Guyana Times - Saturday, April 27, 2024

First Hanuman Chalisa chanting being hosted in Guyana P9

Gas-to-Energy Project a "win-win"

Page 3

Guyana – Darren Woods

…says piping gas to shore on track for year end Colours of India boutique, house, mechanic shop gutted by fire

…7 homeless, 3 cars burnt

GCCI blasts authorities for lack of action against reckless truck drivers Miner

See story on page 9

May 21 declared Memorial Day for Mahdia fire victims

Seawall vending will continue, but not current “lawlessness” – Edghill …misinformation to vendors “mischief-making”

Over 3000 persons already registered for PPP/C

Congress – GS

Linden Market fire Body found in debris as probe continues

No active wildfires, but vigilance continues amid enduring heat – CDC

Over $295M worth of ganja, shotguns found in Berbice

Govt could

in revenue this year as cigarette smuggling surges – DEMTOCO …announces

in after-tax profit for 2023

Police in Region 5 concerned over high instance of statutory rape – RDC hears

Colours of India boutique, house, mechanic shop gutted by fire

…7 homeless, 3 cars burnt

Afire of unknown origin has left two businesses completely destroyed and seven persons homeless. The late Friday afternoon blaze also destroyed at least three cars belonging to one of the business persons, and damaged several other vehicles at a mechanic shop. Residents reported seeing several vehicles on fire.

Flames were initially seen at around 15:00h on Friday at the popular Colours of India Boutique at Lot D16 Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

Seelochanie Latchman, the 52-year-old proprietress of the boutique, said she observed the electrical wire at the eastern side of the building sparking, and then it burst into flames, causing her and her daughter-in-law to take the children and ran out of the yard. Latchman operated the business on the premises, and lived there with her husband, two sons, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.

One of her sons operated a mechanic shop attached to the southern side of the building.

Suresh Latchman, also known as ‘Playerz’, a 52-year-old businessman,

related that he had left home on Friday at about 08:00h to transact business in Georgetown, and his wife, children and daughter-in-law were at home.

He said that while he was on his way home from Georgetown, he received a telephone call from a friend, informing him that his house was on fire.

He arrived shortly after the call and saw his home in

flames.

The Fire Department said an officer and seven other ranks from the Onverwagt Fire Service responded with a fire tender, and upon arrival, they went into action and extinguished the fire. They were assisted by a fire tender from Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Investigations are ongoing. (G4)

Linden Market fire Body found in debris as probe continues

Hours after a fire of unknown origin ravaged several stalls at the Linden Municipal Market in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), Police discovered the lifeless body of a man near the fire scene.

Dead is Troy Campbell. He was discovered on Thursday morning, with the circumstances surrounding his demise still sketchy. Guyana Times was told that Police investigations have suggested foul play.

The fire at the Linden Market erupted around 20:30h on Wednesday, with smoke and flames engulfing the middle section of the market. Prompt action by the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) contained the blaze to a single area.

Recent incidents have seen fires devastating several markets. In November, portions of the Skeldon and Corriverton markets suffered extensive damage owing to electrical fires sparked by overheated electric fans left plugged in. Efforts are underway to rebuild these markets, with funds allocated for their rehabilitation.

In February of the previous year, the Parika Market fell victim to fire caused by welding activities. The GFS traced fire to a welding operation, where residue ignited nearby com-

bustibles, leading to extensive damage.

Another incident occurred at Charity Market in July 2023, where 25 out of 85 stalls were destroyed by fire originating from an electrical meter.

During firefighting efforts, three senior officers sustained injuries, while

stallholders faced substantial financial losses. Construction of a new market, costing $286 million, is underway by Builders Hardware and General Supplies Construction, with completion expected within two months from the awarding of the contract in November 2023. (G9)

Persons videoing as the fire erupted at the market on Wednesday evening

The fire at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Saturday, April 27 – 04:00h-05:30h and Sunday, April 28 –04:00h-05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, April 27 –05:45h-07:15h and Sunday, April 28 – 06:20h-07:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Sunny conditions are expected throughout the day, interrupted by light showers in the early-morning to mid-afternoon hours. Clear to partly cloudy skies and light rain showers are expected at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 06:11h and 18:04h reaching maximum heights of 2.68 metres and 2.48 metres.

Low Tide: 12:15h reaching a minimum height of 0.53 metre.

LOTTERY NUMBERS

COMMODITIES

Gas-to-Energy Project a "win-win" for Exxon, Guyana – Darren Woods

…says piping gas to shore on track

United States oil major ExxonMobil has said it is on track to deliver natural gas from its operations offshore Guyana to land by year end.

This is according to ExxonMobil Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Darren Woods, on Friday, as the company presented its first-quarter earnings for 2024.

During the earnings call, Woods was asked about the benefits of the model Gasto-Energy (GtE) Project in Guyana which includes the construction of an Integrated Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) plant and a 300-megawatt (MW) combined cycle power plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD), utilising natural gas from oil production activities in the Stabroek Block.

ExxonMobil Guyana, which is the operator of the oil-rich Stabroek Block that it co-owns, is responsible for laying the pipeline that would transport associated gas from the Liza Phase 1 and 2 Projects offshore to the onshore gas-processing facilities.

According to Woods, “I think it's kind of a win-win proposition, particularly for the people of Guyana. So, we're working on bringing that gas to shore. Our expectation is we'll have that brought up sometime end of 2024. Obviously, the Government's working on the receiving end of that gas and responsible for putting in the power station.”

As part of a US$1 billion agreement that includes the installation of the pipeline, the US oil major is also working with the Guyana Government on upgrading and modernising its aged power distribution system.

“I think the impact of that [GtE Project] will come when we get both pieces together and get that linked up and effectively delivering power to the [Guyanese] market,” Woods posited.

The ExxonMobil CEO went on to note that this type of collaboration is something that the company is looking to emulate in other countries where it has operations.

“I think as we look at going into some of the countries that are on a growth path, on a developing path, we look for opportunities of how our footprint and presence in those countries and markets can help the people in the community, and this is a great example of that, of getting the gas that's produced offshore, onshore, so they can replace what is a relatively inefficient, high-emissions power generation system that's fairly unreliable with something that's cleaner, lower emissions, and much more reliable and should be much more cost-effective,” the Exxon Chairman added.

Cleaner, cheaper, reliable energy

The Guyana Government has envisioned start-up of the GtE Project by 2025, thus realising its commitment to deliver cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable energy to the

population.

While the Government is working with a number of partners to establish the NGL and the power plant components, ExxonMobil will be laying 200 kilometres of subsea pipeline from the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels to the shore. Upon landing on the West Coast Demerara shore, the pipeline would continue for approximately 25 kilometres to the NGL plant at Wales.

The pipeline would be 12 inches wide, and is expected to transport some 50 million standard cubic feet per day (mscfpd) of dry gas to the processing facilities, but it can push as much as 120 mscfpd.

ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge told reporters back in February the onshore portion of the pipeline installation is about 40 per cent completed, while the offshore component is about 55 per cent completed.

“Last year, we had installation campaigns in two parts: we had the ultra-shallow piece, which are mud flaps at low tide…we did about 18 kilometres. So, we executed a good portion of that…then we also installed in the shallow water…going from that 18-kilometre mark out to where the shelf drops down into the deep water,” Routledge had stated at a press conference.

for year end

This year, the remaining works include installing risers on the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity, the deepwater pipelaying, and connecting the pipeline to the power plant, which will not come on stream until the end of the first quarter in 2025.

While Exxon has assured that the pipeline would be completed by the end of this year as scheduled, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has stated that the pipeline would be tested and sealed until it is ready for use by the power plant.

Moreover, it is expected that the two Liza field productions will be taken offline to facilitate the pipeline connection to the FPSOs.

According to the Vice President earlier this month, this is expected to take just two weeks and has been con-

shut them down to make the connection,” Jagdeo had explained.

Even as Exxon is expected to deliver the pipeline by year end, the construction of the power plant and NGL facility has been delayed by at least six months.

The contractor, a US-based consortium – Lindsayca CH4 Guyana Inc (LNDCH4), is engaged in a disagreement with Government over the timelines of the project and associated costs.

LNDCH4, which was awarded a US$759 million contract in November 2022 to build the power plant and NGL facility, is making financial claims to the tune of US$50 million over delays from other components of the project were overseen by Exxon, saying that the late handover would affect its de-

sidered in the planning process. He also refuted claims that the country would lose US$1 billion during this period.

“This was taken into account in our forecast for revenue for this year. It is not a billion dollars of loss, we estimate six to seven million barrels of deferred production, but [Exxon is] hoping to bring forward maintenance for that period on the FPSOs for the period when they have to

livery according to contractual timelines.

The Guyana Government has rejected the claim, resulting in the contractor moving to a dispute resolution mechanism that would see a three-member board set up to mediate between the two parties.

In light of the delays, Government has extended the deadline, but the contractor is not satisfied and wants more time. (G8)

ExxonMobil Chairman and CEO Darren Woods

A model of the onshore section of the pipeline that will connect to the Gas-to-Energy Project at Wales

Editor: Tusika Martin

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

PAC efforts at Zoological Park

The Protected Areas Commission (PAC) has announced that it will launch a restoration and enhancement journey for the Zoological Park today, themed “Wildlife Warriors: Unite for Conservation”.

This is indeed good news, as, for quite some time now, the Zoological Park, known to provide much attraction for families and overseas visitors, has been deteriorating at a rapid rate.

Guyanese who have travelled abroad could testify to the differences in standards with our zoo and what obtains in other countries. At the moment, persons are not that excited to visit the zoo, because of several reasons, among which is that there is hardly anything new and interesting to see.

For example, the cages at the zoo are occupied by a few birds, huge snakes and caimans, and turtles and monkeys are among the few animals that could be seen in the dull and smelly environment.

In fact, in a visit by this newspaper to the zoo, it was observed that visitors were complaining of the state of the facility. Additionally, persons were heard expressing worry over the condition of the animals, some of which seemed to be sick. Concerns were also raised about the limited space the animals are usually confined to, especially since, in their natural habitat, they would be allowed to run about and climb and jump.

This is quite unfortunate, as Guyana has so much to offer, not only for locals, but for the entire world to see, especially as it relates to our rich biodiversity. This alone could be a major attraction for visitors when they come to these shores, hence strenuous efforts should be made to ensure that such facilities are constantly improved and upgraded, in keeping with international best practices.

It could be recalled that the PAC had started working with the National Parks Commission in 2012 to enhance the facilities at the National Park. Under the Three Parks Initiative, the National Park had benefitted from many improvements, but efforts to upkeep the standards were minimal, resulting in standards falling drastically over the past years. However, we must complement Guyana’s First Lady Arya Ali for the tremendous work her office has been doing at the National Park and other parks around the country under her enhancement initiative.

The PAC had also engaged advertisers and other stakeholders who are responsible for advertisements, buildings and facilities in the park, to encourage them to enhance same. Stakeholders who had sponsored walking trails and other infrastructure were also re-engaged, but we are not certain as to the success of these engagements regarding funding, et cetera, to maintain the facilities.

Coming back to the zoo, there is need for this facility to be transformed from being just a holding facility for animals into an information-education delivery facility. There is need for other features, such as different zoning areas, including a Coastal Wetland Zone, a Savannah Zone, Mountain and Forest Zone, along with other amenities, such as information booths, etc.

Most of us would agree that wholesome entertainment for families is lacking to a large extent in Guyana. On weekends especially, families look forward to taking their children to places that are interesting; where they can also enjoy a bit of relaxation and fun. The Zoological Park, National Park, and Botanical Gardens are ideal places where this could be provided.

While the Government may take the lead in such initiatives, the private sector also has a corporate social responsibility which its members must fulfil to the citizenry. The private sector must therefore show, by its actions, that it is serious about working with the Government in enhancing this aspect of national life. Today’s launch is much welcomed.

Most Jews and Palestinians want peace. Extremists, narcissists and other ‘allies’ only block the way

By Jonathan Freedland

Beware the friend who is only trying to help. Not, perhaps, as a rule for life, but certainly when it comes to the Israel-Palestine conflict and the clashes that battle provokes around the world. So often, those who think they’re doing their bit serve only to make an already impossible situation even worse.

The week began with an instructive example, when Gideon Falter, head of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, released a video clip of himself being steered away from one of London’s weekly Gaza demonstrations by a police officer on the ground that: “You are quite openly Jewish, this is a pro-Palestinian march.” Falter argued that he had flushed out proof that the Metropolitan police regard the marches as an unsafe environment for visibly Jewish people, even though the Met allows them to go ahead week after week.

Was Britain’s Jewish community grateful for this contribution from Falter? Some were, but others were troubled by his insistence that he had merely been out and about on a Saturday, minding his own business when he happened to stumble across the Gaza demo, rather than admitting that he had deliberately set out to make a (perhaps legitimate) point. That lack of honesty was damaging, because it played directly into the hands of antisemites who say Jews cannot be trusted to tell the truth about antisemitism. Falter would say he was only trying to help, but there were plenty –including those who work fulltime to protect Jewish life in Britain – for whom the whole episode was a headache they didn’t need.

All this was relatively small beer compared with the

pro-Palestinian demonstrations now spreading across US campuses, where mass protests and permanent solidarity camps have been broken up by sometimes brutal police action. There, too, debate rages over whether these demos pose a threat to Jews, with organisers pointing – as they do in the UK – to the presence of a vocal Jewish contingent as evidence that they are completely safe. After all, how could a movement possibly be hostile to Jews if Jewish supporters are so warmly embraced?

It’s worth explaining why plenty of Jews are not reassured by that. For most of their history, Jews have been told that, so long as they change their ways or beliefs, they will be accepted. Nazism was the exception, holding that Jews were to be murdered no matter what they believed or did. But most persecutors of Jews held open the possibility of acceptance to those Jews who were ready to break from the rest. The Spanish Inquisition would spare you, so long as you converted sincerely to Christianity. This is not, I stress, to suggest the current Gaza demonstrations have any connection to that despicable history: it is solely to explain why most Jews draw scant comfort from seeing a movement being nice to those Jews who agree with it.

Meanwhile, the discomfort at much that is said and done at the growing US protests is real. At Columbia University in New York, demonstrators were filmed chanting: “We say justice, you say ‘How?’ / Burn Tel Aviv to the ground / Ya Hamas, we love you / We support your rockets too”. Another one runs: “We don’t want no two states, we want all of it.” In that same vein, some students are no longer content simply chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”; they now hold up placards with

an Arabic version. The trouble is, those words say: “From the water to the water, Palestine will be Arab” – meaning there will be no Jews from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea, a goal that spells doom for the 7.2 million or so Jews who live there.

I have no doubt that those students occupying campus lawns across the US believe they are acting as good friends of the Palestinian people, that they are helping the cause of Palestinian freedom. But here’s why they risk doing the exact opposite.

First, they are alienating potential allies. There are plenty of Americans, including American Jews, who have been appalled by Israel’s conduct of its war against Hamas, by the sheer numbers killed, and by the obstruction of vital humanitarian aid to Gaza. Some have broken the habit of a lifetime to speak out. Think of Chuck Schumer, the Democratic Majority Leader in the US Senate and decades-long advocate for Israel, who last month delivered a heartfelt denunciation of Benjamin Netanyahu and called for him to go.

Schumer spoke for a huge constituency of US Jews, one that may well run into the millions – a group with the potential to be a new and crucial ally in the struggle for Palestinian independence. But when those people see activists praising Hamas – the men who killed, tortured and raped so many on 7 October, and still hold dozens hostage – or carrying the flag of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia that does the bidding of the theocrats in Tehran; or saying “Zionists don’t deserve to live”; or chanting in sinister unison for the expulsion of a “Zionist” who has been detected in the camp; or lamenting the Jewish role in American feminism, they want nothing to do with such a movement. Because they know that

movement wants nothing to do with them. And that feeling is not reduced when they hear a big-name speaker suggest to a New York crowd that any Jew who believes, after two millennia of persecution, that Jews need a home of their own is a worshipper of “a false idol”, a “profane” god.

Though, to be clear, the most striking condemnation of this hardening of supposedly pro-Palestinian rhetoric has come not from Jews, but from Palestinians. The protesters have taken “an extremist, maximalist, inflammatory, unreasonable, and totally illogical approach, which is harmful to the pro-Palestinian cause,” wrote Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Gaza-born Palestinian analyst who has lost a staggering 31 members of his own family in recent months. Via social media, Alkhatib urges the demonstrators to stop “wasting time with slogan-driven and maximalist activism that does nothing”, and instead to “use your western privilege to actually help the Palestinian people, and promote a pragmatic path forward by engaging Israeli and Jewish audiences”.

For him, it’s clear that that pragmatic path leads to two states, Israel and Palestine, side by side. As a demand, it does not deliver the same transgressive thrill as calling for an all-Arab, Jew-free Palestine. It doesn’t have a neat rhyme. But real friends of Palestinians and Israelis know that it is the only way the two peoples of that much-promised land can hope to have a future that involves life, rather than yet more pain and death. Anything that makes that already impossible task harder is not an act of friendship – it is an act of unforgivable narcissism and self-indulgence. (The Guardian)

(Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist)

Ad nauseam accusations of Opposition on PAC

Dear Editor,

It is rather interesting that certain media houses weekly repeat ad nauseam the accusations of the Opposition members on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in regard to PAC meetings without any attempt to verify whether the claims have merit. Much liberty is given to conclusions accusing the Government members, but regrettably for the critics, the functioning of the PAC in the 12th Parliament has not been diminished in comparison to the 10th and 11th Parliaments, quorum or no quorum.

I had provided factual information at the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance’s “2023 in Review” press conference on January 10, 2024, and further spoke on this matter in Parliament, as did Minister Edghill, providing comparative data on the number of sittings of the PAC and other committees during the 10th, 11th and 12th Parliaments. This information was evidently ignored.

I have therefore once again updated the information to the most recent meeting of the PAC, and this is enclosed herein for easy reading. The information provided is sourced directly from the records of the Public Accounts Committee.

One can easily observe from the matrix that the PAC of the 11th Parliament, which worked for 40 months and held 58 meetings, produced the most work under the then Opposition Chairperson Mohamed Irfaan Ali, whereas the PAC in the 12th Parliament has had 61 meetings over 30 months.

Table showing a comparison of the work done by the PAC during the 10th; 11th and 12th Parliaments

Presently, the review of Government agencies in the PAC relates to the Annual Auditor General’s Reports for the period of the former APNU+AFC government, but the number of violations of the Procurement Act, missing documents, the refusal or non-cooperation of former Permanent Secretaries and Regional Executive Officers to appear before the committee, have been of little interest to some media houses, which have full and complete access to the PAC hearings for these agencies.

During the 11th Parliament, the level of scandals and violations of the Procurement Act was pervasive, widespread, and commented on almost daily by some media houses.

Therefore, the Government members on the PAC have no intention of rushing through these years, as the Opposition members would like us to do. Their objective is to go through these reports rapidly so as to detract public focus from what transpired during

those years.

It may seem presumptuous these days for a Minister to make a suggestion to the media on how it covers the Public Accounts Committee, but may l do so anyway - The Auditor General reports, special reports and performance reports provide a wealth of information which should inform journalism, or reporting, on the work of the PAC and its findings, including undeniable evidence of poor management, unaccounted expenditure, lack of transparency, and denial of services to the poor and vulnerable. These shortcomings, to be polite, were compounded by inadequate pharmaceutical and medical supplies to the regions, mismanagement of the school feeding programmes, and injustices meted out to the healthcare sector which, for example, suffered extensively from inadequate COVID-19 protective equipment and supplies during a global pandemic.

The Opposition members in the PAC may want the public to forget these harsh realities that directly hurt the people of Guyana, and instead occupy the public’s attention with vacuous questions of whether the Government

members and Ministers should sit on the PAC, or whether the members are attending the PAC meetings, and if the committee is meeting enough times. These are mere distractions from the real issues being uncovered by the PAC.

The fact is that the PAC today has met more often than during the 10th and 11th Parliaments, and produced two (2) reports. During the 11th Parliament, within 44 meetings, three (3) reports were produced, and the first Public Procurement Commission (PPC) was established under the leadership of Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who was chair of the 11th Parliament’s PAC.

Further, the insinuations made by the APNU/ AFC that Ministers of Government should not sit on the PAC is hypocritical and preposterous, as during the APNU+AFC’s tenure in Government, during the 11th Parliament, two of their members on the PAC were sitting Ministers of Government. Those were Mrs. Volda Lawrence and Mrs. Valerie Patterson.

The main issue, however, cannot be wished away - facts are facts, the APNU and AFC could not adequately manage

Government in their term of office, and could not deliver to the people simply because corruption was rife, and much to their dissatisfaction, the work of the PAC exposes this at each meeting.

I have no intention of resigning as a member of the PAC, as l am very aware of the analysis and skills l bring to the meetings, regardless of how much wilful haste the Chair and Opposition exercise to rush through paragraphs at one time in an effort to hide the corruption which hallmarked the 2015-2020 period.

It is the role of the PAC to offer to the National Assembly, and truly to the people of Guyana, a critical analysis of public expenditure, which includes revenues earned from tax-payers. As such, no efforts will be spared by the Government members of the PAC to review the accounts of every year, 2015 to 2020 and beyond, as such haste from the Opposition only proves to be a wilful disservice to all the people of Guyana.

Sincerely,

Hon. Gail Teixeira, MP, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance

Stop Suffering

Movie - Tom and Jerry: The Movie (1992)

Indian Movie - Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty (2023)

Movie - Wonderstruck (2017)

Movie - Dolphin Tale 2 (2014)

Sign off

Statement by the Guyana Veterinary Association in Recognition of WORLD VETERINARY

DAY (WVD), April 27, 2024

THEME: “VETERINARIANS AS ESSENTIAL HEALTH WORKERS”

The Guyana Veterinary Association would like to join its sister associations and colleagues around the world in celebrating World Veterinary Day on April 27, 2024 under the fitting theme “Veterinarians as Essential Health Workers”. The Veterinary Association applauds and endorses this choice of theme which promotes the concept of veterinarians being an integral and essential component of the global team of health workers.

This global One Health approach could not be better exemplified than by the Government of Guyana aptly recognising local veterinarians as essential health workers during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. A commendable and avant-garde decision.

Over the recent decades, veterinary medicine has been known for its emphasis on preventative/ therapeutic/curative medical interventions – with great degree of success.

Moreover, the vocal and visible activities of Humane Societies the world over have effectively promoted and enhanced veterinary interagency with their almost militant brand of benevolence and philanthropy. There is undoubtedly much more focus today on the humane considerations of daily veterinary occupation – whether it deals with euthanasia, transportation of animals over long distances, exploitation of animals for entertainment/ sport, or production methodologies on farmsteads or by large

diverse areas such as surgery, organ transplant, epidemiology and immunology.

The knowledge and practice of a veterinarian dealing with household companion animals and horses is increasingly being used to combat mental disorders and behavioural abnormalities in prisons, mental health institutions and substance abuse clinics.

However, outside the sphere of what is perceived as the traditional practice of veterinary medicine, veterinarians are already contributing, both directly and indirectly, and rightly so, to other aspects of human health and well-being.

Thankfully and rewardingly, more and more scientific veterinary studies are confronting human health issues which are emerging in our fast-moving, social media-driven world. We are not referring here to the emergence of zoonoses such as “Bird Flu” (Avian Influenza) and Rabies, but rather, reference is hereby being made to ailments relating to anxiety disorders, recuperation from surgery, PTSD and other serious, lifethreatening pathologies, where an animal’s therapeutic association with human patients is achieving encouraging healing results. Veterinarians daily work hand in hand with their human medicine colleagues in research and practice in

Particularly noteworthy is the use of animals in the therapy and rehabilitation of children with congenital mutisms and neurological disorders, resulting in their transmogrification (with veterinarian involvement) from reclusive children into gregarious individuals.

We also know that animal protein is an essential component a balanced human diet, but also brings with it potential risks to human health; it is the veterinarian’s role to ensure that all food of animal origin is wholesome and fit for human consumption.

Examples of the veterinarian being essential can be found the world over, with them not only making stellar contributions in veterinary medicine but in areas ranging from Nobel Prize laureate to politics, from the arts to sport.

Right here in our Region we have had a West Indies cricket team captain that was a veterinarian. In Guyana, we have seen veterinarians hold high public offices such as Prime Minister, Minister of Government, Chairman of the Elections Commission and even Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences.

But is this enough? Notwithstanding ,our professional efforts to improve the lives of our patients and wards and our relationships with the animals’ caregivers, there is much still to be achieved for veterinarians to be unequivocally recognised as Essential Health Workers and to be fully integrated with the undertakings of all the other actors involved in the solidification and perpetuation of the noble One Health ideal.

The Scientific American posits that humans have an innate interest in other species. It is, therefore, important that we continue to be Essential Health Workers for All our fellow travellers on this spaceship called Earth.

The GVA would like to recognise the contributions of Dr Steve Surujbally and Dr Nicholas CA Waldron to the writing of this message.

By Kenn nesBitt

The cow that you see eating grass on a hill is doing a lot more than just standing still.

She nibbles the grass and she sips from the stream, to make into milk and convert into cream.

And that's how we get all our milk, cheese, and butter. The grass goes in one end and milk out the udder.

WORD SEARCH

GCCI blasts authorities for lack of action against reckless truck drivers

Business umbrella organisation Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has blasted the Guyana Police Force (GPF), as well as the Government, for its passive stance regarding the continued reckless use of the roadways by truck drivers.

The Chamber has expressed outrage regarding the reckless road usage by heavy-duty truck driver coupled with the lack of proper action from relevant authorities to address the situation.

“The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry expresses its deep consternation and outrage regarding the inadequate management of road usage by heavy-duty trucks and the lack of proper concern

and action from relevant authorities to address the continued reckless behaviour of their drivers. This includes blatant disregard for speed limits and weight restrictions, posing a significant danger to all road users,” the missive from the Private Sector body detailed.

According to GCCI, this ongoing misuse of the roadways, coupled with the absence of effective management, monitoring, and enforcement by the Police Force, creates an alarming and unacceptable level of risk.

This situation, the GCCI Chairman further highlighted, is not only a matter of public safety but also impacts economic activities and the overall well-being of communities across the country.

Mandela to Eccles Four Lane Highway in the vicinity of the Harpy Eagle roundabout.

Only earlier this month, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and Police officials held a meeting at the Guyana National Stadium on the East Bank of Demerara with owners and operators of trucks and articulated vehicles.

threat towards every citizen of Guyana.

During raids along the Berbice River, ranks from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) seized narcotics worth over $295 million, in addition to confiscating two shotguns and various other illicit items.

The operations, conducted between 04:00h and 11:00h on Friday, yielded significant findings, as detailed by Police Headquarters.

At one site, Police said ranks found 35,000 cannabis plants and two makeshift camps equipped with drying areas containing approximately 108.86 kilograms (240 pounds) of dry cannabis plants and seeds. A subsequent search of a nearby farm led to the discovery of a 12-gauge shotgun hidden by a tree, with a single cartridge.

The ranks then proceeded to Fort Nassau on the Berbice River, where they encountered a fleeing individual upon arrival. Despite efforts to apprehend the individual, he evaded capture. Subsequent searches of the area revealed a cache of illicit items within a house.

Police said they found a 12-gauge shotgun; components for two firearms (including stocks, trigger guards, barrels, springs, and firing pins); 125 12-gauge cartridges; six bulky parcels wrapped in transparent plastic and a brown salt bag containing leaves, seeds, and stems sus-

pected to be cannabis.

Four hundred dry cannabis plants were also found concealed in the ceiling of the house. The total street value of the confiscated narcotics amounted to $295 million. Police transported the seized items, including the firearms and cannabis, to the Central Police Station. Despite the significant findings, no arrests were made during the operation.

Less than a week ago, a farm with millions worth of marijuana was found by ranks of the Guyana Police Force and destroyed.

Ranks stumbled upon the farm at Kaiwa, Upper Berbice River, as they conducted an eradication exercise.

According to Police, the farm was approximately four acres in size and had about 6000 cannabis plants ranging from six inches to four feet in height, with a total weight of 6600kg – a street value of $1,016,400. In addition, there was a small nursery that had approximately 20,000 seedlings.

Police said a makeshift camp nearby had kitchen utensils and groceries. The Police also found 54.431kg of dried cannabis, which carries a street value of $48,987, 900. The farm, along with the nursery and camp, was destroyed.

Just days before that discovery, more than $570 mil-

To this end, the GCCI said: “We urgently call upon the Guyana Police Force and the Government to cease their passive stance and take immediate, decisive actions to rectify this growing public hazard. It is imperative that measures are implemented to ensure compliance with road regulations and to safeguard the safety and security of all road users.”

Over $295M worth of ganja, shotguns found in Berbice

lion worth of ganja was destroyed at Wiruni and Kaiwa, communities along the Upper Berbice River.

Police have said that ranks travelled to Wiruni and discovered two cannabis farms.

The first farm was about 20 acres in size, and had a makeshift camp and drying area where about 544.31kg (1200 lbs) of dried cannabis, which has a street value of over $489 million, were found.

The second farm was about 10 acres and had about 150,000 plants ranging in height from six to eight feet. The estimated cost of these plants is in excess of $50.8 million.

Ranks carried out another exercise at Kaiwa, where another two cannabis farms were discovered and destroyed.

The first farm was about five acres in size, and had approximately 1000 seedlings on several beds. In addition, 35,000 seedlings were found in a nearby nursery. This farm also had a large camp which had about 34.019 kg of dried cannabis, which has a street value of over $30.6 million.

The other farm, located about 100 feet away from the first one, was about two acres in size, and had about 2000 plants ranging in height from eight inches to four feet.

The estimated weight of these plants was 2200 kg, with an estimated street value of $338,800,000.

The farms, nurseries, and narcotics were destroyed. At the time of the operation, no one was seen, thus no one was arrested.

About a month ago, a Police narcotics eradication exercise had led to the discovery of more than $151 million worth of marijuana at Ebini Backdam, a Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) community situated in the upper reaches of the Berbice River. (G9)

Just last week, a 36-yearold mother of three identified as Martha Williams was mutilated by a hauler truck at High and Princes Streets, Georgetown.

Also last week, another woman, Doreen Haynes, was squeezed and crushed to death by a truck on Water Street, Georgetown. In that incident, the truck involved was at the time unregistered.

More recently, in the wee hours of Thursday, a truck crashed head-on into a motor car at Garden of Eden on the East Bank of Demerara. The driver of the left-hand drive Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) escaped unhurt despite the front of his vehicle being completely smashed in. Based on reports from the scene, the truck driver had allegedly fallen asleep behind the wheels resulting in the lorry ending up in the SUV’s path on the opposite side. Another truck was also damaged in the incident.

Also on Thursday morning, a sand-laden truck toppled onto its side on the

During the meeting, the Public Works Minister also rolled out a five-point plan to help reduce accidents and issues associated with trucks on the roadways. The plan addresses issues including the need for reduced speed and better management of noise nuisance, as well as concerns regarding damage to public property and the designated weight requirement for trucks.

Some 100 truck drivers, operators, and trailer owners were present at the event, which focused on discussing strategies for improving the functioning of trucks and other articulated vehicles on the roadways to prevent accidents and minimise inconvenience to other commuters.

Edghill firstly directed his remarks to Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh and traffic ranks, who were also present at the event, stressing that drivers who are tired should not be allowed to operate vehicles on Guyana’s roadways.

The Minister had urged Police Officers to intervene if they observe drivers exceeding reasonable hours, emphasising the importance of ensuring that tired drivers do not pose a distinct

“A tired driver is a danger to every citizen of this country, if Police are working on the road and notice any driver making trips for lengthy periods of time and noticed that they have not taken time to rest, make sure to have them be pulled aside,” Edghill had said, pledging to collaborate with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to implement the suspension of licences for drivers whose employers permit them to work extensive hours without adequate rest.

The Public Works Minister had also raised the issue of overweight trucks and stressed that drivers were not ensuring that the items they were transporting were safely secured. He further highlighting that some trucks have no covers while transporting loads of materials thus resulting in sand and stones dropping out of some of the trucks into the path of other vehicles behind them.

“This can cause severe problems to drivers and even make motorcycle riders to skid along the roadway and make them liable to being run over by trucks, etc,” Edghill outlined.

Meanwhile, during the engagement with the Minister, the truck drivers also raised their concerns which included the use of illegal sirens. One driver advised that there was need to raise awareness about the lights on cars that mimic the lights of Police, fire, and Army vehicles as well as honking noises that mimic law enforcement sirens. (G8)

Moments before Doreen Haynes was crushed to death by an unregistered truck on Water Street last week

The ganja and firearms that were found during the Police exercise

Power…

…plays

As our profile rises in the world -- not because of our Guyanese charm, but because of the light crude flowing from under our Atlantic waters!! – we gotta have a good handle to help us navigate through the new challenges we’ll face, or are already facing!! We know that Mad Maduro presents our most clear and present danger, since he’s had the temerity to announce to the world that he’s ANNEXED two-thirds of our national territory – all of the Essequibo west of the eponymous river - and to the hell with what anyone thinks. Least of all us!!

He’s gonna go ballistic when he realises now that the US has “reimposed sanctions” for free and fair elections in Venezuela; his oil production’s gonna plateau – at best – at 1 million bpm, which we’ll match by 2027!! How dare us wogs of the thieving British colonial state - that’s now in tatters - match them in their one and only claim to fame – oil!!

But there’s a lesson here we gotta learn as we tussle with the big boys – and girls! Things are rarely as they seem!! Israel’s goings-on over in the Gaza Strip are so notorious that your Eyewitness hopes it doesn’t need repetition – and yet nothing’s been done by the international community to stop even genocide of the Palestinians. The threat of a nuclear conflagration didn’t change anything. The lesson is that even between sworn enemies - Iran, Israel and the US - a game of “let’s pretend” was played for the consumption of domestic audiences, but things continued as they were!! Nothing strategic was touched!!

So, what are our chances against Mad Maduro, who’s clearly following in the path of his hero Putinwho’s invaded the Ukraine and is about to annex a huge chunk of their real estate – on the identical premise of Mad Maduro. To wit that, historically, eastern Ukraine was Russia’s to begin with!! Well, here, we’re told the US reimposed sanctions on Venezuelan oil, ‘cause Mad Maduro played fast and loose with the Barbados Agreement for free and fair elections. Or was it another case of “let’s pretend”, because of greater interests??

Pertinently, only Licence 44 was cancelled. This had allowed PDVSA to expand exports to pre-Covid levels, so’s to improve cash flow and secure imports of diluents and fuel for the domestic market. Most significantly, however, authorizations previously granted under Licence 41 - to oil firms including Chevron, Repsol and Eni, which secures Venezuela's oil flows to the United States and Europe - CONTINUES unabated!!

No wonder Mad Maduro’s given the middle finger to Venezuelan opposition, and continued his sabre-rattling towards us! Even as we receive all sorts of assurances from the Yanks – on their “support”.

We’re on our own, baby!!

…in Haiti

Your Eyewitness has been asking for years when Haiti’s agony gonna end. Hey…he knows from our own bitter experience with Burnham what dictatorial rule can do to a nation. But while we had Burnham to their Papa and Baby Doc, they not only have earthquakes and hurricanes, but interfering big powers that insist in sticking their noses into their affairs. Right off the bat, after they’d defeated France and supposedly secured their independence, up came the US and collaborated with France to impose huge reparations that took them a hundred years to pay off.

Well, cut to the present, where big power interference has made ruling the country into a game of musical chairs – even as an elite continues using various stratagems to rape the country. The latest has been to use heavilyarmed gangs to control the capital by killing citizens indiscriminately. Caricom has now brokered a power transfer that had the unelected Prime Minister resign and a Transitional Council of nine locals installed to prepare for elections.

Your Eyewitness isn’t sanguine.

…of youths

Back in the 60s and 70s, campus protests across the US most effectively highlighted the resistance of ordinary Americans to the Vietnam War. Today, campus protests have erupted nationwide to demand the US stop backing Israel’s genocide against Palestinians.

Police in Region 5 concerned over high instance of statutory rape – RDC hears

The police in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) have expressed concern over the high instances of rape being recorded in that region, particularly statutory rape; and are trying to get regional politicians involved in tackling the problem.

Rape has become the number one crime of concern for police in that region, and according to Deputy Police Commander, Superintendent Lansdale Withrite, rape has reached worrying propositions. For this year, there have already been eight reported cases, with five of those cases being classified as statutory rape. In all five cases, the victims were girls. Superintendent Withrite recently addressed the Region Five

Democratic Council (RDC) on this situation. He said, “The highest crime that is plaguing the division is rape; and not just rape, but rape of juveniles. Even worse, the age group is between 12 to 14; the state plays a critical role in the protection of those mem-

bers of our society. As leaders of this region, I think we all have a role to play in protecting those persons that are being targeted.”

He called on Regional Councillors, and by extension the RDC, to play an active role in educating persons on this topic.

Miner chopped after quitting job

Aminer is currently hospitalised after being chopped during a confrontation at Toroparu Backdam, Middle Mazaruni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Injured is Indeo Miguel of Karawab, Pomeroon, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). Police reported that the chopping incident occurred around 19:00h on Thursday.

Reports are that Miguel left his camp and went to a nearby shop, where he began drinking. Upon his return to the camp, it was reported that he informed the suspect that he was leaving

the job.

This angered the suspect, who was armed with a cutlass. He then confronted Miguel and struck him with to his left abdomen with the weapon. The 24-year-old man was rushed to the min-

ing company’s infirmary, where he was treated by a Medex, who was on duty. He was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital and admitted.

Investigations are ongoing.

According to the senior police officer, rape is a highly underreported crime.

“Rape is particularly problematic because it premise on fear, embarrassment, etc. So, when this happens, it is very often underreported,” he disclosed.

He called on members of the RDC to be more vigilant within their communities, and further emphasised that to reduce instances of rape, especially statutory rape effectively, all stakeholders have to work together.

“It is not something that the police alone could deal with, because we only know about it when it happened; there is nothing that we can do about the damage done to the child. We could deal with the perpetrator, but we would like to prevent this particular crime from happening as much as possible. In our crime stats, that is the highest by far; it is about five times more than robbery,” he disclosed.

This, the Deputy Commander said, is unacceptable. He noted that the department and the RDC have a mandate to protect the youths of the region.

Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal has said a meeting with stakeholders will be held shortly to address the issue. Victims can seek support by calling 914, which is a tollfree number. This means the call can be placed even if the caller has no credit in their phone. (G4)

First Hanuman Chalisa chanting being hosted in Guyana

The Guyana National Stadium will be the transformed into a Hanuman Chalisa chanting arena on Sunday as the Bajrang Baan Committee hosts its first-ever Hanuman Chalisa chanting in Guyana. Hanuman Chalisa is a set of 40 verses dedicated to Lord Hanuman.

It was written by the famous yogi Sri Goswami Tulsidas in the 16th century. According to shvasa.com, legend has it that Tulsidas, in a state of illness, penned the Hanuman Chalisa. The act of composing and singing praises to Lord Hanuman played a pivotal role in Tulsidas’s recovery, contrib-

uting to the restoration of his health.

All mandir singers and musicians have been invited to the local event, which will commence at 15:30h and conclude at 20:00h. People desirous of attending are encouraged to wear something red, and the event will be free.

Deputy Police Commander, Superintendent Lansdale Withrite

No active wildfires but vigilance continues amid enduring heat – CDC

Earlier this month, Guyana grappled with over 1000 cases of wildfires sweeping across the nation, particularly concentrated in Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). However, on Friday, the landscape shifted, with no active cases reported.

Civil Defence Commission (CDC) Communications Officer Patrice Wishart disclosed this development. The CDC played a pivotal role in the Government’s response to this unprecedented crisis.

Despite the current lull, Wishart emphasised the ongoing monitoring efforts given the persistent heat and the potential for resurgence of the wildfires.

On March 12, a wildfire at Parakies Village in the North West District of Region One (Barima-Waini) claimed the life of 93-yearold Alexander Josephine about 12:30h.

The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has said initial investigations indicate that the fire originated in an open farmland area adjacent to the Parakies Main Road, and the fire has left significant burn damage and ash residue in its wake amid the dense vegetation.

Known for his dedication to farming, Josephine had left his residence around 09:00h on March 12 to go to his farm. However, around 13:00h, his family received distressing news via cellular phone that he had suffered severe burns while on his farm and had passed away.

Ranks of the Acquero Police Station were informed of the situation, and when emergency responders arrived on the scene, Josephine was reportedly found lying motionless with burns covering his body. He was transported to the Kumaka District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Another of the notable blazes ravaged the Santa Aratak/Santa Mission, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) area along the Demerara River, prompting the evacuation of over 250 persons.

Thirty-eight women, children, and senior citizens were evacuated by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), while some residents chose to stay with family members along the LindenSoesdyke Highway and in Linden.

The Government established a shelter at Timehri Primary School to accommodate those displaced. Those individuals have since returned home.

Various entities, including the GFS, GDF, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Guyana Forestry Commission, actively participated in the response efforts.

However, this recent ordeal underscored the nation’s lack of readiness to tackle such calamities. Consequently, the Government sought assistance from Brazil. The collaborative initiative encompasses aerial surveys and cooperation with the CDC to bolster local preparedness.

Brazil will provide guidance and aid, particularly in remote regions. GFS Divisional Officer (Admin) Himchand Persaud stressed the significance of this support. During a recent broadcast, Persaud acknowledged the officials’ prior unpreparedness for such crises.

“Of course, we know that the bush fire or grass fire of that magnitude that we recently experienced we didn’t anticipate that. We are still planning now for next year’s budget with the

help of the recommendations we are hoping to have from the Brazilians. We are going to start putting systems in place to be more effective in dealing with our combat,”

he said.

In the meantime, the Fire Service is urging citizens to avoid deliberately setting fires to either burn garbage or for land clear-

ing, noting that such acts are punishable by law. Any fire or emission of excessive smoke should be reported to the Fire Service via 912. (G9)

Education Ministry, World Bank to modernise TVET sector

Through collaborative efforts between the Education Ministry and the World Bank, initiatives have been set in motion to modernise Guyana’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, aligning it with current and future labour market demands at both secondary and post-secondary education levels.

On Friday, the Education Ministry highlighted that a critical aspect of this collaborative effort is a tracer study, conducted in partnership with the Council for TVET.

According to the Education Ministry, the study aims to evaluate the employment status and assess the quality of education received by TVET graduates, 12 months after completion of their programme.

This evaluation will encompass graduates from the vocational streams of secondary education, including those from the Secondary Competency Certificate Programme (SCCP) and the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) pro-

gramme, as well as graduates from public post-secondary TVET institutions.

To facilitate this comprehensive study, the Ministry has engaged Groupe Cayambe, a renowned consultancy firm, to execute a series of surveys, focus groups, and individual meetings with key stakeholders.

TVET institutions are committed to offer education and training to youths and adults in technical, commercial and scientific fields relevant to the needs of the national economy. In addition, the TVET institutions have a responsibility to collaborate with industry and commerce in the planning of

programmes which will facilitate the acquisition of appropriate knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary for the development of self and the nation.

In 1993 and 1995, the Education Ministry developed and implemented policies and programmes for the improvement of the TVET system. The National Development Strategy of 2001 also articulates development policies for the system. In 2003, the Secretariat of the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) was upgraded to include the installation of a modern information storage and retrieval system.

TVET trainees

A wildfire at Parakies Village in the North West District of Region One (Barima-Waini) during March 2024

Govt could lose $1B in revenue this year as cigarette smuggling surges – DEMTOCO

…announces $2.27B in after-tax profit for 2023

With cigarette smuggling at an all-time high in Guyana, the Demerara Tobacco Company (DEMTOCO) Limited has estimated that the country could lose as much as $1 billion in revenue from the illicit trade this year.

DEMOTOCO held its 90th Annual General Meeting on Friday at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown, where Managing Director Vijay Singh shared the company’s 2023 results and strategic achievements.

At the meeting, Singh addressed the challenges posed by the illicit trade of tobacco products, which he noted has significantly impacted the industry. The market share of illicit cigarettes in Guyana has risen alarmingly to an estimated 29 per cent, representing a 100 per cent increase in just one year.

The managing director emphasised the urgent need for intervention, stating, “If this trend continues, we could see an estimated loss of G$1 billion in government revenue by the end of 2024.”

DEMTOCO has been advocating for stronger enforcement to combat the illicit trade, which undermines legitimate businesses and poses risks to the economy as well as put citizens at risk due to unregulated products.

In the 2023 report, Singh

disclosed that two key brands are sold illegally in large quantities across the country. This, he noted, continues to be a direct threat to DEMTOCO hence combating the illicit trade remains one of its main priorities.

The Managing Director is of the view that an effective anti-illicit trade strategy has to be multi-sectoral, involving all relevant Government agencies, the Private Sector and in some facets, even regional entities.

Additionally, he stated that focus should be placed on enforcement to address non-compliance and adherence to all laws such as Excise Tax Stamps and the packaging and labelling re-

quirements as mandated by the Tobacco Control Act of 2017.

Nevertheless, Singh said the company appreciated the efforts of local law enforcement agencies such as the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) in seizing illegal products. In addition to the number of seizures done in 2023, the company also lauded GRA's publishing of official notices to sensitise the public on the legal brands of cigarettes.

At last year’s AGM, Singh had raised similar concerns on the negative impact the rapid increase in, and far-reaching presence of, illegal cigarettes is having on the company and Government revenues as well as its role in incentivising criminal activities in the country.

The Managing Director had pointed out last April that in neighbouring Suriname, illicit tobacco trade was left unchecked and ruined the revenue streams for the Government in Paramaribo and the legitimate industry in the Dutch-speaking country.

DEMTOCO has been raising awareness of the illegal trade in Guyana through active engagement with regulators, the Government, and the Private Sector.

Over 3000 persons already registered for PPP/C Congress – GS

Some 3000 persons have already registered for the 32nd Congress of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), which is set for May 3-5, 2024 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

The Congress is the highest decision-making forum of the party, and General Secretary Dr Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday said this year’s event is set to be the largest in the party’s history.

“That’s about three times the size of any previous Congress, and they’re coming from Regions Ten, Berbice, Essequibo and hinterland, justifying the strength of our party as one that is multi-ethnic in nature,” he told reporters at a press conference at Freedom House.

The General Secretary said the number of registrants signifies that the party’s support is growing.

The party will elect 40 persons to serve as leaders of the PPP/C. Jagdeo did not disclose whether he would be running again for the position of General Secretary.

Last week, Executive Member Zulfikar Mustapha, while giving an update on the congress, had said that preparations are moving apace. During an appearance on the Guyana Dialogue programme,

Mustapha disclosed, “We have 35 full members of the Central Committee and five candidate members. So, 40 persons, delegates and observers, will be voted for the leadership of the party.

“This will be a very important congress for us to charter the course forward, and as you know, this is the highest decision-making forum of the Party, so we are anticipating and looking forward to this congress that will take us to the future,” he had said.

The opening session of the PPP/C Congress will be open to Guyana’s media, and a press briefing will be held when the proceedings conclude for the announcement of the outcome.

Mustapha has said the General Secretary’s Report would be made available to delegates ahead of congress,

in an effort to promote transparency among party members. On this point, he explained that the report will also serve as a guide for decision-making.

At the Party’s last Congress, held in Essequibo from December 17 to December 19, 2016, Bharrat Jagdeo was elected General Secretary of the Party. That was the first time that Jagdeo had held the post of leader of the party.

With the 2025 General and Regional Elections looming, President Dr Irfaan Ali has already indicated that he will be running for a second term, taking him to the country’s two-term limit for Presidents.

The theme of this year’s biennial Congress is “Strengthen the Party, Defend Guyana, Unite All Our People for Progress and Prosperity”.

Profits

Meanwhile, DEMTOCO on Friday also reported a 9.7 per cent increase in profits after tax, climbing from $2.07 billion in 2022 to $2.27 billion in 2023.

tensions, which DEMTOCO successfully navigated in order to deliver significant value to its shareholders.

During his presentation, Singh highlighted the company’s strategic focus on

According to the company, this growth has been supported by a 4.4 per cent increase in revenue that was driven by enhanced operating efficiencies. However, it was noted that these results were achieved amid a challenging global environment characterised by logistical disruptions, inflationary pressures, and international political

strengthening its portfolio of international brands.

“Our premium brand Dunhill has once again shown outstanding performance, with a growth of 9.5 per cent for the third consecutive year. This is a testament to our commitment to innovation and providing a premium experience to our consumers,” the Managing Director said.

Additionally, it was noted that the migration of the Bristol brand to the globally-recognised Lucky Strike has positioned DEMTOCO to leverage brand strength and drive future growth.

However, despite the challenges faced, DEMTOCO’s resilience and strategic initiatives have ensured sustained growth and shareholder value. The Managing Director extended gratitude to all stakeholders, including the dedicated DEMTOCO team and the leadership provided by the Board of Directors, which have been instrumental in achieving the company’s goals.

“As we continue to navigate through these challenging times, our focus remains on innovation, strategic growth, and combating illicit trade to ensure the prosperity of DEMTOCO and contribute positively to Guyana’s economy,” Singh posited. (G8)

DEMTOCO Managing Director Vijay Singh

Seawall vending will continue, but not current “lawlessness” – Edghill …misinformation

to vendors is “mischief-making”

Persons who have received permission from the Sea and River Defence Board to vend along the Georgetown seawall area will be able to continue vending, but individuals who are unlawfully vending in the area will not be permitted to do so.

This is according to Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, who clarified the vendors’ misconceptions on the matter.

According to the Minister, any misinformation that was spread

which claimed that the Government was removing vendors from the seawall was a clear sign of mischief-making.

Edghill stated that the Government’s plans were to ensure that every person who has a licence to vend on the seawall knows the conditions under which they must vend.

“Any misinformation that the Government was removing vendors is a clear sign of mischief-making. Your licence tells you the conditions in which you

must vend, and those conditions state that there should be no permanent structures.”

He highlighted several points to the vendors, including what is “vending space” .

“Your vending space should be no more than 100 square feet, and you should be 15 feet away from the edge of the road, and you should always clean up after every vending,” he stated, adding that all of the spaces should be aesthetically pleasing in correlation to what the Government has been doing to beautify the country.

Edghill then took the time to highlight that as these conditions have been put in place within the vendors’ contracts, some vendors have disobeyed and gone to areas that were not designated to them and this would not be tolerated by the Ministry.

“There will be no vending around the roundabout and the monument, and you would have seen that we have already cleared that area,” Edghill, who reaffirmed the contracts, stated. Meanwhile, he urged that vendors should reread their contracts to stay up to date with the agreements they have signed. “All vendors need to do is to get in line with what their permit has said. So, I make it very clear, vending will continue along the seawall, lawlessness will not be continued,” Edghill reaffirmed.

Edghill noted that the Government needed to be reasonable with its decisions as the seawall serves as a sea defence reserve and at any time anything drastic could happen and the Government would need access to the area. (G2)

May 21 declared Memorial Day for Mahdia fire victims

In remembrance of the tragic fire which resulted in the deaths of 20 children on May 21, 2023, a Memorial Day will be observed this year as a tribute to those who perished.

This was announced by Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn during the Guyana Fire Service’s Senior Officers’ Conference.

According to Benn, on that day it is expected that there will be a commemoration for all the victims.

“This day should be one where this is a place where all Guyana Fire Service members and persons within the country can go to see pictures of persons who have lost their lives to fires and pay respect to them,” Benn stated.

He added that the main focus should be awareness for citizens to reinstall the missions, tasks, and roles in this particular area in the development of the country.

“Furthermore, as the country is within the oil and gas era and infrastructural developments are being completed, the country is also becoming more skilled and conscious to deal with various causes like these,” Benn expounded.

On May 21, 2023, tragedy struck at the Mahdia Secondary School girls’ dormitory, which had

housed 56 girls and a fiveyear-old boy from the communities of Karisparu, El Paso, Micobie and Chenapau, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni). The Guyana Fire Service confirmed that 14 children died in the inferno, while five succumbed to their injuries at the Mahdia

District Hospital. Another died days later.

The fire claimed the lives of Subrina John; Belnisa Evans; Loreen Evans; Bibi Rita Fiona Jeffrey; Lisa Roberts; Tracil Thomas; Delecia Edwards; Lorita Williams; Natalie Bellarmine; Arianna Edwards; Cleoma

Simon; Martha Dandrade; Mary Dandrade; Omerfia Edwin; Nickleen Robinson; Sherlyn Bellarmine; Eulander Carter; Andrea Roberts; Sherana Daniels and Adanye Jerome, the son of the dorm mother.

A 15-year-old girl was charged in June 2023 with 20 counts of murder for the

arson. She has since been detained at a juvenile holding facility.

CoI

The report of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Mahdia fire had outlined several recommendations to improve the condition of dormitories across the country, and to prevent the recurrence of such a tragedy, looking at the combined viewpoints of security, society, and safety.

The report was handed over to President Dr Irfaan Ali by Chairman of the CoI, Major General (Retired) Joe Singh, on January 19, 2024.

From the findings tendered, the Commission recommended that an inspectorate be set up to visit the dormitories which have been, or are being, retrofitted, in order to determine the extent to which they are in compliance with the recommended gender-sensitive standards for dormitories. This should also apply to dormitories that are intended to be constructed.

Further, the report detailed, “The visits should allow for the inspection of fire-suppression systems, emergency evacuation procedures, and assessment of first responder fire-fighting drills and capabilities.

Compliance with the statutory schedules for fire

drills at schools and dormitories must also be monitored and enforced.”

Additionally, technically competent individuals should be included in such inspectorate teams, and reports on the extent of compliance achieved are to be submitted to the relevant agencies for evaluation and follow-up action.

Furthermore, grills should be replaced with a modern security system, inclusive of secured fencing and cameras, to ensure a protected environment and assist in monitoring the entry and exit of all persons using the facilities.

The Commission heard, during testimonies, that the grills were installed to prevent the girls from escaping and indulging in the night life of the mining town.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill speaking to the seawall vendors

A section of the Georgetown seawall

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn

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Oil settles higher on supply concerns in the Middle East, economic woes subdue gains

Oil prices settled higher on Friday, garnering support from tensions in the Middle East, but a strong dollar and US inflation data quashed hopes that the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates soon, giving prices a ceiling.

Page 30

Brent crude futures settled up 49 cents, or 0.55 per cent, to US$89.50 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures settled up 28 cents, or 0.34 per cent, to US$83.85 a barrel.

Supply concerns supported prices as tensions continue in the Middle East.

Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu said any rulings by the International Criminal Court, which is investigating Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel and Israel's military assault on Gaza, would not affect Israel's actions but would "set a dangerous precedent".

As tensions escalate, Israel's military said on Friday that its air force struck in Lebanon's West Beqaa District and killed a militant who advanced attacks against Israel.

Israel stepped up air strikes on Rafah on Thursday after saying it would evacuate civilians from the city in southern Gaza and launch an all-out assault despite allies' warnings that doing so could cause mass casualties.

"Israel is not afraid to come and support themselves on their own if they have to, people are watching to see what happens between Netanyahu and Biden," said Tim Snyder, chief economist at Matador Economics.

"The geopolitical element is not over, the proxy battles going on right now will continue," and this is still providing support and helping to offset the negative pressure from the inflationary data, Snyder added.

Meanwhile, macroeconomic pressures capped gains after data released on Friday showed growing inflation.

In the 12 months through March, US inflation rose 2.7 per cent after an advance of 2.5 per cent in February. Last month's increase was broadly in line with economists' expectations.

The Fed has a two per cent inflation target. The US central bank is expected to leave rates unchanged at its policy meeting next week.

"The economic data this morning was enough for market participants to conclude that the Fed is not going to be forthcoming with interest rate cuts any time soon," said John Kilduff, partner with Again Capital LLC.

"Geopolitical jitters in the market are what is keeping us aloft. Those two competing forces should keep us in check," Kilduff added.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Reuters on Thursday that US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for the first quarter could be revised higher, and inflation will ease after a clutch of "peculiar" factors held the economy to its weakest showing in nearly two years.

US economic growth was likely stronger than suggested by the weaker quarterly data, Yellen said. Oil prices have flipflopped since Yellen's comments and the release of the inflation data on Friday.

Meanwhile, the dollar soared to a fresh 34-year high against the yen on Friday, bolstered in part by the US inflation data.

"Dollar strength is helping to exert negative pressure today," Kilduff said.

Elsewhere, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Secretary General, Haitham Al Ghais said in an op-ed article that the end of oil is not in sight, as the pace of energy demand growth means that alternatives cannot replace it at the needed scale, and the focus should be on cutting emissions not oil use. (Reuters)

Blinken says China helping fuel Russian threat to Ukraine

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has warned Washington will act if China does not stop supplying Russia with items used in its assault on Ukraine.

Speaking to the BBC in Beijing, the US's top diplomat said he had made clear to his counterparts they were "helping fuel the biggest threat" to European security since the Cold War.

He did not say what measures the US was prepared to take.

But Blinken was also keen to stress progress had been made in some areas. He praised Beijing for making efforts in stopping supplies of the drug fentanyl reaching the US.

China remains the principal source of fentanyl for the US, which the White House has said is causing a public

health crisis across the country.

Blinken also stressed he felt Beijing can play a "constructive" role in the Middle East, pointing towards China using "its relationship with Iran to urge" against further escalation in its confrontation with Israel.

The visit – the second in 10 months made by Blinken – forms part of a significant

Brazil: 10 killed in homeless guesthouse fire

Afire has destroyed a guesthouse for the homeless in southern Brazil, killing at least 10 persons.

The fire broke out early on Friday in the city of Porto Alegre. At least 13 persons were taken to hospital, some in critical condition, officials say.

About 30 persons were believed to be living at the guesthouse at the time of the fire. The cause is unknown.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sent his condolences to victims' families in a post on X.

He said that the guesthouse was used to house people in "vulnerable" situations. Porto Alegre Mayor Sebastião Melo declared

three days of official mourning in the city.

Firefighters were called to the three-storey building at 02:00h local time (05:00 GMT) and brought the fire under control within two hours.

It is unclear whether the shelter was operating legally. The fire department says it did not have a permit, but this was denied by a city official.

It comes 11 years after a deadly fire in the same state shocked the country.

More than 240 persons died and hundreds were injured after a flare was set off inside a nightclub in Santa Maria, trapping hundreds inside and setting the building alight. (BBC News)

Israeli strike kills Lebanese militants in Beqaa area

An Israeli strike in Lebanon's Beqaa region has killed two members of a Lebanese militant group that has fired rockets across the southern border at Israel, the group said on Friday.

Israel's military said in a statement on Friday that its air force "struck and eliminated Mosab Khalaf in the area of Meidoun in Lebanon", saying he was

a member of the Jama'a Islamiya group and had carried out attacks against Israel.

In a statement, the Jama'a Islamiya said two of its field commanders –Khalaf and a relative of his – were killed in the strike.

A security source in Lebanon confirmed that Khalaf was a local official in the group's armed wing, the Fajr forces. The group

has previously fired rockets at Israel.

It was the first time Israel has confirmed having targeted a member of the Jama'a Islamiya in Lebanon, although members of the group have been killed in strikes in Lebanon as well as members of Palestinian faction Hamas in Lebanon.

Hamas launched an attack on Israel in October

that left 1200 persons dead and led to 253 being taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. Israel responded with a military campaign on the Gaza Strip that has left more than 34,000 Palestinians dead.

In parallel, Hezbollah and Israel have been trading fire across Lebanon's southern border.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

increase in dialogue and diplomacy between the rival powers as they attempt to put relations on an even keel after a period of immense tension last year.

Relations between Washington and Beijing have been strained by China's claims over Taiwan and the South China Sea, and US export bans on advanced tech. They were further damaged

by a row over a spy balloon last February.

In recent days, the US passed a law that would force Chinese-owned TikTok to sell the hugely popular video app or be banned in America – something Blinken earlier revealed had not come up in his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Xi – who met Blinken on Friday afternoon in Beijing's Great Hall of the People –agreed the two sides had "made some positive progress" since he met his US counterpart, Joe Biden, in November.

He added the countries should "be partners, not rivals", saying that if the US took "a positive view of China's development", relations could "truly stabilise, get better and move forward". (Excerpt from BBC News)

Holness condemns killing of 16-year-old Westmoreland student

Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Friday condemned the brutal killing of Carson Barrett, a 16-year-old student of Grange Hill High in Westmoreland, whose life was snuffed out in what cops say was a gang-related incident.

Barrett was shot dead on Thursday while walking home from school with a female schoolmate, who was also injured in the incident. Her injuries are not considered life-threatening, Police said.

Holness, in a release from his office, made a pledge that criminals who target children would be caught and would receive no mercy.

“This incident and violence in all its forms must be

condemned by all Jamaicans. Our children must be free to attend school and live in an environment that promotes peace and safety to help them fulfil their dreams and aspirations. Persons who prey upon our children can expect no mercy. Law enforcement agencies will catch up with them and bring them to justice. Criminals will not win in our society,” the Prime Minister said.

He went on to assure the public that the Government was securing the legal framework to deal with gangs, and it was providing the resources to law enforcement that would be needed to capture gang members. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

King Charles to resume public duties after progress in cancer treatment

King Charles will resume public engagements next week after making encouraging progress in his cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace has said.

It won't yet be a full return to official engagements for the King, but the palace is sending positive signals.

The King will begin next Tuesday with a symbolic trip to a cancer treatment centre.

His summer plans include a state visit, where he will host the Emperor and Empress of Japan.

In the coming weeks, the palace said, he would undertake more external en-

gagements.

The King is said to be "greatly encouraged" to be going back to more public events.

It's a message of cautious optimism, but the King's treatment – which began in February – is still continuing and there is no date given for its conclusion.

Buckingham Palace gave the update on the King's return to public-facing duties and his condition in a statement released on Friday.

"It is too early to say" for how much longer his treatment will continue, the palace said.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken

The fire erupted in the middle of the night, gutting the building [EPA]

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CALVIN AND HOBBES PICKLES

Indian Premier League 2024…

– as Bairstow bests Kolkata Knight Riders’ Sunil Narine

Like temperatures across the whole of India, run-scoring and six-hitting in IPL 2024 are going only one way: up.

In an unbelievably ruthless display of batting, Punjab Kings hunted down 262 against Kolkata Knight Riders to record the highest successful chase in all of T20 history, and got there with eight balls to spare. They hit 24 sixes, six more than what KKR managed, and the two teams together set the record for the most sixes in any T20 game. In the process, Jonny Bairstow roared back to form to smack his second IPL hundred. Shashank Singh, one of PBKS’ finds of the season, clubbed 68* from only 28 balls, eight of which disappeared over the boundary.

Amid all that, Sunil Narine stood apart with figures of 4-0-24-1 for KKR. That came after he continued his dream season in pummelling 71 off 32 deliveries in an opening partnership of 138 in 10.2 overs. Phil Salt, Narine’s opening partner, also rode on his form - and some luck - to rush to 75 from 37. But all of that went in vain.

Prabhsimran dominates the powerplay Eden Gardens had just taken in the enormity of the home team’s batting effort when PBKS replied in kind, pumping their highest-ever powerplay score of 93 for 1. And Prabhsimran Singh dominated this phase despite not getting to face a single ball of the sixth over. Coming on as Impact sub

at the start of the chase, he hammered 54 off 20 balls, the highlight of his innings coming when he went after KKR debutant Dushmantha Chameera in a 23-run third over. There were five sixes in his innings, including a scoop over fine leg off Chameera.

Bairstow then went 4, 6, 4, 4, 6 off Anukul Roy in the sixth over, before Prabhsimran, responding to the call for a quick single from the non-striker’s end, was run out off the last ball of the powerplay.

Bairstow carts KKR all around Bairstow was dropped by PBKS after managing just 96 runs in his first six

SCOREBOARD

Kolkata Knight Riders (20 ovs maximum)

Phil Salt † b Curran 75

Sunil Narine c Bairstow

b Chahar 71

Venkatesh Iyer run out (†JM Sharma) 39

Andre Russell c Patel

b Arshdeep Singh 24

Shreyas Iyer (c) c Rabada

b Arshdeep Singh 28

Rinku Singh c AR Sharma

b Patel 5

Ramandeep Singh not out 6

Extras (b 1, lb 1, nb 1, w 10) 13

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 13.05) 261/6

Did not bat: Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Dushmantha Chameera

Fall of wickets: 1-138 (Sunil Narine, 10.2 ov), 2-163 (Phil Salt, 12.3 ov), 3-203 (Andre Russell, 15.3 ov), 4-246 (Shreyas Iyer, 18.3 ov), 5-253 (Rinku Singh, 19.2 ov), 6-261 (Venkatesh Iyer, 19.6 ov)

• BOWLING O-M-R-W

Sam Curran 4-0-60-1

Arshdeep Singh 4-0-45-2

Harshal Patel 3-0-48-1

Kagiso Rabada 3-0-52-0

Rahul Chahar 4-0-33-1

Harpreet Brar 2-0-21-0

Punjab Kings (T: 262 runs from 20 ovs)

Prabhsimran Singh run out (Narine) 54

Jonny Bairstow not out 108

Rilee Rossouw c SS Iyer

b Narine 26 Shashank Singh not out 68

Extras (lb 2, w 4) 6 TOTAL 18.4 Ov (RR: 14.03) 262/2

Did not bat: Sam Curran (c), Jitesh Sharma †, Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar Fall of wickets: 1-93 (Prabhsimran Singh, 5.6 ov), 2-178 (Rilee Rossouw, 12.3 ov)

•

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Dushmantha Chameera 3-0-48-0

Harshit Rana 4-0-61-0

Anukul Roy 2-0-36-0

Sunil Narine 4-0-24-1

Varun Chakravarthy 3-0-46-0

Andre Russell 2-0-36-0

Ramandeep Singh 0.4-0-9-0

Punjab Kings pull off historic T20 chase

swat-pulling him for another six. When Bairstow got to his hundred off 45 balls, to end the 16th over, PBKS needed 52 from 24.

Shashank helps PBKS sail through Shashank came to the crease when Narine, who somehow conceded just two fours and a six in his four overs, dismissed Rilee Rossouw for a 16-ball 26 in the 13th over. It was the first time he had batted above No. 6 for PBKS, and he quickly made evident his liking for the promotion, hitting Varun for back-toback leg-side sixes when he had just faced three balls.

The game was tilting PBKS’ way when the last four overs began, and the 16th made them clear favourites, as Shashank thumped

fell to less than two runs per ball. The match ended in a hurry, as

innings this season. And he took his time finding his feet in his return game, scoring just 12 off his first 10 balls. But his assault on Roy gave a hint of what was to come. He found a bit of help in the ninth over, though, when Roy dropped him while flinging himself to his left at long-off, and failed to prevent the ball from going for six. That shot off Varun Chakravarthy brought up Bairstow’s fifty, off 23 balls.

Bairstow went after Varun again in the 11th over, launching him for a six over long-off, chipping a four over the bowler’s head, and

PBKS

Chameera for three sixesa swat, a scoop, and a pull - as PBKS’ required rate

clattered three more sixes, off Harshit Rana and Ramandeep Singh, and the crowd began to disperse even before the result was officially confirmed.

Shashank, batting, was on 25 when Bairstow reached his hundred; the match ended with Shashank on 68 and Bairstow on 108.

Salt, Narine set up daunting KKR total PBKS dropped Salt twice and Narine once inside the first seven overs, and the two turbocharged openers ran away to 83 for no loss in that time. By the time KKR had reached the halfway point of their innings, they had added another 54 to their score.

Narine reached his fifty in the eighth over, bringing it up in 23 balls, and Salt got to his in the next over.

At the 10-over mark, ESPNcricinfo’s Forecaster predicted a KKR total of 282.

to mishit a big shot, which found Bairstow at longon. Who knew then that Bairstow would have so much of a say later in the day?

KKR promoted Andre Russell up to No. 4, and he entered in the 13th over. Facing his second ball, he upper-cut Sam Curran for four to deep third. Chahar then bowled a quiet 14th over, conceding just seven runs, but it was only a temporary bit of respite, as Russell, Shreyas Iyer and Venkatesh Iyer - who hit Curran for 6, 4, 6, 6 to end the 19th over - joined hands to take 85 off the last six overs.

KKR’s total of 261 for 6 would have been the second-highest in IPL history if it had been made before this season. As it happened, it was only the seventh-highest at the halfway point of this game, and the eighth highest by the time it was done. (ESPNCricinfo)

Shashank

finally separated the opening pair when Rahul Chahar got Narine

Jonny Bairstow was in his nineties by the 13th over

Shashank Singh coolly hammered a 23-ball half-century

Phil Salt and Sunil Narine were unstoppable at the Eden Gardens

Arshdeep Singh celebrating the big scalp of Andre Russell

Windies Women’s tour to Pakistan 2024…

West Indies clinch one-run thriller against Pakistan

as Ramharack stars with four in first of five T20Is

The West Indies have sealed a thrilling onerun win in their first women’s T20I against Pakistan in Karachi.

The visitors posted 122 after a disciplined bowling performance from Pakistan, which was spearheaded by Fatima Sana and Sadia Iqbal.

But West Indies’ bowlers responded in kind, shackling the Pakistan innings and turning the chase into a nervy one that went to the death.

In the end, it boiled down to two runs needed off the final delivery, but Shamilia Connell beat the bat, and Shemaine Campbelle behind the stumps effected the run-out.

In the first of five T20Is, West Indies won the toss and

elected to bat first as they looked to continue their 100% record in Pakistan on this tour. But on a pitch that gripped under the lights, it was Pakistan who started stronger, as Iqbal struck off the second ball to send the talismanic captain Hayley Matthews back for a duck.

Diana Baig, the most economical of the Pakistan bowlers, trapped Campbelle behind soon after, to leave West Indies wobbling at 14 for two. The partnership between Qiana Joseph and Stafanie Taylor that followed did steady the ship, but Pakistan never quite let them get going.

A pair of valuable cameos - both Chedean Nation and Chinelle Henry scored 13 off 9

balls - helped West Indies tip over the run-a-ball mark, but Pakistan must have felt they had had a slight edge at the

New archery club “Oasis Archers” affiliates with Archery Guyana

Archery Guyana has announced the affiliation of “Oasis Archers”, a dynamic addition to the archery community in Guyana. Mrs Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, President of Archery Guyana, has warmly welcomed President Centhia Cross and the Executive Committee of Oasis Archers into the fold of Archery Guyana, congratulating them on marking a significant milestone in the sport’s growth and development within the nation.

President Vidushi PersaudMcKinnon has expressed her enthusiasm for the affiliation by stating, “We are delighted to welcome Oasis Archers into the Archery Guyana family. Their

dedication to the sport and commitment to fostering a thriving archery community align perfectly with our mission and values.”

Ms. Centhia Cross, President of Oasis Archers, shared her excitement at her club joining Archery Guyana by saying, “We are thrilled to become part of Archery Guyana, and look forward to contributing to the growth of archery in our country. With access to resources and support from the national governing body, we are confident in our ability to provide opportunities for archers of all levels to thrive.”

The affiliation process with Archery Guyana is straightforward and accessible to all clubs interested in joining the association. Clubs can initiate the affiliation process by contacting Archery Guyana directly and submitting the necessary documentation. Once approved, af-

Oasis Archers’ Committee, comprising Centhia Cross as President, Quincy Clarke as Vice President, Aaron Taylor as Treasurer, Lalita Lachman as Secretary, and members Michael Benn, Colin Higgins, Samuel Arjoon, Esau Ishmael, and Vishal Ragoobeer, stands ready to lead the club into this new chapter of affiliation with Archery Guyana

filiated clubs gain access to a wealth of resources and support to enhance their operation and promote the sport of archery within their communities.

Affiliation with Archery Guyana offers clubs like Oasis Archers access to a wide range of benefits, including participation in sanctioned events, coaching and development programmes, and other benefits through Archery Guyana’s affiliation with World Archery, the international governing body for the sport.

President of Archery Guyana, Mrs. Vidushi PersaudMcKinnon, took the opportunity to give an overview of the affiliation process, which is straightforward and designed to streamline the integration of clubs into the federation. She indicated that clubs interested in affiliating with Archery Guyana are invited to express their interest by contacting the federation directly. This can be done via email, phone, or through the website or the various social platforms.

Upon expressing interest, clubs will be provided with the necessary documentation and forms required for affiliation. These documents include, inter alia, an application form, club constitution, a list of executive members democratically elected. Once the completed documentation is submitted, Mrs. Persaud-McKinnon indicated, “Our federation will review the application to ensure compliance with our affiliation re-

quirements. This process may involve a review of the club’s structure, activities, and alignment with our federation’s values and objectives.”

Upon successful review and approval, the club would receive official confirmation of its affiliation with Archery Guyana. This confirmation opens the door to a wealth of benefits and opportunities for the club and its members, including:

- Participation in national and international competitions and events.

- Access to coaching and training resources.

- Networking opportunities with other affiliated clubs and organisations.

- Recognition and visibility as part of the national archery community.

- Support and guidance from the federation’s leadership team.

Mrs Vidushi PersaudMcKinnon has said, “Affiliation with Archery Guyana not only strengthens the bonds within our archery community, but also empowers clubs to play an active role in shaping the future of the sport in Guyana. Together, we can work towards a shared vision of excellence, inclusivity, and growth in archery. I urge all clubs passionate about archery to take the first step towards affiliation with Archery Guyana. Together, let us unlock the full potential of our sport and create a brighter future for archery in our nation. Welcome to Oasis Archers Club”

SCOREBOARD

West Indies Women (20 ovs maximum)

Hayley Matthews (c) c †Najiha Alvi

b Sadia Iqbal 0

Qiana Joseph c Fatima Sana

b Nida Dar 34

Shemaine Campbelle † lbw

b Diana Baig 2

Stafanie Taylor c Sidra Ameen

b Tuba Hassan 30

Chedean Nation c Muneeba Ali

b Fatima Sana 13

Chinelle Henry c Muneeba Ali

b Sadia Iqbal 13

Aaliyah Alleyne run out

(Muneeba Ali/†Najiha Alvi) 0

Afy Fletcher c Sidra Ameen

b Fatima Sana 13

Cherry-Ann Fraser not out 5

Karishma Ramharack c Tuba Hassan

b Fatima Sana 2

Extras (lb 5, w 5) 10

Pakistan Women (T: 123 runs from 20 ovs)

†Campbelle

Joseph

halfway mark. That advantage was bolstered by a dynamic innings from opener Sidra Ameen, whose 17-ball 23 put Pakistan ahead of the asking rate by the end of the powerplay.

But losing both her and Gull Feroza within four balls of each other without adding to the score brought West Indies roaring back into it, and when Karishma Ramharack cleaned up Ayesha Zafar after a stilted innings, the visitors had edged ahead.

But Pakistan captain Dar’s 24-ball 27 saw Pakistan seize the advantage again as the game became balanced on a tightrope throughout the in-

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 6.10) 122/9

Did not bat: Shamilia Connell

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Hayley Matthews, 0.2 ov), 2-14 (Shemaine Campbelle, 3.1 ov), 3-69 (Stafanie Taylor, 12.2 ov), 4-77 (Qiana Joseph, 13.2 ov), 5-94 (Chedean Nation, 15.5 ov), 6-96 (Aaliyah Alleyne, 16.2 ov), 7-114 (Chinelle Henry, 18.5 ov), 8-120 (Afy Fletcher, 19.3 ov), 9-122 (Karishma Ramharack, 19.6 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Sadia Iqbal 4-0-23-2

Diana Baig 4-2-19-1

Nida Dar 4-0-23-1

Fatima Sana 4-0-24-3

Tuba Hassan 4-0-28-1

nings. It all came to a head in a dramatic final over, with Connell bowling.

When Najiha Alvi smacked the penultimate ball for an exquisite inside-out cover drive

for four, Pakistan appeared, for one final time, to be sneaking home. But a dot ball followed, and as Pakistani hearts were broken, West Indies’ streak held firm. (ESPNCricinfo)

More than 40 entries confirmed for Jumbo Jet Race of Champions meet

The top horses in Guyana will assemble at the Rising Sun Turf Club tomorrow, Sunday April 28, for the Jumbo Jet Race of Champions meet. More than G$10 million in cash and prizes will be up for grabs, and more than 40 horses have been confirmed as participating in this meet.

The feature event, the Banks DIH Champion of Champions race, is open to all imported and locally-bred horses, will have a cash purse totalling $3.75M, and will be contested over 1600 metres for a winner’s purse of G$2M. Stolen Money, Spankhurst, John Bull, Bossalina and Easy Time are the five horses confirmed for this feature event.

Race one of the meet is the Jumbo Jet Group of Companies’ K Class & Lower race, which will run at 1100 metres. Money Time, Get Them Bobby (formerly Hurricane Lane), Plus Return, Rescue (formerly Tizway), Top Gun and Shake the Bank are the horses entered to contest that race.

Race two is the N&M Trucking & Auto Sales I Class, J Class and West Indian-bred three-year old maidens’ race. That race will span 1100 metres, and the likes of Royal Ink, Sex Appeal, Hayley and Danstar will battle.

The third race on the card is the SHI Oil Fuel Distributor and Importer L Class and Open to J3 first time starters. A total of 11 horses have had their entries confirmed. Chocolate Girl, Perfect Dream, Get Them Reggie, Top Ranking, Rags to Riches, Bolt n Nut, Three D Movie, Wow Wow, Kiss, Princess Samaya and Royal Flight are the horses entered.

Race four is for the F Class

and Lower and E Class horses which have not raced in 2024, and horses which placed no higher than third in their last race. Nice Company, American Traveler, Looking to Heaven, Creemore and Converter are the horses entered.

Race five is the Forrester’s Concrete race for H1 & H2 horses which did not finish higher than third in their last outing. Amicable Kate, Smooth Sailing, Zelda, Theory of Colors, Supremacy and Blinding Light are the confirmed horses.

The penultimate race of the seven-card programme is that of the three-year-old Guyana bred horses. That race is sponsored by Knight Industries Inc Auto Sales, Spares, Excavating and Trucking. She’s a Monica, Country Rock, Bin Laden and Easy Jet are the four horses confirmed.

The major sponsors of this Race of Champions meet are Banks DIH, AJM Enterprise, Jumbo Jet, Sino Truck and XCMG.

All races will be run under the guidance of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority’s rules. The Race of Champions meet will commence at 12:45h at the

Rising Sun Turf Club, and admission is G$2,000.

Jumbo Jet’s top duo Spankurst and Easy Time will be in action at Rising Sun

West Indies’ Women got the T20I series off to a good start

Archery Guyana President, Mrs Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon

GFF contracts SRKN as acceleration begins on ‘Blue Water Stadium’

The proposed ‘Blue Water Shipping Football Stadium’ will soon be realized, as the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), having already cleared a portion of their 7-acre expanse at Durban Park on Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown, have taken another step towards beginning construction of the international venue.

The GFF has, on Friday, April 26, signed a service agreement with SRKN’gineering and Associates Ltd to the tune of US$156,000, that will see the entity providing consultancy, designs and plans for the venue’s construction.

During his announcement of this development, on Friday at the GFF’s

Campbellville Headquarters, President Wayne Forde also divulged some of the features the stadium would have.

“Today I’m happy to announce that we have achieved yet another milestone in

the Blue Water Shipping Stadium which will be constructed at our Durban Park site. After several months of diligent engagements and negotiations on the technical and financial aspects of

Chase, Waramuri punch tickets to Milo Schools’ Football final

It will be déjà vu this Sunday, April 28th, when Chase’s Academic Foundation of Georgetown and Waramuri Primary Top of Region One battle for the 10th Milo Schools’ Under-18 Football championship.

In what is almost a direct re-enactment of last year’s final, Waramuri Primary Top have ascended to this exalted position instead of their regional compatriots Santa Rosa Secondary; and this final matchup comes on the heels of a nail-biting semifinal hosted at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground on Thursday night, where Chase’s Academy and Waramuri Primary registered contrasting wins.

Chase’s Academy drubbed President’s College 4-0 in the first of two encounters. Bryan Wharton opened the scoring in the 15th minute, and Justin Alcindor made it a 2-0 affair four minutes later. Thereafter, the goals were hard to come by as a mixture of PC’s defensive tactics and sub-par finishing kept Chase’s strikers at bay.

However, Omar Sam and Shaquan David found the back of the net in the 79th and 80th minutes respectively, to push their tally to 4 before the game was called.

Chase’s Omar Sam later discussed the game and their confidence heading into the final. “Well, the game was very difficult at first, because we had a poor start, but then we get the momentum and come into the second half with full encouragement from the coach talking, and come outand-out in 100% in the second half to get a victory,” the Chase’s Academy forward shared.

Sam said about the missed scoring opportunities, “No, mistakes have to happen. We just have to go back on the training pitch, correct the mistakes, and come back in the finals and execute the decisions. Yeah, we’re very confident in the finals. We’ll win the finals,” a confident Sam added.

On the other hand, Waramuri Primary Top took Dolphin Secondary down to penalties, after staging a stunning second-half comeback.

Ezekiel Frank David and Candel Hazel netted early for Dolphin, in the 3rd and 11th minutes respectively, to get the match off to an exciting start. However, Dolphin could not replicate their early heroics, while Waramuri came back ‘hot off the press’ in the second half to level the scores.

Zundel Abrams opened the second with a powerful strike in the 46th, while Odell Holmes converted a penalty in the 62nd to level the scores.

When Extra time bore no fruit, kicks from the penalty spot were taken, and Waramuri prevailed 4-3.

In the aftermath, Waramuri’s Captain Odell Holmes spoke about their coach’s encouragement that spurred their comeback. He said, “Well, I think the semifinal game was very good, it was very challenging for us. It was a good game. Our coach told us that, those two goals, just take it like nobody scored, and just like we’re going into a fresh game, and keep focus; and that’s what we did,” Holmes related to this publication.

“I think it would be a much better game than this,” Holmes added regarding the final.

Chase Academy and Waramuri Top will be vying for a $300,000 first prize this Sunday, while the loser of that contest will settle for the $200,000 second prize.

President’s College and Dolphin Secondary will also battle for a $150,000 third prize, with fourth place receiving $75,000. The prizes will go towards school projects.

the project’s conceptualization, we have arrived at an agreement with SRKN to design and engineer the Blue Water Shipping Stadium,” Forde divulged, while revealing that CONCACAF and FIFA would provide support for the project.

Forde further disclosed, “On completion, the GFF and Blue Water Shipping will have a facility that will feature the following: main playing area, 4 team locker rooms, official dressing rooms and offices, balls kits dressing room, medical and anti- doping room, recovery area.

“In terms of seating, we’re targeting 8000 to 12,000 seating capacity. There will be special spaces for school kids and special groups, accessibility for the physically challenged, additional bleacher seating at the mini pitches, which will be two of them on the Hadfield side of the facility.”

With the Stadium’s name coming from a naming rights agreement between the GFF and Blue Water Shipping, the company’s Senior VicePresident of Operations, Jennifer Falconer, touched on the impact of this investment when she expressed, “Blue Water is thrilled to partner with the GFF for this state-of-the-art, and as Mr. Forde would’ve mentioned, one-of-its-kind-in-Guyana football stadium. As a leading organization, committed to fostering sports and community growth, Blue Water believes this investment will have a transformative impact on the local football ecosystem. We have had the privilege of seeing the initial blueprint of the facility, and I can tell you it will be amazing.”

SRKN Director Ravi Narine spoke to the magnitude of the investment while promising some acceleration of their work, in spite of the

6–8-month deadline given.

“This is a special project for us, because of the benefits it will bring to the football fraternity in Guyana; and as Mr. Forde said, and Blue Water, this will open up the door for us to have international events. Our work has actually started already. So, we’ll put a bit more pressure on the accelerator to ensure that, this 8 months, we will finish this design and a cost estimate,” Narine shared.

As SRKN utilise their 6–8-month timeframe, it is expected that some work will commence at the venue shortly, as narrated by the GFF boss. “For now, we know what we need to do. Now we know we need to clear the land; we know we need to so some sand-filling,” Forde revealed. “These are things that are essentially part of the project, but we don’t need to wait on a complete engineering package. The evidence and the need for that is right before us: a lot of trees, a lot of lowland, a lot of water accumulation.”

The GFF president said regarding cost of the facility, “Once we have the estimates completed, which is the endside of the engineering processes, we will know the true cost to do the facility; and at that point we’ll be able to have more concrete discussions with all the funders of the project.”

The GFF have a 50-year lease for the plot of land at Durban Park, acquired back in 2019.

Thompson-Herah was never booked for USATF Bermuda Grand Prix, says agent

Speculation surrounding the participation of fivetime Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah at the highly anticipated USATF Bermuda Grand Prix has been dispelled by her agent, Marvin Anderson of Andi Sports Management.

Despite earlier excitement and anticipation, ThompsonHerah was never officially booked or confirmed for the track meet, scheduled for this Sunday at the Flora Duffy Stadium. The revelation comes after recent reports sparked fervent anticipation among fans, particularly within Bermuda’s Jamaican community, who were eagerly awaiting the opportunity to witness the “fastest woman alive” compete alongside other elite Caribbean athletes.

Yackeisha Weir, president of the Jamaican Association of Bermuda (JAB), expressed the community’s high expectations and emphasized the honour of hosting Thompson-Herah ahead of the Paris Olympics. However, Anderson’s statement to Sportsmax.TV on Friday shattered these hopes, clarifying

that Thompson-Herah’s presence at the USATF Bermuda Grand Prix was never confirmed.

“She was never booked. She was never confirmed,” Anderson asserted in addressing the confusion surrounding Thompson-Herah’s potential appearance. “I asked the meet organizers if they had put out something and they said, ‘No’, so I don’t know where that was leaked from. I know they had an interest way back, but ‘No’,” he declared.

Despite this setback, Anderson assured fans that Thompson-Herah has been diligently training, and is gearing up for a successful upcoming season. While Thompson-Herah’s name is notably absent from the start lists for Sunday’s meet, other Jamaican athletes, including Alana Reid and Kemba Nelson, are set to showcase their talents in the 100m event. Ashanti Moore is the only Jamaican down to contest the 200m. (Sportsmax)

GFF President Wayne Forde

SRKN’gineering Ltd Director, Ravi Narine

Five-time Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah

A look at the clash between Chase’s Academy (blue) and President’s College

Windies Women’s tour to Pakistan 2024…

West Indies clinch one-run thriller against Pakistan

– as Ramharack stars with four in first of five T20Is