Guyana Times - Saturday, February 24, 2024.pdf

Mashramani 2024 Costume & Float Parade dazzles Georgetown

The pulsating rhythms of local and regional soca music filled the air as Mashramani 2024 unfolded in a kaleidoscope of colours, sounds, and cultures.

This year's celebration of Guyana’s 54th Republic Anniversary was nothing short of spectacular, drawing revellers from all corners of the globe to partake in the festivities that showcase the rich tapestry of Guyanese culture.

This year’s Mashramani was themed “Celebrating our peoples and our prosperity”,

And as floats adorned with elaborate costumes snaked their way through the streets of Georgetown, the spirit of unity and diversity was palpable.

Among the highlights of the parade were the stunning displays by various organizations, each representing a unique aspect of Guyana's heritage and progress.

The Guyana Shore Base Inc (GYSBI) captured the essence of water and shipping by sea with their breathtaking float. Adorned with shimmering blue and white hues, the float depicted scenes of bustling ports and majestic ships navigating the waters.

Public Relations Officer of the GYSBI, Gomattie Gangadeen, has said she is hoping the company’s float would take the crown for best

floats this year.

"This is the first time participating. We did not want to start small…our band represents the concept of water, and how it is used to fuel industries. GYSBI and Muneshwer’s Limited are ports that serve the oil and gas industry etc, so we wanted to take the water concept and show how we contribute to the development of Guyana”, she said.

The Public Works Ministry took centre stage with a magnificent display showcasing Guyana's infrastructural development. Towering cranes, bulldozers, and construction workers adorned the float, symbolizing the nation's progress in building roads, bridges, and other vital infrastructure.

Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Works Ministry, Tamika Barkoye,

has said this float is a representation of all the Public Works Ministry’s agencies.

“Our main pieces display the work of the Government. We are also representing the Independence Boulevard… We have the Demerara Harbour Bridge, which is the contrast between the old and the new Habour Bridge, and MARAD”, she explained.

Edna, 106-year-old patron

American patrons present at Mash event

Ministerial Advisor at the Ministry of Labour, Gillian Burton-Persaud

Advocating for, justifying, elections’ rigging is “epitome of moral bankruptcy” – Pres Ali

On the occasion of Guyana’s 54th Republic Day Anniversary, President Dr Irfaan Ali has stated that there could never be a return of elections’ rigging in the country, and anyone who supports this undemocratic act is morally bankrupt. His remarks come on the heels of People’s National Congress member (PNC) Hamilton Green, a former Prime Minister of Guyana, last week encouraging the rigging of the upcoming 2025 elections.

During an address to a group of persons gathered for the LFS Burnham Foundation Annual Commemorative Symposium 2024 last week, Green suggested that elections’ rigging be used to remove the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government from office.

However, President Ali, in his speech to commemorate 54 years since Guyana attained Republican status, declared that the era of rigging of elections is closed. He noted that true sovereignty lies in the ability of the Guyanese people being able to freely determine their political destiny, and hold their leaders accountable.

“Sovereignty derives from the collective will and consent of the governed, who entrust their representatives with authority to rule in their best interests…Any threat to this fundamental right erodes the very foundation of our nationhood. Subverting the will of the people through attempts to regulate actions or to justify the rigging of elections impairs and injures national sovereignty by supporting the democratic principles upon which it is built,” he stated.

Affirming that Guyana would not return to that tainted past of elections’ rigging, the Head of State, during Thursday evening’s flag raising ceremony, called out persons who sought to defend Green’s statements.

“Those who advocate for, and justify, the rig -

ging of elections represent the epitome of moral bankruptcy. Such individuals demonstrate a blatant disregard for the principles of fairness, justice, and the sanctity of the electoral process. By condoning election-rigging, they corrode the very foundation of democracy and the stability of our republic,” he offered.

“Guyana will never return to the era where our republic was tainted. Guyana’s harrowing experience with dictatorship stands as a stark reminder of the perils of breaking elections. That era is a closed chapter in our his -

tory. That era is a closed chapter in our history,” the Guyanese Leader has said.

Damaging Guyana’s credibility

Meanwhile, President Ali has already put the former PNC Prime Minister on blast earlier this week, stating his election-rigging statement could damage the credibility of Guyana.

“Hamilton Green saying… proudly that he believes the [PNCled A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change] Opposition should try to rig elections and stay in power. How can you say that in a modern society? That has no place in a modern society. You damage the structure of the society. You damage the credibility of the country,” the Head of State told a gathering of Guyanese diaspora members in St Lucia on Tuesday.

This comes on the heels of the PPP/C Government

having to toil aggressively after taking office in 2020 to repair Guyana’s reputation on the global scene, after the five-month political impasse resulting from blatant efforts by the then PNC-led Coalition Administration to rig the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

According to Ali, “The five months that we went through, the greatest damage was not done to individuals. The greatest damage was done to the country, because we had to work through back [with] every single country to bring back the credibility of [Guyana], to convince people that we are a free, democratic society where the rule of law applies. And it’s not fair for the country.”

Free pass

Green had told the gathering of mainly PNC supporters that he had engaged another group and mentioned the rigging of elections to get the PPP out of Government.

The symposium was organised to commemorate the 101st birth anniversary of Forbes Burnham – a former PNC leader and President of Guyana, whose legacy is largely attributed to his dictatorship-style leadership and blatant rigging of several elections. This started after Burnham won the 1964 elections, at which time Green was the General Secretary of the PNC.

“It was Burnham’s wisdom which got him into office in 1964. I was General Secretary at the critical time. And if, as I told one of the groups I met [Friday] morning, if they say he

rigged elections, I say we should keep rigging to save us from these devils, these bastards, these demons that we have,” Green declared during the event, which was livestreamed on Facebook.

During a press conference on Thursday, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, who is also the PNC Leader, along with other party Executives, essentially defended Green, saying his statement was taken out of context.

But General Secretary of the ruling PPP/C, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, called out Norton for making excuses for Green’s statements.

Jagdeo, the Vice President of Guyana, also criticised civil society bodies in Guyana for their deafening silence on the “outrageous statement” made by Green.

“Here is a former Prime Minister of this country… [saying] they must rig the elections – the PNC… This is at a PNC conference, and nobody challenged him there. In this country, where is the outrage? There in civil society…This is a major bit of news, and it just went out the window because it’s done by the PNC. They always get a free pass on their failed economic policy, their failed projects, the massive corruption that they engaged in, their lack of vision, their outrageous statements, their racism. They always get a free pass in this country from media and from civil society. If you thought that was just an aberration and an outlier statement, it is not so; it is core PNC value,” the PPP/C GS posited. (G8)

Hamilton Green

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Social justice & humanitarian perspective

According to the United Nations (UN), the principles of social justice are upheld when we promote gender equality, or the rights of Indigenous peoples and migrants. In addition, we advance social justice when we remove barriers that people face because of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture or disability. On 26 November 2007, the General Assembly declared that, starting from the sixty-third Session of the General Assembly, 20 February will be celebrated annually as the World Day of Social Justice.

For the UN, the pursuit of social justice for all is at the core of their global mission to promote development and human dignity. This year’s theme is “Workers on the Move: the Quest for Social Justice”.

The adoption by the International Labour Organization of the Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalisation is just one recent example of their commitment to social justice. The Declaration focuses on guaranteeing fair outcomes for all through employment, social protection, social dialogue, and fundamental principles and rights at work. It constitutes a compass for the promotion of a fair globalisation based on Decent Work, as well as a practical tool to accelerate progress in the implementation of the Decent Work Agenda at the country level. It also reflects a productive outlook by highlighting the importance of sustainable enterprises in creating greater employment and income opportunities for all.

The General Assembly recognizes that social development and social justice are indispensable for the achievement and maintenance of peace and security within and among nations; and that, in turn, social development and social justice cannot be attained in the absence of peace and security, or in the absence of respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

It further recognizes that globalisation and interdependence are opening new opportunities through trade, investment and capital flows, and advances in technology, including information technology, for the growth of the world economy and the development and improvement of living standards around the world. The UN also noted that there remain serious challenges, including serious financial crises, insecurity, poverty, exclusion and inequality within and among societies, and considerable obstacles to further integration and full participation in the global economy for developing countries as well as some countries with economies in transition.

Over the years, to mark this occasion, journalists around the world would bring together concrete stories and testimonies about the challenges of social justice and labour migration, and suggest possible policy responses to address these challenges. They also use the opportunity to bring to the fore issues on labour migration by highlighting the positive contribution of migrant workers to countries of origin, transit and destination, as well as the key aspects, such as their fair recruitment.

As part of the programme of activities, participants have also contributed to the UN campaign which has the purpose of encouraging global action in promoting non-discrimination and addressing the problem of rising xenophobia against refugees and migrants.

Most migration today is linked directly or indirectly to the search for decent work opportunities. Even if employment is not the primary driver, it usually features in the migration process at some point. There are an estimated 258 million international migrants. The ILO estimates that there are roughly 150 million migrant workers. The UN recognises social justice is an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations.

Here, in Guyana, we have seen large influx of migrants entering the country in search of a decent life and jobs. In our case, thousands of Venezuelans have entered in search of a better life. We must commend President Dr Irfaan Ali, as he has said that, in Guyana’s case, “we are approaching this from a humanitarian perspective.”

Same old Hammie and the same old rigging PNC

Dear Editor,

Truth, however unpalatable, should always be appreciated; so, while Dr Randy Persaud takes umbrage at Hamilton Green’s message to attendees at a commemorative event at the Burnham Foundation, “I say we should keep rigging to save us from these devils, these bastards, these demons that we have…”, my opinion is quite the opposite to Dr. Persaud’s: I welcome the honesty and the bluntness that comes from the aged politician.

Hamilton Green did not say anything new, offer a fresh perspective, or suggest a course of action previously unthinkable. Green was speaking to an audience that was there

to commemorate Forbes Burnham: admirers, followers and protégés; why would talking about rigging elections to gain power offend this group? Forbes Burnham rigged every election in the independent nation of Guyana in his lifetime.

1968 - the rigging was done via the overseas vote. The PNC won 93.7% of the 36,745 overseas ballots. An independent review by the Opinion Research Centre of London was only able to verify 15% of the entries on the overseas list. An investigation looking into the identity of some of the voters amusingly found that two unnamed horses on an empty lot near Manchester had been counted as registered voters among numer -

ous examples of fraud.

1973 - the Army collected the ballot boxes nationwide and delivered them to a central counting centre. The boxes were either stuffed with extra ballots, or broken into and their contents replaced entirely. On a personal note, my mother was a PNC activist, and we (my siblings and I, as children) helped to mark the X next to thousands of Palm trees on those ballot papers in the days leading to that election. Burnham received 70% of the vote, and 37 of the 53 seats in the National Assembly. During the collection for transportation of ballot boxes by military aircraft flying out of Atkinson Field (under the command of David Granger at the

time), GDF soldiers shot dead two Indo-Guyanese poll workers, who became known as the "Ballot Box Martyrs.

1980 was a repeat of 1973, and Burnham died in August of 1985. The rigging did not die with Burnham, however; and the 1985 poll was so blatantly fraudulent that the PPP pulled out on Election Day, handing the PNC under the leadership of Desmond Hoyte a thoroughly rigged, fraudulent, hollow ‘victory’. Hamilton Green was an integral cog in the PNC during this period, and he knows well of what he speaks. We should not condemn a man for speaking his truth, nor should we feign surprise or outrage.

Guyanese must condemn surreptitious intent

Dear Editor,

In a recent press conference, opposition leader Aubrey Norton attempted to sugar-coat the vicious, inciteful, and highly reprehensible attempts of his PNC compatriot, Hamilton Green. The recurrence is but another example of the callous, disgraceful attacks used at PNC and APNUpromoted public events to incite their support base in targeting the erosion of democratic norms and seeking to undermine the duly elected PPP Government.

Not so long ago, Norton provided a similar response in a futile attempt at covering up the ugly, distasteful, and arguably seditious statements made at a Buxton public meeting by longtime political activist and Executive of the Working People's Alliance, Tacuma Ogunseye. After immense public pressure, Norton was eventually quoted as saying, 'wrong choice of language' may have been used, although he agreed with the concerns. The continued unapologetic displays by leading PNC strongmen and their cohorts target the propagation of an ethnic division-led party-political strategy that remains anti-democratic.

The situation mirrors an externalization of the PNC's known character traits actively used in the decades of the '60s, '70s, and '80s, with damning consequences the propagationists often refer to as collateral damage. In essence, however, history records the 'blood on the hands ' of the orchestrators as a consequence of their murderous roles in the killings of Bholanauth Parmanand and Jagan Ramessar. These two young

men were ruthlessly and brutally gunned down as they were among their villagers who were struggling for free and fair elections in Guyana. On that fatal day, July 16, 1973, Guyanese were entirely made aware of the PNC's radicalization and wicked approach to National Elections, specifically, their heinous intentions to rig the elections.

Investigations by the Justice Dhanessar Jhappan Commission of Inquiry revealed the high likelihood of a PPP victory if the elections were free and fair. The Commission cited the massive public meetings held by the People's Progressive Party and the overwhelming public display of support for Dr. Cheddi Jagan as evidence of this. The PNC, to ensure their victory by any means necessary, deployed chosen components of the security forces, both army and police, to all parts of the country as enforcers. Many more examples of the associated beatings remain in the rhetoric of the older supporters who continue their persistent attempts at imbuing racial divide.

The pitiful consent in the voluminous silence of responsibility by leading PNC partners to the senile recommendations of PNC's once strongman, Hamilton Green, is a matter of the strongest consternation. These were presented to top officials of the PNC and APNU/AFC to continue rigging Elections in Guyana, and this unacceptable position uncovers the still malignant form of political cancer in our midst.

It was not unsurprising that APNU Commissioner Vincent Alexander, who was at GECOM during the high-

ly condemnable actions of the dismissed and charged GECOM Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, remains conveniently without a voice, although solidly present at the function.

Since the PNC continues to feed this embedded decay, Guyanese must ensure they recognize and do not allow any form of election rigging to ever again creep in to impact the democratic choices of voters in this country.

In the United States of America, the struggle and Court cases in defense of free and fair Elections serve as lessons that Global democratic states must view as definitive guidelines for accepting Polls or further strengthening in all countries. Hamilton Green ignores the preceding in his clear message to the audience at the event celebrating the Nation's premier rigger, Forbes Burnham, that they must continue election rigging to unseat the People's Progressive Party/ Civic Government. This unsavory call is disgraceful, and the Guyanese People must condemn him forcefully! His threatening words and calls for the perpetuation of Rigged Elections by the PNC in Guyana are dangerous, insensitive, and stupid in the twenty-first century.

Notably, expansive online technology is now available to dent the unseen and hidden thievery. Greater transparency via these media is central to eroding the PNC's previous advantage through rigging. The revelations of the struggle for free and fair Elections in Guyana backfired on the PNC's devious efforts, which has left us a legacy of a united people.

One cannot deny that the tremendous efforts by the PNC through the APNU/AFC to steal the Government in 2020 were prevented by a united people, strong and effective media support, and the unyielding position of the Foreign Embassies and international support. Guyanese of all walks of life must be forever thankful for the unity and togetherness of the resistance and struggle against the "Riggers."

We must call on all the media houses and the social media to openly condemn this wicked call for rigged elections. We must have a loud condemnation of this threat and call for the continuation of "Rigged" Elections in this country. Green's clandestine clarion call is not shallow political rhetoric as Norton would like us to believe. Instead, the call for "rigged" Elections is of the PNC's surreptitious design aimed at striking the nerve of our Democracy.

Worst of all, these words of Hamilton Greene, a PNC former General Secretary and Former Prime Minister of this country, are lethal and destructive. Readers must ask where the responses of the other non-PNC opposition members are present at the gathering. The Guyana Elections Commission member Vincent Alexander must open his mouth and give an opinion on Green's call for "rigged "elections. All the court cases must come up for hearing now. GECOM must assert themselves and answer Green call for rigged elections.

Sincerely,

Neil Kumar

What we should do is mark the words and the audience with great care, and ensure we thwart their plans accordingly.

It is easier to treat with this elder version of Hamilton Green; one that uses words, not sticks and stones to break bones, instead of the younger Hammie, whose threats would have sent chills throughout households in the nation, and doubtless precipitate another wave of northern migration. For many, it would have evoked memories of brutal thuggery, beatings, rapes, murders, riots and fears of every kind of violence.

Time has healed much of what Guyanese en -

dured during the Burnham years, but the wounds are still prone to rupture. Thankfully, the old wolf is now toothless, and has a bigger bark than bite.

Editor, as to the characterization of political opponents as ‘devils, bastards and demons’, I would say that is ‘par for the course’ in a game played in muck, and it is refreshing to see ‘Hammie discard his sheepish ‘elder’ frock and emerge as a wolf in wolf’s clothing once again. There is a certain nostalgic comfort in the same old Hammie and the same old rigging PNC.

Sincerely, Robin Singh

Is the court overturning its decision?

Dest Editor,

Now that the court has granted the conservatory orders sought by the striking union, can the deducted union dues and possibly deductions for strike days be held in an escrow account pending the full and final determination of the substantive case?

It is difficult to understand how the court can grant an order to maintain the status quo on

a matter already determined by the court and upheld on appeal. Was it because of the extended time sought, or is the court overturning its decision?

What implications, if any, will this have on the union, which has served notice of impending strike action?

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

The

of

When you multiply numbers, you may multiply by each separately, and then

Multiplication and division are closely related. When you learnt how to divide fractions, you were shown that division was the same as multiplication by a reciprocal. You can use the Distributive Property of Multiplication when you are dividing. But you may only use the Distributive Property when the addends are in the dividend. Identity elements are numbers in a problem that do not affect the answer.

When adding, the identity element is 0. Any addend or addend + 0 will not change the total. In multiplication, the identity element is 1. Any factor of factors x 1 will not change the product. Subtraction and division do not have identity elements.

Remember: You cannot use the Distributive Property when addends are in the divisor:

90 ÷ (4 + 2) does not = (90 ÷ 4 ) + (90 ÷ 2) because…..

(90 x ) does not = (90 x ) + (90 x )

15 does not = 22.5 + 45

Find the answers to the following problems and tell which property they represent.

Exercises: Identify the property

1)

3) 16

“Atrocities in Gaza must come to an end now” – Pres Ali

…as Guyana reiterates call for 2-state solution

As Guyana celebrates 54 years since becoming a Republic, President Dr Irfaan Ali has renewed calls for a ceasefire in Gaza as the ongoing Palestine/Israel conflict continues to escalate.

The Head of State made this plea on Thursday evening during his Address to the Nation at the flag raising ceremony to commemorate Guyana’s 54th Republic Day Anniversary.

President Ali underscored the importance of sovereignty and territorial integrity in his speech. He also highlighted Guyana’s commitment to peace and stability in the region.

According to the Head of State, it is important for Guyanese, especially children, to inherit the key principles, values and morals that form this Republic, and that must be adhered to.

“…our humility as a people must remain intact. That is why, on our 54th Republic, we make a call once more to the world that the atrocities in Gaza must come to an end now. The killing must stop now,” the President posited.

The Guyanese Leader went on to reiterate calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, stating that a two-state solution is the only way forward.

“The only solution is a ceasefire and for the two countries to move towards a two-state solution. That has always been our fundamental position, and we call on all

parties to move in this direction,” he added.

The Ali Administration has been vocal in condemning the escalating violence between Israel and Palestine, which has resulted in the senseless loss of lives, destruction of property, and displacement of persons.

Based on international reports, over 29,500 Palestinians have been killed and more than 69,600 wounded – many of whom are women and children.

Only earlier this month, the Guyana Government pledged US$150,000 towards the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in support of Palestinians who are displaced and affected by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

UNRWA is the primary humanitarian agency in Gaza, with over two million people depending on it for their daily survival.

The Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry had said, “Guyana’s contribution to UNRWA aligns with our appeals for a more robust international response to the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip and the protection of civilians impacted by the ongoing conflict. To this end, as an elected member of the United Nations Security Council, Guyana supports a ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza.”

The Foreign Ministry

has said that, over the years, Guyana has made several financial contributions to UNRWA in alignment with the country’s consistent support for, and solidarity with, the Palestinian people in their quest for freedom and a secure homeland. Further, Guyana is a member of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.

These positions were echoed by Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, who said during a February 1, 2024 press conference in her national capacity, “Guyana has called for a ceasefire, and Guyana will continue to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. We believe that we should not wait another day for that.”

Rodrigues-Birkett is currently President of the UN Security Council for the month of February.

Veto resolution

Only on Tuesday, Ambassador RodriguesBirkett presided over a UNSC session during which the 15-member body voted on draft resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. However, the United States, for the third time, used its veto on the Security Council to kill the resolution – a move which has attracted widespread criticisms from nations around the world.

The US, which is a permanent member of the

UNSC, said the ceasefire resolution would have jeopardized efforts to broker a release of a hostage-release deal. Instead, Washington has submitted its own resolution, asking for a temporary halt in fighting as soon as practical.

US-UN Rep in Guyana

The US’ Representative at the UN is Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who will be leading a delegation to Guyana to attend the 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom). The high-level regional meeting will be held in Georgetown from February 25 to 28, 2024. Ambassador ThomasGreenfield, a member of President Joe Biden’s Cabinet, and her team will be in Georgetown from February 24 to 26, during which she will meet with President Dr Irfaan Ali to discuss the United States’ commitment to Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Guyana’s priorities on the UN Security Council for its elected term, and reaffirm bilateral partnerships on shared priorities such as food security, migration, and climate change. In a release, the United

President Dr Irfaan Ali

States Mission to the United Nations said, “The Ambassador will also advance an array of BidenHarris Administration regional policy goals under the U.S.-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis (PACC 2030) and the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) – including on firearms trafficking, governance, energy, trade, climate resilience, and sustainable development – with multiple leaders attending the Summit.”

At the Caricom Summit, Ambassador ThomasGreenfield will continue to rally global support for the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, to Haiti and reiterate the urgency of establishing a credi-

ble and inclusive path toward elections, to enable the return to democratic order for the Haitian people.

While in Georgetown, the US Cabinet official will also meet with Venezuelan migrants who are small business owners and with members of civil society.

Other members of the U.S. delegation include Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Brian A. Nichols; USAID Assistant Administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean, Marcela Escobari; Senior Coordinator for Atlantic Cooperation, Ambassador Jessye Lapenn; and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Diplomacy, Laura Lochman. (G8)

GDF promotes 30 ranks

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has announced the promotion of 30 ranks within its various branches.

In accordance with Part 111 Section 16 of the Defence Act 15:01 of 1977, Chief-of-Staff Brigadier Omar Khan said in a statement on Friday, these promotions were approved by Commander-in-Chief President Dr Irfaan Ali.

Heading the list of promoted officers is Major Gordon Nedd, who has been elevated to the rank of Acting Lieutenant Colonel.

Substantive Majors

Raymond Archer, John Mohanlall and Jose

Ferreira have also each been promoted to the rank of Acting Lieutenant Colonel. Substantive Captain Lloyden Layne has been elevated to the rank of Substantive Major, while Substantive Captains Stephen Castor, Texine Daw and Kareem Graham have each been elevated to the rank of Acting Major. Substantive Lieutenants Garvin Douglas, Britany Van Lange, Berachah Garrett, Hanisi Chandler, Travis Marcellino, Brandi Johnson and Ivor Semple have each been elevated in rank to Captain. Second Lieutenants

Joel Harewood, Rawle Williams, Delmar Headley, Joel Glasgow, Hakeem David, Seanden DavidLonge, Delon Abrams, Joshua Ferdinand and Jeremy Charles have each been promoted to the rank of Substantive Lieutenant.

In the Coast Guard, Substantive Lieutenant Commander Adrian McLean is heading the list of newly promoted officers. He has been promoted to the rank of Acting Commander.

Substantive

Lieutenants (CG) Ronald Mc Intyre and Andre Kwang have each been elevated to the rank of Substantive Lieutenant Commander,

while Substantive Sub Lieutenant Gerald Gomes has been promoted to Substantive Lieutenant (CG). Also, Midshipman Jevon Reid has been elevated in rank to Substantive Sub Lieutenant In the Guyana National Reserve, Substantive Lieutenant Sando George has been promoted to Substantive Captain.

According to the missive from the GDF, these 30 promotions take effect from January 1, 2024. Announcement of these promotions coincides with Guyana’s 54th Republic Day anniversary on Friday.

On January 2, Brigadier Khan bestowed new badges of rank on two Chief Petty Officers, four Warrant Officers, three Staff Sergeants, and six Sergeants, who were recently promoted.

Back in February 2023, the GDF promoted a whopping 71 officers to higher rank. (G8)

As usual, your Eyewitness waited till it was over to comment about Mash Day!! Now, don’t you try correcting your Eyewitness that it’s actually “Republic Day”. It might’ve originally started out as Republic Day, but when Burnham decided to take the 1970 Linden wine-down NATIONAL, who doubted that the tail would be soon wagging THAT dawg!! After all, the folks at the bauxite town – which up to then was named Wismar and Mackenzie – had showed their Republican patriotism by changing their names to that of their beloved “Founder Leader” – Linden, as in Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham!!

So, why not reward them by acknowledging their “far-sightedness” in creating a jump-up session under a made-up, fake “Arawak” festival that calls for “celebration after a hard day’s work”?!! No one before, then, or since has ever been able to find such a word in the nine Amerindian cultures, much less Arawak!! But hey!! The folks at Linden had to be acknowledged, not only for renaming of their town, but also for ensuring it was literally a PNC town. They’d burned and chased out all 3000 or so residents who HAD to be “PPP”, since they were Indian Guyanese!! Linden’s since remained staunchly PNC.

But it wasn’t just “Mashramani” that was made up –the day itself was concocted as commemorating Cuffy’s start of the Berbice Rebellion – making him our National Hero. But it was one historian - slavish follower of Burnham, Daly – who’d arbitrarily decided that the start of the Rebellion by Cuffy up the Berbice River was on Feb 23. Poor Cuffy wasn’t even at the Plantation where the Rebellion started – Magdalenenberg – and only joined weeks later!! Not so incidentally, a coin of Cuffy was struck, and he looked awfully like Burnham!! Awfully!!

Now, apart from the name being fake, the content of the Mashramani celebration’s also fake, since it has nothing “Guyanese” about it!! It’s a shameless rip-off of the Trini Carnival – which those folks had evolved from the French Creoles and their slaves. They’d emigrated from Haiti to Trinidad after they fled the REAL revolution there by Toussaint Louverture!! So, we had the PNC Government foisting a totally fake occasion onto the Guyanese people!!

Sadly, even though initially, after the PPP got back into office in 1992, they tried to rejig the occasion to remind us that this was supposed to be inculcating Republic values of independence, resilience etc, Mash has stubbornly remained with its Trini Carnival nekkedness and costumes. Guess we Guyanese really like a “sport”, and would use any excuse to “wine and guh down”!!

So, maybe that is what Republicanism was meant to be - after three hundred years of regimented labour during slavery and indentureship.

No stiff upper lips for us – just loose hips!!

…after rigging call

Some very smart fella once pointed out that “democracy ain’t instant coffee” – but don’t tell that to Hamilton Green and the PNC!! As was announced by the one-time PNC strongman, rigging and violence can ensure them getting power in a jiffy!! They can point out that even though the Yanks launched their democratic revolution in 1776, they’re tinkering – and Trump attempted to imitate them with their Capitol invasion!! But your Eyewitness feels we gotta decide whether we want to live in a democracy or not!! But we can’t run with the hares and hunt with the hounds, can we??

So, the PNC gotta accept that if they don’t win elections, they gotta “take their licks like a man” - as one Caricom PM advised Granger in 2020. Until then, let’s fix where the shoe pinches. But it seems like the “wild men” in the Opposition enjoy pushing the envelope –and leader Norton with it. Meaning, they’re guaranteeing they’ll be losing “corn and husk” in 2025!

…that’s not cricket

The army-backed PML and Bhutto’s PPP have settled days of negotiations on securing a majority to form a coalition Government in Pakistan. Thus, locking out candidates backing Imran - who together have a majority of seats!!

GDF ranks during a training exercise (File photo)

2 busted at CJIA attempting to smuggle $64M in cocaine onto UK-bound plane

Two man who work at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) have been caught by officers of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) attempting to smuggle some $64 million worth of cocaine onto an airplane that was destined for the United Kingdom (UK) on Thursday.

According to reports, while performing duties at the baggage shed area, CANU agents stationed at the airport observed the two suspects retrieving four duffle bags thrown by an unknown male over the CJIA fence. The CANU officers intercepted the two males and conducted a search on the duffle bags, which led to

the discovery of 64 brick-like parcels suspected to be cocaine.

The suspects, 26-yearold Travis Sealey, a shift leader attached to the New Timehri Handling Service (NTHS), and 20-year-old Koby Bakker, a ground security coordinator attached to Secure Innovations and Concepts (SIC) – both residents of Timehri, EBD - were escorted to CANU Headquarters along with the suspected narcotics.

While there, the suspected narcotic tested positive for cocaine, and weighed 71.2 kilograms, which has an estimated street value of $64,000,000.

According to CANU,

“The narcotic was intended to be loaded on a British Airways flight bound for St. Lucia (UVF), with onward connection to the United Kingdom. If the narcotic had reached its intended destination, the estimated street value would have been over £3,000,000 which is equivalent to approximately $679,000,000.”

The suspects remain in custody as investigations continue.

Earlier this month, CANU officers arrested a resident of Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara after 10 brick-like parcels of cocaine wrapped in transparent plastic were discovered in a motorcar he was in.

Sahadeo Prasad, 39, of Grant 104, Anna Catherina, WCD, has since been charged for being in possession of 11.4kg of cocaine which has an estimated street value of $12 million.

CANU reported in January that its officers had seized approximately 1363.28 kilograms of narcotics during 2023. Statistics provided by the agency showed that some 75.17 kilograms of cocaine were recovered from 18 seizures. From 74 operations conducted, 1,287 kilograms of cannabis were seized. Ecstasy and hashish seized accounted for respectively 0.12kg and 0.10kg, and they came from four operations.

A breakdown of the cannabis seized shows that a staggering 796.4 kilograms were removed from Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). This was followed by 309.7 kilograms from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), 51 kilograms from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), and 41 kilograms from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice). Other areas accounted for the remainder of seizures in smaller proportions.

During the period under review, drugs confiscated by CANU carried a local street value of approximate-

ly $461.5 million. The narcotics seized for the period consisted of $75.1 million in cocaine and $386.3 million in cannabis.

A disaggregation of the data showed that 80 persons were arrested, comprising 70 males and 10 females. Some 54 persons were charged, and 47 convictions were secured. Of these persons arrested, 38 were predominantly within the 30-50 age bracket, while 33 were in the age bracket of 18-30 years.

Meanwhile, eight firearms were seized during the last year, consisting of four pistols, three shotguns and one revolver. (G8)

The two suspects who attempted to smuggle cocaine onto an airplane at the CJIA

$64M in cocaine was intercepted at the CJIA

Steep flight costs among challenges to doing business between Guyana, Suriname

…“That is something that we need to fix” – SGCC Chair

Despite their close geographical positioning, the high cost of air travel between Guyana and Suriname has been a major bugbear to doing business, and this disadvantage needs to be remedied in order for the two countries to fully capitalise on the investment potential which exists between them.

This is according to Founding Chair of the Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce, Dr Vishnu Doerga, who outlined some of the challenges businesses face in expanding their operations across the borders.

Speaking with media operatives during the recent Guyana Energy Conference

and Supply Chain Expo, Doerga explained that there is no better synergy existing in Caricom than the advantageous positioning of Guyana and Suriname. At the same time, he decried, “It still costs more if you were to take flight between Guyana and Suriname than going to Miami. So that is something that we need to fix. We’re neighbouring countries, it needs to be a lot easier for us to be able to visit, but also do business in both countries.”

Sharing the other challenges, he added, “We have very different legal systems. Guyana works on a common law system and Suriname works on a civil law sys-

tem…It is a different mindset, a different way of thinking. Those are some of the challenges that new investors in both countries are facing. Our job is to make it smoother and more seamless for them to invest in each other’s country.”

Nevertheless, businesses have been charged to leverage the current advantages existing between the two countries. The ferry service operating between Moleson Creek and Nickerie is being used to transport goods, and both Governments are working on the new bridge across the Corentyne River – which is expected to boost connectivity. It was also outlined

that Suriname has decades of experience in oil exploration and mining, on which Guyanese entities can capitalise.

“Suriname has nearly 50 years of onshore oil exploration experience, so there is a lot that can be leveraged here in Guyana. We both belong to Caricom, but we also need to understand that most members are separated by very vast distances, with logistics being difficult. Between Guyana and Suriname, we have at least four daily flights; a ferry operation, which Government will improve with the new booking systems in place… and we’re also hearing about bridge that will come into existence,” Dr Doerga relayed. While political cooperation between the two countries has been enhanced in recent times, it has been

identified that, at the business level, private stakeholders are the drivers of this economic prosperity. As such, the combination of both is highly required.

The Chair said, “Political cooperation is step one. We’re very happy that it exists, and that actually happened just days after we had a new Government in 2020. But politics and business are two separate things. We’re happy that the politicians are cooperating, because they are the facilitators of political growth, but we are the drivers of that economic growth.”

New Bridge

The high-span Corentyne River Bridge will run approximately 3.1 kilometres, connecting Moleson Creek in Guyana to South Drain in Suriname, with a landing on Long Island in the

Corentyne River, where a commercial hub and tourist destination will be established. A free zone on Long Island will see major infrastructural development, such as hotels, recreational parks, entertainment spots, tourist attractions, malls, and farmers’ markets.

TURN TO PAGE 15

Founding Chair of the Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce, Dr Vishnu Doerga

Bare Root man slapped with rape charge

Clifton Graham, an unemployed resident of Bareroot, East Coast Demerara, has been slapped with a rape charge for which he has been remanded until March 22.

Arrested since September 15, 2023 but charged only on Wednesday, the 34-yearold has been arraigned before Sparendaam Magistrate Alisha George charged with ‘rape of a child under 16 years’, Contrary to Section 10 (3) of the Sexual Offences Act, Chapter 8:03.

He has not been required to plead to this indictable offence, and has been remanded to prison until March 22, when

Charged: Clifton Graham

Mashramani 2024 Costume & Float ...

Amid the sea of floats, the Labour Ministry’s representation of Guyana’s job market stood out prominently. Draped in shades of blue and gold, with the word “job” emblasoned in giant letters, the float emphasized the importance of employment opportunities in driving economic growth and prosperity.

“Our band is ‘the Harmony in Prosperity’, and we are displaying the various components of Labour… we are semi or small costume band, and we are hoping to take the crowd home in that category this year”, said Ministerial Advisor at the Labour Ministry, Gillian Burton-Persaud.

Several Government Ministries put on a grand display, including Education, Housing, Human Services, Parliamentary Affairs and Amerindian Affairs, among others.

Beyond the impressive displays, Mashramani 2024 also welcomed visitors from around the world, adding an extra layer of excitement and cultural exchange to the festivities. Brazilians, Americans, and revellers from various nations joined

in the celebration, immersing themselves in Guyana’s vibrant culture and traditions.

“We love you, Guyana!” exclaimed a group of Brazilian patrons, their faces beaming with joy as they danced to the infectious rhythms of Vybz music.

Reflecting on the day’s events, one particularly poignant moment came from a 106-year-old lady who had witnessed decades of Mashramani celebrations. With a twinkle in her eye, she reminisced about the joyous occasions she had experi-

enced over the years.

“This year, we are blessed to see lots of sunshine, as op-

posed to last year, where rain was falling. I have been to lots of Mashramani (celebrations) before, and those days have been really good days, as well as today”, she said.

As the sun went down on Mashramani 2024, it left behind memories of a celebration filled with joy, unity, and cultural pride. With each passing year, Guyana’s flagship festival continues to captivate hearts and minds, leaving an indelible mark on all who have the privilege of experiencing its magic. (LaWanda McAllister and Misheal Henry)

Large quantity of cloth found blocking Charlestown sewer lines …GWI urges residents not to flush cloth down toilets

The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has found a large amount of cloth blocking sewer lines in the Georgetown ward of Charlestown; and this is mainly in the area of George and Princes Streets, Georgetown.

The GWI has said its maintenance team has been removing from the sewers clumps of cloth which have been causing blockages and other sewerage issues. The team has found itself working around the clock to ensure that the sewers are cleared and functioning properly.

Sanitation Manager Rensforde Joseph has said, “The cloth that has been causing the blockages is likely from people flushing it down the toilet.”

He surmised that residents of the area are possibly flushing cloth down

the toilets, and he is urging them to instead use another method to dispose of cloth and any other material that is non-biodegradable.

GWI has said in a social media post: “We are urging residents to dispose of cloth and other non-biodegradable materials properly, and not to flush them

down the toilet. The GWI Sewerage Maintenance Team is committed to ensuring that the sewer lines in the Charlestown area and around Georgetown are functioning properly. They are urging residents to report any issues with the sewer lines to them, so that they can be addressed promptly”. (G2)

Brazilian patrons were present at Mash event

Tamika Barkoye, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour

Guyanese delegation in Barbados for Agro Fest 2024

AGuyanese delegation is currently participating in Agro Fest 2024, organised by

the Barbados Agriculture Society and hosted at the Queen’s Park in Bridgetown, Barbados from Friday to

Sunday. Head of the Guyana Office for Investment, Dr Peter Ramsaroop, is leading

the Guyanese delegation, which consists of more than 45 Private Sector companies along with the Guyana Marketing Corporation.

In a social media post on Friday, Go-Invest said it has forged close collaboration with agencies and ministries, including the Agriculture and Tourism ministries, Guyana Tourism Authority, Small Business Bureau, Private Sector Commission, Guyana Marketing Corporation, Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association, and the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, to make this event a success.

“Through strategic partnerships and initiatives, the Guyana Office

for Investment aims to attract investment, foster economic growth, and promote Guyana as a prime destination for trade and commerce,” the post read.

Agro Fest 2024 is an initiative that is in line with

President Dr Irfaan Ali’s vision of reducing Caricom’s food import bill. It also complements other initiatives of this nature in the Caribbean region, such as the Agri Investment Forum and Expo.

Guyanese businesses participating in Agro Fest 2024 at Queen’s Park in Bridgetown, Barbados

GBTI to finance Muneshwer’s Group expansion through IDB partnership

Through a partnership agreement with IDB Invest, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) will be providing financing for expansion of the Muneshwer’s Group.

IDB Invest and Muneshwer’s Group inked the agreement at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in the presence of Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh; President of the IDB Group, Ilan Goldfajn; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IDB Invest, James Scriven; Country Manager Lorena Solorzano; GBTI Deputy CEO Shawn Gurcharran, and other representatives.

The GBTI Deputy CEO expressed the Bank’s excitement about the project, noting the successful relationship it shares with IDB Invest and the potential for future collaborations.

GBTI is a 100 percent Guyanese-owned and

managed bank, and it is financing a successful entity which has expanded rapidly in recent times.

The Bank shared in a statement on Friday, “It is indeed a moment to cele-

brate, as two Guyanese institutions have been able to successfully demonstrate that our capabilities and capacities are adequate to meet the expectations of IDB Invest. This collabora-

Steep flight costs among...

Running from Moleson Creek to Long Island, the bridge will be a low-level structure that is approximately one kilometre long, with a 2200-metre (2.2km) road across Long Island and a high bridge spanning 2100 metres (2.1km) thereafter. The high end of the

bridge, which will facilitate marine traffic, would cater for 40,000 to 45,000 DWT (deadweight tonnage) capacity featuring a vertical (height) clearance of 43 metres and a horizonal (width) clearance of about 100 metres.

Upon completion, the

tion today emphasizes the current economic development of our Guyana. Local

entities can now pursue great opportunities that are present through partnerships with key international players for the betterment of all stakeholders.”

GBTI has enjoyed a fruitful partnership with IDB Invest which goes back some time. As recently as in 2021, these two entities signed a Trade Finance Partnership, and they are currently exploring keys areas to further strengthen their lending infrastructure and lending products.

“Collaboration with IDB Invest has indeed been a pleasure, but also has presented GBTI an opportunity to understand the risk appetite of a multilateral finance firm and, importantly, the mitigants (needed) to lend prudently. We have found IDB Invest’s approach to be one that is flex-

ible and accommodating to the dynamic circumstances that currently prevail in Guyana,” GBTI has added.

For Guyana to continue benefitting from the plethora of opportunities that the booming economy has presented, the entity underscored, it is important that operations be improved in order to facilitate the forging of these partnerships.

“We do hope to continue to partner with IDB Invest in the many opportunities that are available in Guyana, as they are critical to continued growth and success. At GBTI, like many other Guyanese, we are excited to see our much-heralded potential being realized. It is our aim to continue working in these partnerships so that they, too, can see Guyana through our eyes.”

FROM PAGE 10

bridge will not only link the two neighbouring countries, but open access to greater economic opportunities beyond them into French Guiana, and through the road network being developed into Brazil, and eventually further into South America. (G12)

In picture are GBTI Business Development Manager Rawattie Mohandeo; Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh; Muneshwer's General Manager Chandradatt Chintamani; IDB Invest Country Manager Lorena Solazar; CEO James Scriven; GBTI Deputy CEO Shawn Gurcharran, and other representatives of IDB and Muneshwer’s

Striking

teachers’ pay, Union dues’ deduction

High Court’s interim order blocking Govt from cutting “unfortunate” – AG

The High Court on Thursday granted two conservatory orders: blocking the Government from cutting the salaries of striking teachers, and blocking the Government from moving ahead with a decision to discontinue the deduction of union dues from the salaries of teachers.

It is a decision which Attorney General Anil Nandlall later responded to, labelling it as unfortunate.

In a video statement, the Attorney General pointed out that this is the case of an employer-employee relationship between Government and teachers. If they (teachers) decide to withhold their service, then it is a two-way arrangement where Government can withhold pay.

“I showed very clearly that the law in Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean is that the relationship which exists between Public Servants and

teachers and the Government is one of an employee-employer relationship. And the law is, in relation to strike, if the employees decide to withhold their labour and strike – freedom which they have – then the employer is entitled to withhold pay. It’s a very simple equation,” the AG declared.

“I believe it is wrong to order one side to perform their side of the bargain when the other side is not performing their side of the bargain. I believe that decision is unfortunate; so, that conservatory order, in my view, should not have been granted,” Nandlall disclosed.

As it relates to the second order, which relates to the deduction of money from salaries and transferring it to the Union, Nandlall contended that this is a voluntary arrangement which did not come out of a contract. As such, it can be terminated at any time.

“This was a service vol-

untarily offered by the Government. Government is being paid for it. No one seems to understand how it arose. It certainly did not arise out of the law. It did not arise out of a contract, but it is there for a number of years. We already have a ruling from the High Court and Court of Appeal that the Government has no obligation to offer this service or continue it. That came

out of a case in respect of the Government withholding this service in respect to Public Servants,” he reasoned.

The orders were handed down by Justice Sandil Kissoon, and are to remain in effect until the determination of the substantive case, hearing of which has been set to commence on March 20, 2024.

The GTU had approached the High Court to challenge the Government’s decision to deduct the salaries of striking teachers. According to the document filed about two weeks ago, the application includes a wide range of declarations and orders sought from the court.

GTU asked the court for a conservatory order that the status quo remains the same: that is, the Government will not deduct money from the wages and salaries of teachers engaged in any industrial action. The other order and declaration, inter alia, include discrimination, breach of freedom of association, and breach of protection from deprivation of property.

In addition, the GTU asked the court to quash a decision by the Government

to stop deducting fees from unionised teachers and remitting same to the union.

Illegal and politically driven

The GTU had organised a countrywide strike by teachers from February 5 to 16, 2024, calling for better pay and working conditions – an action which the Government has labelled as illegal and politically driven.

These actions have continued, and consequently, the Education Ministry has since indicated to the GTU that it would stop deducting dues from the wages and salaries

of teachers on behalf of the union. This means the union would now have to collect its fees directly from teachers.

In the application, filed on Tuesday by the GTU and its President Mark Lyte against the Attorney General, the union is asking the court to declare, among other things, that it was discriminated against. It also wants the court to declare that Government’s ceasing to act as an agent for the GTU to deduct union dues is “unreasonable, arbitrary, and capricious”.

The GTU asked the court to issue, “An Order of Certiorari quashing the Government of Guyana’s decision to stop acting as an agent to deduct union dues from the unionised teachers and remitting same to the applicant. An order of mandamus ordering Mrs Shannielle HooseinOutar, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, to retract her letter dated February 6, 2024 and apologise to the applicant on three consecutive Saturdays in daily newspapers of wide circulation.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

$4.5B invested to develop first phase of Enmore/Foulis Industrial Zone

…project about 60% completed

The Guyana Government is investing a whopping $4.58 billion to develop the first phase of the Enmore/ Foulis Industrial and Commercial Zone on the East Coast of Demerara, and infrastructural works are progressing smoothly.

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal, accompanied by technical staff from the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s Projects Department and Surveys Unit, inspected the development on Thursday.

"In the first phase, we are currently developing over 660 acres of land on

this site now, and we’re spending about over $4.58 billion in the first phase infrastructure," Minister Croal revealed.

Outlining the zoning plan for the area, which specifies sections dedicated to heavy industrial, light industrial, and commercial activities, Minister Croal said the anticipated economic activities would generate thousands of employment opportunities, benefitting not only Enmore/Foulis, but other communities along the East Coast Demerara corridor.

Development of the area aligns with President

Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali's commitment during his visit to Enmore last year. Ongoing infrastructural works are divided into six lots, and involve land clearing; the construction of approximately 18.91 kilometres of first phase access roads; and reinforced concrete composite bridges.

The industrial and commercial hub is set to feature three main access roads to accommodate large trucks. Of the six lots, the Minister said, two lots are over 90 percent completed, while the overall project is about 60 percent complete. Minister Croal has also said that works have sig -

High Court interim order...

The union also sought a declaration that the Government’s use of the industrial action taken by the GTU as a reason for relinquishing the agency is a show of “bad faith, improper purposes, and irrelevant considerations.”

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry has contended that it has already fulfilled 25 of 41 demands proposed by the GTU in a multi-year agree-

ment, and of the 16 remaining requests, two are specifically for the benefit of only GTU and its Executive Members, while two others are contrary to the laws of Guyana. The other 12 proposals are currently under consideration.

Only last month, the ministry had an engagement with the Union on this matter. Hence, the Labour Ministry has determined that condi-

nificantly transformed the area, which was once dominated by sugar canes.

ing schemes.

FROM PAGE 16

tions for the strike organised by the GTU have not been met, and as a result, such an industrial action is “wholly illegal and unlawful.” The government is contending that the countrywide strike action called by the GTU was part of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC)

Opposition’s tactics to mislead teachers for its own political agenda. (G12)

Meanwhile, in the Enmore residential housing scheme, located north of the commercial area, Croal noted that several allottees have gained access to their land for home construction, paralleling the progress of infrastructural works.

Prior to visiting Enmore-Foulis, Croal also briefly inspected the Non Pareil Housing Development. Looking ahead to the 2024 housing programme, Croal expects contracts to be awarded soon, ushering in the development of numerous hous -

Once completed, the Enmore/Foulis Industrial Zone would accommodate both light and heavy industrial and commercial activities.

As far back as in 2021, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government had been making it clear that there are major plans to convert the Enmore Sugar Estate, closed under the former Administration of A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC), into an employment hub for the ECD.

The Private Sector has also come on board this

venture, with an agreement signed with majority Guyanese-owned joint venture company Guysons K+B (GKB) Industries Inc seeing that entity acquiring 55 acres of land in Enmore to establish a fabrication facility offering services to the oil and gas industry.

The services to be offered would include tubular goods, premium threading and accessory services, as well as turnkey manufacturing solutions. Over 500 job opportunities are expected to be created over the next five years with the coming on stream of this US$35 million investment. (G12)

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal inspecting the progress of work at the new Enmore/Foulis Industrial and Commercial Zone

Regional

T&T Government confirms fuel oil is leaking off Tobago’s coast

Trinidad and Tobago’s Government on Friday confirmed the refined product leaking from a barge that struck a reef and overturned off the coast of Tobago was tested and determined to be a type of fuel oil.

The leak, which remains unplugged and is spreading into the Caribbean Sea threatening several countries’ coasts, was first spotted by Trinidad’s Coast Guard on February 7 after a barge towed by a tugboat capsized near Tobago’s shore.

“Analyses of the hydrocarbon discharge collected in Tobago indicates that the samples are characteristic of a refined oil,” Trinidad’s Energy Ministry said in a release, characterising it as “intermediate fuel oil”.

Intermediate fuel oil can be used as a bunker fuel to power combustion engines.

The pace at which the fuel is flowing from the barge has slowed considerably, Allan Stewart, the Head of Tobago’s emergency department, told Reuters.

The fuel has been leaking for more than three weeks and has stained Tobago’s coastline, affecting fishing and tourism, and has entered the waters

off Grenada.

“We are working hard to ensure the hydrocarbons do not get to the more sensitive southwest part of the island, where there are the popular tourist beaches,” Stewart added.

Containment booms are so far holding the spill. Tobago has been using skimmers and other equipment to mop-up the fuel, according to Stewart.

The barge carried as much as 35,000 barrels of fuel oil, Tobago officials have said.

The ship sailed from Panama and it was bound for Guyana, officials have said. But monitoring ser -

vice TankerTrackers.com and investigative news outlet Bellingcat said after reviewing satellite photos that the vessels were near Venezuela’s shore days before the spill was first reported in Tobago.

“Imagery discovered by Bellingcat shows that the barge began leaking oil as early as February 3, immediately after leaving (Venezuela’s) Pozuelos Bay, and that it appears to have capsized by the morning of February 6,” it said this week.

Venezuela has denied that the barge originated from the Bolivarian Republic. (Reuters)

Venezuela has received a US$500 million payment from Haiti for fuel supply to the island sent as part of a regional cooperation agreement, the South American country’s Information Ministry said on Friday.

Under late President Hugo Chávez, Venezuela sent millions of barrels of crude and fuel under flexible payment terms to its

Caribbean neighbours, many of which, including Haiti, later struggled to amortise debts. President Nicolás Maduro has said he wants to revive the pact.

Bloomberg first disclosed the payment by Haiti, saying total accumulated debt was US$2.3 billion. It added that Venezuela was in talks with other countries for similar payments.

“All the resources will be used to finance missions (social programmes),” the Ministry said in a release posted on social media.

Venezuela has not disclosed for over a decade pending debts by members of the Petrocaribe energy pact, and has not said if any country other than political ally Cuba are currently receiving oil supplies.

(Reuters)

Venezuela receives US$500M payment from Haiti – release US to rally support for Haiti mission at Caricom summit, State Dept official says

At the upcoming Caribbean Community (Caricom) meeting in Guyana, the United States will push for more support for a security mission to Haiti, State Department official Brian Nichols said on

Friday.

Nichols added that US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda ThomasGreenfield would “reiterate the urgency of establishing a credible and inclusive path toward elections” in Haiti. Kenya has offered to lead

the mission, though it has faced roadblocks in court.

Thomas-Greenfield will also meet with Guyanese President Irfaan Ali during her visit, Nichols said in a post on social media network X.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Ecuador calls off arms exchange with US over plan to send weapons to Ukraine

Ecuador’s Government has cancelled a plan to trade outdated Soviet weapons for new arms from the United States, President Daniel Noboa said, after learning the old weapons would have been sent to Ukraine.

Noboa, who is grappling with sharply deteriorated security and has declared 22 criminal gangs to be terrorist groups, said in January that Washington would give his country US$200 million of new weaponry in exchange for “junk” arms.

“To our surprise, the United States has communicated publicly that it will take (the arms) for the armed conflict in Ukraine, in which we do not want to take part, nor do we want to triangulate weapons for it,” Noboa told CNN in an interview clip shared on Thursday. “We can’t go ahead with it.”

The spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry of Russia, which invaded Ukraine two years ago, criticised the arms exchange earlier this month.

“Russia is our third-larg-

est commercial partner, and in this particular case they were right, we would have been triangulating arms and we won’t do that,” Noboa said, giving no further details. The full interview is set to air on CNN on Sunday.

A spokesperson at the US Embassy in Quito said they had no information on the policy change.

Several high-ranking US officials have visited Ecuador in recent weeks to discuss cooperation on security issues.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Around The World

OOIL NEWS

Oil ends lower, posts weekly decline as US rate cut hopes dim

il prices fell nearly three per cent lower on Friday and posted a weekly decline after a US central bank policymaker indicated interest rate cuts could be delayed by at least two more months.

Brent crude futures settled down US$2.05, or 2.5 per cent, at US$81.62 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down US$2.12, or 2.7 per cent, to US$76.49.

For the week, Brent declined about two per cent and WTI fell more than three per cent. However, indications of healthy fuel demand and supply concerns could revive prices in the coming days.

Federal Reserve policymakers should delay US interest rate cuts by at least another couple of months, Fed Governor Christopher Waller said on Thursday, which could slow economic growth and curb oil demand.

The Fed has held its policy rate steady in a 5.25 per cent to 5.5 per cent range since last July. Minutes of its meeting last month show most central bankers were worried about moving too quickly to ease policy.

"The entire energy complex is reacting, because if inflation begins to come back it will slow demand for energy products," said Tim Snyder, economist at Matador Economics.

"That is not something the market wants to digest right now, especially as it is trying to figure out a direction," he added.

Some analysts, however, say demand has remained largely healthy despite the impact of high interest rates, including in the United States.

JPMorgan's demand indicators are showing oil demand rising by 1.7 million barrels per day (bpd) month over month through February 21, its analysts said in a note.

"This compares to a 1.6 million bpd increase observed during the prior week, likely benefiting from increased travel demand in China and Europe," the analysts said.

Meanwhile, Gaza truce talks were underway in Paris in what appears to be the most serious push in weeks to halt the conflict in Palestine and see Israeli and foreign hostages released.

Ceasefire talks could prompt the market to anticipate an easing of geopolitical tensions, Tim Evans, an independent oil market analyst, said in a note.

Still, tensions in the Red Sea continued, with attacks by Iran-backed Houthi militants near Yemen on Thursday forcing more shipping vessels to divert from the trade route.

US energy firms this week added the most oil rigs since November, and the most in a month since October 2022, energy services firm Baker Hughes said.

The oil rig count, an early indicator of future output, rose by six to 503 this week, and increased by four this month. (Reuters)

Gaza ceasefire talks underway in Paris as air strikes continue

Gaza truce talks were underway in Paris on Friday, in what appears to be the most serious push for weeks to halt the fighting in the battered Palestinian enclave and see Israeli and foreign hostages released.

A source briefed on the ceasefire talks, who could not be identified by name or nationality, said talks had begun with Israel's Head of Mossad intelligence service meeting separately with each party – Qatar, Egypt, and United States.

"There are budding signs of optimism about being able to move forward toward the start of a serious negotiation," the source said.

Egypt's Al Qahera TV News also reported that the talks had begun.

An official from Hamas said the militant group had wrapped up ceasefire talks in Cairo and was now waiting to see what mediators bring back from the weekend talks with Israel.

Mediators have ramped up efforts to secure a cease-

fire in Gaza, in the hope of heading off an Israeli assault on the Gaza city of Rafah where more than a million displaced people are sheltering at the southern edge of the enclave.

Police beatings of proPalestinian schoolchildren spark outrage in Italy

Footage of Police beating pro-Palestinian students drew broad condemnation in Italy on Friday, with the Opposition calling for the Interior Minister to address Parliament over the episode.

Student marches were blocked by Police in the Tuscan cities of Florence and Pisa, with images of officers vigorously using their truncheons on school-age protesters in Pisa triggering outrage on social media and from politicians.

US targets Russia with hundreds of sanctions over Ukraine war, Navalny death

The United States on Friday imposed extensive sanctions against Russia, targeting more than 500 persons and entities to mark the second anniversary of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and retaliate for the death of Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny.

President Joe Biden said the measures aimed to ensure Russian President Vladimir Putin "pays an even steeper price for his aggression abroad and repression at home".

The sanctions targeted Russia's Mir payment system, financial institutions, and its military industrial base,

sanctions evasion, future energy production and other areas. They also hit prison officials the US says are linked to Navalny's death.

"Doesn't Washington realise that sanctions won't take us down?" Russia's Ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, was quoted as saying on his Embassy's channel on the Telegram messaging app.

The United States later on Friday also imposed sanctions on Russia's leading tanker group, Sovcomflot, accusing it of being involved in violating the G7's price cap on Russian oil. Also targeted were 14

crude oil tankers in which it has an interest.

"Sovcomflot as a whole, as a parent company, has been implicated in price cap violations in addition to deceptive activity," a senior Treasury official said.

The Biden Administration is seeking to continue supporting Ukraine as the country faces acute shortages of ammunition, with the approval of more US military aid delayed for months in the US Congress. The European Union, Britain, and Canada also took action against Russia on Friday.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

The videos showed the students, who appeared to be protesting peacefully, retreating under a hail of blows from law enforcers wearing helmets and full riot gear.

"Is this how you beat your own children," one young woman is heard shouting.

The Pisa Police were not immediately available for comment.

Elly Schlein, the leader of the centre-left Democratic Party, posted on Facebook a video of the "unacceptable" scenes of "students trapped in an alleyway, charged and beaten by the Police".

She said Giorgia Meloni's right-wing Government, which came to office in 2022 promising to crack down on illegal immigration and promote law and order, was creating a "climate of repression" in the country.

There was no immediate comment on the Police conduct from the Government.

Enzo Letizia, head of ANFP, a Police trade union, said student protests were often infiltrated by "expert instigators" and judgments should not be made until an inquiry had been held into the incidents. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Israel says it will attack the city if no truce agreement is reached soon. Washington has called on its close ally not to do so, warning of vast civilian casualties if an assault on the city

goes ahead.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh met Egyptian mediators in Cairo to discuss a truce this past week on his first visit since December.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Moon landing: US clinches 1st touchdown in 50 years

Aspacecraft built and flown by Texas-based company Intuitive Machines landed near the moon's south pole on Thursday, the first US touchdown on the lunar surface in more than half a century and the first ever achieved by the Private Sector.

NASA, with several research instruments aboard the vehicle, hailed the landing as a major achievement in its goal of sending a squad of commercially flown spacecraft on scientific scouting missions to the moon ahead of a planned return of astronauts there later this decade.

But initial communications problems following Thursday's landing raised questions about whether the vehicle may have been left impaired or obstructed in some way. The uncrewed sixlegged robot lander, dubbed

Odysseus, touched down about 18:23h EST (2323 GMT), the company and NASA commentators said in a joint webcast of the landing from Intuitive Machines' mission operations centre in Houston.

The landing capped a nail-biting final approach and descent in which a problem surfaced with the spacecraft's autonomous navigation system that required engineers on the ground to employ an untested work-around at the 11th hour.

It also took some time after an anticipated radio blackout to re-establish communications with the spacecraft and determine its fate some 384,000 kilometres (239,000 miles) from Earth.

The Odysseus Moon lander is likely lying on its side with its head resting against a rock.

(Excerpt from Reuters and BBC News)

An Israeli tank pulls an armoured personnel carrier (APC) near the Israel-Gaza border, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from Israel, February 23, 2024 (Reuters/Susana Vera photo)

Intuitive Machines' Odysseus spacecraft passes over the near side of the Moon following lunar orbit insertion on February 21, 2024, in this handout image released February 22, 2024 (Intuitive Machines/Handout via Reuters)

SUDOKU

(March 21-April 19)

(April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

(June 21-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 22)

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Take care of matters yourself instead of relying on others. Going about your business secretively will help you control the outcome and reap the rewards. Put time aside for some romance.

A proactive approach to life, work and happiness will help you decrease anxiety. Innovative thinking, fast responses, discipline and ingenuity will help you come out ahead.

Learn all you can, but don’t believe everything you hear. Question things and verify information, and refuse to let your emotions get in the way. Concentrate on resetting your goals.

Listen, ask questions and revamp your thoughts or actions to guarantee success. A creative approach that offers something unique will attract attention and praise from peers and loved ones.

Refuse to let changes that others make throw you off your game. An energetic approach to self-improvement, health and your relationships with others will prove valuable.

Don’t wait for someone to make the first move. Have confidence and be the one to make things happen. Show enthusiasm and determination to finish what you start. Make plans with a loved one.

Do the work yourself; if you trust an outsider, you’ll end up overpaying for something you don’t need. Stick close to home and spend quality time with loved ones. Put together a routine that enhances efficiency.

Approach your goal secretively and with passion. Don’t leave anything to chance or let anyone get in your way. Avoid letting anyone interfere with your plans. Fly under the radar.

Make travel plans or do something that adds knowledge and experience to your arsenal. Don’t be fooled by someone’s claims. Get the facts and figures before signing up for something bogus.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Keep your options open. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to make financial and home improvements if you consider investments that help you build equity. Discuss your plans with anyone directly linked to the changes you want to make.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Change what’s no longer working for you. Don’t put up with someone who is standing in your way. Choose to do what matters most instead of following in someone else’s footsteps. Take control.

Share your thoughts and adjust whatever isn’t working for you. Don’t feel obligated to make a big splash when a tiny change will suffice. Take control and make things happen.

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PICKLES

ARCHIE

GFF distributes equipment, has talks with Elite League clubs

Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Technical Director Bryan Joseph on Wednesday handed over vital equipment to representatives of the ten clubs participating in KFC Elite League Season Six, and held in-depth talks regarding amendments to the tournament’s regulations.

During a straightforward ceremony on February 21 at the GFF National Training Centre (NTC) at Providence, East Bank Demerara, representatives of the defending champions Guyana Defence

grounds in Georgetown, West Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara, and Berbice.

Force, Western Tigers, Guyana Police Force, Fruta Conquerors, Den Amstel, Buxton United, Ann’s Grove,

Santos, and the recently pro-

moted Monedderlust and Slingerz were presented with balls, cones, bibs and coaches

Beharry, G-Boats GY dunking for YBG again

The Edward B Beharry Group of Companies Ltd have, for a 14th consecutive year, offered support to YBG year- round programs.

This year's sponsorship is valued at $2,000,000 in cash and $1,000,000 in kind for a total value of $3,000,000.

The company’s Brand Manager Malisa Jeffers has stressed the importance of the Beharry Group’s commitment to nurturing talent, fostering discipline, and building character through

youth Basketball, so that students can reach their full potential on and off the court.

On the same day, G-Boats GY renewed its partnership for a 5th straight year. This year's sponsorship is also to the time of $3,000,000 dollars, parts of which will go towards rehabilitation of the St Ignatius Secondary School Court and the installation of basketball hoops, according to Daniel LaFont, Business Development Director.

YBG Co-Director Chris

Bowman has said the organization is elated at the renewal of sponsorship by community partners such as Edward B Beharry Ltd and G-BOATS GY. “Without them, we would not have anything close to a basketball nursery, which have now been sustained for over 17 years,” he said. YBG will tip off its season this weekend, on February 24th and 25th, with the Challenge Series and Shooting Competition at the National Gymnasium.

magnet boards.

Moreover, the discussion, which included a question-and -answer session, centred around changes to the regulations, including the introduction of player identification cards/ accreditation to facilitate easy recognition of players during away matches.

Joseph has said the equipment distribution is

“a crucial component of our strategy to ensure thorough preparation for the tournament. We also had a candid talk with the teams to clear the air regarding the changes to the rules and regulations of the league as we approach the kick off.”

The new season will kick off on February 25 at the NTC under newly installed FIFA- approved floodlights and with an enhanced playing surface.

A total of 90 games are scheduled to be played throughout Season Six at

Elite squads have undergone rigorous training in the past few weeks, fuelling heightened excitement among fans anxious to witness the outcome of the opening night doubleheader. The action begins at 6 pm, with Slingerz FC facing Monedderlust FC, setting the stage for the evening’s pinnacle at 9 pm, when Santos FC clashes with the formidable Guyana Defence Force FC.

GFSCA supports DCB InterAssociation U19 Championship

…Ariel Enterprise makes the first presentation

Members of that famous softball cricket organization the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA), an organization that has pioneered the game in and out of Guyana, will once again sponsor the Demerara Cricket Board’s (DCB’s) Inter Association Under-19 Cricket Tournament, which will commence shortly.

The tournament involves the five sub-associations: Upper Demerara, East Bank, East Coast, West Demerara, and Georgetown, and would be run on a round-robin format, with the top two teams to play in the final, which would be live streamed across the globe.

The tournament is one of the yardsticks being used by

the selection panel to select the Demerara team for the GCB Inter-County Under-19 Tournament, which will be branded under Trophy Stall/ Ramchand’s Auto Spares/ Ariel Enterprise/Rohan Auto Spares/ Steve’s Jewelry/ Petama Enterprise/Motor Trend/ Cricket Equipment Guyana.

At a simple ceremony held recently, Ariel Persaud, Managing Director of Ariel Enterprise, presented the cheque to Anil Beharry, GCB Marketing Manager, and said his company is pleased to be part of the development of young cricketers in Demerara.

The DCB takes this opportunity to say thank you to the sponsors for once more coming on board.

Anil Beharry (left) receiving the cheque from Ariel Persaud in the presence of DCB executives and players who are expected to participate in the tournament

A look at the equipment and club representatives at the recent meeting

Beharry Company Manager Malissa Jeffers presenting a sponsorship cheque to YBG Co-Director Chris Bowman in the presence of other YBG officials

SportsMax team to film Elite League opener

SportsMax, the Caribbean’s foremost sports broadcaster, would be filming the highly awaited opening night of the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) KFC Elite League Season Six on February 25.

A team of producers arrived in Guyana on February 21 to document the developments in football here, with the Elite League as the focal point.

They will document

Sunday’s opening ceremony at the GFF National Training Centre at Providence, East Bank Demerara, which will be attended by the ten Elite teams - defending champions Guyana Defence Force, Western Tigers, Guyana Police Force, Fruta Conquerors, Den Amstel, Buxton United, Ann’s Grove, Santos, and the recently promoted Monedderlust and Slingerz.

The crew will also cov-

BCB Under-17 tournament…

er the exciting doubleheader featuring the matchups between Slingerz FC and Monedderlust FC, as well as Santos FC taking on the Guyana Defence Force FC.

The final package will reach over 1.5 million households across twenty-six Caribbean territories on SportsMax and/or SportsMax2, CEEN TV, SportsMax+, SportsMax Apps, and the SportsMax YouTube Channel.

It will include in-depth

Bharat’s centuries lead RHT ‘A’ to successive victories …Reddy takes hat-trick for Rose Hall Town ‘B’

Berbice youth player Romesh Bharat has struck two beautifully-timed centuries to lead his team, Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘A’, to victories in the Berbice Cricket Board’s (BCB’s) Under-17 inter-club tournament.

The talented right-handed batsman scored 119 versus Skeldon, and followed up with 130 versus Scottsburg at the Area H ground. His teammate Raj Tika took 5 for 25 versus Scottsburg, while promising all-rounder Leon Reddy took a hat trick to lead Rose Hall Town ‘B’ to a 7-wicket victory over Whim, both in the same tournament.

Bharat also scored a vital 48 not out to lead his team to victory over arch-rival Port Mourant.

Against Skeldon, Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘A’ scored 291 all out in 50 overs, with Bharrat’s 119 Matthew Pereira’s 29 and Kulmalchan Ramnaris’s 18 being the principal scores. In reply, Skeldon were bowled out for 179, to lose by 112 runs. The best bowlers of Rose Hall Town Bakewell team were Ramnaris, with 2 for 29; Bharrat, with 3 for 31; Deeraj Ramjit, with 2 for 36; and Raj Tika, with 2 for 27.

Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘B’ defeated Whim by 7 wickets at the Whim ground. They registered their first victory of the tournament after losing to Albion ‘A’ in the opening round match.

Batting first, Whim amassed 139 all out in 33

44. Ian Balkaran chipped in with 15.

Medium pacer Leon Reddy took six for 31 from 10 overs, while Darwin McKenzie took 2 for 23 and off-spinner Balraj Narine took 2 for 25 in offering good support.

In response, Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘B’ reach 144 in 27.3 overs, with national under-13 player Tameshwar Deonadan finishing unbeaten on 46, while Reddy scored 25 not out to complete a good all-round performance. Arian Dasrat took two for 46 in a losing cause.

Playing against Scottsburg, Barratt stroked 15 sweetly timed boundaries in his 113 to lead Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘A’ to a massive 315 all out in 49.3 overs. He received vital support from national player Sohil Mohammed, with 24; Ramzan Koobir, with 24; Matthew Pereira, with 20; Akash Sookraj, with 15; Raj Tika, with 20; Rafael McKenzie,

with 20; and Deeraj Ramjit, with 15 not out.

Bowling for Scottsburg Ramotar’s 2 for 61, Rovin Doodnauth’s 2 for 33, and Damahal’s 2 for 53 were the principal bowling contributions in the sweltering heat.

In reply, Scottsburg were shot out for 57 in 16 overs, with Raj Tika claiming 5 for 25, while Deeraj Ramjit took 3 for 8 from 4 overs and pacer Rafael McKenzie took 2 for 11.

Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘A’ defeated Port Mourant in their lineup to decide the winner of Zone D. Port Mourant, batting first, amassed 122 all out in 27.3 overs, after rain had forced the umpires to reduce the match to 30 overs per side.

Vishal Williams topscored with a brilliant 56, which included five fours and a six. He received support from Devendra Samaroo with 20 and Robin Budwa with 10.

The best bowlers for Rose Hall Town Bakewell were Berbice under-15 spinner Kulmalchan Ramnaris with 4 for 16, Romesh Barratt with 2 for 16, and Deeraj Ramjit with 2 for 13. In response, Bharrat led from the front with a fighting 48 not out to achieve victory at 125 for 8 off 28.2 overs. He received support from Matthew Pereira Sohil Mohammed and Rafael McKenzie, who each scored 15 runs.

Devendra Samaroo’s 2 for 25, Rovin Budwa’s 2 for 16, and Jacob’s 2 for 25 were the best bowling figures for Port Mourant.

insights into the present GFF administration, shedding light on their ongoing programmes and goals; Elite Clubs' rich history through exclusive interviews with players and officials, and the amazing journey so far of the Golden Jaguars and Lady Jags.

The SportsMax team will film in various locations, including Georgetown, the East Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara, and Bartica. Of particular focus will be the Academy Training Centre (ATC) programme in Bartica.

GFF President Wayne Forde noted that the alliance with the Caribbean sports broadcasting brand presents a fantastic opportunity to showcase the tal-

ent and potential of local players on a broader regional platform.

"Our collaboration with SportsMax is a significant stride in advancing the promotion of Guyanese footballers in the Caribbean, with a specific emphasis on our national teams, Elite League, and grassroots initiatives,” he said.

“The comprehensive coverage will also afford viewers a lucid insight into the varied initiatives integral to the GFF's agenda for fostering the growth of football, and highlight the sport's power to unite and positively impact lives.”

Sunday’s launch will also receive promotion in the upcoming days on SportMax Zone.

Guided by Forde's leadership, significant investments have been committed to fostering the development of football across various tiers, including the national team programme, club football and grassroots initiatives across Guyana.

Season Six will feature a total of 90 scheduled games across various grounds in Georgetown, West Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara and Berbice. Teams will be competing for the $2,000,000 first-place cash prize, while the second, third, and fourth-place finishers are set to receive $1,200,000, $800,000, and $500,000 respectively.

The film crew is set to depart Guyana on February 26, 2024.

Bush Lot Sports Club eyeing championship glory at AJM T20

The Bush Lot Sports Club will be aiming to go all the way towards championship glory at tomorrow’s AJM Mash It Up T20 tournament, to be played at the Bush Lot Sports Complex Ground in West Berbice.

The home team is eagerly anticipating the cricket extravaganza, which has more than one million dollars in cash and prizes up for grabs. In the last AJM tournament, Bush Lot won five of its six games.

In a statement issued by the club, it has been highlighted that there are new additions to the batting lineup.

“We are very optimistic of this Mash one-day extravaganza. We have some new additions to our batting line up who recently joined our club, so would provide those extra boots in our batting. We are looking to win this time around.

“The last second division AJM tournament was obvi-

ously great. First of its kind in the history of local club cricket, where the sponsor invested a lot. Players got the chance to play in front of decent crowds, and to play against different teams, since it was a round-robin set up.”

The home team added: “the semi-finals and final (drew) good crowds from Bush Lot and supporters from the other teams; it was a party-like atmosphere. We are looking to maximize the powerplay with the bat, and with the depth in our line-up, we are surely going to be putting up a show. We just want to keep it simple, and execute our plans.”

In the last edition of this tournament, veteran cricketer Raj Bance scored three half-centuries, while Suresh Dhanai amassed over 200 runs and claimed 18 wickets.

Justin Doobay, an under-17 left arm spinner, also bowled well, limiting batsmen.

Four teams in the West Berbice area will be on show at the AJM Mash It Up T20 tournament on February 24; they are: AJM defending T20 champions Cotton Tree Sports Club; D’Edward Sports Club; Achievers ‘A’, and Bush Lot Sports Club.

The day’s activities will commence at 09:00hrs, and the final will be played under lights. There will be big screen, commentary, and live scores at the venue, with Crown Vibes International providing sounds.

This tournament would quite replicate a CPL atmosphere, the organizers have promised. Cheerleaders will be on show, in addition to other side attractions.

AJM Enterprise aims to develop cricket in the West Berbice area and provide quality entertainment to the cricket-loving population.

This event is sponsored by AJM Enterprise and Jumbo Jet, and is powered by Banks DIH Limited.

overs, with Melvin Deodat scoring 31 and Dasrat scoring

Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘A’

Romesh Bharat

Bush Lot Sports Club will be aiming to go all the way in this competition

Sinclair 'on show' as GHE eyeing win on Day 4

Afive-wicket haul from Guyanese Ashmead

Nedd, playing for the West Indies Academy, has been overshadowed by a thumping century from Kevin Sinclair; as he became an unstoppable force with the bat, and then continued the momentum with the ball on Friday.

After half of the Guyana Harpy Eagles side had, on Thursday afternoon, fallen away by Nedd’s doing, Sinclair and Kemol Savory resumed the innings on Friday on 16 and 20 runs respectively.

Savory first reached the half-century mark, but fell to Joshua Bishop for 58 from 68 deliveries. Sinclair, however, pressed on alongside Ronaldo Alimohamed, who proved to be a good support between the wickets. Before Sinclair could reach the milestone, Alimohamed became Nedd’s fifth victim in the innings, af-

ter contributing 31 runs in 34 deliveries.

Not long after, Sinclair brought up his maiden First Class hundred in 118 deliveries, encompassing 15 boundaries. Thereafter, he teamed up with Veerasammy Permaul, and the duo took the Harpy Eagles’ lead past the 400-run mark.

Accumulating 415-7 in 112.1 overs, and with a lead of 428, the Harpy Eagles declared just before tea on Friday. Sinclair remained unbeaten on 165 from 182 deliveries, including 26 fours, doubling his previous highest first-class score of 86.

Permaul also remained not- out, pitching in with a handy 29 off 45 balls. As such, the West Indies Academy needed 429 runs for victory, with a day and a session left in the West Indies Championship third-round game.

However, Sinclair’s stunning all-round performance continued in their bowling innings, as he removed Rashawn Worrell for 11 runs to pick up the first of 7 West Indies Academy wickets that fell before close of play.

Sinclair’s strike opened the floodgates for the Harpy Eagles, whose Isai Thorne showed up to the party with three quickfire wickets.

bowling. Jordan Johnson and Carlon Bowen-Tuckett then put up a frustrating resistance to the Harpy Eagles’ bowlers.

The duo posted a 58run partnership for the sixth wicket, but Sinclair was the man again to the rescue of the Harpy Eagles, trapping Johnson LBW to break the partnership. Johnson slammed the only Academy

Thorne took two wickets to leave the Academy in hot water at 22-3 before tea.

Ackeeme August and Teddy Bishop fell to Thorne’s bowling for 5 runs and a duck respectively. Soon after tea, Thorne removed Joshua Bishop for 3 runs.

Mbeki Joseph was the next to fall, for 13 from 43 deliveries off Alimohamed’s

half century thus far, a 77-ball 54. Before the day was called, Gudakesh Motie struck, removing Joshua James for 26 from 22, to reduce the Academy to 161-7 by close of play. The West Indies Academy will need 268 runs today to seal a victory, while al the defending champions would require are three wick-

ets to bag their first win of the 2024 4-Day season. The 4-Day action will re-

sume at 10:00hrs today at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.

“We’re not just hosting cricket” - Sport Minister Ramson …as T20 World Cup is launched in Guyana

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 is now less than 100 days away from its bowl-off in the Caribbean and the USA.

As such, on Thursday, the tournament was launched in several host countries, including Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, and the USA.

The MovieTowne Mall at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown hosted the Guyanese launch, where several cultural groups entertained the crowd, including recently crowned Soca Monarch Carlvin Burnette.

There, Sport Minister

Charles Ramson Jr., alluding to Shamar Joseph’s success story, highlighted the

opportunities that hosting such tournaments can have for the players and country.

“Had it not been for the fact that we hosted the CPL and one of the players in our very own country unfortunately got injured, Shamar would not have had the opportunity to play, and for many other selectors to see how brilliant of a talent he is; and then moving into the Regional tournaments and allowing him now to become world recognized as a talent coming all the way from a remote area in Baracara,” Ramson Jr. shared. He went on to add, “A story that is also a part of our story when we also chose not just to host the event, but to make a decision of what kind of event

we will have here by hosting the cricket tournament. We’re not just hosting cricket, we’re showing the world who we are.”

Lingering on the topic, Ramson Jr. went on to justify the investments made in infrastructure, reminding of Government’s intention to make Guyana a world-class destination.

The Sport Minister divulged, “Those are decisions that we are making because we know of the importance of our people and how important what we offer the world, how special that is. There are many places in the world (that) don’t have what we have; they never did, we always had it. And for many reasons, we weren’t able to

tell that story.

“We will be telling our story at this World Cup and all the other events that we have the opportunity to host in this country, as we continue to move in the direction of being this destination for world class events,” Ramson Jr. further stated.

The Men’s T20 World Cup is scheduled to be played from June 1st to 29th, with the 30th being a reserve day for the final. Guyana’s National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) will host six matches, including 5 group games featuring West Indies’ Group C and Semifinal One.

Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr

Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr taking in the launching ceremony alongside cricketer Shamar Joseph and DoS Steve Ninvalle

Kevin Sinclair smashed an unbeaten 165* for his maiden first-class century

Isai Thorne took three quickfire wickets to rattle the West Indies Academy

Jordan Johnson resisted the Harpy Eagles with a half-century