Guyana Times - Monday, May 20 ,2024

Power ship adding 35MW to national grid – GPL’s CEO

$110M excavator to boost MMA-ADA scheme

Man found dead in car with divorce papers Pensioner on e-bike killed by speeding motor car

…says to reach full generating capacity today after final testing

Police probing extorting of Brazilian

businessman,

wife by 2 CANU ranks

Over 1600 Guyanese to graduate from GOAL this week

…graduation will further boost Guyana’s labour force – Ashni Singh

Govt assisting Crabwood Creek farmers producing peppers for

2 men shot by cops during gun find at Agricola

Iran’s President, Foreign Minister missing as helicopter crashes

…rescue teams facing difficulties reaching site due to harsh weather conditions

export

Work on sentencing guidelines nearing completion – AG …to be gazetted as subsidiary legislation

Police raid uncovers stolen items on ECD

Traffic woes near GPHC a growing concern – Traffic Officer

Cops injured in Timehri accident

EBD traffic department reports 123 traffic violations in 1 week

Over 1600 Guyanese to graduate from GOAL this week

…graduation will further boost Guyana’s labour force – Ashni Singh

The Guyana Online Academy of Learning

(GOAL) is expected to have its second graduation since its launch, with over 1600 Guyanese expected to graduate this week. This is according to Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance and Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh.

In an interview with this publication, Dr Singh revealed that the graduation is likely to occur by the end of this week. The graduates, according to him, will range from bachelor degrees to masters.

“Next week, on May 24, we’re going to be having the second GOAL graduation ceremony, at which over 1600 persons will be graduating in university level courses. Bachelor degree, post graduate diplomas, master’s degrees.”

“We’re going to have 1600, almost 1700 persons graduating at our second annual GOAL graduation ceremony. So, you’re going to have 1600 Guyanese people across all 10 of our regions, graduating with Bachelor’s degrees, masters’ degrees, post gradu-

ate diplomas and so on,” Dr Singh said.

The minister with responsibility for the public service noted that this most recent GOAL graduation will add to Guyana’s labour force. Nor is this the only reason for persons to sign up for GOAL, since many persons also sign up for the sake of intellectual curiosity.

“So, these are all elements of human capital development. Improving the skills of the Guyanese workforce and population, to have a better skilled and qualified labour force. And also, to have a more fulfilled population. Some people are pursuing these courses just for their own intellectual curiosity. Expanding their own intellectual horizons. And that’s a good thing,” the finance minister added.

During her ministry’s

end-of-year press briefing last year, then Public Service Minister Sonia Parag had revealed that 4750 persons will benefit from the GOAL programme this year… even as the programme has already surpassed its target to provide 20,000 Guyanese with GOAL scholarships free of cost.

According to Parag, the Government will continue to advance its bilateral partnerships with Cuba, China and Russia to make available several courses in 2024. This would include courses such as food technology, biomedical technology, data science and agricultural science technology, among others.

Additionally, to bridge the tertiary education gap in hinterland communities, scholarships to the University of Guyana, Guyana School

of Agriculture and technical institutes will be made available to several persons.

The Minister explained that, this move is part of efforts to address the local labour shortage while ensuring Guyanese attain skillsets to become financially independent. It was further disclosed that the Public Service Ministry will be partnering with US-based online course provider, Coursera, to offer Spanish tutoring for all public servants.

A total of 54,000 persons in the public sector will benefit from the initiative while another 2000 persons will benefit from Information Technology (IT) training through a partnership with Canada.

The GOAL scholarship was launched in 2021 with the aim of offering Guyanese an opportunity to advance their education through online and distance learning (ODL) mode. The sum of $1.8 billion in budgetary provision was made available to the Public Service Ministry for the programme last year, given the Government’s

commitment to the educational advancement of citizens.

With regards to internet connectivity and computer devices, resources were provided to ensure that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hubs in several regions are functional.

As a result, from 2021 to 2023, a total of 21,442 persons benefitted from GOAL scholarships, and this saw Guyanese attaining certificates, diplomas, Bachelor’s, Post-Graduates, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in various courses.

Meanwhile, 15 persons

in Region One (BarimaWaini) were awarded Government scholarships, 34 were awarded to persons in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) and 56 persons residing in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) received a government scholarship in 2023. Additionally, 142 Guyanese from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) received scholarships, 23 from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 42 from Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and 19 from Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni). (G3)

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance and Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Monday, May 20 – 03:00h-04:30h and Tuesday, May 21 –03:30h-05:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, May 20 –14:25h-15:55h and Tuesday, May 21 – 14:25h-15:55h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery to light rain showers are expected to prevail during the day and at night, with sunshine in the late afternoon. Temperatures should range between 24 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 14:43h reaching a maximum height of 2.42 metres.

Low Tide: 08:18h and 20:32h reaching minimum heights of 0.76 metres and 0.79 metre.

Power ship adding 35MW to national grid – GPL's CEO

Less than two weeks after being operationalised, the 36-megawatt (MW) power ship is expected to reach full capacity in the coming days, according to acting Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) Kesh Nandlall.

Earlier this month, GPL had reported that the power ship was generating 18 MW into the Demerara Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS). The vessel started injecting power into the national grid since May 9 and the plan was to incrementally increase the generating amount until the full 36 MW capacity is achieved.

Speaking with the Guyana Times on Sunday, Nandlall explained that since then, the power ship’s generating capaci-

Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), where it will be stationed for the next two years as it sends electricity into the DBIS.

Over the past few weeks, GPL has been preparing the necessary infrastructure for the 36-MW power ship to be connected to the national grid.

The power company had noted that in addition to its internal Engineering Services Division, Transmission and Distribution, and Protection and Instrumentation employees, the National Data Management Authority (NDMA); GAICO Construction and General Services Inc., and E-Networks made an “invaluable contribution” towards realising this initiative.

Nandlall previously told

chronising [the ship] to the grid… because that is a lot of power – it’s a new power plant so you had to ensure you do all the testing and procedures and so on,” he had related.

Only two weeks ago, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had said the Government

ty was gradually increased and by Saturday morning, it went up to 35MW.

“We haven’t gone up to 36MW as yet; we’re at 35MW right now. [Today] we’re doing the official capacity-testing, which is as part of the contract, where they will go and they will test the capacity to deliver 36MW. They can go to 36 right now but they’ve chosen to stay at 35 until we do the capacity-testing,” he explained.

According to Nandlall, they are confident that the power ship will be able to deliver full capacity, noting that there were no major issues experienced since its operationalisation nearly two weeks ago.

“[There were] no issues. What they did was to bring the engine up, take it back down and they had to do some regular checkup and these kinds of things to ensure that everything is in order but no issues,” the GPL Head stated.

The floating power plant arrived in Guyana on May 1 and has been docked at Everton on the East Bank of Berbice in

this newspaper that specialists have been brought in to ensure that the transfer of power from the vessel into the grid was done without any hiccups.

“They are taking their time, documenting the procedure and they will execute this successfully… “There was a lot of testing that had to be done, syn-

hoped that this connection would be able to stop the frequent blackouts experienced by Guyanese in recent months as a result of low generating capacity. In the same breath, however, he said there could still be some power outages.

“We’re hoping that with the 36 megawatts now added to the system, that we’ll

have enough power in the system to end the current spate of blackouts which comes from the unavailability of power… There may be isolated instances, because of the poor transmission and distribution system,” Jagdeo had noted.

According to the Vice President, Government was still looking to get an additional 30 megawatts of power through a similar arrangement until the much-anticipated Gas-toEnergy Project comes on stream next year.

Last month, GPL signed a multimillion-dollar deal with Qatar-based Urbacon Concessions Investments, W.L.L (UCI) for the rental of the 36-MW floating power plant for two years in a move to add much-needed capacity to the grid. While the rental deal was signed with UCI, the power ship is owned by Turkeybased Karpowership International.

As part of this agreement, GPL has already paid a US$1 million mobilisation fee. The power company also has to pay a fee of 6.62 US cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) as a monthly charter fee for the power ship and a monthly operation and maintenance fee of 0.98 US cents per kWh based on electricity generated. GPL is also required to provide Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) for the operation of the generators onboard the vessel.

The State-owned power company has been experiencing generation shortfalls due to an unprecedented rise in electricity demand coupled with challenges from its aged equipment. In March, two of GPL’s engines failed disrupting power generation across the country. Before this vessel connected to the grid, GPL was generating about 165 megawatts of power. However, the peak demand is about 180 megawatts. (G8)

transmission lines from the power ship connecting to

DBIS network at Everton, Berbice

GPL’s CEO (ag), Kesh Nandlall

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Consumerism is a trap

To “consume” means to eat. From that simple act of taking care of one of our most basic needs – to take in nutrients to literally keep body and soul together – the word was broadened to include our utilisation of any resource. We talk about consuming the forests and fossil fuels, for instance. But with this expansion of the term, there was an interesting disjuncture from its original utilisation: “consuming” is no longer linked with needs. And herein lies a predicament for modern man: “consumerism” is an “ism”, an ideology. For most of our existence, man used those resources from his environment that took care of his basic needs: food, shelter and clothing. As he developed the facility and technology to increase the production of the necessary resources, he obviously began to consume more. But this is not the problem that we want to identify; this is not “consumerism”. While eating too much food, building 100-storey skyscrapers or manufacturing polyesters might engender challenges of their own, needs are still being satisfied. This is just overconsumption and while it has some overlap with consumerism, it is important to distinguish the two. The first is a problem, but the second is a disease. And we are fast becoming afflicted by the latter in Guyana – especially with the influx of oil revenues. Consumerism is more of an attitude or a lifestyle rather than the simple act of consuming this or that product. Today it has assumed the dimensions of a religion or a creed. After all, it's not called an 'ism' for nothing. In the ideological framework of consumerism, consumption becomes an end in itself and people are hungry to consume more and more regardless of their needs or their means. The essence of consumerism is that the level of consumption now becomes the yardstick of an individual's worth.

We can do worse than observe that consumerism is so deeply embedded in our modern discourse that our quest for development is invariably measured in terms of consumption – measured always in monetary terms, of course. We are “underdeveloped” if we don’t have so many phones per household or consume so many units of electricity. The developed world is our standard. Never mind that the level of their consumption is such that it will be impossible for the entire world to achieve that with the resources ultimately available to us on Planet Earth. But more insidious is that even when the availability of the new resources that may make our lives a bit easier is secured, we demand more of the same. We should not miss the irony that all we desire are now dubbed “goods”.

Since money is the medium for securing the “goods”, its possession and the quantum of that possession is now the measure of the worth of man. “Money makes the world go around,” we are assured. The problem is not with bigger cars, more clothes and costlier cell phones. As pointed out earlier, it is human to consume and to improve our quality of life. But strip human beings of their other qualities and attributes and reduce them to this single dimension of being consumers of this or that – all based on how much money you have, and you have a problem. When what we consume is no longer tied up to what we need or what we can afford, it becomes a dangerous thing

In Guyana, the PPP Government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) implicitly acknowledged and began to address the disease of consumerism. By factoring the depletion of our world’s resources and our responsibility to ensure that our utilisation is sustainable, we are impelled to question our consumption patterns. Some might say that we are short-circuiting our efforts to live as those in the ‘developed’ countries. But do we really want to experience the angst, anomie, alienation – call it what you may – that accompanies their consumerism gone wild?

All religions caution against the evil of consumerism which fosters greed. Greed is a sin and simplicity a virtue.

Any similarities between Vietnam, Afghanistan, Korea and Haiti?

Ho Chi Minh was actually America’s man in Vietnam fighting the Japanese in World War II.

After the fall of Japan and the liberation of France the French wanted back their colonies, to include Vietnam, that were part of French Indochina, but Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnamese weren’t having it.

He asked his former ally the USA to assist but they couldn’t do anything as France was their ally so he turned to the Soviet Union, and a communist State emanated from this assistance.

The Americans came in to stem the flow of communism and the war began.

It was a lost cause from the outset.

The Americans had hoped to contain the newly created country of South Vietnam and not invade the enemy state of North Vietnam, which was the communist part — so they were, in effect, trying to contain a massive country which had the support of the north within. It also had support of a large percentage of the south because they didn’t want the Americans or any foreign power there, irrespective of the internal threat. This could only be done by occupation, which came at the cost of American lives.

This is not dissimilar to Afghanistan. The attempt to contain the Taliban re-

quired a consistent presence that costs money and lives. In the case of Afghanistan they were trying to contain a group that, apart from being adequately funded by hostile Arab nations, was reasonably popular with extremists and fundamentalist Muslims.

Couple this with an insurrection movement that didn’t want the Americans there and you have not only a need to always be there, you also have a capacity issue.

In Vietnam the capacity was solved by an unpopular draft. In Afghanistan, it was solved by sending any and all you could, to include troops who never expected to be sent overseas.

We are now preparing to send troops to Haiti to fight the criminal takeover of that nation. We are making a few mistakes.

Firstly, I agree that an incursion is required to bring back governmental control. It, however, has to be done correctly or it will fail. Capacity is the first consideration.

I understand it’s 3,000 troops in total. Experts are saying you need 30,000. It’s made up of African and Caribbean troops only. Why?

It’s a Pan-American problem. Where are the USA and Canada? In fact, where is Britain who normally runs behind the USA wherever they go?

Is this Rwanda all over again where large nations are missing in conflicts in which blacks are slaughtering blacks?

The Americans invaded Kuwait to liberate it from a hostile Iraq. They went into Korea and Vietnam. They went into eastern Europe, ie Kosovo and Bosnia, after the fall of the Berlin Wall caused a break-up of the former Soviet Union. What is it about black nations that make them unworthy of committing American, Canadian and British lives? Unless, of course, there is a communist threat like in 1983 Grenada.

And, to be fair, they did help in Sudan.

The reality is that if we don’t do this properly then it doesn’t make sense we do it at all. We need a troop count of 30,000. We need the major military players in the region. It is important this incursion takes place. It is important that Jamaica is involved as we are qualified at repealing threats such as what will be faced. We have been fighting criminal gangs for 50 years.

It, however, must be done correctly. Lives are going to be lost. Let it not be for an effort doomed from the outset. This is what happened with Vietnam. General William Westmoreland was constantly calling for more troops, hence the very unpopular

draft — especially because it was for a cause that didn’t threaten the United States.

The conflict in Haiti is important enough to warrant the intervention of any country in NATO, except France. It’s very important that actual criminals don’t control an entire nation. The reason I excuse or bar the French is that not only is their history in Haiti despicable — from slavery to the collection of extortion up to recent decades — it would be a cruel irony of history to have them spill blood in the country they helped to wreck.

Which brings me to my other point. We need to be careful of Haitian nationalism. What starts as an action to combat criminals could easily become a full out war against Haitian citizens fighting to combat what they view as foreign invaders. So, the bombs that are commonly used in modern combat cannot be used there. Too many innocent lives are lost by the use of bombs, whether it is the carpet concept or dronemanned and deployed.

Panama was invaded by the United States in the 80s for far less than what is transpiring in Haiti. It was necessary, just like Grenada was, and just like Haiti is. But as I said before, do it properly or none at all.

(Jamaica Observer)

Last week, ranks from the Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force visited the Springlands and Princetown Nursery Schools and the Learners Academy, New Amsterdam, Berbice where they conducted lectures on the roles and functions of the Police; use of equipment in the traffic department; use of the pedestrian crossing among other topics (GPF photos)

Indian Indentureship: Education

R avi D ev

In 1913, James McNeil and Chimman Lal were sent by the Government of India to investigate the conditions under which Indentured Indians were living in several colonies – including British Guiana. They were in Br Guiana when thirteen workers were slaughtered at Rose Hall Canje for protesting working conditions.)

This is excerpted from their report with comments in parenthesis to note official bias:

Education: In British Guiana almost all the primary schools are aided schools under denominational (Christian Church) control, but are open to all comers under the protection of a conscience clause. Near all estates and actually on the majority of estates, schools (Primary A and B) were established. The total number of Indian children enrolled on school registers was 6570, and judging from the estimated attendance of children living on estates only about one-third of the Indian children of a school-going age attend regularly.

Probably the principal cause of abstention is that children of 7 years and upwards can earn money by cutting grass, herding cattle, or doing light field work. But other recognised reasons are the dislike of parents to sending

children to a denominational school under any conditions (for fear of enforced conversion), and the greater dislike to sending girl children to schools under a male Creole teacher. Though a local ordinance compels parents to send children to school, the existence of these two reasons causes educational authorities to apply compulsion discreetly. (The investigators neglected to mention that in 1902 the Governor Swettenham had issued the “Swettenham Circular” which informed education officials to not enforce attendance for Indian children. The prime reason for this was to avoid building new schools in rural areas.)

Nevertheless, in addition to a liberal issue of cautions, hundreds of complaints, ending in the imposition of fines aggregating to a few hundred rupees, are filed annually (with no action). Well-to-do Indians in towns send their children to school regularly. Day labourers like their children to work. In other classes, individuals vary in their attitude, apathy being more usual than zealous appreciation of the value of education. Indifference is possibly strengthened by the fact that English is the medium of instruction. Parents contemplating a return to India do not want their children to learn English. But for the children who remain in the colony, that is the majority, it is undoubtedly best that they should be taught English. In a few schools established by the Canadian Presbyterian Mission, Hindustani is taught. Children of well-to-do Indians attend the Queen's College in Georgetown. The community enjoys the same facilities for obtaining secondary or higher education as any other section of the community. (The Committee does not note that these schools are only in Georgetown and New Amsterdam, while the Indians were primarily rural).

Traffic woes near GPHC a growing concern – Traffic Officer

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) is facing an alarming issue that could have life-threatening consequences: traffic congestion caused by drivers who disregard road signs and regulations. The problem areas include Newmarket Street, between Thomas and East Streets, and East Street from Lamaha to Newmarket Street, Georgetown where improper parking and stopping are creating severe obstructions.

According to Deputy Traffic Officer from Division 4 ‘A’ (Georgetown), Inspector Sheldon Wickham, there are clearly marked signs in these areas that prohibit parking and stopping. Despite these lawful placements, drivers continue to ignore the signs, leading to significant delays for emergency services.

"We've been receiving numerous complaints from the hospital administration regarding ambulances taking an unusually long time to reach the emergency entrance," Inspector Wickham said. "You could be that

The struggle with traffic law compliance is not new to Guyana. Over the years, there have been numerous instances where drivers failed to yield to ambulances or, conversely, followed them closely to exploit the cleared path for quicker passage. Such practices not only violate traffic laws but also pose serious risks to public safety.

one causing that obstruction, and you can have someone related to you, or one of your loved ones in there. To save someone’s life, you just need one of two minutes”.

The inspector emphasised the importance of adhering to road signs and markings around the hospital and throughout the country. "These signs are there for a reason," he stated.

In response to the growing issue, the police force has ramped up its efforts to educate and enforce traffic regulations. This initiative includes day and night patrols, and outreach activities aimed at high-risk groups.

"We are entering nightclubs, and bars, and conducting lectures for truck drivers and minibus operators," Inspector Wickham added.

Protective gear is the missing factor

Dear Editor,

Another workplace death. Another family in grief and despair. According to media reports death was as the result of electrocution. It is alleged the aluminum gutters came into contact with electrical wires. Further, the deceased was not wearing his boots or protective gear (KN May 19).

So two employees were sent by their employer to install gutters on a building. Shouldn't the safety of such work have been checked, particularly electrical wires? Were the employees being supervised or left to their own devices to get the work done?

Too often in these accidents it is always safety and protective gear were not in wear by the injured, and in this case by the deceased. When will they learn?

My condolences to the grieving family.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

As such, the police force urges all drivers to act responsibly and comply with road signs, particularly in areas with heavy emergency vehicle traffic. They said there is a need for public cooperation to ensure that emergency services can operate efficiently and save lives.

Inspector Wickham noted that with a strong appeal to all road users, telling them compliance with traffic laws is not optional. He said it is essential for the safety of everyone.

Wickham further stated that the Police Force will continue to enforce these regulations strictly and educate the public on the importance of respecting road signs and emergency vehicles.

06:00 (Sign on) Jewanram Gospel Hour 07:00 Cartoons 08:00 Shekinah Ministry 08:30 Evening News (RB) 09:30 Fast n Loud 10:30 Cartoons 11:00 Prem's Electrical Religious Program 11:30 Blippi Education 12:00 Movie - Foster (2011)

13:30 Movie - My Boyfriends' Dogs (2014)

- Legend of the Lost Locket (2024)

- Rufus-2 (2017)

The Healing Touch 18:00 Wheel of Fortune 18:30 Week-in-Review 19:00 Supergirl S1 E6

Arrow S6 E9

Riverdale S6 E8

Movie - Damsel (2024)

Sign off

Schools on plantations were in logie-like structures where all children were in one room

Queen’s College 1900. Quamina and Carmichael Sts

Deputy Traffic Officer from Division 4 ‘A’, Inspector Sheldon Wickham

The Georgetown Public Hospital

Page Foundation

1. Avoided (A) Praised (B) Attacked (C) Contacted (D) Interviewed

CSEC MATHS

Choose the word that is closest to opposite in meaning to the indicated word

2. Compassionate (A) Fussy (B) Cruel (C) Indifferent (D) Dissatisfied

3. Conspicuous (A) Negative (B) Important (C) Insignificant (D) Understandable

4. Permissiveness (A) Restrictiveness (B) Competitiveness (C) Strife (D) Cruelty

5. Probable (A) Unlikely (B) Impudent (C) Undecided (D) Inevitable

Guyana must be prepared to counter climate change threat to food security – Agri Minister

…assures infrastructural investments being made to protect coast

Even as Guyana’s production of new and traditional crops increases, so too does the threat that climate change poses. According to Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, one critical area climate change poses a threat to is Guyana’s food security aims and the country must be prepared.

Last week, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government passed the Sea and River Defense Bill (2024) during the 82nd sitting of the twelfth parliament. In his presentation lending support to the bill, Mustapha made reference to climate change and the danger it presents to agriculture.

“This new bill is a crucial piece of legislation that will facilitate the repeal of outdated provisions, in the existing legislation of Sea and River Defense Act 64:01 and 64:02, which may no longer be effective or relevant in the current context of climate change, rising sea levels and coastal vulnerabilities.”

“This updated legislation also takes into account natural flood protection, such as mangroves, and aim to enable greater enforcement against encroachment. Mr Speaker, alongside the rise in sea level, by the end of this century we’ll see the temperature increased by 4 degrees Celsius. We have to be prepared to counter that,”

Mustapha said.

Mustapha pointed out that much of Guyana’s agriculture is based on the coast, known for having the most fertile soil for traditional crops such as rice and sugar, as well as other crops. He made it clear that protecting Guyana’s coastal areas requires proper infrastructure, something the PPP/C government is investing in.

“And that is what we are doing. Bringing legislation to this assembly to modernise the infrastructure of our country. Given that a significant portion of our country’s agriculture and food production is situated along the coast, the combination of rising sea levels and intensified rainfall, pose a direct threat to our nation’s food security,” he added.

“Guyana now is taking the spotlight. We’re seeing the major areas in pro-

duction we are increasing. For example, rice production, we are seeing a major increase almost already. And I’m hoping that when the (half year report is presented), that will be showing there. We are producing now a number of new crops. And we are increasing the traditional crops that we’ve been producing over the centuries. That calls for proper infrastructure.”

Expounding on the need for robust sea defenses for agricultural development, Mustapha said that government has identified the issues farmers have faced owing to flooding. He was adamant that this legislation supports the resolution to the problem.

“Over 1,000 acres of rice adjacent to the sea defense was flooded in 2019, and has not been cultivated since… this is how we operate. We identify, we analyse, and we

fix the problem,” he pointed out.

Since 2020, some $24 Billion were spent on sea defenses, compared to approximately $10 Billion during the 2015-2020 period under the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Administration. Sea defense structures are set to be upgraded this year in Bygeval, Cane Garden, Leguan, and Wakenaam, among others, thanks to a $6.9 Billion budgetary allocation in the 2024 budget.

During budget 2024, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh had announced that Government plans to pump

$97.6B into agriculture in 2024. This is on the back of a strong performance in agriculture last year.

The sector recorded a growth of seven percent after the sum of $60.4 billion was spent therein for its stimulation and invigoration. The performance is attributed to increases across all sub-sectors; namely, other crops, rice-growing, livestock, fishing, sugar-growing, and forestry.

In delivering his budget presentation, the finance minister noted that huge investments would be made in the subsectors of sugar, rice, other crops, corn and soya, coconut, citrus, and spic-

es; as well as agro-processing, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture.

For 2023, the sugar industry grew by 28 per cent while it declined by 11.8 per cent in 2019. Rice expanded in 2023 by seven per cent while there was a mere one per cent increase in 2019. The other crops sector grew by 4.1 per cent in 2023, while there was a meagre growth of 0.3 per cent in 2019. The livestock industry increased by 12.7 per cent in 2023 while 2019 recorded a decline of 3.5 per cent. In 2023, Guyana’s fishing industry increased by 37.8 per cent and 25 per cent in the aquaculture sector. (G3)

Police raid uncovers stolen items on ECD

Law enforcement officers on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) recovered a substantial cache of stolen items, including cell phones, laptops, and various electronic devices during a raid on Friday.

The raid, carried out by police ranks, have resulted in the recovery of the items, which are now lodged at the Vigilance Police Station.

Persons, who have recently fallen victim to theft, are encouraged to visit the Vigilance Police Station to verify if any of the recovered items belong to them.

Man found dead in car with divorce papers

Police officers patrolling in the vicinity of the Heroes Highway on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) discovered a man dead in his motorcar on Sunday.

It was reported that the officers observed a silver-gray motorcar parked with the engine running. Upon closer inspection, they

found a man in the driver's seat with blood on his mouth and flowing from his nostrils. Blood was also visible on the floor behind the driver's seat.

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) were called to the scene. They examined the man and pronounced him dead.

Further inspection of the

vehicle revealed a Guyana National Identification Card, along with a divorce petition between the dead man and a woman residing in the United States.

The body was taken to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it awaits a post-mortem examination.

Police are continuing their investigation. (G9)

This operation is part of a broader response to a recent surge in burglaries reported by residents across several communities in the area.

These thefts have prompted calls for increased security measures from the Guyana Police Force. In response, authorities have intensified their efforts to address the situation, leading to the raid.

Just a few weeks prior, police executed another raid at a house on Surat Drive, Triumph, ECD, uncovering several stolen items. Among the recovered articles were a variety of electrical tools

and electronic devices. In a related operation a day before the recent discovery, police recovered four vehicle batteries, seven solar lights, one Total electrical plane, one Total electrical saw, one Royal electrical saw, one INGCO electrical saw, two water pumps, two hand sprayers, one kit containing a ratchet set, one Stihl grass cutter, one Homelite grass cutter, one Terratek battery drill, half a roll of 2.5 electrical wire, two Samsung Galaxy smartphones, and one ZTE cellular phone. (G9)

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha

A sum of $6.9 billion has been budgeted for sea defences this year

The stolen items that were recovered by Police

Pensioner on e-bike killed by speeding motor car

An 81-year-old man of Stevedore Housing Scheme, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, has died after being struck by a speeding motorcar driven by an 18-year-old of Seaforth Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.

Dead is Donovan Douglas. The accident occurred on Saturday on the Eccles Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Reports are that the pensioner was riding electric cycle, EM 5336, traveling south along the western drive lane of

the eastern carriageway. Police said he stopped at a break in the median and began to turn west, then north, onto the western carriageway.

At the same time, the 18-year-old driver was heading north at an allegedly high speed in vehicle, PWW 3407, and collided with the electric cycle.

The collision caused Douglas to fall off the electric cycle and sustain severe injuries. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) were summoned and Douglas was pronounced dead at the scene.

His body was transported to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it awaits a post-mortem examination.

The motorcar, PWW 3407, has been impounded for inspection, and the driver is currently in custody. Investigations into the incident are ongoing. (G9)

WCD labourer nabbed with ganja

Police have arrested a 30-year-old labourer after they found a quantity of marijuana at his Best Village, West Coast Demerara (WCD) home.

The drug was discovered on Saturday, after police acting on information went to the suspect’s home at Best Village (Foreshore), WCD where the man was told of the reason for the visit, and a search was conducted

The ganja that was found in the labourer’s home

…from a crocodile

Insisting on bestowing the title of “Elder” on himself, former (?) PNC strongman Hamilton “Bilal” Green took the PPP to task for excising the words “Marxism-Leninism” and “Socialism” from their party’s constitution!! Now if this isn’t chutzpah to the max, what is?? Can you imagine anything more laughable?? Imagine Burnham – who was Green’s lodestar for his whole life – said he quit the PPP because of Jagan’s insistence on pushing those very two “isms” – and now Green has a problem?? It doesn’t take even a dimwit to see that the man dost protest too much about a matter which is absolutely NO concern of his!! But Green isn’t just a “pot salt” – mischief is always afoot when he enters the stage!!

on his person and home. During a search of the living room a bulky black plastic bag containing a large clear transparent zip lock bag with a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis was found.

He was told of the offense and escorted to the Leonora Police Station.

The narcotics were weighed in his presence and amounted to 195.7 grams. He remains in custody pending charges. (G9)

So let’s look at some of his “reasons” for balking at the PPP’s change. “To those of us who shared the sacrifices to gain Independence and therefore control of our destiny, this move constitutes a worrisome advent. The founding Fathers of the PPP fought against imperialist dictation and the filthy fathomless features of colonial control and exploitation”!!”Sacrifices to gain independence”?? Surely Green hasn’t forgotten he was Burnham’s chief foot soldier when he sold his soul to the CIA and betrayed Jagan’s vision ?? Wasn’t it Green who executed the PNC’s X-13 Plan that unleashed terror and bloodshed into our politics – to maintain “colonial control and exploitation”?? Green then claims he fears for the future of “the principles of a living democracy, which sets out the four pillars upon which freedom and democracy rest, the Executive; (b) the Parliament; (c) the Judiciary and (d) the fourth estate – that is the independent and responsible media.” Did he tell this to Burnham when the self-styled Kabaka created the Executive Presidency that gave him more powers than any European Monarch?? Or when he declared the “paramountcy” of the PNC over the Government and State?? Or when he flew the PNC flag over the Court of Appeal?? Or when he banned the importation of newsprint so that the press couldn’t produce newspapers??

Then he fears for the sanctity of the Constitution!! ROTFL!! Did he tell this to Fat Boy when he changed the entire constitution and accepted not a single suggestion from ANY institution – including Polly’s TUC that had supported him?? And then held a referendum just to say that when his tailormade constitution was completed, there’d be no need for a referendum for the Guyanese people to approve it!! So we got a “pig in a poke” constitution!! And for the umpteenth time we’re trying to fix it!!

Your Eyewitness thinks the entire document ought to be garbaged and we establish a Constituent Assembly to draft a new one!!

Gwan da side, Green!!

…for NGOs registration

It’s another instance of the PPP being damned if they do and damned if they don’t!! This time it’s about their proposal to draft legislation to streamline and simplify the registration of NGOs. Funny thing is the chief complainer – which is the selfanointed NGO paragon – accepts that the present situation’s a mess and there’s need for NGOs to be monitored since they can be used for money laundering, etc. Right now NGOs can register under the Ministry of Social Protection’s Friendly Society Act as a cooperative and another under the Ministry of Labour. Or can be registered as a business – like IPADAG did –but balk at questions about where the money’s going or who own the shares!! Something clearly gotta be done to clear this Augean Stable!

The real fear, your Eyewitness suspects, is that under the new legislation – which is gonna be vetted through public consultations – the modus operandi of NGOs like the GHRA which receive oodles of foreign funding – will be exposed!

…and a challenge

The PNC’s June leadership bout is heating – up with the usual trash talk!! Imagine Roysdale Forde, SC, sez that he’s for street protests – unlike Norton!! As Burnham used to say, “No way canoe can bore punt!!”

The e-bike following the accident

Work on sentencing guidelines nearing completion – AG

…to be gazetted as subsidiary legislation

The Government is close to completing work on sentencing guidelines, a project that has been funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)funded ‘Support for Criminal Justice’ programme.

This was revealed by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs

Anil Nandlall, SC, during a recently held sitting of the National Assembly. While he was speaking on the topic of the recently passed Criminal Procedure Bill (2023), he also explained that guidelines for sentencing aimed at ensuring uniformity in the criminal justice system, is close to completion.

vs the Director of Public Prosecutions of Guyana, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) had stressed the need for sentencing guidelines to be developed and published by the Judiciary of Guyana, noting that the absence of such is a disservice to trial Judges.

“Permit me to inform you that we have sentencing guidelines that are now almost completed. Under the same Support for Criminal Justice System. The delay came from the judiciary itself, because we hired a consultant on the part of the government.”

“But the executive cannot impose on the judiciary, something like sentencing guidelines. They have to actually execute it. We took about two years before we got full judicial cooperation,” AG Nandlall added.

Now that this judicial cooperation has been received, he explained that it will soon be completed and gazetted as subsidiary legislation. With the implementation of these guidelines, Nandlall noted that there would be “consistency and uniformity in sentencing.”

“We got that now and that document is now being concluded. And will be gazette as subsidiary legislation. That will address (any) sentencing concerns. So, you wouldn’t have one Judge sentencing someone for 110 years. And another one sentencing, (like) circumstances, for 10 years.”

In 2022, the Government and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) had signed a loan agreement for intervention in

Last year July, Nandlall had said during his weekly programme of ‘Issues In The News’ that consultations had already been done with most of the stakeholders, including the practicing bar, the Guyana Police Force (GPF), and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chambers.

Nandlall had also acknowledged that inconsistent sentencing is one of the issues that he and his Cabinet colleagues are most often bombarded with when they go out to communities to engage citizens. Nevertheless, the Legal Affairs Minister had posited that while he cannot influence the Judiciary,

Guyana’s justice sector. This agreement would finance the Support for Criminal Justice System (SCJS) programme.

The SCJS programme is aimed at addressing institutional issues which affect the country’s criminal justice system. Part of the loan went towards consulting services, aimed at technical support for sentencing guidelines, encompassing diversion and alternative sentencing options.

In a judgement delivered in May 2020 in the case of Linton Pompey

a formal set of guidelines would allow the Judiciary to hand down more uniform sentences.

“I repeatedly explain that the Judiciary is independent, but that there are certain principles that govern the way sentences are formulated. It has to do with the gravity of the crime, the extent of the cruelty. It has to do with the prevalence of the offence. It has to do with extenuating or aggravating circumstances.”

“It has to do with the age of the victim or the age

of the accused person. It may be influenced by the character and reputation of either the deceased or the

accused persons. All these are factors that have accumulated over the years, that have formed them-

selves into guidelines that judges ought to adopt in handing out these sentences,” Nandlall noted. (G3)

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC

The Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts

The Supreme Court of Judicature

$110M excavator to boost MMA-ADA scheme

The Mahaica-Mahaicony Abary- Agricultural Development Authority (MMA-ADA) is now in a better position to more efficiently clean and maintain the 740 miles of canal in the scheme situated in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

This follows the handing over of an amphibious excavator to boost MMA-ADA’s capacity to maintain the drainage and irrigation infrastructure within the scheme.

An amphibious excavator is a type of excavator that can perform dredging while afloat on soft terrain such as swamp, wet land, and shallow water.

The equipment valued at $110M was handed over to the scheme by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha on Saturday at Onverwagt.

It was one of five purchased by the agriculture ministry with the others to be deployed around the country.

Region Five, Vice Chairman Rian Pieters said it was foresight by the agriculture minister to have made arrangements for the purchase through the 2024 national Budget.

“This will significantly boost our capacity to maintain the D&I system within the MMA,” he said at a simple handing-over ceremony.

The excavator has huge track wheels and is designed to go directly into the canals. Some of the canals in the scheme are very wide requiring large excavators to clean them. Additionally, in some areas, the excavators would have to operate from both the left and right shoulder of the canal.

The amphibious excavator will reduce the time spent traveling to get to an adequate bridge to cross to the other side of the canal.

The excavator also comes with a pontoon which would allow it to also operate in canals with water higher than six feet.

It is suited to conduct work in wetland areas such as dredging, vegetation removal, habitat resto-

ration, shoreline stabilisation and environmental conservation projects.

However, this is not the first intervention by the Agriculture Ministry to boost the capacity of the scheme.

Mustapha noted that equipment including trucks and tractors have been procured and handed over to the agency since the government took office in 2020.

Also speaking at the handing over ceremony, he

noted that it was the sixth machine added to the fleet, and will better be able to handle the drainage and irrigation needs of the region.

“So, we have a fleet of machinery here that the agency can use to desilt the canals, keep them clean and ensure that the dams are clean.

I was made to understand that they have 740 miles of canal in this entire Onverwagt scheme.”

He pointed out that the excavator will also come in handy when clearing the 650 miles of dams that are found in the scheme.

Adverse weather conditions last crop only allowed for 70,000 of the 90,000 acres of rice land to be cultivated.

It is expected that over 100,000 acres of rice will be cultivated for this crop as efforts are currently being made to get additional land

available for rice cultivation within the scheme.

“When I became Minister of Agriculture and I first visited this scheme it was in a very deplorable state. We had dilapidated machines that couldn’t function. However, today we can boast of the improvements that we are having in the scheme,” the Minister pointed out.

He also noted that the PPP/C government took office in 2020, and it has reduced the land rental and D&I charges from $15,000 to $3,500, for farmers who operate within the scheme.

“This has seen farmers being able to save close to $1.3 billion just on D&I charges.”

The scheme has significantly assisted the Region in increasing its agricultural output production. (G4)

The $110M amphibious excavator that was handed over to the MMA-ADA on Saturday at Onverwagt, Region Five

MONDAY, MAY 20, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

President Dr Irfaan Ali visited the Mon Repos Market on the East Coast of Demerara on Sunday where he engaged with vendors and patrons, addressing a range of concerns and issues (Office of the President photos)

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips, spearheaded a clean-up campaign in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) on Sunday. In a social media post, his office said that while there, the Prime Minister inspected ongoing works at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground and conducted a walkabout to assess the surrounding areas ahead of Guyana's 58th Independence Anniversary Flag Raising Ceremony, slated to be held in Linden (Office of the Prime Minister photos)

Cops injured in Timehri accident

Several police officers sustained injuries after the vehicle in which they were traveling in was involved in an accident on the Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD) Public Road, on Saturday night.

The accident occurred at about 19:35h, police reports stated. The Police minibus, PAE 6755, was driven by a police rank and was transporting several other officers at the time.

According to reports, the minibus was en route to Georgetown when it struck a concrete median on the road. This impact caused

the driver to lose control, resulting in a collision with an electricity pole.

The driver and the occupants of the minibus were injured and was taken for medical attention with the assistance of bystanders.

Some of the officers were treated and discharged from the hospital, while others were admitted to a city hospital for further medical care.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing. (G9)

Govt assisting Crabwood Creek farmers producing peppers for export …as shade house project launched

The Agriculture Ministry through the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) is assisting 100 farmers in Crabwood Creek to cultivate peppers for a local processing company that exports most of its products.

Being referred to as the pepper shade house project, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said it will assist some 100 families initially.

The project was officially launched on Saturday at Skeldon Sugar Estate Manager’s Club House and according to the Minister in less than two months from now, farmers could be selling

duce,” he assured the farmers as the project was launched.

The ministry through NAREI will provide the design for the shade houses and also give the farmers the nets

hundreds of pounds of peppers weekly.

“We will find the market for you and ensure that you get a fair price for your pro-

to build the shade houses.

Each shade house is expected to be 25 feet by 34 feet and should have the capacity to grow 400 pepper plants.

NAREI will provide the plants for the farmers at no cost.

According to the agriculture minister, the project forms part of plans to enhance Guyana’s role as the food hub for the Caribbean.

“We want to work along with the small farmers. We will give the materials for the shade house. We will help you guys to construct it,” he said.

“The peppers produced will be processed at the Umami agro-processing facility in Black Bush Polder, which exports its products to Europe and other markets.”

Arrangements have already been put in place for the processing company to buy the peppers from the farmers.

Mustapha noted that having all the farmers in one area makes it conducive for Umami to go and purchase all of their produce.

“This project will be replicated in other regions, but we are starting here and the focus is on women.”

Mustapha explained that the current arrangement will ensure that the company gets a steady supply of peppers. The nets for the shade houses should be available within one week. According to the agriculture minister, the plants are already available. The super-hot vegetables can start bearing six weeks after the seedlings are planted. (G4)

A section of the gathering at the launching of the project

Labour Ministry launches probe into labourer’s death

The Labour Ministry’s Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) Department has initiated an investigation into the tragic accident that occurred Friday at a construction site at Lot 27, Norton Street, Georgetown.

The accident resulted in the death of 19-yearold Bryan Hardial, of Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara.

According to reports, Hardial was in the process of raising a gutter to be installed towards the front of the third floor of the building under construction.

During this process, a part of the gutter came into contact with the live electrical wires at the front of the building, causing Hardial to receive an electrical shock and fall from the third floor to the ground.

He was then transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital by ambulance, where he subsequently died. He was reportedly not wearing any safety gear at the time of the accident.

“OSH Officer, Neza King, is conducting the investigation, which will en-

tail additional visits to the accident site, and taking statements from eyewitnesses”, the Ministry stated in a release.

Meanwhile, Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, has repeatedly stressed the importance of ensuring safe and healthy conditions exist in workplaces and on worksites to facilitate the safe return of workers to their families at the end of the day.

He extends condolences to the families, friends, and co-workers of the deceased.

This tragic incident comes shortly after the Labour Ministry reported a reduction in workplace fatalities over the past few years, with 32 deaths in 2020, 27 in 2021, 21 in 2022, and 20 in 2023. Investigations are ongoing. (G9)

Woman robbed at knifepoint in front of home

Awoman was robbed at knifepoint in front of her Stanley Place and David Street home in Kitty, Georgetown, on Sunday.

Police said that the incident occurred around 10:50h when the a 29-yearold woman, was confronted by two men on a black trip motorcycle, as she was about to enter her yard.

The woman who is a chef was relieved of a black handbag valued at $6,000 which contained $15,000, personal documents, and an Apple iPhone 11 pro max valued at $200,000.

It was reported that as the woman was about to enter her yard one of the bandits placed a knife to her neck while the other raised his t-shirt, showing her what appeared to be a firearm in his waist. She told

police she became fearful and released the bag containing her belongings.

The perpetrators then fled the scene, heading south along Stanley Place on their motorcycle.

A police sergeant, who was seated in his vehicle at the corner of Stanley Place and Gordon Street, observed the robbery and he exited his vehicle, armed with his service weapon, and discharged three rounds in the

his efforts, the robbers managed to escape south along Vlissengen Road.

Police have questioned several individuals and identified a CCTV camera in the area to review the footage. Multiple health institutions have also been visited in search of the suspects, Police said. Investigations are continuing. (G9)

EBD traffic department reports 123 traffic violations in 1-week

n an effort to en-

Iforce traffic laws, the Traffic Department of Regional Division 4'B' (East Bank Demerara) reported a total of 123 traffic violations last week.

The department's traffic officers have been actively patrolling and addressing various infractions to ensure safer roads for all users.

The violations recorded span a wide range of offenses. Among these infractions were 12 cases of vehicles with excessively tinted windows that impair visibility, two cases of drivers cited for operating vehicles without proper front lighting, and one case of

The enforcement efforts

improperly secured loads that posed a danger to other road users.

also included penalties for lacking required reflective mirrors, with one case recorded.

Motorcyclists were found not wearing helmets in two cases. Another breach of provisional license conditions was recorded, along with one instance each of operating a vehicle without a valid li-

There was also one violation related to the terms of provisional licenses and three instances where drivers failed to present their licenses upon request. Additionally, there was one case of vehicles operating without rear lights, one case of illegal crossing of double yellow lines, and one case of operating a vehicle without insurance.

cense and driving without a valid driver’s license. Four cases involved violations of insurance policy terms, while dangerous driving behaviours that endangered others resulted in 13 citations.

Moreover, the traffic officers identified two cases where individuals ignored

and committed physical assault on an officer.

Vehicles used for commercial purposes without proper licensing were identified in three cases.

or disobeyed instructions from police officers and two cases of drivers or passengers not wearing seat belts.

Unsafe reversing resulted in one case, and there was also one instance where individuals resisted law enforcement efforts

Bicycle-related infractions included three cases each of lacking a bell and lacking lights. Speeding was the most frequent violation, with 50 cases recorded. Additionally, there were three instances of vehicles left in positions that posed

a hazard and one case of operating an uncertified vehicle. Overloaded minibuses were identified in two cases, and there were

nalising these infractions, the department aims to reduce traffic accidents and enhance overall road safety.

three instances of vehicles without functioning horns. Lastly, illegal parking too close to a corner, obstructing visibility, resulted in two cases.

The Regional Division 4'B' Traffic Department stated that they are dedicated to maintaining law and order on the roads. By actively identifying and pe-

As such, the department urges all drivers and road users to comply with traffic regulations. Ensuring that vehicles are properly maintained, drivers are licensed and insured, and that all road safety measures are observed. This they said can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and improve safety for everyone.

Dead: Bryan Hardial

direction of the fleeing suspects. Despite

Traffic enforcement on the East Bank of Demerara

Police probing extortion of Brazilian businessman, wife by 2 CANU ranks

Two officers, who are attached to the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) and stationed in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), were detained on Sunday over kidnapping and extortion allegations against them by a Brazilian businessman.

Based on reports, the businessman and his wife were in Lethem back in March when they were stopped by the two CANU agents, who along with other officers, held them up and collected over $3 million from them.

When contacted on Sunday, Director of CANU, James Singh, would only confirm that the police are investigating the matter.

The incident took place on March 23, 2024 when

the businessman and his wife came into Guyana via Lethem, where they would usually go to shop.

The couple was returning to Brazil when they were intercepted by two vehicles containing CANU and Customs officers.

The Brazilian nationals were escorted to CANU Headquarters in Lethem, where the CANU officers, after not finding anything illegal, reportedly demanded money from them. The businessman had transferred 85,000 Reis, approximately G$3.4 million, from his account before he was released.

Upon returning to his home country, the victim filed a report with the Federal Police of Brazil.

On Sunday, the businessman along with senior police ranks in Regional

Division #9 went to the CANU Headquarters, where they met two agents. The victim identified the two CANU officers as the alleged perpetrators and they were subsequently arrested.

During a confrontation held at the Lethem Police Station, the two CANU agents denied the allegations. Later Sunday, they were eventually released as the police moved to obtain legal advice on the way forward.

There were five officers, who had held the couple up nearly two months ago and this newspaper understands that the other three were Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Customs officers – including a senior official whom investigators have been looking for. (G8)

Elite Kayaking launches paddle-boarding experience

isitors to Linden

Vcan now enjoy paddle-boarding in the Blue Lake with the launch of Elite Kayaking and Nature Tours’ latest offering.

Owner Deon Anderson, speaking to media on Saturday, noted that his operations expanded after receiving a grant from the government, through the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), last year.

“Through the product development grant that was offered last year by the Guyana Tourism Authority, we were one of the beneficiaries. We were able to therefore add to the kayaking experience the paddle boarding,” Anderson is quoted as saying in a Department of Public Information (DPI) report.

The new activity showcases the beauty and talent of Linden, taking visitors on an adventure within the blue lakes.

GTA’s Product Development Officer, Candace Phillips highlighted that Region Ten is a priority area for product and circuit development this year.

“These things add to product diversity and the offering that elite will now be able to now offer to guests. So, it wouldn’t only be the kayaking but it would also be persons learning how to paddleboard, which is a whole new experience by itself”, the product development officer stated.

She added that it would not only about developing products but would also be about adding to the diversity and adding new compliments.

“So, that in each succes-

sive year you can have new experiences being offered by the same operators,” Phillips stated.

According to the DPI report, media representatives experienced kayaking and paddle-boarding across one of the blue lakes during the launch event. Elite Kayaking and Nature Tours, which began operations in 2020 with ten kayaks, has since expanded to include tubes and jet skis. Anderson noted that the operation facilitates tours every weekend.

2 men shot by cops during gun find at Agricola

…suspects resisted arrest, attacked Police with cutlass

Two men were shot by police, and an illegal firearm and ammunition were recovered during an operation at Brutus Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara (EBD), on Saturday night.

According to reports, police acting on information received went to Brutus Street at about 22:00h, where they seized an unlicensed 9mm pistol from a 31-year-old unemployed man. The Agricola resident allegedly resisted arrest. He, along with another man who attempted to attack one of the police officers with a cutlass, were shot in the left knee and left ankle, respectively.

When the police arrived, they saw the 31-year-old resident sitting in front of his premises with several other men. The officers approached him and informed him that they had received information that he possessed an illegal firearm. They requested to search him, but he refused and began behaving hostilely.

As the officers attempted to search him, he allegedly reached into his pants, pulled out a 9mm pistol, and pointed it at the officers. One of the officers, armed with a service pistol, fired a round in his direction, hitting him in the knee. The man fell to

the ground, and the firearm fell next to him. The officer secured the gun, but as they tried to place the injured man in a police vehicle to take him to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), a large hostile crowd gathered. Persons in the crowd managed to take the injured man away from the police, place him in a white Axio motorcar, PAD 7596, and attempted to escape. The police called for assistance, and a team from the Tactical Services Unit responded and attempted to apprehend the man.

During this time, another man from the crowd, armed with a cutlass, rushed towards a police officer and attempted to chop him. The officer discharged a round in his direction, hitting him in the left ankle. Both injured men were eventually escorted to the GPHC, where they are receiving treatment under police guard. The firearm found in the 31-year-old's possession was processed. The magazine was ejected, containing 12 rounds of 9mm ammunition. Investigations are ongoing. (G9)

The gun and ammunition that were found by Police in Agricola

Product Development Manager at GTA, Candace Phillips: Owner of Elite Kayaking and Nature Tours Deon Anderson and Product Development Officer Kayla Yan (DPI photo)

Dr. Tariq Jagnarine

Someone may be able to lower their blood pressure in several ways. For example, regularly exercising, managing weight, and making dietary changes. If left uncontrolled, high blood pressure raises the risk of heart disease and stroke. However, people can do several things to lower their blood pressure naturally, even without medication.

Ways to treat high blood pressure

1: Walk and exercise regularly

Exercise is one of the best things you can do to lower high blood pressure. Regular

HEALTH TIPS

WORLD HYPERTENSION DAY 2024

"Measure the blood pressure accurately; control it, live longer"

high blood pressure. While some research has suggested that consumption of low to moderate amounts of alcohol may protect the heart, those benefits may be offset by negative effects.

4: Eat more potassium-rich foods

Potassium is an important mineral. It helps the body get rid of sodium, and eases pressure on the blood vessels. Modern diets have increased most people’s sodium intake while decreasing potassium intake. To get a better balance of potassium and sodium in the diet, focus on eating fewer processed foods and more fresh whole foods. Foods that are particularly high in potassium include: Vegetables, especially leafy greens; tomatoes, potatoes, and sweet potatoes

Fruit, including melons, bananas, avocados, oranges, and dragon fruit.

• Dairy, such as milk and yogurt

Tuna and salmon

• Nuts and seeds.

a lot and being in stressful work situations are both linked to high blood pressure.

7: Eat dark chocolate or cocoa

While eating massive amounts of dark chocolate probably won’t help the heart, small amounts may. That’s because dark chocolate and cocoa powder are rich in flavonoids, which are plant compounds that cause

exercise helps make the heart stronger and more efficient at pumping blood, which lowers the pressure in the arteries. Getting 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise, such as walking, or 75 minutes per week of vigorous exercise, such as running, can help lower blood pressure and improve heart health.

2: Reduce the intake of sodium

Salt intake is high around the world. This is largely due to increased consumption of processed and prepared foods. Many studies have linked high salt intake with high blood pressure and heart events, including stroke.

One reason for this may be genetic differences in how people process sodium. About half of the people with high blood pressure and a quarter of those with typical levels seem to have salt sensitivity.

3: Drink less alcohol

Drinking alcohol can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of several chronic health conditions, including

Beans

5: Cut back on caffeine

If you’ve ever downed a cup of coffee before you’ve had your blood pressure taken, you’ll know that caffeine causes an instant blood pressure boost. However, there’s not much evidence to suggest that drinking caffeine regularly can cause a lasting increase.

6: Learn to manage stress

Stress is a key driver of high blood pressure. When you’re chronically stressed, the body is in a constant fightor-flight mode. On a physical level, that means a faster heart rate and constricted blood vessels. Several studies have explored how reducing stress can help lower blood pressure. Here are two evidence-based tips to try: Listen to soothing music: Calming music can help relax the nervous system. Research has shown that it’s an effective complement to other blood pressure therapies.

Work less: Working

blood vessels to dilate.

8: Try to lose weight, if necessary

In people who are overweight, losing weight can make a big difference to heart health. According to a 2016 study, losing 5% of the body weight could significantly lower high blood pressure.

9: If you smoke, consider quitting

Among the many reasons to quit smoking is that the habit is a strong risk factor for heart disease. Every puff of cigarette smoke causes a slight, temporary increase in blood pressure. The chemicals in tobacco are also known to damage blood vessels.

10: Cease using added sugar and refined carbs

There’s a growing body of research showing a link between added sugar intake and high blood pressure. A 2020 research review found that increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverag-

es was linked to higher blood pressure levels in children and adolescents. And it’s not just sugar; all refined carbs, such as the kind found in white flour, convert rapidly to sugar in the bloodstream, and could cause problems.

11: Eat berries

Berries are full of more than just juicy flavour; they’re also packed with polyphenols, natural plant compounds that are good for the heart. Polyphenols can reduce the risk of stroke, heart conditions and diabetes, and improve blood pressure, insulin resistance, and systemic inflammation.

12: Try meditation or deep breathing

While these two behaviours could also fall under “stress reduction techniques,” meditation and deep breathing deserve specific mention. Both meditation and deep breathing may activate the parasympathetic

nervous system. This system is engaged when the body relaxes, slowing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure.

13: Eat calcium-rich foods

People with low calcium intake often have high blood pressure. While calcium supplements haven’t been conclusively shown to lower blood pressure, calcium-rich diets do seem to be linked to healthy blood pressure levels.

14: Take natural supplements

Some natural supplements may also help lower blood pressure. Here are some of the main supplements that have evidence behind them:

Aged garlic extract: Researchers have used aged garlic extract successfully as a stand-alone treatment and along with conventional therapies for lowering blood pressure.

• Whey protein: In a 2016 study with 38 participants, those who consumed whey protein experienced improved blood pressure and blood vessel function (38Trusted Source).

• Fish oil: Long credited with improving heart health, fish oil may benefit people with high blood pressure the most.

• Hibiscus: Hibiscus flowers make a tasty tea. They’re rich in anthocyanins and polyphenols that are good for the heart and may lower blood pressure (40Trusted Source).

15: Eat foods rich in magnesium Magnesium is an important mineral that helps blood vessels relax. While magnesium deficiency is rare, many people don’t get enough magnesium in their diet. Some studies have suggested that getting too little magnesium is linked with high blood pressure, but evidence from clinical studies has been less clear. Still, you can ensure that you’re meeting the needs by enjoying a variety of magnesium-rich foods, such as vegetables, dairy products, legumes, chicken, beef, and whole grains.

High blood pressure affects a large proportion of the world’s population. While medication is one way to treat the condition, many natural techniques can help, including eating certain foods.

• Berberine: Though more research is needed, some studies have found that berberine could potentially help lower blood pressure levels.

Regional Dominican Republic voters head to the polls with eyes on Haiti crisis

Voters were heading to the polls on Sunday in the Dominican Republic to cast ballots for the country’s next President, in what is expected to be a referendum on incumbent Luis Abinader and his Government’s hardline policy on the country’s border with Haiti.

Up to eight million eligible voters will decide which candidate is best suited to take on the fallout from the humanitarian crisis next door, tackle corruption in Government, and tame inflation and inequality in the Caribbean’s top tourist destination.

Abinader, a former businessman and leader of the Modern Revolutionary Party, is seeking re-election as one of the most popular leaders in the Americas.

He has staked his claim on his handling of the COVID-19 crisis, while his stance on Haiti and a crusade against corruption have helped give him a strong leg up over his two main opponents.

Trailing behind him are former President Leonel

Fernandez and Mayor Abel Martinez.

But Abinader is expected to have a strong showing in the first round of voting on Sunday, as his anti-corruption agenda and push to grow the country’s economy has resonated with many Dominicans.

But much of his popularity has been fuelled by the Government’s harsh

crackdown on Haitians and the border the Dominican Republic shares with its neighbour.

Haiti has faced increased political instability since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, which spurred a wave of gang violence in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and other parts of the country.

The unrest also pushed

Spain recalls ambassador after Argentina's Milei calls PM's wife “corrupt”

Spain recalled its Ambassador to Buenos Aires for consultations on Sunday after Argentine President Javier Milei made derogatory comments about Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's wife during a far-right rally in Madrid.

Milei had called Sanchez's wife Begona Gomez "corrupt" during a rally in Madrid organised by the far-right Vox Party and attended by many of its international allies.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said he expected an apology from Milei.

Other Ministers also condemned Milei's speech, in which he described socialism as "cursed and carcinogenic". Sanchez leads Spain's Socialist Party.

"With his behaviour, Milei has brought the relationship between Spain and Argentina to its most serious state in recent history," Albares Said In A Video Statement.

Milei's visit broke with diplomatic protocol as he

refused to meet Spain's King Felipe and Sanchez, instead preferring to promote his book alongside Vox leader Santiago Abascal at the party rally.

The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said in a post on social messaging app X that "attacks against family members of political

leaders have no place in our culture".

Spain's main opposition party, the Conservative People's Party (PP), refused to support Madrid's stance, with party sources saying that Sanchez should have provided explanations about the alleged corruption case weeks ago.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

thousands of Haitians to flee, with many crossing the border into the Dominican Republic, which is already home to a large Haitian population.

The Dominican

Government has stepped up deportations of Haitian migrants and announced it was building a border wall to try to prevent Haitians from seeking refuge in the country.

The policy has provoked sharp criticisms from human rights organisations, which have said it is racist and a violation of international law.

“These deportations have resulted in the separation of families. People with valid documents have been deported, people who were born here in the Dominican Republic have been deported,” William Charpantier, coordinator for MENAMIRD, a national roundtable for migrants and refugees in the Dominican Republic, told Al Jazeera in 2022.

“These aren’t deportations. It’s persecution based on race.”

But the Government’s policies remain popular, as does Abinader, whose

approval ratings sat at about 70 per cent, according to a CID-Gallup poll in September.

“This migratory problem worries me, because we’re seeing a massive migration from our neighbour and it feels like it’s out of control,” Perla Concepcion, a 29-year-old secretary, told The Associated Press ahead of Sunday’s vote.

If Abinader tops 50 per cent of the vote, he will win another term without proceeding to a second round of voting. If no candidate receives more than 50 per cent of the vote, a second round will be held on June 30.

Dominicans are also voting in legislative elections on Sunday.

Voting for the president and Congress formally began at 7am (11:00 GMT) and will go until 5pm (21:00 GMT), with initial results expected at about 8pm (00:00 GMT on Monday). (Al Jazeera)

UWI, University of Botswana in collaboration pact

The University of The West Indies (UWI) and University of Botswana (UB) last Thursday formalised a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in areas such as research, governance, academic publications, student and staff exchanges, and teaching and learning.

A six-member delegation from UB, led by Vice Chancellor Professor David

Norris, visited the Mona Campus from May 16 to 17, 2024 as part of a larger effort to connect and explore new possibilities within the Caribbean Community.

During their visit the delegation participated in high-level collaborative meetings with senior management, led by Pro-ViceChancellor and Principal Professor Densil Williams, and Acting Deputy Principal Professor Marvin Reid.

“The UB and the UWI,

despite the challenges with funding, were able to build fine universities that are ranked among the elite in the global academic community. This was not an effortless task, and was done through adroit partnerships and collaboration like what we are embarking on today. We will endeavour to make these partnerships work to the benefit of both institutions,” Professor Williams said. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Use capital to grow wealth – PM Mottley

Some local companies have been encouraged to be more aggressive with their capital, with Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley also urging them to strive to expand beyond these shores.

While delivering the feature address during a ceremony to announce the winner of Goddard Enterprises Ltd’s 100th Anniversary Entrepreneur Competition on Friday, Mottley emphasised that transferring capital was vital to generating wealth.

“if you want to create wealth, then you need the inter-generational transfer of capital from one generation to the next. The fact [Goddards] had the courage

to go public while still being able to retain the essence of its ‘Barbadianess’ in the majority of its ownership is a matter of tremendous pride for us as Barbadians,” she said.

“I’ve said it before and

I’ll repeat now, I am not one who complains that the Trinidadians ‘coming up here and buying up all the things’ because I don’t see anything wrong with our hands, our feet and our minds. (Nation News)

People queue to cast their vote on the day of the presidential elections in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, May 19 [Fran Afonso/Reuters]

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley

Argentina's President Javier Milei speaks during a rally organised by the Spanish far-right Vox party ahead of the European elections, with various far-right leaders, in Madrid, Spain, May 19, 2024 (Reuters/Ana Beltran)

Around the World

TOIL NEWS

China boosts crude oil storage amid soft refinery processing

he pace at which crude oil flowed into China's stockpiles increased in April as slower refinery processing outweighed a decline in imports.

A total of 830,000 barrels per day (bpd) was added to China's commercial or strategic stockpiles in April, up from 790,000 bpd in March, according to calculations based on official data.

Over the first four months of the year, China, the world's biggest crude importer, added 700,000 bpd to storages, a significant volume that goes some way to undermining the market view that oil consumption is robust amid a recovering economy.

China doesn't disclose the volumes of crude flowing into or out of strategic and commercial stockpiles, but an estimate can be made by deducting the amount of crude processed from the total of crude available from imports and domestic output.

The total crude available to refiners in April was 15.13 million bpd, consisting of imports of 10.88 million bpd and domestic output of 4.25 million bpd.

The volume of crude processed by refiners was 14.3 million bpd, leaving a surplus of 830,000 bpd to be added to storage tanks.

For the first four months of 2024, the total crude available was 15.26 million bpd, while refinery throughput was 14.56 million bpd, leaving a surplus of 700,000 bpd.

Refinery processing dropped 3.3 per cent in April from the same month in 2023, the first annual decline in 20 months, as large oil companies carried out scheduled maintenance, while smaller refiners curbed output because of weak profit margins.

It's likely that refinery throughput will recover in May as plants ramp up for the peak summer demand season, although the situation is complicated by robust demand for some refined fuels, such as jet fuel and gasoline, but softer consumption for others such as diesel.

The question for the market then becomes whether any rise in refining will lead to rising demand for crude oil imports, or whether refiners will choose to dip into the stockpiles they have been building so far this year.

Price factor

Much depends on oil prices, and recent history suggests that when global prices rise rapidly, or to levels China's refiners consider too high, the result is a pullback in imports, allowing for the lag of around two months to account for when cargoes are arranged to when they are delivered.

April's crude oil imports were the weakest since January and came two months after prices starting rallying sharply from early February onwards, after members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (OPEC+) group of exporters extended and deepened output cuts.

Global benchmark Brent crude futures surged from a low of US$76.85 a barrel on February 2 to a recent peak of US$92.18 on April 12.

This suggests that price pressures may cap the demand for crude by Chinese refiners, and any gains in volumes are likely to be concentrated in discounted oil from Russia and Iran, whose exports are subject to Western sanctions, which effectively limits the number of available buyers.

The rise in official selling prices (OSPs) to a five-month high by leading exporter Saudi Arabia for cargoes loading in June may also curb China's oil demand from the kingdom, with sources pointing to a decline of 5.8 million barrels in June cargoes from May's 45 million barrels.

China's crude imports rose 2.0 per cent in the first four months of the year, according to customs data.

However, in barrels per day terms this equates to a gain of just 100,000 bpd.

This is well short of the 710,000 bpd rise in demand that OPEC+ forecast for China for 2024 as a whole in its latest monthly report, released on May 14.

There is a difference between imports and overall demand, as demand can be satisfied from inventories or a rise in domestic crude output.

While domestic oil production is slightly higher, rising 2.1 per cent in the first four months of 2024, it seems that China is adding to inventories at a faster pace so far this year than it did in 2023.

The excess of crude available over refinery processing in the first four months of 2024 was 830,000 bpd, compared to 480,000 bpd for the same period last year.

The overall picture that emerges is that China's oil import growth is modest so far in 2024, and more of those imports are heading into storage than they did in 2023.

(Reuters)

Iran’s President, Foreign Minister missing as helicopter crashes

…rescue teams facing difficulties reaching site due to harsh weather conditions

Ahelicopter carrying Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has been involved in an accident, State media reports.

Reports say the helicopter – one of three travelling in a convoy – made a "hard landing" after it got into difficulties in heavy fog in the north of the country.

Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said rescuers were still trying to reach the site due to the difficult weather conditions.

Raisi was heading to the city of Tabriz, in the north west of Iran, after returning from an IranAzerbaijan border area, according to local media.

Rescue teams Russia is sending a rescue team to Iran to help with the search for President Raisi, according to Russian state media.

RIA Novosti reports that the team includes 47 specialist rescuers, a number of All-Terrain Vehicles, and a helicopter.

It said the equipment was being loaded and would be flown to Iranian city of Tabriz, to which the President was travelling at the time of the accident.

“Both helicopters and rescuers are ready to carry out the most difficult tasks at high altitudes,” the agency quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

“As soon as weather conditions, namely fog, allow the search and rescue operation to be resumed,

our specialists will join the efforts.”

Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a statement following reports of the President being involved in the crash, says the nation "should pray" for Raisi's health, state broadcaster IRIB reports.

"If the people of Iran do not worry, there will be no disruption in the work of the country", he adds.

Vigil

As the search to locate President Raisi continues, Iranians have gathered for vigils on the streets of the capital, Tehran.

Pictures from Vali-Asr square in the centre of the city show people kneeling in prayer.

World’s reaction

Azerbaijan, Armenia and Iraq have also of -

fered to assist rescue efforts to find the helicopter.

The United Arab Emirates has also offered support and says it stands by Iran. Turkey sent a mountain rescue team to Iran, and earlier, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he was saddened by the accident.

Writing in a post on X, Erdogan said: "I hope to receive good news from Raisi and his delegation as soon as possible"

US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the incident, according to a White House spokesperson. And UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is following updates on the crash. "He hopes for the safety of the President and his entourage," a UN spokesperson said in a statement.

(Excerpts from BBC News)

Israel seeks bipartisan US support against establishment of a Palestinian State

Israel called for bipartisan support on Sunday from the United States against the establishment of a Palestinian State, which it said would be a reward for Hamas and its backer Iran.

European Union mem -

bers including Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and Malta have said they could recognise A Palestinian State this month, seeing a two-State solution as essential for lasting peace.

Israel's Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, who met top House Republican

Elise Stefanik earlier, said if a Palestinian State was established, Iran would use it as a base to "work towards the destruction of Israel".

He told Stefanik the US must lead a resolution at the International Energy Agency's council next month to promote further sanctions against Iran to stop it obtaining nuclear weapons and supporting groups like Hamas. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

New Taiwanese President to take office facing angry China

Lai Ching-te takes office as Taiwan's new President today facing an angry and deeply suspicious China which believes he is a "separatist", and a fractious Parliament with an opposition chomping at the bit to challenge him.

Lai will express goodwill towards China in his inauguration speech at the Japanese-colonial era presidential office in cen -

tral Taipei, and call for both sides of the Taiwan Strait to pursue peace, according to a senior official briefed on the matter.

Beijing views proudly democratic Taiwan as its own territory, and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. Lai has offered talks, which have been rebuffed, and says only Taiwan's people can decide their future.

Taiwan has faced on-going pressure from China, including regular air force and navy activities close to the island, since January's election victory by Lai, who is 64 and widely known by his English name William.

In attendance at the ceremony will be former US officials dispatched by President Joe Biden; lawmakers from countries including Japan, Germany

and Canada; and leaders from some of the 12 countries which still maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, like Paraguay President Santiago Pena. Last week, China's Taiwan Affairs Office said Lai, who it called the "Taiwan region's new leader" had to make a clear choice between peaceful development or confrontation.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

As the search to locate President Raisi continues, Iranians have gathered for vigils on the streets of the capital, Tehran Rescue vehicles lined up near the Azerbaijan-Iran border, as night begins to fall

DAILY HOROSCOPES

(March 21-April 19)

Emotional investment will give you the boost you need to follow through with your plans. Put together a foolproof plan before discussing your intentions, and listen to dissenting voices.

Dream, believe and make it happen. Take control and be optimistic, and opportunities will be yours. Don’t hesitate or give someone a chance to step in and take control. Trust your instincts.

(May 21-June 20) (April 20-May 20)

Take care of matters yourself. Relying on others will lead to disappointment or setbacks. Eliminate bureaucratic pressure before it causes undue stress. Stay on top of financial and medical issues.

(June 21-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 22)

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Reach out, and you’ll receive help. Address your needs and ward off negativity and interference. Use your imagination and do what’s best for you.

Be a leader, and you will have the power to make better decisions. Put your energy into what you can do to make your life better. Don’t let others take advantage of you.

Be receptive to change, learn from experience and believe in yourself. Your attitude will set the stage for what’s to come. Voice your opinion and team up with people who share your concerns.

Don’t fold under pressure. Pay attention and make decisions that benefit you. Search for reasonable possibilities and make things happen. An unexpected gain will help you become stable.

Let your creativity take the reins, and you’ll discover something that will help you flourish. A change of heart will lead to a better perspective. Look for opportunities.

Don’t let anyone confuse you or push you toward something that benefits them more than you. Put your energy where it makes the most sense.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Don’t let anger set in. A receptive and positive attitude will help you turn your passion into something concrete. Self-improvement is favored.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Slow down and rethink a situation impacting your life. A domestic issue will require insight, discipline and understanding. Strive for perfection and stick to your budget.

Scour the internet for information and decide what you want to do next. Striving for a healthy attitude and lifestyle will put your mind at ease and help you accept the changes you face.

SRH ride on another Abhishek blitz to finish second in league-stage standings

Prabhsimran Singh and Atharva Taide put on 97 for the first wicket off 55 balls, Rilee Rossouw hit 49 at a strike rate above 200, and Jitesh Sharma provided the closing fireworks, with 32 not out off 15. They set Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) 215 to win.

And still it wasn't enough for Punjab Kings (PBKS). Not nearly enough to halt the batting juggernaut that SRH have been in IPL 2024. They lost their best batter Travis Head first ball, but raced through the powerplay thanks to Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi, who hit 66 off 28 and 33 off 18 respectively, propelling the team to 84 for 2 at the end of their first six overs.

From then, the scoring didn't really slow until the target was within sight. Heinrich Klaasen led SRH to the brink of victory with 42 off 26. The winning runs

Abhishek lights up Hyderabad one last time in IPL 2024

In what was their last home game this season, Abhishek gave the SRH faithful a show to remember a batting-powered sea-

were hit with five balls to spare.

Dare we say something about the bowlers? Only SRH's T Natarajan escaped with decent figures, taking 2 for 33.

SRH now move into second on the points table. That they would finish their and play the Qualifier 1 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) was confirmed after Rajasthan Royals' last league match against KKR in Guwahati was washed out.

son by. He smashed his first two sixes over fine leg, when bowlers delivered short-of-a-length balls into the body, and went on to hit six sixes in all, in addition to five fours. Most of these relied on excellent timing, but there was luck there too - one of the sixes came off the outside edge.

He sped past 50 off 21 balls, but this was only his third-fastest half-century this season - he had hit fifties off 16 and 19 balls in the weeks gone by.

Abhishek's 72-run part-

nership with Tripathi, which came off 29 balls, was the foundation of SRH's chase. Even after they were parted, the required rate seemed tame.

Klaasen plays a measured innings

As good as Abhishek's fireworks were, SRH still needed 86 off the last 59 balls after he was out, and Klaasen delivered one of his more chilled-out innings. He still hit sixes when it felt good, of course, the most spectacular being the backfoot six down the ground off the bowling of Harpreet

bowled by Brar with SRH needing seven to win off 11 balls. But he had got them close enough.

Prabhsimran and Taide's opening mayhem PBKS had reason to hope they would get a closing win for this season, though, and finish outside the bottom two, mainly because of the start they had in the game. Prabhsimran was outstanding on the leg side, hitting all his four sixes there in his 71 off 45. Taide made 46 off 27.

A match-defining four overs

Brar, who had just delivered a standard length ball outside off stump.

But as wickets fell around him, it needed someone to take responsibility and massage the chase home. Klaasen was

There was something of a slowdown after Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, the young legspinner from Jaffna, took Prabhsimran's wicket in the 15th over.

Although Jitesh finished strong, perhaps overs 15

to 18 (both inclusive) was when PBKS lost their way. They had been 151 for 1 at the start of that pas-

Punjab Kings (20 ovs maximum)

Atharva Taide c Sanvir Singh

b Natarajan 46

Prabhsimran Singh c †Klaasen

b Viyaskanth 71

Rilee Rossouw c Abdul Samad

b Cummins 49

Shashank Singh run out

(Nitish Kumar Reddy/†Klaasen) 2

Jitesh Sharma (c)†not out 32

Ashutosh Sharma c Sanvir Singh

b Natarajan 2

Shivam Singh not out 2

Extras (lb 5, nb 1, w 4) 10

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 10.70) 214/5

Did not bat: Rishi Dhawan,Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar

Fall of wickets: 1-97 (Atharva Taide, 9.1 ov), 2-151 (Prabhsimran Singh, 14.2 ov), 3-174 (Shashank Singh, 15.6 ov), 4-181 (Rilee Rossouw, 17.2 ov), 5-187 (Ashutosh Sharma, 18.1 ov) •

DRS

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4-0-36-0

Pat Cummins 4-0-36-1

T Natarajan 4-0-33-2

Vijayakanth Viyaskanth 4-0-37-1

Shahbaz Ahmed 1-0-13-0

Nitish Kumar Reddy 3-0-54-0

sage, looking poised to push 250. By the end of the 18th over, they were 186 for 5. (ESPNcricinfo)

Sunrisers Hyderabad (T: 215 runs from 20 ovs)

Heinrich Klaasen steered Sunrisers in the chase of 215

Abhishek Sharma finished with 66 off 28

Jitesh Sharma smacked 32 off 15

Prabhsimran Singh hit a fifty off 34 balls

Rajasthan Royals consigned to Eliminator after washout in Guwahati leaves them third

Rain in Guwahati denied hosts Rajasthan Royals a shot at a top-two finish in the final league fixture of IPL 2024. The game was abandoned, without a ball being bowled, at around 10.50pm local time, meaning RR ended the league phase with four losses in a row, followed by this washout, to finish third with 17 points.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

also had 17 points, having successfully chased down 215 against a severely depleted Punjab Kings side earlier in the day, but they stayed second, thanks to a superior net run-rate. Pat Cummins' SRH will now face table-toppers Kolkata Knight Riders in the first qualifier in Ahmedabad on May 21. As for Royals, they will run into a redhot Royal Challengers

Bangalore side, which is on a six-match winning streak, in the Eliminator the next day at the same venue.

KKR's players might have to rock up cold in the playoffs, with their last two league games having been abandoned without a ball being bowled. Especially Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Phil Salt's potential replacement, who is yet to play his first game this IPL. His last

Young Guyanese strikes gold again in Canadian Athletics

Adrian Allicock, the young Guyanese who triumphed at seven track and field events last year, has proven once aging that he is a force to be reckoned with. Building upon his stellar achievements, Adrian has reaffirmed his status as a champion athlete, showcasing unparalleled skill and determination on the track and field.

Last year, Adrian captivated the hearts of many with his remarkable feat of securing first place in every event he participated in, a truly extraordinary accomplishment.

Now, as the dust settles on another season of intense competition, Adrian has replicated his triumphs, proving that his success is no fluke but rather a testament to his unwavering dedication and talent.

Born on February 14th, and just 12 years old, Adrian embodies the essence of a gifted athlete, excelling not only in sports but also in academics. His journey into athletics began early, earning spots on the soccer and basketball teams through rigorous trials at his school. However, it was on the track where Adrian truly found his stride, showcasing a natural aptitude for speed and agility.

Under the guidance of his devoted grandfather, Albert Allicock, Adrian embraced the challenge of track and field events with fervour. Despite a prior injury during the high jump last year, Adrian fearlessly tackled the event again this year, emerging victorious alongside six other first-place finishes, including the 100 meters, 200 meters, triple jump,

long jump, shot put, and javelin.

Reflecting on Adrian’s accomplishments, his father Alex, mother Trisha, aunt Keyshona, grand- father Albert, and mentors express immense pride and admiration for his remarkable achievements. His grandfather, a former athlete himself, sees echoes of his own talent and determination in Adrian, noting the remarkable consistency and resilience he exhibits on the field.

Balancing the demands of academics and athletics, Adrian exemplifies the qualities of a true student-athlete.

Despite the challenges posed by his parent’s busy schedules, his aunt, Keyshona Allicock, plays a pivotal role in providing unwavering support and encouragement, ensuring Adrian never misses a practice or game.

As Adrian basks in the glory of his latest triumphs,

his journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes across Guyana. With each victory, Adrian not only adds to his own legacy but also elevates the profile of athletics, showcasing the wealth of talent and diversity within the sporting community.

Looking ahead, Adrian’s future in athletics shines brightly. With his indomitable spirit and boundless potential, he stands poised to make even greater strides in his sporting career, whether it be in soccer, basketball, or track and field.

In celebrating Adrian’s accomplishments, we honour not only his individual successes but also the enduring spirit of perseverance and excellence that defines his roots as a Guyanese. As he continues to inspire others with his remarkable journey, Adrian Allicock stands as a shining example of the power of determination and the pursuit of excellence.

outing with the bat was for Afghanistan in mid-March. Royals have similar concerns around their overseas players. Their finisher Shimron Hetmyer was originally deemed fit for Monday's fixture, but eventually didn't make it to the XI or the Impact subs bench, with RR captain Sanju Samson suggesting that they had to make some last-minute changes

to their team.

Hetmyer hasn't played since failing to finish a tense chase against SRH along with Rovman Powell on May 2. Tom KohlerCadmore, who is somewhat of a like-for-like replacement for Jos Buttler, had a fairly rough initiation into the IPL, managing 18 off 23 balls against Punjab Kings in much drier conditions in Guwahati on May 15.

Guwahati

was under covers for the most of Monday evening before the rain briefly relented to allow the toss for a seven-over shootout, which was scheduled to restart at 10.45pm local time. However, soon after KKR won the toss and chose to bowl, the rain returned to force a damp end to the league phase.

(ESPNcricinfo)

Four law enforcement officers honoured by RHTYSC NAMILCO teams

Awardees pose with Robby Kissoonlall of the

Four outstanding and dedicated police officers from the Rose Hall Town police station on Friday last were honoureded when the Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt flour cricket teams hosted their annual tribute to law enforcement officer program. The presentation took place in the conference hall of the newly built Rose Hall police station and was attended by police officers club executives Hilbert Foster and Robby Kissoonlall along with several club members. Those honoureded with the 2024 tribute to heroes award were Corporal 23743 Mingo Adams, Corporal 20643 Bourne, Constable 22287 Archibald and Constable 26550 Alder. Secretary Hilbert Foster stated that the tribute to law enforcement officer program is one of several to be hosted by the club in recognition of unsung heroes in the Township of Rose Hall and the ancient county of Berbice. The tribute to heroes program started in 2013 with the cricket teams of the RHTYSC honoureding medical workers at the Port Mourant public hospital. Over the years the program has been expanded to include postal workers, teachers, retired educators, municipality workers, firemen and students among others. Foster who also serve as president of the Berbice cricket board noted that in Guyana it is not often that we recognize and honoured public servant for the service they provide to the general

public.

Awardees for the tribute to heroes program are selected by their supervisors based on their commitment, honesty, relationship with the peers and general public and years of dedication. Foster congratulated the four awardees on a job well done and urged them to continue working hard to keep the Township safe from criminal elements. He called on the management of the police station the police special emphasis on the sale of illegal drugs to youths in the Township. The club secretary committed the RHTYSC to assisting the police as much as possible. Officer in charge of the Rose Hall station Sean Mentore stated that the awardees deserve to be honoureded and express thanks to the RHTYSC for being close friend to the police in Rose Hall. The club and the police station also agreed to work closely to get dozens of youth in the area to be part of the Bakewell/ Busta cricket Academy which starts on the 8th of July at the Area H ground.

Each of the Awardees received a trophy frame certificate of excellence, medal and two special gifts including a gift back from Mike’s pharmacy.

The Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour under 21 and first division teams are sponsored by the National Milling Company of Agricola in East Bank Demerara. The first division team is the leading one in the Berbice hav-

ing dominated the level over the years and has produced several national players including Kevin Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Sylus Tyndall, Clinton Pestano, Shemaine Campbell, Jonathan Rampersaud, Jeremy Sandia, Keith Simpson among others. Overall they are RHTYSC has produced 122 players for Berbice and Guyana. The club has won a combined 121 tournaments at all levels since it was founded in 1990.

Guyana. Contact: +592 612-0036.

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surface

Adrian Allicock

RHTYSC and Sergeant Mentore

A West Indies reunion gatecrashed by Yuzvendra Chahal

King to lead Windies in Jamaica against South Africa

…Guyana’s Joseph poised to make T20I debut

The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Selection Panel has announced the squad for the upcoming T20 International (T20I) Series against South Africa. This significant series, preceding the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, starts on Thursday, 23 May, at the iconic Sabina Park. The squad has been gearing up for this exciting and highly anticipated series with a training camp held at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.

The Selection Panel has confirmed that Brandon King will be the interim Captain for this series and Roston Chase as the interim Vice-Captain. King was set to lead the West Indies A-Team on the recently concluded T20 tour to Nepal before he was withdrawn due to injury. Chase, appointed instead, went on to lead the A-Team to a series win against Nepal.

The West Indies Men’s squad for the series is as follows: Captain Brandon King, Vie- Captain Roston Chase, Fabian Allen, Alick Athanaze, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Obed McCoy,

Gudakesh Motie, Romario Shepherd and Hayden Walsh Jr.

Alzarri Joseph and Sherfane Rutherford will be added to the squad if their respective franchises don’t

Swag, Bullets, Spaniards seal quarterfinal berths in Guinness Linden Championship

Three-time defending champions Swag Entertainment, Silver Bullets, and Spaniards advanced to the quarterfinal round when the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Linden edition continued on Saturday evening at the Christianburg hardcourt.

Swag Entertainment overcame Valley Side 1-0 with the help of a Shane Lucky strike. Likewise, the two-time winners, the Silver Bullets, edged the DC Ballers 1-0. Colwyn Drakes scored to separate the teams. Similarly, the Spaniards downed Fearless 3-2. Shaka Lewis bagged a double, while Jamal Aikman netted once. For the loser, Devon Gilbert bagged a double.

In other results, YMCA downed Hardball Management 1-0 on penalty kicks after regulation time ended 0-0. Also, Turf

President squeaked past the Young Gunners 1-0. Kelroy Anthony recorded the only goal of the contest. On the other hand, Excuse the Rush crushed the Top Strikers 5-1. The winner of the event will pocket $500,000 and the championship trophy. They will also earn an automatic berth to the national championship, which is slated to commence during the month of August in Georgetown. Meanwhile, the second-place finisher will receive $400,000 and the corresponding accolade. The third and fourth-place finishers will pocket $300,000 and $250,000, respectively, and the corresponding trophy.

The event will resume on Wednesday at the same venue as the quarterfinal segment. Hardball Management qualified for the quarterfinal section as the best loser. Also, the Pro

reach the Indian Premier League (IPL) Final. Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran are both rested for the series and will join the squad in Trinidad on Monday, 27 May.

The Lead Selector, Desmond Haynes, spoke about the opportunities for members of the squad, stating, “These are among the last competitive T20 International matches before the start of the World Cup. Players have the opportunity to fine-tune their skills and ensure they are as prepared as they can be for the World Cup, whether they are in the final squad or reserve pool.”

The Team Management Unit for this series is:

1. Daren SammyHead Coach

2. Floyd ReiferAssistant Coach

3. Rayon GriffithAssistant Coach

4. Denis ByamPhysiotherapist

at Sabina Park, Jamaica are available now to buy online from the Windies Tickets service, at WINDIES TICKET PORTAL. Fans who purchase online will benefit from a 20% discount compared to the box office prices, with tickets ranging from the most premium seats with the best-shaded views in the stadium through to affordable standard seats or mounds/grounds entry. MATCH SCHEDULE T20I SERIES WEST INDIES v SOUTH AFRICA

• 23 May 1st T20I West Indies v South Africa at Sabina Park, Jamaica 2:00 pm JT/3:00 pm ECT •

Ballers received a bye to the quarterfinal segment.

Complete Results

Game-1

Spaniards-3 vs. Fearless-2

Spaniards scorers

Shaka Lewis-2

Jamal Aikman-1

Fearless scorer

Devon Gilbert-2

Game-2

Excuse the Rush-5 vs. Top Strikers-1

Game-3

YMCA-0 3: YMCA-0 vs. Hardball Management-0

Hardball Management won 1-0 on penalty kicks

Game-4

Turf President-1 vs. Young Gunners-0

Kelroy Anthony-1

Game-5

DC Ballers-0 vs. Silver Bullets-1

Colwyn Drakes-1

Game-6

Swag Entertainment-1 vs. Valley Side-0

Shane Lucky-1

White Ball Head Coach Daren Sammy also commented on his objectives for this series, sharing, “We have not played together as a team since the Australia series, but we just completed a very high-intensity training camp in Antigua. Now we have the chance to integrate some of our players returning from the IPL and build some momentum as a group going into the World Cup.”

5. Ronald RogersStrength & Conditioning Coach

6. Rawl Lewis – Team Manager

7. Dario Barthley –Team Media & Content Officer

8. Avenesh SeetaramTeam Analyst

9. Fitzbert Alleyne –Team Masseuse Tickets for the T20I Series against South Africa

JT/3:00

West Indies won the last T20 International played at Sabina Park against New Zealand in August 2022, which was the last time international cricket was played at this historic venue.

GABF U23 Championships…

Bounty Colts, Ravens remain unbeaten

Bounty Colts and North Ruimveldt Ravens remained unbeaten as the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation’s Under-23 Club Championships, held at the National Gymnasium on Saturday, May 18, 2024; as they continued with a showcase of shooting skills for jubilant supporters.

Colts with their ability to counter to the basket secured their third victory against Meadowbrook Nets despite the Nets starting the game on a high to lead the first quarter with the scoreline reading 16 -10.

The second quarter saw many shots at the basket, with both teams showing their class, which saw at the end of the quarter, the Colts managing to counter

on the nets mistakes to overturn the Nets Lead with the scoreline reading 37 – 31.

The Colts scored 27 points and Nets Scoring 15 points.

The Colts continued to keep their composure and showed their class, as the Colts managed to show their determination as they held on to their lead, netting 21 points while the Nets scored 16 points with the score line reading 58 -47 after the third.

Bounty Colts went on to secure the win in the final quarter with a scoreline of 75 – 68.

In the second game of the evening, the North Ruimveldt Ravens proved to be a formidable force in the tournament as they defeated the Pepsi Sonics, despite the Sonics' use of the jump

ball to take an early lead (18–13).

In the second quarter of the game, the Ravens, with a bit of experience, conquered the defence of the Sonics as they scored 16 points, pushing their score to 29 points, as the Nets were restricted to 14 points for a total of 32.

In the ensuing struggle of the third quarter, the Ravens pursued a comeback, with the Ravens elevating their total score to 65 points scoring 26 points in the quarter as they restricted the Sonics to 43, who score 11 points.

In the final quarter, the Ravens sealed the deal, breaking through their opponents’ defence with the score line reading 63-49 in their favour.

Brandon King will lead West Indies in the 3-match T20I series

A scene from the Silver Bullets (red) and DC Ballers encounter at the Christianburg hardcourt

The unbeaten Bounty Colts