Guyana Times - Monday, September 4, 2023

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Monday, Sep 4 – 04:00h – 05:30h and

Tuesday, Sep 5 – 04:00h – 05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, Sep 4 – 07:15h –08:45h and Tuesday, Sep 5 – 07:55h – 09:25h.

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 23 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 07:22h and 19:35h reaching maximum heights of 2.66 metres and 2.64 metres.

Low Tide: 13:11h reaching a minimum height of 0.63 metre.

Guyana’s unemployment

declining, inflation

– IDB

Guyana’s inflation and unemployment rates are moderating and, on the decline, respectively, even as its economy continues to grow at an astronomical pace with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for this year now pegged at 37.2 per cent.

This is according to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in its “Caribbean Economies at a Crossroads” report which was recently released. In it, the bank notes that Guyana’s high-rate economic growth, driven by a growing oil production sector, has played a major role in unemployment rates declining and access to finance for the private sector improving.

“Recently, a new oil discovery was made, a new oil production vessel arrived in Guyana, and a fifth oil production licence was approved. Against this backdrop, unemployment rates have declined, inflation rates have moderated, and lending to the private sector grew,” the IDB explained in the report.

While there have been persons claiming that they are unemployed, the Government

LOTTERY NUMBERS

has consistently said that not only is Guyana on a trajectory of constant growth that would provide even more higher-paying jobs, but the current economic growth has already opened up enough jobs for the number of people unemployed. In fact, there have been consistent reports of more jobs being available than can be filled locally, leading to discussions about importing labour.

Meanwhile, the IDB has

also projected that Guyana will record a GDP growth rate for 2023 of 37.2 per cent, while the non-oil economy, of vital importance for an oil producer to avoid the Dutch disease, has a projected growth rate of 7.9 per cent from the IDB. Guyana’s GDP growth, according to IDB, will continue to expand with the arrival of the third Floating Production and Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessel, the Prosperity FPSO, later this year.

“GDP growth is expect-

grew by 11.5% in 2022 and is projected to grow by 7.9% in 2023. The main drivers of growth in the non-oil economy in 2022 were agriculture, services, and construction, which grew by 11.9%, 9.0%, 26.3%, respectively. For 2023, these sectors are projected to grow by 7.2%, 5.6%, and 17%. Gold production, which had contracted by 2.5% in 2022, is expected to recover with a growth rate of 12.7% in 2023,” IDB stated in their report.

Constructed by SBM Offshore, the Prosperity FPSO arrived in Guyana earlier this year and will develop the Payara field offshore the Stabroek Block. It has an initial production capacity of around 220,000 barrels of oil per day and an overall storage volume of two million barrels.

Federal Reserve Bank, where it is earning interest.

The oil rich Stabroek Block, which is producing the oil, is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres).

Exxon, through its local subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), is the operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.

ed to continue expanding in 2023 with the arrival of Guyana’s 3rd FPSO. GDP grew by a record 62.3% in 2022, on the back of increased oil production, and is expected to grow by an additional 37.2% in 2023. Guyana’s 2nd FPSO (Liza 2) began production in February 2022 and a 3rd FPSO arrived in Guyana ahead of schedule in April 2023, yet to begin oil production.”

“The non-oil economy

Prosperity joins the Liza Destiny and Liza UnityFPSOs, which are currently producing more than 380,000 barrels per day. Production from the Prosperity vessel is expected to push daily production to some 600,000 barrels a day in 2024. ExxonMobil has already said that installation campaigns are ongoing and development drilling is underway to support Prosperity’s start-up later this year.

Guyana, with US oil giant ExxonMobil as the operator, began producing oil on December 20, 2019, in the Stabroek Block. Guyana’s oil revenues are being held in the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) at the New York

Since last year, Guyana has been recording weekly lifts in the Stabroek Block, with oil production now at 340,000 barrels per day from the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity FPSO vessels. With EEPGL making weekly lifts, Guyana’s crude entitlement of one million barrels occurs monthly from the two FPSOs.

ExxonMobil has said it anticipates at least six projects offshore Guyana will be online by 2027. Production has already started in the second phase, with the Liza Unity FPSO vessel in operation.

The third project – the Payara Development – will target an estimated resource base of about 600 million oil-equivalent barrels, and was at one point considered to be the largest single planned investment in the history of Guyana.

(G3)

rate

moderating

…says GDP growth rate now projected at 37.2%, non-oil economy growing

The Prosperity FPSO

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Majoritarian Democracy

It is clear that the Opposition do not understand the nature of the form of democratic governance they are operating under. A recapitulation of first principles based on our specific history may be in order. In Britain and very early on in its colonies, two questions were posed when the issue of democracy arose: who were “the people” and how were they to rule? On the first question, the British by the nineteenth century implicitly stipulated that middle-class men were “the people”. Women and the lower classes were not “ready”.

After emancipation, the British thus insisted there had to be a period of tutelage for the responsibility of governance to be exercised “responsibly” by the “natives”. In Guyanese history, then, we note a long and painful process by the disenfranchised to win the vote and a determined rearguard action by the British to deny the same. As late as 1947, only about 10 per cent of the population were counted as “the people”; after 1953, it became everyone over 21 and finally in 1968, it was changed to include everyone over 18.

A second problem arose when the country incorporated what was labelled several “nationalities” – what would today be called “ethnic plural societies”. The Liberal theorist JS Mill, pronounced conclusively that the free institutions of democracy were ‘next to impossible in a country made up of different nationalities’. For us, our challenge has been to deal with our ethnic divisions in the society to answer the question, who are “the people” who would govern?

On the second (procedural) question, how are “the people” to rule?, the classical Greeks tried “direct democracy”, where, facilitated by their small numbers, every citizen could vote on every issue in one gathering. If more than 50 per cent of the citizens voted for one particular position, then that became the position of “the people”. Majoritarian politics was born. This direct method of voting had to be abandoned in favour of “representative democracy” due to the larger number of citizens and their wider geographical dispersion, in the countries that resuscitated the democratic form of governance 22 centuries later. Majoritarianism remained with the representatives simply re-presenting those who elected them.

A further innovation was introduced by the British to accommodate local sensitivities and ensure that the residents of “geographical areas” could be ensured of their own representatives. This was the procedural basis of the “Westminster” system of democracy where several candidates compete within a “constituency” for a seat to Parliament and one of them could win with a plurality of the votes cast. The innovation introduced the possibility that a party could win a majority of seats nationally through plurality victories and secure control of the Government without obtaining a majority of the total votes. Applied to Guyana, the constituency system up to 1961 served to over-represent the PPP, whose supporters were more geographically dispersed than the PNC. The Proportional Representation electoral system introduced in 1964 removed that distortion of democratic principles and we now have a “mixed” system.

Another challenge presented by procedural majoritarian democracy – very germane to our country presently – is that even if the party winning the elections were to obtain an absolute majority, why would the minority go along with the majority? Early on, Rousseau asked, “…how can a man be at once free and forced to conform to wills which are not his own. How can the opposing minority be both free and subject to laws to which they have not consented?” The answer is that the minority should know it has the opportunity of becoming the majority on any given issue – it just has to persuade enough fellow citizens that their stand on that issue was the right one.

When Indian Guyanese supporting the PPP comprised an absolute majority, the PNC resorted to rigging elections and was excused by its constituents. They have no excuse now that we are a country of minorities: like the PPP, they should focus on securing “cross-over votes” to secure a majority and form the Government.

So much trouble in the world

“So much trouble in the world, so much trouble in the world. Bless my eyes this morning, Jah, sun is on the rise once again. The way earthly things are going, anything can happen. You see men sailing on their ego trip, blast off on their spaceship million miles from reality no care for you, no care for me."

— Bob Marley and the Wailers, Survival album

Ever since the dawn of human existence, homo sapiens have not been able to find lasting peace and it continues to elude us to this day.

The million-dollar question is: Why can't we have world peace? Much has been accomplished by early civilisations, from the pyramids of Egypt to the hanging gardens of Babylon, walking on the moon, deep space exploration, and deep-sea exploration. These accomplishments required cognitive and analytical skills and excellent teamwork, so why is it that nation states cannot coexist peacefully? Why can't the same thought processes that gave rise to these great accomplishments be applied so that man can live together in constant unity?

The complexity of human beings is an advantage as well as a disadvantage when it comes to peaceful coexistence. The built environment requires complex thought processes to construct skyscrapers, spacecraft, submarines, advanced weapon systems, and nuclear programmes. Whereas, the social environment only requires love, respect, and care for each other, which is lacking in the world.

Power projection

Powerful nation states project their power in various ways, but most noticeable is by military might and economic resources. An example of power projection is the US sending an aircraft carrier to an unstable region. No troop deployment, the US power is projected by the mere presence of the aircraft carrier. The rich and powerful rule the world, they decide what happens when, where, and how and they also decide what happens in the future.

Many of us wonder how slavery and the holocaust were allowed to happen, yet here we are in modern times and there are conflicts happening all over the globe, such as the Ukraine and Palestinian crises. How is it that all these conflicts are going on and no one can stop it, is it that no one can? Or is it that these conflicts must run their course?

Power is projected where there is an interest. Poor nations have no power to project, which leaves them subservient to the power brokers. Poor countries that are blessed with natural resources in most cases do not have the capacity to mine their resources, so they must partner with multinationals and power brokers who possess the capacity to mine and refine these essential resources. These collaborations are not always fair, and the gains are not equitable because economic power is projected in the deals. This has led to uprisings and conflicts in many poor countries, where the citizenry becomes tired of seeing their natural resources leaving while the country remains in abject poverty, relying only on aid.

Conflicts

The modern world finds itself in a situation in which conflicts are increasing, millions are displaced and there is no regard for international law or life. This displacement leads to hunger, starvation, violence, and refugee camps. But where do conflicts begin?

Most conflicts have their genesis in territorial disputes, regional tensions, corruption, dwindling resources, power struggles, and resource control. There are six types of international conflict: territorial, ideological, ethnic, religious, governmental, and economic. Conflict negatively impacts the basic human needs such as food, water, and shelter, which pushes the poor into extreme poverty. Lives are lost and infrastructure demolished.

The consequences of conflicts are always enduring with the poor, women and children paying the highest price. Homes, schools, places of worship, and national symbols that took decades to build are destroyed in seconds. Conflicts come at a very high cost; most humanitarian needs are born out of a crisis, which brings about migratory refugees in some cases.

According to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), "There are many potential conflicts that could arise in 2023. Conflicts are grouped from tier one to tier three. Tier one is high priority, tier two is medium priority, and tier three low priority." Tier one concerns the major powers and focuses on potential flashpoints, for example, crisis with Taiwan and China, war in Ukraine, Iran's nuclear programme, and Pyongyang continued firing of intercontinental

ballistic missiles (ICBM). Escalation of a tier one conflict seems unlikely in 2023; however, the possibility exists. The conflicts on the African continent are considered tier three, which have displaced millions of people causing the UN to spend billions of dollars in humanitarian aid.

CrisisWatch, a global conflict tracker, mentioned that the military takeover in Niger has all the ingredients for escalation. The military junta headed by General Abdourahamane Tiani is not backing down.

If the Niger crisis is not resolved, it may soon become a flashpoint and cause further instability in the Sahel and the entire West African region. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has signalled its intent to use military force against Niger. This will only cause the situation to escalate to a crisis.

The Ukraine takes the spotlight because it is a tier one, but there are many other countries where conflicts are taking place which needs empathy, compassion, and ongoing intervention: Libya, Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Central Africa Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Palestine, and Haiti. Also, remember that the Korean peninsula signed an armistice in July 1953, technically North and South Korea are still at war. Reggae artiste Dennis Brown said, "The world is troubled." No one can deny that with so many conflicts. Lasting peace will continue to be elusive because man simply cannot live together in unity.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Fitness Walk and Health Check 2023! In observance of Amerindian Heritage Month, a fitness walk was hosted on Sunday morning by the Amerindian Affairs Ministry (DPI photo)

PNC will never learn PPP/C on track to propel Guyana –AFHP will be realised

Dear Editor,

The news is indeed great, that is, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government (PPP/C) is about to re-open the ‘competitive bidding process’ for Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP). It is about time! Had this major game-changing project not been ‘dumped’ by the previous Administration, Guyana would have been in such a wonderful position, in terms of affordable energy. But APNU/AFC, possessed by a philosophy to make PPP/C look bad, ‘garbaged’ the very idea of the AFHP.

Readers, I recall back in December 2016, the independent assessment of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) did reveal that the only realistic path for Guyana to move towards an emission-free electricity sector is by developing its hydropower potential and the fastest way forward is to maintain the AFHP.

This report, compiled by Norconsult, an engineering and design consultancy firm out of Norway, and which was contracted by the Government of Norway, detailed an “objective and facts-based” assessment of the Project on the agreement of the two Governments, and made some telling statements. Essentially, the goahead was unambiguous from the inception.

However, The A Partnership For National

Unity/Alliance For Change Administration, during its term in office, from 2015 to 2020, had shelved the project, which was a predicted move, as when they were the ‘joint majority opposition’ had kept ‘on and on’ blocking its go-ahead.

Now all seems set and ready, as the PPP/C declared that ‘delay will not affect promise of cheap electricity’ since they are “still committed to seeing the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) to fruition and will be re-opening a Request for Proposal to ensure that there be a competitive process in selecting a suitable contractor for the project.” The details from Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo is that “the Government has received several direct proposals for the Amaila Falls project, and so, when you have several proposals, the best way to evaluate is to go to a competitive process. We will have to go to that. We haven’t launched it as yet but we will have to do that.”

To me, it is only a matter of time, before one of several bidders comes up and seals the contract that will eventuate in ‘cheap electricity’ for all Guyanese.

The word from the VP is that “… at least two proposals were received from companies in Brazil to do the hydro project, and President Irfaan Ali back December 2022, did say that “… he told Energy Secretary, Jennifer

Granholm, and her team that the Amaila Falls project is open to US investors.”

It gets better as “back in October 2022, the Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mark Berman, disclosed that the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) had also held discussions with the Guyana Government on the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project.”

Sparing more details, with the realisation of the mega venture, “the AFHP is expected to deliver a steady source of clean, renewable energy, that is affordable and reliable and is envisioned to meet a significant portion of Guyana’s domestic energy needs.”

As we all know, energy is a most critical component of a country's economic development. It is widely utilised in agricultural and allied fields such as the manufacturing and delivery of fertilisers, insecticides, and farm machinery. It is necessary for homes for cooking, lighting, and warmth. Further, energy is a key source of economic growth because many production and consumption activities involve energy as a basic input. In summation, energy is one of the most important inputs for economic development, and that is where Guyana is heading, under the PPP/C Government.

Yours truly,

HB Singh

So much trouble...

FROM PAGE 4

The Haitian crisis is mushrooming, I classify it as a tier three, so don't expect the power brokers to take the lead in finding a solution or to show great interest; however, they will offer aid and formulate resolutions.

There are different approaches that are being discussed by the UN and Caricom as it relates to helping Haiti. Jamaicans have never had to leave their country in boatloads for the shores of a neighbouring State as refugees. We should be empathetic to the situations of Haitians. The right to life is foremost. When one's life is in obvious danger it triggers two things, fight or flight. If you cannot fight, there is only one option remaining. It is a dire situation when people pack themselves on a small boat in the middle of the night and decide to leave their homeland. It speaks to a lot of adjectives: fear, bravery, survival, determination, hope, and vision.

The Caribbean has always been relatively crisis-free, which is why the Region is a sought-after tourist destination. It is also very important for Caribbean leaders to prevent a crisis in

the region, where most economies are fragile.

A crisis in one State, if not properly controlled, can cause an influx of refugees in neighbouring States. If the Haitian crisis is not resolved, the potential for migrant refugees will be a clear and present danger, the solution is to assist so that law and order can be restored.

The Region should activate the Caribbean PeaceKeeping Force (CPF) and step up to the plate to assist Haiti in restoring law and order. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and the Bahamian Government, along with Kenya leading the charge, have agreed to send security personnel to Haiti. I think that other Caribbean States will eventually help. If Jamaica was in a similar situation, what would we want?

Think about it, and let us help fix one of the problems in the world. (Jamaica Observer)

(Carlos Pipher is a security professional and opinionator. He is also the newsletter editor for ASIS International — Jamaica Chapter. The views expressed are not those of the Jamaica Chapter.)

Dear Editor, We hear of beautiful stories and related parables of the flock of sheep and their shepherd. The sheep is commonly known to be a follower rather than being identified as a leader. In rounding up a flock of sheep, oftentimes one of them usually wears a bell around the neck so that the others can follow. Hopefully, the choice is one that has been dependable, perhaps trained to lead and one that has gained the confidence of others. When one of the sheep goes missing, it is the reliable, resourceful and relevant shepherd who goes after the lost animal to rescue it.

In Guyana, we have seen the PNC becoming a lost cause, daily growing into an insignificant entity as the members cling on to the last straw before submerging into the deep sea of forgetfulness. Since being convincingly beaten at the last Local Government Election, we have witnessed desperation seeping through as they wipe their perspiration, searching for inspiration in order to regain recognition. The PPP/C winning by some 68% of the voters choosing not to vote for the PNC, has posed not only an embarrassment but posted another slap in their face and posited a bigger hurdle in their dilemma. Losing traction is scary and walking on slippery ground is challenging while falling is dangerous. The sudden stop can be injurious. Ringing the bell is now being ignored; the sound is no

longer music but a sour note and falling on deaf ears.

Trying to put shattered fragments together is laborious, more so when the pieces keep staying unglued. Many have chosen to turn their backs on the PNC and cross over to the PPP/C. They have finally realised that they have been backing not only a loser but a party born out of the gut of devious making, ideals which can never be honoured and principles which are meant to decorate as a paper value. Trying to make excuses is a lame cover up and diehards are waking up to a freshly brewed cup of coffee offering the aromatic fragrance, a sweet taste and the warmth of humane temperature to satisfy the thirst and hunger of the wandering Guyanese.

A lost sheep has room for recovery by an attending shepherd. But when the loyal sheep decided to depart from the flock and bid the shepherd a frustrated goodbye, it is the shepherd who becomes the lost one. Going North rather than South is the choice of cold over warmth. Come September is not only a popular song but the reality of bid-

ding farewell to summer and expecting the fall of autumn. Attempting to land a ton of influences in the PPP/C backyard in Queens is the highway to disaster as has been proven. To harness 12 lookalike, mind you, 4 of which being reporters and cannot be counted as a catch, is certainly not close to half of the crowd in attendance, even if you use the calculator provided by the PNC. Misplaced as a lone shepherd without a flock, seeking greener pasture in a desert is certainly a typical example of the blind leading the blind, no disrespect meant to the genuine blind. The biggest joke of the season, is on a man who does not know which constitution he is following, fails to recognise a legitimate Government but accepts the Government money for a job approved by that Government. When will these guys stop making a fool of themselves in the public domain? Guess the man is simply wutless and has no kinna! How sad that the PNC will never learn.

Yours respectfully,

Jai Lall

Page Foundation

Calculating probabilities

(CONTINUED FROM SATURDAY)

BY HARRIET MONROE

OVER the wide unknown, Far to the shores of Ind, On through the dark alone, Like a feather blown by the wind Into the west away, Sped by the breath of God, Seeking the clearer day Where only his feet have trod: From the past to the future we sail; We slip from the leash of kings.

Hail, spirit of freedom — hail!

Unfurl thine impalpable wings!

Receive us, protect us, and bless Thy knights who brave all for thee. Though death be thy soft caress, By that touch shall our souls be free. Onward and ever on,

Till the voice of despair is stilled, Till the haven of peace is won, And the purpose of God fulfilled!

O strange, divine surprise!

Create a study schedule

Get into a good study habit by creating a study schedule. This will help you stay on track and ensure you are getting all your work done.

Set up a goal board

A goal board is a great way to keep track of your goals for the school year. Write down your goals and then hang the board in a prominent place where you can see it every day. This will help remind you of what you are working towards and will help keep you motivated throughout the year.

Make a homework station

One of the best ways to make sure homework gets done is to create a designated homework station. This could be as simple as a desk in your bedroom, or it could be something more elaborate like a special area in the living room. Ensure the station is stocked with all the supplies you need, and make sure it’s a quiet and comfortable place to work.

Design a new school year calendar

Why not get creative and design your own school year calendar? This can be as simple or as elaborate as

you want it to be. You can include photos, drawings, and quotes. It will be a great way to keep track of all the important dates and events.

Make a time capsule

A time capsule is a great way to preserve memories from the school year. Collect special items from throughout the year, such as photos, drawings, tickets stubs, and newspaper clippings. Then, put everything in a container and seal it up. This can be a fun project to do near the end of the school year, and then you can open it up together in future years. (splashlearn.com)

Out of the dark man strives to rise, And struggles inch by inch with toil and tears; Till, lo! God stoops from his supernal spheres, And bares the glory of his face. Then darkness flees afar, This earth becomes a star — Man leaps up to the lofty place. We ask a little — all is given. We seek a lamp — God grants us heaven. So these who dared to pass beyond the pale

For an idea tempting the shrouded seas, Sought but Cathay. God bade their faith prevail To find a world—blessed his purposes!

The hero knew not what a virgin soul’ Laughed through glad eyes when at her feet he laid The gaudy trappings of man’s masquerade. She who had dwelt in forests, heard the roll Of lakes down-thundering to the sea, Beheld from gleaming mountain heights Two oceans playing with the lights Of eve and morn — ah! what would she

With all the out-worn pageantry Of purple robes and heavy mace and crown? Smiling she casts them down, Unfit her young austerity Of hair unbound and strong limbs bare and brown.

TO BE CONTINUED

WORD SEARCH

Young professional houses

Govt to move to next phase of construction at Silica City – Croal

…says opening up of new housing areas progressing

The Government is expected to move on to the next phase of constructing young professional houses in Silica City, on the heels of the success of the Building Expo and the preparation work that was done on the SoesdykeLinden Highway-based project.

In an interview with this publication, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal said that with the completion of Building Expo, the Ministry is back to its regular work plan. In fact, Building Expo, which was held at the Guyana National Stadium last week, produced additional work for the Housing and Water Ministry and Silica City remains a priority in that workplan.

“The next phase now, moves to the construction of the houses. The young professional houses. So, we’ll move in that regard. We had one week of hectic, in terms of preparing for the expo and the expo itself, which was very successful. So now we get back to our regular work or achieving our workplan. And even from the expo. So, expect

According to Croal, with the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) already at saturation point in terms of housing, opening up new lands is of paramount importance. Croal noted, however, that the process of opening up new lands is progressing.

“Because of the response for allocations, we always have to have new lands. On the East Bank itself, we have basically reached a saturation point on the East Bank… going closer to the conservancy, most of the lands here on that side we’ve already allocated in terms of our design for residential, indus-

Framework Convention on Climate Change and Goal 11 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Silica City is a development the PPP/C Government had initiated talks on prior to leaving office in 2015, but which was never continued under the succeeding A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance

For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government.

In his first year in office in 2020, President Dr Irfaan Ali had revealed that Government had begun discussions on Silica City as a secondary city. He had explained that the Government was looking at an area on the LindenSoesdyke Highway that would be connected to the

new four-lane bypass road. He had further noted that as development and expansion continued, there would be more occupation of the outskirts of Georgetown, and the country must be prepared for it.

As a result, Government will be putting plans in place to ensure that such growth and development will be facilitated.

President Ali had also explained that the idea was not new, but was in the pipeline since he was Housing and Water Minister years ago, when the concept of Silica City was introduced at a Building Expo. In fact, talk of Silica City began as early as 2013, under the previous PPP/C Government. (G3)

more construction of houses,” Croal said.

In February 2023, a $2.1 billion contract was inked to develop Silica City. It is envisioned that over the next two decades, this new city along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway will grow to hold more than 12,500 households. It will initially cater to just over 3000 households in the first five years but 3800 acres of land has been earmarked for the new city.

The new city is intended to be one of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s climate change mitigation strategies. It is also intended to put a dent in the backlog of housing applications. The first phase of the project will see an initial 400 young professional homes being constructed.

trial, commercial, because there are a lot of activities on the East Bank.”

“So, when this road is opened up, if you drive on the current road, we have from Mocha to sixth, seventh avenue, Diamond, look on the left-hand side and you will be amazed to see the amount of work happening. Go at the back of Grove/Diamond, you will see works ongoing. And thousands of persons are waiting to access. So, by the end of this year, you will see opening up access to a number of areas where persons are waiting,” Croal further explained.

Silica City will be a smart one, powered by renewable energy and developed with the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), the United Nations

Overhead shot of Silica City

Housing Minister Colin Croal

Irate father chops son-inlaw over abuse of daughter

How many…

…cooks for Government?

One of CLR James’s early political books was “Every Cook can govern”. It would appear that the PNC Opposition didn’t get past the title of the book to discover James was talking about Ancient Greece. And even there, rules were in place about how matters were discussed and then decided by everybody voting. So, the question your Eyewitness has is whether we’re to be governed by the laws of the land, or on the whims and predilections of the Opposition??

Seems that before the Government does ANYTHING they’re expected to consult with the Opposition! The debates in Parliament – which was invented for this purpose – don’t evidently count as “consultations”!! And your Eyewitness isn’t talking about those matters where the law (the Constitution) specifies consultations – meaningful or otherwise! And that’s the point, isn’t it?? The framers of the Constitution and laws already identified those aspects in running the State or government that needs the input of the Opposition.

Aman is nursing severe chop wounds to his head and face after enduring a brutal attack at the hands of his father-in-law.

Injured is Marvin Lewis of Kurutuku village, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Reports are that the

incident occurred on Thursday following a dispute between the men about the manner in which the injured man was treating the suspect’s daughter.

Guyana Times understands that Lewis had been allegedly mistreating his wife and on Thursday, the woman sought refuge

from her father after she was allegedly subjected to abuse by the victim.

This newspaper was told that in response, the suspect reportedly trailed Lewis after he departed from the central part of the village, paddling in a canoe. Lewis eventually reached his destination

not far from the village and secured his canoe. It was at that point that his father-in-law reportedly launched a brutal attack against him.

Lewis managed to survive the vicious assault, and received medical attention from a healthcare provider in the area. However, due to the serious nature of his wounds, he was transported to a regional hospital.

Following the incident, villagers managed to apprehend the suspect. (G9)

That is, they identified matters that needed that wider legitimacy of all the representatives of the people, coming aboard to make decisions. But surely this can’t include EVERYTHING under the sun?!! If the Opposition gotta sign off on every and any decision of the Government then who’s going to govern?? Hasn’t the stillborn appointment of a permanent Chancellor and Chief Justice – which needs Opposition consent – illustrated how decisions will never be made?? Do we want to gridlock every area of national governance??

So, what brought on this tirade? Well, it’s the whingeing by the Opposition – after departing US Ambassador SaraAnn Lynch suggested there must be “discussions and consultations” between the Govt and Opposition – that President Ali’s ignoring them!! Now this is rich, isn’t it?? Coming from folks whose leader even refused to shake the President’s hand!! Now some folks say that was just a breach of etiquette and discussing matters of state is much more substantive. But exactly how would a face-toface meeting change anything about “real consultations”?? Didn’t Burnham use to summon Cheddi for “meaningful consultations”, greet him with “Good Morning” and insist he’d satisfied his constitutional duty??

Let’s take the pressing matters of the day and examine whether “consultations” would change anything. First of all, the macro environment. Doesn’t the Opposition agree with the Government that “the free enterprise system should be the engine of growth”?? Don’t they agree that they signed a poor contract with Exxon, but it can’t be renegotiated?? Don’t they agree that we need a cheap source of energy for our industrialisation??

The trouble is, the Opposition don’t want no consultation – they just want to DICTATE their druthers to the Government!! With the PNC, it’s always been their way or the highway!!

And will rig or take to the streets to achieve that!

…clean-ups??

Back in the day, mothers would regularly pour one of the vilest potions known to mankind – senna-pod liquid laxative – down the throats of their hapless children to give them a “clean-up”. They had to be rid of worms and other such parasites. But it was soon discovered that a better way was to find out how the kids got worms in the first place; take care of that!! And – voila!! – the problem was solved with no need to traumatise the kids!

Fast forward to our present public officials who feel compelled to “clean up” our city and elsewhere in wellpublicised campaigns - -drafting the big ones to do some serious virtue signalling!! But like those mothers of yore discovered, shouldn’t these worthies look into the CAUSE of the garbage piling up and handle the matter at that level??

Well, seems your Eyewitness isn’t that original!! There are scads of studies identifying the sources of the problem. Plus recommendations!!

Just gotta follow through!!

…African coups??

During the decolonising era, Africa became notorious for coups that deposed elected Governments and imposed military dictatorships. Then there was a bit of a lull. Now they’re back with a vengeance!! Does this mean democracy never became embedded??

Marvin Lewis, who was reportedly chopped by his father-in-law

Chinese Landing controversy

Govt staying out of internal village conflict – VP

…says 9 illegal mining operations found shut down

the Vieira matter, we stood on the side of the village throughout it, but the CCJ ruled against us. So that’s a separate matter.”

down nine illegal operations.

Investigations by the fact-finding mission that was sent into Chinese Landing, Region One (Barima-Waini), by the Government last month, are still ongoing as Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has revealed that nine illegal mining operations were shut down.

The Vice President made this revelation during his most recent press conference where he was asked for an update on the situation. This is particularly important since no concrete resolution seems to have been reached at the recently concluded National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference, among community leaders. However, Jagdeo noted that there is a lot of internal village conflict, and the Government has attempted to stay out.

“As to where we are at this exact moment, I know the investigations have not been completed. I know we had an initial engagement with the commission, to say that we intend to fully comply. I know that the report is not completed as yet. But I know also we have taken steps, strong steps, to address the identified issues that we were written about.”

“And so, I had a private discussion with the Toshaos from Chinese Landing. And then, at the NTC itself, an issue came up because a lot of the villagers from the villages are saying they don’t agree with his action. So, you have a lot of confusion. And I said we didn’t want to get caught up at the NTC with internal village conflict between different parties in the villages,” Jagdeo said.

Jagdeo also noted that while some villagers from Chinese Landing are in support of the miner, Wayne Vieira, others are opposed to the Chinese Landing leaders and have accused them of attempting to monopolise mining. Then there are those who are supporting the village leaders. The Government’s position, he noted, is a clear one since they have always been on the side of the community, until a ruling from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) against the State.

“So, you have different groups, different positions. I explained to them at the NTC, that this matter that went to the commission, had very little to do with Vieira. Because it seems as though the argument being made now, is that they only wanted action taken against

Vieira. But that matter was already adjudicated in the highest court.”

“It seems as though the matter that went before the commission, that the impact

of mining in the area is causing pollution. That the miners are harassing people and causing a whole range of social problems, including threatening them. And so,

Moreover, the Vice President made it clear that wherever possible the Government had taken action on the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) precautionary measures issued to Guyana on July 21, 2023. He noted that the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) shut

“To cure the breach, there’s only one way you can do that. Since the source of this claim is that of pollution and harassment is mining, then the Government of Guyana took the step to shut down the mining activities there. And therefore, there can be no pollution, continuous breach. No harassment.”

“I spoke with GGMC and they said they found nine operations, illegal operations there. All of that was shut down… so that’s where

we are now. We have cured the breach and now we have to find out, that’s why the investigators were there, whether the claims made before the Human Rights Commission, whether those were accurate or not.”

According to Jagdeo, the findings in the report are expected to provide details on this once completed. He noted that this was explained to the Toshao, since a lot of false information had previously been circulating. (G3)

File photo: Chinese Landing

Mother of 3 found dead at Craig

The lifeless body of a mother of three was discovered on Saturday evening in Craig on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), just hours after leaving her home.

Dead is 24-year-old Ruthann Ward of Concrete Strip, Supply, EBD.

Speaking with this publication on Sunday, the woman’s brother, Jamal Ward, recounted that on Saturday morning at around 01:00h, they were all in bed when his sister abruptly got up and left the house in a frantic state.

“She jumped up from her bed and she just run out of the house. When she run out everybody in the house wake up and we mother tell my next brother to run behind she. But my brother was tired and he tell my mother he can’t run behind she,” the man said.

Jamal went on to say that, the following morning, they anxiously awaited Ruthann's return, but she never returned.

“Around 9 o’clock, a man from Crane call me and say that me sister dead and that they just find she body at the corner of the road in Craig. Is a set of different things I

hearing because one time they say they find she at the corner of the road and the next thing they say they find she in a trench in Craig,” Jamal said.

Ruthann's brother expressed his confusion about the circumstances surrounding her death, as she had no issues with anyone in the house.

“She does be in here and keep to herself and she would just say when she hungry. Plus, she always have some issue with her boyfriend.”

“She hardly even sleep home she always sleeping out… her children not living with her. One of them living with her father, the other one in Kaneville with some one of the boy [her partner] family and the one in Grove somewhere we don’t even know… two of them supposed to start school on Monday and the other one too small to go to school,” he said.

The family expressed a desire to understand how Ruthann met her demise.

“We are waiting for them to perform the post-mortem examination at Cemetery Road tomorrow,” Jamal said.

Police have since launched an investigation. (G9)

Teen footballer dies after falling from trailer

A17-year-old female footballer lost her life on Sunday morning after she fell off of the trailer of a tractor.

Dead is Bella Douglas of Sand Creek Village, Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

The details surrounding the accident are still sketchy, but Guyana Times was informed that the teen fell from the tractor’s trailer while en route to a football match in

her community.

“She was on her way to Shulinab for a highly-anticipated football match with the Koshardin football team when the unfortunate incident occurred,” one of her friends posted on social media.

This publication was also informed that the teen recently wrote the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examination, and had achieved remarkable success.

(G9)

Dead: Bella Douglas

Dead: Ruthann Ward

Contract signed for US$161M new NA Hospital

With the aim of enhancing healthcare services across the country, the Guyana Government has signed a contract for the construction of a spanking new modern and stateof-art hospital at New Amsterdam in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

This was confirmed over the weekend by Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony.

The US$161 million contract was signed in July 2023 between the Ministry of Health and VAMED Engineering – the Austrianbased company that is currently constructing the €149 million Paediatric and Maternal Hospital at Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara.

The construction on the new facility at New Amsterdam is expected to commence soon.

The Health Minister, who was at the time speaking at the opening of the two-day Neonatal Conference on Saturday, disclosed that the new Region Six hospital will have the same high-level status as the Paediatric and Maternal Hospital. The new modern New Amsterdam facility will have approximately 220 beds with five operation

theatres along with a cardiac suite.

It was previously reported that the new facility will be furnished with cutting-edge technology, enabling the provision of critical medical procedures, including open heart, kidney transplant, and pancreatic surgeries, which are currently unavailable at the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital.

Additionally, the new hospital at New Amsterdam will also feature a two-storey building that will be set aside for training doctors and nurses as well as allied health workers.

New Psychiatric Hospital

Meanwhile, Dr Anthony further explained that when the new institution comes into operation, the old facility will be re-

purposed, with a portion to be dedicated to a new Psychiatric Hospital.

According to the Health Ministry, the current National Psychiatric Hospital building in Fort Canje, Berbice, is outdated, having been built since the 1860s.

With the new Psychiatric Hospital, however, Government will be aiming to deliver a different type of psychology services.

“The new way of treating psychiatric patients is when they have an acute episode, you treat and when that episode is over, they can go home. So, the new facility will have 120 beds for acute patients but we don’t want people to stay too long in the institutions,” Minister Anthony pointed out.

He went on to note that when that new hospital is open and the old facility is closed, Government would have to find sort of a halfway home for those longterm patients currently there.

In August 2022, Government implemented a series of new laws that now sees the country being governed by a modern and progressive Mental Health Legislation.

A major element of that new law is deinstitutionalisation, that is, having mental health patients reintegrated into society after treatment as opposed to putting them in the National Psychiatric Hospital and locking them away.

There are approximately 200 persons at the Psychiatric Hospital –many of whom should not even be there.

Last November, Dr Anthony had pointed out that while the modern thrust now is to deinstitutionalise patients, this is proving to be difficult since families are not willing to accept these patients who have recovered through treatment.

“The challenge that we’re having is that the relatives of these patients sometimes do not want to

accept them back home and so that has been one of the main reasons why many of these patients who can really go home, are not able to go home. So that is something that we’ll have to find some solution and deal with it,” he had said.

However, the Health Minister noted at the time that the new legislation is centred more on patients’ rights to be treated much better than what the previous legislation would have contemplated.

As it is, the exact number of mental health-related cases in Guyana is unknown since a lot of people with these illnesses – depression, anxiety, psychosis – go undiagnosed. So, only a fraction of these cases are being recorded.

To this end, Dr Anthony pointed out that Government has been placing a strong emphasis on mental health issues.

On this note, a Suicide Prevention Bill was passed in the National Assembly last November, paving the way for the decriminalisation of suicides, among other initiatives. Another intervention undertaken by this Administration was reviewing the National Suicide Prevention Plan 2015-2020, which was done by two consultants from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), who determined how much of that plan was implemented, and from that, Government was able to ascertain what needs to be done in the new plan. (G8)

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

Deadly Mahdia dorm fire

Lawyer for juvenile murder accused wants CoI halted

…cites dangers of pretrial publicity

Dexter Todd, the attorney for the 15-yearold girl facing 20 murder charges in connection with the fatal dormitory fire at Mahdia Secondary School, has asked that the upcoming Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the tragedy be postponed pending the resolution of the criminal case, citing the risks of pretrial publicity.

This plea comes almost a month after he sent a letter to Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), asking for the 20 murder accusations against his client to be dropped since there is what he described as insufficient evidence to support a conviction.

Prejudicial

In a letter dated August 31 addressed to the CoI’s Secretary, Attorney-at-Law Javed Shaddick, and copied to its Chairman, Major General (Ret’d) Joseph Singh, and Commissioners, Todd and his associates said, “We need not remind the Commission of what pretrial publicity is and the danger such an act can pose on any criminal proceedings, especially the instant one.”

The lawyers noted the fact that should the CoI commence momentarily, it is guaranteed to be televised nationally and

internationally, thus putting a lot of sensitive information in the public domain. After this CoI has been completed, they said it will be reasonable to conclude that their client will not have an untainted or impartial jury since a lot of the evidence likely to be exposed by the CoI will also be ventilated at the Preliminary Inquiry (PI)/trial.

According to the lawyers, the CoI and its hearing and findings will be extremely prejudicial to their client and that is “something we shall not take lightly.”

“We cannot expose our client to the inherent danger that lies ahead should the Commission of Inquiry come before the Preliminary Inquiry/trial. Further, we cannot impress upon the

Commission the number of counts our client has been charged with and our responsibility to keep these proceedings as sanitised as possible while protecting her rights, both as a minor and as an accused person. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child clearly outlines some measures of protection for minors and we must not arbitrarily flout these laws with impunity.”

While the accused’s lawyers are anticipating a favourable response, they have put the CoI members on notice that if the inquiry is not stayed, they will institute legal proceedings against the State to protect their client’s rights and interests.

Evidence

Last month, Todd wrote to the DPP requesting the withdrawal of all charges, arguing that recent disclosures in the matter reveal no potential evidence to lead to a conviction.

He stated that he would be forced to institute constitutional proceedings against the DPP and the State in which he would ask for specific orders and declarations if the charges were not dropped.

In his letter to Ali-Hack, Todd said, “Full disclosure was completed in this matter on July 20, 2023, at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court,

and upon review of all the statements and other exhibits served on our client, our suspicions in this matter were confirmed. Upon perusal of the statements in this matter, there is absolutely no potential evidence that could support a charge of murder, much less secure a conviction against our client.”

Fire

The accused girl is charged with the murders of Tracil Thomas, Lisa Roberts, Delicia Edwards, Lorita Williams, Natalie Bellarmine, Arriana Edwards, Cleoma Simon, Subrina John,

volved in an argument with the administrators during which she allegedly threatened to cause “trouble.”

The Mahdia school’s dormitory had housed students from the communities of Karisparu, El Paso, Micobie and Chenapau in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni). The fire was allegedly set in the bathroom area of the dormitory.

According to the surviving female students, they were awakened from sleep by screams, and upon checking, they saw fire and smoke in the bathroom area. This quickly spread in the build-

Council (NTC), Derrick John, and Attorney-at-Law Dr Kim Kyte-Thomas.

“My intention as President is to ensure a balanced, impartial, and thorough examination of the causes of the fire and related issues. [The CoI] is intended to derive lessons that can improve safety and ensure that such a tragedy never reoccurs,” the President had said at the swearing-in.

Financial support

In addition to medical and mental health support, the Government has since offered financial assistance in the sum of $5M to the families of each of the children who died in the blaze.

The families of the children who received injuries are expected to get $3 million each.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton has said that $5 million is insufficient “compensation” for each victim’s family.

By the Government offering this stingy “financial compensation”, Norton believes

Martha Dandrade, Loreen Evans, Belnisa Evans, Mary Dandrade, Omerfia Edwin, Nickleen Robinson, Sherina Daniels, Eulander Carter, Andrea Roberts, Bibi Rita Jeffrey, five-year-old Adanye Jerome, and Sherana Daniels.

She has not been required to plead to the indictable charges and is currently on remand at a juvenile holding centre.

The May 21, 2023 inferno resulted in the deaths of 19 female students between the ages of 12 and 17 and a fiveyear-old boy, who was the son of the dorm parents.

Days following that horrific incident, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) disclosed that the fire had allegedly been started by the 15-year-old student, who had also lived at the dorm, after her cellular phone had been taken away by the dorm’s mother and a teacher.

Initial information received from sources close to the investigation had revealed that the teen in question had reportedly previously been suspended for engaging in activities contrary to the rules of the institution, and was in-

ing, causing several students to receive burns to their bodies and to suffer from smoke inhalation, while several managed to escape.

Several of the injured students were air-dashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for treatment. On May 27, a 13-year-old girl was flown to the Northwell Health Burn Care Centre in New York to seek advanced medical care. She has since made a full recovery and is back home.

According to the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), the dormitory housed 59 students. At the time of the fire, there were 56 females and a five-year-old boy inside.

The remaining students had gone home for the weekend. The dormitory’s 26 windows were heavily grilled, and the five doors were locked with keys when the fire started.

Balanced, impartial, thorough

Before President Irfaan Ali, the members of the CoI were sworn in on August 10.

Besides Singh, the other members are the Chairman of the National Toshaos

the Government is trying to absolve itself from any future potential claims for liability and injury.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, has clarified that no compensation is being paid.

Nandlall said that the money being handed to the families is "financial support".

“I made it very, very clear that if the Government is to offer hundreds of millions of dollars, it will not be appropriate compensation for the loss of any child. There is no compensation being paid or offered. Compensation is a legal terminology that connotes that there is an acceptance of blame or culpability, or there is a finding of blame or culpability by a tribunal of competent jurisdiction. None of those things have happened,” Nandlall said early last month.

The bulk of the money that will go towards providing support for the families of the victims of the Mahdia tragedy, was on Wednesday, August 10, approved in the National Assembly as part of the $61 billion supplementary estimates.

Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd CoI Chairman Joseph Singh

DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC

The victims of the Mahdia Secondary School dorm fire

Carnage on roadways

110 deaths from 92 accidents spark urgent road safety campaign

Special smartphone bundle launched for UG students

The University of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS) in collaboration with the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) company launched a smartphone plan specifically designed to suit the needs of the university’s thousands of students enrolled at both of its campuses.

This plan, which costs only $3750 and was officially launched on Thursday, offers a range of benefits and services tailored to meet the needs of students such as: 75 GB monthly data, unlimited social media messaging, unlimited GTT minutes, and unlimited texts.

Berbice-Corentyne) campuses will have access to this smartphone plan.

He also thanked GTT for coming on board and noted that the partnership, which will be renewed every year, will enhance the university’s services and benefit students.

In a recent report, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) unveiled a sobering statistic - 110 lives, including three children, have been tragically lost on the nation's roadways this year.

The report, issued by the Police Force's Public Relations Department on a Friday, also revealed that 92 road accidents occurred between January and August, resulting in the tally of 110 fatalities, including children.

Responding to this distressing trend, President Dr Irfaan Ali recently took a resolute stance, instructing the Police to launch a comprehensive nationwide road safety campaign. The President's commitment to addressing the core issues is steadfast, with a specific focus on curbing drinking and driving and excessive speeding.

In his plea, President Ali

Demerara, resulting in the loss of 17-year-old Daveanand Singh, 19-year-old Amiesha Jaikaran, 18-year-old Divyanie Narine, and 19-yearold Daniel Tirbeni. In another heartrending episode, 10-month-old Zainad Boyer tragically lost her life in an accident at Dennis Street, Sophia, Georgetown, where her father reportedly collided with another car while speeding.

President of the University of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS), Shaquawn Gill, said the unprecedented lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the education system and forced students to adapt to online classes.

Students were utilising their smartphones to access

UGSS President Shaquawn Gill

online learning resources and finish their coursework, he noted. According to him, during the pandemic, “data became an extremely huge and important thing” for people, especially the university’s students.

Highlighting the benefits of the plan, Gill said a plan like this would usually cost $7500 and students can use it to “do all their group assignments”.

Students enrolled at the university's Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, and Tain, Region Six (East

“I have to say thank you to GTT for coming on board and recognising the importance of putting together something like this for the overall benefit of every UG student.”

To be eligible for this plan, students are required to complete the requisite Google form with the relevant information, including a copy of their UG badge and/or academic profile.

The University of Guyana Students’ Society’s goals are to support and encourage social and cultural activities among students, to care for the welfare of every student, and to represent the actual views of the university’s students. (G1)

has implored citizens to view road safety as a collective responsibility, emphasising the necessity of a united front to combat the alarming surge in road accidents. He has also sought detailed statistics on early morning accidents and other pertinent data to guide the development of more effective safety measures.

The urgency of these actions is punctuated by two recent tragedies that claimed the lives of four teenagers and a baby. In one heart-wrenching incident, a speeding car collided with a parked truck and a concrete fence at Canal #2 Polder, West Bank

To address the escalating road fatalities, a "Respect the Road" Road Safety Awareness Campaign was launched in collaboration with the Government of Guyana and Impressions in July 2023.

During the campaign launch, it was disclosed that over 4000 traffic tickets had been issued in 2023, with more than 2000 individuals facing traffic offence charges.

Additionally, in response to the surge in road fatalities involving electric bikes, the National Assembly has passed a new regulatory framework. Police data reveals that from 2021 to 2023, 11 lives were lost, and 14 individuals suffered significant injuries due to electric cycle incidents.

Traffic Chief Dennis Stephens, in an interview with Guyana Times, stressed the importance of regularising electric cycles (e-bikes) and educating e-bike users about road rules and safety. The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has initiated e-bike registration, with Traffic ranks conducting educational sessions on road rules and safety requirements.

“The e-cycle must be registered, you must have a driver’s licence, you must have a certificate of fitness to ensure your cycle is fit to be on the road and insurance to cover you in case of an accident,” Stephen said.

As part of the registration process, e-bike users are required to possess a driver's licence, a certificate of fitness for their cycles, and insurance coverage in case of accidents. This educational campaign is particularly active in Regions Three, Five, and Six, where e-bikes are prevalent.

The rising toll of road fatalities has prompted swift and comprehensive action from Government and law enforcement agencies as they seek to make the roadways safer for all.

(G9)

(Dead teens from left: Daveanand Singh, Amiesha Jaikaran, Divyanie Narine and Daniel Tirbeni)

The accident that occurred at Canal #2

The accident at Dennis Street, Georgetown Zainad Boyer, the 10-month-old baby who died in the accident at Dennis Street, Georgetown

500 nursery-age children detected with health issues during pre-school screening – Dr Anthony …mulls

neonatal screening

As Government continues to screen schoolaged children across the country, Health Minister Dr Frank Anothony disclosed that several hundred kids in the nursery school level have been diagnosed with various health issues.

Through its School Health Screening Drive, the Health Ministry is aiming to screen at least 27,000 nursery-level children by the end of the year.

The Comprehensive Child and Youth Health Programme (CYHP) commenced two months ago and facilitates oral health, hearing and vision screening for children and adolescents in schools, ages 5 to 17. This screening initiative is a collaboration between the Health Ministry, the Education Ministry and United States-based Mount Sinai Health Systems.

“We’ve completed about 5600 students at the nursery level and already we’ve detected among them, more than 500 of them would have had various challenges which we are now working to rectify,” Dr Anthony announced on Saturday.

Only Saturday, the Ministry hosted its latest screening exercise in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam)

where nursery school year one students benefitted from free eye testing and dental check-ups.

The Health Minister was at the time addressing the opening of the twoday Neonatal Conference held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. The theme was: “Sustaining Guyana's Future Through Neonatal Education and Teamwork.”

During his remarks, Dr Anthony informed of the successes of the screening of school-aged children and used the opportunity to encourage stakeholders at the conference to consider and discuss the introduction of neonatal screening.

“So, the [nursery] screening is yielding some of the challenges that this age group face and I’m sure that if we do a similar thing for the neonatal population, we might be finding diseases that go undetected or we’re detecting them at a later stage when it might be more difficult to intervene,” the Minister pointed out.

According to Dr Anthony, Government is committed to transforming the healthcare system to ensure babies are well taken care of. He noted that that Guyana has come

a long way in having its infant mortality rate reduced, which is as a result of the work that Government has put in across the country to identify some of the neonatal-related challenges early and have them rectified.

Room for improvement

However, the Health Minister stated “There is still a lot of room for improvement because when we look at regional numbers, there are some regions that do better than others and if we’re going to lift the standards then in every region, we must improve the services that we’re offering.”

In order to achieve this, Minister Anthony explained that all stakeholders in the health fraternity need to be onboard and support the various initiatives Government is undertaking. He said persons in the health sector need to take their roles seriously and give their best if the country is to become the hub for medicine in the Caribbean Region.

“If we’re going to make Guyana one of the best healthcare systems, then it starts with all of us here. Every one of you will have to up your game. We need people to be more professionally responsible. We also need

people to set the right tone in the facilities in which they work,” he stated.

Dr Anthony disclosed that while there are some persons in this sector who work very hard, his Ministry is aware of others who show up but do not put in the same effort at public health institutions but instead, channel their energies into private practice. He noted that this is something that the Health Ministry is paying keen attention to since it impacts on the delivery of improved services in the public healthcare system.

“If it is that people don’t want to work in the public system, that’s okay. You can go and find other employment in the Guyana. But if you’re gonna be working in the public system then we expect people to work properly. All of us are invested in this because we want to see a better healthcare system

for our citizens and therefore, we need to put our best foot forward. And with all the investments that we are making, we want to see that transformation,” the Minister stated.

Paediatric and Maternal Hospital

Among the initiatives that Government has undertaken to enhance neonatal care in Guyana is the construction of a €149 million Paediatric and Maternal Hospital at Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara. The project is financed by the United Kingdom’s export credit agency – UK Export Finance (UKEF) and is being executed by Austrianbased VAMED Engineering, one of the world's leaders in delivering healthcare projects.

During his address on Saturday, Dr Anthony revealed that construction

of this state-of-the-art and modern hospital in on track to meet its 2025 deadline with piling driving currently ongoing.

Sporting a 256-bed capacity, the hospital will be a referral centre for women and children. It will specialise in maternal, neonatal, and paediatric care with a huge imaging suite for services such as CT scans and MRIs, a modern laboratory, and surgical suites.

The two-day Neonatal Conference was hosted by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Giving Health to Kids Organisation (GHTK) to further develop Neonatal Services in Guyana through Education and Training.

GHTK has been working in Guyana for about 15 years and was instrumental in effecting the buildout of neonatology in the country. (G8)

Nightclub shooting Bartica businessman charged with attempted murder

ABartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) businessman has been charged with attempted murder after a shooting in the town left two persons hospitalised.

Vivendra Balgobin, 46, of Fifth Avenue, Bartica, appeared on Friday before Magistrate Christel Lambert at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

He was not required to plead to the indictable charge stating that on August 30, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Conroy Cox of Third Avenue, Bartica, intending to commit murder.

Balgobin was remanded to prison and the case will continue on September 6.

Police Headquarters had said that a brawl at a nightclub in Bartica over spilled drinks resulted in Cox, called “Pinkboy”, a 38-yearold labourer, and a teenage girl being hospitalised.

The teen is from Second Avenue, Bartica.

At the time of the shooting, the victims and the businessman were at Paradise

Injured: Conroy Cox

Nightclub at Third Avenue, Bartica, when Balgobin’s friend, whilst passing the table where the victims were sitting, hit the table, causing bottles containing alcohol to fall and spill on the victims.

Cox and Balgobin got into a heated argument, during which Cox allegedly threw liquid in Balgobin’s face and assaulted him. In anger, Cox left the bar, but reportedly returned shortly afterward in a vehicle, and continued to verbally abuse the businessman.

Charged: Vivendra Balgobin

Cox reportedly then exited the vehicle, and at this point, Balgobin pulled out his licensed firearm and discharged several rounds in Cox’s direction. Cox was hit three times in the abdomen, and the teen sustained a wound to her right hand.

Both victims were rushed to the Bartica Hospital, where they were admitted as patients. The crime scene was processed, and two 9mm spent shells were recovered. (G1)

Stakeholders at the Neonatal Conference held on September 2 & 3 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre

“I have nothing” – mother of 4 loses home to fire

...8-year-old daughter injured

Almost four months after her 10-yearold son went missing; a West Berbice mother is now without a home as a fire flattened her one-storey home at D’Edward Village.

Reports are that the Friday afternoon blaze completely destroyed the Lot 23 D’Edward Village building owned by Carla Thomas, a mother of four.

Thomas said she was sitting in church and as she looked through the door, she saw thick smoke

coming from the vicinity of her home and rushed out.

The church is situated across the road from where Thomas lived. However, because her house is behind two others, she could not see exactly which building was on fire.

“When I leave and come straight at the back, the whole house was on fire.”

The woman said based on her investigations, a seven-year-old relative caused the inferno after spilling methylated spirit on the bed, which was sub-

sequently lit.

The woman said she initially tried to get water to put out the flames but there was none available.

Her eight-year-old suffered burns to her legs as she tried to escape from the burning bed.

She said she lost everything, including over $100,000 which she was saving for activities to find her missing son.

On April 18, Thomas and her four children left home and went to Shieldstown, which is two villages away.

Digicel switches up final game show with irresistible banker’s offer

Carla Thomas standing in front of the debris of her burnt home

She wanted some documents from the father of her then-unborn child. She sent her 10-year-old son into the street to collect the documents, which included her national identification card, a clinic card and a bank card.

The 10-year-old boy, Jormin Thomas, has been missing since. He collected the documents but never went back to his moth-

er, who was waiting at the head of the street. CCTV footage showed the boy going towards his stepfather’s home and subsequently leaving the home.

The footage also showed the boy heading towards the direction of his mother but he never arrived to her.

At the time of the incident, Thomas was pregnant. She now has a twomonth-old son.

Meanwhile, the self-employed woman is appealing to the public for assistance to rebuild.

“I have nothing, nowhere to sleep, I am just begging my sister to stay here for the time,” Thomas said.

Persons desirous of assisting Thomas can contact her on 708-9344 or via her sister on telephone number (592) 682-4652.

The five contestants during the final game show of the Digicel Deal or No Deal promotion

Digicel Guyana, during the last game show of their “Deal or No Deal” summer promotion held on Sunday, made an irresistible banker’s offer of $1 million to all five contestants. The five finalists were given the opportunity to take the banker's offer or to keep what was in their case.

Of the five, two contestants, Rwanda Bentham and Rean Ghani chose the banker’s offer and walked away with a whopping $1 million while the others who kept their cases won cash prizes within $500,000 to $1 million.

Contestant Two, Mary Williams, who lives in Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini) walked away with $1M, while Godfrey Gardner won $700,000 and contestant four, Shonette Roberts of Linden, won $500,000.

Some of the contestants related that when they first received the call saying they won, they were a bit sceptical and thought it was a prank, while others

shared that they were excited and eagerly awaiting confirmation.

According to Bentham, “I spelled the word and I was waiting on my call and I didn’t receive the call until the next day so you know with the pranks you get kind of [sceptical] so for me personally when I got the call, she said yes it was real [and] I was really excited.”

Another contestant, Ghani, added, “When I received the call, I was like, this for real? I even put the call on record because I thought it was a scam.”

Williams, who still won $1,000,000 despite not taking the banker's offer, shared that she will invest the money into her small parts store, which she operates in Port Kaituma.

During the previous game show, Carlos Cummings won the highest cash prize of $2,000,000 after selecting the lucky case number seven

In an interview with Guyana Times after winning, Cummings, who op-

erates a construction business, noted that a portion of the money would go toward purchasing tools and other equipment that he needs for his company.

A confident Cummings also related that, upon leaving his home for the show, he had already made the decision to choose briefcase number seven because that was his lucky number.

“Well, I’m into trucking service and I’m also a contractor, so I need to get some equipment. So, I will spend some on equipment, and then I would go on a little vacation with the family,” he said.

“Seven is my lucky number. Before I leave home, I said, ‘Look, I’m going to go there I wouldn’t trade this case for no other case or no other money, and that would be the case; because you know when you’re on a winning roll you’re on a winning roll,” Cummings explained.

Cummings is the only contestant throughout the promotion to win $2,000,000.

Over 3000 baby chicks distributed to Corentyne poultry farmers

The Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) on Saturday distributed in excess of 2000 black giant baby chicks along with over 600 meat bird chicks to Corentyne poultry farmers. Each of the 120 farmers received 20 chickens each. In addition to that, several farmers were given meat bird chickens.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said the distribution was only a small part of this Ministry’s expansion programme for the agriculture sector.

Even though the country is considered agriculture oriented, producing 60 per cent of the food consumed, most of the production in that sector is fruits and vegetables.

However, the Agriculture Minister said his Ministry is focusing on ensuring that more food is produced locally. As a result, the cultivation of new crops has commenced while new programmes are being implemented for the livestock industry.

Mustapha pointed to the fact that budgetary allocations for the agriculture sector have been in-

creased by 150 per cent, moving from $13 billion in 2020, to $32 billion in 2023.

“Guyana is already self-sufficient in producing all of our poultry meat and now we want to be a net exporter. We want to produce more so that we can export to the Caribbean.

The fifteen Heads of Caricom, he pointed out, took a decision to reduce the food import bill.

“If we have to reduce the food import bill, then Guyana has to play that role and you have to ensure that you produce in the various sectors,” Mustapha

told the poultry farmers.

He noted that the exercise will continue, pointing out that several thousand birds have already been distributed to communities in hinterland locations.

“We have distributed a number of mead birds across the country and this will continue, but not only in the poultry sector and with the black giant programme that we are doing. Very shortly we will roll out the black belly sheep programme that the President launched a few months ago in Region Five, where Guyana will be producing its own brand to replace the New Zealand brand. So we will have a new brand of mutton coming out of Guyana – the black belly brand,” Mustapha announced.

He noted that the

GLDA recently commenced an embryo transplant programme for cattle.

A new abattoir for Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) and a sausage processing plant is to be constructed at Garden of Eden in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

Meanwhile, as the agriculture sector continues to expand, Guyana is now producing soya and has stepped up its corn production. This move, Mustapha pointed out, is to ensure that Guyana will be able to meet all of its poultry feed demands. Additionally, the production of red peas and black-eyed peas has been increased to cater for the export market.

“You can see that the agriculture sector is moving rapidly and you will have to come on board. We have to start again things

that we had before, things like the small kitchen garden so that we can produce right in our backyards and then we can go into largescale production. I am happy that 120 persons will receive 20 black giants each. We are working with farmers and we are bringing better-breathing animals and help farmers to have better-breathing animals in the cattle industry, swine industry and small ruminants industry.”

The Agriculture Minister also pointed out that the trial of growing wealth locally has been successful while new varieties of rice will soon become available to farmers.

He was referring to the bio-fortified rice variety which has been tested. Quantities to supply farmers with seeds are currently being harvested. (G4)

Amerindians are best tourism stewards – GTA Director

Guyana’s tourism treasures and unique experiences are nestled within the landscapes of Indigenous villages, where Amerindians excel as impeccable hosts, ensuring unforgettable adventures and unmatched comfort.

This is according to Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Kamrul Baksh, while presenting at the recently concluded National Toshaos Conference (NTC), at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Liliendaal.

“The Indigenous peoples are the best stewards and best ambassadors for tourism and for the type of tourism that we hold very closely, that is eco-tourism, nature-based adventure, and culture-based tourism,” the Director is quoted in a DPI report as saying.

Baksh said tourism in Guyana is extreme -

ly unique, given that the country is the only one in the world that allows communities and their leaders to take charge of tourism sites and experiences.

“They are leading this work, they control the assets, the land, they run the enterprises themselves.

And these three communities…Caiman House in Yupukari in Region Nine, Rewa, and Surama, both in Region Nine in the North Rupununi circuit, are real models for that community-led and owned tourism,”

Baksh explained.

The organisation aims to develop comparable models across all regions, a goal that will be achieved by leveraging the authority’s concentrated efforts on various circuits. “The potential is extremely high in these areas and we are going to build out community tourism enterprises within all of these circuits. So, support will be given in training and capacity building and through a number of tourism and hospitality programmes,” Baksh disclosed.

According to the DPI report, the Director stated that establishing tourism in Amerindian villages is good for the environment, as it promotes good zoning and conservation, which results in sustainability.

So far, GTA has worked with several Indigenous communities to diversify tourism products.

Farmers collecting the baby chicks

GTA Director Kamrul Baksh

Mexican Senator Xochitl Galvez hailed as Opposition candidate for 2024 election

Thousands of supporters celebrated the nomination of Mexican Senator Xochitl Galvez on Sunday as the 2024 presidential candidate of an Opposition alliance set to take on the country's ruling party.

Galvez, a spirited communicator who has energised the opposition, is seen as the main candidate to take on President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's National Regeneration Movement (MORENA), which is due to announce its own candidate on September 6.

Supporters rallied near the capital's Angel of

Independence monument to herald Galvez's nomination for the alliance Frente Amplio por Mexico – or the Broad Front for Mexico, made official in a ceremony on Sunday.

Galvez said she received the nomination "with great pride". She gave remarks in an indigenous language, before delivering a speech in Spanish.

"Problems are not fixed with ideologies, they are fixed with solutions," she added, in an apparent reference to Lopez Obrador.

Supporters could be heard chanting "we are going to win" as they waved flags and banners support -

ing Galvez's nomination and the alliance.

"She is going to get us all out of the hole, the Indigenous people, the poorest, the middle class," said Hector Chavez, a supporter donning the emblematic red, white and green of Mexico's flag. "And she is going to boost the economy."

Representatives of the coalition, the centre-right PAN, the leftist PRD and the once-powerful PRI party – which supported Galvez at the expense of its own challenger, Beatriz Paredes – had called for Galvez's nomination earlier in the week. (Reuters)

HEALTH TIPS

a woman’s ovaries, the reproductive organs that produce estrogen and progesterone — hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. The ovaries also produce a small number of male hormones, called androgens. The ovaries release eggs to be fertilized by a man’s sperm. The release of an egg each month is called ovulation.

Dr. Tariq Jagnarine

Family

meDicine/ enDocrinology, DiabeTes

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is caused by an imbalance of androgens. Common symptoms include ovarian cysts, irregular menstrual periods, and hair on the face and body. Treatment options include hormonal birth control and the diabetes drug metformin.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects a woman’s hormone levels. Women with PCOS produce abnormal amounts of male hormones. This hormone imbalance causes their body to skip menstrual periods, and makes it harder for them to get pregnant. PCOS also causes hair growth on the face and body, and baldness. And it can contribute to longterm health problems like diabetes and heart disease.

Birth control pills and diabetes drugs (which combat insulin resistance, a PCOS symptom) can help fix the hormone imbalance and improve symptoms.

PCOS is a problem with hormones, and it affects women during their childbearing years (ages 15 to 44). Between 2.2 and 26.7 per cent of women in this age group have PCOS. Many women have PCOS but don’t know it. In one study, up to 70 per cent of women with PCOS hadn’t been diagnosed. PCOS affects

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), which are produced in the pituitary gland, control ovulation. FSH stimulates the ovary to produce a follicle — a sac that contains an egg — and then LH triggers the ovary to release a mature egg.

PCOS is a “syndrome,” or group of symptoms that affect the ovaries and ovulation. Its three main features are:

* Cysts in the ovaries

* High levels of male hormones

* Irregular or skipped periods.

In PCOS, many small, fluid-filled sacs grow inside the ovaries. The word “polycystic” means “many cysts.” These sacs are follicles, each containing an immature egg. The eggs never mature enough to trigger ovulation. The lack of ovulation alters levels of estrogen, progesterone, FSH, and LH. Progesterone levels are lower than usual, while androgen levels are higher than usual. Extra male hormones disrupt the menstrual cycle, so women with PCOS get fewer periods than usual.

CAUSES

Doctors don’t know exactly what causes PCOS. They believe that high levels of male hormones prevent the ovaries from producing hormones and making eggs normally. Genes, insulin resistance, and inflammation have all been linked to excess androgen production.

* Genes Studies show that PCOS runs in families. It’s likely

that many genes — not just one — contribute to the condition.

* Insulin resistance

Up to 70 per cent of women with PCOS have insulin resistance; meaning, their cells can’t use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone the pancreas produces to help the body use sugar from foods for energy. When cells can’t use insulin properly, the body’s demand for insulin increases. The pancreas makes more insulin to compensate. Extra insulin triggers the ovaries to produce more male hormones.

Obesity is a major cause of insulin resistance. Both obesity and insulin resistance can increase your risk for type 2 diabetes.

* Inflammation

Women with PCOS often have increased levels of in-

flammation in their bodies. Being overweight can also contribute to inflammation. Studies have linked excess inflammation to higher androgen levels.

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF PCOS

Some women start seeing symptoms around the time of their first period. Others discover they have PCOS only after they’ve gained a lot of weight, or they’ve had trouble getting pregnant.

The most common PCOS symptoms are:

* Irregular periods. A lack of ovulation prevents the uterine lining from shedding every month. Some women with PCOS get fewer than eight periods a year, or none.

* Heavy bleeding. The uterine lining builds up for a

longer period, so the periods you get can be heavier than normal.

* Hair growth. More than 70 per cent of women with this condition grow hair on their faces and bodies — including on their backs, bellies, and chests. Excess hair growth is called hirsutism.

* Acne. Male hormones can make the skin oilier than usual, and cause breakouts in areas like the face, chest, and upper back.

* Weight gain. Up to 80 per cent of women with PCOS are overweight, or have obesity.

* Male pattern baldness. Hair on the scalp gets thinner, and may fall out.

* Darkening of the skin. Dark patches of skin can form in body creases, like those on the neck, in the groin, and un-

der the breasts.

* Headaches. Hormone changes can trigger headaches in some women.

IMPACT OF PCOS ON THE BODY

Having higher-than-normal androgen levels can affect your fertility and other aspects of health.

* Infertility

To get pregnant, women must ovulate. Women who don’t ovulate regularly don’t release as many eggs to be fertilized. PCOS is one of the leading causes of infertility in women.

* Metabolic syndrome

Up to 80 per cent of women with PCOS are overweight or have obesity. Both obesity and PCOS increase your risk for:

* High blood sugar

* High blood pressure

* Low HDL “good” cholesterol

* High LDL “bad” cholesterol

Together, these factors are called metabolic syndrome, and they increase the risk of: heart disease, diabetes, stroke, sleep apnea – a condition which causes repeated pauses in breathing during the night, interrupting sleep. Sleep apnea is more common in women who are overweight — especially if they also have PCOS. The risk for sleep apnea is 5 to 10 times higher in women who have both obesity and PCOS than in those without PCOS.

w During ovulation, the uterine lining sheds. If you don’t ovulate every month, the lining can build up. A thickened uterine lining can increase your risk for endometrial cancer.

Depression

Both hormonal changes and symptoms like unwanted hair growth can negatively affect your emotions. Many with PCOS eventually experience depression and anxiety (16).

Mexican Senator Xochitl Galvez speaks at a rally to be announced as the opposition Broad Front for Mexico 2024 presidential candidate, in Mexico, City, Mexico September 3, 2023 Reuters(Henry Romero)

Regional Guatemala’s electoral tribunal temporarily revokes suspension of President-elect's party

Guatemala's electoral tribunal said Sunday it had temporarily revoked a suspension order against President-elect Bernardo Arevalo's Semilla party, which had sowed confusion about his victory in the days after the election.

Electoral officials, in a document, said they nulled on Saturday the suspension order through October. It was not immediately clear if Semilla would face the suspension order again after that period.

Arevalo, who campaigned on pledges to tackle corruption, resoundingly won the August 20 second-round run-off election. However, before just before electoral tribunal officials declared Arevalo the victor, Semilla was notified that a

branch of the tribunal suspended the party over registration flaws.

The move prompted swift international backlash, including from the Organisation of American States (OAS), and Arevalo vowed to appeal what he

BHP says Brazilian court approves Samarco debt reorganisation plan

Australian mining giant

BHP said on Monday a Brazilian court had approved the reorganisation plan for its Samarco joint venture, clearing the path for the cash-strapped Brazilian miner to move ahead with a US$3.7 billion debt restructuring.

The debt reorganisation is intended to help Samarco meet funding obligations related to rectifying and providing compensation for the damage caused by a 2015 dam collapse that killed 19 persons in Brazil's worst-ever environmental disaster.

called an "illegal" suspension.

Hundreds of supporters marched in capital Guatemala City on Saturday, answering a rally cry from Arevalo to "unite" behind his Government. (Reuters)

Jamaican PM promises to fix public sector money issues

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has assured affected public sector workers that the Government will rectify anomalies stemming from the recent public sector compensation programme.

"So, if the public sector is such an important variable in us achieving growth and one of their main concerns is the level of their compensation, then the Government at the same time we are asking for better service, we also have to address the issue of their compensation.

"A lot of people have been positively impacted by the compensation change, a lot of people. But they are not going to say. Those who have challenges, they must keep raising their voices so that nobody forgets them and so that their challenges can be addressed. And I know that there are some issues out there that need to be resolved. And I am saying to you, this is not a

closed matter. We are still working with the relevant agencies. Those who have concerns, those who have not been addressed to make sure that they are addressed that there are no anomalies or distortions remaining, and that's the commitment of the Government. I understand the complaints, but I am asking for some patience, I am ask for understanding, and I am saying to you, keep a positive outlook. These matters are going to be addressed," he added.

Speaking at a town hall meeting at Harmony Beach Park in Montego Bay Wednesday night, the Prime Minister made it clear that he was not in support of politicians being paid "disproportionately greater than anyone else".

"So the question is, well, the extent of what was paid to the elected officials versus what everybody else got, was that fair? That's a legitimate question. It's a just question to ask. My answer outside of the present circumstances would be that politicians should not be paid disproportionately greater than anyone else. That's my honest and genuine belief. But why did this happen? Why were politicians, I'm using the word politicians, but why were our elected officials, the Ministers, the parliamentarians, and the councillors? Why were they paid disproportionately to everyone else in some categories?" he asked. (Jamaica Observer)

Criminologist: New-age criminals a challenge for Police

Criminologist Randy Seepersad expressed a concern that the new generation of gang members and criminals have evolved to become more technologically savvy, and it is beginning to be a challenge to local law enforcement.

This comes in the wake of 3D printed guns and components found by Police in a raid in Caparo, Central Trinidad on August 30.

“Gangs and criminals are

becoming very technologically savvy,” he said. “You would notice it in the use of social media, spreading ‘Trinibad’ music through social media and moving into the realm of cybercrime,” Seepersad said.

“The younger generations are even more tech savvy and they can use these technology effortlessly and if you are familiar with the crime statistics, whereas a few years ago you would not have seen young people heavily repre-

On September 1, the Second Business Court of Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, formalised Samarco's restructuring plan as part of the ongoing proceedings, BHP said.

The reorganisation plan for Samarco, an iron ore miner that is 50 per cent owned by BHP and 50 per cent by Vale , allows for the Brazilian miner's existing fi-

nancial debt to be exchanged for up to US$3.7 billion of long-term unsecured debt, BHP said.

"The new long-term debt will remain non-recourse to Samarco's shareholders, BHP Brasil and Vale," BHP said in a statement.

The planned restructuring, which also includes payments to employees and suppliers, is projected to conclude in the first half of fiscal 2024, the company added.

Around 720,000

Brazilians are suing BHP, the world's biggest miner by market value, over the 2015 collapse of the Fundao dam owned by Samarco. Samarco, Vale, BHP Brazil, and the Federal Government of Brazil alongside other public authorities established the Renova Foundation to bring to force socio-economic programmes to provide compensation for damage caused by the Samarco dam failure.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Drug dealers terrorising coastal villages in T&T

In mid- August, parcels of cocaine began washing up in coastal villages, with whispers of villagers recovering the perilous, precious powder spreading from house to house and village to village.

Last week, in Mayaro, Police recovered more than 46 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of TT$21 million.

It is believed that much more is out there, still unaccounted for. In many of the communities, according to residents, armed men “from town” have attacked local dealers and villagers in search of the drugs.

On Wednesday,

Guardian Media visited Mayaro, Manzanilla and Guayaguayare. Every resident we spoke with said they were terrified. They were also unsatisfied with the Police presence.

Residents of coastal communities stretching from Toco in the north to Galeota Point in the south are paralysed with fear, as drug dealers and gang members scramble to recover cocaine from a shipment lost in the Atlantic Ocean.

“We hearing it have people coming up here, terrorising people because of this business. The Government has to do more

to protect the country and the borders from this kind of thing,” a Mayaro resident said.

“We are not feeling safe with this drug business, it’s killing going on. You don’t know who could come by and who could interfere with you. I’m not feeling safe and I’m not feeling comfortable with it, and I wish that something could be done, because what I’m hearing is that it happened all about and like people have it, and who have it, hide it and who have it waiting, and I don’t want any killing to take place around my area. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Venezuelan feud ends in murder in Princes Town

Afeud which is believed to have started in neighbouring Venezuela some time ago ended in murder in Princes Town on Saturday when a Venezuelan was murdered by Spanish-speaking men.

eyes,” the man said.

sented in the more serious crimes now, that Gen Z age bracket is the highest among people committing crimes in TT.”

He said younger criminals are disenfranchised by Government, desensitised to violence and, at the same time, the most technologically capable.

“And law enforcement can barely keep pace,” he said. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Roger Lopez, 26, a Venezuelan who had been living at Petit Café with his wife and three children, was attacked by four men while buying food at a Chinese restaurant at St Julien’s, Princes Town.

A video of the attack showed four men entering the restaurant from a back entrance and attacking Lopez. Lopez fought back, but one of the four men, dressed in a red T-shirt, pulled out a sawn-off shotgun from a backpack he was carrying and shot him.

Roger Lopez, 26

The video showed Lopez trying to sit up, but collapsing on the ground as the assailants fled.

One of his colleagues, who spoke to the Newsday on the basis of anonymity, said Lopez was his friend.

“He died right before my

“He was a good man, he worked hard to take care of his wife and three children. The oldest is 10. He was always doing something to ensure they were provided for and now they are without a father.

“I hope that the Government or somebody can help his family. I feel so sorry for them.”

His colleague said they took a break from work on a nearby construction site and went to get lunch. He said remained in the vehicle while Lopez went in to order food.

He said Lopez sat at a table and was awaiting his order when the men burst in and attacked him. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Guatemalan President-elect Bernardo Arevalo attends a press conference in Guatemala City

Prime Minister Andrew Holness

OPEC’s crude oil production rose slightly in August – survey

Crude oil production from the OPEC alliance actually climbed in August by 40,000 bpd, according to a new survey published by Bloomberg on Friday.

Saudi Arabia’s output may have fallen in August by 170,000 bpd, according to the survey, but Nigeria and Iran’s production increased, largely offsetting Saudi Arabia’s cuts.

Overall, the group produced 27.82 million barrels per day in August, the survey said.

Analysts largely expect Saudi Arabia to extend its 1 million bpd supply cut into October, even though crude oil prices rose to 2023 highs on Friday, with WTI reaching US$85 per barrel. Saudi Arabia’s extra cut began in July.

Saudi Arabia produced 8.98 million bpd in August, according to the survey, while Iran boosted production to more than 3 million bpd, and Nigeria’s reached 1.34 million bpd— an increase of 80,000 bpd according to Bloomberg’s survey data, which is based on ship-tracking data, information from officials, and estimates from firms like Kpler and Rystad.

Russia said earlier this week that it had reached another deal with OPEC regarding crude oil supply volumes, promising to provide details of the deal next week.

Earlier this week, a Reuters survey had estimated that OPEC’s total production rose in August by 220,000 bpd over July figures—the first rise since February. According to that survey, OPEC’s production reached 27.56 million bpd in August. Production for the 10 members that are part of the supply cut agreements fell by 10,000 bpd in August, the Reuters survey said.

The OPEC+ group is set to hold a meeting on October 4, although a full ministerial meeting isn’t scheduled until late in November.

The production increase for August comes as a group of 37 economists raised their 2023 oil price forecasts for the first time in four months on the notion that the OPEC+ cuts would offset weak economic growth in China. (Oilprice.com)

Israel: Netanyahu wants immediate deportation of Eritreans after Tel Aviv violence

Israel is considering tough steps including the immediate deportation of Eritrean asylum seekers involved in riots in Tel Aviv on Saturday.

Some 170 people were injured in violent clashes with Police and in-fighting between groups of supporters and opponents of the Eritrean regime.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "a red line" had been crossed.

He also ordered a new plan to remove all African migrants that he described as "illegal infiltrators".

Saturday's unprecedented disorder began after activists opposed to the Eritrean Government said that they had asked Israeli authorities to cancel an event organised by their country's embassy.

They broke through a Police barricade around the venue, which was then vandalised.

Police in riot gear fired tear gas, stun grenades and

Around The World

Ukraine War: Counter-offensive troops punch through Russia line, Generals claim

Ukrainian generals claim they have breached Russia's formidable first line of defences in the south, as the counter-offensive launched earlier this summer may be poised to gather pace.

Since June, Kyiv's territorial gains have been very small - but is Ukraine finally at a turning point?

"Yes, it's true," says Yuriy Sak, an advisor to Ukraine's Defence Minister, when asked if the breach had happened.

"Little by little, I think we're gaining momentum," he said.

"We are now between the first and second defensive lines," one of Ukraine's top generals in the south, Brig

Gen Oleksandr Tarnavskiy told Britain's Observer newspaper. His words echoed those of the White House spokesman John Kirby, who on Friday told reporters in Washington that Ukrainian forces had

"achieved some success against that second line."

The focus of Ukraine's counter-offensive effort in recent weeks has been an expanding bridgehead around the tiny village of Robotyne, some 56km (35 miles) south-

east of the city of Zaporizhzhia. Ukrainian forces raised the country's blue and yellow flag over the village more than a week ago, and are now trying to widen the gap to allow larger infantry and armoured units to pass through without coming under Russian fire.

If that can be achieved, there is a chance Ukraine's offensive can gain momentum as it approaches second and third defensive lines, which may not be quite as robust as the first.

Fighting has been reported east of Robotyne, on the edge of the larger village of Verbove, but like everything so far, it's slow, painstaking work. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Torrential rain in Spain causes major flooding

Several weather warnings have been issued across Spain as heavy rain causes major flooding across parts of the country.

Maximum red weather alerts are in place in the Madrid, Toledo and Cádiz regions.

Sunday's football match between Atletico Madrid and Seville was suspended due to the torrential rain.

Residents in Madrid have been asked to stay at home due to "the exceptional and abnormal" rainfall, the Mayor said.

In the Spanish capital alone, firefighters have been called to alleviate the situation in flooded roads 190 times.

Much of the rainfall, brought by Storm Dana, has

been concentrated in Cádiz, Tarragona and Castellócoastal regions across the country.

In the eastern province of Castelló, flooding led to firefighters rescuing a man trapped in his car, which was surrounded by waist-high

flood water.

People have also been advised to avoid unnecessary trips in the north-eastern city of Alcanar, Tarragona - where 215 litres per square metre of rain has fallen in the past 24 hours.

Juan Carlos Penafiel, who

was visiting the city, said he was woken up by the water entering his second-floor apartment.

"We organised amongst ourselves to make ropes with towels and bed sheets and used them to pull two young men who were grabbing on to columns," he told Reuters news agency.

"We pulled them to the top floor and saved them. It was terrifying, very very scary with small children, women. Nobody showed up, we were left alone to save ourselves," he added.

Storm Dana has caused debris and mud to slide onto Spanish roads, while many vehicles have struggled to move in heavily flooded areas.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Jimmy Buffett: Margaritaville singer dies aged 76 Police arrest 20 in Cyprus as anti-migrant violence spreads

live rounds as officers on horseback tried to push the protesters away.

An investigation has been opened into whether the use of live fire was within the law.

Israeli Police - several dozen of whom were among the injured - said they felt their lives were at risk.

There were also dramatic street battles between large crowds of Eritreans armed with pieces of wood, metal and rocks. As well as attacking each other, they smashed shop windows and cars.

The divisions within Eritrea over the rule of President Isaias Afwerki have spilled over into the diaspora, and this is the latest outbreak of violence in recent weeks.

Residents said the streets of central Tel Aviv sounded like a war zone over several hours, with Police helicopters hovering overhead and sirens blaring. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

US singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, best known for his 1970s hit Margaritaville, has died aged 76.

"Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1 surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs," said a statement on his website.

"He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many."

A statement on the singer's official website said he had been diagnosed with skin cancer four years ago.

Buffett was born in the US state of Mississippi but was raised in neighbouring Alabama before moving to Nashville, Tennessee. He worked for the music and entertainment magazine Billboard, with the dream of making it as a country singer.

He later moved to Florida, where he helped to create the tropical rock genre, which would later

become more mainstream thanks to artists such as Jack Johnson.

Buffett made his musical breakthrough with his 1977 album Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, which included the song Margaritaville, which enjoyed 22 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

His other hits include Fins, Come Monday and Son of a Son of a Sailor.

Buffett was nominated for two Grammy awards and was a prolific artistreleasing more than 20 albums. Earlier this year he revealed that he had recorded a new work.

His songs were also turned into a musical, Escape to Margaritaville, which made its Broadway debut in 2018.

Buffett's music and the "beach bum" lifestyle he promoted earned him a devoted following of millions of fans who refer to themselves as Parrotheads.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Cyprus Police have arrested 20 people after a march against migrants and refugees on the island’s second-largest city, Limassol, turned violent with mobs vandalising property.

Five people were injured during the unrest on Friday evening after about 500 people took to the streets for the march, the Police said.

Rubbish bins were set alight and some shops were vandalised, Police said. Witnesses quoted by Cypriot media outlets said some foreigners were attacked during the march.

Asian delivery drivers were assaulted and storefronts belonging to migrants were smashed as the violence continued until the early hours of Sunday, according to Reuters news agency.

Police used water cannon to disperse the protesters, some of them hooded and holding a banner that read “Refugees not welcome”.

Overnight Saturday to

Sunday, three people from southeast Asia were attacked and robbed, State media said.

Among the victims were a group of visitors from Kuwait, according to social media accounts of witnesses.

Senior diplomat Kyriakos Kouros said a protest was filed by an ambassador of an unnamed Arab state on Saturday after tourists were targeted.

“They cut short their visit. I doubt they will ever return,” Kouros, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wrote on the social media platform X on Sunday, posting a picture of the departure of a group at an airport. One member of the group was in a wheelchair.

“It is the first time I have felt so embarrassed about such an incident in our country,” he wrote. “This isn’t the Cyprus I was born, raised, had a family and am getting old in,” he said.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

A Ukrainian serviceman looks at a destroyed Ukrainian tank near the village of Robotyne

One man had to be rescued from his car by a firefighter in Spain's eastern Castelló province

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Do something to lift your spirits. Get those endorphins working; you’ll accomplish something spectacular. A healthy lifestyle change will point you in the right direction. Share your thoughts.

(March 21-April 19)

Networking, researching and communicating will work to your benefit. Don’t ignore an unexpected opportunity. Your timing is good, but don’t miss out on a chance to explore something interesting.

(April 20-May 20)

Don’t share secrets. Get your plans ready before revealing your agenda. Jealousy will rear its ugly head. Don’t waste your time doing something for someone who doesn’t appreciate you.

(May 21-June 20)

PEANUTS

(June 21-July 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(July 23-Aug. 22)

Don’t let anything stop you. Use your intelligence and creativity to develop alternatives that will help you explore your options and map out a plan of attack.

Be cautious when someone asks for something. Question what’s entailed and consider the impact it can have on your responsibilities. Offer suggestions rather than committing to something stressful.

Take a mental picture of how you see your life unfolding and turn it into a reality. Talk is cheap, but actions will show you mean business. Refuse to let someone’s negativity get to you.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Pay attention to where your money goes. Don’t feel pressured to make an investment or donation or to pay someone’s way. Concentrate on your well-being and physical fitness.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Use your knowledge and skills to help others. Team up with someone who can offer you something of value in return. Your patience, insight and discipline will garner respect.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Move forward cautiously. Not everyone is on your side. Refuse to let anyone lure you down a rabbit hole. Think positively, but don’t let others decide your fate. Do what’s best for you.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Share your thoughts, shed light on situations and adjust to trends. Go with the flow. Keep your money and possessions in a safe place, and you’ll have nothing to worry about.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Put your energy where it will help you the most. Say no to persuasive people encouraging you to behave poorly or get involved in something that doesn’t appeal to you.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

You’ll gain momentum if you set your sights on something that interests you. Consider your skills and qualifications and how to use them most effectively. Don’t settle for less.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Italian Grand Prix: Max Verstappen in record-breaking 10th consecutive F1 win

Red Bull's Max Verstappen broke Ferrari's valiant challenge to set an all-time record for consecutive wins with victory in the Italian Grand Prix.

The Dutchman was held back by pole-winner Carlos Sainz's Ferrari for 14 laps, but his pressure paid off when an error from the Spaniard gave him his chance.

Sainz locked his brakes into the first chicane and that allowed Verstappen to pass the Ferrari into the second chicane at Monza.

Sainz, after forcefully holding on to second place from team-mate Charles Leclerc, was left to fend off Verstappen's team-mate Sergio Perez for second place.

After many laps of defence, Sainz finally lost the position with nine laps to go and then set about fighting hard again to keep Leclerc behind for the final podium place.

It was frantic at times as Sainz hung on with worn tyres, and eventually the Spaniard pleaded to his team to let him "bring it home". Leclerc was told: "Race until the end, no risk."

Sainz clung on with some desperate late braking moves into the first chicane, and eventually the fight was settled at the start of the final lap.

Leclerc sold the dummy to Sainz at the first chicane, but the Spaniard moved to defend and Leclerc had to lock all his brakes and cut the chicane to avoid his partner. Leclerc crossed the line just 0.1 secs behind.

Mercedes' George Russell drove a steady race to take fifth, while Lewis Hamilton

impressed on an inverted strategy, starting on the hard tyre and switching to the medium, to pass the McLarens and Alex Albon's Williams to take sixth.

Hamilton earned a five-second penalty for colliding with McLaren's Oscar Piastri when passing him at the second chicane but had enough of a margin to keep the place.

Albon clung on ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris, while Fernando Alonso had his most anonymous race of the season to take ninth in the Aston Martin ahead of Alfa Romeo's Valtteri Bottas.

Piastri had to pit to repair damage after the Hamilton incident and finished 12th behind Liam Lawson's Alpha Tauri.

Ferrari put up a strong fight against the all-conquering Red Bull team at their home race with by far their most competitive showing of the season.

Their hope was for Leclerc, starting third, to pass Verstappen into the first corner and set up a onetwo at the front of the field, from which they might be able to play strategy against Verstappen.

But Verstappen made a strong start, and Sainz had to chop across quickly to prevent the Dutchman claiming the inside line for an attack at the first corner.

The lead secured, Sainz was faced with a challenging opening stint trying to hold Verstappen off for as long as possible.

Verstappen tracked the Ferrari, rarely more than 0.5 secs behind. He tried the outside on lap six, only to be rebuffed, and complained to

As well as winning the past 10 races, Max Verstappen has taken victory in 12 of the 14 grands prix so far this season

his team about the Ferrari's straight-line speed.

But eventually his pressure paid off. Sainz locked his right front wheel on the way into the first chicane at the start of lap 15, and that allowed Verstappen to get a better exit out of the corner.

Verstappen drew alongside on the flat-out run through the Curva Grande and claimed the lead down the inside of the Roggia chicane.

Once Verstappen was into the lead, the destiny of the race win was no longer in doubt – if it ever really had been – and the uncertainty was now over the remaining podium positions.

Verstappen now leads Perez in the championship by 145 points as his third drivers' title draws ever closer.

Leclerc began to challenge Sainz once Verstappen was past, but the Spaniard rebuffed his advances and they pitted on consecutive laps on laps 20 and 21, Sainz stopping first.

Again Sainz held off Leclerc, who attacked straight after rejoining from his pit stop, and both began to come under pressure from

Atletico Madrid v Sevilla postponed due to flood risk

The LaLiga match between Atletico and Sevilla on Sunday was postponed owing to the extremely high risk of flooding in Madrid, the Spanish soccer league said.

"Facing the exceptional weather situation in Madrid ... the President of the RFEF, the Sports Minister and the CEOs of Atlético de Madrid and Sevilla, has taken the decision to postpone the match. The new date and time of the match will be communicated soon," LaLiga said in a statement on Sunday.

Madrid Mayor Luis Martínez Almeida urged the population to stay home

Atletico Madrid v Sevilla postponed owing to flood risk

as the city is expecting "the heaviest rainfall since records began 49 years ago" on Sunday afternoon.

Atletico are second in the

LaLiga standings on seven points, level with Girona, Barcelona, and Cadiz, five points behind leaders Real Madrid. (Reuters)

from lap 23, straight after the Mexican's pit stop.

Perez attacked Leclerc on lap 32, through the first chicane and then tried at the second chicane, only to be held off, but finally managed to pass Leclerc the following lap into the first chicane.

Perez then set after Sainz, who defended hard for lap after lap before the Red Bull finally managed to get close enough to pass the Ferrari down the pit straight and into the first chicane on lap 46.

Perez, who had taken 18 laps to pass Russell's Mercedes for fourth in the first stint before setting after the Ferraris. Sainz, Leclerc, and Perez were running line astern

That left Sainz vulnerable to Leclerc and the Ferraris facing a fight for the honour of finishing on the podium in their home race.

Sainz's driving was increasingly desperate as he fought his fading tyres, but he was always on the right side of fairness.

Leclerc passed his teammate into the first chicane the lap after Perez had got past, both cutting the corner, before Sainz then dragged back past his team-mate on the run to the second chicane. It was as close as Leclerc was to get. He tried and tried again into the first corner, and while there were perhaps some question marks about a double move and moving under braking as Sainz defended on the final lap, it was a titan's drive to hang on in the end. (BBC Sport)

Mohamed Salah scores for Liverpool against Aston Villa

Mohamed Salah put speculation about his future behind him by scoring as Liverpool comfortably beat Aston Villa to continue their strong start to the season in the Premier League.

Jurgen Klopp's side rejected a £150 million bid for the Egypt international from Saudi Pro League club AlIttihad, with the Reds insisting the 31-year-old is not for sale.

And Salah emphasised his worth to Liverpool when he scored their third goal in the second half at Anfield, firing in at the back post from Darwin Nunez's cross to seal a third league win in a row.

Dominik Szoboszlai got the hosts up and running after just three minutes, scoring his first goal for the club with a crisp strike through a crowded box.

Villa, who have been scoring for fun since losing 5-1 to Newcastle in their opening game of the season, were far too open at the back as they struggled to deal with Liverpool's forwards.

The hosts increased their lead in the 22nd minute when Nunez's shot hit the post and bounced in off the unlucky Matty Cash.

Liverpool looked capable of scoring with every attack in a rampant first half, although Villa's cause was not helped by an enforced change as centre-back Diego Carlos limped off with an injury inside the opening 20 minutes.

And the lively Nunez went close to scoring his third goal in two games as his shot bounced off the crossbar.

Keeper Alisson made a good stop to push out Cash's header in the second half, but Salah's second goal of

the season wrapped up a win that moved Liverpool up to third in the Premier League, two points behind leaders Manchester City.

While it was a Liverpool new boy who got the Reds up and running in this game, much of the focus at Anfield was on a stalwart as the future of talisman Salah remains uncertain.

The Reds have repeatedly insisted they have no intention of letting Salah leave, but with the Saudi Pro League transfer window not closing until September 7, it is likely their resolve will be tested again with reports of a £200 million offer.

Klopp has said Salah is "100 per cent committed" to Liverpool and there was nothing to suggest otherwise on Sunday as he again underlined his importance to the Reds against Villa.

He created opportunities and had chances himself, before finally getting on the scoresheet 10 minutes into the second half.

With Nunez also continuing to impress, the Reds possess the attacking strength to suggest they will be strong contenders to challenge at the top end of the table this sea-

son. Salah is a three-time Golden Boot winner in the Premier League and, despite his age, this performance shows he remains an integral part of Klopp's side.

Villa’s good run comes to a stop

After winning their last four games in all competitions, Villa will look to put this performance and result down to a bad day at the office.

They never really got going – although the early goal and loss of Carlos did not help their cause – and looked a shadow of the side that had scored 15 goals and conceded just one in that aforementioned run of victories.

Prior to this game, only Manchester City had picked up more Premier League points in 2023 than Aston Villa's 49, so there's little doubt they are firmly going in the right direction under Unai Emery.

Perhaps the Villa boss' main takeaway from their start to the season is how they cope against sides likely to be contending for the top six places.

Defeats to Newcastle and Liverpool, 5-1 and 3-0 respectively, will be a concern for Emery. (BBC Sport)

Mohamed Salah has scored two goals in four games so far this season

Ali Khan defends 12 in final over, as TKR beat Tallawahs in thriller

–TKR to play Warriors tomorrow at Queen’s Park

The mighty Trinbago

Knight Riders recorded a thrilling two-run win over defending champions Jamaica Tallawahs in the 2023 Republic Bank

Caribbean Premier League (CPL), at Kensington Oval. Jamaica Tallawahs won the toss and opted to field first, producing a disciplined bowling performance

SCOREBOARD

Kelvin Pitman

Fabian Allen

Jamaica Tallawahs (T: 143 runs from 20 ovs)

Brandon King (c)c Russell

b Waqar Salamkheil 36 Alex Hales st †Tucker

b Waqar Salamkheil 21

Jermaine Blackwood c Pooran b Russell

Shamarh Brooks †c Alleyne b Russell

Wasim

to restrict Trinbago Knight Riders for a par 142-8 after 20 overs.

Debutant Kelvin Pitman had a stellar game as he took three wickets, including the prized scalp of Captain Kieron Pollard.

The Tallawahs had a bright start to their chase, but would lose four wickets in the first 10 overs to find themselves in trouble. Wristspinner Waqar Salamkheil and Andre Russell would prove decisive, taking five

seamer Mohammad Amir delivering an opening maiden over. Openers Martin Guptil and Mark Deyal would, however, bat through the powerplay and build a solid foundation to the Knight Riders innings with a 58-run partnership.

TKR in the last five overs to finish on 142-8.

Imad Wasim

of wickets: 1-57 (Brandon

7.3 ov), 2-58 (Jermaine Blackwood, 8.1 ov), 3-58 (Shamarh Brooks, 8.2 ov), 4-65 (Alex Hales, 9.5 ov), 5-80 (Raymon Reifer, 13.4 ov), 6-92 (Fabian Allen, 15.2 ov), 7-131 (Chris Green, 18.6 ov)

wickets between them and restricting runs as the Tallawahs faltered to 139-7,

losing by just two runs.

The Jamaican franchise got off to an ideal start to the game with experienced

The complexion of the tie and a super over would then completely change as the Knight Riders lost three wickets, including that of Nicholas Pooran, for just five runs. Pitman, on debut for the Tallawahs, took two of those wickets within the same over in a brilliant display. The Knight Riders attempts to accelerate the scoring were derailed as they would lose five wickets

CPL: Charles blasts Kings back into pole position with 90-run win over Royals

The Saint Lucia Kings reclaimed top spot in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a dominant 90run victory over the Barbados

Forde, and Roshon Primus were destroyers in chief as they ran through the top five batters to leave the Royals 40-5 at the end of the first six overs.

Despite a few big hits from the lower middle order, the Royals suffered without a firm base to build from and eventually folded for 105 all out.

b Primus 4

Laurie Evans c †Charles

b Joseph 0

Rovman Powell (c)c Joseph

b Primus 5

Jason Holder c Pierre

b Hatzoglou 18

Nyeem Young c Joseph

b Pierre 20

Rivaldo Clarke †lbw

b Hatzoglou 4

Jamaica Tallawahs opened their chase with Captain Brandon King and Alex Hales, the duo also batting through the powerplay as they put on a 57-run partnership. King lost his wicket to the leg spin of Salamkheil; Jermaine Blackwood was also dismissed four balls later to a super Pooran catch, and when Shamarh Brooks departed the very next ball, the Tallawahs looked in trouble at 58-3.

More wickets would tumble and despite a late flurry of runs from Chris Green and Imad Wasim, they would ultimately lose by two runs in a nail-biting finish.

Trinbago Knight Riders will look to continue their winning form as they play their next four games in front of a home crowd. TKR will meet the Guyana Amazon Warriors, tomorrow, Tuesday, September 5 from 19:00h at Queen’s Park Oval.

Royals at Kensington Oval on Saturday.

The Royals won the toss and opted to field first, but they were to run into Johnson Charles in imperious form. The opener blasted 78 and contributions at the back end saw the Kings post a healthy 195-6.

In reply, the Royals chase was over before it began as they lost the top five batters

inside the powerplay. They never recovered from that huge setback and were eventually all out for 105.

Scores: St Lucia Kings 195-6 (20 overs);

Barbados Royals 105 all out (17.3 overs)

The Kings got their innings off to a tremendous start led by the power of Charles.

Having reached 69-0 at the end of the powerplay, the foundation was set for a huge total, and they were able to reach 97 before the loss of their first wicket, Colin Munro holing out to the deep square boundary for 33.

Sean Williams’ stay at

the crease was a brief one, but at the other end Charles continued to make hay. Only when Jason Holder returned in the 16th over did the Kings’ momentum get momentarily halted. Two wickets in the over saw the departure of Shadrack Descarte and Charles himself for 78.

However, quick-fire contributions at the death from Roshon Primus, Sikander Raza, and Roston Chase ensured the Kings set an imposing total.

The Royals never got to grips with the chase and were effectively out of the contest by the end of the powerplay.

Alzarri Joseph, Matthew

Kyle Mayers 3-0-30-0

Jason Holder 4-0-40-2

Obed McCoy 3-0-37-1

Qais Ahmad 2-0-15-0

Roelof van der Merwe 4-0-40-3

Nyeem Young 4-0-31-0

Barbados Royals (T: 196 runs from 20 ovs)

Rahkeem Cornwall c Munro

b Joseph 18

Kyle Mayers c Joseph

b Forde 0

Alick Athanaze c sub (KS Melius)

Roelof van der Merwe c Munro

b Sikandar Raza 11

Qais Ahmad not out 9

Obed McCoy c Hatzoglou

b Joseph 4

Extras (lb 2, w 10) 12

TOTAL 17.3 Ov (RR: 6.00) 105

Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Kyle Mayers, 0.3 ov), 2-23 (Rahkeem Cornwall, 3.3 ov), 3-23 (Laurie Evans, 3.4 ov), 4-32 (Rovman Powell, 5.2 ov), 5-40 (Alick Athanaze, 5.5 ov), 6-69 (Jason Holder, 11.1 ov), 7-75 (Rivaldo Clarke, 13.4 ov), 8-84 (Nyeem Young, 15.3 ov), 9-100 (Roelof van der Merwe, 16.6 ov),

10-105 (Obed McCoy, 17.3 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Matthew Forde 3-0-28-1

Alzarri Joseph 2.3-0-7-3

Roshon Primus 2-0-11-2

Sikandar Raza 3-0-21-1

Khary Pierre 3-0-28-1

Peter Hatzoglou 3-0-4-2

Roston Chase 1-0-4-0

Kings thumped the Royals at home Johnson Charles lit up the packed Oval

Mohammad Amir impressed again with three wickets Kieron Pollard top-scored for

Waqar Salamkheil was Player of the Match in a low-scoring thriller

Women’s CPL: Royals reign supreme over winless Amazon Warriors

By Brandon Corlette

The Guyana Amazon Warriors Women continued to find it difficult at the 2023 Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL), as they slumped to their second successive defeat this season. Barbados Royals won by three wickets at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Warriors posted 146-4 in 20 overs, while Royals ended on 147-7 in 19.2 overs.

In the Royals’ chase, they lost Gaby Lewis for two at 10-1 in 2.5 overs.

Opening bowlers Sophie Devine and Shabnim Ismail made the Royals worked for every run. The woman from India, Shreyanka Patil then got the wicket of Rashada

Williams, who was caught at cover for six at 22-2 in 4.4 overs.

At the powerplay, Royals were 38-2. Off-spinner Patil then worked her magic again when she ran through the defence of Hayley Matthews (22) at 39-3 in 6.2 overs. Laura Harris then toned Patil for three sixes in four balls, but she was removed by Shakera Selman for 18. Cherry-Ann Fraser completed a stellar catch as Royals were 58-4 in 7.3 overs.

Wickets fell around Erin Burns as Patil ended with 4-34 in her four overs. At 105-7 in 15 overs, Warriors were looking in control, but Burns stood in the way. Fraser was again expensive as her second over yielded 21 runs. Burns reached her 50 in 38 balls in that unforgettable over from Fraser.

That was all she wrote, as Royals ended on 147-7 in 19.2 overs. Burns scored an unbeaten 53 from 41 balls.

Earlier, Guyana Amazon Warriors Women won the

Compliments of

toss and elected to bat first with an unchanged team. The first ball of the contest was a wide, and the second ball, Sophie Devine creamed one past backward point for four.

The New Zealand pair of Devine and Suzie Bates looked at ease at the wicket as both of the Royals opening bowlers yielded 12 runs in their opening overs. Bates and Devine motored along nicely as Warriors Women were in firm control at the powerplay with 51-0. The duo reached their 50run stand in 35 balls.

Royals Women found it difficult to get a wicket, and at the half-way stage in the first innings, Warriors Women were 73-0, sitting pretty. Second ball into the 11th over, leg-spinner Amanda Jade-Wellington bowled a peach of a delivery that spun and squared up Bates. She was bowled all ends up for 31 from 26 balls, an innings laced with three fours.

Devine attempted to clear the mid-wicket bound-

ary, but she was short ending with 42 from 40 balls. The right-handed Devine, who scored a century in the first game of the tournament, struck six fours in her 42. Warriors Women were 78-2 after 11.4 overs, with two new batters at the crease in Stafanie Taylor and Shemaine Campbelle.

Captain Taylor found it difficult to score and she was bowled by Burns for 10 from 13 balls. Warriors were not finding the boundaries at will as Royals kept the bowling tight. At 87-3 in

13.3 overs, Natasha McLean partnered Campbelle.

The Guyanese Campbelle played a top shot, reverse sweeping Burns for four to bring up the Warriors’ 100 in 15.2 overs. McLean then pummelled Burns straight back for four and slammed her for six over mid-wicket. Burns ended with 2-32 from four overs of off-spin.

McLean continued to display power, but was caught off a no-ball on 31 by Henry, off Alleyne. Matthews then removed McLean for 38 from 26 balls, when she was caught at long-off. The big Jamaican had struck three sixes and three fours.

McLean and Campbelle added 57 runs for the fourth wicket. Warriors ended on 146-4 in their 20 overs, as Campbelle remained unbeaten on 19 from 13 balls.

The Massy Women’s CPL will continue tomorrow, Tuesday, September 5 with Warriors Women taking on Trinbago Knight Riders at Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad from 14:30h Eastern Caribbean time.

SCOREBOARD

Guyana Amazon Warriors

Women (20 ovs maximum)

Sophie Devine c Alleyne

b Burns 42

Suzie Bates

b Wellington 30

Stafanie Taylor (c)

b Burns 10

Shemaine Campbelle † not out 19

Natasha McLean c Wellington

b Matthews 38

Shabika Gajnabi not out 2

Extras (b 1, lb 2, nb 1, w 1) 5

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 7.30) 146/4

Fall of wickets: 1-74 (Suzie Bates, 10.2 ov), 2-78 (Sophie Devine, 11.4 ov), 3-87 (Stafanie Taylor, 13.3 ov), 4-144 (Natasha McLean, 19.3 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Chinelle Henry 1-0-12-0

Erin Burns 4-0-32-2

Aaliyah Alleyne 2-0-17-0

Hayley Matthews 4-0-23-1

Jannillea Glasgow 1-0-9-0

Amanda-Jade Wellington 4-0-21-1

Afy Fletcher 4-0-29-0

Barbados Royals Women (T: 147 runs from 20 ovs)

Hayley Matthews (c)

b Patil 22

Gaby Lewis c McLean

b Devine 2 Rashada Williams †c Bates

b Patil 6

Erin Burns not out 53

Laura Harris c Fraser

Williams,

(Hayley Matthews,

ov),

ov), 4-58 (Laura Harris, 7.3

Erin Burns scored a fine fifty in Royals win

Amanda Jade-Wellington bowled a peach of a delivery to remove Bates

Natasha McLean was brutal in her hitting

Chinelle Henry fielding off her own bowling

Sophie Devine continued her red-hot form

Suzie Bates made 31 for Warriors Women