Guyana Times - Monday, October 30. 2023

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Issue No. 5538

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023

Approval for quarry in Malali Village will be granted – Pres Ali …50% production to go towards State projects

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Negotiations ongoing to P9 conclude US$35M Wismar bridge agreement …project will help bring down cost of living in community – Govt

Page 3

GTT Pinktober Walk 2023

Massive turnout of over 10,000 marks triumph of solidarity

Teen admits to snatching woman’s gold P5 chain

Bus driver on $1M bail for P14 causing death of Chinese national

Page 12

Over 500 projects Gas Strategy underway from to be released carbon credits in today for public Amerindian villages …shade houses, guest houses for tourism among projects consultation Page 9

Mothers jailed for 1 week for assaulting, threatening each other P8

Page 3

Page 2

3 suspected ATM scammers arrested Page 14

WBD businessman nabbed with P14 illegal gun, ammo

2 NEWS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Gas Strategy to be released today for public consultation

T

he Guyana Government is expected to put out the draft National Gas Utilisation Strategy sometime today for public review and feedback.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had previously disclosed that the Gas Strategy was already drafted and during his weekly press conference last Thursday, he said it will soon be made public for consultations.

“On Monday, it is our aim to put out the [National] Gas Strategy for public consultation,” Jagdeo told reporters last week.

Previously, the Vice President had promised that once Government got through the first wave of reforms on future oil contracts, then attention would be placed on this strategy.

Back in August, he had indicated that the focus of Guyana’s National Gas Strategy will be looking at ways to monetise its gas reserves. He had noted that Government will be exploring the market with the aim of monetising excess gas reserves from offshore activities.

“So, we started now activating that and we’ve started looking… [to] see what interest there is in the market because if we await just Exxon moving at its own pace – this might not be a priority project for them but for us monetising the gas reserves, probably building a petrochemical industry, maybe LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) that could yield significant value to Guyana… so we’re turning our attention to those issues also,” the Vice President had stated.

In the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, United States oil-giant ExxonMobil and its co-venturers have found some 17 trillion cubic feet of gas; that is, about a quarter of the 11 billion barrels of oil-equivalent. The Pluma and Haimara discoveries are proven gas fields.

Currently, the Aliled People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration is pursuing its model gas-to-energy project, which includes the construction of an Integrated Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) plant and a 300-megawatt (MW) combined cycle power plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

The multi-billion-dollar transformational project will see gas being piped from the Liza Field in the Stabroek Block to onshore at Wales via a pipeline that will be procured, installed, and operated by Exxon to the tune of US$1 billion.

Based on studies conducted, ExxonMobil would be able to produce up to 50 million cubic feet of gas per day for this initiative without impacting oil production activities offshore.

At present, Exxon reinjects the gas in order to maintain the pressure of producing oil wells.

The Guyana Government has already declared its intention to monetise its largely untapped gas resources found offshore, which it said would help to open up new opportunities for trade and energy security between Guyana and its bilateral partners.

The National Gas Strategy will guide the best

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

way possible to do this. It will examine, among other things, the type of gas found, the economics of getting it out, the market, and also verifying whether anything else can replace the gas to maintain the reservoirs.

Government has already

requested Exxon to prepare a utilisation plan this year for developing its gas discoveries.

The US oil giant had previously said that significant discoveries were made further to the south-east towards the Suriname bor-

der, where there is a higher gas content in the fields that they have developed so far.

With significant gas discoveries also made offshore the Dutch-speaking nation – in Block 58 off the coast of Suriname, the Guyana Government believes there is greater possibility for the two South American neighbours to pool resources for a joint gas development.

President Dr Irfaan Ali has already been talking with his counterparts about establishing an energy corridor between Guyana and its two surrounding neighbours, Suriname and Brazil.

In fact, the three nations have already held several discussions on combining their ability to create an energy corridor and unlock the potential for a series of manufacturing and industrial development.

However, while Brazil is already an established

oil producer and Guyana is nearly four years into producing oil, Suriname is not expected to have first oil production until 2027. Hence, harnessing its gas resources would not be possible until then.

During a previous press conference, VP Jagdeo had made it clear that Guyana’s rapid progress will be stymied.

“We’ve had talks about common infrastructure for joint exploration and joint development if it makes the project more viable. But we’re not going to be constrained by the pace at which another country operates. But along the road, if we have commonality and they move at the same pace – because you know we don’t need to be shy about the pace at which we’re moving… we will explore with any country,” the Vice President declared. (G8)

NEWS

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

BRIDGE The Demerara OPENINGS Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, Oct 30 – 04:00h – 05:30h and Tuesday, Oct 31 – 04:00h – 05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, Oct 30 – 15:10h – 16:40h and Tuesday, Oct 31 – 05:55h – 07:25h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be sunshine during the day. Expect clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 24 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-Easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 17:15h reaching a maximum height of 2.84 metres.

Low Tide: 10:52h and 23:16h reaching minimum heights of 0.52 metre and 0.37 metre.

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COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Crude Oil

$89.95/barrel

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Approval for quarry in Malali Village will be granted – Pres Ali …50% production to go towards State projects T

he Guyana Government is expected to grant approval for the operation of a quarry facility in the Amerindian Village of Malali along the Berbice River.

This was revealed by President Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday during a visit to the community. The Head of State led a Cabinet Outreach in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) over the weekend, visiting several communities.

At Malali, President Ali pointed out that the recent construction of a road in the community has opened up several opportunities there. These include the potential of new three quarries along the Berbice River.

This, the Guyanese leader noted, will come in good use since Malali Village is currently in need of some 500 feet of river defence.

“Today, as a result of this road, we have more than three companies wanting to operate quarries in this community that is creating a number of jobs. So, with these quarries coming into effect, we will have boulders much more affordable to look at the 500 feet of defence that is required so the cost will come down.”

The Head of State went on to added that only last week the Village Council of Malali made a request for approval to operate a quarry project in the community. According to the President, this project will be approved with a condition that half of the production will go towards Government projects being executed across Guyana.

“Last week, we met with the officials and we made the decision that the approval for that quarry that is asked for by the village will be given so that that quarry could be operationalised here. And we have an agreement with them that 50 per cent of the production of that quarry will be for Government projects

President Dr Irfaan Ali with Cabinet Ministers during Sunday’s outreach in Malali Village, Region 10 (Photo: DPI)

all across the country at a fixed price,” Ali stated.

This quarry project, the President explained, will create some 44 employment opportunities including high-paying operator jobs.

Meanwhile, the Guyanese leader also announced several development projects for Malali during Sunday’s visit. These include the construction of a new primary school to replace the current structure which floods due to its close proximity to the riverbank.

An elevated area has been identified for the new school, and a team of engineers has started consultations with the village on the design of the building. The recreational facility will also be upgraded, a new doctor’s quarters will be constructed, and a new water distribution system will be drilled to ensure sustainable water supply.

President Ali also disclosed that the Government will be supporting the development of 10 acres of land for agriculture through the Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme (AIEP).

“We are going to work with you in opening up 10 acres of land to do pineapple, coconut and citrus… The only requirement of this project is that 35

per cent of those who are part of this project must be women and young people,” he told the residents.

The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) has already committed to providing the

Malali, with a population of just about 250, has thus far benefitted from a total investment of $154 million in just three years under the Ali-led Administration.

“We have spent $616,000 on each one of you… and if you look at the 68 households here, we have spent $2.3 million per household in the last three years,” President Ali emphasised.

Under the $3 billion commitment for hinterland development made during the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference last year, Malali received $15 million to finance economic projects, including shade house and sawmill initiatives.

The village also received an additional $15 million this year from carbon credit funds for projects.

Meanwhile, 77 solar panels

Residents at the meeting in Malali on Sunday (DPI Photo)

plants to cultivate two acres of the land set aside for coconuts.

Plans are also on stream to construct a wharf in Linden to facilitate the movement of goods and services from the riverine village.

The President said these are the types of initiatives that will add value to what the Government is doing.

“We are building a stronger future, a more prosperous future for the people of this country,” he underscored.

were distributed to the village under the Government’s ‘30,000 solar home systems’ project during Sunday’s Cabinet Outreach.

The President was accompanied by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, and Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai. (G8)

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023

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The dollar still rules

W

hen in January of this year, Saudi Arabia started accepted payments in yuan from China for its oil, there was much chatter about the dollar losing its cachet in international trade. Long sought by China, such a decision furthers Beijing's goal to establish its currency internationally as a substitute for denominating world trade in dollars. But last week, India – a fellow member of BRICS – threw a spanner into the works when it refused to pay for oil from Russia in yuan in preference to the US dollar. This demonstrates that any transition away from the dollar as the world’s effective reserve currency will not be smooth.

The precedent that China is hoping to follow, of course, is the US dollar replacing the British pound sterling after WWII as the major currency for world trade, after the latter dominated for two hundred years. After the Great Depression and two World Wars, the US economy had far surpassed the British and with the new global financial institutions such as the Bretton Woods IMF and World Bank under their effective control, the dollar was facilitated to become the world reserve currency.

For its replacement, one commentator has argued: “A successor reserve currency would need to have a large enough economy with capital markets open to foreign investors with perceived-to-be-fair trading markets and well-regulated institutions. Foreigners who wind up holding the reserve currency will be subject to its rule of law of the reserve currency country, such as it is. Even if they simply keep it in cash at a bank in their country, it will need either to have a banking licence in the reserve currency country or be a correspondent with one of its banks. And that correspondent agreement will be subject to reserve currency country law. If the foreign party would rather hold securities, the foreign party again has to be mindful of the integrity of securities regulation and the oversight of brokers and exchanges.

Ironically, the US model of highly-efficient markets with investors having extremely weak governance rights helped support the US as reserve currency. The US could tolerate having foreign investors in public US companies so long as they did not buy a stake in a perceived-to-be-important player big enough to give a foreign owner influence. The US does meddle if that looks likely to happen.

The euro was once seen as a potential competitor to the dollar, but its protracted post-Global Financial Crisis banking/sovereign debt crisis, which was never fully resolved, put paid to that idea.”

The Chinese renminbi is the logical successor to the dollar, but China does not seem willing to take the steps to have that happen. In the post-Bretton Woods regime, a country wanting to have its currency serve as a vehicle for transactions outside the country (as in independent of bilateral transactions with the country) needs to get it in circulation outside its borders. That means running trade deficits. China is unwilling to do that, since a trade deficit is tantamount to exporting jobs. Wage growth and high levels of employment are imperative to the legitimacy of their regime. China would also need open capital markets, transparency regulations, etc, that it is unwilling to initiate.

As another analyst concluded, “(D)o not expect some overarching alternative to the dollar as global reserve currency to be in place any time soon. Institutional stickiness and the relative lack of attractive currencies to hold drive that, as well as the realisation that a Euro / SDR / Keynesian Bancor type arrangement concedes national sovereignty. Instead we are likely to end up with a multiplicity of arrangements associated with bilateral relationships between “non-dollar” states who may choose to hold each other’s currencies on a portfolio basis, for example.

The dollar will likely stay hegemonic as reserve currency in the “western” bloc though, barring some total catastrophic event that cannot be foreseen at the moment.”

The move by India, even though it is also committed to a new reserve currency supports this assessment.

A traffic Police rank teaching children from the Hampton Court Primary School how to use a pedestrian crossing. Last week, ranks from the Anna Regina Traffic Department conducted a lecture at the Hampton Court Primary School and spoke to the children about correct use of the pedestrian crossing; effects of drugs on the body; types of illegal drugs; peer pressure; respecting teachers and discipline in school and at home (GPF photos)

The tragedy of the Israel-Palestine conflict is this: underneath all the horror is a clash of two just causes

By Jonathan Freedland

T

his is not a football match. Though the way some spectators behave, watching from afar, you could be forgiven for making that mistake. At Wednesday’s game against Atletico Madrid, Celtic supporters defied a Uefa ban on political symbols by flying the Palestinian flag, expressing a long-established solidarity that has become part of the club’s identity. So strong is the allegiance to their chosen side – their team – that at a home game on the afternoon of October 7, hours after the men of Hamas had begun their massacre of civilians in southern Israel, and while the torture and murder of families in their homes was still under way, a group of Celtic fans unfurled a banner. It read: “Victory to the resistance!!”

The club is trying to manage the situation, but it won’t be easy. Not least because this is a phenomenon that goes far beyond Celtic Park. Many millions around the world watch the Israel-Palestine conflict in the same way: as a binary contest in which you can root for only one team, and where any losses suffered by your opponent – your enemy – feel like a win.

You see it in those who tear down posters on London bus shelters depicting the faces of the more than 200 Israelis currently held hostage by Hamas in Gaza – including toddlers and babies. You see it too in those who close their eyes to the consequences of Israel’s siege of Gaza, to the impact of denied or restricted supplies of water, food, medicine and fuel on ordinary Gazans – including toddlers and babies.

For these hardcore supporters of each side, to allow even a twinge of human sympathy for the other is to let the team down.

It would be comforting to shrug off this binary thinking as nothing more than the moral failing of the distant spectator – but it’s having a concrete effect, on the conflict itself and on those hurt by it.

For this tendency, this need, to see one side as all good and the other as all evil is hardly confined to the football terraces and the streets. This has been a season of open letters, from students, academics, actors and others – and the one-eyed nature of many of these texts has been striking. Even those written very soon after the mass slaughter of October 7 only rarely bring themselves to

mention those killings specifically or even to name Hamas. The condemnation of Israel’s actual and anticipated response is detailed and plentiful, but the pain suffered by Israeli civilians is usually nodded to only under a blanket formulation covering all sides.

There are long lists of demands on Israel, but no call for Hamas to release its captives, not even children or elderly people.

Similarly, the current calls for an unconditional ceasefire naturally resonate with anyone who grieves for those under the nightly bombardment that has already killed so many Gazans. It seems such a simple, obvious remedy.

Until you stop to wonder how exactly, if it is not defeated, Hamas is to be prevented from regrouping and preparing for yet another attack on the teenagers, festivalgoers and kibbutz families of southern Israel. But even to ask such a question is to give ground to the other team – and in this game, that is forbidden.

Thinking like this – my team good, your team bad – can lead you into some strange, dark places. It ends in a group of terrified Jewish students huddling in the library of New

York’s Cooper Union college, fleeing a group of masked protesters chanting “Free Palestine” – their pursuers doubtless convinced they are warriors for justice and liberation, rather than the latest in a centuries-long line of mobs hounding Jews.

This week I gave a long-scheduled talk in Stockholm, tied to my book about Rudolf Vrba, the man who escaped from Auschwitz to warn the world. I was told that all other Jewish communal events in Sweden had been cancelled because of security fears, but the organisers of this one were determined to go ahead. And so I spoke about the Holocaust to a room where every entrance and exit was guarded, including by armed Police.

And yet, just as I was doing that, and even after the October 7 massacre had stirred memories of the bleakest chapters of the Jewish past – and prompted a surge in antisemitism across the world – Jews were being told exactly how they can and cannot speak about their pain. We’re not to mention the Holocaust, one scholar advised, because that would be “weaponising” it.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023

5

News Teen admits to snatching woman’s gold chain E

ighteen-year-old gold miner Keino Pluck pleaded guilty to stealing a woman's gold chain, and he was remanded to prison until his sentencing on November 24.

At the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts on Friday, Pluck appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly without legal representation.

He stole a 16-pennyweight gold chain worth over $200,000 from Shondel Jones on October 25, 2023, at Commerce Street, Georgetown.

Reports are that Jones visited the Stabroek Market on October 25 to purchase a chain.

She then left the market, but not before Pluck approached her from a short distance away, grabbed the chain around her neck, and made a hasty retreat on foot.

Jones trailed Pluck as he went, setting off an alert that led to the thief's arrest by a Police rank.

The chain was, however, not found.

During Friday's court

Chain thief: Keino Pluck

proceedings, the prosecutor disclosed that Pluck had told the Virtual Complainant that he would pay for the chain.

On November 24, following the presentation of the probation report's conclusions in court, this thief will be sentenced.

Earlier this month, a

23-year-old maintenance worker, who admitted to stealing a woman’s gold jewellery, was given a two-year prison sentence

by Magistrate Rhondell Weever.

On September 13 on Croal Street, Stabroek, Georgetown, Keron Wright of North Sophia, Greater,

The tragedy of the Israel...

Historical context about the Nakba, the 1948 dispossession of the Palestinians, is – rightly – deemed essential. But mention the Nazi murder of six million Jews – the event that finally secured near-universal agreement among the Jewish people, and the United Nations in 1947, that Jews needed a state of their own – and you’ve broken the rules.

Because it’s impossible that both sides might have suffered historic pain.

Instead, a shift is under way that has been starkly revealed during these past three weeks.

It squeezes the IsraelPalestine conflict into a “decolonisation” frame it doesn’t quite fit, with all Israelis – not just those in the occupied West Bank – defined as the foot soldiers of “settler colonialism”, no different from, say, the French in Algeria. Never mind that Jews sought a refuge in Palestine motivated not by an imperial desire for expansion, but because they faced annihilation. Never mind that Israeli Jews have no imperial metropole, no France, they could ever return to.

And never mind their ancestral, millennia-old connection to the land – all of which makes them utterly unlike the French in Algeria. They have been framed as the modern

world’s ultimate evildoer: the coloniser.

That matters because, in this conception, justice can only be done once the colonisers are gone. Which is why the chant demanding that Palestine be free “from the river to the sea” sends shivers down Jewish spines. Because that slogan does not demand a mere Israeli withdrawal from the occupied West Bank. What most Jews hear is a demand that Israel disappear altogether. And that Israeli Jews either take their chances living in a future Palestine under the likes of Hamas – or get out. But where to?

What’s more, such a framing brands all Israelis – not just West Bank settlers – as guilty of the sin of colonialism. Perhaps that explains why those letter writers could not full-throatedly condemn the October 7 killing of innocent Israeli civilians.

Because they do not see any Israeli, even a child, as wholly innocent.

This is where you wind up when you view this conflict in monochrome, as a clash of right v wrong.

Because the late Israeli novelist and peace activist Amos Oz was never wiser than when he described the Israel/Palestine conflict as something infinitely more tragic: a clash of

right v right. Two peoples with deep wounds, howling with grief, fated to share the same small piece of land.

So, this is not a football game. It has no need for spectators who root for one team against the

Jailed: Keron Wright

Georgetown, stole from the person of Sandita Doodnauth, a gold chain worth $35,000 and a gold ring worth $30,000.

The Police prosecutor told the court that Doodnauth noticed a man following her on Croal

FROM PAGE 4

other, goading their chosen side to go to ever further extremes. This is not a game, for one grimly obvious reason. There are no winners – only never-ending loss. (The Guardian) (Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist)

Street on the day in question at around 09:10h. As such, she moved into the corner to make room for him to pass by. However, the man also came to a stop before continuing to move in that direction.

The man approached Doodnauth as she tried to enter a store and ordered her not to move.

Then, after relieving her of her chain, he successfully fled on foot.

The man then went back to the place in question and made the woman give over her gold ring.

On September 29, Doodnauth spot-

ted the thief heading down Cornhill Street in Georgetown and reported the incident to the Police.

The individual was eventually arrested.

He was subsequently identified as Keron Wright.

In January of this year, Wright was charged with robbing Juan Rosemay of three gold chains valued at $430,000, on December 21, 2021 Although Wright informed Magistrate Weever that this case had been dropped, this publication was unable to independently verify the case’s legal standing. (G1)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023

06:00 (Sign on) Inspiration Time 06:30 Cartoons 07:00 Evening News (RB) 07:30 Cartoons 08:00 Stop Suffering 08:30 Stay Woke 09:00 Guy's Grocery Games 10:00 Grand Designs 11:00 Paternity Court 11:30 Divorce Court 12:00 News Break 12:05 Indian Movie - Neelavelicham (2023) 14:35 The Tom and Jerry Show S2 E3 15:00 Indian Soaps 16:00 Sydney to the Max S1 E5 16:30 Austin & Ally S2 E15 17:00 The Young & The Restless 18:00 CNN 19:00 The Evening News 20:00 Love & Laughter 21:00 The Resident S4 E7 22:00 The 100 S6 E6 23:00 Who is Erin Carter? E6 00:00 Sign off

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023

Foundation ◄

Page

Test Questions

Can biodegradable hydrogels help conserve water in farming? Part 3b Testing soil moisture retention with and without hydrogels

You will be setting up and taking measurements to determine how well each type of hydrogel helps conserve (save) moisture in the soil over time.

Label four pots for each hydrogel recipe. For example: Agar 1, Agar 2, Agar 3, Agar 4, HEC 1, HEC 2 etc.

Also label four more pots Control 1, Control 2, Control 3, and Control 4. You should have sixteen labelled pots in total.

Using the scale, add 75 g of potting soil to each pot.

Remember to tare the scale after placing each empty pot

on the scale!

Add 25 g of hydrogel to the twelve pots labelled for them.

Use a butter knife or spoon to cut the hydrogels into pea-sized pieces in the petri dish.

Using the scale, add 25 g of each hydrogel into the pots with hydrogel labels.

Make sure to check that you are adding the right hydrogel type to each pot.

Carefully mix the hydrogel and soil in each pot until the hydrogel is spread throughout the soil.

Add 50 mL of water to each of the sixteen pots.

Option 1: Use the gradu-

ated cylinder to measure 50 mL of water and pour it into each pot.

Option 2: Use a measuring cup or other container with a spout to weigh out 50 g of water (remember, 1 mL of water weighs 1 g) and

pour it into each pot.

If your pots have drainage holes, some of the water may drain out. That is fine.

Make sure you are working over a sink or on a surface where the drained water is easy to clean up.

Get an initial weight for each prepared pot.

Using the scale, weigh each pot. Record the weight for each pot in a data table, in the “Day 0” column.

The pots with hydrogel labels contain soil, hydrogel, and water and weigh more than the control pots which have only soil and water.

Weight each prepared pot daily for 10 to 14 days.

Record the weights in your data table. Also, write down any observations you have.

The data you have collected and the questions you want to answer are all about change: The question “How well

does each type of hydrogel absorb water?” Is answered by looking at the change between a hydrogel’s weight before and after soaking.

The question, “How quickly does each type of hydrogel lose water to the air?” is answered by looking at the change between the hydrogel’s soaked weight and it’s weight each day.

The question, “How well does each type of hydrogel help conserve water in the soil?” is answered by looking at the change between a pot of soil’s starting weight and its weight each day.

(Adapted from sciencebuddies.com)

WORD SEARCH

Farm

NEWS

7

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt receives proposal from investor for ‘glamping’ eco-lodges in Region 10 …interventions for agri, alleviating water shortages also announced

T

he Region 10 communities of 58 Miles and Coomacka were over the weekend apprised of the various developments that are coming their way, including interest from private developers to invest in eco-tourism and planned interventions from the Government to address water shortages.

During an outreach to 58 Miles, President Dr Irfaan Ali told residents of the Government’s plans for integrating the community into the agricultural plans.

According to him, the community will be an important point as they develop the regional food hub.

“Because we’re working towards becoming a major supplier of food. And I know many of you know about the corn and soya project that we’re doing. All of that will be integrated and come back to support you and your community,” he said.

Turning to eco-tourism, President Ali revealed that the Government is in receipt of a proposal from a private developer, to invest in eco-lodges in the Great Falls Amerindian Village in Number 58.

The investor, according to the President, has a particular interest in “glamping”, a combination of glamour and camping, incorporating outdoor camping with comfortable accommodations and amenities.

“We have a proposal from an investor, who we’re go-

President Dr Irfaan Ali during his Region 10 outreach

ing to put in contact with the Toshao and the Great Falls community. Who wants to do what is called glamping. That is high-end camps, with all the facilities. Eco-lodges. To build a major tourism facility in that area,” President Ali said.

“Whereby the people of the area can be employed as tourist guides, they have sport fishing as part of it, they have the exploration of the forest.

And that is something, we’re going to send the investor in before the end of this year, to have a consultation and tell you exactly what they want to do.”

Last month, the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), in col-

laboration with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), had launched Guyana Escapes 2023, an initiative aimed at promoting tourism in Guyana by driving traffic to established lodges and resorts countrywide.

The promotion will see participating companies offering enticing packages and new experiences from November 1 to December 15, contingent on availability.

At the time of the announcement, nine businesses were partaking, namely: Karanambu Lodge, Rock View Lodge, Arrowpoint Nature Resort, Sloth Island Resort, Bimichi Eco Lodge, Atta Rainforest Lodge, Hurakabra River Resort, Aruwai Resort,

An example of glamping

and Iwokrama River Lodge.

Coomacka

During his Region 10 visit, President Ali also announced that his Government, through the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), would be investing in the drilling of a deep-water well to serve the community of Coomacka and its surrounding environs in Region 10.

In addition to the well, which would address water shortage issues affecting the community, the President also announced the impending distribution of 100 black tanks to store water among the residents.

Additionally, he had announced that the Ministry of Agriculture will be working along with the community to develop 20 acres of land to establish shade houses and hydroponics projects. In fact, during the opening of the Essequibo Expo, it had been announced that Government will be building out two new hydroponics facilities in the near future as it pursues a robust agricultural agenda – earmarked for Linden and Essequibo to the tune of $200 million each.

When it comes to issues of land titling, President Ali announced that all the community’s land titling issues

will be addressed within the next two weeks. Further, the Ministry of Health will launch a programme targeting children and the elderly to have their eyes tested and provided with free eyewear. After providing updates on his Government’s plans to develop the community and the region, the President listened to additional concerns of the residents.

The President was accompanied on the visit by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh; Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony; Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill and Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai. (G3)

8 NEWS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Mothers jailed for 1 week for assaulting, threatening each other Taking on…

F

or attacking one another, two mothers received one-week prison sentences.

Senior Magistrate Leron Daly sentenced 29-year-old mother of three Jennifer Validen and mother-of-one Leandra Myers to prison last Friday.

The two were accused of attacking each other and using threatening language towards each other when they virtually appeared before the Magistrate at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

They pleaded guilty to the charges and had no legal representation.

This publication understands that Validen reported Myers to the Police for causing damage to her motor car, which led to the two ladies becoming embroiled in a legal dispute.

Validen said that Myers had threatened to "throw me over the rail" while she was present at the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts on October 13 for the damage to property case.

According to Myers, Validen instructed her to "plan yuh funeral". As a result, they attacked one another, and then they went to the Brickdam Police Station and filed reports against one another.

Magistrate Daly spoke with Validen and Myers, informing them that their

S

Jailed: Leandra Myers

behaviour was inappropriate because they both have young children.

In the end, she sentenced both of them to serve one week in jail.

Myers and Validen pleaded with the Magistrate for another opportunity after the jail sentence was issued, but she refused, saying they needed to learn their lesson.

Validen has run afoul of the law on previous occasions. She was accused of trying to kill someone in January 2022, together with three of her friends

Jailed: Jennifer Validen

after dousing a woman in acid.

It is alleged that on January 21, 2022, at Princes Street, Georgetown, they caused grievous bodily harm to 25-year-old Renesha Maxwell of West Ruimveldt, with intent to commit murder.

Guyana Times had previously reported that Maxwell had taken a taxi from Leopold Street, Georgetown, and as she was travelling in the car, she observed another car following behind.

With this realisation,

she reportedly told the driver to stop, and as soon as the car stopped, Validen and three of her friends exited the trailing car and approached her.

One of them, reportedly Validen, then threw a liquid substance on her, after which she immediately felt a burning sensation about her body and began to scream.

She was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where she was seen, treated, and later admitted with burns to her back and left hand.

The court prosecutor had informed the court that at one point the accused women and Maxwell were all friends but “something went wrong amongst them”.

Following the incident, the Police had issued a wanted bulletin for the four women who, accompanied by their lawyers, later surrendered at the Ruimveldt Police Station. (G1)

…Mad Maduro

ome people think that Mad Maduro’s stoking the border fire because elections are in the air – with the US pushing them. Nothing could be further from the truth. Remember him kvetching LAST YEAR when Pres Ali declared before the General Assembly that we remain “committed to make the most of every diplomatic tool for the pacific settlement of disputes, as set out in the Charter of the United Nations”. The tool, of course, was “judicial settlement” – as recommended by the UN Secretary General!!

Can you imagine Maduro’s chutzpah to be bitching we used the forum – the UN system of which it’s a member along with some TWO HUNDRED OTHER COUNTRIES – to settle the controversy they precipitated back in 1962!! Payback’s a bitch, baby!! At that time, ironically, the Venezies were conniving with the Yanks who wanted to get rid of Cheddi Jagan’s “red” PPP Government. It was another prong to the CIA-inspired riots unleashed in the country on Black Friday, Feb 16, 1962!! Now the shoe’s on the other foot!! On our own, we’d taken refuge to the World Court back in March 2018 and it confirmed in 2020 they had the jurisdiction!

Now Venezuela had already officially complained that it doesn’t recognise the World Court’s jurisdiction…so what’s their point now??

The bottom line in 1962…and the bottom line NOW…is it doesn’t matter who’s in power in Venezuela, it’s an article of faith to every man jack in that country that Essequibo is theirs!! It’s taught to every schoolchild…it’s in every book… on every map that Essequibo is their Zona Reclamación …the zone to be reclaimed because they wuz robbed by the big, bad British back in 1899!! In the twists and turns of history, the Americans were then wary of British expansionism and they were the ones that arranged the Tribunal to begin with!! As the golden rule of international affairs declares – there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies – just permanent interests.

So, while we’re supporting the US on Maduro holding elections and possibly bringing the Opposition in, let’s be reminded it doesn’t matter who’s heading that Opposition – capitalist Machado or communist Maduro!! If either gets into power, they’ll use that power to try annexing our Essequibo!! And let’s not forget they got the largest oil reserves in the WORLD – THREE HUNDRED BILLION compared to our 11 billion. If an American-friendly Government takes over, who’d you think the US is gonna back if push comes to shove?? Interests, baby, interests!!

Anyhow, good that our Opposition issued those strong statements condemning Venezuelan bullyism – like Jagan did back in the day. Even though Burnham had just pulled off another election rigging!!

Let’s hear it, Aubrey…all for one (Guyana) and one (Guyana) for all!! …fire stokers Let’s face it…while your Eyewitness thinks overseas Guyanese might want what’s best for Guyana, because they’re not here to endure the consequences of some of their suggestions, you’d hope they’d be a bit more circumspect in their advice. Why would some push for a return to “slow fyaah, mo’ fyaah”?? Even a return of the “freedom fighters”?!! Did those strategies fix whatever it was the PNC was complaining about back then?? Aren’t those the identical complaints being ventilated now?

“Discrimination”…”marginalisation”…”ethnic cleansing”… ”elections rigging””??

But in addition to not fixing the problems, have our outside peeps considered the EFFECTS of those strategies on the PPP’s AND PNC’s constituencies?? Hasn’t Guyana lost a whole generation on the killing fields of Georgetown and the East Coast – from both sides of the divide?? Does the “satisfaction” of saying “me gi’e dem good!!” justify the callusing of the moral fibre of those who were recruited to do the killing – on both sides of the divide??

Some said, “Not in my name”. Respect! …graft The PPP Government ain’t surprised at the crescendo of corruption complaints. As Jagdeo said, with more money flooding the system – and human nature remaining what it is with the sacred and the profane – what else was expected?

But shouldn’t forewarned mean “forearmed”!!

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

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

NEWS

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Over 500 projects underway from carbon credits in Amerindian villages …shade houses, guest houses for tourism among projects

O

ver 500 projects that run the gamut from tourism to agriculture, are currently being pursued from the $4.7 billion that was given to hundreds of Indigenous villages as part of their share from the US$150 million carbon credit sale.

This was revealed by the Office of Vice President, which highlighted the successes of the carbon credit initiative and how it is making a difference in the lives of Indigenous residents.

According to the office, these projects are transforming village livelihoods and are being led by the Amerindian people themselves, who would have had to come up with plans for spending the money.

“Currently, over 500 projects are being implemented at village level, led by Amerindian people.

Projects that are being financed include priorities as varied as building shade houses, improving local guesthouses for tourism.”

“Supporting cassava farming, providing craft classes, and purchasing village tractors. These projects, financed by carbon

credits revenues, are transforming village livelihoods through climate adaptation and resilience actions,” the office said in a statement.

Over 240 Indigenous villages had received a share from the $4.7 billion (US$22.5 million), which is 15 per cent of the US$150 million initial payments from the sale of Guyana’s forest carbon credits to Hess Corporation.

This publication has carried out a number of interviews with village leaders, where they have explained how the monies from the carbon credit initiative were being used. For instance, in the Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) village of Batavia, the Toshao, Orin Williams, had told this publication that the village is putting its carbon credit allocation towards developing its tourism products.

“Now that we’re actually working on our ten-year village plan, at the first stage, we’re now preparing major projects. We’re doing projects presently to put the village into the first phase of establishing a tourist resort,” the village leader said.

“An eco-tourism site within our village here.

With the neighbouring communities, we can all join together. Because close to my village is the White-Water resort, which is very close to Bartica. So, by working together with them also, it can even make things easier for people to enter into the village,” the Toshao had said, during an exclusive interview with this publication in September.

In June, this publication had reported that the Central Rupununi Village of Moco Moco, nestled near the Kanuku Mountain Range in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), intends to utilise its $24 million carbon credit grant to boost economic activities in the community through the opening of a supermarket and an Industrial Arts Centre. Other plans for the community are: an upgrade of its Youth Centre, and construction of a building to host community meetings.

Toshao George Thomas had told this publication back in June that the village had at the time only recently submitted its plan to the relevant authorities for

The Central Rupununi Village of Moco Moco, one of the over 240 communities that received funds from the carbon credit sale

approval, after which the sums are expected to be released so community leaders can embark on the projects.

Further, he had outlined that the Industrial Arts Centre would feature skills training such as joinery and welding. It would also facilitate meetings under better conditions, and the mini supermarket would aid in teaching youths about business, as well as letting them earn an income so they can offset personal expenses.

Hess Corporation, which

is one of the partners operating in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, had agreed to buy 2.5 million credits per year for the period 2016 and 2032, valuing US$750 million.

The 33.7 million credits being sold to Hess Corp is just 30 per cent of the carbon sink contained in Guyana’s vast forest cover. The country’s more than 18 million hectares of forests are estimated to store approximately 20 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. The remain-

ing 70 per cent of Guyana’s carbon credit will be put on the market for future sale agreements.

The total initial money received from the carbon credit agreement with Hess is expected to total US$150 million by the end of 2023.

Last week, it was announced that Hess Corporation has entered into an agreement to merge with Chevron. Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has, however, assured that Hess’ preexisting agreement with Guyana will not be affected by the merger.

Negotiations ongoing to conclude US$35M Wismar bridge agreement …project will help bring down cost of living in community – Govt

T

he Government is conducting negotiations to conclude an agreement for the four-lane bridge at Wismar, Linden, with a view of starting construction by the end of the year.

President Dr Irfaan Ali, alongside Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony, over the weekend engaged residents of 58 Miles, Region 10.

During his presentation at the meeting, the Finance Minister spoke of the various projects being carried out in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

One such project is the Linden to Lethem Road.

“The number of major transformative projects that will improve lives in Region 10 is a long list. We have the Linden to Lethem Road, which of course will transform lives for everybody in Region 10, but also in Region Nine and Region Eight,” he said.

Speaking of the

The current Wismar bridge

Mackenzie to Wismar Bridge, Dr Singh explained that even now, negotiations are ongoing for an agreement for this bridge… which will be a four-lane bridge and is expected to cost about US$35 million. It had previously been reported that Chinese contractor China Railway Construction

Corporation Limited, which is building the new Demerara River crossing, was also being engaged on the Wismar bridge.

“We have the bridge across the Demerara River in Wismar, right now a team is engaged in negotiation to conclude that agreement so we can start build-

ing a new bridge across the Demerara River at Wismar.

Four lanes across the river,” the Finance Minister said.

“And you know how critical that is for moving not only people, but also goods.

And you know when goods can move freely, how that impacts on people’s lives.

The shops will be well-

stocked. Cost of living will be improved because of course you have freer movement of goods, lowered cost of moving goods.”

In June of this year, the Dr Irfaan Ali-led Administration had signed a historic US$150 million loan with the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) which will go towards the construction of over 2000 houses and the long-awaited four-lane Wismar-McKenzie Bridge in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) that will be built parallel to the existing one.

It was subsequently explained by Minister Edghill that these funds will be used for the construction of access roads and associated civil construction for the bridge.

In August of this year, $2.1 billion was approved by the National Assembly to construct the Wismar bridge.

The current Wismar bridge has only one vehicle lane and is over 50 years old. However, the new Wismar-McKenzie Bridge the Government intends to build is a four-lane one that

will be able to facilitate the increased volume of traffic through Region 10.

Back in 2020, Italian engineering company Politecnica had unveiled designs for a new bridge.

The company had been contracted by the then Public Infrastructure Ministry to do a feasibility study for the bridge.

The company had designed a two-road approach: one for the eastern river bank and the other for the western. On both sides, the design catered for new roundabouts which would connect the existing road networks. The bridge would also cater for two-lane traffic and pedestrian walkways.

According to the design, the bridge, road approaches and roundabouts would be equipped with street lights, underpass/culvert to maintain the continuity of existing roads, road safety barriers and sidewalks, and provision would be made for access to the Linden Hospital Complex at Mackenzie. (G9)

10

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

11 Ethiopian delegation welcomed as AfriCaribbean Forum opens today T NEWS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

he visiting delegates in the second AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum were given a warm welcome on Sunday afternoon.

The Ethiopian Airlines flight arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport with over 50 delegates in tow to a vibrant musical display. The delegation was welcomed by a team of representatives from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, led by its Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Elisabeth Harper, DPI reported.

The Government of Guyana in collaboration with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is hosting the second AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF23), from October 30 to 31, at the Marriott Hotel, Georgetown.

Organised under the overarching theme “Creating a Shared Prosperous Future”, and convened by Afreximbank and the GoG, ACTIF23 will focus on consolidating commercial collaboration between the Caribbean Region and Africa, for increased inter-regional trade and investment; building on the successes of the inaugural edition that was held

The visiting delegates in the second AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum arrived in Guyana on Sunday afternoon

in Barbados, in September 2022.

Earlier this year when it was announced that Guyana would be hosting the second AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum, Guyana Times had reported Foreign Affairs Minister, Hugh Todd, as saying, “Guyana looks forward to hosting the second AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum. We are keen to actively harness the potential of our economic relations as we build on the historic ties between Africa and the Caribbean.”

“We are excited to announce the second

AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum,” said Prof Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank.

“Going by the impressive gains we have recorded in less than one year since ACTIF2022, we have every reason to look forward to a further deepening of commercial relationships between Africa and the Caribbean when we meet in Georgetown, Guyana. We are exceedingly grateful to the Government of Guyana for agreeing to host this important bridge-building Forum”.

The AfriCaribbean Trade

The Ethiopian Airlines flight arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on Sunday afternoon (DPI photo)

and Investment Forum was introduced in 2022 to enhance the growth of trade and investment between Africa and the Caribbean, including promoting airlinks, tourism, technology transfer, financial stability, food security, industrialisation and cultural ties. The inaugural event welcomed over 1267 delegates from 108 countries, including participants from 50 African

countries, 13 Caribbean countries, and regions as far away as Oceania.

There has been growing commercial cooperation between Africa and Caricom, supported by Afreximbank.

Eleven Caricom member countries are now participating States in the bank and the bank’s Board approved a limit of US$3 billion for Caribbean economies

to enhance trade and investment opportunities between the two Regions. The bank is launching its representative office in Bridgetown, Barbados; and providing technical assistance towards the establishment of the Caricom Export-Import Bank, and the deployment of the Pan African Payment and Settlement System in the Caribbean.

12 NEWS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GTT Pinktober Walk 2023

Massive turnout of over 10,000 marks triumph of solidarity I

n a spectacular display of solidarity on Sunday, this year's GTT Pinktober Walk witnessed an overwhelming turnout as thousands of participants flooded the streets of Georgetown, dressed in various shades of pink, to raise awareness about breast cancer.

The event, organised by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), aimed to support cancer awareness and honour survivors.

The sea of pink-clad participants, stretching as far as the eye could see, marched through the heart of the city, creating an atmosphere of unity and hope. This year's

whose stories serve as testaments to strength.

Balinda Drakes, a breast cancer survivor for the past three years, shared her thoughts on the event. "The walk was lovely. The exercise and everything were good all in one. It served a really good purpose because

put my treatment and everything in front and I had good support.”

“I want to say to young people check your body; listen to your body because that is how I knew something was wrong with me. It is not only about partying.

Do your mammograms, do

The large turnout at the Pinktober walk

cancer research and support services. The event featured live music, dance per-

on the lives of thousands of Guyanese.

“Many persons walked in honour of family members they lost to cancer, we also had cancer survivors, cancer support organisations, corporate Guyana, popular in-

Ministry of Health.

In addition, GTT awarded several exciting prizes to participants; including an iPhone 15 and vouchers for brunch at Starbucks.

There was also a Health Fair which offered a wide

formances, and heartfelt speeches, creating an atmosphere of celebration and hope.

In a release on Sunday, GTT said that over 10,000 persons took the streets of Georgetown to Walk/Run in solidarity with those fighting cancer.

The inspiring journey began at the Everest Cricket Ground and led participants south along Camp Street,

fluencers and persons from all walks of life coming together with a common pur-

east into Church Street, north into Vlissingen Road, west into Lamaha Street, and finally, north into Camp Street, concluding back at Everest for a Health Fair and entertaining performances by several top DJs and singers.

Chief Commercial Officer of GTT, Kerchelle Jn Charles said it was heartening to witness the meaningful impact of the event

pose, and that signals to me that we are closer to the goal we are trying to reach and we want to thank everyone for their involvement.”

She said soon the company will be making an announcement about the success of the entire campaign, including how much money was raised for the cause, before making donations to several cancer support organisations and the

range of essential medical services such as blood pressure testing, screening and dental care.

Earlier this month, GTT, in collaboration with the Health Ministry and several non-governmental cancer support organisations, committed to offering more than 2500 free mammograms to members of the public who qualify.

Mammography is the process of using low-energy X-rays to examine the human breast for diagnosis and screening. The goal of mammography is the early detection of breast cancer.

According to GTT, to obtain a free voucher to undergo a mammogram examination, members of the public must first be pre-screened at any of the community health centres across the country or through any of the Champions of Hope NGOs offering pre-screening.

The mammograms will be offered by The Cancer Institute, St Joseph Mercy Hospital, and the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital.

(G9)

Survivour: Balinda Drakes

event, which exceeded all expectations, showcased the unwavering commitment of the Guyanese community in the fight against breast cancer.

Amidst the vibrant crowd, Guyana Times spoke

with several remarkable women, cancer survivors

Survivour : Alison Barkie along with GTT CEO Damian Blackburn and GTT staff, Jerome Daly

I had the chance to reach a whole lot of survivors. When

I found out I didn’t take it so badly, trusted in God and I

your pap smears. Do yearly check-ups.”

Marcelle Bourne, another breast cancer survivor for the past eight years, expressed her gratitude for the support she received during her battle with cancer. "When I found out I had cancer I did a self-examination and I felt a lump and I did not take it for granted. I went to GPHC where I found out I had stage two breast cancer."

“It was a hard and tough road to travel but with God by my side and support from others, I was able to get through.”

The GTT Pinktober Walk 2023 raises awareness for

Survivour : Marcelle Bourne

NEWS

13

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Precious Angels hosts 5th Rett Syndrome walk …funds raised will aid in construction of clinic

I

n observance of Rett Syndrome month – a neurological genetic disorder – Precious Angels Charity, a non-profit organisation (NGO), on Sunday hosted its 5th annual awareness walk which saw scores of people participating.

As usual, the walk started at the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) Ground and made its way to Lamaha Street then onto Vlissengen Road, back into Lamaha Street, and back to the starting point for a brief programme.

During the short programme, persons who gathered were educated on the disorder through a video presentation and more so, a message from the founder of the NGO, Hadiyyah Mohamed whose niece Amani Mohamed is affected by the disorder.

In addition, Amani’s sisters, Azzahrah and Arya recited a poem, and the key message was delivered by Dr Youni Abdul, who reiterated the call for more support for persons suffering from the disorder but more so, emphasised the importance of caring for them.

He added that there is definitely no cure for Rett Syndrome while adding that ongoing research is being done. This disease, he reiterated, affects almost every system in the body, leading to seizures, loss of speech, loss of motor skills, diminished eye contact, breathing problems, wringing and washing of the hands, and scoliosis.

“What we do is support the children by giving them systematic support… if they have problems with speech, they will need speech therapy, if they have problems with their balance, they need physiotherapy, occupational therapy and just trying to engage the family and the people in this field to help the children with Rett,” Dr Abdul stated.

The Rett Syndrome walk on Sunday

However, a member of Precious Angels, Khadija Narine, thanked those who turned out in their numbers to support the walk and fundraiser. She added that the NGO has been raising funds to construct a clinic to attend to persons diagnosed with Rett Syndrome.

“Given the lack of knowledge surrounding the disorder, Precious Angels Charity is moving to construct a clinic along Lamaha Street, Georgetown, to attend to potential patients in the near future.”

As such, all the funds raised on Sunday and the donations received will go towards that venture.

In fact, in a recent interview with the founder, she stated “There is no clinic right now [in Guyana] where a child can go and have a screening or proper diagnosis of genetic testing.

From the time I launched the organisation, I intended to build a clinic where we can have these services in place.”

“One individual with Rett Syndrome would require a lot of care and attention that not every special-needs school or every clinic in Guyana can offer.

There are also costs you have to bear in mind for a specific medication,” she

added.

As such, the aim of the clinic is to offer the medication and requisite therapy services in the country.

“We’re hoping to have medications so families of persons with Rett Syndrome can purchase them here instead of purchasing them in another country or visiting another country for testing to be done because you do need yearly check-ups. Not everyone can afford that so we’re trying to bring those services to Guyana,” Mohamed said.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson for the event, Hana Mohamed also took the opportunity to express deepest gratitude to those who attended and contributed to the initiative.

“It has been five amazing and successful years and you can agree with me when I say the future is definitely promising.

I must compliment both Precious Angels Charity and Mohamed’s Enterprise for their outstanding fundraising campaigns which many institutions are involved and stand to benefit from.”

She added that behind it all is Amani Mohamed, who is loved by many. “Purple for Amani was chosen to be the slogan because she

is a fighter. She is stronger than you and I. She is supported and loved by many and God made sure of that.

Looking at this crowd here today, we are beyond happy and proud and we express our deepest gratitude. Her

family is most appreciated by it all.”

Precious Angel Charity channels its passion by aiming to achieve certain objectives but these can only be achieved with the help of public support and

donations.

Precious Angel Charity channels its passion by aiming to achieve certain objectives that can be only achieved with the help of public support and donations.

14 NEWS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3 suspected ATM scammers arrested …trailed by cops

Akashmati Ramnaraine, Tulsie Rampersaud, and Bhojnarine Gopaul

Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters at Eve Leary have arrested three suspected ATM scammers, who were

under surveillance after a report was made that they were targeting the ATM machines of several commercial banks in the city.

Police said the arrests

The car in which the suspects were passengers at the time of their arrest

were made at about 00:15h on Sunday morning.

Those arrested are Bhojnarine Gopaul, called “Sandeep”, a 37-year-old technician of Coldingen, East Coast Demerara; Tulsie Rampersaud, a 26-year-old welder of Parika, East Bank Essequibo; and Akashmati Ramnaraine, a 37-yearold Superbet cashier of Coldingen. They were all in a black Fielder Wagon, PAE 364, driven at the time by Gopaul.

The trio, who were under surveillance, were observed visiting the Giftland Mall's Citizens Bank ATM machine, where Rampersaud came out of the car dressed in a black hoodie and red short pants and went into the ATM outlet, where he spent about 40 seconds and returned to the car.

They then left Giftland

and went to the Citizens Bank ATM at OMG on Sheriff Street, where Rampersaud was again observed exiting the car and entering the ATM outlet, where he spent about 45 seconds, after which he exited and re-entered the car.

Police said that at this point, detectives intercepted the car and carried out a search, during which four cards were found - one Bank of America Visa Debit Card, one New York State

The cards that were found in the trio’s possession

Medicaid Recipient Card, and two blank cards.

The three suspects were all escorted to the CID

Headquarters on Vlissengen Road, where they are currently in custody assisting with the investigation. (G9)

Bus driver on $1M bail for causing death of Chinese national

G

Gregory Collins

regory Collins, a 34-year-old bus driver of Lot 72 Middle Walk, Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was on Friday charged with causing the death of a Chinese national by dangerous driving and placed on $1 million bail.

Collins appeared at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrates’ Courts before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, who read the charge to him. He pleaded not guilty.

The matter was adjourned until November 24.

On the afternoon of Wednesday, March 15, Collins, the driver of minibus BYY 7852, struck down and

The Route 42 minibus that was involved in the deadly accident

killed 59-year-old Gao Zhen Jin at Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

The foreign national was a construction worker attached to the company contracted to build the Courtyard Marriott near the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

The bus was proceeding along Timehri Public Road at a fast rate of speed and whilst in the vicinity of the roundabout, the driver failed to slow down, thus resulting in him losing control of the

vehicle, which ended up driving straight across the road into the Courtyard Marriott compound.

The minibus reportedly ploughed through the fence and collided with Jin, who was standing in front of the building. As a result of the collision, Jin fell to the ground and received injuries to his body. He was picked up in an unconscious condition and escorted to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. (G1)

WBD businessman nabbed with illegal gun, ammo

A

businessman was arrested by cops on Sunday morning after he was found with an illegal firearm and ammunition.

According to Police, at about 00:30h, ranks acting on information received went to School Street in Good Fortuin, West Bank Demerara, where they approached a 34-year-old businessman, who was standing in his yard.

One of the officers informed him of the suspicion that he possessed a firearm on his premises without a licence and requested to conduct a search on his person and property. The man allowed the Police to search him and his home. Nothing illegal was found but then officers proceeded to the upper floor of the two-storey

The gun and ammunition that was found by Police

building, where searches were conducted on the back veranda in the man’s presence, and inside a barrel containing clothing, the officers discovered one .38 revolver with the serial number filed off and six live matching rounds of ammunition.

A further search led to the discovery of a small

black rectangular box containing 65 live 9mm rounds of ammunition and one black 9mm magazine. The man was arrested and allegedly claimed ownership of the ammunition but denied possessing the gun.

He was taken to the La Grange Police Station and remains in custody as the investigation continues. (G9)

15 Formation of Road Safety Council gains momentum in Region 8 NEWS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

I

n a move towards enhancing road safety and ensuring the well-being of residents in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), efforts are underway to establish a Road Safety Council for the region.

Traffic Inspector for Regional Police Division Eight, Inspector Noel spearheaded a crucial meeting late last week at the Mahdia Secondary School. During this gathering, Inspector Noel engaged with potential council members, discussing vital matters aimed at creating a safer road environment and raising public awareness regarding road safety.

Key topics covered during the meeting included the formation of a dedicated Road Safety Council tai-

Road Safety Council meeting

lored to the unique needs of Region 8. Deliberations centred on defining the specific goals and objectives of the Road Safety Council, outlining its intended impact on the region's road safety landscape.

Participants emphasised the critical need to actively promote safer roadways within the region, highlight-

ing measures to prevent accidents and enhance overall road safety. The council aims to engage in extensive traffic sensitisation programmes, ensuring that the public is well-informed about road safety regulations, best practices, and potential hazards.

Additionally, the council will actively collaborate

with various stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies and local communities, to create a safer environment. This collaborative effort intends to work towards a community where road safety is a collective responsibility.

A pivotal role of the Road Safety Council will be to work closely with the Police to address road accident fatalities and tackle other issues related to road safety effectively.

The meeting served as a foundational step toward establishing the Road Safety Council, reflecting the region’s commitment to creating safer roads and fostering a culture of responsible driving.

As efforts progress, the council is poised to play a

vital role in ensuring the well-being of residents and travellers within Region Eight.

Earlier this year, the Home Affairs Ministry announced that it has been collaborating with stakeholders to develop a comprehensive action plan to reduce road accidents and fatalities by 50 per cent by 2030. The National Assembly passed the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill in 2022, which aims to promote and enforce safe driving and impose higher penalties for serious infractions.

The National Road Safety Council’s financial resources have been boosted to over $11 million, aiding in sensitisation and reducing road accidents. The Ministry of Home Affairs is

committed to providing evidence-based road safety knowledge and awareness programmes through advocacy, training, and education, to create a culture of safety among all road users, including young adults.

The Government is also upgrading roads and highways and installing lights and CCTV cameras at strategic points to improve infrastructure and safety.

Augmenting these efforts, the Traffic Department is intensifying efforts to prevent speeding, and urges drivers to exercise caution on the roads, follow traffic laws and regulations, and maintain their vehicles regularly. Safe driving practices such as wearing seatbelts and avoiding distracted driving are emphasised.

Vice President addresses issues affecting ECD villages Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo visited Haslington North, Haslington South, Dazzle Housing Scheme, Vigilance, and Buxton on Saturday.During the meeting, residents of these East Coast Demerara communities raised a number of issues, which Jagdeo addressed. He also outlined ongoing road and other infrastructure works being carried out by the Government in the areas.

A number of on-the-spot interventions were also made, a post by the Vice President’s social media page stated.

16 NEWS Younger population should do more frequent medical check-ups – medical mission MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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uyana Medical Mission, which comprises a team of doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals who travel from the USA to Guyana to provide free care to the underserved, on Sunday opened its annual five-day clinic.

The first was held in New Amsterdam and Fyrish Health Centre, both in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Today the team is expected to be at St Francis Community Developers Hall at Port Mourant and LanLivMan Health Centre,

Region Five (MahaicaBerbice).

The team will move to Mahaica Health Care Centre on Wednesday and then move to Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) on Thursday where the clinic will be held at Buxton Health Care Centre.

The visit will wrap up on Friday when the mission meets at Sophia Health Care Centre and also La Penitence Health Care Centre.

The team, which is made up of volunteers, focuses on diabetes, hypertension, and eye exams

Patients at the outreach

Dr Omar Bey

also in Region Six, while on Tuesday the clinic is scheduled for Belladrum Seventh-day Adventist Church and Mahaicony Community Centre in

including glaucoma, and conjunctivitis among other ailments.

Dr Omar Bey, who is a lung specialist and also specialises in critical care,

with focus on nutrition, from New Jersey, USA, said many young persons do not make visits to the doctor as regularly as they should.

He said that younger

persons should try to see a doctor and be evaluated even if they are not experiencing medical issues.

“Each of us will have different problems but you need to start at an early age going to see the doctor to see what’s wrong so that

you can catch those problems early…if we can catch them early then a lot of the side effects that come along with most health issues would not occur and if they do, they will be much milder.”

He said as a critical

care physician for young patients, he would want to know their blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

“If it is an older person and female, I would advise them to have breast examinations and also if they have diabetes that they are staying on their medication and that the medication is appropriate for their diabetes that they have in order to prevent a stroke or heart attack. So, I would want to see them going to the doctor on a regular basis and getting their medication.”

Additionally, he said persons who are on medication need to continue taking them, even if they are not experiencing symptoms because if they come off the medication, the condition is likely to resurface.

(G4)

Rotary Club of New Amsterdam hosts polio eradication walk

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s efforts continue to be made to eradicate polio, wars have been one of the main contributing factors for poliovirus cases still being found.

This is according to the President of the Rotary Club of New Amsterdam, Rafeek Kassim.

He made the disclosure on Sunday as the club joined with Rotary International in an awareness walk on the fight against polio.

Rotary launched PolioPlus in 1985 and was

a founding member of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988. Since then, working in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), more than 2.5 billion children have received the oral polio vaccine.

Poliovirus cases have decreased by over 99 per cent since 1988, from an estimated 350,000 cases in more than 125 endemic countries to 6 reported cases in 2021.

Of the 3 strains of wild poliovirus (type 1, type 2, and

type 3), wild poliovirus type two was eradicated in 1999 and wild poliovirus type three was eradicated in 2020.

According to the club’s President, for several years Rotary International has been boasting that polio is almost totally eradicated but today there are still six cases.

“Because of wars and certain countries Rotary cannot get into, that is the reason polio is still around. Had everything been fair and equal,

I guess by now polio would have been eradicated.”

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are thirty-one countries reporting polio cases in 2023.

Immediate past President of the New Amsterdam club, Tajpaul

be certified as polio-free.

Rotary International, he said, will continue its fight to ensure that this is achieved.

The New Amsterdam Club has committed to contribute US$1500 towards the international fight against polio.

On Sunday, Rotarians

Melinda Gates Foundation joined the fight to eradicate polio, and has matched every dollar Rotary has put towards the fight 2-1.

“So the more money we put into this fight the more we will be getting from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,” Adjodhea

Adjodhea, who is spearheading activities as it relates to awareness on the fight against polio, said it is hoped that within the shortest possible time, the world would

marched through East Canje, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) as part of its annual polio awareness walk.

Since 2007, Bill and

said.

World Polio Day is observed on October 24. Its aim is to highlight the global efforts to end poliomyelitis. (G4)

NEWS

17

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US urges Israel to protect civilians, increase aid to Gaza

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he United States on Sunday pressed Israel to protect civilians in Gaza and pushed for an immediate increase in humanitarian aid, amid a growing outcry over the human costs of Israel's three-week bombardment of the enclave.

President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minster Netanyahu in a call that Israel has a right to defend itself and should do so in a way that is consistent with international law on protecting civilians, the White House said.

Biden and Netanyahu discussed efforts to protect the more than 200 hostages seized by Palestinian Hamas militants in a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7 that killed 1,400 people.

The White House said

Biden also "underscored the need to immediately and significantly increase the flow of humanitarian assistance to meet the needs of civilians in Gaza," as supplies dwindle in the besieged coastal enclave. With the death toll in the Gaza Strip in the thousands and climbing, Biden's administration has been under increasing pressure to make clear that its steadfast support of Israel does not translate into a blanket endorsement of all that its ally is doing in the impoverished enclave.

In television interviews earlier on Sunday, Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said Israel has a responsibility to protect the lives of innocent people in Gaza. Washington was

A Palestinian boy rides a bike, as emergency personnel and people check the damage at the site of Israeli strikes on houses, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 29, 2023 (Reuters/Mohammed Salem)

asking hard questions of Israel, including on issues surrounding humanitarian aid, distinguishing between terrorists and innocent civilians and on how Israel is thinking through its military opera-

12-year-old Bahamian boy found living in car alone

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inister of Education Glenys HannaMartin said yesterday that school attendance officers discovered a 12-yearold boy living in a car by himself in New Providence.

“We engaged attendance monitors. They are actually the COVID police,” HannaMartin said in the House of Assembly.

“We brought them over, we trained them and they are on the ground every day looking for children.

“Just the other day they found a 12-year-old living in a car by himself. He’s in safe custody.

“These are the issues we are faced with. We could ignore it, turn our head the next way, but that will come back to haunt us.

“It should haunt us anyhow because a child should not fall by the wayside. If one person should be protected in this life, it should be children.”

Hanna-Martin noted

that during the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of students failed to attend virtual classes and when in-person learning resumed, many still failed to show up.

She said more than 7,000 students “went off the radar”.

Following efforts to find those students, HannaMartin said the attendance rate for September 2023 was over 95 percent.

(The Nassau Guardian)

Lebanese boats warned off fishing areas amid border clashes

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ishermen in the Lebanese city of Tyre are among those counting the costs of war in the Middle East. As Israel and Hezbollah clash, it is too dangerous to sail into nearby fishing grounds.

"Already our fish were scarce. Now we have the war," said fisherman Imad Azuzu.

"If we venture a little in the sea, we do so in fear."

His industry has been hit by the effects of the war that erupted on Oct. 7 between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah - a Hamas ally - has been trading fire with Israel at the border.

While clashes have so far been largely contained to the border, fishermen say they are only venturing a few miles from Tyre, where explosions from the fighting 20 km (12 miles) away can be heard.

"The (Lebanese) army has warned us against going to southern areas like Al Bayyada or Naqoura because it's dangerous. We are already afraid, the security situation is scary," said Adel Abde, another fisherman.

A Lebanese security source said the fishermen were al-

Fisherman Toufik Khouri, 63, filters newly caught sardines in his boat in the port city of Tyre, Lebanon, October 27, 2023 (Reuters/ Zohra Bensemra)

lowed to fish normally in the Tyre area but not to approach floating barriers separating Lebanese and Israeli waters.

The fishing industry employees 2,000 people in Tyre, a centre of ancient civilisation from where the Phoenicians sailed all over the Mediterranean.

At the port near the old city, small fishing boats painted bright white were tied up as fishermen loaded fish into buckets and repaired nets.

The people of Tyre can ill afford more hardship. They and the rest of Lebanon were hit by the collapse of the coun-

try's financial system four years ago, which plunged many into poverty.

Fish and seafood production in Lebanon bring in $377 million a year, supporting more than 4,000 families, United Nations figures show.

Ibrahim Suwdan, who started fishing 40 years ago aged 10, said safety worries had deprived him of two weeks fishing - and income that would have helped get him through the winter.

The fishing boats were not putting to sea, he said, "Because people are afraid."

(Reuters)

tion, Sullivan said.

"What we believe is that every hour, every day of this military operation, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces), the Israeli government should be taking every possible means available to them to distinguish between Hamas terrorists who are legitimate military targets and civilians who are not," he said on CNN. Sullivan also said Netanyahu has a responsibility to "rein in" extremist Jewish settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. "It is totally unacceptable to have extremist settler violence against innocent people in the West

Bank," he said.

Biden is facing pressure from within his own Democratic Party to call for a ceasefire.

As Israel's largest military backer, the United States bears some responsibility for its actions in Gaza, U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

"We are losing credibility," Jayapal said. "And, frankly, we're being isolated in the rest of the world."

The attack from Gaza's Hamas rulers unleashed a wave of aerial bombardment from Israel and an incipient ground operation.

Medical authorities in the Gaza Strip, which has a population of 2.3 million people, say 8,005 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's campaign to obliterate Iran-backed Hamas.

Hamas militants have embedded themselves among the Palestinian population and in civilian infrastructure, making an operation against them extremely difficult, Sullivan said.

"That creates an added burden for Israel, but it does not lessen Israel's responsibility under interna-

tional humanitarian law, to distinguish between terrorists and civilians, and to protect the lives of innocent people, and that is the overwhelming majority of the people in Gaza," Sullivan said.

With supplies of food, water and medicines running low, thousands of Gaza residents broke into UN warehouses and distribution centers to get food.

There has been a mounting international outcry over the toll from the bombing and growing calls for a "humanitarian pause" to allow aid to reach Gaza civilians.

In an interview on CBS, Sullivan was asked if there was "daylight" between the United States and the Netanyahu government, Sullivan responded, ""We talk candidly, we talked directly, we share our views in an unvarnished way and we will continue to do that."

"But sitting here in public, I will just say that the United States is going to make its principles and propositions absolutely clear, including the sanctity of innocent human life. And then we will continue to provide our advice to Israel in private."

(Reuters)

18

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guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Privy Council sedition ruling a win for Mexico throws troops, media and free speech in T&T – Maharaj aid into Acapulco as hurricane death toll rises I

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exico's Government on Sunday intensified efforts to get the stricken coastal city of Acapulco back on its feet as the toll of dead and missing from a record-breaking hurricane that ravaged the iconic beach resort continued to rise.

Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco as a Category Five storm on Wednesday, wrecking homes, hotels and businesses with 266 kilometres per hour (165 miles per hour) winds which downed power lines and communications, leaving the city of nearly 900,000 inhabitants incommunicado.

Looting broke out as food, water and gasoline become scarce after the destruction caused by Otis, which the Government on Sunday said had killed 48 persons, with six persons missing.

The Governor of the southern state of Guerrero, where Acapulco is located, earlier said 36 persons were

Damaged boats are seen at the Caleta beach in the aftermath of Hurricane Otis, in Acapulco, Mexico, October 29, 2023 (Reuters/ Quetzalli Nicte-Ha photo)

unaccounted for.

A day earlier, the toll stood at 39 dead and 10 missing.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said most of his Cabinet was already in or headed for Acapulco, and that he would return there later on Sunday to lead recovery efforts as thousands of soldiers and Police descended on the city.

"We're going to get Acapulco back on its feet, starting with its people," he said in a video on social me-

dia.

Dozens of pieces of broken boats dotted the bay on Sunday, with smashed yachts and dinghies piled up on the shore.

Captain Alejandro Cortez, 66, abandoned his yacht when he saw the hurricane picking up speed.

"We ran, we jumped down, and we left the ship all alone," he recounted from a pier where he gazed at the water, remembering waves seven metres high. (Excerpt from Reuters)

n what is being described as a win for the media and free speech by former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, SC, the Privy Council ruled that for someone to be charged with sedition in Trinidad and Tobago, the State will have to prove that the person or published speech incited violence or public disorder.

At a press conference at Lakshmi Girls’ Hindu School in St Augustine, Maharaj said the interpretation came after an October 12 Privy Council ruling on a constitutional challenge of the sedition law in T&T

by Vijay Maharaj on behalf of his late father, former Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha Secretary General Satnarayan Maharaj.

“This is one of the most landmark decisions in Trinidad and Tobago because the Government could have used the sedition act to oppress the media, to oppress free speech.

MP for Chaguanas West Dinesh Rambally, left, chats with Attorney Kiel Taklalsingh, centre, and Ramesh Lawerance Maharaj, SC, during a press conference at Lakshmi Girls’ Hindu College, St Augustine

It would be very easy if the Government had control of the prosecution process, and I mean any government, to be able to use the sedition act to harass the media,” he said.

Maharaj said while the Privy Council on October 12 ruled that it could not examine the constitutionality of the sedition law in T&T because it is existing law and

was saved, the Privy Council decided that under common law it could determine if the definition of the law met common law requirements. He said the Council ruled that the sedition law did not meet the requirements of common law, so it ruled that proof of intention of violence or public disorder was required. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

More Jamaicans finding love online

Bajan charged with drug S trafficking in Jamaica

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Barbadian man, whose name is being withheld by authorities at this time, has been arrested and charged in Jamaica after he was found attempting to board a flight to London, with

two kilograms of cocaine.

He was arrested by detectives from the Narcotics Division on Thursday evening as he tried to board a flight to London.

The Police say the package of cocaine, which

attracts a street value of over J$16 million, was found concealed in his luggage during a search and he was subsequently arrested and charged for breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act. (CMC)

12 killed in 2nd plane crash in less than 2 months in Brazil

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t least 12 people including an infant have died after a small plane crashed in the northwestern Brazilian state of Acre, according to authorities.

A statement by the Acre state government on Sunday said the plane was a single-engine Cessna Caravan, and it crashed near the Rio Branco airport.

All 10 passengers – nine adults and an infant – as well as the pilot and the co-pilot all died at the scene, it said, adding that there will be an investigation.

The plane was headed to Envira, a small town in the neighbouring Amazonas state of Brazil. It was reportedly operated by local firm ART Taxi Aereo.

Citing local media, the AFP news agency report-

Another crash in September in Amazonas, Brazil had killed 14 persons [Wellington Melo/Reuters]

ed that the plane erupted in flames on impact and caused a forest fire in a remote area near Brazil’s border with Peru and Bolivia.

This is the second such incident in less than two months, as 14 persons had perished onboard a small jet that crashed in Amazonas state in

September. All the victims of that crash – 12 passengers and two crew members – were Brazilian tourists.

The aircraft crashed as it was approaching the tourist town of Barcelos in heavy rain with low visibility, according to officials.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

ix years ago, Othniel Brissett turned to online dating app Tinder after a previous relationship left him hurting.

“Originally I was doing it the traditional way and I had short- and long-term relationships. I got some hurt during the process and I was on a path where I just couldn’t bother anymore,” he told Observer Online. “I had just found out about (Tinder) and decided to give it a try.”

It ended up being the best decision of his life as, through Tinder, he met Cion Robinson, who had joined the dating app for the same reason as him.

“She was in a long relationship and she got hurt and the relationship ended in a violent way. So she went on it to find somebody to talk to and find friends,” he said.

After sharing a mutual swipe and matching, Othneil and Cion began a courtship and the rest, as they say, is history. They fell in love and got married.

“I never thought that when I went on Tinder I would have found love,”

Othniel Brissett and wife Cion on their wedding day

Othneil said, adding “Cion was on it also not knowing that she would have found love either.”

Othneil and Cion Brissett are among a growing number of couples in Jamaica who are making their way down the aisle and saying ‘I do’ after meeting through this once unconventional method of dating.

Dating and Relationship Coach, Kiffra G Codner said that the increasing preva-

lence of online dating is in line with the current lifestyle of the masses where daily tasks are often completed over the internet.

“More persons are turning to online dating as our lives have naturally transitioned into more things being done online – shopping for groceries, buying a motor vehicle, banking etc. It’s the norm to do things online,” Codner said. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Trinidad: 51-year-old robbed trying to buy car from Facebook vendor

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et another person has been scammed and robbed of cash trying to purchase a vehicle from someone they found on Facebook Marketplace.

In the latest incident, a 51-year-old man from San Fernando said he tried to

buy a Nissan Tiida valued at TT$28,000 from someone who gave his name as Sunil Vijay Maharaj.

He agreed to meet at 4th Street , Barataria near 10th Avenue with the cash for the purchase of the vehicle.

When he arrived, a man pointed what he believed to be a firearm towards him and demanded the cash.

He handed over the money and the suspect ran off.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023

19

Around The World

Red Crescent says Israel OILNEWS OIL NEWS Palestine orders evacuation of al-Quds Hospital Big Oil’s mega acquisitions raise questions about peak oil demand

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ast year, Big Oil annoyed their home governments by raking in billions on the back of soaring oil and gas prices.

Those were caused by demand exceeding supply for hydrocarbons.

The pain was especially great for the Biden Administration.

Despite its efforts to clip the industry’s wings, US oil booked all-time high earnings. And while most used the money to pay down debt and boost shareholder returns, some set their sights higher and further into the future.

Exxon made US$56 billion in net earnings last year. This year, it used a sum slightly higher than the 2022 net total to acquire Pioneer Natural Resources, establishing itself as the leader in US shale.

Two weeks later, Chevron, which had reported a twofold increase in profits last year, said it would take over peer Hess for US$53 billion. Who’s next?

All industry observers seem to agree that the time was ripe for a consolidation wave in US oil. The reasons for this perception included the record profits that everyone made last year, new acreage running out in the shale patch, and limited new discoveries internationally.

According to the Financial Times, the two megamergers that Exxon and Chevron announced in the past couple of weeks have set off what its authors called “an arms race” to secure long-term oil and gas asset supply—at a time when some are predicting a peak for oil demand.

Indeed, in its most recent forecast, OPEC said that oil demand will continue expanding until at least 2045, bringing into sharp relief the consistent underinvestment that has been a trend for years in the industry. The cause for that underinvestment is largely pressure from transition proponents that have drawn investors away from oil and gas while those remaining have insisted companies focus on investor returns.

But now investors are returning to oil and gas, and they want some of those returns. For that, and to secure the supply of a critical commodity in a world still very much dependent on it, the oil majors need access to more production assets. In an environment with a shortage of unexplored assets, securing that access is much easier done through acquisitions.

“It is an arms race,” one source involved in M&A activity told the FT. “In most sectors, deal one doesn’t necessarily lead to deal two and deal three. I believe in this case it will, because timing is of the essence and the two largest players have made their moves.”

In a recent Forbes article, public policy analyst and energy consultant David Blackmon also pointed out the need to secure production for the future as motivation for the megadeals. And it was a long-term need.

“The common thread connecting these deals is majors looking to refill their pipelines to maintain production against a declining asset base as they anticipate their legacy businesses staying profitable into the 2030s,” Enverus Intelligence Research senior VP Andrew Dittmar told Blackmon.

All of this goes against what the International Energy Agency said a couple of days ago in its latest World Energy Outlook: that oil and gas demand growth will peak within the next seven years.

The head of the IEA had made the prediction in an op-ed for the FT last month as a teaser of sorts for the WEO. Now that the report is out, so is the official prediction: oil demand will peak before 2030, along with gas and coal demand, as solar and EVs displace millions of barrels in oil demand.

The IEA sees a tenfold increase in the number of EVs on roads around the world by 2030 and a surge in wind and solar deployments so that by that year these—plus hydro, presumable—reach a share of 50% in global electricity generation capacity.

So, why are the supermajors spending tens of billions on oil and gas acquisitions? It might be because they are aware that the IEA’s projections and similar reports coming out of transition advocacy entities do not necessarily reflect reality.

Supermajors rarely make stupid and expensive decisions, especially when these decisions are this expensive. The decisions

by Exxon and Chevron to grow through acquisitions were made with a view to the realities of energy demand. That’s why neither supermajor went on a shopping spree for EV charger makers or wind turbine developers. (Excerpt from Oilprice.com)

T

he Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) on Sunday said it has received “serious threats” from Israeli forces to “immediately evacuate” the al-Quds Hospital in Gaza as it is “going to be bombed”.

The hospital, located in the Tal al-Hawa area of Gaza City, said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, that “since this morning, there have been bombs dropping 50 metres from the hospital”.

The threat comes as Israel has bombed several hospitals in the besieged Gaza Strip enclave, which has been under intense attacks for the past three weeks that have killed more than 8000 people, mostly women and children.

Palestinians have

also blamed Israel for the explosion at al-Ahli Arab Hospital on October 17 that killed nearly 500 people, many of them displaced Palestinians. Israel has denied its role in the explosion.

The PRCS has reported that the hospital is currently providing care to hundreds of injured patients, including those in intensive care units and newborns in incubators.

Around 12,000 unarmed displaced civilians, with a majority being children and women, have also sought refuge in the hospital building.

The hospital also accommodates PRCS personnel, operating rooms, and ambulance crews who are tirelessly serving hundreds of thousands of citizens in the northern Gaza Strip.

Bombardments also struck near the Indonesian Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip [Screengrab/Sanad Agency]

The United Nations health agency chief has also expressed concerns about the Israeli threats.

“We reiterate – it’s impossible to evacuate hospitals

full of patients without endangering their lives,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO), said on X. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

G7 calls for immediate repeal of bans on Japanese food, pressing China

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he Group of Seven (G7) industrial powers called on Sunday for the "immediate repeal" of import curbs on Japanese food products, a reference to China's restrictions after Japan began releasing wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

The G7 Trade Ministers, in a statement after a weekend meeting on Osaka, did not mention China but they also denounced what they consider its rising economic coercion through trade.

"We deplore actions to

weaponise economic dependencies and commit to build on free, fair, and mutually beneficial economic and trade relationships," said the 10-page statement.

China slapped a blanket suspension of Japanese fish imports two months ago when Japan started the release of treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima plant into the Pacific. While Japan and the US have called the curbs unfair, Russia announced a similar restriction earlier this month.

China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the G7 statement outside business hours.

The G7 - the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Canada - expressed "concern" over recent control measures on the export of critical minerals.

China, the world's top graphite producer, this month announced export curbs on the key material, used in electric vehicle batteries, in another bid to con-

trol critical mineral supply in response to challenges over its global manufacturing dominance.

The G7 Ministers "shared the need, a genuinely strong one, to reduce dependence on a particular country" for the supply of critical resources, said Yasutoshi Nishimura, Trade Minister of the host Japan.

"We completely agreed to build resilient and reliable supply chains" for critical minerals, semiconductors and batteries, he told a press conference. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Bangladesh Opposition Kenya to become visaChief Alamgir arrested free to African visitors after clashes

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angladesh's opposition leader and dozens of members of his party have been arrested after violent anti-government protests in Dhaka.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is among those facing charges, an official said.

Tens of thousands of protesters turned out over the weekend, calling for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation.

One Police officer was killed, as well as at least one protester.

There are conflicting reports of why Alamgir, 75, was arrested.

Local media report that he was detained for an alleged attack on the home of Bangladesh's Chief Justice.

But AFP news agency said he was charged, along with 164 other BNP members, with murder following

the death of the Police officer at Saturday's protest.

Police said the officer had been hacked to death, and accused BNP activists of the killing.

Protesters and Police clashed again on Sunday in multiple locations. Dozens were injured.

Alamgir has led the party since chairwoman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was arrested and jailed for five years on corruption charges.

With elections expected in January, the BNP has been holding protests against Hasina, calling for her to stand down and for a vote to be held under a neutral Government.

Hasina - the daughter of Bangladesh's first President - has been in power since 2009, and has been accused of targeting activists and political opponents, which she denies. (Excerpt from BBC News)

K

enya is to end visa requirements to all African visitors by the end of the year, President William Ruto has said.

"It is time we... realise that having visa restrictions amongst ourselves is working against us," he told an international conference.

Visa-free travel within the continent has been a goal of the African Union (AU) for the past decade.

While there are regional deals and bilateral arrangements, progress towards no restrictions has been slow.

Only Seychelles, The Gambia and Benin offer entry to all African citizens without a visa, according to a 2022 AU-backed report.

But according to Africa's Visa Openness Index which measures the extent to which each country in Africa is open to visitors from other African countries - most countries are making progress towards simplifying entry processes

and dropping restrictions to some other nations.

In 2022, Kenya was ranked 31st on the index out of 54 states.

President Ruto told an audience in CongoBrazzaville that it was bad for business.

"When people cannot travel, businesspeople cannot travel, entrepreneurs cannot travel, we all become net losers.

"Let me say this: As Kenya, by the end of this year, no African will be required to have a visa to come to Kenya," he said to loud cheers from the conference delegates.

The AU launched its African passport in 2016.

The idea behind the passport is for all African citizens to be able to travel throughout the continent without visas - but it is still not widely available.

This is in part because of concerns about security, smuggling and the impact on the local employment markets. (Excerpt from BBC News)

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Look over contracts, renegotiate your position or apply for something new.

Taking charge of your life will prompt you to be more disciplined. Embrace a challenge with open arms.

(March 21-April 19) Simplify your schedule to ensure you get everything done. An unexpected opportunity will come your way through a chance meeting or change of plans. Put your energy where it counts.

PICKLES

(April 20-May 20) Consider your weakest link and adjust what’s necessary to ensure your success. Don’t trust anyone skirting issues or pressuring you. Set boundaries and rely on yourself.

(May 21-June 20) Don’t hesitate or question your next move. Follow your instincts and contact people who can help you reach your goal.

By being engaging but mysterious, you’ll attract support.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 22)

You’ll face opposition if you are too candid about your plans. Gather information, call on experts and listen to those who have walked the path you plan to follow. Knowledge will make a difference.

Look at all aspects of a situation. A change will be to your benefit and should be made swiftly. Be direct and let those affected by your decisions know what you plan to do.

CALVIN AND HOBBES (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Keep your eyes open for anything wrong. Pay attention to detail, do your part and deal with troublesome situations. Take notes and handle financial, medical or contractual issues yourself.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Take care of unfinished business and move on to something you enjoy doing.

Join forces with someone heading down a similar path. Use your imagination and talk to experts.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) A change may not be your first choice, but it’ll turn out to be beneficial. What is limiting you now will lead to a new beginning. Incorporate your personal touch as you move forward.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Challenge yourself mentally and physically. Attending social events, initiating domestic changes and revising how you allocate money will pay off.

Leave nothing to chance.

LAST PUBLISHED WORD -- HOPSACK

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Relax and enjoy the comfort of your home. Don’t get wrapped up in someone else’s problems. Concentrate on the pastimes that bring you joy and the people who put a smile on your face.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Don’t guess what others will do; ask questions and adjust your schedule to avoid setbacks. Adjust how you handle money and health issues to ensure you put your needs first.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023

21

ICC World Cup 2023…

Shami and Bumrah demolish England to make it 6 out of 6 for India M

ohammed Shami ripped the heart out of England as India defended a modest total in Lucknow to maintain their unbeaten World Cup run and condemn their opponents' campaign even further.

Shami claimed 2 for 4 from three overs inside the first powerplay in a breathtaking spell and Jasprit Bumrah 2 for 17 from five as England lurched to 40 for 4 after 10 overs chasing 230 for just their second win of the tournament.

Shami claimed two more and Bumrah one to ensure that was not to be as none of England's batters passed Liam Livingstone's 27 and India romped to a 100-run victory with 15.1 overs to spare.

David Willey's fierce, wide-eyed celebration upon removing Virat Kohli for a nine-ball duck hinted at the menace England were expected to bring, but have sorely missed in this tournament. It was matched by Dawid Malan's steely gaze which followed the ball over deep midwicket as he clubbed Mohammed Siraj

Jasprit Bumrah struck twice in his third over

for six to get off the mark after Willey, Chris Woakes, and Adil Rashid had helped restrict India to 229 for 8, Rohit Sharma's 87 in tricky batting conditions leading the way for the hosts.

But then Bumrah beat Malan's outside edge with

SCOREBOARD India (50 ovs maximum) Rohit Sharma (c) c Livingstone b Rashid 87 Shubman Gill b Woakes 9 Virat Kohli c Stokes b Willey 0 Shreyas Iyer c Wood b Woakes 4 KL Rahul † c Bairstow b Willey 39 Suryakumar Yadav c Woakes b Willey 49 Ravindra Jadeja lbw b Rashid 8 Mohammed Shami c †Buttler b Wood 1 Jasprit Bumrah run out (†Buttler) 16 Kuldeep Yadav not out 9 Extras (b 4, w 3) 7 TOTAL 50 Ov (RR: 4.58) 229/9 Did not bat: Mohammed Siraj Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Shubman Gill, 3.6 ov), 2-27 (Virat Kohli, 6.5 ov), 3-40 (Shreyas Iyer, 11.5 ov), 4-131 (KL Rahul, 30.2 ov), 5-164 (Rohit Sharma, 36.5 ov), 6-182 (Ravindra Jadeja, 40.3 ov), 7-183 (Mohammed Shami, 41.2 ov), 8-208 (Suryakumar Yadav, 46.2 ov), 9-229 (Jasprit Bumrah, 49.6 ov) • DRS BOWLING O-M-R-W David Willey 10-2-45-3 Chris Woakes 9-1-33-2 Adil Rashid 10-0-35-2 Mark Wood 9-1-46-1 Liam Livingstone 4-1-29-0 Moeen Ali 8-0-37-0

England (T: 230 runs from 50 ovs) Jonny Bairstow b Mohammed Shami 14 Dawid Malan b Bumrah 16 Joe Root lbw b Bumrah 0 Ben Stokes b Mohammed Shami 0 Jos Buttler (c)† b Kuldeep Yadav 10 Moeen Ali c †Rahul b Mohammed Shami 15 Liam Livingstone lbw b Kuldeep Yadav 27 Chris Woakes st †Rahul b Jadeja 10 David Willey not out 16 Adil Rashid b Mohammed Shami 13 Mark Wood b Bumrah 0 Extras (lb 2, w 6) 8 TOTAL 34.5 Ov (RR: 3.70) 129 Fall of wickets: 1-30 (Dawid Malan, 4.5 ov), 2-30 (Joe Root, 4.6 ov), 3-33 (Ben Stokes, 7.6 ov), 4-39 (Jonny Bairstow, 9.1 ov), 5-52 (Jos Buttler, 15.1 ov), 6-81 (Moeen Ali, 23.1 ov), 7-98 (Chris Woakes, 28.1 ov), 8-98 (Liam Livingstone, 29.2 ov), 9-122 (Adil Rashid, 33.6 ov), 10-129 (Mark Wood, 34.5 ov) • DRS BOWLING O-M-R-W Jasprit Bumrah 6.5-1-32-3 Mohammed Siraj 6-0-33-0 Mohammed Shami 7-2-22-4 Kuldeep Yadav 8-0-24-2 Ravindra Jadeja 7-1-16-1

one that shaped away and, two balls later, got his man via an attempted cut which Malan chopped straight onto his stumps. Bumrah made it two wickets in two balls when he had Joe Root tripping over himself and rapped on the front pad as England stumbled to 30 for 2 after five overs and the batting woes which h a d plagued them looked set to continue.

Bumrah and Shami were outstanding through the latter half of the first powerplay, the former's maiden in the seventh over followed immediately by a wicket maiden for Shami, who squared up Ben Stokes with two excellent balls that beat unconvincing attempts to defend and then lured the batter to attack a fuller ball that splattered the stumps.

Jonny Bairstow survived on 13 when Kohli failed to pull down a difficult chance at slip, but Shami resumed where he had left off in his previous over with a second wicket in as many deliveries as Bairstow dragged one on that nipped in from the perfect length just outside off stump.

England needed some-

thing big from Jos Buttler, their besieged captain, who had managed just 95 runs from the first five games, including a highest score of 43 in the opening match against New Zealand. But Kuldeep Yadav ensured Buttler's lean run continued with a gem of a delivery that turned ferociously from outside off and crashed into the top of middle and off to send him on his way for just 10 and leave England reeling at 52 for 5.

Shami returned for a second spell in the 24th over and struck first ball to remove Moeen Ali, inviting the drive and finding an edge which sailed through to KL Rahul behind the stumps. Shami's dismissal of Rashid, bowled through the gate, left India with just one wicket to get and Bumrah obliged with a superb yorker that struck the base of Mark Wood's middle stump.

After winning the toss and asking India to bat on a two-paced pitch, England started well, restricting their opponents to 35 for 2 in the opening powerplay.

Willey began with a maiden in the first over of the match, but then his second went for 18, including two sixes by Rohit over midwicket and down the ground to put England's bowlers under pressure early.

However, Woakes – back after being dropped for England's defeat to South Africa in the previous game and with only two wickets from his side's sole win of the campaign against Bangladesh heading into this match – got one to nip back, beat Shubman Gill's drive, and clatter into middle and off stumps. That brought Kohli to the crease, but his mistimed drive at Willey was comfortably taken by Stokes at mid-off to leave India shellshocked at 27 for 2 in the seventh over.

Woakes, bowling his

sixth over on the trot, struck again when he had Shreyas Iyer simply taken by Wood at mid-on to make it 40 for 3 and England thought it was 51 for 4 before Rohit managed to overturn his lbw dismissal at the hands of Wood, when ball tracking suggested it was missing leg stump, and his subsequent four through deep backward point was met by a thunderous roar from the

when Suryakumar Yadav shaped to reverse-sweep Moeen, but the ball evaded the bat as well as Buttler and dribbled away for four byes. Ravindra Jadeja was quick to review his lbw dismissal to Rashid in the next over, but the decision was upheld on umpire's call when ball-tracking showed the ball clipping the top of leg stump and England could claim the upper hand

Rohit Sharma brought up his fifty in 66 balls

home crowd.

Rohit brought up his fifty, smearing Wood just wide of mid-on and running two, then lifted the next ball effortlessly beyond deep backward square leg for six before dancing down the pitch to Moeen Ali and lofting him over mid-off for four in what shaped up as a crucial innings for India.

But then Willey returned to the attack and immediately broke a 91run stand for the fourth wicket when Rahul advanced and sent the ball to Bairstow at mid-on. Rohit became over-excited, picking Rashid's googly and holing out to deep midwicket where Livingstone ran in from the boundary's edge to take a strong sliding catch, jamming his knee hard into the turf and leaving a massive divot.

England conceded their first extras in the 40th over

in the contest.

From there Suryakumar took it upon himself to keep India's innings afloat. He moved to 48 and took his team past the 200-mark with a sublime flick for six over fine leg off Wood. No sooner had Bumrah driven Wood through the on side for four and he was put down by Moeen at long-off than Suryakumar pick out Woakes at deep point to give Willey his third wicket and fall one run shy of his half-century.

Only Bumrah – run out for 16 on the last ball of the innings – joined Rohit, Suryakumar and Rahul in double figures as India ended up shy of the total they would have wanted, even with their foes so out of touch. But thanks to his work with Shami through England's innings, it proved to be plenty.

(ESPNcricinfo)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023

CG United Regional Super50

Mohamed credits experience for win over WI Academy – impressed with opponents

I

n a masterful display of composure and experience, Jason Mohamed guided Trinidad and Tobago Red Force to a thrilling four-wicket triumph over the West Indies Academy in the CG United Regional Super50, securing his 22nd List A half-century in the process.

After scoring an unbeaten 70 runs, Mohamed shared his insights on the challenging encounter.

Reflecting on the conditions, Mohamed acknowledged the difficulties posed by the slow wicket and the softer ball in the second innings.

"It was a bit tricky; I think the wicket was a bit slow in the second innings with the ball getting softer, and it was difficult to score. But I was happy to be there to the end," expressed Mohamed. His un-

I

beaten innings proved to be the anchor that steered Red Force to victory.

Having had numerous starts in the tournament without converting them into substantial scores, Mohamed expressed his satisfaction at finally reaching the milestone. "I had a lot of starts in the tournament, and I'm just happy to be able to carry on and get a 50 and take the team over the line," he stated, highlighting the importance of contributing when it mattered the most.

The match saw West Indies Academy post a challenging total of 263 for eight at the halfway mark, prompting questions about the team's confidence in the chase. Mohamed, however, exuded confidence, stating, "We knew it would have been a bit difficult just judging

from the wicket and how soft the ball gets. I thought they got about 30-40 too much, but we've batted well as a team, and we were very confident.

I think we batted well again today and got over the line."

With a career spanning 16 years and 124 List A matches under his belt, Mohamed emphasised the value of experience in handling pressure situations.

"I've been around for a while now, so I just try and gather my thoughts, and with my experience playing at this level for a long time, I was able to cope with everything, which was important," he shared.

Commending the West Indies Academy, Mohamed praised the young talents, recognising the significance of their participation in the tournament.

are not just a walkover team; they play some good cricket, and hopefully, they get some good exposure in this tournament," Mohamed remarked, highlighting the positive impact of such competitions in nurturing emerging talents.

CLASSIFIED ADS ASTROLOGY Jason Mohamed

"I think they are a good bunch of guys. I'm happy they are part of this tournament, and we see these guys

would have missed out for their country team. It is nice to have them in this tournament, and it shows that they

GBA to roll out website soon

n what can only be described as a historic endeavour, the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) has undertaken the creation of a dedicated website for the discipline, which will be operational in approximately two weeks and tailored to introduce the sport to a modern audience.

The website, which is the first ever commissioned for the sport locally, will serve as its electronic home and hub by encapsulating all manner of information via a modern, user-friendly interface. The data that will be stored includes annals, news items, interviews, calendars of activities, rules and regulations, and biographies. The primary rationale behind the commissioning of such a project was to create a centralized data centre and news hub that is

GBA President Steve Ninvalle

readily accessible to everyone who is interested in the history and present direction of the discipline.

GBA President Steve Ninvalle said, “The creation of this platform is an effort to modernise and develop the sport outside the confines of the squared circle. That is the

soft infrastructure that is at work, whose importance is often overlooked. This is the first website commissioned locally for boxing, and one of the first in the sporting landscape. This website will provide content in every aspect and is a step in the right direction, as development must

be tailored to coincide with the times, especially in a technologically-savvy world.”

According to Ninvalle, “Guyana is on the precipice of major infrastructural and technological advancement in every sector. Sport certainly is part of that reality, especially from a physical standpoint, and the creation of the website highlights another aspect of the GBA’s developmental agenda for the discipline. After all, Guyana is at the forefront of boxing within the Region; we continue to serve as the leading light and guiding star in the Englishspeaking Caribbean, and the sport, given its historical significance locally, should be afforded a home where its revered past and anticipated future can be celebrated, analysed, and promoted.”

He further said, “Aside

from a physical construct, every major sport locally should have its own digital home and footprint. That is the best practice among major nations and their respective disciplines. While the programming language of the website and the intricacies behind its operation and utilisation might be beyond my comprehension, the platform will provide a common dialect for its users that will be able to access information on current pugilists while equally functioning as a time machine for its older and more seasoned viewers. This is an exciting time for the sport, and the GBA is very optimistic about the future and overall direction of the discipline.”

Further details on the official launch date of the website will be announced shortly.

Lucozade Hardball emerge as champions of the Influencers Cup 2023 T eam Lucozade Hardball, featuring DJ Magnum, emerged as champions of the Influencers Cup at the Georgetown Club on Saturday, October 28 ,2023 with sensational hitting of the ball at all angles over the field against the Mighty Gunners, featuring Travis Chase.

The Hardball team won the toss and elected to bat, taking full advantage with Ravindra Rodrigues scoring a massive 61 off 23 balls, accompanied by Sagar Hatiraman with 32 runs from 18 balls along with Captain Mikhiel Da Silva contributing 27 runs from 10 balls.

The Gunners were pivotal in the field restricting the Lucozade batting attack to 158-3, with wickets coming from Moffett, Dodson,

Lucozade Hardball emerged as champions of the Influencers Cup 2023

and Leung, each taking one apiece.

The Mighty Gunners did not give up with Alex Armagaon starting the bat-

ting attack, scoring 64 off 33 balls, but without a partner to help him, the team failed to thump the Hardball outfit.

Captain Da Silva, AVA, and

Boya restricted the Gunners to 105 for 3.

The third-place play-off saw the Thunder Strikers coming out victorious against

Wild Wolves, with the Strikers batters setting up a strong total with S Williams scoring 23 runs off 12 balls and A Scipo striking the ball from 16 runs from 10 balls.

Russel Madramatoo and Nikosi White were pivotal in the bowling attack for the Wolves as they took one wicket each restricting the Strikers to 56-2.

The Strikers looked to chase the score as A Meridith made 20 runs off eight balls, accompanied by K Blades, who contributed 18 runs off 12 balls which were not enough to carry them over the finish line as Captain Alanzo Scipio, along with Jonte Thomas and Shaquille Williams, taking one wicket each restricted the Strikers to 48-3 .

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023

Rutherford, Motie sink Pride G

uyana Harpy Eagles registered a 56run thrashing over Barbados Pride Sunday in the CG United Regional Super50, with Sherfane Rutherford and Gudakesh Motie leading the destruction.

Rutherford recorded his fourth List A half-century to propel Eagles to 202 all out in 46.3 overs after being asked to bat by Pride when the match was reduced to 47 overs due to group equipment issues. Motie then bagged his career-best figures to rout Pride for 147 in 39.5 overs.

Rutherford showed his class with 74 from 70 balls as he hammered four fours and four sixes, one of which was hoisted through mid-wicket off of Roston Chase. The 25-year-old left-hander partnered with Kemol Savory to put on 53 runs for the sixth wicket.

That partnership proved vital as Guyana slipped from 34 for two after 10 overs,

Sherfane Rutherford (CWI photo)

to 68 for five after 21 overs with Shimron Hetmyer (19) and Kevlon Anderson (16) already back in the shed.

After Savory was dismissed for 35, Rutherford was then joined by Motie to forge a 63-run union for the seventh wicket. That partnership was broken when

Rutherford was caught at mid-wicket attempting to clear the boundary with a full toss from Javed Leacock.

Pride bowlers gifted Eagles 24 extras, but Leacock returned 3-30 and former Guyana all-rounder Raymon Reifer, 3-38.

In the chase, Pride were keen to mow down the target as international batter Kyle Mayers and Kraigg Brathwaite added 81 for the first wicket before Brathwaite was bowled by Motie for 17.

Mayers motored to 64 from 63 balls. His innings featured nine fours and a six before he was caught on the square leg boundary by Chandrapaul Hemraj off of Anderson.

Mayers’ wicket fell as Pride lost three wickets in the space of four deliveries, compliments of a double-wicket maiden by Motie that removed Shamarh Brooks for six and Shai Hope for a golden duck in the first over after the drinks break and ultimately reduced them to 96 for four.

Chase resisted with a hard-pressed 25 while Jomel Warrican was the only other batsman to reach double figures with 11, but Pride lost their last five

wickets for just 15 runs.

Eagles’ bowlers gave away 16 extras, but Motie

23

stood out with 5-17 and was supported by Kevin Sinclair with 3-30.

SCOREBOARD Guyana Harpy Eagle Chandrapaul Hemraj c SD Hope b KR Mayers 7 Kevlon Anderson c SD Hope b RA Reifer 16 Tevin Imlach c SD Hope b RA Reifer 7 Shimron Hetmyer c J McAllister b RL Chase 19 Kemol Savory c J Leacock b KJ Smith 35 Kevin Sinclair c SSJ Brooks b JA Warrican 3 Sherfane Rutherford c DC Drakes b J Leacock 74 Gudakesh Motie c RL Chase b J Leacock 7 Veerasammy Permaul c RL Chase b J Leacock 5 Shamar Joseph b RA Reifer 0 Nial Smith not out 5 Extras (b: 2 lb: 2 wd: 20 nb: 0) 24 Total 202 all out (46.3 overs) BOWLING O-M-R-W Kyle Mayers 5-0-20-1 Dominic Drakes 4-0-9-0 Raymon Reifer 7-0-38-3 Roston Chase 10-0-59-1 Kemar Smith 10-1-23-1 Jomel Warrican 3-0-10-1 Kraigg Brathwaite 1-0-9-0 Javed Leacock 6.3-0-30-3

Barbados Kyle Mayers c C Hemraj b KA Anderson 64 Kraigg Brathwaite b G Motie 17 Shamarh Brooks lbw G Motie 6 Shai Hope b G Motie 0 Roston Chase c TA Imlach b K Sinclair 25 Raymon Reifer lbw V Permaul 8 Kemar Smith lbw K Sinclair 1 Dominic Drakes c K Sinclair b K Sinclair 1 Jomel Warrican not out 11 Javed Leacock c KA Anderson b G Motie 0 Jair McAllister c K Savory b G Motie 0 Extras (b: 2 lb: 3 wd: 6 nb: 2) 13 Total 146 all out (39.5 overs) BOWLING O-M-R-W Kevin Sinclair 10-5-30-3 Shamar Joseph 3-0-20-0 Nial Smith 1-0-18-0 Gudakesh Motie 9.5-4-17-5 Kevlon Anderson 7-0-24-1 Veerasammy Permaul 9-2-32-1

Fighting Britton, Edghill miss out in mixed doubles now turn their attention to the women’s and men’s singles’ events, which will serve off today.

Britton will come up against Daniel Gonzalez of Puerto Rico in the men’s event, while in the distaff, Edghill will face Mexico’s Yadira Silva – both in the Round of 32.

Turning his attention to the singles’ events, the Coach shared the positive takeaways that the duo can carry into today’s games.

I

However, the pair would dominate the fourth 11-7. In an effort to push their tally to two, Edghill and Britton led the fifth set early , but the Independent Athletes pair would fight back to take the set and the win 11-8.

Following the game, the Guyanese duo were ‘on the same page’ regarding their slow start in the match.

“Today was rough, I feel like we never got started, keep trying and never got started.

We came out slow and we just stayed slow throughout the match,” Britton shared.

Edghill later related, “Yeah, when warming up it was okay, like the temperature in the warm-up, it wasn’t too bad, but then we had to stop and wait for the walkout.

So, it got a bit cold, so it was a little harder to get the feeling right in your hands and feeling the ball and the racquet.

“It was a really slow start.

We started playing from behind when it was like 10-6,

to use that in the matches tomorrow (today), because it would be a huge asset going forward.”

Meanwhile, Britton said about today’s singles’ event, “As you know, as everyone knows, Pan Am Games is a very tough competition. I just set myself small goals, play at my very best, you know make sure that everyone I play is held accounted well and let’s see what happens from there.” (Jemima Holmes)

Volcanoes hand Scorpions 5th consecutive defeat

Shemar Britton and Chelsea Edghill consult with Coach Idi Lewis

t was a valiant effort from Guyana’s racquet-wielding pair of Chelsea Edghill and Shemar Britton on Sunday morning in Santiago, Chile as competition in the discipline of table tennis commenced at the 2023 Pan American Games.

However, fate was not on the Guyanese side on Sunday, as the duo went down 1-4 to the Independent Athletes Team in the mixed doubles round of 32 event.

During the five-match game, Britton and Edghill found themselves with several bursts of commanding plays, but the Independent Athletes, represented by Mabelyn Enriquez and Hector Gatica, maintained just enough momentum to pressure the Guyanese duo.

Enriquez and Gatica took the first three sets 11-8, 11-7, 11-8; the numbers truly reflecting Britton and Edghill’s fighting spirit when they found themselves trailing.

“Just take what we learn from the mixed doubles and just transfer it. Take the positives and move on to the singles. It’s just about them being comfortable out there to actually play the way they normally play and execute the way they normally execute,” Lewis shared.

On the same topic, Edghill noted, “There were a few key parts of my game that improved and a lot of parts of my game that was working out on the court and I hope

10-7 and that didn’t serve us any good. But when we got our rhythm, we won a set. We just kind of fell down tactically in the last set after leading a few points and trying to get a 3-2 comeback and it just didn’t happen,” she added.

Coach Idi Lewis was of the same opinion, stating, “I honestly think that we’re actually the better side, but I think the problem is, we didn’t get comfortable early enough in the match and that’s how we end up getting that result.

“As the match progressed, they started playing better.

So, that means that they start get a little more comfortable with the environment, it’s very cold in there and we’re definitely not used to playing under those conditions, but the match get better, they started playing better. So, that augurs well for the upcoming matches in the singles,” the Coach further stated.

Meanwhile, the duo will

J

amaica Scorpions’ poor run in the CG United Regional Super50 continued on Sunday after they crashed to their fifth straight defeat of the tournament, this time losing to Windward Islands Volcanoes by four wickets.

At the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Scorpions were asked to bat, but could only muster a sub-par 158 all out in 42.2 overs. Volcanoes recorded their first win of the season as they coasted to 159 for six in 36.2 overs.

Volcanoes’ chase centred around Jeremy Solozano who continued his positive form with a top score of 40 from 75 balls. He stroked one four and one six before being run out.

Alick Athanaze chipped in with 36 while cameos came from Shamar Springer with a responsible 45-ball 25 not out, Sunil Ambris (15) and Johnson Charles (13).

Shalome Parnell, Jeavor Royal, Brad Barnes, and Odean Smith picked up one

Nkrumah Bonner (CWI photo)

wicket each.

Shermon Lewis removed the Scorpions’ top three batters for single-figure scores, but Nkrumah Bonner steadied the wobbling ship with a mature 72 from 110 balls, his 13th List A half-century and first of the season.

His innings was highlighted by five boundaries, but lacked support from the rest

of the batting order as extras accounted for the next best tally with 20. Rovman Powell and Parnell made 13 runs each and Barnes made 10.

Lewis eventually ended with 3-18, a career best, while Darel Cyrus picked up 3-40. Part-time bowler Andre Fletcher bagged 2-7, featuring the wickets of Bonner and Fabien Allen.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023

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

Pg 23

sink Pride

Pg 23

Fighting Britton, Edghill miss out in mixed doubles

Fireworks Pink Edition Cycle Meet

Photos by Mike Gonsalves US-based cyclist Brian Mussum celebrates as he is about to cross the finish line

U

S-based cyclist Brian Mussum crossed the finish line before his competitors in the feature race of the Fireworks Pink Edition Cycle Meet on Sunday.

The race, which was organised by Kaieteur Attack Racing Cycling Club (KARCC), comprised 30 laps around the Seawall Bandstand, Kingston, Georgetown.

The thrilling event signifies the club’s col-

lective commitment to raising awareness about breast cancer while promoting the spirit of healthy competition and unity in Guyana.

Coming in second was Jamaul John, also of KARCC, followed by Britton John of United We Stand Cycle Club.

Riding in fourth was Curtis Dey of Evolution Cycle Club while Adam Alexander from Trinidad and Tobago took the fifth spot

The event was executed in two segments with the first being the veterans 50+, juniors, females, mountaineers, and beginners.

The second segment includes elites, veterans 40+, and juniors, promising intense competition and an engaging experience for participants and spectators alike.

The winners for each of the categories received cash prizes.

Meanwhile, at the beginning of the day’s activities, a special mention went out to Tyson English, a member of the KARCC who embarked on a super-ultra-distance ride this morning, riding from Springlands on the Corentyne Coast to Boa Vista, Brazil, unThe second Mussum of KARCC lifts his cycle after winning the der the theme "Breaking the race cycle, riding for cancer and mental health."

The sponsors for the and Robin Persaud of Evolution copped sixth Fireworks Pink Edition Cycle Meet include space.

On addition to winning the race, Mussum BM Soat, Sleepin Hotel & Bike Shop, Monty Lewis, Mohamed Enterprise, Fitness Express, also copped 19 prime prizes.

In the junior category, Alex Leung came in Royal Chicken, Prem Electrical, and Auto Toy first followed by Ajany Cuttins in second and Store, for their unwavering support. Heartfelt gratitude was also expressed to kit sponsors Aaron Newton in third.

In the 40+ category, veteran cyclist Robin Sherwin Williams, Colours, Anchor Cement, Persaud rode his way to victory followed by Rays Auto Sale, and the Professional Key Shop.

Segun Hubbard and Horace Borrows.

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