hoop substations. * Construction of Kingston Vreed-en-Hoop substations. * Solar farm interventions, 33 MWs for Berbice, Essequibo, Linden * 50MWs of firm generating capacity to boost short term needs * 413km of new distribution lines and feeders; new 69kV transmission line from Kingston to Sophia and from Edinburgh to Hydronie; new rehabilitated substations at Hydronie, Sophia, Columbia, Canefield and No.53 Village; replacement of 320 inefficient transformers.

Yours respectfully, Joel Bhagwandin

Another PPP/C successful housing episode

Dear Editor, I share the joy that the People’s Progressive Party Government recently brought to “some 30 low-income families, who had previously been residing in makeshift dwellings on dams along the East Bank adjacent to the Demerara River… (as they) have now had their living conditions improved with the provision of core homes situated at Great Diamond, East Bank Demerara.”

It is indeed an occasion that warrants a few comments.

First, by way of information, ‘squatter settlements’ are any collection of buildings where people have no legal rights to the land upon which they make their dwelling places, whether these are mere shacks or abandoned vehicles. In fact, evidence abounds that these places of shelter are constructed with poor materials, such as plastic sheeting, corrugated metal, wood and cardboard. These are all materials that are available either freely as waste or bought cheaply. As a result, squatter settlements

often lack proper sanitation, water supply, electricity or telephone services. No wonder the chorus from recipients of these ‘core homes’ is that “I feel more better that I come off the dam.”

Editor, as we all know, the effects of squatter settlements include high mortality rates, high crime rates, unsafe living conditions, and pollution. Therefore, it is only via proactive and vigorous action that redress can be realised. It is in this vein that the PPP/C Government must be commended, as this will pave the way for the Administration to unleash further improvements in infrastructure and government services to these people.

What am I talking about?

It is that any squatter settlement is unplanned, and has the following horrible characteristics of being overcrowded and noisy, lacking in sanitation and clean drinking water, and is overflowing with open sewers. I add also that they lack the basic municipal services, such as water supply, sanitation, waste collection,

or infrastructure, and are exposed to diseases, crimes, and natural disasters.

In others words, these once hapless people have been saved from a life of misery and deprivation.

Secondly, there is nothing political or ulterior about this developmental act. The word is that each home cost around $5.2 million, and the new homeowners would be required to pay a monthly mortgage of $25,000. They are two-bedroom core homes with a size of “…no less than 600 square feet, and include a kitchen, living area and restroom facilities, with concrete blocks for the outer walls and floors, basic doors, and electrical wiring, among other amenities.”

Overall, the aim of the Government was to “…meet basic standards of a family, and include additional space for affordable expansion.”

Then in terms of empowering the owners and facilitating their comfort and upward mobility, the Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, explained that “All of these persons here (the recipients), obviously today, they will be issued

(with) their electrical certificate; so, it means that they could apply to GPL and have their current connected immediately. So, there is access for electricity here.

In fact, if you notice, it’s well-lit, and so they will be able to move in immediately. And we’ll be working with them on their relocation.”

He added that “…the beneficiaries would receive their land titles upon their completing payment for the structures.”

In terms of how all of this is unfolding, “The Ministry has, since 2021, been engaging with approximately 291 squatters on the sea dams at Herstelling, Farm, Covent Garden, Prospect, Diamond, Grove, and Friendship…(and to date) About 50 per cent of the settlers have already received land allocations in housing schemes. So, much more can be anticipated.

Let me alert readers that ‘slum dwelling’ in Guyana is on the way out, and rightly so.

Yours truly, HB Singh

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024

06:00 (Sign on) Inspiration Time 06:30 Cartoons 07:00 Evening News (RB) 07:30 Cartoons 08:00 Stop Suffering 08:30 Stay Woke 09:00 Guy's Grocery Games 10:00 Grand Designs 11:00 Paternity Court 11:30 Divorce Court 12:00 News Break 12:05 Indian Movie - Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya (2012) 14:35 The Tom and Jerry Show S4 E15 15:00 Indian Soaps 16:00 Drake & Josh S2 E2 16:30 Victorious S1 E13 17:00 The Young & The Restless 18:00 CNN 19:00 The Evening News 20:00 Love & Laughter 21:00 The Resident S5 E2 22:00 The 100 S7 E4 23:00 Queen of the South S1 E9 00:00 Sign off

6

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024

Foundation ◄

Page

Comparing and ordering decimals When you compare whole numbers, you look at place value. To compare decimals, you will look at place value. Line up your decimals so that the decimal points are in a column. Then begin by looking at the column to the immediate right of the decimal point, the tenths place. As you arrange your numbers, work toward the right.

Example:

Place these decimals in order from least to greatest: .61, 0.21, .09, .22, .90, .091 Step 1: Line up the decimal points: .61 0.21 .09 .22 0.9 0.091 Step 2: Find the greatest number in the tenths place: 0.90. Then the next greatest number in the tenth place: .61 Step 3: If two decimals have the same number in the tenths place, look at the next place value, the hundredths place and rank according to the higher number. With 0.21 and 0.22, 2 is greater than 1.

Step 4: What do you do with .09 and 0.091? Add a zero to .09 as a placeholder for the thousandths place: 0.090. Now, you can see that 0.091 is greater than 0.090.

Remember:

When comparing numbers with decimals, always look at the whole numbers first. If two whole numbers are the same, then compare to the right of the decimal point.

Exercises: Place these decimals in order from least to greatest: 3.75, 3.51, 3.751, 3.220, 0.80, .09, 3.61, 0.75, .907, 3.722, 0.79, .095

In this fun and easy rocket science and space science experiment for kids, we’re going to figure out if your house is moving.

A clear night

Materials:

Instructions: On a clear night, lie in your yard facing south with a corner of your house to your right.

Pick a star that is close to the edge of the house and watch it closely.

After several minutes, the star will disappear behind the house.

How it works: Although the star seems to move, it is actually the house moving as part of the Earth’s rotation.

Make this a science project: Try to identify constellations in the night sky. Try to identify planets. Try to identify stars. (sciencefun.org)

by Hilda McDonald

Like giant brooms the palm heads sweep The star-dust from the dreaming skies, As through half-opened gates of sleep Bird carols of the morning rise.

Where sea meets heaven in misty blue, The dawn fires leap through rosy spray, And armed outriders of the morn Flash burnished spears in bright array.

Westward their windwhipped coursers sweep, Hailing the shore to greet the day, Then turn and toss their flying waves In rippling silver o.er the bay.

Their trumpets sound from reef to reef, Their gold-red pennons flaunt the skies As mailed in silver, girt with jade Dawn comes up with flaming eyes.

WORD SEARCH

BAT CARNIVORE HABITAT BEETLES WINGS ROOSTING SHRUBS

TREES FLIES BIG-EARED CAVES TOWNSEND MOTHS SENSITIVE

FOREST SPECIES DESERTS PINE HANGS

7 Guyana, UWI in talks for School of Medicine in Berbice NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…Cuba wants to help build vaccine development capacity here

A

s it continues to modernise the local healthcare system, the Guyana Government is currently in discussions with the University of West Indies (UWI) for the establishment of a School of Medicine here.

This was revealed by President Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday morning during the commissioning of a $474.6 million state-of-the-art Pathology Laboratory at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

It was disclosed last month that there would be dedicated buildings at the new US$161 million hospital being constructed at New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), for teaching purposes.

According to President Ali, this message reached the officials at UWI. “Today, I'm pleased to inform you that the University of West Indies’ School of Medicine has now

President Dr Irfaan Ali

rates as other UWI facilities. “…Importantly, in the negotiations, we are now working on ensuring that the rates are the same as local students in Trinidad and Tobago, so there will be equity and quality matched together,” he declared.

the Region.

To achieve this goal, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration has been working with international partners in the healthcare industry, including Northwell Health and Mount Sinai Health System

An artist's impression of the new US$161 million hospital

in Guyana, and that is the next target for the end of the year with Mount Sinai,” he revealed.

According to President Ali, the partnership with the New York-based Mount Sinai has already produced some tremendous results.

One such collaboration is

UWI’s Faculty of Medical Sciences, St Augustine Campus, Trinidad

approached us to be part of this vision in bringing their campus here to Guyana, and negotiations and discussions would have commenced,” the Head of State revealed.

The Guyana Leader noted the possibility of a UWI-recognised School of Medicine in Region Six opens up the possibility of attracting students from neighbouring Suriname and other Caribbean nations. In order to ensure this happens, President Ali assured that the School of Medicine here would have the same

Improving Currently, Guyana has its own School of Medicine through the University of Guyana (UG). But the Head of State posited that “…competition is a part of life and a necessity in improving quality”.

The establishment of a UWI School of Medicine in Guyana comes as the Government is investing heavily in enhancing the local healthcare system, with the aim of developing a top health-tourism industry in

– two major United Statesbased healthcare providers.

While Government already has several initiatives and collaborations ongoing with the Mount Sinai group, one of the newest projects under this partnership will be the establishment of a world-class forensic facility in Guyana.

“We are working now, and we hope to have before the end of the year, a worldclass forensic facility right here in Guyana, where everything in relation to forensics can be done right here

the digitalisation of the local healthcare system. Mount Sinai has been working with the Health Ministry on conducting an assessment of the local healthcare management information system, and the patient management information system.

Moreover, Government and Mount Sinai, in collaboration with US-based energy major Hess Corporation, have also rolled out the Comprehensive Child and Youth Health Programme,

which aims to screen schoolaged children.

Last year, some 11,000 students were screened, with 350 of them accessing post screening-services such as dental examination, hearing and vision examination, screening for development and growth, vaccination and importantly, mental health services. While this screening programme initially targeted nursery children, Government is planning to expand the initiative this year to screen some 87,000 schoolchildren from various levels through this partnership.

“So, part of what we're doing in the modernisation of the healthcare system, and an important part of what Mount Sinai and us, what we're doing is building an educational component, a cultural component, a societal component, a community component to what we want to achieve as the end product,” the Guyanese Leader noted.

On this note, President Ali added that another important feature of the modernisation of Guyana’s healthcare system is research and development.

Apart from healthcare companies, the Guyana Government is also working with several bilateral partner-nations to advance its healthcare system.

“Research and development is critical for the development of our healthcare system. But we have to create the mechanism through which we can encourage re-

search and development, and incentivise a system that encourages research and development…

“We are very serious about the establishment of a vaccine manufacturing facility in Guyana to service the entire LAC (Latin America and Caribbean) region. We are working with different partners including the EU (European Union), the UK (United Kingdom), and of course, recently, Cuba has reached out to us to partner in this area of vaccine development, and research and development. So, this is another piece of the puzzle that will migrate our healthcare system to a platform in which it will be second to none,” the Head of State noted.

The idea of a vaccine manufacturing plant in Guyana has its origins in the inequality evident in the manufacturing, pricing, and distribution of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic when countries like Guyana had to wait on the availability of the treatment as developed countries were given priority.

The Guyana Government has stated that vaccine, and by extension pharmaceutical, equity is not only key for the country but for regional public health security.

To this end, Guyana has already received the support of India to establish a vaccine production facility here, similar to BioNTech’s mRNA vaccine factory in Kigali, Rwanda, back in 2022. (G8)

8 NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“This thing happened in seconds” – woman recalls being robbed in Sophia

R

ihanna Jeffrey, the sister of one of the victims of last year's Mahdia Secondary School dormitory fire, faced another tragic ordeal on Friday in Sophia, Greater Georgetown, when she was robbed of her valuables by bandits.

Reports are that the incident occurred at about 18:30h on Friday, after Rihanna had ventured into the city to withdraw cash, having planned to travel to Karisparu in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) to transport her brothers to Georgetown. Still grappling with the trauma of losing her sister and several family members in the Mahdia fire, Rihanna recounted this new harrowing experience.

“On Friday, I went to town to withdraw some

Robbed: Rihanna Jeffrey

cash, to travel on Saturday to Karisparu to bring out my brothers, who hadn't attended school since the Mahdia Secondary School female dormitory fire tragedy. I

caught a Sophia bus from town, and stopped at the Red Shop Corner Chinese supermarket to grab a few things to cook. Then, I decided to go to the pharmacy nearby to buy some medications,” she said.

As she walked out of the pharmacy, she detailed to this publication, a motorbike with two individuals approached her from behind, and one of the persons thereon snatched her handbag, cutting the strap in the process. She said the incident unfolded so quickly that she was left in a state of shock and panic.

“This thing happened in seconds; there was no time for me to call for help or anything. I was traumatized, and my anxiety and panic attacks kicked in. I have been struggling with anxi-

ety and panic attacks since I lost my sister, my niece, and two cousins in the Mahdia dorm fire, and am still undergoing counselling therapy at the Psychiatry clinic (at) GPHC,” Rihanna said.

She says this robbery has taken a toll of her emotions, and while she was not physically harmed, the loss of her belongings has left her in an emotionally precarious situation.

“The bag had a bank card, Psychiatry clinic appointment card, documents for Singers, $230,000, a cellphone (Samsung A32 valued at $94,000), charger, and other fine accessories,” she said.

The matter has been reported to the Police, and Rihanna is hoping that, at best, her documents are recovered. (G9)

Bartica man nabbed with illegal ammo

R

ichard Kissoon, a 27-year-old gold miner of Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni– Mazaruni), was arrested at approximately 01:30h on Sunday after being found with 15 rounds of ammunition.

Police reported that ranks on mobile patrol duty in the vicinity of 3rd Avenue, Bartica observed a heavily tinted Toyota Rush motor vehicle, PVV 3605, which they stopped.

“The ranks then requested to conduct a search for illegal items, to which he [the driver] agreed. One of the ranks searched him, and found in his right hand

The ammunition that was found on Sunday morning in Bartica

a bulky parcel wrapped in white paper and transparent scotch tape. He opened the parcel and found fifteen .32 rounds of ammunition,” Police said.

The man was told of the offence committed, and was arrested and escort-

ed to the Bartica Police Station, where he remains in custody pending charges.

This arrest comes more than a month after 57-year-old businessman Carl Reddy of Second Avenue, Bartica was ap-

prehended during a Police operation at Kumung Kumung Landing, Puruni River and charged with unlawful possession of ammunition.

When Reddy’s vehicle was searched, a staggering 428 live rounds of ammunition and eight different weapons were discovered, leading to him being charged despite his having licence for a 12-gauge Browning single-barrel shotgun.

Reddy pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Crystal Lambert at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court, but has been remanded to prison. (G9)

Body found at Puruni…

Venezuelan woman died of compression to neck – PME

A

post-mortem examination conducted on the body of Venezuelan national Andrea Herazo, who was discovered in a room near a popular night spot at Puruni Landing in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), has confirmed that her death was due to compression injuries to neck.

The woman’s dead body was discovered on January 19, and an immediate investigation was launched by the Police. Upon arriving on scene, law enforcement officials had examined the body before transferring it to the Bartica Hospital mortuary.

The circumstances surrounding Herazo's death re-

Dead: Andrea Herazo

main unclear. Region Seven Police Commander Dion Moore had previously stated, in a recent interview, that the investigation is active. Two individuals had initially been arrested in connection with the case, but they were later released.

After the post-mortem examination, Herazo's sister had taken to social media to accuse an unidentified man of being responsible for her sister's death. In a video shared online, Herazo's sister has passionately demanded justice for her sibling.

Meanwhile, calls to the Regional Commander to get an update on this matter have proved futile. (G9)

Petrified… …of the PPP N

ow that the most extended interaction between the PPP Govt and the Opposition is over, the forest is taking shape out of the trees! From where your Eyewitness sits (on a high perch, like those tennis umpires!!), it’s clear to him that much of the Opposition hysteria – and it IS hysteria! – is because they’re deathly scared of the PPP using the oil revenues to win over enough members of their constituency to make them irrelevant!! And after three years in the saddle, the PPP’s clearly bent on achieving that goal - which it now states openly!! And it can do so with a straight face by claiming that’s what democracy’s all about!! You were elected on a manifesto that attracted a majority of the voters, but by delivering the goods, (literally!) to traditional PNC supporters, you expect to win new converts, come 2025!!

The PNC had their opportunity when they were voted in back in 2015, and if they were rational, they’d have done exactly what the PPP’s now doing. You may say they didn’t have oil revenues to splurge and hand out goodies like Santa “PPP” Claus. True, but shouldn’t they at least have tried to keep the voters who’d put them in office? In our ethnically divided country, that meant holding on to the Indian Guyanese brought in

by Nagamootoo and Ramjattan. But NO!! Granger just had to pi55 them off (and worse) by firing 7000 of their sugar worker cohorts!! Did he have a political death wish for the PNC??

Anyhow the PNC and its troglodytes can jump high or they can jump low, but they ain’t gonna change the PPP’s push to secure a majority to return them in the driver’s seat next year. Can the PNC do anything ‘bout it? Right now, seems they figure they gotta undermine the PPP’s programme of delivering the good life. And they’ve decided to do this by invoking the race card. So, it doesn’t matter what the PPP does, African Guyanese are told they’ve been subjected to “racism” and “vindictiveness” and discrimination at every step of the way!! Even creating an “apartheid state” in Guyana!!

The PNC figures if they throw enough mud in the PPP’s direction, some of it has gotta stick!!

And some will!! After years of being conditioned to hear those accusations from both sides of the divide! - most folks are pre-disposed to believing them: “Cognitive bias”, and all that!! Your Eyewitness still can’t get over Opposition’s accusation that Pressie photoshopped those pics from last year with Shamar Joseph!! To acknowledge Pressie’s love for cricket would make him more human!!

What’ll be gained by further polarising Guyana when votes from the “other side” are needed?? …of banks One of the other provocative claims the PNC Opposition have been making for years is that, under PPP governments, banks discriminate against THEIR supporters to refuse them loans. Implying the PPP’s responsible!! And that’s why they’re stagnating economically. But is this really true? Let’s look at some facts. After Burnham seized power in 1968, he NATIONALIZED all banks; and, for the next two decades, gave out so many loans to his supporters that the Guyana National Cooperative Bank went bankrupt??

Where did all that money go?

And when the PPP took over, and private Banks reentered the picture, wasn’t the Trini Republic Bank then the biggest bank?? Were they controlled by the PPP? And then Banks DIH opened up Citizens Bank…was that PPP-controlled? We won’t even talk about Globe Trust!!

And why didn’t the PNC between 2015 and 2020 accept applications to have an African-owned bank open up??

But your Eyewitness is pleased that the PPP arranged for one that’s up and running. Let’s hear what the “problem” is now!! …of losing benefits Ok…your Eyewitness accepts the Government hasn’t gone along on “collective bargaining” with the GTU. They claim the GTU’s PNC leadership just want to score (political) points!! So, today we’ll see whether teachers will honour form (collective bargaining) over substance (higher wages and benefits”!!)

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

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

9

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10 NEWS Region 2 to actively participate in ‘Vision 25 by 2025’ MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…farmers to start producing high-value crops, brackish water shrimp, coconuts

T

he Caribbean C o m m u n i t y ’ s (Caricom) strides to achieve “Vision 25 by 2025” are well underway, with approximately 60 per cent of the target having been met.

Guyana continues to play a major role in the progress recorded by produced a large number of commodities identified by the region’s ministerial taskforce and approved by the Heads of Government of Caricom.

To continue along this trajectory, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha disclosed that Guyana would be scaling up its exports of food commodities and value-added products in 2024.

This requires the country to ramp up its production of crops, livestock, and aquaculture produce, among other things.

During a community meeting on Saturday morning in Dartmouth, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Mustapha informed farmers that Government would

be investing heavily in the advancement of agriculture in the region this year. As a result, farmers will benefit from provision of lucrative crops; such as wheat, bananas, coconuts, coffee, cocoa, citrus fruits, pepper, turmeric, ginger, black pepper, nutmeg and onions.

The minister also hinted at interest to construct

in the region a hydroponics farm similar to the one at the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

Additionally, it was disclosed that Government is looking to make the region a producer of brackish water shrimp and prawns.

“When you talk about Essequibo Coast and you’re on the Corentyne, you think about rice only, so we have to change (that) perception; we have to do new things… con-

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha handing over the keys to a new 15-seater bus to the Guyana School of Agriculture in Anna Regina

tinue to do that, but bring in new activities…we can work with you here, you get land, the sea water, the river water; the river water, make it into brackish water and get

riculture minister explained.

Good Hope meeting

At another meeting at Good Hope Primary School on the Essequibo Coast, also on Saturday, Mustapha engaged residents to discuss transformative plans for the agriculture sector in 2024.

He highlighted Government's commitment to modernising the agriculture sector by citing a significant focus on development in the coast over the past three years. Emphasizing the importance of the sector for food security, he expressed a

Meeting with residents of Dartmouth, Danielstown, Queenstown, and Good Hope, Essequibo Coast

Chairperson Vilma De Silva and Regional Health Officer Ranjeeve Singh, among other officials of GRDB and NARIE.

the shrimp, because the larva comes in from the sea,” Mustapha stated.

Further, he explained that Government is working to ensure that farmers in the region have access to better breeding animals, to aid in the enhancement of the cattle industry. He added that his ministry is willing to fos-

ter collaborations between local small-, medium- and large-scale farmers and regional as well as international partners.

“We are seeing lots of investments coming in the country, and you here in Essequibo Coast also have those opportunities. What we are doing, we are trying to link investors with farmers in Guyana; so, you have the land, you have the asset, and they bring the finance and you work together to try to develop your plots,” the ag-

Chung said.

Another resident, Jairam Persaud, also called on the minister for support in improving bed and drainage systems. And further, he called for the canal to be desilted to facilitate easy transport of produce.

Also attending the meetings were Regional

New bus for GSA

Meanwhile, while on his visit to the Essequibo Coast, the minister handed over the keys to a new 15-seater bus to the Guyana School of Agriculture in Anna Regina.

dedication to bringing about a massive transformation through modern infrastructure and practices.

"We are working around the clock to make resources available and ensure the development of this sector," Mustapha stated, adding that there is need for a more modern, less labour-intensive approach, and encouraging young people to join the agriculture sector.

Further, Mustapha mentioned the Agriculture Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme, a shareholder company aimed at involving youths. He detailed upcoming projects, including a hydroponic facility in Region Two that is set to engage 100 young individuals.

With a goal to achieving food self-sufficiency, Mustapha announced plans to introduce new crops to Guyana with additional focus on creating a resilient livestock industry by importing diverse breeds and establishing a distinct Guyanese brand, such as the Black

Belly brand initiated with Barbados.

"We want to create a brand of mutton in Guyana.

It is the Black Belly brand that Guyana and Barbados started… all these investments over the three years have seen a renewed interest in the agriculture sector,” he said.

Further, the minister acknowledged the importance of value-added in agriculture by expressing a desire to move away from primary production.

Meanwhile, residents at the meeting voiced their concerns on matters affecting them in their communities, and the agriculture sector in the region. One resident, Lim Chung, spoke on behalf of a farmers' group seeking assistance with modern equipment for more efficient farming.

"Since you said you want the agriculture sector to be modernised, we are calling on you to assist us with tools and equipment that will assist us in an efficient way,"

This, the ministry said, was done in keeping with a commitment made by President Dr Irfaan Ali during an outreach to the region late last year. During that meeting, the ministry said, requests were made for additional transportation to be made available to assist students with attending the institution.

While offering brief remarks, Mustapha encouraged the students to use the bus for its intended purpose.

The students and the school's administration thanked President Ali for honouring the commitment.

Budget 2024

The Agriculture Ministry has been allocated $97.6 billion in Budget 2024 for the advancement of the industry.

The largest portion of the agriculture budget, totalling $72.3 billion, is earmarked for drainage and irrigation works, acquisition of 40 mobile pumps, and $6 billion to bolster the sugar industry, specifically targeting improvements in GuySuCo’s production and operational efficiency.

Additionally, of the $97.6 billlion budgeted for the agriculture sector, $1.3 billion would be expended by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to support increased production and productivity in the rice industry.

In terms of other crops, cultivation of corn, soya bean, citrus, spices, coconuts, high-value crops such as broccoli, cauliflowers, bell peppers, romaine lettuce, carrots would be expanded.

In 2024, Government would continue to accelerate coconut production by investing in 39,000 high-yielding seed nuts as 500 additional farmers are targetted.

GPD growth

In 2023, Guyana’s real Gross Domestic Product

(GDP) grew by 33 percent, while the non-oil real economy grew by 11.7 percent. The growth recorded in 2023 is attributed to the expansion of Guyana’s oil and gas activities, while growth in the non-oil economy is attributed to the expansion of construction services, agriculture, forestry, manufacturing, and mining.

In fact, sugar production grew by 28 percent in 2023, rice grew by 7 percent, fishing 37.8 percent, while the livestock industry expanded by 12.7 percent and aquaculture production expanded by 70 per cent.

NEWS

11

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana faces escalating challenges with roadside vending – Traffic Chief T

raffic Chief Mahendra Singh has recently said that the escalating problem of roadside vending was a concern not just in Guyana but throughout the Caribbean.

Singh expressed concern about the heightened risk in Guyana, where vendors often stand in the midst of traffic to sell their products, creating a hazardous situation for both themselves and road users.

The Traffic Chief acknowledged that while there have not been recent cases of fatalities directly attributed to roadside vending, the practice remains inherently dangerous. He emphasised the need for the Police to implement positive measures to address this issue effectively.

“The vendors pose a threat to themselves and those who are using the road,” Singh warned in a recent statement, underscoring the urgent need for intervention.

As authorities grapple with finding solutions, the spotlight is now on devising strategies that not only curb the dangers associat-

Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh

ed with roadside vending but also contribute to the overall safety of the community.

Even though the current Government says it supports the establishment of small businesses, it said free vending along any major highway would not be encouraged, as it is considered a hindrance to traffic flow.

This is according to Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, who last year underscored that comprehensive work was being undertaken to ensure that there were proper highways and four-lane roads to prevent traffic congestion — an issue that has long been frowned upon by citizens.

However, the Minister noted that some roadside vendors were plying their trade in any spot, affecting the free flow of traffic and creating hazards for drivers.

“As a policy position of the President Irfaan Ali Government, we encourage small business development. We have nothing against people vending, selling, developing small businesses; but you cannot just put up a booth, a shack, a cart at any place where you feel…The purpose why we have put fourlane roads is to ease congestion, reduce travel time, and to make the experience more pleasurable, as opposed to the backup,” Edghill outlined.

The Minister relayed that there are specific areas and markets to facilitate businesses and vendors. In restoring order, he shared, there must be a balance between encouraging business operations and respecting Government’s policies.

“There are markets.

There are areas that you can go and vend, but everybody seems to want to do it wherever. For example, at

File photo: Roadside vending in Georgetown

DSL turn, if you sell dog food there and people stop to buy, we have a backup of traffic on four-lane roads. We can’t put vending there,” he explained.

“We intend to start doing improvements, and, somewhere along the line, we have to be able to restore order. Everybody will say they are hustling to make a living, but we have to bring order somewhere

along the line…We’re just taking the necessary steps to bring order,” he posited.

In recent times, vendors operating in high-traffic areas have been given notices to remove within a certain timeframe. Just last year, the Public Works Ministry initiated actions to remove vendors who were occupying spaces along New Market Street, between Thomas and East Streets,

following notices that they were impeding traffic flow in the vicinity.

According to the notices issued to them, they were informed that their operations had been impeding the smooth flow of traffic in the vicinity of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), the main public health institution in the country.

Old age pension, public assistance increases payable in March

O

ld-age pensioners and public assistance recipients will benefit from all budgetary increases starting March 2024.

This follows the passage of the $1.146 trillion 2024 National Budget on Friday.

The Human Services and Social Security Ministry made the announcement via its social media platforms last Thursday.

According to a Department of Public Information (DPI) report, some 76,000 senior citizens are set to receive an increased pension of $36,000, along with an additional $3000 for January and February respectively.

Several additional measures are being implemented to improve the well-being of the nation’s senior citizens.

These include the increase in National Insurance Scheme (NIS) pension from $35,000 to $43,075 payable monthly, resulting in a $2.6 billion transfer in disposable income benefiting over $27,000 persons.

The NIS survivor benefit payable to 12,000 persons is now $21,537, an increase from $17,500, amounting to some $800 million in disposable income.

The Invalidity Pension will also be increased from $35,000 to $43,045, an additional $24 million in disposable income in the hands of over 200 persons.

contributions must number from 700 to 749 for persons to benefit. This intervention will benefit over 3800 persons at a sum of $550 million.

Meanwhile, access to pub-

Furthermore, persons over the age of 60, who have not met the minimal requirements of 750 contributions are now being provided the

opportunity to receive a oneoff cash settlement. The oneoff payment depends on the year in which the last contribution was made, and the

lic assistance has also been made easier for the country’s vulnerable citizens as all registered persons living with disabilities will automatically benefit from public assistance. This will be payable

until they are eligible for an old-age pension.

Public assistance beneficiaries will receive $19,000, with an additional retroactive payment of $3000 for January and February.

12 NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Truancy, domestic violence discussed during Police outreach

P

Divisional Police Commander Superintendent Khemraj Shivbaran, Deputy Commander C. Duncan, and other ranks during a community outreach at Lima, Essequibo Coast

olice Commander in Region Two ( P o m e r o o n S u p e n a a m ) , Superintendent Khemraj Shivbaran, along with Deputy Superintendent

cently conducted an outreach in Lima Village on the Essequibo Coast in which residents were given opportunity to inform the Police of issues affecting their community.

ements in society, and the stigma of domestic violence. Concerns were also raised about the public perception of law enforcement officials in the community, youth groups,

C. Duncan and other ranks, accompanied by Pandit Ajay Sharma, re-

Among the several issues raised were the prevalence of truancy, issues pertaining to criminal el-

use of illicit substance by youths, Police recruitment in the region, transformation of the GPF, de-

livery of services, and the use of the ZARA computer centers. Also discussed were modernisation of the GPF Academy and profes-

the Caribbean has an average school dropout rate of 20 per cent. This is according to an InterAmerican Development

and footballers, following which a follow-up visit has been planned for the new week, when the Police would be distrib-

sionalism of ranks in the division.

Overall, in Guyana, the school dropout rate is about 2.0 per cent, while

Bank (IDB) report done in 2015.

This law enforcement team also had some interaction with cricketers

uting footballs and cricket gear in its endeavour to cultivate better relations with residents of the community.

NEWS

13

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PM Mark Phillips on India visit this week, will meet with President Murmu G

uyana's Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips will embark on his visit to India on February 6 and is scheduled to hold a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Guyana PM Mark Phillips will arrive on Tuesday in New Delhi.

He will hold a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday at the Hotel Taj Palace.

Later in the evening he will hold a meeting with President Murmu.

After his meeting with President Murmu, Phillips will meet Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar at the India Habitat Centre, the External Affairs Ministry

President of India, Droupadi Murmu

confirmed.

Later, the Guyana PM will be attending programmes in Delhi and Agra from February 8 to February 10.

He will depart from

India on February 11, according to the statement released by the MEA. In April last year, Jaishankar paid a visit to Guyana and called on PM Mark Phillips and dis-

cussed energy, disaster resilience, and defence cooperation.

He also co-chaired the 5th India-Guyana Joint Commission Meeting with his Guyana counterpart Hugh Todd and held "comprehensive discussions" related to agriculture, energy, health and pharmaceuticals and defence cooperation.

He also said it is very natural to discuss cricket on a visit to Guyana, as he called the nation, the land of Rohan Kanhai and Lance Gibbs.

Moreover, Jaishankar, during his Guyana visit also celebrated Earth Day and planted a tree.

"Celebrated Earth Day in Georgetown by planting a Simarupa tree in this beautiful country. May this

Prime Minister Mark Phillps

sapling grow and prosper reflecting the strength and vitality of the India-Guyana relationship," the minister posted on X. Jaishankar also met his counterpart from Saint

Lucia, Alva Baptiste, in Guyana.

India's relations with Guyana are warm and cordial, with a high degree of understanding. (Times of India)

UK-Caribbean Heads of Defence Conference

“Refined effort” being taken to enhance regional security – GDF Chief ered serious organised crime, intelligence sharing, cybersecurity, and hydrography. In light of the evolving global landscape, the Chiefs and I are more convinced than ever that global stability is best served by a cooperative and secure Caribbean,” Admiral Radakin said during the

GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan with the UK Chief-of-Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin at the end of the two-day UK-Caribbean Heads of Defence Conference held in Guyana last week

T

he Guyana Defence Force (GDF) recently hosted the United Kingdom and Caribbean Heads of Defence Conference during which there was a refined commitment to enhance regional security.

This is according to the GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan.

During a recent media engagement, Guyana Times asked the Army Chief about the outcome of the conference.

Brigadier Khan said, “There is a working group that has been identified, where several decisions were made, for us to make suggestions on how we could enhance our collaboration towards regional security. Based on the output, they are now going to study those recommendations and we are going to discuss that further. But all of this points to a more refined effort to enhance regional security.”

The fourth United Kingdom and Caribbean Heads of Defence Conference concluded on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 in Georgetown. The two-day event brought together representatives from countries across the region to deliberate on a range of mutual security issues.

According to the GDF, there was a unanimous recommitment from all participants to continue their collaborative efforts in addressing shared challenges.

During remarks at the conclusion of the conference, the Guyanese Chief of Staff praised the valuable contributions of all the delegates and acknowledged the honour of hosting counterparts from various nations. He highlighted the importance of international collaboration on mutual interests, and noted that this forum provided an ideal platform

to celebrate successes and address challenges for future conferences.

“As we reflect on the achievements of this conference, it reaffirms the strength of our partnerships and the commitment to addressing security challenges collectively.

This collaboration is essential for the prosperity and stability of our respective nations,” Brigadier Khan remarked.

Meanwhile, Chief-ofDefence Staff for the United Kingdom, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin expressed his gratitude to Guyana for hosting the event. Against the backdrop of increased global volatility, Admiral Radakin emphasised the importance of a peaceful and secure Caribbean region, where nations, irrespective of size, collaborate to address shared challenges and cultivate individual and collective strengths.

“Our discussions cov-

concluding remarks.

As part of the twoday conference, participating delegates witnessed a capability display hosted at the Coast Guard Headquarters at Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

The fifth United Kingdom and Caribbean Heads of Defence

Conference is scheduled to take place in the Dominican Republic in 2025. The anticipation is high for continued discussions, further strengthening regional cooperation, and finding innovative solutions to the security challenges faced by the Caribbean nations. (G8)

14 NEWS Campbellville man gunned MODEC celebrates strategic relationship with Guyana down at wake house MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

A

Campbellville Housing Scheme, Georgetown man was gunned down in the wee hours of Sunday at North Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Dead is Joseph Wilkinson, also known as "Dreddy".

Reports are that Wilkinson was attending a wake in North Ruimveldt, when about 12:20h he received a phone call and moved aside to answer it.

Guyana Times was told that a car approached the man, and its occupants unleashed gunfire on him before fleeing the scene.

Wilkinson sustained multiple gunshot wounds, and was rushed to a private city hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Wilkinson, already familiar to law enforcement officials, had faced drug trafficking charges in 2021.

This publication had reported in August 2021 that Wilkinson, along with Ajay Mahadeo, was charged for trafficking narcotics and appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The charge was in relation to a 210-kilogram drug bust in Norton Street, Georgetown.

This newspaper could not verify the status of that case.

In July 2023, during an update on charges against drug dealers, Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Director

Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud along with MODEC’s Chief Operating Officer, Katsuyuki Imaizumi (fourth from left) and President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge. Also in photo are representatives of local fabrication companies and MODEC

M

Dead: Joseph Wilkinson, also known as "Dreddy"

James Singh has referred to Wilkinson as a “big fish” in naro trafficking.

An investigation into Wilkinson's murder has been launched. (G9)

ODEC hosted a reception at the Guyana Marriott Hotel on February 3 to celebrate the start of construction of its first project in Guyana – the Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel Errea Wittu for ExxonMobil Guyana’s Uaru Project.

The centrepiece of this collaboration, the FPSO Errea Wittu, is a significant addition to MODEC’s portfolio.

According to MODEC, the vessel will have the company's experience in construction and operation, and will have the most modern features in offshore production. It will be one of the most sustainable FPSOs in the world, using an energy production system with a combined-cycle turbine on board.

“MODEC reinforces its leading role by using this technology offshore. It recovers exhaust heat to produce steam, which is used to drive a steam turbine for supplementary power generation, increasing the overall efficiency of the energy cycle and reducing the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG). The impact of the FPSO extends beyond mere resource extraction; it embodies the company’s commitment to local content, prioritising skills transfer and Guyanese partici-

MODEC’s Chief Operating Officer, Katsuyuki Imaizumi delivers remarks at the reception

pation,” a release from the company stated.

MODEC has contracted three Guyanese companies – Guyana Oil and Gas Support Services (GOGSS); Asequith Guyana and ZECO Group of Services – to provide fabrication services for the vessel, with the prospect of further local collaboration, partnership, and multiple spin-off benefits.

The contract encompasses the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Installation (EPCI) of the FPSO. MODEC will also provide the operation and maintenance services for this unit for at least 10 years from first oil production.

The FPSO will be deployed approximately 200 kilometres offshore Guyana, at a water depth of 1690 metres and it will be able to store around two million barrels of crude oil.

MODEC group company, Offshore Frontier Solutions Pte Ltd (OFS) will be responsible for the engineer-

ing, procurement, and construction of the FPSO based on MODEC’s M350TM newbuild hull. In addition, the platform will use a Spread Mooring System provided by SOFEC, another MODEC group company.

“The Uaru project stands as a testament to our dedication and ambition. It is not only one of our most significant endeavours but also a showcase of advanced technology and initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

This project serves as a beacon, guiding us towards a future where sustainability and progress go hand in hand,” said MODEC’s Chief Operating Officer, Katsuyuki Imaizumi.

Guyana’s Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud commended the activity which he said recognises collaboration.

Persaud remarked that MODEC’s collaboration with the local companies was in keeping with the Government’s thrust to ensure that the development, progress and activities of the oil and gas sector directly benefit Guyanese and Guyanese businesses.

He encouraged the Private Sector to see MODEC’s entrance into Guyana as a window to work closely with their Japanese counterpart and maximise opportunities.

Vice Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Rafeek Khan said that the collaboration with ExxonMobil and MODEC sets the stage from the top for other companies to follow suit.

NEWS

15

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Junior Police officers course begins today A

n inspection was done last week of the classrooms and facilities that would accommodate the upcoming junior Police officers course that is scheduled to commence today.

Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken, accompanied by Deputy C o m m i s s i o n e r (Administration) Calvin Brutus and other senior and junior officers, conducted this inspection at the Guyana Police Force Academy.

This junior officers course is the first to be held since 2018, and is scheduled to commence today and last

for two months. The aim is to offer training on leadership, management, monitoring and evaluation, risk assessment, policing duties, information technology (IT), and Strategic Planning, among several other relevant aspects.

The Police engaged teachers and students of the Patentia Secondary School, WBD in activities during a visit last week; and ranks of the La Grange Fire Station later facilitated informative sessions with this school, delivering lectures and practical demonstrations on fire safety with a focus on the proper usage of fire extinguishers

Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken inspecting the classrooms at the Guyana Police Force Academy ahead of the opening of the junior officers course today

Local female-owned real estate company receives ISO 9001 certification

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ocal Real Estate company ‘Steadfast Logistics’ has been certified by the Perry Johnson Registrars, Inc Quality Management System with the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015 certification.

Established on the February 22, 2020, Steadfast Logistics specialises in property management, and provides transportation and architecture and construction services.

The company is also locally recognised by the Guyana Association of Real Estate Professionals, which was established in June 2020.

This is the first woman-owned Guyanese real estate company to meet the international standards associated with the international certification; which recognises its commitment to excellence, customer service, and adherence to the highest industry standards.

On January 27, the certificate of accreditation

Amrita Sookram, CEO of local real estate company ‘Steadfast Logistics’, receiving the ISO 9001:2015 certification

was presented to the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Amrita Sookram, during a simple ceremony hosted at Herdmanston Lodge in Georgetown.

In a telephone interview with Guyana Times, the 23-year-old Sookram shared her story, during which she explained that she had been unemployed for months after completing her secondary school education.

And after months of no response from several entities, she started a shipping and logistics business. One year later,

Sookram began to connect and collaborate with companies in the construction and real estate industries, and this sparked her interest in modern interior designs.

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and those in the industry, Sookram was able to build her company and contribute significantly to the advancement of real estate in Guyana, given that she is also an executive member of the Guyana Association of Real Estate Professionals.

Detailing how this ISO 9001: 2015 certification would help her company to become competitive on the local, regional and international markets, Sookram said, “ISO 9001 deals specifically with the quality management system. This ensures we have solidly built processes in place that will only lead to improvement, efficiency, consistency, and customer satisfaction…

“This certification will help my business expand because it’s internationally recognized, and it gives our clients a sense of comfort even before having to interact with us…it estab-

lishes credibility and trust among consumers, clients, and other business partners. In today's international marketplace, such a designation validates that an organization adheres to global standards of quality assurance, manufacturing and business.”

Sookram added that Steadfast Logistics, which is located in Kitty, Georgetown, is committed to ensuring its customers consistently receive high quality products and services, which in turn brings many benefits, including satisfied customers, management, and employees.

“For those who are

aware of the process of getting the certification and the process of maintaining the certification, it’s quite tedious…but, of course, we do plan to live up to it for the entire duration of Steadfast Logistics,” Sookram stated.

Guyanese companies and agencies with ISO 9001 certification include Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), National Milling Company of Guyana, Guyana Logistics and Support Services, Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) and Cevons Waste Management Service, among others.

16 NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Lusignan Prison acquires new dental equipment I

n a move towards advancing health care within the Guyana Prison Service (GPS), the Lusignan Prison announced the acquisition and installation of dental equipment, marking a significant milestone in the institution's commitment to elevating healthcare standards.

The equipment was commissioned on Friday.

Director of Prisons (ag), Nicklon Elliot, conveyed his excitement about this advancement, emphasising its importance in the ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare services for the incarcerated population.

"We are thrilled to announce these advance-

ments in dental services, a testament to our ongoing commitment to enhancing healthcare standards for the inmates we serve," Elliot said during the commissioning ceremony.

In a release, the GPS said that the Director underscored the crucial role of dental hygiene and encouraged inmates to take full advantage of the newly-introduced services.

Elliot highlighted the synchronicity between dental care improvement and the broader development in health services happening across GPS facilities.

"The GPS has committed to remain steadfast in its mission of provid-

ing a comprehensive range of quality healthcare services," he affirmed.

Expressing gratitude for the collaborative effort between the GPS and the Health Ministry, the Director extended thanks to the Home Affairs Ministry for their support in getting the equipment.

Head of the Service's Strategic Department, Rae Dawn Corbin-Cameron and Officer-in-Charge of the Lusignan Prison, Deoraj Gyandat, both commended the enhancement, emphasising its significance in showcasing GPS's dedication to being at the forefront of healthcare innovation within the prison settings.

A prisoner getting his teeth cleaned with the new equipment (GPS photo)

Scores of students attend recruitment drive to study in Canada

T

hrough an initiative of the Student Centre, a leading higher education firm based in Barbados, a new recruitment process was on Saturday launched at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown with the goal of helping Guyanese students to get enrollment into one of six participating Canadian universities.

Caribbean college planner and coordinator of the event, Sheena Alleyne, explaining the gap between universities and students around the world, and the ways in which the Student Centre has closed that gap, said, “Guyana is ex-

Students liaising with university officials

ponentially growing, and the Student Centre has seen it very fit to come here to create linkage with Canadian universities and possible Guyanese students.”

The Student Centre provides customized support and business services to individuals and institutions, and is the official guide to higher education in the region. Working with institutions and students seeking higher education opportunities, it bridges the gap between international universities and students.

Officials of St George’s University, Sheridan College, University of

Guelph, Seneca College, George Brown College and Nait University facilitated discussions and enquires from potential students in Guyana during this recruitment process.

Discussions were based on fees and payments, opportunities for scholarships, mentoring, and areas of study, all of which were explained by Anaita McIntyre, Dave Orellena, Shalini Jaaga, Colin E Dowe, and Rupinerd Barhar.

Mentor of Seneca, Shalini Jaaga, spoke about situations students may encounter while travelling abroad to study for the first time. She said,

“Understanding the background centered around students stepping foot into a foreign country to study for the first time, Seneca University has created strategies which intertwine Caribbeanbased students more freely into their programmes.

We have a department in Toronto, Canada which consists of solely Caribbean students, which is embraced with Caribbean culture, making students feel at home.

In this case Guyanese students will see lots of Caribbean influence that they know of, which in part gives them a sense of home while studying

abroad.”

Other recruiters explained the uniqueness of their university, and Colin E. Dowe explained that St George’s has 28,000+ graduates, including physicians, veterinarians, scientists, and public health and business professionals across the world.

According to Dowe, St George’s offers medical and veterinary medical degrees in the Schools of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, and independent and dual graduate degrees in the sciences, public health, and business.

Undergraduate degree programmes are also avail-

able through its School of Arts and Sciences, and students may build on their education by pursuing a degree in the School of Graduate Studies.

Each university at this event provided a vast array of areas of study that it provides, and scores of students were exposed to real simulation experience in aviation, fitness and recreation, engineering, project management, hospitality, and tourism.

The Student Centre is positioning itself to create rapid work within Guyana in bridging the gap between students and universities.

17 Guyana records decrease in filaria, leprosy and TB – Min Anthony T NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

he Health Ministry is making progress in the eradication of filaria, leprosy and other neglected diseases, while cases of tuberculosis are also on the decline.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony disclosed on Friday, during the examination of the budget estimates, that instances of filaria have vastly declined. He said Guyana was now closer to e eradication of the disease.

“I’m happy to report that of our 10 administrative regions, we have good results in eight of those, we are not finding the parasite and we only have now two regions where we have to place a lot more focus, and in those two regions -- which is four and three, there are specific areas within those two regions that we have to put some more focus on,” the Health Minister is quoted in a Department of Public Information (DPI) report as saying.

He noted that those areas would be targeted with mass drug administration and next year, the international evaluation team would be coming to evaluate Guyana.

Dr Anthony expressed confidence that Guyana would get good results and was on course to eliminate filaria.

With regard to leprosy, this is also on the decline.

“We have seen a decline in cases, there has been a substantial decline and we are monitoring the patients individually and for those in the households with those patients we want to introduce a programme where we can give prophylaxis to those people in the household, so we break the transmission chain,” he noted

surveillance system during this year, to track various infectious diseases across Guyana,” he stated.

In addition, $12.5 million have also been set aside to train persons to fight filaria as the Ministry works towards the eradication of the disease.

Eleven million dollars

has also been set aside to work with miners to train them to detect and treat malaria.

“This here is a new initiative and because we are using rapid kits, it’s much easier for us to train that person,” he noted.

Seven million dollars was also set aside to train per-

sons to detect leprosy, while $6 million has been set aside to train healthcare workers on dengue.

Monies have also been set aside for training in port health, and also to do entomology to understand the different species of mosquitoes and their habits, to better control them.

Canada extends ban on foreign ownership of housing by 2 years According to the DPI report, he noted that the new initiative will be started this year and there is provision in the budget for it.

Leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis and worms are also being targeted as part of the five neglected diseases in Guyana. These are conditions that inflict severe health burdens on the world’s poorest people.

“We are confident that the five neglected infections that we have identified, we are very confident that by 2030 we will be able to eliminate them from Guyana," Minister Anthony stated.

Tuberculosis decline

“If I recall correctly, we had 500 patients that had TB, and as of last year, we had less than 40 patients and previously-seen cases of multiple drug resistance TB, we have bought second-line treatments for those patients. We had, last year, less than 5 -- so in fact what we are seeing is a decline of TB cases,” he stated.

He noted that the Ministry has mapped where the cases are coming from

and has been actively working to treat those patients.

“One of the attractions to this programme, because as you know they have to be on treatment for six to nine months. We have noticed that some persons are homeless who have TB and we have been encouraging those persons to come to the TB department, where we provide them with hot meals, and for most of those persons who have been coming, we have been able to work with them and we have seen good results,” the Minister said.

There are also provisions for training for the departments that will be working on the elimination of these diseases.

The National AIDS Programme Secretariat has been allocated $19 million, for work in the control of HIV and Sexually-Transmitted Infections (STIs).

Twelve million dollars was also set aside for epidemiology training.

“This will be done across the board, because we want to strengthen our surveillance system, and we will be setting up a new electronic

Houses are seen under construction in a neighbourhood of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, April 17, 2023 (

C

anada on Sunday announced a two-year extension to a ban on foreign ownership of Canadian housing, saying the step was aimed at addressing worries about Canadians being priced out of housing markets in cities and towns across the country.

Canada is facing a housing affordability crisis, which has been blamed on an increase in migrants and international students, fueling demand for homes just as rising costs have slowed construction.

"As part of using all pos-

sible tools to make housing more affordable for Canadians, the ban on foreign ownership of Canadian housing, which is currently set to expire on January 1, 2025, will be extended to January 1, 2027," Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement.

The Canadian government has said foreign ownership also has fueled worries about Canadians being priced out of housing markets in cities and towns across the country. Last month, Canada announced an immediate, two-year cap on internation-

al student permits and said it would also stop giving work permits to some students after graduation as it seeks to rein in record numbers of newcomers seen aggravating a housing crisis.

Rapid population growth fueled by immigration has put pressure on services such as healthcare and education, and has helped drive up housing costs. These issues have weighed on Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's support, with opinion polls showing he would lose an election if one were held now.

(Reuters)

18

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

EL Salvador's Bukele PM Mottley pays tribute to declares himself winner former Police Commissioner of presidential vote

B

arbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has given her condolences on the passing of former Commissioner of Police, Grantley Watson.

Below is the PM's statement: "It is with a deep and genuine sense of sadness and respect that I extend sympathy to the family of Mr. Grantley Watson.

"Mr Watson, having served as Commissioner of Police of the then Royal

E

l Salvador's President Nayib Bukele declared himself the winner of presidential elections held on Sunday, hours after polls closed but before the electoral body announced official results.

"According to our numbers, we won the presidential election with more than 85 per cent of the votes and a minimum of 58 out of 60 Assembly deputies," Bukele said on X, referring to the 60-seat legislative assembly.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

El Salvador's President ( Reuters/Jose Luis Gonzalez photo)

Barbados Police Force from 1995 to 2003 — the pinnacle of just short of four decades in the service — distinguished himself as a lawman and administrator for whom excellence meant everything.

"There is no doubt that is why, 20 years after his retirement, his legacy remains a point of reference for those who now have the honour and duty of protecting Barbados and its citizens by maintaining law, order and

stability here.

"In fact, when you add to his 39 years in the RBPF the 13 years he spent as Executive Director of the Regional Security System, the debt that is owned to him by Barbados and the rest of the Region becomes all the more significant.

He served the Caribbean with distinction, with never a hint of unprofessionalism or corruption — leaving a record for all to emulate."

(Excerpt from Nation News)

Canadian trio remain “committed” to building Antigua’s 1st crematorium

Chile forest fires kill 99 as hundreds remain missing S

A woman lying among the remains of her burned house, following the spread of wildfires in Vina del Mar, Chile, February 4 (Reuters/ Sofia Yanjari photo)

W

ildfires sweeping through central Chile have killed at least 99 persons and hundreds are still missing, authorities said on Sunday, as President Gabriel Boric warned the country faces a "tragedy of very great magnitude".

Wildfires that began several days ago are menacing the outer edges of Vina del Mar and Valparaiso, two coastal cities popular with tourists.

The urban sprawl of those cit-

ies accounts for more than a million residents west of the capital Santiago.

Drone footage filmed by Reuters in Vina del Mar area showed entire neighbourhoods scorched, with residents rummaging through husks of burnt-out houses where corrugated iron roofs have collapsed. On the streets, singed cars littered the roads.

Chilean authorities have introduced a 21:00h curfew in the hardest-hit areas and

sent in the military to help firefighters stem the spread of fires, while helicopters dumped water to try to douse the flames from the air.

Chile's Legal Medical Service, the state coroner, said 99 people have died in the fires, with 32 bodies identified.

Earlier in the day Boric, announcing two days of national mourning starting on Monday, said Chile should prepare itself for more bad news. (Excerpt from Reuters)

aying goodbye to a loved one is one of the hardest things most of us will ever have to do.

Compounding the grief of many Antiguans is angst over precisely where they will lay that person to rest.

The island’s expanding population means there are now up to 10 deaths a week – and a dire lack of space in which to bury people.

The two principal cemeteries of St John’s and Bolans have been full to capacity for some time.

Many believe the introduction of a crematorium – seen in many Caribbean islands but still absent locally – is the clear solution.

Three Canadian entrepreneurs, with Antiguan heritage and a collective four decades’ experience in the cremation industry, have been embroiled in talks with the Government over doing just that.

Shelley Challenger, Minnelle Williams and Shari Yearwood, from Toronto, say they are keen

(From left) Shari Yearwood, Minnelle Williams and Shelley Challenger

to give back to the country of their parents’ birth.

Speaking exclusively to Observer, they have confirmed their commitment to creating a first-class crematorium in Antigua to give local families greater options when bidding final

farewells.

And, in contrast to claims earlier this week from the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, Lionel Hurst, they have vowed to invest however much capital is needed to make it a reality.

(Excerpt from Antigua)

Julian Marley wins first Grammy Award

Moonilal claims secret company J formed for Dragon deal

O

ropouche East Member of Parliament, Dr Roodal Moonilal claimed that a company has been formed secretly to help Government execute the Dragon gas deal with Venezuela.

He made the claim at a news conference at the United Nations Congress (UNC) headquarters in Chaguanas on Sunday.

Moonilal said the company NGC Exploration was identified in the Venezuelan Government's gazette dated January 29.

He added that the existence of this company was never mentioned at any

Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal

time by the Government.

Moonilal also claimed that the gazette suggests that a bonus payment in US dollars must be paid to the Venezuelan

Government once any oil or natural gas is discovered and before it is sent to Trinidad and Tobago.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

ulian Marley has won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album for his album, "Colors of Royal".

The announcement was made during the Grammy Premiere Ceremony a short while ago.

"Colors of Royal" was one of the five albums nominated in the category at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, held at the Crypto. com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday. The other four albums nominated were "No Destroyer" by Burning Spear; Buju Banton’s "Born For Greatness"; Beenie Man’s "Simma"; and "Cali Roots Riddim 2023" by Collie Buddz.

Marley has been nominated twice in the Best Reggae Album category.

This is his first win. He now joins his brothers Ziggy,

Julian Marley

Stephen and Damian who all have Grammy wins under their belts.

Marley’s main collaborator on "Colors of Royal" is producer Alexx Antaeus (Earth Wind and Fire, Rolling Stones, Jah Vinci, Yaksta), with NotNice, Mr Sonic, Sean Alaric and

Prince Productions also securing production credits.

The late Aston "Family Man" Barrett and Jo Mersa Marley were remembered by another member of the team who accepted the award.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024

19

Around the World

Hamas hounds Israeli OILNEWS OIL NEWS forces in main Gaza cities P Energy sector set for 30% earnings' rout

L

ower oil and gas prices have been the biggest contributor to the year-over-year decrease in earnings for the energy sector.

Overall, the energy sector is expected to report -31.4 per cent nings decline for the fourth quarter, the worst among the market’s 11 sectors.

ExxonMobil beat Wall St. expectations on earnings per share, but missed on revenue.

We are still in the early innings of the earnings season with only a third of S&P 500 having reported Q4 2023 results.

Overall, the blended earnings decline for the entire S&P 500 for Q4 2023 is clocking in at -1.4 per cent, that number does not paint an accurate picture of the actual state of the market.

According to FactSet data, six of the seven companies in the “Magnificent 7” namely Nvidia Inc, Amazon Inc, Meta Platforms, Alphabet Inc, Microsoft Corp and Apple Inc have done most of the heavy lifting for the S&P 500. The six companies have reported combined earnings growth of 53.7 per cent; he remaining 494 companies in the index are expected to report a blended earnings decline of -10.5 per cent.

EV maker Tesla Inc is the sole exception among the Magnificent 7 after reporting a huge Q4 2023 earnings decline to the tune of -40 per cent.

The energy sector has been the focus of the market this week with US oil and gas giants Exxon Mobil Corp and Chevron Corp returning their fourth-uarter scorecards on Friday. Exxon Mobil reported Q4 Non-GAAP EPS of US$2.48, US$0.27 better than the Wall Street consensus,but Q4 2023 revenue of US$84.34B (-11.6 per cent Y/Y) missed by $4.48 billion.

Fourth quarter GAAP earnings clocked in at US$7.63 billion, a big Y/Y drop from $12.75B billions for Q4 2022.

Capital and exploration expenditures for the full year came in at $26.3 billion, slightly above the top end of the guidance range due to accelerated activities in the Permian and Guyana assets as well as the company’s new lithium business. For the full year, Exxon delivered industry-leading earnings of US$36.0 billion, generated US$55.4 billion of cash flow and distributed US$32.4 billion to shareholders. Full-year, net production was 3.7 million in line with the previous year; Permian and Guyana combined production grew 18 per cent in 2022. (Oilprice.com)

alestinian gunmen kept up attacks against Israeli forces on Sunday in the Gaza Strip's two main cities, weeks after they were overrun by troops and tanks, in a sign Hamas still maintains some control ahead of any potential truce.

Nearly four months into the war triggered by the Palestinian Islamist group's deadly cross-border rampage in Israel, there was persistent fighting in Gaza City in the north of the densely-populated enclave, and in Khan Younis to the south.

At the weekly Israeli Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin

N

month.

The nation had lost a "liberation... icon", Mr Mbumba said.

He has since been swornin as Mr Geingob's replacement and will serve in the role until elections due later this year.

"I am not going to be around for the elections so don't panic," he said at a swiftly arranged swearing-in ceremony at State House, just 15 hours after the death of the President.

(Excerpt fromBBC News)

A soldier standing in a vehicle as it passes near the IsraelGaza border, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from Israel, February 4, 2024 (Reuters/Dylan Martinez photo)

Palestinian refugees in what it describes a bid to prevent

any permanent dispossession. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US says strikes on Iran-linked sites in Iraq and Syria just "the beginning"

T

he White House has warned that its air strikes on Iranbacked targets in Iraq and Syria are just "the beginning, not the end" of its response to Iran.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan told US

media on Sunday "there will be more steps".

The US is responding to the deaths of three soldiers in an enemy drone attack on a military base in Jordan last week.

Though Iran denies involvement, its affiliate the

American Senate unveils $118B bipartisan bill on border security with aid for Ukraine, Israel

Coalition forces struck 36 Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday

Islamic Resistance in Iraq has claimed responsibility.

The US accuses Tehran of having its "fingerprints" on the attack and said the drone was Iranian-made.

In a letter to Congress on Sunday -- which under law he is required to send within 48 hours of military action -- President Joe Biden said the retal-

iatory strikes on Friday had targeted facilities used

by Iran's armed forces -the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) -- and militia groups linked to the IRGC. The IRGC is believed to have armed, funded and trained Islamic Resistance in Iraq. (Excerpt from BBC News)

China's tumbling prices push some exporters to the brink US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (Reuters/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades file photo)

Namibia's new President T sworn-in hours after predecessor dies amibia has a new president in the person of Nangolo Mbumba just hours after, as Vice-President, he had announced the death of his predecessor.

Hage Geingob, 82, died early on Sunday while receiving medical treatment at a hospital in the capital, Windhoek.

A veteran of the country's independence struggle, Geingob had been diagnosed with cancer and revealed the details to the public last

Netanyahu said 17 of Hamas' 24 combat battalions had been dismantled.

The rest, he said, were mostly in the southern Gaza Strip -- including Rafah, on the enclave's Egyptian border.

"We'll take care of them, too," he said, according to a statement from his office.

Hamas does not publish its losses.

The prospect of a push into Rafah has piled pressure on the hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians who have fled their homes elsewhere and are sheltering there. It also worries Cairo, which has said it will not admit any influx of

he US Senate on Sunday unveiled a US$118 billion bipartisan border security bill that would also provide aid to Ukraine and Israel following months of negotiations, but the measure faces an uncertain future amid opposition by Donald Trump and hardline Republicans.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he would take steps to hold an initial vote on the bill on Wednesday. If the bill were to become law, it would mark the most significant changes in US immigration and border security in decades.

Independent US Senator Kyrsten Sinema told reporters the legislation would se-

cure the US southern border, including by requiring the Department of Homeland Security to "shut down" the frontier to migrants if there are an average of more than 5000 crossing attempts per day over seven days.

In addition to US$20.23 billion for border security, the bill included US$60.06 billion to support Ukraine in its war with Russia, US$14.1 billion in security assistance for Israel, US$2.44 billion to US Central Command and the conflict in the Red Sea, and US$4.83 billion to support US partners in the Indo-Pacific facing aggression from China, according to figures from US Senator Patty Murray. (Excerpt from Reuters)

W

hen Kris Lin, who owns a lighting factory in China, received this year's first order from a close overseas client, he faced a distressing choice: take it at a loss, or tell workers not to come back after the Lunar New Year.

"It was impossible for me to lose this order," said Lin, who plans to re-start his factory in the eastern city of Taizhou at around half its capacity after the February 10-17 holiday break.

"I could have lost this client forever, and it would have endangered livelihoods for so many people.

If we delay resuming production, people might start doubting our business. If

rumours spread, it affects the decisions of our suppliers."

Prolonged factory deflation is threatening the survival of smaller Chinese exporters who are locked in relentless price wars for shrinking business as higher interest rates abroad and rising trade protectionism squeeze demand.

Producer prices have been falling for 15 straight months, crushing profit margins to the point where industrial output and jobs are now at risk and compounding China's economic woes, which include a property crisis and debt crunch.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

20

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Embrace like-minded people. Be careful when dealing with activities that put you at risk. Choose solid investments and avoid emotional or unnecessary purchases.

(March 21-April 19) You must be astute if you plan to make the right decision. Mixed emotions and incomplete data will make it difficult for you to envision the possibilities.

If you have doubts, step back.

PICKLES (April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

Dodge anyone trying to push you in a skeptical direction. Rely on what and whom you know, not on outside influences trying to separate you from your cash.

Look for hidden costs before you commit to something.

Leap forward. The timing is right to launch your plans. No more talking; actions will get you where you want to go.

It’s time to put all your hard work, education and experience to the test.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Explain your position and stand your ground. Don’t let anyone disrupt your plans or tarnish your reputation. Discuss issues and offer solutions. Demonstrate how you plan to move forward.

(July 23-Aug. 22) Keep making moves until you are satisfied with the results. Don’t hesitate when it’s up to you to bring about change. Gather information that will keep you updated with what’s trending.

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

Take notes, tally up what’s possible and be picky when faced with a joint endeavor or financial gamble. Hard work will pay off, and research will save you from a loss. Use your insight.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Weigh the pros and cons before you proceed. Consider who is advantageous and who will hold you back. Balance and integrity will be your best ways forward.

An offer will lack substance.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Refuse to let anyone’s rhetoric fluster or entice you. Don’t invest in someone or something when you should be focusing on your efforts. When in doubt, take a pass.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) LAST PUBLISHED WORD -- GENEROUS

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Buying into someone else’s dream won’t get you ahead financially. Make your money work for you. Put time and energy into something you believe in and hone your skills to fulfill your pursuits.

Listen, evaluate and fact-check before you commit to something that has appeal but lacks substance. Make your voice heard, network and do whatever you can to find the truth.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Go to the source if you want the truth.

Prepare to fight for what you want, and align yourself with people who share your sentiments. You’ll be the center of attention. Put reason first.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

MONDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2024

21

India vs England 2024: Test 2 of 5…

SHUBMAN GILL PUTS INDIA AHEAD

– but England hopeful of Bazball miracle

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udicrous though it may sound, the chase is on.

And although no team has ever hunted down a target of 399 to win a Test match in India, no team has ever come out to play with quite such indefatigable optimism as this England team.

By the close of another enthralling day in Visakhapatnam, England's top order had, in 14 overs, already chewed 67 runs out of their requirement. They had lost Ben Duckett, but with Rehan Ahmed's promotion in the fabled "night hawk" role, had reaffirmed their determination to chase every scoring option going, and revive India's recent memories of Edgbaston 2022, when this same side hurtled to a target of 378 with barely a break of sweat.

That they were chasing so many was thanks almost entirely to Shubman Gill, whose third Test century, a gutsy 104 from 147 balls, was his first score of note in 13 increasingly under-pressure innings. Gill came through an extraordinary ordeal in the first half-hour of the day to underpin a second-innings total of 255, which in any ordinary Test scenario would be plenty, given the lead India took into it. But in the wake of the Hyderabad miracle, and into the teeth of another hard-hitting half-century stand from England's openers, nothing quite seems as safe for India as it ought to.

Notwithstanding the strong likelihood that the magnificent Jasprit Bumrah has another huge contribution to come, Gill's close-of-play suggestion that India were "70-30" favourites rather underlined their misgivings.

That curious unease was present in every facet of India's

play, up to and including the cathartic roar that greeted R Ashwin's dismissal of Duckett for 28 in his first over of the innings. But with Zak Crawley thumping his drives with front-foot dominance to reach 29 not out from 50 balls at the close, England closed the day as they had begun it: self-evidently up against

Rohit Sharma, who played for the nipbacker and lost his off stump to an imperceptible hint of away movement; and Y a s h a s v i Jaiswal, the first-innings hero, who chased an outswinger across his bows and snicked a low edge to Joe

Shubman Gill celebrating his third Test century without much fanfare

it, but swinging their haymakers with ferocious conviction.

India had an overnight lead of 171 with ten wickets standing when their second innings resumed on a hazy morning, and the conditions could not have been more perfect for James Anderson to bring his peerless new-ball attributes to bear. Fresher than he might have been after just 56 overs of rest between innings, Anderson tore out both of India's openers in the space of nine deliveries for a combined addition of two runs:

Root at first slip.

England's day could scarcely have started better, yet it could, and probably should, have continued in an even more remarkable vein.

For the first 17 runs of his innings, Gill was a catatonic bag of nerves; his footwork was so frozen that even his first scoring shot, a freebie pull through a Tom Hartley long-hop, appeared to have been execut-

Erasmus raised his finger six balls later, however. With the ball still on a string, Anderson jagged another nipbacker into that front pad, but this time Gill was saved by the on-field decision.

Gill began to creep out of his shell once Anderson's spell was done, and a languid launch for six off Shoaib Bashir seemed to suggest he was finding his feet. But another nearmiss came when he snicked a palpable edge off Hartley.

However, Root was too wide at a lone slip to lay a hand on it.

By degrees, however, the panic dissipated and the good vibes seeped back into India's innings. In increments of singles against the spinners, Gill and Iyer began to inflate that lead on a surface that was notably more benign than it had been at a similar juncture of the second day's play. The fifty stand had come up by the time Rehan entered the attack in the 23rd over with a licence to rip his legbreaks, but two drag-downs in his first over allowed Gill to rush towards his first half-century in 13 innings, which he duly reached with another pair of boundaries in Rehan's third over of the day.

By then England's problems had been exacerbated by a finger injury to Root, sustained after fielding a low edge off Iyer in the slip cordon, and with Anderson held back, it took all of Stokes's ingenuity in the field to coax further breakthroughs from his greenhorn spin attack. And just as in Hyderabad, when his stunning run-out of Ravindra Jadeja had been a key moment of India's second innings, so it was his

SCOREBOARD India 2nd Innings Yashasvi Jaiswal c Root b Anderson 17 Rohit Sharma (c) b Anderson 13 Shubman Gill c †Foakes b Shoaib Bashir 104 Shreyas Iyer c Stokes b Hartley 29 Rajat Patidar c †Foakes b Rehan Ahmed 9 Axar Patel lbw b Hartley 45 Srikar Bharat † c Stokes b Rehan Ahmed 6 Ravichandran Ashwin c †Foakes b Rehan Ahmed 29 Kuldeep Yadav c Duckett b Hartley 0 Jasprit Bumrah c Bairstow b Hartley 0 Mukesh Kumar not out 0 Extras (lb 2, nb 1) 3 TOTAL 78.3 Ov (RR: 3.24) 255 Fall of wickets: 1-29 (Rohit Sharma, 6.4 ov), 2-30 (Yashasvi Jaiswal, 8.3 ov), 3-111 (Shreyas Iyer, 27.1 ov), 4-122 (Rajat Patidar, 30.6 ov), 5-211 (Shubman Gill, 55.6 ov), 6-220 (Axar Patel, 59.6 ov), 7-228

(Srikar Bharat, 64.4 ov), 8-229 (Kuldeep Yadav, 65.5 ov), 9-255 (Jasprit Bumrah, 77.4 ov), 10-255 (Ravichandran Ashwin, 78.3 ov) • BOWLING O-M-R-W James Anderson 10-1-29-2 Shoaib Bashir 15-0-58-1 Rehan Ahmed 24.3-5-88-3 Joe Root 2-1-1-0 Tom Hartley 27-3-77-4 England 2nd Innings (T: 399 runs) Zak Crawley not out 29 Ben Duckett c †Bharat b Ashwin 28 Rehan Ahmed not out 9 Extras (nb 1) 1 TOTAL 14 Ov (RR: 4.78) 67/1 Yet to bat: Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes †, Tom Hartley, Shoaib Bashir, James Anderson Fall of wickets: 1-50 (Ben Duckett, 10.5 ov) • BOWLING O-M-R-W Jasprit Bumrah 5-1-9-0 Mukesh Kumar 2-0-19-0 Kuldeep Yadav 4-0-21-0 Ravichandran Ashwin 2-0-8-1 Axar Patel 1-0-10-0

Tom Hartley and Ben Stokes celebrating a wicket

ed against his better survival instincts. One delivery later, even Gill himself thought he was stone-dead as Hartley thumped his planted front pad and extracted the on-field lbw verdict; but after consulting with Shreyas Iyer and deciding to roll the dice, his speculative review showed the slenderest of inside-edges.

There would have been no such get-out had Marais

own incredible running catch off Hartley that prised out Iyer for 29.

Stokes's springing of the trap was only part of the story, as he put his recent knee surgery to the ultimate test with a turn from mid-off and a full-tilt sprint towards the boundary, before diving at full-stretch to grab the over-the-shoulder chance. The opportunity had been created by his ad-

justments earlier in the over, as he brought up the boundary riders to tempt Iyer into the big stroke over the top, and duly lured him into a wild hack across the line.

Though Rehan had been expensive, Stokes was not about to lose faith in his wicket-taking wiles, and three overs later, England had their fourth of the session, courtesy of another superb take from Ben Foakes, whose peerless glovework has been fully appreciated by his team-mates in this Test.

Rajat Patidar's eyes lit up as Rehan fired down an apparent long-hop, but the ball skidded through low to clip his inside-edge, and he was gone for 9.

After lunch, Gill sensed it was time to spread his wings, especially once Anderson had come and gone without great

as Hartley skidded another low-bouncing delivery into his front pad, before KS Bharat and Kuldeep Yadav came and went meekly, with a pair of miscued slogs after a period of resolute blocking.

Ashwin was the only one to have found the gumption to get the scoreboard moving again with a block-and-bash 29, and even he required a life at slip to do so; but after Bumrah's 26-ball duck had ended with a fence to gully to give Hartley his fourth of the innings, Rehan wrapped up the innings with his own third wicket, courtesy of another super low take from Foakes.

Where previous teams might have viewed with trepidation an hour of batting against Bumrah, England saw it as a chance to make a dent in their target, and a run-rate

R Ashwin leapt in celebration after taking his first wicket of the Test in England's chase

impact. Rehan was launched for six and two fours in consecutive balls to propel him towards his third Test hundred, which he reached shortly after the drinks break with a calm nudge off the hips from Bashir.

The look on his face was relief first, delight second, but the importance of his endurance was all the more keenly felt by the close.

Nevertheless, even with the lead pushing past 350, England still weren't done in their relentless pursuit of wickets, and once again, it was Stokes's tinkering that tampered with Gill's poise. Bashir had endured arguably his least effective spell of the match, and might already have made way for Root's offspin instead, when Stokes made a show of shoring up Gill's leg-side field, and before the over was done, he'd attempted a reverse-sweep to open up new avenues and gloved his shot straight up in the air, for Foakes to earn the verdict on review.

The door to India's lower-order had been opened, and Stokes had enough faith in his rookies to rush straight through it. Axar Patel had batted with poise in an unhurried knock of 45 from 84 balls, but played across the line

of 4.78 was precisely what Brendon McCullum had ordered, with Anderson later confirming that he'd told them to go for the win even if they'd been chasing 600.

Bumrah inevitably was a splice-hounding menace with the new ball, as he beat Crawley's edge repeatedly, and even got one to scuttle on an off-stump line, but Mukesh Kumar's poor match continued, as each opener scalped a brace of boundaries in his two overs for 19.

Kuldeep entered the attack and was planted over midwicket for six by Crawley, while Rehan lived up to his billing with two fours in the final three balls of the day, both streaky but effective slaps off Axar.

All manner of records would have to tumble if England are to hunt this target down, but it perhaps won't be lost on India that when they set the benchmark with their pursuit of 387 to beat England in Chennai in 2008, it was a certain Virender Sehwag who broke the back of the chase with his pulsating half-century on the fourth evening. If he was the original Bazballer, there's a whole brigade of them charging over the brow now. (ESPNCricinfo)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2024

2024 CWI Regional 4-Day Championships…

“One Guyana” Basketball League…

…2 changes made to squad

s the playoff round of the “One Guyana” Basketball League continued at the National Gymnasium on Saturday, Stabroek Eagles secured their place in the next round as McDoom/Prospect Kobras emerged victorious to level the playoff series at one win each against Bounty Colts.

The McDoom/Prospect Kobras pulled off a dramatic triumph over Bounty Colts

GHE wing out as title Eagles secure defence commences conference finals spot this week in St Kitts as Kobras level playoffs

A

The Stabroek Eagles Team

The Guyana Harpy Eagles team

T

he Guyana Harpy Eagles’ 13-man squad flew out on Sunday morning for St. Kitts, ahead of their first assignment, versus Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

The Eagles wrapped up a decent encampment period, although the forces of nature had attempted to interrupt the proceedings at times; and the well-balanced side would be tasked with returning home with the title as they seek yet another 4-Day victory.

In changes made to the squad, fast-bowling all-rounder Neiland Cadogan and all-rounder Richie Looknauth were named as late replacements for Nial Smith and Akshaya Persaud, taking the tally of uncapped newbies to 5, alongside Steven Sankar, Raymond Perez and Ronaldo Alimohamed.

Meanwhile, in a brief comment, Harpy Eagles Assistant Coach Garvin

Travis Burnett of McDoom/Prospect Kobras

Neiland Cadogan

Nedd has said the team is in good spirits heading into battle.

He said the team had managed to focus on all areas of work during camp and training, and he's confident of a good showing by the defending Champs as they seek to hit the ground running ahead of their opening game.

Guyana Harpy Eagles

squad: Kevlon Anderson (captain), Matthew Nandu (vice-captain), Veerasammy Permaul, Antony Adams, Kevin Sinclair, Ronsford Beaton, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Raymond Perez, Ronaldo Alimohamed, Steven Sankar, Kemol Savory (wicketkeeper), Richie Looknauth and Neiland Cadogan.

after taking a dominating 18-13 lead in the first quarter.

The Kobras controlled the second quarter of the game, scoring 20 points to increase their score to 38, while holding the Colts to 18 points for a total of 31.

A royal battle ensued in the third quarter, as the Colts forced a comeback by pouncing on the Kobras defense and scoring 21 points for a total of 52 points, while the Kobras appeared to slow down offensively, scoring 19 points for a total of 51.

The Kobras clinched their victory in the fourth quarter, scoring 21 points for an overall score of 78 points, while

the opposition continued to battle, scored 21 points for an overall total of 73.

In a comment invited by Guyana Times Sport, McDoom/Prospect Kobras Coach Jermaine Slater expounded on the impact of National Player Travis Burnett in securing this win.

Slater said, “The game was good, the game was tight, but I felt better this time, because the team actually listened this time around on defense; and coupled with the fact that our senior national player Travis Burnett, one of the founder members of this team, came in the country specifically to visit Guyana and one of the things he wanted to do was

play for his club, so it definitely was a game-changer for us.”

With their feisty play, the Stabroek Eagles continued their unbeaten streak as they cemented their place in the Conference Finals by annihilating the UG Trojans with a win. Eagles scored 19 points in the first quarter of the game. Their defense was pivotal, as they restricted the Trojans to 13 points.

The second quarter proved beneficial to the Eagles, as they put the ball through the net consistently, and scored 16 points while managing to calm the Trojans, who failed to put the ball through the net consistently and ended up scoring 5 points.

The third quarter was also dominated by the Trojans, as they looked to make a comeback, and they were phenomenal in getting the ball through the nets as they scored 27 points while the Eagles were limited to 18 points.

The Eagles went on to secure the win in the final quarter by scoring 15 points for a total of 68 at the end of the game, while the Trojans scored 14 points for a total of 59.(Omar McKenzie)

NSC/EBFA/Ralph Green U-11 League…

Santos, Fruta Conquerors to clash in final after semi-final wins

C

ity sides Santos Football Club and Fruta Conquerors FC will clash in the final of the NSC/EBFA/Ralph Green Under-11 League following respective semi-final victories over East Bank opponents yesterday at the Agricola Playfield.

Both Friendship AllStars and Swan Football Club put up sterling resistance, but were unable to prevent the Georgetown teams from advancing to the final on a date to be decided by the organisers.

Santos was pushed to the end by the Linden Soesdykebased Swan FC in what was an exciting clash from start to finish in the second semi,

which had to be decided via kicks from the penalty mark following their 2-2 regulation time draw.

Swan took the lead through a Kevon Charles goal, but Santos kept their focus and were able to draw level through a Daniel Chesney goal. They then took the lead when Devon Wright rocked the nets.

However, as the game approached full-time, it seemed that Santos would have eased to the win in regulation time, but a welltimed pass to Elon James in the 29th saw him heading the ball over the Santos goalkeeper and into an open goal even as the Santos players tried their utmost to cov-

Santos FC goal scorers, Daniel Chesney and Devon Wright

er for the missing goalie.

However, Swan was no match for Santos from the penalty mark, and lost 0-2, which created a safe passage to the final for Santos in the championship game against Conquerors, who had earlier eased to a 2-0 win over Friendship All-Stars.

Friendship enjoyed some good moments in the game, but were not able to find any goals. Conquerors’ goals came from Gilbert Frank and the consistent Dane Vancooten. Swan and Friendship collide in the third-place match.

The league commenced on November 15, 2023 and is now down to the final, wherein players and teams

are eager to cash in on prizes on offer. The runner-up team will be rewarded with a trophy and 12 replicas, the same as the win will be for first-timers. The second and third runner-up will each receive 12 medals.

Individual prizes of a plaque each will go to the Most Valuable Player (Plaque), Best Goalkeeper, Highest Goal Scorer, Most Promising Player, and Most Disciplined Player. The Best Coach will also receive a Plaque.

Before kick-off of the League, each team was presented with branded playing shirts and two footballs each. The respective coaches received polo shirts.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2024

23

WI vs Australia: 2024 ODI Series, Game 2 of 3…

Sean Abbott's all-round show helps Australia seal series S

ean Abbott starred on his home ground with a standout all-round display as Australia overcame tricky batting conditions at the SCG to take a 2-0 lead in the ODI series. Abbott's career-best 69 led a lower-order fightback for the home side then, after it was West Indies' spinners who caused most problems, Australia's quicks did the damage to the chase.

Abbott finished with 3 for 40 - his third wicket coming courtesy of a stunning catch by Cameron Green at midwicket - to go alongside his half-century; and for good measure, added two well-judged catches. Will Sutherland, one of two debutants for Australia, claimed his maiden international wicket by removing Romario Shepherd. Josh Hazlewood, who was called up for this game as Australia managed their resources, showed his class with three scalps.

Australia had been 91 for 5, and later 167 for 7 as Gudakesh Motie claimed 3 for 28, when Abbott dominated the closing stages with Sutherland offering support in an innings-high stand of

et when Alick Athanaze skied to mid-off, and Abbott added to his impact on the game.

Hazlewood then had Justin Greaves taken

by Sutherland at mid-off, and when Abbott joined the wicket-taking, finding Kjorn Ottley's edge, West Indies were 34 for 3.

Gudakesh Motie picked up three wickets

Sean Abbott's 69 took Australia past 250

buts to world-record holder Jake Fraser-McGurk, who replaced Travis Head at the top of the order, and allrounder Sutherland. Sutherland's father James, the former Cricket Australia CEO, was at his cap presentation along with sister Annabel, who had flown in early ahead of the rest of the Australia women's squad to attend the game.

Xavier Bartlett and Lance Morris were rested after their debuts at the MCG, with the selectors wary of there being three games in five days.

Matthew Short made 41 off 55 balls

57. Abbott's final score was the joint fifth-highest for Australia from No. 8 and below in ODIs. A number of Australia's top order batters made starts without converting, with four of the top seven falling between 26 and 41, before Abbott showed his prowess with a 54-ball half-century and struck consecutive sixes in the penultimate over, before dragging on.

In the 20 overs between Motie and offspinner Roston Chase, there were just two boundaries, as the spinners proved tough to get away.

But Australia lost one of their spin resources for the second innings, with Matt Short, who made 41, unable to field due to hamstring tightness. He is to be assessed in the coming days, but would most likely be doubtful for Canberra on Tuesday, given the short turnaround.

It means all of Australia's spin would be in the hands of Adam Zampa, so the early inroads made by the quicks were important. Aaron Hardie was given the new ball, and started with an excellent spell that included two maidens, as he found late movement.

He claimed the opening wick-

Captain Shai Hope and Keacy Carty, who played superbly at the MCG for 88, rebuilt for 13 overs, before Hope was beaten by a ball from Hazlewood which kept low and smashed off stump. Soon after, Abbott struck again to end Carty's promising stay with a thick edge to the keeper, and things faded away.

Australia handed out de-

SCOREBOARD Australia (50 ovs maximum) Jake Fraser-McGurk c †Hope b Joseph 10 Josh Inglis † c Chase b Joseph 9 Cameron Green c Forde b Thomas 33 Steven Smith (c) b Forde 5 Marnus Labuschagne c Greaves b Motie 26 Matthew Short c & b Motie 41 Aaron Hardie c Forde b Motie 26 Sean Abbott b Shepherd 69 Will Sutherland c Greaves b Shepherd 18 Adam Zampa not out 8 Josh Hazlewood not out 4 Extras (lb 1, nb 2, w 6) 9 TOTAL 50 Ov (RR: 5.16) 258/9 Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Jake FraserMcGurk, 0.5 ov), 2-21 (Josh Inglis, 2.6 ov), 3-50 (Steven Smith, 7.1 ov), 4-89 (Cameron Green, 15.5 ov), 5-91 (Marnus Labuschagne, 16.4 ov), 6-142 (Aaron Hardie, 28.1 ov), 7-167 (Matthew Short, 34.5 ov), 8-224 (Will Sutherland, 45.4 ov), 9-251 (Sean Abbott, 48.3 ov) • BOWLING O-M-R-W Alzarri Joseph 9-0-74-2 Matthew Forde 9-1-32-1 Romario Shepherd 8-0-50-2 Oshane Thomas 4-0-33-1 Gudakesh Motie 10-0-28-3 Roston Chase 10-0-40-0

West Indies (T: 259 runs from 50 ovs) Alick Athanaze c Abbott b Hardie 11 Justin Greaves c Sutherland b Hazlewood 8 Kjorn Ottley c †Inglis b Abbott 8 Shai Hope (c)† b Hazlewood 29 Keacy Carty c †Inglis b Abbott 40 Roston Chase c Green b Abbott 25 Romario Shepherd c Abbott b Sutherland 6 Matthew Forde lbw b Hazlewood 7 Alzarri Joseph c sub (MW Harvey) b Sutherland 19 Gudakesh Motie not out 7 Oshane Thomas lbw b Zampa 7 Extras (b 1, lb 5, nb 1, w 1) 8 TOTAL 43.3 Ov (RR: 4.02) 175 Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Alick Athanaze, 3.3 ov), 2-21 (Justin Greaves, 4.4 ov), 3-34 (Kjorn Ottley, 8.6 ov), 4-87 (Shai Hope, 22.4 ov), 5-108 (Keacy Carty, 28.1 ov), 6-126 (Romario Shepherd, 32.3 ov), 7-134 (Matthew Forde, 34.1 ov), 8-157 (Alzarri Joseph, 37.5 ov), 9-167 (Roston Chase, 40.5 ov), 10175 (Oshane Thomas, 43.3 ov) • BOWLING O-M-R-W Josh Hazlewood 8-0-43-3 Aaron Hardie 8-2-27-1 Sean Abbott 10-0-40-3 Will Sutherland 8-0-28-2 Adam Zampa 9.3-0-31-1

Fraser-McGurk's first international innings was brief, but not dull. He swiped and missed at his first ball, was beaten by the bounce from his second, clubbed his third straight of mid-on, and launched his fourth into the second tier of the Bill O'Reilly Stand.

With his fifth it was all over, as he edged Alzarri Joseph to the keeper. Joseph had a second when Josh Inglis drove to backward point, and when Steven Smith chopped on against Matthew Forde, Australia were 50 for 3 in the eighth over.

By then Green was up and running, having played three sumptuous drives in consecutive deliveries against Joseph, but having had his flying start pulled back, he miscued to mid-on.

In the next over, Marnus

of the less experienced players trying to forge their way in the one-day side, batted steadily in a sixth-wicket stand of 51. Hardie was given a life on 18, when he reverse-swept to cover but Carty spilled the chance above his head. However, it didn't prove costly, as Hardie gave his innings away when he pulled Motie to long-on.

When Short also fell to Motie, it was left to the lower order to nurse the innings through. Scoring was hard work for Sutherland, who was brilliantly caught at cover by Greaves, but Abbott cleared

Keacy Carty top-scored for West Indies again

Labuschagne drove Motie to cover to leave Australia 91 for 5 and more than 33 overs still to bat.

Short and Hardie, two

the fence three times in four overs, with the first blow leaving a spectator needing treatment after being struck in the pavilion. (ESPNCricinfo)

Fireside hands over Championship Trophy for Mash Street Football Showdown

F

ireside Grill and Chill, under its Fireside Suites brand, yesterday handed over the Championship Trophy for the upcoming and much-anticipated Mashramani Street Football Championship, slated for Sunday, February 18th at the National Park.

Ashanti Robinson presented the trophy on behalf of the Garnett Street outlet. Brand Ambassador for the event, Terryann Caesar, thanked Fireside for their continued support and indicated that the business had been a supporter of the event from its inception, and that's always a good sign of growth.

"We want to thank Fireside for their contributions to this event, and it's always good to have reputable brands like Fireside associated with your events, because it's an indicator that they see value in what you are doing," Caesar said. She added that it's a worthwhile investment in our youths.

This year’s event has been crunched into what the sports management entity behind the organising and promotion of the event calls "one big night". The event

Ashanti Robinson (left) presenting the Championship Trophy to Brand Ambassador for the Mash Street Football Championship, Terryann Caesar, yesterday at the Garnett Street outlet

will feature 16 of the best teams facing off in an ultimate showdown for the right to be called "the best of the best".

Caesar said a prize is guaranteed once they get to the Final Four, and getting there only requires teams to win two games. She indicated that a total of $1 million will be split among the top four teams of the competition, which makes it a his-

toric giveaway in one night.

The Mashramani Football Championship is one of the biggest and most highly anticipated events on the calendar for the format of the sport. It was last held in 2022 and easily became one of the biggest street football events the country has ever seen. The showdown promises to be no different on Sunday February 18th at the National Park.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024

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