Guyana Times - Monday, November 20, 2023

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 5559

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023

Venezuela border controversy

Caricom Member States fully support Guyana – Mottley & Gonsalves – condemn threats of force, actions outside of international law Page 3

Pres Ali blasts US ‘fact-finding’ mission for lack of objectivity ...says communication with Chairwoman went ‘blank’ after sending reports on elections – former AFC MP debunks claims made to mission at Linden meeting

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Miss Nicaragua wins Miss P14 Universe 2023 in history-making competition

Burnt body at Swan

Autopsy gives cause of death as burns to body

...no foul play involved – source

Page 9

10 Kokerite families receive keys to new homes Page 16

P2

Small business owner is UG Berbice Campus’ Best Graduating P10 Student ...seize the moment, don’t wait for opportunities to fall in your lap – Pres Ali tells graduates

– 33 solar panels also distributed to residents

Berbice woman allegedly raped, murdered after leaving bar Page 17

– nude body found in bushes with 10 stab wounds

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal hands over the keys to one of the houses to a family of Kokerite, Region One on Saturday

Guns, ammo found in barrel

City Council issues removal P15 notice to roadside vendors

GPF issues EBD man wins Toyota Raize in wanted GBTI’s "Dream Big" Promotion bulletin for Atlanta, Georgiabased shipper Page 2

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2 NEWS

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guns, ammo found in barrel

GPF issues wanted bulletin for Atlanta, Georgia-based shipper A s the investigation intensifies into the discovery of the large cache of firearms and ammunition in a barrel at the GNIC Wharf on Friday, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has issued a wanted bulletin for the shipper.

Wanted is 56-yearold Andrew Marcus Llewelyn Fraser of Lot 1582 Larkspur Trail Conyers, Atlanta, Georgia.

The United States-based resident is wanted for Trafficking in Firearms & Ammunition, Contrary to Section 17A of the Firearm

Wanted: Andrew Marcus Llewelyn Fraser

Act No 2 of 2014.

Fraser was the name and address listed as the

The ammunition that was found in the barrel

Act Chapter 16:05, as amended by the Firearm

sender of the barrel which

was addressed to a Guyhoc Park, Georgetown resident who was arrested and remains in custody following the discovery.

The guns that were found in the barrel include one G2 Taurus 9mm pistol without serial number; one G3 Taurus 9mm pistol with serial number ADH 549002; one Glock 23 pistol with serial number BVLC 388; one Glock 40 with serial number BELW 511; one Roebuck Quad lock 9mm pistol without serial number; one Glock 19 with serial number CBFX 596; one G3 Taurus pistol with serial number ADH 547678; one Luger 9mm pistol without serial number and one RF-15 Rifle with serial number 23065794.

In addition, 19 magazines, 17 of which are for handguns and two for the RF-15 Rifle were found.

Further, a total of 4050 rounds of 9mm ammunition along with 1100 rounds of .40 ammunition and 450 rounds of .223 ammunition were discovered.

The weapons and ammunition were found

The guns that were found in the barrel

among a quantity of clothing and food stuff. At the time of the discovery, the receiver, a driver/salesman employed with a local company, was at the wharf to uplift the barrel.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum on Sunday confirmed that the Guyhoc Park resident remains in custody pending further investigations.

Meanwhile, the GPF is

urging anyone with information about the whereabouts of Fraser to contact them on telephone numbers 592-229-3564, 592229-2957, 225-6978 or the nearest Police Station.

Burnt body at Swan

Autopsy gives cause of death as burns to body ...no foul play involved – source

A

Suspected dead, Nirvana Algu

post-mortem performed on the remains suspected to be those of missing Bel Air woman, Nirvana Algu that was found at Swan, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, confirmed that she died as a result of burns to the body.

The autopsy performed on the 45-year-old woman was done on Friday last by Dr Nehaul Singh. During the post-mortem, samples of the remains were taken and sent to the CSI Unit for DNA testing.

A source stated that the autopsy proved that no foul play was involved in the woman’s death.

The remains were found in a burnt Audi motor car, PTT 4651, which was registered to Algu of Bel Air, Georgetown, two Sundays ago.

It was reported that a passerby saw the car on fire and immediately contacted the Timehri Police Station and reported the matter.

The burnt car found at the scene

The caller also related that someone was in the driver’s seat of the vehicle at the time.

As such, Police ranks rushed to the scene where they observed the motor car parked in a clump of bushes with the driver’s door open and what appeared to be bones and a skull of a human on the driver’s seat.

The area where the car was found had no houses and more so, the place was extremely dark hence, detectives who arrived at the scene could not gather much information. A party of Police ranks returned to the area the following day to conduct further investigations where they found several bottles containing

liquid.

These bottles along with the liquid were sent to the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory for analysis.

The woman was reportedly last seen at about 16:30h on the day in question at Soesdyke Junction, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

CCTV footage retrieved from cameras along the EBD corridor proved that the woman was the only occupant in the car. One person was subsequently arrested but was later released.

Following the discovery, the woman’s relatives were contacted and samples were taken for DNA testing to confirm the identity of the remains.

NEWS

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

BRIDGE The Demerara OPENINGS Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, Nov 20 – 23:00h – 00:30h and Tuesday, Nov 21 – No retraction.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, Nov 20 – 09:50h – 11:20h and Tuesday, Nov 21 – 11:15h – 12:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be sunshine and thundery showers during the day. Expect clear skies at night.

Temperatures should range between 24 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-Easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 10:11h and 22:38h reaching maximum heights of 2.18 metres and 2.24 metres.

Low Tide: 16:05h reaching a minimum height of 1.09 metres.

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COMMODITIES Indicators

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Venezuela border controversy

Caricom Member States fully support Guyana – Mottley & Gonsalves

...condemn threats of force, actions outside of international law

W

hen it comes to Venezuela’s territorial controversy with Guyana, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) fully stands in support of its sister State. This is according to both Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, who is also Chairman of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

The two Heads of State held a joint press conference on Saturday, where they were asked about the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy. According to Mottley, she has been following the issue very closely and is in full support of Guyana’s position, which she described as a strong one.

“I think Caricom has issued a very strong statement in support of Guyana.

We have all, as individual countries, issued that. In this particular case, in our view, Guyana’s position has been strong. It has been unwavering. And it is before the International Court of Justice. And we have backed them 150 per cent with that.”

“But equally, we understand that where there is not the appropriate opportunity, to keep temperatures down, then things can happen that go beyond our control. It is fair to say Ralph is Chairman of CELAC, Roosevelt (Skerrit) is Chairman of Caricom. And I have every confidence in my two Chairs, to ensure we can keep the temperatures down even if there is not the settled outcome on the dispute that would be traditionally expected.”

Mottley, who recently caught flak for comments made that implied Guyana had as much responsibility to maintain peace as Venezuela even though the Spanishspeaking country has been the aggressor, also addressed the storm her comments raised.

“The fact that I said two weeks ago at my annual conference that in spite of that, Venezuela is a friend and therefore we would wish to see the Caribbean remain a zone of peace, seems to have excited condemnation, Ralph, on you and me in some quarters. But I have come to public life to promote peace, not division. But I’m equally conscious that in our lives, things will not always go as we would like,” the Prime Minister said.

Gonsalves

Meanwhile, Gonsalves also expressed his support for Guyana and warned that no one would benefit from a clash between the two nations, except imperialistic interests. Gonsalves was of the view that it is important Guyana and Venezuela continue to have dialogue that

Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley and her St Vincent & the Grenadines counterpart, Ralph Gonsalves

is not connected with the case - a position the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has already affirmed.

“Guyana and Venezuela are among eight countries that belong to the Amazon Cooperation Treaty. There are things for them still, as neighbours, to talk about.

There’s the question of the delimitation of the seas, which is not connected directly to the Arbitral Award.”

“The only entity to benefit from any clash is imperialism. Because historically, imperialism acts in its own interest. And it can flip the script tomorrow morning, if it chooses. And I don’t know why people don’t learn from history and the contemporary world.”

The St Vincent Prime Minister emphasised the importance of neither country taking actions outside of in-

ternational law, such as using force or threatening to use force… something that Venezuela has been accused of doing, with Guyana having to bring to the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) attention to the build up of the Venezuelan army on their side of the border with Guyana.

“Venezuela has decided to have a referendum. There are five questions being posed. Now, the Parliament of Guyana has said the Government of Guyana must not have any conversations with Venezuela on the matter of the controversy. They’re neighbours,” Gonsalves said.

“It makes sense, even while this controversy is proceeding in the manner its proceeding, for both countries to affirm their commitment to international law and international legal prin-

ciples, even though they may have a different approach, practically, to those questions, that they must uphold that the Region is one of peace and there will be no force or threat of force, singularly or jointly.”

Based on a 10-yearold census, the Essequibo area accounts for almost two-thirds of Guyana with around 125,000 of its 800,000 inhabitants living there. Venezuela has laid claim to this territory and has a referendum planned for December 3 that will seek the approval of Venezuelans to, among other things, annex Essequibo.

The Guyana Government has declared its commitment to resolving this longstanding border controversy with Venezuela through the legal process at the World Court. This position was also reaffirmed by Guyana’s National Assembly in a unanimous vote.

Over the past few weeks, Guyana has been informing regional and international partners of Venezuela’s planned referendum, which has been criticised by the United States, Caricom, and the Organisation of American States (OAS), as well as several other nations in the Region, including Brazil. There is a consensus that Venezuela’s referendum threatens the peace, security, and stability of the Region. (G-3)

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023

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

That “fact-finding” mission leader

T

here has been much speculation about the visit by a group of African-American state legislators and Black activists on a “fact finding mission to investigate” reports of discrimination and other factors allegedly adversely affecting African Guyanese. According to the leader of the delegation, former Georgia state rep Dee Dawkins-Haigler, they were responding to concerns raised by PNC MP Roysdale Forde, SC, AFC’s Catherine Hughes and David Patterson who in August had attended a “Conference on Guyana” in Washinton and also via Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, the top Democrat in the Congress. Dawkins-Haigler stressed, however, that neither she nor any other member of the delegation had spoken “directly” to the PNC-affiliated, Brooklyn-based organiser of the Conference.

But group leader Dawkins-Haigler pointed out that she had been part of another delegation which visited Guyana back in August 2021 and had met and held discussions with President Ali and several members of his Cabinet and Government. In that visit, in which the then US Ambassador Sara-Ann Lynch was involved, the agenda was centred on business opportunities.

The delegation included members of a “Black Entrepreneur Association” (BEA) and in the meeting with President Ali, one of the “spokespersons” for BEA, Quinetha Fraiser, in the presence of Dr Melissa Varswyk, described as the Vice Chair of Guyana BEA, claimed there were 300 businesses in the local BEA affiliate and another 300 in Britain. The implication was that there was a US BEA that was being represented by Ms Fraiser, but efforts to identify such an organisation in the US have been unsuccessful.

The Guyana BEA had been launched back in 2020 and appears to have been quite active in attempting to foster entrepreneurship locally in the African Guyanese community. Dr Varswyk, who is the CEO of the Georgetown American Uni (Med School) that graduated its first batch of Medical Doctors in 2018, most recently sponsored a Shark Tank-type “Emancipation” contest for African-Guyanese entrepreneurs that featured a G$2 million top prize.

It was won by an individual who submitted a business idea involving drones. Earlier this year, she and a team from BEA met with Public Works Minister Juan Edghill to learn more about the bidding process to obtain contracts on Public Works.

They emphasised they were not complaining about the award of contracts but to understand the mechanics of the process.

At the meeting, Minister Edghill offered training for the BEA’s members.

It is not too clear from the public record what role, if any, Ms Dawkins-Haigler plays in the Guyana BEA but it would appear to be quite significant since less than a year after her 2021 visit, the Savannah Tribune of May 18, 2022 announced that: “Reverend Dr Dee Dawkins-Haigler, President and Founder of Organisation of World Leaders and candidate for Georgia Secretary of State, has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize….The Honorable Roysdale A Ford, MP in Guyana and one of her nominators for the Peace Prize, states “Dr Dee Dawkins-Haigler has been instrumental in the fight for Afro-Guyanese gaining full access to government and global resources.

“She has been an ally in trying to ensure that equitable sustainable economic development is achieved for all Guyanese, which would level the playing field and get many Afro Guyanese people back to work and out of poverty.””

As a member of a national assembly, Mr Forde qualified as a nominator for the Nobel Peace Prize and must have met Ms Dawkins-Haigler during her 2021 trip.

This newspaper has been unable to obtain any information on the “Organisation of World Leaders” of which DawkinsHaigler claims to be “President and Founder” and also of the “Dr” prefixed to her name. She has twice been, however, a candidate for the Georgia Secretary of State and twice been defeated in the primaries. In the 2022 primary, a month after being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Mr Forde, she lost to a Vietnamese-origin female candidate and according to the Associated Press, she complained there is “a race problem within the Democratic Party”.

Photographer Mike Gonsalves captured this brilliant sunrise at Saxacalli Village, Essequibo River

The GuyExpo Committee should award Percival Boyce posthumously Dear Editor, I recently received a call from a friend living in Guyana, questioning if I would be assisting in organizing GuyExpo this year. I took pains to explain the following to my goodly friend: that I am happy the current administration has recommenced the staging of this event, and I’m sure it would be immensely successful.

Notwithstanding, I could not help but reflect on my late friend Percival Boyce, GuyExpo Coordinator during the years I’d served as co-Chairman of this national exposition, and the yeoman service he had given towards the success of this initiative.

I take this opportunity to express how deeply saddened I was upon learning of his death. As former Chairman of the Organizing Committee, I say without fear of contradiction that my late friend was, for many years, the main force behind the successful staging of this event. He effectively implemented the decisions of the Organizing Committee, and never failed to carry out those responsibilities.

The late Percival Boyce was the consummate professional, a man extremely dedicated and committed to his work. In fact, this was reflected in his organization of GuyExpo’s cultural programme (supported by the late dynamic committee member Mr. Cultural himself, Lennox Canterbury), which promoted local entertainers and was arguably one of his most successful

and memorable contributions.

I could write a book on the experiences I’ve had as co-chairman; however, I will focus on a few memorable ones. For context of this first instance, during one of the stagings of this major trade exposition, I had learned that the Ministry responsible for organizing this annual event did not have the financial resources to stage the event that year. This was brought to my attention by the late coordinator, who indicated that the financial recourses generated from this event was managed by the subject ministry, and not by the Secretariat.

As then co-chairman, I successfully lobbied former President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo to advance the committee $20 million with a commitment that we would make a profit of over $50 million. You see, Editor, I could have given that commitment because the late Coordinator and I had done some groundwork, which revealed that in the absence of an Accounts Payable Account, it was difficult to ascertain the authenticity of the bills/invoices submitted for payment after the conclusion of the event.

Needless to say, these were all honoured by the late Mr. Boyce in his capacity. This shows the professionalism and temerity of the man who served in that critical position.

In an effort to enhance accountability, I facilitated the donation of three computers (with a user- friendly accounting software in-

stalled) to the Secretariat, and recruited three youths who were trained in the use of the accounting system (by another very dedicated gentleman, Mr. Linden Anderson, who sadly has since died). The late Coordinator, who supervised this team, also ensured they were educated on all the aspects associated with staging the largest annual national event held in Guyana pre-2015. The ability to recognize and fulfill the needed capacity building was priceless, and arguably served them well during the execution of their stint, and by extension the GuyExpo.

With this team and efficient system in place, we implemented a Local Purchase System (no expenses could be initiated if an LPO was not generated) during the planning and execution of this event. I and the then Minister of Tourism conducted daily inspection visits wherein we’d receive updated copies of the Accounts Payable schedule for review and discussion with the coordinator. It was the prudent oversight by Mr. Boyce and our team that resulted in the Organizing Committee’s ability to not only repay the $20 million advance granted to the committee (in 2006), but achieved a profit of approximately $46.3 million on the last night of the event that year.

Additionally, for all the subsequent years of coordinating the event, the organizers knew the “profitable status” on the last night of the event. It’s worthwhile

to note that all financial resources generated were used to support the programs of the subject ministry, including funding the Secretariat.

One year, I recall, Mr. Boyce’s quick thinking and pro-active intervention averted what could have possibly been a major accident waiting to happen.

While on a site visit a day before the exhibition was officially scheduled to be opened (I cannot remember the year), I’d noticed a merry-go-round carousel from the rust that was obviously on the parts of this equipment, and it was clear that it was not adequately maintained. On the advice of the late Mr. Boyce, we invited the owner to a meeting, where he was told to service this children’s ride. Further, the owner was told that he would not be able to operate said equipment without the appropriate insurance policy for the functioning of this type of equipment (the necessary inspection was also conducted by knowledgeable technical personnel).

As fate would have it, during the third night of the exhibition, I was in my late colleague’s office when we heard a loud bang. The sound came from the direction of the ride, and we rushed to the area, which was in darkness. Honestly, the first thought was that children were seriously injured; both my late friend and I were expecting the worst, but God was overlooking His children: only two kids were slightly injured.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023

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

Fatal accidents Impressions of the extraordinary sitting are worrying Dear Editor, It certainly begs the question: “Why isn't there a punishment for reckless killer motorists called the revocation of one's licence?"

Or, “Why is there not some law to that effect?”

I am talking about reading or seeing the enforcement of some clause in the law that prohibits vehicular homicidal persons from holding a licence, or prohibits his or her ability to commandeer a motorable vehicle on our roads ever.

I look forward to the day when I can hear such sentences being handed down to those out-of-control drivers.

As it stands, I am seeing mounting statistics of repeat offenders receiving sentences which, in their truest terms, amount to a proverbial slap on the wrist and a clear go-ahead in continuation of the carnage.

I cannot recall ever seeing a vehicular homicide offender being denied the use of his licence. What I do hear are instances of in-

nocuous jailtime, but no revocation of licences; which tells me that some of these motorists regard the lax road laws as a joke, and are as well showing scant regard for the sanctity of human life.

The wanton loss of human lives is certainly a worrying factor for all of us, because our human resource is under threat.

Valuable lives are being lost all because of some drunken or "under-the-influence driver". I say they are under the influence of some mind-altering drug, or are those who simply cannot drive.

I pause here to highlight the fact that many vehicular accidents result from the use of mind-altering drugs. There are cases of drivers running into stationary objects, or immolating themselves by crashing into lampposts, or simply running off highways at times when there are few vehicles on our roads. This is a frightening development, and if urgent atten-

tion is not paid to address these distressing occurrences, woe betide us here in Guyana.

What is going on??!!

So, my advice to the authorities is twofold. (a) To our hardworking Traffic cops, if you observe a speeding driver navigating our highways, stop him and issue a speeding ticket forthwith! Do not wait for a fatal accident to happen; take action now! Reckless driving should never be tolerated!

I say to the authorities that the name and licence number of a driver involved in an accident must be saved in a database, because most fatal accidents are caused by repeat offenders. And as highlighted before, there must be total cancellation of their licensing privileges. If no such law is in force, then enact laws to this effect to stop the carnage. The time to act is now!

Respectfully, Neil Adams

The GuyExpo Committee...

FROM PAGE 4

We ensured that they received immediate medical treatment. However, their parents did not accept our offer to have the two children transported to the hospital for further medical examination. After some consideration, the Coordinator and I agreed to effect a monetary payment on the request of the family members of the children directly affected by this incident. Needless to say, this ride was never used again for the remaining years that I was co-Chairman.

Editor, it is this type of soundness of character and professional integrity that is etched in my mind when I think of Mr. Boyce and his contribution to the success of this national event.

I also fondly recall the night the Expo had over 50,000 attendees and the difficulty the late Mr. Boyce and I experienced in trying to hold the gate on the far north of the Exhibition Site with approximately fifty persons pushing on the other side trying to get in free.

We were about to give up when we noticed the crowd dispersing.

Apparently, word got out that Paul Slowe was approaching.

We were never so happy to see a Police officer.

These are some of the memories which I’ll always treasure of my late colleague and the hosting of GuyExpo.

I am sure the invest-

ment in this event will be significantly greater than in previous years.

This is important, since the late coordinator (and Government) were aware that GuyExpo not only showcases Guyanese businesses (small, medium, and large) but booths from other countries were also facilitated (as far as India).

While the large turnout to this event served as a vehicle to educating Guyanese and foreigners on the business opportunities and new business ventures.

One of the late coordinator’s qualities that I really admired was his willingness to participate in any activity (outside his scope of work) that would further enhance the success of this event. The Organizing Committee was very interested in ascertaining the positive impact this event had on the participating businesses. The late Mr. Boyce and the committee member with the technical expertise in marketing (mainly exports) led an exercise initiated to periodically follow-up with businesses (especially the small and medium). These exit surveys were to ascertain sale increases primarily due to new customers (both local and overseas markets) joint ventures etc.

It is for these reasons I am advocating that the current GuyExpo Organizing Committee should consid-

er honouring posthumously the memory of this true son of Guyana, Mr. Percival Boyce, former Coordinator of GuyExpo.

Kind regards, Keith Burrowes

of Parliament

Dear Editor, It is good to see those differences between the Government and the Opposition have been overcome to reach agreement on the meaning of the actions being taken by Venezuela.

However, there is a need for immediate preventive action to be taken by the Parliament. The speeches were very passionate and informative, but we must also increase our military presence along the border.

We must act now in order to prevent a repeat of what previously occurred with Venezuela’s taking of Ankoko Island. When this had occurred, the USA intervened afterwards, but no portion of the island was ever returned. If Venezuela uses their increased military presence at the border to make a further push for land in Essequibo, Guyana will be at risk of losing more of our territory.

This is most likely to occur after their referendum to annex all of Essequibo. Even if the ICJ rules in our favour, enforcement of the ruling can lead to an escalation in the conflict. We must also remember that Venezuela is very close to Iran, who has been helping it avoid the embargo put in place by the west. Iran is also threatening the USA and Israel with military action in the Middle

East due to the current conflict with the Palestinians/ Philistines. Terrorist organisations have also called for the attack on USA citizens and USA’s assets across the globe.

This places Exxon ‘s assets offshore of Guyana at risk in what the Venezuelan’s see as the illegal taking of their resources.

This is not true, but we must consider the Venezuelan perspective and the risks it poses. By taking immediate action to bring the USA’s, the UK’s and the EU’s military to our border with Venezuela for military exercises with the GDF we can help prevent a larger military conflict with Venezuela and its allies (Iran, Russia, China and Turkey).

Guyana is in very close proximity to the USA, and our relationship with the USA is stronger than it has ever been before. We also have a strong relationship with Russia and China, but we must remember that Venezuela has a key resource in oil and each of the powerful countries mentioned would benefit from winning a military conflict that results in obtaining advantageous access to those resources. Therefore, pre-

venting Venezuela from taking military action is of utmost importance.

China is increasingly showing a willingness to start military action against the USA as seen in the conflict over Taiwan, and Russia is already at war with Ukraine (who is supported by the USA and their allies). This is why it is imperative that we take this preventive step and bring in military forces from our allies to our border with Venezuela. It will help prevent the further loss of our “sacrificial” territory and also prevent Venezuela from starting another theatre of military conflict that can escalate into a global war.

The previous presence of Russian submarines in the waters off the coast of Venezuela is a sign of what could occur if Venezuela is allowed to take military action that has to be responded to with force. Prevention is key to ensuring no such conflict occurs, and the best form of prevention is with increased military presence at the border that will deter Venezuela from invading.

We must act now!

With concern, Jamil Changlee

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023

06:00 (Sign on) Inspiration Time 06:30 Cartoons 07:00 Evening News (RB) 07:30 Cartoons 08:00 Stop Suffering 08:30 Stay Woke 09:00 Guy's Grocery Games 10:00 Grand Designs 11:00 Paternity Court 11:30 Divorce Court 12:00 News Break 12:05 Indian Movie - PK (2014) 14:35 The Tom and Jerry Show S2 E17 15:00 Indian Soaps 16:00 Sydney to the Max S1 E20 16:30 Austin & Ally S3 E4 17:00 The Young & The Restless 18:00 CNN 19:00 The Evening News 20:00 Love & Laughter 21:00 The Resident S4 E10 22:00 The 100 S6 E9 23:00 Queen of the South S1 E2 00:00 Sign off

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023

Foundation ◄

Page

Test Questions

Yue Lin Lee

pre-dawn: a quiet, warm kind of darkness. a wolf howls in the distance

In this fun friction science experiment, we are going to build a CD Hovercraft that will glide and buzz around by using airflow to reduce friction.

Materials:

A CD or DVD Duct Tape A birthday party balloon A pop-top cap from a bottle of dish soap

Instructions:

Centre the pop-top cap over the hole in the middle of the CD. Use the duct tape to secure the cap in place. Make sure your seal all of the

gaps airtight to prevent any air from escaping.

Push down on the pop-top cap to make sure it is closed.

Inflate the balloon. Twist the end to keep the air from coming out, but do not tie it closed.

Stretch the mouth of the balloon over the pop-top cap. Be sure not to let too much air escape from the balloon.

Adjust the balloon so it stands up straight and centred over the CD. Place you CD Hovercraft on a smooth surface and open the pop-top by pulling it up.

Give your CD Hovercraft a gentle push and observe what happens.

there - do you hear it? there an answer in the pale dark out of the susurration of trees.

How it works:

The airflow from the deflating balloon creates a cushion of air under the CD Hovercraft. This reduces friction and allows the CD Hovercraft to glide around until the balloon deflates.

Make this a science project:

Test different sizes of balloons.

Can you add things like fins to the CD Hovercraft to change its behaviour in any significant way? Try the CD Hovercraft on different types of surfaces. Test to see if the CD Hovercraft works on water. (sciencefun.org)

dogs, barking. a horse whuffles, stamps its feet. it is the first morning of all the mornings of the world. the steppes are waking from their slumber. close your eyes. listen. listen. do you hear it?

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt concerned about possibility of Venezuelan militants among migrants here – Pres Ali ...but says robust system in place to monitor movements

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s the influx of Venezuelan migrants here continues to grow, President Dr Irfaan Ali said that the Government of Guyana is concerned about the growing number of people from the Spanish-speaking nation here, especially the possibility of military ranks sneaking into the country.

During a press conference on Saturday, the Head of State pleaded with Guyanese to have faith in the Government’s efforts to bring closure to the border controversy matter with Venezuela, as this national effort is bearing fruitful results for a peaceful resolution.

However, President Ali acknowledged that there are more Venezuelans coming into Guyana on a daily basis after escaping harsh social and economic conditions in their country, in search of betterment here. But there have been concerns that amongst these migrants are fringe elements with ulterior motives.

“I would say that the possibility of that is of concern to us… But we have had a very robust system, in as far as possible, monitoring those who are entering [Guyana].

There can be cracks, but we

President Dr Irfaan Ali

onto. “So, we are striving to ensure we strike that important balance also,” he posited.

In recent weeks, Venezuelans have been entering Guyana’s territory in droves, fleeing harsh economic conditions in their homeland in search of betterment here. But the increased influx of Venezuelans in Guyana is sparking widespread public concern here especially as it relates to security given the heightened tensions between Guyana and Venezuela over the ongoing border controversy.

Only earlier this month, Police in Region One (BarimaWaini) intercepted two boatloads of Venezuelan migrants in local waters at Moruca.

They were incepted sometime around 18:30h at the

boat.

The two Guyanese boat captains told investigators that they were hired to transport these Venezuelans to Charity. This publication was told that the two captains along with the 19 Venezuelans were transferred to the Mabaruma Police Station, where they were processed and interrogated. The foreign nationals were slated to be deported.

Last month, another set of Venezuelan migrants arrived in Essequibo in three buses and made a stop in Anna Regina, where they disembarked and were reportedly processed by the Police.

Region Two Police Commander Khemraj Shivbarran subsequently told Guyana Times that the migrants were no longer in the region, but were transported to the North West District in Region One. In August, President Dr Irfaan Ali indicated that his Government is cautious of the possibility of foreign agents infiltrating the country under the guise of being migrants but noted that systems are in place to ensure the nation’s national integrity remains protected.

This same sentiment

Venezuelan migrants after arriving at Tuschen

are also using a lot of intelligence gathering to find out and to have a constant flow of information in relation to this. But that is something that I know we are monitoring – domain awareness, you know, understanding who is coming across the border who is coming,” the President noted.

According to Ali, he is very confident in the type of work that they are doing, especially in the face of these challenges. He noted that a lot of resources have been invested in and deployed to monitor border movements.

In the same breath, however, he reminded of international obligations and treaties that Guyana has signed

Moruca Waterfront area on November 2, 2023, when one of the vessels stopped to buy ration (groceries). At the time, Police officers intercepted the vessel and upon releasing that there were Venezuelan nationals in it, contact was made with the Divisional Headquarters in Mabaruma.

The officers were then informed that intelligence was received of two vessels transporting Venezuelans.

Based on that information, the Police officers teamed up with ranks from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and they went out into the Moruca River, where they intercepted the second vessel that was in the water awaiting the return of the other

was reiterated by the Guyanese leader during Saturday’s press conference.

Nevertheless, President Ali called on citizens to place their trust in the Government and rely only on official statements coming from the State through the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Guyana Defence Force.

The Head of State pointed to a great deal of fear-mongering and unease among the population.

He stated, “Exciting ourselves though sensational posting, some of it concocted to generate excitement, help to create an environment of uneasiness. I want to assure members of the public, every Guyanese, that the tireless

Venezuelans fleeing an economic crisis setting up a village in Guyana

work that we’re doing over the last couple of weeks is not only bearing fruit but has enabled us to strengthen our relationships with our partners.”

Round the clock, no efforts are being spared to enhance capabilities locally. First and foremost, the Administration is working on a plan to bring awareness to the population, educating about the controversy and the planned referendum.

Ali spoke on the intention to close the communication gaps in outlying areas as he explained, “That is where the communication and public awareness strategies come in. This is part of the strategy that we need to strengthen and pay a lot of attention to…

Information must be timely, relevant, accessible and con-

tinuous.”

The Guyana Defence Force has been utilising intelligence to monitor the borders and establish domain awareness. In annexing the Essequibo, Venezuela seeks to formally capture the Essequibo as part of its territory and incorporate it as a new state via a referendum to its population set for December 3, 2023. Ali has determined that no Guyanese citizen from the border should leave their home in fear.

“There is absolutely no reason to move from the anywhere. That is the type of fear-mongering that people are pushing on social media but there is absolutely no reason. The Guyana Defence Force is working very steadily and I am confident in their ability.”

He further assured, “I would say to residents that we are ensuring that we take all necessary steps and actions to ensure our territorial integrity and sovereignty is protected at all times, even after December 3. We are not taking anything lightly but we are confident that we will be able to have a situation where our territory is secured.”

In response to Venezuela’s December 3 referendum aimed at annexing Guyana’s Essequibo territory, the Guyana Government on Tuesday presented its case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) by urging the Court to not only protect Guyana’s rights but also its own authority, which Venezuela is trying to undermine. (G-8)

8 NEWS

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US-based man granted bail on gun possession charge R

egarding the accusation of unlawful firearm possession, a 52-year-old US-based man made a virtual reappearance before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts last week before acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus. He was given $150,000 bail.

Neil Dutchin was remanded to prison at his initial court appearance on October 11.

It is alleged that on October 8, 2023, at Church

Neil Dutchin

Street in Georgetown, he had in his possession a Taurus pistol without being the holder of a firearm licence.

Defence counsel Nigel Hughes filed a new bail request on Dutchin's behalf, arguing that his client should not be further detained since he continues to experience pain from a gunshot wound that was received years ago.

He said if Dutchin does not receive proper care, his health can be affected in the long run. Hughes stated that Dutchin must regularly see his doctor.

On October 8, 2023, Police ranks were on mobile patrol on Church Street, Georgetown, when they observed a black Toyota Tacoma bearing registration number GAD 8333 parked in the centre of Church Street between East and Cummings Streets, Georgetown.

The patrol ranks approached the vehicle and observed three men: Jiomide Moreno, a 40-year-old labourer, seated in the back passenger seat; Brian Rochan, a 31-year-old vendor, seated in the front passenger seat; and Dutchin, who was the driver inside the Tacoma.

The ranks asked the men to exit the vehicle, and a search was conducted on Moreno and Rochan, but nothing illegal was found.

One of the ranks proceeded to search Dutchin, and one black Taurus 9mm pistol with the serial number filed off and without ammunition was found in his crotch.

Dutchin was asked if he was the holder of a firearm licence, and he replied, saying “No”. Consequently, he was then told of the offence committed, cautioned and remained silent.

Unity…

T

…in the PNC

he PNC’s General Council met over the weekend.

Now, that’s very good news. Your Eyewitness – as you’d know, Dear Reader – has always been solicitous of the health of our major Opposition party. It’s supposed to be the Government-in-waiting according to our parliamentary system of governance. “Government in waiting”, innit?!! The PPP once waited for 28 years…but did eventually become the government!! Really reinforces your Eyewitness’s faith in our system!!

But it’s not your Eyewitness who counts in these matters, is it?? It’s those folks who gathered at Congress Place who’re gonna know how best their PNC can ease the PPP out from office – and slip themselves in!! And a heck of a lot of Guyanese would like to know the answer to that question. Would the PNC continue presenting themselves as a better alternative to the PPP through the programmes and policies they espouse?? Through selecting leaders who’re more credible than the PPP’s??

Or would they follow Desmond Hoyte’s “slow fyaah, mo’ fyaah” strategy by creating mayhem in the society? Kinda along the theme “If I can’t have her (the country) then I’ll make sure YOU can’t!!”

At the launch, the PNC General Council spokesperson took pains to emphasise that the main purpose was to ensure there was “unity” in the party!! So we gonna have to break down this cryptic statement to glean answers to your Eyewitness’s questions above. Right off the bat, we can point out that if the PNC gotta bring all these folks together to foster “unity”, this signals that this quality’s perceived by the leadership to be in short supply right now!!

And we know from all the pampasetting that this lack of unity’s due mainly to several ambitious individuals who wanna be leader of the party – because they think they’re better “suited” than Norton!! And we know who they are, don’t we? Norton was picked at the last Congress in Dec 2021 for one thing and one thing only – the movers and shakers felt he had the truculence (read “balls”) to confront the PPP in the streets. THEY didn’t want to do it, because that would’ve spoiled the suave image they cultivated!! And they figured since Norton already had the reputation as a street brawler, he had nothing to lose.

But they read Norton wrong…he insisted on demonstrating his truculence by refusing to shake Pres Ali’s hand – and stayed clear of the streets!! So, here we have it – a bunch of aspirants to LFS’ seat who figure if Norton ain’t gonna play Hammie’s old thug role but try to imitate the founder leader, they had better credentials – measured tones and middle-class education – and might as well challenge him!!

But this doesn’t foster “unity”, does it?? …but no struggle?

But any aspirant to LFS’ seat gotta be au fait with the founder leader’s philosophy. As a socialist, he harked to Lenin’s dictum from “What Is To Be Done?”: “Before we can unite and in order that we may unite, we must first of all draw firm and definite lines of demarcation.” So what are those lines of demarcation, wanna-be leaders?? Just raw ambition?? These new aspirants would know that ultimately that wasn’t enough – even for LFS!!

But the socialists of yore had another take on the issue – this time from Mao Tsetung who advised: “Unity is the aim of struggle; struggle is the means to unity”.

So was the PNC General Council Meeting all unity and no struggle? Hopefully, it wasn’t and a date for the next Congress was set where the aspirants could duke it out in the elections (read struggle!) for leadership. Can’t be left for “next year” since it’s due next month.

Can’t have all unity and no struggle, can we?? …in top spots The results for the CSEC and CAPE exams are out. With our burgeoning economy, these become more critical since they’re stepping stones to qualifying and replacing furriners in the top jobs!! Topping the Caribbean’s a good sign!!

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

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

NEWS

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

President blasts US ‘fact-finding’ mission for lack of objectivity – says communication with Chairwoman went ‘blank’ after sending reports on elections – former AFC MP debunks claims made to mission at Linden meeting

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he 14-member fact-finding mission from the United States (US) that is investigating claims of racism in Guyana, has been called out by President Dr Irfaan Ali for its lack of objectivity, with the President further making clear his goal of ensuring everyone benefits from Guyana regardless of their demographic.

During a press conference on Saturday, President Ali confirmed that he had previously been in contact with the Chairwoman of the fact-finding mission, former Georgia House Representative Dee Dawkins-Haigler.

“The Chairperson of the fact-finding mission did make contact with me when I was in the US. She did communicate with me and I said to the Chairwoman of this mission that the basis of your press release is fundamentally flawed. And has to be influenced by some actors who have a particular agenda. And I then proceeded to send to her every single report.”

Among the reports Ali revealed he sent were the Commission of Inquiry (CoI), European Union (EU) and Organisation of American States (OAS) reports on the elections. According to him, however, the communication between him and DawkinsHaigler went blank.

“I then invited her to examine the three branches of Government. To examine our house lot allocation programme. She then told me that this seems to be like the problem they face in the

President Dr Irfaan Ali

United States. Of propaganda and mistrust. But she never corrected that press statement, which I found to be very dishonourable.”

“Then, like an open book the cover was blown open.

They arrived here and what we saw? We saw that their entire handling was prearranged by the Opposition.

They were picked up by Roysdale Forde. And guess what? The agenda mysteriously does not take them across the country. It takes them to a handful of people.”

Fact checking

The President pointed out that the ‘fact-finding’ mission could have gone and checked with the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) to see if reports of discrimination have made their way there. He noted that for the mission to issue a statement mischaracterising Guyana as being overshadowed by discrimination,

based on mere reports, is irresponsible.

Ali questioned whether the group would examine the hundreds of Community Service Officers (CSOs) and Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) workers who were fired. He also questioned if the group would examine the distribution of house lots under the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, versus the house lots being distributed now.

“How many roads were built in Buxton? Go to Barakara, let the people tell you. This isn’t magic… I want the report to list all the roads done in the last three years. And list all the roads done in the five years… who shut down the bauxite industry? In 1992 they shut it down. The PNC. We came back. We rebuilt. We got an investor to come back and invest. We gave the sub-

The ‘fact-finding’ mission being addressed by PNC’s Deron Adams during its Linden meeting

sidies and invested in the community.”

“They came in five years, chased the investor. Hundreds of jobs lost in Region 10. We brought the investor; they couldn’t keep the investor. The call centre we built in Linden, they shut it down. More than 100 people sent home. I want a report on the structure of the two Cabinets. Don’t go far.

Go in Parliament. I want a report on the structure of different departments and agencies.”

Linden

Soon after their arrival in Guyana, the fact-finding mission had met with leaders in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

However, some of the issues raised during that meeting is facing push back from former Alliance For Change (AFC) parliamentarian Audwin Rutherford.

During a video broad-

cast bringing together AfroGuyanese who debunked the mission’s narrative, Rutherford said that claims made during the meeting of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government denying the people of Linden a broadcast station were patently false.

He recounted that there was a 15-member committee composed of People’s National Congress (PNC) members who were supposed to make a decision on having the station, which ultimately failed to reach a consensus. Further, Rutherford noted that there are questions of accountability when it comes to money for this station.

“There was a golden opportunity for this station to be a community-based station. How can they now look the people in the eyes and lie? You cannot change the facts. To tell the people this was denied them by the

PPP. They had a full chance.

And what the public should know too, in addition to the mismanagement administratively, there were equipment that monies were voted for, for that very station.

What was done with that money?”

“And you in the public, you should look at your leaders. You voted for them, you put them in office, but ask them. Where was the monies voted for that project? Why were they not able to sit and say, you know what? Let us have, whoever would lead the committee.

And progress to have the station as a people station,” Rutherford said.

The fact-finding mission was also accused of bias by a group of New Amsterdam residents, following a meeting the mission held there.

According to one resident, the mission appears to be led and influenced by the PNC. (G-3)

10 NEWS Small business owner is UG Berbice Campus’ Best Graduating Student ...seize the moment, don’t wait for opportunities to fall in your lap – Pres Ali tells graduates T MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

hirty-six-year-old Feryal Khan, a small business owner from East Canje, Berbice, is the 2023 Best Graduating Student for The University of Guyana, Berbice Campus (UGBC).

Khan completed a Bachelor of Science in Management which is offered by UG’s School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI) with a GPA of 3.95, giving her an edge for the coveted prize.

“I am elated and extremely honoured to be awarded this title. My hard work, dedication to my studies and ability to persevere through all the challenges were certainly worth it. I have made my mom proud and I am certain, had my father been alive, he would have been one proud dad,” Khan said when asked to describe her feelings about being named the Best Graduating Student of the UG Berbice Campus.

Khan is the youngest of three children to her parents, Hallima and her deceased father Fajir Khan. She attended the Cumberland Primary School and then went on to complete her secondary education at the Berbice High School (BHS) where she was named her school’s Best Graduating Student for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams in 2004 and Best Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examination (CAPE) student in 2005.

She resides with her

Veteran cricket commentator Joseph “Reds” Perreira addressing the gathering after being conferred with an Honorary Doctorate of Laws for Excellence in Sports and Civic Engagement

76-year-old mom, who is an ardent Muslim. “My father was a hire car driver who plied the Georgetown to Berbice route for some twenty-six years and my mom was a small business owner prior to retiring. My parents always made sure our home was comfortable and conducive to studying and my father ensured that all of his children must attain a university education,” she said.

Like many of her colleagues, Khan said she faced many challenges but was able to overcome them as she was determined to be successful. “Having to attend classes in the online dispensation meant working via WhatsApp groups, and scheduling late

night Zoom meetings to plan presentations and work on assignments,” she said.

For the past 16 years, Khan has been operating a small business, which she indicated has worked out well for her as it provided the flexibility to pursue her academic dreams. She explained that the programme she studied at UG helped her to understand the different business concepts and she was able to apply these to improve her own business.

According to her, her overall experience at the University of Guyana was “enriching, rewarding and offered insights into different perspectives. In addition, it allowed me to not accept is-

Best Graduating Student at the Berbice Campus, Feryal Khan and her family

sues at face value but rather it built on my ability to critically think and analyse for myself”.

Khan, in her advice to other persons desirous of pursuing tertiary education said: “Always fight for what is right, what is fair and what is just even if it means standing alone. Go after your dreams even if it seems impossible.

The University of Guyana Berbice Campus has made this journey possible for me and it is also there for others too.”

ly special as the University is proudly celebrating its Sixtieth Anniversary under the theme “Consistently We Rise, Changing the World in Infinite Ways”.

Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali, who had addressed the graduates in a video presentation, urged them not to wait for opportunities to fall into their laps but to aggressively go after them. The President stated that it is no one else but themselves who hold the key as to whether they succeed or fail.

knowledge and skills that they have acquired.

Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin during her address related that about 70 per cent of the graduates are the first in their family to attend a tertiary education.

“While we recognise that other institutions contribute to the eventual success of our students - from their birth onwards - however, the education and exposure at the University of Guyana is

One of the graduates walks the stage to collect her certificate on Saturday

However, almost 200 students of the UG Berbice Campus walked the graduation stage on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at the University Lawns, Tain Campus.

During the convocation ceremony at Tain on Saturday, Veteran cricket commentator Joseph “Reds” Perreira was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate of Laws for Excellence in Sports and Civic Engagement. In addition, Legendary Test Cricketer Rohan Kanhai was virtually conferred with an Honorary Doctorate of Laws for Excellence in Sports and Civic Engagement.

This year’s Convocation Ceremonies are extreme-

“In this world you would you would find two types of persons, those who sit and wait for opportunities to come their way and those who go out and aggressively seek those opportunities. I encourage you to stride boldly into the future; be the masters of your destiny and shapers of your future.”

He also encouraged them to embrace challenges and form them into opportunities for upliftment. “Step forth boldly and seize the moment rather than waiting for opportunities to fall in your lap.”

Further, Education Minister Priya Manickchand also delivered a virtual presentation, and challenged the grandaunts to utilise the

what sets them on a path of critical success in their adult lives. That success is not confined to the student but has a ripple-multiplier effect on the families, communities, and nations who hold hope for them and who they are expected to enrich through their work, attitudes, and investments,” the Vice Chancellor noted.

She continued that the University of Guyana owes an irredeemable debt of gratitude to those who conceptualised and valiantly fought to bring the dream of UG to life in challenging local and international conditions over 60 years ago.

(Andrew Carmichael)

NEWS

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WPA urges Govt to set up Venezuelan border task force, reach out to traditional partners – lauds PPP/C Govt for putting issue on front burner T he Working People’s Alliance (WPA), in expressing support for the priority the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has accorded to the Venezuelan border controversy, has also urged the Government to set up a bi-partisan Venezuelan border task force.

In a recent statement, the party noted that Venezuela’s aggression against Guyana is an “existential threat to Guyana’s inalienable rights”, which must be dealt with on several fronts. One such front is adopting a proactive national approach transcending partisan considerations.

“WPA does not promote an end to domestic political contestation, but we appeal for an enlargement of the political space for joint action in pursuit of an overarching national response to Venezuela,” the party said.

“Towards that end, WPA urges an overtly national response by the Government and other stakeholders to what is now clearly a permanent problem—one that would not cease to exist even after the ICJ rules in

The Working People’s Alliance

our favour.”

The party urged the Government to set up a Venezuelan border task force, which would be in charge of fashioning and implementing a strategy and would include members of the National Assembly from both Government and Opposition, representatives of the executive and experts with the relevant skills.

“Second, WPA feels very strongly that the Government, with the support of the National Assembly, should consid-

er calling a counter-referendum in Guyana with the clear intention of affirming Guyana’s territorial integrity and our country’s commitment to a just, legal, and peaceful resolution to the issue.”

“In addition to the above, the referendum should serve as a medium for popular education and mobilisation of the popular mass of Guyanese citizens. “Not a blade of Grass” must become more than a slogan— it must be a guide to sensible action,” the WPA further

“Timely intervention” – GCOPD on one-off bonus payment for PWDs

P

resident Dr Irfaan Ali and his Government have received praise from the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD) for the recent announcement of a one-off $35,000 cash bonus payment for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

A total of 19,000 persons on the public assistance register stand to benefit from this. The monies will be paid out next month.

“The cash grant is a timely intervention because we know that almost every day when you go to the supermarket or you go to the market, the price of food goes up. The cost of living for the past year, two years, has been on an upward trajectory,” GCOPD’s Programme Manager Ganesh Singh stated on Friday last on the sidelines of the launch of the second phase of the organisation's Orientation and Mobility programme for the blind and visually impaired.

He explained that while people with disabilities are "feeling the squeeze" like everyone else, it's more acute for them because most of them are jobless.

“So their disposal income is very, very limited. This cash grant during Christmas will definitely go a far way in helping

GCOPD’s Programme Manager Ganesh Singh

those persons to not just get their daily needs for everyday survival but at the same time get some of the things associated with Christmas.”

"I want to say thank you to the President for ensuring that persons with disabilities are one of the beneficiaries of this programme," Singh remarked, expressing gratitude to the Head of State for this gesture.

Among other benefits, people with permanent disabilities receive monthly financial help until they are eligible for pensions. Additionally, the Government offers free assistive devices to promote their involvement in routine job, school, and life activities.

President Ali announced one-time bonuses earlier this month for a number of

citizen groups, including public service employees, pensioners, and those with disabilities.

All public employees and pensioners will get a $25,000 one-time bonus starting in December 2023.

Approximately 67,000 public employees will gain from this, including teachers, employees of semi-autonomous organisations, and members of the Disciplined Services.

Meanwhile, a total of 72,000 pensioners will benefit. “These one-off bonus payments will benefit almost 160,000 persons and increase their disposable income by over $4.1 billion,” the Head of State said.

There will be more announcements from the President about public servants' pay hikes.

said.

Another recommendation made by the Government was for the implementation of shuttle diplomacy to the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Commonwealth and the Organisation of American States (OAS).

“WPA urges the Government and people of Guyana not to simplistically harbour the view that our allies and friends would automatically stand with us. All countries act first in pursuit of their national interests. Guyana must therefore be intentional and purposeful in winning over traditional friends and allies to our cause,” the party said.

On September 21, 2023, Venezuela’s National Assembly passed a resolution calling for a referendum regarding Venezuela’s unsubstantiated claim to two-thirds of Guyana’s territory. Subsequently, the National Electoral Council of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela issued five questions to be asked in the national referendum.

Among the questions, all of which are intended to further Venezuela’s unlawful and unfounded claims, questions three and five are the most detrimental. Question three seeks to ratify Venezuela’s “historical position of not recognising the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice” as the final and binding means of settlement while question five brazenly seeks the approval of the Venezuelan people for the creation of a new Venezuelan State in Guyana’s Essequibo region, which would be incorporated into the national territory of Venezuela, and the granting of Venezuelan citizenship and identification cards to the population.

Guyana went to court to seek an injunction against the most problematic questions on the referendum, presenting its single round of oral arguments to the Court on

Tuesday, November 14 and Venezuela presented its case on Wednesday. The president of the Court has indicated that the Court would provide its decision to the parties as soon as possible.

Other steps have been taken.

On November 6, Guyana’s National Assembly unanimously passed a motion reaffirming the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and condemning Venezuela’s referendum.

The passage of this motion followed extensive meetings between President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, as the Government and the Opposition presented a united front on an issue of national importance.

In 2018, Guyana applied to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), requesting that the Court confirm the legal validity and binding effect of the 1899 Arbitral Award regarding the boundary between the then British Guiana and the United States of Venezuela.

The application also sought to affirm that the 1899 award was a “full, perfect, and final settlement” of all questions related to determining the boundary between the colony of British Guiana and Venezuela.

(G-3)

12 NEWS

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 20

Scenes from Gu

023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

uyExpo 2023

NEWS

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14 NEWS

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Miss Nicaragua wins Miss Universe 2023 in history-making competition

Miss Universe 2023 Sheynnis Palacios during her first walk

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iss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios has won the title of Miss Universe, capping off a year of firsts for the competition.

Palacios, 23, a mental-health activist and audiovisual producer, became the first woman from Nicaragua to win the crown at Saturday night’s pageant in San Salvador, El Salvador. The organisation shared on Instagram that the new winner copes with anxiety and launched a TV segment called “Understand Your Mind,” in which she interviews experts in emotional care.

"Nicaragua, I feel you in my heartbeat, the sound of your marimba runs through my veins," she wrote on Instagram prior to the competition. "I will show what Nicaraguans are made of: valour, courage and determination."

Last year's winner, Miss Universe and Miss USA R’Bonney Gabriel crowned Palacios. Miss Thailand Anntonia Porsild was named runner-up and

Miss Australia Moraya Wilson placed third.

Multiple other contes-

tants made Miss Universe history at the 72nd event, hosted by Olivia Culpo,

After winning the Miss Colombia title, she posted portraits of herself in

first body-inclusive contestant and finished in the top 20.

“I love my curves! My body is my temple and I will take care of it as holy ground,” she wrote on Instagram, sharing a photo of herself from the swimsuit competition.

For the first time, the pageant included a Miss Pakistan, Erica Robin, who wore a pale-pink, floor-length caftan for the swimsuit competition.

“When I was young, I always watched Miss Universe and I used to believe that a woman from Pakistan couldn't join the greatest Olympics of its kind,” she wrote on Instagram after winning the Miss Pakistan title and celebrated “being able to use my platform for good change and transformation.” (USA Today)

Miss Colombia Camila Avella and her family

Plus-size contestant, Miss Nepal Jane Dipika Garrett was the pageant’s first body-inclusive contestant

Maria Menounos and Jeannie Mai. Miss Colombia Camila Avella, a married mother, made the top five.

Miss Pakistan Erica Robin wore a pale pink, floorlength caftan for the swimsuit competition

Final three: Miss Thailand Anntonia Porsild (1st runner-up): Miss Australia Moraya Wilson (2nd runner up) and Miss Universe 2023 Sheynnis Palacios

her crown and sash, hugging her young daughter, Amelia, and tux-clad husband Nassif Kamle.

“Without them, and without the teachings that leave me each day to day, none of this would be possible,” she wrote on Instagram at the time.

2023 was the first year married women were allowed to compete.

Plus-size contestant Miss Nepal Jane Dipika Garrett was the pageant’s

Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios being crowned

by Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel

Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios

NEWS

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

City Council issues removal notice to roadside vendors I

n compliance with a recent court order, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council have served roadside vendors operating along Water, Commerce, and Longden Streets with notices to vacate. These notices were dispatched a few days after Muneshwers Limited obtained a High Court order mandating that the city clears the pavement and streets around its Lots 9 and 10 Water, Commerce, and Longden streets premises of any encumbrances. Vendors are required by Section 10 of the City Government ByLaws and adopted under the Municipal and District Councils Act to remove all pallets, trays, tables, mannequins, barrels, cartons, and other encumbrances from pavements and streets immediately. Failure to comply with the notice will result in the Council removing the items. “Resultantly, a storage fee of not less than $20,000 will be applied to all items removed by the Council. Items not retrieved after one month

Chief Justice (AG) Roxane George, SC

from the date of removal will be sold or disposed of by the Council. The Council looks forward to your cooperation,” warned the notice. Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, on November 3 issued an order of mandamus directed to the City Engineer to carry out the duty stated in the By-Laws 10 (2) for the enforcement of By-Laws 10 (1) of the City Government By-Laws enacted under the Municipal and District Councils Act Ch 28:01 in relation to the removal of anything whatsoever left, placed or stored such as to encumber the pavement or pavements and street situate around the said property. Failure to comply

Vending along Water Street

will constitute contempt of court proceedings being brought against the city.

On October 27, Muneshwers had moved to the High Court requesting an order against the encumbrances, arguing that for over 15 years its operations had been proliferated by pavement vendors in the city of Georgetown and more so in front of its business.

Through its lawyers, Muneshwers submitted that several letters were sent to the Mayor and City Council complaining about the occupation and or en-

cumbrance of the pavements but to no avail.

The company further pointed out among other facts that the encumbrance of the entrance to its store and pavement over the years had caused the persons and customers who traverse the pavement to be greatly inconvenienced as at most times the vendors occupy most of the pavement and now part of the street. “There was and continues to be a loss of revenue as a result since customers avoided the store since the blockage of the street and pavements

Muneshwers Limited’s store at Water Street, Georgetown

instilled the fear of being robbed,” Muneshwers argued in its judicial review application.

As a result of the loss of business, the company said it was forced to lay off several employees, and the congestion attracted pickpocketing and robbing of customers and members of the public.

On occasions, the company contended that the

congestion was used as a cover to sell illegal substances such as cocaine and marijuana. Further, it contended that pedestrians found it difficult to access the pavements to their property without having to pass through the varying articles.

Muneshwers was represented by attorneys K A Juman-Yassin and Teni Housty.

Paragon Energy bringing custom-built trucks to Guyanese market

P

aragon Energy, a 100% Guyanese company, is bringing custom-built trucks and trusted products to the Guyana market as part of efforts to provide better products and services locally and contribute to the overall development of Guyana.

The company has started by offering two custombuilt SinoTruck models: the 6x4 (Valkarie Series) and the 6x6 (Megatron Series), both developed in response to the needs and conditions locally and used in the construction and aggregate industry. The 6x4 model has the capacity of 45 tonnes of payload while the 6x6 has a capacity of 56 tonnes.

“As a local company, we believe it is necessary to support the development in our country. As such, we at Paragon Energy are proud to be the only company in Guyana offering custombuilt trucks from our supplier in China with a three chassis system, extra springs at the front and back, inch and a half steel body, custom seats and specially-tuned engines,” Paragon Energy’s Business Development Manager Alexander DeFreitas said.

The units are also 100% manual so there are no fault codes or equipment failures expected. The custombuilt trucks do not have other issues faced by the other trucks in the market, including computer box failures.

The trucks were recently launched at MovieTowne, Turkeyen, Georgetown.

Further, DeFreitas highlighted, “We are so confident in our product and the performance of our equipment that we offer a one-year warranty programme, bumper to bumper. Within that period, if anything fails, we replace it immediately.”

That level of service and commitment features prominently for all other products offered by Paragon Energy.

Those products include: lubricants, tires and equipment.

For lubricants, Paragon Energy represents and distributes Arabian PetroleumArizol and AMCO’s product line. These lubricants are for diesel lubricant lines and work with engines, transmissions, gearboxes and hydraulic systems. That means Paragon Energy offers lubricants for every application in the mining, transportation

Two of the custom-built trucks that are being offered at Paragon Energy

and marine sectors. They also offer lubricants for gasoline applications in their Atlantic and Shell lines.

Paragon Energy’s tire lines are of the Annarite brand, and come with a one-year or one million miles warranty, another show of confidence in their products by the company.

The tried-and-tested products are backed by Paragon Energy’s incompa-

rable commitment to exceptional service. The team is readily available, 24 hours daily, to produce rapid support as necessary. If a client’s equipment needs servicing at 10pm on a Sunday night, the services required will be offered.

Looking ahead, Paragon Energy wants to do more to support the growth of Guyana. Resultantly, the company is hoping to estab-

lish a truck assembly factory right in Guyana. That venture will benefit significantly from the Government’s plans to lower the cost of energy by 50% through the forthcoming Wales gas-to-energy project; and will provide an opportunity for the building of local skills and capacities and broaden opportunities in the job market.

DeFreitas noted that Paragon Energy is current-

ly engaged in robust negotiations with its partners in China to bring a test sample of trucks to be built from chassis to a complete working unit here to Guyana.

Through this venture, Chinese engineers and other technical specialists will be in Guyana to train Guyanese. This is important because Paragon Energy believes in transferring skills and knowledge to Guyanese.

16 NEWS 10 Kokerite families receive keys to new homes MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– 33 solar panels also distributed to residents

Minister Croal and PS Kuppen along with residents who received solar panels

T

en families at Kokerite, Region One (Barima-Waini) can now enjoy the security of comfortable homes and bid farewell to the constant risk of flooding, thanks to the Hinterland Housing Programme.

The families received the keys to their new elevated timber homes from Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal and Permanent Secretary Bishram Kuppen during a simple ceremony on Saturday.

Also present were the Regional Vice Chairperson,

Annansha Peters, and Senior Hinterland and Building Works Engineer at the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Cy Rodrigues.

The homes are 20x25 feet, 3-bedroom units.

Each is also equipped with a trestle and tank for rainwater harvesting and an external sanitary facility. The Hinterland Housing Programme is executed through CH&PA and stands as a testament to the Government's commitment to addressing the housing needs of vulnerable communities.

During a flood relief

exercise in Kokerite last year by Minister Croal, it was reported that some 34 families in the vil-

One of the houses that were handed over on Saturday

lage living along the riverbank are flood-affected.

The Minister at the time pledged to construct these

homes as part of permanently relocating residents in the flood-prone areas.

The selection of the ten families in most dire need was a collaborative effort between the Village Council and residents.

Materials were sourced from within the region, as well as persons to construct the homes.

The families conveyed their contentment with the homes, expressing joy at the enhanced safety of their households.

Additionally, the Minister and his team also spearheaded the distribution of 33 solar panels to households in the community.

Residents during the handing over ceremony

Govt hands over $1.9M ATV to 47 Miles – to improve emergency response, administrative operations

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esidents of 47 Miles in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) will now have a faster response to medical emergencies and see greater output by the administrative council, after receiving a new $1.9 million all-terrain vehicle (ATV).

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai handed over the four-wheeler to the Community Development Council’s (CDC) Chairman, Maylene Couchman on Thursday last.

Couchman expressed her appreciation for the fulfilment of the request made on behalf of her community.

Minister Sukhai during her visit to the village

“For our village, we do not have an ambulance so our emergencies will go out to Linden by private vehicle but now that we have

the ATV, we will be able to go and meet the people instead of the people coming and meet us…We will be able to go and get them, bring them out and it will be faster for them to seek medical attention.”

CDC Secretary

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai handing over the new vehicle to the CDC Chairman Maylene Couchman

Murtland Simmons also noted that because of his

$1.9 million ATV handed over to 47 Mile Village

experience as the community’s former ambulance driver, he is happy that the ATV will improve emergency response in the village.

“If they have to go to the river to check on any patient out there, we should be able to move around the health worker…Also because we have people travelling from place to place when they get into an accident we have to go and give some support to them.

So, it will be very useful for us,” Simmons disclosed.

A resident, Arthur

Bowen, shared similar sentiments, noting that the vehicle is timely and will effectively support the daily operations of the village.

Meanwhile, Minster Sukhai expressed satisfaction in fulfilling her promise and encouraged the Village Council to utilise the ATV to ensure that everyone benefits.

“The ATV is for the use of the administration of this council so that they can work with the people, they can be able to reach the people. The ATV will be useful in emergencies.”

NEWS

17

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Berbice woman allegedly raped, murdered after leaving bar – nude body found in bushes with 10 stab wounds

By Andrew Carmichael

T

he nude body of a woman was on Sunday discovered on a vacant plot of land at Experiment New Housing Scheme, West Coast Berbice (WCB), Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

The dead woman has been identified as Daniele Charles, 48, a labourer employed with NDC Drainage and Irrigation Department of Number 30 Village, WCB. Based in reports received, the Police received reports that the body of a woman was seen in a clump of bushes at Experiment New Housing Scheme.

Upon arriving at the scene, Police found the woman’s naked body lying face up. A multi-coloured top with bloodstains, a pair three-quarter denim pants, a bra and underwear were found next to the body. The pants, bra and underwear were cut open the Police said.

A used condom and wrapper were found next to the woman’s feet and wrapped-up tissues were found between the deceased legs.

Upon further inspection, a total of 10 stab wounds were seen on the woman’s body - six to the abdomen, one to the left side breast, two to the throat, and one to the centre of the chest.

Police say the woman is suspected to have been killed between 03:23h and 12:10h on Sunday.

Charles was reportedly seen consuming alcohol at a popular bar at Bath Settlement, WCB, with her relatives and a male and female friend. At about 20:00h on Saturday evening, the rel-

The cordoned off area where the body was found

Murdered: Daniele Charles

atives left the bar, leaving Charles in the company of her friends.

Charles’ son Yeukini Joseph, told investigators that at about 03:23h on Sunday morning, his mother called him and enquired if he was okay. In response, he told her that he was fine and in turn asked her if she was okay, but the phone got disconnected.

He attempted to call her back, but the phone was turned off. The young man stated that during the telephone call, the background was quiet, which meant his mother had already left the bar.

The area in Experiment New Housing Scheme where the body was discovered only has 11 houses. Residents have expressed concern over Sunday’s brutal murder.

One such resident, Devika Adams said she was asleep in a hammock when she heard persons on a lorry raising an alarm.

“They say ‘you all come out, everybody come out’, so I looked and I see they come out of the truck and stand up.

When I go, I saw a woman ly-

ing dead on the ground in the bushes.”

Phillis Hendrix, who has been living there for one month now, remains shocked as does the rest of the small community.

“It is very hard for us to live with this after today. We have to be on the lookout from now on. This place is a new area that now opened and vehicles would be passing there day and night. We don’t know who would be passing in the night and day,” the woman said.

Another resident, Venita Parrandass, told this publication that she doesn’t feel safe in the community she recently moved into. According to the woman, she along with other members of the community have made reports to the Police, inviting them to visit the community to deal with a particular situation but they never visited. Police are continuing their investigations.

Only recently, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) reported that despite an overall reduction in serious crimes from January 1 to November 13, 2023, there has been an in-

EBD man wins Toyota Raize in GBTI’s "Dream Big" Promotion

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hirty-year-old Rajendra Khelawan a customer of Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Providence branch on Sunday evening drove off with a brand new 2022 Toyota Raize that was up for grabs in the bank’s ‘Dream Big’ Housing promotion.

Two other customers Nankishore Rambarran and Rajiv Benny won Mastercard Credit cards.

The drawing took place at GuyExpo, in front of the GBTI booth, visible on a large screen before a sizeable crowd.

More than 100 other customers from across the country were entered in the promotion after being approved for a loan to buy, build or renovate their homes between July and October, 2023.

Business Development Manager, Rawattie Mohandeo related that the bank understands that the single most significant investment one can make is owning their home which is why the bank offers

Rajendra Khelawan in his brand-new vehicle

competitive interest rate and as low as 5 per cent down payment.

“It is not too late,” she said, “start getting your plans together and next year you could be part of a similar promotion.”

An excited Khelawan related that he came to the drawing with the aim of driving home the vehicle. He said he did his research and realized that the rates at GBTI

were the best and applied for his home.

When he applied for his home, he also learnt of the promotion and while he was fixed on getting his home started, his eyes were also on the prize.

“This saves me a lot because I would have had to get a vehicle. If you’re a young professional, I would say to you start building now don’t wait and GBTI makes it easy for you,” he said.

creased in the number of murders throughout the country.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, the Force’s Deputy Commissioner – Law Enforcement, made this revelation on Wednesday during the launch of the annual Christmas Policing Plan.

The Crime Chief disclosed that a total of 133 murders were recorded so far this year compared to 108 for corre-

sponding period in 2022.

“The number of murders in Guyana increased by 25 [to 133] in the year 2023 when compared to the previous year, which is 108. In total, male victims amounted to 69.1 per cent while 30.9 per cent of the victims were females,” he stated.

According to the Crime Chief, the Police Force is particularly concerned about the

high murder rates in the country, especially as it relates to disorderly killings by persons who take the law into their own hands.

In fact, the statistics show that 64 of the murders recorded this year were disorderly in nature.

“Despite there being a reasonable decrease when compared with the previous years, it has been the most prevalent type of murder for this period,” he stated.

Blanhum further outlined that over the past five years, domestic-related murders peaked to an all-time high at 40 this year. This, the Crime Chief explained, was due largely to the May 21, 2023 Mahdia School Dormitory Fire in which 19 female students and a five-year-old boy were killed. A teenager has since been charged for these deaths.

18

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Argentina elects 'shock Road fatalities up 9% as T&T marks World Day of Remembrance therapy' libertarian Javier Milei as President T A rgentina elected right-wing libertarian Javier Milei as its new President on Sunday, rolling the dice on an outsider with radical views to fix an economy battered by triple-digit inflation, a looming recession, and rising poverty.

Official results showed Milei with near 56 per cent versus just over 44 per cent for his rival, Peronist Economy Minister Sergio Massa, who conceded in a speech. The result once again caught pollsters off guard who had predicted a closer race.

In downtown Buenos Aires hundreds of Milei supporters honked horns and chanted his popular refrain against the political elite – "out with all of them" – as rock music played from speakers. Some people set off fireworks as excitement spread.

"We came to celebrate this historic triumph," said Efrain Viveros, a 21-yearold student from the province of Salta. "I'm honestly ecstatic. Milei represents change, for the better.

With Massa we'd have had no future, our future has returned."

Massa in a speech said he had congratulated Milei and said the libertarian now needed to show his readiness to rule. "From tomorrow the responsibility of providing certainty belongs to Milei," he said.

Milei is pledging economic shock therapy. His plans include shutting the central bank, ditching the peso, and slashing spending, potentially painful reforms that resonated with voters angry at the eco-

Supporters of Argentine presidential candidate Javier Milei celebrate the results of Argentina's runoff presidential election, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, November 19, 2023 (Reuters/Cristina Sille photo)

nomic malaise.

"Milei is the new thing, he's a bit of an unknown and it is a little scary, but it's time to turn over a new page," said 31-year-old restaurant worker Cristian as he voted on Sunday.

Milei's challenges are enormous. He will have to deal with the empty coffers of the Government and central bank, a creaking US$44 billion debt programme with the International Monetary Fund, inflation nearing 150 per cent and a dizzying array of capital controls.

Some Argentines had characterised the vote as a choice of the "lesser evil": fear of Milei's painful economic medicine versus anger at Massa and his Peronist party for an economic crisis that has left Argentina deeply in debt and unable to tap global credit markets.

Milei has been particularly popular among the young, who have grown up seeing their country lurch from one crisis to another.

"Perhaps not everything Milei says I agree

with or can identify with, but he is our future," said Irene Sosa, a 20-year-old student celebrating outside his election bunker.

"Milei represents a future for young people like me, Massa was everything that is wrong with our country."

Milei's win shakes up Argentina's political landscape and economic roadmap, and could impact trade in grains, lithium and hydrocarbons. Milei has criticised China and Brazil, saying he won't deal with "communists," and favours stronger US ties.

Despite that, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva wished Milei luck and success after the result was announced, adding that it was important democracy was respected.

Former US President Donald Trump congratulated Milei and said the libertarian would make Argentina great again.

Leftist Colombian President Gustavo Petro, meanwhile, said it was a "sad day" for the region.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Shakira stands trial for alleged tax fraud

S

hakira is to stand trial in Barcelona today to face charges that she failed to pay 14.5 million euros (US$15.74 million) in Spanish income tax between 2012 and 2014.

The “Hips Don't Lie” Colombian megastar, who also has a second tax fraud investigation pending with Spanish authorities, has vowed to fight what she called false accusations.

Shakira says she had paid what the tax office said was owed before it filed a lawsuit, and insists she was not living in Spain during the period as her work led to a "nomadic life".

She rejected a settlement offer from the prosecutor's

office to close the case and is expected to testify today in the first of 12 hearings scheduled until December 14.

The prosecutor's office is seeking an up to eight-year prison term and to claim back the taxes it says she owes.

It alleges that Shakira spent more than half of each of the years in question in Spain and was, therefore, ordinarily resident in the country. It also says that a Barcelona property she bought in May 2012 served as a family home.

Shakira, 46, lived with former Barcelona and Spain soccer star Gerard Pique for 11 years and the couple have

two children. The singer, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, moved to Miami after their separation.

Spanish authorities have pursued other major celebrities over tax evasion including soccer players such as Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, Argentina's Lionel Messi and Brazilian-Spanish player Diego Costa. All settled and paid large fines.

However, Spain's Supreme Court last month upheld the acquittal of Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso in another tax case.

Alonso had refused to settle and eventually won at trial.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

he year 2023 has seen an increase of nine per cent in road traffic fatalities and the statistic has officials concerned as the country inches closer to Christmas. It comes after a decade which saw Trinidad and Tobago as the only country in the Caribbean region and western hemisphere to have achieved a 50 per cent reduction in road traffic deaths between 2011 and 2020.

Scores of walkers and riders showed up on Sunday morning for the annual event which started 30 years ago. Among them, family members of road fatality victims, many of whom carried banners with the faces of their late loved ones. Others wore jerseys printed with images of those they lost.

Minister in the Ministry of Works and Transport, Richie Sookhai, who was in attendance, announced during his speech that those seeking provisional licences will now be able to apply online.

It is a move supported by President of Arrive Alive, Sharon Inglefield.

"We want to see that

A banner showing the faces of past road accident victims, carried by members of Citizens Against Dangerous Driving, during the annual Walk & Ride around the Queen's Park Savannah, in observance of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, on Sunday (Ryan Bachoo photo)

happen ASAP,” she told Guardian Media. “We want to see more education in the schools. We want to see the Police out there enforcing the speed limit – the speed limit in particular around the Savannah, our highways and our main roads.

Speed is number one killer."

Minister Sookhai said in 2024, through the work of the recently-reconstituted National Road Safety Council spearheaded by

the Ministry of Works and Transport, considerable attention will be placed on the implementation of road safety public education initiatives.

"The National Road Safety Council has also formulated a draft National Road Safety Plan which lays the foundation for strategic intervention to reduce road fatalities and serious road traffic accidents," he said. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Jamaican Government's J$100M debt forces funeral home to stop some burials

P

resident of the Jamaica Association of Certified Embalmers and Funeral Directors, Calvin Lyn has stopped burials of unclaimed bodies, as he awaits news on the estimated J$100 million owed to nine Governmentcontracted funeral homes by the Ministry of National Security.

Lyn also told the Jamaica Observer that other contractors across the island have shared word that they, too, are refusing to carry out pauper burials. Lyn, the proprietor of Lyn's Funeral Home, said that the stance comes as a result of the lengthy wait

as the nine contractors are said to be owed monies for work done over the last six years.

Lyn's Funeral Home is the Governmentcontracted funeral home for Manchester.

Lyn said that this refusal has caused a "backlog" in the burial of unclaimed bodies. Up to mid-November, Lyn said that he had 20 unclaimed bodies waiting to be buried.

"The position is that the contractors across the island would have a backlog.

I represent the vast majority of contractors except two, and the information I have is that the backlog at the moment concerns the

paupers or unclaimed remains," Lyn said.

"To my knowledge, most of the contractors are not carrying out any burials even though we get the instructions, because we do not know who is going to pay us — we can't work for nothing," he added.

Lyn, while arguing that the monies owed should have been paid over a long time ago, told the Sunday Observer that he has made attempts to get an update from the Ministry of National Security and its agency, the Institute of Forensic Science and Legal Medicine (IFSLM).

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

US$150M upgrade for Barbadians

G

overnment will be spending US$150 million to improve the lives of Barbadians.

The money, which will come from the Saudi Development Fund, will be spent on improving water-borne facilities, better housing, the construction of two new polyclinics, while upgrading several others, as well as the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley made those promises on Saturday during a press conference at the Grantley Adams International Airport following her return from the inaugural Saudi ArabiaCaricom Summit.

“The Saudi Development Fund has been very active with individual members of the [Caricom] community.

We put forward a number

of projects and I am happy to report that we have reached an agreement on US$100 million funding for a major project on urban renewal.

“This is to allow us to be able to deal with the provision of water borne facilities, proper housing and the provision of proper infrastructural services in urban communities that have been ignored. . . .”

(Nation News)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023

19

Around The World

Israel-Hamas hostage deal edges OILNEWS OIL NEWS closer despite fierce fighting in Gaza H Russia removes gasoline export ban as domestic market stabilises

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ussia has lifted its gasoline export implemented in midSeptember, citing a supply surplus of some 2 million metric tons, Reuters reports.

The lifting of the export restrictions follow a similar move to suspend restrictions on diesel exports by pipeline during the first week of October. Reuters cited the Russian Energy Ministry as saying on Friday that domestic market saturation had been ensured over the past two months, creating a surplus of motor gasoline.

The Ministry said it could reimpose export bans if that surplus vanished.

Russia restricted diesel and gasoline exports on September 21 in an effort to stabilise domestic fuel prices in the face of soaring prices and shortages as crude oil rallied and the Russian rouble weakened. Prior to implementing the bank, Russia had raised mandatory supply volumes for motor gasoline and diesel fuel to deal with a supply crunch.

The ban on diesel was lifted on the condition that at least 50% of producer supplies went to the domestic market. Russia’s diesel exports had been redirected from the European Union following the bloc’s embargo in February this year, to markets in Turkey, the Middle East, Africa and South America.

In the meantime, Russia will continue its voluntary oil output cuts through the end of this year in coordination with OPEC+; however, the gasoline and diesel bans had made that commitment more challenging.

Data from the first week of November showed that Russia’s seaborne diesel exports had fallen by 11% in October, compared to September.

According to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Russia’s gasoline and diesel bans were “partly the result of efforts to protect domestic fuel prices from the vagaries of the market, and partly a consequence of Government infighting.

It’s also a stark demonstration of how the stresses of the war in Ukraine are revealing themselves in unexpected places.”

Also on Friday, the Russian State Duma (Parliament) formally reinstated damper payments subsidies to oil refineries, Reuters reported, in an effort to further encourage sales on the domestic market over higher-priced exports. (Oilprice.com)

amas gunmen battled Israeli forces trying to push into Gaza's largest refugee camp on Sunday, but despite the fighting US and Israeli officials said a deal to free some of the hostages being held in the besieged enclave was edging closer.

About 240 hostages were taken during Hamas's deadly cross-border rampage into Israel on Oct 7, which prompted Israel to invade the tiny Palestinian territory to wipe out its ruling Islamist group after several inconclusive wars since 2007.

Israeli tanks and troops stormed into Gaza late last month and have since wrested control of large areas of the north and northwest and east around Gaza City, the military says.

But Hamas and local

witnesses say militants are waging guerrilla-style war in pockets of the densely urbanised north, including parts of Gaza City and the sprawling Jabalia and Beach refugee camps.

Even as fighting raged on the ground, Israel's ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, said in an interview on ABC's "This Week" that Israel was hopeful a significant number of hostages could be released by Hamas "in coming days".

Reuters reported on Nov 15 that Qatari mediators had been seeking a deal between Israel and Hamas to exchange 50 hostages in return for a three-day ceasefire that would help boost emergency aid shipments to Gaza civilians, citing an official briefed on the talks.

At the time, the official

A Palestinian child looks out from a tent following a rainfall, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, November 19, 2023

said general outlines had been agreed but Israel was still negotiating details.

On Sunday, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told

a press conference in Doha that the main obstacles to a deal were now "very minor", with mainly "practical and logistical" issues to surmount. (Excerpt from Reuters)

'Waves' of Russian drones attack Kyiv for 2nd night in a row

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ussia has launched several waves of drone attacks on Kyiv for the second night in a row, the city's military administration said.

Serhiy Popko, head of the administration, said Ukraine's air defence systems hit around 10 drones in Kyiv and its outskirts.

No "critical damage" or casualties have been reported, he said.

Meanwhile, Russian authorities said a Ukrainian

drone heading for Moscow was shot down on Saturday.

The Defence Ministry said the un-crewed aircraft (UAVs) was intercepted over the Bogorodsky District on the north-eastern outskirts of the capital.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said there was no damage or casualties.

Sunday's air raids against Ukrainian targets follow a wave of attacks the night before, with Kyiv saying it had shot down 29 out of 38

Iranian-made Shahed drones launched by Russia.

The BBC is unable to independently verify exactly how many drones were launched and destroyed.

On Saturday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky praised his air force for shooting down the UAVs - the highest number reported to have been launched by Russia in more than six weeks.

Friday night's drone strikes caused power cuts in more than 400 towns and vil-

lages across Ukraine and also damaged an oil depot in Odesa in the south - leaving more than 1500 residents without power.

Ukraine said nearly 21,000 people in the Donetsk region have no electricity, and 63 settlements are cut off in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Last winter, Russian attacks left millions of Ukrainians without power for hours in freezing temperatures. (Excerpt from BBC News)

UN plastic treaty talks Japanese troops drill grapple with re-use, on island seen as Yemen's Houthi rebels hijack cargo recycle, reduce debate vulnerable to China ship in Red Sea A J

Y

emen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels say they have seized an Israeli cargo ship in the Red Sea. They said the vessel was then taken to a port in Yemen.

Israel said the ship was not Israeli, and no Israelis were among its crew. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said this was "another act of Iranian terrorism".

Iran has not commented.

Houthis had threatened to hijack Israeli ship within their reach over Israel's war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The Houthis have fired several missiles and drones towards Israel just after Israel launched its retaliatory operation.

The US said at the time that all the missiles and drones were intercepted by its warship in the Red Sea. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) described the attack on the ship - which it did not

name - as a "very grave incident of global consequence".

The IDF said the vessel was on its way from Turkey to India when it was seized in the southern Red Sea near Yemen.

Although Israel says the seized vessel does not have any connection with it, unconfirmed reports suggest the ship may have an Israeli owner.

In Sunday's statement on social media, Netanyahu said that Israel "strongly condemns the Iranian attack against an international vessel".

He said the ship was owned by "a British company and is operated by a Japanese firm", adding that "25 crew members of various nationalities including Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Filipino and Mexican" were on board the ship. (Excerpt from BBC News)

third round of United Nations negotiations to try to deliver the world's first treaty to control plastic pollution has drawn more than 500 proposals from those involved, participants said on the last day of the talks on Sunday.

Negotiators, who have spent a week meeting in the Kenyan capital at talks known as INC3, have until the end of next year to strike a deal for the control of plastics, which produce an estimated 400 million tonnes of waste every year.

The plastics industry, oil and petrochemical exporters, including Russia and Saudi Arabia, have said a global deal should promote recycling and re-use of plastic, but environmental campaigners and some governments say much less needs to be produced in the first place.

Environmental group Greenpeace said a successful deal would require the United States and the European

Union to show greater leadership than they have so far.

"The hard truth is that INC3 has failed to deliver on its core objective: delivering a mandate to prepare a first draft of a treaty text," Graham Forbes, head of delegation for Greenpeace, said.

Two more rounds of talks will take place next year to try to finalise the deal.

One of the most popular proposals was from Switzerland and Uruguay to hold more discussions on curbing harmful polymers and chemicals of concern.

It had the backing of more than 100 states, said the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), a global network of non-governmental organisations.

Less than 10% of plastic waste is recycled, the UN Environment Programme says, while at least 14 million tonnes end up in oceans every year, the International Union for Conservation of Nature says. (Excerpt from Reuters)

apanese marines in amphibious assault vehicles stormed an island beach at the edge of the East China Sea on Sunday in a simulated attack to dislodge invaders from territory that Tokyo worries is vulnerable to attack from China.

As tensions run high with neighbours China, Russia and North Korea, the drill on the southwest island of Tokunoshima capped an 11day series of exercises nationwide dubbed 05JX, meant to show the readiness of ground, sea and air forces to defend Japan's territory and infrastructure, including nuclear power plants.

"The goal of JX is to show that if there is an emergency situation resulting from an attack, that we are able respond in a joint way," General Yoshihide Yoshida, chief of staff of the Self-Defence Forces' Joint Staff, said after observing the drill on Tokunoshima.

China's Defence Ministry

could not be reached on Sunday for comment on the Japanese drills.

Ground Self-Defence Force amphibious assault vehicles launched from two Maritime Self-Defence Force landing ships anchored offshore. Other troops arrived in semi-inflatable rubber boats, with heavy equipment carried to shore on military hovercraft.

Unlike many of the beaches along Japan's southwest island chain stretching toward Taiwan, the one on Tokunoshima does not have a coral reef that would make military operations more difficult.

The scope and pace of military exercises in Japan are likely to increase over the next few years, including with US forces, after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in December unveiled the country's biggest military buildup since World War Two, with a pledge to double defence spending over five years. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Do your best to keep up with technology. Take the initiative and stand out by using your skills uniquely and trying to finish what you start quickly, effectively and efficiently.

(March 21-April 19) Don’t hesitate to go after what you want. It’s up to you to open doors if you want to move forward. An opportunity is a phone call away; reunite with someone who has similar goals.

PICKLES

(April 20-May 20) Self-improvement projects will boost your morale and push you to get involved in events or pastimes that bring you joy and encourage you to expand your interests and revisit friendships.

(May 21-June 20) Discipline, experience and the help of knowledgeable people will get you where you need to be. Get involved in a group effort A creative attitude will lead to financial gain.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 22)

Be careful whom you trust. Listen and observe. Concentrate on gathering information that will help you reach your goal. Refuse to let someone rope you into something that benefits them, not you.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Take control and refuse to let anyone use emotional tactics to slow you down. Put your energy into pursuing your dreams. The fastest way to positive change is to take care of unfinished business.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Tell it like it is. Share your thoughts, wants and needs. Look for intriguing ways to grab someone’s attention, and it will encourage positive change. Be good to yourself and others.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Take time to direct your energy efficiently. Refuse to be rattled by changes made by others. Choose a creative outlet that will lift your spirit and encourage you to make life-altering changes.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Don’t reveal secrets. Choose words that reflect neutrality, kindness and innocence. It’s up to you to control the situation. Keep an open mind but do what’s best for you. Stick to the truth.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Keep life simple and prioritize consistency. A creative, innovative idea will encourage growth and positive change.

Put your energy where it counts and live in the moment. Kindness carries weight.

LAST PUBLISHED WORD -- DECISION

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Let others do as they please while you follow the most suitable or sustainable path. Take care of your needs instead of trying to please everyone else.

Use your intelligence and insight.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Don’t stop midway. Finish what you start and promote what you have to offer. The sky is the limit if you follow your heart instead of giving in to pressure and outside influences.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023

21

Gold is Money, Young Buxton, Den Amstel regain Gunners, Hard Knocks 2nd place with wins through to quarter-finals D KFC Elite League Cup…

H

ard Knocks, Gold is Money, Young Gunners and YMCA kept their unbeaten streak alive in the ExxonMobil Futsal tournament, following Friday night’s action at the Retrieve Hard Court in Linden.

Hard Knocks, led by the unstoppable John Waldron's five-goal rampage, dominated Fearless with a 16-2 victory.

Marley Major and Shavanne Seaforth added hat-tricks to the goal-fest, while Omar Brewley, Kevin

A glimpse of the action in the ExxonMobil Futsal tournament

Beaton, and Clive Nobrega chipped in with a goal each as Hard Knocks clinched their spot in the tournament's quarter-finals with style.

Gold is Money, eyeing that tempting $1 million winner's purse, thwarted DC Ballers with a 6-2 win.

Joel Isaacs and Calvin Drakes each scored twice, and Kenard Simon joined the party with another pair of goals.

DC Ballers managed to sneak in a couple, thanks to Nicholas Gentle, but Gold is Money stood their ground.

Young Gunners show-

Australia beat...

KL Rahul endured, but was scarcely unable to unfurl either, even though he did break a 97-ball sequence without a boundary by lobbing Maxwell over his shoulder through fine leg for four, the longest such barren spell for any team in this tournament other than Netherlands, and India's longest between overs 11-50 since 1999.

But on 66, he and the lower order came face to face with another threat that India's own seamers would be forced to do without. In preparing a visibly dry and abrasive deck for this final, the curators had opened the possibility of reverse-swing, and few teams have more eager exponents than Australia.

Starc, from round the wicket, straightened an unplayable delivery into Rahul's edge and through to the keeper.

Though Ravindra Jadeja is renowned as a scrapper in such circumstances, his promotion to number six could not contend with Hazlewood's

FROM PAGE 23

similarly late movement.

After surviving one review for caught-behind, he succumbed to the very next ball for six, at which point, India's easy progress to the final fully caught up with them. With no situational experience to fall back on – and no pace in the wicket with which to access his inverted V from fine leg to deep third – Suryakumar Yadav ground out 18 from 27 before lobbing Hazlewood to the keeper, by which stage he'd faced just five balls out of a possible 17 in his ninth-wicket stand with Kuldeep Yadav.

Kuldeep and Mohammed Siraj kept the innings alive to the final ball, but the mood within the stadium was never able to emerge from its funk.

Australia had come with a plan, and the sure knowledge of what it truly takes to win the biggest title in the sport.

Ahmedabad turned blue alright, but only with a wistful sense of what might have been. (ESPNcricinfo)

cased their prowess with an 8-2 victory over Coomacka.

Kamar McLean and Demall Warner stole the spotlight with their hattricks, while Rodensio Tudor added a delightful double to the scoreboard.

YMCA unleashed an 11-1 drubbing on Golden Stars, with Jonah Simon netting seven goals and Kevin Gettins securing a hat-trick.

As the tournament heated up, the final group-stage matches took place Sunday evening, setting the stage for an electrifying quarter-final round scheduled for Wednesday.

en Amstel and Buxton United Football Clubs executed brilliant defensive tactics to secure victories on Friday night in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)-KFC Elite League Cup. In an exciting double-header, Den Amstel claimed victory over Ann’s Grove with a 4-3 scoreline, while Buxton United triumphed over Milerock with a solid 2-0 win at the Eve Leary Sports Ground in Kingston, Georgetown.

In the first match, Den Amstel struck early, netting a stunning goal by Dontee McAulay in the ninth minute.

Ann’s Grove managed to level the score in the 24th minute, and the teams ended the first half evenly matched.

The second half saw Ann’s Grove taking the lead with a goal by Shemar Beckles in the 60th minute. However, Den Amstel bounced back with an impressive strike from Keanu Laurence two minutes later, followed by a third goal

by Gideon Payne in the 84th minute.

In the 89th minute, Justin Herod from Ann’s Grove netted a goal to equalise the score for the second time. However, the team’s hopes were dashed as Laurence scored a second goal at the 90+1-minute

A look at the ecncounter between Buxton United and Milerock FC

mark, securing Den Amstel's victory.

In the second match, Buxton United were focused and determined to clinch victory, netting one goal in each half. Striker Lennox Odean scored in the 26th minute, and despite Milerock's efforts to equalise, Vormount Munroe sealed Buxton's victory with a final goal in the 81st.

In Group A, the Guyana Defence Force lead with a flawless winning streak, notching up three straight wins for a total of nine points.

Buxton United are in second place, securing nine points from four games, with three victories and one loss.

Santos Football Club hold steady in third place with six points, while both Fruta Conquerors and Milerock have earned one point each.

In Group B, the Western Tigers dominate the leaderboard, claiming the top position with a perfect record of three wins and nine points.

Den Amstel are hot on their heels in second place, also tallying nine points from three wins and a single loss.

The Guyana Police Force have the third spot with six points from three games, boasting two wins and one loss while Ann's Grove United take fourth place and Victoria Kings complete the table in fifth place.

The championship’s victors will walk away with a cash prize of $1.5 million, while the second-placed team will bag $1 million. The third and fourth-placed clubs will each receive cash prizes of $500,000 and $250,000, respectively.

Bounty Colts, Ravens and Kwakwani Untouchables bag wins

T

he inaugural “One Guyana” Basketball Tournament continued on Saturday, November 18, at the National Gymnasium with three games, in which Bounty Colts, Ravens and Kwakwani Untouchables secured wins.

Bounty Colts Captain Quacy Lindo started the day’s proceedings by leading his team to a victory against the winless Leonora D-UP Rising Stars, with their shooting accuracy giving them the lead in the first quarter with 25 points.

The Colts’ dominance continued in the second quarter, as they showcased their dribbling and passing skills by scoring 23 points, taking their score to 48 points, while their opponents were limited to 12 points and 30 total at the end of the second quarter.

The Stars’ defence was not tight enough to prevent the Colts from penetrating on many occasions in the third quarter as they bounced their total to 74 points while the Stars scored 10 points, to put their total at 40 points.

In the final quarter, the

Colts destroyed the Stars’ chances of reaching the next round as they scored eight points for a final score of 85 points, with their opponents making 47 points overall.

In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sports, the Bounty Colts Captain emphasised the inclusion of younger players in the team and the level of fitness going into the other rounds of the league.

“I feel good after the win and to be honest, it was an unexpected win and not to be too boasty, but you know we expected this win. We wanted to give some of the younger players a chance to play this game to see how they mesh with the older team and so coming down later into the tournament, we would see a fit team to play the final and semi-final,” he said.

In the second game, coming off a loss in their previous game against the Pacesetters, the Kwakwani Untouchables showcased their ability to swish the ball from the threepoint line as they annihilated the Mambas with the scoreline reading 21-18.

The Bounty Colts

The Kwakwani outfit embraced their very fast style of play as they went up in the first quarter of the game to score 21 points while their opponents scored 18.

The second quarter was no different, as the Kwakwani squad, deemed tournament favourites, scored 25 points, while their opponents failed to put the ball through the net consistently – scoring just nine points to take their total to 22 points.

The third quarter also belonged to the Untouchables, who put the ball through the

net for 18 points, although the opposition much improved with the difference between the teams being one point.

The Untouchables secured the win in the final quarter, scoring 16 points to racket a total of 80 points at the end of the game, while the Mambas scored 13 points for a total of 57.

Coming off a loss, the Ravens, in the night’s final game, showcased their class as they managed to trounce the GDF to win the game 70 points to 57 points.(Omar Mckenzie)

22 Cricket Ombudsman warns WBCA prior to elections A GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023

ccording to reports, Cricket Ombudsman Malcom Peters has issued a notice to the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), as well as a few associations, regarding the electoral process for the West Berbice Cricket Association (WBCA).

The notice was sent via letter, addressed to Carol Nurse, Secretary of the WBCA and former President David Black.

According to the letter, the WBCA is set to host its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on November 26

at the Fort Wellington Secondary School.

However, the tenure of the WBCA ended in January 2021, making the body null.

In accordance with the 2014 Guyana Cricket Administration Act (GCAA), all clubs and associations must be verified prior to an electoral procedure.

In addition, the notice highlighted BCB President Hilbert Foster’s recent social media announcement that the Board will be holding elections on December 17, at the St Francis facil-

Cricket Ombudsman Malcolm Peters

National Chess Championship Qualifiers…

Khan, Pitamber, Sandiford lead the charge into final day

ity, Rose Hall.

Should the WBCA and the BCB host their respective elections, it would be without compliance with provisions and regulations of the GCCA and by extension the Guyana Cricket Ombudsman.

Thus, actions will result in the processes being deemed illegal, null and

void with no effect, according to the letter sent by the Ombudsman.

Read below the full letter to the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB): “It has been brought to my attention that Ms Carol Nurse, purporting to be Secretary of the West Berbice Cricket Association (WBCA), has served notice to several clubs in the West Berbice area stating that she has been directed by the President of the WBCA to call elections of the WBCA on Sunday, November 26, 2023 at the Fort Wellington Secondary School.

Please note that the tenure in office of both Ms Carol Nurse and Mr David Black, the purported Secretary and President respectively of the WBCA ended in January 2021.

Therefore, they have no authority to summon a meeting or call elections of the WBCA.

It must also be noted that in accordance with the provisions and regulations of the Guyana Cricket Administration Act 2014 (GCAA), all Clubs and Associations must be verified before elections are held.

Additionally, it was brought to my attention via a Facebook post by Mr Hilbert Foster, President of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), that elections of the BCB will be on December 17, 2023 at the St Francis Facility at Rose Hall Town, Berbice. The office of the Ombudsman was not informed of these elections.

Should any of the above-mentioned elections (WBCA and BCB) be held without compliance of the provisions and regulations of the GCAA and the participation of the Guyana Cricket Ombudsman, they will be deemed illegal, null, void and of no effect.”

MVP Sports U11 girls tournament…

Marian Academy, St John's, West Ruimveldt win big on Day 1 Second to fourth place will cart off $100,000, $75,000 and $50,000 for the same purpose. Additionally, the top four teams will receive $100,000, $50,000, $50,000 and $50,000 in sports gear.

Teams placing fourth to eighth in the competition will also receive $25,000 in sports gear.

The presentation of the sponsorship cheque by Ram and McRae

D

ay three of the ongoing Ram & McRae National Open Chess Championship Qualifiers saw some major upsets in the expected progression of the tournament at the National Stadium.

In round five, 13-yearold Sachin Pitamber defeated long-time senior player Justino DaSilva, who resigned when he realised the ominous threat of two connected passed pawns gaining strength and marching to promotion, sealing his demise.

In the same round, Junior Champion Keron Sandiford bounced back after defeating his senior counterpart Gilbert Williams. He lost his round four game to fellow junior Ethan Lee. After a fourhour battle against veteran Errol Tiwari, Lee claimed victory when the senior player exceeded his time control.

Round five also saw 15-yearold Alex Benjamin draw his game with the experienced Rashad Hussain.

By round six, young Pitamber had battled his way to Board 1 to face off against Candidate Master and former National Champion Taffin Khan. Khan maintained an advantage throughout the game after winning a pawn and proceeded to victory. On Board 2 of that round, Benjamin went head-to-head with Lee, but could not add to his score. Lee built an advantage from the inception, chipping away at Benjamin’s pieces to secure the point.

Sandiford on Board 3 claimed victory against Hussain, whose game was even until the end game, where Hussain, outdone by Sandiford’s end-

game prowess, resigned after losing a pawn.

CM Khan maintains his lead with six points, Lee is on five, while Pitamber and Sandiford are on 4.5 points.

Roberto Neto is on four points after losing to Khan in round five and being unable to play in round six. Justino DaSilva and Gilbert Williams are on four points. Senior player Loris Nathoo, who made a comeback after losing to Sandiford in round three, is also on four points. Rolex Alexander, who missed round one, is also on four. Hussain, Benjamin, Kim Shing Chong, Shiv Nandalall and Saeed Ali are on 3.5 points.

The tournament sponsor, Ram and McRae Chartered Accountants was on hand to present the sponsorship cheque to the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF). In a short ceremony, the firm’s Accounts Manager, Felicia Hack handed over the cheque to the Federation’s Company Secretary, Marcia Lee. Ram & McRae Attorney-at-Law Christopher Thompson spoke on behalf of the company, expressing the view that since chess is a relatively inexpensive sport, infrastructure was mostly in place for promoting the game in schools across Guyana, not just on the coastal plain. Thompson emphasised that hinterland communities must be included in this expansion and urged collaboration with the Ministry of Education. He further expressed that Ram & McRae was happy to sponsor this and similar events in the foreseeable future.

GCF President Anand Raghunauth confirmed that

chess has been introduced at Dolphin Secondary School, St John’s College, Richard Ishmael Secondary School, and St Joseph High School, with Queenstown Secondary to be included soon, as part of their curriculum by the Ministry of Education through its Allied Arts Division in collaboration with the Federation. GCF-certified teachers are attached to these institutions and so far, almost 500 students have been introduced to chess and are receiving further instruction.

Ram and McRae Managing Partner Christopher Ram observed he was a past student of Dolphin Secondary School and was gratified that his alma mater was part of the initial rollout. In his address to the tournament players, he reminded young players of the importance of strategy and committing fewer mistakes as practice becomes routine. Ram’s view was that despite the outcome, both players were winners, as both could take away a positive experience, either from outright victory, from learning from mistakes made, or from exposure to new methods of play.

President Raghunauth thanked Ram and McRae for its contribution to the development of chess in Guyana.

He went on to emphasise the importance of chess to the minds of young and old alike and the benefits that chess could bring to individuals, schools and the community at large.

The final games, rounds seven and eight, were scheduled to be played Sunday, November 19 at the same venue.

A scene from the MVP Sports tournament’s first day of competition on Saturday

F

ierce rivalries were birthed at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground on Saturday when the seventh edition of the Petra-organised MVP Sports Girls’ Under-11 football tournament commenced.

With the tournament taking on a straight knockout format, the little ladies had all to play for, with some close encounters witnessed.

First off, Tucville Primary edged Smith’s Memorial Primary 1-0. Wolette Griffith found the back of the net in the 32nd minute to seal Tucville’s win.

At the same time, Potaro Primary were executing a 2-0 victory over FE Pollard Primary. Alesha Gonsalves struck first in the 15th minute, while Reniese Joseph scored in the 38th minute for Potaro.

St John the Baptist Primary had a field day when they came up against Genesis Primary in the following game.

Shemia Hing led the charge for St John the Baptist with a hat-trick in the 4th, 15th and 37th minutes. Neisa Lewis found the back of the net in the sixth minute, while Jaziah Rodrigues struck in

the 17th for the 5-0 win.

Next, West Ruimveldt Primary defeated St Aloysius Primary 4-0. Ariel Farley netted the second hat-trick of this year’s tournament, in the 4th, 5th and 15th minutes, while Thea Valentine added the fourth goal to West Ruimveldt’s tally in the 40th minute.

During the following game, Marian Academy had another scoring party, defeating One Mile Primary 5-0.

This time, Skylar De Nobrega was the leading lady, netting four goals for Marian in the 14th, 33rd, 38th and 40th minutes.

Chrissyanne Persaud found the back of the net once in the 24th for the 5-0 win.

In the final game of the day, defending champions North Georgetown Primary overcame a fierce test from Friendship Primary. After a stalemate at the end of regulation time, North Georgetown prevailed 2-1 on the account of penalty kicks.

The MVP Sports tournament will continue next Saturday at the same venue. Teams are playing for a $150,000 grand prize that will go towards a school project of the winners’ choice.

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023

23

Australia beat ‘invincible’ India to win 6th ICC World Cup title

– as Travis Head scores brilliant 137 to end India’s winning streak

I

ndia may be where the heart of the game now resides, but the coolest head in cricket has once again been shown to be Australian. Travis Head, to be precise, who set up his side's record-extending sixth World Cup victory with a triumphantly-paced 137 from 120 balls in Ahmedabad, but whose most significant contribution arguably came some six-and-a-half hours beforehand, with one of the most match-turning catches in One-Day International (ODI) history.

What might have been for these two teams had Head not held onto a steepling, sprawling take, running backwards into the covers to saw off India's Captain, Rohit Sharma, in his prime?

Australia's eventual target of 241 would have been significantly higher, no doubt, and to judge by the ferocity with which India's newball bowlers clawed at their opponents in the powerplay – with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami inevitably to the fore – there would have been all the more opportunities for their chase to have toppled off its tightrope.

Instead, Head held on, and in so doing, he applied a handbrake to a runaway innings that would never be fully released. On Rohit's watch, India had racked up 10 fours and three sixes in blazing along to 80 for 2 in the first powerplay. Once he'd gone, India mustered just four more fours, and 160 more runs, across the next 40 overs. It meant they were unable to post a total big enough to mitigate against the inevitable onset of dew – the prima-

ry reason why Pat Cummins had risked letting Rohit and co set the agenda in the first place.

And so Australia's victory came at a canter in the end, with six wickets standing and a huge 42 balls unused – a margin that would have been greater still but for Head's dismissal to the penultimate ball of the chase.

Undeterred, Glenn Maxwell pulled his first ball for two to take his side through to a victory target which – as fate

At 47 for 3 after seven overs, with Steven Smith inexplicably failing to review an lbw from Bumrah that was shown to have struck his pad outside off, Australia were in the thick of a do-or-die tussle against two of the most outstanding performers of India's previously peerless campaign.

David Warner, in what may turn out to be his final ODI innings, had scuffed Shami's first legitimate delivery to Virat Kohli at slip for 7, having fenced his own

formidable winners in the world game. Every man in Australia's XI played his part in sucking the marrow from a contest that, to judge by the sea of blue in the Narendra Modi Stadium's stands and the expectant attendance of the eponymous PM himself, had been intended as a coronation. Instead, the closing hour of the match was greeted in stunned silence by a 92,453-strong crowd, and nothing epitomised the sense of national anticlimax quite

their early breakthroughs.

All of which made Rohit's shortlived onslaught all the more brave, selfless even, as he shouldered the entire responsibility for India's powerplay proactivity, particular-

would have it – was the exact total that England and New Zealand had been unable to split by conventional means four years ago.

But that ease at the finish told nothing of the jeopardy that had preceded it.

first ball of the innings (from Bumrah) past the same fielder's boot for four, and with Mitchell Marsh's attempt to hit the quicks off their lengths ending in a loose cut through to the keeper, the crowd had found its full voice for the first time in the game.

But Marnus Labuschagne, retained in Australia's starting XI despite the sense, mid-tournament, that he and Head were competing for a solitary berth, showed the value of his Test pre-eminence with an indomitable sidekick's role of 58 not out from 110 balls.

Over by over, run by run, he and Head extended their crucial fourth-wicket stand of 192, seeing off pace and spin alike until, at some indefinable moment around the 20th over of the chase, the bite in a two-paced wicket was replaced with the even-sprayed skid of the long-promised dew.

When Bumrah returned for the 28th over for a last roll of the dice with Australia beginning to accelerate away on 148 for 3, he was greeted with three flayed fours from Head, either side of an excruciating umpire's call appeal for lbw against Labuschagne that felt like final proof that India's hope had gone.

Ultimately, it was a clinical and ruthless passion-killing display from the most

like the trophy lift itself, for which Cummins was left forlorn on the podium for a full 20 seconds before his team were able to join him after accepting their handshakes away from centre stage.

Not that the lack of in-situ acclaim will derail Australia's sense of achievement. As Head's pivotal catch would ultimately prove, the tone for their victory was once again set in the field. As had been the case in the semi-final against New Zealand, the 37-year-old Warner was their barometer, flinging himself with gusto to cut off numerous boundary balls, but while Rohit was on deck, it seemed that Cummins' brave decision to bowl first might get soon overwhelmed, like so many opponents before them, by India's extraordinary weight of strokemakers.

Instead, he backed his bowlers to complete the job they had started in their extraordinary tournament opener in Chennai, where India's top three had all made ducks in slumping to 2 for 3, only for their sub-par target of 200 to be picked off with ease. This time, the dew notwithstanding, he figured the pressure of the big occasion might weigh more heavily in the first innings than the second – especially if his attack could make

ly against Josh Hazlewood, the instigator of that Chennai collapse. In the manner of his charging down the pitch to meet his hard lengths, there were shades of Sachin Tendulkar's pre-emptive attack on Glenn McGrath in the 2003 final … except on this occasion it seemed, briefly, to be working.

But then came the unequivocal moment of the match - an act of fielding majesty that stood immediate comparison with Kapil Dev's running catch off Viv Richards at the pivotal juncture of the 1983 final. Rohit had already slammed 10 runs in two balls from Maxwell's second over, when he stepped into another slap over the long-off boundary, and miscued high out into the covers. Head tracked back from point with the ball skewing high over his shoulder, and with his eyes never leaving the prize, timed his dive to perfection to cling on with both hands.

It will go down as a seminal World Cup moment.

Australia had still been battered for 80 runs in the first powerplay – the joint-most conceded in that phase of the first innings of a World Cup final – but now they sensed their chance to turn the contest on its head. Two balls later, Cummins, into his second

SCOREBOARD India (50 ovs maximum) Rohit Sharma (c)c Head b Maxwell 47 Shubman Gill c Zampa b Starc 4 Virat Kohli b Cummins 54 Shreyas Iyer c †Inglis b Cummins 4 KL Rahul †c †Inglis b Starc 66 Ravindra Jadeja c †Inglis b Hazlewood 9 Suryakumar Yadav c †Inglis b Hazlewood 18 Mohammed Shami c †Inglis b Starc 6 Jasprit Bumrah lbw b Zampa 1 Kuldeep Yadav run out (Labuschagne/Cummins) 10 Mohammed Siraj not out 9 Extras (lb 3, w 9) 12 TOTAL 50 Ov (RR: 4.80) 240 Fall of wickets: 1-30 (Shubman Gill, 4.2 ov), 2-76 (Rohit Sharma, 9.4 ov), 3-81 (Shreyas Iyer, 10.2 ov), 4-148 (Virat Kohli, 28.3 ov), 5-178 (Ravindra Jadeja, 35.5 ov), 6-203 (KL Rahul, 41.3 ov), 7-211 (Mohammed Shami, 43.4 ov), 8-214 (Jasprit Bumrah, 44.5 ov), 9-226 (Suryakumar Yadav, 47.3 ov), 10240 (Kuldeep Yadav, 49.6 ov) • DRS BOWLING O-M-R-W

Mitchell Starc Josh Hazlewood Glenn Maxwell Pat Cummins Adam Zampa Mitchell Marsh Travis Head

10-0-55-3 10-0-60-2 6-0-35-1 10-0-34-2 10-0-44-1 2-0-5-0 2-0-4-0

Australia (T: 241 runs from 50 ovs) David Warner c Kohli b Mohammed Shami 7 Travis Head c Shubman Gill b Mohammed Siraj 137 Mitchell Marsh c †Rahul b Bumrah 15 Steven Smith lbw b Bumrah 4 Marnus Labuschagne not out 58 Glenn Maxwell not out 2 Extras (b 5, lb 2, w 11) 18 TOTAL 43 Ov (RR: 5.60) 241/4 Did not bat: Josh Inglis †, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c),Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood Fall of wickets: 1-16 (David Warner, 1.1 ov), 2-41 (Mitchell Marsh, 4.3 ov), 3-47 (Steven Smith, 6.6 ov), 4-239 (Travis Head, 42.5 ov) • DRS BOWLING O-M-R-W Jasprit Bumrah 9-2-43-2 Mohammed Shami 7-1-47-1 Ravindra Jadeja 10-0-43-0 Kuldeep Yadav 10-0-56-0 Mohammed Siraj 7-0-45-1

Travis Head walks off after his fantastic 137 off 120

over, found Shreyas Iyer's edge as he poked without conviction or footwork, and at three down in the 11th, with Shubman Gill already gone to a flaccid pull off Mitchell Starc, Hardik Pandya's absence as India's lower-order pivot was suddenly revealed to be the weakness that Shami's stunning impact with the ball had hitherto concealed.

There had been no such angst while India had been pounding along in each of their 10 previous tournament wins – including five untroubled chases to launch their campaign, and a net margin of 875 runs in their five subsequent bat-first victories. As a consequence, India's numbers 6-11 had barely been called upon in scoring a total of 240 runs between them in those matches, the lowest of any team in this tournament, and now suddenly, with Shami and Bumrah inked in at numbers 8 and 9, none of their set batters dared to be the one to set that descent into the tail into motion.

At least in Kohli, India had a man whose tempo in such circumstances could be trusted. On his team's better days, and in spite of his formidable tournament haul of 765 runs at 95.62, his ruthless devotion to run-making had been mistaken for a weakness. Now his 56-ball fifty was the bedrock of his team's recovery, albeit the reaction to his latest landmark unleashed a pentup roar that merely exacerbated the anxious hubbub that had preceded it.

But Australia's magnificent attack could not be denied, especially after Cummins had seized on his opponents' visible reticence to smuggle through a churn of change bowlers. Between them, Maxwell, Head and Marsh burgled 10 overs for 44, a perfect holding pattern that bought back options for the back end of the innings.

That included the return of the Captain himself for the 29th over. With the third ball of his second spell, Cummins hit an awkward length with his short ball, and Kohli looked genuinely emotional as he under-edged onto his stumps with an angled bat, glared at the length from which it had lifted, and glanced over his shoulder before trudging off, as if assessing the pull shot he had chosen to keep in his locker.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023

Sport is no longer our game, it’s our business

Pg 23

India to win 6th ICC World Cup title – as Travis Head scores brilliant 137 to end India’s winning streak

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Pg 22

National Chess Championship Qualifiers…

MVP Sports U11 girls tournament…

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