Guyana Times - Monday, November 28, 2022

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Monday, Nov 28 – No closure and Tuesday, Nov 29 – 10:00h –11:30h and 22:00h – 23:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, Nov 28 – 07:30h – 09:00h and Tuesday, Nov 29 – 08:30h – 10:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There

Winds: South-Westerly to Westerly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 07:38h and 19:52h reaching maximum heights of 2.38 metres and 2.47 metres.

Low Tide: 13:23h reaching a minimum height of 0.9 metre.

Govt to train, employ 50plus Leopold Street youths in construction sector – Pres Ali

In keeping with his Government’s commit ment to improve the lives of all Guyanese, President Dr Irfaan Ali has promised to work with the youths of the troubled Leopold Street in Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, by having them trained to take up jobs in the construc tion sector.

This announcement was made on Sunday when the Head of State conducted a walkabout in the area. He was accompanied by Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn and Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken along with senior members of the Guyana Police Force.

President Ali told the res idents that he and his team were there because they want to work with them.

“How can we help you? What are your concerns? How

be in school… I’m here to push this agenda,” the President declared.

During the engagement, the President was told that

there are more than 50 young persons in Leopold Street who are skilled and are currently unemployed.

To this end, the Guyanese

leader disclosed that Minister Benn will be leading the ef forts in the area to work with residents, especially the young people who need to be trained.

Two-week training

President Ali recommend ed that these young people be engaged and undergo a twoweek training in carpentry and masonry to prepare them for employment opportunities. He said that they will be in corporated in the Ministry of Housing’s programme to work on the construction of homes.

According to the Head of State, the Home Affairs Minister will be leading a full team to Leopold Street on Tuesday including pri vate sector players who are also looking to recruit people to do welding and fabrication works.

can we integrate you? How can we help the young peo ple to have a better life? How we can give the young people training and development be cause the economy that we have today, we need people… We need people to be trained in carpentry, in masonry, we need people to be trained tech nically and in welding… We do not want to lose our young people,” the Guyanese leader posited.

The Head of State in formed the residents that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Administration wants to have young people “actively and positively” in volved in the development and transformation of Guyana. This way, he explained, they too can get opportunities to live a better life.

“We want to ensure that we can give you this oppor tunity… and once we do this, that will send the message that every community has the capacity to contribute posi tively to the development of our country… Every commu nity has the capacity to make a positive influence regardless of the challenges.”

“We have to ensure that our young people are trained, that our young people are equipped. We have to ensure the women in our society live a more healthy and positive life. We have to ensure that we have the conditions here that will allow all the children to

The Head of State and Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn share a light moment with children during Sunday morning’s walkabout at Leopold Street (DPI Photo)

President Dr Irfaan Ali engaging a young man who promised to gather 50-plus youths from Leopold Street to be trained for job opportunities

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

US pivot to Venezuela II?

Now that the US has lifted sanctions on Venezuela for Chevron to ship crude to the US, we repeat our Editorial from May analysing the US’s then-predicted decision.

“Back in early March of this year, there were some eyebrows raised when US President Biden sent a delegation to Venezuela to engage the Maduro Administration. Most felt that the USA would lift the sanctions on Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), and the oil embargo that had been imposed for human rights’ violations by the Trump Administration in 2017 and 2019. There were discussions on possibly reopening some trade links by allowing crude-for-diesel exchanges on “humanitarian” grounds. But, just days later, the Administration backed off in light of the backlash led by Senators Marco Rubio, Rick Scott and Bob Menendez.

“However, last week, the White House announced that it was reconsidering its restrictions on Venezuelan oil, and was again entering discussions with Maduro. The US will now allow Chevron Corp, which had been allowed to conduct minimal activities with PDVSA, to negotiate its oil licence, thereby reducing certain sanctions on Venezuela. Although no further oil drilling or additional revenues for the Maduro Government would be permitted, as in March, Venezuela firmly welcomed the opening.

“The US has not been very clear about the possible volteface, or even the softening of Trump’s very clearly articulated justification for regime change, based on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) principle, sometimes referred to as “humanitarian intervention”. The Maduro regime’s policies, of course, have sent some six (now seven) million Venezuelan refugees pouring into neighbouring countries, including Guyana, and causing severe social and economic disruptions. One possibility is that the White House reacted to a request by Maduro’s political Opposition to ease sanctions, although the Opposition said the request came from Maduro. The Biden Administration, then, could be hoping that the carrot of softening sanctions on PDVSA and the embargo on oil would be more effective than Trump’s stick to engender greater political concessions with the Opposition – and putting Venezuela on track for free and fair presidential elections in 2024.

“Then there is the oil elephant in the room. Since March, the world has been plunged into a possible recession on account of the disruptions to global oil supplies, due to sanctions imposed by the US and Europe on Russian oil and gas exports because of the latter’s invasion of Ukraine. For its own oil supply, the US needs heavy crude oil – which Venezuela can produce and supply – to mix with its light crude to produce diesel for its industrial base. Europe needs oil, period.

“In the meantime, Biden’s overtures have worked to Maduro’s advantage, even with anti-Maduro hardliners like Brazil that, two years ago, had closed down their Embassy in Venezuela. Last month, Brazil’s Foreign Minister, Carlos França, stated against the background of the March overture, “At the moment, in which the United States considers making an exception to the embargo on Venezuelan oil exports, it seems to me that we can think in terms of re-evaluating the issue of diplomatic relations.”

Ironically, Biden’s overture to Venezuela has increased the pressures on his Administration to invite Venezuela to the Summit of the Americas’ conclave in Los Angeles on June 6th.

“But after that March meeting, another goal had been hinted at than the economic one of the US obtaining Venezuelan oil – geopolitical. Juan Gonzalez, the hardliner who headed the delegation to Venezuela in March, clearly indicated that the use of sanctions goes far beyond their stated purpose: “The sanctions on Russia are so robust that they will have an impact on those Governments that have economic affiliations with Russia, that is by design.” Venezuela has very strong relations with Russia, and even the BBC had speculated: “So, could the US visit be more than just oil? An attempt to change Venezuela’s political allegiances, perhaps?”

“A Bloomberg editorial was very sobering: “Toppling Maduro was a justifiable goal at a time of relative stability, but the strategic environment has changed. Disgusting as it may be, engaging with the Venezuelan regime is critical to protecting core US interests and containing Russian influence in the Western Hemisphere.”

“The question is: Where does Guyana fit in with this possible US pivot?”

Is there a need for another House-to-House Registration?

Dear Editor, Julianne Gaul (JG) on November 21, 2022, challenged few of my ideas on the voters’ list but failed to produce any evidence to show how voting at home (Guyana) by registered overseas-based Guyanese would be detrimental to the country and the integrity of the elec tion process. Instead of evidence, JG revelled in rhetorical flourishes. JG im plied that H-to-H Registration is the panacea for credible elections. To sug gest that H-to-H Registration would shape the way to deliver credible elec tions is a myth. It is also noted that the legality (and constitutionality) of the names of overseas-based Guyanese on the voters’ list and their right to vote have already been competently ad dressed by the Attorney General, Mr Anil Nandlall. There is no need to revis it this issue.

JG wanted to know if I agree that the 1992 elections were free and fair and whether I supported the preceding H-to-House Registration in which he asserted: “thousands of Guyanese living and working abroad were removed from the Register of Registrants.” Where is the evidence for this claim? However, what is of interest in this discussion is not the Register of Registrants, but the voters’ list compiled from the 1991 H-to-H Registration that was precipi tated by the widespread electoral fraud at general elections perpetrated by the PNC from 1968 to 1985. Here are some startling data on the scope of elector al fraud. In 1980 the PPP, being the most popular with largest constituen cy-based party, was allocated 26.4 per cent (or 14) parliamentary seats vs 69.8 per cent (or 37) parliamentary seats for the PNC; while in 1980 the allocation to the PPP was 18.9 per cent (or 10 seats) vs 77.4 per cent (or 41) parliamenta ry seats for the PNC; and in 1985 that

percentage of PPP parliamentary seats continued to shrink to 15.1 per cent (or 8 seats), while the PNC’s parliamentary seats continued to rise to 79.2 per cent (or 42). Incredible!

This pattern of electoral abuse led to widespread political agitation and per sistent calls for reform of the electoral process by Opposition forces, including the PPP (which along with other politi cal forces formed the Patriotic Coalition for Democracy) and NGOs. The rapid downturn of the economy in the 1980s (when real GDP was negative (-3.28 per cent); the national debt was (US$) 2.1 billion; the Guyana currency was deval ued significantly; and the Government laid off 6000 State workers) plus the push by Americas Watch, the Carter Center, and the Commonwealth, played a key role in bringing the PNC and other parties to the negotiating table. Americas Watch observed: “a free and fair election cannot be held without fun damental changes in the deeply flawed Guyanese electoral process.”

The PNC agreed to, among oth

er things: (1) to count votes at polling stations and not at army headquarters or other locations; (2) there would be a H-to-H Registration because the entire electoral system including the voters’ list was compromised; (3) the Election Commission to be expanded to three Commissioners each from the PPP/C and the PNCR, with the Chair ap pointed by President Hoyte from a list of 6 candidates submitted to the by Dr Cheddi Jagan, the PPP leader.

Despite these and other measures at electoral reform, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) observed in 1995: “the Guyana electoral system requires extensive re habilitation to achieve adequate stan dards of fairness, efficiency and sus tainability.” This statement aligns to my position that the voters’ list is just one aspect of the electoral system, and that other components like profession alisation of GECOM staff, are equally important.

As the Guyana Police Force seeks to bridge the gap between communities and the law enforcement agency, an initiative was launched to engage youth sports teams across East Bank Demerara (EBD) communities. In photos, a quantity of football and cricket gear were distributed to 19 sports teams spanning from Agricola to Soesdyke, EBD. The distribution was headed by Deputy Commissioner "Operations" (ag), Ravindradat Budhram with collaboration and support from the Grove/Diamond Neighbourhood Democratic Council along with corporate sponsors (GPF photos)

PNC/AFC should know that Guyanese voters

Dear Editor, It saddens me to see madness in politics in a country that I so love.

Most recently, the AFC backpedalled on LGE; the PNC is yet to decide and the URP said they will not participate in LGE because the list is bloated, and that the dead voted.

Never in the history of this country – Guyana, had so many dead and absent voted than during the 28 years of PNC rule.

The PNC/AFC has said that the voters’ list which sits at around 682,000 and representing a pop ulation of about 750,000 is bloated by an estimat ed 200,000 names. This list contemplates and is in line with the Constitution of Guyana and reflects the High Court’s ruling save for the miniscule num ber of the deceased. This has prompted the AFC to take several steps back and forth on elections.

The PNC/AFC also chose to not participate in the Claims and Objections ex ercise that was undertaken

by GECOM – an exercise that should have been part of their avenue to address their very concerns.

In light of all of these complaints by the PNC/ AFC, Comrade Leader of the PNC, Hon Aubrey Norton, and his team hadn’t the gall to show up for a meeting with GECOM that they requested on the very same public musings.

I will not disagree with the fact that some saniti sation of the list is need ed to facilitate the remov al of the deceased from the voters’ list; however, I am completely flabbergasted at the calls for new Houseto-House Registration in light of the High Court rul ing that one cannot deny any Guyanese their consti tutional right to vote be cause of where they live. These calls by PNC/AFC to remove persons based on residency has caused me to question the sanity of these political parties and their leadership.

If indeed the PNC/AFC wanted to see a sanitised list, they would have un

Is there a need for...

The implication that “thousands of over seas-based Guyanese voters” were disenfranchised in the H-to-H Registration is not supported by evidence. The 1992 voters’ list shows a 3.8 per cent (or 15,109 voters) reduction in voters’ names, compared with the previ ous voters’ list of 1985. The number of registered voters in 1985 was 399,304 com pared with 384,195 in 1992. How much of the reduction was applicable to each of the following categories is not known:(1) names of de ceased persons being delet ed; (2) emigration (1980s had the highest rate of em igration than in any other decade); (3) the likelihood of the discarding of names of overseas-based Guyanese; and (4) declining fertility level of families.

Notwithstanding the struggle to make changes and correct errors in the elec toral system which had been skewed in favour of the PNC, it was evident that a voters’ list compiled from H-to-H Registration is not without serious flaws. To suggest that H-to-H Registration is a better method than “contin uous cycles of registration” to achieve clean and cred ible elections is not borne out by historical or empiri cal evidence. What the evi dence shows instead is that the electoral process could be sabotaged, for example, by the Elections Commission and its staff. This level of corruption found its fin

FROM PAGE 4

est expression in the postMarch 2nd elections of 2020 when there was a brazen at tempt to stage an electoral heist, a situation described by the head of OAS Observer Mission as: “the most trans parent attempt to steal an election.”

Despite these and oth er measures at electoral reform, the International Foundation for Electoral systems (IFES) observed in 1995: “the Guyana elector al system requires extensive rehabilitation to achieve ad equate standards of fairness, efficiency and sustainabil ity.” This statement aligns to my position that the vot ers’ list is just one compo nent of the electoral system, and that other components like professionalisation of GECOM staff, are equally important.

While a clean voters’ list is a vital component of a credible election process, the lessons from the fraudulent elections of the 20th century and the recent 2020 general elections, demonstrate that an immensely powerful force of unprofessional and partial GECOM staff, could derail the integrity of the elector al process. A GECOM staff complicit with political oper atives poses a graver threat to democracy and election integrity than taking away the right of registered over seas-based Guyanese to ex ercise their franchise.

Sincerely, Dr Tara Singh

dertaken to do so while in Government instead of try ing to orchestrate steal ing a country, they would have undertaken elector al and constitutional re form while in office, they would have participated in the Claims and Objections exercise, they would have attended meetings of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reform, they would have stayed and debated the Constitutional Reform Committee Bill when it was tabled and supported it, they would have been the first to open ly, meaningfully, and gen uinely engage and support the Constitutional Reform process, and importantly, they would have paid at tention to the ruling of the High Court.

The logic of these par ties implies that the vot ers in Guyana are uned ucated and cannot see through their shallow mus ings. I am grateful that the Guyanese voters are more enlightened and educated than what the PNC/AFC is making them out to be and LGE will once again demonstrate that fact.

Most respectfully, Lenox R O Shuman, MP Deputy Speaker

Bullies must be dealt with swiftly, condignly

Dear Editor, There is circulating on so cial media an incident involv ing a speeding minibus driv er who physically assaulted a Police officer when he tried to issue him a ticket. The en tire incident was captured on camera, something the offending bus driver cannot deny.

Now, there are a few things I would like to bring to your attention, that is, the admission of guilt by the driv er, who when he was stopped did so willingly. The problem immediately became appar ent when the law officer was about to write up the particu lars for the illegal act commit ted, at that stage the driver became irate and belligerent. Some of the onlookers egging him on to violently attack the officer. This is what we would say in Creole "wrong and strong."

From what has been go ing on our roads, it is clear that this driver wanted the Policeman or simply put, it

was expected of the driver that the officer take a bribe and allow him to go free. Well, this was not the case and that minibus driver went ballistic. There were also loud shouts of, "Officer you wrong, give back d man e licence," all symptomatic of the culture of lawlessness that presently exists.

Now, in my book, pun ishment for the errant driv er must be meted out swift ly and condignly, a hefty fine for assaulting the peace offi cer for doing his work, while at the same time the imposi tion of a six-month suspen sion of his vehicular licence privileges. This would send a clear message to all drivers of vehicles that this foolish ness would not be tolerated. Decency and responsible driv ing must be adhered to at all times, failing which, persons would either be suspended or removed permanently from our roads.

It also brings into focus the need for our Police men and

women to be fully equipped with tasers to deal with such foolish people on our roads. One could only imagine what would have taken place if it was the female officer who was attacked and could not defend herself, or if this inci dent took place at night when there was no one there to film the details of the assault. We must furnish our officers with the necessary equipment to deal with such offenders. Not only do we see such ig norant (Caribbean meaning) behaviour manifesting itself, but I am also talking about our lawmen being adequately protected when making com mon arrests.

I call on the Minister to so equip our Forces with the necessary hardware when dealing with those who be lieve that they can commit a crime and bully their way through.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

A reflection of decadence in society

Dear Editor, The emerging phenome non of citizens, particularly drivers, resorting to physical violence against members of the Guyana Police Force, in the execution of their duties, as being seen almost daily on social media, is indeed worrying as it is pure damn nonsense (that phrase). The most recent display

of a minibus driver getting physical with an officer, wrestling him to the ground, while onlookers call for the return of his licence, which fuelled the driver's fisticuffs and wrong and strong atti tude, must be condemned and is a reflection of the dec adence in society. Such per sons are the first to call out the Police for not doing their

job. No one is above the law.

In this period of sixteen days of activism against vi olence, the violence being meted out to law enforce ment officers must also be part of the activism and the violence must stop.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

are more enlightened, educated

Question 1:

Foundation

In this fun and easy science experiment for kids, we’re going to make snow slime.

Materials:

Elmer’s school glue (or any white glue) Liquid starch

Artificial plastic snow (this can be found in most craft stores or online) Bowl

Measuring cups

Instructions:

Put about ¼ cup of the plastic snow into the bowl. Mix in about ½ cup of the glue. Now add ½ cup of the liquid starch. You can stir with a spoon at first and once it thickens you can switch and use your hands. If the slime sticks to your hands, add a little bit more starch. If the slime becomes stringy and will not stick to gether, work in a little bit more glue. After your slime is prepared, feel free to add more of the plastic snow to get the look and feel that you prefer.

How it works: Slime is created when a chemical reaction oc curs between the liquid starch and glue. When a chemical reaction occurs, the substances can no longer be separated. The artificial snow can be easily included in the slime and adds an interes ting texture. The artificial snow does not under go a chemical reaction nor change when added to the slime. Although it would be difficult, the artificial snow could be removed from the slime.

Make this a science project: Try adding other items like Styrofoam beads to the slime. Try different activators like saline so lution or borax. Try different types of glue like clear glue. (sciencefun.org)

By The BroThers Grimm

CONTINUED FROM SATURDAY

Over 50% of 11,000 house lots given to Afro-Guyanese – PM to IAAD

…says Afro-Guyanese benefiting more under PPP/C Govt than APNU/AFC …rubbishes claim

of discrimination

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, has dispelled claims of victimisation and discrimination meted out to Afro-Guyanese by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, point ing out that this grouping of Guyanese has seen more benefits under this current Administration.

In a recent letter penned by the Prime Minister, he re sponded to a statement is sued by a group – Institute for Action Against Discrimination (IAAD). The missive was sent by the agency’s Secretary, Lelon Saul, and outlined al leged “persistent acts of racial discrimination and victimisa tion” by the Government.

But according to PM Phillips, the statement makes incredibly fraudulent and misleading statements that the Government is pushing Guyana to the ‘brink of civil unrest’.

“The APNU/AFC cabal and affiliated groups con tinue with desperate at tempts at race-baiting, which they hope would incite civ il unrest against the dem ocratically elected People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, and end the tremendous benefits being experienced by all Guyanese,” he stated.

The Prime Minister went on to remind that it was the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change

(APNU/AFC) regime, which failed to deliver a ‘good life’ especially to Afro-Guyanese, whom, he said, they now mis guidedly seek to exploit for po litical relevance.

Phillips pointed out that Saul is a former senior officer of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), who later served as Chief Executive Officer of the Housing Ministry’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), where he failed to implement a via ble Government housing pro gramme.

“In less than two and a half years in office, our Government has rescued the housing development pro gramme and turned it around where, to date, we have is sued over 11,000 house lots and low-income houses. The beneficiaries are over 50 per

cent Afro-Guyanese,” the PM stressed.

He went on to highlight that every relief grant paid by PPP/C Government saw Afro-Guyanese benefitting. Additionally, he said pay ments made in the sugar in dustry benefitted over 20 per cent of Afro-Guyanese, which is contrary to what the APNU/ AFC would have Guyanese believe.

Further, the Prime Minister stated that many Afro-Guyanese are involved in rice, the production of other crops and livestock, and bene fitted from flood relief and oth er support programmes for farmers.

Only recently, Phillips dis closed, that Saul was among a group that received agri cultural equipment less than 96 hours after President Dr

Irfaan Ali’s visit to Belladrum, West Coast Berbice, on a po litical outreach in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

“He had the temerity to ask questions of the President about security when visiting PNC strongholds, as if to sug gest that the President should not visit these areas,” the PM stated.

Moreover, Phillips also dis closed that Saul also serves as Vice President of the Guyana Veterans Legion, an organi sation that was addressed by President Ali at last Friday’s wreath-laying ceremony at GDF Headquarters, Camp Ayanganna.

During his address last week, the Head of State prom ised to have the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) de ployed to address all issues related to benefits for veter ans. That promise was kept and employees of NIS were at Camp Ayanganna last week working to resolve issues for veterans that the APNU/AFC inexplicably chose to ignore while in office.

“The author is an obse quious tentacle affixed to the scheming, manipulative and depraved APNU+AFC, that plunged Guyana into chaos and put Guyana on the brink

of civil unrest following a clum sily hatched plan to stran gulate our democracy at the 2020 Regional and General Elections. They would have gotten away with the heist of our country through sto len elections, had it not been for the vigilance of contesting political parties, the media, and the diplomatic missions of the ABCE (United States, United Kingdom, Canada and European Union) countries in Guyana,” the PM said.

According to Phillips, lead ers in the APNU/AFC con tinue to push for civil unrest through attacks on the me dia, physically blockading

Government officials from en gaging with whole commu nities, unruly behaviour in the National Assembly, and adopting a confrontational ap proach to the President when there should be discussions on key national issues.

The Prime Minister fur ther noted that while plans to railroad the country were not realised in 2020, law-abid ing Guyanese, along with civ il society, would continue to forcefully reject the deceptive actions of the APNU/AFC, and call for political maturi ty which would ensure great er unity and prosperity for all Guyanese.

Prime Minister Brig (Ret’d) Mark Phillips

IAAD Secretary Lelon Saul

Govt to train, employ 50-plus Leopold...

“The Housing Ministry will be here to recruit people because right now we need people in the construction sec tor. So, the opportunities will come and they will come di rectly in the community to you… This is your opportu nity. We don’t have excuses anymore. You do not have the excuses anymore. We’re com

ing to find you to be trained to give you necessary skills so that you can be functioning in the economy, you can be part of the transformation, you can be part of the development,” Ali posited.

However, even as he com mitted to working with young people in Leopold Street to get jobs, President Ali implored

that the residents ensure the young children are in school. He underscored the impor tance of education in uplifting the lives of people as well as communities.

“We’re going to work with you every single day but you have to promise me the chil dren are going to be in school,” he stressed.

Roads/drainage

Meanwhile, during the engagement with residents, concerns were raised about the state of the roads in the area. Consequently, the Head of State revealed that Government will work with youths from the community to fix the drainage and roads there.

“We’re gonna use the con crete road in the communi ty here so we have to fix the drainage and the road. But they are gonna [come] in to engage the young people so we can work with them to do

FROM

this… They’ll work with us in the drainage and commu nity work here but they will [also] work in the housing pro gramme in the building of the houses,” the President stated.

The Guyanese leader fur ther told the residents that he is reaching out to them be cause of his concern for every single citizen of the country in every community.

“The plan and programme that we have for the develop ment of Guyana involves every single citizen, it involves every single community, it involves every single face… It’s not a plan in which people sit in front cameras at a press con ference and talk nonsense. It’s not a plan that is hatched in Congress Place or at Freedom House. It’s a plan that comes from the heart. It’s a plan that comes from our programme that we went to the elections with and that plan is to bring prosperity to everybody,” Ali contended. (G8)

Oily…

…US-Venezuelan business

Well, it’s not in your humble Eyewitness’s nature to say “I told you so”. But when the matter is so humongous that it affects our nation’s survival in this dog-eat-dog world, he’s gotta make an exception! And this matter has to do with the Yanks’ decision by Pres Biden to break their sanctions on Venezuelan oil and award a licence to its Oil Biggie Chevron to start shipping crude from its partnerships with PDVSA to State-side!! When our most important friend starts snuggling up with our greatest threat – it doesn’t get bigger than that!!

Way back in MARCH, your Eyewitness had noted in “Ripple effect …“Another effect ( of the US sanctions on Russian oil) that was pointed out by yours truly was the US making nice with that tyrant next door, Maduro. Now, some may ask why does the US need Venezuelan oil when we’re already cranking up production with FPSOs dropping anchor and sucking out oil as fast as you can say “Aloo Ball”! Well, the reason is that oil isn’t oil sometimes!! The US need Venezuelan heavy oils for heating oils this winter!!

“So, the Americans rushed their negotiators down to Caracas, made gooey eyes at Maduro – who they’d denounced as the greatest threat to American interests in the hemisphere since Castro – and immediately, two American hostages were freed! And now the quid pro quo proceeds as in a carefully choreographed tango!! We just learnt that US big oil Chevron’s mustering staff and equipment to re-enter Venezuela to expand Venezuelan PDVSA’s emaciated production.

In October, he continued in “Spitting in the wind…in Venezuela?? Here we go again!! The US Government has OK’d Chevron possibly kicking off production in the projects it was involved with in conjunction with Venezuela’s PDVSA – if Maduro will resume discussions in Mexico on holding “free and fair” elections next year!! The release by the Americans of six criminal prisoners – including some of Maduro’s relatives – was an opening gambit. Now, don’t assume this is all because of the energy crunch precipitated by the sanctions on Russian oil. Remember these negotiations were well advanced two years ago? But broke off when Maduro demanded his money launderer be released??

“So where does this leave us?? There are now 7 million Venezuelans who’ve fled their homeland since 2015 –many of them are here. This is a ticking time bomb that must be addressed. More than ever, the US now sees the strategic importance of controlling Venezuelan oil – the largest reserves in the world. The coming (freezing) winter of discontent in Europe emphasises this. Guyana could get lost in the shuffle without Exxon!!”

Nothing has changed. In international affairs, there are no permanent enemies or permanent friends – just permanent interests!!

…conundrum on Venezuelan migrants

The official numbers from the NGOs say that at least 30,000 of the 7 million Venezuelans who’ve had to flee their country after the Chavistas took over are in Guyana. And we know that it actually means there are at least two times that number because of the porosity of our western borders. Your Eyewitness has written extensively that we need to take care of the poor human beings – not least because after Burnham had destroyed our economy, more than that number found refuge in Venezuela.

So, your Eyewitness is pleased that the Government is dealing frontally with the challenge – even as it struggles to deal with our own poverty-stricken masses. Let’s not forget that a report from 2019 found that 48% of our country lived below our poverty line. But we have to re-educate the Venezuelans about the border controversy – since they’ve been brainwashed to believe that Essequibo is theirs!!

We don’t want to wake up one morning to find we’ve developed a Venezuelan Fifth Column!!

…Public Employees?

The Public Works Ministry assured that the $1 billion damage caused by the MV Tradewind Passion careening into the DHB was gonna be paid by the ship’s owners.

But the ship was allowed to sail through the Bridge’s opening last week. Payoff?

Be prepared physically, mentally & fully protected – Benn to Fire Service ranks

who were not properly kit ted, were issued with kits that they need so they can be better prepared to re spond to any event of fire.

Wickham thanked the Minister for attending the exercise and the support of the Government in devel oping the service.

equipped to respond to fires during the busiest time of the year – Christmas.

Ranks of the Guyana Fire Service and its Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) par ticipated in a muster pa rade early Sunday, which saw Home Affairs Minister

Timehri, Leonora and La Grange Fire Stations, along with 60 EMTs par ticipated in the event.

Benn while delivering remarks said when duty calls, ranks must be pre

the service. Also, the ex ercise served to ensure ranks of the Fire Service are ready and properly

“A number of things the muster would be able to identify – our pre paredness, our readiness, to check on the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), firefighting gears, so that we’ll be able to un derstand clearly, our short

comings and then be able to put systems in place.

“Particularly, this mus ter was held so that we can be better prepared. As we’re heading into the fes tive season you want to en sure that all firefighters are fully kitted and they are ready for any eventu ality,” Wickham under scored.

At the exercise, ranks

“I want to say kudos to the firefighters, the of ficers, the EMTs and the Government for lend ing support in all of these eventualities and we are getting better, we’re hav ing more equipment, fire fighters are being protect ed to execute their duties when they go on the out side,” he stated.

Separate parades were conducted in Anna Regina, Onverwagt, New Amsterdam, Corriverton, Rose Hall, Bartica and Lethem.

Robeson Benn and Chief Fire Officer (ag) Gregory Wickham inspecting ranks’ uniforms and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

One hundred and fifty firefighters attached to the Central, Alberttown, West Ruimveldt, Campbellville, Melanie, Mahaica,

pared physically, mentally, as well as fully protected against the potential dan gers of the job.

Meanwhile, Chief Fire Officer (ag) Wickham in an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI) ex plained that the exercise aimed to identify gaps in

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn and Chief Fire Officer (ag) Gregory Wickham inspecting the ranks at the Square of the Revolution on Sunday

DHB allision

Fuel tanker leaves Guyana without notifying authorities

Pursuant to a court order dated November 11, MT

Tradewind Passion— the fuel tanker that crashed into the Demerara Harbour Bridge, resulting in GY$1 bil lion and counting in damag es to the 44-year-old floating structure, has left Guyana, but without notifying the relevant authorities.

This was revealed by Public Works Minister Juan Edghill in a Facebook post on Saturday.

After the October 8 alli sion, the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) filed an application to arrest the vessel, which was grant ed the said day by the High Court.

“Consequent upon these court orders, and without notification to the General Manager and Management of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, the Tradewind

Passion sailed on Monday 21st November 2022. It should nev er be inferred that the State of Guyana through its regulatory agencies has no control over its waters and marine traffic. To make such inferences is mis chievous, ridiculous, and delib erately misleading,” Minister Edghill said.

Cannot just sail

According to him, any ocean-going vessel set to de part Guyana’s waters can not just sail into the sunset at will but instead has to initiate the required processes which are done by a shipping agen cy. He, therefore, said it is “ab surd” for one to assume “that a vessel like the Tradewind Passion, which is currently the subject of court action would not be monitored.”

High Court Judge Fidela Corbin-Lincoln ordered the re lease of the vessel on the con dition that its owner, Canama Trading S De RL, a company registered in Panama set up a limitation fund in the sum of $245.5 million, through a letter of undertaking by Steamship Mutual—a lead ing provider of Protection & Indemnity (P&I) insurance headquartered in London, United Kingdom (UK).

The letter of undertak ing had to be lodged with the Supreme Court of Judicature’s registrar.

Edghill noted that there was no actual payment of money to the court. According to the Judge’s order, upon the constitution of the limitation fund, the DHBC must allow the vessel to return to service and leave Guyana forthwith, failing which it would be held in contempt of court.

The Public Works Minister has nevertheless assured that the Government will contin ue to vigorously pursue its claims in this matter to ensure that the Demerara Harbour Bridge is justly compensated for the damages caused by the Tradewind Passion.

Lawsuit/countersuit

The DHBC has filed an

over-a-billion-dollar lawsuit against the owner of the ves sel which has refused to com pensate the corporation for re pair works carried out on the bridge.

This is despite several oral requests for payment.

Further, the corporation is seeking GY$50 million in damages for negligence since the master of the vessel was negligent by not exercising the relevant international safety conventions for safety at sea. It said that the master did not apply the applicable speed necessary in the prevailing cir cumstances. Due to the neg ligence of the master and the vessel’s crew, the DHBC com plained that it has suffered and will continue to suffer ex tensive losses.

According to the DHBC, the vessel’s master was negli gent since he failed to sail at a safe speed; failed to report difficulties being encountered upon approaching the bridge; and failed to use reasonable care and skill in its operation so that the fuel tanker could veer away from, thereby avoid ing allision with the bridge. At the time, the vessel was under the control and command of Captain Freddy Mendoza, ad vised by Pilot Kenneth Cort, who a Board of Inquiry (BoI) into the allision has recom mended be suspended for not less than 24 months.

Cort has some two decades of experience.

The DHBC is also suing for projected works it will have to carry out on the bridge.

The claim was filed by PPP/C parliamentarian, Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin.

Meanwhile, Canama Trading S De RL has coun tersued the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), Harbour Master Glasford Archer, and the DHBC for more than $100,000 in damages for the unlawful detention of its vessel. It con tended that the detention of the vessel, without an appli cation pursuant to Section 439 (1) of Guyana’s Shipping Act

being made to the court, con stitutes a wrongful and un lawful deprivation, detention, interference with, trespass upon, restraint, or imprison ment of its property and the crew of the vessel. The com pany is claiming loss of use of the vessel at a daily rate of US$12,250.

Justice Corbin-Lincoln has granted Canama Trading S De RL's request to argue lim itation of liability pursuant to Section 402 of Guyana’s Shipping Act as a defence to the DHBC’s lawsuit.

According to the company, it reserves all rights to con test any sums claimed by the DHBC, whether on grounds of failure to mitigate, or other wise.

Allision Reports indicate that at around 02:00h on October 8, the vessel which trans ports fuel for the Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil), while heading south, crashed into the Demerara Harbour Bridge, despite desperate calls to ‘drop anchor’ from the Shift Supervisor, Andy Duke.

Duke, who was in one of the lookout towers, tried des perately to communicate with the pilot without success. He eventually had to jump from the booth to save his own life. He fractured his leg in the process and was hospital ised. The other men who were working at the bottom of the bridge, including Mechanical Maintenance Engineer Ahmad Khan, had to run for their lives.

The allision caused exten sive damage to critical com ponents of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, which not only left it inoperable but re sulted in thousands of passen gers and tons of agricultur al produce stranded on both sides of the Demerara River.

While repairs were being carried out on the bridge which was reopened on October 10, water taxis which normally operate for 12 hours, were al lowed to work for 24 hours.

Damage to the Demerara Harbour Bridge and the vessel following the October 8 allision

Essequibo Coast pensioner brutally killed in home

…wounds found on head, neck; head shaved

A75-year-old woman was brutally killed early on Sunday morning at her Charity, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) home and Police have since arrested the woman’s 22-year-old granddaughter.

Dead is Angelica Agatha Gamell, a pensioner of Lot 168 Charity Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast. She was murdered some time around 04:00h.

Police said the 22-yearold suspect, who is in cus tody, is the woman’s grand daughter.

According to reports, Gamell lived alone in a flat concrete house and would be visited occasionally by her granddaughter.

On Saturday night at about 20:00h, the suspect visited the elderly wom an with her one-monthold daughter to spend the night.

However, around 04:00h on Sunday morning, one of Gamell’s neighbours told investigators that she heard loud screams, tramp ing and crying of a baby coming from the elder ly woman’s house. These sounds lasted for about 15 minutes.

Shortly after, the sus pect went to the neigh bour’s house and knocked at the door.

According to the neigh bour, when the door was opened, she saw the 22-year-old woman with the naked baby in her hands. The neighbour said the sus pect told her that the baby had just died and attempt ed to hand the baby over to her. The neighbour refused to take the baby.

The suspect then walked out of the yard and on to the street with her baby.

The Police were called and the crime scene was visited by the Regional Commander, Superintendent Khemraj Shivbaran, along with oth er ranks.

Upon inspection of the house, the ranks discov ered Gamell’s body clad in a white night-dress with suspected blood stains and black tights, lying face up on a floormat in the kitch en.

The body was examined and one large wound was seen behind the neck and one to the right-side tem ple. Also, two large wounds were seen on the back of the elderly woman’s head. All of the elderly woman’s hair was also shaved from her head and placed on the kitchen floor.

A pair of scissors with what appeared to be blood stains were found on top of a gas stove. A broken glass jar was found on the floor next to the body and cook ing salt was seen scattered on the floor.

The suspect was lat er arrested, and the baby (whom she had in her pos session at the time) seemed to be in good health. The baby was handed over to a family member, Police say.

The elderly woman’s

body was escorted to the Charity Cottage Hospital and she was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty. It was then escort ed to the Suddie Hospital’s mortuary for storage, awaiting a post-mortem ex amination.

Several persons were questioned. The suspect was seen with injuries on her right hand. When ques tioned by the Police, she claimed that she does not know how she received her injuries. She was placed into custody pending fur ther investigations.

The Charity, Essequibo Coast home in which the pensioner was killed

Dead: Angelica Agatha Gamell

2 Essequibo Coast residents busted with cocaine

Two persons – a man and a wom an – are in Police custody after a quanti ty of cocaine was found in their possession on Friday on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

Police ranks in the re gion said they were on mo bile patrol at about 06:00h in the Anna Regina Market area, when they observed a male walking, and a search was conducted on his per son.

During the search, a whitish rock-like substance suspected to be cocaine was found in his possession. He was immediately arrest ed and taken into custody, where the substance was weighed and amounted to 0.6 grams. The owner of the yard from where he was leaving was contacted and a search was conducted on the premises. The owner was searched but nothing

was found on his person. However, a female rank searched a woman who was also in the yard and sev en small whitish rock-like substances suspected to be cocaine were found in her possession.

The woman was told of the offence and escort ed to Anna Regina Station, where the substance was weighed and amounted to 3.6 grams. Both persons remain in custody pending charges.

The cocaine that was found at the Anna Regina Market area

Driver in Agricola fatal accident granted $300,000 bail

Bail was granted in the sum of $300,000 to the 50-yearold driver who allegedly caused the death of a pen sioner in an accident earli

er this month at Agricola, Greater Georgetown.

Last Friday, Trevor Davis of Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, was taken before Chief

Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

She read him a charge which alleged that on November 10, he drove mo

Police clamping errant motorists at Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling

Errant and inconsid erate drivers, who are flouting the park ing rules at the Vreed-enHoop Stelling on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD) will have their vehicles clamped.

Police in Regional Division Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) have launched a campaign targeting inconsiderate mo torists who break parking rules, and will introduce more enforcement to deter drivers from misusing the vicinity.

Traffic Officer of the re gion, Wendell Harry said just recently the region re ceived some 10 vehicle clamps, and they will be us ing them to target these in considerate drivers.

This, he said, is due to the high number of parking violations seen in the area daily.

“The wheel clamps will be used mostly at the Vreeden-Hoop area. We find that there are people who live or work in Georgetown, but just drive and park their ve

hicles anywhere in the area, catch the boat because they want to reach the bridge, and then you [the Police] have the task of finding them and getting them re moved.”

“We would have to wait until they are finished working in the afternoon and then go back to their

vehicles…it causes prob lems like the obstruction of traffic,” he explained.

The traffic officer said clamping the wheels will help ranks to guard against this issue. He also advised drivers and motorists to avoid parking their vehicles illegally, to avoid their vehi cles being clamped. (G9)

tor car PYY 1161 in a man ner dangerous to the pub lic, thereby causing the death of Imtiaz Isahack, 66.

Davis pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was re leased on cash bail and the case was adjourned to December 16.

Guyana Times had previously reported that Isahack of Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was making his way across the road on the pedestri an crossing when he was struck down.

Police Headquarters re ported that the accident oc curred at around 08:10h in

the vicinity of the Agricola Police Outpost. Davis relat ed to the Police that the pe destrian “walked into his path” without looking, thus resulting in the left side of the vehicle colliding with him.

As such, he was flung into the air and thereafter landed on the road.

The pensioner, who sus tained several injuries to his head and body, was pronounced dead at the ac cident scene by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). A breathalyser test conducted on the driv er showed no trace of alco hol in his blood. (G1)

Dead: Imtiaz Isahack

Guyana files highest number of cases at CCJ

Guyana continues to lead in the number of matters filed in the Appellate Jurisdiction of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). For the 1 August 2020 – 31 July 2021 judicial year, 19 cases were filed from Guyana, 15 from Barbados, four from Belize, and three from Dominica. In its Appellate Jurisdiction, the CCJ is the final court of appeal for criminal and civ il matters for the abovemen tioned Caribbean Community (Caricom) member states.

The total number of mat ters filed for the reporting pe riod is 41— 63 per cent were civil cases while 37 per cent were criminal. According to the CCJ, this is a 173.33 per cent increase in new matters filed compared to?the previ ous year, August 1, 2019-July 31, 2020, in which 15 matters were filed—14 Applications for Special Leave and a Notice of Appeal. Seven of the cas es filed were from Barbados, three from Belize, one from Dominica, and four from Guyana.

In that reporting peri od, 60 per cent of the matters were civil, while 40 per cent were criminal.

The August 1, 2019July 31, 2020 judicial year saw a 59 per cent decrease in new matters filed in the court’s Appellate Jurisdiction when compared to 2018-2019.

This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the court’s Original Jurisdiction, two matters were filed by Trinidad and

During 2019-2020, one matter each was filed from Barbados, Dominica, and Guyana.

In its Original Jurisdiction, it is an international court with exclusive authority to interpret and apply the rules set out in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC) and to decide disputes arising un der it. The RTC established Caricom and the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME). In its Original Jurisdiction, the CCJ is crit ical to the CSME and all 12 Member States which belong to the CSME (including citi zens, businesses, and govern ments) can access the court’s Original Jurisdiction to pro tect their rights under the RTC. The CCJ was inaugu rated on April 16, 2005.

While addressing a University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus law seminar last month, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, praised the CCJ for what he described as “highly com mendable” rulings in matters,

in particular, those of a high constitutional nature and on politically tense issues coming from Guyana.

Nandlall asserted that the addition of the CCJ to the country’s judicial struc ture has been revolutionary. He pointed out that the ben efits Guyanese have derived already from the CCJ are cer tainly immeasurable when it comes to very important, and highly tense political issues.

“Outside of that, in land law, in particular, we’ve had a great amount of equivocation, ambiguity, and confusion on the area of land law in partic ular Roman-Dutch law. Those issues were completely clari fied by the CCJ in a series of decisions.”

When it comes to com mercial litigation, he said the CCJ has provided great clari ty on several issues in its pro nouncements. In constitu tional matters and matters related to election laws, the CCJ has clarified very crucial and highly contentious issues, said the Attorney General.

He noted, “It [the CCJ] has been a great blessing for Guyana and the people of Guyana.” (G1)

98 graduate from Guyanese Girls Code initiative

Over the weekend, the Office of the Prime Minister, through the Industry and Innovation Unit, conclud ed the Guyanese Girls Code 2022 programme.

The annual programme aims to empower young girls between the ages of 12 to 16 by providing opportu nities to learn coding/pro gramming and increase their competency in Information Technology. For two months, 98 females across Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) participated in virtual training. Courses included Block-Based Programming, Flowcharts, Problem Solving and Design Thinking. The programme also allowed participants to create a sis

terhood and encourage the exploration of ICT among themselves and, by exten sion, their peers.

Addressing the gradu ates in the boardroom, physi cally and virtually via Zoom, at the Office of the Prime Minister, the Director of the Industry and Innovation Unit, Shahrukh Hussain, un derscored the Government’s commitment towards em powering women in the ICT sector. The Director said as efforts continue towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including promoting Gender Equality, his Unit is stringent towards working to close the digital divide in the tech industry. “Empowering women is crucial to accel erate sustainable develop ment; ending all forms of dis crimination against women and girls is not only a basic human right but also has a multiplying effect across all

developing areas, especially in ICT,” he said.

In addition, Hussain called on all sectors with in Guyana to build a robust ICT sector and recommitted his Unit’s commitment to strengthening the digital di vide through ICT Literacy.

Meanwhile, Lecturer Penelope DeFreitas, one of the camp’s trainers, com mended the participants for their zest to pursue ICT knowledge and skills. DeFreitas stressed the course’s impact on the fe males, who can create a path way towards an ICT-related study or job. DeFreitas dis closed that during the two months, participants were eager to discuss topics and come up with solutions to any given task. “We are planting seeds that will set you, girls, on the path to be coming bright minds who can take Guyana many strides forward,” she said.

Director of the Industry and Innovation Unit, Shahrukh Hussain with some of the participants

Tobago and one each by Antigua and Barbuda and Belize in the 1 August 2020 – 31 July 2021 judicial year.

Joint Services stumble on over $500M worth of ganja in Berbice

Aparty of police men from Regional Division Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) along with the Police Narcotics Branch (Georgetown), Coast Guard and the Guyana Defence Force, unearthed almost a half of billion dol lars in narcotics.

According to reports, ranks of the Joint Services conducted operations in the Berbice River on Saturday following reports of cattle rustling by a farm er of Kimbia Village, Upper Berbice River.

As the team went in pur suit of the perpetrators, they came across three suspected cannabis farms measuring about eight acres along the

At one of the camps, com ponents of a suspected fire arm were also found and have been lodged. All the cannabis plants and camps were destroyed by fire.

More than a week ago, a joint operation by ranks of the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force’s Coast Guard led to the discovery of 17 acres of ganja with approximate ly 27,000 cannabis plants ranging from two to six feet in height.

Full Court sets aside default libel judgement against Leslie Ramsammy

The Demerara Full Court has unanimous ly ruled to set aside a default libel judgement that was granted against Advisor to the Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy.

In February of last year, journalist Enrico Woolford, who previously served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Communications Network (NCN), sued Ramsammy for making defamatory state ments about him. On August 25, 2021, High Court Judge Fidela Corbin-Lincoln hand ed down a default judge ment in favour of Woolford, owing to Ramsammy’s fail ure to file a defence with in the time prescribed by the Civil Procedure Rules of 2016.

Ramsammy, through his lawyer Nirvan Singh, had asked Justice CorbinLincoln to set aside her own judgement but his applica tion was refused after the trial Judge, among other things, found that he did not provide a reasonable expla nation for his failure to file a defence and that his defence had “no real prospect of suc ceeding”.

Justice Corbin-Lincoln had thereafter adjourned the case to assess damages. No award for damages was

made by Justice Corbin. Ramsammy moved to the Full Court.

Justice Priya SewnarineBeharry and Justice Gino Persaud—comprising the Full Court—among other things, said that while they agreed that Ramsammy did not provide a reasonable ex planation for his failure to file a defence, it would be in the interest of justice to al low him to file a defence and defend the claim for defa mation. In so doing, they held that civil procedure is a “handmaiden” of justice and not its “master”.

Ramsammy’s appeal was therefore allowed, he was granted until December 9 to file his defence and the matter was remitted to Justice Corbin-Lincoln for case management. The Full

Court’s judgement ruling was done last Thursday.

In his lawsuit lodged at the Demerara High Court, Woolford has claimed for damages against Guyana Times and Times Media Group, jointly and severally, and one of the newspaper’s columnists, Ramsammy, over an article published in the daily, which inter alia, alleged that he colluded with the APNU/AFC to rig the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections.

Woolford, through his lawyer, Eusi Anderson, sub mitted that he was defamed on March 18, 2020, in a col umn titled: “Ramsammy’s Ruminations”, authored by Ramasamy and published in Guyana Times’ print and online edition. He is seeking more than $185 million in damages.

Region Six Police Commander, Senior Superintendent Shivpersaud Bacchus said acting on information re ceived, ranks went to DeVeldt Village, Savannah, along the Berbice River, where they destroyed the

cannabis sativa plants, three makeshift camps, one trailer, and two ploughs.

The estimated value of the cannabis sativa de stroyed was $340,194,300.

Meanwhile, during a similar operation at DeVeldt last month, $489 million

worth of marijuana was de stroyed and two shotguns were discovered. A 37-yearold farmer of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara (WCD), who was attending to the cannabis plants, was arrested. He has since been charged.

Advisor to the Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Enrico Woolford

Ebini Trail, Upper Berbice River, with about 37,000 suspected plants ranging from three to seven feet in height and weighing approx imately 4000 pounds.

Three makeshift camps with four hundred pounds of dry cannabis, along with one tiller and several pieces of farming equipment were seen. The estimated cost of the suspected cannabis is $585,134,100.

GO-Invest urges formation of consortiums

…as Rupununi Business Investment Expo returns

Amerindian villages play an integral role in the de velopment of the region and were also well represented at the expo.

She said while most per sons make their living off of tourism in the Rupununi, more attention needs to be placed on the service sector.

According to the Amerindian Affairs Minister, there is a need for people to place more em phasis on sustainable ag riculture. To this end, her Ministry has been work ing with the Agriculture Ministry to expand tourism in the region.

“Cassava can become the main product that the Rupununi can export.”

EPA AND TOURISM

The once-annual Rupununi Business Investment Expo returned to the town of Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) after two years as a result of the restric tions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The two-day event, which opened on Saturday, saw mainly residents of both North and South Rupununi along with large business es including Government agencies and businesses from neighbouring Brazil. Some 25 Amerindian vil lages were represented at the expo.

Region Nine is referred to as an integral part of Guyana’s development pro cess.

This is according to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GO-Invest, Peter Ramroop.

According to the CEO, who was speaking at the official opening of the event which was held at Tabatinga Sports Complex, more time needs to be spent on what is produced in Lethem.

“Northern Brazil is land locked but they have signif icant agriculture products that need to get to wider markets. Guyana provides that opportunity with the ‘road to Brazil’ or the ‘road to Lethem’ is not just a road; it is bringing together regional aspects of our inte gration. How do we all par ticipate in the value-added chain? Even though Brazil may come in with a prod uct, if it can be produced in Guyana and has a ‘made in Guyana’ stamp and it can get to the harbour and get to Barbados where we are building the food terminal, all of us will be able to ben efit from it,” Ramroop ex plained.

“If we want to gain the wealth of Guyana, we all have to step in and figure

out how we contribute,” he said, targeting his com ments to the business com munity.

The expo was hosted by the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), the Government and ExxonMobil.

Ramroop called on the business community to form consortiums.

“No one individual in this region or any part of

working with the Chamber.

She pointed out the evo lution of the expo from a simple market day.

“The contemporary expo generates interest, not only within Region Nine, but we now see participation from other regions in Guyana, from Brazil and from the Caribbean. Our presence here today and our support for the Rupununi Expo is because of our belief that

She took the opportuni ty to thank the RCCI for in cluding the villages in the expo.

“The Rupununi is noth ing without the Amerindian villages. It would just be a single location in this re gion and therefore I must congratulate them for this inclusion and allowing them to grow with the busi ness and private sector of this region.”

Housing Minister Collin

The nexus between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the tourism sector in Guyana is much more meaningful and interdependent than what is usually presented. There is no doubt that, with the new petroleum finds and the pristine biodiversity of our forested areas, tourism can be seen as a main economical contributor to the economy as visitors travel to these breathtaking destinations. Thus tourism, specifically eco-tourism, has the potential to create beneficial effects on the environment by contributing to environmental protection and conservation. Activities in protected areas serve as a way to raise awareness of environmental values, and can serve as a tool to finance protection of natural areas and increase their economic importance.

Guyana can do it by our selves. We need to come to gether and figure out how was can get a wider market for our valued-added prod ucts.”

The GO-Invest CEO asked the Rupununi busi ness community to see where they fit in as it re lates to benefiting from business and business op portunities in Brazil.

Evolved

The main economic ac tivity in Region Nine is tourism. As such, Tourism Minister Oneidge Waldron said the Government is partnering with the RCCI to show its commitment to

development must occur in every village, every town, every county and every re gion of our country, and Region Nine is no excep tion.”

Minister Waldron re mains committed to small business development and will continue to support small and micro enterpris es.

“This is evident by the tangible support that we have offered small busi nesses in the region,” she noted.

Integral role

Meanwhile, Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai pointed out that

Croal, who also attended the opening ceremony, in congratulating the RCCI for ensuring that the expo returned, said the expo is also a facet of the One Guyana notion.”

“When we speak of the development of Rupununi, Region Nine, it is important that it transcends into the villages and development at the community level. We would like for the Chamber to also play a greater role in working with many of these communities and Villages Councils.”

President of the RCCI, Daniel Gajie said he would like to see the expo contin ue in 2023. (G4)

On the contrary, the impacts of tourism are linked to the construction of general infrastructure such as roads and airports, and of tourism facilities, including resorts, hotels, restaurants, shops, and golf courses. Thus the negative impacts of tourism development can gradually destroy environmental resources on which it depends. As such, the Agency contributes both directly and indirectly to the development of our beloved transforming country of Guyana.

The EPA mandate is linked to tourism, as it allows for both setting of permit and compliance conditions for projects that facilitate tourism-related activities. In this way, the EPA’s permit conditions would vary to accommodate different types of activities that fall under the tourism sector. In addition to permitting and compliance, the EPA conducts investigations into complaints, as with other sectors, in keeping with its mandate to promote, facilitate, and coordinate effective environmental management and protection, and the sustainable use of Guyana’s natural resources.

The EPA is also tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that tourism operations are compliant with the Agency’s rules and regulations. This entails the Environmental Authorization process, which identifies potential sources of pollution and proposes measures that would minimize negative impacts. To this end, periodic inspections and monitoring systems are implemented to existing operations such as hotels and resorts, etc., to continue the beneficial relationship between the EPA and the tourism sector.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O Communications, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Consumer Rights Advocate Award given to Pat Dial

…as CCAC hosts inaugural Suppliers Compliance Awards ceremony

to protect the consumer against unfair trade prac tices.

Director of Business at the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry, John Edghill stated that events of this kind are important for building a better future for Guyanese.

“This is a very import ant day for us as Guyanese. And as Guyanese, we are moving in a particular di rection. Currently, we know the growth that we are projected to enter into. Guyana in 2022 will look vastly different from how Guyana in 2030 will look. It will look very different in 2040 and the next de cade that proceeds.

winning awards across a range of categories.

The Consumer Rights Advocate of the Year Award, which seeks to re ward an advocate who has made noteworthy contri butions to improve con sumer protection, went to Pat Dial.

Dial has a track record of consistently promoting and protecting consumer rights.

Kingston.

The

Soesdyke-Linden Highway residents to benefit from new wells – GWI

Consumer rights refer to the right to be informed about the quality, quanti ty, potency, purity, stan dard and price of goods

“But the actions that you take now are the ac tions and inputs that will build that tomorrow that we want,” he is quoted as saying by DPI. Edghill also urged younger Guyanese to take up the mantle from the elders, as it pertains to advocating for consumer rights in the country.

The award ceremo ny saw numerous compa nies being nominated and

Other winners were Massy Distribution Guyana Inc Agricultural Machinery & Spare Parts, in the Best Warranty Policy category; Caribbean Motor Spares won Most Compliant Auto Industry; Telco Solutions won Most Compliant – Electronics, and Silvie’s Industrial Solutions copped the award for Most Compliant – Other Industries.

John Lewis Styles was awarded the prize for Best Consumer Experience.

The 2023 awards pro gramme will include media awards, which will cover both print and electronic media.

Active COVID-19 cases climb to 118, 4 in ICU

The Ministry of Health reported on Sunday that nine more persons have tested positive for the novel coro navirus within a 24-hour period.

Consequently, active cases in Guyana are now 118. This includes four pa tients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the remaining persons in isolation, that is, four persons in institutional isolation and the other 110 persons in home isolation.

There is no one in in stitutional quarantine, ac cording to the Ministry’s updated COVID-19 dash board on Sunday.

Of the nine new cases recorded on Sunday, eight were from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and the remaining one case from Region Five (MahaicaBerbice).

Back in March, the Guyana Government had removed most restrictions as the country recovers from the pandemic and re turns to normalcy.

Nevertheless, health au thorities continue to urge persons to get vaccinated and for those qualified to get their booster shots as an added layer of protec tion against the virus.

According to the World

Health Organisation’s (WHO) recent figures, some 636,440,663 confirmed cas es were reported global ly along with 6,606,624 deaths.

In the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has in creased to 181,462,467 while the death toll in the Region has gone up to 2,866,251.

As it relates to vaccina tion against COVID-19, the WHO also reported that a total of 12,959,275,260 dos es have been administered worldwide.

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Water Inc (GWI), Shaik Baksh recently led a team of technical officials to vis it a number of communities along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway that are slated to get new wells.

The aim of the visit on Friday was to enlighten res idents about the utility com pany’s plans to improve and in some cases, provide firsttime potable water access to them.

One such community was Kairuni, where the team met and held discussions with the Vice Chair of the Community Development Council and residents to in form them of plans to drill a

new well there.

The GWI team also visit ed Moblissa and Long Creek, where they pledged their commitment to drill new wells in those communities also.

According to the CEO, the realisation of these wells sig nals first-time access to pota ble water for these villages.

Baksh said works are ex pected to commence before the end of this year.

Meanwhile, Waiakabra will benefit sooner, as a new well has already been drilled there and is being developed.

These projects are all in an effort to provide relief to these communities.

In fact, GWI has previ ously outlined plans to drill

at least 30 new wells in 2022 and more than 140 more wells over the next three years. This dynamic well drilling programme will tar get both the coastland and hinterland.

The GWI CEO had stated as the company accelerates its well drilling programme in the hinterland, capacity building will go a long way in ensuring its targets are achieved.

As such, the water com pany has acquired drilling rigs to use primarily in hin terland and riverine areas. There are currently three rigs in operation, hence ca pacity building is an import ant component of GWI’s pro gramme.

Meanwhile, Guyana's COVID-19 death toll re mains at 1285. The last fatality was recorded on November 25 after a 42-year-old male from Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) died.

On the other hand, some 70,179 persons in the coun try have recovered from the life-threatening virus –seven more recoveries than the previous day.

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Guyana over two years ago, a total 705,700 tests have been conducted coun trywide and of this, some 32,816 males and 38,766 females were found to be positive.

The GWI team in discussion with members from one of the communities along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway

Pat Dial (sitting) along with other awardees at the inaugural Suppliers Compliance Awards Ceremony

The inaugu ral Suppliers Compliance Awards Ceremony and Gala was on Friday host

ed by the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre in

ceremony serves to highlight and celebrate those businesses that excel in consumer rights.

Regional Venezuela takes 1st step out of political stalemate

Venezuela's Government and the Opposition have signed a preliminary agree ment to find a way out of the country's political crisis.

During talks in Mexico, the two issued a joint state ment requesting that bil lions of dollars frozen abroad be released to help fund so cial projects.

It comes after years of failed attempts to solve a po litical deadlock.

In response, the US said that it would allow the American oil company Chevron to resume some ac tivity in Venezuela.

Following President Nicolás Maduro's election in 2013, he has grown increas ingly authoritarian.

His crackdown on Opposition activists ulti mately led to the US impos ing sanctions on his regime and recognising Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó as in terim president in 2019 af ter a contested election.

Since then, several rounds of talks aimed at finding a way out of the po litical deadlock have gone

nowhere – with the last ne gotiations failing just over a year ago.

But now, the Government and the Opposition – with the help of Norway as me diator – have drawn up an agreement that aims to en sure that billions of dollars frozen abroad will be grad ually released by a United Nations-managed fund, to be put towards healthcare, education and food aid.

The funds were blocked by foreign banks over the alleged irregularities in the 2018 elections.

The progress made on Saturday has been wel comed by the US, who de scribed it as a step in the right direction.

It also said oil compa ny Chevron would be able to resume some activity in Venezuela, including im porting Venezuelan crude in the US.

The agreement rep resents "hope for all of Latin America", Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said in comments cited by AFP. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Jamaica: 15-year-old boy charged in St Mary stabbing

A15-year-old boy of Boscobel, St Mary was charged with wounding with intent fol lowing an incident in the Ocho Rios Bus Park, St Ann on Monday, November 21.

Reports from the Ocho Rios Police are that about 16:00h, the Virtual Complainant was at the bus park when he was at tacked by the suspect and two other boys; who stabbed him in his face.

He was assisted to hos pital where he was ad mitted in stable condi tion. An investigation was launched and one of the boys was subsequently charged.

(Jamaica Observer)

Tens of thousands march in Mexico City to support president

Tens of thousands marched with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Sunday in a massive demonstration through the centre of the country's capital to show their support for the Head of State before a 2024 General Election.

"Mexico is no longer run by oligarchy, now there is a democratic sys tem whose priority is the poor," the President told people crowding the vast Zocalo square at the city's centre.

Lopez Obrador, whose Administration has made double-digit minimum wages hikes for the past four years, proposed that the 2023 increase could land around 20 per cent, and forecast the country's economic growth would beat expectations.

Supporters, many of whom travelled to the cap ital by bus, shook hands and took selfies with

the 69-year-old Head of State as he crossed the square, many waving flags for the ruling National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) party.

"The President is from a humble background. He's done a lot of social programs," said Teresa Magana, who pooled mon ey with a group of 40 to travel 12 hours from

Tabasco, the President's home state. "We want him to continue."

The speech followed a five-hour march through the capital's Reforma Avenue and performanc es by mariachi musi cians in the main square. The President's approv al ratings are around 60 per cent. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Former BVI Premier sends farewell letter

Eight months after he was arrested in the United States, former Prime Minister Andrew Fahie has writ ten a farewell letter to his former colleagues of the House of Assembly, urging them to keep fighting for the prosperity of the terri tory and focus on the areas that unite them as Virgin Islanders.

In the letter, Fahie called on citizens of the British Overseas territo ry to be “laser focused on the areas that unite, rath er than those that divide”.

He also told his col leagues to create a territo

ry where young people can dream of being the next Speaker, Clerk, Attorney General, Director of Public Prosecutions, elected offi cial, Government Minister, Premier, Governor, or Governor General.

Fahie, who has been ac cused of knowingly trav elling interstate to facili tate a business enterprise involving narcotics, also called his colleagues to, “al low God, through time, to do what only he does best with time — which is to be the only true and fair judge while healing all wounds.”

The former Premier also expressed gratitude

for the time spent in pol itics. The letter that was addressed to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, serves as Fahie’s offi cial notice from his elect ed post as First District Representative and re tirement from represen tational politics, effective November 24.

His resignation comes eight months after he was arrested at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport on drug and money laun dering charges, which has since been upgrad ed to include racketeer ing charges. (Excerpt from CMC)

T&T braced for bad weather

Trinidad and Tobago is bracing for more flooding, landslides and gusty winds through this week following last week’s deluge, which sent rivers across Trinidad over their banks.

An active trough sys tem – an area of low er-than-usual pressure at varying levels of the atmo sphere, which brings un settled weather – has been moving across Trinidad and Tobago, bringing prolonged rains, showers and thun derstorms.

After a very wet November, with the last Adverse Weather Alert dis continued on Thursday, soils remain very saturated.

Multiple rivers, in cluding St Joseph, Cipero, Aranguez, Caparo, North Oropouche, South

Oropouche, Nariva, Arena, Guaracara, Marianne, Caroni and Guanapo, all overtopped over the week end. Major flash floods hit parts of Biche, Caparo, and Maracas-St Joseph, with parts of Caparo and Mamoral recording over five feet of water in some areas.

Based on preliminary reports, the worst affected area was central Trinidad, with over 32 incidents of flooding, landslides, fallen trees, fallen utility poles, and a collapsed road at Gran Couva Main Road.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Cuba wins China debt relief, new funds

China has agreed to re structure Cuban debt and provide new trade and in vestment credits to the beleaguered Caribbean Island nation after a meet ing in Peking between the two Communist countries’ leaders.

Cuba Economy Minister Alejandro Gil said the latter had also donated US$100 million to help the country cope with ba sic goods shortages and an energy crisis worsened by Hurricane Ian, which decimated western Pinar del Rio province in late September.

Gil was speaking in an interview with offi cial media travelling with President Miguel DiazCanel as he returned home over the weekend from a tour of Algeria, Russia, Turkey, and China.

Chinese trade and in vestment has slowed in re cent years due to Cuba’s failure to meet restruc tured debt payments ac cording to analysts and diplomats, a situation worsened by tighter US sanctions, the pandemic and domestic economic in efficiencies.

“We are going to find mutually acceptable for

mulas for the ordering and restructuring of debts,” Gil said.

Analysts estimate the debt in the billions of dol lars, although no official figures are available.

Cuba last reported its foreign debt in 2019 at US$19.6 billion.

China is Cuba’s most important commercial partner after Venezuela, though trade has declined from over US$2 billion in 2017 to US$1.3 billion last year, according to the Cuban Government.

Gil said China had agreed to quickly complete

a floating dock, wind pow er and solar energy proj ect, among others.

President Diaz-Canel told the official media af ter talks in Peking that debt was at the top of his agenda with President Xi Jinping who sympathised with the difficulties Cuba was going through.

The Cuban President said his Chinese coun terpart indicated “a solu tion must be found to all the problems with Cuba, regardless of the debt, and that this cannot be what limits development”.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

The Government and the Opposition – with the help of Norway as mediator – have drawn up an agreement that aims to ensure that billions of dollars frozen abroad will be gradually released by a United Nations-managed fund

The country is bracing for more flooding, landslides and gusty winds

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument to the People's Heroes at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, November 25, 2022 (Alejandro Azcuy/ Courtesy of Cuban Presidency/Handout via Reuters)

People take part in a march in support of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's government policies and to celebrate his four years in the office, in Mexico City, Mexico November 27, 2022 (REUTERS/Henry Romero)

Deepwater oil and gas production to grow 60% by 2030

Deepwater oil and gas production is set to increase by 60 per cent by 2030, to contribute 8 per cent of overall upstream production, according to a new report from Wood Mackenzie, as cited by Rig Zone.

Ultra-deepwater production is set to continue growing at breakneck speed to account for half of all deepwater production by 2030. In the oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) industry, deepwater is defined as water depth greater than 1000 feet while ultra-deepwater is defined as greater than 5000 feet.

Deepwater production remains the fastest-growing upstream oil and gas segment with production expected to hit 10.4 million boe/d in 2022 from just 300,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) in 1990. Wood Mackenzie has predicted that by the end of the decade, that figure will pass 17 million boe/d.

US oil and gas major Exxon Mobil is the latest oil major to make a deepwater oil and gas find. Last month, Exxon announced that it had made two more discoveries at the Sailfin-1 and Yarrow-1 wells in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, bringing discoveries on the block to more than 30 since 2015.

Exxon revealed that the Sailfin-1 well was drilled in 4616 feet of water and encountered 312 feet of hydrocarbonbearing sandstone, while the Yarrow-1 well was drilled in 3560 feet of water and encountered 75 feet of hydrocarbonbearing sandstone.

Exxon did not disclose how much crude oil or gas it estimates the new discoveries to contain, but hiked a previous output forecast for the third quarter from older discoveries in the region.

The supermajor has boosted development and production offshore Guyana at a pace that "far exceeds the industry average”. Exxon’s two sanctioned offshore Guyana projects, Liza Phase 1 and Liza Phase 2, are now producing above design capacity and have already achieved an average of nearly 360K bbl/day of oil. The supermajor expects total production from Guyana to cross a million barrels per day by the end of this decade.

Exxon said a third project, Payara, is expected to launch by year-end 2023 while a fourth project, Yellowtail, could kick off operations in 2025.

Exxon is the operator of the Stabroek Block where it holds a 45 per cent interest while partners Hess Corp and CNOOC hold a 30 per cent and 25 per cent interest, respectively. Exxon’s oil and gas production are well below record levels, averaging 3.7M boe/day at midyear, in-line with last year but nearly 9 per cent below 4.1M boe/day set in 2016. (Oilprice.com)

Around the World

China reports 4th straight daily record of new COVID cases

China reported its fourth straight dai ly record of 39,791 new COVID-19 infec tions on Nov 26, of which 3709 were symptomat ic and 36,082 were as ymptomatic, the National Health Commission said on Sunday.

That is compared with 35,183 new cases a day earlier – 3474 symptomat ic and 31,709 asymptomat ic infections, which China counts separately.

Excluding imported in fections, China reported 39,506 new local cases, of which 3648 were symptom atic and 35,858 were as ymptomatic, up from 34,909 a day earlier.

There was one new

death, versus none a day earlier, raising the total number of fatalities to 5233.

As of Nov 26, main land China had confirmed

307,802 cases with symp toms.

China's capital and me ga-cities continue to strug gle to contain outbreaks,

with Chongqing and Guangzhou reporting the bulk of new infections.

Local cases in Beijing continued to jump, rising 66 per cent to 4307 cases, com pared with 2595 the previ ous day, local government data showed.

Chongqing, a southwest ern city of 32 million people, reported 8861 new locally transmitted COVID-19 in fections, up almost 15 per cent from the 7721 recorded a day before.

Guangzhou, a prosper ous city in the south of nearly 19 million people, re ported a marginal decrease in local cases at 7412, com pared with 7419 a day be fore, local authorities said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Kim Jong Un says North Korea aims to have the world's strongest nuclear force

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country intends to have the world's most powerful nuclear force as he promoted dozens of military officers involved in the re cent launch of a new ballis tic missile, state media re ported on Sunday.

The announcement comes after Kim inspect ed a Nov 18 test of the Hwasong-17, North Korea's largest intercontinental bal listic missile (ICBM) and pledged to counter what he called US nuclear threats.

North Korea's "ultimate goal is to possess the world's most powerful strategic force, the absolute force un precedented in the century," Kim said in the order pro moting the officers, adding that building up the coun try's nuclear capabilities would reliably protect the dignity and sovereignty of the state and the people.

He described the Hwasong-17 as the "world's strongest strategic weapon"

Diphtheria cases rising among asylum seekers

The number of cases of diphtheria among asylum seekers who have recently arrived in the UK has risen to more than 50, the BBC understands.

It comes after it was confirmed that one migrant who died after being held at Manston processing centre in Kent had contracted the disease.

The man died in hospi tal on November 19 after entering the UK on a small boat seven days earlier.

The Home Office said it takes the welfare of those

in its care seriously.

This week, health of ficials are set to confirm there have been more than 50 diphtheria cases among asylum seekers this year, the BBC understands.

In 2021, there were three of the same strain, according to Government Data.

Diphtheria is a highly contagious infection that affects the nose, throat and sometimes cause ulcers on the skin.

According to the NHS website, it's spread by

coughs and sneezes or through close contact with someone who is infected, and in serious cases can be fatal.

You can also get it by sharing items such as cups, cutlery, clothing or bedding with an infected person.

Babies and children in the UK are vaccinated against diphtheria, mean ing cases are rare. However, the infection is potential ly dangerous to migrants who come from countries where this is not the case. (Excerpt from BBC News)

and said it demonstrated North Korea's resolve and ability to eventually build

the world's strongest army.

North Korean scientists have made a "wonderful

leap forward in the devel opment of the technology of mounting nuclear warheads on ballistic missiles," and were expected to expand and strengthen the coun try's nuclear deterrent ca pabilities at an extraordi narily rapid pace, Kim was also quoted as saying.

Capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, the launch of the Hwasong-17 prompt ed the United States to call for a United Nations Security Council presiden tial statement to hold North Korea accountable for its missile tests, which are banned by Security Council resolutions. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Russian attacks on energy grid amount to genocide, says Ukraine

main under usage restric tions, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Genocide involves "the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group", according to a definition pro vided by the UN Genocide Convention.

Among the acts which may qualify are killing or causing serious harm to members of that group - or forcibly transferring its chil dren elsewhere.

Russia's

Strikes on key facilities targeted "the full Ukrainian nation" and were an effort to force Kyiv to surrender, the prosecutor-general told the BBC.

The term genocide re fers to an effort to wipe out a group of people. Russia de nies having any such aim.

Millions of people across Ukraine are facing power cuts in freezing weather, fol lowing sustained Russian attacks.

Efforts are ongoing to reconnect homes cut off from electricity. Officials say Kherson has now been fully resupplied, follow ing the city's recapture by Ukrainian troops earlier this month.

But people in 14 regions and the capital Kyiv re

In his BBC interview, Ukrainian ProsecutorGeneral Andriy Kostin said that, as well as the attacks on the energy grid, 11,000 Ukrainian children had been forcibly deported to Russia.

Kostin said his office was investigating reports of more than 49,000 war crimes and crimes of aggres sion since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Workers in protective suits keep watch behind a barrier at a sealed restaurant area, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Shanghai, China, November 26, 2022

attacks on Ukrainian energy in frastructure amount to genocide, a top Ukrainian official said.

Russian strikes have left millions of people facing winter power cuts - including in the capital, Kyiv

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un addresses the Supreme People's Assembly, North Korea's Parliament, which passed a law officially enshrining its nuclear weapons policies, in Pyongyang, North Korea, September 8, 2022 in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Your curiosity, enthusiasm and lim itless energy will get you where you want to go. Pitch in and do your part; you'll make an impression on someone noteworthy. Romance is in the stars.

(March 21-April 19)

Don't beat yourself up over some thing you cannot control. Put your en ergy where you know it can do some good. Don't rely on anyone but yourself regarding investments.

(April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

(June 21-July 22) (July 23-Aug. 22)

Team up with someone you can trust. Talks will ease your mind and en courage you to share your opinions and press for what you want. Question any thing that appears to be wrong or in complete.

Look for a unique way to use your skills and connections, and you will find the success you desire. Precise, purpose ful actions will give you the momentum to deal with any pitfalls you encounter.

Change only what's necessary. Enthusiasm is a wonderful thing -- un less it costs you. Consider the gains and losses your actions will set in motion be fore you barrel ahead with your plans.

Keep your distance from people and situations that are upsetting or confus ing. Pay attention to detail. Consider the changes you can put in motion with out causing any friction.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Set your sights on what you want, and don't stop until you feel good about what's transpired. High energy coupled with hands-on action will prove to be successful.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) (Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

By putting everything in its place, you'll ease your mind and sail through your responsibilities. Before signing up for something that can affect how you look or feel, take a good look at your fi nances.

Get the lowdown before you let an ger take control. Go directly to the source and be prepared to act if it will help keep the peace. Make physical fit ness and health your priorities.

Think things through from begin ning to end before making a move. Know what you are up against and what you can afford before you agree to participate. Refuse to pay for someone else's mistake.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

A reserved attitude won't get you as far as flair will. Step into the spotlight and share your thoughts and feelings. Take control, put your energy where it counts and make a difference.

Unusual ideas can be beneficial if they are based on facts and proven methods. Don't let anger or a lack of patience cost you. Bide your time and learn from experience. Work alone.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

ARCHIE PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

DILBERT

FIFA World Cup Round Up...

Germany and Spain play to tense draw

– wins for Costa Rica, Morocco and Croatia

been full of surprises by beat ing Belgium thanks to late goals by Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal.

Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was at fault for the first goal, inex plicably allowing Sabiri's in swinging free-kick to beat him at his near post with 17 minutes to go.

But the whole Belgium side paid the price for a pon derous performance, with Morocco capping a magnif icent second-half display when Aboukhlal fired Hakim Ziyech's cutback into the roof of the net in stoppage time.

Roared on by their noisy fans, who were bouncing all around Al Thumama Stadium in great numbers, Morocco comfortably kept them at bay and began to grow into the game them selves.

They thought they had taken the lead just before half-time when Ziyech's freekick eluded Courtois, but the video assistant referee (VAR) showed Romain Saiss was offside and deemed to be

came to an equaliser was when Jan Vertonghen head ed wide, before Aboukhlal made sure of a stunning vic tory by finishing off a swift break.

Belgium's stuttering win over Canada in their open ing game means their route to the last 16 is still open, albeit less straightforward than was anticipated.

But this was another re minder that the generation of players that reached the

Germany's hopes of reaching the knockout phase had been given an unlikely lifeline earlier on Sunday when Costa Rica beat Japan when any other result would have meant defeat by Spain would send them out.

Hansi Flick's side still need to beat Costa Rica in their final Group E game and hope Japan do not spring a shock against Spain, but at least they know their hopes of moving into the last 16 are in tact after falling behind at Al Bayt Stadium.

Spain, who almost went ahead in the first half when keeper Manuel Neuer turned Dani Olmo's shot on to the bar, took the lead after 62

goal, but it was not enough to stop them being knocked out of the tournament following a 4-1 defeat by Croatia.

Bayern Munich winger Davies’ second-minute open er gave Canada hope, but they ended up second best and have suffered back-to-back de feats in their first two group matches.

In Group F’s earlier game, Morocco shocked world num ber two side Belgium 2-0 and are second in the standings, behind 2018 finalists Croatia.

John Herdman’s outsiders scored from the game’s first attack after only 67 seconds courtesy of a towering header from Davies, who darted into the box and powerfully con

David’s long-range curler.

Hoffenheim frontman Kramaric got his second of the game by coolly converting into the far corner, and substi tute Lovro Majer wrapped up the match by netting in inju ry time.

Costa Rica shock Japan

Japan failed to take anoth er step towards the World Cup knockout rounds as Keysher Fuller's late goal earned Costa Rica a smash-and-grab Group E victory.

Following their shock win over Germany, Japan were frustrated by a tight defensive unit, before Fuller struck with Costa Rica's first shot on tar get at the tournament.

The result leaves both teams on three points after two games.

After beating Germany in their opener, many expected Japan to account for a Costa Rica side reeling from a 7-0 thrashing by Spain.

However, Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu opted for ro tation over continuity, making five changes, and that result ed in a subdued performance and a scoreline that blew the group wide open.

That sparked wild cele brations in the stands of Al Thumama Stadium from thousands of Morocco fans, who had created a raucous atmosphere from the start.

The result means Morocco move above Belgium to the top of Group F on four points.

Few surprises had seemed on the cards ear ly on. After surviving a high-tempo and helter-skel ter approach from Canada – their first opponents in Group F – Belgium's initial job this time was to break down Morocco's massed de fence.

They managed it within the first five minutes, when Thorgan Hazard sent Michy Batshuayi running clear, but he was denied by Munir Mohamedi, a late replace ment in the Morocco goal af ter Yassine Bounou (Bono) was taken ill in the warmup.

It seemed that would just be the start of some sus

interfering with play after running across the Belgium goalkeeper's line of sight.

Roberto Martinez's side did not improve after the break, only managing shots from distance from the in effective Eden Hazard and substitute Dries Mertens.

Morocco, meanwhile, were becoming as lively as their supporters in the stands and went close to tak ing the lead when Sofiane Boufal cut in from the left and sent a shot bouncing wide. They kept coming for ward and got their reward when Sabiri's clever free-

semi-finals of the World Cup four years ago are nearing the end of the road.

They were disjointed go ing forward, with Batshuayi ineffective in attack and Romelu Lukaku only fit enough for a cameo appear ance in the closing moments.

Even Manchester City star Kevin de Bruyne was unable to add any inspiration in midfield and, at the back, veteran pair Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld were left petrified by the pace of Morocco's attack when their side were chasing the game.

They looked nothing like

minutes when substitute Alvaro Morata applied a bril liant near-post flick to Jordi Alba's cross.

Germany pressed for ward and Niclas Fullkrug gave them a point seven min utes from the end when he burst through and lashed an unstoppable finish high past Spain’s keeper, Unai Simon.

Leroy Sane almost won it for Germany in the dying sec onds, but ran out of space as he raced through on goal and the ball was scrambled clear.

Croatia send Canada packing

Alphonso Davies scored Canada’s first-ever World Cup

verted from Tajon Buchanan’s cross.

Croatia, though, did not panic after falling behind and created numerous chances, with striker Andrej Kramaric seeing a goal ruled out for off side.

But the former Leicester striker equalised with a firsttime angled shot from Ivan Perisic’s pass, and Marko Livaja put them ahead with a rasping drive from the edge of the box.

Kramaric was denied by Milan Borjan’s fine save in the second half and at the other end, Dominik Livakovic acro batically tipped over Jonathan

It was a remarkable vic tory for Costa Rica, who had failed to lay a glove on the Japan defence before Fuller's deflected shot from the edge of the box escaped goalkeep er Shuichi Gonda's grasp nine minutes from time.

After a first half devoid of goalmouth action in the sear ing heat at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Japan dominated for large spells. However, they struggled to create clear-cut chances until the 88th minute, when Daichi Kamada could not turn the ball home after a driving Kaoru Mitoma run.

Morocco seals

stunning win over Belgium Morocco caused the latest shock at a World Cup that has

tained Belgium pressure, but while they continued to dominate possession, further clear-cut chances were few and far between.

kick found Courtois dozing at a set-piece again. This time, there was to be no VAR reprieve to save him.

The closest Belgium

a side supposedly ranked number two in the world and were made to look second best by Morocco, who sit 20 places lower. (BBC Sport)

Costa Rica shocked Japan at the World Cup

Niclas Fullkrug sent in the equaliser as Germany and Spain players displayed high skill and technique

Morocco's Abdelhamid Sabiri (right) celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal

Alphonso Davies scored the fastest goal of the World Cup so far to give Canada a 1-0 lead, before Croatia stormed back

After a career span ning two decades and characterised by fast times and world re cords, but blighted by inju ry and unfulfilled potential,

Former 100m world-record holder Asafa Powell hangs up his spikes

birthday on November 23, was a trailblazer in an era that produced some of the fastest men in the history of track and field name ly Usain Bolt, an eighttime Olympic gold medal list; Nesta Carter; Michael Frater; Yohan Blake and Steve Mullings, among others.

Powell set world re cords of 9.77 in Athens, Greece in 2005 and 9.74 in Rieti, Italy in 2007. His record was broken by Bolt in New York in 2008 when he ran 9.72 at the Adidas Grand Prix. Powell low ered his personal best to 9.72 in September 2008, but by then Bolt had taken the record down to 9.69 at the Beijing Olympics.

After breaking 10 sec onds for the first time in 2004, Powell went on to run under 10 seconds for the 100m, a record 97 times. It is an achieve ment that has earned him the moniker ‘Sub-10 King”.

However, despite his amazing talent, Powell never won individual glob al titles in the

First-ever Under-13 intercounty to be played in Berbice

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) is set to launch the first-ev er Under-13 inter-coun ty tournament on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at Albion Sports Complex, Berbice. The tournament is a three-team, 40-over round-robin competition.

The opening match is Berbice v Essequibo on Tuesday, November 29, followed by Essequibo v Demerara on Thursday, December 1 and Berbice v Demerara on Saturday, December 3. All match es will be played at Albion, starting at 10:00h.

The teams participating in this tournament are:

Berbice Team: Richard Ramdeholl (Captain); Tameshwar Deonandan (Vice Captain); Mohamed Balle; Lemuel De Jonge; Balraj Narine; Arif Madramutoo; Nathaniel Ramsammy; Arif Bacchus; Shahid Gajnabi; Denish Singh; Luke Amsterdam; Dave Sewpersaud; Leon Reddy; Raffel Mc Kenzie; Arush Hemraj, and Donovan Newland. Reserves: William Castello, Fayad Gaffur, Jade Campbell, and Kuamassy Mentore.

Coach: Tremayne Smartt

Manager: Egbert Lyken Demerara Team: Brandon Henry (Captain); Makai Dowlin; Lomar Seecharran (Vice Captain); Ganesh Appanah; Shaker Ramesh; Joshua Bollers; Rayaz Latiff; Nathan Bishop; Patrice Frazer;

Thierry Davis; Henekiah Hohenkirk; Jasami Craig; Devendra Ramkarran; Jermaine Grovesner and Joshua Williams. Reserves: Mario Singh, Kadeem Campbell, Nicholas Rukhdoe, Rakeem Latif, and Nathaniel Sukhnandan.

Coach: Latchman Yadram Manager/Assistant Coach: Daniel Barker.

Essequibo Team: Ravid Fredricks (Captain); Ethan

Silas (Vice Captain); Capildev Kissoon; Otis Roberts; Timothy Ramdat (wk); Aarav Sukhram; Tyrese Stephney; Darrius Pearson; Vidal Narnie; Zahir Ramkissoon; Justin Henry; Arif Singh; Arron Descosta; Joseph Bholo; Jamol Sahoy and Manav Samlall.

Coach: Nandkishore Andrews Manager/Assistant Coach: Rayon Da Costa.

blue-ribbon event. Favoured to win the 100m at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Powell finished fifth. Four years later, he was fifth at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Powell won the Commonwealth Games 100m title in Australia in 2006 and was favoured to win the 100m at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Japan. However, the six-time Jamaican champion was third be hind American Tyson Gay, the gold medallist and Bahamian Derrick Atkins, admitting afterwards that he ‘panicked’.

In 2009, Powell ran his best time in a global final – 9.84 – good enough for bronze behind Usain Bolt, who lowered his own world record to 9.58 with Gay winning silver in a then American record of 9.71.

He was seventh in the 100m final at the London 2012 Games.

Powell won gold medals as a member of Jamaica’s

4x100m relay team at the 2016 Rio Olympics and at the World Championships in 2009 in Berlin and 2015 in Helsinki.

He last ran under 10 sec onds in 2016 when he ran 9.92 in Hungary. Injury played a significant role in his inability to contin ue to break 10 seconds with his fastest time in the last six years being 10.02 in Leverkusen, Germany in 2019.

A favourite of female fans across the globe, Powell announced that his career had come to an end at a lav ish birthday party late last week that was attended by several prominent figures from Corporate Jamaica, his shoe sponsor Puma as well as former teammates Bolt, Blake, Frater, Carter and Elaine ThompsonHerah.

His agent Paul Doyle, family, and his closest friends were also in at tendance. On Saturday, he shared the news on

CWI pays tribute to former West Indies keeper David Murray

Instagram.

“18 years!!! Thanks to my sponsors and loyal fans who have supported me over the years. This sport has given me so many op portunities…but I start ed my track career in 2002 and have had many ups and downs but was never un grateful for what I have ac complished,” he said.

“I am entering a new phase and a new chapter of my life and a lot more to come from me. I will con tinue to inspire the young er generation in every way possible.”

Powell married Canadian model Alyshia Miller in a lavish ceremo ny before family and friends in Montego Bay in 2019 and together they have two sons. (Sportsmax)

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Cricket West Indies (CWI) paid tribute to David Murray, the former Barbados and West Indies wicket-keeper who passed away on Friday night. He was 72.

Murray was the son of West Indies batting great Sir Everton Weekes. Murray’s son Ricky Hoyte, represented Barbados and West Indies A Team as a wicket-keeper/batsman.

Murray’s first tour with the West Indies was in 1973 to England. He made his in ternational debut in the sec ond One-Day International (ODI) by a West Indies men’s team, which fea tured Lance Gibbs, Roy Fredericks, Rohan Kanhai and Clive Lloyd. His Test debut came in 1978 against Australia in Guyana. Overall, he played 19 Tests, 10 ODIs and also 114 First-

Class matches.

CWI President Ricky Skerritt paid tribute to Murray, “On behalf of CWI, I want to offer my sincere condolences to Ricky, and other members of David’s family and friends. David was a gifted wicket-keep er and a stylish middle-or der batsman. He loved the game of cricket, and played with a smile on his face. He will be remembered as a member of the great West Indies squad which domi nated world cricket for over a decade."

"Devoted West Indies cricket fans still remember David’s fantastic glove work and footwork behind the stumps to Michael Holding and other members of the fearsome West Indies fast bowling attack of his time.”

Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell has called time on his career.

One of the fastest men to have ever lived, Powell, who celebrated his 40th

Former WI wicketkeeper, the late David Murray

Richard Ramdeholl

Asafa Powell called it a day on his career

Former West Indies Women's cricketer becomes 1st female Head Coach for Berbice all-male team

Smartt represented the West Indies in a com bined 115 matches at the One-Day International and T20 International levels – 57 ODIs and 58 T20s matches, and she has claimed 85 interna tional wickets with her impressive medium-fast bowling.

The 37-year-old last played for the region al team in 2018 during a tour to New Zealand.

BCB President Hilbert Foster was very impressed with her pos itive attitude, patience, work ethic and ability to connect with youths. He recommended her for the historic position, and the recommendation was ap proved by the executives of the Board.

Smartt had earlier in the year coached the Berbice Under-19 female team to success at the inter-coun ty level.

to more female coaches in Guyana. She also stated that the BCB was working very hard to develop crick et across the entire county and she was very happy to be part of that effort.

committee was very im pressed with Campbell’s medium-fast bowling and she claimed a wicket in both trial matches. He stated that she was one for the future and the BCB would invest in her career.

Former West Indies Women's cricketer

Tremayne Smartt, who still represents Berbice and Guyana fe male teams, created histo ry when she was appoint ed the cricket coach of the Berbice Under-13 team.

Her appointment is his toric as she is the first fe male coach in the 83-year history of Berbice cricket to be in charge of an allmale cricket team.

She is also the first fe male coach to be in charge of a male team in Guyana at the inter-county lev el. Smartt is one of the 19 cricket coaches attached to the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) with the co operation of Minister Nigel Dharamlall under the Government’s 10 days’ job programme. She works with junior females and Under-13 players at the Area H Ground.

The BCB President stated that once people work hard and honest ly under his administra tion, they would be rec ognised and promoted. He expressed confidence that the former international player would be successful in her duties as Coach and make her county proud. He also stated that the level two coach would go far in her coaching career, and the BCB was very proud to be part of the journey.

Simmons disappointed with result, but insists PM XI match ideal preparation for Aussies

West Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons admits to some disappointment with a draw in the final four-day tour game against Prime Minister’s XI at Manuka Oval, but believes it has been adequate preparation ahead of the two-Test series against Australia, which be gins next week.

Chasing a total of 309 runs for victory, on the fi nal day, a win seemed pos sible when the team entered the final break at 221 for 5, needing another 88 runs to claim victory.

The West Indies had a less-than-ideal start to the final session, however, and found themselves reduced to 273 for 8, following the dismissals of Roston Chase, Alzarri Joseph, and then Kemar Roach, in fairly quick succession.

Raymon Reifer and Joshua Da Silva then com bined to help West Indies fight for the draw, playing out the final eight overs to finish on 277 for 8.

“I’m not happy with the results, we should have won it,” Simmons said following the final ball.

“We have a few mis placed wickets in the middle, while we were controlling the game, so that was a dis appointment, but at the end of the day, the way how the guys fought is always great ly encouraging,” he added.

With the players get ting plenty of opportunities

to bat and bowl in pressure situations, Simmons was, though, satisfied with what the tour match provided, ahead of a difficult series.

“The two games have been very good for us, mind you, flattish wickets, but the bowlers got the overs in their legs and the batsmen got their time at the crease, so that was good for us."

(Sportsmax)

An excited Smartt ex pressed gratitude to the BCB for its confidence in her, and stated that she felt humbled to be creating history in Guyanese crick et. She noted that she was confident that her appoint ment would open the way

Meanwhile, the BCB has announced its team for the tournament. The team would be led by Richard Ramdeholl with Tameshwar Deonandan as deputy. History was also created when 12-year-old Jade Campbell was named as a standby player in the announced team. She is the first female in the his tory of county cricket to be named as a standby play er in an all-male team. She is the younger sibling of national Under-19 female player Jamie Campbell.

Chairman of the se lectors, Balram Samaroo stated that the selection

The Berbice team com prise: Richard Ramdeholl, Tameshwar Deonandan, Mohamed Balle, Lemuel DeJonge, Balraj Narine, Arif Madramutoo, Nathaniel Ramsammy, Arif Bacchus, Shahid Gajnabi, Denish Singh, Luke Amsterdam, Dave Sewpersaud, Leon Reddy, Raffel McKenzie, Arush Hemraj, and Donovan Newland.

Standbys: William Castello, Fayad Gaffur, Jade Campbell, and Kuamassy Mentore.

National Schools' Championships: Gold for Sampson and Spencer on cycling opening day

Fresh from a win in the Inter-Guiana Games, Sherwin Sampson took his form into the National Schools’ Championships with a close win in the 40km race on the outer circuits of the National Park.

On a rainy Sunday morn ing, Sampson of District 12 pipped Alexander Leung of District 11, who came in second. Berbician Mario Washington of District 6 won bronze at the 40km race.

In the female category, Linden's Clivecia Spencer bagged the gold medal in the 25km cycling. Her fel low cyclist of District 10, Savannah Hyles, clinched second while debutant

Suriah Duncan of District 6 rode in third to bag the bronze medal.

After the race, Sampson said his strategy was to ob serve the race and upon the fifth lap, he decided to make a move.

"About two laps to go, we started attacking and attacking, and I decided to sit back and waited on the sprint where I did well. It is a very good feeling ( win ning gold)," Sampson said.

Spencer, who finished solo in the female catego ry, said it was an emotion al win. "In my last nation als, I got second because of an issue, but I came today and I knew that I would have done it."

The Lindener, who had

a point to prove, said she was also happy to give her district some points. As it relates to preparation, Spencer said she trained in the mornings before school, as well as in the af ternoons. "It was fun, be cause riding in the rain, your body is at a cool, so it is cool riding in the race," Spencer noted.

Nationals will continue today, Monday, November 28. The National Schools’ Cycling, Swimming, and Track and Field Championships, common ly called Nationals, re turned after two years and will span November 27 to December 2.

Clivecia Spencer claimed gold in the female category

Sherwin Sampson claimed gold in the male category

Coach Phil Simmons

Tremayne Smartt

BCB President Hilbert Foster