Guyana Times - Monday, January 16, 2023

Christ Church school fire suspected arson – Benn

The fire which destroyed the Christ Church Secondary School last Thursday is suspected to have been caused by arson. This was revealed by Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn on Sunday.

According to Benn, the Police are also working on a few leads and are expected to question some of the presumed suspects today.

“The Fire Service are to give us a report… but I want to suspect that it was maliciously set or arson. The Police are working on a couple of leads and they might be pulling in a couple more people for questioning tomorrow,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Priya Manickchand told this publication that the Ministry is

still looking at possible locations for the accommodation for students and teachers. On Friday last, the Ministry announced that classes would be held online for students to continue their education until a physical location can be decided upon.

Last Thursday afternoon, a blazing fire destroyed the Christ Church

Secondary School. The Guyana Fire Service’s best efforts could not contain the hungry blaze that soon swept westwards to the buildings at the back of the school, and destroyed the entire top wooden half along with other sections of the Grade ‘A’ secondary learning institution.

Within the span of 45 minutes, one could see through the remaining structure, made only of beams and crumbled concrete and walls.

Minister Manickchand expressed her disappointment for the inconvenience caused by the incident as she expressed great sympathy for the 502 students and teachers who will now be put at a disadvantage.

Manickchand lamented, “And it’s an expensive enterprise, but it’s not just the expense, it’s the inconvenience. Schools take time to build, kids writing CXC

this year have their SBAs in this building now, their lab books in this building now.”

“They’re writing in a couple of months so we have a whole set of things to…figure out. We know that the building was properly wired because last week…to get a connection back from GPL we had to have an inspection and approval from GPL… that says it’s properly wired. So, I’m waiting to see what is the reason for this fire,” the Minister added.

“It is beyond devastating, it’s indescribable, it’s a huge loss to us this is a List-A school…any school that we lose is a huge loss to us. This is the third school in Georgetown that went up in flames, and we’re struggling with space… to accommodate the other two

schools so you can imagine the position this will put us in,” Manickchand previously said. Also present at the incident was Minister Benn. Benn pointed out the obvious elephant in the room; the coincidence needed for two fires to break out at the same building, one week apart.

“It would appear passing strange and it would test the probability that within two or three weeks we can have a fire at the same building at a prominent building in Georgetown, where hundreds of children are working on their SBAs and other things. We cannot afford the loss of these assets,” he remarked.

“I’m not speculating. I’m merely saying that it’s passing strange and it’s a tremendous blow,” he clarified.

The remains of Christ Church Secondary School after the fire

The school on fire on Thursday

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, Jan 16 – 11:30h – 13:00h and 23:30h – 01:00h and Tuesday, Jan 17 – 12:00h – 13:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, Jan 16 – 11:10h – 12:40h and Tuesday, Jan 17 – 12:20h – 13:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be light cloud during the day. Expect partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North North-Easterly to Northerly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 11:21h reaching a maximum height of 2.32 metres.

Low Tide: 17:29h reaching a minimum height of 0.88 metre.

Today is Budget Day

With today being Budget Day, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh in a preview of what Guyanese can expect from the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C's) fourth budget since 2020, has assured that the budget will deliver both direct and indirect benefits to thousands of ordinary Guyanese.

He gave this assurance in a broadcasted interview on Sunday, explaining that the budget was formulated with “One Guyana” in mind to ensure that as many people as possible can benefit from the exciting opportunities that are becoming available and participate in Guyana’s development.

“The overarching and

er the things that are necessary to improve the lives of all Guyanese people and to create opportunities for all Guyanese people. And it will do so through a number of instruments. Some will be di-

to 2020, as more investors line up to invest in the economy.

“Projects that were put on hold were once again restarted. Projects that were shelved were brought back on board. And private investment resumed and private sector-led growth resumed. And the non-oil economy breathed some oxygen in for the first time, after five years of being starved of oxygen.”

“And that mood and perspective by the private sector has continued ever since a recognition that the PPP/C values the role of the private sector in creating jobs and generating income. And I will always say that very publicly,” the Finance Minister said.

tion of the private sector recognising that Guyana is once again a good place to do business. They’re investing, they’re growing. They’re creating jobs. And the economy is doing well.”

“Budget 2023 will constitute an advancement of this agenda. It will constitute us taking this agenda forward, ensuring that non-oil growth remains strong. Of course, we want the oil sector to continue to do well too. And it’s anticipated to continue to do well. But we want to ensure we lay the basis for strong non-oil growth as well,” he added.

Budget Day

It was announced last week that budget day would be Monday, January 16, 2023. The Finance Minister has over the last several months been meeting and consulting with various stakeholders including the private sector, Government Ministries, other agencies, and civil society.

clear message I can deliver, is that Budget 2023 will constitute yet another instalment, through which this PPP/C Government, led by Ali, will continue to improve the lives of all Guyanese people within the context of President Ali’s deeply held philosophy of One Guyana.”

“Budget 2023 will continue to do the things and deliv-

rect; some will be indirect,” Dr Singh said.

Among the examples Dr Singh gave are the initiatives they have tailored to preserve private investment environment, while creating jobs and training for persons to fill those jobs. According to him, the mood and economy in Guyana is a different one

Singh made it pellucid that the Government values and will continue to work with the private sector to ensure that growth and the creation of jobs for Guyanese continues. And with this, Singh pointed out that more income will be generated for Guyanese households.

“That is what managing a private sector-led economy involves. The strong growth that you’ve been seeing since we returned to office, is a reflection of that. It’s a reflec-

Recently, President Ali hosted the latest consultative meeting at State House with representatives from several private sector and other agencies to listen to their concerns and receive suggestions for Budget 2023. These all formed part of possible inclusions as the Budget 2023 planning process continues.

As with Budget 2022, this year’s budget is expected to see critical development programmes for Government being fast-tracked and many more expanded to reflect Government’s continued transformational agenda for the country which has been taking it forward at a rapid pace over the last two years and five months since the PPP/C’s return to office in August 2020.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

The reading of Budget 2023 takes place at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre

Editor: Tusika Martin

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The Internet of Things

In our first editorial of the year, “Digital IDs in the New Year”, we discussed the Government’s initiative to issue digital IDs in line with the world’s inexorable movement from analoged communication to digital. We noted, “the ID cards will have a secure chip, which can store data including blood type, date of birth, drivers’ licence and taxpayer’s identification number.” But these IDs will only be the initial step in plugging us into “the Internet of Things”. And no, this is not science fiction. With the evolution of the fifth-generation (5G) wireless network and the ongoing work on 6G, the Internet of Things (IoT) has become a revolutionary technique that enables a diverse number of features and applications.

The IoT evolved from the convergence of development in a host of hardware and software in the communications sector: wireless technologies, microelectromechanical systems, microservices, and the Internet. One critical outcome from this confluence is that it has helped remove the barriers between Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT). This outcome facilitated unstructured machine-generated data to be analysed for insights to drive improvements.

In layman terms, the IoT will potentially be connecting all living and non-living things via the Internet; with the information gleaned or generated used in unimaginable ways. Since it is “a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals, or people that are provided with unique identifiers (UIDs) and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-tohuman or human-to-computer interaction”, the entire earth can be in communication. In the IoT, a “thing” can be a vehicle or any other device that has those built-in sensors that already inform us when one or more devices are malfunctioning. It can be a person’s pacemaker or cows with biochip transponders and digital IDs.

The IoT is a new paradigm that has changed the traditional way of living into a high-tech lifestyle. Smart city, smart homes, pollution control, energy saving, smart transportation, and smart industries, as well as healthcare, environmental, commercial, industrial, and infrastructural applications are such transformations due to IoT. Smart homes are already being built that are equipped with smart thermostats, smart appliances, and connected heating, lighting and electronic devices that can be controlled remotely via computers and smartphones. Such buildings can, for instance, reduce energy costs using sensors that detect how many occupants are in a room. The temperature can adjust automatically – for example, turning the air conditioner on if sensors detect a conference room is full or turning the heat down if everyone in the office has gone home. Even complete smart cities can be created and from what we have heard, Silica City on the Linden Highway will be built along these lines. In a smart city, IoT sensors and deployments, such as smart streetlights and smart meters can help alleviate traffic jams, conserve energy, monitor and address environmental concerns, and improve sanitation. In healthcare, IoT offers many benefits, including the ability to monitor patients more closely using an analysis of the data that's generated. Hospitals often use IoT systems to complete tasks such as inventory management for both pharmaceuticals and medical instruments. Increasingly, organisations in a variety of industries are using IoT to operate more efficiently, better understand customers to deliver enhanced customer service, improve decision-making, and increase the value of the business.

Security of data will clearly be a major issue since the IoT connects billions of devices to the Internet and involves the use of billions of data points, creating an exponentially-expanded attack surface. Because IoT devices are closely connected, hackers can exploit a single vulnerability to manipulate all the data, rendering it unusable. Additionally, connected devices often ask users to input their personal information, including names, ages, addresses, phone numbers and even social media accounts – invaluable information to hackers.

Beyond leaking personal data, IoT can pose risks to critical infrastructure, including electricity, transportation and financial services. To prevent security attacks, several security mechanisms are involved in IoT applications including authentication, encryption, blockchain, and trust management. Welcome to the brave new world of IoT.

Extreme lunacy from selected squatters and Aubrey Norton

Dear Editor, Aubrey Norton’s theatrics transcends amusement. I read that he has threatened legal action against the Government, on behalf of those whose houses were destroyed. Specifically, he is referring to the ‘Ecclesto-Great Diamond Highway Project’ that is about to upend selected Mocha squatters. To Norton and his few advocates, I have a few telling remarks.

First, I ask that we all read up on the tenure of former Minister of Housing (Under the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Changer), Valerie Patterson-Yearwood. At one time, her campaign was to ‘deal severely’ with all squatters. In very definitive terms (and the footage is quite accessible) she used to repeatedly delineate the illegality of squatting, referencing on those occasions its unethical and unhealthy spin-offs So, I am most aghast that some people are crying foul and racism.

Further, I recall, and quite vividly too, that in October 25, 2017, one local columnist reminded the nation that “Every time the Government (APNU/ AFC) moved against squatters, there was a big hue and cry.” That article explained that “Squatting had become a means of land grabbing … (as) occupying reserves (was) in the

hope of being regularised, in which persons were hoping that they could be economically empowered.” At that juncture, many squatters were protesting in front of the Central Housing and Planning Authority, claiming that they were sent notices “…to remove from Government reserves.” What was quite telling is the fact that even back then, it was well-established that “…this was not the Government’s problem. It is their, the squatters’ problem. They should not have been on the Government reserve in the first place.”

The columnist advocated too that “Squatting should not be rewarded. If people were rewarded for squatting, then the practice will become a ruse for persons who want to grab lands. They will believe that in order to stop their illegal occupation of land, the Government will be forced to give them new lands.

Then how about what happened in February 2018, when the former Region Two Regional Executive Officer, Rupert Hopkinson, adamantly maintained that “… squatting on Government’s reserves was illegal and (thus) called on the public to co-operate and to desist from the illegal act.” This position from Hopkinson emanated after much controversy on social media about a measure

he took to temporarily impound materials that were to be used by a Jibb family to construct a house allegedly on Government’s reserves.

Details showed that Hopkinson refused permission to build a house on a Government reserve and noted that even after this refusal and despite his warning, that the individual still began to construct a permanent structure on a reserve at Jibb, Essequibo Coast.

He explained that “I warned the family approximately seven times that they cannot squat; instead, I encouraged them to apply for a house lot…in fact I told them that I will help them during the process, but they still continued.” Hopkinson as we all recall, impounded the building materials to bring an end to the illegal project.

Editor, I need not prolong this issue. However, I make a big point of emphasising how commodious and compassionate the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government and their officers have been in this venture. The fact sheet is clean, comprehensive and candid. It shows that “To date, 28 families (from the said area) have already been relocated from the dam to nearby residential areas and have rebuilt new homes through Government compensation.

However, seven squatters refused what they were offered, and instead requested exorbitant amounts to remove. We need to bear in mind that despite being offered land and compensation, ranging from $3.4 million to $14.3 million, the resistant seven squatters continued to demand as much as $100 million to $150 million each to remove from the unregularised area.” Unimaginable! Plus, it is vain. The law must be upheld. What Norton is doing is simply leading a few rebels, ignorant of the law, and thus susceptible to being victims of their own folly and sentiments. He should do better as he knows better.

So, “… despite being given several months’ notice to remove from the State’s reserve, and despite the Housing Ministry’s offer to have squatters relocated to a regularised housing area, among other benefits, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton has threatened that legal action will be taken against the Government on behalf of those whose houses were destroyed.

I ask: “Who are fools?” “Who are the silly ones?” “Who will lose in the end?” What Government should do is to put a timeframe for its compensation package.

Yours truly, H Singh

Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel reacts as she is crowned Miss Universe during the final round of the 71st Miss Universe Beauty Pageant, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Jan. 14, 2023 (VOA)

Govt owns infrastructure in arrangement for gas-to-energy project (Pt 1)

Dear Editor, Let me establish and reinforce at the outset that all of the details on the gas-to-energy project will be laid in the National Assembly at the appropriate time as I have mentioned in my previous letters. The Government of Guyana (GoG) is financing the onshore facilities, and notably, in the 2022 budget the sum of $20 billion was allocated for this project which was subject to parliamentary approval. The loans that the Government is seeking from the US Exim Bank will also have to be laid in the National Assembly for approval. It is only the financing of the gas pipeline which Exxon has agreed to finance from cost oil that does not require pre-approval from the National Assembly at this time, but at the appropriate time when all of the associated agreements and negotiations are finalised–these will be laid in the National Assembly.

Reference is made to Economic Advisor to the Leader of the Opposition, Elson Low’s letter to the editor published on January 13, 2023.

The impetus my interlocutor’s contention has to do with the financing of the gas pipeline from cost oil, wherein his contention is that the GoG is circumventing the financing of the project from parliamentary oversight. This is not the case as I have contended herein and in my previous writings. Nevertheless, it is appropriate for me to highlight a classic, real and legitimate example of such a situation where the parliamentary approval process for the expenditure of public monies was circumvented by the Opposition when they were in Government during the period of 2015-2020. In this regard, I am referring to the overdraft balances on the Government Deposit

Accounts at the Bank of Guyana that amounted to a whopping $147 billion or US$703 million dollars. Ironically, this is a typical example of an illegal practice perpetrated by the previous Government because the FMAA Act is clear on how overdraft balances are to be treated. The FMAA Act, Section 60 (2) states that “the Minister shall repay in full all advances in the form of an overdraft on an official bank account on or before the end of the fiscal year during which that overdraft was drawn.” Evidently, this was never done by the former Minister, and, noting that under the incumbent Government in its previous term in Government, these deposit accounts had surplus balances to the tune of $60 billion at one point. May I point out that this is verifiable if one were to peruse the Bank of Guyana Statistical Abstracts.

The author reinforced his view that “in order for Guyana to own the gas pipeline it must seek funding from the National Assembly, much the same as it would seek funding to build a road”. This assertion is suggestive that he is stuck in a conventional era that no longer exists. Historically, there were not many options in terms innovative and sophisticated ways in which to legitimately de-risk projects – aimed at enhancing the attractiveness of the project from an investment perspective, and to ensure the project’s viability.

With this in mind, in designing the financing structure of a complex largescale project such as the gas-to-energy project, the project complexity and scale sometimes necessitate the need for some degree of financial sophistication and innovation with the primary objective to minimise

the project financing risk; thereby increasing the longterm viability of the project. Notwithstanding, it should be noted, too, that this can be done in a legitimate manner wherein transparency and accountability are not compromised. To this end, in the case of the gas-to-energy project, as I have contended in my previous letters and this letter, accountability and transparency have not and will not be compromised.

For argument’s sake, let’s examine the implication of my opponent’s proposition that the gas pipeline funding should be sought from the Parliament. In so doing, he is effectively contending that the GoG should undertake 100 per cent of the financing risks associated with the project such that the GoG should raise 100 per cent of the financing from the national treasury. So, to understand the gravity of the financing risk Low is proposing and by extension the parliamentary Opposition – for the GoG to undertake – we need to understand the funding structure of the project.

There are two large components of the project: (1) the gas pipeline infrastructure which accounts for about 65 per cent of the total cost using the higher end of the estimates (US$1.3B) and (2) the onshore infrastructure (the gas plants) together with its support in-

frastructure which account for the remaining 35 per cent of the total estimated cost. Using the high range estimates, the total estimated cost for this entire project is about US$2 billion. Thus, if the GoG decided to adopt the Opposition’s proposal in terms of the funding structure, then the project will simply not be feasible and would become a recipe for bankruptcy of the country.

The size of the project in terms of the investment represents 25 per cent of GDP (2021); just over 2/3 of the 2022 national budget; almost all of the money (100 per cent) in the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) that Guyana has earned from profit oil and royalty thus far; and represents 1.43 times or 143 per cent of the total external debt (2021). Hence, even if the GoG inject 50 per cent from the national treasury which is US$1 billion and 50 per cent in debt financing, another US$1 billion, the debt-to GDP ratio would jump from less than 30 per cent to 50 per cent, the external debtto-GDP ratio will jump from 16 per cent to about 30 per cent. This is not sustainable and financially prudent from a macroeconomic perspective. The GoG cannot and should not inject 100 per cent of the oil resources fund into one major project. More so, in this financing scenario, if the project fails, the State will still be bur-

dened with the debt repayment, and in terms of the other 50 per cent presumably from the treasury, will amount to a massive loss to the national treasury.

Now, let’s contrast the Opposition’s proposed financing model to the actual financing model that the GoG is pursuing. In this scenario, the GoG is only raising 35 per cent of the financing through a combination of debt and equity from the national treasury for the project. The remaining 65 per cent is financed from cost oil by ExxonMobil which means, in the worstcase scenario if the project fails, 65 per cent of the cost will be sunk cost under the petroleum operations which is recoverable from cost oil; that is, whether the project fails or succeed. But the good thing for the GoG is that if the project fails, it will not be burdened with repaying any debt for the gas pipe nor would it be a loss to the national treasury.

Additionally, the financing model that the GoG has put together with the agreement of ExxonMobil serves to meet two major objectives in the best interest of the people of Guyana and the country at large – that is, (1) effectively minimizing the project financing risk as explained earlier and (2) successfully bargaining for more resources from the oil companies to be de-

ployed in Guyana for the country’s economic benefit. In this respect, by virtue of this arrangement, the gas-to-energy project is a transformational energy project aimed at reducing energy cost by at least 50 per cent which, in turn, will drive a more competitive business environment especially for the manufacturing sector and industrial activities, and translate to more disposable income at the household level.

Another important point to note is that the ownership of the gas pipe by the GoG though it is being built and financed by ExxonMobil is another huge win for Guyana. By so doing, it does not only further de-risk the project but imagine if ExxonMobil had retained the ownership of the gas pipe, then obviously the GoG would have incurred an additional cost payable to ExxonMobil to pipe the gas to shore. This would have been an additional cost to the treasury that the GoG has effectively saved taxpayers from incurring. Fortunately to the Government’s credit, this is not the case. Rather, the Government will be getting the gas virtually for free simply because the Government owns the infrastructure in the current arrangement.

Yours faithfully, Joel Bhagwandin

Page Foundation

Question 1:

Materials: Ice cube tray Water

Food colouring Ziplock bags Masking tape

Instructions: Fill the ice cube tray with water. Add a drop of food colouring in each section for fun. You can even add several different colours if you like.

Put the tray into the freezer until it freezes solid.

Remove the tray from the freezer once the cubes have hardened and put four to six cubes inside your Ziplock bag.

Zip the bag closed securely and tape it to a window that will receive lots of sunlight.

Check back frequently and observe any changes to the ice cubes.

As you probably expected, the ice cubes would eventually melt.

Now, open the bag and reattach it to the window with tape in such a way to ensure the contents do not spill out and the bag remains open.

Check back daily and eventually the liquid will be gone.

How it works: When the water freezes it becomes a solid. Once the ice melts, the water returns to its liquid form. Over time, the water will turn into a gas as it evaporates. This entire process is know as the water cycle and it also allows you to observe the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.

Make this a science project: Try zipping the bag closed and observing what happens. Try adding salt to the water before freezing. (sciencefun.org)

The next day the king went to visit his children, but he found no one there but the girl.

"Where are your brothers?" asked the king.

"Oh, dear father," she answered, "they have gone away and left me alone."

Then she told him that from her window she had seen how her brothers had flown away over the woods as swans. She showed him the feathers that they had dropped into the courtyard, and which she had gathered up.

The king mourned, but he did not think that the queen had done this wicked deed. Fearing that the girl would be stolen away from him as well, he wanted to take her away with him, but she was afraid of her stepmother and begged the king to let her stay just this one more night in the castle in the woods.

The poor girl thought, "I can no longer stay here. I will go and look for my brothers."

And when night came she ran away and went straight into the woods. She walked the whole night long without stopping, and the next day as well, until she was too tired to walk any further.

Then she saw a hunter's hut and went inside. She found a room with six little beds, but she did not dare to get into one of them. Instead she crawled under one of them and lay down on the hard ground where she intended to spend the night.

By The BroThers Grimm CONTINUED FROM SATURDAY TO BE CONTINUED

The sun was about to go down when she heard a rushing sound and saw six swans fly in through the window. Landing on the floor, they blew on one another, and blew all their feathers off. Then their swanskins came off just like shirts. The girl looked at them and recognised her brothers. She was happy and crawled out from beneath the bed. The brothers were no less happy to see their little sister, but their happiness did not last long.

"You cannot stay here," they said to her. "This is a robbers' den. If they come home and find you, they will murder you."

"Can't you protect me?" asked the little sister.

"No," they answered. "We can take off our swan-skins for only a quarter hour each evening. Only during that time do we have our human forms. After that we are again transformed into swans."

Crying, the little sister said, "Can you not be redeemed?"

"Alas, no," they answered. "The conditions are too difficult. You would not be allowed to speak or to laugh for six years, and in that time you would have to sew together six little shirts from asters for us. And if a single word were to come from your mouth, all your work would be lost."

After the brothers had said this, the quarter hour was over, and they flew out the window again as swans.

Exxon applies to EPA for approval of 6th project offshore Guyana

…Whiptail development requires Impact Assessment – EPA

Oil giant ExxonMobil has started the process of seeking project approval for its sixth oil development in Guyana’s waters, approaching the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for environmental authorisation for its Whiptail Project.

In a notice, the EPA noted that the project will require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before any decision can be made to approve or reject it. They also listed reasons why the EIA is necessary.

According to the agency, the EIA is needed to ascertain the potential physical, biological and socioeconomic impacts of the project and whether these will be significant and long term. They

also noted that the project is located relatively close to the other development projects, of which four have already received approval and two are producing oil.

Lastly, EPA pointed out that the associated risks of unplanned events when it comes to oil and gas, may be significant. In light of this, EPA invited the public to make written submissions on the project to the agency within 28 days. It was noted that in these submissions, the public can ask questions and raise whatever issues they have about the project with the agency.

“The proposed project will be implemented in multiple stages which include well drillings and completions, mobilisation and in-

stallation of subsea equipment, umbilicals, risers and flowlines, installation of a floating production, storage

Today is Budget...

It will be the fourth budget presented by the current Administration and the third by Dr Singh, who commenced his current tenure as Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance in November 2020.

Prior to this, Government’s first budget for its current term was presented in August 2020. In that first budget, Government reversed a large number of harsh taxes instituted on citizens by the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Government.

The second budget in 2021 was presented under the theme “A Path to Recovery, Economic Dynamism, and Resilience” while the third was unveiled under the theme “Steadfast Against All Challenges, Resolute in

Building Our One Guyana”. Budget 2021 comprised a number of developmental measures and also included funding for the construction of a number of housing schemes and expansion of existing ones along with investment in the revitalisation of the country’s sugar industry.

There were also programmes that the Government implemented in partnership with private sector bodies and other stakeholders, especially with regard to the tourism, hospitality, and agriculture sectors.

Several relief cash grant measures were also implemented and saw thousands of citizens across the country benefitting from the relief.

A number of areas had been devastated by flooding and Government also provided relief for affected per-

FROM PAGE 3

sons, especially those who had suffered the loss of crops and livestock. The health, infrastructure, and education sectors also saw major injections in Budget 2021 as the COVID-19 pandemic was ongoing.

Budget 2022 also saw major injections in a number of sectors including more expansion of the Government’s housing drive, the infrastructure sector catapulted with an increased number of roads and bridges constructed, energy expansion and diversification, provisions for persons with disabilities, several injections toward Amerindian and hinterland development as Government proved its commitment to bettering the lives of the Indigenous people.

It also saw large injections in the health, education and security sectors. (G3)

and offloading (FPSO) facility, production operations and decommissioning,” EPA said in the notice.

“The proposed project will be undertaken largely in the marine offshore environment and would require land-based activities for support activities at marine shore bases. As a result of the intended development activities, possible effects to the environment may include impacts on marine water and air quality, marine fauna, socio economic resources, among others,” they further warned.

ExxonMobil found oil in the Whiptail-1 and 2 wells in July 2021, announcing that 246 feet of net oil was encountered in the former and 167 feet of net oil in the latter. Both discoveries were its 21st and 22nd oil discoveries offshore Guyana in the Stabroek Block. The

Whiptail-1 discovery was made after only a month of drilling.

The move to seek approval for the Whiptail development comes even as EPA is currently also considering whether to approve the Uaru oil development in the Stabroek Block, which when established will become ExxonMobil’s fifth development in Guyana.

The Uaru oil development is targeting between 38 and 63 development wells, including production, water injection, and gas re-injection wells. John Hess, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ExxonMobil’s Stabroek Block co-venture partner Hess Corporation, recently said that they are hopeful of getting approval for Uaru by March 2023. Exxon had previously also made known that they anticipate first oil from the Uaru development by late 2026 or early 2027.

Last year, it was announced that $88 million had been approved for a consultancy firm to review the Uaru Field Development Plan (FDP). Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat had made that revelation during the consideration of estimates and expenditures for the Natural Resources Ministry in the Committee of Supply.

Guyana, with US oil giant ExxonMobil as the operator, began producing oil on December 20, 2019, in the Stabroek Block. Guyana’s

oil revenues are being held in the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) at the New York Federal Reserve Bank, where it is earning interest.

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

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

ExxonMobil has said it anticipates at least six projects offshore Guyana will be online by 2027. Production has already started in the second phase, with the Liza Unity FPSO vessel in operation.

The third project – the Payara Development – will target an estimated resource base of about 600 million oil-equivalent barrels, and was at one point considered to be the largest single planned investment in the history of Guyana.

Meanwhile, the Yellowtail development, which will be oil giant ExxonMobil’s fourth development in Guyana’s waters, will turn out to be the single largest development so far in terms of barrels per day of oil, with a mammoth 250,000 bpd targeted. (G3)

The Stabroek Block

$468M in State funds to IDPADA-G Lawsuit filed by Alexander frivolous, without merit –VP says in court documents

Vice President Bharrat has asked the High Court to dismiss the $150 million lawsuit filed by International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana (IDPADA-G) Chairman Vincent Alexander, calling the litigation frivolous and without merit.

Last August, during a press conference, VP Jagdeo accused the leaders of IDPADA-G, which include Alexander, of not utilising millions of dollars in State funds adequately to benefit African-Guyanese as was intended. He had also challenged the organisation to properly account for the almost $500 million that was allocated to IDPADA-G between 2019 to 2022.

After a series of public exchanges, Alexander moved to the courts in November 2022, saying that Jagdeo’s allegations of IDPADA-G’s funds being misused has defamed him and impugned his character, among other things. He also denied “subverting public funds or using a race of people for self-advancement”.

In addition to Jagdeo, Alexander also named the Department of Public Information (DPI) – which carried a report on the Vice President’s utterances regarding IDPADA-G’s finances – and the Attorney General as respondents in the lawsuit.

The IDPADA-G Chairman is asking for a

public apology for Jagdeo’s “untruthful” and “offensive” statements and a retraction of DPI’s broadcast, among other reliefs including over $150 million in costs.

However, in his response to the lawsuit filed with the court recently, VP Jagdeo said he will be contending during the trial that “…this action is frivolous, vexatious and without merit and should be dismissed with costs to be assessed.”

According to the Vice President, his words being complained about were “fair comments” expressed on a matter of public interest and importance. He contended that only a small proportion of the State funds have been disbursed as grants to ordinary AfroGuyanese by IDPADA-G.

It was pointed out that of the estimated $100 million disbursed to IDPADA-G annually, only a mere $343,000 or 0.343 per cent was actually used for the ultimate benefit of Afro-

Guyanese, while some $42 million or 42 per cent was paid annually in salaries to the executives of the organisation.

“The words complained of were fair comments and an expression of honest opinions on matters of public importance. The words were published on a matter of public importance and their publication was for the public benefit. The [Vice President] was under a public duty to publish the said words to the general public who are entitled to receive such information. The said words complained of were published on an occasion of qualified privilege,” Jagdeo’s response to the court detailed.

Furthermore, the Vice President went on to state in the legal document that the publication of his statements by DPI was in full compliance of the entity’s duties and obligations as a responsible journalist.

“The first named Defendant [VP Jagdeo] denies that the publication of the words complained of were actuated by malice,” it was argued.

In August 2022, Vice President Jagdeo had raised questions about the spending of nearly half a billion dollars in State funds by IDPADA-G and challenged the organisation to show how the monies were used uplift Afro-Guyanese.

But during a subsequent press briefing, Alexander defended the organisation

against Jagdeo’s assertions, stating that he is not paid for his work and that the Vice President is trying to vilify the entity.

“We are proud of the fact that we are able to fund the night schools which have brought back children into the loop of the education system. This we do in Georgetown and in the Corentyne. So that’s another instance of the outreach.”

“And many people would know of the work that was done in the Mocha Arcadia market day, which we also funded. Many people would know of the exhibitions we have had, at Square of the Revolution and the Avenue,” Alexander said, describing this as physical manifestations of their work.

The organisation also sent out a statement in which it further defended itself and detailed more of its work. While they did not deny that staff were paid $42 million in 2020 as Jagdeo had laid out, IDPADA-G explained that staff provide a myriad of services to the AfricanGuyanese community.

In response, however, the Vice President contended that Alexander’s statements had left more questions than answers. Jagdeo went on to declare that he had no intention of apologising to Alexander and challenged the IDPADA-G Head to “…take whatever course of action he wishes. Afro-Guyanese still remain in the dark as it relates to the benefits of the close to half a billion dollars utilised.”

Meanwhile, after this issue of its spending was brought to light, IDPADA-G in August 2022 announced the distribution of grant awards, valued at $100,000 each, to nine member organisations. A total of 24 projects were approved for grants to support community-based initiatives that aim to promote justice, recognition, and sustainable development within the African Guyanese community.

Owning up…

…to slavery by Dutch

The Dutch Government has apologised for their role in slavery. Apart from invoking “Dutchmen” rising from their graves and scaring the daylights (at night!) from the unwary, we haven’t really focused on them and slavery. But they actually started the whole slavery business here – and it WAS a business to them first and foremost – as far back as the 1620s in what became known as Essequibo. In fact, they continued to form plantations along the river banks –and it was only after a hundred years when the fertility of the soil was exhausted – they then came out to the Atlantic Coast. This they did in what was to be called “Demerara” and expanded slavery and plantations – mainly to export cotton and coffee.

In the meantime, they’d independently done the same over in Berbice – which we should all know about because of the Slave Rebellion of 1763 led by our national hero Cuffy. It was interesting that the Dutch allowed British settlers to own plantations. This signalled that plantations weren’t their main thing but trading in enslaved Africans. They developed banking and trade relations which increased their power enormously! They were shipping slaves to all the other European Empires and bear an outsize responsibility which they’re finally accepting. Slavery’s the reason that such a small nation became so incredibly wealthy!!

By the time the British Government came into the picture – after one of the interminable European wars and took possession in 1796 – their settlers were very well known on our “Wild Coast”. After a lot of back and forthing during the Napoleonic Wars that opened up the 19th century, the three colonies traded hands and were even run by the French for a while. It wasn’t until 1815 that the Brits officially took over – after they’d abolished their slave trade in 1807!! They finally united the three colonies into “British Guiana” in 1831 and promptly abolished slavery entirely in 1834 followed by a four-year “apprenticeship”.

The point of this long history lesson is that it was the Dutch that were mostly responsible for African Slavery in our country! It’s more than passing strange that more attention hadn’t been paid to them in our calls for reparations. It’s probably because our claims are being pushed by Caricom in which only us and Suriname experienced Dutch African enslavement. We’re gonna have to take the lead to follow up on their apology and make sure they move on to what it’s all about – compensation for us in Guyana and in Africa.

Surely, your Eyewitness doesn’t have to rehearse all the arguments for reparations writ large, does he? The Dutch have already conceded them with their apology! Over to the Reparations Committee!

…to slavery by Brits

Hard on the heels of the Dutch apology came the admission by the Church of England – the Anglican Church – that they were ready to start paying for their role in the slavery crime against humanity! They’d already done the apology bit back in 2020 when they called it a "disgrace" that some of their members had "actively profited" from slavery. However, they limited their “involvement” to their financial arm that had been funded from an 18th century fund that earned their wealth by owning slaves.

Now this financial arm manages a £10-billion investment fund to support “church and clergy activities”. Yet from this they’ve allocated only £100 million for reparations over the next nine years. They’ll have to 'fess up on how they arrived at this figure. But in the meantime they’ll have to accept that their role went far beyond the old contributions. THEY were the institution that actually justified slavery by using the Bible, then passed on its insidious premises in running “schools” following “emancipation”.

They gotta do better!!

…to sugar runnings?

We’ve been informed that there’s fake Demerara Gold sugar on the market. The claim is only the packaging’s different. This doesn’t make sense?? Surely, no one’s importing sugar to repackage and resell!

Pilferage is what it is!!

IDPADA-G Chairman Vincent Alexander

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

“We are looking for investors to create opportunities in Linden” – PM …injects $3.5M to help rebuild houses damaged by landslide

Following last year’s landslides that destroyed two houses in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips on Saturday handed over a cheque for $3.5 million to the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) to assist with the reconstruction of the homes.

On November 30, 2022, a private contractor, who was conducting excavation works to facilitate drainage works, had triggered the landslide, which damaged two houses and electricity poles at Poker Street in Wismar, Linden.

The incident had left several elderly persons homeless – the Bob and Fraser families.

At the simple handing over ceremony on Saturday, PM Phillips said he is “happy that the project has started” and promised to work along with the families affected.

“We know what happened, and at the end of the day we want to see you back in your own homes. We’re working together to get you back into your homes,” he reassured.

The monies handed over to the Region 10 RDC was facilitated through the Special Projects Fund of the Prime Minister's Office.

“Every year my office is allocated money for special projects. So, I decided to treat this as a special project,” he explained.

Regional Executive Officer (REO) Dwight John, who accepted the cheque on behalf of the regional administration, stated that the people of Poker Street, particularly those whose homes and means of subsistence were directly impacted by the landslide, welcomed and appreciated the support.

Transformational development

During the Prime Minister’s visit to Linden, he also met with residents of Second Phase Wisroc, whom he assured that their community and by extension, Region 10, will not be left out of the transformational development that is taking place in Guyana.

“We are looking for investors to create opportunities in Linden. I can assure you that Linden will not be left out of any development,” PM Phillips, who is performing the function of President, indicated to residents.

Several issues, including security, small business grants and loans, scholarships and education, ICT connectivity, job opportunities, and road construction, were raised by Wisroc residents and addressed by the senior Government official.

The acting Head of State also committed to addressing the region’s ICT issues, which fall under his purview.

In addition, a working group will be formed to fol-

low up on scholarship applications for youths in the region. This includes a visit to Linden by the GOAL Scholarship team.

PM Phillips also paid a visit to West Watooka, where he toured the community, interacted with residents and listened to their concerns.

During his visit, he assessed the area’s deplorable back road while residents raised issues such as small farmer assistance, small business grants and loans, and infrastructure development.

The Prime Minister assured residents that the Government will continue to allocate funds for the rehabilitation of roads, including several in the region.

PM Phillip subsequently wrapped up his visit with a meeting with residents of Block 42 – a development community in Mackenzie, Linden.

While there, residents voiced concerns over the development of the local road system as well as the occupancy and distribution of lands in the area.

The Prime Minister also cleared up boundary disputes through consultation with locals, enabling the first access road which was budgeted for in the 2022 budget to the tune of $37 million to be completed.

He reaffirmed the significance of Linden and added that the issues raised

would be dealt with, both at the regional and national levels of Government.

“Linden is part of the

development plan in terms of the infrastructural development for Guyana. So basically, all the issues

that were raised, will be followed up by the subject Minister and Ministry,” PM Phillips committed. (G8)

Prime Minister Mark Phillips handing over the cheque to Region 10 REO Dwight John to aid with the reconstruction of the two houses destroyed by a landslide in Linden

Prime Minister Phillips engaging residents of Block 42 Mackenzie, Linden to pave the way for the construction of an access road in the community

12-year-old among 5 injured in Essequibo Coast 2-vehicle collision

of Fairfield Public Road at a fast rate of speed while motorcar PXX 4632 was proceeding south on the eastern side of the said public road at a normal rate of speed.

It was alleged by Simon that she encountered a blowout to the left side rear wheel which caused her to lose control and collide with the front portion of motor car PXX 4632.

As a result of the collision, both vehicles re-

ceived extensive damage to the front portion. Both drivers and occupants were picked up in conscious condition except the driver of motor car PXX 8405, who was in an unconscious condition and conveyed to Suddie Public Hospital, where they were all seen and examined by a doctor.

They were all admitted as patients. Police said Simon sustained trauma to the head and lacerations

on her body, Mohammed was admitted for lacerations to the chin and lower lip and a fractured rib, and Ivan Layne was admitted for chest pain, trauma to the head, and lacerations about his body.

Aleen Layne was admitted for lacerations about the body, while Curdis was admitted for trauma to the head and abdomen.

Investigations are ongoing.

Essequibo Coast miner nabbed with ganja

Five persons including a 12-year-old boy were injured on Saturday morning in an accident that occurred at Fairfield, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), which involved two vehicles.

Police on Sunday said the accident occurred at about 07:30h on Fairfield Public Road, Essequibo

Coast.

The accident involved motor car PXX 8405 (Black Toyota Allion) driven by Angelia Simon, 30, of Cotton Field, Essequibo Coast, and one occupant: Adzar Mohammed, 36, of Bush Lot, Essequibo Coast, and motor car PXX 4632 (Black Nissan Note) that was driven by Ivan Layne, 65, Onderneeming

Sandpit, Essequibo Coast.

In that car, there were two occupants: Aleen Layne, 54, of Onderneeming Sandpit, Essequibo Coast, and Andrew Curdis, 12, of Pomona, Essequibo Coast.

According to Police, at the time of the accident, the driver of motor car PXX 8405 was proceeding north on the western side

A24-year-old miner of Hoppy Street, Dartmouth Village, Essequibo Coast, was arrested by Police on Friday after marijuana was found in his possession.

Based on information received, ranks of Regional Police Division Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) along with members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) were on mobile patrol, in the Westbury, Essequibo Coast area.

Whilst there, it was reported that a search was conducted on the miner of Hoppy Street, Dartmouth Village, Essequibo Coast, but nothing unlawful was found.

A further search was conducted on a black pouch, which he was carrying at the time around his shoulder, and a transparent plastic with 37

small zip lock plastic bags was found, containing a number of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis.

A quantity of Fronto, a pack of bamboo paper, and $750 were also found in the bag. The miner was told of the offence committed and cautioned, to

which he replied saying " boss is a lil hustle".

He was then arrested and escorted to the Anna Regina Police Station where the suspected cannabis was weighed in his presence and amounted to 44.2 grams.

He is in custody pending charges. (G9)

The marijuana and money that were found in the miner’s possession

The accident that occurred at Fairfield, Essequibo Coast

“I selling da cocaine fuh mind me children” – woman busted with drugs to Police

GPHC clerk busted with ganja

ALa Grange Public Road, West Bank Demerara woman is now in Police custody after she was reportedly busted with cocaine and marijuana at her home.

Police on Sunday said that ranks carried out a search exercise at the home of 38-year-old Onghel Walcott at La Grange Public Road, West Bank Demerara (WBD), for drugs, guns, and ammunition.

Police said on arrival at the home, contact was made with Walcott, and she was told that they had received information that she had illegal drugs at her home and they would like to carry out a search.

The woman did not object to the search and she invited the ranks into her home. The ranks then searched the house between 05:10h and 05:40h in her presence and in the process found on a table in the living room, a bulky black plastic bag.

The plastic bag was opened in her presence and several transparent zip lock bags were seen, which con-

tained suspected cannabis. She was told of the offence committed and under caution, she replied saying: “I selling da weed to mind me three children.”

A further search was carried out in her bedroom, where, in a clothes basket, and between some clothing, there was a transparent plastic bag containing several small, rock-like substances suspected to be cocaine.

She was again told of the offence committed and under caution, she replied

again, saying: “I selling da cocaine fuh mind me children.”

As such, she was arrested and escorted to the La Parfaite Harmonie Police Station, along with the suspected cannabis and cocaine.

On arrival at the station, the cannabis was weighed and it amounted to 65 grams, while the cocaine amounted to nine grams.

Walcott was placed into custody and is slated to be charged and make a court appearance this week. (G9)

Taxi driver gunned down in front of wife …as gunmen invade couple’s home looking for victim

Ataxi driver was on Saturday evening gunned down by two masked men while sleeping in his Perseverance, East Bank Demerara home.

Dead is Delon Josiah called “Milo”, a 37-yearold taxi driver at 007 Taxi Service and of Lot 625 Perseverance, EBD.

The incident occurred at about 21:45h and was carried out by two masked men armed with handguns, Police said.

It was reported that investigations so far disclosed that the now dead taxi driver was at home sleeping in the bedroom, whilst his wife, 43-year-old Nicosc McDonald Josiah, was at the front door consuming alcoholic beverages with a female friend when the twoarmed gunmen confronted them.

Police said the men arrived on foot from the yard’s eastern and western sides. They were fully masked and asked for “Delon”.

The armed men then led both females inside the house and began searching for the taxi driver. One

of the perpetrators opened the bedroom door where the taxi driver was sleeping and both opened fire on the now deceased man.

They then made good their escape in the eastern direction of the yard. When the Police visited, the body was lying in a pool of blood.

The scene was photographed and processed, and four .40 calibre spent shells, four .9mm spent shells, four metal fragments, and three bullets were recovered.

The body was examined, and injuries were seen on the right-side foot, left underarm, left temple, and right-side ear.

Several people were contacted and interviewed, and the area was canvassed for closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

Investigations are ongoing. (G9)

AHerstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD) man is now in Police custody after he was caught with a quantity of marijuana by Police ranks on Saturday.

Police ranks in Regional Division Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), said they were acting on information received, and went to the sideline dam bus shed at Anna Catherina, WCD, at about 21:40h on Saturday night where they arrested the 31-year-old man.

At the time of the arrest, Police said the man had in his possession a bulky plastic bag containing 1069.8 grams of marijuana.

The ranks said on arrival at the bus shed, they ob-

served the clerk, who is employed at the Georgetown Public Hospital, standing with a bulky black plastic bag in his hands.

Police on Sunday said that a rank then approached the man, and told the suspect that he would like to conduct a search on his person for anything illegal, and he agreed.

During the search, the Police rank then took possession of the bulky black plastic bag which he opened in the presence of Williams. Inside the plastic bag was a parcel wrapped with brown

scotch tape, and with The Simpsons cartoon logo on it.

The rank claimed that he cut open the parcel in the presence of Williams, and inside were a number of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis.

The suspect was then told of the offence committed, arrested, and escorted to the Leonora Police Station where the cannabis was weighed and amounted to 1069.8 grams.

The suspect remains in custody and is slated to be charged, as further investigations continue. (G9)

The illegal drugs that were found at the home

Arrested: Onghel Walcott

Dead: Delon Josiah

The marijuana that was found at Anna Catherina, WCD

Arrested: Warren Williams

Racial hostility, signing of blank cheques

PNCR Executive to meet soon in wake of leaked recording discussing party’s leadership

…concerns to be addressed – Mahipaul

The controversies surrounding the resignation and then return of People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Treasurer Faaiz Mursaline to the party, are expected to be dealt with when the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) meets.

This is according to PNCR Executive Member Ganesh Mahipaul, who is the Opposition’s shadow Local Government Minister in Parliament. In an exclusive interview with this publication, Mahipaul was asked about a phone recording that recently surfaced.

In the recording, Mursaline told both Mahipaul and fellow Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Roysdale

Forde, about his concerns with the PNCR leadership – concerns that have since been made public in a damning letter to the CEC.

According to Mahipaul in his interview with this publication, it is unfortunate that matters have escalated the way they did. He noted that the concerns raised by the Treasurer are internal party matters that should be dealt with within the party.

“The matter is an internal party matter. It is unfortunate that the recording reached the media. I have no idea how it got [out] of the hands of the party. But it remains a matter for the party to deal with. And the party with its Executives,

will deal with it at the appropriate time, when we meet,” Mahipaul told this publication, adding that a meeting has been set possibly for Wednesday.

In the recording which was leaked on social media, Mursaline made it clear that the party leadership must be changed as soon as possible. He informed the two party members of a number of eyebrow-raising concerns, including that he was called to Congress Place on many occasions and ordered to sign numerous blank cheques, as party Treasurer.

Mursaline said that when he raised concerns about the cheques, he was told to “shut up”. In the recording, both Forde and Mahipaul advised him that

he should write a letter to the CEC, detailing his concerns so that they could be addressed. The party Treasurer also requested assistance from his colleagues in writing the letter.

That letter eventually surfaced in the public earlier in January of this year. In the letter, Mursaline accused the party of not doing anything when he brought complaints of being racially attacked by a well-known party member, to the attention of leaders.

The PNCR Treasurer also said that he was forced to sign multiple blank cheques with no supporting documents. The party subsequently denied that there were no supporting documents, though it admitted that Mursaline did sign a number of blank cheques.

“Firstly, from the time I took office as the elected Treasurer of this great party, I was signing blank

cheques with no supporting documents. I am always called to sign cheques and whenever I share an opinion of dislike towards this, I am met with hostility. In the month of November, it got worse.”

“I was told by the confidential secretary to the General Secretary that all I am needed for is to sign the cheques and in that month, I signed about 20 blank cheques. I do not know what are the amounts of money written on any of those cheques and I don’t know for what reasons the money, if any were spent on,” Mursaline said in his letter.

Mursaline also detailed other transgressions, such as when he submitted a workplan for the party to attract more finances and made suggestions that a financial audit of Congress Place be done. According to the former executive, PNCR Leader Aubrey Norton did

not take any action on either of these matters.

Perhaps most egregious of all, Mursaline, who is of East Indian descent, detailed in the letter that he was subjected to racial abuse by a well-known PNCR member. Mursaline further said that when he made complaints to party leaders, nothing was done. Norton has since claimed that no complaints of racial abuse ever reached him.

Mursaline, who has been affiliated with the PNCR for close to a decade, was elected Treasurer of the party in December of 2021. But in December of last year, he resigned. Last week, Mursaline announced that he has rescinded his resignation and returned to his post of party Treasurer, following a meeting with Norton.

Efforts to contact Forde for a comment on the issue proved futile.

CANU to continue fight against narcotics use in schools – Singh

do it with the Ministry of Education, so it’s a collaborative effort,” he noted.

In 2022, CANU worked collaboratively with the Education Ministry to address the use of narcotics in the various schools and this has proven effective.

At a Police outreach in the Karasabai District, Commander Rose said, ranks were informed by a teacher of a teen boy being accosted with drugs while at school.

The Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) in collaboration with the Education Ministry will continue to tackle the use of illegal drugs/narcotics in schools across the country in 2023.

Head of CANU, James Singh made the disclosure on the sidelines of an exercise early Saturday. “Since last year we began a programme with the Ministry of Education to sensitise both teachers and students in the various schools…I am happy to say that we have a programme that continues into this year,” Singh is quoted as saying.

The CANU Head said the agency aims to roll out this programme in every school across Guyana. “There is no specific school, the aim is to cover all the schools in the various communities but we want to

“I think based on the feedback from the teachers, from the Ministry of Education, it’s now making persons a lot more aware …And so far, just from the feedback from the teachers at the various schools, they’re happy about it and they’re asking us to engage on a regular basis not just on a monthly but to have a constant visit,” Singh revealed.

In 2022, there were several reports and busts involving drugs within the school system.

On May 3, 2022, Guyana Times had reported that investigations had found that school-aged children in Region Nine were engaged in the sale of illicit drugs. This prompted swift action by Police officers in the division, which led to the arrest of the adults suspected to be giving the minors narcotics to sell. This was revealed at the time by Regional Division Nine Commander, Superintendent Raphael Rose, during a conversation on policing, community relations, and partnerships in that region.

The teenager, he noted, indicated that an adult was giving him the narcotics to sell. Commander Rose said ranks interviewed the child, and were able to arrest the adult.

There was also a similar case in the Annai District, he revealed, adding that Police had received information about persons selling drugs at the Annai Secondary School. He added, “We received information from the teachers and other persons in the school, and we were able to arrest the adults who gave the children the [narcotics].”

Outreaches

In an effort to fight the drug scourge, Commander Rose had said, “We continue to follow up with the schools by keeping daily outreaches with them, sensitising them in many areas, not just drugs alone, but teenage pregnancy… At times, we have reports of teenage pregnancy.” He said the Police in that division continuously work with schools and all the youths in the region.

CANU Head James Singh

PNCR Executive Member and MP Ganesh Mahipaul

PNCR Treasurer Faaiz Mursaline

PNCR Executive Member and MP Roysdale Forde, SC

NDC Overseer fired; not working for the interest of community – Dharamlall

Overseer of 52-74

Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Ravindra Dass has been fired.

Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall confirmed that the Local Government Commission took action after several complaints about his performance.

This publication has published several stories on questionable activity by officials of that NDC.

Among them were the removal of sand from the Number 63 Beach, which was then sold to contrac-

tors but not recorded in the NDC’s financial documents, the purchase of 250 tonnes of crusher-run by the NDC which engineers said was less than claimed by the overseer, expenditure of funds from the NDC to clean the Macondo Canal which residents said was not cleaned for years, alleged fake receipts issued to cattle owners for the release of impounded animals and also the soliciting of funds for Christmas parties for children.

According to Dharamlall, the Local Government Ministry has been working in accordance with the

mandate given by President Dr Irfaan Ali on issues that deal with discipline.

It was outlined that persons will make mistakes and have errors in judgement but when they become a norm, and detrimental, action has to be taken.

“There has been many complaints at the 52-74 in terms of how the organisation is managed and the Local Government Commission took action against the overseer,” Dharamlall said.

Meanwhile, plans are afoot the have the NDC split.

The 52-74 is currently

the largest NDC in the country. In 2016 the NDC had called for a larger subvention from the Government, arguing that because of its size, it should have a larger subvention.

The Local Government Ministry has called out the NDC, saying it had not been utilising its financial resources in the best possible ways. “We believe that splitting 52-74 into two NDCs will help in better administration of the area to the two areas. The new NDC will be 52 to 63 and 64 to 74.”

The split can only take effect with Local Government Elections. (G4)

1km road upgrade for East Bank Berbice in Budget 2023 – Edghill

while on a visit to the East Bank Berbice to inspect road upgrades to the easternmost end of the thoroughfare.

The project was executed by the Ministry’s Special Projects Unit.

In December 2021, President Dr Irfaan Ali announced that Government will invest $100 million to construct six kilometres of asphaltic road on the upper East Bank Berbice.

The announcement of the road was immediately welcomed by residents.

They explained that it takes about three hours to get their produce to New Amsterdam and that the six-kilometre asphalt road would significantly lessen that time.

On Thursday, Edghill, meeting with the same residents, made the announcement and stated that it is likely to be revealed in the 2023 National Budget, which is expected to be presented to the National Assembly today.

“Development comes in phases, 1 km, and we com -

ing back this year to do another 1 km, so God be willing and as more resources become available, we will go from 1km to two km, because a km of roads at the back here cost about a $100 million. So, we have already executed about a $100 million and we may very well be able to do some more, minimum, based upon the President's intervention and instruction, is that you will have another 1000 metres covered, and maintenance as well,” he said. (G4)

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill has announced that a further one kilometre of

road on the East Bank of Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) is expected to be upgraded this

year with asphaltic concrete. He made the announcement on Thursday

CANU to continue fight...

To this end, an outreach was recently held at a playground in Lethem, during which Police ranks encouraged youths to do meaningful things with their lives and take part in the Police Force’s training programme. Most of them, Commander Rose said, signalled their intention to join the programme.

Also in May 2022, Commander for Regional Division One (BarimaWaini), Superintendent Himnauth Sawh had embarked on a mission to tackle illicit drugs in schools. The Commander and his team had visited the North West Secondary School, where he interacted with teachers and students of the school.

While there, he lec-

tured students on a number of topics including the possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, types, and use of illicit drugs, along with immigration services.

He then engaged students with an academic exercise where he rewarded the winning class with prizes.

In May 2022, the Judiciary of Guyana launched 12 courts to deal specifically with juveniles who are substance abusers.

These courts are located in Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Whim, Fort Wellington, Linden, Lenora, Wales, Vreed-enHoop, Suddie, Charity, Sparendaam, and Vigilance.

The mission of the ini-

FROM PAGE 12

tiative was to reduce crime and substance use among adolescents through therapeutic interventions and judicial supervision.

These will also include youths who are charged with minor or nonviolent criminal offences and may have serious drug abuse disorders. The courts will offer treatment for this kind of disorder

The treatment plan has four stages which will last for about 10 months or more. It will also be supervised by a team. These include a state counsel, probation and social officers, drug abuse treatment providers, the case manager, representatives from the Ministries of Education and Health, and family members.

Upper East Bank Berbice Road awaiting upgrades to asphalt

Local Government Minister

Nigel Dharamlall

52-74 NDC Overseer Ravindra

Dass

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips, who is performing the functions of President, visited Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) where he met with residents of various communities to discuss development and matters affecting them. Issues regarding demarcation of land, infrastructure development, education, ICT connectivity and the establishment of recreational facilities were discussed during his walkabout and meetings. He also donated $3.5 million to the Regional Democratic Council, Region 10, to help with the reconstruction of two houses that were damaged by landslides on Poker Street, Wismar, Linden last year (Office of the Prime Minister photos)

New GMC to secure more markets for local produce – Mustapha

In an effort to support farmers and boost

Guyana’s food sector, the Agriculture Ministry is advancing plans to assist farmers in expanding their cultivation and finding markets for their produce.

The New Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) is actively looking for markets for the farmers’ produce, to ensure they are able to sell their products at competitive prices.

The Agriculture Ministry has assured that farmers will be provided with planting materials and other key items to help them expand their cultivation.

During a recent interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said the mechanism will benefit farmers and the country at large, as it will help to increase food production and improve food security.

“The PPP/C Government is expected to make significant investments in the food sector this year in order to ensure its growth and success,” the Minister underscored. He encouraged farmers to take advantage of the opportunities offered through the New GMC and cultivate more in order to benefit from

the prospective markets.

Minister Mustapha said the marketing agency is also charged to expand its reach to areas where persons are now exploring the option of farming, to lend fundamental support.

“This is a positive development for the agriculture sector and is expected to have a positive impact on the livelihoods of farmers and the economy as a whole,” Mustapha pointed out.

The Government’s investment in the food sector is expected to help the sector flourish, create jobs and increase food produc-

tion.

The Ministry’s efforts are a welcomed move that is expected to benefit thousands.

President Dr Irfaan Ali has, on many counts, emphasised that his Government’s interest in expanding the agriculture sector is rooted in the understanding that a strong food industry is essential for a country’s economic growth and food security.

Providing context, agriculture is a vital sector for many developing countries, as it is a major source of income for smallholder farmers, who make

up a significant proportion of the population.

With an aggressive push for increased food production locally, the PPP/C Government understands that expansion of the sector can also lead to greater employment opportunities, particularly in rural areas, which can help to reduce poverty and improve the standard of living for many persons.

The Government’s investment in the agricultural sector has taken many forms such as providing farmers with access to credit, technical

assistance, and training, as well as investing in infrastructure, such as irrigation systems and rural roads.

Commended by thousands already, the ongoing undertaking will help make farming more efficient, productive and prof-

itable for farmers.

The Dr Ali-led Administration has also invested in research and development to improve crop yields and develop new crops, which is already making farming more sustainable and resilient to climate change.

Tourism business clinic set for January 18

…GTA business support services to be officially launched

Tourism businesses will soon get the opportunity to have the licensing process completed in one day, as a tourism business clinic is set for January 18 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Kamrul Baksh told DPI that the initiative will bring various agencies under one roof for the day, for easy access by businesses.

“For all businesses that require tourism licenses, we are bringing together, under one singular roof,

all the licensing agencies. So, from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS),

(MARAD), the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), the Guyana Lands and Surveys, the Fire Service, the Guyana Office for Investment, as well as the Guyana Tourism Authority, we all will be under one roof,” Baksh said.

The objective of the clinic is to expedite the processing of documentation and make payments on location.

Persons can also work out favourable payment plans with the agencies.

“We are hoping that right there we can basical -

ly sign off on all licenses once the businesses bring in all the required documentation. So again, we will issue a reminder to all businesses of what the requirements are and the businesses and individuals will walk with those,” he noted.

This is just one of several such clinics planned by the GTA.

“Tourism business, all accommodation properties, all the hotels out on the coast, all the interior lodges and resorts that may be able to come out or send a representative, all tour operators, all guides,

come here,” Baksh encouraged.

In addition, businesses and tour operators can update their information on the online platform.

“We are really trying to reduce the administrative burdens or perceived burdens that there is because it could take some time to go to each agency because they are all not in one location, so we thought it best to bring everybody in one location and make it easy,” Baksh said.

The GTA business support services will also be officially launched.

Local products on display

the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Maritime Administration

Guyana Tourism Authority

Director Kamrul Baksh

Govt praised for timely interventions, development at Baracara

...as Agri Minister promises massive development

Women and youth of Baracara and surrounding communities in the Canje River are loud in their praise for Government over the many interventions aimed at advancing agriculture and general livelihood in their communities

The residents were high in their praise, noting that the community has never seen development at such a rapid pace.

Baracara Community Development Council Chairman, Marshall Thompson pointed out that residents recently received Black Giants and feed from the Government.

Additionally, a new stelling was constructed, allowing residents to have their boats moored in a secure place and also allowing easy access in and out of their boats. The community is only accessible by boat.

Meanwhile, Thompson pointed out that one of the biggest interventions thus far is the construction of canals which will allow more sustainable farming. The community de-

pends on farming. For several years residents have been complaining of a lack of proper infrastructure.

A contract has already been signed and the contractor is expected to commence work this week which will see a section of the savannah being fenced off to keep cattle in.

Some farmers have been forced to give up their trade as cattle have been feasting on their crops. During the rainy seasons, many of the cattle move from the flooded lands to higher ground that the farmers use for cultivation.

President Dr Irfaan Ali visited the community several weeks ago and committed to assisting the residents.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha told farmers that close to 90 per cent of the commitments made have already started. This includes a number of infrastructural works totalling some $187 million.

He said the Government will work to restore agriculture in all of the farming communities along the

Canje River.

During the meeting, several farmers raised concerns about the challenges they faced during the previous rainy seasons.

Head of the Farmers’ Cooperative Body, Roland Amsterdam said the high levels of rainfall and flooding have resulted in tremendous loss of crops and livestock and many are finding it difficult to recov-

er.

“From the last meeting, we would have planted back, but the rain kept falling so scores of farmers are still suffering right about now,” Amsterdam said while noting that there is a dire need for fertilisers in the community.

Meanwhile, farmers who were present on Friday when the Minister and his team visited, re-

ceived chemicals, fertilisers, Acoushi ant bait, coconut seedlings, and planting materials.

Mustapha said the strategic plans will see the Ministry working along with the community to adopt sustainable practices in food production, as well as in agro-processing.

“We have to change that kind of mechanism

and that kind of thinking that we are just doing cash crop farming, and as soon as we reap it from the farm and we take it to the market. What we have been doing, we have been building these agro-processing facilities so that we can add value to our produce,” Mustapha said, adding: “Rather than take the produce to the market, we will package it and send it overseas; we will have for consumption here, but we will also get more money for you.”

In order for this to happen, the community must first decide which crops could be produced on a large scale.

A team of technical officers from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) will return to the community to conduct assessments and soil testing.

Meanwhile, officials from the Ministry are expected to meet with farmers in the coming weeks to deliver on other commitments made by Mustapha and to discuss developing an agriculture programme for communities . (G4)

Caribbean youths called on to step up as leaders

Over 200 young leaders from across the region assembled in Tobago for the four-day 2023 Caribbean Youth Leadership Summit (CYLS).

CYLS was hosted by the Caribbean Regional Youth Council (CRYC) in partnership with the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Division of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation, the Commonwealth, the Tobago Youth Council, and the Trinidad Youth Council.

The event which opened at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex on January 12 under the theme – Adding global value: Taking charge of our Future, comprised regional youth councils and represented the collective voice of Caribbean youth.

The event which opened at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex on

January 12 under the theme – Adding global value: Taking charge of our Future, comprised regional youth councils and represented the collective voice of Caribbean youth.

Tobago Youth Council trustee Dimitri Fraser in

welcoming the youth leaders encouraged them to make the best of the CYLS experience.

“Regardless of your situation, regardless of any moment, any event, any opportunity, any CYLS –everything in life is per-

spective and how you make it, everything in life is how you make it.”

Describing Tobago as the “greatest little island on earth,” Caricom Youth Ambassador for TT Keigon Denoon said the aim is not only to recognise the accomplishments of young people across the Caribbean, but also to "put minds together to ensure that in the end, the goal is accomplished.”

“Globally, we see most governments are now placing emphasis on youth development in their respective countries, therein understanding that the best investment any country can make is investing into its youth population. This investment is done by nurturing, developing and strengthening all the young people under their watch.”

He said this global drive is not by guess.

“It’s due to the culmi-

nation of relentless efforts of all the young people rising up and understanding the power of both their individual and collective voices. It is in the power of these voices and through youth advocacy that have engaged governments and have encouraged them to provide more opportunities to young people to make a valuable contribution to the same society that we are set to inherit.”

The sustainability and advancement of the region, he said, hinges on unlocking the potential of each child so that they can meaningfully contribute to the socio-economic development of every country they are a part of. “This is done by defying the odds and the challenges that they are facing, enabling them to rise to unimaginable heights. Adding global value: Taking charge of our future – taking

charge means placing an importance on your life, it means as youth leaders we use our influence, our credibility, our capabilities and our talents to give a voice to the voiceless ensuring that we are advocates for young people, adding global value by using their gifts, their talents, their creativity to birth initiatives to cause commercial values in their respective countries.”

The youth population, he said in indeed an asset to every nation.

“If rightfully utilised, can lead a country to heights of glory and prosperity that they never dreamed of.”

The summit ran until January 15 and featured discussions on practical solutions and strategies for youth to contribute and add value to advancing global development in a post-covid19 world.

(T&T Newsday)

Caricom Youth Ambassador for T&T, Keigon Denoon

Baracara Community Development Council Chairman Marshall Thompson and Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha inspect a canal which was recently developed by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority

Miss USA crowned Miss Universe

R'Bonney Gabriel from the United States was crowned the 71st Miss Universe on Saturday night.

Gabriel, who last year became the first FilipinoAmerican to win Miss USA, took the crown ahead of Amanda Dudamel from Venezuela and Andreína Martínez from the Dominican Republic.

The pageant was held in New Orleans, Louisiana, with 84 women from around the world competing for the crown.

Saturday night was the last day of the competition, with eliminations narrowing down the number of finalists until the last two remained.

When Gabriel entered the Top 5, she was asked, "Miss Universe recently made an inclusive change allowing mothers and married women to compete this year. What's another change you'd like to see and why?"

Gabriel responded that she hoped the contest organizers would increase the candidate age limit.

"For me, I would like to see an age increase because I am 28 years old. And that is the oldest age to compete. And I think it's a beauti-

ful thing. My favorite quote is 'if not now, then when?' Because as a woman, I believe age does not define us. It's not tomorrow, it's not yesterday -- but it's now. The time is now," she said.

Houston-native Gabriel is a model, fashion designer, and sewing instructor who prioritizes the environment in her work.

Earlier in the pageant, Gabriel donned a red-orange cape inspired by a rising phoenix with the maxim "if not now, then when," which

she had dyed herself. The words take inspiration from her father's advice to act on goals, dreams and desires.

In the final question and answer segment of the competition, the Top 3 contenders were asked how they would work to demonstrate Miss Universe as an empowering and progressive organization if they won the title.

Gabriel said she would use the platform to be a "transformational leader" and emphasized her passion as a force for good in the

fashion industry by cutting down on pollution and using recycled materials in making clothing pieces.

"I teach sewing classes to women that have survived from human trafficking and domestic violence. And I say that because it is so important to invest in others, invest in our community, and use your unique talent to make a difference," Gabriel said.

"We all have something special and when we plant those seeds for other peo-

ple in our life, we transform them and we use that as a vehicle for change."

This year's pageant was organized for the first time by JKN Global Group PCL, a Thailand-based media distribution company, after tycoon and transgender rights advocate Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip bought the Miss Universe Organization for $20 million in October.

Jakkaphong has been outspoken about her experiences as a transgender wom-

an, and is also the first woman owner of the pageant.

She made an appearance onstage to award the ImpactWayv Challenge winner to Thailand's Anna Sueangam-iam, honoring her commitments for social good.

Miss Thailand had in the preliminary rounds of the pageant made waves in a dress made of soda tabs -- a tribute to her humble beginnings and her parents' work as garbage collectors. (CNN)

California battles deadly storms with millions under flood watch

Around 25 million people in California are under a flood watch this weekend as the latest in a parade of deadly storms drenches the state.

Several waterways have flooded, at least 19 people have died and thousands have been told to evacuate their homes.

In Montecito, a town 84 miles (135km) north-west of Los Angeles, locals say the rain aggravates their trauma.

A mudslide here killed 23 people in 2018 and many are afraid it could happen again.

Rita Bourbon credits Italian stone masons with saving her life. The craftsmen built her home more than a century ago and she says it's like a fortress.

She survived the storm five years ago, crying inside with her daughter and some

love," she says of the creek burbling in her garden, which is now bursting with ripe citrus and persimmon trees, as a blue heron drinks from her muddy pool.

"Now I know what it can do. We all have a bit of PTSD."

Montecito creek became a violent, raging flow again this past week, prompt-

slides is very real.

Abe Powell is the co-founder of the Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade, formed in 2018 to mobilise volunteers to clean up after the deadly mudslide.

This week, Powell led volunteers around the community, filling sandbags and digging trenches. He took us on a perilous drive up a narrow mountain road where giant boulders and mud blocked access to some homes.

"We don't want to hang around here," he said, looking at the fresh boulders.

Film producer Steve McGlothen is one of the volunteers. He has lived in the area for half a century and in his cliff top home for 27 years.

been a problem before."

The Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, joined the volunteers filling sandbags in Santa Barbara. He says the area is a "hot spot" he's concerned about in the coming days.

A five-year-old boy is still missing after he was ripped from his mother's arms in fast-moving flood water in central California, when they got trapped while driving to school.

friends as they listened to the sound of boulders and other houses ripped from their foundations crashing into her home.

The next day, the neighbourhood up the coast from Los Angeles was wrecked and almost two dozen were dead, including her neighbour whom she found in her garden in the mud.

"It's a sound I used to

ing fire officials to issue a "Leave Now!" warning to the entire community, which includes some of California's most famous residents such as Oprah Winfrey, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

The evacuation order in Montecito has been lifted, but residents remain on edge. And with so much of the land already saturated, the risk of flooding and land-

Helping others, he said, takes his mind off the problems at his own property and the despair he feels as the rain keeps falling. Plastic sheets cover the hillside, which slid away for the first time this week - an attempt to stop this latest deluge from making the slide worse.

"We're looking at earth that has never moved," he said. "Close to 50 years - this has never moved. It's never

"We've experienced some 24 trillion gallons of water falling on this state in the last 16 days in the middle of a mega drought," Governor Newsom told the BBC. He says California needs to reimagine the way it manages water, because the infrastructure here was built for a time which no longer exists.

Californians are used to extreme weather - wildfires, drought and the threat of earthquakes, with many awaiting the "Big One" that so many experts predict. But the "storm parade" pummelling California is new.

At least 19 people have died in these storms, which began in late December.

In Northern California, vineyards are under water. In Capitola, the historic wharf has been destroyed and the beach town battered. In the storied Salinas Valley, the river is rising and threatening California's famed agricultural heartland.

US President Joe Biden has now ordered federal aid for Sacramento, Merced and Santa Cruz counties.

Nasa climate scientist Kimberley Rain Miner says the challenge with having this many huge storms, back to back, is that the ground is already saturated and can't absorb the amount of water falling quickly.

"If we are unable to slow the warming of the atmo-

sphere, we can expect to see more and more extreme events happening more and more frequently," Miner told the BBC, while surveying storm damage on a beach in Ventura. "And that's global. That's not just in California."

In California everyone is watching their phones, waiting to hear if they should evacuate and wondering where it might be safe to go if they do need to leave town.

For Rita Bourbon, she decided not to wait. Even though she's confident her house will survive, she doesn't want to relive the trauma of another landslide. She opted to visit friends in Los Angeles this weekend.

"I just don't want to go through another mudslide," she said, adding that she would be a "nervous wreck" if she stayed. "Just hearing the creek and the cracking together of boulders. It's better for everyone if I just go." (BBC)

Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel is crowned at the Miss Universe pageant in New Orleans on January 14, 2023

Miss Venezuela Amanda Dudamel, Miss USA R'bonney Gabriel and Miss Dominican Republic Andreína Martínez speak during the 71st Miss Universe Competition at New Orleans Morial Convention Centre on January 14, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana

Flooding and mudslides have blocked access to some homes

Regional

Peru extends state of emergency in protest-hit cities

Peru has extended a state of emergency for another month in the capital city of Lima and two southern regions where deadly protests against the Government have sparked the country's worst violence in 20 years.

Peru first announced a month-long, nationwide state of emergency in mid-December, shortly after demonstrations broke out over the ousting of for-

mer leftist President Pedro Castillo, who had attempted to dissolve Congress and rule by decree.

The extended emergency measures signed by President Dina Boluarte late on Saturday, which grant Police special powers and limit freedoms including the right to assembly, apply to Lima and the southern regions of Puno and Cusco.

In Puno, where near-

ly half of the victims have died, the restrictions include a 10-day curfew.

In a march in Lima on Saturday, protesters raised red and white national flags alongside banners rimmed in black in a sign of mourning. They also lashed out against Boluarte, Castillo's former Vice President, who the day before had apologised for the deaths while calling for investigations.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Colombia arrests 2 more suspects in Paraguayan Prosecutor's murder

Four persons have already been jailed in Colombia for their involvement in his killing, and a man in Venezeula was arrested in December.

In the latest arrests, brothers Andres Perez and Ramon Perez are accused of arranging the logistics behind the murder, including hiring hitmen, who they planned to pay large sums of money, the Prosecutor's office said in a statement.

Attorneys for the Perez brothers could not be reached for comment.

Mexico tightens ban on smoking in public places

Mexico has brought into force one of the world's strictest anti-tobacco laws by enacting a total ban on smoking in public places.

The step, which was first approved in 2021, also includes a ban on tobacco advertising.

Several other Latin American countries have also passed legislation to create smoke-free public spaces.

However, Mexico's legislation is considered to be the most robust and wide-ranging in the Americas.

It amounts to one of the most stringent anti-smoking laws in the world. Mexico's existing 2008 law – which

created smoke-free spaces in bars, restaurants and workplaces – is now extended to an outright ban in all public spaces. That includes parks, beaches, hotels, offices, and restaurants.

There will also be a total ban on the advertising, pro-

motion and sponsorship of tobacco products, meaning that cigarettes cannot even be on show inside shops.

Vapes and e-cigarettes are also subject to tighter new restrictions, particularly indoors. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Jamaica seizes US$80M worth of cocaine from cargo ship

Jamaican authorities have seized an estimated US$80 million worth of cocaine from a ship at the port of Kingston in one of the country's biggest-ever drug busts, authorities said.

Two more persons suspected of participating in the May murder of a Paraguayan Prosecutor have been arrested, the Colombian Prosecutor's office said on Sunday.

Prosecutor Marcelo Pecci, 45, known for fighting organised crime, was shot dead on the island of Baru near the Caribbean city of Cartagena while honeymooning with his wife.

"These two people, it appears, were the ones who were in charge of the logistics, which made the criminal act possible," Colombian Attorney General Francisco Barbosa told reporters.

Officials seized documents, clothing and a car that had been used during the planning of the murder, the Prosecutor's office added in a statement. (Reuters)

T&T President calls for visionary leadership in medical fraternity

Trinidad and Tobago President Paula-Mae Weekes says visionary leadership in the medical fraternity is needed now, especially as COVID-19 disrupted and dislocated the leadership in the country’s public health sector.

Giving the feature address at the University of the West Indies (UWI) and TT Medical Association Presidential Symposium on Visionary Leadership in Medicine at UWI’s Learning Resource Centre, St Augustine Campus on Saturday, she said COVID-19 forced organisations to shift their operations towards digital advancements and inventive thinking.

“The recent past has underscored the critical importance of carefully and deliberately building resilient, responsive and flexible health and social systems.

“Setbacks occasioned by the long arm of the pandemic will be felt for years to come, but we can attempt to strike

some balance by being alert to and heeding the cry for change.”

She said there were issues in the system before the pandemic, such as the prevalence of non-communicable diseases, shortages of special-

ists and nurses, lengthy wait times at hospitals, unnecessarily complex administrative processes, unacceptable working conditions, and unavailability of critical equipment. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Jamaican officials discovered the shipment hidden inside a cargo ship from South America, the Jamaica Constabulary Force said in a statement late on Saturday, putting its estimated street value at US$80 million.

The search of the cargo ship yielded more than 1500 kilograms (3306 lbs) of cocaine, the Police said. The goods were split into 50 bags containing 1250 packages, Jamaica's Defence Force said in a separate statement.

Transnational criminal organisations have long used Jamaica as a hub to move weapons and drugs,

including sending cocaine to North America and Europe.

Jamaica's Defence Force said it would keep fighting against criminals who seek to "take advantage of Jamaica's geo-strategic significance in world trade by exploiting legitimate cargo."

Neither the Police nor the Defence Force named

the ship found to be carrying the cocaine and no arrests have been made.

In October, global Police agency Interpol said Jamaican authorities had made a record bust of 500 kilograms of cocaine, worth around US$25 million, slated to be shipped on a private jet to Canada. (Reuters)

Barbados tourism rebound "strong"

Figures from the current winter tourism season in Barbados are indicating a strong rebound for the sector after the COVID-19 years, and Tourism Minister Ian Gooding-Edghill says this did not happen in isolation.

During a media briefing on Saturday at the Ministry’s Warrens, St Michael office, Gooding-Edghill, flanked by other senior officials, painted an encouraging picture of Barbados’ leading income earner.

He said in 2022, there were 26,080 arrivals from the United Kingdom, just short of the 2018 figure of 26, 265, while Canada, the United States and the Caribbean all showed a recovery rate of at least 60 per cent.

“We did not do it in isolation,” Gooding-Edghill

pointed out. “It is indicative of the upward, steady trend of growth and recovery for Barbados as a destination.

Naturally some markets are recovering at a faster rate

than others. That has to do with the environment that we are operating in, but we are confident that we will see other markets return.”

T&T President Paula-Mae Weekes speaks at the Learning Resource Centre, UWI, St Augustine campus on Saturday (Roger Jacob)

Agents of the Technical Investigation Corps (CTI) and the Judicial Investigation Directorate (DIJIN) pose for a photo with brothers Andres Felipe and Ramen Emilio Perez Hoyos, who according to the authorities participated in the murder of the Paraguayan Prosecutor Marcelo Pecci assassinated in Cartagena, after their capture in Rio Negro, Colombia, January 15, 2023 (Courtesy of Colombian Attorney/Handout via Reuters)

Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian GoodingEdghill (right) with (from left) CEO of Caribbean Aircraft handling, Lemuel Padmore; CEO of the Grantley Adams International Airport Hadley Bourne and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, Francine Blackman

Big oil is eyeing India for big investments

US oil majors Exxon Mobil Corp and Chevron Corp— along with France's TotalEnergies, are taking a long, hard look at upping their investments in India's oil and gas exploration and production sector, India's Oil Minister said in a Friday speech, carried by Reuters.

ExxonMobil said back in December that its 2023 spending plans include US$23 billion - US$27 billion in capital investments to maintain its current production level of 3.7 million boepd. Longer-term, ExxonMobil said it would spend between US$20 billion and US$25 billion on growing the US supermajor's production by 500,000 boepd within the next four years—with 70 per cent of that capital being put into the US Permian Basin, Guyana, Brazil, and LNG projects, and US$17 billion of it into lower-emissions investments.

US-based Chevron increased its capex for 2023 by 25 per cent, with US$17 billion planned on capital projects this year. Chevron said that US$8 billion of this would go to developing US oil and gas production assets—about half of which would be thrown into the Permian. US$2 billion would be sunk into its other US assets, and 20 per cent of its upstream capital would be spent on projects in the GoM. Another US$2 billion was earmarked for lower-carbon projects. It also set aside money for its projects in Kazakhstan and its chemicals JV with Phillips 66 in Texas.

India is the world's third-biggest oil importer, leaving the nation to purchase 84 per cent of all the oil it consumes, according to Reuters. It has been taking advantage of discounting Russian crude oil since Russia's invasion of Ukraine but has been looking to develop its own reserves to move away from its heavy reliance on costly imports.

"India is ready to explore opportunities for joint development production of oil and gas assets for mutual benefit and also invites investment in our domestic E&P sector," Hardeep Singh Puri said on Friday. (Oilprice.com)

At least five people have been killed and 15 others wounded in a bomb attack during a service at a Protestant church in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

An army spokesman said the attack during the Sunday service in the city of Kasindi, on the border with Uganda, was likely carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Ugandan armed group that has pledged allegiance to ISIL (ISIS).

“Despite the security measures put in place, the first indications show that it is the ADF which is behind this bomb attack,” Anthony Mualushay told Reuters news agency.

“I just came back from the scene, where I saw the bod-

ies of children on the ground,” Alain Kitsa, a Kasindi resident, said, describing the atmosphere in the town as tense.

The ADF, which began as an uprising in Uganda but has been based in the DRC since the late 1990s, has not claimed responsibility for the bombing.

Kasindi is in a province where Congolese and Ugandan forces have launched a campaign against the ADF.

It pledged allegiance to ISIL in mid-2019 and is accused of killing hundreds of villagers in frequent raids over the past two years. More than 120 armed groups roam mineral-rich eastern DRC, many are the legacy of regional wars that flared at the turn of the century. (Al Jazeera)

Around the World

At least 68 killed in Nepal's worst air crash in 3 decades

At least 68 people were killed on Sunday when a domestic flight of Yeti Airlines crashed in Pokhara in Nepal, the worst air crash in three decades in the small Himalayan nation.

Hundreds of rescue workers scoured the hillside where the flight carrying 72 people from the capital Kathmandu went down.

Officials late in the evening called off the search operations for the day, saying they will resume today.

Local TV footage earlier showed rescue workers scrambling around broken sections of the aircraft. Some of the ground near the crash site was scorched, with licks of flames visible.

The weather had been clear and there was no immediate indication of what

caused the crash.

It was Nepal's deadliest air crash since 1992, the Aviation Safety Network database showed, when a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A300

crashed into a hillside upon approach to Kathmandu, killing all 167 people on board.

Nearly 350 people have died since 2000 in plane or helicopter crashes in

Nepal - home to eight of the world's 14 highest mountains, including Everest - where sudden weather changes can make for hazardous conditions.

The European Union has banned Nepali airlines from its airspace since 2013, citing safety concerns.

The plane on Sunday made contact with Pokhara airport from Seti Gorge at 10:50 am (0505 GMT), the country's Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement. "Then it crashed." At least 68 people were confirmed dead, it said.

The government has set up a panel to investigate the cause of the crash and it is expected to report within 45 days, the finance minister, Bishnu Paudel, told reporters. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Ukraine war: Chances of more survivors from Dnipro strike minimal – Mayor

The Mayor of Dnipro has warned there may be no further survivors after Saturday's Russian missile strike on an apartment building in the eastern Ukrainian city.

The attack left 29 dead while a further 44 are missing, city officials said.

Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov said there was "minimal" chance of finding anyone else alive.

Speaking to state TV in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted that military operations were going to plan.

Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa were also hit on Saturday in attacks which Moscow said were targeted at Ukraine's military and energy infrastructure.

The devastating strike in Dnipro hit the entrance of a nine-storey building, turning several floors into smouldering rubble.

Filatov said that around 70 people required medical

treatment and of those 10 were "in a difficult condition".

According to Dinpro City Council, a 15-year-old girl was among the victims.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called the missile strikes "inhuman", adding that "Russia intentionally keeps on committing war crimes against civilians".

Speaking on state TV, Putin said "everything is developing within the framework of the plan of the Ministry of Defence and the general staff".

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Sunday that Ukraine could expect more deliveries of heavy weapons from Western countries.

Russia's missile barrage came on the same day that UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said his government would give Challenger 2 tanks to Kyiv's armed forces in a bid to help "push

Russian troops back".

In response, Moscow said providing more weapons to Ukraine would lead

to intensified Russian operations and more civilian casualties. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani defended the presence of US troops in his country and set no timetable for their withdrawal, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal published on Sunday.

Referring to the US and NATO troop contingents that train and assist Iraqi units in countering Islamic State but largely stay out of combat, Sudani said that the foreign forces are still needed. "Elimination of ISIS needs some more time," he said in

the interview.

Sudani, who took office last October, told the Wall Street Journal that he planned to send a high-level delegation to Washington for talks with US officials next month, adding that Iraq would like similar relations with Washington to those enjoyed by Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf oil and gas producers.

"I don’t see this as an impossible matter, to see Iraq have a good relationship with Iran and the US," Sudani told the newspaper. (Reuters)

Tens of thousands of health workers protested in Madrid on Sunday over what they say is the destruction of the public health system by the conservative regional government.

Dressed in white coats and banging drums, many chanted: "Cutting public health is criminal."

The demonstration attracted about 30,000 protesters, a regional government spokesman said.

The Madrid regional government, led by the Popular Party’s Isabel Ayuso, has come under fire in recent years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020, for poor staffing in hospitals and primary healthcare centres.

Protesters say the regional government is dismantling public health services and favouring private health providers.

Dressed as the Grim Reaper and bearing a mock

scythe, one protester held a sign reading, "I am Ayuso's plan for (the) emergency ward."

"We have about 40 or 50 patients per day and can give them about six minutes each. The problem is that they do not allow us to give proper care to patients," Ana Encinas, 62, a doctor who has worked in primary care in Madrid for 37 years, told Reuters.

Ayuso denies the accusation that her administration is dismantling public health services in favour of the private sector and says the protests and strikes are being orchestrated by left-wing parties in the run-up to municipal and regional elections this year to undermine the conservative regional government.

In November, tens of thousands of people marched through central Madrid in support of health workers calling for better working conditions. (Reuters)

Rescue teams work to retrieve bodies at the crash site of an aircraft carrying 72 people in Pokhara in western Nepal January 15, 2023

Tens of thousands of Spanish health workers protest for better future

(March 21-April 19)

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Don't take a risk with your health or emotional well-being. Keep situations in perspective, and distance yourself from trouble and erratic individuals trying to undermine you.

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(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

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SUDOKU

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(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

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(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

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(Feb. 20-March 20)

ARCHIE PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

DILBERT

Gill, Kohli and Siraj dazzle as India smash Sri Lanka by record 317-run margin

– defending 390, India bowled the visitors out for 73 to complete a 3-0 series whitewash

Amore comprehensive drubbing is difficult to imagine. Centuries from Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill powered India to 390 on a slow and seemingly lifeless track before the ball started hooping around under lights. Mohammed Siraj took four wickets of Test quality, and Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav supported him with two each as India bowled Sri Lanka out for 73. India's victory margin was comfortably the biggest in One-Day International (ODI) history, beating New Zealand's previous record of 290 runs against Ireland.

The change in conditions was dramatic all right, but the difference in quality of the two sides was no less stark. India chose to bat first to challenge themselves to set an above-par total and then defend it in dewy conditions. As it turned out, the match hardly lasted long enough for dew to become a factor, with Sri Lanka bowled out in 22 overs.

The win, though, was set up with the bat. Rohit Sharma and Gill gave India the quick start they needed before Kohli took over. Gill fell for 116 off 97 in the 34th over; Kohli scored an unbeaten 166 off 110 balls. These were two contrasting centuries. If the two innings had a pulse, Gill's resembled that of a cricketer: explosive power interspersed with nearinactivity. Kohli's was that of a mid-distance runner: regular, rhythmic mid-to-high heartbeat maintained efficiently without

any huffing and puffing. In the home stretch, he turned into a sprinter.

It should not be a surprise. It was only the second ODI century for Gill, who is still coming to terms with pacing international innings, whereas Kohli's was his 46th. It was his 10th against Sri Lanka, the most any batter has scored against a single opposition.

India scored only one run off the bat in their first three overs, which suggested the batters needed to get used to a slow surface, but once they got going, they went hard. The lack of depth in the Sri Lanka bowling showed, which meant the batters could afford to not go hard against Wanindu Hasaranga.

Gill and Rohit scored in spurts. After the slow start, Gill followed a Rohit six with four consecutive fours in the sixth over, bowled by Lahiru Kumara. A brief lull was then broken with two sixes and a four from Rohit in the 10th over, bowled by

Kasun Rajitha.

Then five overs went without a boundary immediately after the powerplay. Rohit then tried to manufacture one by pulling a shortish ball in the air in the 16th, and was caught at deep backward square leg, done in by the lack of pace and bounce in the pitch.

Kohli walked in, and coverdrove the second ball he faced for four. In his second over at the wicket, Kohli delivered a one-two to legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay, cover-driving him for four before going back to late-cut the next ball, which was predictably flatter.

Gill, who had gone from 5 off

14 to 35 off 28 to 52 off 55, then opened up with a short-arm slog-swept six off Vandersay. He took 34 balls to get the 48 runs needed for his hundred while Kohli settled into an upgraded version of the already efficient anchor he was: scoring at more than a run a ball without taking any risks.

After he got to his hundred, Gill tried to switch into a higher gear in the last nine overs of the second powerplay, and hit Vandersay for three fours in the 32nd before being defeated by the low bounce of a slower ball from Rajitha in the 33rd.

Kohli, on a risk-free 58 off 56 then, slowly pushed himself ever so slightly to reach 82 off 76 by the end of the 40th over. That the pitch had become even slower and more difficult to score off was apparent in the way Shreyas Iyer struggled for timing.

In the last 10 overs, Sri Lanka's fielding fell to pieces. It began with Vandersay running from long-on and getting lobbed by a Kohli mishit. Kohli acknowledged his luck there, which was also acknowledgement of the wretched luck he has had over

the last three years. Then there was an ugly collision between Ashen Bandara and Vandersay as they converged on a ground shot from Kohli.

During his hundred in the first ODI, Kohli seemed to run out of juice towards the end. Here he barely broke a sweat. And once Kohli is fresh and set in the death overs, the pressure on the fielding side is extreme. Catches kept going down, balls kept getting fumbled, loose balls kept arriving, and Kohli went from zero sixes in the first 40 overs to eight by the end of the innings, the most he has hit in an ODI innings.

Kohli more than doubled his score in the last 10 overs, scoring 84 off the last 34 balls he faced without much contribution from the other end. India scored 116 from the last 10.

Bandara was going to miss the chase with his injury, and Vandersay availed a concussion substitute in Dunith Wellagagae. One batter short, Sri Lanka's task was always going to be tough, but the red-hot Siraj made it impossible.

Siraj has been using the outswinger more these days while the ball is still swinging,

and has become less reliant on his favourite toy, the wobbleseam inducker. As it turned out, the ball kept swinging. One wide slip took a catch, then a second slip came in, then a third, and it suddenly looked like India were pushing for a Test win on the last evening.

Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis fell to the classic outswinger, Nuwanidu Fernando inside-edged a wide outswinger, and Hasaranga got the wobbleseam delivery that seamed in to hit the top of off.

Shami looked no less dangerous, and the pressure created resulted in two soft dismissals against him. Kuldeep bowled Dasun Shanaka through the gate, and Siraj ran out the striker Chamika Karunaratne with a throw in his follow-through.

In the end, India stopped trying to get the last wicket from the other end to let Siraj go for a five-wicket haul. Eventually he got an lbw decision in his favour with the last ball of his allotment of 10, but Rajitha had inside-edged it, and reviewed successfully. The last wicket ended up adding 22 before Kuldeep ended the match with the wicket of Kumara. (ESPNcricinfo)

Arsenal beat Spurs to go 8 points clear at the top

Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to a formidable eight points with an outstanding performance and win in the north London derby at Tottenham.

The Gunners took full advantage of Manchester City's loss at Manchester United on Saturday with an impressive show of style in the first half and steel after the break to claim a vital three points.

Fall of wickets: 1-95 (Rohit Sharma, 15.2 ov), 2-226 (Shubman Gill, 33.4 ov), 3-334 (Shreyas Iyer, 45.3 ov), 4-364 (KL Rahul, 47.5 ov), 5-370 (Suryakumar Yadav, 48.4 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Kasun Rajitha 10-1-81-2

Lahiru Kumara 10-1-87-2

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva 10-0-54-0

Jeffrey Vandersay 7-0-59-0

Chamika Karunaratne 8-0-58-1

Dasun Shanaka 3-0-19-0 Nuwanidu Fernando 2-0-22-0 Sri Lanka (T: 391 runs from 50 ovs) Avishka Fernando c Shubman Gill b Mohammed Siraj 1

Shanaka, 14.6 ov), 8-51 (Dunith Wellalage, 15.4 ov), 9-73 (Lahiru Kumara, 21.6 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Mohammed Shami 6-2-20-2 Mohammed Siraj 10-1-32-4 Kuldeep Yadav 5-1-16-2 Shreyas Iyer 1-0-2-0

Arsenal were helped by a blunder from hapless Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris when he fumbled Bukayo Saka's cross into his own net after 14 minutes, but it was no more than Mikel Arteta's side deserved as Captain Martin Odegaard drilled in a second from outside the area nine minutes before the break.

Spurs, so poor in the first half, did have their chances, but found visiting keeper Aaron Ramsdale in top form as he saved twice either side of half-time from Harry Kane and also stopped Ryan Sessegnon's angled effort.

Arsenal were handed a huge opportunity to take a stronger grip on the title race after closest rivals Manchester City were beaten at Old Trafford, but with the expectation also

came pressure in the hothouse of a north London derby.

The Gunners, as they have so often this season, rose to the challenge by over-running Spurs to take control in the opening 45 minutes, then hold their nerve in the face of an expected rally from Antonio Conte's men after the break.

Arsenal were simply irresistible in the first half as they outclassed Spurs -the own goal from Lloris and Captain Odegaard's strike scant reward for their vast superiority.

Odegaard was class personified in midfield, while Saka ran Spurs ragged down Arsenal's right flank, creating the first goal and posing constant problems.

And the visitors showed they were prepared to do the

dirty work when Spurs tried to mount a recovery. Keeper Ramsdale was outstanding and his defenders prepared to throw themselves in front of everything to protect the lead.

There was some illfeeling and ugly scenes at the end when Ramsdale and Richarlison had a flare-up, before a Spurs fan appeared to aim a kick at the England keeper.

Arsenal's players were eventually dragged away to enjoy their thoroughlydeserved celebrations with their own ecstatic supporters.

Spurs fall short again

Spurs may have created chances and moments of anxiety for Arsenal, especially in the second half, but this was a sobering game for Conte and

his players as they looked well off the pace until it was too late.

They were trailing once again at half time for the ninth time this season, the seventh in the Premier League, after a first period in which their mediocrity was a sharp contrast to the excellence of their rivals.

Spurs have made a habit of slow starts and occasionally been able to dig themselves out of the hole, but they left themselves too much to do against this super-confident Arsenal outfit.

Kane was attempting to equal Jimmy Greaves' record of 266 goals for Spurs, but found Ramsdale at his best. At the other end, though, Lloris produced yet another of those errors that happen far too often to a goalkeeper of his reputation.

Saka's cross took a deflection of Sessegnon, but the French keeper had to do so much better than just let the ball drop behind him into his own net.

It summed up Spurs' firsthalf display and they remain in fifth place, five points behind Manchester United in the Champions League places having played a game more. (BBC Sport)

Martin Odegaard has scored eight goals this season, one more than he managed in the entire 2021-22 campaign

Virat Kohli scored his 46th ODI hundred

Secondary school cricket returns to West Berbice with historic primary school tourney

– 14 schools to play as BCB invests heavily into youth development

"You have the opportunity to assist us to unearth new cricketing talents to continue the legacy of (Rohan) Kanhai, (Basil) Butcher, (Joe) Solomon, (Roy) Fredericks and (Alvin) Kallicharran. Berbice is known across the world for producing outstanding cricketers and we owe it to the next generation to continue the tradition. The Berbice Cricket Board under my leadership is fully committed to lifting our cricket to its highest-ever level and it would be our privilege to work with you in this noble quest."

These were the words of Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President Hilbert Foster when he and a delegation from the Board met with sport teachers of primary and secondary schools in the West Berbice area.

Foster was accompa-

nied by Secretary Angela Haniff, Selection Committee Chairman Balram Samaroo, Competition Committee Chairman Leslie Solomon, West Berbice President David Black, and Coach Shamal Angel. The teachers were informed that the proactive cricket board would be reintroducing cricket into secondary schools with

at least two tournaments in 2023, while for the first time in its 84-year history, the BCB would be hosting an under-11 inter-primary school tournament.

Six secondary schools in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) will participate in the 30-over-per-side tournament while 14 primary schools would be involved in

Russell's cameo in vain as Hetmyer's Gulf Giants win in ILT20

a 10-over tape-ball tournament from early next month.

Foster, who was on his 79th visit to the sub-association since his election in early 2018, disclosed that the secondary schools tournament would be for Under-19 players born on or after the first of September 2004 while the cut-off date for players in the prima-

ry school Under-11 tournament would be the first of September 2012. Students must have an attendance rate of 75 per cent to play .

The BCB late last year had provided the six secondary schools with cricket uniforms, gear, and cricket balls to prepare for the expected tournament while the 14 primary schools would shortly receive two bats and a set of tape flannel balls to assist them to play.

Each primary school would be required to select four females in their 14-member squad while two shall have to be selected in the final XI. One of the 10 overs shall also be bowled by a female.

Competition Chairman Solomon explained that the winner of both the primary and secondary levels would go on to play the champions from Lower Corentyne, New Amsterdam/Canje and

Barcelona ease to 3-1 victory over Real Madrid to win Super Cup

Upper Corentyne to determine the overall Berbice champion.

The different winners would each receive vouchers to purchase stationery and other needed items for the schools. Foster also informed the teachers that the BCB would also be providing copies of its historic coaching manual and youth information booklet to the schools to assist them to properly prepare their students for the tournaments.

The Selection Committee under the chairmanship of Samaroo, a former national junior cricketer, along with the BCB Coaches working in Region Five will select a special 24-member squad for both levels. A panel of coaches would work with the selected team for two days to assist in their development.

The secondary school tournament would be sponsored by Latchman Construction and Landscaping Inc while the primary school tourney would be sponsored by Caribbean Motors and Dhanpaul Sukhra.

Sanchit Sharma's incredible figures of 3-09-3 handed Gulf Giants a six-wicket win in their first-ever match. It was Abu Dhabi Knight Riders's second loss in two games this season, this one coming while batting first. Sharma picked all three wickets inside the powerplay, accounting for Colin Ingram, Brandon King, and Connor Esterhuizen. Knight Riders struggled to get over the early wickets and finished with a below-par total of 114-9 in their 20 overs.

It was not an innings without promise though.

Andre Russell threatened with two fours and two sixes, but was castled for a 12-ball 26 by Chris Jordan, who also picked three wickets.

Giants Captain James Vince starred in the chase with a 44-ball 65 at the top of the order. He hit four fours

and four sixes, and helped add 75 runs for the second wicket with Ollie Pope after the early wicket of Rehan Ahmed. Opposition Captain Sunil Narine picked 2 for 21, but he did not really have a total to defend and Giants completed the run-chase with 34 balls to spare.

Brief scores: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 114/9 (Russell 26; Sharma 3-9, Jordan 3-28) lost to Gulf Giants 115/4 in 14.2 overs (Vince 65; Hetmyer 14 not out. Narine 2-21) by 6 wickets

Desert

Sharjah Warriors stumbled to their second loss in two games, losing this time to Desert Vipers by seven wickets. Put in to bat first, Warriors lost three crucial wickets in the powerplay, including that of the hard-hit-

ting Evin Lewis. They were tottering at 68-5 by the end of the 11th over when Joe Denly and Mohammad Nabi got together and added 77 unbeaten runs to take the total to 145-5.

But as Tom Curran said during the innings break, the total was "below par". On a good pitch, Vipers chased down the target with 20 balls to spare and at the helm of that victory was Alex Hales, who stroked 83* off 52. Hales hit nine fours and three sixes and added 128 runs for the third wicket. The stand took the scoreline from 15-2 to 143-2 and there was no coming back from the Warriors from there.

Brief scores: Sharjah Warriors 145/5 (Denlu 36*, Nabi 34*; Tymal Mills 1-11) lost to Desert Vipers 148/3 in 16.4 overs (Hales 83*) by 7 wickets

Xavi claimed his first trophy as Barcelona Manager after a comfortable victory over rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final.

The La Liga leaders dominated the match in Saudi Arabia and took the lead when 18-year-old Gavi fired in from Robert Lewandowski's pass.

Lewandowski struck just before half time when he finished from Gavi's pass.

Gavi got another assist in the second half as he set up Pedri, before Karim Benzema struck a late consolation.

The Frenchman's late goal was scant consolation for Real Madrid, who were a distant second best throughout.

Indeed, Thibaut Courtois prevented Barcelona from winning by an even bigger margin with a couple of smart saves.

The former Chelsea goalkeeper was tested early when he turned Lewandowski's sweeping

effort onto the post and he also kept out Ousmane Dembele's powerful strike.

But after Pedri got his side's third midway through the second half with a tap-in, there was never any doubt about the result as Barcelona won the Super Cup for the first time since 2018.

Real Madrid were just unable to handle the brilliance of Gavi who, alongside his two assists, became the youngest scorer in a Spanish Super Cup, with his goal surpassing the record of his current Manager Xavi.

Back in October these two sides faced each other in the first El Clasico meeting of the season, with Real Madrid easing to a 3-1 win.

But Barcelona have since only gone from strength to strength and are currently top of La Liga, three points clear of Real, with this victory extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to nine games. (BBC Sport)

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Vacancy exists for one Nanny. Must be 40 years and older. Please call : 639-7980.

BCB Executives pose with the teachers after the meeting

Vipers v Sharjah Warriors

Andre Russell is bowled by Chris Jordan

Guyana Harpy Eagles 1st four-day practice match...

Savory slams magnificent century on day 2

By Brandon Corlette at ProvidenCe

Essequibo and Guyana batsman Kemol Savory slammed a magnificent century on day two of the first four-day Guyana Harpy Eagles practice match at Providence. Savory's classy innings of 170 was filled with elegance and grace, as he pushed towards a senior FirstClass call-up.

West Indies Test opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul also scored a half-century on day two as his side ended on 378-6 in 87 overs, equipped with a lead of 117 runs heading into day three.

Chanderpaul's XI resumed the second day on 3-0. Openers Chanderpaul and Chandrapaul

Persaud off Ali Mohamed.

Hemraj, the man from East Coast Demerara, scored 40 from 43 balls, including four fours and

head.

Chanderpaul was joined by Savory, who looked busy at the crease. The left-handed duo took the score to 108-1 in 27 overs at lunch. Savory was unbeaten on 26 while Chanderpaul was standing tall on 34.

At the resumption of the afternoon session, Chanderpaul slammed Junior Sinclair for a six over mid-wicket, the first ball in his spell. Chanderpaul reached his half-century, but he was mesmerised by the off-spinner and was bowled all ends up off a beautiful delivery. Chanderpaul made 52 from 130 balls, an innings that included five fours and two sixes in 154 minutes.

He welcomed Ashmead Nedd to the crease with back-toback boundaries and continued to look positive. Nedd then bounced back as he removed Dindyal, caught behind for 11. At the tea interval, Chanderpaul's XI reached 202-3 in 56 overs. Savory was eyeing a century on 86 while Anthony Bramble was unbeaten on two.

scratchy start, but he grooved in. He slammed Nedd into the sightscreen for six to signal his intent. However, he was caught brilliantly by Nial Smith at backward square-leg off Looknauth for a 54-ball 28, at 290-4. Savory had dominated the 100-run fourth-wicket partnership, while Bramble enjoyed being a spectator from the other end.

Chanderpaul's XI reached 378-6 in 87 overs, with a healthy lead of 117 runs. Sinclair is unbeaten on 40 from 50 balls, an inning laced with four boundaries and one six, while Adams is on five.

Hemraj added 66 runs for the opening wicket, seeing off the inexperienced Isai Thorne and Ronaldo Ali Mohamed. Hemraj, who looked dangerous through the off-side, lived by the sword and died by the sword when he was caught at first slip by Akshaya

two sweet sixes. Meanwhile, Test opener Chanderpaul displayed his high level of batsmanship, leaving the ball outside off-stump and driving solidly. He also used his feet to perfection, dancing down to Veerasammy Permaul and smashing him for six over his

After a 72-run second-wicket partnership, Savory was joined by Mavindra Dindyal, and the duo took the score to 138-2. Savory was timing the ball to perfection with some classy drives and imperious late cuts to pass his half-century.

Runs continued to flow in the final session, especially off the sweet bat of Savory. The Essequibo cricketer of the year 2022 reached his century in 142 balls and 170 minutes. After taking a single off the bowling of Richie Looknauth, he jumped for joy after reaching the milestone, and the 20-odd spectators applauded in delight at Providence.

Fellow wicketkeeperbatsman Bramble had a

Savory reached 150 from 179 balls with a thumping six off the bowling of Nedd. Kevin Sinclair then came in and looked comfortable at the crease, with his best shot a straight drive off Smith. Gudakesh Motie, who was dropped by Kevlon Anderson at first slip, was given leg-before for 10 to give Ronsford Beaton his first wicket.

Sinclair and Antony Adams ensured no further hiccups as

Permaul's XI bowlers toiled away, with Smith introduced late in the day, claiming 1-30 in seven overs. Ali Mohamed had 1-27 in eight overs, while the likes of Nedd (1-72 in 12 overs); Looknauth (152 in 14 overs); Junior Sinclair (156 in 14 overs) and Beaton (157 in 18 overs) struggled to get multiple breakthroughs. Permaul went wicket-less in his 10 overs, yielding 46 runs.

The third day will bowl off from 09:30h at Providence as Guyana Harpy Eagles continue their preparations for the Regional Four-Day tournament starting on February 1 in Antigua against Barbados.

James stars with bat and ball in Windies triumph over Ireland

West Indies had to fight hard, but they did exactly that to hold off a spirited Ireland challenge in their International Cricket Council (ICC) Under19 Women’s T20 World Cup group clash at the NorthWest University Oval in South Africa on Sunday.

They were led by Zaida James, who starred with bat and ball, to give the popular Windies a winning start to their campaign.

Having been put in to bat by Irish skipper Amy Hunter, the West Indies scrambled together 125

would come back to haunt them.

Eighteen of those were

ted until the start of the 18th over. She held the innings together with a steady 52 from 57 balls.

She struck eight fours in her stay and got fine support from Naijanni Cumberbatch (21 not out). For the Irish, Freya Sargent was the pick of the bowlers, with excellent figures of two for 9 in her complement of four overs.

The three extra overs that Ireland gave the Windies were crucial, however, as 19 runs were scored off those final 18 deliveries. More than that, it meant that Ireland were under pressure with their over-rate.

struck four boundaries, in a well-paced 42 from 38 balls, while Hunter was more circumspect – 21 off 25 balls.

The match swung in the Windies’ favour when Hunter fell and was then followed an over later by Georgina Dempsey. Abbi Harrison hit two fours quickly, but the rate was creeping up, and the West Indies were maintaining their discipline. In contrast to their opponents, they only conceded three wides with ball in hand.

When Squires fell in the 16th over, Ireland had a proverbial mountain to climb – 41 to win, with just 29 balls in hand and two relatively new batters at the crease. The damage was done by the Player of the Match, James – who helped herself to four wickets, to go with her half-century with the bat.

Sargent tried in vain to keep Ireland alive at the death, but James struck again to settle the contest, securing victory by seven runs.

Scores

for three in their allotted overs, on a surface that played on the slow side. Ireland did not help themselves, as they conceded 21 extras – a figure that

wides, and that helped the islanders put up a total that would ultimately be just out of reach for the Irish. There was a fine batting effort from opening batter James, who bat -

In response to the Windies total, Ireland lost Siuin Woods early, before Hunter and Annabelle Squires put together 46 for the second wicket. Squires

in brief:

Toss won by Ireland, who decided to bowl first.

West Indies 125 for three in 20 overs (Zaida James 52, Naijanni Cumberbatch 21 not out, Freya Sargent two for 9) Ireland 118 for sev -

(Joanna Loughran, 17.1

(Zara Craig, 19.2 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W

Jannillea Glasgow 4-0-23-1

Kdjazz Mitchell 4-0-22-1

Shalini Samaroo 4-0-24-0

Ashmini Munisar 4-0-23-1

Zaida James 4-0-20-4

Kemol Savory on the front foot defends solidly

Permaul's XI toiled on a sunny day

Tagenarine Chanderpaul played a trademark straight drive

en in 20 overs (Annabelle Squire 42, Amy Hunter 21, Zaida James four for

20) West Indies won by seven runs . (ICC)

Ireland took the game close, but West Indies held on

West Indies in the huddle before the defence started

Zaida James bats during her fifty

Guyana Harpy Eagles