Guyana Times - Monday, March 20, 2023

Need for strengthening position of women in local seabob sector – FAO study

Arecent assessment conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on Guyana’s seabob sector has underscored the need to strengthen the position of women, especially within the artisanal and industrial channels.

Guyana was among the first five of 12 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) nations analysed by the global fish value chain development programme, FISH4ACP. Implemented by FAO, this initiative of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) focuses on making fisheries and aquaculture value chains more productive and sustainable, with an emphasis on supporting women, given their crucial role in fish value chains - the whole process of adding value to the product.

Under a 10-year development strategy for the healthy future of Guyana’s seabob shrimp value chain, which was endorsed by Guyanese operators in May 2022, the FAO’s FISH4ACP Project has completed an assessment report in which it highlighted, among other things, ways of promoting artisanal or traditional fisheries and strengthening the role of women.

The artisanal fishers are predominantly men who use various gear types to target multiple species such as white belly shrimp, finfish and prawns. However, these catches – almost nine tonnes/year, or five per cent of the artisanal catch of seabob – are bought by about nine cottage processors. These are mostly small, female-owned businesses that dry seabob to

sell locally to market vendors, street food vendors, and small restaurants. The cottage processors hire part-time female workers who clean seabob and then spread it on the floor to dry.

Moreover, it was outlined in the report that nearly 80 per cent of artisanal seabob catch or 150 tonnes of seabob is sold in the local market by around 107 market vendors, who retail fresh seabob, peeled fresh seabob, and dried seabob to consumers and other buyers, such as street food vendors and restaurants.

Like the processors, majority of these vendors are female business owners who work year-round and employ other family members and workers to help with the transport, cleaning and peeling of seabob.

According to the report, artisanal fishers and market vendors are the core ac -

tors within the sector and therefore, “enhancing women’s participation” in the value chain (VC) is key.

“Analysis of the social performance of the VC showed unequal income among VC actors and workers, especially between men and women. There was also an unequal division of roles between men and women, a limited number of women holding decision-making positions and women had limited access to assets (such as land and houses) and fishing licences… Access to financial services by both male and female actors was limited in the artisanal channel of the VC,” the assessment report highlighted.

The document also detailed an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of the seabob value chain in both the artis-

anal channel and industrial channel – which comprises three major seafood operators in Guyana.

Among the strengths in the industrial channel is the creation of employment for nearly 800 people (hired jobs) per year on average, of which nearly 40 per cent are women hired for processing work and salary above minimum wage.

Similarly, for the artisanal channel, strengths include employment creation for some 840 people per year on average, including family labour and hired workers.

Gender inequality

However, with regards to weaknesses, it was pointed out that although industrial firms generate employment for nearly 800 people, a lack of attention to labour conditions and gender equality have also given rise to issues such as wage gaps for women workers for industrial processing jobs (when compared to male workers for industrial fishing and other operations).

For the artisanal channel, the weaknesses identified includes gender norms limiting women’s participation.

“Recognising the key role that women play as workers in processing factories in the industrial channel and as processors and vendors in the artisanal channel (strength), improving the conditions for women workers in the industrial channel (weakness) and increasing the share of value added for women business owners, as processors and vendors, and women workers in the artisanal channel (weakness) by improving

the representation of women and access to higher-value markets (opportunity),” the report stated.

Informed by the SWOT analysis, a seabob value chain map and stakeholder interests, as reflected during consultations, provided an overall objective for the upgrading strategy that was developed with stakeholders. It states that by 2032, Guyana would have strengthened its position as a leading exporter of seabob shrimp globally by ensuring a sustainable and resilient value chain for seabob across the industrial and artisanal channels, that is well-regulated and supported by data, with improved infrastructure for artisanal fishers and empowerment of women across both channels.

Specific and measurable targets that this 2032 vision aim to achieve include having full-time employment (FTE) jobs for women increased to 43 per cent by 2025 and 2032 – a three per cent increase compared to baseline 2015–2020; and having the number of FTE jobs for women with earnings not below national minimum wage increased to over 420 by 2025 and 2032 – 29 per cent increase compared to baseline 2015–2020.

“Women dominate the market vendor (retailing) and processing segments of the VC, where profitability levels are the lowest of all actors. Upgrades to the business model of market vendors and processors will generate sufficient additional income to increase the number of FTE employment opportunities for women and increase wages paid to female employees,”

the report stated. It was further highlighted that market vendors and cottage processors are the least profitable segment of the value chain, which are carried out largely by women, with returns on sales of only 12 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively.

To this end, the report calls for additional attention to be paid to gender constraints and opportunities, allowing the increased participation of women and increased share of direct value captured by women.

Consequently, a study will be conducted to verify the potential for expansion of domestic seabob consumption in higher-value outlets, including supermarkets, hotels and restaurants as a result of the growth of the oil and gas and tourism sectors in Guyana.

“By providing training on improved seabob handling practices (eg food safety and quality, improved drying and storing techniques), coupled with infrastructure upgrades at strategic wharfs and landing sites (mainly Meadowbank in Region 4 and Rosignol in Region 5), women processors and vendors will be linked to higher-value customers as well as necessary service providers (eg suppliers of solar dryers, ice and ice boxes) to increase their incomes from higher value sales of fresh seabob. Their representation and voice in decision-making regarding the management of landing sites will also be improved by forming a network of women vendors and processors, subject to their interests,” the report stated. (G8)

A vendor selling dried seabob

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Monday, Mar 20 – 04:00h – 05:30h and Tuesday, Mar 21 – 04:15h – 05:45h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, Mar 20 – 15:35h – 17:05h and Tuesday, Mar 21 – 16:20h – 17:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be thundery showers and sunshine during the day. Expect clear skies and light rain showers at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly between 3.12 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tide: 16:03 reaching a maximum height of 2.75 metres.

Low Tide: 09:36h and 21:59h reaching minimum heights of 0.55 metre and 0.44 metre.

have to save water”

Ahead of the global observance of World Water Day on Wednesday, Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry Susan Rodrigues is calling on Guyanese to play their role in ensuring the sustainable management of water – a critical resource that is fast becoming scarce around the world.

She was at the time addressing participants of a walkathon exercise held by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) in recognition of World Water Day which will be held on March 22, 2023, under the theme “Accelerating Change to Solve the Water and Sanitation Crisis”.

Minister Rodrigues joined GWI’s Chief Executive Officer, Shaik Baksh, to lead the exercise, which started at the seawall roundabout and ended at GWI’s Vlissengen Road Office. GWI Board Member, Dharamkumar Seeraj; UNICEF Guyana and Suriname Deputy Representative, Irfan Akhtar, and representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as Hydrometeorological Service also participated.

In brief remarks after the walkathon, the Housing and Water Minister urged all to use the country’s water resources wisely. She stated that while many may take access to water for granted, water is fast becoming one of the scarcest resources in the world, with over two billion people globally not having access to safe water.

“Water is life. We know that wherever there is water, there is life. And so, many studies and scientists are saying to us that water will become very, very scarce in the not-so-distant future and it will become one of the world’s most valuable resource… So, we have to think what is going on globally to really appreciate our situation locally,” she stated.

According to Rodrigues, it is therefore important now more than ever that everyone make the necessary changes in their usage and management of water.

“We have to save water and saving water does not call for some major action. It’s the small things that we can do to preserve water and to teach our children that this resource is a precious resource and whatever little we can do to save it, we must do it,” the Minister stressed.

In addition to making changes within their households, she is also urging persons to be aware of water wastage within their communities and to report any leakages. It was further explained by the Minister that leakages on the water lines not only cause wastage but also affect those accessing water from that line as well.

“So, it has a trickle-down effect… we have to start

changing the way we think about water and the way we think about the management of water,” she noted.

Rodrigues went on to note that the Guyana Government is providing the necessary funds to ensure that all Guyanese have access to water, including vulnerable populations and those in the hinterland and riverine communities.

Currently, Guyana has a 97 per cent rate of access to water across the country. In the hinterland regions, there has been a significant improvement of access to water from 46 per cent in 2020 to 75 per cent in 2022. This is expected to be further increased to 85 per cent by the end of this year.

According to Rodrigues, with Guyana’s high percentage of access to water, the focus now has shifted to-

wards access to treated water across the country. The goal, she said, is to have 90 per cent of treated water by 2025 – five years ahead of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (#6) of 2030, which is access to clean water.

Meanwhile, the UNICEF Guyana Representative pledged the organisation’s continued support to GWI to further enhance the access to safe drinking water especially in the hinterland communities. He too urged that the walk turn into action by locals to save water.

“This walk is also an important step towards realisation of SDG 6, which is safe drinking water and sanitation. And I believe, we should all walk together to make sure that every child has access to safe water, quality water and clean water every-

where in the country,” Khan posited.

On the other hand, the CEO of GWI disclosed that Sunday’s walk was the kickstart of a series of activities planned for this year’s observance of World Water Day.

According to Baksh, GWI has formulated plans and programmes to ensure that Guyana achieves SDG 6. He noted that while it is a challenging feat, the water company is steadfast in meeting 100 per cent access to water across the country before 2030.

“Water loss is a main challenge for GWI. We must save water and we must care for this special resource here in Guyana,” the GWI boss implored.

Following Sunday’s walk, several prizes were also awarded to participants including kids. (G8)

“We

– Rodrigues to Guyanese …says critical resource fast becoming scarce around the world

GWI CEO Shaik Baksh, Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry Susan Rodrigues and UNICEF Guyana Representative Irfan Akhtar leading the walk on Sunday morning in Georgetown

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Multireligious Respect and Nauratri

Guyana is undoubted a multireligious country. The three major world religions of Hinduism, Islam and Christianity all have a significant presence in our country. Newer religions such as Rastafarianism and Bahaism are also represented. This fortuity presents Guyanese with the opportunity to deepen their spirituality by becoming familiar with the tenets of religions other than their own while simultaneously developing a deeper understanding of their neighbours. This can only lead to heightened societal harmony: it is what we do not know that we fear and sometimes attack.

Founded as a colony by European Protestant Christian countries such as Netherlands and Britain, the spiritual and religious impulses of the native peoples and those brought as slaves (and later indentured servants) were denigrated as ‘pagan’ and ‘heathen’. In fact, African slaves were horribly tortured if they were caught practising their own religion. That they could see the Divine in trees and other aspects of nature was derided as ‘animism’ – even as they were told that God was “here, there and everywhere”. Some who were Moslems were treated in like manner. Almost all “converted” to the official approved Christian religion.

While the Roman Catholic variant of Christianity brought by the first indentureds – the Madeiran Portuguese – was considered as infra dig by the authorities, it was tolerated and soon found a place with their practitioners as the latter entrenched themselves in the towns and villages as businessmen. The small number of Chinese, who also followed the Portuguese off the sugar plantations into business, had already been converted into Christianity. The fact that very few women were brought from China and the men had to marry into the wider Christian population might have been a significant factor in their religious assimilation.

The Indians, however, presented a different proposition. Brought after the compulsion to forcibly convert ‘pagans’ had subsided, the Indians maintained their native practices much more stubbornly than the others. That they were brought in large numbers and forced to remain in close proximity to each other on the sugar plantations certainly contributed to their cultural and religious retention.

The Indians were primarily from North India (94%) and were practitioners of Hinduism (86% overall) and Islam (14%). There were only a handful of Christians among their numbers even though by the time of their indentureship, India had been conquered by Britain for a century. And even though in subsequent years the pressure to convert to Christianity continued, Hinduism and Islam continued to flourish in Guyana. In recent years, there has been a significant return of many Africans to Islam.

And so we return to our religious diversity which should be seen as part of our national patrimony. It is to be hoped that if there is greater awareness of our history, there would be a greater appreciation of the need to cease the denigration of the religious practices and in fact, move towards an acceptance to learn about those practices. And in that spirit it might be apposite to explain why Hindus begin the first of their bi-annual nine-nights of worshipping the Divine as female – Chaitra Navratri – starting on Wednesday night.

Against the dominant mode of worship of that Divine as male, Hindus believe that a ‘Being’ that transcends at the minimum the entire universe and – if modern science is to be believed – multi-verses, has to also transcend our categories of “male and female”. They say that Brahman, as they name “It”, is gender neutral. Within human comprehension, they give names to the various functions and powers of God. Interestingly, for each of the Gods they have His feminine counterpart who actually possess the ‘power’ to effectuate the specific function.

So from a human perspective, for the three main functions -- to project the universe, to maintain it and finally take it into dissolution in unending cycles – there are three Goddesses that are the “power” or Shakti. This Nauratri is devoted to Goddess Durga, whose nine forms are worshipped on nine days. The last day is also Rama Navami, the birthday of Rama.

Customer 'dis'service too rampant

By LLoyd B Smith

Iam confident that the majority of people reading this headline will automatically relate to the fact that more than once he or she would have been "dissed" while being a customer at an establishment, or when dealing with someone delivering a service or goods. While this may well be a universal problem, it is safe to say that in Jamaica, it has become too rampant and is reaching crisis proportions.

"The customer is always right" has been an age-old mantra in the service industry, but in Jamaica very often the customer is not only wrong, but is treated as a nuisance.

According to Wikipedia, "The customer is always right is a motto or slogan which exhorts service staff to give a high priority to customer satisfaction. It was popularised by pioneering and successful retailers such as Harry Gordon Selfridge, John Wanamaker and Marshall Field. They advocated that customer complaints should be treated seriously so that customers do not feel cheated or deceived. This attitude was novel and influential when misrepresentation was rife and caveat emptor (let the buyer beware) was a common legal maxim. Variations include 'le client n'a jamais tort' (the customer is never wrong) which was the slogan of hotelier Cesar Ritz, who said: 'If a diner complains about a dish or the wine, immediately remove it and replace it, no questions asked.'

A variation frequently used in Germany is 'der Kunde ist Konig' (the customer is king), while in Japan the motto 'okyakusama wa kamisama desu' meaning 'the customer is a god' is common." Wonder what is Jamaica's mantra?

Of course, customers can be very obnoxious and even

dishonest. Reminds me of a scenario which unfolded in Montego Bay many years ago, whereby this unscrupulous and conniving man would order a large bowl of soup, and when he had almost finished consuming it, he would surreptitiously put some strands of hair or cockroach legs in the bowl then scream in disgust, drawing the attention of other diners, which would prove to be most embarrassing to the restaurant operator. So, in order to quickly quell the matter, the seemingly irate customer would be offered a complimentary bowl or have his money refunded. I hope no one reading this will try this dastardly trick! Lol! Needless to say, he had got so comfortable carrying out this ruse on a regular basis that he was eventually caught red-handed and appropriately punished.

Notwithstanding, the fact that there are obstreperous and hard-to-please customers, this should not detract from the need for there to be good customer service right across the board. One area of national life that suffers a great deal of customer 'dis'service is in relation to Government entities. From pensioners to taxpayers, to patients in hospitals and clinics, to name a few, Jamaicans are oftentimes treated in the most despicable and uncaring manner. For decades there have been numerous complaints and successive Governments have made some attempts to deal with this perennial problem, but it is safe to say that poor customer service is continuing unabated.

In the meantime, perhaps the area of national life in which customer dis'service is most widespread is in the utilities (or is it "futilities"?) sector. From water to electricity to communications, cable and the wide range of electronically related services, providers

have all had a record of very poor customer service consistently. Indeed, in many cases lodging a complaint becomes an exercise in futility.

There have also been many instances of disservice in the banking sector, where clients, especially the elderly and individuals from the lower socio-economic bracket, are treated with disdain and dispatch. Yes, there are various entities, such as the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) and Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC), among others, that are designed and established to ensure that there is improved customer service, but, unfortunately, there is a great deal of inconsistency as well as gross incompetence.

Interestingly (or is it intriguingly?) Jamaica is known and revered worldwide for its warmth and hospitality, more so towards visitors to the island. Tourists are treated with the utmost courtesy and respect, yes revered as gods, kings, and queens. And there is much evidence, anecdotally and otherwise, to suggest that one of the main reasons that contribute to a high level of returning visitors is the way they have been treated by the same Jamaican who, outside of the resort property, treats his or her fellow Jamaicans like "dawgs". Of course, implicit in all of this is the ugly reality that many Jamaicans — plagued by a deep sense of inferiority complex — will kowtow to the white tourist but hesitate to offer the same level of quality service to anyone who looks like them.

Some years ago, a black Jamaican businessman who had migrated to Canada and married a white nurse decided to take her to visit his homeland, assuring her that there was no racism, as the national motto is "Out of Many, One People". They

were staying at a hotel along the then-named Gloucester Avenue (now renamed Jimmy Cliff Boulevard), and which is dubbed the Hip Strip. One day they decided to take a walk along this popular thoroughfare and after some distance they both felt the urgent need to use a restroom. They approached a security guard and explained the dire situation to him. To his shock and dismay, he was told rather forcefully, "She can go use it, but you can't!" Need I say more?

Of course, the high level of customer disservice in the wider Jamaican society is as a result of the tremendous breakdown in discipline, exercising common courtesies, being tolerant and respectful, as well as appreciating our legendary Jamaican-ness which is what so many foreigners find so attractive. The society has been overwhelmed by crass, unconscionable behaviour, and this undesirable attitude has spilled over into the critical business of good customer service.

In this vein, a way must be found to inculcate those desirable traits and characteristics which many older Jamaicans grew up on and which helped to make us happy and useful citizens. Schools must begin to introduce programmes that can help in this regard, which once again brings us to the burning question as to why Government is yet to add character education to the national curriculum. If we can be so nice to the tourist, why can't we be nice to ourselves? Unless what goes on in that sector is an act of hypocrisy!

(Jamaica Observer)

(Lloyd B Smith has been involved full-time in Jamaican media for the past 47 years. He has also served as a Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.)

First Lady Arya Ali received the Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up (DUSUSU) Award from women’s rights advocate Zuriel Oduwole. This was in recognition of her work in promoting gender equality through health and education. Ali is the first First Lady outside of the African continent to receive the award (Office of the First Lady photo)

Shame on Ogunseye; kudos to the Joint Services

Dear Editor,

Let me remind Guyanese that in October 2022, a former leader of the Canadian Nationalist Party was handed a one-year sentence on a hate speech charge, after he called for the genocide of Jewish people. He did so in a video posted on the party’s website and social media accounts. This incident, one of many of this type, came back to me as I ruminated on the racial/racist diatribe and ‘call to violence’ that emanated from the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) executive member, Tacuma Ogunseye, who angrily stated that “The Afro Guyanese dominated Police and soldiers… would stand with Afro Guyanese in resisting the mainly Indo-Guyanese supported PPP/C.” His resort to this kind of rhetoric smacks of ‘immediate violence’ as he ‘preached’ at Buxton that “We come to tell you that we will ensure that our brothers and sisters in uniform do the right thing and this thing will be over quickly.”

Editor, I am incensed at this appalling behaviour, but not surprised. I go back to April 2011, when the said Ogunseye intimated violence. At that juncture, the belligerent activist stated that “The winnertakes-all political system is not in the best interest of Guyana. It creates the possibility of race domination. We (ACDA) believe that the African community should fight for shared governance in a constitutional struggle though protest or “all other things” that are part of a political struggle to win constitutional reform for shared governance.”

Now he has upped the ante and seems desperate. So, I join the condemning chorus and my remarks here are quite necessary.

First, it is good to note that the Joint Services Chairman, Brigadier Godfrey Bess, is calling on “…social and political activists and commentators to refrain from making remarks which would incite racial tensions and deviate from the promotion of the

New WPA-PNC coalition of sorts lacks a quorum

Dear Editor, I am following this motley group of the coalition, that is, this hastily assembled cabal of the WPA/PNC. They are now on the local and overseas stage peddling their asinine antics to an audience that we are yet to visibly see. When I say an audience, we are yet to ‘visibly’ see I am referring to a group of persons of a sizeable number, persons who are coming out in great numbers eager to hear these “Black Liberators” spin their yarn.

But this is not to be as we follow the cabal from place to place, we are only greeted with a cameraman focusing on the presenters or talkers and not the listeners. Is anybody there? Are there listeners, or an audience of substance, show us the people? We want to see large numbers in attendance? We are not so much concerned about Hinds and his “partners in crime” exciting themselves in pure idiocy and puerile nonsense, we want to see a large grouping of persons listening intently to WPA/PNC liberation struggle speeches. Oh, I was just being sarcastic, because truly, the moral majority of us do not want to hear any of that foolishness that comes out of their mouths.

The moral majority of Black minds are now emancipated and would not countenance a few racist misfits just exciting themselves

peace and security, which the armed forces are mandated to maintain.” This is timely, and it comes over as both a rebuke against Ogunseye, and an appeal for ‘rightful actions’ from those he is trying to sway.

Brigadier Bess must be commended for his intervention, reminding all that “… irrespective of its ethnic composition, the Joint Services of Guyana is an apolitical institution and will continue to uphold the noble position of service to the people of Guyana.”

I hope this sinks in; Ogunseye needs reform. After all, Guyana, as a democracy, “… is guided by the Constitution, (and this) mandates the body’s protection of the (sanctity of the) law, the execution of its duties, in keeping with its constitutional responsibilities, and not by any partisan values and interests.” Up to this point, kudos to the Joint Services of Guyana.

Secondly, as is his wont, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs,

Anil Nandlall, SC, who is also Secretary of the Defence Board, pitched right in, and said: “I feel compelled to condemn in the strongest possible terms, the exhortations by Tacuma Ogunseye to the Armed Forces of Guyana to join a mass uprising against the lawful and democratically elected Government of Guyana, referencing the Forces’ ‘ready access to weapons’, for them to be ‘battle ready’, and preying to the dominant AfroGuyanese composition of the said Forces.” This is like an OMG.

To Ogunseye, I say that his ‘call for violence’ and his ‘appeal to race’ seem quite protuberant. In fact, Ogunseye comes over as remote and detached. Whom is he speaking to? Who will listen to him? The members of the Joint Forces, in the height of the ignominious rigging attempts, did not misconduct themselves. Will they now besmirch themselves? More so, for a nonentity like Ogunseye?

Anil Nandlall was poi-

gnant, referencing his retort in unambiguous legal language. He explicated that this “racist incendiary call” for public disorder and resistance, positioned as an alternative to the democratic process of Local Government Elections lawfully due, is 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.” Simply put, the AG is letting him know that his inflammatory outburst is not about being irresponsible and even diabolical. It is bucking the legal framework of Guyana.

Indeed, I concur with the AG that “Certainly, such inflammatory publications cannot be justified under the rubric of freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Constitution, since Article 146 which guarantees such freedom, expressly excepts “…hate speech-

es or other expressions, in whatever form, capable of exciting hostility or ill-will against any person or class of persons” [Article 146 (3)],”

I reiterate what Nandlall intoned, that “The unvarnished truth is that persons such as Tacuma Ogunseye and those of his ilk are of a bygone era, stuck in a time warp long gone, and for which there is no place in modern Guyana, and indeed, in any modern democratic society.”

Editor, I close by agreeing that “… we cannot become complacent and ignore these dangerous threats intended to strike at the foundation of the freedoms we enjoy and the rule of law, which protects us as a civilised nation.”

I therefore call for legal consequences to be meted out to Ogunseye.

Guyana must never suffer a recidivism; the pre 1992 era must remain buried.

Yours truly,

H Singh

Opposition taking racial and divisive politics too far

in their own swill. So, the WPA/PNC coalition is going about carefully choosing their locations and the angle of the camera shoot of these outreaches. Their audiences are few and far between as they vainly try to sell their diatribe.

Theirs is also a passive aggressive stance, that is, play the victim card hoping to gain sympathy such as make statements “AfroGuyanese are being marginalised” in the country of their birth. And they go on to say, “this makes us angry causing us to turn our guns in the right direction,” meaning the Indians, a sure call to violence. However, this passive aggressive approach is not gaining traction amongst the vast majority of us, for the sole reason that Blacks have become emancipated in their minds and would denounce them at every turn. That foolishness which is an assault to our collective Black intelligence must be put away with the swiftness as it comes.

Finally, our “One Guyana” policy has eluded them, as Hinds and company ostracise themselves from the mainstream civilised thought process. We will not, I repeat, we will not entertain them, we will part company with them.

Respectfully, Neil

Adams

Dear Editor, The PNC/WPA assemblage of the Coalition of sorts are at their lowest ebb, and being in that diminished capacity, they are lashing out in notoriously dangerous forms. That motley group is now making violent and divisive remarks at public fora, trying desperately to foment strife and discord in our society.

It is a well-known fact that this has always been a strategy used by the PNC, but in recent times it has become a more pronounced form of approach.

Now, herein lies the problem: Why this sudden appeal to violence and racial slurs hurled at Indians? Well, it does not take a Rocket Scientist to figure that out. Norton, for his own part, is on the ropes if not on the canvass, and, as such, he will do anything to shore up his image. In that desperation mode, he is calling on the lowest of the low in the WPA to appeal to the thugs that are still around to "turn their guns in the right direction."

When others chided him for his stupidity, such as Geeta Chandan, this other idiot David Hinds took up the mantle and attacked her with the racial assertion that she is a "slave catcher." This statement was meant to humiliate her. It was a strong message that she, being an Indian, needs to stay out of “African" Liberation struggle in Guyana.

In the first place, there is no "African Liberation" struggle in Guyana. If there is, it is a PNC survival struggle, a struggle for

relevance in a Guyanese society which has long since ostracised them. Secondly, I ask Hinds not to forget that it was his own kind who caught black men and women and made them slaves, then marched them through the African bush to the slave ports, where they were handed over to the white slave owners. The Indian had no part in that humiliating saga, it was purely the work of idiots like Hinds who did this just for a piece of trinket.

But far more interesting is the motive behind the WPA's servile remarks. They are doing Norton's dirty work in elbowing out Indians and moderate blacks out of the party. The PNC leadership was never comfortable with Indians in the inner sanctum of the party, and if you take a good look at the way that race was treated since the Charrandas incident, you will get my drift.

From information gathered, the general sentiment in the party is that the Indians had overstayed their welcome. Their sole purpose was to garner the Indian votes, while the PNC is left to dominate the scene thereafter. They lost the 2020 Election, so there was no need for the Indians in their midst anymore.

But what I want to tell them is that getting rid of the Indian members would not help their situation either, the PNC is destined to fail, Indian or no Indian.

The fact of the matter is: What are you doing there? We told you so, don't you people realize that the PNC Party is a bunch of hooligan thugs

where Indians and moderate educated blacks are not welcomed? When would you people ever learn? But this is the sad state of affairs of a group of individuals who have become trapped in this racial imbroglio. It is an abysmal situation that no one would like to find oneself.

So, as I close, I must tell my readers that in a modern and enlightened society

such as ours, the PNC and its pathetic claptraps are finding themselves alienated from the mainstream concept of One Guyana. In this regard, they will see how hopeless their standing will be in the upcoming Local Government Elections and on the wider general elections stage.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

NGSA Math Questions

Guyana will play key role in global climate, food and energy security – Ali

Guyana is being positioned to be at the centre of important regional and even global conversations, with President Dr Irfaan Ali assuring that the country will play key roles in conversations on climate, food and energy security on multiple levels.

On Saturday during the launching of a Histopathology Lab & 128 Slice CT Scanner at Dr Balwant Singh Hospital, President Ali spoke of how the Government intends on developing Guyana in a sustainable way and raising its regional and international profile.

Already, Guyana has been leading the regional charge towards food security and is also playing a key role in energy security in

the region and has earned global renown for the recent steps it has taken when it comes to climate services.

The President made it clear that even more will be accomplished.

“Mark my words, there will be no energy conversation in the world without the name Guyana mentioned. And not petroleum. I’m speaking about energy. I’m speaking about natural gas. Regional energy hub. Renewables. There will be no international conversation on energy without Guyana being mentioned. And I say this in a very humble way. But it’s just the truth.”

“On food security, there will be no regional conversation without Guyana being mentioned. Whether it’s in Latin America or the

Caribbean, or even in the global context. Because we are making the investment to ensure that we have the systems in place to make Guyana competitive, sustainable and part of the answer in terms of food security,” President Ali said.

According to the President, the three “most important storms” that the world will have to grapple with in the coming years are energy security, food security and climate. He added that the goal is to have Guyana play a key role in the solutions to all three of these storms.

“If we are talking climate change, climate services and environment, there shall be no conversation without Guyana being mentioned. Right now, we’re being sought out, for

Pedestrian dies in WBD accident

the accident occurred at about 22:30h on Saturday.

Police said motor car HD 2943 was being driven by a 33-year-old man of Belle West Housing Scheme, WBD, and was proceeding east along the northern side of the road when the left side front wheel ran over the pedestrian, who was lying on the northern side of the road, suspected to be under the influence of alcohol.

the innovative approach being taken on the forests, the Low Carbon Development Strategy. And our intention is to work to provide global support and leadership on this,” the President added.

global carbon market, including for use by airlines for compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s global emission reduction programme, CORSIA, as well as for use toward voluntary corporate climate commitments.

Apedestrian died on Saturday night after a car ran over him at Stanleytown, West Bank of Demerara (WBD).

Dead is Kelson Ferreira of Lot 68 Stanleytown, WBD. According to Police,

The body was picked up in an unconscious state by undertakers of Ezekiel Funeral Home and escorted to West Demerara Regional Hospital. Ferreira was pronounced dead on arrival. His body is at the Ezekiel Funeral Home, awaiting PME.

The driver is in custody, assisting with the investigations.

Only two weeks ago, 38-year-old motorist Shamlall Mohess of

Stanleytown, died after he reportedly lost control of the car he was driving and it crashed into a koker along the Belle Vue Public Road, Canal No 2 Polder, West Bank Demerara.

As a result of the collision, the motor car toppled and ended up in a trench on the western side of the road, submerged with the driver inside. The vehicle was later pulled from the trench by public-spirited citizens with the assistance of a motor lorry. (G9)

In food security, Guyana has been a leading advocate in the Region for increasing food production. Government’s focus on agriculture is down to the vision of making Guyana the bread basket of the Caribbean and reducing the regional food import bill.

Last year, President Ali had declared that his Government would be pursuing an aggressive campaign to dismantle regional barriers to agricultural trade and that in the next four years, with the assistance of more diversified crops, Guyana would aim to reduce Caricom’s food import bill by 25 per cent.

It was reported last month that member

states of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) have collectively achieved a significant 57 per cent of the target set to realise “Vision 25 by 2025”. This announcement was made during the first Caricom Ministerial Task Force (MTF) on Food Production and Food Security meeting for 2023.

A statement from the Agriculture Ministry stated that countries submitted reports detailing their production data for 2022 for targeted commodities, as Caricom moves towards lowering the regional import bill by 25 per cent by the year 2025.

When it comes to climate services, Guyana is only the first country to conclude the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) process of certifying its forest carbon. These serialised credits, listed on ART’s public registry, are available to buyers on the

Guyana’s completion of the ART process paved the way for other governments that are looking to receive carbon market finance for success in protecting and restoring forests. At the time Guyana was issued with the credits, 14 other countries and large sub-national jurisdictions were working toward their own issuances of TREES credits.

With the country’s increasing clout as an oil and gas producer, there is also Guyana’s advocacy, at various international forums, for increased financing to achieve the Region’s renewable energy target.

President Ali has said that a minimum of US$11 billion is needed to achieve just the fundamentals of the target.

Renewables have been touted to break the hefty carbon footprint, but Ali had shared during a conference earlier this year that to secure the energy requirement, the reality is that the Caribbean will need oil and gas resources. The estimated renewable capacity of the Region is 1574 megawatts with a capital requirement of US$11 billion to achieve fundamental targets. (G3)

Dead: Kelson Ferreira

President Dr Irfaan Ali

$4.1B money laundering case Herstelling family charged refused bail again

AHerstelling, East Bank Demerara

(EBD) family of three, facing dozens of money laundering charges have had bail refused again and have been further remanded to prison.

Kenneth Kellawan Ramnarine, a taxi driver; his son Damian Brandon Ramnarine, a salesman; and Kenneth’s reputed wife Yevette Nalini Saroop, a businesswoman, were initially arraigned on February 9, each facing 134 money-laundering charges and were remanded to prison. At their second and third court appearance on March 6 and March 17, respectively, they were remanded.

The father and son are charged jointly, while Saroop, who is alleged to have conspired with them, has been charged separately. The cases have been transferred by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to Principal Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus for April 18. They are also facing similar charges before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Diamond/ Golden Grove Magistrates’ Courts.

Having been under the radar of the Special

Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) for some time, the three-person family was arrested at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, as they attempted to flee to the United States of America.

Joint charges

The joint money laundering charges against them have been laid under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act.

A summary of all the charges totalling $4.1B read that they knowingly, or having reasonable grounds to believe that the cash in question, whether in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, represents proceeds of crime,

converted or transferred the cash in question to conceal or disguise the illicit origin, knowing or having reasons to believe that the said cash is the proceeds of crime.

According to SOCU Head, Assistant Police Commissioner Fazil Karimbaksh, reports reaching the law enforcement agency indicate that the trio had conducted multiple suspicious transactions at several financial institutions in Guyana, raising concerns that they may be involved in money laundering activities.

Cash deposits

SOCU said its suspicions were primarily honed on the large number of unsubstantiated cash deposits made via Kenneth’s business ac-

Closer links… …with

the USA

In the decades following WWII, we Third World countries had to choose between the First World –read the USA – and the Second World – the then USSR that’s now shrivelled into Russia. Since we happened to be in the US’s backyard and yet chose the USSR, realpolitik ensured we paid the price!! Which in our case meant the PNC’s 28-year dictatorship that delivered hunger, homelessness and nakedness – and Guyanese refugees streaming out!!

counts of Ken’s Trading Enterprise.

The sources of funds, declarations submitted to several commercial banks, show that most of the deposits are attributed to the proceeds of sales from biodegradable food boxes sold to local businesses, in particular Chinese restaurants, SOCU has disclosed.

Karimbaksh revealed that a substantial number of wire transfers, amounting to over $3.7 billion, were sent to 22 companies in China under the pretext of importing raw materials to produce biodegradable products, while other sums, totalling over $4.1B, were disguised locally.

Well, after the USSR imploded and threw in the towel – no Mas!! No Mas!! – in 1989, our Governments recovered the plot – even the rump Russia – and fell into line. It was an amazing time in the unipolar world when the First World decided to build up China – the largest country in the Third World – to First World status!! Never mind it wasn’t done out of no altruism or humanitarian imperative – but guided by that preeminent capitalist value – profits, profits, profits!! And boy did the US – or rather its top 1% -- rake in profits as China became the workshop of America. As well as providing Walmart and other chains with 90% of their merchandise!!

Was the best of both worlds, no?? The Chinese kept shipping real goods and collected pieces of paper printed by the US called “dollars”!! But you know what the old people say – time longer than twine – and pretty soon, with the Chinese holding TRILLIONS of greenbacks and the American factories deteriorated into “rustbelts”, the sh*t hit the fan!! Meaning we had an industrialised China that had the wherewithal to create a new bi-polar world order – if they decided to flex their muscles. Which they decided to do a decade ago as they entered the homestretch to replace the US as the largest economy in the world. And we know it’s money that makes that world go ‘round, don’t we?!!

So, here we are – in another global standoff caught between two behemoths – which we shoulda known would have happened sooner or later. ‘Cause we know ‘two man-crab cyan live in the same hole’!! China’s strategy is to use its economic heft to integrate its factories with the Third World through a Belt and Road Initiative (B&RI) via which it had access to the latter’s raw materials – paid for with the US greenbacks in its treasury!!!

For a while the US couldn’t make up its mind whether to stick with profits over national pride and security!! But it looks like they’ve finally decided to confront the Chinese Dragon. They’re busy trying to build alliances across the globe to contain China and is softening up Russia – so’s to preclude a Chinese alliance.

Hence the high-level VP and Congressional visit – to ensure we don’t increase those B&I linkages!!

…with Brazil and Suriname??

Now while we gotta tread carefully between Uncle Sam and the Chinese Dragon, we should take a leaf out of the US’s playbook and build our own alliances. There’s always safety in numbers. While we’re members of a host of international groupings like Caricom and the Commonwealth – we need to tighten linkages with nextdoor Brazil and Suriname. If for no other reason than the US is making goo-goo eyes at Venezuela – to get some of that oil from the LARGEST deposits in the world!!

Hey…no hard feelings…it’s all about “interests” , ain’t it?? While we can’t forget we’re still small potatoes in the grand scheme of things, closer ties with Suriname and Brazil ain’t gonna rile up the US – while offering cover against the covetous Venezs!! The Government of Pres Ali has already done most of the heavy lifting to establish good rapport with Lula and Santokie.

We gotta operationalise some of the informal agreements – especially in energy, communications and infrastructure. Especially with Brazil!

…between extremists

They say “show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are”. Some in the political arena who’ve been speaking from both sides of their mouths have now been caught in bed with race-war agitators!!

Kenneth Kellawan Ramnarine

Yevette Nalini Saroop

Damian Brandon Ramnarine TURN

Gas-to-energy project

Govt launches RFPs for GPL smart grid control centre

…will support Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power plant being built

The Government has launched Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract to build the Guyana National Control Centre (GNCC), an important component in the overall gas-to-energy project.

The tender for the contract was issued by the Office of the Prime Minister and it invited eligible bidders to submit proposals for the construction of the GNCC. Bidders were given until April 27, 2023, to submit their proposals for the project, which will be an important supporting infrastructure when it comes to power generator.

It was explained that this GNCC project will support the integration of the new 300-megawatt (MW) Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power plant to be built in the Wales Development Zone (WDZ).

A CCGT plant is a major source of natural gasfired power generation and would be a critical addition, seeing as the gas-to-energy project currently being developed will integrate natural gas into the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) national grid.

Government had previously said that the 300-megawatt gas-to-energy plant was expected to achieve commercial oper-

ation by the end of 2024, while the GNCC would be built at Eccles. During an American Chamber (AmCham) Energy Roundtable Discussion last year, Chief Executive Officer of GPL, Bharat Dindyal had said that the power will be transmitted as far as the Corentyne with the introduction of this facility.

“The power from the 300-megawatt [gas-to-shore

project] is going to be transmitted from Wales to a new substation at Eccles via two 230-kilovolts transmission lines. From Eccles, there is going to be an interconnection for an existing substation at Sophia, but we hope that the 230kv transmission would be extended from Eccles to Williamsburg on the Corentyne…The hydropower connection would be from Amaila Falls to the Eccles site,” the CEO had outlined.

It had further been explained that GPL was working on a smart-grid proposal for the automation of the entire system. It would feature automation of transmission, distribution, generation, metering – all spearheaded through the national control centre at Eccles.

“That is going to be a state-of-the-art system, and by the time this is completed, we expect to have all of our isolated systems on the Essequibo Coast, Leguan,

Wakenaam, Bartica, and even Linden integrated into the national grid,” Dindyal had further said.

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 Plant and the 300-megawatt (MW) Combined Cycle Power Plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

The NGL and 300MW 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

its partners are currently producing oil.

It features approximately 200 kilometres of a subsea pipeline offshore that will run from Liza Destiny and Liza Unity floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels in the Stabroek Block to the shore. Upon landing on the West Coast Demerara shore, the pipeline would continue for 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.

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. (G3)

Artist’s impression of the gas-to-energy project’s power plant component

Claims, remediation catered for in plans to drill 35 more oil wells …compensation

losses

While oil giant ExxonMobil is adamant in its plans for the 35-well drilling campaign that an oil spill is unlikely due to the plethora of preventative measures, it does cater for this “unlikely” event with the establishment of a Claims and Remediation process to ensure anyone affected by a potential spill is adequately compensated.

According to the Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) for the 35-well drilling campaign, Exxon subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) would set up a process to ensure those whose livelihoods are affected by an oil spill can be compensated through a claims process.

“The purpose of the claims process would be

to provide compensation as appropriate for asset losses and the purpose of a livelihood remediation programme would be to restore the welfare and livelihoods of affected persons to conditions no less than pre-impact conditions. Both processes would be transparent, fair, and conducted in a timely manner.”

“EEPGL, in consultation with the Government of Guyana and other jurisdictions (as required), would establish the designated geographic zones associated with the claims and, as applicable, livelihood remediation processes; these would be commensurate with the magnitude of the impacts of the spill,” EEPGL further explained.

According to the oil company, eligible persons would be compensated as appropri-

ate based on the “magnitude of project-related impacts they individually experienced”. This means that persons would be compensated whether their health was affected or whether there was economic loss due to the spill.

“It is anticipated that EEPGL would establish steering committees, working groups, and stakeholder engagement-specific entities to determine eligible stakeholders, standard entitlements, and eligibility criteria for further livelihood compensation and assistance.”

“EEPGL would consider establishing an independent implementation entity as soon as reasonably practicable after the spill, to assist in the process of livelihood remediation planning while the initial compensation ef-

forts are ongoing,” the company further explained.

It even gives some insight into the categories of compensation. The company noted that depending on the extent of losses, livelihood remediation efforts can range from early (within the first year) to long term support initiatives (from one to two years after spill).

Unlikely

However, EEPGL took pains to emphasise in that same CIA that an oil spill of such nature is “very unlikely”, considering the preventative measures that are in place during the drilling campaign. They also listed what these measures included.

Among the measures are proper well design and control, as well as equipment inspection and testing. Physical barriers such as Blow Out Preventers (BOPs) and drilling fluids to control pressures in the well will also be used. And in the unlikely event that all else fails, they pointed to the comprehensive Oil Spill Response Plan (OSRP) in place.

“In addition to the established spill prevention controls, EEPGL also has developed a detailed OSRP, which is included as part of the Project’s ESMMP, for an effective response to an oil spill, if one were to occur.”

“The OSRP builds on the coastal sensitivity mapping and oil spill modelling described herein and describes the response measures appropriate to the magnitude and complexity of a spill incident,” Exxon further said.

According to the oil company, the OSRP makes clear the responsibilities of each entity that would take part in a response to an oil spill. It also describes how EEPGL and its contractors would mobilise local oil spill response resources, which would be complemented by the regional and international resources provided by the oil spill response contractors in its arsenal.

“The OSRP describes the EEPGL process for notifying the Government of Guyana with respect to mobilising its resources. The lead agency for oil spill response in Guyana is the Civil Defence Commission,

and the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan outlines how the Civil Defence Commission will coordinate the responses of other agencies, including MARAD (Government of Guyana 2020).”

“Due to the precautionary measures used by EEPGL to prevent and control an oil spill, as described above and in Chapter 2, the likelihood of a Tier II or III oil spill occurring is considered to be unlikely,” the company also explained.

For context, a Tier I spill is a small oil spill that can be quickly managed using local resources. Tier II describes a moderate spill that does not warrant a broader response beyond regional resources. A Tier III spill is a large one that must be handled with both regional and international resources. ExxonMobil has been seeking approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the environmental assessment of these wells was done by ERM Guyana, which conducts environmental, health, safety and risk assessments. (G3)

Herstelling family charged...

He pointed out that investigators did not find any legitimate source of these funds which the accused had wire-transferred out of Guyana, adding that their actions suggested that they may be operating as nominees for some Chinese businesses, and were also facilitating tax evasion through Ken’s Trading Enterprise.

Investigators at SOCU, including several senior officers, had contacted several prominent businesses in Georgetown during the investigations, which commenced in August 2020, and the businesses and persons the accused persons listed on their source of fund-

ing declaration forms have vehemently denied doing such large transactions with them. As a result, SOCU noted, it conducted several covert and overt investigations and operations over three years, monitoring the family and their lifestyles until enough evidence was collected beyond a reasonable doubt.

SOCU is that unit of the Police Force that is designated with responsibility for ensuring that money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes are fully and thoroughly investigated.

Guyana’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering

FROM PAGE 8

the Financing of Terrorism Act provides for the establishment and management of a Financial Intelligence Unit; provides for unlawful proceeds of all serious offences to be identified, traced, frozen, seized, and forfeited; provides for comprehensive powers for the prosecution of money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes; provides for the forfeiture of the proceeds of crime and terrorist property; requires reporting entities to take preventative measures to help combat money laundering and terrorist financing; and provides for civil forfeiture of assets and matters connected therewith. (G1)

The proposed area in the Stabroek Block for the 35-well campaign

would include health, economic-related

Man convicted of raping 8-year-old girl files appeal

Collin Cummings of Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), the gold miner who was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment for raping an eightyear-old girl, has moved to the Court of Appeal of Guyana to challenge the trial court’s order.

Arguments in the matter will commence this Thursday, March 23.

At the end of a trial on February 28, a jury at the Demerara High Court pronounced Cummings guilty of raping the child on August 20, 2016, in the county of Demerara.

The custodial sentence was imposed by trial Judge Simone Morris-Ramlall, who ordered that the now 60-year-old man must serve 25 years before being eligible for parole.

When the jurors returned with their unanimous guilty verdict,

Cummings had maintained his innocence, stating, “I am innocent of this charge brought against me.”

He had also begged the Judge to give him the minimum penalty.

“I was afraid and uncomfortable with what [he] did to me. I was scared of him and my life has not been the same,” the victim had related in her impact statement.

Her mother claimed that after the incident, her daughter would often draw sketches with teardrops, with terms such as “ugly” and “stupid” which the parent said she would throw away.

A medical examination found that the girl’s hymen was not intact.

In sentencing the convict, Justice MorrisRamlall had noted that he

Chinese medical team conducts outreach at NA Prison

took away the girl’s innocence, adding that children are Guyana’s most valuable resource.

She had also noted that children who are victims of sexual abuse are scarred

for life and that this prevents them from maximising their potential which in turn hinders the country’s development. “They should be respected and given toys and not be used as sex toys

for the fulfilment of depraved adults,” the Judge had stressed, while declaring that the court would play its part in sending a strong message to potential sex offenders. (G1)

AChinese medical team conducted a medial outreach at the New Amsterdam Prison on Saturday.

The team conducted a range of medical services, including check-ups and discussions on health issues affecting inmates and staff members. Inmates were able to receive general eye examinations; blood sugar and pressure testing; ultrasound ex-

amination and mental assessments, among other physical checks that included heart, lungs, and extremities.

According to Dr Chu Xuehui, who spearheaded the event, “although these young people have committed criminal offences, they also need health and psychological care. Good physical and mental health can accelerate the group’s return to normal life, suc-

cessful reintegration into society and prevention of re-offending”.

The outreach exercise was deemed a success by the Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot, who facilitated the visit. He noted that the services were welcomed by the inmates and staff and that the outreach is geared towards further improving healthcare services within the prison.

The medical team which conducted the outreach at NA Prison

Child rapist: Collin Cummings

MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Arson suspected as Bartica home damaged by fire

Arson is suspected as an Agatash village, Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) home was severely damage by fire.

The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) said they received a call at 10:02h on Thursday and immediately dispatched a water tender from the Bartica Fire Station to the scene.

The one-flat timber and concrete building, owned by 57-year-old Elizabeth Singh and occupied by 30-year-old Zelicia Fredericks, was engulfed in flames by the time the fire crew arrived.

A quantity of clothing and a king-sized mattress were destroyed, along with a king-sized bed frame, a wardrobe, a fridge, a stove, a sofa, a kitchen cabinet, among other items.

Neighbours reported that

they used a bucket brigade to douse the fire before the Fire Department arrived, but the

fire had already caused significant damage. According to the GFS, the initial probe revealed

that fire was set maliciously by an unknown person or persons, as evidence of accelerants was found at the scene.

The incident is being investigated as arson, and the Police are asking anyone with information to come forward.

Meanwhile, Singh and Fredericks are left to rebuild the section of their home and replace their belongings. According to the family, it is a devastating blow for them, and the community as a whole, as they try to come to terms with this act of senseless violence.

Only last Sunday, a fire of unknown origin destroyed a house at Bartica, leaving two persons homeless.

Reports are that the Bartica Fire Service was alerted to a fire at Lot 40, Second Avenue Bartica, and was immediately

dispatched to the location.

Upon arrival, firefighters observed a one-storey wooden and concrete building engulfed in flames.

The building was owned by 57-year-old Bhagwanttie RohitJoseph. It was occupied by 31-year-old Bheesham Rohit and 25-year-old Camacy Hendricks. Despite efforts to contain the blaze, the building and its contents were destroyed.

Due to radiated heat, two houses located on the northern and southern sides of the building of origin suffered damage to a quantity of window panes, PVC guttering, and roof facing. Additionally, a motorcycle and boat engine belonging to Bheesham Rohit were also destroyed. (G9)

The fire at Agatash village, Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni)

Pakuri Village (St Cuthbert’s Mission)

134th anniversary celebration

7 vehicles damaged in weekend accidents along Essequibo Coast

Over the weekend, seven vehicles were damaged in separate accidents along the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

In the first accident on Friday night, three vehicles with licence plates PYY 8083; PZZ 956, and PAB 252 were involved in a collision at Bush Lot village.

No injuries were reported, and the three drivers are currently in custody, assisting with investigations.

In the second accident, however, which occurred on Saturday morning, three vehicles with licence plates HC 1521; PAD 2295, and HD 4649 were on their way to Anna Regina when

they were involved in a collision.

One of the cars almost skidded into a nearby trench, while the other two collided with each other.

Upon hearing the loud impact, residents rushed out to offer assistance.

Although the drivers were unhurt, the collid-

ed cars suffered extensive damage. Two passengers were rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital for medical attention. A resident who witnessed the accident described the drivers as looking traumatised after the incident occurred.

Also on Saturday, a car ended up in a trench head-

ing to Capoey. No one was injured in that accident.

More than a month ago, the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) announced that the body is aiming to reduce traffic accidents and fatalities by 50 per cent this year.

Deputy Commissioner of Operations (ag) Ravindradat Budhram during the discussion, said that for 2023, the Road Safety Council and the Guyana Police Force will be establishing councils in all regions to help educate the public on road safety.

Budhram said the Police Force has made note of the alarming figures as it relates to road accidents, and is working to arrest this issue.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Guyana

National Road Safety Council, Earl Lambert, said the council is hoping to get everyone involved in reducing accident figures this

year. He said the plan is to have organisations, especially schools, involved, which he is confident will be a success.

Some of the vehicles that were involved in the accidents along the Essequibo Coast over the weekend

A woman of many firsts Fmr Chancellor Justice Désirée Bernard a Caribbean icon – CCJ President

Pemberton of the Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago, and Justice Bernard’s close friends.

Justice Bernard read for a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) at the University of London, graduating in 1963. After qualifying as a solicitor in 1964, she embarked on private practice in the Supreme Court of Guyana from 1965 to 1980.

During that period, she was appointed a Magistrate (1970), Commissioner of Oaths & Notary Public (1976), and was admitted to the English Roll of Solicitors (1977).

2005, she took the oath of office as a Judge of the CCJ at the court’s inauguration ceremony.

For her distinguished service to the legal system and public service, former Chancellor of the Judiciary of Guyana, Justice Désirée Patricia Bernard, who is often referred to as the first female to break glass ceilings in the law, was in February conferred with an honorary Doctor of Letters by the University of Guyana (UG).

The conferral ceremony took place in Trinidad and Tobago, where Justice Bernard, 84, a native of Guyana, now resides. It was also the first time the university conferred an honorary degree in that country.

The honorary degree was initially conferred on Justice Bernard in absentia in December 2022 when the university held a convocation ceremony for its Tain, Berbice campus.

Justice Bernard is the only person nominated four times for an honorary degree at the university.

After being presented her certificate, Justice Bernard made brief remarks in which she thanked everyone who played a part in arranging

the visit to the twin-island republic.

“I appreciate it and I thank you extremely much for being here. I have never before seen myself in something which just happened.”

President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Justice Adrian Saunders, who made brief comments at the ceremony, reflected on the launch of the regional court in 2005 and Justice Bernard being the lone female Judge there.

“She brought to the court [the CCJ] the grace, the patience, the dignity, apart from the scholarship that really enhanced the court in several respects,” said Justice Saunders who went on to describe Justice Bernard as a “Caribbean icon”.

According to the St Vincent and the Grenadines jurist, Justice Bernard has inspired many people, both as a lawyer, as a Judge, and through her work with organisations, including the Caribbean Bar Association and the Caribbean Association of Women Judges.

“Throughout the Region,

I have spoken with several women in particular who have said to me how much they have been inspired by Desiree Bernard. There is a tremendous amount that we have to credit Justice Bernard with. This ceremony is just another of the very many accolades that have been bestowed on her.”

UG’s Vice-Chancellor

Professor Paloma Mohamed shared that Justice Bernard, as a daughter of Guyana and the wider Caribbean, has been more than exemplary during her long legal career. She was hailed as a “noble daughter of Guyana” by UG’s Chancellor Professor Edward Greene.

Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Dr Marjorie Thorpe said that although a lot has been said about Justice Bernard’s scholarship and her professional accomplishments, she never boasts, and to her, she is one of the most gracious and humbled friends one could have.

Also making tributes at the event were CCJ Judge Maureen RajnauthLee, Justice Charmaine

Next, Justice Bernard established several professional “firsts,” being appointed the first female High Court Judge of the Supreme Court of Guyana (1980); the first female Justice of Appeal (1992); the first female Chief Justice of Guyana and in the Commonwealth Caribbean (1996); and the first female Chancellor of the Judiciary of Guyana and in the Commonwealth Caribbean (2001).

On Saturday, April 16,

During her long and distinguished career, Justice Bernard held memberships in various regional and international organisations, having been the founding Secretary of the Caribbean Women’s Association (CARIWA 1970-1974); first President of the Organisation of Commonwealth Caribbean Bar Associations (OCCBA 1976); member and Chair of the Caribbean Steering Committee for Women’s Affairs, later established as the Women & Development Unit of University of the West Indies (WAND –1978).

Internationally, she served as both rapporteur (1982-1984) and Chair (1985-1989) of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women during her membership, which ran from 1982 to 1998.

Moreover, she has presented many scholarly pa-

pers at and participated in numerous international seminars and colloquia both regionally and internationally on a variety of subjects relating to the law, gender, and other matters of public interest.

For her exceptional contribution to the improvement of the status of women and to the development and practice of law, Justice Bernard has received several awards, the most notable being the Cacique Crown of Honour, and the Order of Roraima, Guyana’s third and second-highest national awards, respectively.

In July 2005, this honourable Judge was awarded the Caricom Triennial Award for Women. She was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) by the University of the West Indies in November 2007. And in February 2011, she was appointed a Judge of the Inter-American Development Bank Administrative Tribunal, based in Washington, DC, USA.

Justice Désirée Bernard (centre) is flanked by UG’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paloma Mohamed (left) and the university’s Chancellor Professor Edward Greene

1000 hearing aids to be distributed this year Construction of dairy barn to cost $14.6M – engineer’s estimate

To improve the lifestyle of persons with hearing impairment, the Health Ministry will be procuring and distributing some 1000 hearing aids in 2023. This was recently disclosed by Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony during the programme “The Guyana Dialogue”.

According to the Minister, just last month, the Ministry distributed 250 hearing aids to patients who need them. He further stated that he believes the programme will grow as more people become aware.

In the 2022 national budget, a sum of $15 million was allocated to procure hearing aids, which saw 500 persons, including children from all regions benefit.

“Before, if you’re diagnosed with a hearing problem you had to pay $65,000 to get a hearing aid. We have made this free. So, once you’re diagnosed with a hearing problem, we’ll give you a hear-

ing aid, free of cost,” the Health Minister explained.

The programme aims to ensure that everyone with hearing loss is able to receive the gift of hearing. Though the elderly population is targeted, children are also being prioritised as beneficiaries.

According to a Department of Public Information (DPI) report, several programmes have been rolled out by the Ministry to assist citizens, among them the “Snap On” spectacle initiative that will see persons in the hinterland receiving spectacles free of cost.

Citizens are also benefitting from free cataract procedures. In addition, haemodialysis patients are benefitting from an annual $600,000 grant that will subsidise the cost of dialysis locally. Some 330 patients received the grant in 2022 and to date, over 100 persons have benefitted this year.

“So, there are lots of good things that are happening and it’s happening across the country,” the Minister assured.

During the launch of the Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team’s (LAMAT) operations in

Guyana in February, Health Advisor, Dr Leslie Ramsammy revealed that the Government is currently working on programmes that would provide spectacles and hearing aids free of cost, as required by students this year.

According to Ramsammy, the Government has recognised that many children have been put at a disadvantage in the learning sector due to audio and visual problems.

“We have made a promise that every child in school — this is two hundred and eight thousand (208,000) children — will benefit from vision screening, and all the children that need glasses will be provided with their glasses free of charge. We have made a commitment that every child will have screening for hearing, so that anyone that needs aid to hear…we want to correct that. Not sometime in the future, but in 2023,” Ramsammy announced.

The Agriculture Ministry issued an invitation for sealed bids from qualified and eligible bidders to construct a dairy barn at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

According to the advertisement which was published in Sunday’s edition of Guyana Times, the barn's construction period will run for sixty (60) calendar days.

Interested bidders are required to have completed a minimum of three jobs of a comparable sort that must have been completed in the previous three years, and other requirements include having a valid company licence and NIS and GRA compliances.

Interested and eligible bidders can get additional information from the Guyana School of Agriculture at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, Region Four.

Interested bidders may obtain the entire set of bidding papers (in pdf format on a CD) by sending a written request and paying a non-refundable fee of $500.

All bids must be delivered before 9:00h on April 4, 2023, to the Chairman at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, Ministry of Finance, Main and Urquhart Streets, Georgetown.

Late proposals will be rejected.

Labourer found dead near home; family suspects foul play

The body of an East Canje labourer was on Sunday morning discovered lying in the street in which he lived at Canefield Village, East Canje, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Dead is Imran Ali called “Mice”, 36, of Reliance.

The discovery was made by a villager, who alerted his sister who lives just three houses away.

Fazeela Ali told this publication that she was in bed at about 06:00h when she was alerted.

“When I went I saw him on the ground, face down and I started to make some phone calls and I got my cousins and neighbours called the Police.”

According to her, when investigators arrived at the scene and turned the body over, she noticed that he was bleeding from one of his eyes.

At the time, the man still had a radio attached to his hand while his vest was half pulled over his head.

“From what I saw I think it is murder,” the grieving sister assumed.

She referred to her brother as a very willing person, noting that he did odd jobs in the community.

“He don’t be home, he always want to be out. He drinks and smokes but he

does not trouble nobody when he is on the road.

I don’t know if anybody would want to do anything to him,” the woman said.

Police in a release said that relatives related that they had received information that the man was sleeping on the road, which was a normal habit of his whenever he consumed alcohol.

The release also stated that at about 20:00h on Saturday, the man was seen walking through the

street drinking alcohol and appeared to have been in a drunken state.

Police said that the now dead man sometimes went into an abandoned house in the street. It is in front of that abandoned house that his body was found.

This was confirmed by neighbours.

The body is currently at a funeral home awaiting a post-mortem examination. Police have since launched an investigation.

(G4)

The inside of a dairy barn (Getty Images)

Dead: Imran Ali called “Mice”

Earthquake in Ecuador kills at least 15 persons, authorities in Peru also assessing damage

shake and it made the electric cables, the windows, and everything move. People were in the streets praying because it didn't stop."

President Guillermo Lasso asked Ecuadoreans to remain calm as officials assess the damage.

He also visited a hospital in the city of Machala to meet with some of the injured people.

Mottley to give keynote address on reparations

Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley is scheduled to deliver the keynote address on reparations during a global conference next month in Baltimore, Maryland.

At least 15 persons have died and more than 400 have been injured after a 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Ecuador's southern coast.

Buildings were damaged in several cities when the earthquake hit around midday local time (17:00 GMT).

The southern province of El Oro was the worst affected and 12 persons died there, authorities said.

Northern Peru felt the quake and a 14-year-old girl died in Tumbes, a border province, when her home

collapsed.

In Ecuador, Machala and Cuenca were among the cities that suffered damage to buildings and vehicles, as emergency services rushed to help people.

The epicentre was near Balao, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) from Ecuador's second-largest city, Guayaquil, where about three million people live.

"We ran from the house," Machala resident Exon Tobar told the BBC. "The ground – it was a very powerful explosion – it made it

The Government said more than 250 injured persons were treated in the town of Pasaje, in El Oro, and nearly all of them were eventually discharged.

Several roads have been blocked by landslides, while several homes, educational buildings and health centres have been damaged, authorities said.

One person was reported killed in the city of Cuenca, in Azuay province, after a wall collapsed onto their car, while three people died when a security camera tower came down on Jambelí Island, in El Oro province.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Colombian President suspends ceasefire with criminal group

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Sunday said he had suspended a ceasefire with the Clan del Golfo, the country's largest criminal organisation, because it had attacked Police.

"I have ordered the armed forces to reactivate all military operations against the Clan del Golfo," Petro said in a tweet. "We will not allow them to continue sowing anxiety and terror in the communities."

Minutes later, Petro tweeted: "The rifle attack on the Police Force by the

Clan del Golfo breaks the ceasefire.... The armed forces must act immediately against the mafia organisation."

Reuters was not able to immediately confirm any details about the rifle attack.

The ceasefire with the Clan, also known as the Gaitanista Self-Defence Forces (AGC), was part of efforts to end the group's part in Colombia's internal conflict, which has killed at least 450,000 people.

Days earlier, in a radio interview on March 13,

Petro accused the group of destroying a municipal aqueduct in Antioquia province amid roadblocks connected to protests by informal gold miners. Petro said the group had "broken the ceasefire" and there was no possibility of negotiations with the group if they continue attacks.

Petro's Government has asked Congress to pass a law approving surrender for gangs, including reduced prison sentences, in exchange for halting operations and paying reparations to victims. (Reuters)

3 guards shot in Scotia ATM robbery in Jamaica

Three security guards of Beryllium Limited have been hospitalised in serious condition after they were shot during a brazen gunfight with robbers at the Braeton Parkway Scotiabank in Portmore, St Catherine, Jamaica on Sunday afternoon.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Stephanie Lindsay, Head of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Corporate Communications Unit (CCU), the security guards were in the process

of servicing the Automated Teller Machines (ATM) at the bank when gunmen with high-powered weapons and handguns attacked.

“A number of shots were fired [and] at the end of the shooting three of the security officers were shot and injured,” SSP Lindsay said.

She added that the two vehicles which were involved with the robbery were now in the custody of the Police after lawmen tracked them to Lakes Pen in the parish shortly after

According to Don Rojas, the Vincentian-born Director of Communications and International Relations for the Institute of the Black World 21st Century (IBW), the organisation has received confirmation that Mottley will attend the State of the Black World Conference V, from April 19 to 23, as a special guest to deliver the keynote address.

Rojas, a former Press Secretary for slain Grenada Prime Minister Maurice Bishop, said Mottley would join President of Ghana, Nana Addo Darkwa AkufoAddo in addressing the conference, which is organised around the theme, “Global Africans Rising, Empowerment Reparations and Healing”.

IBW said Mottley has emerged as “a major figure in the Caribbean advocating for stronger ties with the African Union and a global emphasis on reparatory jus-

tice with Africa playing a more active role”.

IBW noted that Mottley has called for a global summit on reparations in collaboration with the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Reparations Commission, the African Union, National African American Reparations Commission and reparations commissions from various regions of the Global Black Diaspora.

“We are honoured and delighted that Prime Minister Mia Mottley has accepted our invitation to play a major role in State of the Black World Conference V,”

said IBW President Dr Ron Daniels. “She has shown an eagerness to work with President Addo of Ghana in expanding and strengthening the global reparations movement.

“Once Vice-President Francia Marquez from Colombia confirms, we will have a formidable trio of leaders embracing the cause of reparatory justice as the ‘human rights issue of the 21st Century’, as proclaimed by Professor Sir Hilary Beckles [Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies],” Daniels added. (Excerpt from CMC)

T&T Judge disagrees with ruling on bail policy

ATrinidad High Court Judge in the criminal division has disagreed with the interpretation of one of his colleagues in the civil division over the Judiciary’s bail policy for the approval of sureties.

In a ruling on Thursday, Justice Geoffrey Henderson held he did not consider himself bound by the January 31 decision of fellow judge Justice Carol Gobin, and would "depart from the reasoning in that judgment,” as he dealt with an application for a bail variation.

The application by murder accused Andrew Felix was grounded in Gobin’s finding that the surety-approval policy of the

Judiciary was “illegal, ultra vires, and unconstitutional”.

In her criticism of the policy, Gobin said the Bail Act did not include financial resources among the criteria for consideration when exercising the discretion of suitability of a surety.

Gobin said any change in the law to include financial resources as criteria for assessing the suitability of a surety was a matter for Parliament and could not be introduced by the Judiciary as policy.

“The surety-approval policy and procedures stipulated by the Judiciary are not provided for by the Bail Act or any other statute,” she said.

But Henderson said in his view, Gobin’s finding on the unconstitutionality of the Judiciary’s vetting process was “misconceived”.

He said it was his view that the “vetting process” did not amount to a broad inquiry or investigation into the financial resources of a surety, but “rather a process for authentication of the documents, and, in the case of real property, ensuring that said property is free from encumbrances."

The need for the vetting process was even more evident, he said, when the proposed surety has undertaken to be bound by large amounts of money. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

the shooting.

The superintendent told Observer Online that the Police, with the help of the military, were carrying out on-the-ground operations in the area to try and get more information to aid in investigations.

This is the second of such incidents occurring in Portmore in less than a month with the first taking place, a stone’s throw away at Jamaica National ATM at the Portmore Pines Plaza in February.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

BWU: Other Govts should pay ex-LIAT staff

Although it was a long time in coming, the Barbados Workers Union (BWU) welcomes the decision by the Mia Mottley Administration to pay severance to former Barbadian employees who were terminated by LIAT.

During the wrap-up to the Budget debate last week, Prime Minister Mottley announced about Bds$10 million had been re-

served in cash and bonds for about 89 former workers.

“The Barbados Workers’ Union and LIAT Division are extremely pleased by the announcement of the Prime Minister that we are on the cusp of being able to resolve the long-outstanding matter relating to severance and outstanding payments to the workers who gave service to LIAT (1974) Ltd,” said BWU Deputy

General Secretary Dwaine Paul.

“The Union understands that in terms of the payments being made, it is a recognition of the Government of Barbados of its financial and moral obligation to the citizens and workers of LIAT. We look forward to the discussions promised in the coming days with the Ministry of Finance.” (Nation News)

Emergency services survey the damage in Cuenca, following the powerful 6.7 magnitude earthquake in southern Ecuador

PM Mia Mottley

US drillers add the most gas rigs in a week since December 2018 – Baker Hughes

US energy firms this week added the most natural gas rigs in a week in over four years, leading to a rise in the combined oil and gas rig count for the first time in five weeks, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said on Friday.

The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, rose eight to 754 in the week to March 17.

Baker Hughes said that puts the total rig count up 91 rigs, or 13.7%, over this time last year.

Oil rigs fell one to 589 last week, while gas rigs rose nine to 162.

US oil futures were down nearly 17% so far this year after gaining about 7% in 2022. US gas futures, meanwhile, have plunged about 47% so far this year after rising about 20% last year.

Energy traders said recent energy price declines have already caused several exploration and production companies to cut back on the number of rigs they use to drill for oil and gas for three months in a row from December-February.

This week's jump in gas rigs comes even as some energy firms have said in recent weeks that they would cut the number of rigs drilling for gas, especially in the Haynsesville shale in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.

Despite lower rig counts seen in recent months, US crude production was still on track to rise from 11.9 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2022 to 12.4 million bpd in 2023 and 12.6 million bpd in 2024, according to projections from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) in March. That compares with a record 12.3 million bpd in 2019.

Those oil production forecasts for 2023 and 2024, however, were smaller than EIA's projections in February.

US gas production, meanwhile, was on track to rise from a record 98.09 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2022 to 100.67 bcfd in 2023 and 101.69 bcfd in 2024, according to federal energy data in March.

Those gas production forecasts for 2023 and 2024 were bigger than EIA's projections in February. (Reuters)

Around the World

Russia and Ukraine extend grain deal despite disagreement

Adeal allowing Ukraine to export millions of tonnes of grain through the Black Sea despite the ongoing conflict with Russia has been extended.

But it is unclear how long it will last, with Ukraine pushing for 120 days, and Russia calling for 60 days.

Russia has warned it will not allow the deal to go on longer unless sanctions against Moscow are softened.

The UN and Turkey

helped broker the export agreement last July following fears of a global food crisis.

Ukraine is one of the world's top producers of grain, but its access to ports in the Black Sea was blocked by Russian warships following the invasion in February last year.

Countries that suffer with food insecurity, such as Yemen, rely heavily on these supplies.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced an agreement

on extending the deal on Saturday, with hours to go before it was due to expire.

"This deal is of vital importance for the global food supply. I thank Russia and Ukraine, who didn't spare their efforts for a new extension, as well as the United Nations Secretary General," he said.

But neither Erdogan nor the UN clarified how long it would last.

Vassily Nebenzia, Russia's ambassador to the UN, said on Friday that the EU, UK and US

had two months to remove any sanctions targeting Russia's agricultural sector if they wanted the deal to continue.

Moscow wants Russian producers to be able to export more food and fertiliser to the rest of the world, but says Western sanctions are preventing them.

While food and fertiliser exports have not been targeted, Russia says restrictions on payments, insurers and shippers makes exports difficult. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Floods destroy homes of quake survivors in north-western Syria

Dozens of camps for displaced people in north-western Syria have been damaged by flooding after a heavy storm hit the region late on Saturday.

Torrential rain overnight in the western countryside of Idlib province damaged hundreds of shelters, many of which were recently set up to house the survivors of two February 6 earthquakes. Roads were also impassable in some areas, according to the Syria Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets.

told Al Jazeera.

Al-Mustafa told Al Jazeera that more than 300 tents for the earthquake survivors in 20 camps were damaged. He said most of them were rapidly established and lacked suitable protection from winter storms.

Lagos

Governor

reelected in victory for Nigeria's ruling party

The Governor of Lagos easily won re-election in low turn-out local voting, figures showed on Sunday, a victory for Nigeria's ruling party just weeks after the commercial capital backed the Opposition in a disputed presidential election.

With votes tallied in districts representing 95% of voters, incumbent Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the ruling All Progressive Congress had more than 736,000 votes, compared to just 292,000 for his closest rival, the Labour Party's Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The turnout was just a small fraction of the 7 million registered voters in Africa's largest megacity, which has a population of more than 20 million people.

The Lagos election was the highest profile among races for powerful governorships in 28 of Nigeria's 36 states, as well as for state assemblies across the country.

The race in Lagos had been expected to be close after Opposition Labour candidate Peter Obi received the most votes in the state during last month's disputed presidential election, which was won overall by Bola Tinubu of the APC.

Tinubu himself is a former Lagos Governor, who ran the state from 1999-2007 and has since been seen as instrumental in picking his successors there including Sanwo-Olu.

Obi has said he was robbed of victory by rampant fraud, and political analysts said the handling of last month's presidential election could have discouraged some voters from participating in Saturday's regional polls.

Some officials from the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) who presented results in Lagos on Sunday reported some ballot boxes had been snatched by thugs, but said this was not widespread enough to affect the outcome of the vote. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Several shelters were flooded in camps in Hafsarjah and Bishmaroun towns and shops collapsed in Adwan village, an official at the Syria Civil Defence told Al Jazeera. Camps in

the western and north-eastern countryside of Aleppo were also damaged.

“The torrential torrents caused damage to more than 40 camps, which were set up for those affected by the earthquake, in

which more than 700 tents were damaged, a child was slightly injured, and shops collapsed, in addition to blocking a number of roads in cities and towns,” Munir Al-Mustafa, deputy director of the Syria Civil Defence,

“The tragedy experienced by displaced people cannot be solved by providing temporary services to them in camps, because tragedies can be endless and deprive people of the right to live safely in their homes. Rather, the only solution is to provide safety for civilians to return to their homes, and that would also diminish the need for humanitarian and relief support,” al-Mustafa said. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Cloete Murray: South African corruption investigator shot dead

ASouth African accountant who was investigating high-level corruption cases has been shot dead along with his son.

Cloete Murray, 50, was the liquidator for Bosasa, a company implicated in numerous Government contract scandals.

He also worked as a liquidator for firms linked to the wealthy Gupta brothers, who deny bribery accusations.

Police will see if there is a link between Murray's murder and these corruption investigations.

Murray was shot by unknown gunmen while driving in Johannesburg with his 28-year-old son Thomas, a legal adviser, on Saturday.

His son died at the scene while Murray was taken to hospital and later died of his injuries, lo-

cal media reported, citing a police spokesperson.

The pair were driving their white Toyota Prado towards their home in Pretoria, South African media reported.

Murray's job as a court-appointed company liquidator was to look into

the accounts of firms that had folded, recover assets, and report any criminality. One of those companies was Bosasa, a Government contractor specialising in prison services. The landmark Zondo commission into corrup-

tion concluded the company extensively bribed politicians and government officials to get Government contracts during the nineyear presidency of Jacob Zuma, from 2009 to 2018.

Zuma refused to co-operate with the inquiry but has denied accusations of corruption.

In 2018, current South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said he would repay a US$35,000 (£27,300) donation from Bosasa.

An anti-corruption investigator found he had misled Parliament over the donation, but that finding was dismissed by the country's High Court.

Ramaphosa has also faced other corruption allegations, which he denies.

Bosasa went into voluntary liquidation after banks closed its accounts.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Children wade in a pool of dirty water following torrential rains that hit the camps of newly housed earthquake survivors in Syria

Murray's job as a court-appointed company liquidator was to look into the accounts of firms that had folded, recover assets, and report any criminality

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Plan your actions, leave no room for error and use your energy wisely. Don't let anger set in when action is required. Live up to your promises and walk away from those who don't.

(March 21-April 19)

Pamper yourself, and you'll lift your spirits and receive compliments from someone special. A little discipline will encourage good health and happiness. Romance will enhance your life.

(April 20-May 20)

PEANUTS

(May 21-June 20)

Take everyone into consideration and think about how they can be most helpful to you. Giving others the freedom to do what they do best will pay off. Focus on creating your own opportunities.

Let your mind wander and your imagination lead you to victory. Keep your plans and your life simple and easy to control. Spend less. Refrain from complaining or arguing.

(June 21-July 22)

If you feel strongly about something, stand up and be counted. Your input will make a difference. Refuse to let someone use emotional tactics to get you to make allowances. Follow your heart.

(July 23-Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Get started, don't look back and use your power to make a difference. Gather information, try your hand at something new and find the inspiration to up your game and play to win.

It's up to you to pursue your goals. Stop waiting for things to happen. Do your part. Step up and reach out to experts and those who can contribute to your plans.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Test the waters, ask questions and make a trial run; preparation will make all the difference. It's time for a lifestyle change that promises better health and personal happiness.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Be careful what you wish for. What may sound like a sure thing will lack substance. Pay more attention to home and family, and find a way to better use your space.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Focus on comfort and convenience, and maintain a balance between work and play. Trying to keep up with others will prove stressful and fruitless. Go at a speed you find comfortable.

Avoid making unnecessary purchases. Instead, invest in yourself and your skills. Change is only good if it eases stress and makes you happy. Be careful; sidestep injury or illness.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Aim to be more efficient. If you face problems running your home, it will be essential to be fair, frugal and friendly. Strive to get along with your colleagues and peers.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Starc’s 5-for, MarshHead century stand sink India for 1-1

Mitchell Starc produced a masterclass in newball swing bowling before openers Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head hammered rapid fifties to complete a

knockout performance against India and level the series 1-1. India received a thrashing like no other in Visakhapatnam –their heaviest defeat in terms of balls remaining – when they

SCOREBOARD

India (50 ovs maximum)

Rohit Sharma (c)

c Smith b Starc 13

Shubman Gill c Labuschagne b Starc 0

Virat Kohli lbw b Ellis 31

Suryakumar Yadav lbw b Starc 0

KL Rahul † lbw b Starc 9

Hardik Pandya c Smith b Abbott 1

Ravindra Jadeja c †Carey b Ellis 16

Axar Patel not out

Kuldeep Yadav c Head b Abbott 4

Mohammed Shami c †

Carey b Abbott 0

Mohammed Siraj b Starc 0

Extras (lb 2, nb 1, w 11) 14

TOTAL 26 Ov (RR: 4.50) 117

Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Shubman

Gill, 0.3 ov), 2-32 (Rohit Sharma,

4.4 ov), 3-32 (Suryakumar

Yadav, 4.5 ov), 4-48 (KL Rahul,

8.4 ov), 5-49 (Hardik Pandya, 9.2 ov), 6-71 (Virat Kohli, 15.2

ov), 7-91 (Ravindra Jadeja, 19.3 ov), 8-103 (Kuldeep Yadav, 24.4 ov), 9-103 (Mohammed Shami, 24.5 ov), 10-117 (Mohammed Siraj, 25.6 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Mitchell Starc 8-1-53-5

Cameron Green 5-0-20-0

Sean Abbott 6-0-23-3

Nathan Ellis 5-0-13-2

Adam Zampa 2-0-6-0 Australia (T: 118 runs from 50 ovs)

Travis Head not out 51

Mitchell Marsh not out 66

Extras (w 4) 4

TOTAL 11 Ov (RR: 11.00) 121

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Mohammed Shami 3-0-29-0

Mohammed Siraj 3-0-37-0

Axar Patel

Hardik Pandya

Kuldeep Yadav 1-0-12-0

were bowled out for 117 in just 26 overs.

Starc was the tormentorin-chief with his 5 for 53, his ninth five-for in One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and gave Marsh and Head freedom to bat with no scoreboard pressure; Marsh raced to a 28-ball fifty before Head got to his in 29 balls and Australia chased the target down in just 11 overs.

Starc got deliveries to swing in as well as angle across to the right-hand batters in equal measure. His work up top allowed Sean Abbott and Nathan Ellis to join hands and run through the lower middle order thereafter. In all, the Australian bowlers were done with their shift inside two hours and 20 minutes, with the three seamers sharing all 10 wickets.

When Starc got the deliveries to angle across, he tempted Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma to drive away from their bodies, only for both to get dismissed cheaply. Gill was the first to go, out for a duck in the first over, when he

chased a full and wide delivery and drove to point, in what was a repeat of his dismissal from the Mumbai ODI. Rohit, returning to the side in place of Ishan Kishan, was out in the fifth over. He had moved to 13 by relying on leg-side flicks, but then swung big against a wide ball to edge to first slip.

Suryakumar Yadav walked in looking to make up for his first-ball duck from the first ODI, but he suffered the same fate when Starc swing the ball into him again, and had him lbw for another golden duck. In what was another repeat from the first ODI, KL Rahul came in trying to survive a hat-trick delivery. He did that successfully, but could not last too much longer. The halfcenturion from the previous game was also trapped lbw by Starc, on 9, with another inswinging delivery that got him missing a shot across the line. At 48 for 4, India needed a recovery job, but that would not come. Abbott got a length ball to bounce a bit more and Hardik Pandya poked at

it only to see Steven Smith take a stunning one-handed diving catch at first slip to rock them further. Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja tried to resurrect the innings, but they failed as well this time. Kohli was trapped lbw by Ellis when, on 31, he swiped across the line to a full ball, and did not bother reviewing the on-field decision. Ellis then came around the wicket to get Jadeja edging a catch to the wicketkeeper Alex Carey. At 91 for 7, India were on the mat and the crowd was completely silenced.

That India reached tripledigits was because of Axar Patel’s unbeaten 29. He was circumspect at first alongside Kuldeep Yadav as India went past 100. But when Kuldeep and Mohammad Shami fell in quick succession to Abbott, Axar realised the end was coming soon. He smacked Starc for back-to-back sixes, but ran out of partners as No.

11 Mohammed Siraj became Starc’s fifth victim after seeing his off stump rattled.

Marsh and Head thwarted India’s hopes of staging any

kind of fightback. While Head’s 30-ball 51 was dominant when taken in isolation, it almost paled in comparison to Marsh’s 66 off 36 balls.

When the full deliveries from Siraj and Shami were put away in the initial burst of overs, both bowlers tried to go short. The openers were equally competent to the short ball, and made use of the day’s best batting conditions just before sunset.

Marsh pulled, drove and punched his way to his second straight fifty after his 81 in the first ODI. Head’s boundaries were more streaky, but the highlight was his four consecutive fours against Shami in the sixth over soon after Australia had crossed 50. Marsh also launched three sixes in a Hardik over before finishing the game in the 11th.

The ODI series now moves to the decider in Chennai on Wednesday. After the way they have put India’s batters in trouble in these two games, Australia will quietly think they go into the final game as favourites. (ESPNcricinfo)

Arsenal cruise past Palace

rsenal moved eight points clear at the top of the Premier League thanks to a routine home victory over managerless Crystal Palace. The Gunners, aiming to become champions for the first time since 200304, went ahead at Emirates Stadium through Gabriel Martinelli's left-footed strike – his sixth goal in six league matches.

Bukayo Saka doubled the lead when he collected Ben White's pass and curled an effort past 19-year- old goalkeeper Joe Whitworth. Granit

Xhaka made it 3-0 with a first-time finish from Leandro Trossard's assist, before Jeffrey Schlupp pulled one back from close range

Afollowing a corner for Palace's first goal in five matches.

But the excellent Saka restored Arsenal's three-goal advantage with a guided finish from Kiernan Tierney's pull-back to seal the victory. Arsenal have 69 points from 28 matches, with secondplaced Manchester City, who beat Burnley 6-0 in the FA Cup quarterfinals on Saturday, on 61 points having played a game less.

Palace sacked Manager Patrick Vieira on Friday and have now not won in 13 games in all competitions and are only three points above the relegation zone.

For Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, this was a perfect response after his side lost on penalties to Sporting Lisbon in the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday. Once Martinelli put them ahead with his 13th goal of the season, there only looked to be one winner, with Palace powerless to stop Arsenal.

Saka's goal, confirmed by the video assistant referee following a check for offside, made it 2-0, with Xhaka adding a third in the 55th minute. Crystal Palace's 19-year-old goalkeeper

Whitworth was playing for only the second time in the Premier League

Palace got a goal back, but it was no surprise that Saka soon scored again to take his total to 13 for the campaign. Arteta will also be delighted with the character his team have shown as they have bounced back from setbacks.

This victory was their sixth in a row in the league since a 3-1 home loss to City threatened to derail their title hopes. But they have recovered in style and go into the international break in pole position.

Palace tamely slip to fourth successive loss

This was Palace's first match since sacking ex-Arsenal Captain Vieira, a move former Gunners defender Martin Keown called a "panicked decision", with the home fans regularly singing Vieira's name throughout Sunday's game.

The Frenchman had been Manager since July 2021 after Roy Hodgson's departure and had won 22 of 74 games in all competitions. Palace last won on December 31 with a 2-0 victory at Bournemouth before a run of no wins, five draws

and seven defeats saw Vieira sacked.

Hodgson, 75, has been tipped for a temporary return, while under-21s boss Paddy McCarthy took charge of the team on Sunday.

McCarthy suffered a blow before the match when central defender Joachim Andersen sustained an injury in the warm-up and had to be replaced by James Tomkins. Wilfried Zaha hit the post in the 10th minute and had a shot saved by Aaron Ramsdale early in the second half, before Schlupp's consolation as Palace slipped to their fourth successive league defeat.

They have almost two weeks before their next game, with a vital month coming up in April as they look to extend their 10-season topflight spell.

But their fate still lies in their hands, so their managerial decision is going to be a vital one.

In April, they face six of their relegation rivals – Leicester, Leeds, Southampton, Everton, Wolves, and West Ham – and how they get on in those matches will go a long way to deciding their future. (BBC Sport)

Battle of the sexes, as Fazal throws out challenge to Alado

Filly Ariana's Vision's upset victory over Looking at Heaven in Sunday's feature event – the One Mile Insanally “Sonny” Habibulla Memorial showpiece at Rising Sun race course, had horsemen and patrons tongues’ wagging.

They now forecast a mouth-watering clash described as the battle of the sexes unfolding between Ariana's Vision and Alado, Guyana Cup winner and President's Cup winner. The discussion also changed gears as it moved from sexes to young versus 'old’.

Outspoken and fear-

less, the elderly Fazal Habibulla, Ariana's Vision’s trainer, speaking to Guyana Times Sport in an interview said, "…Jumbo (Nasrudeen “Junior” Mohamed's dad) made that race for me.

Jumbo like me, you know."

Uncle Fazal, as he is respectfully called, continued, "I was ready for Alado since Sunday. They sending their second best to test me. My horse has a reputation of being sprinter. It was a challenge for me, but it was no chal-

me on."

Quizzed on how confident he was about

erything to win this race.

I was confident when the race day was pushed back because of rain. Sunday was no ifs and buts. I did not think it would have been that easy."

Fazal, asked if the success was poetic justice, answered, "It was very emotional for me. I wanted to win this race for my father. I just wish he was here. I have won several good races in the past, but this one will be at the top. It will always live with me as it was in his honour. I have dedicated this race to him."

In closing, he stated, "It was a booster for me. I did not have a top horse in a little while. Winning the inaugural running of this race, in her first run for me is also a great feeling. I just want to go again, and win if this race is staged again next year."

“Junior”, in response, declared, "I have great respect for Uncle Fazal, and will not want to burst his bubble. He wanted a good horse, and finally got one. Winning that race named in memory of his father could not be a better result. If he wants to take on Alado. He will get his shot. I hope he is not disappointed after the race."

Dylan Carter is anticipating a good year ahead as he can swim free knowing that he no longer has to worry about meeting the 2024 Olympic qualification standards.

On March 2, the 27-yearold Carter swam 48.28 to win the 100m freestyle race at the TYR Pro Series Meet in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which is below the Olympic qualifying standard of 48.34. In winning, he held off the challenge of Matthew Richards (48.48) and Hunter Armstrong (48.95).

The time was a new national record for the twinisland republic and made Carter the first male 100m freestyler in the world to qualify for the Olympics in the event.

“It’s all very exciting and I am very happy with that,” he told Sportsmax.TV.

Coming off the success at the World Short Course Championships in Australia in December 2022, where he won a bronze medal the 50m freestyle, Carter took some time to rest and prepare for Olympic qualification.

power through January and February.”

He believes the work he did building his strength helped him achieve the personal best time and a spot at the Olympic Games.

“I think that little extra bit of strength paid off. Also, racing the weekend before at the Jalisco Cup in Mexico was at 5500 feet altitude, so competing all weekend racing very hard at altitude and then coming down the next week to race 100, I was really, really good at sea level. That might have played a part in it, but I am really happy.

“It is a small personal best for me which at 27 years of age you can’t complain about that in March and it sets me up really well for the rest of the year and I don’t have to worry about qualification or time.” (Sportsmax)

lenge. She won very easily. They came up second best. Junior has to get some fresh horses to take

Ariana's Vision heading into the race named in honour of his deceased dad, he replied, "I had to do ev-

The next time Ariana's Vision will be seen in action is on Easter Sunday (April 9) at Port Mourant, Berbice.

“Between World Short Course in December and now, I took a couple weeks’ break and went to Tobago for New Year’s and was coming back slowly in January, building up my fitness,” he said.

“I wasn’t really sure where I would be in March, but I was focusing on my speed, strength, and

GCB announces Guyana U-15 team

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has named the Guyana Under-15 team which will participate in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Under-15 Tournament 2023.

This tournament, which is dubbed CWI Rising Star Under-15 Rising Championship, is scheduled for Antigua and Barbuda from April 2, 2023 to April 13, 2023.

The GCB Junior Selection Committee, led by Chairman Andre Percival and comprising the other selection members Balram Samaroo, Latchman Yadram, and Denesh Joseph, selected the national Under-15 team on Friday, March 17, 2023. The team present an excellent mixture of skilled players.

Dave Mohabir will once again lead the national Under-15 side. The Guyana Under-15 team placed second in the 2022 CWI Regional Under-15 Tournament. Similarly, Romario Ramdeholl will once again act as the Vice Captain.

The team include the five players who have been identified by CWI from

the 2022 CWI Rising Star Tournament for special development activities. These players are opening batter Navin Boodwah, left-arm spinner Arun Gainda, fast bowler Arif Khan, rightarm leg spinner Dhanesh Persaud, and wicket-keeper

Sohail Mohamed. The identification of these emerging players allows CWI and the GCB to place special development emphasis on their growth and development in the game.

The Guyana Under-15 Team 2023 are as follows:

Dave Mohabir (Captain); Romario Ramdeholl (Vice Captain); Navin Boodwah; Adrian Hetmyer; Arun Gainda; Dhanesh Persaud; Zandon Rose; Razam Koobir; Sohil Mohamed (wicketkeeper); Jonathan Mentore; Shane Prince; Arif

Khan; Emmannuel Lewis and Trilok Nanan. The standbys are Nicholas Lovell, Mickle Sharma, Thierry Henry, Feaaz Baksh, Nicholas Hall, Visual Williams, Krishan Silas and Brandon Henry.

Spiritualist

Elegant

Adrian Hetmyer

Dhanesh Persaud

Richard Ramdeholl

Fazal Habibulla

Guyana Cup winner and President's Cup winner Alado (Brandon Corlette photos)

Bossalina wins feature event at Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club

Plus Return scripts major upset in J & Lower race

The horse, which is from the Waldron Stables, was seen bleeding.

Jockey Patrick then displayed his control and speed yet again, picking up his third win of the day. He piloted Clear Sky to a crushing victory in the threeyear-old Guyana Bred Maiden.

Eight horses, who were all riding

took the field by storm. Plus Return took the first prize in the J & Lower race, finishing ahead of Dan Star, Foreign Link and Cash Return in that order.

This event was sponsored by the Kennard family, Amarnauth Munishwar, Horseshoe Racing Service, Torginol Paint Inc, Shell Mohammed, Peter

By Brandon Corlette in BerBiCe

Canadian-bred horse

Bossalina clinched the feature event at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club at Bush Lot Farm. Owned by Armanauth, Bossalina was piloted by Trinidadian jockey Nichols Patrick, who emerged as champion jockey after winning four races in the day.

Three horses started in the feature event, which was held in memory of the late Justice Cecil Kennard. Bossalina finished ahead of America Traveler and Marconi, who suffered an injury at the end of the day. The seven-furlong race, which was sponsored by the Kennard family, was an exciting one in nature, and Mrs Chan Kennard

made the presentations.

How the day unfolded

In the opening race of the

day, Stormy Girl piloted by Jockey Patrick took top honours while Top Ranking came in second in the K & L Non Earner

(Lifetime). Princess Sasha came in third while Part Hard rode in fourth.

Race two was the K & Lower and three-year-old Guyana Bred Open event. Amazing Grace of the Dwight Waldron Stables took a close win. Jockey Patrick again showed his class to win back-to-back. Amazing Grace pipped Not This Time and Rough Ride in an exciting finish. Sarkar was the other finisher that rounded out the top four.

Race three saw only three starters and only two horses finished in the H & Lower event. Jockey Kellman piloted It’s My Choice to a dominant victory while fast-starter Marconi came in second. Unsettled Heart suffered a medical issue and failed to complete the race.

for the first time at this event, got the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club on their feet. Stork Town held out for second spot while Hardcore and Royal Flight rounded out the top four finishers in that order.

Race five, which was the penultimate race of the day, saw a major upset when Plus Return

Lewis, George Ramlall, Poonai Pharmacy, Kanhai’s Guyana Electrical Agency, Church’s Mouth Watering Chicken (Rose Hall Town and Georgetown) and Metro Office and Computer Supplies.

The next horse racing meet is set for April 9 at the Port Mourant Turf Club.

West Indies “trying everything” to turn around ODI fortunes, says Hope

this point in time," Bavuma said. "My mind is just a lot clearer as to what we're trying to do and how we're trying to do that; feeding off the confidence that I am getting from the players as well as the new coaches."

Acareer-defining century by a cricket captain should be enough to win a game of cricket, according to Shai Hope. And he wasn't talking about himself.

"Temba Bavuma – an innings like that deserves to be a victorious innings, but it just so happened that we came out on top at the end. I must give him credit for the way he controlled the innings. He played the situation well and he really deserved to win the game, but there can only be one winner," Hope said after West Indies successfully defended 335 runs – their highest score against South Africa – in East London.

Bavuma slammed a careerbest 144, exactly a week after his Test best of 172 last and less than two months after he hit a series-winning 109 in South Africa's World Cup Super League victory over England in Bloemfontein. He is a player transformed from the one who struggled to score runs during South Africa's season-opening white-ball tour of India, where he made 11 runs in four innings, and the leader who oversaw their T20 International World Cup campaign, which ended in defeat to the Netherlands. Bavuma attributes the change to the simple truth of having more fun.

"I'm enjoying my cricket at

After his 172 in the Wanderers Test, Bavuma said he felt more backed by red-ball Coach Shukri Conrad than he had since he was under the wing of his domestic coach at the Lions, Enoch Nkwe (who also served as South Africa's interim coach for a trip to India in 2019) and that's despite being captain in two formats in the interim. In May 2021, Bavuma was put in charge of South Africa's whiteball sides, albeit with only six One-Day International (ODI) and eight T20I caps to his name. While 50-over cricket is clearly his forte, the shortest format proved to be tricky, particularly from a strike-rate perspective and since being relieved of that role, and put in charge of the Test team while keeping the 50-over gig, Bavuma has flourished.

His recent innings have shown us a batter who is

strong on the sweep and the slog, who has opened up scoring areas both in front of and behind square and who is able to rotate strike well. While it may look like a revelation to those looking in from the outside, for Bavuma, it's merely a demonstration of "what was always there" that is now coming through.

"It's just a confidence thing. Confidence is a big thing for any sportsman," he said. "I am just trying to carry on the form and the momentum I got in the England series. I am hitting the ball quite nicely.

I am managing to find gaps, which is a big thing for me as a stroke player. I can only hope that lasts."

Despite his best efforts on Saturday evening, South Africa fell 48 runs short of beating West Indies, a side who are after a new start of their own. After losing 16 of the 20 ODIs they played last year, West Indies are all-but-certain to miss out on automatic qualification to the 2023 World Cup, and need to start winning. Victory in South Africa – their first on the road against a team other than Netherlands

and Ireland since they beat Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2018 – "means a lot" as Hope put it.

"It's something we speak about in the meetings. We are just trying to win more cricket games. We didn't have a successful 2022 and we are trying everything to turn it around," he said.

It also marks a successful start for new leadership. Hope is now in charge of the ODI team, with 105 matches under his belt, and a lot on his plate. Though he did not open the batting in this match – as he has done since 2019 –he batted from the 10th over, kept wicket and captained and described the fixture as a "tiring game for me".

So how will he manage the many roles he has to play in what is a big ODI year for West Indies? "I am definitely going to take it on full speed. It's about giving my all to the team," Hope said. "I am getting support from all ends. I have got support from guys off the field and on the field. I've got to keep embracing the responsibility and when the time comes to shine, I'll do so."

And he intends to apply

that in all formats. As the ODI series opener played out, shortly after West Indies' batting let them down in the Test series, there was some talk about whether players like Hope and former Captain Nicholas Pooran should be considered for the red-ball team as well. On the evidence of the East London ODI, West Indies could do worse, but there's also some interesting context to Hope's exclusion.

Like his opposite number Bavuma, Hope only has two Test centuries to his name –and they came in the same match. Hope has not played Test cricket since December 2021. Asked if the longest format is something he'd like to get back to, Hope indicated that hope would win out.

"Something that I always preach in the camp: control what you can control. I can't control what the selectors do, I can't control things behind the scenes, all I can control is the way I prep, the way I play and the performance I put in on the field," he said. "If the chance and the opportunity arises, I will take it with both hands." (ESPNcricinfo)

Bossalina’s owners and officials at the presentation

Jockey Nichols Patrick was presented with a special award for winning the most races of the day