Guyana Times - Monday, March 13, 2023

Essequibo Coast resident nabbed with cocaine during Police patrol Police destroy ganja farm, camp at Fly Hill Backlands

An Essequibo Coast resident was arrested on Friday evening after he was found with a quantity of cocaine in his possession.

According to information received, Police were on mobile patrol in the vicinity of the Anna Regina Car Park, Essequibo Coast, when they observed four men walking. Upon seeing the Police, the men began acting in a suspicious manner.

As such, the Police exited their vehicle and carried out a search on the men, during which several pieces of cocaine were found in the left-side pocket of one of the male’s trousers.

The man was told of the offence committed and cautioned in accordance with the Judge’s rules, to which he replied “it's my own I buy it from a shop”.

The ranks said the man was further questioned about the location of the shop, but he refused to reveal any information and as such, he was arrested, and the ranks then took possession of the illegal drug.

The suspect later gave his

name as Lookman Hayat, a fisherman of Good Hope, Essequibo Coast. Hayat was then escorted to the Anna Regina Police Station, where the cocaine was weighed in his presence and amounted to 7 grams.

Hayat is presently in custody pending a charge.

This is the second cocaine discovery in Essequibo within the last three weeks.

Three weeks ago, 40-year-old Brenda Charles of Bounty Hall, Essequibo Coast, was arrested after she was found to be in possession of 451 grams of cocaine in her home.

It was reported that Police acting on information

received went to the home of Charles where a search was conducted in the upper flat of her home.

The woman immediately went to her sofa and took out a white and red ceramic plate containing a quantity of cocaine and handed it over to the Police along with an additional 39 pieces of the illegal substance. Upon her arrest, she told the ranks, “Sir, it’s me own, ah buy it from a man.” The two sets of cocaine were weighed in her presence and amounted to 26.5 grams and 424.5 grams, respectively. She was subsequently charged for narcotics possession.

Man shot during robbery at Kamboat Chinese Restaurant

Aman is now nursing a gunshot wound to his abdomen after he was attacked by four unidentified men while making a purchase at the Kamboat Chinese Restaurant on Sheriff Street, Georgetown.

Guyana Times was informed that just after 22:00h on Saturday, four

men pulled up at the restaurant on motorcycles with their faces fully covered and entered the building. Upon entering the restaurant, the suspects proceeded to rob both customers and the establishment. During the robbery, the victim allegedly refused to hand over his belongings

and as such, he was shot in the lower part of his abdomen by one of gunmen. The men then made good their escape. The injured man was immediately taken to the hospital where he was admitted and treated.

Up until press time on Sunday, Police had not released a report on the issue.

As the Narcotics Unit within the Guyana Police Force (GPF) continues its drug eradication exercise, another ganja farm was destroyed at Fly Hill Backlands, Central Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo).

The Police have said that the exercise was con

ducted on Friday.

Police stated that ranks acting on information received carried out a narcotic eradication exercise at Fly Hill Backlands which led to the discovery of a marijuana (Cannabis sativa) farm.

The farm was approximately 1/4 acre of land consisting of 47 cannabis plants ranging from two inches to three feet in height and a makeshift camp. Following the discovery, the plants and camp were destroyed by the said ranks.

Just a few weeks ago, Police destroyed a whopping $181 million worth of ganja at a farm at Bartica

along the Berbice River.

It was reported that on the day in question, a joint operation went to Bartica along the Berbice River where they discovered a farm with approximately 35,000 cannabis plants ranging from four inches to six feet in height.

Additionally, one 12-gauge shotgun, five live and eleven empty 12-gauge cartridges along with three GDF camouflage jackets

were found.

The Police also stated that three makeshift camps, one trailer, and two ploughs were also found at the location. The camps and the marijuana were all destroyed by fire. Meanwhile, Police estimated the value of the Cannabis sativa at $181,646,624.

At the time of the operation, no one was at the location.

The cocaine that was found in the suspect’s possession

The makeshift camp that was destroyed by fire

One of the marijuana plants

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, Mar 13 – No retraction and Tuesday, Mar 14 – 22:00h – 23:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, Mar 13 – 07:20h – 08:50h and Tuesday, Mar 14 – 12:55h – 14:25h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be sunshine during the day. Expect clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to North-Easterly between 3.12 metres and 6.25 metres.

High Tide: 08:02h and 20:27h reaching maximum heights of 2.55 metres and 2.37 metres.

Low Tide: 14:06h reaching a minimum height of 0.67 metre.

The monetisation of Guyana’s vast gas reserves has been described by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo as the next wave of economic opportunity for Guyana, seeing as the country has some 17 trillion cubic feet of associated gas.

During a recent interview with S&P Global, Jagdeo noted that the conversation has moved from ExxonMobil wanting to reinject the gas they found in the Stabroek Block, to Exxon helping Guyana to develop it.

plant and the 300-megawatt (MW) combined cycle power plant at Wales, WBD.

The NGL and 300 MW power plant components of the Gas-to-Shore Project are meanwhile expected to cost US$759.8 million and will be financed through sources that include budgets and loan financing.

The scope of Guyana’s gas-to-energy project consists of the construction of 225 kilometres of pipeline from the Liza field in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, where Exxon and

Liza Destiny and Liza Unity floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels in the Stabroek Block to the shore.

Upon landing on the West Coast Demerara shore, the pipeline would continue for approximately 25 kilometres to the NGL plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara. The pipeline would be 12 inches wide, and is expected to transport per day some 50 million standard cubic feet (mscfpd) of dry gas to the NGL plant, but it has the capacity to push as much as 120 mscfpd.

A sum of US$55 million per annum will be paid to ExxonMobil in amortisation costs for the pipelines to be installed in the gas-to energy project, which will allow Guyana to, in turn, save and earn ten times that amount.

This partnership has stretched to the gas-to-energy project, where ExxonMobil is funding the pipeline and associated infrastructure.

“We’re in a discussion with Exxon now. We have 17 trillion cubic feet of associated gas. So, a lot of associated gas. And they were saying that they need to reinject this gas to keep the quality of the wells up. We’re having a different conversation now, to move to monetise this gas.”

So, they’re doing some studies and we’re also getting some external help to do a gas strategy. But we believe that the next wave, once we set this firmly on track, the production is already escalating. We get out of the bid round. We’ll start tackling that issue in earnest,” the Guyanese Vice President posited.

According to Jagdeo, they will also focus their energy on developing the gas strategy, which will lay out how to utilise the gas resources. Because, as he put it, “Guyana has huge potential for becoming a gas producer.”

In Budget 2023, the gas-to-energy project received a $43.3 billion allocation. This allocation is in addition to the $24.6 billion injected into the start-up of the transformational project, which includes the construction of an integrated Natural Gas Liquid (NGL)

its partners are currently producing oil. It features approximately 200 kilometres of a subsea pipeline offshore that will run from

The pipeline’s route onshore would follow the same path as the fibre optic cables, and will terminate at Hermitage, part of the Wales Development Zone (WDZ) which will house the Gas-to-Shore Project.

Gas-to-Energy Project Head Winston Brassington in a presentation during the Guyana Energy Conference and Expo, had explained that the $55 million to be paid to ExxonMobil annually would allow the oil major to recover the US$1 billion spent on the pipelines. Guyana has meanwhile been receiving assistance from international sources that include Qatar, when it comes to the formulation of a plan to utilise and monetise the gas supply it will get when the Gas-to-energy project comes online.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Editor: Tusika Martin

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A clear and present danger

At a Working People’s Alliance (WPA) meeting at Buxton, at which Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton was present and delivered a speech, several WPA members made remarks that have been described by the Attorney General (AG) as “capable of amounting to several criminal offences, including but not limited to, sedition, seditious libel, inciting riotous behaviour and exciting racial hostility in order to create a breakdown of law and order within the State of Guyana, if not treason.”

He took pains to note that the comments “cannot be justified under the rubric of freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Constitution”. Article 146, which guarantees such freedom, expressly excepts “…hate speeches or other expressions, in whatever form, capable of exciting hostility or ill-will against any person or class of persons.”

The comments were condemned not only by members of the PPP Government, including the President but by a wide cross-section of the populace. One speaker Tacuma Ogunseye declared, “We cannot wait on the elections cycle to resolve this matter” and continued, “… for the WPA, in this present campaign, we have some clear objectives. The first objective is to get the African team in a state of battle readiness… the Afro-Guyanese Police and soldiers… would stand with Afro-Guyanese in resisting mainly Indo-Guyanese supporting the PPP/C.”

“…Sometimes, people tell me that the struggle to remove the PPP will be hard and long, but I don’t necessarily agree with them … Because at the end of the day, no government could survive if they don’t have the support of the military and those who carry weapons for the state… The reality is, the Army, and the Police, are majority African Guyanese… once we organise our people and once we begin to fight, we will ensure that our brothers and sisters in uniform will do the right thing and when they do the right thing this matter is over in days and not weeks… it has to be strategic. The struggle doesn’t necessarily have to be long”.

While there are some who have dismissed the utterances of Ogunseye and others as irrelevant since they have proven incapable of securing significant support after 1992, they miss several points.

First, Aubrey Norton, the Leader of the Opposition that was able to secure more than 200,000 votes in 2020, followed Ogunseye at the podium and chose not to dissociate himself, his party the PNC and his coalition partners from the statements. The WPA has been working assiduously to push Norton into a more aggressive posture since he was elected leader of the PNC.

Secondly, after their trouncing in 1992, the WPA has tried to make a virtue out of necessity by asserting they are not a “mass party” but a “radical” one. They have refused to accept the judgement of the world community that observed the 2020 elections and the recounting of the votes and insist that the PPP Government is “illegitimate”. As such, they have directed their call to the armed forces, for a coup that would be rationalised as performing their “constitutional” duty to defend the republic.

The Chairman of the Joint Services, Brigadier Godfrey Bess was forced to issue a release after the WPA calls. He declared that “irrespective of its ethnic composition, the Joint Services of Guyana is an apolitical institution…guided by the Constitution...and not guided by any partisan values and interests.” While this call is very apropos, the Joint Services hierarchy must now be very vigilant in detecting and nipping in the bud any attempt to subvert the commendable neutrality the Services have maintained since 1992.

We note also the very racist comments by a female speaker at the WPA’s Buxton meeting directed at Indian Guyanese and which went unremarked by the leader of the PNC, Aubrey Norton.

Several Indian Guyanese members of his party condemned the statements as well as the loud silence. These developments represent a clear and present danger to our republic and must be addressed not by mere words but by condign actions.

Condemnation of WPA’s calls

Dear Editor, Having listened to recent presentations made at public meetings by leading members of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), I cannot restrain the compulsion to state how appalled I am at the utterances, and to lend my voice in total condemnation of the calls for violence made by some of the speakers.

I find it extremely worrying that persons, who are expected to be reasonable and responsible, would, in the public space, express sentiments that were glaringly racist and incited violence, including acts of terrorism.

From what was stated, it appears that the speakers ascribed upon themselves ownership and influence over one segment of the professional Joint Services and can seemingly direct their actions to bring harm to the democratically-elected government of President, Dr

Mohamed Irfaan Ali.

Guyana’s political history is an open book. Indisputably, the utterances made at the meetings in question reflect racist overtones and not-so-subtle calls for instability.

Such calls, and again, given our history, have the potential to shatter the fabric of national cohesion that is being built and strengthened. With our country having experienced the devastating impact of political instability and unsavoury maneuvers in and out of the courts with regard to national elections in the past, the lessons and pains are relatively fresh.

The vast majority of Guyanese have denounced such actions. There is no desire for the disruption of democratic gains, of the state of peace, and of the overall sense of safety and security all enjoy. There is, therefore, no place in our society for such calls which

were made by the speakers in question. Those calls can only be seen as being wantonly irresponsible and a threat to our nation and all of its people.

While freedom of speech has been restored, it is not absolute and must not be used to spew hate, and racism and to incite public violence. We must be mindful that those calls also have the potential to sow discord within and to tarnish the image of the hardworking men and women of the Joint Services as they infer those in uniform may have some allegiance to and may be at the beckoning call of the agents who stood behind the microphone at the public meetings to spew vitriol. Not surprisingly, the Joint Services’ swift response debunked such inference and reiterated its professionalism.

Any initiative to unify our people in this beautifully diverse nation of ours is most welcomed. At this

juncture when the One Guyana initiative is making tremendous gains in precipitating the long-desired and seemingly elusive unification of our people, and when rapid unprecedented transformative national development is unfolding across the country, the timing and motive of the calls made, are questionable. There are more constructive ways to handle discontent.

Despite different opinions and disagreements on some issues, Guyanese have time and again demonstrated that they can rise above such ill-placed calls for destruction, and instead remain steadfast in building a society where peace and goodwill permeate, and hatred is rejected.

Sincerely,

Neaz Subhan Former Commissioner Ethnic Relations Commission

Indigenous communities support LCDS, carbon credit payment

Dear Editor,

Recently our Vice President announced that all Amerindian villages and communities will start receiving funds earned from the sale of Guyana’s carbon credit. Villages were set to get amounts ranging from $ 10 million to $35 million through a dedicated bank account setup by the village.

I have not seen one dissenting voice to the contrary other than the APA.

The APA and a few voices purporting to speak on behalf of Amerindian people leaders are trying to discredit the LCDS and carbon credit scheme and hence trying to mislead the public and the ART Secretariat.

If the APA and the few voices are contending that the villages don’t support the LCDS and the carbon credit scheme nor were they consulted, let the villages speak for them-

selves. Let the village council come out and make that declaration, lets don’t have any peeping Thom.

It begs the question of who really is the APA and the few voices speaking on behalf of, don’t try to muzzle the village council. Let the village council of the dissenting communities come out and speak for themselves.

I rather suspect that the APA is trying to get villages to use their LCDS

funds to finance some of its PR campaigns, under the purported notion of speaking on behalf of communities.

Villages were allegedly approached to earmark a portion of the funds for communication activities to be executed by the APA. I am thus calling on all villages to be vigilant.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Persaud TAAMOG

Canoes – one means of transportation for persons living in Parabara located in the Deep South Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) (A Path to Travel photo)

Never-forget calls from President, AG

Dear Editor,

The necessary and timely reminder is that we Guyanese must ‘never forget our struggles to preserve democracy.’

It is a little over three years now, and the memory is quite fresh. However, in the future, this reminder must be invoked, as distant generations must be apprised of what took place in the aftermath of the March 2020 Guyana Elections.

So, I am with President Ali as he conjured up the struggles to have the electorate’s voice heard and respected after the said March 2, 2020 unfolding, when A Partnership For National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) sought to steal legitimate elections victory from the now ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic incumbent. What a five-month episode that was!

Editor, it will remain viv-

id in my mind, and I guess in the minds of those who witnessed it. Initially, things went quite well pre-voting and actual voting, and even the initial stages of the counting were in order. However, ‘all hell broke loose’ when the Region Four tally was being compiled. That started the unfolding of what was described as “attempts by the then APNU+AFC Administration to rip the democratic fabric of the nation”, with “delay tactics” which were openly criticised by a wide section of society…(as President Irfaan Ali has put it).

And what a society that was! That observing society included independent and international elites such as former British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn; former Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Guyana, Fernando Ponz-Canto; US Ambassador to Guyana,

Sarah-Ann Lynch, and former Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee.

Added to this, there were the Members of the Caricom Election Observation Mission, the Organization of American States (OAS), the Commonwealth, the Carter Center, and the European Union, as well as ambassadors accredited to Caricom residents in Guyana and other members of the diplomatic community in Guyana.

This alone should have negated any untoward happenings, yet Guyana was thrown, by the APNU/AFC, into unprecedented waters in a most barefaced manner.

I remember the optimism expressed by the Chief of Mission, Ms Cynthia Combie Martyr, who boasted that “… the people of Guyana should be proud of themselves,” even as the Mission salutes the Guyana Elections

Commission (GECOM) and the citizens of the country “for the peaceful conduct of the Poll.” Alas! Alas! Alas!

Optimism vanished, and instead of a seamless declaration of results and the swearing-in of the new President, “Guyanese, after casting their votes, had to endure a fivemonth wait for the results of the General and Regional Elections, as they witnessed alleged unlawful acts and a slew of legal challenges.” All of this was engineered by APNU/ AFC, with their chief stars in former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield and former District Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.

I mean, their dalliance back then was nothing but brazen illegality, and “It was only after the legal challenges and international intervention that a national recount of all votes cast was convened, and the figures, as expected,

and in corroboration with all the statements of poll, showed that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) received 233,336 votes, while the APNU+AFC Coalition got 217,920 votes.”

In the end, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) sealed the issue, and the PPP/C are in the rightful seat of governance (still to the denial and disgust of APNU/AFC).

So, as clearly iterated by the President, “We must never forget the struggles we went through to preserve our democracy.”

Let me close by invoking what Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, intoned, which lends support to President Ali’s statement. According to the Legal Head, “…the people of Guyana must pledge to do everything in their power to ensure that those events never happen again here -something

which he assured the current People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government was committed to.”

He detailed the determination to preserve democracy by assuring all that “…your Government is very much alive to those realities that we experienced, and we will work to ensure that the democratic credentials of this country are maintained and that we continue to work to deliver a better tomorrow for every single Guyanese”.

So far so good. We have Regional and General Elections in another two years, and very soon there will be Local Government Elections. I doubt APNU/ AFC will try anything like what they attempted between March and August 2020.

Yours truly, H Singh

Tacuma Ogunseye must be arrested and taken before a court of law immediately!

Dear Editor, Tacuma Ogunseye needs to be taken before a Court of Law and give an answer to the racist and incendiary remarks he made during a meeting in Buxton.

His remarks there was a call to violence which cannot be condoned in a fledgling democracy such as ours. To incite a community and call them out to commit violent acts is simply unacceptable and this guy must atone for his actions. Our society has embarked on a path of peace and progress and we will not allow this misfit to derail us from achieving our goal.

This type of violent behaviour must be singled out and put to an end immediately. We are not going to put up with this form of backwardness, ever!

But before I address the recent racist rant by Ogunseye, permit me dear editor to inform and educate Ogunseye and their friends on a few issues. History is replete by way of documented facts that it was Burnham who outlawed his party The WPA and thereafter, went on a ruthless cam-

paign against all those who were members of, or, were in any way associated with that party.

Burnham’s assertion of The WPA as “The worst possible alternative” saw beatings and lynching of persons, the culmination of that torturous period seeing the murder of Dr. Walter Rodney.

Burnham drove real fear into The Black Community, they were mortally afraid of him to the extent that many had to run for their lives, Ogunseye included. I cannot here use the rustic term of describing where Ogunseye’s mouth might have been during that period, but suffice it to say that his mouth was in a dark place where the sun didn’t shine. Where was the revolutionary fervour that runs off his mouth now, where was it then? The PPP/C or none of its followers did not carry out those atrocities against his party so what’s his problem?

Maybe the blunt trauma from the beatings during those years might have had a damaging effect on his brain or something, that the rage still

lingers on in him. But his anger is misdirected, The PPP/C is not the cause of his sufferings, those atrocities were carried out by his own kind and by a party to which he holds allegiance. Ogunseye is now, cap in hand, in total servitude to the PNC, a party that has meted out the worst forms of atrocities against them.

This tells me that this guy

has deep-seated issues, that is, issues of relevance and selfworth. Ogunseye holds no position of importance in a coalition that is of similar standing. In this regard he comes out swinging with these violent speeches, hoping to gain some attention to his and his coalition’s flagging image.

But this will not work, No one in a civilized society

CIOG condemns racist remarks by Tacuma Ogunseye

The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana and the Muslim community have condemned the racist remarks by Tacuma Ogunseye and his supporters.

“This act is in breach of our Constitution which demands every citizen to prevent crime and other violations of the law,” the CIOG stated in a release.

Further, it stated that this type of race hate speech promotes crime and violation of our law. “It has no place in Guyanese society and all its developments. This is a backward step that can lead to racial instability with debilitating economic and social impact on Guyana.”

This race hate speech which calls on the Armed Forces to break the law is another violation of Guyana’s Constitution.

The religious body stated that it is another attempt to incite some Guyanese with violence against other Guyanese which is clearly against the national motto, “One People, One Nation, One Destiny” and against the policies of the democratically, all-inclusive elected Government of President Irfan Ali and his vision, “One Guyana.”

“The CIOG resolutely stands in support of “One Guyana” where every person, regardless of race, gender, religion or social class is entitled to equality and access to the same menu of opportunities and to the resources of the State. We believe that His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative of Guyana, embodies this vision in both theory and practice.”

would countenance him with that foolishness. We will denounce his call to violence in the strongest terms ever, and trying to divide society on racial grounds would also be denigrated.

We have seen the devastation violent racial politics have caused to societies across the world, in The Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda,

and closer home Haiti. There are lifelong lessons learned from these countries and as such we will not allow this disease to take root here in Guyana. Tacuma Ogunseye must be arrested and taken before a court of law immediately!

Respectfully, Neil Adams

NGSA Math Questions

Private Sector

Anumber of private sector bodies have joined in condemning what they have called the “reckless and irresponsible” attempts by the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) to advocate racial confrontation in “ugly and undisguised” attempts to promote insurrection.

In a statement, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) condemned in the strongest possible terms, the utterances made by the WPA on March 9, particularly the utterances of longtime WPA member Tacuma Ogunseye.

It was not lost on PSC that Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton himself participated in the WPA meetings. According to PSC, it was nothing more than “an undisguised, deliberate, and ugly attempt to promote insurrection against the elected Government of the day.”

“The WPA statement is yet another attempt to pursue and advocate racial confrontation and conflict, an abject and wholly unacceptable pursuit of political racism intending to divide the people of our country.”

According to the commission, WPA’s statement is “utterly irresponsible” and must be rejected by every citizen. They also threw their support behind President Dr Irfaan Ali and Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who have both condemned “this attempt to create political mayhem and economic instability in our country.”

“The PSC calls upon the leadership of every political party in our country to condemn and reject this kind of political behaviour aimed at threatening the peace and security of our nation and to speak out with one voice against it,” the PSC also said.

GCCI

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) meanwhile also expressed zero tolerance for WPA’s utterances, noting that it will stand

Former PNCR General Secretary

The backlash against Working People’s Alliance (WPA) member Tacuma Ogunseye, who made inflammatory comments during a recent meeting at Buxton line top, continues to grow with former People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) General Secretary Geeta Chandan-Edmonds calling for maturity and responsibility when making public statements.

against any agent or agency that perpetuates racial agendas.

“The Chamber wishes to state that it has absolutely no tolerance for any agent or agency desirous of inciting racial tensions, hostility or ill-will against any person of a specific gender, class or race. The Chamber would also like to emphatically state that violence,

Rodney must be turning in his grave to see the levels the party he founded has gone to. The WPA's origins had their foundation in fighting autocracy, promoting democracy, and erasing ethnic divisions, and now, according to Ogunseye, the party supports proposing to install dictatorship by force and start what is impliedly a race war.”

In a statement, Chandan-Edmonds reminded of the importance of leaders demonstrating, in both words and deeds, their desire for national development. She expressed “great concern” at the comments made during the WPA meeting on Thursday, during which a number of speakers including PNCR Leader Aubrey Norton himself took the stage.

“Leaders must demonstrate, in deed and words, a desire for national development in its truest form. Some of the speakers communicated sentiments which must be strongly condemned since they can lead to public disorder and anarchy in an already ethnically-inflamed environment.”

During the public meeting, Ogunseye made a reference to the use of guns in the hands of the Disciplined Services. President Dr Irfaan Ali, who is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, had described the comments as inflammatory in a video broadcast on Saturday.

Mayor Ubraj Narine and Region Four Chairman Daniel Seeram, had released a statement of their own following the meeting.

and the urging of violence has no place in a modern and democratic society.”

“It is disheartening and appalling to see a fossilised way of thinking being resurrected and urgings in the direction of sowing havoc, disharmony and the destabilisation of our democracy. There is no place for this type of behaviour in the landscape of Guyana. The rule of law should be respected and obeyed by all citizens,” GCCI further said.

It was pointed out by the chamber that with Guyana’s racial diversity, it is important to remember the need to respect each other and to refrain from uttering reckless statements that are “void of promoting unity in diversity.”

Reg 3 Chamber of Commerce

The Region Three Private Sector Incorporated (R3PSInc) also weighed in on the controversy, noting that the consequences of the WPA’s decision to use “hate, terrorism and racism” to incite their supporters, is a dire one for society as a whole and for what the party’s founder, Walter Rodney, stood for.

“Political activist and academic Walter Anthony

“The use of hate, terrorism, and racism by politicians has several consequences for the political process. First, it undermines the legitimacy of the democratic process. When politicians use these tactics, they advocate for undemocratic means to achieve their goals,” the Region Three body said.

According to them, this creates a climate of fear and intimidation that makes it difficult for individuals to express their opinions and participate in the political process. It was noted that this will only further polarise society. It is a tactic, according to the Region Three body, that is usually the recourse of despot politicians.

“It is clear that President Irfaan Ali’s “One Guyana” vision is affecting certain sections of a society striving for political power, and it is therefore important for politicians to refrain from using these tactics and instead focus on promoting democratic values and building a more inclusive and tolerant society since many of the persons propagating such a despotic narrative will not be around to see the consequences of their senility.”

(G3)

“As Guyanese, we must move swiftly to initiate mature dialogue aimed at promoting harmony, tolerance and trust. I wish to publicly disassociate myself from the inflammatory statements and call for responsible actions and commentaries, from politicians, civil society and activists alike,” ChandanEdmonds further said.

According to the Member of Parliament, there must be a stronger national effort to build a unified nation. She also called for national development to be placed in a context where “all Guyanese must be assured of equitable treatment and worthy participation in the developmental process.”

“Your President will stand up every single day for what is right. Will stand up every single day in support of democracy. In support of unity. In support of development. Because all the guns he’s talking about, let him turn them to me,” President Ali had said.

“Because no gun or bullet will stop us on this path of unifying our people. On this path of developing our country. On this path of uplifting the lives of our people. This is clear hate, terrorism and racism, that come off of that stage. All of Guyana should be upset. Imagine the Joint Services had to issue a statement!”

Chandan-Edmonds joins not only President Ali and members of civil society in condemning the comments made during the meeting, but also other members of her party. People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) parliamentarians Ganesh Mahipaul and Natasha Singh-Lewis, Georgetown

The four PNCR members, who are of IndoGuyanese descent, took issue with another part of the meeting in which a speaker denigrated the origins of Indo-Guyanese and distanced themselves from the remarks made.

“We must take a firm hand with our lands. When we came here from Africa, who knows Africa knows the land mass that we were accustom to. So, these other people who come here, who suddenly getting land, many of them came from the slums of India.”

“And if you look at the amount of persons in India, (over one) billion for that little land mass, you would understand what is going on in India. They lived in pipes, they lived in all the deplorable places,” a speaker who was identified as ‘Sister Rhonda’ said during the meeting.

In their statement, the four PNCR officials had condemned these comments made on stage. They also expressed disappointment that these comments were not challenged by any subsequent speaker. These subsequent speakers included Opposition Leader Norton. (G3)

bodies condemn “reckless, fossilised” WPA attempts to advocate racial confrontation – say advocacy for violence, insurrection has no place in modern society

“It is disheartening and appalling to see a fossilised way of thinking being resurrected and urgings in the direction of sowing havoc, disharmony and the destabilisation of our democracy. There is no place for this type of behaviour in the landscape of Guyana,” GCCI stated.

PSC Chairman Paul Cheong R3PSInc Head Halim Khan GCCI President Timothy Tucker

slams WPA “inflammatory statements”

– calls for maturity, responsibility when making public statements

Former PNCR GS Geeta Chandan-Edmonds, MP WPA member Tacuma Ogunseye

Women Judges Association working to address social issues – Chief Magistrate

wide is important because women Judges have a key role to play in the judiciaries they serve. She further said that several international and regional organisations promote the empowerment of women and one such body is the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ).

In a statement to mark the second International Day of Women Judges (IDWJ) which was observed on Friday, March 10, the Guyana Association of Women Judges (GAWJ) said that it has been working to address social issues, including gender-based violence, human trafficking, early and forced marriage, corruption and discrimination in employment.

The GAWJ’s President, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, in a statement, highlighted that the recognition that women Judges should be celebrated world-

The IAWJ, she noted, “Provides an opportunity for Judges to network with Judges from all levels of the judiciary worldwide and to meet in countries all over the world. This network provides a forum where issues can be ventilated in a way that they cannot be dealt with in other countries.”

Apart from educating Judges in various subject areas of the law, the Chief Magistrate explained that the IAWJ also addresses issues of gender-based violence, human trafficking, early and forced marriage, corruption, and discrimination in employment and provides a safe forum for Judges to address challenges faced as women in the Judiciary and possible solutions.

In celebrating IDWJ, the judicial officer pointed out that society must recognise the uniqueness of women Judges and the role they play in nurturing their families, while still performing at a high level at work. Balancing these two responsibilities, she emphasised, is never easy and sometimes can be overwhelming, but women Judges do it daily.

“Therefore, the importance of women getting together cannot be overemphasised. They can learn from their predecessors, the best practices which are needed to succeed.”

According to her, the GAWJ was formed on September 17, 2016, under the umbrella of the IAWJ and its roles are to promote the empowerment of women on the bench to overcome gender bias in the law, to strengthen the rule of law through strong, committed, diverse leadership, fairness, and equality in the courts, and to educate women and children of their rights under the law.

Noteworthy, the Chief Magistrate said that Guyana’s Judiciary has developed tremendously from the time when the first woman Judge was elected to the High Court in 1980.

Women Judges today, she added, in Guyana represent 60 per cent of the Judiciary and this is reflected in the hierarchy of our Judiciary where women Judges are in the majority. “We have also noted the interest of more women and girls in the legal profession and this is evident from the higher number of women than men who graduate from law school annually.”

TURN TO PAGE 10

…the ides of March

Shakespeare was – if nothing else – an insightful observer of political intrigues. Has there been a better text on the subject than Richard III and Julius Caesar? In the latter, Caesar had risen to become ruler of Rome and stirred strong emotions about political ambitions – from within and without. Act 3 of the play opens with Caesar appearing in public; hears a voice calling his name from the crowd and asks, “Who is it in the press that calls on me?” A soothsayer responded, “Beware the ides of March.” But Caesar dismisses the warning and tells his companions, “He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass”.

Well, here in Guyana – approaching the ides (middle) of March, the Government just had a warning– not by a soothsayer, but by someone long in the tooth! This fella’s been around the block – and then some. He even reminded folks at the public meeting of his most infamous involvement against the Government – during the Buxton-centred crime wave starting in 2002. Now THAT was a terrorist operation if there ever was one –innocent civilians massacred by the dozens to oust the Government!!

And what did the longtoother say? Just that the army and Police – basically all from the ethnic group his party and others in the Opposition insist they have transport over – have the guns to overthrow them at any time!! Right away, we can discern one difference between a “soothsayer” and a “longtoother”. The latter doesn’t beat around the bush with all sorts of cryptic sayings that have to be deciphered and interpreted. We don’t even need to infer anything save that – as the folk saying goes – “when blind man tell you he gon pelt you, he done gat brick in ‘e hand!!”. Longtoothers tell it like it is!! Could be they don’t have much time left and don’t wanna have their audience waste time figuring out riddles!!

Well, the army chief quickly insisted that his troops follow the Constitution and they aren’t about to overthrow no government!! Famous last words? There’s plenty of examples through the years of armies with Constitutions spelling out the neutral role of the army – yet overthrowing their governments, violently or otherwise!! They convince themselves that the Constitution’s not being followed! Heck, just in the last year, two Governments in Africa were ejected by their armies!! And we’re certainly closer to the states of Africa in political development than, say, the old imperialist Britain!!

And right next door in Suriname, didn’t Bouterse prove that just a bunch of Sergeants can pull off a coup?? Just as Sergeant Doe had done in Liberia a few years before??

As the saying goes: “A hint to Beneba mek Quashie tek notice”!!

…of financial meltdown

Notwithstanding the rise of China and India, the US remains the linchpin of the world’s economy. So when they catch a (financial) cold, we’ll soon be sneezing. We found this out as far back as the Great Depression of the 1930s – which became a world depression – and as recently as their last meltdown of 2008. One indicator of their continuing precariousness is that their Public Debt is US$31.46 trillion while their entire GDP is just US$26.1 trillion.

Meaning that if they were forced to repay their debts like us in 1989 – by say, foreign debt holders like China –they’d have to declare bankruptcy!! What’s saved them up to now is that US Greenbacks have remained the global reserve currency. Folks accept pieces of paper printed by the US to ship them real goods – produced by blood, sweat and tears! Well after being judged by Forbes as one of “America's Best Banks”, Silicon Valley Bank, with assets of US$209 billion, just declared bankruptcy!!

The end is nigh??

…of bollards??

When your Eyewitness saw the headline he thought it was “Beware of Bollocks”!! Turns out, the Opposition’s worried about those embedded short poles – bollards –around GPL’s posts to save them from wild drivers. And that’s not bollocks!!

Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan

US VP Kamala Harris's reps in Guyana to advance discussions on priority areas

– climate change, energy & food security on agenda

Ateam from the office of the Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, is in Guyana for a short visit to advance discussions on a number of areas including climate change as well as food and energy security.

In a statement on Sunday, the US Embassy in Georgetown said the visiting delegation will comprise of VP Harris’s Special Advisor for the Western Hemisphere, Joseph Salazar, and Deputy Director for the Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA), Office of Caribbean Affairs, Michael Taylor.

They arrived in Guyana on Sunday and will be here until Tuesday. During their visit, the delegation will meet with Government officials, business leaders, and non-governmental organisations leading on issues of governance, security, and prosperity.

“Discussions will include topics of mutual interest including food security, energy security, and the USCaribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis 2030 (PACC 2030),” the US Embassy stated.

In June 2022, US Vice President Harris launched PACC 2030 and since then the United States has been working with Caribbean nations to develop wide-rang-

ing, long-term energy security and climate resilience solutions.

Since the Summit of the Americas, Vice President Harris has met with six Caribbean Heads of State, including President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, building on the United States partnership with Caribbean governments in defence of our shared values, and to improve Caribbean resilience in all aspects – economic, security, and democracy.

During a follow-up meeting in September 2022, President Ali and several Caricom leaders met VP Harris in Washington to further discuss the commitments they made at the Summit of the Americas last June to partner with the Region to promote energy security, ac-

cess to finance, and food security in the Caribbean – three areas that the leaders identified as their top priorities.

President Ali is the lead on agriculture and food security in the Caricom quasi-Cabinet. He is also co-chairing the USCaricom-Dominican Republic Sub-Committee on Food Security and Agriculture –one of three committees established during the 2022 Summit.

Consequently, the Guyanese Leader used the opportunity last September to lobby the United States Government for some US$25 million in assistance to further push the food security and agriculture agenda in the Caribbean, especially among specific groups such as women and youths.

“I put forward a proposal to have a further US$25 million made available through grants and low-cost loans for women and youth in agriculture, especially for projects dealing with sustainability, technology, and research like hydroponics. These are projects that will ensure resilience in the food production system, and encourage young people and women to participate,” Ali had stated.

This request is in addition to US$28 million that the United States Government already injected for shortterm activities aimed at sup-

porting an increase in food production and further improving agriculture in a Region. This assistance is one of the pledges made by the US under the new “Zero Hunger Caribbean Plan” to address the Region’s urgent food security needs. Other interventions include mobilization of experts to explore biofertilizer production as well as developing operational logistics and supply chain model to streamline intraregional trade, among others.

Moreover, the September meeting also saw an agreement to tackle intraregional trade barriers and those that exist with the US. The leaders also discussed at length, research and development extension services and investment opportunities in agriculture and food production systems within Caricom itself.

With regards to energy security, talks surrounded an integrated energy plan in which the Caricom leaders proposed a joint approach to ensure regional sustainability in the energy mix and energy framework that includes natural gas, fossil fuel, and

renewables.

Meanwhile, on the access to finance end, the issue of dealing with the debt crisis, post-COVID recovery, and financing for mitigation were among the issues that the regional leaders and US Vice President had substantial discussions on.

The Biden-Harris Administration has committed to continue work to expand access to US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) financing for private sector-led projects in the Caribbean.

In addition to working with a number of financial institutions such as the

World Bank Group (WBG) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as well as the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the US Government said it will also elevate engagement with Caribbean nations to improve access to correspondent banking, including by convening a correspondent banking working group in Fall 2022 (September to December), re-establishing the US-Caribbean PublicPrivate Bank Dialogue in late 2022/early 2023, and helping Caribbean nations establish a single bank to consolidate cross-border flows across the Region. (G8)

US Vice President’s Special Advisor for the Western Hemisphere, Joseph Salazar

President Dr Irfaan Ali with US Vice President Kamala Harris in September 2022

Kuru Kururu man shot dead 1 day after ex-wife allegedly threatened to kill him

The lifeless body of 59-year-old Brian Thomas was found in his Kuru Kururu, SoesdykeLinden Highway home – one day after his ex-wife had allegedly threatened to kill him.

Police stated that from the initial investigation, the man might have been fatally shot between 23:00h and 23:30h on Wednesday evening.

Based on reports received, two days prior to the incident, the now dead man’s ex-wife, a 60-year-old also of Kuru Kururu, made a report at a Police Outpost in the community that Thomas had threatened to “chop her up”.

As a result, Thomas was detained at the Highway Patrol Base pending further investigations.

However, on Tuesday, Thomas was released from custody, and upon arriving at his house, he reportedly observed the front door open and upon checking, the house was ransacked.

Thomas subsequently made a “break-in” report at the Police Outpost during which he also related that his ex-wife wanted to kill

him for his house and land.

Nevertheless, on Wednesday, at about 23:45h, a 30-year-old female of Grant Sand Road, Soesdyke, went to the Timehri Police Station, where she reported that she visited Thomas' home at about 21:00h to pay for a quantity of hollow blocks that she had ordered.

She told Police that while standing at the bottom of the stairs conversing with Thomas, two unidentifiable men - one of whom had large puffy hair, rushed past her from behind, went up the stairs and charged towards Thomas.

She recalled hearing one of the perpetrators telling Thomas “you eyes pass me...". The woman stated that she immediately ran

Outlying regions urged to take advantage of GOAL scholarships

– countrywide outreach planned to target outlying areas

In an effort to ensure that Guyanese from all ten administrative regions take full advantage of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarship programme, several outreaches have been planned in outlying regions.

One such outreach was held for persons along the Corentyne on Friday.

out of the yard and went to the Timehri Police Station where she reported the incident.

Acting on the report, the Police went to the location to investigate and it was then, they saw Thomas lying motionlessly with his face down in the doorway of the second bedroom.

At the time, the man was clad in a grey vest and blue short pants. It was also observed that he was bleeding from the right side of his abdomen.

The area was cordoned off to facilitate an investigation. The detectives discovered two 9mm spent shells on the kitchen floor. As the investigation continued, the woman who made the report at the station was arrested and is being questioned.

GOAL’s Enrolment Manager, Phillipe Walker, stated that while the response to the programme has been overwhelming, the majority of the applications that are being processed are from the coastland when compared to the other regions.

As such, he explained that the objective of the outreach is to ensure that when the selection process commences, there is proportional representation from all the regions.

GOAL is an initiative launched by the Government of Guyana to provide 20,000 scholarships to Guyanese to pursue online, tertiary-level programmes via partnerships with reputable universities around the world.

According to Walker, more than 100 persons in Region Six turned up at the outreach and many of them signed up for different programmes.

Village, Corentyne, wanted to use her technical certificate in electrical installation to further her studies in that field but instead, she chose to take up the supervisory management and wedding planning courses.

“I was doing electrical installation and wedding planning. If I get through to do the wedding planner of the supervisory management I would go ahead and do it but if not, I will continue to pursue electrical installation through somebody that knows,” she said.

Another applicant, Winston Profit, a teacher, said he applied for the degree programme in psychology and social work.

“I have a diploma in psychology from the American University and as a school teacher; this is what I normally do on a daily basis, dealing with children with different problems and issues. So, if I further my studies in this field, it would equip me better.”

Profit is encouraging others to take up courses under the GOAL scholarship programme.

“Upon completion of your degree or Master’s, it would help you with promotions wherever you are working

so it is a good initiative that the Government is doing,” he added.

In addition, Gangapersaud Shivlochan – a Government part-time worker who is employed as a janitor at a school, applied for professional training in hotel and tourism.

He noted that while growing up, many did not place much emphasis on academics but as he got older, he realised the importance of being qualified.

“Those who did not do the best they could in their young days, at least now they can continue their studies and make something for themselves so this is good and something that is giving some of us a second chance,” he said.

Meanwhile, two similar outreaches are scheduled for today in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); one at the Bush Lot Secondary School and the other at Rosignol Secondary.

On Wednesday, the team will be at Leonora Secondary and Patentia Secondary School.

On Friday, the team will be back in Region Six at Tagore Memorial Secondary and Skeldon Line Path Secondary.

Women Judges...

The GAWJ in keeping with its role is working towards strengthening awareness through various programmes designated to promote and sustain the rule of law, gender equity, and access to justice. Some of the areas include trafficking in persons, people smuggling, and the law.

“We also provide career guidance to young women and girls, particularly in law. In 2022, the GAWJ hosted two radio awareness programmes on Trafficking in Persons and also mounted posters throughout the entire country in three languages (English, Spanish, and Portuguese) in order to bring awareness to the general population, especially the vulnerable.”

Although Guyana can boast of the inclusivity of women in its judiciary and the significant strides which have been made, she noted that we cannot turn a blind eye to what is happen-

ing elsewhere.

“We do recognise the possible threat to the rule of law and to the important component of the independence of the judiciary. We saw that over the past years, there were several challenges faced by women Judges internationally. There is still more work to be done to overcome these challenges.”

The Chief Magistrate, thus, urged, “As we join with all sister Judges throughout the world my message is, despite all the challenges faced by women Judges throughout the globe, we must continue in our small groups to be the change that we want to see and strive to uphold the rule of law and to eradicate the gender bias which still exists. If we all work in our small groups and organisations, collectively we can send a strong message to the defaulters, that in unity there is strength.”

Freeza Khan of Tain

The GOAL team engaging residents on Friday

GPL still recovering from mismanagement under APNU/AFC regime – PM –

says measures to be implemented against accidents, network disruptions

Asserting that the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Incorporated is still recovering from the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change’s (APNU/AFC) years of mismanagement, Prime Minister, Brigadier (retired) Mark Phillips has refuted recent claims from the Opposition on GPL’s performance.

In a statement, Phillips – who has responsibility for the energy sector – said that AFC Member of Parliament (MP) David Patterson is “deliberately misleading the public” on GPL, by claiming in his party’s latest press conference that power outages resulting from accidents are a key indicator that GPL’s network is failing.

“Opposition Member of Parliament David Patterson has ascribed to himself the power to create problems where there are none, on account for his recent malicious claims against the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc,” Phillips said in a missive.

“Let me remind the Opposition Member that the power company is still recovering from the period of gross misdirection and the absence of a clear policy direction under the APNU/AFC 2015-2020 Government. Therefore, I unequivocally refute the Opposition MP’s misplaced and misguided statement that the company procures ‘cheap plastic products that only last 3 months.”

The Prime Minister explained that since GPL’s primary distribution network is located on the shoulders of main roads, the power flow will be disrupted by vehicular collisions. He assured, however, that the Government will be implementing bollards, a type of crash barrier, around the distribution posts, to mitigate against these collisions.

“When vehicles collide with these structures, the power flow is disturbed

above the prescribed limit thus activating the protection systems on the grid to prevent further damage to the network and generating assets. In some instances, this can result in widespread outages.”

“We have noted the alarmingly increased number of vehicular collisions with primary structures and will shortly commence the installation of bollards around identified critical structures. Bollards are already installed around 69kV transmission structures along the East Coast of Demerara Public Road for this very reason,” Phillips said.

Phillips also debunked Patterson’s assertions that GPL’s procurement process during his term as Minister of Public Infrastructure (2015-2020) was better compared with GPL’s current procurement process.

“It is important to put this inaccurate assertion into context. GPL procures significant quantities of network components (transformers, conductors, fuses, switches, insulators etc) to ensure that planned and emergency maintenance is efficiently executed. The company procures these items at significant costs, second only to fuel purchases.”

“During 2017, the company, having a database of network components sup-

plied by reputable industry standard manufacturers, approached these manufacturers to explore possibilities of acquiring materials at manufacturers’ prices (reduced prices),” Phillips explained.

The Prime Minister noted that at the time, nearly all these manufacturing companies (with the exception of pre- and post-paid meter manufacturers Itron

and Hexing) redirected GPL to their authorised distributors.

“It is important to note that these authorised suppliers were already established suppliers to GPL. The Opposition MP’s further aspersion is woefully misguided and appears to be a calculated attempt to mislead the public. GPL’s network materials have always been defined by technical specifi-

cations stipulated by industry-standard Power Utility Catalogues.”

“GPL’s transparent tendering process requires that bidders must provide Manufacturers’ Authorizations and Manufacturers’ Warranties. Bidders must also fully comply with the stipulated industry standard Technical Specifications,” the Prime Minister elucidated.

At their press conference last Friday, Patterson had warned Guyana to brace for more blackouts unless GPL gets its act together. He had cited the accidents that were resulting in sections of the grid being shut down and had also claimed that GPL’s procurement system was at fault.

When it comes to procurement, Patterson had claimed that under his tenure, GPL procured supplies directly from the manufacturer. He had also claimed that GPL now uses middlemen who procure inferior products.

An example of bollards

Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips

Former Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson Bollards

Coldingen fatal accident

“Inside of me feel very sick and empty” – mother of pregnant teen victim

Seventeen-year-old Bibi

Sophia Mohammed lost her life in a devasting accident on Friday, February 17. The teen, who was six months pregnant at the time of her passing, leaves behind her mother, Estelle, younger sister Maria Mohammed, and other loved ones.

The two sisters were on an electric bike when they were struck by a truck bearing registration number GRR 3130, owned by R and B Investment.

At the time of the accident, it was being driven by Rickford Beckles, a 67-yearold resident of Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD). On the other hand, the electric bike was ridden by 16-year-old Maria, while the now-dead teen was the pillion rider.

For Bibi’s family, it will be heart-breaking to move on without her. Bibi had resided with her parents and siblings at Lot 366 Non Pareil Railway Embankment,

ECD.

During a recent interview with Guyana Times, Estelle described her late daughter as a “very, very good child”. When asked about how she is coping, the mother shared, “Inside of me feel very sick and empty but only Allah knows the best. She was six months pregnant.”

The grieving mother related that on that tragic day, Bibi and her sister left home

on the electric scooter which they would normally use to run errands in the neighbourhood.

“It is my bike. She [Maria] takes her other siblings to school using the bike. I does tell her to be careful and she does tek she time and ride,” Estelle said during the telephone interview.

Meanwhile, Maria, who had been hospitalised after the collision, recounted what happened on the day in question. “The truck went behind me, so me done cross the road to head up Annandale. He [the truck driver] watch right and he didn’t watch who went in front of him, and me feels like something just knock me…and me sister start to holler…”

“I am feeling sad,” expressed Maria, who misses her older sister.

Police had stated that the truck was proceeding along the Coldingen Public Road when the driver alleged

that as he approached the main road, he stopped and observed the traffic before going onto the main access road. He, however, claimed that when he drove off, he felt his lorry “bump up” and upon checking, he saw the two sisters lying on the road next to an electric bike.

Persons rushed to the scene, and the girls were picked up and escorted to Georgetown Public Hospital where they were examined but Bibi was pronounced dead on arrival. The younger sister had been admitted as a patient while the driver had been taken into Police custody.

When contacted on Sunday for an update on the investigation into the fatal accident, the Commander of Police Division 4C, Senior Superintendent Khali Pareshram told this publication that the truck driver has been released on bail as the Police await legal advice.

Regulations for e-bikes

Traffic Chief Dennis Stephens had told a section of the media that there is no rule in place to govern the use of electric bikes since the laws do not include them in the definition of a motorcycle. He disclosed that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is working with agencies, including the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to implement regulations for the use of these bikes. Once these regulations are developed, people would require a valid motorcycle licence in order to operate these bikes.

In the meantime, Stephens has advised persons below the age of 16 to desist from riding these bikes, especially on main thoroughfares.

“We would have pushed to have those cycles registered immediately. The reason for that is because, over the last year, over seven persons would have lost their lives using this cycle, and 13 persons were injured. The law is clear as it relates to the age range of persons riding motorcycles, and we believe that if persons started

to register those cycles, we would be able to ease most of the persons with lack of knowledge on their part…,” he had told this publication.

He nevertheless added that the Traffic Department has embarked on a campaign to educate persons on the dangers of these bikes on the roadways. The GRA has since clarified that it is not registering or licensing electric bikes (e-bikes).

In a statement, the GRA had said that should these requirements be implemented in the future, it would inform the public. “…The Guyana Revenue Authority has not commenced the registration of electric bikes, electric cycles and electric golf carts presently seen traversing the roads in Guyana,” the statement added.

According to the GRA, it is pursuing discussions with its sister agencies including the GPF regarding the requirements for importation, registration, licensing, and related liability insurance for electric bikes.

(Feona Morrison)

No trace of missing BOSAI employee, bulldozer uncovered in mine

More than 24 hours after Neptrid Hercules and the equipment he was operating were pulled underground by quicksand at BOSAI Minerals in Linden, there has been no sign of the man.

At the time of the incident, Hercules was operating a bulldozer to push back slush and soil when a wall broke away. As such, he was caught in the quicksand which swallowed him and the bulldozer.

Upon seeing this, other mine workers went into rescue mode but despite digging for hours, neither the man’s body nor the bulldozer was in sight. The search continued on Sunday but there was no success.

BOSAI officials related that metal detectors were taken to the site to assist the search team but the man’s colleagues fear that due to the depth of the area, recovery will not be easy.

Relatives of the missing man are calling for a full investigation of the incident but more so, an investigation to ascertain if the company’s operations and its safety systems are being followed.

Hercules, a resident of Block 22, worked at the bauxite company for 42 years and was set to retire in October. He was the sole breadwinner for his family. His wife only recently passed away.

Dead: Bibi Sophia Mohammed

– Police await legal advice on whether to charge truck driver

Missing: Neptrid Hercules

PM Phillips calls on Govts in the Americas, Caribbean to reaffirm commitment to disaster risk reduction

Governments in the Americas and Caribbean have been called on to collectively reaffirm their commitment to disaster risk reduction and the Sendai Framework and its targets as a pathway for sustainable development, with investments for the sustainable growth and development of the Region.

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction is an international document that was adopted by the United Nations member states between March 14-18, 2015, at the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai, Japan, and endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in June 2015.

The call for collective action was recently made by Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who attended the

VIII Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean (RP23), which was held in a hybrid format in Punta del Este,

Uruguay, under the theme: Science and Technology for Integrated Disaster Risk Management.

The event brought together a diverse range of

stakeholders to discuss and address disaster risk reduction.

Prime Minister Phillips, who holds ministerial responsibility for Disaster Risk Management, also called for greater use of the available science and technology, which is necessary for disaster risk reduction, noting the opportunity to reduce combined risks when collective experiences are shared.

This approach, the prime Minister said, will promote the development of the Americas and the Caribbean Region. “We must leverage these collective strengths in accordance with Target G and all the other targets of the Sendai Framework to enhance cooperation and to support and complement national action.

“We must also elevate

disaster risk reduction as a national policy priority and mainstream disaster risk management into all aspects of our individual country’s development efforts in order to achieve the global and regional targets in coherence, with the climate adaptation and sustainable development agendas.”

Importantly, PM Phillips emphasised that the application of scientific and technological knowledge in a people-centred manner, will effectively help in the mitigation of disasters.

“Get ahead of the curve, ahead of the next pandemic, ahead of the next earthquake, ahead of the next hurricane and indeed, ahead of the persistent floods that are also a common feature of our Region.”

Multisectoral risk governance and sustainable fi-

nance scaling up, consistent monitoring, and swift decision-making efforts, he pointed out, are needed in the changing risk landscape, given the exacerbating effects of climate change.

The Guyanese Prime Minister also commended the leadership of the Uruguayan Government and RP23.

The Ministerial Declaration of the Fifth High-Level Meeting of Ministers and Authorities on the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 in the Americas and the Caribbean and the Regional Action Plan (RAP) for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean were adopted at the meeting.

Canadian organisation to establish women’s retreat centre in Guyana – starts GoFundMe to raise funds for construction

Canadian non-profit organisation, A Different View Project (ADVP) is seeking to establish its Vaksana project here in Guyana. The project consists of three components, a regenerative farm, an outreach programme, and a women’s retreat centre “The Lotus Centre” which will be located in Queenstown, Essequibo Coast.

The organisation has started a GoFundMe for persons to donate money for the construction of the US$87,500 centre for women. ADVP was founded in Canada by Menakshi Babulall, who recently re-migrated to Guyana from Toronto to establish the project. The organisation is operated by three cousins, Babulall the founder and CEO who specialises in community development; Samantha Gabuji, Creative Director, specialising in Holistic Therapy and is a tattoo artist based in Toronto; and Shoba Bharrat the Programme Developer specialising in Behaviour Psychology

based in New York.

The vision of Vaksana is to provide a new way of experiencing Guyana - one that is focused on rest, rejuvenation, and personal growth.

“I believe that by creating a welcoming community for women and addressing issues like gender-based violence, we can help create a brighter future for Guyana. It's time to break the cycle of violence and empower women to live their lives to the fullest, without fear or intimidation. With Vaksana,

we're not just building a physical space, but also a supportive community that values and uplifts women, helping to create a more equitable and just society for all,” Babulall explained.

“The Lotus Building is a vital part of this vision,” she added.

The building will serve as Vaksana's retreat centre, providing a safe and empowering space for women to connect with themselves and each other. When completed, it will feature a vegetarian restaurant and juice bar, a large workspace

for training workshops, and a yoga and meditation area to rest and recharge. The building will be a place of healing and rejuvenation.

According to Babulall, she is extremely excited to be using the earth-bag method for construction, which is a very sustainable and environmentally friendly method. She added that a workshop will also be hosted to teach people this new method.

“I'm particularly excited about the construction technique we're using for the building, which involves using earthbags. This sustainable method is not only environmentally friendly, but it's also cost-effective and can withstand natural disasters. We're fortunate to be working with [a] civil engineer and earthbag specialist Mariana Jimenez, who has built earth-bag buildings all around the world. Mariana will also be hosting a workshop during the construction to teach

the process, so it's an opportunity for the local and international community to learn a new skill.”

Jimenez has built earthbag buildings in countries such as Nepal and Mexico. This technique is proven to be highly durable and climate-resilient. It also helps to regulate the temperature, keeping indoors cool during hot days.

ADVP is also currently working with the Green Dupatta, a Canadian organisation doing work in Guyana and India, and Lydia Vallo Foods, a vegan and vegetarian chef with expert knowledge in soil regeneration and organic farming to establish a programme called farming for the future targeting young women to teach them about organic and regenerative farming while establishing our own regenerative farm.

Added to that, ADVP will also be partnering with the University of Guyana's architecture department

which will be in charge of designing the building and helping to lead the construction of the project along with Mariana.

Persons who are interested in joining the organisation can send a cover letter stating their interest along with a resume to info@adifferentview.ca

Meanwhile, Vaksana has already been leaving an impression on the hearts of Guyanese with their “Give a Gift campaign” which saw 72 children receiving gifts in Queenstown over the holiday season. They are also looking to launch Pride Guyana 2023 with a pride retreat event with SWAGthe SASOD women's arm.

Vaksana currently offers a wide range of services such as camping, massages at their current retreat centres, and more. Interested persons can contact them on WhatsApp at +592 622 6599 or via their Instagram page @vaksana.advp

Prime Minister Mark Phillips

Vaksana’s current site

A proposed design of The Lotus Centre

Appointments of overseas Ambassadors a priority – Foreign Minister

With several of Guyana’s Foreign Offices currently without a Head of Mission, the appointment of Ambassadors and High Commissioners, as well as Consul Generals, is a top priority for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government.

This is according to Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hugh Todd.

Minister Todd recently told Guyana Times that these critical appointments are a “matter of priority” and are on the agenda of President Dr Irfaan Ali to be finalised.

“The appointments of Ambassadors to all the nations that are vacant right now is a priority,” the Foreign Affairs Minister as-

sured.

Among the countries currently without a substantive Head of Mission are Brazil, Venezuela, India, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“We’re looking for Ambassadors for all the nations as a priority,” Minister Todd indicated.

Only recently, the issue of the non-appointment of Ambassadors to the two foreign offices in Guyana’s South American neighbours – Brazil and Venezuela –came under the spotlight. This was after it was reported that Opposition Member of Parliament, Amanza Walton-Desir, had laid a series of questions on this matter in the National Assembly, seeking answers from the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Minister. According to local reports, in addition to asking for the reasons behind the failure to make the appointments, the Opposition MP also wants Minister Todd to indicate a date by which these appointments will be made.

Guyana’s last Ambassador to Brazil was George Talbot, who was appointed to the post in March 2016. He held that post until April 2021 when he was appointed Guyana’s Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (Caricom) – a post he still holds along with being the Director of the Department of the Americas at the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry.

With regards to Venezuela, Guyana’s last Ambassador to Caracas was Cheryl Miles, who was removed from the post since December 2019 by the previous A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government. Miles was appointed as Guyana’s Head of Mission in Venezuela back in 2016.

Meanwhile, Guyana’s High Commission in New Delhi, India, has been without a Head since Charrandas Persaud was asked to return home in October 2022.

Persaud, who had also served as Guyana’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, was recalled from his diplomatic postings last year by President Ali after a video was circulating of him

verbally abusing a Muslim Indian woman at his official residence in New Delhi. The incident reportedly occurred in August 2021.

President Ali had disclosed that Persaud agreed to accept “full responsibility” for his actions. He has since returned to Guyana.

According to Minister Todd, there has not been a substantive appointment to that post as yet.

“We are looking for a candidate [as Guyana’s High Commissioner to India],” the Foreign Affairs Minister told this newspaper.

Nevertheless, over the past few days, Minister Todd has held several meetings, virtually, with Guyana’s existing Heads of Mission overseas.

On Wednesday, he met

with Guyana's Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and Consulate Generals. According to the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, these meetings are held annually.

“We try to bring the Ambassadors together, virtually, to discuss our policy agenda and other matters that are pertaining to each one of the various Missions,” he indicated. These meetings are usually held in the first quarter of the year.

Also, on Friday last, Minister Todd engaged the Honorary Consuls of Guyana based in several jurisdictions, to provide an update on the Government's developmental agenda and address other areas of concern of the Honorary Consuls.

Berbice youth chopped to death, another hospitalised during row over cellphone

An old grievance over a cell phone led to the chopping to death of a youth at Angoy’s Avenue in New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), in the wee hours of Sunday.

Twenty-two-yearold Kevin Small Jr of Patrick Dam, Mount Sinai (Angoy’s Avenue) was fatally chopped while another young man whose name was not immediately known is hospitalised.

Based on reports received, the men were involved in a fight on Friday evening following an argument over a mobile phone.

While information remains sketchy, Police Commander Shivpersaud

The body of Small being removed

Bacchus confirmed that there was a fight involving several youths in the community which resulted in at least two persons being wounded – one being fatal.

“At this time what we can say is that one of the victims is at New Amsterdam Public Hospital and the other one, his body was discovered at a home not too long ago and we are visiting the scene to see what actually transpired,” the Commander told the media.

The dead man’s father, Kevin Small Snr, explained that his son and others were at a shop in the community on Saturday evening playing games when three other young men armed with cutlasses entered the business place.

“My son don’t lime there but they come there looking for other people who they say ‘names calling’. They see me and say ‘look he father deh here’ but nobody ain’t try doing me nothing. This morning I get up early because he does sleep upstairs by his mother, get up early to tell he wha going on and me ain’t see he.”

The aggrieved father explained that he left for work but on his way home, he was informed that his son was chopped.

“I ask them where he is and nobody could give an account where he deh. So we launch a search and when we come down at the back here, we see he. He does deh in that house –is one of his friend hous-

es he does rest; he doesn’t live there though. They see him brace up at the back on the wall, he didn’t fully dead. He went bleeding and they put he to lie down on the sheet and that is where he pass out,” the father related.

Meanwhile, the injured man was found in an abandoned house tucked away in bushes at Budhan Scheme, Vryheid, which is the neighbouring community. According to Small, a cellular phone was misplaced and his son was accused of stealing it.

“From there the problem start [the] night before the last,” he indicated. Police have so far taken one person into custody as the investigations continue.

Dead: Kevin Small Jr

by undertakers on Sunday morning

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd

Registration commences for 150k coders initiative

Registration is ongoing for Guyanese across the country to be equipped and trained as computer programmers, software developers, among other skillsets as part of the 150k Guyana Coders Initiative (GCI).

For the next three years, 150,000 Guyanese 14 years and older will receive free instruction in the fundamentals of computer coding as part of this initiative.

This aligns with the Government’s transformative plans to make Guyana a centre for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) which will ultimately transform the nation into a hub for data services, data centres, and data banks.

This initiative was launched by President

Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali in December 2022. It is a partnership between Government and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This strengthens the existing commerce and technological advancement ties that exist between the two nations.

Following a number of meetings, workshops, and high-level field visits with leaders of both countries, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in March 2022.

During the launch, President Ali highlighted that this initiative will position Guyana as a key player in the global technology market.

In addition, the President declared that Guyana would be prepared to serve as a centre where members of the Caribbean

Community (Caricom) could gain from the initiative in the future.

Coding, also referred to as computer programming,

is the process of carrying out a certain computation, typically through creating a functional computer programme.

This initiative aims to teach Guyanese the necessary skills to work as IT technicians, systems administrators, cyber security

HEALTH TIPS STIFF

Other conditions that cause neck pain

Neck pain can often arise from muscle tension or injuries, but certain medical conditions have neck pain as a side effect as well. These include viral and bacterial infections, which can cause lymph nodes to become inflamed and swollen.

Neck stiffness or pain can be a symptom of:

* Meningitis

don’t require a prescription and can help reduce general pain and inflammation in the body. OTC pain relievers include a class of medication called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Common NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen sodium (Aleve).

A licensed chiropractor manipulates the muscles and joints to provide pain relief. Chiropractors usually specialise in working on a specific area of the body. Their patients can include everyone from people recovering from injuries to pregnant people.

Dr Tariq Jagnarine Family meDicine, enDocrinology/ DiabeTes

While neck pain can often be traced to injury or specific health conditions, work and home routines can be culprits too. Most of the time, neck pain is temporary, but it can become chronic without proper care. A stiff neck can be painful and can interfere with our daily activities. Symptoms may even make it hard to get a good night’s sleep.

CAUSES

Common causes of neck pain include:

* Poor posture

* Stress, muscle tension

* Muscle strain

* Osteoarthritis

* Fibromyalgia

* A compressed or pinched nerve

* Disc degeneration

* Whiplash

* A spinal cord injury

* A concussion

Neck pain is also associated with:

* High stress levels

* Anxiety

* Depression

To prevent neck pain from becoming a chronic concern, it’s important to address it right away. Stretching, lifestyle adjustments, and medication can all help alleviate muscle pain and tension in the neck.

* Tonsillitis

* The common cold or the flu

* The Epstein-Barr virus or mononucleosis (mono)

* Thyroid conditions, including thyroiditis (inflammation of the gland)

* Heart disease or a heart attack

NECK PAIN TREATMENT AND REMEDIES

Remember that any pain, stiffness, or mobility issues involving the neck should be evaluated by a doctor. It’s important to rule out injuries and infections. Always ask for professional medical advice before trying approaches on your own.

A physical evaluation by a doctor can help identify the cause of your pain. X-ray, MRI, and ultrasound imaging can also be helpful in making a diagnosis.

* APPLY HEAT OR ICE

Ice can help reduce inflammation and swelling by lowering blood flow to an area. Heat does the opposite, stimulating blood flow.

Both ice and heat can work together to help soothe a strained or torn muscle and give it time to heal. They can provide timely pain relief for an overworked spot on your body, such as the neck.

* TAKE OVER-THE-COUNTER (OTC) PAIN RELIEVERS OTC pain relievers

Another OTC pain reliever is acetaminophen (Panadol, Tylenol), but while this medication can reduce pain, it doesn’t have anti-inflammatory properties.

* STRETCH BUT AVOID SUDDEN MOVEMENTS

Stretching can help relieve pain and stiffness and prevent them from recurring in the future. It’s important to stretch gently and slowly, making sure you always breathe in and out fully. Sudden movements, or over-stretching, can cause more pain or injury.

Exercises to relieve neck pain and stiffness are often straightforward and can be done at home (or at a work desk). Stretches often used to help with neck stiffness include:

* Rolling the shoulders back and then forward in a circle

* Pressing the shoulder blades together lightly, holding the position for a few seconds, and then repeating

* Slowly turn the head from side to side, as far as is comfortable

* PHYSICAL THERAPY

A doctor may refer a person to a PT if they need help regaining strength and mobility in their neck after an injury. PTs can also help with chronic pain management and relief, assigning helpful exercises to train the muscles.

* CONSIDER CHIROPRACTIC CARE

* BOOK A MASSAGE

Massage by a trained practitioner can help to loosen and stretch the neck and back muscles.

* ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture involves inserting needles into specific pressure points on the body to relieve stress, tension, and pain. It’s a form of traditional Chinese medicine that has been practised for thousands of years!

Some researchers believe acupuncture can trigger our body’s natural pain relievers, while others think it only creates a placebo effect. Regardless, acupuncture continues to be a popular holistic treatment approach across the world.

* LIMIT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY THAT BOTHERS THE NECK

If the neck stiffness and pain started after doing a physical activity, limit that activity until the stiffness resolves. These physical activities could include activities done either as part of a job or as recreational exercise.

PREVENTION

A stiff neck can be prevented with lifestyle changes and ergonomic workplace tools. Prevention may also mean breaking some bad habits, such as chronic poor posture. In addition, regular exercise can strengthen the muscles and make them less likely to be strained or injured.

Smoking is also a risk factor for back and neck pain, especially in those

analysts, and other related positions which include animation, website creation, and software engineering.

A certificate will be issued upon completion of the programme and will be recognised by the UAE.

Upon completion of the programmes, top students can get scholarships for internationally recognised training programmes.

The chance to compete in regional and national coding competitions will be available to students. Top performers will also receive cash awards.

Students can register to study the course of their choosing at no cost and take online classes to earn a professional software development certification. Persons can visit www.guyanacoders.gov.gy to enrol.

with long-term nicotine dependence.

* REDUCE STRESS

Stress can cause people to tense the muscles in the neck, shoulders, and back. Reducing stress can help treat and prevent neck pain and stiffness. Individuals may choose to reduce stress in a variety of ways, including:

* Listening to music

* Practising a type of meditation

* Taking a vacation or break, even if it’s just a short-day trip

* Doing something they enjoy, such as a hobby

* It can also help to set healthier boundaries in one’s personal and professional life. Practise saying “no” to demands on our time when we’re already overloaded.

* EXERCISE REGULARLY

Regular exercise is associated with numerous health benefits. Many of these can help prevent injury and pain due to weak muscles in the neck or can alleviate tension from stress.

Overall benefits of exercise include:

* Strengthening muscles and bones

* Boosting your immune system

* Helping you sleep better

* Improving your mental health

* Relieving stress

* Increasing your life expectancy

CREATE AN ERGONOMIC WORKPLACE

Ergonomics refers to adjusting a person’s workspace, schedule, or responsibilities in response to their individual needs. Basically, ergonomics is about making changes to a job to work better. Ergonomics is often used to adapt jobs to people with chronic health condi-

tions or disabilities.

Ergonomics can offer several management options and solutions when it comes to neck pain.

* SIT LESS

Many people sit at their desks working on a computer for 8 hours each day. This can contribute to a stiff neck, as well as other longterm health conditions.

* LIMIT SMARTPHONE USE

Constantly looking down at a phone can pull on our neck muscles, putting a constant strain on them, and sometimes leading to pain. This phenomenon has even earned its own term: tech neck, or text neck. Some of these tips to reduce neck strain:

* Hold the phone at eye level.

* Don’t hold the phone between the shoulder and the ear.

* Use earbuds or headphones.

* Take a break from the phone regularly.

* Adjust the position or take a break if the pain is experienced.

* After using a phone, stretch to relax the muscles.

* CHANGE SLEEP POSITION

Getting a good night’s sleep is one of the most important things for good health.

The position we sleep in at night can also affect our necks. Sleeping on our side or our back (supine) can put less strain on the neck than sleeping on the stomach (prone). However, inside sleeping, the alignment of the thoracic and cervical spine is important for preventing neck pain.

Neck pain is a common problem, affecting millions of people each year. Most of the time, a stiff neck with minor pain can be treated at home with ice, OTC pain relievers, and light stretching.

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali; Education Minister Priya Manickchand; Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar; Director General of the Office of the Prime Minister of UAE, His Excellency, Abdulla Lootah and other officials at the 150k coders launch in December 2022

Regional St Lucia turns to RSS as violence spikes

St Lucia Prime Minister

Philip J Pierre has called for help from the Regional Security System (RSS) and has implemented 24-hour Police patrols, among measures in response to deadly gun violence in the southern town of Vieux Fort.

“The Regional Security System and other assets have been contacted and will be on the ground early next week,” he said.

Since Thursday, seven people have succumbed to gunshot injuries in Vieux Fort.

“It is time to act, and I ask for your support. There will be some difficult decisions to be made, and some strong actions will be taken to deal with these cowards and criminals,” said Pierre, who is also National Security Minister, in an address to the nation late Saturday.

In announcing other measures to deal with the spike in violent crime, he

disclosed that on Sunday, he would meet some civil society and business leaders to discuss the current situation and seek solutions.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet voiced confidence in the Police, following the incidents in Vieux Fort.

“This message really today is for our Police Officers to say to you that you certainly have my vote of confidence and that of many Saint Lucians. We are de-

Nicaragua closes Vatican embassy in Managua, Nicaraguan embassy to Vatican

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has ordered the closure of the Vatican Embassy in Managua and that of the Nicaraguan Embassy to the Vatican in Rome, a senior Vatican source said on Sunday.

Nicaragua signalled that the move, which came a few days after Pope Francis compared the Nicaraguan Government to a dictatorship, was "a suspension" of diplomatic relations.

Holy See, they are serious steps towards that possibility.

Ortega's Administration has been increasingly isolated internationally since he began cracking down heavily on dissent following street protests that erupted in 2018. Ortega called the protests an attempted coup against his Government.

after he refused to leave the country along with 200 political prisoners released by Ortega's Government and sent to the United States. Alvarez refused to board the plane and was stripped of his citizenship.

pending on you,” Chastanet stated in a video posted to social media.

“We really need the Police Officers to be strong, single-minded and to help bring calmness in our community.”

And while expressing sympathy to those who lost loved ones in the Vieux Fort incidents, he noted that the situation in the Southern town had generated a wave of panic and unprecedented fear. (Excerpt from CMC)

New Venezuelan prisoner swap not being negotiating despite appeal, say officials

The United States is not discussing a prisoner exchange as described in a letter and video appeal addressed to President Joe Biden by an American detained in Venezuela, according to two US officials.

Eyvin Hernandez was "quite possibly coerced" into appealing to Biden to swap him and seven other US detainees for Alex Saab, a Colombia-born businessman facing trial in Miami, said one of the US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Hernandez, a 35-yearold Los Angeles public defender, sent the letter and video to Biden in February.

"I'm making this appeal to you on behalf of

myself, my family, my friends, and all the other US Americans that are here, unlawfully detained in Venezuela," Hernandez said in the video, which was reviewed by Reuters and is being reported for the first time. "We know that we will be released if you make a trade for Alex Saab for all of us."

His letter, also reviewed by Reuters, was previously reported by Newsweek.

The Venezuelan Information Ministry did not respond to questions about whether a prisoner swap was being considered, or whether Hernandez was coerced into making his appeal.

In the video, Hernandez says swapping him and

the other detainees for Saab, a long-time ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, would be the "only way" they could be freed.

Saab is charged with siphoning around US$350 million out of Venezuela through the US in a bribery scheme linked to Venezuela's Statecontrolled exchange rate. He denies the allegation. No date has been set for his trial.

Declining to comment on the specifics of any ongoing case, a US State Department spokesperson appeared to indicate that talks on a prisoner swap involving Saab might be possible after his trial ran its course. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Customs officers in Jamaica to wear body cameras

The Jamaica Customs Agency says that over 100 customs officers will be required to wear body cameras when dealing with the public.

According to the agency, this first-of-a-kind initiative is expected to provide a more accurate record of encounters with customers, foster improved relations, increase transparency, and improve the quality of evidence collected for decision-making.

Customs Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/Commissioner, Velma Ricketts Walker, who made the disclosure at a recent meeting, highlighted the importance of the initiative to delivering the agen-

cy’s core values.

“Jamaica Customs, as a law enforcement agency, fully embraces greater accountability and transparency in our operations, interactions, and engagements with our importing and exporting publics, as well as air passengers,” Ricketts Walker noted.

To this end,” she added, “we see the use of the bodyworn cameras as a useful tool to further enhance our ability to gather information, review . . . as well as provide evidence for investigation where necessary.”

Walker also reiterated that the inclusion of bodyworn cameras will help to

The Vatican source said that while the closures do not automatically mean a total break of relations between Managua and the

Bishop Rolando Alvarez, a vocal critic of Ortega, was sentenced to more than 26 years in prison in Nicaragua last month on charges that included treason, undermining national integrity, and spreading false news.

Alvazez was convicted

In an interview published last week with Latin American online news outlet Infobae ahead of Monday's 10th anniversary of his pontificate, the Pope pointed to Alvarez's imprisonment and likened what was happening in Nicaragua to the "1917 Communist dictatorship or that of Hitler in 1935".

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Young to visit Venezuela again as Dragon deal negotiations continue

Trinidad and Tobago Energy Minister

Stuart Young is planning a third visit to Caracas, Venezuela, in continuing conversations with Energy Ministers and other officials there on developing the Dragon gas field, a Reuters report on Thursday said.

Speaking to Reuters at CERAWeek, an annual energy conference in Houston, Texas, Young said T&T has held substantive talks with Venezuela on developing the gas field which holds up to 4.2TSF of natural gas.

This comes a little over a month after Young visited Caracas with a T&T delegation to discuss a list of

matters, including those regarding hydrocarbons and joint projects. Venezuelan state media reported that Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez welcomed the T&T delegation which included NGC Chairman Mark Loquan and

Ambassador to Caracas, Edmund Dillon. Young was reported as saying if negotiations continue to go well, both countries could see gas flowing in as little as two years’ time.

At CERAWeek, Young said along with the ongoing negotiations on the Dragon Gas field, T&T was looking at two other projects, namely Woodside Energy’s Calypso project and Shell’s Manatee project as potential feeders into its Atlantic LNG facility. He, however, said it could take years before production starts on these fields.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Mexico too dangerous for spring break – Texan officials

Authorities in the US state of Texas have advised American citizens not travel to Mexico during the spring break holidays for security reasons.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) said that drug cartel violence represented a significant threat for anyone crossing into Mexico.

tel gunmen, who had been left on the roadside, accused them of acting "under their own decision-making and lack of discipline" as well as supposedly breaking cartel rules over "protecting the lives of the innocent".

It was signed by the "Scorpions Group", a splinter faction of the powerful Gulf Cartel.

build trust with the agency’s stakeholders.

She further stated that to maintain the integrity of the process, an “organised and structured policy has been developed to govern the use of the body-worn cameras, with the appropriate legislative support and appreciation for data collection”.

Recently, there has been a call for increased digital recording during interactions between law enforcement officers and the public.

In response, other local law enforcement organisations have already adopted this technology to improve the quality of policing.

(CMC)

It comes after four Americans were kidnapped shortly after crossing the border last week.

Two of them were murdered, while two were released unharmed.

Three American women who went to Mexico to sell clothes at a market have been missing for more than two weeks.

"Drug cartel violence and other criminal activity represent a significant safety threat to anyone who crosses into Mexico right now," said DPS director Steven McCraw.

"Based on the volatile nature of cartel activity and

the violence we are seeing there, we are urging individuals to avoid travel to Mexico at this time."

Four Americans were kidnapped by a drug cartel, and two of them were murdered, when they visited the town of Matamoros, Mexico, earlier this month. A Mexican bystander was also killed in the shooting.

The cartel responsible has since apologised for the incident and handed over its own gunmen to the Police.

A letter left with the car-

Mexican authorities believe the gang members mistook the Americans for rivals and shot at them when they tried to escape.

The incident threatens to sour relations between the two countries.

A Republican Senator has urged President Joe Biden's Administration to allow the deployment of US troops over the border to fight the cartels.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador called the proposals "arrogant".

(Excerpt from BBC News)

St Lucia Prime Minister Philip J Pierre

Trinidad and Tobago Energy Minister Stuart Young

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador

Saudi Aramco reports record profit of US$161.1 billion in 2022

Saudi Arabian oil giant Aramco on Sunday reported a record annual net profit of US$161.1 billion for 2022, up 46% from the previous year on higher energy prices, increased volumes sold and improved margins for refined products.

The profits, which are around triple that of Exxon's US$56 billion, follow similar reports in February from international peers such as BP, Shell, and Chevron which have mostly posted record profits for last year.

Oil prices swung wildly in 2022, climbing on geopolitical worries amid the war in Ukraine, then sliding on weaker demand from top importer China and worries of a global economic contraction.

"Given that we anticipate oil and gas will remain essential for the foreseeable future, the risks of underinvestment in our industry are real — including contributing to higher energy prices," Aramco's chief executive Amin Nasser said in the results statement.

To address those challenges, the company is investing in new lower-carbon technologies with potential to achieve additional emission reductions, Nasser said.

Plans to up crude production capacity to 13 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2027 are on track, the statement said.

Aramco's capital expenditure rose 18% to US$37.6 billion in 2022 and the company said it expects this year's spending to be around US$45.0 billion to US$55.0 billion including external investments.

Aramco declared a dividend of US$19.5 billion for the fourth quarter, an increase of 4% from the previous quarter.

Its board also recommended to issue bonus shares, with eligible shareholders receiving one share for every 10 shares owned.

Free cash flow reached a record of US$148.5 billion in 2022, compared to US$107.5 billion in 2021.

Prices surged in March last year as Russia's invasion of Ukraine upended global crude flows, with international benchmark Brent reaching US$139.13 a barrel, highest since 2008. Prices cooled rapidly in the second half of 2022 as central banks hiked interest rates and fanned worries of recession.

The OPEC+ producer alliance, led by Saudi Arabia, agreed last year to cut output by 2 million bpd from November until the end of 2023 to support the market.

The decision drew heavy criticism from the United States and other Western countries but market dynamics since then have shown the cuts to be prudent with oil prices hovering near the US$80 a barrel from highs of above US$100 in 2022. (Reuters)

Israel sees one of its biggest-ever protests

Hundreds of thousands of Israelis rallied against the Government's judicial plans on Saturday night, in what organisers said were the biggest street protests in Israel's history.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the changes - which would curb the power of courts - will restore balance between the branches of Government.

Opponents say they threaten democracy.

At one of Saturday's rallies, opposition Leader Yair Lapid said this was Israel's "greatest crisis".

In a separate development, Israeli troops shot dead three armed Palestinians near the West Bank city of Nablus on Sunday, the Israeli army said. It said the gunmen had fired at an Israeli army post.

Palestinian officials have not commented on the incident. There has been a marked surge in violence between

Around the World

Ukraine, Russia say hundreds of enemy troops killed in battle for Bakhmut

Ukraine and Russia claimed on Saturday that hundreds of enemy troops were killed over the previous 24 hours in the fight for Bakhmut, with Kyiv fending off unabating attacks and a small river that bisects the town now marking the new front line.

Serhiy Cherevatyi, a Ukrainian military spokesperson, said that 221 pro-Moscow troops were killed and more than 300 wounded in Bakhmut. Russia's Defence Ministry said that up to 210 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the broader Donetsk part of the frontline.

While Moscow did not specify Bakhmut casualties, the eastern Donetsk town, now nearly deserted, has been the site of one of the bloodiest and longest battles

of the year-long war. Both sides have admitted to suffering and inflicting significant losses in Bakhmut, while the exact number of casualties is difficult to independently verify.

British military intelligence said on Saturday that Russia's Wagner mercenary group has taken control of most of the eastern part of Bakhmut - an advance that the group's founder Yevgeny

Prigozhin claimed on Wednesday.

Ukraine insisted that it was holding on in Bakhmut and was giving a "decent rebuff" to Russian forces, with the commander in charge of defending Bakhmut saying its protection was key for a Ukrainian counter-strike.

"It is necessary to gain time to accumulate reserves and start a counter-offensive, which is not far off," the military cited Colonel general Oleksandr Syrskyi as saying on Saturday.

Moscow says capturing Bakhmut would punch a hole in Ukrainian defences and be a step towards seizing all of the Donbas industrial region, a major target. Kyiv says the battle is grinding down Russia's best units.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

San Diego: 8 dead after boats, possibly used for people smuggling, capsize

At least eight people have died after two boats capsized off the California coast, emergency services have said.

A search began after the boats got in trouble off Black's Beach, San Diego.

A 911 caller told emergency services she had been on a boat with eight people that made it to shore, but another vessel, carrying eight to 10 people, had capsized.

San Diego Lifeguard chief James Gartland called

it one of the state's worst maritime smuggling tragedies.

Officials said they did not know the nationalities of the victims but they were all adults.

Emergency responders from several agencies found two overturned boats with bodies spread over an area of 400 yards (366m), and a search operation continued into Sunday morning.

It was unclear what caused the incident but Gartland described the area

One dead as Cyclone Freddy lashes Mozambique for 2nd time

Palestinians and Israel in recent months.

On Saturday, protest organisers said as many as 500,000 demonstrators took to the streets across Israel for the 10th consecutive week, in what the Haaretz newspaper called "the largest demonstration in the country's history".

About 200,000 people turned up in Tel Aviv - many carrying Israel's national flag - to rally against planned reforms by Netanyahu's hardline Government.

The reforms aim to give the elected government decisive influence over the choice of judges, and limit the ability of the Supreme Court to rule against the executive or strike down legislation.

The issue has caused deep divides in Israeli society and, significantly, has seen reservists - the backbone of Israel's military - threatening to refuse to serve as a way of showing their opposition. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Hundreds of people have been displaced as cyclone Freddy hit Mozambique for a second time in two weeks, killing at least one person and prompting a lockdown in one port town, according to a resident and local media.

Freddy, on track to become the longest-lasting cyclone on record, started sweeping onshore by 10pm local time (20:00 GMT) on Saturday, satellite data showed, after hours of battering the southern African coast with rain.

It was the second time the cyclone has struck Mozambique since it was named after being spotted near Indonesia on February 6. At least 27 people died the last time the storm pummelled the region.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination

of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Freddy made landfall in Mozambique in the Quelimane district of the central Zambezia province as a tropical cyclone.

It said there was a high risk of flooding in Zambezia and neighbouring Nampula province. Water levels at several river basins were already above the alert level, it added.

State broadcaster TVM said one person died in Quelimane when his house collapsed and that the power utility had switched off the electricity completely as a precaution. All flights were suspended, it added. Communications and electricity supply in the storm area have been cut so the extent of the damage and number of casualties were not clear.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

as "hazardous" due to sand bars and in-shore rip currents. Rescuers did not find any survivors, but some may have left the beach before the emergency services arrived, he suggested.

San Diego is close to the border between the US and Mexico and the US Government has constructed a fence into the sea to the south of the city to deter migrants.

Eric Lavergne, a US Border Patrol official in San Diego, told Reuters this was one of a few hundred migrant smuggling events recorded in the area over the past five months - which is similar to the rate in recent years.

In 2021, four people died and two dozen were injured when a boat got into trouble off the coast of San Diego. (Excerpt from Reuters)

French Senate approves Macron’s pension plan

amid new protests

The French Senate has approved President Emmanuel Macron’s unpopular pension reform plan as hundreds of thousands of protesters rallied in cities across the country to oppose the changes.

Senators voted late on Saturday to adopt the reforms by 195 votes to 112, bringing the package — whose key measure is raising the retirement age by two years to 64 — closer to becoming law.

“After hundreds of hours of discussions, the Senate adopted the pension reform plan. It is a key step to make a reform happen that will guarantee the future of our pension system,” Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne wrote on Twitter.

She added she was “totally committed to ensure the text will be definitively adopted in the coming days”.

Now that the Senate has adopted the Bill, it will

be reviewed by a joint committee of lower and upper house legislators, probably on Wednesday.

If the committee agrees on a text, a final vote in both chambers is likely to take place on Thursday. But the outcome of that still seems uncertain in the lower chamber, the National Assembly, where Macron’s party needs allies’ votes for a majority.

If the Government fears it will not have enough votes in the lower house, it is still possible for it to push the text through without a parliamentary vote via a rarely used and highly controversial constitutional tool known as article 49:3.

Opinion polls show a majority of voters oppose Macron’s plan, while a slim majority supports the strike actions. Most people, however, said they believe the president would end up getting the reform adopted.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

A Ukrainian serviceman looks on from a tank near the frontline town of Bakhmut, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine, March 7, 2023

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Take an unusual path that stimulates your creative awareness. Channel your energy into learning and negotiating your way into something new and exciting, not to mention financially beneficial.

(March 21-April 19)

You'll have a change of heart if you discuss your grievances with someone who controls a situation that concerns you. Bartering will ensure you don't lose anything that matters.

(April 20-May 20)

PEANUTS

(May 21-June 20)

If you take care of responsibilities without complaint, you'll bypass an argument. Someone will make you look bad if given a chance. Working hard will keep you out of trouble.

Recognize who is on your side before you reveal your point of view. Reworking your plans to entice someone who can offer something you need will be worthwhile. Choose your words carefully.

(June 21-July 22)

Honesty will help you get the truth from others. Look for enjoyable opportunities that allow you to use your skills. Aggressive action won't help you reach your goal; charm will be necessary.

(July 23-Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Emotions will surface. Figure out how to approach people who may not share your concerns or plans before you reveal how you will proceed. Consider what others want before making your play.

Who you confide in or do business with will change the outcome of a deal. Do your due diligence before entering into an agreement that isn't a sure thing. Seek out expert legal counsel.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Participate in activities that give you a platform to pontificate; you'll get a sense of how popular your plans are with others. Money will be a factor when it comes to certain agreements.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Notice what's happening around you. Listen to what others think, and you'll realize what you must do to win support. An opportunity to fix up your space should be seized.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Assisting others will help you connect with people who can shape your future. A change at home will make your life easier and bring you closer to someone who lights up your world.

Put your time and effort into doing things your way, and you'll find the success you deserve. Take a unique approach, and you'll spark interest and receive valuable input.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Focus on a different approach to life, love and overall happiness. Lift others' enthusiasm with a positive attitude, and you'll gain respect and the help required to get things done on time.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

SATURDAY'S WORD --RODENT

Virat Kohli's Test century drought has been broken and the floodgates could open on Australia as they face a battle to save the game on the final day after India's lengthy batting line-up piled up 571 for 9 on the fourth day in Ahmedabad.

Kohli made a magnificent 186 from 364 balls

Kohli 186, Axar 79 give India a chance to push for a win

while Axar Patel blasted five fours and four sixes in a blazing 79 to hand India a first-innings lead of 91 after posting 50-plus partnerships for each of the first six wickets of the innings. It could have been more, but Shreyas Iyer was unable to bat or take the field on day four due to lower back pain. He left the venue early in

the day to have scans. Australia suffered an injury of their own on a day where their bowlers' figures were badly bruised as they failed to make inroads, or even create chances, on an unhelpful surface. Usman Khawaja hurt his left leg while attempting to take a catch on the rope just after drinks in the middle session. He landed awkwardly and limped from the field shortly after with Australia's team physio. Details of his injury were

Haaland spot kick gives Man City 1-0 win over stubborn Palace

not confirmed, but he did not return and did not bat late in the day with Matt Kuhnemann opening as a nightwatcher. Khawaja has suffered a torn ACL and torn meniscus in his left knee in the past having had surgery to repair both tears.

Kuhnemann and Travis Head survived six overs for three runs as Australia remains 88 runs behind with three sessions of cricket remaining to either salvage a draw or somehow manufacture a result to level the series 2-2.

Kohli, and it seems most of India, had been waiting an agonising 1205 days for his 28th Test century. But he was willing to wait as long as was necessary to reach three figures against some disciplined Australian bowling in the first two hours of the day.

He was near faultless in reaching his 75th international century just after lunch. It was the second slowest of his Test career, off 241 deliveries, and featured just five boundaries in his first 100 runs and none in the first session of the morning.

less trustful surfaces.

While Kohli got into line and prospered mostly through the leg side, Axar gave room to carve through the off. But he did mix in four brutal slog sweeps, three that landed in the stands and one that bounced into the fence at warp speed. Axar did have some luck against Lyon, edging him to slip where Captain Steven Smith could not hang onto an incredibly difficult one-handed chance high to his right. There were some other nervous moments defending Lyon, but otherwise, it was smooth sailing.

The pair looked nailed on for a double-century stand and twin milestones with Kohli's 200 and Axar's maiden Test century in sight. But Axar fell by the sword, chopping Starc onto the stumps trying to flay him on the up through cover.

Kohli ran out of partners as R Ashwin holed out in the deep and Umesh Yadav was run out by a brilliant direct hit from the deep from Peter Handscomb for a diamond duck trying to keep Kohli on strike.

but India only managed 73 runs in the first session. Lyon and Murphy bowled superbly to keep a lid on the scoring, with Kohli really battling to break free from very disciplined lines and lengths although he was never threatened in defence. Jadeja eventually did smack Murphy down the ground, but he holed out meekly to mid-on not long after.

Bharat slog-swept his second ball for six over wide long-on, but battled to 25 from 70 at lunch. However, he hit the accelerator after lunch when Cameron Green tried to pepper him with short balls under instruction from his captain with a heavy legside field. After ducking a full over of short balls, he unfurled two pulls for a six and a cut for four in the following over.

Manchester City needed a second-half penalty from striker Erling Haaland to break the resistance of a dogged Crystal Palace and secure a 1-0 win at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on Saturday.

The win moved City to 61 points after 27 games, two behind leaders Arsenal, who played Fulham on Sunday, and 12 ahead of third-placed Manchester United.

The visitors made a swift start, with midfielder Rodri clipping a powerful third-minute volley straight at keeper Vicente Guaita and Jack Grealish pulling a shot just wide, but with the home side packing their defence, City had a hard time breaking them down.

In a sign of frustration, Haaland smashed a shot from a very tight angle goalwards just before the halfhour mark and then blasted the rebound wide as his side dominated possession. City were presented with an excellent chance early in the second half when

Grealish was fouled on the edge of the box, but Guaita pulled off a tremendous diving save to keep out Phil Foden's free kick.

City went even closer on the hour mark when substitute Julian Alvarez turned superbly on the edge of the box as he received the ball from Bernardo Silva, but he blasted his shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy. With Palace occasionally stringing six defenders across the back and using their forwards to clog the middle, Haaland was repeatedly crowded out and City had to constantly recycle the ball as they sought space in which to play.

City's breakthrough finally came when Captain Ilkay Gundogan was upended in the box following a clumsy late challenge by Michael Olise.

Undeterred by his long spells without the ball, Haaland stepped up and smashed home the spot kick low to the keeper's left in the 78th minute for his 28th league goal of the season

and his 34th in all competitions. With Palace failing to register a shot on target for the third Premier League game in a row, an animated Haaland went to celebrate with the travelling fans at the final whistle after a frustrating evening finally came good.

"It's OK, we have to play in different ways. People adapt to us as a team and how we play, because in the last five years it's been four Premier Leagues (titles)," Haaland told Sky Sports.

"What can I do? I cannot do anything about what they do; we just have to try to do our best and try to perform," he added.

After an electrifying start to the season, the 22-year-old Norwegian has had to work harder to get on the end of chances as teams do a better job of closing him down, but he is relishing the challenge.

"I enjoy it, this is England, this is what I have watched my whole life. I enjoy every single second being in it. It's good to be in the middle of it," he said. (Reuters)

The discipline and patience he showed were rewarded handsomely thereafter, as the burden of the three-year wait washed away and the dominant Kohli of old returned. He tore into Australia's two fast men Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc during attempted hostile spells with the reversing ball. He also became ever more expansive and extravagant against the two off-spinners Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy, who he treated with the utmost respect in the first session.

He got wonderful support all the way through the day. His 168-run partnership with Axar was the fruit of his morning labour. The pair scored with incredible freedom compared to the grind pre-lunch. Australia's bowlers flagged in the afternoon sun. Kohli struck 10 classy boundaries in the afternoon, unfurling some sublime drives on the up and some supreme pull shots off Lyon in particular, trusting the Ahmedabad bounce with cross-bat shots, having fallen foul to them previously in the series on

Kohli was dropped himself by Handscomb in the deep off Lyon on 185, a difficult chance diving low at long-on. It only cost one run as he holed out swinging for the fence next over.

Earlier, Kohli also shared half-century stands with Ravindra Jadeja and KS Bharat in the morning,

Lyon knocked him over shortly after with turn and bounce. It was one of only three wickets he took for the innings across a marathon 65 overs. It is the most he has ever bowled in a Test innings and he deserved better reward than he got. Murphy also took three wickets from 45.5. They were Australia's best two bowlers by far as indicated by their workloads. Smith did not have as much faith in the other three, with the two quicks lathered to all parts while Kuhnemann was nowhere near as effective on this surface as he had been in Indore. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

India 1st Innings

Rohit Sharma (c) c Labuschagne

b Kuhnemann 35

Shubman Gill lbw b Lyon 128

Cheteshwar Pujara

lbw b Murphy 42

Virat Kohli c Labuschagne

b Murphy 186

Ravindra Jadeja c

Khawaja b Murphy 28

Srikar Bharat † c

Handscomb b Lyon 44

Axar Patel b Starc 79

Ravichandran Ashwin

c Kuhnemann b Lyon 7

Umesh Yadav run out (Handscomb) 0

Mohammed Shami not out 0

Extras (b 14, lb 4, nb 4) 22

TOTAL 178.5 Ov (RR: 3.19) 571

Fall of wickets: 1-74 (Rohit

Sharma, 20.6 ov), 2-187 (Cheteshwar Pujara, 61.6 ov), 3-245 (Shubman Gill, 78.4

ov), 4-309 (Ravindra Jadeja, 106.6 ov), 5-393 (Srikar Bharat, 136.4 ov), 6-555 (Axar Patel, 172.3 ov), 7-568 (Ravichandran Ashwin, 175.6 ov), 8-569 (Umesh Yadav, 176.3 ov), 9-571 (Virat Kohli, 178.5 ov) •

DRS

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Mitchell Starc 22-3-97-1

Cameron Green 18-1-90-0

Nathan Lyon 65-9-151-3

Matthew Kuhnemann 25-3-94-1

Todd Murphy 45.5-10-113-3

Travis Head 3-0-8-0

Australia 2nd Innings

Matthew Kuhnemann not out 0

Travis Head not out 3

Extras 0

TOTAL 6 Ov (RR: 0.50) 3

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Ravichandran Ashwin 3-2-1-0

Ravindra Jadeja 2-1-1-0

Mohammed Shami 1-0-1-0

Erling Haaland’s spot kick gives Man City 1-0 win over stubborn Palace

Wilson elected Power Lifting Federation President, Rogers continues as GS

…constitutional reform, resuscitation of Caribbean c/ships, and local schools competition on the radar

GAPLF, Wilson disclosed. Training and retaining referees would be one of the priorities of the new body, he further shared.

“We would also be working on reforming our constitution to make it more modern and one of the areas is increasing the term of office to two years, from one. Coaches’ training is another area that the new body would pursue,” the new President added.

to reactivate the Caribbean championships.

Additionally, VP Chase has a passion to see a national school championship being introduced and the new committee would be working assiduously towards making this a reality in the near future.

Veteran sports administrator

Franklin Wilson was on Saturday morning elected as the new President of the Guyana Amateur Power Lifting and Fitness Federation (GAPLF) when the body held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the National Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue.

Wilson gained the confidence of the electorate ahead of Mark Seymour, who served in the previous executive, as Public Relations Officer (PRO)/ Organising Secretary. Outgoing President Gordon Spencer did not seek re-election.

Chase Academic Foundation owner Henry Chase gained the nod for the Vice President position ahead of Keisha Abrigo while Roger Rogers retained his

position as General Secretary.

The new Treasurer is Maxwell Denny, a qualified and experienced accountant while returning to the executive after a few years is Denroy Livan, who takes on the responsibility as the PRO/Organising Secretary, a position he held before. The Board Members are Abrigo, Farouk Abdool, and Zanele Chase.

Wilson, in remarks after the new executive committee was asked to take its place by Returning Officer Vidishi PersaudMcKinnon, thanked members for the support and confidence reposed in him and the new committee.

He said the new body would serve to the best of its ability while expressing gratitude to the immediate past president,

Yearwood completes century, Nedd bags 5 as Demerara eye win

“I would like to express gratitude on behalf of this new committee to President Spencer and his team for keeping the sport going and would like to

let him know that we would certainly be calling on him and others to continue contributing to the sport in a tangible way,” Wilson stated.

Spencer is the most senior referee in Guyana and is tipped to head the Referees Corp of the

Wilson also stated that the reviving of the Caribbean championships that Guyana hosted in 2010 under the presidency of Peter Green would be a high-priority agenda item for the committee. Talks have been initiated by Secretary Rogers with counterparts in Trinidad and Tobago. Suriname, Jamaica, and Barbados among other nations would be approached

Hosting of the GAPLF’s calendar competitions will be done apart from athletes being selected for overseas competitions. Intermediates, Raw Nationals, and Senior Nationals are the remaining local competitions that are slated for this year. Novices were held on February 19 at Cornelia Ida on the West Coast of Demerara.

Another aim of the new committee is to host competitions in all three counties engaging and involving gyms from all around Guyana.

More gear for Project “Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana”

Nagamootoo cousins

Vishal and Moses are the latest sponsors to come on board with Project “Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana”, a joint initiative between Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Executive Anil Beharry and Kishan Das of the USA.

On a recent visit to Guyana, Vishal, a former National and West Indies B wicketkeeper/batsman, contributed one cricket bat and one pair of cricket shoes. He also represented Berbice and Guyana at all youth levels. Moses, the son of former Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, contributed one pair of batting pads and one pair of batting gloves. The pair are the nephews of former West Indies Captains and cricket legends Rohan Kanhai and Alvin Kallicharran. Vishal’s brother, Mahendra, represented West Indies at the senior level.

Shamar Yearwood completed his century while Ashmead Nedd claimed five wicktes as Demerara extended their dominance against the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Select XI at GCC Bourda, in round two of the GCB Senior Inter-county fourday tournament.

Demerara had earlier posted 419 all out in their first innings with Yearwood scoring a fine 105 and Ronaldo Ali Mohamed scoring 94 on day one. In the Select XI’s reply, they were bowled out for 166 in 46.5 overs in their first innings, with leftarm spinner Ashmead Nedd claiming 5-43 in 15.5 overs.

Demerara had opted to bat again, and at stumps on day two, they were 92-4 after 25 overs, with a lead of 345 runs. Earlier, Yearwood, who resumed day two on 94, reached his century, but edged one to Rajendra Chandrika at slips, concluding his

innings on 105 from 174 balls. He batted for 195 minutes and stroked seven fours and four sixes.

Jonathan Rampersaud was the pick of the Select XI bowlers with 3-87 from 24.4 overs. The Select XI had a mountain to climb and the batsmen were not up to standard. Kelvin Umroa batting at number 10, top-scored with 32 for the Select XI. Nedd, who bowled well on a flat track, was supported by fellow spinner Richie Looknauth, who claimed 3-51 in 11 overs.

Demerara then lost four wickets in their second innings, with Select XI seamers Demetri Cameron and Carlos La Rose claiming two wickets each.

Akshaya Persaud was unbeaten on 25 while Christopher Barnwell was on 36. The duo will be aiming to pile on some runs when day three resumes at 09:30h at Bourda. (Brandon Corlette)

At a simple ceremony held recently, the Nagamootoo cousins said that they were delighted to be part of the initiative and at the same time, the development of young cricketers and youths in general. In response, Beharry thanked Vishal and Moses for their kind gesture.

Total cricket-related items received so far: $310,000 in cash, two trophies, 14 cricket boots, 23 pairs of batting pads, 27 cricket bats, 21 pairs of batting gloves, 21 thigh pads, one pair of wicket-keeping pads, four arm guards, two boxes of cricket balls, six cricket bags, and four helmets. In addition to the above, $600,000 worth in gear was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former national wicketkeeper-batsman.

To date, 52 young players from all three counties of Guyana have benefited under the initiative. In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area benefited from two

used bats. Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenaam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also received one box of red cricket balls each while RHCCCC received two boxes, 15 white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicketkeeping gloves and a set of stumps and bails. The Essequibo Cricket Board also benefited along with the town of Lethem.

Cricket-related items, used or new, are distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skill, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Talent spotting is being done across the country and club leaders also assist to identify talent. Progressive and well-managed clubs will also benefit.

The organisers took the opportunity to thank Javed and Imran of West Indian Sports Complex, Option Group of USA, Hilbert Foster, Bish Panday of P and P

Insurance Brokers, Sean Devers, Trevis Simon, Årïêl J Tïlkú, Aaron Beharry, Leanna Bachan and Imran Saccoor, Devon Ramnauth, Teddy Singh, Romash Munna, Ravi Etwaroo, Kelvin Brijlall, Ravin Harkishun, Surendra Harkishun, Allan Mangru and Dennis Mangru, Vishal Mahabir, Sherman Austin, Huburn Evans, Rajendra Sadeo and Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Sheik Mohamed of Star Sports Awards and Trophies and Ajay Gainda of Cricket Equipment Guyana, Gajanand Singh, Peter Ramkissoon, Rabindranath Saywack, Roshan Gaffoor, Ameer Rahaman, Chin Singh, Denesh Chandrapaul, Davo Naraine of UK, Dr Cecil Beharry, Raj Mathura, Raj Bharrat, Latch Mohabir and family, Suresh Dhanai, Vishal Nagamootoo, and Moses Nagamootoo Jr. They also thanked the media for the role they are playing in promoting this venture. Distribution will

continue. Anyone interested in contributing can contact Anil Beharry on 623-6875 or Kishan Das on 1-718-6640896.

New GAPLF President Franklin Wilson (centre) flanked by Executive Committee Members Roger Rogers, Keisha Abrigo, Maxwell Denny, Denroy Livan, Zanele Chase, Henry Chase, Farouk Abdool and Returning Officer Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon Gordon Spencer, and his team for the work that they have put in since being elected in 2019.

Ashmead Nedd

Vishal Nagamootoo and Anil Beharry

Ariana’s Vision pulls off major upset over Jumbo Jet’s Looking to Heaven at Rising Sun Horse Racing

By Brandon Corlette

Hundreds of enthusiasts witnessed high-quality horse racing at the Rising Sun Turf Club, West Coast Berbice on a sunny day.

Ariana’s Vision pulled off a remarkable upset over pre-race favourite Looking to Heaven of Jumbo Jet Racing Stable. Piloted by Jockey Bhudram Singh,

and trained by Fazal Habibulla, Ariana’s Vision clinched the one-mile Sonny Habibulla Memorial ‘D Class’ feature event, which had a top prize of two million Guyana dollars.

This feature race, which was sponsored by Banks DIH and Jumbo Jet Auto Sales, saw the Rising Sun Racing Stables screaming after the thrilling race

ended the seven-card day. Jessica’s Pride and Vera’s Finally were the other top finishers in the feature event.

Race one of the opening day stakes started off with the K Class Maidens and Open L Class 1400-metre event, which saw Black Time taking the top spot.

Hurricane Lane ran second while Perfect Dream and War Time rounded out

the top four finishers. Bank Note then won the J Class and Lower race while Cash Return, Foreign Link and Danstar were the other top finishers in that order.

Four horses started in the H Class race and it was Unsettled Heart who cruised to victory. Amicable Kate ran in sec-

ond while It’s My Choice and Marconi were the other finishers.

In race four, which was the three-year-old Guyana bred maidens, Princess Samiah won from gate

Class first time starters in Guyana. Regal Intension and Bossalina were the other top finishers in the event. Miss Universe pipped Lord’s Gift by inches to

Prior to UFC Las Vegas on Saturday, Carlston Harris had not fought in over a year, when he lost to Shavkat Rahkmonov.

At The Theater at Virgin Hotels, Harris stepped into the cage to kick off the card against Jared Gooden.

Gooden was making his return to the promotion, after being cut with a 1-3 UFC record. However, he then went 4-1 outside the UFC and earned the callback for this late-notice opportunity.

Before being knocked out by Rahkmonov, Harris had won his first two UFC fights by firstround finish, and that success made him a favourite in the eyes of many going into the bout.

The fighters felt each other out early on in the first round. Gooden threw jabs and leg kicks which were somewhat effective, but one leg kick was checked badly.

Harris was searching so much for the overhand right that he began to look wild and silly with it almost, but after that, he tightened up and landed on Gooden, who had his hands down all the time. Harris began to wobble Gooden somewhat with a few right hands in a row. Mechanically he was awkward, but he was still hitting Gooden in the face.

In the pocket, Harris landed a big combination of hooks with two minutes left, but Gooden ate it and kept going.

With 90 seconds Harris shot a

takedown and had his attempt stuffed easily. Still, he landed a big right hand once again moments later.

Gooden’s main output late in the round was just his jab, which landed at times, but never with as much force as what Harris put out. Harris landed a big right elbow and then a straight right late in the round.

The last 15 seconds consisted of dirty boxing and clinch elbows from Harris as he wore on Gooden, who survived to the bell.

Harris opened round two with a takedown attempt right away, but Gooden stopped it and ended up pushed up against the fence in the clinch.

Harris looked to use his long limbs to trip Gooden at first, but then switched to a double

leg and landed it cleanly. He ended up in full guard, but immediately passed to side control. Harris was content to chill out in top half so he could land softer ground and pound.

He never risked posturing up to throw harder strikes, just slowly smacking the ribs and head. Gooden’s feet were able to lock down the foot that Harris had still stuck in the guard, keeping Harris from doing more effective work.

Eventually, Gooden started to come up on the single leg, but Harris attacked a front choke. Gooden fought the hands, but could not clear the front headlock position so he rolled into bottom-side control.

The round ended with Harris on top, having just passed to mount with one second left.

The final round started with Gooden clearly down on the scorecards. Harris once again came out with a takedown attempt and was again able to use it to get the front headlock, looking for a choke.

Gooden defended, but Harris swung around to the back and Gooden was too slow to stop him. Harris immediately got both hooks in.

Gooden turned into him, but Harris rolled to stay in mount. He dropped elbows down on the skull of Gooden, who scrambled to get to the fence. Harris transitioned to the back again, but only got one hook in, so they ended up in the clinch.

Again Harris dropped down for a double leg and sat Gooden to his butt against the fence. Gooden stood up and escaped momentarily, but Harris threw a right hand which rocked him and level changed successfully once more.

Gooden eventually got up again, but he appeared tired with one minute left and fell prey to another takedown. The fight ended with Harris still dominant, dropping down elbows on Gooden.

The judges’ scorecards held no surprises as they unanimously had Harris the winner, with 30-27 scores. (UFC)

Official result: Carlston Harris defeat Jared Gooden by unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

to pole. Top Gun won the sprint with Maximum Wave (third) and Hardcore (fourth). That event ran at a distance of 1100 metres.

claim the penultimate race of the day, which was the L Class Maidens and J3 first-time starters. Race six ran at a distance of

Race five was arguably the fastest race of the day and it was closely contested. Early Bird piloted by Jockey Colin Ross, edged Converter to take the top honours in the E

1100 metres, and Black Cat came in third position. The next horse racing event is set for Sunday, March 19 at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club.

Carlston Harris in action on Saturday in Las Vegas

Seven high-quality races thrilled Rising Sun

Sponsors presenting the trophy to the winning horse, Ariana’s Vision

Ariana’s Vision trainer Fazal Habibulla

Princess Samiah won the three-year-old Guyana bred maidens race (Brandon Corlette photos)