Guyana Times - Saturday, February 4, 2023

20 homeless after fire destroys 2 EBD homes

Twenty persons are now without a home after two separate fires destroyed their Lot 35 Agricola Public Road, and Lot 110 Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara houses on Friday.

Grove Reports are that at about 02:34h on Friday, the Guyana Fire Service was alerted to a fire at Lot 110 Grove Public Road on the East Bank of Demerara. Subsequent to the call, water tenders from both the Eccles and Diamond Fire Stations were dispatched to the location.

In a statement issued by

the Guyana Fire Service, it was revealed that “The purported cause of the fire is a malicious setting by person(s) unknown.”

The two-storey wooden and concrete structure building which was owned by Dacie Metamon, who is deceased, housed four families. The building, along with all of its contents, was completely destroyed, resulting in 13 persons being left homeless.

Two jets working from light pump #82 using an open water source and one jet working from a water bowser were used to extinguish the fire.

Agricola

Meanwhile later Friday afternoon, around 14:40h, the Guyana Fire Service was tasked with responding to another fire at Agricola, East Bank Demerara, which resulted in seven persons being rendered homeless, including 77-year-old Bibi Mohammed, four children, and others.

According to family members, someone was cooking and left the stove on, which resulted in the fire.

Bibi’s daughter, 42-yearold Denise Matthews said that the family has resided there for over 80 years and the home has been passed down from one generation to another.

She added that for the time being, she and others will be staying with her son in one of the other homes in the yard, which housed three buildings.

As a result of quick response from the Guyana Fire Service, the fire was contained to the building of origin, which housed four tenants.

The family estimates over $3 million in losses.

Late Friday afternoon, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn visited the family, where he was seen interacting with family members.

In an interview with this publication, the Minister revealed that the relevant authorities will review how best they can offer immediate assistance to the two families, however, any other assistance will be dealt with through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.

Human Services Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud explained that the Ministry offers assistance in numerous ways to fire victims, whether it’s with food items, furniture, and more.

She added that in cases where a house is partially destroyed and only requires a little bit of rehab, the Ministry would assist, however in other instances where someone loses their entire home, they would usually be referred to Food For The Poor (FFTP) for further assistance.

It was previously reported by this publication that this year, FFTP is aiming to construct 100 homes for unfortunate families across the country.

The two homes that were destroyed by fire on Friday

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, Feb 4 – 04:30h to 06:00h and Sunday, Feb 5 – 05:00h – 06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, Feb 4 – 15:35h – 17:05h and Sunday, Feb 5 – 16:10h – 17:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be light rain showers during the day. Expect partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 16:03h reaching a maximum height of 2.44 metres.

Low Tide: 09:37h and 22:04h reaching minimum heights of 0.92 metre and 0.75 metre.

schemes” by real estate agents, others to unlawfully sell land plaguing housing sector

faster

tees were offered house lots and they refused the areas they were offered. Unfortunately, we cannot give you lots in all the areas you would like… And that is a challenge for Housing and it came through the last two days,” he stated. According to the Guyanese leader, Government is considering moving away from house lot distribution and constructing homes instead. This, he explained, not only offers greater value and encourages high occupancy rates but will also ensure a more transparent system.

Elaborate schemes

Following the two-day outreach in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), President Dr Irfaan Ali has stated that the biggest takeaway from the exercise is that there is technical capacity and capability within Government agencies to process transactions and address issues in a timely manner.

LOTTERY NUMBERS

Over the past two days, the Housing and Water Ministry through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) facilitated on-thespot house lot allocations for existing applicants as well as pre-qualifying persons interested in low-income housing units in the region.

By the end of the exercise on Friday, close to 200 Berbice families received their Certificates of Title/ Transport. Additionally, CH&PA allocated 50 house lots and 50 homes, while five core home applications were received.

Hundreds of persons were also able to initiate their house lot applications and register for the Steel and Cement Housing Subsidy Programme.

Moreover, the CH&PA was able to fast-track the regularisation of a squatting settlement at John's, Corentyne within 24 hours as well. This resulted in some 23 Titles being processed and a number of families were presented with the ownership document by President Ali on Friday.

“I’m disappointed in… the fact that we have persons waiting for their Titles and Transport that could have been dealt with sometime ago because what we did in 48 hours, we could have done before… You just have to have a concentrated effort and the problems would be fixed.”

“So, I think as young technicians and experienced technicians, they would tell you that they have seen in their own team, the wonderful demonstration of ability of fix problems and get it done quickly. We’ve also demonstrated how bureaucracy can be easily compressed – not eradicated but compressed – to deliver the type of results that we want to deliver,” the Head of State said during a press conference on Friday to wrap up the two-day Cabinet outreach.

The President lauded the engineering side for getting the infrastructure going and delivering what they have done in the past year. But he noted that on

the administrative side, there are challenges not only within the system but also with the public.

“…a lot of the allot-

He noted that one of the issues plaguing the construction sector is persons selling house lots.

President Dr Irfaan Ali with persons who received their land titles in Berbice on Friday

“Elaborate

…says technical capability available to process housing documents

Editor: Tusika Martin

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A culture of drinking?

Alcohol abuse is developing as a major publichealth problem, even as we continue to have many discussions on alcoholism and the negative effects it has on individuals and society as a whole.

Alcohol use, and more so alcohol abuse, has always been prevalent in Guyana, but in recent years it has moved to a glorification level. A quick perusal locally reveals that many alcohol-promoting advertisements now feature young people enjoying themselves and having a good time.

According to a global study released in 2022 in the journal Lancet, no amount of alcohol is healthy if you are younger than 40, mostly due to alcohol-related deaths by vehicular accidents, injury and murder.

If we were to be honest and truly explore our local scenario, it would not be difficult to uncover the level at which alcohol has contributed to vehicular accidents, domestic violence, and manslaughter and murder statistics.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), alcohol consumption contributes to three million deaths each year globally, as well as to the disability and poor health of millions of people. Overall, harmful use of alcohol is responsible for 5.1% of the global burden of disease.

WHO’s Global Status Reports on Alcohol and Health have, over the years, presented a comprehensive picture of alcohol consumption and the disease burden attributable to alcohol worldwide.

In the past, several letters to the Editor of this newspaper had expressed concerns about alcohol being promoted by some chutney singers in their songs. A few years back, Guyanese were being bombarded with “rum songs” which featured characters who resort to rum drinking to ‘end’ their sorrows. Some of those songs are still being featured at concerts and parties across the country.

One letter writer proffered that alcohol is considered to be a "downer" type of drug, so it should not be consumed if one is in a depressed state of mind. In essence, drinking while in a depressed state would certainly contribute to feelings of more depression, and cause more harm than good.

The negative effects of drinking too much alcohol can be divided into short-term and long-term. The short-term effects of drinking too much alcohol are loss of judgment, loss of coordination, blurred vision, slurring of speech, and loss of balance. These negative effects can cause one to make bad decisions while being under the influence. The long-term effects include loss of brain cells, liver failure, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, certain types of cancer, epilepsy, nerve damage, and heart failure. If the abuse of alcohol does not cause immediate problems, then excessive use over a period of time can cause major problems down the line.

Further, alcoholism contributes to a range of social problems, for example domestic and other forms of violence in our society.

In addition, research shows that alcoholism contributes to suicide, which has been, and continues to be, a major social problem in Guyana.

The effects of alcohol abuse are well known. Citizens should therefore be encouraged to use better judgment in every situation in the interest of one’s self, family and community, and ignore the messages that encourage rum drinking. While it is not our intention to place the blame of all our problems on alcohol, one cannot dispute the fact it is indeed a contributory factor to some of the social ills we face in our country today. There is therefore urgent need for all stakeholders to redouble their efforts and step up the campaign to spread more awareness and education about the dangers of alcohol abuse.

Achieving a reduction in the harmful use of alcohol is included in the SDG 2030 agenda, and according to the WHO, this requires “concerted action by countries, effective global governance, and appropriate engagement of all relevant stakeholders. By working together effectively, the negative health and social consequences of alcohol can be reduced.”

While the Government must play a crucial role in designing the relevant programmes and policies and legislative framework and other support mechanisms aimed at addressing the harmful use of alcohol, this burden must also be shared by everyone.

Appeal for greater corporate social giving

Dear Editor, I write to commend businesses, organizations and individuals who go out of their way to help the less fortunate and/or those in distress, while I also simultaneously appeal to other businesses to give to worthwhile causes.

The act of the wealthy and/or businesses giving assistance to others is called social entrepreneurship, or corporate social responsibility, or philanthropy; but, regrettably, only a small percentage of Guyanese businesses and individuals engage in this practice. In the Indian culture, it is called daan; meaning: to give freely and generously to charities and other worthwhile causes.

The less wealthy sections of society seemingly give more daan than the wealthier sections, as per conversations with many individuals from all strata of society. Some of the businesses and individuals who practice social responsibility are kinder, gentler, and more altruistic and helpful than others. And there are wealthy businesses (persons) who do not engage in any charitable giving; they comprise a higher percentage than those who give.

The less wealthy tend to be more generous than the giant businesses. Smaller

businesses (persons) tend to be more generous than larger ones. Several of the larger businesses are the epitome of selfishness, and there are quite a number among the business class in the country. In fact, based on empirical evidence of efforts to garner assistance for benevolent causes, over half of large businesses don’t give to charitable causes.

The lower-income people are more free-handed in helping the less fortunate. And if you talk to the public, they will tell you the names of the meanest and stingiest business persons in their neighbourhoods. “Dem na give even a lemonade to the poor”. Although not wealthy and not in business, I contribute a significant portion of my income to helping the less fortunate and NGOs.

It is not easy to induce wealthy business people to share a little of their wealth to charity, or to the poor. As an illustration, I tried in vain to get some businesses and wealthy persons to give to a worthwhile cause of aiding a mandir. They are interested only in earning or exploiting, not in helping people to lift their lives, or in plowing some profits into their purchasers as a thank-you measure.

A recent experience in seeking to assist a temple in

Region 3 is an illustration of the preceding conclusion and the meanness of some businesses. In 2017, in organizing the 100th anniversary of the end of recruitment of indentured labourers, or girmitiyas, I encountered a similar experience. Just last week, I went around to some wealthy businesses to plead a case to assist a mandir in dire need in a very depressed neighbourhood in Region 3. Of twelve very wealthy businesses I approached to assist the collapsed temple, only three (all from the Corentyne) gave assistance in kind (meaning food materials) for proposed opening of the mandir. Five wholesalers of food in G/town would not even contribute potatoes or dhal or channa, or any food item for the mandir’s opening on Feb 19. All of them are Hindus.

A Muslim businessman not in the food business has expressed his willingness to contribute to the project. Two businesses gave cash for the building construction fund. Two other entities not in the food business made a pledge, and are expected to deliver soon. A small businessperson from Canada, based in Bel Air, who is only now starting out his business and who seeks no mention of his contribution, committed to donating food materials with-

out even being asked; he understands the concept of daan, and the need to give and of aiding the poor.

No other individual has come forward to assist the worthy mandir project, although it was brought to the attention of many prominent and wealthy individuals. Government officials also have not helped in their private capacity. The President pledged his personal contributions, not from the state, for a project related to the mandir. It is hoped Government officials would contribute in kind.

Societal giving, or social entrepreneurialism, is a wise business model. It wins over hearts and minds, and grows a business. Very few companies understand this business model. Mohamed Enterprise, Nand Persaud, Queens Atlantic, among a few others, are very generous social entrepreneurs. They ought to be commended. More companies should follow in their footsteps.

I would like to thank those who contributed funds and/or materials to the Mandir and other worthwhile projects. Those gigantic, mega-profitable businesses that don’t practise corporate social responsibility should be exposed and blanked by the public.

Yours truly,

Vishnu Bisram

A colourful display of floats during the Region One Education Department’s Mabaruma sub-district annual Children's Mashramani Competition on Thursday at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Lawns, Mabaruma Compound, Region One (Barima-Waini Region RDC photo)

Flat fees and salaries for bus operators Appeal to GWI

Dear Editor, I write in complete agreement with your editorial of Wednesday February 1, 2023 regarding our awful minibus culture, and to make a few small but important suggestions. Well, one important suggestion is that, in one small step, we immediately - and with finality - remove the chaos being inflicted on society by minibus operators.

Yes, I know you want to know how, because that’s the aspect that’s important. Here is how - by removing the competition that exists between them. What’s wrong with the competition between minibus operators, you ask? Their competition for passengers is what pushes them to speed and race each other, and do other lawless, unconscionable things that they feel will give them an advantage over other competing operators.

What happens when we remove the competitiveness? If they were all hired by the Government, and were Public Servants (or by a private company and were employees), each equally receiving a standard flat salary, would they still desperately see the need to do

things (like overloading, using touts, etc) to try to earn more than each other? No. Their chances of earning more than each other would be removed.

Government needs to step in (or arrange for a company to step in) and hire these minibuses and their operators for fixed rental fees and salaries. A certain shift over to a new Guyana, where it is illegal to operate a bus not rented/ contracted by the State, is necessary - and is urgent.

Once the buses on the road are all under the control of the State, the State would have more control over the behaviour of bus operators, and we (the citizens through the State) would be able to suspend or fire them as we see fit for improper behaviour and illegalities.

“Public transportation” does not mean transportation supplied to the public. It means transportation provided by the State to her citizens (and not by private individuals who own and operate buses etc). Public transportation is provided at no cost to the Government, as the Government gets cash to pay bus owners and oper-

ators by selling bus passes to commuters, who would use the passes on the buses instead of cash. The sale of bus passes would raise enough funds for the State to rent the buses on the road and pay salaries to the bus drivers driving them. And the price for a trip in a bus would not need to go up to facilitate this shift either.

Imagine a Guyana in which a bus operator no longer sees the need to stop in the middle of the road to grab another passenger for his already full bus, but would pick up passengers only if he has space; and would pick up only those who are at the bus stops, because whether he fills his bus or not, he would still get the same salary at the end of the month. His job is to drive around a route and collect passengers, and he does it knowing that overloading his bus is pointless, because it won’t bring him any extra cash. Speeding is equally useless. There would be no more need for that kind of desperation. Imagine it. Imagine what our roads would be like.

For one thing, there would be way less privately-owned cars, and less traf-

fic congestion on the road, as more citizens would finally feel safe enough to opt to use public transportation to save money. Car owners in more developed countries are accustomed to using comfortable public transportation and saving their cars and gas money for trips where public transportation won’t take them.

Gustavo Petro, Mayor of Bogotá, rightly said, “A developed country isn’t a place where the poor have cars; it’s where the rich use public transportation.”

Owning and driving a car in Guyana should not be a status symbol. How many of us have looked at the traffic jams in Guyana and seen how, in most cases, each car contains only one person? What’s going to happen when every person can finally afford a car? Where will we place the blame?

Do we love our country and countrymen enough to get this done now? Or do we have to wait for enough foreigners to come here and insist that this present backward system be changed, before we act?

Sincerely,

John M Fraser, LLB

CJIA’s statement creates an impression of a flawless system

Dear Editor,

It is pleasant to know that a Public Relations Officer by the name of Ms. Shunza Samuels of the CJIA, Timehri indicated that there is a Lost and Found System at CJIA. I believe that this is a bit of “whitewashing” by Ms. Samuels, which is usually the job of Public Relations Officers, and Public Relation Officers normally do this when institutions are caught in disappointing situations.

In the case of the gentleman of whom I had spoken, the passport was not at any Lost and Found Department or in the Airport Duty Office with neat little telephone numbers, as shared in Ms. Samuels’s letter in the media of 2nd February, 2023.

Reliable information led me to confirm that there was no Lost and Found at CJIA Timehri during the time when the passport went missing. This can be confirmed by the telephone records placed to two senior managers of CJIA, who were contacted on the missing passport. It would be absurd to think that there would be a Lost and Found Department/System at CJIA and two senior persons in

administration would not know of its existence.

I do not wish to make this a continuous form of communication, nor do I wish to mention the names of the two senior officers; but, most importantly, it took more than five weeks for the Immigration Office to realize that the passport was not uplifted. With this gentleman being as popular as he is, one would have thought that contact with the individual would have been established much sooner.

A pleasant gentleman from the Immigration Department eventually made contact with the popular gentleman’s office, on seeing that the passport was still at the Immigration Department.

Therefore, I wish to recommend to the administrative authorities at CJIA that a sign be placed at the Duty Office Door reading “Lost and Found”. And all departments and administrative persons should know that this is where Lost and Found items are kept. In addition, a register log should be created, wherein entries of Lost and Found items are documented with the dates and times the items were lo-

cated and entered into the system, and the name of the person making the entries - along with entries of items that were returned. Further, a website to send enquires to the Lost and Found Department at CJIA and to track updates on lost items should be established.

I wish to thank Ms. Shunza Samuels, Public Relations Officer of CJIA, for trying to clarify the matter, but the statement seeks only to give the idea of just wanting to create an impres-

Dear Editor,

I am hoping that through this medium I can get some action on an ongoing matter with the water company.

For quite some years, perhaps as many as two, GWI has been placing bills for an Alberttown resident on my premises. These bills are stuck on the gate. I reside in North Cummingsburg, and do not know this Alberttown resident.

Each time, I would return the bills to the company, since I do not know the resident, and I would request that the practice should cease. This was done as recent as Friday, January 20, 2023, when I returned two bills to the customer service representative at the GWI Vlissengen Road Head Office, and again I implored the representative to have the matter addressed. The rep said she would speak to the supervisor.

Well, it did not serve any useful purpose, because the practice continues, and two more bills for the Alberttown customer have been placed on my gate. These bills were found on the morning of Friday, February 3, 2023. I have observed these bills are placed either in the evening or early morning. Why GWI persists with this disrespectful practice, despite several requests, is beyond reason.

Since the personal appeals have failed, a public appeal is being made for GWI to immediately cease and desist from placing on my gate bills for this Alberttown customer, (Narine Singh). I will once again return these two latest bills to the company, with the hope that this is the last time I would be subjected to this practice.

Sincerely,

Shamshun Mohamed

sion of a flawless system in place when this is clearly not the case, as in my experience.

It is satisfying to know that the matter has been highlighted in the media, and has caught the attention of the relevant administrative and managerial persons with responsibilities for management at CJIA, Timehri.

Sincerely,

Mrs Katherina Roshana

NGSA Questions: Maths

ANSWERS

Labour shortage affecting entire country – Ali

All the private entities in the Region Six are complaining about a shortage of labour, and according to President Ali during a press conference on Friday in New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice -Corentyne), this is a national complaint.

The Head of State,

who was wrapping a twoday visit to the region said Government is currently combing across the entire country to find available labour. Ali pointed out that in the construction sector in Region Six there is a need for an additional 600 skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers.

“This is just to deliver the houses that we plan on doing this year,” Ali said.

Government is currently on a housing drive as it pushes to develop 50,000 house lots over a five-year period at an average of 10,000 per year. With the new house lots comes an increasing demand for the construction of

“Elaborate schemes” by real...

“Many times, the Ministry of Housing has to deal with elaborate schemes where people are selling house lots and all of these things… So, in the future and planning ahead, I think more emphasis must and will be placed on the actual construction of the homes,” he stated.

These acts, according to President Ali, are mostly prevalent in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) especially along the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway.

“We have seen in Region Four, real estate agents and agencies as part of the problem. Even in [the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission] they would tell you we have this great difficulty and it’s becoming a major issue for us on the Linden/Soesdyke

Highway because of the now greater net realizable value of the lands on the highway. There is a massive attempt to sell leased lands and convert leased lands,” he stated.

Recognising that the dynamics in the home ownership culture in Guyana is changing with more young people now moving to acquire their own assets, the Head of State pointed out that this tremendous aggression and expansion in the Housing Sector in Region Six requires a greater level of human resource capability.

As such, he noted that in modernising the country’s public sector, focus is being placed on the efficiency of governance, the reliability of governance, reducing bureaucracy and

FROM PAGE 3

improving the way business is done.

“In government, sometimes we just look at service but it is the way we do business [in the public sector] because our delay is costing people. When we delay, it costs businesses, it costs ourselves time and inconvenience. So, one of things we need to do is have more monitoring. We need to have a more collaborative effort– an interagency coordinating mechanism. And one of things this exercise did, it brought professionals from different agencies together. So, they were able to build a network and reach other… working in the same environment [over past two days]… and this will help a lot too moving forward,” he said.

houses.

According to Ali, the housing drive which is national has created a demand for labour that the country does not have. He pointed out that Guyanese living in the Caribbean might be able to fill a percentage of the gap in Region Six.

“We are seeing a lot of remigration from Suriname. A lot of skilled persons are coming back from there, from Barbados –from the Caribbean especially. This tells you that they are responding to the opportunities home here.”

The labour shortage impacting development in Region Six is not a new occurrence.

In November 2021, members of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC) told Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh that the shortage of labour was having a significant impact on the business sector in the region.

Chambers noted that in the construction industry, Venezuelan nationals are a better option for labour as

are more punctual at their work sites and attend work daily, unlike locals.

“It is just that many Guyanese do not want to work,” one Chamber member said back then.

Past CCCC President, Muhammed Rafeek called for a database on available labour.

In May last year, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo told the diaspora that there is a severe labour shortage, particularly for some types of skills.

“It’s hard to find, even for the housing sector now, carpenters and construction people in many areas. You may have to allow them if they want to bring in 500 Mexicans to work on this project, complete it and then leave. So, you may have to allow it because if you don’t, and you take labour from the existing market then what happens is the prices go up and you have scarcity, and it would affect your capital programmes,” Jagdeo said. (G4)

…(mal)functioning?

Well, now that Budget 2023 has been passed, the Parliamentarians have performed their most strenuous task for the year: showing up for TEN DAYS to debate, and then approve, the Budget and its spending details. Whew!! But let’s not forget they were in an air-conditioned hall, and had cold water in a decanter, with regular breaks to contemplate a sumptuous dinner every night. Duck curry with red wine?? The AG smarmily pointed out that one female had “seconds” FIVE TIMES!! Fifths??

Now, who’s your Eyewitness to begrudge these hardworking MPs a meal? Surely, we know they barely get by on their $700,000 monthly salary, paid phone bills and dutyfree vehicles. And the Budget debate was, interestingly, the occasion for the Home Affairs Minister to announce that some additional officials will be given permission to use sirens and flashing lights, to leave us poor slobs in the dust when we’re in traffic jams!! Guess the Police vehicles and ambulances that are ALWAYS rushing to emergencies aren’t causing enough confusion on our chock-full roadways!!

But back to Parliament or, more properly, the National Assembly. Whatever happened to those four Sectoral Committees – Economic, Natural Resources, Foreign Relations and Social Services - that were introduced when, after the 1997 elections, the PNC bludgeoned the then PPP Government to “share power”?? Your Eyewitness has been hearing they can’t meet because of the PPP. But aren’t at any given time two of the Committees being chaired by an Opposition MP?? Who can convene meetings?? C’mon now…what’s the REAL reason those committees aren’t grilling officials on the execution or dereliction of their official duties?? Is it because meetings would cut into their free time??

Now, your Eyewitness realizes that, in Parliamentary governments, the majority can pretty much do what they want. In motions – for spending or whatever – the Speaker doesn’t even have to lift his head to count the vote he calls. Unless, of course, there’s a Charrandas as a fly in the ointment!! But the Opposition can still make waves based on their stance on the selfsame motions that are passed routinely. For instance, on the voting for pensions and social assistance etc, the Opposition’s calls for bigger increases have certainly resonated in the target demographics. Surely, some will be swayed to change their votes come 2025!! And that’s how the democratic cookie crumbles, isn’t it??

The challenge for the Opposition is how do they overcome the mistrust in the swing voters – past and future – when they just about rubbished every promise they’d made to them before 2015!! Well, there’s new leadership at the helm, and Cde Norton just gotta throw the previous leaders under the bus by singing along lustily with Shaggy – “Wasn’t me!!”

They’ve got the National Assembly as their bully pulpit!! Use it!!

…statesmanship

As you would know, dear reader, your Eyewitness has been asking – nay, PLEADING! – for the longest while, for Caricom to step up to the crease on behalf of their fellow member Haiti. Ever since poor President Moise was assassinated by that Colombian mercenary platoon, the second oldest republic in the hemisphere has continued to plummet into the abyss of failed state-ness at the hands of rampaging gangs. The US Secty General has repeatedly asked for intervention, but there’ve been no takers.

Now, are Haitians not men and our brothers?? And aren’t we supposed to be our brothers’ keepers?? What was all that fat talk when Haitians were passing through to Brazil to escape the hellhole Haiti had become?? How come all those strident letter writers on behalf of Haitians from back then are now silent?? Well, PM Holness of Jamaica just announced his country’s willing to send troops to Haiti!!

Let’s see what the rest of Caricom – including Guyanadoes. We need boots on the ground for Haiti!!

…etiquette

If he weren’t pigmentally-challenged, your Eyewitness would’ve been tickled pink about the urbanity and conviviality with which the Budget debate ended. But he suspects that ten days of feasting on duck curry and swigging vino will soothe any savage beast!!

Essequibo Coast man slapped with 2 counts of vehicular manslaughter

and Rafeek, who were proceeding in the same direction on their pedal cycles.

As a result of the collision, both men ended up in a nearby trench. It was reported that due to the impact, Maniram’s head was detached from his body. After crashing his car, the suspect fled the scene without rendering assistance to the two injured men.

The lifeless body of Maniram was subsequently pulled from the trench and taken to the Suddie Public Hospital Mortuary. Rafeek later succumbed to his injuries. Sitaram was arrested.

CJIA, Police recover lost luggage in Berbice

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIAC) have come in for high praise after they were able to quickly retrieve a missing piece of hand luggage belonging to passenger Oswald Blair.

Under the Motor Vehicle and Road

Traffic (Amendment)

Bill 2022, 21-year-old

Derindra Sitaram of Devonshire Castle, Region

Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam)

was on Friday charged with vehicular manslaughter for causing the deaths of Mohan Maniram and 23-year-old Zamaan Rafeek along the Devonshire Castle Public Road.

At the time of the accident, Sitaram was driving a motor car bearing registration number PAD 831 along the Devonshire Castle Public Road, Essequibo Coast, at a fast rate of speed and collided with Maniram

At the Suddie Magistrate’s Court on Friday, Sitaram was not required to plead to the charges of manslaughter, failing to render assistance, and driving under the influence of alcohol. The accident occurred on January 31 last.

However, Magistrate Esther Sam granted bail in the sum of $2 million to Sitaram and adjourned the matter to February 28, 2023.

Back in November 2022, the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2022, which is aimed at toughening existing laws to prevent drunk driving and the carnage on the road it results in was passed in the National Assembly in the absence of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance

For Change (APNU/AFC).

Guyana Times had reported that in a bid to ensure safer roadways, draft amendments to the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, as well as the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Bill were approved by the Cabinet in March of 2022, with a view to toughening up the penalties for drunk drivers – and the bars that serve them.

The Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act sought to amend the Principal Act and put in place a new Section, 35A. This new Section makes causing the death of someone through drunk driving a case of vehicular manslaughter.

The draft Bill also

amends Section 39A of the Principal Act – the penalty for driving while over the alcohol limit – replacing the $7500 fine with $200,000, and the sentence of 12 months with 24 months.

It has also been proposed back in March 2022, that the penalty for driving under the influence and losing control of your vehicle be increased from its current $30,000 to $60,000 fine/imprisonment for 12 months to $200,000 for first-time offenders and $300,000 for second-time offenders.

Following a complaint about his missing hand luggage, the CJIAC said it immediately commenced a review of the ClosedCircuit Television System (CCTV) and was able to identify the female passenger that left the airport with the extra piece of luggage.

The vehicle number, along with an image of the passenger, was shared with the Guyana Police Force, and ranks were able to recover the hand luggage in Berbice.

The bag was then handed over to Blair, who confirmed that his money, phone, laptop, and other

personal items were intact.

Blair said he was pleased with the swift action taken and applauded the airport and Police.

Meanwhile, the CJIAC is reminding all passengers to carefully examine their luggage before leaving the airport. Passengers requiring assistance can contact the airlines or the Airport Duty Office at 592 (261-2281) or 592 (600-7022). (G1)

Dead: Zamaan Rafeek and Mohan Maniram

Charged: Derindra Sitaram Oswald Blair

$10B investment at Palmyra to create urban development shift – Ali

…1200 homes to be constructed in Region 6

In order to realise the new regional and urban development shift, Government will be building 700 homes at Palmyra with supplementary infrastructural works totalling some $10 billion.

President Irfaan Ali on Thursday evening inspected the housing programme in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), where he noted that a massive investment is being realised.

In his announcement, the Head of State shared that the robust housing programme will see significant transformation and new opportunities for the region.

This urban hub will be established to international standards, where a stadium, hotel, malls and massive private gated communities are to be devel-

oped.

“We’re hoping to build 700 homes there between young professionals, moderate income and low-income homes. Part of the major transformative project also includes expansion of the road to the new four-lane highway. This will also commence this year.”

“You’re looking at $7 billion investment (for construction) and a next $3 billion in infrastructure.

That’s $10 billion…Imagine what that will do for the local and regional economy,” Ali disclosed.

Intentions are to complete the stadium by the end of 2025 and the cost will be known by the ending of this month. For now, land clearing has commenced. Supporting such initiatives are private partner-

ships, which will kick start as early as March. In every region, the President highlighted that the deployment of local skills takes priority.

Job creation

A massive agenda to construct 1200 homes in Region Six this year will create a boom in the sector and open some 6000 jobs for just the construction phase.

“Our intention in the region this year is to build another 1200 houses across the region. That would see maybe close to 6000 skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers in the housing sector alone. That is just the building of homes. I’m not speaking about the infrastructure development, roads, bridges. That by itself creates a huge demand,” Dr Ali said during the walk-

about.

At Fort Ordinance, 200 moderate income homes were built. Utilities have already been installed and proper roads are in the works. This project carries a price tag of $1.8 billion and some 700 persons benefitted from employment.

“The infrastructural investment alone in Fort Ordinance was about $800 million. If you look at the investment in houses, it’s about $1 billion. All of this was completed in one year. Two hundred homes and $1.8 billion investment… We have allocations for the homes so you will have 200 families moving in here at the same time.”

In Hampshire, another 100 homes were built in 2022, giving direct employment to over 400 persons.

“These are all small contractors, small builders that are part of the building programme. This is massive transformation that is taking place not only in Region Four and Region Three, but right here in Region Six,” he stressed.

The Guyanese Leader pointed out that materials management has been a difficulty for the Administration, along with adequate skills to meet demands.

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman David Armogan lauded the level of works

being undertaken in the region.

“Many people in the past would have said that Region Six is a forgotten place but we’re seeing today that the Government is placing a lot of emphasis on infrastructure works and all kinds of works that is happening in the region. Our people are very pleased and elated. Our people are very satisfied with what we have seen,” Armogan shared.

Throughout Region Six, some 537 roads have been fixed and another 133 are under construction. Bugbears facing communities for many years are now been remedied, the Regional Chairman noted. (G12)

President Dr Irfaan Ali and Regional Chairman David Armogan at the walkabout

“Boyzie” charged with murder of ex-lover

wife’s body was seen by a neighbour in a canal at Hope Lowlands, Railway Embankment, ECD, with wounds about her abdomen, head, ear, and neck on January 23.

Her intestines were also protruding.

According to the Police, she was killed sometime between 07:00h and 15:00h on January 23. Enquiries disclosed that the woman was living with her daughter and reputed husband, who, at the time of her demise, was at sea on a fishing boat.

A59-year-old operator accused of chopping his ex-lover during an argument over money has been charged with her murder.

Deonarine Sawh, called “Boyzie”, of Plantation Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD), appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

The accused was not required to plead to the indictable charge contrary to the common law which alleged that he murdered Nazaleen Mohamed, 47, of Belfield Squatting Area, ECD. He was remanded to prison until March 14, when his case will be called for report.

Sawh was captured on January 25, after a wanted bulletin was issued for him.

Police said the house-

Mohamed had last been seen alive by a neighbour at about 07:00h on January 23, as she was leaving her home and heading toward her brother’s residence at Hope Lowlands, ECD.

“At about 08:05h, the victim’s 32-year-old son received a call from her (his mother’s) cell phone, where he heard a male voice whom he identified as the suspect, who had previously shared a relationship with Nazaleen Mohamed,” Police have said in a statement.

At the time, he also heard his mother’s voice shouting for her phone, but shortly after, the call ended. However, at about 15:00h on January 23, the neighbour, who did not see her return, left in search of her. He told Police that while he was walking along Hope Lowlands, Railway Embankment, he saw the motionless body of Mohamed floating in a canal.

Teacher remanded for grandmother’s murder

Saturday, November 26, 2022, Stephanie went to her grandmother’s home with her one-month-old daughter to spend the night.

However, around 04:00h on Sunday, November 27, 2022, one of the pensioner’s neighbours told investigators that she heard screams, tramping, and the crying of a baby coming from the elderly woman’s house. These sounds lasted for about 15 minutes.

Shortly after, the young woman went to the neighbour’s house and knocked on the door.

Following the issuance of the wanted bulletin, Sawh was arrested while hiding in an abandoned house at Mahaica, ECD.

During interrogation, he reportedly told investigators that Mohamed had called him and asked him for money, and he left home and went to Hope Lowlands, where they met.

He said he did not have enough money, and this led to an argument during which he chopped her several times about her body with a cutlass he had in his possession.

Shaw explained that after receiving the chops, Mohamed fell into the canal. The murder weapon, he added, also fell into the water. He told detectives that he went to an abandoned building at Mahaica, where he consumed a poisonous substance. (G1)

More than two months after she allegedly killed her 75-year-old grandmother, Stephanie Gamell was remanded to prison on a murder charge on Friday.

Stephanie, a 22-yearold teacher and mother of one, of Richmond Village, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), was not required to plead to the indictable charge when she appeared at the Charity Magistrate’s Court.

The woman, who had been undergoing psychiatric care pending charges, was remanded until February 27, by Magistrate Esther Sam.

According to reports, the elderly Agatha Gamell lived alone in a flat concrete house at Charity, Essequibo Coast, and would be visited occasionally by her granddaughter.

On the night of

According to the neighbour, when the door was opened, she saw the 22-year-old woman with her naked baby in her hands. The neighbour said that Stephanie told her that the baby had just died and attempted to hand the baby over to her. The neighbour refused to take the child, and Stephanie walked out of the yard and onto the street with her baby.

The Police were called in and the house was visited by the Regional Police Commander, Superintendent Khemraj Shivbaran, along with other ranks.

Upon inspection of the house, the ranks discovered the elderly woman’s body clad in a white night dress with suspected blood stains and black tights, lying face up on a floormat in the kitchen. Her head was reportedly shaved, and salt was found around her body.

Shortly after, the teach-

er was taken into custody, and when questioned by the Police, she claimed that she did not know how her grandmother received the injuries.

Her baby was then taken from her and handed over to family members.

Stephanie’s family members had said that she had been battling post-partum depression, and had become frantic and slayed her grandmother.

Following the horrific killings of Gamell and another elderly woman in Georgetown, acting Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken had expressed concerns about murders committed by persons that were mentally challenged.

He had advised family members to look out for those who may be showing signs of depression and seek the necessary intervention to mitigate such crimes.

(G1)

Murder accused Deonarine Sawh

Dead: Nazaleen Mohamed

Dead: Agatha Gamell Murder accused Stephanie Gamell

26-year-old woman succumbs to COVID-19

Ayoung woman from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) is the latest person to succumb to COVID-19, the Health Ministry announced on Friday.

The 26-year-old, who was vaccinated with both primary COVID vaccine doses, died on February 1. As such, Guyana’s death toll has increased to 1295.

Fourteen new cases were reflected in the updated dashboard, reflecting 72,984 confirmed cases.

Currently, the Health Ministry is tracking 296 active COVID cases – with five cases in Region One; two in Region Two; 13 in Region Three; 159 in Region Four; 11 in Region Five; 10 in Region Six; 46 in Region Seven; one in Region Eight; 26 in Region Nine and 23 in Region 10.

Some 13 persons are in hospitals, inclusive of one in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Two of these patients are at regional hospitals while the remainder are seeking treatment at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal.

There are 10 persons in

institutional isolation, 93 in home isolation and zero in institutional quarantine. Recoveries stand at 71,585.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony has disclosed that it is difficult to pronounce on whether COVID-19 infections are increasing or decreasing, since many persons are not showing up to be tested.

However, he has warned that these persons would not be properly diagnosed.

“The challenge here is that a lot of people who have symptoms are not coming to get tested. If they are not coming, then they are not properly diagnosed. I think a lot of people get flu-like symptoms and they believe it is the flu and, in some instances, it could be COVID-19. The safer thing to do if you have flulike symptoms, then you should also get tested for COVID-19. In that way, if you test positive, then you should isolate yourself,” the Minister explained during Friday’s COVID update.

Amid reported cases where persons have experienced symptoms but their rapid test showed negative,

the Health Minister cautioned that these home kits should be properly used.

“We have what is called rapid tests or tests that you would use at home. If somebody doesn’t use it properly, you can have a negative result or a wrong result. You have to read the instructions properly if you’re going to use a rapid test.”

He also added that rapid tests are only effective if a person has been infected for a number of days. There is a window where the virus is present but would not reflect a positive result.

“In some cases, what you will need to have is a repeat of the test. But if you test with a rapid test and you’re negative and you want to confirm, then you should do a PCR. The PCR would be more accurate.”

PCR tests are processed at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory but samples are taken at testing sites across the country.

All Guyanese are being encouraged to continue observing the public health

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD

measures set out by the Health Ministry. This encourages the need for everyone five years and older to get vaccinated against COVID-19; the need for ev -

eryone to get a COVID-19 booster dose after completing the primary vaccination series; the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving

your home; the importance of maintaining a safe distance of six feet from others and; good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. (G12)

Alleged gang members remanded for wounding teen

Two alleged members of a gang operating in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), have been charged with unlawfully wounding a 19-year-old miner.

Travis Hazel, called “Fifty”, a 36-year-old of Lot 24 Silver City Wismar,

Linden, and Royston Hilliman, 48, of Lot 1831 Main Street, Central Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden, were arrested by the Police on February 1.

They are accused of unlawfully wounding Dwayne Mitchell of Wisroc, Linden, on December 26, 2022, at

Block 22, Wismar, Linden. The pair were arraigned before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Linden Magistrate’s Court. They were not required to plead to the indictable charge and were both remanded to prison until March 9. (G1)

Remanded: Travis Hazel

Remanded: Royston Hilliman

Scenes from Regions 1 & 10 Children's Mashramani Competitions 2023

3 homes gifted to Berbice families under MoM initiative

As part of his twoday outreach in Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), President Dr Irfaan Ali on Friday morning handed over newly constructed homes to three Corentyne families.

The houses were built under the Men on Mission (MoM) initiative.

The first house was handed over to a family of seven at Little Africa, Corriverton, Corentyne.

James Haynes, 56, has been suffering from a spine injury for the past 15 years. He and his wife, 56-yearold Khemwattie Haynes, and their daughter, Geeta Haynes, along with her four children – aged three, five, eight and 10 – lived in the previous structure which

was “falling down”.

During a recent outreach in the area, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill saw the situation and intervention was made. The flat concrete house, equipped with a wheelchair ramp, was constructed by Chris Jagdeo and company to the tune of some $5 million and was furnished by other donors.

“In Region Six, the private sector is leading other regions in creating these opportunities… Last night [Thursday], I met a group of young entrepreneurs, young builders in the region, and they have committed to working with us to doing 10 such homes, especially for persons who are differently-abled,” the Head of State noted.

“The Men on Mission initiative is not one that is driven only by the Government, it is an initiative in which civil society, the private sector, the Government and all the agencies are collaborating to bring ease on many issues not only housing.”

These, he said include creating green open spaces, counselling, providing health services and working with religious bodies. He said what he is very pleased about in Region Six is the way in which the private sector has responded to the initiative.

Additionally, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat has donated a laptop computer to the family as well.

“We build a stronger

community and stronger country when we share and we become better corporate citizens; better family citizens and better citizens to contribute to the holistic development of our country,” the Head of State said.

Additionally, Region Six Chairman David Armogan noted the MoM initiative is also working on creating a green open space in the Little Africa village.

Meanwhile, the second

these small contractors –not the big companies or the big corporations. This is just sending the message that all of us can combine our efforts. Only on my way here I got texts from a number of sawmills that they are willing to donate lumber and wood, especially for homes to support differently-abled people. So, if we combine that with local labour and some of the small people around, then we can do much more

in a dilapidated state and had fallen. The house was rebuilt by a local company.

Ramcharran told this publication that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Associated Contracting Services, Peter Lewis visited her and committed to building her a new home.

President Ali said it was another indication of the level of responsibility and commitment being shown by the private sector in the region.

house, an elevated flat wooden structure, was constructed for a family at Number 64 Village, Corentyne.

The previous building, occupied by an elderly couple, came crashing down in August 2022 while 62-yearold Madray Budram and his wife Parbatie Budhu were asleep. The pillars of the old wooden home gave out.

Back then, Budhu had said that she works as a domestic worker and earns $1000 a day for four days a week. She said she has been taking care of her sick husband who cannot walk nor speak since he became ill.

Several small contractors took on this project in collaboration with the Natural Resources Ministry.

“They used local labour;

like these and help families like these who are critically in need.”

“These guys are operating in the region and they joined this [MoM] initiative… So, it’s not only for the big corporations, the big entities and the Government alone but all of us. This is just sending the message that all of us can combine our efforts,” the Guyanese leader stated.

The third house was handed over to Williamsburg, Corentyne residents, 62-year-old Druwattie Ramcharran and her son. The house they were living in was dilapidated and collapsed on January 9. The pensioner had to be rescued by a neighbour.

Ramcharran’s house was

“I want to congratulate the guys on this tremendous investment, I am sure the family will benefit from it and the community will benefit. We on the Men on Mission will continue to advance and work together to bring as much development that we can bring.”

President Ali noted that with the high number of elderly persons in difficult circumstances, building a structure to accommodate elderly persons, is something that will be discussed.

“And have a support mechanism; that might be easier for us at some point but that is something the Men on Mission programme will evaluate,” President Ali said. (G4)

President Dr Irfaan Ali handing over the fully furnished house to James Haynes

Parbatie Budhu cuts the ribbon to her new home in the presence of President Dr Irfaan Ali and contractor Peter Lewis

The house that was handed over to Druwattie Ramcharran and her son

$12.4B

Maternal Hospital

Construction to start “very shortly” – Dr Anthony

Construction is expected to commence very soon on the specialised €149 million Paediatric and Maternal Hospital, which is earmarked for Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony was responding to Opposition Member of Parliament, Dr Karen Cummings, when he updated the House on the project. A design has been finalised and site preparation has already commenced.

Dr Anthony said on Thursday, “We have started works on the hospital. The contractors were given six months to do the design. They have more or less completed the designs. While they were doing the designs, they have also started doing site preparations. Very shortly, we expect that they would start putting down the foundation and start building the hospital.”

Sporting a 256-bed capacity, the hospital will be financed

by the United Kingdom’s export credit agency – UK Export Finance (UKEF). It will be built and equipped in two years’ time by Austria-based Vamed Engineering. The company has built over 1000 hospitals around the world.

Consultants from the Obstetrics Department and Paediatric Department of the Georgetown

Public Hospital would have provided critical input on the technical design of the structure.

“We have just recently concluded the detailed design of the hospital and we had a team from the Georgetown Hospital’s Paediatric Department who provided a lot of the technical inputs into what should go into the paediatric section of the hospital.”

By early 2025, the hospital will be completed. The low-rise Paediatric and Maternal Hospital will be a referral centre for women and children. It will specialise in maternal, neonatal, and paediatric care with a huge imaging suite for services such as CT scans and MRIs, a modern laboratory, and surgical suites. The specialised hospital will be equipped with

high-quality equipment sourced from the United Kingdom.

The Specialised Paediatric and Maternal Hospital was birthed from a Memorandum of Understanding between Guyana and Austria. While the agreement had catered for another set of works, the PPP/C Government had amendments for the construction of this facility after entering office.

This facility will not only be advanced but services that were never offered in Guyana before will become available. Government has said that the primary goal of expanding the healthcare services here is to make sure that Guyana reduces its morbidity rate, have less diseases and is able to treat diseases properly. It came after realising that even with massive investments and upgrades, the Georgetown Public Hospital – the country’s only referral hospital – is still limited in its capacity for certain services such as specialised paediatric care. (G12)

HerVenture mobile learning app delivers business education to 12,000 women

spurred the growth of women entrepreneurs through increased financial independence which led to upskilling, stronger family relationships, and household security.

The HerVenture app de-

livered education in a recuperative time for Guyana; post-pandemic, where women entrepreneurs were determined to start new businesses, reopen, and accelerate their growth. Women entrepreneurs within the live-

stock and agro-processing, food preparation, beauty care, retail and consulting industries were eager to kickstart their growth, having expressed their greatest challenge as accessing finance.

As of January 2023, the HerVenture mobile learning app has transformed over 12,000 women-owned and led businesses, making waves across Guyana through a personalised roadmap for business development.

This “fun, flexible and free” award-winning app for women entrepreneurs is delivered by ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc (ACI), and the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women (CBFW) headquartered in the United Kingdom. To date, the CBFW has successfully supported over 200,000 women across the globe. In partnership, they embarked on their mission to empower women to start, grow and sustain successful businesses, aimed at redefining the future for themselves and their societies.

Launched September 2021, ACI and the CBFW began to support driven women entrepreneurs through the sponsorship of ExxonMobil Foundation, upon which women-led businesses were granted a pipe-

line of business development opportunities in Regions

Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice). Accessible to users across all administrative regions, women entrepreneurs living in Guyana benefited from self-paced, digital learning tracks, each focused on varying topics – launching a business, financial planning and management, market access and e-commerce among ten learning tracks.

On Friday, the organi-

sation said in August 2022, the Mobile Money track was launched by partnering entities MMG and GTT, as the Human Services and Social Security Ministry has been instrumental in the delivery of HerVenture, with the British High Commission having pledged their support.

According to Programme Manager Selena Bacchus, HerVenture has led tens of thousands of entrepreneurs to not only be presented with opportunities for education, but advertising and capacity-building measures inclusively. HerVenture has

An artist’s impression of the new Paediatric and Maternal Hospital

First Lady meets with CNOOC to discuss collaboration

Guyana’s First Lady, Arya Ali, earlier this week met with the President of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) International, Tian Lixin, to explore areas for collaboration between the oil company and her office.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the dedication ceremony for Guyana’s third floating, production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel, Prosperity , which the First Lady was named the godmother of.

During this ceremony, Ali seized the opportunity to highlight a number of transformational initiatives which she has embarked on since assuming office, including the menstrual hygiene initiative, a project which aims to end period poverty in Guyana, and many more.

“My work focuses heavily on the welfare of people and findings permanent solutions that improve their standard of living,” Ali told the CNOOC President.

Lixin was also updated

on the status of several other projects and programmes including the National Beautification Project and the InclusAbility initiative which seeks to better integrate persons with disabilities into society.

“These social programmes are tailored to the needs of pockets of groups which have historically felt excluded or have been overlooked in the past. Ensuring that their voices are heard and interests are protected is part of our mission of creating

a ‘One Guyana’,” the First Lady added.

Expressing appreciation for the opportunity to know more about the needs of the people of Guyana, Lixin shared that CNOOC remains committed to ensuring it plays its part in contributing to the development of Guyana in a responsible way.

He added that CNOOC has a budget dedicated to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and this is a demonstration of the company’s willingness to support efforts to improve the lives of the people of Guyana.

Subsequently, Ali presented Lixin with a copy of the “Rupununi: Rediscovering a Lost World” publication.

GCAA honours 17 long-serving employees

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) on Friday commemorated 56 years as a member of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

At a simple ceremony in its boardroom, the organisation awarded 17 long-standing employees for their years of service.

Minister within the Public Works Ministry Deodat Indar commended the work of the GCAA for its continued valuable contributions to Guyana.

He noted the importance of advancing the regime, and highlighted that the budgetary allocation is just one aspect of the Government’s commitment

to fostering the advancement of the civil aviation sector.

“Now we are at a peak, where our compliance is good, where the systems are good and we have good regulations that back the authority to enforce in the sector. It took a lot to get here and maintain development,” Indar is quoted by DPI as saying.

“We are entrenched with you in taking the authority forward. As part of a global community, we have the responsibility and obligation to make sure that we maintain the systems,” Indar stated.

GCAA’s DirectorGeneral, Lt Col (Ret’d) Egbert Field, recognised the

commitment of Ministers Indar and Juan Edghill in their efforts to elevate the authority.

“It is often the political will that must be there in order for the aviation authority to move forward. And this is thanks to the Ministers for supporting this authority,” he expressed.

Among the awardees were Chaitrani Heeralall; Adrian Bassier; Mohammad S Khan, and Mortimer Salsbury, who served for 38; 33; 37 and 32 years, respectively.

At its last ICAO audit, Guyana received a 77 per cent rating, well above the global average which is 67 per cent.

The 17 employees who were awarded for their years of service, along with GCAA’s Director-General, Lt Col (Ret’d) Egbert Field, and Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar

Guyana’s First Lady Arya Ali presenting CNOOC’s President Tian Lixin with a copy of “Rupununi: Rediscovering a Lost World” after the meeting

Over 2200 persons had matters resolved during OP 2-day visit to Region 6

...over 75 per cent women, 90 per cent single parents

With the Office of the President

(OP) moving to Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) for two days, more than 2000 issues were addressed.

According to President Dr Irfaan Ali, the number of persons seen during the two-day outreach exceeded 2200. Striking is the fact that above 75 per cent visited State House in New Amsterdam, where the Office of the President was officially located during Thursday and Friday.

President Ali said the issues were community-based and in some instances family-oriented. Some persons were there to have issues of a national nature addressed, President Ali said.

“One of the things that struck me is that a very high percentage – about 90 per cent of those women who represented the issues, are single parents. That is something that I think needs specific attention. Many of them have between 3-5 children or

6 children and they are single mother-led households,”

President Ali said during a press conference on Friday as he closed shop.

According to the President, this bigger issue must be considered in the framework of planning.

During the outreach, the Health, Housing, Local Government, Natural Resources, Human Resources, Public Works ministries, the Regional Democratic Council, the Agriculture Ministry with its various agencies, the National Drainage and irrigation Authority (NDIA); Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA); the Fisheries Department, Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), Guyana Power and Light, Guyana Water Inc, GuySuCo, Guyana Post Office Corporation, Guyana Revenue Authority and other agencies worked almost continuously to make the outreach a success.

According to President

Ali, it was his aim to ensure that they were as productive as possible over the two-day period.

Impressed

The Head of State said he was impressed at the positive impact Government’s part-time 10-day – $40,000 programme has had on the region.

“I have also heard stories of improvements in some of the sectors and also some of the challenges that still exist and how we can confront those challenges. Youth participation in the development of the region is also something that is remarkable,” Ali noted.

Ali said healthcare in the region has improved in terms of access to drugs and medical supplies but there are still gaps that need to be covered.

Under Public Works, more than 100 complaints were addressed over the two-day period which were in relation to roads, drains bridges and sea defence

Wildlife exporter found guilty of trafficking Venezuelans

for February 24.

Apart from holding the men against their will, the prosecution submitted that Shaw had also threatened the men that if they did not comply with his wishes, he would report to the Police their illegal presence in Guyana, and have them arrested, charged, and deported.

structures.

“And as a result of this we already have engineers on the ground working. The engineers are already preparing designs and tender documents to fix some of the important problems that would bring great relief for the agricultural sector, residential and commercial communities,” President Ali

explained.

However, he said that more than 70 per cent of those issues were addressed conclusively by the Human Services Ministry during the outreach.

“The Ministry of Housing, they had a massive load and we have been

New GOAL applicants

Meanwhile, the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) saw more than 160 new applications being received during the outreach. Electronic tablets to assist those studying under the programme were also dis-

able to set a path for those persons who would have applied up to 2015, and those from 2015 to 2020.

The General Register Office (GRO) processed more than 70 applications for death, birth and marriage certifications. Late registrations were also effectively addressed.

tributed.

The National Insurance Scheme (NIS) addressed some 200 issues and about 40 per cent were resolved.

“There is another 20 per cent that is in the process of being resolved and the remainder would have follow-up action to be resolved,” the President noted.

Charged over three years ago with trafficking in persons, wildlife exporter Feezal Shaw of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was, on Friday, found guilty of the crime.

The 64-year-old man had been on trial for the offence before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the

Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Between February 14 and June 14, 2018, he recruited, transported, and harboured two male Venezuelans illegally for the purpose of exploiting them.

The convict was remanded to prison pending sentencing, which is fixed

According to the Prosecution’s case, the Venezuelans arrived in Guyana on February 14, 2018, via Port Charity. On February 15, 2018, they were taken to a house at Timehri to build exotic cages at $10,000 per cage. After three weeks, Shaw reportedly paid them some money, took away their passports, and had promised to assist each man to get a work permit.

At his first court appearance in September 2018, Shaw was remanded to prison after the prosecutor highlighted the serious nature of the charges levelled against him.

He was eventually released on $100,000 bail. (G1)

Feezal Shaw

Persons queued up to get into the compound of State House, New Amsterdam, on Friday

Four dead in Chile as fires blaze through area south of capital

Dozens of raging wildfires in Chile claimed at least four lives while torching some 14,000 hectares, authorities reported on Friday, as a summer heat wave engulfs a large swath of the South American country.

The deaths occurred in the town of Santa Juana in Biobio, a region some 310 miles (500 km) south of Santiago, the capital.

Interior Minister Carolina Toha said the victims died while driving, and said the Government was evaluating other incidents, including serious injuries sustained by firefighters.

The Government has declared states of catastrophe in Biobio and neighboring Nuble, both of which are home to farms and forests, allowing for the deployment of soldiers and greater coordination in firefighting and public security.

Hundreds of homes have been damaged as 39 fires rage across the country, Toha said, with the blazes concentrated in Nuble and Biobio, as well as the region of La Araucania.

"The conditions in the coming days are going to be

risky," Toha told journalists.

President Gabriel Boric on Friday cut his summer vacation short and travelled to Nuble and Biobio, which together have a population of nearly 2 million people.

Some families sought refuge in shelters, according to Chilean disaster agency Senapred.

Fires disrupted traffic on highways in the stricken ar-

Brazil's industrial output falls in 2022, gloomy scenario likely to continue

Industrial production in Brazil ended 2022 with a 0.7 per cent drop on the previous year, Government statistics agency IBGE said on Friday, losing some of the gains the sector recorded in 2021 after a pandemic-related downturn.

IBGE said the retreat came on the back of rising interest rates, which directly affected the cost of credit, as well as high inflation hurting household consumption in Latin America's largest economy.

Economists expect the gloomy scenario to continue after output remained unchanged in December from November, matching the market's median estimate in a Reuters poll.

After starting 2022 with a positive tone due to Government stimulus measures, Brazil's industrial sector stuttered in the second half of the year.

Andres Abadia, chief economist for Latin America at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said the industrial recession would likely continue in the first quarter due to "stiflingly high interest rates, the lagged effect of lingering supply issues, and less-supportive global growth".

When compared with the previous year, IBGE reported production in December retreated 1.3 per cent, slightly below a 1.1 per cent drop consensus.

William Jackson, chief

emerging markets economist at Capital Economics, said the fresh data showed the sector was a drag on Brazil's economy in late 2022, with early signs indicating that January was no better.

The central bank on Wednesday kept its benchmark interest rate at a sixyear high of 13.75 per cent and said it was considering holding the policy rate at that level for longer than markets expect due to fiscal risks.

Brazil's industrial output remains 2.2 per cent below the pre-pandemic levels of February 2020 and 18.5 per cent below the May 2011 all-time high, IBGE said.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Peru Congress rejects new bid to advance elections amid protests

eas, and numerous municipalities have been evacuated.

Weather forecasts Friday predicted temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) in Nuble's capital, Chillan.

Strong winds are also expected in the area, which risk worsening fire conditions, the National Forestry Corporation warned. (Reuters)

Honduras launches $280 mln UN-backed humanitarian aid plan

Honduras and the United Nations launched on Thursday a humanitarian aid plan aiming to reach more than 2 million of the Central American country's most vulnerable people, the groups said.

The plan requires some US$280 million in funding to help those hit by recent crop failures caused by drought, historic flooding from tropical storms and insecurity caused by

drug trafficking and gangs, the United Nations said in a statement.

The funds will come from the Honduran Government, humanitarian organisations and other donors, it said, adding the plan would be presented later this month in Geneva in the hope of attracting support from other countries.

Nearly 100 projects will be funded under the plan this year, including food

supply and crop restoration programmes, assistance to deportees and internally displaced people as well as health and water access programs.

Humanitarian need has risen in Honduras in recent years, aggravated by the rising cost of living, natural disasters and violence, the United Nations said, with 74 per cent of Hondurans living in poverty and 3.2 million people in need of aid. (Reuters)

J/ca: Govt to push legislative changes to go after unexplained wealth

Minister of Constitutional Affairs

Marlene Malahoo Forte has given notice that the Government will be moving to amend the Constitution as part of efforts to help speed up investigations related to unexplained wealth.

In her remarks at the opening of the biennial conference of the Financial Investigations Division (FID) at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Wednesday, Malahoo Forte said, "The kind of changes that we desire to make are

to the provisions which have special protection. In the National Security Council, we look at a number of issues requiring response legislatively, and even constitutionally, and among the many issues that we grapple with is the form of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms that we now have."

She said the provisions of the charter had been revolutionary when they were enacted in 2011, but questions have since been raised as to whether the provisions have moved from one extreme

to another, "or whether we have moved too far along the spectrum because we encountered severe issues in law enforcement in respect of rights and freedoms".

Malahoo Forte advised that the Government is eyeing the protection of the right to due process.

The constitutional affairs minister stressed that the amendment cannot be made without the support of the Opposition, as the only alternative is to put it Jamaicans in a referendum on constitutional reform. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

The Peruvian Congress has voted down another proposal to bring forward elections to 2023, a day after a similar bid was turned down amid nationwide protests that are shaking the country’s economy.

The motion put forward by the Free Peru party was rejected on Thursday with 75 votes against and only 48 in favour, with one abstention. In addition to moving elections up from April 2024 to July 2023, the proposal included the calling of a referendum on forming a constitutional convention –another key demand of protesters.

The previous day, a similar motion which failed to

gain enough votes had been backed by President Dina Boluarte.

Peru has been embroiled in a political crisis with near-daily demonstrations since December 7, when then-President Pedro Castillo was arrested after attempting to dissolve Congress and rule by decree.

At least 48 people, including a police officer, have been killed in clashes between security forces and protesters, according to the human rights ombudsman’s office.

Protesters have erected roadblocks causing shortages of food, fuel and other basic commodities in sever-

al regions of the Andean nation.

The economic fallout of the demonstrations is hitting hard on workers. Luz Camacho, a local farmer who picks up pomegranates in the southern region of Ica has lost one-quarter of her wage, enough to not be able to pay her debt to the bank.

“It has affected us a lot because we haven’t worked and we have loans and debts. Where are we going to get an income?” Camacho told Al Jazeera.

The chamber of commerce estimates that the region has lost $300m since the crisis started in December. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Mexico in talks with top carmakers to make electric vehicles, Foreign Minister says

est in producing in the country.

Ebrard said, "we'll give them all the facilities we can".

His comments come as Tesla is said to be looking to build a plant in Mexico and BMW is investing 800 million euros (US$866 million) in the central Mexican state of San Luis Potosi to produce high-voltage batteries and fully electric cars.

"The Mexican auto industry, in comparison to the United States, has so many advantages," Ebrard said, pointing to its geography, existing infrastructure and expertise.

Mexico is gearing up to build several manufacturing hubs for electric vehicles across the country, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard told Reuters, and is in talks with some of the world's top carmakers.

The shocks of the pandemic and two years of supply chain chaos are colliding with a once-in-a-century shift of the industry's fundamental technology as combustion

vehicles give way to electric ones.

Ebrard said in an interview late on Thursday that Mexico was keen to capitalise on the global shift to electric vehicles.

Mexico wants to "attract all that we can", Ebrard said in an interview on Thursday, adding that the likes of BMW and Audi , General Motors, Fiat Chrysler and Tesla had all expressed inter-

"The fiscal burden for the export sector is already a lot lower - compared with the United States."

Returning from a trip to a solar park under construction in the northern border state of Sonora, Ebrard said Mexico was focused on ensuring it had the right conditions to persuade foreign companies to invest. (Excerpt from Reuters)

A firefighter working as a wildfire burns parts of rural areas in Quillon, Chile, February 2, 2023

Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, Governor of Sonora Alfonso Durazo and US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar visit the northern border state of Sonora where state electric utility CFE is building the largest solar plant in all of Latin America, in Puerto Penasco, Sonora state, Mexico February 2, 2023

Oil falls about 3% as strong US jobs data prompt interest rate concerns

Oil prices fell to over three-week lows on Friday in a volatile session, after strong US jobs data raised concerns about higher interest rates and as investors sought more clarity on the imminent EU embargo on Russian refined products.

Brent crude futures fell US$2.23, or 2.7 per cent, to US$79.94 a barrel, after rising to a session high of US$84.20. It hit a session low of US$79.72, its lowest since Jan 11.

US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) ended down US$2.49, or 3.3 per cent, at US$73.39, after trading between US$78.00 and US$73.13, its lowest since Jan 5.

Brent registered a 7.8 per cent decline this week while WTI dropped 7.9 per cent.

US job growth accelerated sharply in January amid a persistently resilient labour market, but a further moderation in wage gains should give the Federal Reserve some comfort in its fight against inflation.

"The market can't decide whether it should be nervous about a recession or more worried about the Federal Reserve being aggressive with interest rates," said Phil Flynn, analyst at Price Futures Group.

The US central bank on Wednesday scaled back to a milder rate increase than those over the past year, but policymakers also projected that "ongoing increases" in borrowing costs would be needed.

Increases in interest rates in 2023 are likely to weigh on the US and European economies, boosting fears of an economic slowdown that is highly likely to dent global crude oil demand, said Priyanka Sachdeva, market analyst at Phillip Nova.

European Union countries agreed to set price caps on Russian refined oil products to limit Moscow's funds for its invasion of Ukraine, the Swedish presidency of the EU said on Friday.

EU diplomats said the price caps are US$100 per barrel on products that trade at a premium to crude, principally diesel, and US$45 per barrel for products that trade at a discount, such as fuel oil and naphtha.

The Kremlin said the EU embargo on Russia's refined oil products would lead to further imbalance in global energy markets.

Meanwhile, ANZ analysts noted a sharp jump in traffic in China's 15 largest cities after the Lunar New Year holiday but said that Chinese traders had been "relatively absent."

In US supply, energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs by the most since June 2020, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said. US oil rigs fell 10 to 599 this week, their lowest since September, while gas rigs dropped by two to 158.

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission said on Thursday that as a result of the ransomware attack on ION Trading UK, the CFTC's weekly Commitments of Traders report will be delayed until all trades can be reported. CFTC reports provide a snapshot of investor positioning on various assets, including oil. (Reuters)

Around the World

Ukraine war: US to provide longrange missiles in latest aid package

The US says additional military aid to Ukraine worth US$2.2 billion (£1.83 billion) will include longrange missiles capable of doubling its attack range.

It brings the total amount of military aid given to Ukraine to more than US$29.3 billion (£24.31 billion) since February 2022.

The package includes ground-launched small-diameter bombs (GLSDB) which hit targets up to 150km (93 miles) away.

But officials refused to be drawn on speculation that the munitions could be used to attack parts of annexed Crimea.

"When it comes to Ukrainian plans on operations, clearly that is their decision," Pentagon spokesperson Brig Gen

Pat Ryder told reporters.

"This gives them a longer-range capability, longrange fires capability, that will enable them, again,

Deep freeze: US northeast braces for record breaking wind chills

Nearly 100 million people in Canada and the US brace for some of the coldest air on earth, as a record-breaking deep freeze hits North America.

The frigid blast could bring "once-in-a-generation" wind chills that cause frostbite in less than 10 minutes, the National Weather Service has warned.

Residents from Manitoba to Maine are being urged to limit their time outdoors through Friday and today.

At least 11 people have died in the bad weather in the US south since Monday.

There were eight fatalities in Texas, two in Oklahoma and one in Arkansas.

The expected drop in temperatures is attributed to a powerful Arctic front

that stretches from the Canadian maritime provinces to the core of the US.

About a dozen records are expected to be broken by Friday afternoon in several US states, where a total of 82 million people will face temperatures of -17 Celsius (0 F) or lower.

Parts of Canada are expecting temperatures anywhere between -38 C to - 50 C (-36.4 F to -58 F). An extreme cold advisory issued by Environment Canada on Friday morning has blanketed the Maritimes, most of Quebec and all of Ontario, spilling into Manitoba.

The brutal winter weather follows this week's deadly ice storm in parts of Texas, where temperatures have begun to climb above freezing, and ice was expected to melt on Friday.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

South Sudan violence kills 27 on eve of Pope’s visit

Twenty-seven people have been killed in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria state in tit-for-tat violence between cattle herders and members of a militia on the eve of a visit to the country by Pope Francis.

The incident happened on Thursday, according to a local official.

The pope is set to arrive from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), hoping to revive a peace process aimed at ending a decade of conflict fought mostly on ethnic lines that has killed hundreds of thousands of people.

A peace deal signed in 2018 by the main parties in a civil war from 2013 to 2018 has significantly reduced violence in South Sudan in recent years, but lower-level clashes between rival communities regularly flare up.

Violence broke out after fighters from a rebel group killed six people from a herding community. Herders retaliated on Thursday by killing 21 civilians in a nearby area, including five children and a pregnant woman, said Kajo-Keji county commissioner Phanuel Dumo.

from Ukrainian forces in recent months.

And Western nations have repeatedly ruled out providing Ukraine with offensive weapons - such as fighter jets - which it could use to strike against Russia itself.

In a tweet, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the US and President Joe Biden for the additional aid.

"The more long-range our weapons are and the more mobile our troops are, the sooner Russia's brutal aggression will end," Zelensky wrote. "Together with [the US] we stand against terror."

to conduct operations in defence of their country and take back their sovereign territory, Russianoccupied areas."

Russia illegally annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and considers it part of its territory. But it has come under sporadic fire

Previously, Ukraine's longest-range weapon was the HIMARS rocket system, which can hit targets at a range of up to 80km (50 miles). Kyiv used the system to devastating effect during its counter-offensive in the south and east earlier this year.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Israel says Sudan peace deal to be signed in Washington

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz

Sharif has said that the Government will have to agree to International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout conditions that are “beyond imagination”.

Sharif’s comments on Friday came after an IMF delegation landed in Pakistan this week for last-ditch talks to revive vital financial aid which has stalled for months.

The Government has held out against tax rises and subsidy-slashing demanded by the IMF, fearful of a backlash before elections due in October.

“I will not go into the details but will only say that our economic challenge is unimaginable. The conditions we will have to agree to with the IMF are beyond imagination. But we will have to agree with the conditions,” Sharif said in televised comments.

The global lender has set strict conditions before resuming the bailout pro-

gramme for Pakistan, such as asking the Government to allow a market-determined exchange rate for the local currency, ease fuel subsidies, and control circular debt in the power sector.

Pakistan’s economy has been in dire straits, stricken by a balance of payments crisis as it attempted to service high levels of external debt, amid political chaos and a deteriorating security situation.

On Wednesday, year-on-year inflation had risen to a 48year high leaving Pakistanis struggling to afford basic food items.

Before the IMF visit, Islamabad began to bow to pressure with the prospect of national bankruptcy looming and no friendly countries willing to offer less painful bailouts.

The government loosened controls on the rupee to rein in a rampant black market in US dollars, a step that caused the currency to plunge to a record low. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

President Zelensky has long urged the West to provide his forces with artillery capable of firing over greater distances

A currency broker stands near his booth, which is decorated with pictures of currency notes, while dealing with customers, along a road in Karachi, Pakistan [Akhtar Soomro/Reuters]

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who is accompanying the pope to South Sudan, said he was horrified by the latest killings. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Pope Francis was greeted by an estimated one million Congolese in Kinshasa [Yara Nardi/Reuters]

DAILY HOROSCOPES

High energy will take you where you want to go. Stretch your imagination and go beyond the call of duty. Leave nothing to chance; you'll make a good impression on someone who can use your help.

(March 21-April 19)

You'll find it challenging to settle down. Plan a fulfilling day with people who offer sound advice and set excellent examples regarding how to leave the past behind and live a healthy life.

(April 20-May 20)

Plan your next move. Change is becoming more enticing, whether it involves educational pursuits, traveling or networking. Try something you want to incorporate into your everyday routine.

PEANUTS

(May 21-June 20)

It's time to catch up financially. Examine your assets and liabilities, determine where you stand and put a budget in place. Let go of the past, live in the present and adopt a positive attitude.

(June 21-July 22)

You have options; picking one won't be easy. Weigh the pros and cons before you sign up for something. Someone will lead you on or play with your emotions if you expose too much personal information.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(July 23-Aug. 22)

A change will lead to a confrontation with someone close to you. Don't rock the boat. Offer people perks, and you'll gain the support and confidence you need to move forward.

TODAY’S

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Socialize and enrich your life. The connections you make while attending events will encourage you to expand your qualifications and expertise. Traveling and going to meetings will pay off.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Don't give in to someone nagging you to do things you don't like. Be true to yourself and invent a timetable and projects that work for you. Be transparent with others. Romance is encouraged.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Invest more in your home and lifestyle. Happiness begins with making good decisions. Put more time and energy into partnerships that offer the support you need to reach your goals.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Know what you want before entering an emotional conversation. Stick to the basics and don't overreact. A change will improve your state of mind. Step back if you need to.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Keep an open mind regarding requests, but do what's best for you. Concentrate on how you can improve your life. Learn from your mistakes and conquer what's important to you.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Speak from the heart, but don't let your anger spill over. A calm demeanor and a transparent point of view with room for suggestions and contributions will help you overcome any setback.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Farfan and Mendes Ltd renews sponsorship of RHTY&SC U15 team for 26th successive year -

club receives Stihl grass cutter

The longstanding relationship between the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS, and Farfan and Mendes Ltd was renewed for the 26th successive year last Wednesday during a simple ceremony at the company’s Office at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

The highly successful relationship between the company and the club, first established in 1997, has expanded over the last 25 years, and Club Secretary Hilbert Foster said at the presentation that the company first assisted the club in 1995 when it donated a grass cutter to assist in the preparation of the Area H Ground. It then came on board as the RHTY&SC’s first official sponsor in 1997 with its support of the under-15 team.

This relationship with the company has resulted in the club winning eight major titles, including six Berbice championships. Through this relationship, 20 national under-15 players and close to

70 under-15 players have been produced for the ancient county. Among the players produced by the team are Assad Fudadin, Royston Crandon, Dominic Rikhi, Abdel Fudadin, Shevon Marks, Mahendra Gopilall, Jermey Sandia, Junior Sinclair, Keith Simpson, Kelvon Anderson, Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneta Gopilall and Shabaki Gajnabi.

Campbelle, Gajnabi, Grimmond, Crandon, Fudadin and Anderson have all gone on to represent the West Indies at different levels, while Rikhi has represented the United States at the international level.

Over the last 25 years, the U15 team has undertaken more than 1000 community-related activities under the name of Farfan & Mendes as part of the players’ personal development programmes. Among the events/ activities hosted have been medical outreaches, feeding of the poor, senior citizens’ breakfasts, youth information booklet, television pro-

gramme, distribution of food hampers, solar street lamps’ project, construction of children’s playfield, construction of charity kitchen, distribution of school bags, donation of bicycles, and educational scholarships.

The team and the others in the club have also invested a lot of energy and time into a Say No/Say Yes campaign which is directed to all youths in the county. Under this programme, the team strives to get youths to say “No!” to drugs, suicide, crime, pre-marital sex; and “Yes!” to education, life, sports, culture and religion.

Apart from sponsoring the under-15 team, the company supports a wide range of the club’s other events, including awards ceremonies, cricket academies, Christmas Charity Programmes, annual Youth Magazine, and Christmas Village.

Foster has described the company as one main pillar in the foundation of the club’s success and growth. The RHTY&SC, in its 33-year his-

tory, has won more than 100 titles at all levels of cricket, and has produced 120 players for Berbice, Guyana, and the West Indies combined.

The Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes Under-15 Team would be led by national player Sohail Mohamed, while long time club executive Ravindranauth Kissoonlall would serve as team manager. Assistant Managers are

Tennis star Kyrgios admits assaulting ex-girlfriend

-but avoids conviction

Australian tennis star

Nick Kyrgios has admitted assaulting an ex-girlfriend, but has avoided a criminal conviction.

The 27-year-old's guilty plea in a Canberra court came after his lawyers failed to have the charge dismissed on mental health grounds.

Mr Kyrgios pushed Chiara Passari onto the pavement during a row in Canberra in 2021, the court heard. The magistrate called the incident "a single act of stupidity or frustration" when sparing him a criminal record. Mr Kyrgios released a statement after the ruling saying he was grateful to the court for dismissing the charges without conviction.

"I was not in a good place when this happened, and I reacted to a difficult situation in a way I deeply regret," he said. "I know it wasn't okay, and I'm sincerely sorry for the hurt I caused."

Agreed facts tendered to the court say Mr Kyrgios pushed Ms Passari after she stopped his car from driving away while they were arguing on 10 January 2021. Ms

Passari reported the incident to Police the next month, but did not make a formal complaint. The couple reconciled and resumed a relationship, but after they broke up, Ms Passari made a formal complaint in December 2021.

Mr Kyrgios's lawyer argued that his client had been trying to de-escalate the fight by calling an Uber, and had repeatedly tried to "lawfully" move Ms Passari away from the car.

"It is in that context and the frustration that resulted that my client reacted, and the offence occurred," Michael Kukulies-Smith said.

The court heard that Mr Kyrgios had sworn at Ms Passari and told her to go away. He then put his hands on her hips and moved her an arm’s length from the door, but Ms Passari stepped back. The tennis star then said: "I'm serious. I'm going to…" before pushing Ms Passari in the shoulder, causing her to fall.

Ms Passari felt some pain, and later noticed grazing on her knee, the court heard. The court heard Mr

Kyrgios apologised the next day - an act that showed he accepted responsibility for his actions, his lawyer has said.

Mr Kukulies-Smith also told the court on Friday there was "a relationship between the mental health and the offending - even though he no longer suffers it to the same extent today."

Mr Kyrgios's Psychologist, Sam Borenstein, told the court the tennis player's mental illness was "recurrent", and he had suffered from thoughts of self-harm; but his condition had been improving.

When sentencing Mr Kyrgios, Magistrate Beth

Campbell said he had been "a young man trying to extricate himself from a heighted emotional situation".

"You acted in the heat of the moment," she said. "I am dealing with you in the same way I would deal with any young man in this court. You are a young man who happens to hit a tennis ball particularly well."

She told Mr Kyrgios that references from family showed he had a lot of "love and support" around him.

The tennis player arrived at court on Friday on crutches, following recent knee surgery. An injury had forced him to withdraw from the Australian Open last month. (BBC Sport)

Tyrone Pottaya and Keith Hicks, while the coach is Ryan Algu.

Meanwhile, the RHTY&SC has received a STIHL grass cutter in a special arrangement with this longtime sponsor. The grass cutter would assist the club members to maintain the Area H Ground, along with another grass cutter which was donated by the Berbice

Cricket Board two years ago. Foster has expressed gratitude to the company for reposing its continued confidence in the club and for investing in the careers of promising junior players. He has assured the company that the under-15 team would continue to represent the Farfan and Mendes brand with pride, passion and commitment.

Windies Tour to Zimbabwe

2023: Test 1 of 2…

Preparation for Zimbabwe adequate

- says Windies interim coach Andre Coley

After nearly two weeks of preparation in Bulawayo, Andre Coley, West Indies interim Head Coach, is eagerly awaiting the bowling of the first ball in the first Test match of the two-Test Series on Saturday morning.

According to Coley, with numerous practice sessions and a dominant display in the three-day warmup match against the Zimbabwe XI across town at the Bulawayo Sports Club, the Windies’ preparation has been adequate. Now the attention switches to the “big show” – the first Test against Zimbabwe -- and the location moves to the Queen’s Sports Club, where the two teams will meet.

“We are confident that the areas that we wanted to address and spend some time on, we were able to do so. The facilities have generally been good, and offered us enough to get through what we needed to,” Coley has said.

He also expressed pleasure at the way the players

have been responding to the training, noting that they have been putting in extra work in the nets and on fitness. In regard to getting ahead and eventually winning the series, he is looking for consistency in all areas.

Wary that Zimbabwe are highly competitive at home, the West Indies will be eager to start the year right, having enjoyed some success in the longest format over the past 18 months, and a series in South Africa to follow.

The first Test will begin on Saturday, February 4. First ball is 10am (4am Eastern Caribbean/3am Jamaica).

Squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (cpt), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-cpt), Nkrumah Bonner, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Roston Chase, Joshua DaSilva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Devon Thomas and Jomel Warrican. (Sportsmax)

RHTY&SC Secretary Hilbert Foster receiving the grass cutter from Farfan and Mendes

Nick Kyrgios

West Indies Test Series in Zimbabwe bowls off today

- First ball set for 4am

Ina cricketing landscape where many of the same big names are playing in the same T20 leagues and the same top-tier Test nations have more or less the same big-picture narratives against each other, here’s something different: Zimbabwe and West Indies will face off for only the sixth time in a Test Series, and the first time in more than five years. It’s not a World Test Championship Series, so there are no points on offer; it’s simply good, old-fashioned cricket for cricket’s sake.

Even though context is key in a crowded calendar, there are several reasons why this series matters. We shine the spotlight on them here.

Gary Balance. This Zimbabwe-born, Englandcapped, top-order batter has been out of the Test arena for longer than Zimbabwe have waited to play West Indies in this format. His last appearance was in July 2017 against South Africa, and it brought an end to the first phase of a Test career that had 1000 runs in its first 17 innings, and yielded fewer than 500 in its next 25.

Ballance has since been one of the central characters in the Yorkshire racism scandal. He has admitted to, and apologised for, using the word P*** when talking to Azeem Rafiq, and then took a lengthy break from the game to manage his mental health.

Ballance was released early from his county contract, which was due to run until the end of the 2024 season, and he returned home to Zimbabwe at the end of last year. He signed a two-year deal with Zimbabwe Cricket, and joined a long list of players who have headed back to the country from England, including Kyle Jarvis, Brendan Taylor (both since retired) and Blessing Muzarabani, in a bid to boost the national set-

By Brandon Corlette

West Indies Women, who have lost their last 13 T20I matches in a row, will, from February 13, be in action against England at the T20 World Cup, and Guyanese

Shemaine Campbelle will be the vice-captain of the team.

According to Courtney Walsh, the West Indies Women's Head Coach, Campbelle needs to be more consistent.

Lead Selector Ann

Browne-John has said the 25-year-old Kaysia Schultz missed out on selection due to the unique combination of the squad. But although Schultz, a left-arm spinner, has played only four games and bowled only 36 balls, she has not been given a fair run. She also had two wickets on her One Day International debut, and did not play a game thereafter.

"We can only pick 15 persons; we therefore have to look at our best combination. So, you would recognize that we cannot pick eight seamers or eight spinners or eight

up. Ballance made his debut for Zimbabwe last month, and was capped in T20Is and ODIs, but it’s the longest format where he is expected to make his biggest contribution. With a first-class average of 47.31, four Test hundreds to his name, and years in the county circuit, Ballance will bring experience and gravitas to a line-up that is only rarely exposed to the rigours of Test cricket.

Another prodigal son in the Zimbabwean set-up is coach Dave Houghton (who is also related to Ballance). He came back into the fold before the T20 World Cup qualifiers last year.

Houghton, who previous-

ists Pakistan. They also beat Bangladesh for the first time in an ODI Series after nine years (that’s six series).

Every player interviewed - including Sikandar Raza, who was included in the ICC’s ODI and T20I teams of 2022 but will not feature in this Series because of T20 franchise commitments - has credited Houghton for changing the environment, giving them freedom to express themselves, and encouraging them to play attacking cricket.

He now has to work his magic in the format Zimbabwe have the least experience in. They have not played Test cricket for 18

tity” if they continued to lose players to T20 leagues and failed to cultivate incentives for representing the islands, especially in Test cricket. The report detailed a new strategy, wherein West Indies would use a select group of white-ball players in red-ball cricket in order to fast-track their development.

was their leading wicket-taker in Australia.

ly captained Zimbabwe at the 1992 World Cup, and coached them in 2009, was tasked with turning around the fortunes of a team that had lost a Series to southern African counterparts and associates Namibia, and were at risk of missing a fourth successive ICC event.

He inspired a remarkable turnaround, in which Zimbabwe not only went to the 2022 T20 World Cup, but made it out of the first round into the Super 12s, and stunned eventual final-

batters, we have to find a mix and a blend. So, with that being said, it is just that Kaysia was not able to find a place in the 15. As I mentioned before, we now have Zaida James in, who bowls left-arm orthodox, who is a left-arm batter. We had more options this time,

months, since they hosted Bangladesh and lost heavily.

What sort of impact will Brian Lara have?

West Indies have problems of their own, after their dismal performance at the T20 World Cup, wherein they did not advance out of the first round. On their subsequent tour to Australia, they were blanked in both the T20I and Test Series.

A report by CWI warned that West Indies Cricket could “cease to exist as an en-

None of them is part of the touring party to Zimbabwe, though, but another familiar face is. Brian Lara will begin his role as West Indies’ performance mentor on this trip, a job aimed at assisting with both the tactical and technical skills of the team. Much like Houghton, Lara has his work cut out. But he will be comfortable with what should be a fairly soft landing in Zimbabwe, before moving south to neighbouring South Africa for a full Tour.

A West Indian bowling attack is usually worth keeping an eye on, especially this time, because it features two names that will be an important part of the Windies’ rebuilding.

Shannon Gabriel returns to the squad after a 14-month absence - a consequence of being injured and then overlooked. He will join a pack that also includes Jason Holder, Kemar Roach and Alzarri Joseph, who

Joseph is proving to be one of their most consistent players across all formats. He was their second-leading wicket-taker in ODIs last year, and had his most successful year in T20s in 2022: he took 46 wickets at an average of 19.54. Joseph is exactly the kind of player West Indies could lose to leagues, unless they incentivise and manage him properly, and this Series could be the start of that process

Thanks largely to Bazball, we know that Test cricket is alive and well, but we don’t know if that’s the case outside of a select few teams. The big three, along with New Zealand, Pakistan and to a lesser degree South Africa, still put the longest format on a pedestal. But when it comes to Zimbabwe and West Indies, where hosting Test matches is costly and the rewards are slim, this format may still be running cold. This series will give us a gauge.

Zimbabwe Cricket has put an effort into marketing this Series, and expects to see a healthy clutch of spectators, not least because there hasn’t been any Test cricket in Bulawayo since the West Indies trip of 2017.

If you think that’s over-

Walsh has said.

Match Schedule of the T20 World Cup:

Monday, 13 February: West Indies vs England. Boland Park, Paarl, 3 pm (9 am Eastern Caribbean/8 am Jamaica)

Wednesday, 15

February: West Indies vs India. Newlands, Cape Town, 3 pm (9 am Eastern Caribbean/8 am Jamaica)

ly optimistic, it’s not. The Harare Sports Club was well supported during Zimbabwe’s recent Series against Ireland, and there’s a sense that Zimbabweans are warming to the game again, thanks to the recent form of the national side.

Zimbabwe fans have formed their own supporters union, named Castle Corner after the beverage, and are campaigning for crowds to pour into the Queen’s Sports Club.

Whether the series will be well-followed outside of Zimbabwe remains to be seen. It is being played at the same time as the start of Australia’s Test Series in India, the Women’s T20 World Cup and the PSL, and the end of the SA20, the ILT20 and the BPL, which leaves cricket lovers spoilt for choice. (ESPN Cricinfo)

and unfortunately, Kaysia did not find a place in the 15.

“As we tell the players, do not ever consider you are dropped, it is when we looked at combinations, we try to put the best combination together," the Women's lead selector has said.

Walsh has said that team members have put the recent

defeats behind them, and are ready to go. "They are obviously disappointed with the results. We treat each game as a new game, and we try to get the best done. With everything behind us, everyone is focused on the World Cup. It is the World Cup which is the biggest stage, and this is where it will count more. The mood is very good in the camp. We are hopeful of Stafanie Taylor. Medical will update us. Staf is upbeat as well, and everything is coming together at the right time. If we can get her fit and the other in-

jury that we had, we will get our strongest team to select from," Walsh has said.

Campbelle, who played in 115 in T20I matches, has a high score of 47 and a batting average of 13.81. Walsh is hoping she can turn the tide with added responsibility.

"We want her to be a bit more consistent. We keep seeing scores here and there, and we are hoping (that) with the added responsibility and her experience, she can settle and be more consistent. She will give us depth, and we can bat around her. She is fit, and we hope she can help us and guide the younger ones,"

Friday, 17 February: West Indies vs Ireland. Newlands, Cape Town, 7 pm (1 pm Eastern Caribbean/12 noon Jamaica)

Sunday, 19 February: West Indies vs Pakistan. Boland Park, Paarl, 3 pm (9 am Eastern Caribbean/8 am Jamaica).

FULL SQUAD: Hayley Matthews (Captain), Shemaine Campbelle (Vice Captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Afy Fletcher, Shabika Gajnabi, Chinelle Henry, Trishan Holder, Zaida James, Djenaba Joseph, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman, Stafanie Taylor, Rashada Williams.

Campbelle needs to be more consistent; Schultz was unlucky to miss out

Chase and Da Silva got among the runs during the warm-up match

West Indies will be aiming to beat Zimbabwe

Kaysia Schultz

Courtney Walsh and Stafanie Taylor

West Indies 4-Day Championships 2023…

Guyana Harpy Eagles reeling at 91-8 -after Permaul's four-wicket haul

By Brandon Corlette in antigua

Guyana Harpy Eagles are in a spot of bother heading into the final day of the opening round of the West Indies 4-Day Championships, having recorded a second innings score of 91-8 in 33 overs of play against the Barbados Pride in a match ongoing at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in the twin-island state of Antigua and Barbuda.

However, the Guyanese are equipped with a 242-run lead.

Veerasammy Permaul claimed 4-53 in 26.2 overs to restrict Barbados to 220 in a monumental day for the 33-year-old, who has surpassed 500 wickets in Regional Four-Day cricket for Guyana.

Earlier, Guyana Harpy Eagles started their second innings with a lead of 151 runs on day three, after bowling out Barbados for

220. Tevin Imlach was promoted to open the batting after Chandrapaul Hemraj fell ill. Imlach, who made a duck in the first innings, was removed for another duck when he was rushed by a Jair McAllister-delivery.

Debutant Kemol Savory joined Matthew Nandu with the score at 3-1, and the duo took Guyana to tea at 4-1.

Kemol Savory was removed for a duck after facing 11 balls, trapped leg-before by Akeem Jordan. Nandu and Leon Johnson added 38 runs for the third wicket.

Harding, who lacked control, eventually got Johnson with a short-ball for 12. At 423, wickets then continued to fall at regular intervals, with some soft dismissals. A short rain delay may have added some juice on the surface on day three, as the Barbadian seamers got wickets.

Anthony Bramble (01) and Kevin Sinclair (01) both gifted their wickets to the Barbadians, thereby reduc-

ing Guyana to 56-5 in 22.4 overs. First innings centurion Nandu was dropped twice on six, and his innings did not prosper this time around, as he fell for 16.

Chandrapaul Hemraj bravely went out to bat, after being ill all day. He played some shots in his 14-ball 15, but was caught behind off the bowling of Jordan with the score at 77-7 in 27.5 overs.

Shamar Joseph was clean bowled for four, as bad light

wicket in Regional Four-Day for Guyana. Harding had struck two fours in his 80-ball knock, surviving a chance on 19.

The right-handed Brooks, who has 13 Test caps, looked rock solid. Nicholas Kirton was caught at the wicket by the probing Sinclair. At the lunch interval, Pride were 166-5 after 67 overs. Brooks was on 48 while Shamar Springer was yet to score.

Driving the ball with ele-

dropped twice in a Sinclair over by Tevin Imlach at gully. Springer leaned into Sinclair and drove him to the boundary, and then slammed Permaul down the ground for four. Debutant Shamar Joseph returned with another spell, and this time he peeled off the edge of Holder for 13 to pick up his second wicket.

who ended the first innings with 4- 53 from 26.2 overs, inclusive of six maidens, now has 502 wickets for Guyana in red-ball cricket.

ended the day with two overs left and Guyana on 91-8 in 33 overs. Jordan has 3-18 in 10 overs and Harding has 3-37 in eight.

Permaul excels Resuming the third day on 105-3 in 39 overs, Barbados Pride were bundled out for 220 in 91.2 overs. Shamarh Brooks, who eventually made 51, and Keon Harding kept the Guyana Harpy Eagles at bay with a 57-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Harding, the nightwatchman, was bowled for 24 to become Permaul's 500th

gance and class, the 34-yearold Brooks reached his 27th First-Class half-century after lunch. Permaul bowled one slower through the air and mesmerised Brooks into a false shot, where he was at short cover. Brooks produced 51 runs from 141 balls in an innings laced with five fours.

With the Pride score at 178-6, the Harpy Eagles, looking to wrap things up with spin, locked down both ends. Akeem Jordan was out for a duck, caught by Bramble at the wicket to give Sinclair a third.

Chaim Holder was

Jair McAllister was the final wicket to fall when he was trapped leg-before for two by the veteran Permaul when the Pride score was at 220-9 in 91.2 overs. Shane Dowrich was unable to bat due to illness. Shamar Springer was left unbeaten on 35. Permaul,

In total, Permaul now has 572 First-Class wickets, including Test wickets. Off-spinner Sinclair had 3-65 in 24 overs with four maidens, while debutant Joseph had 2-33 in 15 brisk overs. The 23-year-old Joseph also bowled four maidens and struck the likes of Brooks and Zachary McCaskie on the body and helmet respectively. The fourth and final day is set for 10:00h Eastern Caribbean Time.

SCOREBOARD

Guyana 1st Innings

Chanderpaul Hemraj

lbw b McAllister 11

Matthew Nandu c

Brooks b McAllister 126

Tevin Imlach lbw b Jordan 0

Kemol Savory c

Dowrich b Holder 25

Leon Johnson c Jordan b Holder 26

Anthony Bramble c

Kirton b Jordan 20

Kevin Sinclair c Brooks

b McAllister 43

Veerasammy Permaul c

McAllister b Harding 37

Shamar Joseph lbw b Holder 20

Nial Smith run out 9

Ronsford Beaton not out 0

Total (10 wickets, 121.1) (54 extras) 371

FOW: 30/1 (12.5) Chanderpaul

Hemraj 35/2 (15.4) Tevin Imlach

80/3 (29.2) Kemol Savory 126/4

(47.1) Leon Johnson 163/5

(62.2) Anthony Bramble 225/6

(84.1) Kevin Sinclair 315/7

(111.3) Veerasammy Permaul

354/8 (117.1) Matthew Nandu

370/9 (120.3) Shamar Joseph

371/10 (121.1) Nial Smith

Bowling

Akeem Jordan (26-8-54-2)

Keon Harding (23-1-128-1)

Shemar Springer (17-5-46-0)

Jair McAllister (18.14-43-3)

Chaim Holder (36-15-72-3)

Nicholas Kirton (1-1-0-0)

Barbados 1st Innings

Zachary McCaskie c Hemraj b Sinclair 26

Sheyne Moseley c

Bramble b Joseph 65

Jonathan Drakes lbw b Permaul

Sharmarh Brooks c

Nandu b Permaul

Keon Harding b Permaul

Nicholas Kirton c Bramble

Shamar

Barbados celebrating a wicket

Sinclair appealing against Nicholas Kirton

Permaul bowling during round one in Antigua

Permaul has thus far taken 502 wickets (and counting) for Guyana in Regional Four-Day (Brandon Corlette photos)

Guyana Harpy Eagles

Sports enthusiasts in East Berbice rose to their feet in delight on Thursday as a show of appreciation for the announcement made by President Irfaan Ali: that the new sports stadium to be constructed at Palmyra in Region Six would accommodate more than 10,000 persons.

Citizens of Region Six, East Berbice-Corentyne, have seen the President visit the construction site at Palmyra, where the Stadium would be built.

In 2022, President Ali announced that Government plans to build a new stadium at Palmyra as part of the larger development for Region Six. Construction of this stadium in Berbice should be completed by 2025. In addition to its 10,000 seats, a large parking lot would also be in place.

“We know that Region Six is close connected to Suriname, and we know both Guyana and Suriname love motor racing. So, we are looking to build in a motor-racing track on the outskirts of the stadium, so we will be creating opportunities there,”

President Ali said on Thursday.

He hinted at the stadium being used for athletics also. Aside from this forthcoming stadium, works are ongoing

at a synthetic track and field facility at Burnham Park in New Amsterdam, Berbice. Together, both projects are expected to significantly aid sports development in Berbice.

Sports stadium in Berbice to have more than 10,000 seats

President of Guyana Dr. Irfaan Ali