Guyana Times - Saturday, January 28, 2023

President Dr Irfaan Ali and Indian High Commissioner to Guyana Dr KJ Srinivasa sharing a light moment with Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and other officials at

reception held to

Guyanese-British actress Letitia Wright was greeted at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) by dancers and steelpan music as she was welcomed to the land of her birth by Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond. Wright achieved worldwide fame for her role in the Black Panther movie franchise

are not being left behind in this

Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister, Gail Teixeira has positioned that women and young girls are not being left behind in Guyana, as immense emphasis is being placed on policies to see them excel.

It was during her Friday debate in the National Assembly, as the Parliamentary Affairs Minister called out the Opposition for its inability to fairly understand Budget 2023, that she highlighted some of the progress made in ensuring women are provided equal opportunities.

– Teixeira to APNU/AFC

“Women and young women are not being left behind in this country. You haven’t even read the signal right about what women are doing in this country. You’re off course because you’re blinded. You’re looking at the country and people jaundiced because it’s all race-bated.”

She provided statistics which reflected 60 per cent of GOAL Scholarship awardees being women. The World Economic Forum’s global gender gap index 2021 to 2022 shows Guyana ranking 35 out of 146 countries that were studied.

“This is a significant from a ranking of 53 in 2021. Imagine 18 spaces we jumped

in one year. How did we do that? We ranked 17th globally for legislative, senior officials

and managers. Our literacy rate is at an exceptional level.

Guyana is tied for first place for enrolment in both secondary and tertiary education. In health and survival, Guyana is placed first for sex ratio at birth and first on the global scale for life expectancy with other countries.”

In access to finance, Guyana records equal rights for women. In terms of inheritance, women and widows also have equal rights according to the report.

Minister Teixeira noted that in reality, the lives of Guyanese have significant-

ly improved as she addressed the Opposition’s position that the budget is ‘anti-poor’.

“We are making progress. This is under the PPP/C because you took us back in the five years. You took hundreds and thousands of dollars from each family with those taxation that you brought on our people and VAT for essential food items. And yet you come here sanctimoniously and pretend that you did a good job,” she told the other side of the House.

“The APNU/AFC does not comprehend this forward and progressive movement of our people. It’s unfathomable to them while at the same time, each of the MPs benefit from the measures introduced. The people like the budget measures. They understand this will bring benefits to their lives. They only want more and they will get more but they understand that the country is progressing,” she added.

The Minister asserted that the Opposition came to the National Assembly with ‘tainted glasses’ since they are not accepting of the development.

Scholarship programme

Earlier this week, Public Service Minister Sonia Parag shared that through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) Scholarship programme, the PPP/C Government will exceed its target for scholarships to be distributed to Guyanese. An injection of $1.8 billion allocated in this year’s budget will surpass the target of 20,000 scholarships this year itself.

While adding that university education will be free before 2025, the Minister had noted that in the meantime, scholarships will continue to be offered to ordinary Guyanese to go to the University of Guyana so they can enhance their skills. This, she said, is important to fill the gaps in the public sector and continue to build human capacity.

Among the measures in the budget is the increase of the “Because We Care” cash grants, from $25,000 to $35,000 per child. This will place an additional amount of $2.1 billion in the homes of children attending both public and private schools.

Old age pension was also increased to $33,000.

According to the Finance Minister, this will place an additional $4.4 billion of disposable income in the hands of over 73,000 old-age pensioners. In 2021, all old-age pensioners were given $25,000 on a monthly basis, and in 2022 that sum was increased to $28,000. Meanwhile, public assistance has been increased to $16,000.

The personal income tax threshold will also be increased from $75,000 to $85,000. This, according to the Finance Minister, will place an additional $303 billion into the hands of current taxpayers both in the public and private sectors. (G12)

Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister, Gail Teixeira

“Women

country!”

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Saturday, Jan 28 – 10:00h –11:30h and 22:30h – 00:00h and Sunday, Jan 29 – 10:30h –12:00h and 23:30h 01:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, Jan 28 – 09:00h – 10:30h and Sunday, Jan 29 – 10:00h – 11:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be sunshine during the day. Expect clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 19 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 09:25h and 21:55h reaching maximum heights of 2.38 metres and 2.27 metres.

Low Tide: 15:25h reaching a minimum height of 0.86 metre.

Linden must become a hub for mechanical & engineering services – Ali

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Friday led a visit to the mining town of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), where a resounding turnout listened and lauded the transformational plans in store for residents and communities.

The Head of State has promised that a new stadium will be built in the region, and added that sport facilities will be fixed and enhanced based on works needed. Most importantly is the vision to develop the region as a hub for mechanical services, the President also announced.

“We are, right now, ex-

amining a number of sport facilities here in Region 10, some of which we will upgrade. But more importantly, in the medium term, we have to build a new stadium for you. Part of the transformational agenda is building out that facility. Importantly, we also have to ensure that Linden is a hub for mechanical services and engineering services so that we can service the hinterland,” Ali told residents.

Government will be examining the schools to de-

termine where technological devices will be placed to enhance learning.

Drainage, irrigation and holistic agriculture plans are also in the works for the region as Government pushes its food security agenda in the region.

“In this region, it is not only the building of infrastructure. We have to work with you in improving production. Production in agriculture is an important part of the food security agenda.”

President Irfaan Ali meeting with residents of Region 10 during his impromptu visit

President Irfaan Ali interacting with school children

A section of the gathering

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Replicate e-ticketing system countrywide

Now operational, the e-ticketing system has helped to bring some order on Guyana’s roadways, particularly those on the East Bank of Demerara.

With this system, any traffic offender would be automatically flagged and issued a traffic ticket.

This system, which is being monitored by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), will certainly lead to improved behaviours by reckless drivers.

Already, this piece of modern technology has caught thousands of defaulting drivers committing traffic violations.

The ‘culture’ of many local drivers and public transportation operators is one of disrespect for designated major roads. They refuse to adhere to what is mandatory. As a result, a number of accidents occur frequently at some of these points. Similarly, the practice of running red lights and the green signal that allows pedestrians to cross continues unabated, predominantly by minibus drivers. The danger this practice poses needs no explanation.

There is no doubt that there is always an element of risk whenever someone uses the roadways, be they a motorist, passenger, cyclist or pedestrian. The risks may manifest in various forms, such as a lack of street lighting while driving at nights; potholes which when swerved from could place a vehicle in the direct path of another; absence or nonfunctioning of traffic lights, which can create uncertainty among drivers; roaming animals; speeding; drinking and driving; narrow streets, and lack of traffic signage. In addition, disregard of basic traffic etiquette and other rules exacerbates the risks.

While a plethora of traffic violations are committed on a daily basis, some appear more prominent. Undertaking and cutting in front of a vehicle, and the sticking out of a minibus conductor’s arm to do likewise from the other side, seem to be the new norm of driving. Aside from the obvious danger, especially to young and inexperienced drivers, and apart from being an irritant, it is blatant bullyism, and is a potent source for road rage.

It appears that those who engage in such practices do not see themselves as being errant, or what they do as a traffic violation. Lanes that allow for turning-on-red are abused and used as if they are the right-of-way. In the city, many roads other than what are authorised for minibus routes are used as thoroughfares. Speeding is foremost, causing areas that are supposed to be free of minibuses to become dangerous.

In addition, some drivers seemingly take pride in having an alcoholic beverage in their possession while transporting passengers. Adding to their woes, those who abide by traffic rules are verbally abused when trying to stave off a potential transgressor.

What is desperately needed is a sustained campaign to reduce traffic violations, and let the law take its course on the errant ones, regardless of who they are. The carelessness exhibited puts all road users at risk.

It must be noted that drivers are not the only violators of traffic rules, for some pedestrians are equally guilty. Aside from the common jaywalking, they cross busy intersections when not authorised, and refuse to use the overhead pedestrian walkways, thereby bringing danger to themselves and others. Like errant drivers, they seem empowered to not observe basic traffic rules. This will change only when there is a constant stream of violators up the stairs of the courts across the country.

With this new technology – E-ticketing – it is hoped that it will improve coordination and collaboration among agencies involved in traffic ticket processing.

Additionally, this will tremendously assist the Guyana Police Force in monitoring the traffic, thus there will be no need for Police Officers to write and process tickets for traffic violations.

This 24-hour daily monitoring will certainly aid in errant drivers reforming themselves, thus contributing to the reduction of accidents.

The system, which has been in development for several months, uses cameras and other technology to accurately monitor traffic, check speeds, and read licence plates for Guyanese vehicles.

It is hoped that this system can be replicated countrywide.

By GaBy Hinsliff

The most shocking thing Madonna has ever done, as she once said herself, is just to keep on publicly being Madonna. She won’t give up; she won’t fade away; she won’t be shamed, at the age of 64, into retirement; she is still jumping on every TikTok trend, still pumping out sexually suggestive clips to promote her upcoming world tour.

And if there’s something faintly spooky now about the tautness of her face, then she is arguably doing what she has to do to remain relevant and marketable inside an industry that holds women to impossible standards. Admittedly, it all looks faintly exhausting, but the pressure to keep on keeping on at whatever we do, in the teeth of ageist assumptions, is coming for us all soon enough.

Retirement age is rising across Europe. The French are revolting, once again, over plans to raise their pension age from 62 to 64. Germany is moving its own to 67, with talk of ultimately raising it to 70. The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt wouldn’t be out of step if, as reported, he speeds up existing plans to raise the British state pension age to 68. The pattern of working life is changing everywhere, and yet attitudes to older people at work lag oddly behind. We’ll all have to wait longer to claim a pension, but what happens if we can’t hang on to our jobs for that long?

The average age at which Britons can expect to live without suffering disabling illness is a shockingly young 60.9 for women and a scarcely higher 62.4 for men, with the poorest being most at risk of getting sick. But even if you stay healthy, you may still have to navigate the kind of kneejerk assumptions about being over the hill that (according to research done by the former Government’s business champion for older workers, Ros Altmann) ensure women’s careers begin to stall at only 45, and men’s at 55. More and more of us will shortly be fighting a workplace culture that apparently can’t see 59-yearolds as vigorous or capable of learning new things, any more than some people can cope with a 64-year-old woman being sexual.

Few women would dream of going to Madonnalike lengths to hang on in there. But do we dye our greying hair, or keep a careful eye on what younger colleagues in the office are wearing and saying and thinking, so as not to stand out too much? Do we panic about what people will think if our menopausal minds go briefly blank in a meeting? Well, that’s another story.

We do what we have to do, which is what makes it so disappointing that, this week, ministers rejected one proposal from the all-party Women and Equalities Committee that may have helped to keep thousands of older women at the top of their pro-

fessional game for longer: namely, making it illegal to discriminate against workers on the specific ground of being menopausal.

I completely understand the fear some older women have that over-pathologising menopause may just make some employers even more reluctant to hire them. If you spent your 20s working for men who wouldn’t promote women in case they (shock, horror) got pregnant, the prospect of battling assumptions about female biology all over again at 50 is enraging, especially as plenty of women do get through this time without breaking stride. But it’s now very clear some are being avoidably pushed out of work by temporary menopause-related illnesses.

The Committee, chaired by the Tory MP Caroline Nokes, noted that women who experienced at least one problematic menopausal symptom were 43% more likely to have left their job by 55 than those who didn’t, concluding that the current law doesn’t “serve or protect” women. It recommended making menopause a protected characteristic like age or race – which could also help embolden women to ask for flexible working or other helpful adjustments – plus a pilot scheme testing the usefulness of offering “menopause leave” for related health reasons.

Over the past few months, I’ve interviewed women for this newspaper who have suffered hormone-related symp-

toms from crippling anxiety, depression or brain fog to bleeding so heavily it left them scared to leave the house. Time and time again, they had either left jobs, or adapted them to cope. Yet these were women who should have had a decade and more of working life ahead of them.

All the old arguments for hanging on to younger women through their childbearing years – that it’s a waste of their talents and the future taxes they would pay to let them fall by the wayside – apply to older women too, especially given that the Government is actively trying to reverse a rise in over-50s retiring early. But ministers’ response was that creating menopause rights could discriminate against older men with long-term health conditions. If so, isn’t the answer to offer targeted help to these men too, so they also have a shot at working as long as the Treasury apparently now expects?

Shifting the goalposts on retirement is relatively easy for Chancellors, knowing they’ll probably be long gone before the impact is felt. But shifting assumptions about when and why employees are past their sell-by date is harder, and this week ministers missed a chance to do so. Tough, as it is, we all need to get ready for a longer working life. But we can’t, unless employers, in turn, are ready for us. (The Guardian) (Gaby Hinsliff is a Guardian columnist)

Dancers performing at the flag-raising ceremony during the celebration of India's 73rd Anniversary of being a Republic at the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC) in Georgetown

Madonna is the material proof older women rock – So why do so many still have to stop work?

Alexander continues to bury his head in the sand

Dear Editor, GECOM Commissioner

Mr. Vincent Alexander has tried, without success, to refute what I said in my missive published in the letter columns on January 22, 2023.

The Commissioner claimed, rather cynically, that I “embrace double standards aimed at serving my purpose.”

As is the norm, Mr. Alexander’s views and conclusions in respect to what he considers “the illicit creation of a post and an irregular appointment to that post” at GECOM are not only misinformed, but woefully misplaced.

In his letter, Mr Alexander sought to link to the situation currently at hand, and at the same time justify, a misdeed carried out under his watch in 2014. In case he missed it, Mr. Alexander failed to realise that the misdeed he was party to, and the one he now claims to be ultra vires nine years after, places him in the realm of hypocrisy and practitioner of the same double standards he accuses others of practising.

In retrospect, the self-serving double standard of which Mr Alexander is unquestionably guilty is perhaps an extension of the uncivil behaviour that was displayed by his comrades at the Ashmins Building at Hadfield and High streets, Georgetown on Thursday, March 5th, 2020.

The stand Mr Alexander has adopted now in relation to the matter currently under consideration at GECOM is precisely the stand he should have adopted at the time when he sat approvingly in support of the misdeed committed at GECOM in August of 2014.

Minutes of a GECOM meeting held in August 2014 show that Mr Alexander was totally involved in the discussions which led

MoE condemns attacks on its officers by Opposition MPs

to Vishnu Persaud being shortlisted for interviews for the position of DCEO. The professed Mr. ‘Clean’ Alexander did not oppose Persaud’s candidacy for the position then. However, subsequently, he foolishly chose to oppose Persaud’s candidacy, which cost him a substantial sum of money. Apparently, he has not learnt that overreaching comes at a cost.

Mr Alexander purposely overlooks the point that Persaud’s rival was given an unfair advantage when appointed to act as Voter Registration Manager (VRM). It was on the basis of that unfair advantage that the much-favoured individual was confirmed in the position, since she was seen as the ‘only one with the required experience.’

It is quite obvious to many that all the noise being orchestrated by Alexander and company on this matter is aimed at achieving a specific objective with another of their favoured candidates in mind to fill the vacancy for a substantive DCEO.

From all he has written, it is clear that Mr Alexander represents those who (often vehemently) profess to be supportive of transparency and accountability, but simultaneously consider them useless in pursuit of their partisan political and anti-democratic objectives.

And just in case Mr Alexander is not aware of it, Guyanese who uphold the fundamental tenets of a modern democracy, including transparency and accountability, far outnumber those who choose to engage in illicit activities aimed at thwarting the will of the people. The Latin name for humans is Homo sapiens, which means, "man intelligent." Since this may not be an appropriate appellation for Mr Alexander, we might instead refer him as

"Homo struthio," the Latin for "man ostrich."

My point here is not to get personal, but to point out that there are in our midst individuals like Mr Alexander, who are so insulated in their thinking that they tend to assume that anything or anyone outside their political/ideological universe is suspect, if not downright undesirable. This is precisely Alexander’s disposition in respect to the matter currently under consideration at the Commission.

Experience teaches that whenever individuals adopt a stubborn stand against a particular matter, it’s probably because they simply do not want to confront the facts. As a result, these individuals are likely to find themselves facing similar situations in future.

Mr Alexander refuses to admit that his views are misplaced and the position he has adopted on the matter at GECOM is extremely foolish and shortsighted. His escape route is to justify his action by discrediting the solution.

The bulk of Mr Alexander’s response to my missive I consider as fluff and the regurgitation of his opinion, to which he is entitled, but he must bear in mind that “no man has a right to be wrong in his facts.”

As regards my “warped experiential background”, I would like Mr Alexander to consider his judgmental assessment in relation to his association with a party that, time and again, either wholly or partially, sought to deprive Guyanese of their right to elect a Government of their choice. Mr Alexander can do nothing but live with that badge of dishonour forever and ever, Amen.

Sincerely, Clement Rohee

Dear Editor, The Ministry of Education (MoE) strongly rejects the statements made by Opposition Member of Parliament Ms Catherine Hughes, directed at a senior officer within the Ministry, Ms. Anieshaw Mohamed, Head of the Guyana Learning Channel. These statements were made during Mrs. Hughes’s budget 2023 presentation in the National Assembly on Friday, January 27, 2023.

Mrs. Hughes tried to tarnish the reputation of Ms. Mohamed by stating that Ms. Mohamed was employed to Head the Learning Channel because she is related to the Honourable Minister of Education. This could not have been further from the truth. Ms. Mohamed and Minister Manickchand are not related in any way. This untruth told by the Opposition Member of Parliament should be rejected fully.

It was a cowardly act to attack a professional Public Servant, a woman who is making significant changes in the education sector. Since assuming the leadership of the Learning Channel in 2020, Ms Mohamed has transformed every aspect of the GLC, and it is now better able to serve children, teachers and the general public.

The GLC was struggling from 2015 to August 2020 with one channel, but now has six channels dedicated to broadcasting educational content being used by learners and teachers. Approximately 85% of hinterland communities have access to the GLC with the installation of televisions and solar systems within those communities. By the end of the first quarter of 2023, there will be 100% access. All these interventions, including shows aimed at making learning fun and entertaining, were critical, especially in the height of

the COVID-19 pandemic, when remote learning was necessary, due to school closures. The GLC has never been in a better position to push the distance learning agenda of the Ministry of Education.

The Ministry of Education also rejects the attack on its Chief Planning Officer, Mrs Nicola Warrina-Johnson, by another Opposition MP, Mrs Natasha Singh-Lewis, in a television programme run by the said MP. Mrs Warrina-Johnson is among the most qualified planners in the Caribbean, and her services are coveted internationally. Guyana is lucky to have her. She has dedicated her life in service to the Guyanese people, and has declined many lucrative offers because she believes in building her country. She is responsible for planning in a dynamic sector for many years now. She is current with education trends internationally and plans for needs as they arise and as they are predicted.

Mrs Warrina-Johnson collaborates closely, on the Honourable Minister’s behalf, with international

development partners and other agencies, to implement the Ministry’s programme.

The Opposition are cautioned not to involve officers in their political attacks. Surely, that can be managed by those we have entrusted with the nation’s law-making. The Honorable Speaker of the National Assembly is strongly urged to protect the reputation of persons who are outside of the House with absolute vigour when Members of Parliament abuse their privilege and try to bring the reputation of committed, hard-working and patriotic Public Servants into disrepute.

The Ministry reiterates that the statements made by Ms. Hughes and Mrs. Natasha Singh-Lewis should be rejected by all, and that there will be continued support given to our officers in the execution of their duties to improve the education sector, which will only lead to the improved lives of all Guyanese.

Sincerely,

Ministry of Education

21:00

21:40

Saturday, January 28, 2023

Question 1:

Foundation

Materials:

1 ping pong ball hair dryer

Instructions: Set the hair dryer to blow just air instead of heated air, if it has the option to. A heated hair dry-

CONTINUED FROM FRIDAY

She had run into her little den, however, there quickly taken off her dress, made her face and hands black again, put on the mantle of fur, and again was Allerleirauh. And now when she went into the kitchen, and was about to get to her work and sweep up the ashes, the cook said, leave that alone till morning, and make me the soup for the king, I, too, will go upstairs awhile, and take a look, but let no hairs fall in, or in future you shall have nothing to eat. So the cook went away, and Allerleirauh made the soup for the king, and made bread soup and the best she could, and when it was ready she fetched her golden ring from her little den, and put it in the

er will work if your dryer doesn’t have this option.

Hold the ping pong ball just above the nozzle of the hair dryer and turn on the air. Let the ping pong ball go, and it should float above the nozzle.

Try different settings to

bowl in which the soup was served. When the dancing was over, the king had his soup brought and ate it, and he liked it so much that it seemed to him he had never tasted better. But when he came to the bottom of the bowl, he saw a golden ring lying, and could not conceive how it could have got there. Then he ordered the cook to appear before him.

The cook was terrified when he heard the order, and said to Allerleirauh, you have certainly let a hair fall into the soup, and if you have, you shall be beaten for it.

When he came before the king the latter asked who had made the soup.

The cook replied, I made

see if you can get the ball to float higher.

Tilt the hair dryer a little bit from one side to the other. Does the ball still float?

How far can you tilt the dryer before the ball falls to the floor? (sciencefun.org)

By The BroThers Grimm

it. But the king said, that is not true, for it was much better than usual, and cooked differently. He answered, I must acknowledge that I did not make it, it was made by the hairy animal. The king said, go and bid it come up here.

When Allerleirauh came, the king said, who are you. I am a poor girl who no longer has any father or mother. He asked further, of what use are you in my palace. She answered, I am good for nothing but to have boots thrown at my head. He continued, where did you get the ring which was in the soup. She answered, I know nothing about the ring. So the king could learn nothing, and had to send her away again.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

WORD SEARCH

Budget debates highlight ineptitude, incompetence of Opposition – Finance Minister

…as Opposition Leader presents ‘alternative’ measures

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh on Friday evening wrapped up a week-long debate in the National Assembly on the proposed $781.9 billion Budget 2023, and according to him, the lack of competence and capacity of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Opposition was on full display.

Dr Singh pointed out that the Budget Debates allowed Government Members of Parliament (MPs) to further elaborate on the host of policies and programmes contained in Budget 2023, while similarly offering the Opposition MPs the opportunity to present alternative visions and proposals for Guyana – something which they failed to take advantage of.

“What we were treated to over the last five days was their complete lack of competence and capability… Instead of presenting alternative vision for Guyana; instead of proposing alternative policies and programmes and initiatives; they regurgitate the standard, and overworked, and tired, old and overused diatribe…which has been the subject of multiple rounds of scrutiny by the people of Guyana; which was roundly and robustly rejected by the people of Guyana in March 2020,” he posited.

The Finance Minister was at the time responding to a host of “lofty” alternative measures presented by Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton during his contribution to the debates.

Alternative Contending that Budget

2023 does not cater to the people of Guyana, Norton outlined what he described as people-centred ‘alternatives’ that he says are geared to improve the quality of life of Guyanese. He noted that Budget 2023 has “badly allocated” Guyana’s resources, which should have gone towards addressing the needs of people and cushioning the rising cost of living.

Among the alternative measures presented by Norton is a 50 per cent increase in wages and salaries for Public Servants; wavier of electricity and water charges for low-income households; removal of income tax for those living below the poverty line; vouchers for public transportation operators to access lower gas prices; and reduction of the Value-added Tax (VAT) to 12%.

Norton concluded by saying that his party’s “people-centred vision aims at giving people all across Guyana what they want… We recommend to you that you borrow from our people-centred vision and bring a Budget that allows our people to develop… This budget asphyxiates the poor man… I cannot afford to support this Budget.”

Bloviation

In rebuttal, however, Minister Singh called Norton’s presentation a bloviation, adding that his proposals of targeted tax breaks and people-centred development were all “lofty-sounding words” without any real substance.

He pointed out the failure of the APNU/AFC to fulfil their promises in the 2020 Election Manifesto. “We want to hear how you per-

formed…and why did you not deliver your promises to your people – tax reform, increased salaries… The reality is that the APNU/AFC has long history of selling pipe dreams, hot air and bloviating,” the minister stated.

According to Dr Singh, Norton’s proposal is steep in theory, but void in practice and practicality. He said the Opposition rolled out a long list of policies that include heavy spending, especially on Government consumption.

“Norton read out his long list of 20 items [and] none of them don’t involve constrained spending, and none of them involved income- generation and revenue- generation. Every single item involved surrendering more Government revenue and expending more Government finances,” the Finance Minister detailed.

Further, he highlighted the many inconsistencies between positions taken by Opposition MPs and contents of Norton’s alternative plans, such as the issue of deficits and debt on agriculture and job creation.

The minister said the APNU/AFC, which has since separated as a Coalition after not renewing its agreement in December, is now merely a “collective of convenience” that is completely devoid of any credibility and competency.

Dr Singh outlined that while implementing measures proposed by the Opposition, such as tax breaks, would give Government a political nudge, it is not feasible in the long haul.

“Successive PPP/C Governments, not only this

Linden must become...

one, have refused to mortgage the future of this country at the altar of short-term expediency. We’re not going to pursue short-term popularity by saying to people we’re going to reduce your taxes…because we’re a Government for the long haul,” he said.

“And we’re frank with the people of Guyana. We say, ‘Look, we can’t reduce the taxes to zero, the Government needs to raise tax revenues. We’re going to try overtime to be able to progressively reduce the taxes.’ But what was astonishing is how out-of-touch Mr Norton was… They are so out-of-touch with reality and the way things work,” the minister noted.

Listens to Guyanese

According to the Finance Minister, the PPP/C Administration speaks and listens to the Guyanese people every day, and has a fairly good sense of what their priorities are, and will deliver on those.

“We will continue to manage the economy of Guyana to ensure that the things that people need fixing now are fixed,” he noted. These include fixing community roads, health centres, fixing schools, providing tertiary and TVET education to prepare youths for job

opportunities, and also investing in the capital stock; that is, the major road and bridge projects that will generate long-term economic growth in Guyana. This, Dr Singh stressed, is consistent with the theme of the $781.9 billion Budget 2023 – “Improving Lives Today, Building Prosperity for Tomorrow”.

The Finance Minister reminded that the people of Guyana were given an opportunity to experience the governance of both parties over the years, and noted that the Opposition’s presentation over the past week has vindicated the Guyanese people’s decision to put the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) in office, to take the country through this unprecedented period of transformation.

“We endured for five days, on the one hand, a display by APNU/AFC of their abject incompetence, ineptitude, and inclination for distortion and misrepresentation. Put simply, the people of Guyana were reminded once again why they decided to put the APNU/AFC into Opposition in 2020. And similarly, the people of Guyana were reminded of why they decided in 2020 that they wanted to place the governmental responsibility of navigating Guyana through this very challenging period in our country’s economic history… to task the People’s Progressive Party/Civic with that responsibility by placing us in Government. We take that charge seriously, and we will discharge it faithfully and diligently,” Minister Singh assured. (G8)

Ali assured residents that cracks in the system will be addressed, and his Government is committed to working with the country by hearing from the people on the ground.

“The Government will be out in the sun and the rain because you expect us to work in the good times and

the hard times. The plan is One Guyana. The plan is progress and development. The plan is prosperity, unity, coming together and upliftment.”

He added, “We are small but we have to think big. We have to act big. We have to move in the new wave of development…I was elected

FROM PAGE 3

by the people to get the job done.”

In doing so, he also charged the communities to display a change in mindset which will build resilient communities.

The President emphasised, “You have to think for yourselves. You have to act for your family, your community and your country. You can rely on us to give it to you…It is not only the roads and the schools and the hospitals…it is about creating a mindset that is positive, it is creating families that are stronger, communities that are stronger, communities and people that are respectful to each other, money can’t buy that. That has to come from you.”

Other plans for Region 10 include the construction of 1000 homes for the benefit of young people. (G12)

A section of the gathering

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh

Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton

Bar owner caught with $3.5M in ganja remanded

Roiling...

…oil

You gotta hand it to the PNC/AFC for their misdirection plays in our oil (and oily) business. And you know what “misdirection” is, don’t you, dear reader?? If you’ve ever seen those 3-card hustlers in action, you’ll notice they pull off their scam by making the mark focus on some other object, away from the card they’re changing. In the case of the oily Opposition hustlers, they’re trying to focus our attention on everything else under the sun than the original sin they committed through Raphael Trotman in Houston.

The owner of the Albouystown, Georgetown-based City Vibes Sports Bar and Lounge, was on Friday remanded to prison on a drug trafficking charge.

Forty-five-year-old Clyde Anthony Barrett, called “Clivey” of Calendar Street, Albouystown, was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

To the charge, which alleged that he trafficked 11.58 kilograms of Cannabis sativa (marijuana) on January 25, the accused pleaded not guilty. He was refused bail and remanded to prison. The case will con-

tinue on February 24.

According to the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), on January 25, its ranks intercepted a motor car with Barrett, the sole occupant, on Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown, in the vicinity of City Hall. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a salt bag containing several parcels of seeds, leaves, and stems suspected to be cannabis

The narcotic has an approximate street value of $3.5 million.

Meanwhile, Barrett was charged with drug trafficking in July 2018 after 19.888 kilograms (43.8 pounds) of marijuana was found in the kitchen area of his business place. He had also pleaded

but she never returned home until the next day.

As a result, her mother went in search of her and notified family members that she was missing.

On December 30, 2020, the child returned home and when questioned by her mother as to her whereabouts, she informed her that she spent the night at Gordon’s home and he raped her.

A report was immediately made to the Police and based on investigations; the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) recommended that Gordon be charged with child rape.

AHigh Court Judge ordered the discharge of two men accused of rape after the virtual complainants (VCs) in their respective cases refused to testify and could not be located.

Kevin Frank and Stephon Gordon had been indicted for the offences of rape and rape of a child under the age of 16, respectively. Gordon had been accused of raping an 11-year-old girl on December 29, 2020, at a location in Georgetown.

Frank had been accused of raping a woman, 38.

When the men’s cases were called before Demerara High Court Judge Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, the VC in Gordon’s case refused to testify while the VC in Frank’s matter could not be located.

With the prosecutors unable to locate the witness for close to three weeks, they discontinued their case against Frank. In light of the circumstances, the presiding Judge ordered the juries in both matters to return formal not guilty verdicts in favour of the accused persons.

They were therefore discharged.

In Gordon’s matter, the State contended that on the day in question, the child’s mother sent her to a nearby shop to purchase an item

Meanwhile, the VC in Frank’s case alleged that he came to her home one night, pushed open the door, and entered.

See that? You’d already buried that horror in your memory banks - hence your lifted eyebrow!! Yes…the most atrocious Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) made since old man Rockefeller swindled those Saudis to have his Standard Oil (S.O. - hence “Esso” and then Exxon!!) to ship their oil at pennies per barrel in 1938!! That wasn’t rectified till 1973, when the Saudis formed OPEC!! Here Trotman took a US$18M bonus – which he promptly buried! – when the going rate shoulda been around US$600 million!! And then accepted Exxon writing off their expenses at up to 75% of the revenues from the oil sales – and only splitting the remaining 25% with us!!

So, when Opposition MP David Patterson excoriated the Govt and claimed Exxon had told them back in the day that the expenses from Lisa 1 would’ve been amortised by 2022 - and we should now be raking in half of all production - he took pains not to mention the sordid background. So, what’s the scoop? When Lisa 1 started pumping oil in Dec 2019, we were told US$4.5B had been invested, including $1.2 billion for the Liza Destiny FPSO. Just about a year later, Hess revealed that the actual development costs were just US$3.5B. Hey…when you’re in the oil business, what’s a billion or so difference??

So, even though Patterson doesn’t want us talking about the giveaway oil contract – or the diamond-studded bracelet he was “gifted”!! – we should check out his figures, shouldn’t we?? And don’t bring up that claim that “25 isn’t the majority of 65”, to fault the man’s math, will you? Political math’s ABSOLUTELY different from accounting math!! The Government’s resourceful Resource Minister claimed they’re still crunching the numbers, and that it wasn’t easy, since our accountants haven’t a clue about the oil business and its expenses!!

So, are we to expect collecting half of Lisa 1’s 120,000+ bpd going forward in the immediate future?? Man, oh man!! 60,000 bpd @ US$90pb = US$5,400,000 daily; so, in a year (365 days) we’ll rake in about US$2 billion!! And Lisa 1 still got another five years to go before running dry – while we collect our 12.5% on the others coming on stream!!

Happy Days are here??

…agri production

While, of course, we gotta knock the Europeans for introducing slaves and indentured labourers for their plantations in these parts of the world, we gotta recognise that those plantations were an innovation in the realm of producing agricultural products for food and other uses, like cotton for clothes!! Plantations produced stuff like it’d never been produced before. Well, it looks like we’re on the cusp of another agri revolution here.

While they were in the bedroom, she alleged that the man raped her.

When Frank allowed her to leave the bedroom, the woman raised an alarm and the Police were called in. Both Frank and Gordon were represented by Attorney-atLaw Teriq Mohammed.

The prosecutors were Attorneys-at-Law Simran Gajraj, Latifah Elliot, and Rbina Christmas.

Gordon was out on $200,000 bail pending his trial while Frank had been on remand. (G1)

President Ali just announced a new regional agriculture technology campus is gonna be built in Guyana by Indiapart of plans to use technology to increase food production. India, of course, has been forefront in food production since independence, when they stopped the famines of British rule cold in their tracks!! The “green revolution” was part of that new technology; but, as we now see, the necessary fertilizers, insecticides, weedicides and water had their own downside.

So, as we move into this brave new world, let’s ensure we work WITH Mother Nature! She can be bitchy when angry!!

…the City Council

The Mayor and City Council are pretty miffed that Central Government’s literally cleaning their mess. Since they can take the credit by claiming they “made” the Govt do that, why worry? The citizens still gonna vote them in!!

2 men freed of rape charges, complainants refuse to testify, cannot be located

Freed: Stephon Gordon

Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry

The marijuana which was being transported in the car not guilty and was sent on remand. Guyana Times was unable to confirm the legal status of that case. (G1)

Remanded: Clyde Anthony Barrett

Guyana in talks with Bangalore to set up regional agri-tech campus

…as India-Guyana taking bilateral ties to new heights

With assistance from India’s renowned technological expertise, the Guyana Government is looking to establish a regional agri-tech campus here to further advance food security efforts in the Caribbean.

This was announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali during his address at a reception held in Georgetown on Thursday evening to commemorate India’s 73rd Republic Anniversary.

According to the Head of State, India has mastered technology that is efficient, cost effective and reliable – something which they are willing to share with

Guyana.

“We had elaborate discussions with the Bangalore Bio innovation Centre (BBC). Every single day in their life, they wake up testing technology, mastering technology, producing technology that is affordable and practical. So, they will be working with us in building out not a Guyana but a regional agri-tech campus right here that will support our regional food hub,” he stated.

Only earlier this month, President Ali led a high-level Government and private sector delegation to India where they engaged stakeholders from a vast section

of industries.

The BBC, according to its website, is a state-ofthe-art translational research and entrepreneurship centre catering to all the needs of start-ups in life science located in the city of Bangalore, India.

The Guyanese leader pointed out on Thursday that in addition to setting up the agri-tech campus, this plan also includes re-engineering the supply and logistics chain, research and development that deals with human resource training, the technology and the improvement in policies that will lead to greater yield and productivity.

He noted that the overall aim is to build an agriculture sector with an ecosystem that includes the regional food hub.

“Over the next few months, you will see a number of measures that will be aimed at creating this new ecosystem around agriculture but focusing on high-value, focusing on new areas and innovation because that is where the future will go. We are building a food production and agricultural system on a platform that will make it com-

petitive, resilient to operate in an economy 2023 and beyond,” he stated.

President Ali is currently leading the Caribbean Community’s (Caricom’s) food security initiative that seeks to reduce the Region’s food import bill by 25 per cent by the year 2025.

According to the Head of State, the Latin America and Caribbean Region is the most food insecure region in the world and cannot wait for a full-blown crisis to hit before taking action.

“We have to create the

policy environment, the institutional framework and the ecosystem to support a food production system for the Region that will help us to withstand this… Time is against us. Those who believe that we have time, you’re dreaming because if we can’t build an economy and an ecosystem in the next seven years that is functional, resilient and sustainable to survive in the world 2030 and beyond then I’m sorry, we’ll just be marking time,” he asserted.

TURN TO PAGE 11

President Ali and High Commissioner Srinivasa with some of the awardees at Thursday’s reception

Performers entertaining the audience at Thursday’s reception held to commemorate India’s 73rd Republic Day anniversary

Deputy Speaker discredits APNU/AFC’s claims of helping Indigenous people

education post-2020

Calls for honesty from the APNU/AFC backfired on Friday, when Leader of the Liberty and Justice Party, Deputy Speaker Lenox Shuman delivered his debate and called out the Opposition for their failure to uphold what they preach.

Shuman addressed the National Assembly to ‘set the record straight’ on the failures of the former APNU/AFC Administration and clarify mistruths that are being peddled in the House.

“The nation still awaits the truth from my colleagues on this side. The nation still awaits the SoPs. Let’s start there if we are going to be honest. If we cannot be honest on this side, it becomes difficult for us to call the other side. It becomes difficult if we do not have a platform of honesty to stand on… You cannot lead if you cannot get your house in order,” he told the Opposition.

Shuman relayed that when he

was Vice Chairman of the National Toshaos Council, he faced discriminatory practices from the former APNU/AFC Government.

“When the National Toshaos Council had our conference, they said you have control but they are going to control the agenda, your

stay, your travel. When we had a comprehensive agenda for all of those sittings, members of the Ministry took our agenda and tore it up. So, you cannot speak about taking the knees off the necks of Indigenous peoples when your party in itself tore up the agenda,” he

vocalised.

Then as a member on the Amerindian Land Titling Board, Shuman expressed that Amerindian land titling moved ‘absolutely nowhere’ under the APNU/AFC.

“Party affiliates from the APNU/AFC sat in that room and said ‘we are not giving out any more land titles’ on multiple occasions. The Minister at that time could not do anything. That is the degree of respect they have for Indigenous peoples. Absolutely none…APNU/AFC removed the title from one Indigenous area, that is Annai. So instead of giving titles, what they did was take away.”

He added, “The record needs to be set straight that when you come to this House, you have an obligation to tell the truth to the people and that truth means that sometimes we have to swallow the bitter pills of our underachievement.”

Access Highlighting progress made from 2020 to date, he indicated that Indigenous people now have better access to education, internet and healthcare.

He commended the language programme that is now being launched in two communities and yet to be rolled out in 18 Indigenous communities by saying, “That is a massive cry from the zero that ensued pre-2020. That is progress.”

From a continuous dialogue with the Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony and Director General, Vishwa Mahadeo, he relayed that there have been developments to effectively deliver healthcare within hinterland villages.

“This has been a comprehensive and continuous dialogue to effectively find ways to deliver health services to the hinterland. That is a continuous process that is yielding results,” Shuman underlined. (G12)

…says have better access to healthcare,

Deputy Speaker Lenox Shuman

Salary cut needed when MPs fail to attend sittings, perform – Shuman

Members of Parliament who fail to appear and perform in the National Assembly should face reduced salaries, Leader of the Liberty and Justice Party, Deputy Speaker Lenox Shuman has asserted.

On Friday, Shuman called out his colleagues in the House for failing to exercise their duties in some instances, even simply showing up to proceedings.

“My colleagues, when there is a Parliament, some of them don’t even bother to log in. They don’t even bother to show up. I think the taxpayers need to tie performance and attendance to the pay of every parliamentarian. If you

cannot attend, then by virtue of those attendance, one’s salary should be reduced,” he expressed.

When Senior Minister within the Office of the President, Dr Ashni Singh delivered his budget presentation last week, many seats on the Opposition side remained empty as they failed to show up.

Last November, the Constitutional Reform Bill in the National Assembly was passed, but with the absence of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC), after they walked out of the House. The coalition then sent out a statement attributing its walkout to their motions not being allowed on the floor because they

did not meet the threshold for debate.

Meanwhile, Shuman also called on the APNU/

AFC to lead by example in their representation of the people who elected them into the National

Assembly. He shared his disappointment that many of them are ill-equipped to recognise their obligations as prescribed in the Constitution.

“We have sat in this House and listen to a political party that sat in breach of the Constitution for how many years and months, continue to trample on that very Constitution. It is what we as parliamentarians have sworn on day one to uphold the Constitution.

I admonish my colleagues on this side to do better, to lead by example because the people at the end of the day exercise their confidence in that franchise to put all of us in this House,” Shuman explained.

The Deputy Speaker fur-

Guyana in talks with Bangalore to set up...

On this note, the Guyanese leader stated that this is where India, as a bilateral partner, presents excellent opportunities for collaboration.

“India, for me, presents an excellent opportunity in this day and age for that type of bilateral partnership that allow our country to grow, our people to grow, will allow our technology to improve and will build better opportunities for both countries,” he stated.

To this end, the President said coming out of his India visit, four committees have been set up at the Government level to advance discussions had beyond the talking stage. As a matter of fact, Vice

President Bharrat Jagdeo will be leading another high-level Government delegation to India in February.

According to Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa, this upcoming visit will highlight more scope that exists for the two countries to work together in areas such climate change and environmental disaster mitigation efforts.

The Indian diplomat noted there has been a renewed enthusiasm injected into the bilateral relationship between Guyana and India as the two nations enter into a new phase of collaboration.

He noted that January 2023 has already been productive in terms of India-Guyana partnership.

“The extensive engagements [earlier this month] has given a new impetus for widespread collaboration between India and Guyana… We expect bigger things to follow in the near future,” he noted.

Cooperation in infrastructure, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, agro-processing, renewable energy, transport, combatting climate change, information technology, bio-technology, education, human resources, skills development and capacity building are expected to take off in both the public and private sectors of the two nations.

“[The Guyanese business delegation was] able to work out many business

deals while in India… I believe the extensive engagements themselves and the resulting action, the follow-up action, would be enough for the trajectory of this bilateral relationship to be on the upstream. The fruitful exchanges during that visit, provided an opportunity for refocused discussions on exploring new areas of cooperation within

ther called out the APNU/ AFC for its race-baiting statements and other such acts.

Article 168 of the Constitution of Guyana states that “All persons, institutions and political parties are prohibited from taking any action or advancing, disseminating or communicating any idea which may result in racial or ethnic division among the people.”

“Those are some very, very critical words that we swore to uphold yet we have members coming to this floor in violation of that constitutional article. I say it is my sincere hope that the Guyana Elections Commission is paying attention.” (G12)

FROM PAGE 9

the two countries also…”

“I’m very happy and hope that the new India-Guyana relations would touch new heights and our partnership will be successful in improving livelihoods of the common man [in] both countries and as well as provide a new threshold for success in our bilateral cooperation efforts,” High Commissioner

Srinivasa stressed. Meanwhile, during Thursday’s reception, several Indo-Guyanese were recognised for their sterling contributions to society. Additionally, the Indian High Commission also awarded several students who excelled academically at various examinations last year. (G3)

Deputy Speaker Lenox Shuman

Guyana-Suriname relations

‘White Paper’ on urgent matters handed over to Suriname’s President

Albouystown man nabbed with illegal gun

A26-year-old Albouystown, Georgetown man was on Thursday night busted with an unlicenced .32 firearm and six matching rounds of ammunition by Police ranks during an intel-led operation.

Reports are the ranks, led by an Assistant Superintendent, went to an apartment building in Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, at about 21:00h, where they made contact with a security guard who was at the front gate of the premises.

According to the Police, the 26-year-old man, who identified himself as a security guard from Albouystown, Georgetown,

The gun and ammo that were recovered by Police

was searched by one of the ranks, who found the .32 firearm and six matching rounds in the crotch of his pants.

Police said under cau-

tion the man said that he had the firearm for his protection.

He was arrested and taken to the Kitty Police Station pending charges.

The Guyana-Suriname

Private Sector Business Council on Friday met with President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, to officially hand over a white paper detailing specific issues in need of attention between the two

countries.

The meeting was chaired by Chairman of the Business Council, Paul Cheong, who is also the chair of Guyana’s Private Sector Commission; and included immediate past Chairman, Bryan Renten, council members and rep-

resentatives of the Private Sector Commission of Guyana.

Joining President Santokhi at the engagement was Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation, Albert Ramdin.

Chairman of the Business Council, Paul Cheong, handing over the ‘White Paper’ to President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi. Also in photo is immediate past Chairman, Bryan Renten

US$75M entertainment, living complex for Region 3

The RiverWalk development project, which is expected to see an investment of US$75 million, is anticipated to be a spectacular and innovative development for Guyana.

RiverWalk will comprise a deluxe boutique hotel and spa, luxury condo residences, trendy shoppes, upscale restaurants and bars, and live concert stage. Additionally, it will constitute the project’s Boardwalk and Amusement Park, all of which will overlook the Demerara River.

Overseas-based Guyanese, Lester Lall on Thursday shared that the project, when fully completed, will bring a world class destination to Region Three. It will also revitalise this historical part of Guyana and offer employment to hundreds of Guyanese during both the construction and post-construction phases.

Lall is an entrepreneur and concept visionary, of Guyanese descent and a resident of Florida. According to Lall, he has over 30 years of experience developing, owning, and operating several segments of the hospitality and service industry.

Lall shared that, “Employees will benefit from above average remuneration packages and other benefits similar to

those of US counterpart employees,” adding that there will be a concerted effort to train and develop Guyanese in hospitality-related skills as well as to make use of local resources as much as possible.

Additionally, he stated that negotiations are being finalised for the acquisition of privately-owned lands on the West Bank shores of the Demerara River and that there will be a collaboration with the local construction and supply com-

FFTP Guyana aims to construct 100 houses for vulnerable families

panies in the development of such a diverse project.

In 2021, the sod was turned for the construction of a state-of-the-art $1 billion shopping complex slated to be the “apple” of the West Demerara region, which is already pegged for massive transformation in the coming years. That project is being developed by Hemraj Albert and his family. It is expected to generate approximately 325 direct and indirect jobs when fully operational.

Food For The Poor (FFTP) Guyana plans to construct 100 houses for vulnerable families across the country this year – beneficiaries for which are yet to be identified.

Last year, a total of 30 homes were constructed throughout the country under the organisation’s housing programme. The regions that benefited are Pomeroon-Supenaam, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, DemeraraMahaica, MahaicaBerbice, and East BerbiceCorentyne.

FFTP Guyana believes it can achieve its 2023 target, once material costs remain stable, according to Chief

Executive Officer Vincent Kent and the organisation’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Jonelle Deviera.

The PRO noted that persons interested can reach out to the organisation. Applicants must have dependents under the age of 16 and be considered a low-income family. Moreover, they must possess land ownership.

Meanwhile, last year, FFTP Guyana also provided access to safe water to over 100 households, two schools, and one children’s home in areas along the highway and Region One (Barima-Waini).

Areas that benefited are Hauraruni Village along the

Soesdyke-Linden Highway, and Tobago Hill in the Mabaruma Sub-District, Region One.

“People there are now able to access…safe water. We upgraded and expanded the primary and secondary lines to allow households to have direct access to water,” Vincent expressed.

Already, a number of vulnerable families in the country are benefitting from new homes, courtesy of President Dr Irfaan Ali’s Men on Mission (MoM) initiative, which was launched by in October 2022. This year, the movement is expected to construct 150 homes for vulnerable Guyanese.

Security officer saves Linden Hospital from major catastrophe

Quick action by a security officer on duty at the Linden Hospital Complex saved the health institution from major catastrophe on Friday when he extinguished a fire in the X-ray Division.

Reports are that the Guyana Fire Service received a call at 13:45h and was alerted to a fire at the Linden Hospital Complex located at Riverside Drive, Watooka, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

According to the GFS, the fire which occurred in the X-ray Division was caused by a faulty fluorescent lamp that overheated, exploded, and ignited nearby combustible materials.

With the use of a 10 kg and a 33 lb CO2 fire extinguisher, Chief Security Officer Joel Holder managed to put out the fire before the arrival of the Fire Service, minimising the damage to one electrical fluorescent lamp, which was destroyed,

An artist’s impression of the RiverWalk development in Region 3

File photo: One of the houses handed over to a Capoey, Region Two family in 2021

the Fire Service said. It noted that the incident highlights the importance of

having fire extinguishers in homes and businesses.

61% firearm licences issued in 2020 bypassed Firearm Licensing Board – Benn

…vows to review all gun licences issued by APNU/AFC

Alittle over a month after the PPP/C returned to office in 2020, it insisted that it would review all gun licences issued under the previous APNU/AFC Administration.

Home Affairs Minister

Robeson Benn during his contribution to the 2020 National Budget Debate had told the National Assembly that the reason for doing this is because more than half the firearm licences issued by his predecessor, Khemraj Ramjattan were done without engaging the Firearm Licencing Approval Board. He had then accused Ramjattan of taking a “one-man approach” with regard to the issuance of firearm licences.

“It appears as though 2020 was a banner year for the issuance of firearms at the hand of the Minister [Ramjattan] without the engagement of the Firearm Licensing Board. Sixty-one per cent of all firearms issued in 2020 were issued at the hands of the Minister without the engaging of the Firearm Licensing Board,” Minister Benn had told the House in September 2020.

More than two years later, the Government is still bent on having this revision done.

Minister Benn made this position known during the 2023 National Budget debate on Thursday.

“I said it before in this House and I will say it again. I will review all firearm licences issued by the former Minister of Public Security under the APNU/AFC Government,” he informed.

The process from application to final approval or rejection for a firearm licence starts with the applicant completing the required

application form which has to be submitted along with the obligatory documents to the Police or Home Affairs Ministry.

The applicant will then be issued an acknowledgment letter by the Police Commissioner who will then forward the application to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Special Branch, and the relevant Divisional Commander, as the case may be, for processing to commence.

During the processing of the application, Police officers will visit the residence of the applicant, who will be required to give a statement, and have his/her fingerprints taken.

The Divisional Commander will verify the information contained in the application, and submit a report to the Commissioner of Police with a recommendation. The CID and Special Branch will communicate the findings of their investigations to the Commissioner of Police.

On receipt of the required reports, the Police Commissioner forwards his findings and recommenda-

Pensioner severely burnt as fire guts Cummings Lodge home

Six persons are now homeless after a fire suspected to be electrical in nature gutted a South Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown home on Friday morning.

Reports are at about 02:43h, the Fire Service received a call and was alerted to a fire at Lot 873 South Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown.

According to the Guyana Fire Service, water tenders from the Campbellville, Alberttown, and Central Fire Stations responded to the scene, where it was observed that a two-storey wooden and concrete house was engulfed in smoke and flames.

The building was owned by 75-year-old Lynette Gray and was occupied by herself and five others.

As a result of the fire, the building and its contents were destroyed.

Gray was also injured during the ordeal and received severe burns about

tion to the Home Affairs Minister for review by the Firearms Licensing Approval Board which will then review the recommendation of the Commissioner of Police, and make a recommendation to the Minister of Home Affairs.

The Minister of Home

Affairs will grant or withhold his “no objection” to the recommendation of the Firearms Licencing Approval Board. The Commissioner of Police will then be notified of the outcome of the application and the applicant will be notified, in writing, by the Commissioner of Police of the outcome of his/her application.

Successful applicants are required to pay a processing fee at the respective Divisional Firearm Registry, following which they will commence the process of purchasing, licencing, and uplifting a firearm and ammunition. Unsuccessful applicants have the right to appeal the refusal of their applications for firearm licences under the Firearms Act to the President of Guyana.

In 2018, the issuance

of gun licence came under the microscope after former Top Cop Seelall Persaud bypassed the Firearm Licencing Approval Board when he granted himself a licence to open a firearm dealership as well as an upgrade of the calibre of weapons he is allowed to carry. Shortly before he went

into retirement, the then coalition Government had forced Seelall to revoke the approval of a firearm dealer licence, which he granted himself. The former Police Commissioner had described the move as unprecedented. (G1)

noted in closing.

In brief remarks, Deputy Commissioner ‘Administration’ (ag) Calvin Brutus reminded the newly coined Constables that conduct follows them throughout their career. He also noted that they should avoid being on the wrong side of the law.

the body.

According to the GFS, the suspected cause of the fire is an electrical fan that overheated and ignited nearby combustible materials.

The Guyana Fire Service had said that it is noting the prevalence of electrical fires and admonished citizens to exercise caution and equip their homes with the necessary fire suppression tools (extinguishers, smoke detectors).

According to the GFS, some of the main contributing factors to electrical fires include illegal connections; overloading of circuits; slack connections; malfunctioning of electrical appliances and inferior drop cords or circuit strips.

“Electrical fires are especially dangerous because they can happen at any time if enough care and attention are not exercised towards electrical outlets and appliances,” the GFS said on Friday evening.

The Guyana Police Force on Friday welcomed 27 new Constables into its ranks at a simple graduation ceremony held for the new Constables at the Officers’ Training Centre Headquarters at Eve Leary.

The ranks are the successful graduates of Recruit Course 387. The batch was drawn from various communities within Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) to which they will be reposted, in various departments including immigration, CID, and general duties.

Speaking at the ceremony, Commissioner of Police (ag), Clifton Hicken congratulated all of the ranks and applauded them for overcoming the physical and mental fatigue while becoming policemen in the noble organisation.

He told the new ranks that on entering the Force, they now take on challenges as policemen and policewomen and urged them to remain committed to the motto of the Force: “Service and Protection.”

“So you are integrated into the Guyana Police Force and you are the catalyst for change group. It is expected that you act and operate as ambassadors of the Guyana Police Force, irrespective of the re-

gion you are placed...you understand the culture, you understand the dialect and you understand the way things are being conducted in that area. You are now policemen and women,” the Commissioner is quoted by the press unit of the GPF as saying.

The Top Cop noted that the five to six months the recruits spent in training helped significantly in them understanding each other’s culture while sharing values as they progressed through their training programme.

“You are leaving to return to your areas of responsibility with a new sense of value and increased knowledge but more importantly, focusing on a safer community for your family and friends and generally the population of Region Nine,” the Top Cop stated.

He went on to say, “You are the faces of the Force, you are the broader side of the pyramid,” as he related how pleased he was with their academic performances. Along that line, he noted that the GPF intends to further build a Force that is representative of the citizens of Guyana.

“Your duty is not to escalate any situation but rather de-escalate that issue. You should create an atmosphere

where you are well respected in your communities, you are to create an atmosphere where you assume leadership,” Commissioner Hicken stated.

With this, he said the new contemporary Police Force must be evidence-based if the Force is to transition from a Guyana Police Force to a Guyana Police Service. The Top Cop also encouraged the new ranks to “avoid operating in isolation”.

Hicken charged the ranks to uphold the values of the organisation, later reminding them that, “in and out of uniform, ethical standards must be maintained at all times”. He also charged them to “make the Guyana Police Force proud, make the Guyana Police Force contemporary, lift the standards in the way you interact with the general public, and maintain that level of professionalism in and out of uniform”.

“You decide your journey in the organisation as an individual. So, whatever you do, you will be judged. We prepared you adequately with the tools you need to use to get the job done. It is now your responsibility to identify the tools needed to perform your specific roles,” the Top Cop

“The environment to which you are going you saw through the eyes of a civilian but now you will be viewing the community and society through the eyes of Law Enforcement with keen eyes to maintain and build partnerships already established by the Police Force. So strive to ensure that you maintain law and order to meet the mandate of the organisation and your communities as well,” he is quoted as saying by the GPF’s press unit.

Brutus further told them that “persons will be looking at you for advice, for guidance relating to law enforcement issues. Your five months at the training facility is just a starting point to which you are going to use to continue building as you go along.”

Brutus further encouraged the new policemen and women to build their confidence with members of the public which would aid in bridging the gap between the Force and the Guyanese populace.

Thereafter relating that “a better-trained staff would make a better organisation; you are front-line members of this noble profession. The job is a rewarding one, so pay attention to the developmental programmes that will be available to you,” Brutus stated.

Also present were Head Strategic Planning Unit Woman Superintendent Nicola Kendall, Commander Regional Division Nine Raphael Rose, Force Training Officer Deputy Superintendent Kevin London, and US representatives.

Former Public Security Minister under the APNU/AFC Government, Khemraj Ramjattan

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn

“Your duty is not to escalate any situation” – Top Cop to 27 new Constables

The new Constables, all of whom are from Region Nine, share a photo with Commissioner of Police (ag), Clifton Hicken; Deputy Commissioner ‘Administration’ (ag) Calvin Brutus; Head Strategic Planning Unit, Woman Superintendent Nicola Kendall; Commander Regional Division Nine, Raphael Rose; Force Training Officer, Deputy Superintendent Kevin London, and US representatives

Regional

Haiti Police block streets, break into airport to protest officer killings

the north were blocked by protesters.

A group of US Government officials were visiting Haiti at the time, and a US State Department spokesperson said all Washington's personnel were accounted for and they had moved some meetings as a precaution.

Brazil's Government eyes compensation deal for 2015 Vale-BHP dam burst

Haitian police officers on Thursday blocked streets and forced their way into the country's main airport to protest the recent killing of officers by armed gangs expanding their grip on the Caribbean nation.

Protesters in civilian clothes who identified themselves as police first attacked Prime Minister Ariel Henry's official residence, according to a Reuters witness, and then flooded the airport as Henry

was arriving from a trip to Argentina.

Henry was temporarily stuck in the airport, but returned to his residence in Portau-Prince later on Thursday, followed by police protesters. A Reuters witness heard heavy gunfire near his home.

Haiti's National Police and the Prime Minister's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Roads around Port-auPrince and in several cities to

Haitian human rights group RNDDH said in a statement that 78 police officers had been killed since Henry came to power in July 2021, averaging five each month, saying the Prime Minister and the head of the national police Frantz Elbe were "responsible for each of the 78 lives lost during their reign."

"History will remember they did nothing to protect and preserve the lives of these agents who chose to serve their country," it added.

The United Nations is discussing sending a foreign strike force to confront the criminal groups. The proposal was originally made three months ago but no country has offered to lead such a force. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Peru elections could come later this year, President says

Peruvian President

Dina Boluarte said on Friday she was considering moving up general elections to later this year, as the Andean leader struggles to keep a hold on protests demanding her resignation that have left dozens dead.

Congress is set to debate a proposal later on Friday to move national elections forward to April 2024, from 2026, but several legislators have proposed amending the Bill to move up the elections even earlier, to late 2023.

Boluarte became President in December after her predecessor Pedro Castillo attempted to illegally dissolve Congress, af-

ter which he was ousted and detained. Protests broke out across the country, and a crackdown by security forces followed, at Boluarte's instruction.

Peru's Armed Forces said on Friday they would provide their "full support" to the National Police in removing protest-related road blocks on national roads.

The Defense Ministry on Thursday said the road blocks were "illegal" and called for protesters to stand down. In Puno, in southern Peru, hundreds of soldiers and police were deployed to free up the roads.

The protests have caused more than $1 billion in

Brazil's Government will try to reach a deal "as soon as possible" on compensation for the 2015 burst of a tailings dam owned by Samarco, a joint venture between Vale and BHP, Institutional Relations Minister Alexandre Padilha said on Friday. In a news conference in Brasilia, Padilha said the matter had been discussed at a meeting with state governors earlier in the day.

The dam collapse in the southeastern city of Mariana

killed 19 people and severely polluted the Rio Doce river, compromising the waterway all the way to its outlet in the Atlantic Ocean.

Padilha said President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's chief of staff would set up a meeting with the governments of Minas Gerais, where Mariana is located, and Espirito Santo, where the Doce river also flows, for further discussions.

The states are seeking compensation for the damage done by the disaster.

"We will try and reach this compensation agreement as soon as possible in light of the environmental crime that was committed in Mariana," Padilha said. "We want to speed up the final negotiations for this deal."

In late 2021, a study done by a company contracted by prosecutors showed the "socio-environmental" damage caused by the dam rupture was between 37.6 billion reais (US$7.35 billion) and 60.6 billion reais (US$11.85 billion). (Reuters)

Thousands of Cubans left scrambling after new US asylum policy

On January 5, Patri was ready to book a flight to Nicaragua, the closest country without a visa requirement for Cubans, and begin the twoweek trek to the Mexican border with Texas.

Then a new law threw her plans out the window.

to 30,000 refugees and migrants to arrive in the US per month.

damage, the Government said earlier this week.

Hundreds of protesters also took to the streets of capital Lima, facing riot police and tear gas.

"They won't let us go ahead with our peaceful march, we're demanding Dina Boluarte resign," one protester, Abraham Copatayapa, told Reuters. "We also demand early elections."

Boluarte has maintained that she will remain as President on an interim basis until elections are held.

She added on Friday that national elections could come in December or sooner, depending on how quickly the proposal is passed. (Reuters)

Venezuela former Chief Justice indicted in US for money laundering

Venezuela's former Chief Justice Maikel Moreno has been indicted on money laundering charges related to bribe payments he allegedly received in exchange for influencing court decisions, the US Attorney's Office for Southern District of Florida said.

Moreno allegedly took over US$10 million in bribes and used the funds to purchase or renovate real estate in Tuscany, Italy, and Miami, among other places, according to a statement late on Thursday.

"During his tenure on the

Supreme Court, Moreno received bribes in exchange for influencing actions in criminal cases, including dismissing criminal charges and arrest warrants or ordering home confinement for charged defendants," according to the statement.

Moreno was replaced as Chief Justice in 2022, but retains a position as a Judge on the court. Venezuela's Information Ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Moreno is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of concealment of

money laundering, and two counts of engaging in transactions in criminally derived property, according to the statement.

The United States in 2020 sanctioned Moreno and offered a US$5 million reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction for allegedly participating in transnational organized crime.

A 2017 Reuters investigation found Moreno had faced allegations that he participated in extortion and influence-peddling rackets and that he was arrested in 1989 on suspicions of killing a teenager. (Excerpt from Reuters)

In January, the Administration of US President Joe Biden issued an executive order restricting asylum applications along the country’s southern border. Instead, asylum seekers from four countries — Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Haiti — now have to apply to a “parole process” that allows up

But the qualifications are steep. Successful applicants have to pass background checks, possess a valid passport, be able to buy airfare, and demonstrate that they have a sponsor with legal status in the US who can support them financially.

Patri does not have a sponsor. If she goes forward with her original plan, she will be turned away at the Texas border and sent back into Mexico under Title 42, a pandemic-era law also known as the “Remain in Mexico” policy. Title 42 has

faced strong criticism from organisations such as the United Nations and Human Rights Watch, which say the policy subverts the legal right to asylum in the US.

Before the executive order came into effect, hundreds of thousands of Cubans like Patri had fled their home country for opportunity in the US. There, US Customs and Border Control estimates that 306,612 Cubans — well over two per cent of the island’s entire population — crossed the country’s southern border in 2022, driven primarily by Cuba’s economic collapse. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Former Colombian drug-trafficking magnate pleads guilty in US

force to control major cocaine smuggling routes.

Prosecutors have accused Otoniel of smuggling “outrageous” amounts of cocaine into the US, and he faces a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison. As part of an extradition deal with Colombia, US prosecutors agreed they would not seek a life sentence in his case. A sentencing date has yet to be decided.

Aformer Colombian drug trafficker has admitted to overseeing a vast network of criminal operations and cocaine smuggling, including a violent paramilitary group known as the Clan del Golfo or the Gulf Clan cartel.

Dairo Antonio Usuga David, better known as Otoniel, pleaded guilty to charges of drug distribution and running a continuing criminal enterprise before a United States federal court in Brooklyn, New York, on Wednesday.

“Tons of cocaine were moved with my permission

or at my direction,” he told the court.

“There was a lot of violence with the guerrillas and the criminal gangs,” he added, acknowledging that “in military work, homicides were committed”.

Otoniel was once one of the most wanted drug traffickers in the world and was arrested by Colombian authorities in October 2021 after eluding capture for years. He was extradited to the US in May 2022.

The Gulf Clan brought violence and exploitation to areas of northern Colombia, using brutal

The Gulf Clan, also known as the Gaitanist SelfDefence Forces, have enlisted thousands of recruits to clash with Colombian authorities, paramilitary groups and rival gangs.

Otoniel admitted that the group administered “taxes” on cocaine produced, stored or transported through its territory by other groups. Prosecutors allege that he ordered the killing and torture of perceived enemies.

“With today’s guilty plea, the bloody reign of the most violent and significant Colombian narcotics trafficker since Pablo Escobar is over,” Brooklyn US Attorney Breon Peace said in a statement. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

A demonstrator yelling in front of a burning barricade during a protest for the recent killings of Police officers by armed gangs in Port-au-Prince, Haiti January 26, 2023

Dairo Antonio Usuga David was extradited from Colombia to the United States in May 2022

Oil prices fall on profit-taking, strong Russian supply

Oil prices reversed earlier gains on Friday as indications of strong Russian oil supply offset better than expected US economic growth data, strong middle distillate refining margins and hopes of a rapid recovery in Chinese demand.

Brent futures were down 51 cents, or 0.6 per cent, at US$86.96 a barrel by 11:29 am EDT (1629 GMT.) US crude fell 65 cents, or 0.8 per cent, to US$80.37. Both benchmarks rose by more than US$1 earlier in the session but are now poised to break a three-week run of gains.

Oil loadings from Russia's Baltic ports are set to rise by 50 per cent this month from December as sellers try to meet strong demand in Asia and benefit from rising global energy prices, traders said and Reuters calculations showed.

Urals and KEBCO crude oil loadings from Ust-Luga over Feb 1-10 may rise to 1.0 million tonnes from 0.9 million in the plan for the same period of January, traders also.

"If Russian supply remains strong heading into next month, oil is probably going to continue to trend lower," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in New York.

He added that profit taking ahead of the weekend may also have driven prices lower.

OPEC+ delegates meet next week to review crude production levels, with sources from the oil producer group expecting no change to current output policy.

The US Federal Reserve's next decision on interest rates will be made at meeting over Jan 31 and Feb 1 against a backdrop of a dip in inflation and gross domestic product that grew by a faster than expected 2.9 per cent in the fourth quarter.

"The positive batch of data gave oil prices a lift," said PVM analyst Stephen Brennock.

A 4.2 million barrel build this week in stocks at Cushing, the pricing hub for NYMEX oil futures, also weighed on the market.

"We believe soaring middle-distillate prices and cracks are mostly behind crude’s bullish price action," JPMorgan said in a note, pointing to heavy refinery maintenance and outages, plus the European ban on Russian refined products from Feb 5.

In China, critically ill COVID-19 cases are down 72 per cent from a peak early this month while daily deaths among COVID-19 patients in hospitals have dropped by 79 per cent from their peak, pointing to a normalisation of the Chinese economy and boosting expectations of a recovery in oil demand. (Reuters)

Archaeologist hails possibly 'oldest' mummy yet found in Egypt

Egyptologists have uncovered a Pharaonic tomb near the capital Cairo containing what may be the oldest and "most complete" mummy yet to be discovered in the country, the excavation team leader said on Thursday.

The 4300-year-old mummy was found at the bottom of a 15-metre shaft in a recently uncovered group of fifth and sixth dynasty tombs near the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, Zahi Hawass, director of the team, told reporters.

The mummy, of a man named Hekashepes, was in a limestone sarcophagus that had been sealed in mortar.

"This mummy may be

Around the World

Ukraine war: Fighting heats up in east and north after tank pledges

Ukraine on Friday battled Russian troops trying to pierce its lines in the east and northeast, and artillery bombardments intensified after Western allies promised the Kyiv Government it would send them tanks to repel the invaders.

Kyiv said fierce battles were under way, a day after at least 11 people were killed in missile and drone strikes which were seen in Ukraine as a response to the promises by important allies to send it tanks.

After weeks of wrangling, Germany and the United States this week said they would send Ukraine dozens of modern tanks to help push back Russian forces, opening the way for other countries to follow suit.

Poland gave Ukraine a further boost on Friday by

promising an additional 60 tanks on top of 14 Germanmade Leopard 2 tanks it had already pledged. Both sides in the war are expected to launch spring of-

fensives, though Washington has advised Ukraine to wait until the latest weapons are in place and training has been provided - a process expected to take several

months.

Moscow accused US President Joe Biden of prolonging the war by arming Kyiv. Ukraine says the only way to end the war is for allies to give it the weapons to win it.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the situation at the front remained extremely acute, particularly in the eastern Donetsk region.

In a Friday evening address, Zelenskiy said Russian forces were not just storming Ukrainian positions but also destroying the towns and villages around them.

In Bohoiavlenka village in Donetsk region, soldiers said fighting around the nearby town of Vuhledar had intensified, with Russian troops constantly trying to advance and capture it. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Gunman kills at least 5 people in East Jerusalem attack

Agunman opened fire and killed at least five people outside a synagogue in East Jerusalem before being shot dead, Israeli medics say.

After Friday’s shooting, the Magen David Adom emergency service said it was treating 10 wounded, some in critical condition.

“What we understand happened was a car pulled up at the front of a synagogue, a gunman got out and opened fire,” Al Jazeera’s James Bays reported from East Jerusalem.

“Sources from the Israeli health service say five people have been killed. Some media are reporting that that could be higher – as many as seven killed. The information is pretty confused.”

A police statement said there was “terror attack in

a synagogue in Jerusalem…

The shooting terrorist was neutralised at the scene. Large police forces are at the scene.”

The attack follows a deadly Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank on Thursday in the Jenin refugee camp. Nine Palestinians were killed, including an elderly woman, after dozens of Israeli soldiers attacked a house containing suspected fighters, leading to several hours of intense fighting.

Gaza fighters then fired rockets and Israel carried out air strikes overnight, but the exchange was limited.

Israeli military raids have become commonplace over the last year with at least 200 Palestinians – fighters and civilians –killed.

Israeli civilians and

troops have also been killed in attacks by Palestinians in Israel and the occupied territories.

Friday’s shooting came amid heightened tensions.

Palestinians marched in anger as they buried the last of the Palestinians killed by Israeli troops the day earlier. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Tyre Nichols death: Memphis braces for release of Police beating video

have been charged with second-degree murder, assault, kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression and fired from their jobs.

the oldest and most complete mummy found in Egypt to date," Hawass, one of Egypt's former Ministers of Antiquities, said in a statement.

Among other tombs found was one belonging to Khnumdjedef, an inspector of officials, a supervisor of nobles and a priest during the reign of Unas, last pharaoh of the fifth dynasty. It was decorated with scenes of daily life.

Another tomb belonged to Meri, "keeper of the secrets and assistant to the great leader of the palace".

Numerous statues were found among the tombs, including one representing a man and his wife and several servants, the statement said. (Reuters)

Tiny radioactive capsule goes missing in Western Australia

An urgent search is under way in Western Australia after a tiny capsule containing a radioactive substance went missing.

The casing contains a small quantity of radioactive Caesium-137, which could cause serious illness if touched.

It was lost between the town of Newman and the city of Perth in mid-January - a distance of roughly 1400km (870 miles). The public has been warned to stay away from the capsule if they see it.

It was being transported on a truck between a mine site north of Newman in the Pilbara region and the north-eastern parts of Perth between 10-16 January when it was mislaid. Caesium-137

is a substance commonly used in mining operations.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has said the capsule cannot be weaponised but could cause radiation burns and have other longer-term risks like cancer.

The object emits a "reasonable" amount of radiation, Dr Andrew Robertson, the state's chief health officer and Radiological Council chair, said.

"Our concern is that someone will pick it up, not knowing what it is," he said. "They may think it is something interesting and keep it, or keep it in their room, keep it in their car, or give it to someone." (Excerpt from BBC News)

Tyre Nichols, who died in a hospital on Jan 10, three days after sustaining injuries during his arrest by Police officers, is seen in this undated picture obtained from social media

Memphis braced for public outrage on Friday after it releases video of five police officers - all of whom have been charged with murderinitiating a traffic stop that authorities say resulted in the beating and death of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man.

Few details have been made public about the traffic stop and the subsequent events that left Nichols badly injured, but officials who have viewed the video have characterised it as deeply disturbing.

Nichols died in the hospital three days after the Jan 10 encounter with the five Black officers, who

Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, representing Nichols' family, said the speed at which the criminal charges were brought against the officers - less than three weeks after Nichols' death - should be a standard for police-involved killings.

Lawyers for the family also called on the police department to disband the special Scorpion unit focused on violent street crime to which the officers were assigned. Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis has said the department will review Scorpion and other specialised units.

Nichols' death marked the latest high-profile case of police officers accused of using excessive force in the deaths of Black people and other minorities in recent years, sparking public outcries against systemic racism in the US criminal justice system.

Protests against racial injustice erupted globally following the May 2020 murder of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Local resident Halyna, 67 y.o., looks out from a kitchen of her house damaged by a Russian military strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the town of Hlevakha, outside Kyiv, Ukraine January 26, 2023

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Don’t discard ideas and concepts that you’ve been mulling over for some time. Make some updates, and you’ll find a way to incorporate something you like to do into your activity.

(March 21-April 19)

Keep an open mind and give others the freedom to do as they please. The more accommodating you are, the more you will get in return. Use intelligence and charisma to get the response you want.

(April 20-May 20)

Gather information, but don’t be too eager to share your findings prematurely. Work through your options from beginning to end, and you’ll figure out how to get things done without making a fuss.

PEANUTS

(May 21-June 20)

You’ll receive advice, but it probably won’t keep you from overreacting. Doing something that requires precision, stamina and insight will help you make a difference.

(June 21-July 22)

Helping others is admirable, but you must do so for the right reasons. Your enthusiasm will be welcome, but it will also tempt others to take advantage of you. Don’t let mixed emotions cost you.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(July 23-Aug. 22)

TODAY’S

WORD - MANDRILL

(MANDRILL: MAN-dril: A large baboon of central Africa.)

Average mark 28 words

Time limit 35 minutes

Can you find 35 or more words in MANDRILL?

The list will be published tomorrow. YESTERDAY’S WORD — CLUTTER

SOLUTION

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

A change of plans will play in your favor. Open a dialogue with an expert or coordinator regarding something that interests you, and you’ll discover something that you want to pursue.

You’ll receive mixed signals from someone close to you. Address issues involving your lifestyle or home before it’s too late. Take care of pressing matters and learn from experience.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Don’t let anyone confuse or dominate you. Take the path that puts your mind at ease instead of trying to please everyone around you. Positive change begins with you. Decide what you want and go for it.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Be honest regarding financial matters. How you handle your cash and use your knowledge and skills to earn a living could use a minor adjustment. Don’t let anyone make decisions for you.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Change your schedule and how you do things. Speak to someone who can shed light on a situation that baffles you. Remain calm and be realistic regarding personal matters.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Keep busy with home improvements, domestic issues and physical fitness. Refuse to let what others do or say get to you. Look for an opportunity to use your skills in new and exciting ways.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Get your facts straight before you share information. Speak from the heart and adjust your timetable to help you get things done. Leave time to chill late in the day with someone you love.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

NZ Tour to India 2023: T20I Series, Game 1 of 3… Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner

give New Zealand

ly took the review, but the ball-tracker suggested the impact would be the umpire’s call, and it would just hit the off-stump.

Turning Point

In the 12th over, Suryakumar chipped Sodhi straight to Allen at long-on. Hardik followed the mainstay of the side back to the pavilion as he offered a return catch to Bracewell. Lower down the order, Washington Sundar cracked some hefty blows while facing Duffy and Lockie Ferguson, but he had too much to do. Sundar, who had picked up two wickets, finished with a 28-ball 50 to register his maiden T20I fifty, but was dismissed in the last over by Ferguson.

1-0 lead

cession, India seemed to have made a fine comeback in the slog overs. However, in the last over of the innings, Mitchell smashed Arshdeep Singh for three sixes and a boundary. Arshdeep tried to nail the Yorkers, but succeeded only once. His short ball also didn’t have enough ven-

om in it to trouble Mitchell, as the middle order batter used the loft and pull to land the big shots.

It turned out to be a chastening experience for Arshdeep, as he struggled with his run-up, and finished with figures of 1 for 51. (cricbuzz)

` SCOREBOARD

New Zealand (20 ovs maximum)

Finn Allen c Yadav b

Washington Sundar 35

Devon Conway †c Hooda

b Arshdeep Singh 52

Mark Chapman c & b

Washington Sundar 0

Glenn Phillips c Yadav b

Kuldeep Yadav 17

Daryl Mitchell not out 59

30-41-3-5-196.66

On a pitch that offered some purchase for the spinners, Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell and Ish Sodhi shared five scalps between them, while Daryl Mitchell cracked a game-breaking 30ball unbeaten 59 to help New Zealand take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I Series against India in Ranchi. The home side mustered 155/9 in a chase of 177.

After Daryl Mitchell’s pyrotechnics had powered New

Zealand to a slightly abovepar total, the spinners and Jacob Duffy put New Zealand in pole position. In just the second over, Bracewell bowled a peach of a delivery that pitched on middle on leg, gripped, and then beat Ishan Kishan’s tentative poke to hit top off.

Rahul Tripathi, who replaced him, looked nervy at the crease, and soon edged Duffy to the ‘keeper’. To make matters worse, Shubman Gill eked out a leading edge to the

fielder stationed at midwicket, with Santner picking up his first scalp.

For a while, the duo of Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya did raise hopes of India mounting a fightback. The duo used slogsweeps, whip, cut and loft to put some pressure back on New Zealand’s bowlers. Suryakumar, though, had a scare in the 9th over, when a confident appeal for LBW from Ish Sodhi was turned down. New Zealand apt-

Port Mourant Training Centre Alumni Volleyball Club campaigning in Suriname

New Zealand skipper Santner was the key performer with the ball. He watched the feet of the batters while employing clever changes of pace and use of crease to create doubts in the minds of the opposition, and ended up with noteworthy figures of 2 for 11 from four overs. He also bowled a maiden over at the in-form Suryakumar.

New Zealand’s sizeable score was built on the back of Mitchell’s stunning counter-attack in the slog overs and Conway’s 35-ball 52. By taking the wickets of Conway and Bracewell in quick suc-

Michael Bracewell run out (†Ishan Kishan) 1

Mitchell Santner (c) c

Tripathi b Shivam Mavi 7

Ish Sodhi not out 0

Extras (lb 1, nb 1, w 3) 5

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 8.80) 176/6

Fall of wickets: 1-43

(Finn Allen, 4.2 ov), 2-43 (Mark

Chapman, 4.6 ov), 3-103

(Glenn Phillips, 12.5 ov), 4-139

(Devon Conway, 17.2 ov), 5-140

(Michael Bracewell, 17.5 ov), 6-149

(Mitchell Santner, 18.6 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Hardik Pandya 3-0-33-0

Arshdeep Singh 4-0-51-1

Washington Sundar 4-0-22-2

Deepak Hooda 2-0-14-0

Umran Malik 1-0-16-0

Kuldeep Yadav 4-0-20-1

Shivam Mavi 2-0-19-1

India (T: 177 runs from 20 ovs)

Shubman Gill c Allen b Santner 7

Ishan Kishan †b Bracewell 4

Rahul Tripathi c †Conway b Duffy 0

Suryakumar Yadav c Allen b Sodhi 47

Hardik Pandya (c) c & b Bracewell 21

Washington Sundar c

Duffy b Ferguson 50

Deepak Hooda st † Conway b Santner 10

Shivam Mavi run out (Santner) 2

Kuldeep Yadav c †Conway b Ferguson 0

Arshdeep Singh not out 0

Umran Malik not out 4

Extras(w 10) 10

TOTAL 20 Ov

(RR: 7.75) 155/9

Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Ishan Kishan, 1.3 ov), 2-11 (Rahul Tripathi, 2.4 ov), 3-15 (Shubman Gill, 3.1 ov), 4-83 (Suryakumar Yadav, 11.4 ov), 5-89 (Hardik Pandya, 12.2 ov), 6-111 (Deepak Hooda, 15.4 ov), 7-115 (Shivam

Gayle sees rise of franchise leagues

around

the world as threat to West Indies cricket

Former West Indies and Jamaica

all-rounder Chris Gayle believes growing the domestic game is the way the region will return to the pinnacle of world cricket.

In an interview with OnlyCricket24.com, the 43-year-old acknowledged the deterioration of West Indies cricket in the last few years, due mostly to the emergence of a number of franchise leagues around the world.

The Port Mourant Training Centre Alumni Volleyball Club departed Guyanese shores on Friday morning to play a series of volleyball games against various clubs in Suriname.

This team will be on show this evening, Saturday

January 28, when the first game is played at the Ismay Van Wilken Stadium. At its helm is Mr. Levi Nedd, performing the roles of Coach/ Manager, while the captain is Devendra Latchman.

The Port Mourant team in Suriname reads: Jared Jhingree, Ranaldo

Bobb, Steffhawn Norah, Tyrone Farley, Levi Nedd Jnr, Eucie Sandy, Tyreece Farley, Shackwan Lucas, Shakeel Garraway and Daniel Joseph.

Details of this team’s exploits would be published in a subsequent edition of Guyana Times Sport.

“It’s something the board really and truly has to look at and I can see whatever part I can play in that as well. A lot of players are playing cricket in the United States now. The USA is an option for cricketers to go there and make a living, but we are struggling here in the Caribbean,” he said.

“I think cricket took a

wrong turn, but hopefully we can actually develop the game. Club cricket is something to look into as well; we’re not seeing a lot of cricket. I’m speaking from a Jamaica point of view,” he added.

The Jamaica Cricket Association’s premier club competition, the two-day Senior Cup, gets underway on February 11 after a twoyear absence.

Gayle also feels he has a part to play in the growth of the regional game, but when the time is right.

“I can help in a few departments, not in all. But first and foremost, I have to find time for myself. I still have a lot on my plate from a personal point of view, but when it comes on to West Indies cricket they will always have my support; when it comes on to Jamaica cricket they will always have my support as well,” he said.

“I have my academy, so we can get some younger players, search for new talent and just help kids on a whole, that’s my plan.” he added.

Gayle’s academy has been dormant since the coronavirus pandemic and he has since reiterated his desire to get it up and running again in 2023.

(Sportsmax)

New Zealand got their first win of the tour

Team members of the Port Mourant Training Centre Alumni Volleyball Club

Chris Gayle

BCB launches Roy Baijnauth Memorial primary school tournament

- Sita Lumber Yard is latest donor to Kiddies project

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) last Wednesday launched another cricket tournament as it continues preparing to play cricket for the first time at the primary school level.

The BCB, with sponsorship from Baijnauth Sawmill, would be hosting the Roy Baijnauth Memorial primary school tournament for schools in the Upper Corentyne area.

BCB President Hilbert Foster, along with BCB Secretary Angela Haniff and Competitions Chairman Leslie Soloman, visited the Baijnauth Sawmill at its Crabwood Creek location to launch the tournament with George Baijnauth,

younger brother of Roy, who passed away three years ago.

This tournament would be played among 16 schools in the Upper Corentyne and Black Bush Polder areas. The tape ball format would be employed, and this tournament would be part of a countywide tournament in which a winner would emerge from four inter- zone championships.

The four winners: from West Berbice, New Amsterdam/ Canje, Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne, would then play for the overall Berbice title. Among the teams that would play in the Upper Corentyne tournament are Leeds, Crabwood Creek, New

Team Mohamed’s to provide prize money, trophies for Rawle Toney 3x3 Classic

Behind its principal, Azruddin Mohamed, Team Mohamed’s will be one of the biggest sponsors of this year’s Rawle Toney 3x3 Classic, set for March 18-19 at the Burnham Basketball Court in Georgetown.

Mohamed met with tour-

also ready to help create a Regional 3x3 Tournament, pointing out that it would drive great interest in the 3x3 format in Guyana and the Caribbean.

Looking ahead, Toney has said there are still other critical areas in which

Market, No 56 and Yakusari Primary schools.

Foster has said the BCB remains confident that at the end of this historic tournament, several exciting talents would emerge to join the different youth teams in the area. He has expressed confidence that the tournament would be a success, and would play a major role in the continued development of Berbice county cricket.

Roy Baijnauth had served as President of the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association for many years, and had also been a long-serving member of the executive of the BCB. He served for many years as Vice

defeated by Malcolm Peters for the Presidency, and had

Roy Baijnauth had also served for many years as Mayor of the township of Corriverton.

Mr George Baijnauth has said he is delighted to sponsor this tournament in memory of his late brother, as it was the best way to uphold his brother’s legacy. He has also congratulated the BCB on the excellent work it has been doing to promote cricket across the county.

Almost 70 schools in Berbice would benefit from donations of taped flannel balls and bats for the upcoming cricket tournaments and coaching programmes of the BCB. Mrs Gumani has said her company would continue its support in the future, as Berbice cricket is, no doubt, on the move.

nament organiser Rawle Toney and tournament coordinator Jermaine Slater, to whom he presented the first-place purse of $400,000 and second-place purse of $200,000. He is also sponsoring all the accompanying trophies for the tournament, bringing his contribution to $675,000.

“This is huge!” Toney exclaimed. “I’m beyond grateful for Team Mohamed’s contribution to the tournament this year. Last year they were instrumental in ensuring that a lot of areas were covered; and this year, I think it’s safe to say that they’ve (given) the lion’s share of prizes.

“This year, we’re going to see a wider pool of participation from teams in the Caribbean, and that has always been the goal since I started the tournament in 2019. I’m happy that Team Mohamed’s understands the vision for the 3x3 Classic, and is helping in a major way to ensure that it is realised, Toney has said.

Meanwhile, Azruddin Mohamed has said he’s happy to again be part of the tournament, and has pledged Team Mohamed’s continued support to it. He added that Team Mohamed’s is

corporate Guyana can contribute to help the tournament to become successful. So far, he has said, response from the corporate community has been tremendous, “but the plan is to build a partnership, because of what we intend to do with the tournament in the coming years. This year we have four teams from the Caribbean, and we will see these numbers growing as the tournament continues to develop,” Toney has said.

The 16-team tournament will be a club competition, with teams coming from Linden, Bartica, Berbice and Georgetown. Toney added that several teams from the Caribbean have signalled their interest in participating, which he said would help to boost the competitiveness of the tournament.

Last year, a team comprising Harold Adams, Stanton Rose and Shelroy Thomas took home the championship trophy, championship ring and other prizes. Thomas was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, and Adams, Rose and Thomas represented Guyana at the Islamic Games in Istanbul, Turkey and the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup in Miami, Florida.

President to the late Leslie Amsterdam, before taking over after Amsterdam’s sudden death. He had served several one-year terms before being

been an outstanding administrator under whose leadership the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association had won several major titles.

The BCB plans to assist all primary schools in Berbice with kiddies’ cricket equipment. A major boost has been received with a donation of flannel balls from Sita Lumber Yard of Crabwood Creek. The donation was obtained by community activist MS Indira Jafferally from Managing Director Sita Gumani, who has said she is very pleased with the effort of the BCB to make sure that every school in the county benefits from the project.

Kevlon Anderson to play club cricket in Trinidad

CWI Academy Head Coach Andre Coley has secured a club cricket stint in Trinidad and Tobago for promising player Kevlon Anderson. Within the last 12 months, Anderson has been undergoing training sessions under the West Indies Emerging Players Programme.

The assignment gives Anderson a chance to get in the much-needed match practice with constraints capable of supporting his growth. The pitch conditions are likely to be similar to those that the Guyana Harpy Eagles will confront during their last three rounds of matches in the West Indies Championship, 2023.

Additionally, it is expected that the responsibility of an overseas professional would be requisite attributes of an international player.

Anderson will depart Guyana as soon as February 4, 2023, to take up this engagement in Trinidad. CWI High-Performance Manager Graeme West has praised the initiative and encouraged the GCB to collaborate with CWI and Preysal

Cricket Club on this player development plan. Graeme West has posited, “I think it’s a great opportunity for Kevlon to get some competitive cricket and prepare himself for the final three rounds of the WI Championship.”

GCB President Bissoondyal Singh has commended CWI for its proactive approach to the management of youth players. He remarked that great ef-

fort is being made to nurture and develop youth players, and this initiative is an indication of the meaningfulness of the GCB and CWI Youth Development Programmes.

Further, President Singh has indicated that the practice exercises undertaken in the youth development programme are good, and must be complemented by the players’ involvement in matches, which provide real-game context situations.

West Bank Demerara (Versailles, Vreed-en-Hoop) – Every Weekend. DJ Music. Groups and Excursions welcome – Phone: 264-2946-9.

Kevlon Anderson

Mr Gumani handing over sponsorship to BCB Secretary Angela Haniff in the presence of Leslie Soloman

BCB Executives Angela Haniff and Leslie Soloman receiving sponsorship from George Baijnauth while a staff member looks on

Team Mohamed’s principal, Azruddin Mohamed, presenting his entity’s support for 3x3 Classic to organiser Rawle Toney

West Indies’ 4-Day Championships…

Nandu ready for First-Class debut

By Brandon Corlette

Matthew Nandu is expected to make his Frist-Class cricket debut as a member of the Guyana Harpy Eagles team that would be opposing the Barbados Pride in the West Indies 4-Day Championships which begin on February 1 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

The left-hander is expected to partner Chandrapaul Hemraj, since Tagenarine Chanderpaul is on West Indies duties in Zimbabwe.

has said he is looking forward to this opportunity while he is also hoping to learn from his senior opening partner Chandrapaul Hemraj.

"I am looking forward to the experience. I just want to make my First-Class debut. I am looking forward to opening with him (Chandrapaul Hemraj), a senior man in the side. I am just looking to learn as much as possible. If we both play our own game, we will be successful," Nandu explained.

The 19-year-old Nandu

Nandu in playing FirstClass cricket for Guyana. He scored two half-centuries in the trial matches played at Providence.

Nandu is no stranger to cricket in Antigua, and he will be aiming to use his previous knowledge to capitalise on his maiden stint.

“The pitch in Antigua (we played Under-19 trials for West Indies), (for) the first 10 overs, the wicket is moist, the first 10-15 overs is difficult to bat on there, but the wicket should be able to dry out," Nandu said.

Nandu, who played most of his cricket in Canada, and returned to play cricket in Georgetown, has said he is not looking too far ahead as it relates to West Indies senior selection. "For me, I want to take it game by game, but I just want to keep enjoying the experience. I would love to play for West Indies, but I want to keep enjoying the experience and the opportunity," Nandu added.

Detailing his experience on playing cricket in Canada, Nandu said: “That is where my cricket started. My dad has worked with me since I was small to now. I feel like I developed a lot playing in Canada, and playing back and forth in Guyana."

is

Meanwhile, the Guyana Harpy Eagles Lead Selector Ravindranauth Seeram has said Nandu's technique is solid. "Nandu stood out in the trials, in addition to Savory. Nandu scored heavy

New Stadium to be built for Linden, says President Ali

facilities in Region Ten, some of which we will upgrade. But, more importantly, in the medium term, we have to build a new stadium for you,” the President announced to scores of residents in the mining town.

President Ali did not disclose further details on the new stadium for the mining town, but it was certainly pleasant news for the Lindeners. Linden is known to produce some of the country’s most outstanding athletes, and has won the National Schools’ Cycling, Swimming, and Track and Field Championships 19 times.

The new stadium would complement the $179 million synthetic track at the Bayroc Community Centre Ground in Wismar. Last December, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., had said inclement weather has delayed the laying of the synthetic material for the new track. Currently, there is only one synthetic track in Guyana, located at Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

after Savory. With his technique and so forth, we think he will do well in the games coming up," Seeram disclosed.

And Manager/Selector

Albert Smith has had this to say: "Potentially, I think Nandu is one of the most promising batsmen. He is well-equipped, and once he can continue, he will be one for the future in West Indies

Cricket. He is a very good player."

Guyana Harpy Eagles squad: Leon Johnson (Captain), Veerasammy Permaul (Vice Captain), Chandrapaul Hemraj, Matthew Nandu, Kemol Savory, Tevin Imlach, Anthony Bramble, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith, Ronsford Beaton, Akshaya Persaud, Ashmead Nedd,

Shamar Joseph. The four-day tournament would be bowling off in Antigua and Grenada. In Antigua, defending champions Barbados Pride would start their bid for a third straight title when they face Guyana Harpy Eagles in the feature match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (SVRS) from February 1 to 4.

Seven exciting and highly competitive races are carded for the February 26 horse-race meeting at the Rising Sun Turf Club on the West Coast of Berbice. More than $8M will be up for grabs, and the top horse in the feature race would bag $2 million.

The meet’s feature race will be the B Class & Lower over 1600 metres, which has a total purse of $3,875,000. The top horse would bag $2M, while the second-placed horse would receive $1M, and the horse placing third will walk away with $500,000.

There is a race classified as F Class and Lower, and the E Class First-time starters in Guyana would be con-

testing over 1100 metres for a total purse of $1,162,500, of which the top horse would bag $600,000 in that event.

There is the G3 and Lower race over 1400 metres with the total purse being $968,750 and the top horse bagging $500,000. As per the provisional programme, race four will be for threeyear-old Guyana-bred Open maidens, and would be contested over 1100 metres.

Total purse is $775,000, of which the top horse would be claiming 400,000.

Race five, the J Class and Lower, is open to H Class horses, non-earners in last two starts running at 1400 meters. Total purse is $581,250. Top horse will bag $300,000.

Race six is for K Class Maidens over 1400-metres, but would be Open to L Class maidens as well. The total purse is $387,500. Top horse will walk away with $200,000.

All purse money advertised above are in Guyana currency. Entries are accepted from February 6, 2023. Entries will be closed on February 20. No entry would be accepted after February 20.

Persons desirous of having their animals contest any race are kindly asked to contact Therbhuwan Jagdeo on 618-7278, Fazal Habibulla on 611-1141, Nic Chadee on 600- 1687, or make WhatsApp contact to Nic is +1 868 386 2432.

A former West Indies Under-19 batsman, Nandu

set to follow in the footsteps of his father Arjune

Matthew Nandu scored two half-centuries in the trials

Nandu defending solidly at Providence (Brandon Corlette photos)

More than $8M up for grabs at February 26 horse meet at Rising Sun

President

Guyana, Dr Irfaan Ali

... selectors say he’s "well-equipped"

Top horses will be gunning for bragging rights