Guyana Times - Saturday, August 19, 2023

Unattended gas stove bursts into flames, ECD house destroyed

Skeletal remains found in abandoned Uitvlugt house Temporary shelter, other support for victims of violence

Security guard remanded for fatally stabbing friend

turning

now

strategy”

“Dengue can be very lethal” – Vector Control Head warns

the Ministry has been conducting fogging exercises in all regions.

Fogging is done to kill adult mosquitoes, which are responsible for transmission of the dengue virus. She noted that the public can play its part by destroying breeding grounds, securing their spaces with nets and covering water sources, as well as using repellents.

and I know a lot of people are seeing them in the streets. All we ask is that you be very receptive to them. They’re doing their job. We also ask that you collaborate with the programmes.”

Zeroing in on the severity of dengue, Acting Director of the Vector Control Services, Dr Reza Niles is calling on persons with symptoms to visit their doctor before it becomes deadly.

The viral infection has been on the rise locally with 11 related deaths recorded for the year, prompting heightened sensitisation within the public domain.

Appearing on the Health Matters programme this week, Dr Niles cautioned those with symptoms not to take any chances.

“Dengue can be very lethal. It can result in death. There’s something we call severe dengue where per-

sons experience various symptoms. Some of them are bleeding, severe fatigue, abdominal tenderness, very low blood count and platelets. That would come following evaluation from a doctor. Those persons, before it becomes serious, seek your doctor’s care.”

“The minute the person notices that they have signs and symptoms, you go right to the doctor and they will make the necessary patient evaluation. It’s really unlikely for persons who are asymptomatic to become severe. In the likelihood that it happens, seek care urgently,” she underscored.

If left untreated, dengue can be fatal in a matter of hours. It is transmitted by the aedes aegypti

mosquito – the same vector that transmits Zika and Chikungunya. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, rash, nausea or vomiting. The Health Ministry has cautioned against self-medicating.

The acting Director shared, “What we’re seeing is a lot of severe cases. So, we’re advocating that persons avoid being bitten, that they take the necessary precautions, make sure that their doors are closed at a certain time, there are no mosquitoes in the home and outdoor near the home.”

Dr Niles said complementary actions on the part of the Health Ministry and citizens can effectively bring down infection numbers. Along with treatment,

“The fogging exercise is currently ongoing in all the regions. A lot of collaborative efforts have been done

On Thursday, the Ministry confirmed that there are 2169 confirmed cases of dengue in Guyana, of which 239 patients are hospitalised. To ensure the adequate prevention, diagnosis, and management of dengue, it has activated a Technical Working Group

responsible for assessing, recommending, and implementing actions to mitigate this public health event. Dengue is endemic to the Americas. The Region has recorded a significant increase in dengue cases in the last few months. They have recorded 2,102,848 cases from January to June 2023, of which 3210 were classified as severe dengue, with 876 deaths. The highest number of cases within this Region were observed in Brazil, Peru and Bolivia.

(G12)

Linden man remanded for killing sister, niece in house fire

Aman accused of maliciously setting fire to a home which resulted in the deaths of his sister and niece was arraigned on two counts of murder on Friday. Appearing virtually before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts was 33-year-old Akali Moore. The indictable charges to which he was not re -

quired to plead, stated that he murdered Cheryl Moore and her niece, Eukeila Adams, 12, during the course of arson on a dwelling house.

Akali was remanded to prison and will return to court on September 7.

The fire was set to the Silvertown, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) house, reportedly with kerosene,

on Monday, August 14 at around 23:45h.

The fire rapidly consumed the two-storey house, leaving the girl, who was celebrating her 12th birthday, and her 50-year-old aunt trapped inside.

By the time firefighters arrived at the scene, the house had already been engulfed in flames.

Despite the best efforts of firefighters, both victims could not have been saved.

According to neighbours and family members, Akali seemed to be going after his sister, Cheryl, as he had threatened to kill her earlier that day while brandishing a cutlass.

He had also reportedly threatened to burn the house down.

The deadly fire was reportedly the result of months of sibling conflict.

Adams’s mother told this publication that she learnt of her daughter’s tragic passing via social media.

Akali was arrested during the wee hours of Tuesday, August 15, while hiding in a clump of bushes. (G1)

Acting Director of the Vector Control Services, Dr Reza Niles

Murder accused Akali Moore

Dead: Cheryl Moore

Dead: Eukeila Adams

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Saturday, Aug 19 – 05:00h – 06:30h and Sunday, Aug 20 – 07:00h – 08:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, Aug 19 – 05:40h

– 07:10h and Sunday, Aug 20 – 06:15h – 07:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be sunshine and thundery showers during the day. Expect clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to South South-Westerly between 1.34 metres and 3.12 metres.

High Tide: 06:10h and 18:26h reaching maximum heights of 2.64 metres and 2.58 metres.

Low Tide: 12:04h reaching a minimum height of 0.61 metre.

turning our attention

to gas strategy” – VP

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has announced that the Government is moving ahead with a comprehensive national gas strategy, with the aim of exploring ways to monetise its gas reserves.

“We’re moving ahead on the gas strategy because that is a promise [we made that] once we get past the [Petroleum Activities] legislation and could actualise the bid round [for the oil blocks offshore], we will move to the gas strategy,” Jagdeo disclosed during a press conference on Thursday.

According to the Vice President, Government will be exploring the market with the aim of monetising excess gas reserves from offshore activities.

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

LOTTERY NUMBERS

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

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

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

Based on studies conducted, ExxonMobil would be able to produce up to 50

million cubic feet of gas per day for this initiative without impacting oil production activities offshore.

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

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

The National Gas Strategy, which is expected to be done later this year, will guide the best way possible to do this. It will examine, among other things, the type of gas found, the economics of getting it out, the market, and also verify-

ing whether anything else can replace the gas to maintain the reservoirs.

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

The US oil giant had previously said that significant discoveries were made further to the south-east towards the Suriname border, where there is a higher gas content in the fields that they have developed so far.

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

President Dr Irfaan Ali

has already been talking with his counterparts about establishing an energy corridor between Guyana and its two surrounding neighbours, Suriname and Brazil. In fact, the three nations have already held several discussions on combining their ability to create an energy corridor and unlock the potential for a series of manufacturing and industrial development.

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

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

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

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

“We’re

now

Editor:

Tusika

Martin

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All-girls STEM team

For the first time in history, Guyana will be represented by an all-girls team at this year’s First Global Robotics Challenge (FGC) in Singapore. This is significant, as this highlights the important role that girls are playing in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in Guyana.

In today’s globalised world, the fact that our girls are excelling in this area is momentous, as much of the future job growth will be in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

As we have said in a previous editorial, the success of the STEM Guyana team over the years is an example of what our young people could achieve once they are provided with the necessary opportunities. Years of success of the team have now led to expansion of the programme across Guyana, as was announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali some time ago.

The way the Guyana team has performed over the years has shown what can be done once persons are able to band together; and, more importantly, represent their country well at such a high-level competition.

The success of Guyana’s team over the past four years is a perfect example of Guyanese ingenuity and creativity. It shows that in spite of the many challenges at home and the sometimes-negative perceptions persons usually have of Guyanese, our young people can still rise to the challenge and be counted among some of the leaders in the various fields. For Guyana, over the years, to compete against over 180 countries which have much experience in the field is a tremendous achievement, and has served as a motivation to others who have an interest in the so-called STEM subjects – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

Certainly, the investments made over the years in improving performances in STEM subjects are beginning to show results.

The importance of focusing on STEM education could never be overemphasized, due to its importance to national development. Our leaders from both past and current administrations have recognised the need to create more opportunities for our young people to further their studies in STEM subjects.

Every student who has a desire to further their studies in STEM subjects should be afforded the opportunity to do so. We feel that once the necessary facilities are provided, such as labs etc, more young people will be drawn to these areas of study.

Additionally, more students should be encouraged to focus on STEM subjects in order to enhance their chances in the job market. This is necessary, as it will help them to become innovative. It will also help them to be equipped with the necessary skills to contribute to national development. Some persons see STEM as “hard subjects”. When one looks at the number of students graduating from the university, it is evident that more students are gravitating to the social sciences. However, if this trend continues, we would continue to see graduates coming out of the university to compete in a severely limited job market.

While there is need for qualified persons in the arts, humanities and other fields, there is also a need for experts in science and technology, hence more attention should be provided to encourage children who are gifted in science and technology to explore their passions. In essence, considering the national needs of the country, STEM is seen as sustainable. If students undertake STEM subjects, they can be assured of job opportunities, not only here in Guyana, but in many other countries.

The excellent performance of the STEM Guyana team over the years should be celebrated, and like in previous years, we support the team as they complete in Singapore this October.

Destruction to GuySuCo was no illusion

Dear Editor,

When I read Mr Hamilton Green’s reply to my letter, done in a missive captioned “Mr Yusuf’s banalities are a cover for possible corruptions, mismanagement, and incompetence at GuySuCo”, the first thought that came to mind was, ‘Look who’s talking?’ I was surprised that Mr Green does not read the Kaieteur News, or it would seem that he only reads his own letters therein. If he had read the Kaieteur News, an independent media, as he claimed, he would have encountered a letter dated 14th August and captioned “Green as an Elder should do the honorable thing and apologize to this nation”, which was published a couple of days after his own letter appeared. He would have had no need to refer to the state-owned Guyana Chronicle, which he claims he does not read.

The implication is clear, and his subtle attack is duly noted, as well as his other racial undertones contained in his letter regarding the ‘massive injustice’ to the taxpayers he named.

I would also like to quote Ralph Waldo Emerson, who said, “The soul is the perceiver and revealer of truth. We know truth when we see it, let skeptic and scoffer say what they choose. Foolish people ask you, when you have spoken, what they do not wish to hear, “How do you know it is truth, and not an error of your own?” We know truth when we see it, from opinion, as we know when we are awake that we are awake.”

Every Guyanese knows the truth, and what Mr Green wants is for us to believe that what the PNC did to our country from 1964 to 1992, when he was an integral part of the Government, was an illusion which is spun by the PPP/C to hide the ‘truth’, and that he

is now attempting to ‘unmask’ that ‘illusion’. This is not only grossly deceitful, but pathetic as well. Green is creating his own illusion by attempting to rewrite the sordid past of the PNC.

Green should explain the bankruptcy of our country; the gross mismanagement and thievery of his Government; the ‘sale’ of the nation’s assets to friends and cronies for peanuts; the sugar levy which crippled GuySuCo; the days when putting food on the table was a crime; the massive rigging of the elections; and the horrors and sufferings of each and every Guyanese during the PNC’s reign of terror. You were the Vice President and the Prime Minister of this country, and an active player in all that I have mentioned and many more atrocities committed on the Guyanese populace. Don’t you think an apology would be the least you could do, since the ‘moving finger writes’ and moves on?

Conveniently, Mr Green claimed that he was not a member of the Coalition when changes were effected in 20152020, but, as a ‘concerned citizen’, he felt that “the Granger Administration was trying to correct the historical flaws which characterized the previous management of the sugar industry”. Mr Green, may I ask what ‘historical flaws’?

The reality is that his PNC Government imposed the sugar levy on the sugar industry, milked it dry, and crippled it. The sugar industry was paying the wages and salaries of the same taxpayers he claimed but was blind to the ‘massive injustice’ done at that time.

Moreover, the Coalition spent millions to conduct a Commission of Inquiry into GuySuCo, and Mr Green should read the recommendations stated therein. This Report was submitted in

October 2015 by Professor Clive Thomas, but space does not permit me to elaborate. But there was to be no closure, and there was a plan to make the sugar industry viable. It must be recalled that this same gentleman was the Chairman of the GuySuCo Board.

Subsequently, the Coalition submitted a White Paper which ‘downsized’ and ‘right sized’ the sugar Industry and crippled it. It was a master plan to commence the closure of the entire industry, since there was little or no capital investment and billions had just dissipated, as I had written in my previous letters.

Mr Green questioned the decline of sugar production from 88,868 tonnes in 2020 to 47,000 tonnes in 2022, and claimed this was due to ‘poor management, incompetence and likely corruption’. The hard truth is that there was little or no capital investment, and thousands of hectares of cultivation were abandoned, factories and infrastructure were falling apart, which this Government is trying to resuscitate. There was the flood in 2021 which decimated the cultivation, and then the closure of four sugar estates. Mr Green should also be cognisant of the havoc the weather pattern can cause to the industry. The CoI provided the Plan to make GuySuCo viable, but it was intentionally ignored. The Coalition wanted revenge on the sugar workers.

In 2014, Mr Green, the industry produced over 216,000 tonnes of sugar, with the four closed estates producing 117,651 tonnes (Skeldon 35,890, Rose Hall 31,931, Enmore 30,932 and Wales 18,898).

Regarding the Skeldon Estate, the Coalition deliberately allowed it to deteriorate to justify closure. The Kaieteur

News reported on November 1st 2015 that the Chairman of the Board of GuySuCo said, “I am pleased with the way the Skeldon factory seems to be improving. And I know that it can do more. But this is a good sign for the industry”.

Then the Corporation’s 2015 Annual Report, at page 12, stated, “Skeldon’s sugar production of 39,158 tonnes surpassed 2014’s actual and is now the highest production since the new factory was commissioned in 2009. The factory performance has improved considerably (15% improvement in the sugar recoveries).”

This is no illusion, Mr Green? What ‘historical flaws’? The Coalition ensured the demise of Skeldon to use it as a weapon against the PPP/C Government.

The Coalition’s Prime Minister in November 2015 had said at the National Cane Farmers Conference that ‘There should be no discussion or debate regarding the importance of the sugar industry to Guyana’s economy… in fact, we have said this on a number of occasions, that this Government sees sugar as too big to fail…it has been our position in Opposition, and this continues to be our position as Government. The industry and workers remain important to us, and we are working to ensure that we have a modern industry.’ But this was just empty rhetoric, and in the heat of the 2015 Election campaign, his comrade Mr Ramjattan made similar utterings. This is what a lie is, and this is no illusion. They ensured the fall of the sugar industry.

I could go on ad infinitum, but in conclusion, all Guyanese know the TRUTH, because they know they are awake when they are awake.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Prime Minister Brigadier (ret'd) Mark Phillips shares a photo with dancers at the launch of the Agri-Investment Forum and Expo 2023, themed 'Accelerating investment in Vision 25 by 2025', at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Friday (Office of the Prime Minister photo)

A more rigorous licensing process needed

Dear Editor,

In recent years, a huge number of road users have lost their lives needlessly in Guyana, and the rate keeps increasing. According to the Home Affairs Ministry, as at February 2023, fatalities on Guyana’s roadways have increased by 100 per cent this year, in comparison to the same period last year. It was also found that road fatalities occur mainly on Saturdays and Sundays, between 6 pm and 12 midnight.

Nothing much has been achieved since the National Assembly passed the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill on November 7, 2022, to promote and enforce safe driving while imposing much higher penalties for serious infractions. Such piecemeal programmes will never work, because about a quarter of drivers did not obtain their licences through the regular process. The fact that the National Road Safety Council’s financial resources have been boosted from $3 million to more than $11 million, to aid in the sensitization and reduction of

road accidents, indicates a scenario of platitudes rather than progress.

Some recent fatalities are horrific: A BK Security Inc Manager was on Monday (Aug 14) crushed to death after the vehicle he was driving crashed into a utility pole at Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

A three-vehicle accident along the Montrose Public Road, East Coast Demerara on Sunday night has claimed the lives of two 19-year-old men.

Six persons escaped with minor injuries on Sunday night after a pick-up toppled several times along the St. Cuthbert’s Mission Access Trail.

Three children were on Sunday (Aug 13) killed in a boat accident in the vicinity of Masakenari Village, Region Nine)

A 27-year-old man is presently battling for his life after he was struck down, during the afternoon hours last Wednesday, by a speeding car driven by a firefighter.

Two security guards were detained by Police at Mabaruma on Saturday af-

ter one of the men crashed a Regional Democratic Council (RDC) pick-up into a sports utility vehicle (SUV) which belongs to Opposition Member of Parliament Ronald Cox.

Four persons are dead following a two-vehicle crash at Craig, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Monday night.

Four persons, two men and two women, were on Monday morning killed after the minibus they were in collided with a truck on the Greenwich Park Public Road, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

As the country transforms into a high-tech vehicle state, the laws governing traffic infractions are, to say in modest terms, archaic and unfit, and embrace a Third World system of lopsidedness and holey enforcement regulations.

Successive regimes, with their hebetude-like approach to administration, have failed miserably to institute safeguards to curb the horrific numbers of road accidents that produce lifelong disfigurement and fatal-

ities that are perpetrated on a hapless, hopeless populace at the receiving end of the noveau riche with their ultra-modern mega-million vehicles but ultra-clumsy driving habits.

The huge influx of vehicles over the past decade carries terrible downstream effects in a country where egotistical, maniacal driving takes centre stage against the backdrop of a highly underpaid Police Force, notwithstanding constant allegations of persons obtaining licences under questionable and clandestine Police conduct.

The recent tragedy on the Craig, East Bank Demerara road, where 5 persons lost their lives in an accident involving a truck driver, highlights that no one should drive a commercial vehicle unless that person possesses 5 years minimum driving experience. The courts have failed miserably in giving accident victims compensation and satisfaction, while allowing these drivers - who actually commit murder, vehicular manslaughter - to leave the

Rallying behind the Guyana Amazon Warriors

Dear Editor,

The first two matches in this year’s (2023) Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League tournament are indeed a revelation. Further, it is clear that the batsmen are enjoying themselves on the slow pitches, where they are encountering poor fielding.

In the first match, Brandon King, new captain of the Jamaica Tallawahs, benefitted from dropped catches and poor fielding to score a half century, enabling his team to win their first match against the host team St Lucia Kings.

Jamaica Tallawahs were able to score a challenging 187 off their allotted 20 overs, while the host team wobbled at the beginning of their chase, and were quickly reduced to 104-5. The Kings were able to put up a useful resistance, as Chase hammered a surprising half century. Eventually, St Lucia Kings lost the match by 11 runs.

In the second match, St Lucia Kings took first strike, and enjoyed a quick and solid half-century start. Their foreign players Fau du Plessis and Sean Williams, with respective scores of 46 and 47, enabled the Kings to reach a winning total of 201 runs.

Chasing a frightening total of more than 200 runs, the Tallawahs were in serious trouble in the very

first over, when they lost two wickets. The defending champions’ poor batting was indeed very worrying, as they were reeling on 898. However, a useful piece of hitting by Nyeem Young enabled them to reach 147.

Rahkeem Cornwall was a total disaster in the Barbados team. The movement of defending captain Rovman Powell from the Jamaica Tallawahs to the Barbados Royals is intriguing. The Royals team includes experienced players such as Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers, who are former captains of the team. The quality of cricket is far below standard.

The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League must produce young players, and provide the West Indies with players who must be vying for selection at the highest level. The fitness of the players is most distressing. Some of them are not only overweight, but they cannot move between the wickets, and their movement on the field is allowing easy second runs. All eyes will be on our team, Guyana Amazon Warriors. Skipper Imran Tahir is a friendly person. However, all eyes will be on the master batsman and electrifying fielder Shimron Hetmyer. His role in the team will be manifold. This genuine cricketer must lead

by example. He is capable of scoring runs and playing winning innings. However, he must be consistent.

The Guyana team will also be looking at Shai Hope to get runs consistently. The genuine all-rounders in the team are match winners with the bat. The bowling looks very good on paper. Dwaine Pretorius will be our strike bowler. Odean

Smith, Romario Shepherd, Keemo Paul must all bowl a good line and length, while Gudakesh Motie and the skipper can receive support from Kevin Sinclair. The Guyanese crowd is overly anxious and waiting to rally behind the Warriors.

Sincerely,

Neil Kumar

courts free and once again enter the killing fields of Guyana’s roadways.

Each year, a new crop of drivers gets behind the wheel. The most logical evaluation simply indicates that the excitement to drive precipitates careless road usage, while a huge preponderance of minibuses are driven by the younger strata of society.

I have long advocated, even corresponding with 2 former Home Affairs Ministers, the need for multi-level categories of licence. Simply, one should not drive a commercial passenger vehicle without the necessary first aid training and HAZMAT testing.

The Guyana Police Force has said the leading causes of traffic mishaps in the country are speeding and driving while under the influence of alcohol. Other major causes are: driving while distracted by use of a cellphone; pedestrian inattentiveness; and failure to heed traffic signs and warnings. Road repairs, a seemingly perpetual dilemma, do not help either. Poor lighting; absence of road markings; tinting; distractive loud music; encroachment by beer & food sheds, piles of sand, rice drying etc, all compound the dangers of both drivers and pedestrians.

Construction materials, especially sand and brick, should never block any roadway; instead, such materials ought to be transported in containers like polypropylene or jute bags (like rice) with fluorescent markings.

By implementing heavy fines with a points’ system for violations and strict licence suspensions, driv-

ers would become more conscious of their responsibilities. Speed cameras, enforcement of speed zones, and more breathalyzer testing would greatly reduce accidents. Improved road conditions, like better lighting, more signs, no hand-held cellphone usage etc, would ensure safer conditions and alleviate the woes of meandering through the streets.

It is truly mind-boggling to see officials driving Prado and Mercedes vehicles yet cannot comprehend the urgency of fixing a simple pot hole. It is rather confusing that the Ministry of Works continues to receive most of the subventions allocated by Parliament for improved infrastructure, yet accidents occur with increasing frequency!

Road etiquette is atrocious in the country, especially in regard to overtaking. The driver being overtaken does not ‘tuck in’ or slow down to allow this manoeuvre, but instead many increase his/her speed, resulting in serious accidents.

Finally, do not ever believe that speeding minibuses facilitate those late for work. Guyanese are not known to act with any form of alacrity and promptness in any sphere of activity (except perhaps a date or meeting at the rum shop).

Sadly, in the general lexicon of things, it seems that obtaining a licence to drive implies license to kill. It is the new pandemic for One Guyana.

Sincerely,

Leyland

Chitlall Roopnaraine

Foundation

Line segments and rays

Line segments and rays

A line segment is a specific part of a line. It ends at two identified points.

A line segment is named by its two end points. Segment AB = Segment BA. AB = BA

A ray is a part of a line that extends from a specific point in only one direction. The specific point of a ray is called a vertex or an endpoint. However, to identify a ray, you must use one other letter along the line’s path.

By John Keats

Thou still unravish’d bride of quietness, Thou foster-child of silence and slow time, Sylvan historian, who canst thus express A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme: What leaf-fring’d legend haunts about thy shape Of deities or mortals, or of both, In Tempe or the dales of Arcady?

What men or gods are these? What maidens loth?

What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape? What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?

Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on; Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear’d, Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone:

Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare; Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss, Though winning near the goal yet, do not grieve; She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss, For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair!

Ray RS does not equal Ray SR, because the first point named in a ray shows the vertex, and Ray SR goes in the opposite direction of Ray RS.

What do you think will happen if you turn a cup full of water upside down? You may think all the water will come spilling out! In this fun and easy science experiment, we’re going to show you how to turn a cup full of water upside down and magically keep the water inside. Being able to do this seemingly impossible task may appear magical but we will show you it’s just science.

Materials:

A plastic cup. A 9oz size works well. Sink or outside area that can get wet. Playing card or index card

Optional – Little foam balls or something that will float. This adds to the magical illusion of the experiment.

Instructions:

Fill the cup about three quarters of the way full with water.

Optional – Add your floating items.

Place the playing card over the top of the cup making sure the card covers the entire top of the cup.

Press gently against the card as you rotate the cup upside down. Be sure to do so over a sink in case of any accidental spills.

After a few moments, remove your hand. The water will appear to magically stay in the cup!

How it works:

When you place the card on the cup of water, the air pressure inside and outside the cup is the same. As you turn

the cup over, a tiny amount of water will escape. This seemingly insignificant amount of water causes the volume of air in the cup to increase. While the volume of air in the cup stays the same, this causes the air pressure inside the cup to decrease. The card will now stay in place even though the cup is upside down, because the air pressure outside the cup in now higher than the air pressure inside the cup.

Make this a science project: Try scaling this magic science experiment up. Use larger cups and larger amounts of water. Does the magic water cup experiment continuing working as the size of the experiment increases? (sciencefun.org)

Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu; And, happy melodist, unwearied, For ever piping songs for ever new; More happy love! more happy, happy love! For ever warm and still to be enjoy’d, For ever panting, and for ever young; All breathing human passion far above, That leaves a heart high-sorrowful and cloy’d, A burning forehead, and a parching tongue. Who are these coming to the sacrifice?

To what green altar, O mysterious priest, Lead’st thou that heifer lowing at the skies, And all her silken flanks with garlands drest? What little town by river or sea shore, Or mountain-built with peaceful citadel, Is emptied of this folk, this pious morn? And, little town, thy streets for evermore Will silent be; and not a soul to tell Why thou art desolate, can e’er return.

O Attic shape! Fair attitude! with brede

Of marble men and maidens overwrought, With forest branches and the trodden weed; Thou, silent form, dost tease us out of thought As doth eternity: Cold Pastoral!

When old age shall this generation waste, Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say’st, “Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.”

WORD SEARCH

Night of Reflection

Dr Roger Luncheon remembered for his selfless service to Guyana

Remembered for his selfless and devoted service to nation building, the life of the late Dr Roger Luncheon was on Friday honoured in a Night of Reflection which highlighted his work and sterling contributions spanning decades.

President Irfaan Ali; Prime Minister, Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips; Cabinet Ministers, former leaders and other officials gathered at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, as heartwarming tributes and recollections were poured in on his sterling political career and beyond.

Dr Luncheon, a senior Central and Executive Member of the PPP/C, served as Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) for over 21 years – a tenure that spanned the presidencies of Dr Cheddi Jagan, Janet Jagan, Samuel Hinds, Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar. Up until the time of his death, he was a Presidential Advisor.

According to Prime Minister Mark Phillips, it was Luncheon’s humility and patriotism that struck a chord with those around him, coupled with his sharp

intellect and sense of logic.

Speaking on some of the contentious times in the country’s history, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo added, “Roger Luncheon has been central to everything that has happened under every PPP Government. He has been very important person for the party… He was a workaholic. Every minute of his day was spent in service to the people of this country.”

The Vice President underscored that Dr Luncheon played a critical role in ensuring the PPP/C kept its core principles throughout successive Governments.

Former President Donald Ramotar remembered Luncheon for his calm

nature - a quality which attracted the common man.

“You will very rarely see Roger angry and I think that’s one of the qualities that he had that is why ordinary people felt comfortable talking to him about any problems that they had. He will be missed. The service that be served, I don’t think we can put a monetary sum to it,” Ramotar shared.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister, Gail Teixeira highlighted her close relationship to the PPP stalwart, noting that there is no better way to honour his legacy than dedicated service to the country.

“This life that Roger lived is one that I hope will be an

example to the young people of our country, the young leaders in our party and outside of our party. Serve your country, make it a better place and leave your mark in it and be still, a wonderful human being: caring, strong, loving and brave.”

Luncheon was a member of the Cabinet and the party’s Central and Executive Committees up until his passing.

Throughout his life, he left a rich legacy of true commitment to service, patriotism, and a deep sense of national pride and hard work for the people of Guyana.

Dr Luncheon was a graduate of Queen’s College, after which he proceeded to study at Howard University in Washington, DC, and became an internal medicine specialist in nephrology.

After serving the Health Ministry as an Internal Medicine Consultant, he became Head of the Internal

Medicine Department. He worked at the University of Guyana as an Associate Professor of the Medical Practitioners Programme.

A member of the PPP since the early 1980s, Luncheon served as Head of the Presidential Secretariat from 1992 to 2015. He also chaired and served on a number of Boards during this time, including the NIS and the Defence Board.

He was also Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee.

Dr Luncheon is the third PPP/C stalwart to have died in a year, following the death of Bibi Shadick in August 2022 and the death of party co-founder and renowned Attorney-at-Law Ashton Chase, OE, SC, last month.

At the time of his death, he was 74 years of age. (G12)

The late Dr Roger Luncheon

Guard remanded for fatally stabbing friend

Asecurity guard has been remanded to prison for the murder of Eric Fraser, called “50 Cent”, his friend he is accused of fatally stabbing during a brawl last Thursday.

Terrence Sam, called “Poke Eye”, 51, of Haslington, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was brought before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

Sam was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated that on August 10, in the East Demerara Magisterial District, he murdered 42-year-old Fraser.

The murder accused will return to court on September 26.

Just two days after allegedly fatally stabbing his friend, Sam surrendered himself at the Brickdam Police Station where he re-

portedly confessed to the crime, claiming he acted in self-defence.

Based on Sam’s con-

fession, the altercation occurred between the now deceased Fraser and him at Mogo Barbershop in

Thinking about… …the elderly

Last Saturday was “International Youth Day”. That’s right, there’s been a day set aside for our yutes, since the beginning of our new millennium, but your Eyewitness confesses that it slipped under his radar with all these “UN Days” coming so fast and furious. Then again, since he’s not exactly a spring chicken, he could’ve been suffering from the incipient senility that threatens once you’ve graduated from “youth”. Think about that prolix “Elder”!!

And it’s probably of that threat that, this year, the theme chosen - "Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World" – doesn’t resonate. Shouldn’t youths be exhorted to spare a thought for us oldsters? That saying, “Youth is wasted on the young and wisdom is wasted on the old”, makes sense, doesn’t it?? Imagine having all that energy and not knowing how exactly to make the best use of it - and then knowing exactly what to do but just can’t get up to do it!! The irony that is life!!

Haslington North.

The argument was reportedly rooted in an old grievance between the two.

In a fit of rage, Sam allegedly whipped out a knife and stabbed Fraser in the groin. After receiving the stab wound, Fraser ran to his yard and collapsed.

The victim was urgently transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation for medical attention, but unfortunately, he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Eyewitnesses told this publication that the two men were friends and that on the day in question, they were embroiled in an argument. The exact cause of the disagreement remains unknown.

However, it was during the course of that confrontation that Sam attempted to stab Fraser, but the victim managed to disarm him. The dispute seemingly subsided, and both men, along with their friends, were present at the barber shop. Fraser reportedly left briefly but returned, leading to yet another altercation during which he was fatally stabbed. (G1)

Now, we all know we’ve got a very youthful President – is he still a youth?? Where’s that line of demarcation? He certainly has the energy that goes with youth; the man’s schedule makes your Eyewitness’s head spin!! The Energiser Bunny has nothing on him!! And he’s certainly the exception that proves the rule on youth and wisdom not joined at the hip! Frankly, young President Ali’s a walking advertisement for electing some younger leaders to get our moribund country moving. If you have any concerns, just think of President Biden and his public appearances!!

Well, Pres Ali appears ready to move out all the old guard who might be holding back his plan for total transformation. He just announced a shakeup of the second-tier leadership constituted by the Permanent Secretaries in the Ministries when he reassigned six of them and appointed two new ones! Now, while all eyes are focused on the Ministers appointed by the President to the Cabinet, when we think of the Executive and the execution of the Government’s programme, when it comes to the crunch, it’s really the folks supporting the ministers in the Public Service that have to ensure the jobs get done. And – if the truth be told – it’s the Permanent Secretaries that have to get the Public Service bodies moving!!

In the same vein of letting it all hang out, we gotta admit that our worthies in the Public Service are more reflexively prone to supporting the Opposition!! And when they can, actually throw wrenches in the governmental machinery, even through malingering!!

And we return to the critical role of the Permanent Secretary, who’s the link between the Minister – who reports to the President directly – and the Public Service.

…law and order

Something’s rotten in the state of the Guyana Police Force. Why, if it’s another day, then it’s another scandal for them! Your Eyewitness wonders how long this can continue. But then he realises ruefully that Haiti’s been putting up with a rotten Police Force for two hundred years!! Will we suffer with ours for another century?? Your Eyewitness notes that the Police were corrupted in both countries by dictators who used and subverted them for their own self-interest.

It was Papa Doc in Haiti and Fat Boy Burnham in ours. They had their TonTon Macoutes, and we had our House of Israel goon squad. We got quite a ways to catch upbut don’t forget that in only two decades, the PNC had brought our economy to hover precariously barely above theirs!! Right now, with criminal gangs controlling greater swathes of the Haitian capital than the Government – an international force is being assembled, led by Kenya, to help out the Police.

Good luck with that!!

…war funding

Have you noticed how quickly money was found – and is still being found - by the US and Europe to fund the war against the Ruskies in the Ukraine war?? One wishes the war on climate change could follow suit!!

Murder accused Terrence Sam Dead: Eric Fraser

After losing court cases

Demand made for payment of $10.9M in court costs from Opposition MPs …can face jail time, seizure of assets

in the National Assembly – and because some members of the House had not been seated, the NRF Act cannot be regarded as being lawfully passed.

But in dismissing their case “in its entirety” on June 19, High Court Judge Navindra Singh, among other things, held that the presence, absence, or use of the Mace in the National Assembly is not provided for in the Constitution or Laws of Guyana.

Several Opposition

parliamentarians have racked up a relatively enormous bill for court costs.

And with them failing to pay a combined $10.9M, they are at risk of being held in contempt of court. Moreover, lawyers for the winning parties are in the process of enforcing judgements against them, which could result in the seizure of their assets and/or imprisonment.

On June 19, Justice Navindra Singh had ordered Opposition Chief

Whip Christopher Jones and Trade Unionist Norris Witter to each pay $250,000 in costs to five respondents.

The duo had named the Attorney General, Finance Minister, Clerk of the National Assembly, Speaker of the National Assembly and Parliament Office in their application challenging the validity of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Act that was passed on December 29, 2021.

They had contended that due to the absence of the Parliamentary Mace –the most significant symbol

The Judge had also decided that the High Court lacks the authority to interfere in the internal matters of the National Assembly under the Constitution.

“It is clear from the evidence that the Mace is nothing more than a relic intended only to be symbolic existence in the National Assembly. It is illogical to believe that the presence or absence of a length of metal can determine the legitimacy of acts done by persons elected by the citizens of the country pursuant to their elected duties,” Justice Singh had said.

Jones and Witter

were each ordered to pay $1,250,000 in costs, totalling $2,500,000 on or before July 19.

With the deadline for payment already gone, Sase Gunraj, the respondents’ lawyer has written to Jones and Witter demanding that they pay the sum within 14 days of his letter dated August 13. Failure to comply will result in proceedings to recover the sum without further notice to them, the lawyer has warned.

Suspension

Similarly, Gunraj has written to eight Opposition

parliamentarians, including Jones demanding that they settle the costs awarded after their case to overturn their suspension was dismissed.

The other MPs are: Ganesh Mahipaul, Sherod Duncan, Natasha SinghLewis, Annette Ferguson, Vinceroy Jordan, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, and Maureen Philadelphia.

The MPs' turbulent attempt on December 2 9, 2021, to block the passage of the NRF Bill— which resulted in the violent removal of the Parliamentary Mace—led to their suspension from

the National Assembly. In throwing out the case, Justice Damone Younge had ruled, inter alia, that the High Court does not have the jurisdiction to intervene in the internal matters of the National Assembly. In those legal proceedings filed against the Attorney General, Clerk of the National Assembly, and Speaker of the National Assembly, the MPs were each ordered to pay costs to the tune of $350,000 to each of the three defendants on or before February 6.

Attorney-at-Law Sase Gunraj Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC

35 African cultural groups receive $63M in funding from Govt

The Guyana Government has handed over some $63 million in funds to 35 African cultural groups in Guyana for projects in a wide variety of sectors as well as initiatives that seek to empower women.

The money was handed over to the 35 groups during a ceremony at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, on Thursday. Each group got just over $1.8 million.

The groups that received funding had previously submitted proposals for projects in a number of areas, including agriculture and purchasing of agricultural equipment; business; cultural training in drumming, teaching craft, cooking traditional foods and garment construction among others.

Some groups also committed to work in literacy, women’s empowerment and via education in African and Afro-Guyanese history.

According to Culture Minister, Charles Ramson Jr, Government is confident in the proposed projects and initiatives as well as the impact they will make.

“There is no preference or differential treatment here. All of the groups have received the equal amount of money. The requirement

is, and what will form part of the agreement, is that the money be used for the project that you have submitted in your proposal…”

“We want to be able to show not just Guyana but the world that from Government’s funding, these are the initiatives and projects that have been supported to further the United Nations Resolution for the Decade,” the Minister noted.

The UN General Assembly resolution 68/237, proclaimed the years 2015 to 2024 to be the

International Decade for People of African Descent.

Prime Minister, Brig (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, said this decade represents a significant global effort towards achieving racial justice, equality, and empowerment.

“What we are doing here today represents a signal and an important decision to ensure that you the people of African descent and the organisations that you represent benefit from the prosperity of this country…”

“By addressing the his-

toric and contemporary injustices faced by people with African descent, this initiative aims to foster a society where everyone can enjoy their fundamental rights, dignity and full participation regardless of the racial or ethnic background. And that is what the Government that I am representing here today wants for all the people of Guyana, and more particularly, for the people of African Descent in Guyana,” the PM Phillips stated.

In addition to ensuring

that all Guyanese benefit from the country’s wealth, the Prime Minister noted that the Government is committed to fulfilling the objectives set out in the UN General Assembly resolution 68/237, which proclaimed 2015 to 2024 to be the International Decade for People of African Descent.

“As we move forward, it is paramount that governments, organisations, and individuals continue to actively support and uphold the principles of the decade, ensuring that every person,

regardless of their ethnicity, enjoys the full benefits of human rights and dignity,” he said.

PM Phillips went on to note the current Government “is a Government for all the people of Guyana...our motto remains One People, One Nation, One Destiny”.

The distribution of these grants comes on the heels of the Guyana Government halting funding to the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana (IDPADA-G), citing the mismanaging of funds.

Instead, Government has decided to distribute the money directly to the African cultural groups in order to achieve the objectives of the decade.

Government had explained that it stopped providing IDPADA-G with the $8 million monthly subvention after numerous persons complained that although they are qualified for assistance from IDPADA-G, they have been wrongly excluded and deprived of same.

Last December, the organisation filed judicial review proceedings over the Government’s refusal to pay the monthly subsidy. That matter is still in the court with a decision pending from the Chief Justice. (G8)

Prime Minister Mark Phillips handing over the cheque to one of the 35 African cultural groups in the presence of several Cabinet members, including Culture Minister Charles Ramson Jr

Mandela to Eccles Highway

Over 1000 persons prosecuted for traffic offences caught by traffic cams

For 2023, so far, over 1000 road users have been captured on speed cameras situated on the Mandela to Eccles fourlane highway, and prosecuted for committing traffic offences, including speeding and failing to wear their seatbelts.

Traffic Chief, Superintendent Dennis Stephen made this disclosure on Friday during an interview with Guyana Times

These speed cameras were positioned along the highway last year, aimed towards automatically photographing vehicles going above the speed limits. These vary along the roadway at 30 kmph, 50 kmph, and 80 kmph.

Since their placement, road users breaking a num-

ber of traffic laws, have been recorded.

“So far, we have prosecuted over 1000 persons and we continue to prosecute persons who commit those offences in that en-

vironment, as it relates to speeding and persons who fail to wear seatbelts. This exercise is ongoing and we also look at all our cameras around Georgetown under the smart city,” Stephen

said.

Warrant drive

For persons who fail to adhere to the court stipulations following their breach of traffic laws, Stephen explained that they are issued arrest warrants to ensure their compliance.

“We are currently on a

warrant drive for persons who fail to pay their tickets.

The warrant drive is a part of our Respect the Road campaign…so we’re able to execute those warrants to ensure that persons pay the ticket. We are also able to arrest [persons] and ensure that they appear in court [if need be],” Stephen said.

This Respect the Road campaign is a recent initiative being rolled out by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), in collaboration with the National Road Safety Council, and Impressions Inc.

While the arrest warrant drive forms part of the enforcement arm of this campaign, the other component involves engaging commuters in a public awareness and education campaign.

“So far we have done several bumper stickers across the country and distributed flyers educating road users on how to use the road,” Stephen said.

Fatal accidents

The campaign is one of several measures being taken by traffic ranks to ensure road safety, given the rise of traffic incidents this year. The Traffic Chief noted that 93 deaths have emerged from 80 road accidents for the year so far, of which 29 are motorcyclists and 8 are pillion riders. “Also looking at our statistics as it relates to persons who received serious injuries, motorcyclists, once again, would have been the most [vulnerable]. We recorded 191 serious accidents and 100 motorcyclists received serious injuries,” Stephen said. “Traditionally, pedestrians would’ve been the most vulnerable road users, who would’ve lost their lives. But for this year, we have a new phenomenon

where we’ve observed motorcyclists, including pillion riders, being a [significant] part of that number of persons who lost their lives,” Stephen said. Last year, there were 62 road fatalities, of which 25 were pedestrians, 13 were motorcyclists and two were pillion riders. This year, 24 pedestrians have died in road accidents. To address this rising concern, Stephen explained that for the year so far, the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry donated some 300 helmets to be distributed among motorcyclists.

Meanwhile, with speeding being the leading cause of the fatal accidents for this year, at 64 of the 80 accidents, the Traffic Chief encouraged road users to manage their time and plan their journeys wisely.

Drunk driving

Stephen, however, noted that there has been a decrease in the number of fatal accidents related to drunk driving, with last year seeing four such instances and this year, so far, seeing one.

The recently introduced Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Act 2022 calls for liquor licence holders to play a more active role against drinking and driving, for one, by avoiding the sale of alcohol to inebriated persons who are likely to leave the premises by driving.

“The bar owners are cooperating with us because it's important for them and also for us to save lives. So, they are working with us as it relates to having persons who are found under the influence of alcohol and rendered incapable of driving--they would call them a taxi to take them home [or] they’ll call the Police to assist in that aspect. (G13)

Traffic Chief, Superintendent Dennis Stephen

Sod turned for construction of $303M Magistrate's Court at Timehri

and a perimeter fence.

This court will deal with cases arising out of the lower East Bank area, all the way up to Silvertown.

The project is expected to be completed by September 2024.

In her remarks, the Chancellor of the Judiciary expressed deep gratitude

to the Attorney General for assisting in securing the plot of land from the Government of Guyana and thanked the Government for financing the project.

“This is yet another demonstration of the Government’s commitment to the rule of law and to ensuring access to justice

by the citizens,” she remarked.

Only on Wednesday, a brand-new Magistrates’ Court with living quarters for Magistrates and other modern amenities, costing $294M was opened at Vigilance on the East Coast of Demerara. (G1)

The sod was turned for the construction of a Magistrates’ Court at Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD), at a simple ceremony on Friday.

It was attended by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC; Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards; Chief Justice (ag)

Roxane George, SC, and Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.

Also present at the sod-turning were staff of the Supreme Court of Judicature; the contractor, Benson Simon; and Puran Ram, a representative of the engineers for the project.

The $303,905,015 contract for the construction of

the courthouse was awarded to Orion Engineering Incorporated by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) after a public tender.

The building will house a courtroom, Magistrate’s chambers, living quarters for a Magistrate and a clerk of court, washroom facilities, parking facilities,

(L-R) Senior Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, Attorney General & Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, Chancellor Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Chief Justice Roxane George at the sod-turning ceremony for the new Timehri Magistrate's Court

Temporary shelter, other support for victims of violence

As part of the Government’s efforts to provide much-needed support for victims of violence, “halfway houses” will be constructed in three regions.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, revealed that this is a pilot project that will be done on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), at Vergenoegen in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and in Region One (Barima-Waini).

“Not very far from here, the Government in a collaboration between the Ministry of Legal Affairs and the Ministry of [Human Services and Social Security], is constructing an edifice that will be styled a Hope and Justice Centre,” said Nandlall on Wednesday while delivering remarks at the opening of the new $294 million Vigilance Magistrates’ Courts, ECD.

Additionally, if this pilot project is a success, it will be implemented in all of the administrative regions of the nation.

He explained that Hope and Justice Centre is a “new concept” the Government has designed and will be a home for victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and human trafficking.

These all-in-one centres will offer counselling, Police protection, and assistance with legal and medical issues. Additionally, temporary accommodations will be offered to victims.

“It would accommodate these victims if there is no other accommodation available other than to go back to the source of the abuse. It is going to be a halfway house for victims,” added Nandlall.

Human Services and Soc ial Security Minister, Dr Vin dhya Persaud had previously stated that services to combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) will be prioritised at the centre that will be constructed in the hinterland where human trafficking is more prevalent.

The construction period for the centres is a minimum of nine months and will be funded by a loan the Government has received from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for the Support for the Criminal Justice System (SCJS) Programme.

The Support for the Criminal Justice Programme is a US$8 million project to help Guyana overcome prison overcrowding, by reducing pre-trial detentions and increasing the use of alternative sentencing, among other measures.

Despite several interven-

tions at all levels, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, sexual abuse, and human trafficking continue to be serious problems.

In relation to domestic violence, data from Guyana’s First National Survey on GenderBased Violence released in 2019, showed that one in every two women in the country has or will experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime.

According to reports, 28 women were murdered in 2022, the majority by their husbands/ former partners. They were either shot, stabbed, beaten, or burnt.

For the seventh consecutive year, Guyana has maintained its Tier 1 ranking in the US Department of State 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report, which lauded the Government for its efforts to combat this form of modern-day slavery. This simply means that Guyana is fully compliant with the minimum standards for the elimination of severe forms of trafficking in persons.

Meanwhile, there have been a large number of cases of sexual abuse, particularly against children and this is evidenced by the alarmingly high number of cases of sexual offences listed for trial at the Demerara, Essequibo, and Berbice Criminal Assizes. (G1)

…as Govt constructs ‘Hope and Justice Centres'

Bamia to receive potable water for 1st time

Drilling of the well at Bamia on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway is expected to be completed by September of this year, moving closer towards first-time potable water access for residents.

After drilling is completed, work will commence on laying of the distribution system in the community. This exercise is slated for completion before year-end. When these works are completed, the more than 220 residents will receive clean water to their homes.

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Shaik Baksh visited the community as the project

continues, where he interacted with residents. Many of them praised Government’s delivery of the promise made to deliver potable water access.

Meanwhile, over at Tigerbone Banakari along the highway, another 260 residents are on course to receive potable water for the first time.

The drilling of another well there is progressing smoothly, and every effort is being made to have it completed before the community's heritage celebration next month.

The Government has allotted $1.4 billion this year to drill wells and establish water distribution networks in the hinterland region. The objective is to attain 100 per cent

Guyanese selected for US scholarship in forensic science

water access for residents in these parts of Guyana by 2025. This is five years earlier than what is set out by the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

To expedite access to potable water for residents, over $15 billion has been expended to make this a reality.

Overall, 97 per cent of Guyana’s population has access to clean potable water. However, for the hinterland and riverine communities, there is 75 per cent coverage and by the end of 2023, with invest -

ments being made, the coverage will increase to 83 per cent. This is up from 45 per cent before Government took office.

Meanwhile, GWI is looking to establish 40 new wells and 30 water supply systems in hinterland regions this year, as part of the Government’s agenda to ensure every household is provided with potable water.

Once completed, these facilities would serve approximately 12,000 residents. Some 7000 residents are already receiving first-

time access to potable water in their homes

Across the country, 7000 households received first-time access to potable water in 2022. This was made possible with the commissioning of a number of wells across the country. Residents of the hinterland received first-time access with the commissioning of 20 water treatment systems at Aranaputa, Rupertee, Wowetta, Rupununi, Jawalla, Shulinab and Annai among others.

Renea Douglas, tutor within the Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of Guyana (UG), was announced on Thursday as the recipient of the prestigious 2023 Fulbright Scholarship Award.

Within this United States (US) Governmentled programme, Douglas will pursue a Master of Science degree in Forensic Studies at Syracuse University, New York, through the Fulbright Foreign Student Programme.

This will add to her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology that she previously received from UG, where she was also awarded the Vice-Chancellor special award and best graduating student, Bachelor of Science Biology Programme 2021.

Douglas is a mystery and investigative stories enthusiast, whose passion for forensic studies is aimed towards supporting Guyana’s judicial services by delivering justice to families of victims.

During a luncheon last week, US Embassy in Guyana’s Public Affairs Officer, Kelly McCray reiterated the US Government’s continued support to Guyana’s development by building local capacity through higher education and contributing to improving the lives of Guyanese.

Launched in 2019, the Fulbright Foreign Student Programme and its related scholarship administered by the US Embassy, gives Guyanese the chance to complete a Master’s or PhD at a US-based higher education institution.

It further seeks to devel-

op cultural understanding between the two countries and as such, preference is given to applicants who do not have extensive experience in the US.

Covered within the scholarship are visa, travel, accommodation and university tuition costs, as well as Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) testing and medical insurance.

Last year, two Guyanese scholars were selected for the Fulbright Scholarship – Educator Keesha St John and civil engineer Bayeeshmaal Ramsundar.

St John went on to pursue a Master of Science in Agribusiness Economics at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, while Ramsundar sought a Master of Science in Construction Management at New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering.

Works ongoing to create a new well at Tigerbone Banakari

Public Affairs Officer Kelly McCray and Fulbright Scholarship recipient Renea Douglas

City Hall is not broke – GT Mayor claims

Mayor of the Georgetown City Council Alfred Mentore has responded to reports of the Council being broke, refuting it as a ‘fallacy’ and adding that they have been able to honour financial obligations.

During a broadcast interview on Thursday, the Georgetown Mayor noted that they have been in a better financial position as opposed to a few years ago, when there were major shortcomings in paying staffers and contractors.

His comments came after the first statutory meeting earlier this week to deal with the Council's financial position and the auditing of the Council's assets.

“It’s not true. The Council has been paying its debts. We all know in the last four to five years, we haven’t had a host of people lining up in front of the Council saying they’re not getting paid, either at the staff level or contractors. We haven’t had those challenges. We have been honouring our obligations,” he disclosed.

City Hall has been labelled as cash-strapped on several occasions and has relied on Central Government to provide a bailout to provide critical services. However, Mentore opined that if the 40 per cent of delinquent taxpayers were to pay their dues, the local organ would be in a better position.

“Of that 40 per cent, a lot of it happens to be ordinary citizens that live within the city of Georgetown. We will be working with those persons.”

According to the Mayor, Council’s asset register has also been an issue for many years and must be weeded out. In fact, there has only been partial audits over the past years, owing to the lack of the asset register. The Council has made about 70 per cent progress in getting this up to par.

He added, “I strongly believe that it’s not our doing. It’s an administrative issue that has to be addressed and sorted out. We’ve made significant strides in remedying this issue. I believe that from what the Town Clerk said, we’re about 70 per cent of where we need to be in relation to that…The asset register is necessary in order for you to produce a balance sheet. It is one of those things that has been affecting us and we want to address this.”

Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh disclosed in June that in the 2021 Auditor General’s (AG) report, page 95 states that the last time financial statements were audited for the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown was in 2004.

The Auditor General

also highlighted that he had not received financial statements for a number of years, including 2020 and 2021.

In addition, the Special Audit Report of the Auditor General for the years 2019 and 2020, sent in April 2022 to Town Clerk, Candace Nelson stated, “Financial statements were submitted for the year 2018 and 2019. However, they were subsequently returned to M&CC on 27 August 2021 for non-compliance with International Accounting Standards.”

In fact, Minister Singh shared a breakdown of the backing provided by the PPP/C Government to support to the citizens of Georgetown. During the period 2020 to 2022, the

Government expended over $6 billion to construct and rehabilitate roads in Georgetown.

Between 2020 and 2022, the Government expended $155 million to reconstruct and rehabilitate bridges, $1 billion to enhance the Old Railway Embankment,

$1.6 billion on enhancement works along Independence Boulevard, Cemetery Road, and internal roads, Albouystown, Georgetown; and $250 million on enhancement works along Kingston Seawall.

Between 2021 and 2022, the Administration also ex-

pended $678 million to operate and maintain the main drainage system in the municipality and $600 million to upgrade the water transmission lines in Georgetown. It also stood the cost of $510 million for solid waste management. (G12)

Skeletal remains found in abandoned Uitvlugt house

The skeletal remains of a human, believed to belong to a male, were discovered on Friday morning in an abandoned two-storey wooden structure situated on Uitvlugt Estate Road, West Coast Demerara.

According Police reports, the discovery was made at about 09:45h on Friday.

Police said a 51-year-old a labourer of Stewartville Squatting Area, West Coast Demerara, was in the area when he entered the building in search of a restroom.

He said as he opened the door, an unpleasant odour was originating from the upper floor of the building, prompting him to check the upper level via an eastern staircase. It was then that

he discovered the decomposed remains of a man hanging by a white cloth on a wooden beam in the hall. Following this discovery, the Police were called to the scene, and the remains were extracted and taken to Ezekiel Funeral Home. Police are awaiting both identification and a post-mortem examination.

(G9)

Unattended gas stove bursts into flames, ECD house destroyed

Afire of so far unknown origin ravaged a home in Success on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), leaving one person homeless.

According to reports, the residence belonged to Shafiez Mohamed, a 49-year-old who was living at Lot 412 Success, East Coast Demerara. The fire ignited around 23:15h on Thursday night.

Mohamed occupied the lower floor of the two-storey wooden and concrete structure, encompassed by a well-fenced yard.

He told investigators that he was cooking in the kitchen area of his home, and he left his gas stove unattended for about two minutes to fetch a bucket of water from outside. Upon his return, he was met with a kitchen area engulfed in flames.

He suspected a gas leak from his cooking gas bottle and attempted to douse the fire by placing a damp cloth over it. Unfortunately, this proved ineffective. He then alerted his family members residing on the upper floor, and they promptly evacuated the building.

Subsequently, the Police and the Guyana Fire Service were summoned to the scene. Sub-Officer Reed and an Alberttown and Campbeville Fire Service team responded and extinguished the flames. Fortunately, there were no casualties.

Just two days prior, similar incidents occurred where unattended stoves led to devastating fires, leaving four individuals homeless in separate incidents. These fires resulted in the destruction of three residences in Golden Grove and Mon Repos on the East

Coast

of Demerara (ECD).

The first fire occurred on Tuesday in Mon Repos, destroying two homes and displacing three people.

Firefighters from Melanie and Campbellville Fire Stations responded to the emergency. The primary affected structure was owned by a 59-year-old man named Baldeo, who resided there with 24-year-old Radha Baldeo.

An adjacent wooden house owned by 29-year-old Sudesh Motie was also consumed by the flames. The Fire Service's investigation revealed that the fire originated from an unattended one-burner makeshift stove and rapidly spread, resulting in the destruction of both buildings.

In a separate occurrence

on Wednesday in Golden Grove, a one-storey residence owned by 70-yearold Martha Annbick was destroyed by another fire caused by an unattended one-burner kerosene stove. Firefighters arrived to find the house already engulfed in flames.

Following these incidents, the Guyana Fire Service issued a statement advising that they have observed an increase in house fires, particularly those originating in kitchens. To prevent such fires while cooking, they advised people to never leave stovetop cooking unattended and to regularly check items in the oven. They recommended installing smoke detectors, fire alarms, and fire extinguishers in homes. (G9)

Georgetown Mayor, Alfred Mentore

The fire that destroyed the home at Success, ECD

Teen found dead in Lusignan apartment …questions arise over suspected ‘suicide’

A19-year-old girl was found dead in her Lusignan apartment on the East Coast of Demerara on Thursday morning in what appears to be an apparent suicide. However, after her passing, several individuals have turned to social media to express doubts about the presumed ‘suicide’.

According to Police reports, Malinda Fiona Niewenkirk, an unemployed teenager, was discovered dead between 01:14h and 04:00h on Thursday morning. She resided in a sixunit, two-storey apartment building, all of which were occupied.

Reports are that at about 22:00h the previous night, a 36-year-old man reportedly ended his relationship with the teen and left her apartment. He later claimed that Malinda contacted him via WhatsApp around 01:30h, threatening self-harm. He claimed that he attempted to console and support her through text messages, but her responses ceased.

Despite numerous calls

Malinda Fiona Niewenkirk

and texts, the 19-year-old did not reply. Concerned, the man reported the situation at the Vigilance Police Station. Accompanied by the Police, he returned to the apartment where the teen’s body was discovered.

Emergency Medical Technicians from Melanie responded and she was pronounced dead. Her body was then taken to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, awaiting a post-mortem ex-

Fatal shooting of reputed wife

amination on Monday. Following news of the teen’s death, several persons who knew the teen took to social media voicing suspicions of foul play.

CCTV footage shared on social media captured a vehicle leaving the teen’s apartment area at 02:28h.

A post was also shared on her WhatsApp status around the same time the vehicle was seen leaving the apartment. The status read, “Lord, forgive me for what I am about to do.”

The teen’s family, however, has since said they do not believe that she committed suicide and called on Police to conduct a thorough probe.

On Friday, the GPF Public Relations Department stated that the teen's lover was interviewed, and his phone was examined. Both the landlord and neighbours were also interviewed.

The investigation, however, remains ongoing as Police await the result of the post-mortem examination. (G9)

Demand made for payment ...

The total costs owing in this case is $8,400,000.

Although the losing parties have appealed both Justice Singh’s and Justice Younge’s ruling, no stay of execution was applied for or granted which effectively means that the respondents’ lawyer can move to have the judgements enforced.

Cost recovery

Recently, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, disclosed that he had written letters of demand to the applicants in both cases, but according to him, they have been ignored.

In light of this, he said the Attorney General’s Chambers is in the process of moving to recover costs

awarded in litigation lost by the main parliamentary Opposition “I have already asked my staff to accumulate the matters and let us begin the enforcement process of getting these monies. When you file these frivolous, vexatious matters and the court expresses its displeasure in order for costs, they must be paid,” he had told reporters in June.

When asked to explain the enforcement process, he said that while there are many ways to enforce a court judgement, his chambers will be exploring three options.

First, Nandlall said the court can seize the personal assets, both movable and im-

FROM PAGE 9►

movable, of the losing party. Another option, he said, is that “You can go to imprison them if you establish that they have the means to pay and they are deliberating not paying.”

The Opposition deliberating not paying the costs can be established because its Members of Parliament, who are the applicants/ claimants, are salaried employees, he reasoned.

The third option, he disclosed, is going to their employers to garnish wages/ salaries due to them monthly, or depending on their pay frequency. Nandlall has assured that these processes will be examined and that he will “move swiftly” to recover the owed monies. (G1)

Fmr

GDF Captain pursuing appeal against life sentence …hires new lawyers

Three years after former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Captain Orwain Sandy filed an appeal against his too-long jail sentence for killing his reputed wife; he has, through his lawyers, informed the Court of Appeal of Guyana that he is still interested in pursuing the matter.

On August 4, 2020, High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon sentenced Sandy to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 20 years for killing his partner, Reona Payne.

Less than two weeks later, the killer’s then-lawyer Ravindra Mohabir filed a Notice of Appeal on his behalf, contending that the jail time was manifestly excessive and not in keeping with established sentencing guidelines.

In that Notice of Appeal, the lawyer had indicated that additional/substantive grounds will be added at the hearing of the appeal for which a date for hearing had yet to be fixed.

Sandy has since hired new lawyers.

They are Nigel Hughes, Ronald Daniels, and Kiswana Jefford, all from the Hughes, Fields, and Stoby law firm. On Friday, lead attorney Nigel Hughes told the appellate court that his client will be pursuing his appeal against sentence.

He said that he too filed a Notice of Appeal since he was, at the time, unaware that one had already been filed. As such, he requested that the two Notices of Appeal be consolidated.

This publication is not privy to what is contained in the second Notice of Appeal.

The court will send notices to Sandy’s lawyers concerning the hearing date for his appeal.

Initially, 40-year-old Sandy was indicted for the capital offence of murder, but he opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

He admitted that he shot Payne, 32, 14 times with his service revolver.

The court heard that on March 31, 2018, Sandy and Payne, a mother of three, were in a motor car proceeding along First Street, Alexander Village, Georgetown, when an argu-

ment ensued after the then GDF Captain accused her of infidelity.

According to reports, Sandy suddenly stopped the car, and as the woman exited, he shot her 14 times. After the incident, Sandy –who was a Special Assistant to the Chief-of-Staff –turned himself in at the Ruimveldt Police Station.

He was subsequently charged with murder.

He was granted an application to be mentally evaluated after his attorney, Ravindra Mohabir told the court that the examination was critical to his client’s well-being, since he had been consulting with a psychiatrist for two years prior to the fatal shooting.

During Sandy’s sentencing hearing before Justice Kissoon, the father of Payne’s three children, Richard Bevany, as well as her children, shared how her death has affected them.

Bevany told the court that the passing of his children’s mother caused their children to lose focus in school.

In fact, Payne’s daughter and son relayed to the court that they “miss” their mother “very much” and feel like their entire world is falling apart.

Meanwhile, Sandy’s previous attorney Mohabir, in a plea of mitigation, had told the court that on the day of the killing, his client had a “sudden and temporary loss of self-control due to provocation”.

Mohabir had relat-

ed that Sandy had asked Payne to call the person she was having a relationship with and demanded that she ended it.

In response, Mohabir had related, Payne threw his client’s gun out of the car window, which angered him.

Justice Kissoon had asked Sandy if he had anything to say before a sentence was passed and he responded saying that the incident had increased his passion for advocating against domestic violence and intimate partner violence.

With tears in his eyes, the well-spoken father of four added that ending his first love’s life had left a hole in his heart.

He had claimed that on the day of the killing, he suffered a mental breakdown and that after the killing, he was haunted by suicidal thoughts.

Moreover, Sandy had urged young men to learn from his actions.

Judge Kissoon had described the woman's killing as "horrific and cruel" and said a strong message must be sent to potential criminals as he ordered Sandy to serve at least 20 years before being eligible for parole.

The Judge had further stated that Sandy's acts, which included killing Payne in a shower of shots, were "despicable," "unjustifiable," "inexcusable," and, in contrast to his attorney's claims, "unprovoked." (G1)

Reona Payne and Orwain Sandy

Haitians flee homes in Port-au-Prince as gang violence surges

Thousands of Haitians have their fled homes in Port-au-Prince amid soaring gang violence that has killed more than 2400 people so far this year.

The UN said that 5000 fled the Carrefour-Feuilles district this week after gang members took control.

Local aid groups meanwhile have stopped vital services as Government attempts to quell the violence fell flat.

The UN Security Council is soon due to decide whether to send a multinational force to help restore order.

In Carrefour-Feuilles and surrounding areas where there has been months of gang warfare, a stream of residents were seen carrying suitcases or leaving with belongings strapped to their cars.

Video recorded by Reuters news agency showed women weeping beside the body of a man who gang members had killed.

Reuters said that many of those who managed to escape had gathered at a local military base demanding help against the gangs.

Decades of instability, disasters and economic woes have left Haiti one of the poorest and most-violent countries in the world.

Gang violence has soared since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, which led to much of the country's territory falling out of Government control.

Turf wars have since driven a surge in refugees, severe food shortages, murders, kidnappings and sexual violence.

UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said on Friday that at least 2439 Haitians had been killed, 902 injured and 951 kidnapped this year.

Haiti's government said it would deploy "all its forces" to restore order to CarrefourFeuilles. However, its poorly equipped police have struggled against heavily armed gangs.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council in a report on Tuesday that a "robust use of force" by a multinational deployment was needed to restore order and disarm the gangs.

Kenya has expressed willingness to lead such a force. The council is due to consider the matter in the coming weeks. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Bernardo Arevalo, the surprise frontrunner in Guatemala's presidential election, is promising to revive a stalled anti-corruption movement and reverse democratic backsliding if voters back him in Sunday's runoff vote.

A 64-year-old ex-diplomat, son of a former President and leader of the progressive Semilla party, Arevalo holds a double-digit lead in polls over his opponent, former first lady Sandra Torres.

"We need to turn the page," Arevalo said in a debate on Monday, promising to bring the country "out of the swamp of corruption."

Founded in 2017, Arevalo's party Semilla, the Spanish word for seed, has roots in anti-graft protests organised in 2015 after Guatemala's Attorney General and a UN-backed anti-corruption body revealed a corruption scheme involving the President and Vice President, who resigned and were arrested.

Recent years have seen a backlash to corruption investigations, with dozens of prosecutors and Judges forced into exile. Arevalo has promised to welcome them back.

Arevalo surged in support this year after authorities disqualified three other opposition contenders, including the frontrunner, drawing concern from rights groups.

In 2019, Semilla's then candidate, former attorney general Thelma Aldana, was similarly disqualified on what she said were politically motivated corruption charges.

Arevalo nearly met a similar fate when a prosecutor persuaded a court to suspend Semilla after June's first-round vote, threatening to sideline his bid. Guatemala's top court later reversed the ban.

If elected, Arevalo will have to work with a Congress where Semilla will only control 23 of 160 seats.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Mexico

President says he'll accept

resolution

of

panel in corn trade spat with US

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Friday he would accept the decision of a trade panel requested by the United States to solve a spat over the Latin American country's move to ban genetically modified, or GMO, corn imports.

The United States on Thursday escalated its objections to Mexico, requesting a dispute settlement

panel to carry out negotiations under the North American trade pact.

The panel came after formal consultations failed to resolve divisions between the two trade partners over GMO corn, which is widely produced by US farmers.

If the panel rules in favour of the United States and Mexico fails to comply with its directives, the US Trade Representative (USTR) could ultimately

win the right to impose tariffs on Mexican goods.

Mexico's Economy Ministry has argued the country's policies are consistent with trade obligations.

Nonetheless, Washington alleges that Mexico's decree banning imports of GMO corn is not based on science and violates its commitments under the US-MexicoCanada Agreement on trade launched in 2020. (Reuters)

Jamaica's poverty rate expected to fall, says PIOJ

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is reporting that while Jamaica's poverty rate, impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic, increased in 2021, some improvement is expected when subsequent data are calculated.

It said the prevalence of poverty in 2021 was estimated at 16.7 per cent, reflecting an increase of 5.7 percentage points relative to 2019. The rates were compared with 2019 as no local estimate of poverty was available for 2020.

Speaking at the institute's quarterly press briefing on Thursday, PIOJ Senior Director, Economic Planning, Research and Policy Logistics James Stewart explained that at the time the poverty rate was provided, the economy was still experiencing the conditions of COVID-19, including

Japan to resume Brazil chicken imports from Santa Catarina, local government says

Japan will resume chicken imports from Brazil's Santa Catarina state after a ban triggered by an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in backyard flocks there, Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said on Friday.

The Ministry said in a statement that the ban, imposed on July 17, was lifted after it confirmed that poultry from Santa Catarina state is free from the disease.

Earlier, a statement from Santa Catarina citing Governor Jorginho Mello had said the embargo had been lifted.

Santa Catarina's government mentioned a bilateral agreement between Brazil and Japan that allowed for chicken sales to resume should no irregularities be found 28 days after the outbreak-related ban was imposed.

The Brazilian Agriculture Ministry said the state of Santa Catarina

is Brazil's second largest producer and exporter of chicken. It confirmed Japan lifted its ban on eggs, chicken meat and other by-products effective on Friday.

The news is a boon to local meat processors, as Japan is Santa Catarina's top poultry export destination, according to the state government.

Nationwide, only China imported more Brazilian chicken than Japan in the first seven months of 2023, according to trade data compiled by pork and poultry lobby ABPA.

Japan had temporarily banned chicken products coming from Espirito Santo state in late June and from Santa Catarina in mid-July.

In May, Brazil reported its first-ever case of highly pathogenic avian influenza -- in wild birds. But the country remains technically free of the disease as there have been no detections on commercial flocks. (Excerpt from Reuters)

lockdowns and job cuts.

"Since then the labour force has recovered and we expect that in subsequent releases of the Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions (JSLC), we do expect to see improvement in the poverty rate but for 2021 the conditions which prevailed at the time is re-

flected in the poverty outturn presented," he said.

At the same time, PIOJ's Director General Dr Wayne Henry said Jamaica's poverty rate is in keeping with expectations and experiences globally, noting that "we've seen poverty rates increase globally in many cases way above what we see in here".

Highlighting the Government's efforts in terms of the speed of recovery for Jamaica from the pandemic and the social protection programmes to offset the fallout, Dr Henry stressed that "we were very instrumental, we believe in ensuring that the poverty rates were not higher.

"So we are seeing the improvements going forward as reflected in economic performance as well as labour market record performances," he said. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Argentina Government: IMF had wanted "100%" devaluation of peso

Argentina's Government said on Thursday that major creditor the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had originally wanted a "100%" devaluation of the country's embattled peso currency, before the two sides agreed to a correction of 18% made earlier this week.

The comments, made by a Government spokeswoman after similar ones by Economy Minister Sergio Massa, underscore rising pressure on the peso, which was devalued and pegged at 350 per dollar on Monday, though trades nearer 800 in parallel markets.

Amid talks to speed up payouts from the country's US$44 billion IMF programme, there has been pressure to allow the official exchange rate to drop in the line with parallel rates, seen as a truer reflection of the currency's value. That would really be a 50% devaluation, but mean the cost of dollars

would double, or rise 100%.

"Finally, the agreement we reached, which will mean that next week we will have almost US$8 billion in disbursements, closed near 20%," Massa, also the ruling Peronist coalition's presidential candidate, said late on Wednesday.

The IMF Board is expected to meet next week to ratify the latest reviews of Argentina's loan programme, which would unlock disbursements the country badly needs to meet its obligations, with net foreign currency reserves seen in negative territory.

Inflation over 113% has stoked anger in the country amid a cost-of-living crisis, leading to a shock result in primary elections last week where a radical libertarian Javier Milei came in first place above the two mainstream political forces. General elections will be held in October. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Residents gathered outside a military base demanding help after fleeing Carrefour-Feuilles

Guatemala's Arevalo, casting election as turning point, eyes top prize

PIOJ Director General Dr Wayne Henry

Around The World OIL NEWS

Ukrainian drone damages building in Moscow, disrupting air traffic, Russia says

Oil up 1% on signs of slow US output, posts first weekly loss in 8 weeks

Oil prices rose about 1% on Friday on signs of slowing US output, but both crude benchmarks also ended their longest weekly rally of 2023 on mounting concerns about global demand growth.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained 86 cents, or 1.1%, to settle at US$81.25 a barrel, and Brent crude futures rose 68 cents, or 0.8%, to settle at US$84.80 a barrel.

Both benchmarks pushed higher on Friday after industry data showed that the US oil and natural gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell for the sixth week in a row. A slump in US production could exacerbate an anticipated supply tightness through the rest of this year.

Those concerns, spurred on by output cuts from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, helped oil prices gain for seven straight weeks since June. Brent crude gained about 18% and WTI gained 20% over the seven weeks ended Aug 11.

This week, however, oil prices dropped about 2% from last week, as a worsening property crisis in China added to concerns about the country's sluggish economic recovery and reduced investors’ appetite for risk across markets.

"Concerns for investors remain focused on the tension between slowing global growth and still-tight global supplies," said Rob Haworth, senior portfolio manager at US Bank Asset Management.

"Prices are likely to remain range-bound for now," Haworth said, adding that demand is in question for investors worried by the weak data from China.

Concern is also mounting that the US Federal Reserve has not finished raising interest rates to tackle inflation. Higher borrowing costs can impede economic growth and in turn reduce overall demand for oil.

Oil benchmarks were further depressed by seasonal demand weakness heading into the autumn, said Jay Hatfield, CEO of Infrastructure Capital Management.

Hatfield said he expects demand to hold up in China despite its slowing economy and forecast oil prices would trade between US$75 to US$90 a barrel over the coming months. (Reuters)

At Camp David, US, South Korea and Japan agree to deepen military ties, condemn China

US President Joe Biden and the leaders of South Korea and Japan agreed at Camp David on Friday to deepen military and economic ties, and made their strongest condemnation yet of "dangerous and aggressive behaviour" by China in the South China Sea.

The Biden Administration held the summit with the leaders of the main US allies in Asia, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, in a bid to project unity in the face of China's rise and nuclear threats from North Korea.

According to the joint summit statement, the three countries committed to consult promptly with each other during crises and to coordinate responses to regional challenges, provocations and threats affecting common interests.

They also agreed to hold trilateral military training exercises annually and to

AUkrainian drone smashed into a building in central Moscow on Friday after Russian air defences shot it down, disrupting air traffic at all the civilian airports of the Russian capital, Russian officials said.

A Reuters witness who was in the area described hearing "a powerful explosion". Reuters images showed workers and emergency workers inspecting a damaged roof of a non-residential building which the drone hit.

The Russian Defence Ministry and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said there were no casualties after air defences destroyed a drone which then fell on a non-residential building of Moscow's Expo Center complex in the early hours of Friday.

The Expo Center is a large spread of exhibition pavilions and multi-purpose halls, fewer than 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) away from the Kremlin.

"At about 4 am Moscow

time, the Kyiv regime launched another terrorist attack using an unmanned aerial vehicle on objects located in Moscow and the Moscow region," the Russian Defence Ministry said.

There was no immediate comment from Kyiv.

Air-traffic was briefly suspended at four major airports around the capital - Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo and Zhukovsky - though later

they reopened.

Russia's air transport agency said seven flights were redirected to alterna-

tive airports.

Drone air strikes deep inside Russia have increased since a drone was destroyed over the Kremlin in early May. Civilian areas of the capital were hit later in May and a Moscow business district was targeted twice in three days earlier this month.

Both Ukraine and Russia deny targeting civilians and civilians’ infrastructure in the nearly 18-month war.

Ukraine typically does not comment on who is behind attacks on Russian territory, although officials have publicly expressed satisfaction over them.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: Deaths from starvation after aid halted – official

ABritish nurse who described herself as a "horrible evil person" was found guilty on Friday of murdering seven newborn babies and trying to kill another six in the neonatal unit of a hospital in northwest England where she worked.

share real-time information on North Korean missile launches by the end of 2023. The countries promised to hold trilateral summits annually.

But it was the language on China that stood out as stronger than expected, and which is likely to provoke a response from Beijing, which is a vital trading partner for both Korea and Japan.

"Regarding the dangerous and aggressive behaviour supporting unlawful maritime claims that we have recently witnessed by the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the South China Sea, we strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the waters of the Indo-Pacific," the statement said.

The commitments at Biden's first Camp David summit for foreign leaders represent a significant move for Seoul and Tokyo, which have a long history of mutual acrimony and distrust. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Lucy Letby, 33, was convicted of killing five baby boys and two baby girls at the Countess of Chester hospital and attacking other newborns, often while working night shifts, in 2015 and 2016.

The verdict, following a harrowing 10-month trial at Manchester Crown Court, makes Letby Britain's most prolific serial child killer in modern history, local media said.

She was found not guilty of two attempted murders while the jury, who spent 110 hours deliberating, were unable to agree on six other suspected attacks.

Prosecutors told the jury Letby poisoned some of her infant victims by injecting them with insulin, while others were injected with air or force-fed milk, sometimes involving multiple attacks before they died.

"I killed them on purpose because I’m not good enough to care for them," said a handwritten note found by Police officers who searched her home after she was arrested. "I am a horrible evil person," she wrote. "I AM EVIL I DID THIS".

Letby will be sentenced on Monday and faces a lengthy prison term, possibly a rare full life sentence.

Her actions came to light when senior doctors became concerned at the number of unexplained deaths and collapses at the neonatal unit, where premature or sick babies are treated, over 18 months from January 2015.

With doctors unable to find a medical reason, police were called in. After a lengthy investigation, Letby, who had been involved in the care of the babies, was pinpointed as the "constant malevolent presence when things took a turn for the worse", said prosecutor Nick Johnson. (Excerpt from Reuters)

At least 1400 people have starved to death in Ethiopia's northern Tigray since food aid was suspended because it was being stolen, an official has said.

The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) and the US's leading aid agency halted food aid to Tigray about four months ago.

A subsequent investigation by Tigrayan authorities found that almost 500 people were involved in the theft, the official told the BBC.

Tigray was hit by a brutal conflict in 2020, causing famine-like conditions.

The conflict ended last November after the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) signed a peace deal brokered by the African Union (AU).

Eritrean troops fought in the conflict on the side of the Ethiopian army.

For much of the war the region was under blockade, which largely halted hu-

manitarian aid.

AU envoy, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, said around 600,000 people died in the two-year conflict. Researchers put the hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths down to fighting, starvation and lack of health care.

WFP and USAid rallied to assist some six million Tigrayans, but announced a "pause" in food aid after discovering in April that their donations were being diverted to local markets. They did not say who was behind the diversion.

The BBC has seen food with emblems of aid agencies such as the WFP and USAid on packaging at markets in cities and towns in Tigray, including the capital, Mekelle.

However, it is unclear whether the food aid was corruptly "diverted" or whether it had been sold to market owners by aid recipients who were in desperate need of cash. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Investigators working near a damaged roof following a reported Ukrainian drone shot down in Moscow, Russia, August 18, 2023

A mugshot of Lucy Letby, who was on trial at Manchester Crown Court charged with the murder of seven babies in Chester, Britain, in this undated Handout image obtained by Reuters on August 17, 2023

About six million in Tigray are dependent on aid

British nurse Lucy Letby found guilty of murdering 7 newborn babies

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Test your strength, courage and will to be first, and you will outmaneuver anyone who challenges you. Use your imagination, step outside your comfort zone and play to win.

(March 21-April 19)

Think big, but don't exceed your budget. You can have fun and socialize without being overindulgent. Mix business with pleasure, and you'll discover something valuable. Resist jealousy.

(April 20-May 20)

Put yourself first and trust your instincts, intelligence and ability to get things done. Refuse to let anyone stand in your way or dictate what's next. Keep your plans to yourself.

(May 21-June 20)

Set your sights on what's important to you, and don't stop until you are satisfied with the results. Remove whatever gets in your way and simplify your life. Put fear aside.

(June 21-July 22)

Coherency will play a role in your success. Choose your words carefully and paint a vivid picture so everyone wants to be a part of your plan. Show confidence, consistency and cooperation

(July 23-Aug. 22)

Welcome information, change and opportunity to use your skills to bring about positive change. Chat with friends, relatives and peers, and you'll enhance your life.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Participate, socialize, join an interest group or attend a reunion, and you'll connect with someone special. Your information will offer insight into health tips that improve your lifestyle.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

A change of plans will allow you to try something different. Check out what you require to get started. Don't limit what you can do because you are hesitant. You can take care of business!

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Take time to listen and make an assessment. Take a concept and make it fit your unique situation. Personal growth and gain are favored. Don't let someone else reap the rewards of your labor.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Consider making your home more functional or comfortable for a price you can afford. Plan your actions with a strict budget in place by using your skills to achieve your goal.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Keep things simple. Say exactly what's on your mind. Leave nothing to chance or up to someone else to decide for you. Focus on personal growth and self-improvement. Choose compliments over criticism.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Consider the possibilities and gather information that enhances your knowledge regarding a change you want to make. Being well-versed on a topic will ensure you don't get tangled up.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Australia’s limited-overs Tour of South Africa 2023… Wrist injury rules Steven Smith out

Steven Smith has been ruled out of Australia's entire limited-overs tour of South Africa due to a wrist injury he sustained in the Ashes. However, he is set to be available for the ODIs in India and for the World Cup.

Perth Scorchers' captain Ashton Turner has been called in as his replacement for the T20Is, and Marnus Labuschagne has been added for the ODIs.

lined until Australia's series against India, starting on September 22 in India just prior to the World Cup.

Mitchell Starc will also remain at home, before heading out to join the India series, as he recovers from a groin soreness sustained in the Ashes. Spencer Johnson, the uncapped left-arm quick who was named in the T20 squad, will remain in South Africa for the ODIs.

sion from their World Cup plans, although he remains unlikely to be part of that event.

Steven Smith

It is understood that Smith battled a left wrist issue caused by a tendon injury throughout the England series, and is currently wearing a splint to aid his recovery. He was set to open in the T20Is against South Africa following his prolific return to the BBL last season, and was one of the few players from the Ashes squad named in that series. He will now be side-

GCC launches cricket camp

Mitchell Marsh has been named as captain for the South Africa ODIs, following his appointment for the T20I leg of the tour. Pat Cummins will join the squad during that series, but is not assured of playing, as he returns from a fractured wrist.

"The compacted Ashes series and the World Test Championship was a heavy load for the group, and we are taking a conservative approach to the build-up to the World Cup," Chair of Selectors, George Bailey, said. "With the World Cup (being) the priority of the squad, it was determined on advice that it was best for Steve and Mitchell to join the group in India, by which time we expect them to be fully fit and available for the Indian ODI series plus the World Cup warm-up fixture."

Marsh will captain the T20I side in South Africa for the first time. It is Australia's first series in the format since long-time captain Aaron Finch retired following the 2022 T20 World Cup. Marsh is only an interim captain for this series, as Australia's selectors are holding off on a full-time appointment until a later date.

Turner was floated in some circles as a potential candidate to succeed Finch, but has not played for Australia since the T20I tour of Bangladesh in 2021. Despite being an outstanding performer in the BBL, and being regarded as one of the best white-ball captains in Australia, having led Western Australia and Scorchers to four titles across the Marsh Cup and BBL in the last two seasons, he had been usurped as a middle-order finisher for Australia by Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, and Matthew Wade. Josh Inglis had also played as a specialist middle-order batter at times while Wade was in the team.

The Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) is hosting its annual cricket camp over the next two weeks, and young aspiring cricketers will be exposed to the fundamentals of the game.

The camp began on Monday, August 14, and will conclude on Friday, August 25, with club administrators hoping that youths would thereafter develop a love for the game and join the team to pursue a career in the sport.

Head Coach of the Georgetown Cricket Club, Peter Persaud, emphasized the benefit of growth this camp would bring to the youths.

“This is just the start for some of them, because some of them never had ex-

perience coming to a cricket camp; but I'm saying once we instill it in them, we know they are going to love the game of cricket. And some of them here are already involved in clubs, as some of them are playing U15, U13 and our age group here is from 7–17.

So all, as coaches, we can do is get things right for them, so we can let them elevate into the higher level of cricket is UI17 and U19, and from there they would (improve) their specified skills and play for Guyana,” he said.

During the camp, youths will be exposed to expert coaching in the areas of batting, bowling and fielding, as well as to lectures on discipline, game awareness, team building,

and interaction with senior and junior national players.

The camp, which will be held on weekdays from 09:00h to 13:00h, will be led by four trained coaches: Peter Persaud, Garvin Nedd, Clive Grimmond,

and Orin Bailey, with a physiotherapist on hand throughout the duration.

This two-week programme, sponsored by Queensway Security Inc., is open to youngsters between the ages of seven and seventeen.

Australia had already selected a weakened squad for the T20Is, with three-format players Cummins, Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Cameron Green and David Warner all being rested due to their significant workload during the recent England tour. Ashton Agar is also missing, due to a calf strain.

Glenn Maxwell will play the T20Is against South Africa, starting on August 30, but would then miss the five-match ODI series which follows, in order to be at home for the birth of his first child, before rejoining Australia's squad for three matches against India.

World Cup match is on October 8, also against India.

call-up is some thing of an ODI re prieve for him, after he was the most signif icant omis

Inglis will keep in South Africa with Wade not selected. But Matthew Short was named ahead of Turner for the tour, following an outstanding last 12 months at domestic and franchise level with both bat and ball.

Turner was named alongside Short in the Australia A 50-over squad to face New Zealand A in a three-match series in Queensland in mid-September. He will now depart the Hundred early next week, where he has been playing for Manchester Originals, and head straight to South with squad arrive on Wednesday. Michael Di Venuto will coach the T20 side along with Clint McKay and Australian women's assistant coach Dan Marsh, with head coach Andrew McDonald taking break before the (ESPN Cricinfo)

Bowling sessions being facilitated

Guyana Cup horse race meeting 2023…

Rachel lost the race, but not the war

Defeated in her determined stretch battle with the eventual winner Firecracker in the 1,600-metre Associated Construction Derby Stakes, one of three premier events run off during the Guyana Cup horse race meeting held at the Rising Sun Turf Club (RSTC) on Sunday, August 13, the mount Rachel will inevitably be remembered whenever Guyana's horse racing history is discussed.

This roan/grey threeyear-old filly was beaten but was certainly not disgraced. She was seen as a winner in a head-bobbing bat tle with Firecracker entering the home stretch, and patrons and horsemen were drawn to their feet in awe.

Rachel Alexandra is the darling of the American racing circuit. She is a retired American Thoroughbred racing mare that was named Horse of the Year after winning the 2009 Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown. She was the first filly in 85 years to win that race.

Although the local horse Rachel lost in the Guyana Cup, this 'petite' fil-

ly of Rock Moviestar, whose dam is an 'unnamed' daughter of Kabila, has boost ed the local breeding indus try. Her battling qualities have gained her more respect than the winner. The unoffi cial distance between winner Firecracker and runner-up Rachel was closer to a neck separating those horses.

On the 15th staging of the Guyana Cup ten-race card, a day when the coun try's biggest social sporting event is held, Rachel’s she ran fourth.

She met with a lot of interference in the race and still managed to finish fourth."

she will run well because, going into the PMTC's Derby race, we did not have enough

stallion, and give your mare and foal cow's milk also. For me, that is working."

(70-year-old), reached on the success of his son’s Rachel, said: "My father used to always breed good horses. My brother and I took the same pattern. Now our 'off-springs' are doing the same. There was a time in Guyana's racing, several years ago, (when) we had the best horses, such as Flashmonger, who won 20 straight races from 21 races. He was out of Carpetmonger/ Humble Princess, an ordinary mare. While my brother James had North Star, and we continued to breed horses."

A veteran horseman, John Cheefoon shared his opinion on the development of the sport from his period to now. "Firstly, we used to race two days: Saturday and Sunday. So, if your horse not fit enough, it will come on for the next day (Sunday). It was nice at that time."

Port Mourant Turf Club's (PMTC’s) Derby on July 30, 2023, when in her previous start at PMTC she had finished second to T&T-bred Gypsy King, with Red Ruby placing third in that race, the ecstatic Cheefoon responded, "It had a lot of rain, and we could not prepare her properly for that race; for this race, we got enough time to prepare her. And that race, although well beaten, brought her on for this race. I knew

the surprise. Although beat en, that performance, to me, she was a winner, not only for me, but for Guyana breeding industry. She won at Bush Lot, but Sunday's performance will be remembered most by me and the people of Guyana."

Cheefoon, advising other breeders, declared, "When you want to breed a good horse, send your mare to a good stallion; not any stallion, and not any mare. Get a good

Rachel Alexandra run, and my daughter suggested we name her Rachel Alexandra; but we were advised that is a protected name, we could not use it. And (so we) named her Rachel. But it did not only start there. When she born, she was a dark/bay filly. We felt she resembled Rachel Alexandra, and that is how she got the name, but her colour changed to grey as she grew older. Her sire is grey."

Dad John Cheefoon

He then heaped praise on today’s race organisers by saying, "Now I see young (Nasrudeen) Mohamed jr is improving it, and it is going to get better. The young man is investing a lot of money in the sport for the benefit of the country and the sport. The country has to support him, and not criticise him. Horse racing is team work, and the owners, breeders, sponsors and patrons will benefit from his labour of love.

“In my time, the late Uncle Sonny (Habibula), Mr Crawford and the late Judge Kennard were the people who saved it and developed it."

Albion Community Centre CC concludes successful academy

The 21st edition of the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club’s academy concluded last Saturday (August 12, 2023).

At an impressive closing ceremony held at the Jai Hind Ground, club president Vemen Walter congratulated the 56 young cricketers for participating, and urged them to put into practice whatever they have learnt, which no doubt would assist in their cricket development.

“I must congratulate all of you for participating in this cricket academy. I want to urge all of you to put whatever you have learnt into practice, which I am sure will assist you in your cricket development,” he said.

Walter also encouraged the young cricketers to be disciplined, dedicated and determined, and assured that the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club would continue to invest heavily in their development.

He expressed confidence that among those young participants were more “Chattergoons, Bishoos, Permauls, Deonarines and Moties” (all Albion Test cricketers who have passed through the club’s cricket academies over the years).

President of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), Hilbert Foster, who also was present, was loud in praise for the historic Albion Community Centre Cricket Club, and urged the youngsters to work hard on their game while simultaneously focusing on their education.

The six-day academy, which commenced on August 17, saw participants being exposed to lectures/discussions on topics such as the importance of education, discipline, public speaking, substance abuse, health and safety, motivation, and the laws of cricket, among oth-

er things, done in the morning sessions; while in the afternoon they were exposed to fundamentals of the game of cricket.

Among the resource personnel were acting ACCCC Secretary, popular school teacher Prem Kanhai; former Berbice Senior InterCounty player and Guyana youth off-spinner, Orvin Mangru; Dhanraj Arjune, Community Development Officer of Albion Estate; Manager of the GuySuCo Training Centre, Jainarine Sookpaul; representatives of the Berbice Cricket Board; and Avinesh Ramzan of

Newsroom.

The coaching team included Albion’s Head Coach, former West Indies opening batsman Sewnarine Chattergoon; fellow Albion and West Indies cricketers Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul; national coach Esuan Crandon and Fabian Naiken.

Each of the participants received a certificate of participation, while trophies were presented to the following persons: Arvin Jowahir, for being the player of the academy; Kelvin Khedaroo, the most disciplined cricketer; most improved fast bowl-

er, Nicholas Lepps; most improved spin bowler, Rajesh Singh; most improved batsman, Rovin Lalbeharri; most improved wicket-keeper, Dion Setal; most determined cricketer, Purvash Harilall; best academic student, Ryan Ferreira; best under-11 batsman, Daniel Johnson; and most improved under-11 fast blower, Jayden Gobardhan.

The academy was sponsored by former Albion opening batsman and current businessman of Connecticut, USA, Nizul Hussain of Northeast Connecticut Renovation and Retailers Property Management.

Hussain, a swashbuckling opening batsman who represented the Club at all levels over the years prior to him migrating to the United States of America (USA), has sponsored the academy for the second straight year to the value of over $300,000.

The Albion cricket academy concluded over the weekend

Jockey Colin Ross pulled off a close win at the Guyana Cup

Let the game begin: GAW take on St Lucia Kings today

B y B randon C orlette in S t l u C ia

The Guyana Amazon Warriors will play their first match of the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) tomorrow, Saturday August 19. They come up against St Lucia Kings at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia from 19:00h Eastern Caribbean Time.

According to GAW’s newly-appointed vice captain Romario Shepherd, Warriors will be looking for a better start this season.

“This year, we are hoping that we get a better start, because last year was the worst start that we ever had in CPL history. So, hopefully, we can

start better and not be under so much pressure heading into the home leg, because we had to win all four (matches played) back home,” he said.

“Hopefully, we can rotate better. Last year we were tired going into the knockout stage, having played four games in five days,” Shepherd said. The West Indies all-rounder who is now the vice-captain said it was an unexpected call, but he is ready for the job.

“Not really expected, because I was not planning on being vice-captain. It is a role now, so I have to work along with Imran Tahir and the coaching staff.”

Shepherd also said he is embracing the fact that he can get hit in some

games, but it is all about how well you can bounce back. He is also hoping that his good form in in -

ternational cricket can be transferred in CPL.

“The form is good. I

am not trying to overthink and dwell too much on the past. I am focused on what is in front of me,” Shepherd said. The big Berbician is not thinking too much

about the T20 World Cup, because he had been subjected to bad experiences two years in a row, (having missed out on selection). His main goal right now is to perform well for Guyana.

Meanwhile, Head Coach Lance Klusener has said it is a long tournament, and it is important to manage that, while not leaving any stones unturned.

“There is a lot of talent. We have a lot of allrounders, so it is about finding that balance and combination,” the South African said.

This fixture between Guyana Amazon Warriors and St Lucia Kings is expected to be a big game, since it is the first weekend game on the evening, and Kings would want to topple

the Warriors at home.

Guyana Amazon Warriors squad: Imran Tahir (captain), Romario Shepherd (vice-captain), Shimron Hetmyer, Odean Smith, Hazratullah Zazai, Azam Khan, Shai Hope, Gudakesh Motie, Dwaine Pretorius, Kevin Sinclair, Keemo Paul, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Ronsford Beaton, Kevlon Anderson, Matthew Nandu, Junior Sinclair and Saim Ayub.

Saint Lucia Kings squad: Johnson Charles, Faf du Plessis (captain), Leonardo Julien, Kimani Melius, Sean Williams, Roston Chase, Khary Pierre, Roshon Primus, Sikandar Raza, McKenny Clarke, Matthew Forde, Peter Hatzglou, Alzarri Joseph, Jair McAllister, Jeavor Royal, Chris Sole.

Home advantage could be important for Kings in today’s clash with Warriors

- says Matthew Forde

Fresh from a “player of the match” performance against Barbados Royals in a match of the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League, pacer Matthew Forde and his St Lucia Kings team are ready to take on the Guyana Amazon Warriors today, Saturday August 19, at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia from 19:00h.

According to Forde, the home team Kings will be looking to use their home advantage against the Amazon

Warriors.

“We have played two games here now, we have assessed the conditions very well; we are the home team, so we will use that to our advantage,” Forde said.

Forde, who hails from Barbados but plays for St Lucia Kings, has been in good form heading into this tournament, having dominated the Global T20 competition in Canada.

“Yes, I have been carrying some form in Canada, so this is for me to come into this franchise. I have been

here last year, this year I am trying to impact more in the CPL, and try to get the title for St Lucia Kings.

“We had a hard-fought loss against Jamaica. Today

(the game against Barbados), it was about being positive and giving a 100%. We lost against Jamaica, so the

game against Barbados was a must-win,” he explained.

“We are at home, we have four games at home;

Compliments of

three out of four wins will put us on top of the table,” Forde added. (Brandon Corlette)

Matthew Forde

Forde and his team celebrating a wicket

Hazratullah Zazai and Manager Leon Johnson interacting at a practice session

Romario Shepherd in action during a net session

Head Coach Lance Klusener and Shai Hope in conversation (Brandon Corlette photos)

Shimron Hetmyer and Gudakesh Motie sharing a light moment at training